Chapter Twenty-Five

“Let me see that.” Rose said, taking the newspaper off Mark and turning to the page the article was on. She read a little way into it before shutting it again and slamming it back down on the table.

“How can they make a whole article out of something like that?!” she said angrily. “It’s not even true! Any of it! It’s all totally made up!”

Mark shrugged. “It’s just what they do.”

“Okay, please don’t tell me you’re on their side.”

“No, of course I’m not! It’s awful what they’ve written.”

“It’s worse than that. Because of what they’ve done, Chloe and Ben could be having a huge row and be breaking up and be unhappy for the rest of their short lives which won’t be very long because they’ll be so depressed they’ll kill themselves and my best friend will have died because of them!”

“Come here babe.” Mark said, taking Rose’s hand and pulling her onto his lap. “Don’t worry. None of that’s gonna happen.”

“But they were so happy.” Rose said sadly.

“And they still will be. It’ll all be fine.”

“I just can’t believe that the papers put it on the front page. Let me see the photo again.”

Paul handed the paper to Rose.

“It’s not that good a photo I guess.” She said slightly more positively. “If you didn’t look closely you wouldn’t be able to tell it was Chloe. And I suppose people won’t be expecting it to be her, so if it looks a bit like her they won’t think it really is her. Will they?”

Mark shook his head. “No.”

“At least they haven’t got her name. How do they know she’s 15 though?”

“They might have just guessed. Or they might have thought she was 16 but put 15 to make it sound worse, more of a story.” Mark said.

“Still sucks though.” Rose said crossly.

“But look on the bright side.” Paul said. “What are people going to think if they do know that it’s her? Go Chloe, shagging a pop star! Doesn’t seem all that bad to me.”

“I suppose…” Rose said. “But it’s the principle of the whole thing.”

“Yeah I know, but anyone who knows Chloe will know that none of the facts in the article are true anyway, so they’re less likely to believe the story. Plus, I think it’s kinda worse for Ben if I’m honest. I mean, what they’re accusing him of, it’s against the law. He could actually go to prison for it.”

“Could he? Oh my god!” Rose exclaimed.

“Made her worse Paul.” Mark said.

“It’s true though.”

“Will he?” Rose asked Mark.

“No, he won’t go to prison. It’s not true and even if it was, Chloe’s hardly going to report him is she? Stop thinking about it, it’s just making you upset.” Mark said to Rose. “Tell you what, would it make you feel better if we ripped the papers up?”

Rose smiled. “Yes.”

“Okay, Paul, Chris? Want to join in?”

“With pleasure.” Chris said, taking one of the papers.

Rose and Mark proceeded to tear up ‘The Mirror’ while Chris and Paul ripped ‘The Sun’ into little pieces.

“You do realise we’re ripping up pictures of semi-naked women?” Paul asked Chris as they tore.

“Principle.” Chris said.

“Right.”

“What ya doing?” Chloe asked, walking up to the table.

“Where’s Ben?” Rose asked worriedly.

“He’s just talking to someone.”

“Are you okay?” Rose asked.

Chloe nodded. “Yeah! I’m fine. Are you alright?”

“No I’m not! Have you and Ben split up?”

Chloe looked surprised. “Not as far as I’m aware.” She said.

“Told you.” Mark said to Rose.

“Why would we have split up?” Chloe asked.

“Didn’t you have a big argument?”

“No. I think you need to go and lie down Rose.”

“Shut up, there’s nothing wrong with me.”

Chloe raised her eyebrows. “If you say so.” she said with a grin. “Getting a bit neurotic about me and Ben though. I’d watch out Mark. She might need protecting from the men in white coats.”

“I’m only worried about you.” Rose said.

“Yeah and we ripped up the newspapers as well.” Paul said. “And the pictures of naked women.” He added sadly.

“Well I appreciate your sacrifice. Thank you.” Chloe said. “But you don’t need to worry about me and Ben Rose. We’re fine. Aren’t we babe?” she asked Ben as he approached.

“What?”

“Us. Completely un split up.”

“Oh definitely.” Ben agreed, putting his arm around Chloe’s waist.

“Well thank god for that. Rose had you two on the verge of suicide for a moment there.” Chris said.

“You’re mad.” Chloe said, sitting down on a spare seat.

“Oh guess what I just found out.” Ben said, doing the same.

“What?” Chris asked.

“We’re being interviewed on CD:UK as well as performing.”

“As of when?” Mark asked.

“Pretty much now.” Ben said. “I’m thinking that someone’s seen the papers and decided that it’d be a good idea to ask me about it.”

“Can we say no?”

“We could, but then if couldn’t give them a good reason for not doing it then it’ll just make me look more guilty.”

“They’re gonna take you away.” Rose said in despair.

“They’re gonna take you away.” Chloe said, looking at her.

“Why are they going to take me away?” Ben asked Rose. “Away to where?”

“Prison.”

“What?!” Chloe said, looking horrified.

“Rose, Ben is not going to go to prison, he hasn’t done anything wrong.” Mark said.

“What am I supposed to have done?” Ben asked, still puzzled.

“Chloe’s underage.” Paul reminded him.

“Ohhh.” Ben said. “Oh.”

“You won’t go to prison, will you?” Chloe asked.

