Chapter Thirty-Two

“It’s just interesting though, don’t you think?” Paul asked Chris as they sat on a wall, waiting for Ben and Mark to finish their individual interview bits.

“Well I don’t think it’ll last very long.” Chris said.

“Don’t you?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Coz she’s making Ben go all weird. He’s getting really stressed over things that normally he wouldn’t bother about.”

“That’s not Chloe’s fault though.”

“No, it’s his! And if he’s not careful, he’s gonna push her away.”

“So do you think they’ll split up then?” Paul asked.

“Well can you honestly see it being a long term thing?”

Paul thought for a moment. “I don’t think it’ll always be like this though will it?”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, they’ve only just started going out. They’ll settle into it in a few weeks.”

“If it lasts that long.”

“You really don’t think that it’s gonna work do you?” Paul said with surprise.

“Not if Ben carries on like this! He keeps over-reacting about things. Like that thing at CD:UK. Chloe said that they weren’t arguing but I think Rose was right. And then this morning with Duncan. If Chloe had reacted more to what Ben was accusing her of, that would have developed into an argument as well.”

“Well we should tell Ben then.”

“Tell Ben what? You saw what happened when Mark tried to give him some advice.”

“Well what do we do then?”

Christian shrugged. “Leave them to it. If it’s destined to fail then it will, whether we delay that fact by warning Ben or not.”

Paul laughed. “You and your destiny.”

“You can laugh but it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.”

“Oh yeah right. It’s rubbish Chris!”

“Okay, so if I told you that you and Chloe were destined to be together, you wouldn’t believe me?”

“Course I wouldn’t! Chloe’s with Ben!”

“But if you’re meant to be together, you will be. Fate will find a way.”

“You’re a head case Chris. That’s like saying that Prince Charles will join a1 at some point.”

“Well if it’s meant to be…”

“Oh shut up.”

“You don’t like the thought of you and Chloe being together then?” Chris asked Paul.

“Like that would ever happen.”

“That wasn’t the question. Would you go out with her?”

“You’ll get me into trouble asking me things like that, mate.”

Chris grinned. “You think she’s attractive though.”

“Yeah, I think she’s fit but I wouldn’t do anything about it.”

“Even if she wasn’t with Ben?”

Paul raised an eyebrow. “Now that’s a different question…” he said, as him and Chris started to laugh.

And then I’d look over my shoulder and there she’d be. Looking gorgeous, more gorgeous than ever, looking at me. And she’d walk towards me, and as she got closer she’d…

“Ben?”

Ben was jolted out of his daydream by Mark’s elbow shoving him hard in the side.

“What?” he asked.

“Who are you most looking forward to meeting today?” Cat Deeley asked him again.

“Oh, um…”

Ben couldn’t for the life of him think of any of the other acts a1 would be appearing alongside at the concert today. Apart from one. Damn, he was going to have to say them.

“Blue.” He said, trying to make a joke out of it by grinning. “I think they’re the most talented musicians around at the moment, don’t you agree Mark?”

“Uh, yeah!”

Satisfied with his answer, Cat turned round to her camera crew. “That’s enough guys.” She turned back to Mark and Ben. “Thanks for doing that. Sorry about the short notice.”

“No that’s fine! We don’t mind. Anything for CD:UK.” Mark grinned at her.

“Well I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing then. See you later.”

“Yeah, see ya!”

Ben and Mark re-joined with Paul and Chris, and the four of them walked back over to Chloe and Rose who were now alone, Duncan having left only minutes earlier. Ben went up to Chloe and put his hands over her eyes.

“Guess who?” he said.

“Ooooh, ummm… Paul?” Chloe asked with a smile.

“Nope.”

“Okay, um, Mark?”

“No, wrong again.”

“Well it must be Chris then!”

“No.”

“Well who could it be then?” Chloe asked.

“Do you need a clue?” Ben asked.

“Mmm, yes please.”

Ben leaned down and whispered something to Chloe.

“Ohhhhhh! It couldn’t possibly be my wonderful boyfriend could it?” Chloe asked.

Ben took his hands off her eyes and smiled. “Got it in one. Well, four.”

Chloe grinned as Ben sat down next to her and kissed her.

“Makes you sick doesn’t it?” Paul said.

“Yes, but it is sweet.” Said Rose, as Mark slipped his arms around her waist and gave her a kiss. “Good interview?” she asked him.

“Yeah it was fine!”

“What was it about?”

“Just the concert today, stuff about that.” Mark replied, getting closer to her.

“Cool. Have you got any more to do today?”

Mark smiled. “Too much talking.” He said, tilting Rose’s head upwards and kissing her.

“Now Chris, really, are you sure you won’t take me up on my offer? I make a very good boyfriend.” Paul said, grinning at Chris.

“You really want me don’t you Paul?”

“Desperately.”

“Sorry but I still haven’t changed my mind. I’ve not got that desperate yet.”

“Are you calling me desperate?” Paul asked.

“Aw you’ll break his heart.” Chloe said, tearing herself away from Ben who had his arms wrapped around her and was running his fingers lightly across the back of her neck. She looked at him. “That tickles.”

“I wish we were at home.” Ben said quietly into her ear.

Chloe grinned at Ben. “You’re obsessed!”

