=Trayden's POV=
(Sunday, 12/8/2019; 6:15 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Hunter's House)

I was incredibly surprised that Hunter had stopped to give me a jump, and then even use some trick to unlock my steering wheel so the key would turn in the ignition. What really got me, though, was Hunter offering me to come to his house so he could get my car on the auto lift he had in his garage. I've officially decided that Hunter is great and I want to keep seeing him, as a friend, of course. I didn't think things would go beyond that, but who knew? Hunter was actively flirting with and checking me out, he's made no effort to be subtle. I'm not sure if I should flirt back, this is all kind of new to me still. Maybe Hunter could help me be more comfortable in being gay? I know he's got no shame in his sexuality, or even his body. He stripped freely last night at Wild Fantasies, no nervousness at all. I'm seeing that Hunter is a man of many talents and Gods if he isn't hot too. I wasn't sure where this night was going, but I was glad to get more time with Hunter.

I made it to his house and let him go around me to pull into the driveway and up to the garage door. Hunter left it running and got out to wave me in and park next to him. I did so, and then he came next to my window as I rolled it down to look at him.

"I just gonna run inside to open the garage. I haven't yet fixed the sensor on the door and remote," Hunter informed.

"Okay, I'll wait here," I smiled to him before he nodded and darted inside his home. I was nervous and excited about this, I was at Hunter's house…With him! I relaxed in the driver's seat and had the car in park until I got instructions from Hunter on what to do. Just as I closed my eyes, I got shoved and looked over to see my friends there, staring at me with expressions I couldn't quite read.

"Home resting because you don't feel well?" Shane remarked.

"Went out on a dinner date with a guy?" Hailey stated.

"Now at his house?" Alyssa crossed her arms over one another.

"Have you been spying on me?!" I asked immediately, feeling I had the right to.

"Why'd you lie to us about why we had to leave?" Tyler questioned.

"And why have you hidden this guy from us that you're dating?" Rylee said after her twin spoke.

"Who is even? We've never met him and we're your closest friends. Is he someone you met last night in all the clubs? We saw him give you his number, so it's a recent hook up…" My eyes widened with Ethan mentioned that. "What are you doing hooking up with a complete stranger on the first night you meet him?! He could be a rapist, a killer and you just agreed to come over with no backup!"

As I was about to answer I saw the garage door opening and Hunter standing there and walking towards my car. "I, uh…Assure you I'm not a murderer or rapist. Just your community friendly mechanic," Hunter stated calmly. "Did your friends want to meet me that bad?" He smiled. "I don't mind. I'm used to having a couple friends over who invite more and more, then it becomes an awesome party," He added.

I quickly got out of the car and stood before him. "I-I didn't invite them, Hunter. They…Saw us at Arc Burger and followed to be nosey…I'm so sorry,"

Hunter kept his smile and just shrugged. "Hey, I ain't even mad, Tray. Don't sweat it. Like I said, pretty used to these encounters." He chuckled. "Besides, you told already told me they were nosey and would hound you if they found out you met a guy who offered to take you out to dinner," I blushed a little. I had told him that. "If they want to stay to investigate and or interrogate me being in your life, it's fine with me. I don't see them being keen on leaving you with the mysterious hot guy who roped you into coming home with him," He winked and I blushed more. "Just let me get my truck in the garage, then your car. I got a couple friends coming over tonight, need room in the driveway,"

I fought glaring at my friends as Hunter walked away to get in his truck, then three-point turn it around to back it into his open space in the garage. The second space had the lift and a bunch of auto tools. Hunter shut off his truck and the lights, then returned to my car. "How do you want me to drive it in?" I asked him.

"I'll do it, handsome. It's tricky to get it on the place it needs to be if you don't mind me driving your car?" Hunter offered.

"Drive away," I invited, moving out of the way. Doing the same he had with his truck, Hunter backed it in slowly and onto the spits it needed to be on. "I cannot believe you spied and followed me here…" I grumbled at them.

"We were worried about you," Alyssa huffed.

"I might believe that if you hadn't started this encounter with the fact I didn't tell you I had plans tonight!" I folded my arms, looking unamused. "He's not my boyfriend, we're not dating. Tonight was just a thank you dinner because I returned the guy's wallet to him and he wouldn't take no for an answer. He saw I was having car issues and offered to take a look at it because he works with cars…That's all," I remarked. Gods, I couldn't believe they saw me out with Hunter, and followed me. I mean, Hunter was being cool about it and judging by his responses he gave, I assume it's not the first time he's had to deal with it. Or maybe Hunter is just an amazingly easy going guy, I would assume he doesn't care who is in his life given he willingly takes his clothes off for people, dancing and singing.

Hunter turned the car off when it was in place on the lift, then came to the edge of the garage. "You wanna come inside? Little warmer than out there, and it's supposed to snow in the next twenty minutes," Hunter called to me and my friends.

"Coming," I replied, turning away from my friends and heading into the garage. I wasn't sure if they'd follow or not, but as I passed Hunter, he smiled at me and gave me a look that said not to worry about it.

