Hi darlings! Sorry this has taken so long, don't want to bore you stiff with details so I'm just going to keep it simple. 

This chapter may not seem so exciting to some, but it's important for character progression and the development of all of the characters overarching dynamic. I myself had tons of fun writing this chapter and am so chuffed for what's to come next. 

All my love to you lot always, you keep me going. Thank you for all the kind comments, love, messages, votes, etc. I wouldn't be able to do it without each and every one of you. 

Also, 313k reads? that is absolutely shocking to see, the last update I had below 300k, I don't deserve all the support you give me. I am so so thankful for you everyday. With that said, I hope you enjoy the read! xxxxx

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Touch and Go, Ed Sheeran

Zanthus POV

"We should go camping," Maxim clamped his hands down on Xander's shoulder.

"Fuck yes mate!" The latter exclaimed, too loud to have been deemed appropriate inside the cafe.

Jax Strolled over to the couches with Hades following in suit. "What's got him so chuffed then?" He motioned towards Xander who had quite literally jumped out of his.

"Maxim wants to go camping, Xander clearly agrees." Angel's arm brushed against my shoulder as she gestured towards the two and I couldn't help the way my cheeks turned a bit pink at her mercy.

I wasn't uncomfortable around her, that wasn't it at all. Every time she touched me I couldn't help but feel so fucking overwhelmed, in the best way possible at that. It didn't matter how far we'd taken it a few nights ago, I still resulted into a defenceless, blushing mess when she showed me the smallest affections and I would never understand the science behind it.

Jax sighed and stood in front of the space that Xander had claimed earlier on, papers spread across it. "Well, are you going to make room for me then?"

Xander turned from where he'd been scheming with Maxim and caught eyes with Jax, a shy smile consumed his features soon enough. "Course, yeah I just-" He moved to gather his things, accidentally knocking a few things onto the floor in his haste. "Shit,"

Jax huffed in amusement and moved to pick the pens off the floor. "Wouldn't have asked if I knew it'd cause you this much trouble." He mused, and Xander's face soon became submerged, his face in a dark shade of red at this point.

"Oh do shut up, will you?" Xander mumbled as he threw the messy collection of papers onto the table in front of him.

"Can't help it, love," Jax mused as he sat down beside Jax, throwing a swift arm over his shoulder and pulling him into his side.

Xander failed to fight his smile as he settled into the touch. "Yeah, yeah, just admit you like to poke fun at me any chance you get."

"Well, I can't deny that can I?" Jax quipped, and he laughed loudly when Xander slapped him across the chest. "That's hardly fair, you said it first! I only agreed."

The guilty party peered up at Jax, "Is what it is, J. It is what it is,"

Jax shook his head and pressed a short kiss to Xander's head. "Right, whatever you say."

Xander's eyes grew ten times their previous size before they settled. His smile could be categorized as nostalgic, I assumed. Contemplation was painted very obviously across his face for a few seconds. Until it wasn't, and he leaned up to peck Jax on the lips.

"Course it is, babe. I'm always right, you know this."

I felt my heart burst with a mixture of pride and affection for Xander, Jax as well. I couldn't deny I was surprised, but not because the two were together. It was solely due to them being publicly affectionate, more so that Xander had grown to be comfortable with himself in a way so stark to how he'd been just weeks ago.

I only ever wished for him to be happy, he deserved it more than anyone I knew.

"Well fuck me then," Maxim was grinning eye to eye beside the two.

Hades barked out a laugh and settled into the chair positioned next to the couch Angel and I was occupying. "I fucking told you they were shagging, Maxxie! I told you! I'll take my compensation now, please."

Xander Smiled at the interaction, to my surprise. I was afraid that he'd still be mildly uncomfortable with the idea of others so blatantly discussing the fact that he and Jax were an item. Though it's safe to say I was pleased he proved me wrong in that.

Maxim scoffed and threw a balled-up paper at Hades. "You're such a shit, H."

