alex hunter

This is her fault. She’d jinxed herself. She was convinced her night couldn’t possibly get any worse. With her nerves hopping around in a jumbled mess of misplaced electricity and the mob of people now swarming the bar, not to mention that stupid mistake she’d made earlier, Samara had been certain this was all the night had to throw at her.

That’s before she crashes into a broad chest. Which would have been fine. Totally fine… If her manager hadn’t sent her across the floor with two drinks in her hands. She gasps, the glasses knocked loose in her hands until there are ice-cold martinis coating her front, shirt and the ends of her hair soaked. “H’oohh…” she gets out first, muscles locking from the icy feeling seeping onto her skin. With a bit of squinting, a bit of nodding, and a deep breath she’s able to compose herself. “Yeah,” she gets out tightly, a frantic sort of laugh jumping loose. “All good— yeah. Carrots, though. Good one. Totally.” After a moment, though, she loses her composure. “Ffffuck, that is cold.”

..

He couldn’t see the drinks or the commotion, but he could hear the rattling ice cubes, the glass and the splash as liquid hit something. Instantly, Alex cringed, patting his hands over his jacket in the hope that he had something in there, a pack of tissue or a napkin, anything, that could help. “Shit, shit, I am so sorry.” Producing a pack of tissues from one of the pockets inside of his suit jacket, Alex held them out in the air, not entirely sure where the person was standing. “I do have tissues, but I feel like that might not help much. Do you want my jacket? I have a coat somewhere, you can have that.”

If he hadn’t have been in such a hurry to look as least suspicious as possible, Alex might have thought it a good idea to take his time, instead of hurrying in the dark where he was highly likely to run into someone. Shrugging his jacket off, Alex cringed again. “Here’s my jacket, I really don’t mean this in the way it’s going to come out but you should change out of your clothes if they’re wet, if the power is out, we probably won’t get much heating and I really don’t want to be the cause of you getting hypothermia or something. Take my jacket, I can find a coat, just let me know.”

If they were being honest, the blackout had been the perfect opportunity and excuse to sneak out and away from the party for a bit of alone time. Finding a cloakroom in the vast resort wasn’t hard, but now having to sneak out of it was proving to be a little more difficult. Straightening his tie, Alex snaked a hand through his hair to smooth it out, trying to look as normal as possible. Letting Mina sneak out of the room first, Alex held back for about a minute before clearing his throat and stepping outside of the cloakroom.

Like he had thought, there were beams of torches and phone lights bouncing all over the walls and in his haste to move away from the cloakroom and look as unsuspicious as possible, Alex hurried away from the room and walked straight bang into someone. That would teach him for walking before his eyes had adjusted to the darkness. “Oh shit, I am so sorry, I apparently did not eat enough carrots as a kid because I can’t see in the dark. Are you okay?”

It wasn’t his proudest moment if he was being honest with himself. Having found where the resort seemed to be keeping a stash of the food in between the kitchen and the main event room, Alex had sneaked a plate away and found a quiet room to secret eat in peace, having snuck some to Mina before hand, at least this way, they’d be able to hide single plates if they weren’t together. Sitting on a table in a deserted room, Alex munched away on some of the snacks Noura had provided, swinging his legs through the air as he looked out of the window at the dark night. Even though he couldn’t make much out, the outline of everything was still stunning and even had a new book scene stirring in his head. Unfortunately, he had a dead phone and no notebook, so he could only hope he remembered.

As he took another bite of food, Alex was dazzled by a bright light being shone into the room, clearly a torch or someone’s phone. “Okay, okay, you caught me, I found the stash of food, but if I share what’s left with you, can we not tell people? It’s too good to share with that many people.”

