SAMUEL VANDEPUTTE WAS BEAUTIFUL. He always had had the face of an angel and the mind of a crack addict, but more importantly, he always had been so fun. The way he existed only in extremes had been adorable to her - he never was a mere breeze, always a full on storm. Once he had been able to sweep her off her feet easily, later on all it did was make her unable to breathe.

"Nora," he said, the nickname only he used for her soft on his tongue, like a caress.

"He's your ex?" Ava whispered to her, looking impressed. "The boy is fine."

"Oh no," Will said, eyes widening," he looks way friendlier than Levi." He placed a hand on Ella's shoulder. "El, remember than beneath that scowl of his there's a sweet guy."

"There's not," Ava said.

"Who's Levi?" Sam frowned.

They had been staring at each other through the shelves, but it seemed Levi's name had shaken him out of that stupor. Without even blinking Ella put the milk carton back on the shelf, closing the gap so he couldn't see her, and continued on walking.

"That was wildly uncomfortable," she said," let's move on."

"Are you alright?" Mia frowned, worry tinging her voice.

"Yeah," Ella said," just not about to be caught up in any drama."

"Nora! Nora, wait!"

She didn't listen, continuing to walk down the aisle. It wasn't like she was still angry at Sam for how messily their relationship had ended, but her interest in having an awkward conversation about it now was non-existent. Unfortunately for her it didn't look like Sam was thinking the same thing, because he rounded the corner then. He was just about to grab her by the wrist when Will stepped in between, none of his usual warmth visible.

"She walked away," he said," I don't think she wants to talk to you."

Sam pulled his wrist free, annoyance flashing through his eyes.

"I've known her for four years now," he said," I think I know her a bit better than you."

"Don't make this a competition, Sam," Ella said," I really don't care for it."

Whatever bright flame had burned in his eyes at Will's words, it died to a candlelight at hers. He took a step back, vulnerability coloring him soft. They had been best friends long before they had been anything else, back when everything was simpler between them. It had been a year after they had met that Sam had fallen in love with her and it didn't take her long to notice.

He never had been subtle, so once he started to insist on taking her home and stared at her dreamily during the lessons, she already had started to wonder what was off. Still, she wasn't sure if she felt the same, so she didn't say anything. It took him two months to gather the courage to ask her out, but she shot him down. They were fourteen - love was far from her mind at that time.

Sam didn't mind that much. They remained best friends and didn't speak about his crush again. It wasn't like they needed to, not when his girlfriends came as quickly as they went. She knew it wasn't because he was a player, but Sam said yes to anyone who asked him out. He always told her it was because he didn't want to break anyone's heart, but she didn't think that was the way to go.

They all broke up with him eventually anyway, because Sam apparently kept talking about her. He would skip dates to visit her, put his phone on silent when he was with her - hell, he even didn't go to meet the parents of the girl he was dating for her quinceañera. Only when she told him off for not prioritizing his girlfriends did he stop and when she had to miss him for two weeks she realized that her feelings had evolved into something more.

He was together with someone at that moment, so she didn't say anything, but when they broke up a week later she confessed. They were together for a year, one year which started off great and ended in flames. As friends they had been loud together, but as lovers it felt more and more like no one was listening.

She had gotten expelled from the high school they attended together for not adhering to the dress code time after time. There were no regrets on her part for that expulsion, even if the principal had told her to cover up her shoulders a hundred times, it wasn't her job to teach the boys to be respectful. Besides, she had gotten into a big fight with Sam just before, one where she had broken up with him. Summer had started quickly after and she had spent it in Venezuela and Mexico, with her family. Being away from him was a relief.

Yet here he was.

"Please, Nora," he said," I just want to talk to you. Where have you been this whole summer? And now I'm hearing you've been sent away to some camp?"

"This is not the time nor the place, Samuel," she said.

Hurt flashed over his face at his full name and he shook his head.

"Don't call me Samuel," he said," don't make it sound like we're strangers."

"This is getting intense," Ava murmured to Mia behind her.

"Should we help?" Mia whispered.

