#( starter001: james. )

[happiestjameshook]

A WALK | Date: May 28th, 2019

The first thread. Tina Bell is running late for work and bumps into her boss, James Hook.

the halls of the motel had a sense of nostalgia, being it the dark wood hat eerily dented or the particular use of color. In a way, he’d placed a few of his childhood memories hidden in the motel he owned. It wasn’t like he was an overly sentimental man, at least that’s what he liked to tell himself. But you learned to take the lessons you’ve been given as a child with you, even if it’s subconsciously. And especially when parental figures were not a thing in someone’s youth.

‘I’m going out for a walk. Call me if I’m needed-James’  He’d written down. Days had been a bit calmer in the Neverland motel. And it was never wrong to go out for some fresh air.

The weather seemed to work in his favor, as there was a clear sky as he looked above. Perhaps that was why he failed to notice another person heading his way and bumped into them by accident. “My apologies.”

Tina was due to start work any minute now (and by any minute now, she meant ten minutes ago, and she was still a ten minute walk away from the motel). She had lied about having a presentation in class that morning, because she and Peter had been up late creating chaos, and she didn’t feel like slogging through work. The afternoon shift was the best she could get.

With a brisk walk, she weaved her way through the streets, avoiding pedestrians and bike racks and trash cans, and prayed that Hook or Smee wasn’t waiting for her at the door. It wasn’t the first time she had been late. Nor would it be the last.

Turning a corner, the hope of making it to work late but unnoticed shattered. A collision caused her to stumble, and she almost toppled over had she not swiftly stuck off hands on her hips and lurched forward with a mouthful of profanity. At this time, she hadn’t been looking up. The curses fell when she realized she was standing before the very person she was hoping to avoid. 

“Miss Bell.” James looked at his employee with a raised eyebrow, his hands crossed in front of his chest, and his head moved into a slight tilt. “How did the presentation go?” Seeing the bags under her eyes made him wonder if she had any sleep at all.

“I’ll make Peter’s meal instead. I’ll tell him you’ll be back tomorrow.”

Her brow furrowed and she found her mouth gaping open in confusion. “Presentation…?” Tina repeated. She had completely forgotten her excuse! When it finally dawned on her, the girl took a sharp intake of breath and feigned a laugh. “The presentation! Oh, it was… Just… Terrible. Didn’t go as planned. I have to redo it next week.” Hopefully, he would believe her. After all, she looked so utterly exhausted that she could blame her lapse in memory on the stress of the whole thing.

Of course, Tina had every intention of heading straight to see Peter and telling him that Old James Hook had gone soft. But Hooky didn’t need to know that.

“Ah, that’s a pity.  Anything of help I can offer?” However, he didn’t have a grand education due to being an orphan. He always had put effort into it before his new family kicked him out, and he got thrown out of school. No school took on a student for free, and those amazing stories of how teachers pity a student and hand them a free education, well that was a rarity on its own.

If anything, he was in a good mood. That was overshadowed by a worry about Peter, but he wouldn’t voice that.

“Not unless you feel like bribing my tutor. Or you could totally take her out on a date! Cheer her up a little, put in a good word for me maybe?” Tina was rambling now, hoping to steer the conversation away from her education completely. It wasn’t that she didn’t like going to class, but she had a hard time getting on with the other girls and her tutors found her stubborn and difficult to teach.

The girl nodded, though it was deliberately half-hearted. She would take offense to the fact that he thought she looked pale and tired later, but for now, she would milk it for all she could. “I mean… If you insist, Mr. Hook. I’ll go right home and sleep!” Tina resisted the urge to giggle when he pushed her hand away. “But really, you better watch we don’t come down with the same thing.”

James could feel himself rolling his eyes. “Do I seem the type of man who needs a date right now?” Sure, he’d been single for a while, but it wasn’t really the highest priority in his life right now. “Why does she even need a cheer-up?” Did this teacher get any gray hairs from teaching her students? He probably would if he was the one filling her shoes. Then again, he’d never say no to a challenge.

He nodded as she finally accepted his advice to rest. “I don’t get sick that often, so I’m not too worried. And even if I were, I’d know when to rest.” He shrugged. “Take good care of yourself, Miss Bell.”

[THE END]