"Ain't nothing I haven't dealt with before, hot shot. They just wanna make sure you're not jumping into something dangerous and meet the new person in your life. It's because I'm a guy and you're gay. If I were a girl, they likely wouldn't give a damn. But we were caught on a date, and you came home with me…It sparks a lot of assumptions and if I'm in your life as a friend, I'm gonna end up in theirs too," Hunter informed, lightly patting my cheek and winking. "I don't mind and I'm honestly really surprised they haven't recognized me from Wild Fantasies yet," He laughed some.

My smile came back, it was hard to be upset or pouting around Hunter. "The lighting isn't great outside, I'm sure they might when they come in…If they do," I stated softly.

"You make a good point," Hunter countered. "Go on, have a seat in the chairs or on the couches. There's chips and soda in the vending machines, and no…You don't have to pay for them. There's ice in the freezer, beer in the fridge, harder liquor and cups in the cabinets next to the fridge. Oh, and there's a bathroom right behind that door on the right wall. Like all establishments, to abide by drinking laws…If you start drinking, keys go in the basket on the table. If I find you too drunk to drive, you'll be camping out in one of my spare bedrooms or the living room. Plenty of space," He informed me, and my friends who came wandering in and looking around curiously. "Any questions?"

"Did you warn them that when we get partying, clothes start coming off just like work?" Another voice said as I looked to see a few others walking in. The looks on my friends' faces was priceless to see some of the dancers from Wild Fantasies. The ones known as Dagur, Tank, and a few others, but I didn't know who they were because I don't recall seeing them Saturday night.

"Now, where's the fun in a warning that my house is party central and can easily turn into a night at Fantasies?" Hunter grinned. I didn't know what would happen, but I was suddenly curious. Hunter greeted the males, females as they went to set up and get started on whatever they were doing. Hunter only shook his head and looked at my friends, who were finally in all the way and Hunter shut the garage door before heading towards my car. However, something was odd. While Ethan and Hailey seemed in shock to realize Hunter was Alpha Fury from Wild Fantasies, Alyssa, Shane, Tyler, Fisher, and Rylee were looking at Hunter as if they'd seen a ghost.

"Uh…You guys okay?" I asked the five of them.

"No…" Rylee whispered.

"It can't be," Tyler added.

"Hu-Hunter?" Alyssa questioned nervously.

"Hunter Haddock?" Shane pushed. Why was Shane calling Hunter that? It wasn't his last name…It was Forger, wasn't it? I didn't understand. What I didn't expect was for the room to go quiet and Hunter to stop what he was doing with his head down.

"Is…It you? Is it really you?" Fisher managed.

Hunter sighed and closed his eyes. "I don't use that name anymore," Hunter's voice was quiet and low. "But yes, it's me…" Finally, he lifted his head and looked at them with a soft smile. "It's been a while, huh?"

What? What!? Hunter knew my friends? Or…They knew him? "You know him?" Hailey wondered, asking what I was about to.

"We all went to school together, up until March of 2011 when he disappeared…" Alyssa mentioned gently.

"He's my cousin…" Shane forced out. "On my dad's side,"

"We were best friends," Fisher pointed out. "He stopped coming to school, his parents told us he was sick and couldn't visit," Hunter scoffed, folding his arms over one another.

"You weren't even sick…Your parents just didn't know what else to tell us when you vanished. Dude," Rylee put her hands on her hips.

"Not cool just deserting us by running away…" Tyler finished for her.

"Is that the lie they went with? I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Hunter rolled his eyes, clearing voicing his disappointment in what he was told.

"Is that not what happened?" Ethan deciding to inquire.

"Far from the truth," Hunter remarked coldly. "Figures they wouldn't tell everyone what actually went down, and just say I ran away to stop questions or be told how messed what they did was," He closed his eyes while leaning on the lift.

"If you didn't run away, then what happened?" Alyssa pushed.

"For Odin's sake, it's been seven years!" Shane glared.

"Believe me, I know how long it's been. Nine, actually. Not seven. My leaving wasn't my decision," Hunter looked them dead in the eyes, a scowl on his face. "My beloved parents kicked me out and disowned me my fifteenth-birthday," My friends' eyes widened, mouths dropping open in shock. "And that's all I really wanna say about it right now." He added, obviously, as it was a touchy subject for Hunter. Noted for future conversations not to bring up his parents.

"I'm gonna scold them myself!" Shane went to get his phone, but Hunter put his hand over it and pushed it down.

"Don't. What's done is done. It's only going to cause problems and I don't need any, my life is perfectly fine without them involved," Hunter informed.

"B-But Hunter! This is completely unacceptable for them to do! You were fifteen, that's abandonment!" Fisher stated quickly.

"It doesn't matter anymore. It was years ago. They have their life, and I have mine," Hunter said.

"What happened after you left? Not in the running away sense, but obviously you were told to leave their house…" Rylee wondered.

