=Trayden's POV=
(Tuesday, 12/31/2019; 11:30 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Hunter's House)
I somehow knew Hunter wouldn't get upset with me if I had pulled him aside to tell him that Jason and Eli were making me uncomfortable with their excessive flirting and touching, I suppose I didn't say anything to avoid making problems between the friends. I didn't want Hunter to have to choose between me or them, but when Hunter mentioned that his friends needed to respect boundaries among one another, I guess it hit that Hunter would do say something to anyone, stranger or friend, to set things straight. Maybe Jason and Eli hadn't meant to lay it on heavy, Hunter mentioned they were drunk so he'd talk to them tomorrow morning when everyone was sobered up. It did set me at ease when Hunter told me I could find him during any party if he didn't see something happening himself, and tell him what went on. Regardless, I figured it was over now.
I was at Hunter's side since coming back into the house, which only happened about fifteen minutes ago. We're just thirty minutes from the new year beginning and I could honestly say I was excited to go into 2020 with my family and friends. I was definitely happy to have new friends too. I felt like 2020 was going to be a good year for me. After years of struggle, I've finally realized my sexual orientation. I'm gay. My friends and family know and accept me as such. I'm going to be finding a new job. One of the bigger things is that I've made several new friends, and one of them, Hunter, is helping me adjust to being gay. I was slowly coming out of my shell and getting to experience a lot of new aspects at my pace with Hunter. So yeah, I think this was a good end to a crazy year, and a great start into the new one. I kind of wondered how long the partying would continue after midnight.
I personally don't think any of us are going to be going to our own places tonight, everyone is drunk. Some are wasted now, but not out of control or sick. Others are just too intoxicated to drive and won't be sobering up enough to drive. As Hunter had warned he would do, all keys were in a basket in his office with Gregory, who had had a little to drink, but wasn't anything more than tipsy to evaluate guests after the countdown was over and we crossed into January 1st, 2020. I don't think any one of us will be leaving Hunter's house until morning. Not even me. I'm probably tipsy or buzzed, but I'm still not risking it. Hunter knew all this, of course. We were a lot alike in many ways and that's why we got along so well.
Right now, I'm still just standing next to Hunter as we're chatting with everyone. Some were sitting down on the couches having their own conversations, the rest were up dancing and talking while they did. I was among the standing up and dancing, but not me actually dancing. I was curious about it and Hunter said he didn't mind teaching me, but I didn't know if we'd be doing any of that tonight. It's calm, and I'm glad I was able to come tonight. I definitely wanted to be part of summer parties, so I needed to bear that in mind when looking for a new job. I either wanted to work the day shifts, or nights, but out at a reasonable time. I hate the uncertainty and worry of needing to reschedule or show up late. Eli and Jason were close to Hunter and I, but not doing things that they were before. I assume it's because it's not just the three of us in a conversation of our own, this was a group chat with several others.
"So, how much more practice time do we have before the club reopens?" Devon inquired. The topic was on work and what else needed to be done.
"Greg said a month, so I assume February is when we'll reopen for business again. I believe he's posting it on the social media page tomorrow that we'll be closed for so much time to do renovations and bring a whole new show," Hunter replied.
"Are we going to be here every day to continue working at things?" Eli questioned.
"Probably, but depends on how long it takes to finish the new routines. Obviously, you can work at your solo things on your own time. We'll get together to work on group dances for males and females, and also just the males. The girls are free to meet up on their free time to do the female routines. Then likely, a week or so before reopening, we'll take those days to finalize it everything and make sure we're set for performances," Hunter stated.
It was kind of interesting to be part of the talks, not that I'd contributed much. I didn't even know how to dance, so my advice was limited to ideas that sounded good from a customer perspective. Although, I secretly felt Hunter was asking me things because he hoped if I came into the club again, I'd see him doing things that he knew I would probably like seeing.
"We mainly need music, don't we? It's easier to come up with dance moves when we have the music and lyrics as guides in routine," Olivia informed.
"Music does make it easier to do the rest. The problem is finding music we haven't already used, then possibly remixing if necessary to give it some hype for the atmosphere of being stripped to," Jason remarked.
"Well, we don't need all new music because we do have some fan favorites on reserve from years prior that we can throw in at random," Bryan reminded.
"That is an exceptionally good point," Thaxter nodded.
