Chapter 1

Originally published in Ao3 at 29th April 2022.

Characters, that make an appeareance: Xander Clavell, Tamara Donner, Ayesha Ansari, Nick Alto, Don Lothario, Claire Ursine, Bert Alto, Robbie Bland, Marcela Badeau, Vita Alto, Holly Alto

Night had fallen all over the region of Sunset Valley, major of the citizens were back home from work, a fewer were still out due to work or certain hangouts some had with their family members and friends. Out of the suburbs of Sunset Valley nearer the roads which led to Riverview, there was a nightlife club that had opened up about a year ago, young visitors and teens were around there enjoying their time together with schoolmates into the weekend. Loud music banging in the background by a skilled DJ, people enjoyed dancing and laughing as if they were there for the last times of their lifes. Some of those fellow Party animals that hang there in the club life at least after that motto. Some seem to have it as their recompense for the tasks of the current week while others were more of sa hobby in some way.

The young adult Alexander Clavell, mainly called Xander by almost everyone had this more as a free time pass along with his 2-year older friend Tamara Donner, a former High school student with German and Kongolese descendance. Due to both differences of work situations, Tamara had matured earlier in comparison to Xander, which still was living in his parents house and had a part-time job as a fishmonger. Xander doesn't seem to be really ambitious to make something out of his life, funnily his future will go in a different way which provides him a richer one but if only that was what it looked like in the first place...

Xander and a brunette man named Hank Goddard hung out together at the table watching the crowd dance to the music, then Hank chuckled as he recognized a blonde woman which was dancing along with a raven-haired man.

"Oh wow I believe Blair's comment about Thornton having an afair seems to not sound far-fetched at all. He's dancing there with Jamie," Hank pointed out earning a nod from the man with the short-shaved beard.

"They're only dancing or have you seen them doing something else?"

"I have heard from Justine, that lately he's been very distant from her and more often seen hanging out with Jamie in the times he's supposed to be around Morgana. It could be a coincidence or something to be concerned about. But I rather dont say anything unless it's...serious" Hank stated earning a nod from the man, then their brown-skinned friend Tamara appeared brining up the drinks to the two friends and a third one for herself.

"There you go," Tamara said watching the two men grab their drinks and look at each other before clinking their glasses on the other.

Xander and Tamara took a sip of their drink as Hank was about to do the same he spotted in front of their table an Asian descendant woman pass by in a white dress with long, black pigtails making the slight muscular man wide his eyes in awe of the looks of this woman.

"Wow...who was that?" Questioned the man in the white shirt, followed by Tamara and Xander taking a look at the woman, then then dark-skinned woma smiled recognizing the Raven.

"That's Jamie's pen pal Pauline Wan from Japan. She moved here recently and is working at the theatre along with Stiles McGraw and Zelda Mae," Answered Tamara. "Why don't you go talk with her?"

"But we haven't met yet?"

,"Come on Hank. It doesn't matter. You have it now. Who knows maybe it will work out for you?" Suggested Xander making the brunette nod.

"Okay, I will give it a try" Stated Hank making his way to the woman that stood together with Jamie Jolina and Thornton Wolff.

Tamara slurped from her passion fruit drink, then noticed Xander take out his smartphone to check the time making her chuckle and place her hand on his arm.

"You've got a certain time to be at home?" Questioned the brunette woman.

"No not really, its just I've been thinking about my mother lately. She's been feeling bad lately and today she didn't seem alright either"

"Okay but isn't your father home with her?"

"Yes he is but...you know how his relationship with me is at the moment. Not quite good. He's annoyed about me stilll being around him and mom, not already married with a clan,"

"Well Its alright if you're still single with 25. Hank's 26 and also single and so am I"

"Yes...well Hank for now seems to have interest in somebody right now, soon we will see what happens between them" Recounted Tamara. "Wait until we have our interests"

"I've seen a lot of girls lately, but to be honest none of them interest me. I don't know why,"

"I noticed many of the women here are either with someone or hitting somene else,"

"Another aspect here is most of the girls give me... overly feminine vibes"

"How so?"

"Well they focus a lot on makeup, perfume, clothing, and all. Sure there are some like you that have it decent or not at all, but the first one is kind of a too much for me,"

"I understand," Tamara responded watching her friend finish the drink. "You went fast"

"Yeah I know. Are you okay with that I leave around the 10?" Questioned the man with the short hair. "Just to make sure everything is okay at home"

"I'm coming with you, if you want" Tamara offered making the man smile.