"I do take cheques as well, Maxxie. Cheers," Hades threw the paper back to Maxim with a smug smile, and the latter flipped him the bird in response.

"We're not shagging you prick, pipe down." Jax rolled his eyes.

"Well, what was that then?" Hades gestured between the two lads who were curled into each other.

"What, you don't kiss all your mates like that?" Jax shot back, Xander finding much amusement in his words.

"Yeah, come off it H. Have you not seen me and Zanthus?" I scoffed at Angel and shook my head.

"I-I'm not y-you're mate," I grumbled as I wrapped my arms around her middle and pulled her into me.

"Get off me you brute!" Angel exclaimed, though her actions contrasted her claim when she settled her hands over my own contentedly.

"Oi, does this mean I can finally get a good snog from you too then?" Maxim wore a devious smile as he wriggled his eyebrows rather suggestively.

I narrowed my eyes at him, unable to ignore the bit of jealousy that brewed inside me at his words despite me knowing they held no true malice. "Fuck u-up. I'll break y-your fucking face b-before you g-get the chance, m-mate."

Angel let out a sound of protest and angled her face so she could face me. "You will not do so, Zanthus." I went to speak but she continued before I could do so. "Have we not made it abundantly clear that we're only interested in each other?"

My face was quick to set afire at her words, memories of hands-on skin and all else in between from a few nights ago playing through my head like my favourite film.

"Oi! I most certainly heard all that. You two are shagging then!" Hades slapped my back lightly and I groaned, burying my head in the crook of Angel's neck.

"Well apparently everybody's shagging except for us." Maxim rolled his eyes dramatically.

"I already said we're not shagging, you tit. Stop being thick," Jax argued.

"He," Maxim pointed to a still flushed Xander, "Kissed you, mate. Like on the mouth and that."

"I was here for that, Maxxie, believe it or not." Xander was quiet as it all happened, and I felt a twinge in my chest at the visible discomfort he had displayed.

"Right then, so, that defo means you're shagging then. Or at least half shagging." Jax let out a strangled noise in confusion before he threw his head back in laughter.

"Half shagging? What on earth do you mean by that?" I felt the vibrations that ran from Angel to me as she spoke, fingers running over the tops of my own absentmindedly.

"Don't bother Maxim, I think I can speak for the crowd when I say we're not all that curious," Hades responded, then turned his attention to Xander and Jax. "Though, what is up with you two? I'm over the moon that you're together of course, just curious."

Jax hummed noncommittally, "We're-"

"We don't owe you a fucking explanation then, do we? You're not my mum, not my dad either. So why don't you just-" Xander paused when Jax moved to whisper something in his ear. He closed his eyes to take a breath and nodded.

Jax's tone was notably softer than it had been before when he went on to speak for both of them. "We're taking it slow, nothing official yet. Both just going with the wind of things, getting comfortable with each other yeah?"

"Yeah," Jax agreed before he turned to Hades, "I'm sorry H, just like..." He trailed off and shook his head with a small smile. "Not ready to talk much about it, if that's alright?"

"Course it's alright, just know I'm here whenever you're ready yeah? I love you, both of you. If you lads are happy that's all that matters, innit? Details and all that shit are irrelevant." Jax ran a soothing hand down Xander's arm while Hades spoke.

Xander smiled, though I could see tears building in his eyes. "Cheers," He was quick to turn his attention my way, eyes narrowed fondly. "Don't think I'm letting the fact that you and Angel are getting it on slip by, you dirty fucking dog. I'm your brother, you're getting so much shit for not telling me before the commoners found out."

"Oh fuck right off! I have just as much a right as you do know that Z and Angel are shagging." Maxim quipped as he squared his shoulders, Xander only responded by sticking his tongue out at him.

"You guys make great table talk, really. Such respectable young men." Angel commented dryly. I smiled at her words and leaned down to press my lips to her cheek gently.

