Baekhyun knew that today it was going to be hard for him now that he was aware of the elephant in the room, he knew that he would have to address it at some stage in the coming days but no particular day stood out to him. He figured that he could tell Chanyeol that he knew everything on Friday and allow his mate to deal with the knowledge during the weekend, but than again Baekhyun realised that it would probably be for the best that he allow Chanyeol to make the decision himself since he had been the one keeping it from him. Baekhyun knew that Lay was entangled with his mate and he even expected that his teacher was going to open up to him some-day but with Chanyeol's presence now in his life Baekhyun could only assume that it prevented Lay from speaking up, not that Baekhyun saw him any differently. It didn't take a genius to know that this was sensitive information and it could potentially ruin their lives had the true existence of vampires been revealed to the world, so no. Baekhyun decided that he was going to wait until those closest to him in his life developed the courage to step forward and shed light on their existence, something Baekhyun actually found himself excited for.

This would also go in his favour, since he couldn't allow himself to be completely clueless like he was once before. Baekhyun was going to tease and laugh along with them whenever they made their sneaky little comments and inside jokes that the human would have once never understood, but now he had the upper hand Baekhyun wasn't going to let this chance rush by. He was going to embrace it and spend however long he had with Chanyeol and his family to see them for who they really were and not some blood drinking monsters.

Which is how Baekhyun found himself smiling widely when he entered through the school's double doors, Lay hot on his tail briefcase in hand and a similar grin on his lips. They chatted all morning like usual, Baekhyun explaining that he felt a lot better after having taken the time to rest up, although he did admit that he had found himself unable to sleep the whole night which in turn had Lay fuse over him and scold him for not taking complete care over himself. Baekhyun couldn't find it in himself to retort, Lay was the only person he considered his intimate family so when he scolded him it felt like it was coming from his real father.

"He was incredibly devastated yesterday when you weren't here," Lay whispered into his ear before they planned to depart, Baekhyun's eyes widening as the words registered in his mind. "I think he skipped the last few periods and just went home. He really missed you Baek." and just like that he was gone, wishing Baekhyun a good day since he wouldn't be seeing him until much later that night.

Baekhyun felt his heart pound against his chest, his hands clamming up with sweat as he gently rose up onto his tip-toes. He was tall enough in order to be able to look over the heads of some students, his body wiggling around so he could see past others. Eventually his eyes landed on Chanyeol who was laid against his locker with his eyes closed and his arms crossed against his chest, he was standing with Kyungsoo and Jongin who both appeared to be communicating but Chanyeol didn't seem to be responding. Baekhyun couldn't help but wonder if his mate was upset because they hadn't been able to meet for a whole day, he wanted to stop and think that the thought was ridiculous, but how could it be? They were mates after all and Baekhyun knew if the situation was reversed he would have missed Chanyeol.

As he began making his way towards his locker, his heart beating profoundly with every step, Baekhyun found his lips straining as they drew back into his familiar box grin. He took off down the hallway, gently shoving through his schoolmates. Kyungsoo was the first one to notice him since he was facing Baekhyun's direction, his bright smile being all that Baekhyun could register before he threw himself against Chanyeol, forcing the boy's back to slam against the metal behind him. Jongin let out a high pitched squawk while his elder brother rushed to blink away the black spots in his eyes, Baekhyun grinned nervously up at him hoping the giant would accept his apology.

Baekhyun let out a giggle once he felt his mate's arms wrap around his waist and lift him from the ground, his nose nuzzled deep into his neck seeking warmth. Baekhyun could feel his cheeks heat up, his grip getting slightly tighter in Chanyeol's hair. The latter placed him down onto the ground but Baekhyun wouldn't allow him to back away so soon, it was true he had learnt of the situation but even that couldn't force Baekhyun's emotions away. He knew that he liked Chanyeol and he would eventually learn what it means to be dating a vampire, but for now he was still going to act like before -just with a little extra spice.

Baekhyun was glad that he still had a grip around Chanyeol's neck since he used it in his favour. He tightened his fingers around the hair on his mate's neck and forced his head down, Baekhyun tilted his head back and met Chanyeol's lips in the middle silencing the giant before he could say anything coherent. They could hear as Jongin let out a gasp at the sudden action but Kyungsoo's giggle made Baekhyun realise quickly that both him and Chanyeol weren't exactly alone right now, they were standing in the hallway where everyone with eyes could see them make-out. So, although reluctant he pulled away but not before pressing a sweet kiss against Chanyeol's cheek, stopping his grip a second later.

