ELLA DIDN'T KNOW WHAT had possessed her to run after someone who she wasn't even sure was Isis, especially because the girl despised her, but here she was, her hand on her roommate's wrist. None of Isis' usual snarls left her lips, instead a certain emptiness in her eyes as she looked at her. The sight of her bruises alone was enough for nothing else that had happened between them to matter for a second and Ella pulled her into their room.

"What are you doing?" Isis asked, voice devoid of any emotion.

She didn't know what she was doing. A big part of her wanted to ask the girl to sit down and let her take care of the wounds, to ask if she was alright, anything - but it wasn't her place to do so. The boundaries they had drawn around each other were so narrow she could barely breathe.

So she simply sat down on her bed, Isis watching her as she stayed there in silence, until she could find the words to speak.

"I asked you a question," Isis said, but she couldn't bring her usual venom in her voice," what is it?"

"I know this is selfish," Ella said," and that we are enemies or whatever, but is there anything I can do for you?" She sighed, shaking her head. "Shit, that sounds like such an incredibly useless question, I just wanted to say I'm here for you."

"Why would you be?" Isis said, laughing hollowly," is there some ulterior motive you have here, Martinez?"

"What ulterior motive could I possibly have for this?" Ella blinked.

"Like you said," Isis said, leaning her back against the wall," we're enemies. I can't see any motive for you wanting to help me either, after the fights we've had."

"About stupid high school drama," Ella frowned," this is something way more important than that, Isis."

She expected her roommate to shout something or lunge at her throat, not because of the words she had said, but because she always seemed ready to. The anger she carried like others did happiness, ready to be sharpened at a moment's notice. Though it hadn't been that long since Ella had gotten to know Isis, she hadn't seen the girl show a smile once. Honestly, she wasn't even sure if she could.

Isis didn't do anything though, her eyes weary as she sighed.

"Stupid high school drama, huh," she murmured, breathing the words out like smoke in the air.

Without another word she turned around, walking towards her bed and pulling out a box from underneath. The silence continued on as she took the bandages that were neatly rolled up in it and an icepack from their shared fridge, but Ella knew better than to break it. Isis had said nothing, but she knew that indirectly meant that although she was tolerating her presence at the moment, she would totally flip if Ella even got near.

When she looked out of the window she could see the field in the distance, some of the sight blocked by trees, small figures running around. Clarkson was probably ready to give her a sermon when she came back, but she didn't mind. His sermons always were funny anyway, especially because he absolutely didn't mean them to be.

"How's Levi?" Isis said suddenly, her gaze trained on her bed as she put the icepack wrapped in cloth on her swollen eye.

Well, this was awkward.

"He's alright," Ella said. She continued on after a second, voice clear. "If you want, I can call him here instead."

Isis looked up then, surprise coloring her expression.

"Why would you do that?" she said.

"I'm not saying your dependency on him is healthy or okay at all," Ella shrugged," but what's going on now isn't something I can speak on. You've known Levi for long and he..." It was difficult to say the words. Imagining a younger Levi with bruises always made her too angry to speak. "He will probably be more helpful than me."

"I'm his ex," Isis said, staring at Ella almost curiously.

"Yeah, surprisingly I know," Ella said," but I trust him."

She meant that. What was a relationship without trust anyway? Levi had told her it was over between them and she believed him wholeheartedly, because he would never lie to her. And if he would, she'd rather find out now than in the long run. Isis didn't even have the energy to be mad at her, Ella doubted she had the energy to actively pursue Levi again at this moment.

"No," Isis said finally," he doesn't need to come. I don't want to worry him." She chuckled softly, a humorless sound. "Though I suppose I've worried him a lot these past weeks."

She placed her icepack beside her, hand clenched around the cloth so tightly her knuckles had become white. Ella was about to say something when Isis threw it away in frustration, but unfortunately for the both of them she had hurled it right at the window, the sharp sound of glass shattering resounding through their room as they both stared at it in stunned silence.

"Fuck!" Isis finally exclaimed, placing her hands in front of her face as she shouted louder," what the hell, I'm such a fucking wreck."

"There are worse things than a broken window," Ella said, walking over to it so she could peer outside," though I suppose it'll be a bit cold now."

As soon as she glanced outside her words evaporated in her mouth, Isis glancing up at the sudden silence.

"What?" she said," you look like you've seen a ghost."

"I take it back," Ella said," we have more serious problems."

"Jesus," Isis said, joining her by the window," what is it? Did I break something or -"

She stopped speaking midsentence, staring down in absolute horror with Ella at Clarkson, who was here for some reason and had gotten hit by the icepack. He was lying on his back like a figure on an exit sign, looking like a whole crime scene on his own. Isis locked eyes with her at the same moment and they nodded at each other, only speaking again when they had arrived downstairs, standing on either of Clarkson's sides.

"Where can we hide his body?" Isis thought out loud," I doubt we can lift him up all these stairs."

"I suggest we just pull him by his legs like they do in the movies," Ella said," we'll drag him to a forest and bury him."

"Eleanora."

The slightly warm vibe Isis had been giving off disappeared immediately as Levi walked up to them, hair tousled from the exercises on the field and expression still very neutral despite the weird scenario in front of him. If she had stumbled upon Levi and Sam standing over Clarkson's body, she might have just turned back around. Instead, all he did was glance at Clarkson, the icepack and then back at her, nodding understandingly.

"Was it his choice of tracksuit today?" he said," was that your final straw?"

"Why are you automatically assuming I did this?" Ella frowned.

Isis tugged at her collar nervously, taking a step back at the same time Levi looked over to her. Though the ice had caused the swelling in her eye to go down, her bruises were still too noticeable to overlook. His jaw tensed, but he didn't move, like he knew doing so would not help at all.

"It looks worse than it is, Levi," Isis said, looking like she didn't know why she was making excuses, but telling them anyway.

"Fuck them all, Isis," he said, shaking his head," this is messed up." He unclenched his fists, glancing up at her. "You know you're always welcome to stay at Will's house. I've offered before, but I mean it."

She evaded his gaze, her arms crossed so tightly her nails seemed to cut off blood flow.

"It's fine," she said," it's fine."

Before he could say more someone interrupted them with a voice so loud and dramatic it could only be one person.

"Levivianne Peterson, I always knew you had it in you, but this early in the year? I can't say I'm surprised."

"Is he alright?" Will fretted.

"Don't you all have PE to attend?" Ella said," what is Clarkson even doing here in the first place?"

"When you ran off and stayed gone he decided to go after you," Alex said, voice suspenseful as he glanced at Levi," he would soon come to regret that however, because he provoked our school's dragon's hidden wrath..."

"Oh fuck off, Alex, I told you I don't want a villain backstory."

"I don't even need to think one up anymore at this point, Peterson, you just gave yourself one."

Will crouched down by Clarkson's side, checking his pulse. He paled then, looking up at them with wide eyes.

"Oh my God," he said," he's dead."

"Shit, really?" Alex frowned, stepping closer.

Clarkson grasped his ankle then, causing a shriek so high-pitched it made the birds in the trees scatter to leave his lips. All of them looked in horror as their vice-principal opened his eyes, looking around at them dramatically.

"I am alive," Clarkson said.

"Oh my God," Will said," he's alive."