"It wouldn't be such a pressing topic if Z hadn't been waiting for fucking ever to get with you!" Jax protested, before murmuring a quiet "shit" to himself and averting his eyes to the floor.

I felt my heart stutter inside my chest at his words, aware that it sounded awful but even more so that I was likely going to have to be honest with Angel about my long-term interest in her. I cringed when I felt her pull away from me to sit upright. Now wasn't the time for any sort of bumps to arise between the two of us.

"What does that mean?" She glared Jax's way before turning to send me the same look. I felt anxiety soak into my skin with how cold she appeared. "Pray tell, Zanthus. I'd love to know what Jax is talking about because right now it seems like you see me as some sort of conquest."

I shook my head furiously and moved to grab her hands and my chest ached a bit when she pulled away. "I-It's not l-li-like that, I-I p-promise." I pleaded with her and received a pointed look in return.

"Well, what is it like then?" I would be surprised if the sound of my heart hadn't been echoing off the walls. "Go on then,"

"Angel, he didn't mean it like that. Jax is just a bit fucking thick-" Jax frowned at Xander's words, "And he doesn't think before he speaks. You know Zanthus doesn't see you like that, all of us do. Someone would have to be fucking blind to miss the stars he's got in his eyes whenever you're around, and even then it'd probably still be clear."

Angel huffed, eyes not leaving mine. "Thank you, Xander, but I think I need to hear this from Zanthus."

Her tone had been softer but it didn't make me any less anxious as I spoke. She raised an eyebrow, to which I shrugged in response to before I forced myself to. "I-I've just, I-I've liked y-you for a w-while."

Angel's face scrunched up in what I assumed was confusion. "What do you mean, are you-"

"S-S-Since a w-while before w-we met. I-I've had l-like, a c-crush?" The blood that rushed through my ears was loud enough to drown out the sounds of the cafe around me.

"A crush? More like you've been fucking obsessed with her." Maxim commented and I huffed in annoyance at his words, not even bothering to turn back and acknowledge them.

"So when Jax said you've been waiting to "get with me", does that mean you've been waiting to..." She nodded her head to the side, alluding to what the conversation had been about before.

Sometimes I forgot what an odd mixture between bold and reserved Angel came to be. The more things between us progressed the less hesitant she was when it came to speaking her mind. Though in times like they remind of the shy side of Angel, the flustered pink-cheeked innocent part of her she could never seem to escape.

"I-I haven't j-just been w-wa-waiting to like," My face felt like it'd been covered in flames, same went for my skin. "That's n-not how I-I s-saw you," I mumbled and failed to meet her eyes, having found more interest in the cushions of the couch.

"So you aren't attracted to me then?" I covered my face with my hands and groaned.

"I-I am! Y-You know I-I think y-you're..." Angel looked up at me with practised wide eyes and shook her head softly.

"No, I don't think I do Z. You might just have to tell me." I knew she wasn't mad at this point, but I also knew she certainly wasn't going to give up until I admitted defeat and voiced my thoughts. "Well..." She gestured for me to get on with it after a small window of silence had passed.

"Yeah Zanthus, go on, won't you? You've got the audience on the edge now, can't leave us hanging." Xander mused, and I narrowed my eyes at him minutely before I turned back to Angel.

"Zanthus," Angel sighed, faux exhaustion seeded in her tone.

"Y-You're r-really fit. Like s-so f-fucking fit," I rushed out and closed my eyes in embarrassment when everyone chorused in laughter.

"Am I?" Angel humoured me as she moved back towards me, though I didn't miss the small wave of rose that washed over her cheeks.

"S-Stop," I whined when Angel laughed again and wrapped her arms around my middle.

"I'm flattered babes. I think you're quite attractive yourself. But I'm sure you already know that." I rolled my eyes, cheeks still painted red while I curled my arms around her neck and gripped her tight.

I didn't think that, but it never hurt to hear her say it.

"You don't have to be embarrassed, Zanthus." I let out a strangled noise of dissent.