"I can hear you two," Ella said.

Sam glanced at them, but his attention was quickly back on her again.

"I've never seen you hang with them before," he said," and now that other guy you mentioned too - who the hell is Levi?"

"I am Levi."

Sam turned around at once, Levi standing a few feet behind him. He had his hands in his pockets, dark shadows accentuating his golden eyes, eyebrows raised and hair messy. It was a far cry from his usual combed back hairdo, but she knew he had just thrown on the first clothes he had seen and gone outside. Seeing him next to Sam was weird though and she sighed mentally, ready to answer the question about who Sam was to her.

It didn't come. Levi just tilted his head to the right, gesturing at her shopping cart.

"Are you done?" he said.

She was taken aback, but shook the surprise away.

"Not yet," she said.

"Then I'll help," he said, walking past Sam towards her.

Sam's gaze followed Levi, piercing like shattered glass when he leaned forward to look at the list.

"Are you her new boyfriend?" he said.

Levi looked up, bored, eyes taking Sam in. He didn't bother to give a reply, instead grabbing something a shelf above her and holding it up in front of her.

"Is that the right brand?" he said.

"Yeah, that's fine," Ella nodded.

"Okay, let's all go," Will said nervously, hands on their backs," we don't need anymore food."

"We only have fruit," Levi frowned.

Sam's brother had been waiting several feet behind him, but he stepped forward now, voice cautious.

"Let's go," he said," this isn't the right time."

"If not now then when?" Sam said," hell, Nora, why do you always run away when things get tough? We can still talk about this."

"Not right now, Sam," she said," I got too much on my plate already."

She wasn't surprised when he didn't listen, Sam never did. It wasn't because he didn't mean well, that she knew, and she supposed his ADHD didn't help with listening either. That didn't mean it didn't annoy her though, like it had when they were together. He blocked her way and she was about to tell him off when Levi shot into action, placing a hand on Sam's chest as a warning.

"Back up," he said.

Sam's eyes flamed up. "Or what? Are you going to hit me?"

Levi didn't say anything, instead standing still and staring at Sam. Ella almost choked on the testosterone in the air and she placed a hand on Levi's wrist to stop him from starting a fight in her local supermarket. Honestly, he didn't seem that angry yet, but Sam was unpredictable and she wasn't about to have her mother bail her possibly new boyfriend out of jail too today.

"Let's all calm down," Will said happily, clapping Sam and Levi on their shoulders," El said she'll talk to you later, respecting her wishes isn't hard."

Sam stared at him, looking confused at Will's smile. With that his annoyance died down, replaced by something gentler instead as he put his hands in his pockets.

"I didn't mean to bother you," he said, gaze a bit embarrassed as he trained it on the floor," whatever. I'll leave you alone."

Guilt shot through Ella. She had been annoyed at Sam for sure, not just because they fought, but because he didn't take the time to realize why. He kept on pushing and pushing, right until the moment their relationship tipped over the edge, and even now he hadn't changed. Still, that didn't mean she wanted to see him sad. In a way she still loved him, though she didn't know if it was romantically anymore.

"We'll talk later, Sam," she said," I'm home this week anyway, there's no rush."

Levi glanced at her, expression unreadable, and she hated how she now felt guilty towards him. Will however seemed happy the conflict was resolved, beaming together with Sam. After a happy nod Sam turned around, flashing her one last smile.

They bought the groceries and stepped outside, Levi somehow acting normal the whole time. Ella wasn't sure why she was so on edge about him, but it felt like he would ask her something any moment now. She knew how those questions went with guys and complicated relationships. Fighting was the last thing she wanted to do, especially with Levi, who made her feel so calm.

"Hey," Levi said and she prepared herself, already forming an answer he hopefully would understand.

"Yes?" she began, hesitatingly.

"Isn't that your brother running?"

There, at the end of the street, Sebastian was sprinting full speed towards them, her mother close on his heels and Faiza quite some distance behind her. People pointed, Sebastian yelled, her mother threw her shoe and Ella's lips parted.

"What the hell is happening?"