Sparks flew between Willow (Sarah Roberts) and gorgeous newcomer Alex (Zoë Ventoura) the moment they met.
WATCH: ‘Interviews are like first dates’
Now this week Willow finally succumbs to her attraction to the Summer Bay doctor, sharing a passionate kiss with Alex during a night on the town.
“Willow and Alex have developed a really lovely friendship,” says Zoë.
“Alex has been a great support person and a sounding board to Willow. She’s a wonderful listener and Willow has really appreciated that, while I think Alex in turn loves Willow’s spirit. They just click and get along very well. They really enjoy each other’s company.”
But Alex, who has also been unable to shake her feelings for the personal trainer for several weeks now, can’t help but fear that she’s about to have her heart broken again.
For, as viewers will know, Alex’s first attempt to let Willow know how she felt left the medico feeling mortified.
“From Alex’s perspective, there were a few mixed signals,” says Zoë. “Alex is gay and felt this deep connection to Willow, and Willow was saying these things to her. She went in for that first kiss, but then almost immediately knew, ‘Oh God, I’ve made a mistake!’ and got out of there as quickly as possible.
“Alex was horrified that she had misread the signals, and it was then a case of a real apology from her. She wanted to make sure that Willow was OK – that it would never happen again. She would hate to have lost Willow as a friend, as they had become so close and Willow is her closest confidante in the Bay.
“After a lot of awkwardness between them, they both wanted to push through and just move forward as friends.”
And as Zoë says: “Alex had put the thought of anything more than that to rest, although Willow has perhaps been testing the waters a little lately.”
It’s understandable, then, that after this week’s kiss, Alex pulls back and rushes off, fearing she’ll get hurt once more.
“Alex does really care about Willow and doesn’t want to be her ‘experiment’,” says Zoë.
Meanwhile, once Alex has left, Willow turns around to realise that Irene (Lynne McGranger) has seen everything.The next morning, Willow makes a candid confession to Dean (Patrick O’Connor), before later blurting out something to Alex that leaves the doctor stunned.
Stay tuned!
To read more pick up this week’s issue of New Idea.