"Y-Yeah, I do." She shook her head and ran a delicate finger down over the line of my jaw.

"I think it's sort of sweet that you had a crush on me a bit before we were introduced to each other. Makes me feel special and that." I frowned, moving my hand up to grip her wrist where it was hovering beside my cheek. She moved her fingers until they were interlocked with my own and I pressed our hands against the centre of my chest.

"Y-You are s-s-special, Angel. Y-You always h-have been." I brought my free hand up to cradle the side of her face and she chased after the touch.

She was special. So fucking special. Everything about her was special and that wasn't something that just came to be once we met. It hurt me to think she didn't already know that, that she hadn't been told it all the time. Someone like her deserved to have a thousand poems written for them every day.

Angel was my living dream, the only piece of that crossed over from the wonders in my mind at night to reality. I never knew it would feel so surreal to hold her so close, every moment I was with her I was waiting for someone to wake me up.

Though it becomes more and more clear every moment that it's not a dream, and even if it were I'm not sure I'd ever want to wake up.

"Thank you, Z," Angel whispered, only for our ears to hear and I moved to slot our lips together.

Where the sudden urge to devour her had come from, I wasn't aware. I only knew I wanted my mouth on hers until my lungs were on the brink of giving out. Angel gave me the desire to push every part of me further and further whenever we were together.

I bit her bottom lip minutely and she gasped, which left me with an undeniable opening. I silenced her weakly projected sounds of protest as soon as they'd begun. I felt her laugh into my mouth as she placed her hands on my shoulders to push me back.

"You're insufferable," Angel announced once she'd succeeded in her task of prying her mouth from mine.

"You don't always have to attempt to swallow her face mate, maybe save that for the bedroom." Xander shot out and I sighed, a bit embarrassed that I'd been so forward around all my friends but as well a bit irritated that I'd had to stop.

"For the shagging!" Maxim pumped a fist towards the ceiling and Hades laughed.

The latter sobered up before going on to comment. "Yeah, yeah, what he said. Save it for the shagging, cause you know. You two are-"

"Oh fuck off!" Angel turned her head so she could face Hades, and despite herself, she was wearing a fond smile. "If I hear another word about shagging from any of you, I'm breaking up with Zanthus." I squawked at her words but she was quick to throw a hand over my mouth.

A short period of silence settled over the space we'd occupied, and Jax was the first to speak up. "You're a right fucking legend, Angel. Let me be the first to say."

Angel laughed and shook her head before she turned back to me. "What can I say, Zanthus has brought out the best of me." I huffed and shook my head, poking her side in a counter to her statement.

"I-It's always b-been there. Y-You've always been l-lovely." The lads cooed and Angel slapped my chest as her cheeks flushed pink. I knew I was in a similar state, especially so once she leaned in to plant a loud kiss to my cheek.

"You're one tremendous sap, Z."

I couldn't object, Angel's words were rather honest.

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"No, you utter twat! You're going to cock up me car if you try to put it in like that!" I laughed and pulled Angel further into my side.

"This is going to be absolutely-"

"Brilliant," I cut her off before she could finish.

She laughed and rested her head against my chest, "Yeah, yeah. Let's call it that."

I smiled because of course, I did. I wasn't able to contain myself when Angel was around me this way. There was not part of me that wanted to escape the way she drowned me in the sun anytime she was around. Everything about her was contagious, and I lived for it.

"You did talk to you dad about this trip, right? I mean, I haven't even met him yet and I don't want his first impression of me to be thinking I aid your irresponsible tendencies." I rolled my eyes and pecked her quickly.

"Yes, I-I did." Angel laughed and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Well don't blame me for wanting to have him like me. Not like I'm trying to be a good girlfriend or that." I threw my head back and groaned, bringing a hand up to cradle her cheek.

"I-I love i-it when y-you call yourself m-my girlfriend." She sighed and moved up onto her tip-toes to catch my lips with her own.

"You're so dramatic." Angel whispered against my lips, "And such a bloody softy too. Really, it's sickening how sweet you can me."

