Chapter Twenty

Ben glanced up from his book as he watched Kirstie rushing around her flat, frantically setting out plates of food.

"Exactly how many people are you expecting?" Ben frowned as he noticed a large selection of nibbles.

"Quite a few, it's better to have more food than not enough." she told him, slowly removing the cling film from the plates.

"You're meant to be helping." she added.

"What do you want me to do?" he sighed.

"Set out the drinks and some glasses and stuff." she told him.

Ben nodded and quickly set to work.

"Also, you can be doorman." she quickly added when the doorbell rang. Ben sighed and did as Kirstie asked.

Ben felt like he'd been opening and closing the door for hours when he finally closed it behind what he hoped was the final guest. He gazed around the crowded room checking that everyone had arrived. Ben mentally checked them off in his head: Michelle, Kathleen, Louise, Matt, Mark and Nathan. He cursed under his breath when he noticed for the first time that Nathan had brought Lee with him. Ben scanned the room, searching for Kirstie smiling to himself when he saw Kirstie beaming with happiness.

"Right, I think that's everyone, so help yourself to food and drink, don't get too drunk as we will be playing Truth or Dare later." Kirstie announced to the room. Some of the group glanced at each other nervously, whilst others groaned loudly.

"Oh, lighten up, it'll be fun." Kirstie said shortly.

As the group turned their attention away from Kirstie and began to mingle with each other, Ben quickly made his way through the crowd. Kirstie frowned at him as he gently placed his hand on her back and guided her away from the group.

"What's wrong?" she asked him.

"Nathan has brought Lee." he hissed under his breath.

"What, but he wasn't invited?!" Kirstie exclaimed. "I can't believe he'd come here after how he treated Chloe." she added, her blood boiling as she remembered her devastated friend showing up on her doorstep in floods of tears, only two days ago. Kirstie knew that Lee would be lucky to have someone as special as Chloe, but when she'd visited him to reveal her feelings, he'd hurt her yet again.

"Maybe I should have a word with him." she said angrily.

"No, just leave it." Ben said quickly.

"I don't want him near her." she said quickly.

"Chloe isn't here anyway." he pointed out.

"What?" she frowned, craning her head to gaze around the room, frowning when she realised that Ben was right. She couldn't help but feel a little worried. When Kirstie saw Chloe a couple of days ago, she had been excited to come along to the party, and Kirstie had promised her that out of the Eclipse boys she would only invite Nathan.

"It's probably a good thing if he is here." she said quietly. As if Lee knew that they were talking about him, he glanced across the room at them, locking eyes with Kirstie almost instantly. Kirstie's heart sunk as she saw Lee making a beeline for her, Matt quickly noticed what was happening and followed him.

"Oh god, he's coming this way." Kirstie muttered.

"Be nice." Ben said quickly.

"I'm not the one who's a dick." she said firmly, instantly stopping speaking when Lee stood in front of her.

"Where is Chloe?" he demanded instantly.

"How should I know?!" Kirstie said defensively.

"Nathan said she'd be here." Lee said thoughtfully, almost as if he was talking to himself.

"She was invited, I don't know why she isn't here." Kirstie said.

"Maybe she'll be here later." Lee said quietly.

"Why, what's the big deal?" Ben asked.

"I need to apologise." Lee said quietly.

"You mean for accusing her of selling a story." Kirstie said sarcastically.

"Yeah that, it wasn't her, Laura admitted that it was her." Lee said.

Kirstie frowned, she had no idea who Laura was, and she didn't really care, all she cared about was keeping this cruel man away from her friend.

"Call her or text her then." Ben piped up.

"I tried calling, there's no answer." Lee said quietly.

"That usually means that someone doesn't want to talk to you." Kirstie snapped.

"It's not that, her phone broke, and she can't afford a new one." Matt interjected.

"I bumped into her yesterday when I was in town. I took her for a coffee, and she told me that her phone is broken." Matt explained.

"Who can't afford a new phone?" Lee frowned.

"Quite a lot of people actually, just because you don't have to worry about money, normal people do." Kirstie snapped quickly, her tone cutting.

"Okay, why don't you go and see to your guests?" Ben suggested, quickly trying to diffuse the situation. Kirstie nodded and quickly walked away before she said something that she would later regret.

"She's okay, though right?" Lee asked, softening slightly as soon as Kirstie walked away.

"Yeah, I think so, she seems to be enjoying her new job." Matt said.

"It's a shame it came to that though, all the boys miss her.... even you." Matt prompted. Lee nodded slowly. Matt sighed to himself, knowing that he was going to regret it, but he could see on Lee's face how desperately he wanted to speak to Chloe and Matt was still hopeful that one day that her and Lee would reconcile so that Chloe would come back.

"You could always call Danny and ask to speak to her." Matt said.

"Who the hell is Danny?" Lee asked sharply.

"I don't know, I just know that she said she's not living on her own anymore, she has Danny and that if we need her to call him." Matt said.

"Yeah, but who is he?" Lee asked again.

"I honestly don't know." Matt said quickly, holding his hands up in defence. Lee thought for a moment, trying to swallow the lump that was rising in his throat, but his mouth was too dry.

"I've lost her haven't I." Lee whispered to himself.

"What?" Matt asked.

"Nothing." Lee said quickly. Before Matt could say anything Lee quickly walked away. Matt's gaze followed him, slightly nervous that he was going to do something stupid, like the loose cannon that he was. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Lee leave the house. Matt glanced at Kirstie, smiling slightly when he saw her visibly relax.

