"Hello, and welcome to the most original big brother to date!" Davina yelled down her microphone, looking at the camera that was facing her, the big brother house in the background. The crowd, already so loud, started to cheer louder. "In just a few minutes, this house will be filled with a boy band, a mixed band, a male soloist, an ex-mixed group singer, and her band mate that she hasn't spoken to for five years!"
Davina carried on reading her speech off the autocue, as everyone was driving to the house. Their mobiles, personal stereos, laptops, pads and pens had been banished into their various managers’ offices.
Ben's car was the first to pull up to the studio, with Christian's car pulling up straight after. They smiled briefly at each other, as they weren't able to talk. Instead, they helped each other push through the crowds and television crew. Davina stopped giving a running commentary to take care of their bags (and Christian's guitar) while they said a brief goodbye to their friends and family, before they made their way to the security guards. As they did, two more cars pulled up, with Claire and Darius climbing out and following where Ben and Christian had gone before.
Ben was first in the house, with Christian at his heels. They looked around quietly. This house had a mainly blue interior, with cream and purple finishes. It also had a very modern feel, like the other houses before it.
"We can't explore until everyone's inside, can we?" Christian asked. Ben shrugged.
"I suppose it's just this room and the bathroom."
"What do you think of this place?"
Ben thought.
"Well, if Jay and I had gone anywhere in our relationship, then we'd have done something similar."
"Wasn't much of a relationship if you went out for two months just to get back at other people."
"It's better than seeing someone who's already taken." Ben snapped back pointedly.
Claire and Darius came in then, preventing Ben and Christian from continuing with their argument. Instead, they glared at Claire. Darius looked between them confused, and Claire sighed.
"Look, you can't blame me for H's behaviour."
"Sure we can't, especially when you join in with the underhanded-"
"Oh, shut up Ben, you're far from perfect yourself. And not unlike H, unless you've forgotten all that stuff with Bo."
Ben narrowed his eyes further at Claire.
"Bo knew where she stood with me, unlike Zee, Jay and that fifteen-year-old that H decided to mess with, along with all the others he's hurt."
"What the hell did he do to Zee? She's the one who embarrassed him, and unless I'm mistaken, it was all over you."
"He snogged her best mate while they were going out, sounds pretty low to me! And sorry for telling one of my best friends the truth about an idiot like H!"
"Oh, like she didn't deserve it, the little wench! And shut up about H, you have no idea."
"I have all the idea I need."
The door burst open again at that moment. and Jay and Lisa entered. As they did, they burst into giggles.
"I wonder if Thai's making all of us hug him?"
"What's he going to be like whe- . . ." Jay's sentence trailed away as she and Lisa saw who else was around. They gave a short wave to a now very confused Darius, and tried to ignore Claire as they went to hug Ben and Christian. Lisa immediately started a conversation with the boys about Thai, who was there with all three sets of grandparents. She started trying to include Darius into the conversation, until Claire was the only one not talking and laughing. She sat on the plush blue sofa, and hugged a cream cushion close to her.
Mark and Markus chose that moment to walk in, and stopped a while to watch what was happening. Markus soon walked over and wordlessly put his arms around Jay. She turned and looked up to see who it was, then smiled weakly and nuzzled into his chest as they both continued the conversation. Mark, however, sat on the sofa opposite Claire, and pulled a purple cushion onto his lap. Lisa turned to him and smiled.
"Hi Mark. What's up?"
"I just said goodbye to Thai." He sighed.
"Ah, so he is saying goodbye to everyone." Darius grinned. Mark gave a watery smile back.
"Not exactly. He's my stepson. It was just really hard to stop hugging him. I could really understand why Zee hates letting him go while we said goodbye. He wouldn't stop crying or saying 'stay other daddy'."
"Awwh!" The girls moaned, pulling sad faces.
"Yeah. I told him we'd be back before he knows it, but he said if five minutes was forever then this will be extra forever. I told him he could watch us on TV anytime he wanted, and he said it wouldn't be the same. As soon as I wrestled free I warned Davina to get a crowbar when the others came along."
Everyone laughed, and sat either on Mark's sofa, on the sofa's perpendicular to Mark's, or on the coffee table, completely excluding Claire.
"Cheer up, Paul!" Philippa said as they marched into the house. Paul sighed.
"It's easy for you to say, you try having to say goodbye to your kid without anyone knowing you're related! My heart broke, seeing him cry. He kept asking for us. I hope he'll stop crying at Zee's parent's house, our parents will go nuts otherwise."
"They take care of Shareen's kids all the time, so they can cope with Thai." Mark interjected.
"Good point, but still," a tear fell from his eye and he wiped it away hastily. "I never thought it'd be like this, man! I'd rather be with him than write songs or be in here. Is that wrong of me?"
"No." Christian said as he finally took hold of Philippa. "It shows you're a good dad."
"Yeah, I'm a real good dad, seeing my kid practically only when I'm working and then leaving him first chance I get." Lisa leaned over and hugged him.
"Come on Paul, you saying this stuff makes you a better dad then some out there."
"Yeah, you're loads better than my dad, he wouldn't accept that I was in hype for months, he acted like I had run away or something daft." Jay added, shifting in her position on Markus's lap. Mark took on the job of hugging Paul.
"I know how you feel, and it most definitely sucks, but we'll pull each other through it."
Paul shrugged him off, annoyed.
"No, you don't know how I feel; he's MY son and YOUR stepson! It's totally different!"
"No it's not!"
"Prove it." Paul folded his arms.
"If yo-I can't."
"No, 'coz you know I'm right."
"Oh, open your eyes Paul! I can't tell you why it's not different, but when you know, it'll be one of the most obvious things!"
Scott and Zee burst through the door then, and surveyed the scene in front of them. Scott made his way over to Lisa, but Zee turned and stared at the door they'd just come through, and burst into tears.