I rolled my tongue against hers swiftly, dragging the tip of it against the roof of her mouth. It wasn't a heated kiss, but it still left me burned. Everything about it was so delicate, suffocatingly soft and it left me with a feeling I never wanted to be free from.

I was so, so in love with her.

Every part of her was so wonderful, so alluring. I would be a fool not to fall for her, I would be a fool not to love her as much as I already did. No one ever told me it would feel like this, that the fall never stops. There's no platform for me to land on, and if there was I'm far past it.

It's a constant free-fall into an abyss of flowers and stars, everything that makes up the sun. Brown hair, brown eyes, that smile that could have me on my knees in seconds. I was constantly falling into an abyss made up of everything that Angel was, everything she could ever be.

There wasn't a moment where I felt solid ground beneath me, but I wasn't quite so afraid anymore. Contents a better word, but even that puts it too simply. It was incredible to feel this way. To feel so in love, so alive and so afire every moment of every day.

I was so, so in love with Angel and there's not a thing I wished to change about it.

"Why're you looking at me like that?" I brushed my fingers through her hair, tucking a stray piece behind her ear. "What? What is it?"

Angel frowned when I shook my head and smiled silently. She was so beautiful regardless of circumstance. I don't think I could harbour any more affections for her if I tried. My heart was just about to burst for her at all times.

"Zeeee, that's not fair. You don't get to go all," She motioned to my face, "And not tell me what's on your mind." I sighed when she moved to cross her arms and pout.

I grabbed her hands and pulled them towards me, slipping my fingers in between her own. Angel's pout was less prominent by the time I'd brought her hands up to litter them with quick kisses. I let go of one hand while I pressed the other against my stomach, and moved my free hand to grasp the back of her neck softly.

"I'm s-so thankful for y-you, darling." Her eyes were curious as I spoke, and I shivered a bit under the attention. "E-Everyday, I-I am. I-Angel," I clenched my eyes shut and searched for my composure.

Angel ran her vacant hand up and down my side, and I breathed out carefully. She always knew exactly what I needed, there wasn't a moment that I ever felt like she didn't. I only hoped I gave her the same security that she granted me with, a sliver of it even.

"I-I really care a-about y-you." I cringed when I heard my own words, wishing for the heavens to give me better words to work with. "I-I just w-want to make y-you happy. You're e-everything I've ever w-wanted," I let out a breath, "And s-some."

Angel laughed and buried her head in the crevice of my neck. I felt my insides flutter when she planted a kiss there, and then another. "Well, I'm overjoyed to inform you that the feelings are entirely mutual. You're quite the catch, Zanthus, anyone would be over the moon to have you as there's. I'm really glad that someone is me." Angel poked my dimple with her pointer finger.

My cheeks were surely going to end up sore soon enough, though I couldn't find a reason to be upset about that fact. "W-Will never want an-anyone else." There wasn't a single vein inside me that held doubts about my statement.

Angel just shook her head and moved to connect our lips for the nth time today. I surely wasn't opposed, but I was certainly disgruntled when she pulled back all too soon. I could spend forever with her lips on mine.

"Oi, I am not agreeing to watch you lot half-shag all the time on this trip," Jax called out from across the drive where he was sat on the steps.

"I'm not up to see it at all, really," Hades added while he made his way towards Zanthus's car with an array of bags in his hands. "So that said, hope you've got all the shagging, and half-shagging for that matter, out of your systems."

Angel threw her hands up into the air and scoffed. "What did I say about mentioning shagging!"

"It doesn't count this time! We're only trying to protect ourselves, my eyes are innocent Angel, innocent." Jax clasped a hand over his chest for theatrics.

"Fuck up and get in the car, Jax." Maxim pushed past the blond boy headed towards the passenger seat, only to be tugged back by his jumper.

"I'm sitting up front!"

"What? No-I, quit it!" Maxim attempted to pry Jax's hands from his quiff.

