Blaine woke the following morning to see Kurt's bed empty next to him. He sat up groggily to find lumps of people dotted around the room, most engulfed in their duvets. Blaine rubbed his eyes and wandered to the living area.

Kurt was dressed and in the kitchen, waiting by the kettle and toaster, his back turned. Blaine could secretly admire his legs in his tight grey jeans, finished with his comfy dark grey poncho and his fierce white boots.

"Good morning," Blaine said, still yawning. Kurt turned around at the sound of his voice and smiled.

"Good morning," Kurt said, "I thought I'd be the only one up for hours. Coffee?"

"I'm quite a light sleeper in new places," Blaine said as he nodded in agreement. "Coffee sounds heavenly."

"Heavenly?" Kurt said, raising an eyebrow.

"It seems a very fitting word," Blaine said smiling, "What time is it?"

"10 o'clock," Kurt said checking his watch. "Toast?" Blaine nodded.

"You must only have got 5 hours sleep," Blaine said incredulous.

"Yeah I don't sleep well, which is worrying," he said looking around the space he was to inhabit for eight weeks. "I think sleeping is the only thing they expect us to do here."

"Yeah I don't know how I'm going to cope with the boredom," Blaine said, "I might just have to sing everyone to death."

"You said you were a freshman right?"

"Yeah, you're a sophomore at NYADA?"

Kurt nodded. "What's NYU like? I was considering going there if I didn't get into NYADA."

"It's great actually," Blaine said, leaning on the counter as Kurt made them coffee. "It's nice to be surrounded by so many people who love music just as much as I do. And they're so talented," he continued, "I just play the piano and sing, some people play at least five instruments. I feel a bit of a novice."

"Well, I can only sing and act and my dancing is questionable, so you beat me anytime," Kurt said smiling.

"I'd love to hear you sing sometime," Blaine said sincerely.

"Well I have eight weeks to kill so I'm sure you'll hear enough of me." Blaine couldn't help but think that sounded perfect but he only smiled.

"Have you been in the diary room yet?" Blaine asked, eyeing the big black door with a red eye on the outside.

"No," Kurt said, eyeing it suspiciously, "It looks a little scary, like the eye of Sauron."

They stood staring at it for a while as Kurt handed him his coffee.

"I think I'm going in," Blaine said, gulping at the thought and placing his coffee on the side. "I want to be the first person in there."

"Good luck," Kurt quipped, smiling as Blaine walked towards the door. He pushed it hard as it slowly opened. Blaine almost expected to hear a creak as if he was in a haunted house but it only quietly closed behind him. He sat on the red chair, so big it looked like it was going to engulf him and he stared ahead at the camera, not sure what was to happen. As nothing happened he went closer to the camera screen and tapped it slightly, his eyes wide and glowing green. Still waiting he thought he'd have some fun and he suddenly dipped under the camera, rising slowly and turning his face to the left and right as he got higher and higher.

"Hello Blaine," a voice suddenly said and Blaine looked around at the white walls, finally noticing two speakers in the corners of the ceiling.

"Hello," he said politely, "I'm not sure what to call you."

"Just call us your guardians for eight weeks. We're here to look after you." Blaine looked dubiously at the camera and nodded.

"Was there anything you wanted to discuss first Blaine?"

"No not really, I just wanted to see what it was like, be the first person to experience it."

"How has your first night been in the house?"

"Ok thanks. Everyone seems really nice, especially Kurt," he said, smiling at the thought, "I think I'll actually like it here once I get used to having nothing to do."

"How did you feel leaving your family?" Blaine's smile faltered slightly at the thought, then he tried to smile.

"Oh I know I'll miss them loads," Blaine said.

"Don't worry about having nothing to do Blaine," the voice suddenly said, "We'll give you plenty of tasks."

Blaine nodded.

"In fact the first task will be very interesting. Please pass this message on to the other contestants." Blaine's interest was piqued at this comment and he sat up in his chair, his back straight.

"You and the other contestants will have to decide on the one thing you couldn't live without that is in your suitcase. Once you have decided one person needs to leave the list in the diary room. You will find out your second task later on today."

"Ok," Blaine said excitedly, "Anything else?"

"No you can leave now Blaine, unless you want to say anything?"

"No thanks," Blaine said as he left the diary room. As soon as he entered the living area he picked up his coffee that Kurt had made and settled on the sofa. Faye and Heidi had come out in their pyjamas too and were sipping coffee next to Kurt.

"How did it go?" Kurt asked.

"It was fun actually," Blaine said, "We have our first task." Kurt encouraged him to go on as he handed Blaine the toast he had made him. He relayed what had happened in the diary room and Heidi looked excited at the thought.