"I said I didn't want to talk about it right now," Hunter repeated. "Maybe one day I'll sit down and tell you everything, but I'm having a good night and I rather not kill it by explaining what happened nine years ago…" Hunter's friend, Tank, brought him a shot, then a beer.

I eyed my friends strongly so they'd back off. I didn't want to see Hunter get upset or mad. "I know you don't know me…But can I ask why they did that to you?" Hailey asked.

Hunter looked at Hailey before raising his shot with his friends, then sucking it back. Hunter cracked open his beer and moved to get to my car. "Being kicked out and disowned came from revealing to them that I am gay," Hunter set the beer down on the ground and started getting a few things to work on the car with.

"Can we flip the music on, or will it distract you?" A female with blond hair and blue eyes questioned. I think I recognized her from Tuesday when I went to Wild Fantasies.

"Go for it. You know I work better with music anyway, Chels." Hunter reminded as he continued working on my car, but not before getting his phone from his pocket and tossing it to her to hook up to the dock and get it going. Hunter unhooked the machines he had on my car, then popped the hood and started checking things in there.

"So, who are you all?" Tank questioned to me and my friends.

"In order; Fisher Ingerman, Rylee and Tyler Thorston, Alyssa Hofferson, and my cousin, Shane Jorgenson," Hunter remarked. "Sorry, I don't know who you two are," He looked at Hailey and Ethan.

"You wouldn't. We didn't meet them until tenth grade," Shane mentioned.

"This is Hailey Landvik and Ethan Trapp," Alyssa informed.

"Well, we met Hailey in tenth grade because she came to Berk High. Ethan was at a party we got invited to as seniors, but all hit it off real well, and became friends," Fisher explained.

"Cool to meet you two," Hunter smiled. "These guys and girls are my co-workers and friends," He added. "This is Devon and Thaxter, I'm sure you recognize them from Wild Fantasies," Hunter motioned to Dagur and Tank. "The rest are Jason, Chelsea, Bryan, Nicole or Nikki, as she prefers, Olivia or Liv, Oliver, and Eli," He pointed to each person he named.

"And who is this handsome hunk of man," Jason wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"That's Trayden and he's hands-off, Jay…" Hunter rolled his eyes. "Seriously, you gotta make plays at everyone I bring over?"

"Why do you get all the good ones?!" Eli mumbled.

"Because I'm that damn good," Hunter chuckled.

"Seriously, what's your secret?" Thaxter smiled.

"I ain't giving away what works for me. Find your own method," Hunter stated.

"It's that sexy ass of his," Nicole giggled.

"Or his cock, one of the two is keeping the bar full every night we're open," Olivia smiled.

"What keeps the strip bar busy is the fact your Alpha isn't afraid to take it all off," Hunter smirked. "If it were legal, I wouldn't even cover my dick. The rest of you don't have the balls,"

"Fuck you," Hunter's friends yelled at him.

"Oh, are you asking? Haven't done a five-way yet. Sorry girls, I only sleep with men. But you're welcome to watch if you like," Hunter chuckled.

"We're straight!" Devon and Thaxter glared.

"So am I," Bryan stated.

"Because you've never let a man touch you," Eli snickered. "I was straight until Jason and me got drunk and fucked. Now, I'm bi," He shrugged.

"He's got a point. Everyone calls themselves straight until a situation changes it for them to question things and actually settle on a sexual orientation to go with," Hunter agreed.

"Actually, I can agree with that too," Ethan stated with a finger up. "Was straight until I was about seventeen when a friend kissed me on a dare, bisexual ever since," He added. "I'm dating Rylee, but I've been with men before. A completely different experience,"

"Regardless, back to where it started…Tray isn't mine, Jay. I met him a couple days ago when he found my wallet at the park and graciously went out of his way to return it to me at the bar when he realized I wasn't home and my neighbor told him where I worked," Hunter informed. "I insisted he let me pay him back for the deed, and we settled on going to dinner, as my thank you to him. Then he had car trouble and I offered to look over things, hence why he's here," He continued.

"Aw, so we won't see him again?" Eli pouted as I blushed a bit.

"It's entirely up to him if he wants to come around again, if you perverts don't scare him off. I prefer you wouldn't because I rather enjoy his company and he already has open invitation to visit here or at work," Hunter smiled. "You can just hit me up whenever you're free, handsome. You have my number now and I always make time for friends to hang, or hook up if you're into that or up for it," He winked. Yeah, I was definitely blushing at the fact Hunter basically just announced he was happy to see me again any time to hang out or hook up.

"Gee, Hunter, just ask him if he wants to fuck you," Bryan rolled his eyes.

"Don't be stupid. We only just met, I don't know him well enough to be as forward as I do with all of you," Hunter laughed a little. "Maybe later down the line, though," He glanced at me. If my face got any redder or hotter, people were gonna think I had a high-grade fever and rush me to the hospital. I didn't know if it was because I was new to everything and it made me super shy and embarrassed, or Hunter was doing it on purpose to see me blush. All I know, at the moment, is that I'm loving the extra time with him tonight.