I hope the lot of you enjoy this chapter. It may seem a bit long, but it's surely necessary. Have at it loves. xx 

(also sorry for the late update-it was posted yesterday to Inkitt but not here. My apologies, I made a mistake, I thought I sent it out on both platforms.)

Song: Sunburn, off the album 5, by Ed Sheehan

The sun mocks me through the window as I sit atop my bed, the place I've been since early last night. Williams' come by a few times in an attempt to apologize, and it's hurt my heart to turn him away each time, but I feel though he deserves it. We're never ones to fight, or more so to fight like this. Both of us always solve our quarrels, to call them, rather quickly compared to others. With Will being incredibly soft-hearted, and I incredibly forgiving, I don't reckon we've ever had an argument last more to an hour between us.

This time it feels different though. It may be because of the fact that I'm not only standing up for myself this time, but rather Zanthus. Of course, I can easily forgive him when he pokes at me, though that is likely because he is, in fact, my brother and I know he never truly means to hurt me.

His dealing with Zanthus, that's another tale.

Had I expected him to act so erroneously I would've never gone along with Zanthus coming to mine for our date, though I fear it can barely be called such a thing after how it went. I never really wished for our meetings to take place in my home at all, but I mean to say I would've pushed against the plans a lot more to how I did if I'd expected Wills' character to be so awful. Zanthus appeared so eminently uncomfortable, weak almost, as the encounter amongst him and William progressed.

The horrid encounter, that is.

I still don't quite understand why I feel such an urge to protect Zanthus. Now of course if a physical threat were to make a way I wouldn't likely be of much help, verbal ones I can step in on. It's odd to me because of course, I'd truly like to get to know him, I didn't see myself allowing to grow on me so rapidly beginning of this week. It's absurd to me how much has changed since begin Monday.

He just appeared so vulnerable, so soft the other night. I couldn't help but feel an instant defense to his side when Will started to get on him. It's like I've accumulated this pull to him already, and to be frank I'm not quite sure I'd fancy it any other way.

"Angel I'm begging you." William pleads from outside the door for the nth time, and this time it actually takes conscious persistence to not open the door.

"I would be very pleased if you walked away now," I respond to him doing my best to keep a firm tone with him.

"Angel come off it. I know I was wrong with how I presented myself, but-" I swing the door open causing him to snap his mouth shut due to shock that I actually complied with his wishes at this point.

"If you even so much as attempt to justify your actions in the slightest I will refuse to speak to you for a fortnight, William," I inform him, even though both of us know that statement couldn't be farther from the truth.

"The both of us both know that statement is undeniably false, really," Will says with undoubted humour accompanying his tone.

"I swear it this time, Will!" I lift my chin up high in hopes of painting myself up to be respectable, though by the quiet chuckle that passes Will's lips I am aware I just look absurd.

"Alright, yeah, yeah. No justifications got it." He abides by my request much easier to what I thought it would be. "I truly am sorry, Angel. I know this is the first guy-first person really-you've ever got along with. I shouldn't have acted so rashly, I was at fault throughout the whole encounter." He presents himself so genuinely I almost forgive him on the spot.

"Thank you for apologizing, Will," I respond back to him shortly, ready to go back into my room and wallow in my sorrows as his apology sparks up a replay of last nights occurrences.

He stays quiet and at first, I believe he's going to respond, but soon enough I get the understanding that it's me he's waiting on to speak up again. On the regular, it's likely I to be the one who is eager to make amends as quick as can be, but this time it's different.

Now it's not necessarily what William did that is so detrimental, but rather the fact that he'll continue to act as such if he doesn't get any real loss by it. He and my father are much alike in that sense, they express remorse though never act to fix the issue further and continue on in blissful ignorance, doing as they please.

Of course, their actions differ greatly, the philosophy of it is all still the same. As long as they deem it right, they'll do so until they die, no matter how many times they're held accountable for it. Apologies to the both of them are more something to falsely patch a wound. It's a social norm for them to be presented when you've made a mistake, though they don't actually need to stick to them after they've been given.