"I'm not sure Blaine," Kurt said his eyebrows displaying his suspicions.

"What do you mean?" Faye asked.

"It can't be as easy as all that," Kurt continued, "I mean why do they want that information?"

"Maybe they want to give us more of what we put down?" Heidi asked and Kurt looked at her kindly but almost with pity that she could be that naïve.

"Yeah maybe," he said.

"I think they would know if we lied," Blaine said, "I need to compile the list for them though." He got up and found a piece of paper in one of the drawers in the kitchen. "So what couldn't you live without Kurt?"

"I don't know, I didn't bring anything precious really. I suppose my red jeans." Blaine nodded as he wrote it down. He wrote down hair gel for himself and took Heidi's and Faye's items: lip gloss and a Bible respectively. Kurt raised his eyebrow at Faye's mention of her Bible but Blaine bounded into the bedroom, determined to wake up the rest to get the list of their items.

Blaine returned after Kurt, Heidi and Faye could hear groans from the bedroom and he went straight into the diary room.

"You're a Christian?" Kurt asked Faye.

"Yeah, is that ok?" she asked timidly.

"Oh god I don't care," Kurt said, wondering why she cared so much about his opinion. "Sorry I shouldn't have said that," he said, hitting his forehead, "I don't believe but you can. You should believe whatever you want to believe." Faye smiled.

"Thanks Kurt," she said then looked up to see Blaine return.

"That was quick," Heidi said, "What did they say?"

"We will know our first task soon," Blaine said, sitting on the sofa. His expression looked solemn and Kurt realised he loved the drama of being the first to reveal it all.

"If we lose our task we will lose the item that they got us to write down," Blaine said looking down at the thought of losing his hair gel and thinking what an innocent fool he'd been.

"I knew it!" Kurt exclaimed.

"What did you know?" Claire asked as she wandered in.

"Blaine just told us if we fail our first task then we lose the item that we put on the list."

Claire nodded as if she'd worked this out already and helped herself to coffee.

"What is the first task?" she asked settling herself on the sofa, her knees up.

"They'll tell us when everyone is assembled in the living area."

Blaine remained forlorn looking as the morning continued. He realised he had a mistake, although no one seemed to blame him. Blaine, Heidi and Faye got themselves ready and dressed as the others worked their way to the kitchen, making coffee and toast. Apart from the food they had ordered last night, the only remaining food was bread, eggs and milk as well as essentials for hot drinks. Nicola was the first to complain.

"What is this?" she sneered as she opened the cupboard. She looked perfectly assembled despite the pink velour tracksuit she wore; her intended look obviously casual sexy. Her face would definitely be considered pretty if it wasn't for her sneer. "Do they expect us to live on this crap?"

"I think we'll get our budget soon and we'll be able to order proper food," Ian said wisely. Kurt felt a little sorry for him, clearly mature and sensible, he must have thought he was surrounded by idiots.

Nicola still looked doubtful but she poured coffee and sat on one of the sofas. Bradley was the last to enter the living area, deliberately leaving his pyjama top off and his trousers were hanging dangerously low. Blaine gulped.

"So when do we find out what our first task is?" Nicola said, clearly not wanting to waste anymore of her time.

Blaine was about to respond when the big eye returned on the television screen on the wall and everyone turned to face it.

"Good morning housemates," it said in a monotone, "As Blaine has revealed if you fail this task you will each lose the item you added to the list as the one thing you couldn't live without during your stay here. If you win we will double your food budget this week."

Ian looked at Nicola as if to say, 'I told you so'.

"Your first task is a creative one. You will each be given a potter's wheel and some clay. You will be asked to create a pot or mug using the wheel. If more than three of your items break in the kiln then you will lose the task. Please wait in the bedroom while we assemble your potter's wheels."

The big eye blinked and disappeared as everyone got up from the sofa areas, walking to the bedroom area.

"This sounds amazing," El said excitedly as she sat on one of the beds. "I can't wait."

"I don't know, art was never my strong point," Anisa said as she lay sideways on a bed.

"You'll be fine," El said encouragingly, "And they said that if two break in the kiln then we'll still win."

"But there's always the possibility that more than two of us are crap at art," Ed said grumpily, "I for one have never used a potter's wheel. How do you control the speed and the shape?"

El started explaining while everyone, including Nicola listened intently. Nicola had been one to trust Blaine and she had written that she couldn't live without her make-up. She had no intention of losing that if she could help it.

The time soon came for them to assemble in front of their potter's wheels and start making a pot. A video explaining how to use the equipment came on the television in the living area and they listened carefully. Blaine still felt a little responsible so he listened extremely hard.