All he wanted to do was check that his mother had gotten home alright after leaving the event by herself earlier. He knew she had been meeting some girlfriends for a late dinner, but knowing his mom, that probably meant she was still out, laughing about some gossip or another. His phone was dead but Alex being Alex, had a portable charger and connector in his pocket from some event he’d worn the suit to before. But Alex being Alex, had dropped the tiny connector on the floor, in a room that was pitch black. Kneeling on the floor, he was currently feeling along the floor, trying desperately to find the little black connector which would get some power into his phone. It was quiet where he was and even though he still couldn’t see much in the pitch black of the room, he could hear the footsteps near him. “If you have better night vision than I do, it’s not as weird as it looks, I’m just trying to find my connector for my portable charger.” His eyes hadn’t adjusted properly yet after staring at his bright phone screen for so long before it died. “But if your phone is working and you can use the torch, please feel free to give me directors to it if you see it.”

It was the glitzy type of event that Alex didn’t find himself at much anymore, not now that his mother was more than happy to either not go or go with her group of girlfriends. With Mina occupied with some of her friends, Alex had one goal, to find his best friend. Picking up two glasses of champagne from the bar, the author began a slow walk around the main room. She was easy enough to spot in her red dress but it was the look on her face that struck Alex the most. He hadn’t seen this side of Hannah often before, but high Hannah was truly one of his favourite memories.

Walking over to her, a grin on his face, Alex couldn’t help but chuckle as he held a glass out to her. “I know it’s a good event and all, but you almost look like you’re having too much fun.” Leaning in to kiss her cheek, Alex chuckled again. “You look stunning, Han, you doing okay?”

     “If it was up to me, we’d never leave the bed, but we do need to be among other people, you know?” She teased him with a raised eyebrow. She never wanted to leave the comfort of her room, or his room for that matter. The space felt safe for them, comfortable, it was just them two, and seeing other people and wondering if they were thinking whether or not they were together was enough to make her feel as if her breath had been stolen from her lungs. There weren’t any doubts on her mind however, and she didn’t know how much she’d need to say or do to make Alex believe she wouldn’t slip away like last time, but she would keep on doing it until he understood it to be true. The both of them had reservations about stepping out of their bubble, but they needed to, especially since their relationship was real now. 

     She took the champagne flute from his hand and took a seat on the nearest unoccupied stool, if she was going to walk around the whole night on those heels, she would definitely have to take breaks here and there. “Bidding together is actually not a bad idea,” she smiled and took a sip of her drink, reminding herself to not go all the way, she definitely didn’t want a hangover later, or to be too drunk to enjoy the rest of the night, the part when it would be just the two of them and he’d help her out of the dress. “I’m not sure what I want to bid in, I almost feel like bidding on things most of people wont. Maybe the SPA treatment and take Tilly, since you’ve been taking up all my free time and wandering around the apartment half-naked,” Mina teased with a light chuckle. “It would be nice to win something regardless, just to give away money for charity.”

..

Licking his top lip to try and hide his smile, Alex simply shook his head. “If this is something we agree so strongly on, remind me why we’re here again?” In reality, getting out of their apartments was probably the best thing for them. It was rare, it seemed, that they did leave them since that first night at her place and even though Alex liked nothing more than falling asleep with her in his arms and waking up next to her and spending as much time in between with her in bed, being out felt good, it felt right. 

It felt so strange to Alex that he now had to fight his natural instincts. It wouldn’t have been weird for him to brush a stray hair off of face, give her a hug, touch her arm or something innocent before, but now there was so much more meaning behind the touches, he was trying as he could to not draw any attention to them from the people he hoped wouldn’t even notice them. Taking a drink from the glass, Alex tried to keep any tells off of his face. “The weekend spa thing? I think that has a pretty high bid already..” Clearing his throat, he wasn’t going to tell her that he’d bid on it as a surprise for her, but if she truly wanted to go with Tilly, he’d happily hand it over. “But even though me half naked is a treat for both of you, it’s a good idea to do something with her. You know you can always just tell me to get lost when you want girl time, right?”

