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Alex awoke to the sound of the alarm going off, reaching out from under the duvet, he pressed snooze and climbed out of bed. It was 06:09, and not wanting to wake anyone up, he pulled on the clothes he’d left in the corner of the room.“Ouch!” he said tripping over a pair of trousers and hitting his knee on the door frame. Closing the bedroom door behind him, he sighed at being able to move around more easily. Walking into the kitchen, making a coffee, checking Twitter as the machine brewed his latte, giggling at the updates from friends.“Shit” He whispered as he realised it was 06:32, he needed to be at the studio by 07:15 - thank god he’d decided to stay with Greg, he’d have never made it on time otherwise. Shoving a slice of toast in his mouth, pulling on his coat and grabbing his backpack, he descended the stairs and walked out into the dark morning. There was something surreal about London at this time of day - only a few commuters wandering around, some coming home from clubs, stepping off the tube with their heels in their hands, workers coming off of a night shift. Alex walked into Kennington Station and wandered down the stairs, to the Northbound line.The warm, sterile light of the tube station flickered above him as he waited for the train. The platforms were sparsely populated; a man in a suit checked his watch impatiently, and a young couple leaned against the wall sharing a pair of earphones, lost in their little world.Alex checked his watch at 06:37. The train couldn't arrive soon enough. He needed to review his notes one last time before the shoot. His mind drifted to the upcoming radio show, the jokes he had prepared, Heart FM on the 1st Floor at 07:30 and then the 2nd Floor for Radio X at 08:30.A rumble echoed through the station as the train approached, breaking his chain of thought. The bright headlights pierced the dimness of the platform as the train slowed to a halt with a screech. Doors slid open, and Alex stepped inside, finding a seat. He pulled out his phone again, scrolling through the script for today's segment. His eyes skimmed over the dialogues and cues, mentally preparing himself for each transition.As the train began its journey, winding through the dark tunnels beneath London, Alex felt a buzzing in his pocket as he walked out of the station at Leicester Square where his signal reappeared. A message from Greg popped up on his screen:>Greg: Left your notes on the kitchen table. Want me to bring them? x>Alex: No, it’s okay, I should be fine - go back to bed x——————————————————————————————————Alex arrived and sat down in the Heart FM Studio, cosily in between Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden. Sharing jokes and stories, Alex was happy to promote his book. Part of the show, which would be videoed, involved Alex jumping through a netting machine for a Christmas tree. The studio buzzed with the warm hum of festive cheer. The trio exchanged playful jabs, each joke sharper than the last, as Alex promoted his latest book filled with whimsical holiday tales.
“Let’s see how adventurous you are,” Jamie chuckled, eyeing the contraption set up in the corner—a bright, colourful netting machine that had become the centrepiece of the show.
Amanda grinned, her eyes sparkling. “I think it’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Who doesn’t want to jump through netting for a good cause?”
With a hesitant laugh, Alex stood, the festive spirit pumping through him. The studio audience cheered, the cheerful atmosphere egging him on. “Alright, but if I get tangled, you owe me a drink!”
As he climbed into the contraption, laughter erupted. He bounded forward, leaping through layers of colourful netting, arms flailing comically. For a moment, the world slowed down, and Alex felt a childlike joy wash over him—a refreshing reminder of the magic of Christmas.
Finally landing in a pile of giggles, Alex emerged victorious, a tangle of net and delight. “This is what the season should be about!” he exclaimed, catching his breath amidst roaring laughter.“I’ve done it,” Alex said as he wiggled on the sofa, the tangle of tree netting surrounding him like a whimsical cocoon. He could hear Amanda and Jamie laughing uncontrollably from the studio, their giggles bubbling over like a pot about to boil.
With an exaggerated shuffle, he tried to rearrange the netting, which only pulled his face down, making him look like a sad clown. “I feel a bit… fetishy?” he joked, attempting to lighten the mood, but the sadness in his voice lingered like an unwelcome guest.