“No. It’s just a stupid story in an even stupider newspaper. No-one listens to what they say anyway.”

“What are you going to do about the interview? Everyone who’s seen the paper will know what it’s meant to be about.” Mark said.

“Why don’t we just say that we have to rush off straight after the performance?” Paul suggested.

“Coz they’ll interview us before.”

“Tell them to fuck off then.”

“Paul, we can’t do that.”

“Oh but it would be fun if we could.”

“Can’t we just explain to them that it’s not true and you really don’t want to be questioned about it?” Chris asked.

“That’s an option I suppose. I wish I could just tell the truth. The whole truth.”

“And nothing but the truth?” Paul finished for him.

“Very good Paul.” Ben said with a smile. “But it’d be so much easier if I went on and said, yes I was with my girlfriend but we didn’t sleep together. No-one’s gonna believe that though are they? And plus, I don’t see why I should have to defend myself. It’s no-one else’s business.”

“It’s a tricky situation.”

“What do you think Clo?” Ben asked.

Chloe shrugged. “Not up to me.”

“But it’s to do with you, I wanna know what you think.”

“Okay, um… I think you shouldn’t do the interview. There’s no way you can deny it’s you. And no-one’s going to believe you if you say that I’m not your girlfriend, least of all everyone here. So make up an excuse or something coz I really don’t think you should do it. You’ll only end up saying something you regret.”

Ben nodded. “Yeah, okay. Anyone got a good excuse?”

“Who told you that we’re being interviewed?” Mark asked.

“Jane.”

“Well go and find her and tell her that it’s not true and you really don’t want to be asked about it so we won’t be doing the interview. They can’t make us after all.”

“Okay. Oh I just wanna go home now, I’m not in the mood to sing.” Ben moaned. “Today started really well.”

Chloe smiled at him. “Never mind, it’s just one day. It’ll be fine when we get home anyway.”

Yeah, suppose.” Ben still didn’t sound very happy. “I better go and find Jane, tell her we’re not gonna be doing the interview. I hope she doesn’t make a big fuss about it, I really can’t be bothered with all this.”

“Want me to come?” Chloe asked.

“Probably best not to. It’s okay, I’ll sort it out.” Ben said.

“Okay.”

Ben gave Chloe a kiss and then set off in search of Jane.

“Sure you’re okay?” Rose asked.

“Yeah! Me and Ben, we just… had a bit of a talk.” Chloe said.

“An argument you mean.”

“No! It wasn’t an argument. It’s fine now anyway.”

“Good. But I didn’t mean about that. I meant about the papers thing.” Rose said.

“Oh. Um… I don’t know, it’s just weird.”

“Doesn’t make you look bad you know.” Paul said. “Ben’s a wanted man. If it looks like you’ve managed to get him into bed, it means…”

“That everyone hates me.”

“Wasn’t exactly going down that road but never mind.”

“Who’s gonna hate you?” Rose asked.

“Okay, hello? The fans? Remember them? Angry, jealous, want to kill me.” Chloe summarised.

“That’s probably true actually. Not that I want to worry you or anything.” Chris said.

“God, it’s like I’m wanted by the police or something! I don’t like this part. It’s not so much fun as the going out with Ben and there’s no-one else in the whole world part.”

“You’ll be okay. Ben’ll look after you.” Mark said.

Chloe smiled at him. “Anyway, enough of my problems, what is everyone doing after the show?”

“We are going home.” Mark said.

“We are going home apparently.” Rose said.

Mark laughed. “We can not go home if you want.”

“I don't mind going home! I like your house, it’s nice.”

“Looks like we’re going home then.” Mark confirmed.

“Right. Paul?”

“Uuuuum… going home probably.”

“Ooh the lives you pop stars lead. Chris?”

“Same I’m afraid.” Chris said. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

“No it’s fine. Shatter my illusions about your rock and roll lifestyle. No really, It’s okay, I’ll be fine.” Chloe sniffed dramatically.

“What are you doing?” Chris asked.

Chloe shrugged. “No idea. Whatever Ben wants to do.”

“Looks like it’s boring afternoons all round then.”

“Well I won’t be bored.” Rose said.

“I’m sure you won’t.” Paul said with a grin. “Tell you what Chris, why don’t me and you get together? Then we won’t feel so left out when everyone else is being disgustingly couply.”

“It’s a tempting offer, it really is, but I think I’m going to have to miss out this once.” Chris said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Oh well, it was nice thought.”

Chloe started laughing. “You’re all totally insane.” She said.

“That was quick.” Mark said, looking up as Ben returned to the table.

“All sorted.” Ben said with relief.

“So we’re not doing the interview?” Mark asked.

“Nope. It was fine. I just said what you told me to and Jane said that she understood and we didn’t have to do it. I need a hug now though.” Ben said, looking at Chloe.

“Well if you insist.” Paul joked, standing up.

“I don’t think he means you.” Rose said as Chloe got up and gave Ben a hug.

“Better?” Chloe asked.

“A bit.”

“Well maybe this might help.” Chloe said, kissing Ben.

“Oh get a room!” Paul said.

Rose and Mark exchanged glances at this familiar phrase.

“No, you two are forbidden from snogging until they have finished.” Paul ordered, picking up on their little look.

“We weren’t going to.” Rose said, giving Paul an innocent look.

“Oh whatever.”