     She hated that she even worried him. She swore she would never make him feel that way again. Running was not an option this time around, she was in for the long haul. While Peter was never not going to occupy a place in her heart, she knew that the type of love she felt for Alex was different, it was greater. All consuming. It sucked that they couldn’t walk hand-in-hand, but she didn’t want anything to disrupt their happiness right now, she was not up for the judging, she didn’t want to know what his father thought of their relationship. What her father thought of their relationship. Those were thoughts she had gladly pushed to the back of her mind, at least for now. Besides, it was entirely too difficult to think coherently when he pulled her in like that, and when he kissed her like that. She needed to remind herself that they were in public, otherwise she would let herself go, dangerously so.

     “I am more than okay, I promise,” she touched his cheek, caressing his beard, looking lovingly into his eyes. Right now not even being able to care if any of his mother’s friends saw them. “Let’s not start on who looks great here because if we do, then we’ll just have to find the most hidden bathroom around here, or maybe just forget the night entirely and go back home,” she grinned mischievously and cleared her throat, stepping away from him when she realized their space was being invaded by other people wanting to get to the bathroom. “Champagne sounds amazing, let’s go,” she took his arm, something that would definitely look friendlier than if they walked hand in hand. “Have you bid on anything tonight? I feel like I’m not gonna win anything, I might not really know how to bid.”

..

They were always going to have some kind of teething issues when this started again before Christmas. There was a lot to deal with, not only did they have the pressure of eventually telling their families, but they also had a lot to work out together. Peter’s ghost was always going to be in the background until they dealt with it individually and together, then they each had their own little issues to work out. Alex’s guilt, their true feelings for each other, even Alex’s worries that maybe it would end like last time, although this was a possibility he viewed as more impossible by the day. For now, he just had to relax.

He leaned his head a little towards her hand, turning his head to press a kiss to her palm. Barking out a laugh, Alex shook his head as his hands lingered on her waist. “I can think of worse ways to spend the evening, you know..” Dropping his hand as she moved away, Alex glanced away, although nothing could pull the smile off of his face now. It had been a long time since Alex had been to an event like this, even longer since he’d had someone on his arm who made him walk this tall and proud. “I might have, but you’ll just have to wait and see. We can bid on something together, if you want, well, you can bid and I’ll show you.” As they reached the bar, Alex took two of the pre-filled champagne flutes before handing one to Mina. “Were you thinking of anything in particular?”

▬ at the rockwater resort charity event. ▬ january 22nd, sometime after 7 in the evening. ▬ closed starter for alex hunter.

     Bumping into Alex’s mother leaving the charity before they had a chance to step inside had really freaked Mina out, for the lack of a better word. It’s not that she wasn’t ready to tell both of their families about their rekindled relationship, it was that she wasn’t really ready to tell anyone at all. She had excused herself to the bathroom as soon as they bid their respective farewells, knowing that she really just needed a couple of seconds to put herself together. After all, unlike the last time his mother almost caught them together, this time around Mina couldn’t be more sure of what they were doing, she just needed a few seconds. Going to the bathroom and washing her hands, placing one cold hand behind her neck, was enough for her breathing to slow down, it was only then that she took notice of how flushed she looked and how ridiculous her reaction had been. She was scared of their reactions when they found out, but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t enjoy their first night out together. Hanging her purse on her shoulder again and smoothing the tulle of her dress she stepped out of the women’s restroom and walked up to Alex. “Hey▬ I’m sorry about that, it was just one minor freak out,” she smiled at him, “should we get some drinks? Or walk around for a bit?” ( @alexhunter​ )

..

He knew that at this kind of event, running into his mother and sister was always a risk, but he’d thought ahead, confirmed with both of them, subtly, that they weren’t going to be there. Luckily, that had covered for his shock when as he walked into the resort with Mina, his mother had been heading out. Luckily for them, she had only come to make a quick bid and leave again, not wanting to spend the night in heels when her sister was coming over for the evening. Waiting for Mina outside of the bathroom, Alex pushed his hands into his pockets, trying not to think the worst. The last time that his mother had nearly caught them, he hadn’t seen Mina for over a year and he couldn’t help but wonder if that was going to happen again. He wanted to scream for the rooftops that they were together, that everything was finally working out, but with a situation this delicate, he knew that they would have to be a bit more diplomatic. 