“Only coz you’re so gorgeous.” He said, biting his bottom lip as if that was going to help hold him back.

He moved a hand onto Chloe’s leg.

“You look really cute when you do that.” Chloe said. “Think you can wait till tonight?” she asked, looking deep into his eyes.

Ben smiled his trademark half-smile. “No.” he said cheekily.

“Well you’re gonna have to. I think Paul, Chris, Mark and Rose might object somewhat if we did it right here. You’ve gotta be on stage in a couple of hours anyway. You need to be focussed.”

“And you think I’ll be focussed knowing that you’re in the audience?”

“I don’t have to watch…”

“No! I want you to watch. Not my fault if I can’t control myself when you’re around.”

“Is it my fault?” Chloe asked.

“I suppose it is. Not in a bad way though.”

Chloe kissed him. “Good.” She said.

“They so have.” Paul said.

“Stop watching them! You’re such a freak!” Chris said.

“Thanks!”

“And stop going on about whether they have or haven’t slept together. You know you’re never going to find out.”

“They’re doing it on purpose to bug me.”

They’re not. They’re just in love. Just coz you’re jealous that it’s Ben and not you.”

“I am not jealous!”

“You so are. You want her.” Chris said simply.

“Chris, shut up! I don’t!”

“Do.”

“Don’t.”

“Do.”

“Don’t.”

“Do.”

“DON’T.”

Chris laughed. “We’ll see.” He said.

“Oh and what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing! Nothing at all.”

“Oh just go away.” Paul said sulkily.

“Hellooooooo!” a blond girl called, approaching the table with a tall, dark haired guy.

Chloe and Rose both looked up at the same time, looked at each other and tried very hard not to die.

“Claire!” Mark said. “Hi!”

“Alright Lee, mate.” Paul said.

“Alright.”

Rose watched Chloe as she caught Lee’s eye and smiled at him.

Here we go again…

“Do you wanna sit down?” Mark asked Lee and Claire.

“No I’m fine standing. Doesn’t look like there’s much room anyway.” Claire said, smiling.

“CLAIRE!” came a shout from behind them.

Claire looked round to see H running towards them.

“I didn’t think you were here yet!” Claire said, pleased to see him.

“Well I wasn’t, I’ve only just got here. Though I’d come and say hi to our support band.” He said, looking at Ben, Paul, Mark and Chris. “Now you guys make sure you do a good job and warm the crowd up for us!”

“You’re on after us are you?” Mark asked.

“Certainly are.”

“Well that’s got to be a mistake. You should be warming the crowd up for us!” Ben said cheekily.

“Oh yeah I forgot that you guys are soooooo much more popular than us!” H retaliated. “Just remind me, how many number one albums have you had again?”

“At least we write our own songs.” Paul said, grinning.

“Don’t you mean, at least they write their own songs?” Lee asked, gesturing to Ben, Mark and Chris.

Paul laughed. “Fair point.”

Claire elbowed Lee. “You’re so rude!” she said. “I won’t bring you to see a1 next time.”

“Oh no, what a shame.” H said.

“I don’t think I know you two do I?” Claire asked Rose and Chloe.

Unable to fully comprehend that Claire from Steps was talking to them, Chloe and Rose couldn’t manage to speak and just stared back at her.

“Oh sorry!” Mark said. “This is Rose, and this is Chloe.”

Rose and Chloe grinned. “Hi.”

“Okay, initiation test. Not hard, just one question; do you like Steps?” H asked.

“We love Steps.” Chloe said, beaming.

“Fantastic! That’s what I like to hear!”

“You two were at CD:UK yesterday, weren’t you?” Claire asked.

“Yeah.” Rose answered.

“Thought I recognised you.”

“I’m guessing girlfriends of Mark and Ben?” H asked.

Ben decided to answer that one. “Yep.” He said, smiling at Chloe.

“Aww, snap! Me and Claire are together.” H said, putting an arm around Claire, who immediately shrugged it off.

“Ew, we are not!” she said.

“But you know you want me.”

“Shut up H.”

Didn’t Lise and Faye come in your car?” Lee asked H.

“Nope, I though they were already here.”

“Oh, we thought they were coming with you!” Claire said. “Lost half of our band already and it’s only half 3!”

Mark’s eyes widened. “No! It’s not half 3 already is it?!”

“Yeah!”

“Guys, we’re on in an hour!”

“Oh god, we better go and get ready.” Ben said. “Oh dammit, I haven’t got you and Rose your passes yet!” He said to Chloe.

“Ben, we haven’t got time to get them now.” Chris said.

Ben frowned, really annoyed with himself that he hadn’t remembered to get the passes.

“Passes for what?” Claire asked.

“So Chloe and Rose can get to the front to watch the concert.” Ben told her.

“Oh, that’s no problem! I can get them for you if you want.” Claire offered. “We’ve got a bit of hanging around to do before we’ve got to go and get ready.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah!”

“Oh thanks Claire, that’d be great.”

“We better get going then.” Ben said.

“Um, what are we doing?” Chloe asked him.

“Um… well we’re on in about 45 minutes and so um…”

“I’ll show them where to go.” Claire said.

Ben smiled gratefully at her. “Thanks. This afternoon’s kinda run away without me noticing.” He winked at Chloe. “I’ll see you later babe.”