Kyungsoo raised a brow as Baekhyun turned to him with a smirk, he stretched out his hand and without giving it a moment's thought Kyungsoo rushed to place the palm of his hand against the painter's. Together they began making their way towards the cafeteria, Baekhyun's excuse of suddenly needing some snacks got them away from the two awe-struck brothers who remained frozen in their spots watching helplessly as both of their mates walked away hand in hand.

"Are you okay?" Kyungsoo asked once they had turned the corner, Baekhyun figured that they were now out of hearing range. "When you didn't come to school yesterday I couldn't help but overthink, I believed that I was the reason that you couldn't come in. I confined in you about my problems and that was incredibly selfish of me, I'm really sorry Baek-"

"Hey don't apologise," Baekhyun waved the boy off with a flick of his wrist. "I developed a headache when I got home that's all. I get them quite a lot so I know that you're not the cause of this, so don't believe yourself to be. We both helped out each other that night and I don't know about you but I generally felt a lot lighter than when we first met up, we got a lot of things off our chests and I had fun so that's a plus!"

Kyungsoo's wide owl eyes glistened in the sunlight, his lips pulling backwards into a small -but genuine- smile. "Thanks Baekhyun, I needed that."

When they got to the vending machine Baekhyun scanned through the options, never having found himself venturing out whenever it came to snacks. He liked the routine and didn't really allow himself to experience something new, but he supposes that now would be the best time to venture out of his comfort zone. Which is how he found himself leaving the vending machine with a packet of chips ((or crisps whatever you call them)) that he had never tasted before, judging by the curious glances Kyungsoo sent him when they were walking back Baekhyun could determine that he had never tasted them either.

"Would you like one? I'm not so sure if they're nice or not, it's my first time trying them!" he offered out the packet and with a hesitant hand Kyungsoo's fingers slipped inside the opening. He dropped a chip into Baekhyun's hand, both of them looking at it before turning their gazes back to each other. "Together?"

"On three?"

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three..."

They threw the chip into their mouths and almost immediately did both of them go to spit them out, they were forced to swallow it since there were no trash cans in the hallway. Thankfully Kyungsoo had a bottle of soda packed in his bag, which he used to cleanse his mouth before offering it to Baekhyun, the painter bowing his head in gratitude. When they reached their mates again they were happy to see that they weren't the frozen statues that they had left them in, instead the two brothers were talking but something didn't seem right.

"Is everything okay?" Baekhyun wondered, wrapping his hand through Chanyeol's while Kyungsoo pressed himself against Jongin's side. "What happened when we were gone?"

Chanyeol swallowed, Baekhyun watching as his adam's apple bobbed up and down. Their gazes locked and for once Baekhyun was surprised to see frustration laced in Chanyeol's eyes, they looked like thousands of fires were blazing within them. It was beautiful.

When his mate wouldn't reply to him Baekhyun passed Kyungsoo the packet of chips neither of them would be eating before excusing both himself and Chanyeol from the others. He held onto his hand tightly, moving through the crowd in the hallway in hopes of finding somewhere the two of them could talk. Chanyeol's grip tightened every few seconds, reminding Baekhyun that he was following him close behind.

Eventually they found themselves in the library, Baekhyun resting his back against the bookshelves while pulling Chanyeol to stand pressed up against him. They were close but they still had some air between their faces. Baekhyun was suddenly overwhelmed with his mate's presence and warmth, everything about the Chanyeol standing before him made Baekhyun's blood rush to various parts of his body.

"What happened?" he whispered, taking Chanyeol's cheeks into his hands. Chanyeol gasped at the cold touch but before Baekhyun could remove it the taller nuzzled into the hold, releasing a breath into the air between them. "Is it because of the kiss?" Chanyeol's drooping eyes widened, brows meeting in the centre of his forehead. "Because if it is I apologise-"

Baekhyun's eyes snapped closed as Chanyeol's lips met his again, the taller's body moving closer which therefore forced Baekhyun's back further into the bookcase. The pressure against his back had Baekhyun gasping which Chanyeol took to his advantage, slipping his tongue into Baekhyun's mouth. The action was warmly welcomed, Baekhyun wrapping his arms around Chanyeol's neck, desperately pulling him closer. When it proved obvious that neither of them could get any closer Baekhyun let out a quiet moan when the taller leaned down and grabbed one of his thighs, the artist allowing his mate to lift his leg from the ground which allowed Chanyeol to get closer to him but also put them in a very compromising position. He thought that due to Chanyeol's persist gesture his other leg would grow tired and cramp up but apparently the taller was thinking of that too, since the next moment Baekhyun was taken off the ground completely which ultimately forced him to wrap both of his legs around Chanyeol's waist while the latter helped secure him by holding him up by his .