As the door opened and Mina reappeared, Alex couldn’t help the grin that spread over his face. Shaking his head, unable to shake the smile, he simply reached for her hand. “You sure you’re okay?” Looking around, careful of anyone who knew his mother being around, just in case, Alex tugged her a little closer. “First, I need to tell you again just how amazing you look, because you are breathtaking. Second, I just need to do something as I’ll probably have to stop myself for the rest of the evening.” Placing a hand on her waist, Alex pressed a soft kiss against her lips, feeling a thrill at being able to do that in public. “Now, we can get a drink. Champagne?”

     Time seemed to be moving incredibly slowly, the movie which, in any other time, would have finished by now dragged on. Mina could hardly pay attention to the blood and guts and the screams and the occasional sex scene every slasher movie seemed to need to have. She was well into her fourth ( ? ) glass of wine by now and it was sliding down easier than the food Alex had brought over. Oh, how she longed for the Chinese food to arrive, break their awkward silence, take them out of their mysery. Anyone could read the room, anyone could know that they were not the best friends they once were anymore. There was more to it. There was a lot more to it, and there was absolutely no way of hiding anymore. 

     Keeping things bottled inside of her felt pretty exhausting by now, their walking on shells around one another, not knowing what to say, or how to keep a conversation flowing despite how many times they had actually been in that exact situation ( watching a horror movie and waiting on food ) was maddening to her. She was mad, she was tired and she might be downright pissed off at his boldness to be there, for horror movies, like nothing had happened.

     Mina didn’t know exactly why Alex awkwardly asking her how was the wine was what broke the camel’s back, but she knew right then and there that she couldn’t keep playing this game anymore, she couldn’t keep on pretending that everything was good, until it eventually would be pushed aside again. If they continued like this, they would eventually find a new normal, they would eventually shove everything down again and pretend that they didn’t all but assume they had feelings for each other. She was terrified of what that new normal would look like, but she was absolutely sure she wouldn’t be able to simply ignore what had happened, it was not her choice.

     “Is the wine alright?” She finally spoke, looking at him with an incredulous expression, “is that how it’s gonna be every time we’re together now? Tiptoeing around one another, asking if the wine is alright?” Her teeth sunk into her lips after she scoffed, genuinely upset, genuinely in disbelief. 

     “Why did you come here today, Alex? Why did you think this was a good idea? Do you really think I can just push aside what we said to each other not a week ago? You’re just going to ignore what I told you?” Mina wasn’t certain if she was able to hold his gaze for much longer, but getting up made her feel more confrontational and better equipped to handle whatever was going to come out of it. “I’m pretty sure we had a fight at the sidewalk of my restaurant, did we not? And what? You just show up with wine and snacks, expecting everything to be normal again? Expecting I just forget what was said? I’m sorry if that’s what you want, but I can’t, if this is the way, I really think you should grab your things and leave…” 

     She sighed. A long, frustrated sigh.

     “If not… I really need you to tell me what the hell do you want from me, because I’m exhausted, Alex. I’m tired of this back and forth.”

..

Alex wasn’t sure why he’d thought it would be a good idea to just turn up on her doorstep, really. It had seemed like the best idea when he’d been thinking about it and when he was driving over. It had seemed like the easiest way of just spending some time with his best friend, with her, without them having to deal with what had happened between them. But he really was stupid to think that they’d be able to carry on as if nothing had happened, when so much had. But for Alex, he was still no further forward in telling her how he felt, how he wanted her more than he wanted anything else in the world, or knowing if she felt the same way. 

He’d thought, that even if it was awkward at the beginning, they’d be able to ease back into it with some wine, small talk, movies and food, they’d be able to just work it out, like they’d seemed to when Mina came back into town. The only time though, he realised, that things had felt anywhere normal, was Vancouver. In Vancouver, a wall had come down for Alex, they’d basically spent the day on a date and he hadn’t cared if anyone saw him hug her or if she caught him looking at her, because he just didn’t. But he realised in that moment, that they hadn’t been normal since she’d left. The last time he’d felt truly comfortable around her, apart from Vancouver, was that last morning they’d spent in bed, over a year ago.

