It's a long one...! Thanks for reading!

The next Monday at school, I found myself almost attached to Estelle. I hadn't ever seen her with any other friends, which was weird as she was so nice, but she seemed devoted to spending her time with me.

Not that I was complaining. She was sweet and kind, and always made me laugh. Even though I looked like a solid 4 next to her, I didn't really mind. She was turning into a really good friend.

Not wanting to abandon my other friends, we spent half our break times sitting at the table with Cara and Kimi. Although, when Estelle was there they seemed a little more reserved; less playful and more serious. I put it down to Estelle basically walking on clouds, and them not used to her.

The week went by full of assignments and boring uneventfulness. Friday last period I was sitting next to Estelle, pretending to understand what I was working on.

"Danni, you're coming to mine tonight," Estelle tapped her pencil on my paper to get my attention.

I blinked at her, still in a daze of number confusion. "I am?"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"I mean, sure. But don't you have anything better to do on a Friday night than accounting homework?"

She laughed. "No, silly. Not to study. To hang out, sleep over!"

I grinned. The invite to stay over was like the final acceptance into a friendship. "Okay, yeah, awesome. I'll let Alex know."

"Yay!" She squealed, before getting a stern look from our teacher.

Which was how I found myself standing at the door to the Crestwood house (mansion) yet again, with feelings of nerves and apprehension eating me alive.

"We're home alone for a while," Estelle breezed past me, giving me a knowing look. Damn that girl was attentive. "Levi has a late meeting, and then has to pick Georgia up from dance class."

I nodded, images of Levi with his younger sister making my heart skip a beat. I seriously had to sort out this thing with my body. It's like it was taking over me; I felt like it was uncontrollable and was basically taking over me. I really had no say in it, like it was electric or magnetic or something.

"Oh yeah," I replied casually. I followed Estelle inside and upstairs. I'd never been to the second floor of their house. It was as lovely as the downstairs, of course. I wondered where Levi's room was... No. Not important.

Estelle's room was the third door on the right, and I basically gasped when I walked in. It was about double the size of mine, with half the floor elevated a few steps higher than the rest. Her massive bed was up the top, nestled in front of a floor to ceiling glass wall exposing the beautiful grounds around their house. The lower level was lined with bookshelves and a beautiful antique dresser with a built in mirror. Two doors were to the left, leading to a bathroom and closet, no doubt.

"Chuck your bag wherever. You can borrow some clothes if you like, I know you didn't get a chance to pick up any stuff from your place," Estelle said, standing in the middle of her room rather self consciously.

"Thanks... This is a beautiful room. You have amazing taste," I said, still in awe.

She smiled. "Thank you. My mom and I did it, I haven't moved anything since."

"You must get your taste from her then," I smiled softly. She looked almost touched, and smiled wider.

"Here, I'll get you some clothes. You can change in the bathroom."

Dressed in a pair of shorts and a loose cotton top that probably cost three times as much as any item of clothing I owned, I stepped out of the bathroom. Estelle was dressed similarly, and I allowed myself to relax. This was okay. This was two girls having a quiet night in. Nothing to worry about. No one to worry about.

"I've never had a girls night..." Estelle admitted, sitting on the end of her bed.

"What, really?!"

"Yeah. I've never really had time to form lasting friendships," she said, pensively. I really found that hard to believe - she was such a nice, confident girl.

"Well, we better have the full experience then. Do you have avocados? We should start with facemasks." I grinned.

She laughed, clapped her hands together and jumped up, running out of the room.

--

Three hours later we'd done face masks, hair treatments, mani pedis, eyebrows and gotten through a large chunk of school-based gossip. I felt clean, fresh and well up to date with the most embarrassing stories of my classmates.

"Dinner?" Estelle asked, as she finished plaiting my hair back.

"God yes, I'm starving."

Of course their fridge and pantry was stocked. "What do you feel like?"

"Ooh, pasta! No. Nachos! Wait, no, I've got it - jacket potatoes! Oh how about pizza?"