It is indeed odd for me though, to be experiencing this first hand from Will, considering he's never been like so with me. I figure it's because we've never had to deal with issues outside ourselves, remembering I've never had anyone or anything else in my personal life besides Will. I hypothesize now that William and I's future holds a vast amount of arguments similar to this last one.

If Zanthus would still fancy being around me, that is.

"Is that all you've got to say?" My brother, whom I had zoned out on speaks out, seeming a bit confused at the bluntness of my response to him.

"Well what do you expect, Will? I forgive you of course, though that doesn't pave the way to immediate reconciliation amongst us. How you acted was incredibly out of line. Especially so due to your ill manners being presented towards Zanthus, the guest may I remind you. It would be unfair of me on his behalf to forgive and so to say forget as easily as you'd like me to. You'll have to make up for you wrongings, Will." I explain to him, though he looks far from pleased at my words.

Whose issue is that, yeah?

"Come on then, Angel! It's not some large offense on my end. I sent the lad out. The persistently disrespectful one, may I-" I cut him off before he can complete his current thought.

"No! You may not remind me! In fact, you could very well walk away right now." I bite at him, not caring at the moment how rude I must sound.

"You can't just defend him by default, Angel! Sure, he's a guest, though that doesn't give him all range to act how he did the other night! He-" I cut him off once again, which isn't the best approach I have to speak but I'm too upset to pay much mind to my inadequate actions.

"It doesn't matter how disrespectful he was! Well, of course, it does, but you are an adult, Will. You're twenty-five, he's eighteen. You acted extremely immature, and even more so because you didn't take his feelings into account. Did you even take a fair glance at him? He looked like he would proper pass out at any second!" I essentially shout, and I don't even know what's got me so fed up at this point, I have never even dreamt of talking to Will this way.

"Angel I-" He attempts to reason, not able to justify his actions with my overpowering statement regarding Zanthus's state when he was around will.

"No, Will. Honestly, it's not even the whole affair that's got me so upset, it's more so that I don't want you to get off so easy. I know what you are like, and if I just give in so quick you'll be quick as well to act how you did last night for a second time. You've got to realize things don't resolve so fast in reality. We've never had to deal with disagreements of this measure because I've never had friends, let alone a date with a boy. It's better for consequences and learning curves to come now, compared to just letting out problems grow over time." I explain, letting everything I'd had pent up off my chest.

Will appears stunned silent for a second, and I can only hope the processing going about in his head will draw a positive response from him. Things like this are really teamwork in the end. We've both got to be on the same slate in the end for any growth to occur, and hopefully, he'll be up for it. Though I highly doubt he'd be opposed to my proposition.

"I see what you're saying, yeah," Will admits, almost like a child caught on the wrong foot.

"And?" I query, in hopes of him expanding on the multitude of thoughts I am aware he's formulated in his own head.

"I suppose you're correct where you stand," Will informs me, and I can't help but smile a bit at his words.

"So you'll be willing to work this all out properly then?" A question I receive a nod in response to.

"Certainly. It would be quite useless of me to acknowledge my wrongdoings and deserved repercussions, yet fail to do damage control to my furthest ability." He lets on causing a fresh breath of relief to pass by me.

"I'm glad we're on the same page with this all then." I respond before I think to speak up again, "What do you say is done next? In regards to damage control, that is." I notice him suck in a sharp breath before he relaxes and speaks up.

"I reckon you should call Zanthus over for dinner or something of the sort tonight. I must admit my apology is already overdue as is, I don't plot to avoid it any longer, that won't do any good for any of us." I can't help but smile a bit wider at the conclusion he's drawn.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Will. I'll get on that now." I turn and begin to head towards my room before I feel the familiar grip of my brother's hand catch my arm.

"I really am sorry, rella. I love you so much and this mess isn't what you deserve. It's just last night was your first date, and I was trying to protect you, but just ended up making an absolute twat of myself. I'll truly work on how I carry myself and respond to things from now on." He squeezes my arm a bit tighter, not so that it's uncomfortable but rather as a form of comfort I assume.