He hadn’t expected a question about the wine to set anything off, but as she responded, Alex’s eyes widened a little as he looked over at her. His lips pressed together before he took a sip from his refilled glass. Obviously, that was the wrong thing to say. It seemed, however, that just as she had lost patience with him, that was all it took for Alex to snap as well. “What exactly did we say, Mina? Because I am no clearer on anything than I was before we had.. Whatever that was outside the restaurant. I didn’t tell you shit and I really don’t think you told me anything either.” 

Standing up, Alex paced a little, trying to gather his thoughts before he spoke to try and avoid saying anything he’d regret or that would only make the situation worse. “I came here tonight because I missed you, Mina, it has barely been a week but I hated that I hadn’t spoken to you or seen you, it was driving me mad. So I came here, because honestly, a night of small talk was so much easier than going another night without talking to you.” 

He knew he should hold back, he knew that he should just stop pacing, put down his wine glass and leave, try again another time or something. But something in him told him that it was now or never. “You! I want you, Mina! I have wanted nothing but you since that first kiss, since waking up with you that first morning. When you left, I was lost and I thought it was because you were my best friend but it’s not, it’s because I can’t get you out of my damn head, because I can’t forget what we did and because I don’t want to. But trying to just be friends with you since you got back has been killing me.”

“I’d say writing is something I consider myself to be very good at, also being a dog dad. Something really bad at, oh, has to be folding a fitted sheet, I just can’t do it. Also math, it’s why calculators were invented.”

                                ALEX HUNTER ; CHARITY EVENT

     “We’ve been ordering a lot with Mai, the restaurant has been so busy and I’ve been so tired coming home, it didn’t make sense to cook for one, aside from the eventual takeout I have been bringing over, it has all been Mai,” she shrugged, immediately reaching for some chips as she absolutely hated the fact that she felt so nervous around Alex, and that so much has changed only over the past few days. It was hard to not bridge the distance between them, it was incredibly hard to have to swallow everything she could say to him along with those chips, but it didn’t seem like he wanted to be the first to talk, and to be honest, coming to think of it, chances were that Mina wasn’t caring much about being the first either. What choice did she had?

     If they continued like this, they would probably eventually falling into a new normal and what was that going to look like? Barely spending any time together, and when they did it would be like this? Some feet apart? Not touching? Not joking? Feeling too tensed to even be around one another? She didn’t like it, and they had so much to talk about. She had all but declared her love for one him on the sidewalk the other day, and now they were brushing that aside. Mina knew it was wrong, but although she had so much to tell him, it didn’t see like she could say that again, she didn’t know if she could repeat those words and walk away, or worst— if she could repeat those words and get the same silence she had done over the last couple of weeks. It was infuriating and dumb— and it was on the both of them.

     Getting up from the chair and setting her wine glass down and shoving the rest of the chips in her mouth, she nodded. “Well, I actually got a Blu-Ray copy of 13 ghosts the other day, maybe we can watch that?” She offered him a small smile, not the one she usually reserved to him, but a more polite one before picking the movie from the media cabinet and placing it on, she was quick to choose the menu and pressing play, dimming the lights of the living room, but leaving the ones of the kitchen on, so they weren’t completely in the dark. She wasn’t entirely sure she could be completely in the dark with him and for that she drank her whole first glass of wine before putting more of the red tinted liquid to herself, not being able to hold back when her eyes drifted to Alex.

..

Before, when Peter had been alive, their relationship had been so easy. They were best friends, they liked the same things, they were comfortable around each other and their respective partners had been comfortable with them as well. Neither Peter, nor Alex’s ex girlfriend, had ever batted an eyelid if they walked in on the pair watching a film, tucked up on the couch next to each other, a bowl of popcorn on Alex’s lap and a bowl of candy in Mina’s. It was just how they were, they had partners, they all trusted each other. It was easy. Now, being on the same couch felt like it had a hidden meaning, were they too close, not close enough, what did all mean and would it ever feel the same?

