"TELL ME, WHAT'S YOUR plan, big, bad wolf?" she teased, glancing at the crowded ballroom to her right," you know chaos usually ensues when we stay away for too long."

"Let it," he murmured, leaning his forehead against hers," I wanted to be with you for a second, away from all of it."

"You're cuter than I'd like to admit," she smiled, pressing a fluttery kiss on his lips," so I suppose I'll go along with you."

He placed a hand on her cheek, kissing her back, whispers curling around her as he pulled back.

"It's not like you can resist me anyway," he said.

"Having Alex as your best friend really affected you," she sympathized.

Levi sighed, shaking his head. "I can't even deny that, it was a traumatizing experience, honestly."

"Then it's fortunate you have me now," she chuckled, placing her arms around his neck as she looked up at him.

She could follow the entire pattern of his mask from up this close, the way his autumn-soaked eyes watched her like she was a breath of fresh air underwater. His dark locks tickled against her skin, calloused fingers gentle as he tugged at the ribbon of her mask, taking it off without breaking eye contact.

"Fortunate indeed," he said quietly, lips pressing on her cheek, before he kissed her again.

Right at that moment he was pulled off her by his collar, Levi's fists already clenched as he turned around, eyebrows raised. When he locked eyes with the person behind him he immediately relaxed again, though Ella knew it probably would have been better for it to be a stranger.

"What the hell is going on here?" Sebastian snapped.

Her brother's usual amused expression had been exchanged for a frown, but he always got overprotective when it concerned her. Ever since their father had died he always had taken too much on his shoulders, but though she appreciated it, most of the time she found it annoying. Now was one of those times. Hell, she had been calling this man for days now and somehow he showed up at a ball?

"What are you doing here, Seb?" she said.

The gray suit he was wearing suited his caramel skin, but the knot in his tie was the worst she had ever seen. He didn't seem to have noticed that at all though, instead shaking his brown hair out of his eyes, hand still on Levi's collar.

"I am a man of the people," he said," they invite me everywhere. Now answer my question. Why are you standing in a dark hallway with my little sister, Levi?"

"You mean my girlfriend," Levi said, not bothered by Sebastian tugging at him.

"Nothing was happening," Ella said with a roll of her eyes, pointing at Sebastian's tie," and by the way, that is horrible, do it again."

"It is not," Sebastian said, betrayal coloring his voice as he glanced down," I looked it up on Wikihow."

"You want me to do it?" Levi offered.

"Oh, actually -" Sebastian began, before stopping himself," wait, I'm still mad at you."

"Shouldn't I be the angry one?" Ella said, leaning against the wall," you haven't been answering my calls at all."

"Don't blame me for that," Sebastian shrugged," I lost my phone, so I haven't been answering anyone at all."

"How did you lose your phone?" Ella said," and again, what are you actually doing here?"

"I have no idea," Sebastian said, grip on Levi's collar loosening as his attention wandered," I put it somewhere, I think, but only God knows where now. As for the second, I am Faiza's date here."

"Faiza's here?" Ella beamed, warmth immediately filling her at the mention of her close friend and neighbour.

"Yeah," Sebastian said, mirroring her affection as he looked away towards the ballroom for a second," I had a match, so she told me she would wait for me here when I was finished." He proudly waved at himself. "I clean up well, don't I?"

"Are you still going to scold me?" Levi said, pointing at Sebastian's hand on his collar," if not, can you let me go?"

"I am not finished with you yet, young man," Sebastian scowled.

"You are literally only two years older," Levi deadpanned.

"Yeah, so show some respect," Sebastian huffed," you know my age, not my story."

"Your hobby is talking, Sebastian, I know literally every story about you."

"Curse my warm and social personality," Sebastian whispered under his breath.

"I told you," Levi nodded solemnly," not speaking at all is the way to go, man. You conserve so much energy."

"But where am I supposed to use all that energy then?" Sebastian asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"You two are literally talking nonsense," Ella said, interrupting them before they could go on any longer," I was going to ask you this over the phone, Seb, but considering you are here now this seems like the perfect time."

"I am broke," Sebastian said, holding up a hand towards her," so no can do, lil sis, I can't lend you money."

"I know," she said," with the way you spend it I'm not surprised. You have a human-sized cardboard cutout of Dwayne Johnson in your room."