"Right truth or dare everyone!" Kirstie called excitedly. As soon as everyone settled on the floor, Kirstie happily piped up:

"I'll start then, and I'll start with a dare - also can we all agree what happens in this game stays between us?" she laughed.

"Okay, I've got one." Michelle said, "Kiss the person you fancy the most." she added.

"Well, that's easy." Kirstie said jumping and grabbing Ben, quickly planting a kiss on his lips. When they finally broke apart Michelle laughed.

"You didn't let me finish; kiss the person you fancy the most that isn't your partner." she said.

"Ooooh" a couple of the girls laughed.

Kirstie looked at Ben and mouthed a sorry.

"Part of the game I guess." he shrugged, even though he didn't look particularly happy about it. Ben averted his eyes as Kirstie walked towards Matt and placed a very quick peck on Matt's lips.

"Well, it's nice to know you haven't forgotten about me." Matt laughed. Kirstie sat beside Ben and kissed his cheek.

"Sorry babe, had to pick someone so figured my best friend would be better than your mates, I don't like anyone in this room other than you." she told him. Ben kissed her again, almost like he felt he needed to show everyone she was still his.

"Okay, Michelle your turn." Kirstie announced.

"I'll go with truth." Michelle said.

"Who was the last person you kissed?" Michelle glanced at Mark for a moment.

"Actually, I want to do a dare instead let's have some fun." she added. Everyone frowned at her wondering why she wouldn't just answer the simple question but then Nathan quickly piped up:

"Okay lick either an armpit or foot of every person in this room." he laughed as everyone groaned.

"That's gross" Michelle sulked.

"Should have just answered the question then shouldn't you." Nathan laughed as Michelle got up and started licking body parts.

"Ben?" Kirstie asked, when Michelle had finally finished her dare.

"Truth." Ben replied.

"What one thing would you never do even if you were offered a million pounds to do it?" Matt asked.

"Oooh good question." Ben said taking a moment to think about his answer. Eventually he turned to Kirstie:

"I'd never cheat on a girl." he said with a wink.

"Yeah, only because you never get the chance." Mark laughed.

"Shut up, you know that's not true and you're only jealous." Ben laughed throwing a cushion at Mark.

"Not only do the fans love me more than you but I'm also the only one of us with a girlfriend." he added proudly kissing Kirstie's head.

"I'll have truth." Louise piped up.

"Who's the best person/band you've worked with since coming here?" Mark said, wiggling his eyebrows cheekily.

"Well, actually it's none of you guys, the best person I've worked with since I came here is Chloe, she has been such a good friend and really made me feel welcome and part the team." Louise explained.

"I'll have truth as well please." Kathleen said.

"So, Kathleen, your question is why are you not joining us in the shots and cocktails?" Louise laughed.

Kathleen gazed around at everyone waiting for her answer, feeling very uncomfortable wondering if she should really tell them the truth or if she could pass.

"If you pass on the truth you have to do a forfeit and that is to run around the block in just your underwear." Louise added sensing the hesitation.

"Erm well, this isn't really how I planned on announcing this, but I guess it's as good a time as any, I... well, I'm pregnant." Kathleen said staring at the floor and playing nervously with a loose strand of her hair.

The group let out a chorus of "Wows" and "Congratulations" that echoed around the room except one murmur of "You're what?" Kirstie looked around in the direction of that voice, she's was almost certain it was Mark who was stood back from all the others hugging Kathleen and looking a little bit confused. As soon as he noticed Kirstie staring at him, he quickly hugged Kathleen awkwardly.

"I'm going for truth." Matt said.

"Tell us about when you lost your virginity." Nathan asked. Matt shifted a little and looked around at the others, he glanced at Kirstie who was giggling with Ben and not looking his way, he felt so uncomfortable sharing when it wasn't just about him.

"We were at college and had been dating for a few months and we had gone away for a weekend to see a show, we had a really nice meal followed by a walk along the beach in the moonlight." Matt started describing how nice and romantic the night was.

"Okay enough of the boring stuff get to the good bit." Nathan laughed.

"Well after we went back to the hotel, I told her for the first time that I loved her and thankfully she said it back." Matt laughed.

"Well things just happened" he said looking slightly awkward.

"Ahh you're a soppy one aren't you, how cute." Louise laughed.

There was a moment of silence before Michelle suddenly realised something:

"Wait a minute, weren't you dating Kirstie back in college?" she said.

The group glanced at Kirstie who looked slightly mortified, her cheeks slowly colouring.

"Okay who's next, Mark?" Ben said, quickly taking charge of the situation before anyone could say anything else to embarrass Kirstie further. He was shocked by the latest revelation but could feel how tense Kirstie was beside him and that she didn't want to discuss it front of everybody.

"Well after that shocker I think I'll stick to dares." Mark laughed.

"Switch clothes with one of the girls for the next thirty minutes." Nathan said with a cheeky grin.

"Okay, come on then, do you mind switching with me?" he said to Kathleen motioning for her to join him in the next room so they could swap clothes. He was secretly hoping he would be able to ask her about the baby when they were alone.

"Aww that sounds fun I could have switched with you." Michelle said looking a little disappointed he hadn't picked her.

"Too late." Kathleen grinned, before following Mark into the spare room.