ELLA GAVE UP AND followed Alex' lead, Levi silently downing drink after drink as well. The both of them stopped for a moment when they noticed how easily Elisabeth was keeping up with Alex. It was surprising considering the girl seemed to be all flowery perfume and bubbly smiles, but she didn't even hesitate while doing shot after shot. The boys had positioned themselves on either side of Alex, Ella to the side opposite Levi. Will smiled at her, looking around to check if everyone was having a good time.

"Do you want a drink?" he offered Mia, once he noticed her without a full glass.

"No, thank you," she smiled," I don't drink."

"Why?" Alex said, already a bit unstable as he raised his glass," there's nothing as fun as blacking out in the weekend."

"I don't know," Mia shrugged," I just never felt the need to. But it's fine! I can drink water and have fun beside you all too."

"I'll join you," Will said, offering her a bright smile," we'll stay hydrated together."

"You hear that, Lisa?" Alex said disapprovingly," we've lost a few soldiers already." He glanced at her. "By the way, can I call you Lisa?"

"You're the second person beside my best friend to call me Lisa," Elisabeth drawled, her cheeks flushed as she rested one on her hand. "Most call me Beth."

"I live to stand out," Alex said, the pure vodka in his glass swishing as he clinked it against her," let's take a shot for that. You too, Levi, come on."

Levi's gaze flicked to his full glass, before he shrugged and just went along. Elisabeth had pinned her hair up in a mess of golden curls, but it was cascading down her back now, waves as soft as her giggles. Alex' smile didn't reach his eyes quite, though he too seemed to be halfway to wasted, cheeks blooming and blouse unbuttoned further, so the skin under his collarbone became visible as well. Will and Mia were a sharp contrast to that, Will just a bit tipsy from the drinks he had until now and Mia taking a sip from her water.

"Alex," Ella said, noticing a slight slur in her voice already as she stood up," give me the key and I'll grab something beside water to drink for them."

"Do five shots and I'll think about it," Alex said, pouring the drinks and flashing her a grin.

"I'll do them," Levi said, taking the first shot glass before she could even reach for it.

He downed one after the other without flinching, so quick Alex let out an impressed whistle. Levi didn't react to that, just wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he stared at Alex.

"Give her the key," he said.

"I never expected to see you being this gallant, Levi," Alex said," it's making me want to bully you."

"Give it," Levi said.

Right when he turned to Alex to grab it his friend jumped to his feet, almost stumbling backwards but regaining balance again not much later. He fished the key out of his pocket, holding it high, but Levi didn't look that impressed. Considering the fact that he was taller than Alex Ella was sure he wasn't, though Alex seemed to be too busy keeping himself upright to really think his plan through.

Elisabeth cheered for him, Will joining in as Mia watched them with a soft amusement. Alex bowed dramatically at them in response to the cheers, only stopping to hold eye contact with Levi. They stood absolutely still for a moment and just when Ella was about to intervene Levi moved towards Alex. He was quick, but Alex could read him easily, a result of their years of friendship, and started running.

"What's wrong, Levianne?" he called out, already on Ella's balcony.

"This is my fault," Levi murmured," I should have smacked you on the head the first time you called me Levioli."

"That was a good one," Alex said, staring out of the window nostalgically," I peaked at that point."

He was about to say more when Levi suddenly reached for the key, causing Alex to blink and jerk back. It all happened in slow motion then, the key falling out of his hands, hitting nothing but air. Will's lips parted in an 'o' and Levi blinked, Alex simply watching the key fall.

"So," Alex said slowly, turning back towards them," you have another key, right?"

Levi raised his eyebrows at him, but before Alex could even say anything else he was already leaning over the balcony. Ella walked towards them, ready to stop Levi if for some reason he decided to jump down two floors. Honestly, both Alex and Will would probably follow soon after, so she was the only hope they had of not breaking anything tonight.

"I'll call Sebastian," she said.

"No," Levi said," I'll do it."

"You're not," Ella smiled at him, grabbing his wrist," but it's cute you think I'm letting you injure yourself."

Levi's gaze flicked to her hand on his skin, eyes clear gold when he looked back at her. As she looked at him, right then and there, she knew he had made a stupid decision. He jumped over the balcony railing without skipping a beat and she rushed to the side, fast enough to see him hanging on it for a second.

"I'll be right back," he said.

"You do realize you have bones, right?" Ella said," like those things in your body which can snap."

"Is this a threat?" Levi frowned up at her.

Before she could even reply he flashed her a grin, one which told her he had had too much to drink, and then he let go. He dropped himself on the thin windowsill right below her balcony and then jumped on the fence seperating her and Faiza's garden. It all went so smoothly she didn't even have time to complain, but when he did a victory pose, she decided not to.

"I'm coming as well," she said," stay there."

She jumped over, her movements smoother after years of sneaking back in her house at night. Normally she came from the window at the front, one which had a tree beside it and allowed her to climb, but she didn't mind this challenge. Levi spread out his arms for her to fall in and she shook her head, laughing.

"We're both going to get a lot of scratches if I do," she said," there are rose bushes right behind you."

"I don't mind you scratching me," he said.

"Levi!" Alex called out," keep it child friendly, Will is here."

Will didn't even seem offended, instead beaming at Levi and Ella.

"You guys are like Tarzan and Jane," he said.

"Are we all going down?" Mia frowned," because I won't be able to make it a floor down without dying."

"It's fine," Will smiled at her," we're here to catch you."

"This is giving me some major Rapunzel vibes," Elisabeth said.

She locked eyes with Alex and they burst out in a fit of laughter, leaving Will to look back at Mia.

"You have me," he corrected.

Mia's cheeks flushed red and she shook her head. "No, I wouldn't want to burden you." She glanced down. "Besides, aren't they bringing the key up?"

"This isn't our first rodeo with Ella and Levi going off," Alex said with a solemn look," we are not going to see the both of them for six hours and when we find them on a rescue mission they'll probably be dating."

Ella rolled her eyes and when she turned back to look at Levi the blood rushed to her head. She hadn't realized how much alcohol she had drunk until now, the fact that she was climbing down certainly not helping. Her head felt like it was filled with liquid dreams, all of them spilling over as soon as Levi called out to her.

"Eleanora," he said," jump."

So she did. Levi's arms closed around her as she fell in them, the wind pushing them both back. He was standing steady, carrying her weight with ease, and she laughed, the same soft-spoken amusement breaking through his expression as well.

"I was expecting a whole speech where you objected to me catching you," he said.

"You've grown on me," Ella said as she raised her hands from his chest to his face," besides, I have other ways to get on your nerves."

"Like?" he said, leaning in to her touch.

She let her gaze linger on his lips, tracing it with her thumb and raising her chin. His sharp intake of breath was barely audible above the carefree laughter of their friends, but when she pulled back at the last moment his dissatisfaction was much clearer.

"Like this," she smiled.

"Elean -" he began.

It was then the fence broke.