I wasn't saying anything in this discussion, I couldn't help in the department of routines for them to use. "I'm open to suggestions on music here," Hunter offered. A couple ideas were thrown out, and quickly placed with the group they fit best and Hunter wouldn't have to do anything to except help put a dance set together with music and lyrical queue. "Anything else?" He asked. No one said anything and I saw Hunter look my way with a smile. "You know your music, Tray…Any-," He stopped when someone's cell phone went off. I knew it was mine by the ringtone. Who the hell was calling me at this hour? I pulled my phone out and saw my brother, Dexter, calling me. "Everything okay?"
"Dunno," I replied. "Be right back,"
"I'll just pause the music for you," Hunter smiled, reaching for his phone, tapping the Alexa application, then pausing the music playing.
I slid the phone icon to answer and set it to my ear. "If you went and got yourself wasted again, and now at my apartment for a place to crash…I'm not there, Dex," It happened last year. Dexter always ends up putting my address down for a cab to take him home if he gets too drunk to drive from the bar. It was dad's request, so Dexter wasn't home alone and drunk off his ass.
"Hi, Trayden…It's not your brother," Came a female voice.
I blinked. "Lyla? Why do have Dexter's phone?"
"Because he's wasted at my house and passed out on the floor. I-I know you're close by, and I can't pick him up on my own…Think you can help me?"
I really couldn't resist the urge to face-palm and sigh. "Yeah, I'll be right there,"
"Thanks, Tray,"
"No problem," I stated and the call disconnected.
"Is your brother okay, Tray?" Hailey wondered.
"Yep…Just drunk, and passed out at his girl's place. She asked if I'd come over to get him off the floor for her, so I'm gonna head over," I informed.
"You're not driving anywhere, you've been drinking too…" Hunter stated.
I shook my head. "Don't need to drive, Hunt. She lives in your neighborhood, about two houses down and across the street. I'm just gonna walk it,"
"Will you make it back before the countdown?" Devon asked.
"Definitely," I nodded before moving to get on my boots, and coat.
"Text me when you're back?" Hunter hoped. "Just cause I probably won't hear the door bell,"
"Sure," I smiled. I headed to the door and exited the house. It took me almost no time to reach my brother's girlfriend's house, get inside and helped her move him to the couch. I ensured he was covered up while Lyla procured a water bottle and trash bin. I checked the time to be 11:45 pm, then bid Lyla a goodbye and happy new year while she was putting Dexter's phone to charge and making sure his keys were hidden to avoid an issue in the middle of the night where Dexter tried to leave to go home. I made it back to Hunter's at 11:50 pm, sending the warning text when I was walking up the path to his door. As I approached, Hunter stood there with a smile to welcome me back. "Thanks,"
"Your brother all good?" Hunter chuckled as I wiped my feet and kicked my boots off on the rubber mat so that the melting snow wouldn't make the floor wet.
"Yeah, knocked out on the couch at her house," I replied softly. "Have I missed much?"
"Not at all. We're doing the same things as before you left," Hunter reassured. "Music, talking, dancing, snacking, and drinking," He added as we walked into the main space where I was greeted again by everyone. The music was lower, and the TV was on to show the big new year's party happening in the city square where the ball would drop in the last minute of 2019, then it would hit midnight, and we'd officially be in 2020.
"You still trying to think of songs?" I wondered.
"It's always the hardest part," Hunter chuckled. "I was actually about to ask you if you knew any before your brother's girl called,"
"What makes you think I have any ideas?" I stared at him.
"I know you love music, which means you listen to a lot of it," Hunter grinned as I rolled my eyes.
"As true as that is…I don't know if I know anything that would work for your routines," I remarked while getting my phone and unlocking the screen. I tapped the music app and then located my playlists, finding dance music, I handed it to Hunter. "That's all my music for dancing, most of which I came across by listening to the radio or watching YouTube, maybe some from school dances," I shrugged. "Have at it," I smiled before going to grab a drink, Hunter mention previously that when the final countdown was on, everyone took a drink. Right now, I was the only person without one due to having to go to Lyla's. I returned to the group and stood next to Hunter. "Find anything you haven't already heard or used yet?"
"Actually, yeah. There's a lot of stuff here we might be able to work with," Devon stated with a smile.
"We got like three minutes until the New Year, and I don't assume any of us are going right to sleep…Tray, you mind if I dock your phone after the ball drops to listen to a couple of these?" Hunter inquired.
"No, not at all. Go ahead," I told him.
"Sweet," Thaxter beamed.
I hoped it helped them out, it seemed to be their biggest stress. Finding music. I didn't personally believe any of mine would do them useful, but I guess I was wrong. About a minute later, Gregory came out and everyone was standing together as Hunter had the TV coming through his surround sound and we were all watching as the countdown hit one minute left. I felt Hunter next to me, his hand shifted to hold mine and I blushed.
