The weather seemed to suddenly turn to summer during their stay, no longer spring they were surrounded by constant sun and no clouds could be seen. The garden area of the house was large enough for people to do exercise if they so chose as well as having secluded areas which allowed smoking and secret chats. Little cliques formed but more and more people seemed to flit between groups and make sure they chatted to everyone. It seemed the shared experience gave them a shared goal, a shared purpose allowing them to understand each other and forever feel a bond.

It was one lazy afternoon in the sun when probably the most traumatic experience of their stay occurred. Everyone was outside; Ed was in the alcove smoking, the rest in the hot tub or lounging on towels catching a few rays. Kurt and Blaine were lying next to each other, slightly set apart from the rest and engrossed in conversation, so they nearly didn't notice the two guys that jumped over the exceedingly high fence and landed on their feet on the grass below.

The two men, not older than 20 and very nimble on their feet, paused and stared at the housemates as they lounged. Nicola and El had sat up upon noticing the intrusion and Faye had screamed. As quick as they had landed on the grass below, five security men, burly and thick-set went to grab them and eventually, with a slight tumble to the ground and a quick shout, they were captured and escorted out of the garden area through a locked gate that no one had really noticed before. The speakers crackled awake.

"Will the housemates please return to the house until the premises are securely locked and protected?"

They didn't need to be told twice and they soon scrambled up, gathering their belongings and running into the house.

"What was that?" asked a clearly shaken Anisa once they all stood in the living area, the curtains promptly closed.

"Intruders," Nicola said, matter-of-factly, "That clearly took some planning. Have you ever seen the top of the fences?"

Faye shook her head and Nicola looked at her scathingly. She had clearly considered all options upon entering the house – one must always check all escape routes when voluntarily locking yourself away for eight weeks with a bunch of strangers. She couldn't see how Faye could be that innocent and trusting.

"The fence is topped with circular spikes which make it very difficult for someone to climb over without getting injured. Their hands must be torn to shreds."

"So why do it?" Sebastian asked.

"Publicity?" Ed said, "Someone desperate for fame?"

"Maybe," Nicola said although she didn't appear convinced.

They could hear a louder kerfuffle outside and suddenly something was thrown inside the living area, smashing the window loudly.

"What the fuck?" Nicola shouted, jumping back as the glass sprayed all over the carpet. There was a louder thump, as if the two men were finally stopped using blunt force, perhaps an object. There was eerie silence and music suddenly blared from the speakers to drown out the noise from outside.

"They don't want us to hear," Kurt whispered to a concerned Blaine as they stood watching the glass before them.

"There's something on the rock," Heidi said and looking from side to side in case the intruders might see her despite the curtains, she walked closer to the now broken window where the curtains billowed.

There was something attached and everyone came closer to read it. She read it quickly and the contents were obviously surprising as her eyes widened and her mouth formed an o.

"What is it?" Blaine asked but before Heidi could reply, Nicola snatched it impatiently and read it quickly. She instantly tore the paper and kept it in her hand as she walked away, giving no one an answer as she went to the bedroom.

"It was obviously something about her," Bradley said and Kurt was surprised he had figured it out so quickly. He gave a worried look to Blaine but followed Nicola into the bedroom.

He said nothing as he entered, Nicola propped up on her bed, on top of the covers. She seemed to know that Kurt was there despite not looking up and deliberately avoiding his gaze. He sat on the edge of the bed and said nothing.

"You know too don't you?" she whispered.

"Yeah I think so," Kurt whispered, knowing the cameras would still pick up on the small sound.

"Those guys wanted to let me know that they knew, they were that desperate to intimidate me that they climbed tough fences and risked being arrested. I don't get it."

"Did you know them?"

"No I don't think so, though they may be friends of Beau's."

"Beau?" Kurt wasn't sure if that was a guy or a girl and his face looked decidedly confused. Nicola might have laughed if she could find any humour in the situation.

"My ex-boyfriend," she said calmly, "He might have put them up to it, he certainly has friends that will do anything for him."

"Woah, woah, woah," Kurt exclaimed, no longer worried about the volume of his voice. "Hold up, you had a boyfriend who might know people like that? This sounds way too complicated."

"It is," she said looking at Kurt insistently, trying to get her meaning across. "I shouldn't be talking about it here."

"But the public know, they saw all the footage."

"Maybe not," Nicola continued, "I mean on similar programmes they never show things like this, they just report it. It's supposedly too traumatic for the general public."

"Ok so spill," Kurt said, "Tell me everything."

"What do you think they're discussing in there?" Sebastian asked the room, who had assembled on the sofas now the commotion had died down slightly. The curtains remained closed and every so often they could hear a noise, suggesting they were cleaning the garden area and maintaining security.

"I don't know," Blaine said, "But Kurt will know what to say to her, he's really compassionate and kind."

"Oh I'm not worried about what old Betty White is saying in there," Sebastian said as Blaine made a disapproving face which was promptly ignored by Sebastian. "What was on that note?" he asked Heidi.

"I don't think it's appropriate for me to tell you," she said, "It's too personal."

"Oh cut the crap," Sebastian said and he sat up impatiently as the television screen came to life.

"Housemates, we want to inform you that due to the nature of the incident here this afternoon none of this footage will be shown on national television. We will resume normal viewing tomorrow as soon as security is restored and cleaning has taken place."

