will's pov during the party!

WILL SMILED AS THEIR glasses clinked against each other, Alex cheering to a good night. Being with his friends always felt like summer, even though winter was already starting to kiss the trees with frost. Seeing Ava and Alex talk together without fighting made him relieved as well, healing from heartbreak was never easy after all. They had come so far though, despite the bumps on the way. He just wished for them to be happy.

"You're thinking sweet things again, aren't you?"

His eyes were surprised as he looked at Mia, who was glancing at him over her glass of sparkling water. Though he had already told her she looked beautiful today, the words were back on his tongue again, but he swallowed them before he would blush. Her jet black hair was braided loosely, a few locks framing her face, white mask speckled with blue flowers the same color as her dress. She always made him feel at ease, even if he couldn't quite explain why.

"What makes you think so?" Will said.

"The look on your face," she said, glancing at him like she was mesmerized almost," you just radiate warmth."

"Perhaps I radiate warmth thinking about awful things," he said, a playful smile tugging at his lips," who knows?"

"Do you?" she said.

"No," he replied, before letting his gaze wander from Alex and Ava back to her," I just think you're all so amazing, I am glad to have you as my friends."

Alex threw an arm around Will's shoulder, a big grin on his face. "William, is this a love confession to me I am hearing? You know I'm usually hard to get, but for you I'll make an exception."

"When are you hard to get?" Ava said, raising an eyebrow.

"Touché," Alex laughed," but in my defense, I couldn't deny the world my charming personality, it would be a sin."

Ava chuckled, Alex downing the champagne glass in his hands and grabbing another one of a tray as a butler passed by.

"So," Alex said, turning his attention towards Mia," where is that fiancé of yours? If he tries to fight Will again I have to at least stay somewhat sober to back my boy up."

"We aren't going to fight, Alex," Will reassured him," so there's no need for Mia to worry."

"Okay good," Alex said, smirking as he raised his cup to his lips again," because I was lying, I don't need to be sober at all to take him down, but it will make me cause a scene."

"That's your fourth one," Ava said, tapping his wrist," I'm not telling you to slow down, but I'm not holding back your hair when you puke."

"You know, I've decided I can only enjoy the world through an alcoholic lens today," Alex said, taking a sip," anyway, what do I have to lose? I've already made an enemy today anyway, might as well make more." He placed a hand above his eyes, peering around the room. "Besides, public enemy number one already ran off with his girlfriend, so it's my turn to be the bitter man in this room now. It's a heavy role, but it's one I will carry with pride."

"Alex," Will said, a hand on his friend's back," if you want to talk to Elisabeth, it's best to do it now. I know you, waiting like this only will make you more frustrated."

For a moment Alex was silent, before downing his glass and nodding.

"Damn you, William," he said," if it was anyone else but you I could at least have protested and bullied the person. I guess you're right, I should." He grabbed two flutes from another butler then, smiling widely at them. "Doesn't mean I have to arrive sober though."

With that he was gone in the crowd, Will hesitating whether he should go after him in support or not. It was Ava's hand on his wrist which held him back as she shook her head.

"He needs to solve this on his own, Will," she said," there's no use in you helping him."

"How are you feeling, Ava?" Will asked, taking care not to let his worry seep through too much, because he knew Ava disliked that.

"I am fine," she said, though her grip on her glass was a little too tight," it's not my place to force my emotions in a situation I am not a part of anymore."

"That doesn't mean you're not allowed to feel something still," Mia said softly.

"I guess," Ava said," but while Alex drowns his problems in alcohol and jokes, I'll simply solve mine on my own." She raised her glass, confident smile on her face. "Cheers to that and to this dress, because I look amazing in it."

"You do," Will said," and you know if you ever need a listening ear -"

"Yes, Will," she said, squeezing his cheek affectionately," you are made of sugar, but I love you for it."

She blew a kiss towards Mia then, waving at the both of them. "Anyway, I am going to enjoy myself on the dance floor and find a rich man, or woman, somewhere in this party. I'll see you two later, or not, if I found someone who has a yacht."

Will chuckled, Mia shaking her head.

"All the men with a yacht here are in their fifties," she said.