Estelle widened her eyes and laughed. So I may have gotten a little excited about food. I may have jumped up and down a little. No harm done.

"Let's start with homemade pizzas, and if you're still hungry after that we can address all the other options," she laughed. I nodded eagerly.

Turns out, like most things, Estelle was an excellent cook. While I was searching in the freezer for readymade bases, Estelle was already mixing flour to make dough. I was instructed to get mozarella and prosciutto and chorizo out of the fridge, all of which took a significant amount of time considering I'd never cooked with them before. Needless to say, I was the chef's assistant.

Somewhere in between kneading the dough and throwing it into midair like they do in the movies, Estelle turned on the radio. We were chopping vegetables and singing to Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus at the top of our lungs, decked out with silly dance moves, the ones you do when no one is watching, and having the time of our lives.

Except someone was watching. Make that two someones.

I emerged from a butt-shaking spin and stopped, dropping the knife I was holding. Flushed red, I gulped, face to face with none other than Georgia and Levi. Estelle soon caught on and screamed a little, pausing the music.

Levi and Georgia stared at us, stared at each other and burst out laughing. I winced, dropping my head into my hands and slumping against the wall. Estelle threw tomatoes at her siblings, which did nothing except make them laugh harder.

I peeked out from behind my fingers, and smiled a little. Levi had a wonderful laugh. It lit up his whole face, all of the seriousness and pain that I was always seeing disappeared and left just this beautiful face full of happiness. I couldn't help but stare. I couldn't help but know that I'd make an idiot of myself in front of him again, just to see that unguarded laugh.

It seems I wasn't the only one who had noticed - Estelle was laughing along with her siblings, but staring at Levi with a certain kind of relief. I wondered what secrets the family had, what ghosts were haunting them. Well, asides from their parents being dead. That would be enough to destroy you.

Eventually, their laughter died down. God, we must have looked like idiots for them to laugh that hard. My face was bright red and I just wanted the floor to eat me whole. So much for being cool, calm and collected around Levi. Great impressions.

"That was the funniest thing I've ever seen," Georgia giggled, pulling herself up to one of the chairs across from the bench. I groaned, shaking my head in embarrassment.

"So glad we were entertainment for you guys," Estelle laughed.

Georgia put her hands in the air and started shaking them wildly like I'd been doing moments before, sparking another laughing fit.

"Okay we get it," I laughed, swatting her hands away.

"I don't imagine either of you have careers in performing," Levi stepped forward carefully, his face back to normal with only a slight hint of amusement in his eyes.

I shot him a look, and he gave me a half smile. I mentally hi-fived myself for having a normal interaction with him. I also tried to ignore my heart picking up its pace, in its usual telltale sign.

"Keep laughing at us and neither of you will have dinner," Estelle warned. Georgia mimed zipping her lips, and Levi smirked.

He was standing opposite us, leaning casually against the bench, and I was basically dying. I was glad I was blushing from the embarrassing dancing, or else he'd be able to tell that it's him specifically having an effect on me. I was proud that I managed not to practically pass out this time though, that was progress.

A phone rang, and Levi stepped aside to answer it.

"Did you have a good day?" Estelle asked her sister, as we returned to making the pizzas.

She nodded eagerly. "Yes! I finally understand percentages and fractions so that's a relief."

We chatted for a little while longer, until Levi stepped into the room. "Estelle, I have to go out. Emergency at work. You'll be okay here?"

Estelle looked concerned, but nodded. "Of course. We'll save you something to eat."

"Be good Georgia. Estelle, Danielle..." He lingered for a moment, that pained look flashing across his face, before turning and abruptly leaving the room. I felt like he took all my oxygen with him. Typically pathetic.

"So, do you like any boysss?" Georgia asked, grinning at me from across the counter.

Estelle laughed, and they exchanged a look. What, was I that obvious?! No, surely they just thought I was weird.

I shook my head. "Nah, guys are overrated. How about you, any guys you have a crush on?"

She rolled her eyes. "No way. I'm waiting for the right one."

I raised my eyes at Estelle. "Wow, that's very mature of you. I guess so am I then!"