Cameras clicked off and people suddenly came in from side doors with brooms and vacuum cleaners obviously to clean the mess made by the glass. They resolutely ignored the housemates, as if they didn't exist, despite a few attempts from Anisa and El to get their attention. They soon left once the job was complete but a man came in to board the window, again ignoring the housemates.

"Oh for fuck's sake," Sebastian said, clearly irritated, "You'd think we were prisoners here, they don't have to act so pathetically. We all know what went on here."

"Do we?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah, someone's tried to blackmail Nicola and it's all very hush hush but she doesn't fool anyone."

"What do you mean?" Anisa asked and Sebastian finally took some time to look around at the faces watching him with curiosity.

"Nothing I guess, I suppose she must have a reason to keep her secrets, just like we all do."

Kurt and Nicola had heard the announcement through their own speakers and had seen the cameras click off. Nicola looked slightly panicked knowing she was about to expose herself in the worst way possible.

"Beau was my boyfriend and we were good for a while. I'd known him at high school and I guess he seemed cool and unattainable so when he showed interest I was desperate for his attention too. I did a lot of stupid things to get it and when I applied to college here he said he was coming to New York too. He never knew what he wanted to do but he also never seemed to want for anything either. He always had cash on him and would disappear for a few hours at a time but I never really asked what he was doing or where he was. I just assumed he was busy and I was just glad that someone like him was interested in someone like me."

"I'm sorry but what kind of a name is Beau?" Kurt said. Nicola smiled slightly.

"That's not the thing you should focus on lady lips," she said sadly, "I don't even know if that was his real name now but everyone called him that."

"Everyone?"

"All his friends, well I guess you could call them contacts really."

"Contacts?" Kurt said innocently.

"God Hummel, have you been spending too much time with innocent and naïve Faye? Drug contacts, he was a drug dealer."

Kurt gasped but Nicola couldn't be annoyed. She had had a similar reaction when she found out too. It had changed her. She thought back then to the quieter girl she was before, how she loved to dress up and look attractive but it was all just a game, now it seemed to mean so much more when she saw her appearance in the mirror.

"I found out by accident when something dropped out of his pocket and he didn't try to deny it when I asked. He was proud of it. Although he scared me slightly, I could never imagine leaving him despite who he was and what he did. He was never violent towards me but there was always that threat hovering over me and I never wanted to find out what he would do if I did something wrong. I did become detached from him then though. Whenever he was away I spent more time with my friend Amber who looked out for me. She knew everything and told me to leave but I couldn't. One day he just left me. I came home to an empty apartment and although that wasn't strange in itself, when he didn't return the following day I knew something was wrong. I never saw him again and my life could continue."

"You don't know what happened to him?"

"No, I'd never met any of his family and didn't know how to contact his friends. I'd kept college very separate and it was quite easy to remove him from my life. It all just went on without him and I didn't miss him."

"Well why would be resurface again?" Kurt asked.

"I don't know, I think it's more likely that he found out about me and Amber."

"Ahhh," Kurt said, realisation dawning on his face. There was silence for a few minutes until Kurt laughed.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because you've been such a bitch to me and Blaine," he said, "Why all the homophobic comments and the hate?"

"Because you had it easy," she said, "You don't know what it's like to be cut off from your family because of your sexual preferences, you don't know what it's like to start a relationship with your best friend, someone you've known for years and have to hide it away because they're worried about what people might say. You just came on here, this programme and didn't care...."

She seemed defeated and sighed loudly.

"I haven't had it easy, I don't think anyone does. I was bullied and someone hate-kissed me because they were too afraid to come out themselves. I got slushied and pushed into lockers and Blaine had that too. He was beaten so badly after taking a guy to a Sadie Hawkins dance that he ended up in hospital."

Nicola looked visibly surprised.

"No one has it easy and you came in here immediately taking a dislike to me and the fact that I am gay. I don't care what people on the outside think. I know the people who are important – my family and friends - all know me and love me for who I am. I don't need to worry about other people."

"You're lucky," she whispered, tears threatening to escape. "I've only known hatred and my own mum disowned me when I told her. She didn't care that I had inadvertently been sleeping with a drug dealer, she was more bothered about my sudden relationship with a woman. How messed up...."

"That's tough," Kurt whispered, coming closer to stroke her arm in sympathy, "But don't shoot the people around you that might be able to understand and help."

She could only nod her head in acknowledgement.

"Thanks Kurt," she whispered.

"You're welcome."

"I don't care what they say, I'm going in and finding out what's been happening," Sebastian said, standing fiercely and walking towards the bedroom area.

"No Sebastian wait," Blaine said, catching up to him, "Let Kurt handle this, he knows what he's doing I'm sure."

Sebastian ignored him and opened the bedroom door loudly, causing Kurt and Nicola to look up in confusion.

"What's going on?" Sebastian asked, "Cameras are off, you may as well tell us."

Nicola looked at Kurt who nodded and smiled, clearly sending waves of support and agreeing to whatever she wanted to do. She nodded too.

"Someone's threatening to tell the public about my relationship with Amber," she said calmly.

Sebastian looked visibly shocked, though Anisa and El seemed to understand. Blaine shook his confused little head, trying to work out why she had been so mean.

"Why would they do that?" Sebastian asked, "Who cares if you're gay?"

"My family, my friends and especially Amber's family. She won't want me to expose this on national television."

"So what can they do? What do they have on you?"

"I don't know but I'm sure I'll find out soon."