“Sure, sounds great.” Alex took a sip from his wine glass for something to do so he wouldn’t keep rambling, noticing for the first time just how much he’d drunk already. Pulling the throw off of the back of the couch, Alex fluffed it out before laying half over himself and leaving the other half, just in case. He wanted nothing more than to be that close to her again, although he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to stop himself from blurting everything out if she did sit down next to him. But also, he could understand why the distance was there. They’d both said things, he was really trying to pretend like it didn’t matter, but it did.

Finishing his glass, Alex poured himself another after she did. He tried as hard as he could to keep his eyes on the screen but every so often, without much fight on his part, his eyes travelled over to her. Their eyes locked for a moment and Alex couldn’t help but smile, a small, shy smile, before he quickly looked away again. “Is the wine alright?”

The snort of a laugh that left Hannah’s lips and escaped into the air as a white puff and dissipated quickly as they made their way down towards the hot springs. “I know. You’d think we’d be better at communicating after literally living in separate countries but here we are. Makes a good story though, and I found out I’m a milf from the kid in front of me so that was an experience.” Laughing once more, Hannah shook her head. Clothes now completely gone and her alabaster skin completely exposed to the elements. They needed to get into the water soon. “I blame you for this,” She chuckled, taking a few steps towards the warm refuge ahead, “You were the one who brought us here. This is all your fault.” 

Arms wrapped around her small frame in a vain attempt to give herself a little warmth, Hannah let out a groan as he called her back. “Fine. But be quick.” She cautioned, moving back over to him and resting her head down onto his shoulder as she stuck her tongue out for the photo before moving away and almost sprinting into the warmth of the water. “Thank god.” She murmured quietly, sinking into the water up to her neck. “I disagree. A hot tub on a chilly fall night is just as nice. But I think the nostalgia is what makes this so special.” Glancing over to him with a warm smile, Hannah found a spot to rest against some rocks and got comfortable, allowing her long legs to stretch out in front of her as she closed her eyes. “So how were your holidays?” She asked. “Catch me up, I feel like we haven’t talked in weeks.” Opening her eyes, she turned her gaze to him. “I missed your ugly mug.”

..

It was a true testament to their bond that Hannah and Alex had first come to the spring fifteen years ago, when they were only seventeen and here they were, no longer a couple, but closer than they had ever been. For Alex, he never could’ve imagined, on their first anniversary, that he’d have ever broken up with Hannah, but he was in no doubt that there would be no shock at finding out that they’d still be so close, so many years later. “Oh, come on. You’re gorgeous, you know that. Although I’m thirty two and I still think that’s the most disgusting thing to call someone.” Nodding, Alex couldn’t ignore the bite of the cold at his skin for long and he shivered under the cold air. “This is what you get when you date a rich kid, determined not to use his family’s money to impress his girlfriend and finds something free to do. Basically, it’s your fault.”

As they both sank into the water and warmed up, Alex breathed out a sigh of relief. It had been a long few weeks, a completely mind boggling few weeks, but the time out to just breathe and catch up with his best friend was exactly what he needed. “I’m going to see if I still have a photo of us from the first time we came here, compare the two when I get home.” And it was, the spring was nothing particularly special, but it was their spot. At her question, Alex paused for just a second, not entirely sure how to answer. His truth was that he had spent every single day but Christmas day in various states of undress, but was that something he was sharing yet? “Uh, yeah good, spent Christmas day with my mom and sister. Stayed in New Year’s. It was... interesting.” Ducking down into the water until it was right up to the bottom of his chin, Alex cleared his throat. “I might not have been alone. You and Niko have a good holiday? Do much over the break?”

10. Do you enjoy your job, and why?

“I don’t really see what I do as a job, but I love what I do.”

19. Where do you live now, and with whom?

“I live in an apartment in Port Elisabeth with my dog Archer.”