"I'm glad I get to end this year with old and new friends. I don't know if I would have reconnected with the others had it not been for meeting you," Hunter said to me as I smiled.
"I'm happy that I got to meet you and make some new friends too," I replied gently. "Good way to end this year and go into the next,"
"I agree completely," Hunter nodded. The countdown was now at thirty seconds until midnight. "Can I be bold and ask to kiss you at the end of the countdown?"
How had I known that was coming? "Can I be bold and admit that I assumed you would anyway?" I looked at him.
"Well, I want to, but didn't want to just steal it from you without asking," Hunter replied.
"Then from now on, or at least while we're single, you have my permission to kiss me any time you like…Well, you know…Within reason of who we're around," I stated. Hunter and I already discussed lessening the amount of what the others see to avoid assumptions. Tonight, though, it was a New Year's party and I was sure that just about everyone present was going to be sharing a kiss with someone else. Or a hug at best. I'm sure it wouldn't be too out there for Hunter and I to kiss.
"Good to know," Hunter winked. "Will be taking advantage of that," I blushed more. "Does it include making out?" I nodded.
"Last twelve seconds!" Gregory announced.
At the ten-second mark, we all started to countdown with the timer. "Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Everyone cheered loudly. Fireworks were going off on the TV, and probably other homes in the neighborhood who were hosting parties. Hunter looked at me, smiling before he leaned in towards me. I met him halfway and we kissed, it was somewhat deep and didn't last too long, but it was nice while it did. After we broke the kiss, we hugged for a moment and then as Hunter was pulling away, he stopped next to my ear. "Want to have any fun tonight after the rest go to sleep?" I prayed I wasn't blushing too much.
"We'll see how late it is when that happens and how tired I am," I replied. I didn't mind us doing anything, perhaps a little nerve-wracking that we'd be doing it with other people present in the house. I didn't want to do anything if it was going to be 2 or 3 am by the time it happened.
"That's a good point, if it gets too late, you could always hang here longer after they sober up and leave tomorrow. Up to you, of course," Hunter chuckled.
"We'll see. I'll have work on the 2nd at 3 pm, so can't be too late getting home tomorrow. But I'm not opposed to staying after everyone leaves for a bit," I responded softly. The last thing I needed was anyone overhearing us. I'm sure that one day they would find out, but I guess I was afraid of what they'd think knowing I basically asked Hunter to be my gay guide with intimacy. Well, I jokingly hinted it and he offered, which I accepted, but still. I know it's not wrong for us to do, but I feel like my friends would view it like it wasn't right. They've already made a big deal out of a kiss and me hanging out at Hunter's house a few times before they got their story of the last nine years. I suppose I'm conflicted on things, but thankfully, Hunter understood and was willing to respect that I didn't want anyone knowing our arrangement.
"We'll work it out tomorrow," Hunter reassured as he finally pulled back fully from the hug.
We went about shaking hands or hugging everyone else, repeating the same line of happy new year each time with one another. Hunter made a toast about being happy to reunite with old friends, make new ones, and still be grateful to the ones he's had. We left the general toast at to being friends and looking forward to the new year. Everyone took their drink after the light taps of each other's drinks together, then it was back to more hanging out by 12:15 am, but the music lowered some.
"Did you still want to dock my phone?" I asked Hunter, remembering what he asked me earlier before the countdown.
"Yes! Almost forgot about that," Hunter beamed. "Can you unlock it again. I totally just slipped it into my pocket during the countdown stuff," He handed it to me.
"It's cool," I tapped in my six-digit passcode in and gave it back as he moved over to the main piece to the surround sound, and plugged it into the dock, then switched over to whatever setting it had to be on. I saw Hunter scroll through a few things and finally tap one. It was weird to hear the room quiet with no talking because everyone wanted to listen to the music Hunter was apparently testing out. Most were making their way to sit down and take a breather, but listening to the music. I assumed this was how they worked out routines with music, finding cues for staying in time with their dances, and also if they could find a move to fit certain lyrics. I found it interesting, I'd been secretly hoping to see how the dancers put everything together and I really did hope that some of my music would be helpful to them for preparing the new show.
I'm personally enjoying the hell out of tonight and I'm beyond glad that I met Hunter. All the sexual stuff aside, he's an amazing friend and I felt like we were going to stay friends for the rest of our lives. Tonight definitely showed me that despite a crazy year, I'm going into the next one with a lot of faith that it will be way better and I'm going to love every single moment of 2020.