"Not until you agree I get the front seat!" I sighed as I took in the spectacle before glancing down at Angel.

She laughed and took my hand once I offered it out to her and we made our way towards my car. Hades was battling with the last of the belongings we needed to accompany us on the trip. He eventually gave up on his gentle approach, which resulted in him shoving the baggage in harshly and slamming the boot hard enough to rattle the car.

"Jax, love, it's fine! You can still spend the majority of the-shit!" I glanced over to find Xander hunched over and Jax and Maxim laughing. "You little shit! I'm going to-come back here!"

"Help me Maxxie! Help me!" Jax managed to shout between laughs as he bolted across the main drive and towards the fountain.

"Only if you promise to switch with me for an hour's time!" Maxim ran after the two, and I shook my head fondly.

I adored my mates, nothing could ever come close to the love I held for them. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them, and I'm certain Angel wouldn't be either. They could be absolutely brainless at times, but that's what made things all the better.

"You div! I just bought those the other day, get your arse back here!" Hades kicked at his now mangled sunnies and set his sights on a retreating Maxim.

"Jax! Get out of the fountain for fuck sake!" Xander's shout could likely be heard miles away.

"I swear I'm going to-"

"JAX!" A chorus of voices all collectively shouted, an endless stream of profanities following as the three victims wiped the water from their faces.

I huffed out a laugh and brought both my arms around Angel's waist. She settled against me easily when I pulled her into me, her back rested against my chest. I kissed the crown of her head and moved to rest my chin on her shoulder and I smiled when I felt her interlock our hands and cradle them against her stomach.

"For the record, I am really happy," Angel whispered out, and that was all I needed for the lingering traces of anxiety to be wiped away. "You make me really, really happy." Angel curled further into me when I kissed the side of her neck gently.

"I-I can't b-be anything b-but happy when I-I'm with y-you," I promised her softly, lips dragging over her ear as I spoke.

Angel squealed when my fingers found their way to her sides, protests endlessly falling from her lips. "Zanthus! Let go you-stop that!"

Her laugh was the most beautiful melody, I would play it without end if that were an option.

"He's going to have your head, Jax!" I heard Hades shout from the distance, but was too enraptured by the constant stream of giggles Angel was producing at my doing to think much of it.

"Babe, I swear I'm-"

I choked on my breath, and Angel seemed to do the same when I felt a stream of ice-cold water collapse across my back. The remains of the hand-held waterfall rolled down my shoulders and seeped through the fibres of my clothes.

I had instinctively pulled Angel against and shielded her body with my own, though I wasn't sure how much help that did in the end. I hesitantly scanned her face for any signs of discontent or an oncoming outburst. I was instead met with her smile, one so golden and so bright I couldn't even come to brood on the situation at hand.

"You're such a prat, Jax!" Angel turned to single the guilty party, who had already begun to go on his merry way with a skip in his step.

"I love you too, Angel!" Jax called over his shoulder, though his victory was short-lived as Xander all but jumped during his lapse in focus.

Angel laughed loudly when Jax let out a loud shriek and fought to release himself from Xander's arms. "It was a bloody accident, H!" Maxim cried out as he sprinted past two, Hades on his heels.

"We're never getting out of your drive, are we?" Angel knocked our hands together, having returned to our previous position. I shook my head and squeezed her as close to me as I could.

"N-Not a chance, l-love."

Angel sighed and tilted her head back against my shoulder so she could catch my eyes. Albeit, she was glancing at me upside down. The angle didn't matter much though, she still took my breath away.

"Want to snog until they tear us apart?" Angel reasoned and felt every cell inside me light on fire with new motives on their horizon.

I stepped around her, settling only when I stood in front of her. Angel peered up at me from under her lashes given the height difference and I felt myself go weak in the knees. She would never know what she did to me by just being. I cradled both her cheeks in my hand, leaning close enough to feel the ghost of her lips over mine.

"W-Wouldn't want i-it any other w-way."