"Thank you, Will. Really, for trying now. In all honesty, I was prepared for this whole ordeal to be a lot more difficult then you made it be." I hear him chuckle a bit at the end of my sentence, fully aware that I was indirectly referencing the persistently stubborn attitude he's got tied to himself.

"I don't blame you, I would likely expect the same if I was in your position. But as I said, I love you, and all I really want for you is to be truly happy. If I'm part of the reason your upset I'll always do whatever I can to fix my part in it, you've got no need to thank me when I'm only doing what's right." He explains to me, which receives him an even brighter smile to the one I was showcasing beforehand. 

"Go on then, call the lad up. I've got to go out for a bit to grab some documents from the office, so I'll be around at about time for supper. Just keep me updated if you need anything from me." My older brother informs me before heading towards his room, to get dressed in proper work attire I assume.

I make my way back to my room once the door to Wills' has been shut, sort of finalizing things for me in a way. Quick, I am, to lay myself down across my bed which I had been so gloomily wallowing in just a little ago. This time I can't help the smile that's upon my lips as I feel things heading in the right direction for making amends with Zanthus.

Ah, that's right, Zanthus.

The nervous flutter of nerves that pace through my veins at the mention of him just within my own thoughts is close to absurd. The phone already in hand, I head to my call log and let my hand hover over one of the only contacts which I've got on my phone. I feel my smile falter a bit as I run over all the possible outcomes of this conversation that could be anything but nice.

What if he's quick to reject me? Of course, I would be extremely disappointed and rather upset, but I wouldn't blame him for it. I don't believe I would be fast to pick up an invitation back to his house if I'd been treated the same as him by one of his siblings.

Or worse, what if he just begins to ignore me? That would surely be harder to deal with than the latter, I presume. It's odd that I'm so bent out of it at the thought of him properly cutting me off when just last week I hadn't even had a single encounter with him and surely didn't want one in addition to that.

Times an odd thing, really. Of course, it's what keeps track of the progression in our past and future existence and events, but really it's just an odd thing when used. Within only twenty-four hours your whole life can change in full. That's essentially the situation that's occurred with me, and I'm not entirely sure how to take it all.

How have I become so invested in someone I, to put it lightly, despised so recently? I've asked myself this again and again and still haven't been able to find a conclusion rather to one. Growth, life happens and we grow, we meet new people, and we grow with them.

It's really subjective to each person, whether it takes them weeks to become comfortable with one other whether they click right off it and it takes mere days. It all depends on who is within the relationship that's experiencing growth. It's a bit frightening when I think of how quickly I've flourished in where I stand with Zanthus.

It probably wouldn't be such a shocking change within my life if I hadn't previously thought so poorly on his end. That as well is a major part of it though, in my opinion. My judgments of him were previously so extreme, they worked as some sort of connection amongst me and him. 

So when I began to grow fonder on his character, it's almost as if those incredibly poor judgments of him turned to be ones of incredible admiration or something of that sort. This was in just days as well, and how odd it is to remind myself all the past events that replay in my mind occurred in such, what seems to be a short span of time.

Despite all my personal reflections occurring, I am still sat staring nervously at the phone screen in front of me. Its dimmed a bit, but not to the point where the phone has shut itself off and gone dark. I grace myself one last shaky breath before I decide to click on the forsaken call button, the slightly delayed ringing making me aware that I've truly just called Zanthus.

I feel as if my lungs have hit a shortage of air when it rings again, and again, and again.

The line cuts off with a bit of crackling noise and holds flat after. At first, I assume he's declined the call, but I'm aware enough to know that's not the noise it makes when a call is declined, the automated voice I've heard too many times when reaching out to my parents serving as my prior knowledge.

I pull my phone away from my ear, where I had been previously holding it, and bring it to be in front of my view now. I almost choke in surprise when I see the name 'Zanthus' painted across my screen with the time of sixteen seconds sitting below it, indicating he'd actually picked up and I was actually on the phone with him now and had been for sixteen seconds in counting.

"H-hello?" I stutter out in a rather bewildered sounding tone, still rather shocked that Zanthus picked up the call I'd made.