Shortly, the pizzas were ready and we ate them in front of a movie. It got pretty late so Georgia went to bed, and we put another movie on. We'd set up the lounge with pillows and blankets, so it was no surprise that halfway through our third movie, I fell into a deep sleep.

LEVI'S POV

I was distracted. I knew I was. We had a potential security threat - the first serious one in years - and all I could think about was her, dancing around in my kitchen in those tiny shorts. She was probably sitting with my sisters now, laughing, talking... I should be there.

With all the mental strength I had, I shut down that part of my brain and attempted to focus on the situation at hand. One wrong move and we could have a war on our hands. I needed to remember there were more important things than Danielle, but my brain was having an incredibly hard time doing so.

For most people it was easy. You find the girl, make the connection. Simple. But with a human...

I wanted to hate her, to hate the situation, but I couldn't. God, how could I?! She was perfect. It just wasn't easy. I couldn't even touch her, comfort her. I couldn't imagine how confused she'd be feeling, as a human. I knew she was in pain, and god... It was overwhelming.

Seeing I wasn't in the right headspace, my team called the meeting to a close. We'd settled things enough so they wouldn't explode in the next few nights.

I couldn't get back fast enough. For now, knowing she was safe and happy with Estelle was enough. It would take time. I could do that. Or at least, I could try.

But let me tell you, I was having an incredibly hard time controlling myself. Think of the most natural instinct you have, multiply it by a thousand, and go against it. For me it felt like white hot irons stabbing into my skin. Dramatic, maybe, but these connections were not designed to go unacted upon.

Inside, the house was quiet, only faint murmurs from the TV were to be heard. I walked silently into the lounge, where both Estelle and Danielle were asleep. I stood there a moment, staring at her. I wondered if I'd ever get tired of looking at her. Every curve on her face, every freckle, was enchanting.

Estelle rolled over and woke up. She looked at me groggily. "Everything okay?" She whispered, rubbing her eyes.

I shook my head, then nodded. "For now. Don't worry about it, it will be okay."

She gave me a look. "Levi. C'mon."

She was a lot stronger than she looked, especially after our parents died. I sighed, exhausted, and sat down on the sofa next to Danielle. I would allow myself this.

"It's pretty bad. We're safe for now, but one wrong move..." Danielle was frowning in her sleep, her eyebrows pulled together and her body restless.

Estelle looked concerned. "If there's anything I can do..." I knew she meant that. And she actually really could help. She was amazing at negotiations.

"I might get you to come by tomorrow actually, have a chat with Ian." She smiled at me, pleased to help.

Danielle was looking more and more uneasy, as if she was in the middle of a nightmare. I bit my lip, taking a deep breath.

"You going to do something about that?" Estelle asked softly, nodding towards Danielle.

I hesitated, deliberating on whether that was a good idea or not. Screw it, if I could help her with at least this then that was something.

Gently, I moved closer to her and brushed my hand gently down her face. She was so soft. Sometimes, the touch of a mate was all it took; she responded instantly. The crease between her eyebrows disappeared and her face relaxed.

She sighed and shifted, causing me to go statue still. Her head came to rest on my shoulder, and I instinctively wrapped my right arm around her. I closed my eyes, exhaling. This was the most whole I had felt in weeks - it had been pain and emptiness having to stay away. Even though this would be short lived, it was enough.

The three of us sat there in silence for a while, Danielle's soft breaths fanning down my arm, calm and content. I ran my fingers gently up and down her arm, relishing the feel of her skin. Estelle pretended to watch the movie that was on, but I could tell she was just pretending to be distracted.

Eventually, like all good things, this came to an end. Estelle stood up, yawning. "I hate to do this, but it's almost 5am. She may be an early riser and she'd be more than a little freaked to wake up in your arms."

She was right. Of course she was. Sighing, I looked down at Danielle. "Let's take her upstairs."

I carried her to Estelle's room, smiling contentedly as she nestled into me as I carried her. Asleep, without her overactive brain telling her she's crazy, her body recognised what I was. At least I had that.