THOUGH HER FIRST DAY was yet to be over, it had been such a chaotic mess she couldn't help but wish to be in her room, sleeping. Still, Levi's presence was calming, no unnecessary chatter leaving his lips as he leaned against the wall, his hand resting on one of his knees. He watched her move through the room and collect some items, before she sat down on the chair beside the bed.

"This is going to hurt a bit," she said as she dabbed alcohol on the cotton wool she had found.

A brief twitch of his eyebrow was all that he showed though when she cleaned his wound, his gaze focused on her.

"You're quite good at this," he remarked as she started wrapping the bandage around.

"With Sebastian as an older brother I had to be," she chuckled," he comes home wounded almost every day, if not from a new fight, then from a fall he had because he wasn't paying attention." She smiled up at him. "You should be glad, otherwise we'd have to wait for the nurse to come here."

"I wouldn't have," he said simply," I don't like people touching me."

"And what am I?" she chuckled as she placed a small knot in his bandage.

His other hand cupped her chin, thumb resting on her lip. The silence of the room suddenly was very loud, intertwining with the synchronised sound of their breathing,

"It's different with you," he murmured, slowly letting his hand slide downwards, until it rested on the back of her neck.

"It better be," she teased," after the love confession you gave me back home."

"I don't remember yours anymore," he said, leaning forward," tell me again?"

"Whatever are you talking about?" she blinked innocently.

He pulled her closer all of a sudden, causing her to fall on the bed with him. They both lay there for a moment, the only movement the fluttering of the curtain, her hands on his chest and her legs tangled with his, their faces mere inches apart. Though it didn't feel like the right moment, she couldn't help but say the thought that had been lingering on her mind all day, only leaving her lips now it was just the two of them.

"I hope Sam doesn't cause too much trouble here."

He tilted his head so his lips were brushing against her ear, the scent of his cologne dancing around her.

"I trust you, I do," he said, voice low," but is it bad that I feel the need to punch that fucker in his face every time he comes close to you?"

A smile tugged on her lips. "I didn't think you were that bothered."

"Of course I am," he frowned," I just didn't want to be too possessive. I can't promise I'll be on my best behavior if he touches you again though."

"You have been behaving good," she teased.

"Have I?" he murmured, his voice a tickle against her skin.

She cupped his cheeks in her hands and placed a fluttery kiss on his lips, a smile on her own as she pulled back. He didn't break eye contact and before she could say anything else his hand was on the nape of her neck again as he pulled her closer for another kiss. Footsteps interrupted them and she got off the bed, much to Levi's dismay, ignoring him as he tried to pull her back.

"Let me make a good impression on the nurse at least," she said amusedly," I don't want her to walk in on us."

"Let her," he said, his hand lingering on her wrist," who cares what anyone else thinks?"

"How scandalous you are, Peterson," she remarked, though she allowed herself to be pulled back by him," and here I was thinking you were a serious guy."

A smile tugged at his lips as he brushed them against hers, voice a low murmur. "Tell me, am I in your thoughts all day, Eleanora?"

Before she could give a retort the door handle rattled, causing her to step back from Levi, the nurse walking in at that moment. She didn't look surprised to see Levi there, instead simply shaking her head and gesturing for him to stay seated as she walked to her desk. Ella guessed her to be in her fifties, gray streaks through her dark hair and wrinkles softly lining her eyes, the scent of lemon tea and sweet taffy hanging around her.

"At least you managed longer than last year," she huffed, glancing back at him," where are your friends? I assume they jumped in whatever fight this was you got in too?"

"No, just me," Levi replied. He pushed himself off the bed then, holding up his bandaged hand. "It got taken care of though, so it's fine. Thank you, ma'am."

"I apologize for using your stuff without asking," Ella said as the nurse inspected Levi's hand, a questioning gaze in her eyes," I just -"

The woman interrupted her with a wave of her hand, a half-smile on her face. "Oh, don't worry about it, dear. I'm just glad Levi here finally allowed someone to tend to his wounds. It took him two years before he accepted my help."

Levi frowned, looking like he'd rather not have this talked about at all, but Ella just smirked at him, teasingly nudging his shoulder with hers.

"Is that so?" she drawled.

"It is not," Levi deadpanned.

"Oh, he's being shy!" the nurse chuckled. She ignored Levi's scowl, focusing her gaze on Ella instead. "The bandage has been applied well, I assume you cleaned the wound?" When Ella nodded she patted Levi on the back. "Then it's fine, if the both of you need anything else, you know where to find me."

Once the two of them were in the hall Ella laughed, turning to look at Levi as they headed towards their classroom.

"I want you to know that I did in fact not get shy," Levi said," my cool exterior mirrors my emotions perfectly."

"It really does not," she said amusedly," it reflects only mild annoyance at most."

"Like I said," he stated," my frown conveys everything it needs to convey."

"And what is that?" she said.

"For people to stay away from me," he said.

Right before they could head up the set of stairs to the second floor, Levi called her name, causing her to stop. The hall was completely empty surprisingly, less people skipping class than she had thought, but knowing Clarkson he probably was the cause of that. She looked at Levi questioningly, a serious expression on his face.

"I won't let anything like today happen to you again, Eleanora," he said," I really mean that. These fights and all, I don't care about them, but you -"

She took his unwounded hand in hers, squeezing it gently, and he breathed out, a bit of tension leaving him. With a slow shake of his head he looked at her, in that way he did which made butterflies dance in her mind. There wasn't anything hidden in the small space between them, all the secrets and confusion she was used to with other guys becoming so simple with him. The midday sun washed him gold, his expression undecipherable.

"Alex told me to wait," he said," and I know this is quick, but every time I see you it's the only thing I think of. I really don't care to make things complicated, but I want to do it right with you - I don't want to fuck this up."

"What are you talking about?" she said, though she knew the answer.

He leaned forward, searching her eyes for something as he replied, his words escaping with the wind.

"About you being with me," he murmured.

"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend, Levi?" she said softly.

"Are you saying yes?" he said.

She raised her eyebrows, leaning against the wall and looking up at him, an innocent smile on her face.

"I didn't hear a question," she said.

A faint smile tugged at his lips, before he spoke again, the intensity of his gaze causing her heart to skip a beat.

"Eleanora," he said, her name almost like a wish on his tongue," do you want to be my girlf -"

"Oh hell no, we aren't doing this."

Their gazes snapped to the person standing at the top of the stairs, all anger and confusion, that impulsivity that always colored him silver now drenching him in red instead.

"Sam," Ella warned.

But before she could say anything else her ex punched Levi right in the face.