Alexander Stonal

Alexander Stonal is a student at Broadbeach State High School. He is most notably the elusive Stonal Child, who was unknown to even be alive by the people of Oceanum Villa prior to Starley Star-Bub bringing him to the city. He is one of two protagonists in the series.

Character Background
Alex was born in 2004 to Piper Pillars and Fred Stonal. His conception is considered to be illegal for his mother is merfolk but his father is human. He still had magic blood in him, but he had no Talents and had inherited legs from his father rather than a tail.

Somehow, Alex somehow ended up in the care of Kerri Stonal, and he grew up under her care on the Gold Coast with his half-sister Paisley. He is enrolled at Broadbeach State High School, has a part-time job at Kerri’s bakery. He has a love for surfing, and is the boyfriend of Starley Star-Bub. Their relationship was Read by her father, Walter Star-Bub, shortly after the death of her mother and his wife, Sandy Star-Bub.

Alex met Starley in 2021, after refusing to date Madison Pillows for many years prior, causing many points of tension between the two.

Role in Storyline
Alex is one of two protagonists in Our Forbidden Love, the other being his girlfriend, Starley. As of chapter two of Our Forbidden Love 3, Alex has been the narrator of 31 of 76 (approximately 40.8%) of all chapters.

As a protagonist, Alex is a vital player in nearly everything that happens in the story. His first major role in the storyline was when he went surfing and saw Starley swimming out in the ocean, later to realise he'd become obsessed with her. His most recent major role was when he teamed up with Binah Ascot and Peter Parker to save Starley from Weedy Pillars' casting of a love potion on her.

Other important events he was a key role in include:
 * Starley and Alex's first date
 * Starley's kidnapping
 * Starley and Alex's investigation into Reverse Reading
 * the use of the Stonal Shell
 * the death of Whitney Blends

Origin of Character
In her Instagram post Origins (and later corroborated by the chapter in the Handbook by the same name), the author ZEW1303 says that: ''“Alex is literally my dream guy. Anything I make him do or say, I want my future husband/boyfriend to do for me.”''

She then proceeds to thank anyone who's had a crush on her or she's had a crush on, for they've shaped her perception of what her ideal boyfriend would be.

She also explains that Alex and Starley like snickerdoodle cookies best because it’s: ''“my personal favourite type of cookie. Since it’s my favourite I thought I’d make it both Alex’s and Starley’s."''

The Stonal surname is derived from ZEW1303's year eight English teacher's internal school code: a system combining the first four letters of their last name, and the first two of their first name. However, an original planning document shows that his name was originally going to be Alexander Stringerstone.

Alex's birth date and month also matches that of her boyfriend.