"My rock in tough times," Sebastian smiled.

He didn't even wait for them to reply to that pun, instead laughing so hard he doubled over, letting Levi go in his amusement. Levi tugged his collar straight again, not saying anything but conveying a whole conversation at Ella through his stare. She shook her head at his wordless plan to escape, because knowing Sebastian he would chase.

"Come on, Levi," Sebastian said, slapping him on the back when he was able to speak through his laughter again," if you want to get in my good graces you at least have to pretend I'm funny."

"Haha," Levi said without a change of expression.

Ella could feel the conversation get derailed again, the way it always did so easily with Sebastian. So before he could say something she spoke, her question causing Levi's gaze to widen.

"Are you coming to St Joseph?"

"How did you hear?" Sebastian smiled surprisedly," did Clarkson tell you? That man loves me, I swear, even though he pretends he doesn't."

"I am quite certain you give him nightmares," Ella said," but yeah, he told me. Apparently you're taking over the spot as PE teacher?"

"Starting next week," he nodded, eyes glittering," they asked me and I immediately knew I had to say yes."

"Your boxing matches?" Levi asked, cocking his head to the right.

"I'll figure it out," Sebastian said, waving the worries away with a hand," I live from moment to moment."

"Faiza is going to scold you," Ella said," never mind her, our mother is going to kill you."

"But I'm going to have fun," Sebastian grinned," I can't fight forever, perhaps I should go into teaching for real." He glanced over at Levi. "You support me, right?"

"I'm having mixed emotions," Levi said," considering I'm dating your sister."

"I will snitch on you to Faiza," Ella threatened.

"You will not, I was going to tell her myself," Sebastian said," so if I hear you say a word I will snitch back."

"About what?" Ella exclaimed.

"There you are!"

Faiza's voice was warm as she neared, her long emerald dress swishing around her feet, a matching gray mask studded with green jewels on her face. She looked beautiful, with her long midnight hair down, the grace she always carried easily catching the attention of everyone around her. When she reached Sebastian, she placed a hand on his shoulder, pecking him on the cheek, turning towards them after. As soon as she recognized Ella, her smile widened, surprise coloring her eyes.

"Ella, Levi," she said," it's so wonderful to see you two. Did you come along with Sebastian?"

"No," Ella said," a friend of ours knows the host. It's really nice to see you too, Faiza."

Sebastian was mouthing threats at her from over Faiza's shoulder, immediately stopping and smiling innocently when she looked back at him. She tugged his tie loose, tying it with ease as she continued asking Sebastian about his day. His usual confidence always left him when she was closeby, words tumbling across each other as he answered in the most incoherent way. Somehow she was able to understand him, taking an emerald mask out of her bag and placing it on his face, pecking him on the cheek as soon as she was finished.

"You look dashing," she said.

"I am literally infatuated with you," he said, his eyes quiet as they focused on hers, like she was the only thing that mattered.

She chuckled, softly shaking her head. "You know how much I adore you as well, Bash, you're too gentle for this world."

"What is she talking about?" Levi whispered to her," Sebastian's first reaction to anything is violence."

As if to prove it, he waved a hand at his collar, eyebrows raised. Ella coughed to cover up her laugh, leaning against Levi behind her and looking up at him, eyes glittering amusedly.

"You are too bitter for this world, Levi," she said.

"I'll take that confession of love," he replied, gaze not leaving hers.

Sebastian interlaced his hand with Faiza's then after she told him something, her gentle expression seeming a bit worried. She turned towards them, voice drawing their attention.

"I am sorry for having to leave so soon," she said," but a friend of mine is having a small problem." Her eyes lit up then as she remembered something. "You two actually know her."

"I don't think so," Levi said," I know like five people."

"I'm pretty sure she's talking about Elisabeth, Levi," Ella said. Beside her he frowned for a second, before it finally dawned on him who she was a full moment later, but Ella had already turned towards Faiza. "Is she alright? Do we need to come with?"

"You can," Faiza said," but be prepared, she is very drunk at this moment."

"There is alcohol here?" Sebastian said, interest piqued, before quickly closing his mouth and nodding along instead.

"By the way, one last note," Faiza said," no matter what happens, we can't let Alex and Reyan get close to her tonight."