"She's kidding," Will said, before adding," I hope."

"By the way," Mia said, leaning against the wall," how are you, Will?"

"What?" he said, surprised by the question.

"You always are thinking of others," she said, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear," I just wanted to make sure you're happy now as well."

He stared at her for a moment too long and when he spoke he had to scrape his throat, voice almost seeming lost.

"I am," he said," thank you. I am with you now, after all."

He reached out his hand to her then, something soft fluttering in his heart when he spoke.

"Would you grant me a dance, Mia?"

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at his hand and back at him, pink tinting her cheeks when she nodded.

"Of course," she said, beginning to stammer once she placed her hand in his," I am so clumsy though, so please forgive me if I step on your toes."

"Only because it's you," he teased, holding her hand tighter as he pulled her on the dance floor.

He twirled her around, hand on her lower back and the other intertwined with hers, careful to change the pace to fit hers. The piano music guided them along, but she kept her gaze downwards, ears red as she shyly followed along. In response he gently leaned forward, tilting his head to catch her gaze.

"Are you alright?" he said.

"I -" she said, pausing for a moment as she stared at him, before reddening completely," there's nothing wrong, it's just that -"

He smiled pleasantly as he waited for her to finish her sentence, not hurrying her.

"You look very dashing," she murmured.

"What?" he blinked.

"It's just that you look very dashing," she repeated, glancing up at him as her words tumbled across each other, like she was afraid she would lose the courage soon," it's hard to hold your gaze, you're so bright."

His lips parted in surprise, but she continued on.

"I don't mean that in a bad way," she said," I simply mean that it's hard to think someone so lovely as you exists. You said you were glad to have us as friends before, but I truly think we should be the ones thankful for you."

He stopped in his tracks, Mia accidentally bumping against his chest when he didn't move backwards. She stared up at him, her nose red from the impact and eyes filled with worry.

"Did I say something wrong?" she said.

Will covered his face with his hands, dipping his head as he shook his head.

"No," he murmured," but don't look at me right now, I think I'm making a weird face."

That silenced her and when he opened his fingers to look at her, she had her hands on her burning cheeks, looking almost dazed.

"Mia?" he said, pulling his hands away as he stepped forward.

"That's not fair," she said," you're way too cute."

"You are the cute one here," he protested, placing his hand on top of hers, the warmth of her blush seeping through. He leaned in, the distance between them short as he checked to see if she was okay. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" she said, voice almost a whisper.

"I just am," he said, not moving his hand because he knew the boundary was drawn there for them.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Someone grabbed his wrist, trying to pull it off, but failing in strength. When Will noticed who it was he complied, almost pulling along the guy as he took a step back.

"You again?" Vinh hissed at him," can you stop touching my fiancée, you freak?"

"Vinh!" Mia frowned, looking genuinely angry," apologize to him right now."

"What?" Vinh said, taken aback by Mia's response," he was the one being all inappropriate with you, Mi-Ja!"

"It's alright," Will said, interrupting him before he could argue any further. He was smiling when he looked back at Mia, but for some reason his heart ached. "Don't get angry for me, Mia, I want you to have a good night. I was the one overstepping here, I apologize."

"That's right," Vinh huffed.

Mia however simply stared at him with an undecipherable expression, lips parting.

"Will," she began, but before she could say anymore Will's gaze snapped towards the right.

"Reyan is fighting out there," an old man said to Clarkson," I saw those delinquent students of yours pick a fight."

"Who won?" Clarkson said.

"Not the right question, Bas," Sahar frowned at him," are they alright?"

He was already off before he could hear the answer, but it wasn't only his want to help his friends which seemed to make him move. He felt like hitting something, like swinging his bat, like running —

"Will!"

Mia had caught up to him, panting as she placed a hand on her heart. "Wait, I'll come with."

"What about Vinh?" Will said," are you sure? I don't want you to get in a fight because of me."

"He'll wait," she said," I'm with you now."

Even though he knew it was selfish, he couldn't stop himself from smiling. And then he walked on the balcony and heard a name which Levi hadn't spoken in years. All his thoughts and feelings were gone, one sole thing on his mind then as he looked at his brother.

"Levi," he said.