“I suddenly feel… a bit sad,” he added, the laughter from the other room fading into a distant hum. One thing about Alex, was that his mouth was 2 minutes ahead of his brain. The vibrant, crackling energy of the radio studio faded into a muted silence as the final notes of the show slipped away. Alex sat before the console, his hands still trembling from the live broadcast that often left him exhilarated but drained. He glanced into the mirror, the netting of the radio's pop filter looming over his face like a sad jester's cap. With an exaggerated shuffle, he tried to rearrange it, only to find it clinging stubbornly, pulling his expression down into an absurd semblance of a sad clown.”Okay, time to go Alex” a producer said almost shoving him out the door, netting still partially tangled around his feet. Saying goodbye, he took a slow walk upstairs to the Radio X reception, forcing a smile and putting on his usual Alex persona. Having a coffee, and looked out of the window at the city, slightly disappointed with his treatment from Heart FM. Alex walked into the studio, sitting next to Chris Moyles, who instantly made him feel welcome. Chris shared jokes and made Alex relax, asking about his jumper, which Alex stated he’d got dressed in the dark - something that went over a lot of people’s heads.
One thing Alex did a lot, was talk about Greg, the slightest mention of him and Alex can’t shut up. This was one of those times. Alex leaned into the mic.“Chris, he's such a pro. He's also, I think the funniest person I know. He does make everything funny, right? He came in effortlessly. He was brilliant. Yeah, one of the best guys we've ever had, to be fair. He was very good and gentle. He's gentle, very easy and gentle. “If it wasn't for you, let's be honest, he'd have been, oh, that bloke who was, he used to be in the inbetweeners”“His show, the Cleaner Chris on BBC One is worth watching, is brilliant. And I have to say that because I think it now, it is wonderful. And we are friends now, Greg and I, we're gonna spend Christmas Day together.”Greg froze in his chair at his flat, his eyes wide as he watched his biscuit sink into his coffee. He was shocked at what Alex had just said to the nation, his heart racing as he considered how the internet perverts would have a field day with it. But as the initial surprise faded, his heart warmed at the sentiment behind Alex’s words. This was meant to be about Alex’s new book, and instead, here he was gushing about Greg—his best mate, his confidant. Even if sometimes he wished Alex would just pipe down for once.As the interview wrapped up, Alex felt the exhaustion wash over him. He pushed through the crowds of the tube station, but by the time he got there, the rush hour had calmed. The hum of late morning chatter faded to a whisper and the air felt cooler, almost inviting.With the thrill of the morning still humming in his chest, he knocked on Greg’s door. A familiar warmth swelled in his chest as he stood there, doing his best puppy eyes. Moments later, the door swung open, and Greg’s face broke into a smile as he opened his arms wide. “Come here,” he said, a casual invitation that felt like home.They settled onto the sofa in Greg’s living room, a sanctuary filled with the comfort of their years of friendship. Alex lay down between Greg’s legs, resting his head against Greg's chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Already in his jogging bottoms as usual. Greg draped a soft blanket over them, the warmth cocooning them both. With the TV flickering in the background, Greg absentmindedly stroked Alex’s hair, fingers weaving through the curls that had grown a bit unruly over the past few days. The once bright ginger locks now a more muted grey. The world outside faded; the laughter shared and the stress of career pressures dissolved under the rhythm of Greg’s gentle touch.Greg spoke, his voice softer and more tentative as he felt a rush of emotion upon hearing Alex's outpouring of affection."You're a very important friend to me, Greg. You keep me safe, you take care of me, and most importantly, you love me." Alex's eyes were half-closed in contentment as he expressed his feelings.Greg couldn't help but be surprised by the depth of Alex's words."I know, my love. But it feels like a lot coming from you. You tend to talk a big game, but..." He deliberately trailed off, wanting to see Alex squirm. But instead, Alex only smiled confidently, secure in their strong bond. Alex laughed sheepishly."Okay, maybe I do get carried away during interviews. But it means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me." Hearing those words made Greg's heart swell with warmth and gratitude for these precious moments they shared."Let's just watch TV and relax," Greg suggested lightly, trying to maintain a casual tone even as his heart raced with the possibility of something more."Go to sleep, you little shit," Greg teased affectionately before kissing the top of Alex's head."What do you want to watch, Alex?... Alex?" Greg looked down and noticed that Alex had already fallen asleep with his head on Greg's chest and his arms tucked under him. Smiling fondly, Greg pulled the blanket over them both and placed a hand on Alex's back.Reaching for his tea, Greg chuckled at the cute snoring noises coming from Alex."I love this fucking idiot so much," Greg whispered to himself with a smile on his face.