Rae quickly cleared any confusion he might have had about her intentions and only added to it. "Yes, the drying out of my lady-parts is really depending on this conversation right here and right now. I am going to get a little fussy if I don't have a man or two to keep me satisfied while I am stuck here. I find this one rather cute, but I can come back later."
Her frankness was unique and it left Duke and Alex speechless. If he weren't mistaken it left Alex with a bitter taste in her mouth. "Sure you will..." was all she said before spinning on her heel and marching off leaving Duke alone yet again.
His arms hung there lost and confused as everybody parted like the red sea from him. Eventually, when concluding there was nothing he could do, he took a stroll. It was a long enough walk, his thoughts seemingly nowhere and everywhere at once that by the time he returned a few campers had called it quits for the night
It was Alex's turn for the closet, and even though she honestly wanted to enjoy the party, part of her at this point just couldn't stop thinking about how much she blamed Andy, and much she disliked her nowadays. There were times when both of them used to get along, but since Mason came along, it all changed. Her brother told her their decision was made, and mutual, but she knew him better. He only did things to please her, so she thought, but Ajax truly wanted Andy to be happy this time.
The bottle soon landed on Duke.
Thank the gods. She would have no doubt passed it onto someone else if the bottle had landed on Sylas or Mason.
A few steps on the beach and he found the bottle pointing in his direction then looked up at Alex. There were things he'd rather be doing than wedging himself into a closet with somebody but this was apparently a definition of fun.
Alex stood up, dusting herself off before she wandered over to the closet, and once inside with those doors closed to the outside world, she felt peace for a little while until Duke joined her not long after. The closet was actually more spacious than she had imagined but still shuffled up to give him some space.
Duke crossed his arms keeping as much personal space as he could muster between them. For the moment he wasn't feeling very receptive towards the one that made him look a fool then thought she could take him away from the present company...even if the redhead was a little too expecting of Duke. In the meantime he could only stare at her, desperate to cut the present tension and clear some air but he couldn't even identify why these uneasy feelings existed between the two or what he owed her.
Duke's eyes narrowed. "I didn't see it as shutting you out. We were talking, Alex, and the last I saw of you, you had your tongue down Pete's throat. You're better than that. So why did you do it?" Of course that was more rhetorical than him actually wanting an answer about how attractive Pete was or because she could. He didn't really care for any bratty responses and there were no good responses to give.
She looked down. Maybe he was right. Mixing with a guy like that who came off as one of the bad boys, but she just wanted to live on the edge a little, to feel something from someone else like she was more than just Ajax's little unhinged sister that had lost her way.
His hesitant hand that stroked her cheek was something she didn't expect, yet she didn't once flinch or draw away from him.
His lips pressed into a firm line, the mix of emotions she evoked in him made him contradicting. He wanted her to have fun and be herself, but he wished so desperately she didn't kiss Pete out of the blue either. Hesitantly a hand came up to stroke her cheek. She was a wild spirit, he knew that, but somewhere inside there was far more to her.
She would never be tamable or change and that was reality.
Though with the right man, one that she could grow with and learn from... well, she would be his for as long as he wanted her.
A storm was always going to need its freedom, but once in a while, even storms settle.
"Duke, I... I'm sorry. I just..." Her head was a tornado of thoughts, her heart a blaze of warmth that still managed to stay lit within her towards those she cared about in her life, but the coldness of the dark still clung to her skin like ice, crawling its way through her veins which only her loved ones could thaw. But how could they if she just constantly pushed them away? things needed to change, or there was going to be no way of her turning back.
It was obvious that the trial hadn't fixed her completely. She needed more time to return to that girl she once was last year.
"I'll do better. I promise." she told him, hoping that he trusted her still. She was hesitant about the next choice of words, merely because she had always wanted to be able to stand on her own two feet, but everyone needs help from time to time. Even when we don't like to admit it. "Will you help me? I don't think I can do this on my own."
Looking Alex over Duke could only nod. Of course change had taken place in her and the reality was it had left a scar. He lowered his eyes. He knew Alex didn't mean to disappoint or harm others and he didn't want her being too hard on herself. "It's not about doing better Alex, I think you're incredible and have amazing potential. Everybody does but...especially you." Those kind of compliments didn't come lightly from Duke's mouth, he meant it wholeheartedly.
The corners of her lips began to lift up as she heard his words. That definitely meant a lot coming from him. Especially like that.
"I'll go to Olympus with you and Ajax, and Zeus, if he doesn't mind." Duke cracked a tight smile. It wasn't like the whole tension was completely alleviated between them but it was the beginning of getting back on track. She had asked for help and he'd try his best.
Duke allowed Alex to exit the closet first then holding the bottle around the neck, Duke approached Iliana who looked in the middle of a pep talk with Trinity and Wes. "Sorry to interrupt guys, but I believe one of you are yet to go in the closet and deserve to be included in a dreadful party game." Duke smiled holding out the bottle to Iliana.
7 minutes in heaven wasn't all awful in his kiss but typically it wasn't his game and it was meant for drama, gossip, deceit.