Baekhyun was allowed to breathe when his mate pulled away, but the gasps still left his mouth as Chanyeol's lips pressed against his neck. He could feel as the taller pressed light kisses into his skin, teasing the area before it occasionally. Baekhyun never even felt a bite that would usually turn into a hickey if it was anyone else on the planet doing it to him. The painter could feel his fingers pressing into Chanyeol's scalp begging him to continue giving his neck attention. The bells in his head were ringing but his pounding heart was enjoying the moment so Baekhyun allowed himself to indulge in the feelings he had never felt before, love and appreciation.

Regardless of the fact that both he and Chanyeol were in a compromising position and could easily get into trouble if they were to be found right now, Baekhyun didn't want to regret it. He knew his feelings for Chanyeol and now he knew the latter's feelings for him, he could feel it with every delicate press of the giant's lips against his skin. Chanyeol was scared of hurting him, of tainting him and that alone was making Baekhyun go crazy.

He pulled Chanyeol out of his neck and combined their lips together in another spine-tingling kiss, the pain he was experiencing from the bookshelf behind was numbed by the magic that was Park Chanyeol. To Baekhyun, his mate's lips were like the sweetest candy in the world, a candy that was made for him and him alone. No one else was going to touch it or steal it away from him.

He moaned into Chanyeol's mouth, his vocals muffled by the giant's lips. Their noses were pressed against each other's cheeks from their desperation to get closer to each other, but when Baekhyun whines turned from pleasure filled to pain Chanyeol instantly took him away from the bookshelves. They broke apart, chest heaving, lips wet and eyes blown wide. Baekhyun was tired before but he sure is awake right now.

"It wasn't the kiss..." Chanyeol explains to him through his gentle pants. Baekhyun could feel how his mate's hand was rubbing soft circles on his thigh through his jeans. "I'm sorry that I made you worry it really is nothing-"

"You don't just kiss me like that and tell me that you're okay," Baekhyun muttered looking up into his mate's eyes as he was set back down on the ground. "I'm your soulmate Chanyeol, you can tell me things. It's not like I'm going to walk away from you, destiny set us up together right?"

Baekhyun hoped that Chanyeol could see through his smile and realise that his words held a deeper meaning, but Chanyeol refused to meet his gaze. He was staring at the carpet below them, his mind burning with thoughts and things that Baekhyun knew he wouldn't get to know so soon.

"Remember when I said that we could leave early today, since Yixing was going to be blood testing in Biology?" Baekhyun nodded his head. "My family wants me to take you home, they're desperate to meet you. They wouldn't listen to me when I tried to say that you might be overwhelmed with how fast things are moving between us."

Baekhyun thanked Kyungsoo in his mind for having warned him about Chanyeol's family, if he hadn't been warned previously Baekhyun wouldn't have a clue as to how to deal with this conversation. Since he didn't have parents or any biological family members he felt like he didn't have enough experience to reassure his mate, but judging on the warning that Kyungsoo had given him Baekhyun figured that the best thing to do in this situation was to explain to Chanyeol that his initial thought was in fact the right one.

"Life is fleeting," he said instead, moving his head so that he would be able to meet Chanyeol's eyes. The vampire was reluctant at first but eventually his gaze met Baekhyun's. "The world isn't going to stop for me to register everything that is happening around me. I have to do that on my own, and you were right I would be overwhelmed but not because of everything that has brought us together. You know that I don't have a family so meeting your family is a little scary for me, besides it would be rude to decline their invitation."

"Are you sure that you're willing to do this? I mean this is quite a problem, I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"It is going to be inevitable," Baekhyun whispered, stepping closer to Chanyeol who visibly stiffened at their proximity. The painter let out a giggle, they had been a lot closer minutes ago and yet Chanyeol was nervous to be standing so close to him now. "meeting new people, especially parents isn't something that I ever considered doing. You came into my life -by surprise that I will admit- but the way I see it is that you came into my life for a reason, I thought that I was meant to spend the rest of my life alone and your sudden presence made me realise that I can have a life filled with the love you're willing to give me. I know you're my soulmate and as much as I feel uncomfortable about meeting something I never had I know that I will be able to live with it because I have you, your family comes with the territory." Baekhyun shrugs his shoulders but the smile on his face isn't moving even the slightest inch.

The air in his lungs escapes just in time before his lips are met with Chanyeol's again, this time the taller pulls away before the air could get heated like earlier. Baekhyun giggles when he feels the weight of his mate's forehead against his own, a content sigh leaves his lips when his eyes open to meet Chanyeol's.

"I could seriously get used to kissing you whenever I want," he teased, his lips for what Baekhyun figured was revenge. "but I have to walk you to class."