It made interesting viewing as they all started off slowly. Most of them continued to work well but Anisa soon made a mistake and pressed on the peddle in worry, making the pot she was creating suddenly lopsided. She squealed in worry as Heidi made a flat top on her pot by accident. El was indeed a natural at using a potter's wheel and she finished with a flourish as everyone sat looking at their own creations. Most sort of resembled a pot shape but only El's could be actually used. They left their pots as instructed and washed their hands collectively in the bathroom. They waited in the bedroom, quietly discussing in little groups what they thought might happen next.

Kurt started making everyone a light lunch as soon as they were allowed to return to the living area and Blaine was amazed at what he could create with so few ingredients. Suddenly everyone had pancakes with a light sprinkling of sugar on top and were murmuring their thanks. A few hours passed in pleasant chats, some people wandering to the bathroom for a shower or the bedroom for a nap. Kurt relished his role as hostess as Heidi and Faye helped him wash up.

Later on in the evening the big eye appeared again and they were all instructed to assemble in the living area as before.

"Good evening housemates," it said, "We have baked your pottery creations and have inspected the finished products. Anisa, Bradley, Michael and Ed your creations were broken in the kiln which means you have all lost the task."

There was a collective moan as they realised but Nicola looked most shocked, her mouth open, tears appearing in her eyes. Blaine absently touched his hair where gel encased it to the perfect shape and he blinked, already envisioning the horror that would await him tomorrow in the mirror.

"We will be shortly leaving your shopping information in the diary room. You will collect it and order your food for the week. At the same time we expect you to place your item that you can't live without in the diary room. We will know if this does not happen." The voice sounded menacing and Ed laughed.

Nicola turned to Ed and his face fell.

"This is no laughing matter," she said, nearly screeching. The eye blinked and the television screen turned off.

"Sorry," he said holding up his hands in mock surrender.

"I can't believe I have to deal with all of this," she said getting up and raising her arms in the air. She stomped to the bedroom and Kurt smiled slightly at Blaine who looked beyond worried.

"Hey," Kurt said to him gently as they were next to each other on the sofa.

"Hi," Blaine whispered, "Do you think people blame me for this?"

"No you were just the messenger," Kurt said, "It was everyone's choice which item was revealed. I personally didn't bring anything I couldn't live without and there's always sharing."

Blaine's eyes widened at this. He hadn't thought about that – sharing, of course, he could borrow someone's gel. But as he looked around the room, he realised Michael, Ed and Ian clearly didn't use any product in their hair. He knew Kurt used hair spray and Bradley probably wouldn't share. He sighed.

"I'm sure you'll be fine without gel," Kurt said kindly rubbing his arm in sympathy.

"You've never seen my hair without gel," Blaine said sadly, "Its baby hair fine, I'm going to look like Medusa." Kurt couldn't help but smile as Blaine whined adorably. "Freedom to use hair care products?" Blaine continued, "It's in the Bill of Rights."

"Didn't the founding fathers all wear wigs?" Kurt asked, his lips turning up in a slight smile, though he tried to hide it from Blaine who was deadly serious.

They all dutifully laid their items in the diary room one by one, though most scowled towards the camera. The collection of items summed up the characters in the house well, some causing laughter from housemates as their prized possessions were placed in the diary room. Karl Marx's manifesto from Ed, a jumper from Ian, fake tan from Bradley and a box of donuts caused a small groan when placed there by Michael. Red jeans, hair gel, lip gloss, a Bible, shower gel, toothpaste and finally a nose ring were handed in. They didn't realise people at home were laughing in Machiavellian glee as the contestants took their list for shopping and sat in the living area planning their shopping for the week.

Claire and Anisa organised everyone's wants and dislikes, asking people to vote if only one or two treats could be ordered. Their budget was more than Nicola expected and she brightened slightly at the thought that she could order at least concealer with their money. They put the food away once it was brought to them and Kurt made dinner, helped by Blaine who was avoiding people in case they blamed him. Anisa was also on hand, suddenly quiet and Kurt asked if she was ok.

"I knew I'd ruin the task," she said in her Scottish accent, "I can't do anything arty."

"Well help me cook dinner, that's an art," Kurt said kindly, giving her a sideways squeeze of her shoulders. She smiled, though tears had formed in her eyes. Blaine looked at the two of them and smiled. He realised that Kurt was gently letting her know that they didn't blame her and he felt warm inside knowing that Kurt maybe didn't blame Blaine either.

It was a late dinner and small groups assembled around the house afterwards. Everyone seemed a bit morose at losing their items, though some had obviously chosen items they wouldn't really miss. One by one people had gone to the diary room either by choice or when asked by 'the voice'. After dinner Blaine, Kurt, Faye and Anisa found themselves alone in the living area.

