CLARKSON WAS VERY MUCH alive. Hell, Ella didn't know why she was surprised, a part of her doubted the man could die. Alex practically had a heart attack, remaining frozen as Clarkson let his ankle go. He got to his feet with a groan, rubbing his forehead as he looked around, grabbing the icepack from the floor. Will was watching him wide-eyed, Isis had taken a step back, only Levi nodding at him like he hadn't just casually discussed his murder.

"Who threw this?" Clarkson frowned.

"Why are you assuming someone threw it?" Ella said.

In response Clarkson raised his eyebrow. "Did it fly at my head itself?"

Ella was about to continue until Clarkson would let it go when Isis spoke up, her voice clear.

"It was me," she said, scraping her throat," sorry, I guess. I didn't mean to hit you."

Clarkson's gaze flicked to Isis for the first time then, seeming to only notice now the bruises on her skin. His expression faded into something softer as he shook his head, tapping against his head.

"It's fine because it's me," he said," don't throw this at other teachers, alright? They might actually die."

Isis' eyes widened in surprise at the lack of a scolding, but before she could say something Clarkson continued.

"Is it alright if we talk after class, Isis?"

"About my punishment?" she said.

"No," he said," I'm not going to punish you." As soon as the realization dawned on her face, Clarkson changed the subject, a frown on his face as he turned to the boys. "By the way, if you all thought I was dead, why was no one grieving, you scoundrels?"

"I was still processing it, sir," Alex said, finally seeming to have gotten over his shock as he placed a hand on his heart," the thought of having no one to pester at St Joseph was a dark one for me."

"The thought of St Joseph itself is dark," Levi muttered.

"I am glad you're alive," Will beamed," you're my favorite teacher."

"I better be," Clarkson huffed," now come on, back to class."

He walked ahead, Will and Alex close behind, but Levi remained with her and Isis for a moment. His gaze flicked between the two of them, like he was assessing if they would jump each other after he left. When he concluded they wouldn't he walked over to Ella, reaching out his hand to her. She looked down at it, before glancing back up at him.

"What?" she said.

"Come back," he said simply.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you couldn't be without me," she smiled.

"I don't want to be," he said.

For some reason he reminded her of a puppy now, even though she knew the comparison would make him frown, so she took his hand. With a look over her shoulder at Isis she waited for her roommate to come, but she shook her head.

"Later, maybe," she said.

"Will you be here tonight?" Ella asked.

Even though she wasn't specific, it was clear she was talking about their dorm. Isis hadn't been sleeping here at all ever since the start of the year and though Ella didn't think they were anything close to friends yet, at least the girl had somehow gotten to a point where she could look at her without screaming. She supposed that was a step forward. Despite the fact that she was Levi's ex, Ella still stood behind the fact that if Isis acted normal to her, she wouldn't mind becoming closer. If they were going to be roommates for the following years, they might as well not be enemies.

Isis seemed surprised by the question for some reason, like she had expected Ella to curse at her or tell her to stay away. She tugged a lock of dark hair behind her ear, gaze evading the sight of her and Levi together as she nodded.

"Probably," she said," I don't know."

"I'll see you then," Ella smiled.

"Yeah," Isis said, looking a bit awkward almost, like she wasn't sure what to do with anything other than animosity.

Levi spoke again, involuntarily squeezing Ella's hand in his silent anger. "I know Clarkson's offered before, but please do go. I've talked with him as well, about..." His jaw tensed, in the way it always did when he got stressed, and he shook his head, his locks falling in front of his face. "If you don't want to talk with me, at least talk with him."

The way Isis looked at Levi was with the kind of adoration someone would have for a god, to the point of faithfulness almost. Sam and her might not have worked, but at least that had been more of a clash of personalities than anything else. Ella felt bad for Levi for a moment. Being put on a pedestal was terrible, especially if someone relied on that idea of you like it was the only thing holding them afloat.

"I will," she said and Ella knew for a fact she meant it, just because Levi had said so.

He seemed to know that as well, a flash of discomfort crossing his face, like her dependence on him made him unable to breathe at times. Ella squeezed his hand back, if only to let him know silently that he didn't need to carry all that responsibility alone, that she was here for him. The tension flowed out of him as he looked at her, something warm in his eyes.

"I'm glad you're alright," he said as they started walking.

"Were you worried?" Ella said.

"Yeah," he said, calloused hand grazing her cheek as his gaze flicked to her lips for a moment," you do attract trouble wherever you go."

"Do I?" she teased, leaning forward," isn't that the reason we got together in the first place?"

Before he could kiss her Clarkson called out to them then, waving wildly at them.

"Peterson, Martinez, stop fooling around!"

Levi didn't react to Clarkson whatsoever, still close to her, and Ella chuckled against his lips, amused.

"I think he wants us to come," she said.

"I don't care," Levi murmured.

"Scandalous," she said.

"How dare you two be lovey-dovey in front of me," Alex whispered right in between them.

Ella practically yelled in surprise as she stepped back, Alex somehow having gotten close while she had been too busy focusing on Levi. He smiled once he saw the reaction, ignoring Levi's scowl as he victoriously made a peace sign towards Will and Clarkson in the distance.

"I succeeded in my mission, boss," he grinned.

"Good job, Alexander," Clarkson nodded.

"I'm so close to fighting you, Alex," Levi said," your position as my childhood friend won't keep you alive for much longer."

"It kept me alive until now, that counts for something," Alex grinned.

Ella placed a hand on Levi's shoulder at the same time he moved, stopping him in place.

"Eleanora," he said," I have to, a scar or two will build character for him."

"It actually will," Alex said, tapping his eyebrow," can you give me one here? I've always loved those, they're so cool."

"You're cool enough on your own, Alex," Will called out to them.

Alex blew him a kiss and they all moved back towards the field, ready to finish the lesson. In their teacher's absence the students had decided to just brawl, but Clarkson didn't even seem fazed. He broke up the fights easily as he pulled a few people along, before forming teams for a match of soccer. Surprisingly they complied, but that might just have been because the thought of kicking a ball at someone's face was tempting to most of them.

The bell rung and announced the end of class, Ella laughing as she walked with Ava back to the building. Right as she got off the field Clarkson called her back, causing her to look up in surprise. He had spared Isis, but perhaps he was going to give her a scolding instead? Levi moved to follow her, but she gestured at him that it was fine, pecking him on the cheek as she walked towards their vice-principal.

"I just wanted to have a quick talk," Clarkson said," before I head over to Isis."

"Is it about what happened earlier?" Ella asked.

"What? No, that's nothing," he said, waving it away with a hand," this is about something drastically worse."

Ella frowned, unsure what it could be. Had she caused trouble again? She couldn't remember doing so, but perhaps she had broken something without realizing it? Clarkson's expression was so grave she couldn't help but feel tense for a moment, but before she could linger on it any longer he spoke again, voice low and dramatic.

"I am up for the position as principal," he said.

"Congrats?" Ella said confusedly.

"No, you don't understand," Clarkson said, shaking his head," that means there's an opening for the spot as PE teacher."

"Are you telling me to apply?" Ella chuckled.

"No," Clarkson said," there's an opening and Sebastian's probably going to get it."