"Aren't you coming?" Baekhyun wondered, not liking the tone of Chanyeol's voice. It really sounded like Chanyeol was going to leave him and Baekhyun didn't know if he was ready for that to happen.

"Of course," the taller reassured him, pressing a gentle kiss against his head. Baekhyun felt his heart pound against his chest at the gesture, his cheeks warming up. "I just need to make a phone call first."

"Take your time, we still have a couple minutes before class starts. I'll see you there?"

"I can walk you-"

"The quicker you call, the quicker you come back to me." Baekhyun smiled, sending him a wink before picking up his bag and walking out of the library.

Chanyeol watched his mate leave with bated breath, he fished his phone out of his jean pocket and swiped it open onto the conversation he had closed out of just before Baekhyun and Kyungsoo returned. His blood boiling as he read through his Appa's text messages, that threatened that if he didn't bring Baekhyun home he would go out of his way to place himself into his mate's life whether he had Chanyeol's permission or not.

Chanyeol couldn't understand why Suho had been so desperate about meeting Baekhyun, it was beginning to get slightly unreal how strange he had been acting. The last time Chanyeol checked mating with someone who wasn't your mate didn't cause both of those involved to go crazy, it happened to one and only one. Kris had given himself that title long ago but now that Suho was having these mood-swings and began to demand things that should be discussed by everyone involved, Chanyeol could only wonder how Yixing was able to power through when his Appa seemed incapable of doing so.

He was pulled from his thoughts when his phone began buzzing in the palm of his hand, letting out a frustrated sigh Chanyeol rested himself backwards against the shelves, his fingers working to accept the call and bring it to his ear. He took a deep breath before announcing himself to the person on the other end of the line.

"Did you seriously just leave me on read for more than five minutes?" Suho's voice drilled into Chanyeol's ear-drums making the vampire whimper in return. "Who the hell do you think you are, ignoring me like that?"

"I already explained to you that Baekhyun was on his way over to me, what did you want me to do, text you while I tried to ask him if he would come with me to the house? Sorry Appa but I can't multitask!"

"If you plan on being the next king you better learn how to do two different things at once!" Suho's voice was filled with venom causing Chanyeol's hands to shake in anger. His grip on his phone was getting tighter, any more pressure and the thing would snap in half and crumble to dust on the floor. "Well then what did he say?"

"He agreed, I will be bringing him over after our classes."

"Can't you do it now?"

"No Appa I can't, I have to take Baekhyun's emotions into this-"

"Oh for crying out loud Chanyeol bring the poor boy home earlier than after your classes I want to meet him!" Suho's voice rose until he was shouting through the phone, Chanyeol's heart sank. What the hell was happening to his Appa?

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Chanyeol hissed back, knowing that he would get in trouble for yelling in a library. "I am doing this for you, not for him! Baekhyun is anxious about meeting my family because he doesn't have one of his own, so don't you dare demand him to do anything that he is uncomfortable doing! I already told you that I will be bringing him home in time for lunch since we are leaving earlier than the actual school day, if you ask me to do anything against that you will be turning him against me. I am not losing my mate because of you Appa, not when I have just found him. Get a hold of yourself before I get there, because if you so much as open your mouth to say a bad thing to him I won't hesitate to get him and Kyungsoo out of that house quicker than you can even blink. Do I make myself clear?"

Chanyeol didn't think that lying to his Appa would be a bad thing in this situation, especially when it involved Baekhyun and his feelings. The human meant a lot to Chanyeol regardless of his lack of vampire blood, or whatever was laced that prevented Chanyeol from completely believing that statement. It was time that he started growing up and placing both himself and Baekhyun first, he couldn't allow himself to follow the set-out lines for him any longer especially now that he had found his mate. Baekhyun isn't blood but he means a lot more to Chanyeol than anyone else in the family and like hell was he going to comply to his appa's wishes and drag Baekhyun out of the school before he was ready.

"I'm sorry-" Suho tried to apologise but like that night at dinner with Kyungsoo, Chanyeol couldn't allow him to finish.

"You weren't the only one that lost her Appa..." he whispered before ultimately ending the call. He could feel the ball of tears rest in the centre of his throat, his eyes already welling up with salty water that would be running down his cheeks any minute now.

Chanyeol threw his head back, allowing it to hit against the shelves. He hoped that the now position would prevent him from crying but apparently he didn't need to tilt his head back to feel better. A light delicate touch swirled over his arm, bringing goosebumps to the surface. Chanyeol cast his eyes towards the tingling feeling in his arm, his eyes crinkling upwards in a grin when the picture finally showed itself.

Oh how crazy in love with Byun Baekhyun was he?