"Do you already miss your items?" Kurt asked the others.

"Not really," Anisa said, "I mean I haven't showered and Claire said I could borrow hers if she could borrow my toothpaste."

"I think it's going to bother me tomorrow when I wake and have a shower," Blaine said sadly.

"Why don't you have a shower now?" Kurt said, "Get it over and done with."

Blaine thought for a moment. "I suppose I better get used to it." He said shrugging his shoulders and walking to the bathroom.

"I'm going to go to bed," Anisa said, getting up, "Night my lovelies."

Faye and Kurt sat in a comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the peace.

"Do you miss your red pants?" Faye asked Kurt a little later.

"Not really. I just hope I get them back when I leave. Those pants cost a lot of money." He said this to the camera, hoping to impart his desperation to the invisible people behind the screens.

"Do you miss your Bible?" Kurt asked quietly.

"I think I will do," Faye said, avoiding Kurt's eyes. "I don't really belong here," she continued, "It was going to help me through it."

"What made you come on this show?" Kurt asked.

"My mum said it would be good for me. She thinks I'm too quiet and that I miss opportunities for greatness or something. Do you believe in God?"

"No not after my mum died. I prayed for weeks that she would get better and she never did. I guess I don't like church either after they persecute people like me and don't like women much either."

"What do you mean 'people like you'?" She asked so sweetly that Kurt was worried about destroying her innocence.

"Gay people. I'm gay." Nicola suddenly appeared at the door to the bedroom and her eyes widened at Kurt's announcement.

"You're gay?" she exclaimed walking closer to lean on the edge of the sofa. Kurt jumped at being disturbed but he quickly recovered.

"Yes," he said confidently, "Do you have a problem?"

"Yes as a matter of fact I do," she said cocking her hip, "It's an abomination what you do. No wonder you're such a good cook," she sneered.

"Just piss off," he said getting up, "I don't care what you think. I've had to put up with a lot worse from people like you and I won't put up with it in here. Keep your opinions to yourself."

"Oh I don't care what you say," her lip curling up in disgust, "I'm sure you'll find most people in here and definitely people out there," she said pointing to the camera, "Will find you disgusting too. You stay out of my way." Blaine was standing at the door watching Nicola's back but unseen to Kurt and the others.

Kurt said nothing, already seething with anger, Faye sitting quietly on the sofa.

"I don't think there are many people with your brand of hatred and evil," Blaine said confidently walking into the room, Kurt looking up with wide eyes, his mouth an o. "I think you need to piss off and try not to bring us down with your crap in future."

Nicola stared at Blaine with hatred then glanced around the room, realising she was outnumbered, here at least.

"You're a faggot too?" she sneered at Blaine.

"No I'm gay, but you wouldn't get it," Blaine said, walking to sit next to Kurt on the sofa.

"You shouldn't use that word," Faye said her voice trembling as she stood up for them, "No one wants that word used here."

"Yeah whatever," she said dismissing the comment with a flick of her hand. She stormed out, her hair bouncing along her back and her hips swinging. Kurt swallowed, hating confrontation and looked at Blaine.

"Thanks," he whispered. Blaine looked at him kindly.

"Don't mention it," he said.

"I'm sorry Kurt," Faye said, tears approaching her eyes and Kurt looked at her sadly.

"Why are you apologising?" he asked incredulously, "You did nothing wrong."

"I know you thought that I would agree with her but I don't. I think we're all loved by God and no one deserves that treatment."

Kurt smiled at her and hugged her close. She looked taken aback at the contact but then relaxed.

"Thank you," he whispered near her ear and Blaine smiled.

"You're hair looks alright to me," Kurt said to Blaine after relaxing his hold on Faye. Blaine had clearly combed his wet hair to resemble the style he would normally achieve with gel.

"Oh just wait," Blaine said, "It'll soon come up all frizzy and a monster will be revealed."

Kurt and Faye laughed. After a while they decided to wander to bed.

As the lights were turned off, some people still outside smoking and talking, Blaine faced Kurt on his bed to find him looking at his hair in the dim light. Through the light from the living area Kurt could see the frizzy mop of hair on Blaine's head as it rested on his pillow. Kurt tried to muffle the laughter with his hand but he failed and Blaine grimaced.

"Is it really that bad?" he asked.

"No it's not that bad," as he continued to laugh.

"I can't wait for this to be over," Blaine whined into his pillow.

"Don't be silly, I love finally getting to see the real you, the man without the product," he smiled and Blaine could see his eyes light up in the shadows of the room. He couldn't help but return the smile too as he drifted to sleep.