It's silent for a bit a first, and I'm afraid the answer wasn't one of purpose, but a light hum of recognition to my greeting on the other end proves me to be incorrect. I'm not sure if I woke Zanthus from his slumber, or more likely a nap considering its past midday. Regardless, it's enough to urge me to go on, since I expect that's as much of a hello that I'll be getting from the party of the other line.

"Uhm, hi Zanthus." I test out, cringing at how incredibly awkward I must sound in his opinion, but it's the best I can muster up at the moment while my nerves are still on edge. "I just, well I just wanted to call and say I tremendously sorry for Will's awful character last night. It-you didn't deserve how he treated you in the slightest. I am really, really sorry again that you were on the receiving end of that." I let the apologies tumble out of my mouth, doing my best to keep myself in check and not go into an outburst of endless rambling.

It stays quiet on the other end, but the shuffling and same light humming I had heard before is loud enough to let me know that Zanthus is still on the phone.

"Uh, okay, well, lord I'm sorry. I've got something else I'd like to say if that's alright with you?" My voice sounds a bit higher than usual, as well as a bit shakier no doubt.

In my defense, I never saw it, that I would be sat on the phone asking Zanthus out on a redo date.

"Mhm." I hear a more prominent murmur of approval from the rather reserved black haired boy on the phone, alongside what I believe was a sniffle or something of the sort, but I haven't got time to pay much mind to it.

"Well, I thought, I thought uh," I trail off a bit, fidgeting with the duvet spread in front of me, my with my phone now laying on the bed, in attempt to ease my nerves. "I was wondering if you'd possibly like to come over tonight? I-I know things didn't go anywhere near close to plan yesterday, and I thought it would be nice to give it another go if you're alright with that." I propose quickly yet slow enough to actually have Zanthus hear my words clearly.

He hasn't said a single word yet, and I can't fib and say it hasn't been disheartening to have him practically ignore me throughout the whole call. It's quiet again on the other end now, near to silent really, which scares me quite a bit. I feel as if my hearts caught in my throat.

This is where he rejects me, isn't it?

Of course, I had gone into this knowing that was certainly a possible outcome, I had really thought I could make up for last night enough with apologies to have him agree to see me again. 

I'd like him to give me another chance really, well William another chance, but considering were siblings and the situation that was at hand it's a sort of two in one deal with us at the moment. My heart truly feels like it's dropped to my stomach when the silence continues, and at this point, I'm really just awaiting the dreaded hang up that's to come from Zanthus.

"Sorry." I hear a somewhat whimper of some sorts from the other line, it's almost below a whisper and I nearly don't catch it before there's that distinct triple beep indicating the line has been cut short.

I can't help but tear up a bit as I stare at my screen, that's still sat on the contact of Zanthus. I am so eminently upset by not only last night but now that wreck of a phone call as well. I should've known that he wouldn't want to see me considering his position.

I can't believe how terrible things have turned to be in just a days time, just short to twenty-four hours. Time again, such an odd thing. Your life can change for better or for worse, I've learned, in such a quick amount of time. It'll barely feel like you've blinked before everything's so different from before.

At the beginning of the week, I had barely spoken to Zanthus. By midweek he was set on bringing me close to him, and second chances were set to be given thanks to Xander. Friday I was at his home, baking, and laughing, holding hands, a quick turn from days before. Saturday was meant to be a date, a real date between Zanthus and I which he had proposed.

And now? Well, it appears it's Sunday, the end of this ride of a week. It appears it's Sunday and I am sat here crying over the newly founded relationship that had barely begun between the quiet, beautiful dark haired boy named Zanthus and I that's been wrecked prematurely.

It appears it's Sunday and I am nothing short of enraged at how horribly William treated Zanthus because it's resulted in this. It appears it's Sunday and Zanthus rejected me and now my eyes are running on no end. It appears it's Sunday, and I've learned one hundred and forty-four hours can really do a number on you.

It appears it's Sunday and the only person I've ever reached out to has rejected me and now my eyes are running on no end.

It appears it's Sunday and I'm alone again.