Right From The Start

5

An entire week. A week of nothing. Alex was ready to give up, and move on. Yet deep down in his non beating heart, he didn't want to move on. Willie had stirred something in his chest and he didn't want to let go. However just because Alex wanted Willie, it didn't mean that Willie wanted him. He hated that thought but he had let it fester, consuming his entire being for the whole time he had been searching.

Or Willie could have been destroyed and Alex would have never been able to have a chance with him. That thought had also plagued his mind all week and right now it was all he could think about. He missed him. He wanted to wrap his arms around him.

Alex took a shuddery breath as he tried to calm himself down as the thoughts swirled around his head. He had been pacing back and forth in the same spot for a good while. Maybe to the point he didn't remember what time he had arrived.

He was near the skate park again and this time there were a few teenagers on it. The wheels of their skateboards grinded down the ramp and he felt the whoosh of the wind as they rushed past him. He almost wished it was Willie coming past.

Alex sighed once again and shook his arms trying to relieve some of the tension that had been building in his body. He opened his eyes and looked at the skatepark once more. There was a kid's playground away from it, with a slide, a swing and a jungle gym. It was painted a vibrant orange and green, completely different to the playgrounds of Alex's childhood. In the 80's, the playgrounds had been a danger trap. He remembered he had injured himself quite a few times when going on the slide near his house. It wouldn't hurt to go and sit on a swing would it be for old times sake? He wasn't trying to delay returning, no not at all.

He headed towards the swing and once he reached it, perched himself and clutched onto the sides. The feel of plastic was different to the wood that he remembered as a kid. He was thinking about swinging when he heard a bang come from inside the tunnel.

"Okay," He said, staring at the tunnel. Maybe it had been the wind? Then there was another bang, louder this time.

Alex got off from the swing and started to climb the jungle gym that led to the tunnel. There were a few more bangs that were quieter this time but Alex kept moving. He climbed up the frame and stared down the tunnel to see a crouched figure in the middle.

At first Alex thought the figure was a kid but as he took him in, he noticed that he was too big to be one and looked very similar to someone who he had been trying to find.

"Willie." Alex breathed and his voice echoed along the tunnel.

Willie looked up and blinked a few times before he spoke.

"Alex? You're still here?" He said, his voice shaky. He reached out a hand and then withdrew it before huddling into his knees.

"Yeah. I'll explain why later but why are you on a kid's playground in a tunnel?" Alex asked. He knelt down to his knees so that he could see Willie better.

"It's cozy in here hotdog, you should come join me." Willie said, trying to put humor into his voice.

"I think that might be a bit difficult." Alex replied as he looked in the tunnel. There was no way all 5'10 of him was going to fit and he didn't want to get stuck.

Willie frowned and sighed. He started to make his way towards the entrance of the tunnel. Alex moved away so that Willie could clamber out. Willie was holding on tightly to his skateboard, keeping it to his left side.

A week of not seeing him and now here he was standing right in front of Alex. He wasn't sure if he should wrap his arms around him and pull him into a hug. However Willie looked like he wanted the world to sink around him as he stared at the plastic floor. Alex kept his hands by his sides.