Being handcuffed to the person you hated most in a ten metre radius filled Kurt with quiet resignation. He knew he had to be nice, knew he would be forced to find out what Nicola was all about and maybe, just maybe she would surprise him. They were asked to click the handcuffs closed and it was explained that they would have the key after the four hours were up. They all settled on the sofa with their partner and the room was suddenly filled with the final clicks of the metal indicating their entrapment.

"So we have to be nice?" Nicola said as she sat next to Kurt. They both had their knees up close to their bodies, their hands resting between each other and the murmurs of conversation could be heard around the room. The 'eye' had said that they had to converse, silence wasn't allowed so Kurt could hear everyone trying their best to find out about the person they were connected to for four hours.

"Yes, we have to be nice," Kurt said, "Why don't you tell me about yourself?"

"That could definitely fill four hours," Nicola said, deadly serious despite Kurt's surprised eyebrow raise. "I study business and marketing because I intend to market myself in some way. I know I need to be famous and make a name for myself. The person I most admire has probably got to be Britney Spears because no matter what people throw at her, no matter what people say, she gets up and starts again. She knows how to market herself and play to her strengths and I truly admire her for that. She's had it tough but she just gets tougher."

"I've always liked her music," Kurt said, suddenly interested in the conversation, "But I'm not sure she's a great role model. I don't think you need to be a good role model in music necessarily but I don't think people would really want to be her."

"Oh yeah she's made bad decisions but that's why I admire her," Nicola continued, "She still carries on, she doesn't care."

"Yeah, that is true. I sometimes wish I had that sagacity and drive."

"But what do you want to do?" Nicola asked and Kurt still couldn't quite believe he was having a reasonable conversation with someone like Nicola. He decided he would play along if it was merely a way to win the task and maybe he would enjoy the conversation too.

"I want to sing on Broadway, I study performing arts at NYADA which covers everything - singing, dancing and acting."

"So you want fame too?" Nicola said, nodding her head as if she understood completely.

"Not really," Kurt said, shaking his head, "I suppose I want to be understood, I want to be appreciated. My friend Rachel and I stood and sang on a Broadway stage a couple of years ago, when it was empty. We snuck in and sang songs from Wicked and I could just imagine what it would be like to see hundreds of people there to hear me sing for real. To hear their applause, to see their smiling faces and hope that I had made them forget about their problems even if just for a moment. That's why I want to do it, that's why I love to sing. It helps you to feel but it also helps you to express yourself. When you listen to someone else sing, you feel their pain or joy and you go somewhere else. That is true magic."

Nicola looked at Kurt as if he had grown two heads but she slowly nodded as if she was at least trying to understand what he was talking about. Kurt laughed and the noise made Blaine suddenly look up at him from his place on the sofa, handcuffed next to Ed.

It seemed Blaine wasn't having interesting conversation with Ed. Ed was talking, using this time to discuss his political affiliations and the manifestos he believed in. Blaine looked bored out of his mind and at the sound of Kurt's musical laugh, he looked up and smiled. Kurt caught his eye and smiled in return.

"I have an idea," Kurt said suddenly to Nicola, who looked at him dubiously, "Why don't we sing?"

"Sing?" Nicola said, "I don't do singing."

"Well I do and it'll help to pass the time," Kurt said and he started quietly, no music to help him, no accompaniment and he had never felt so wobbly but he closed his eyes and started.

If you were falling, then I would catch you
You need a light, I'd find a match

Recognising the song, Blaine smiled and started to tap on his knees to maintain the rhythm and Kurt beamed at him.

'Cause I love the way you say good morning
And you take me the way I am

Kurt suddenly thought of Blaine as he said good morning to him, every time they had woken up here in this place. He continued to look at him and Blaine seemed to understand, his cheeks tinged pink.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater
Your head is aching, I'll make it better
'Cause I love the way you call me baby
And you take me the way I amI'd buy you Rogaine if you start
Losing all your hair
Sew on patches to all you tear

A few of the girls laughed at the lines and started to join in the background, Anisa starting to sway to the beat.

'Cause I love you more than
I could ever promise
And you take me the way I am
You take me the way I am
You take me the way I am

As Kurt finished he received a round of applause and Blaine shared a sweet smile with Kurt before he turned to Ed and started to talk.

"I love music," he said and Ed looked taken aback, as if he thought their conversation would continue about politics. "Politics doesn't interest me as much, only because it doesn't speak to the heart. Music does and it can cross all boundaries and divisions. I really do hope that I can do something with music in the future, even if my career doesn't go the way I want it too, I know I wouldn't be Blaine if I didn't sing in some way. I suppose you feel that way about politics?"

"Yeah," Ed said clearly thinking the idea through, "I suppose I get all fired up, determined to express my opinion and read about others. It makes me feel alive." Ed smiled for the first time that day and Blaine felt a little lighter that he sort of understood him now.

"That's great, everyone should have that."

"You know I was thinking of leaving this place, just quitting early," Ed said in seriousness and Blaine raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I will now. I find it hard because I know I don't belong here, people just want to be famous and I know this will be boring but I want to experience it. I thought that it would be an interesting experiment in human behaviour but I was worried I might end up killing some people in here." Blaine looked at Ed's completely serious expression and laughed nervously. It really was an interesting experiment being here, surrounded by people he would never have met under ordinary circumstances. He was forced to engage Ed in conversation here and now and he was suddenly glad.

It seemed others were having similar realisations as conversations continued around the room.

"So you believe in God?" Bradley was asking Faye, who blushed at the loudness of his voice, everyone suddenly looking at them both before conversations were resumed. "What's that like?"

Bradley looked genuinely interested and Faye was surprised but carried on, determined not to be the cause of the failure of the task.

"It doesn't really change anything I suppose," Faye said, "It doesn't mean I look any different but I act differently because I want to make a difference. I want people to know how God loves them and that they're special because of that. God isn't this ogre in the sky, he loves everyone."

"Yeah I don't know if I can believe in that," he said suddenly serious, "I mean if there was a god he wouldn't let all the evil carry on, he'd put a stop to it all. Prayer means nothing."

"That's not true," Faye said, slightly fierce, "People commit the evil, God has to let it happen because we have free will. We're allowed to do what we like, we're not robots." Bradley nodded, trying to understand her point.

"Ok, what about gay people and women? God doesn't seem to like those people very much."

Suddenly aware of a few eyes in her direction, Faye gulped at the pressure but nodded as if she was accepting the challenge.

"God loves everyone," Faye started, "He loves gay people, women – it is man that completely misunderstands things. Women were the ones to discover Jesus; some of his closest friends and people that started the church were women. The church has just lost its direction."

"And what about gay people?"

The room was completely silent now, the contest forgotten in favour of listening to Faye.

"Jesus never said anything about gay people instead he said we should love each other. If we do that properly then all the rules are contained in that simple rule. Nothing else matters but love."

Blaine and Kurt looked at each other and smiled. Shy, quiet Faye was here explaining her beliefs and Blaine took one look at the camera hoping that the people at home were listening too.

"I don't believe in God," Nicola said to Kurt suddenly but she lowered her voice so only he could hear.

"Neither do I," Kurt said, though finding he shared something with Nicola shocked him a little. "But I admire Faye for believing and sharing what she thinks. It's hard these days."

"If God existed he wouldn't have taken my dad when I was five. That little girl needed her father and he was taken away."

It took Kurt a few moments to realise she was referring to herself but he smiled kindly when he understood.

"I lost my mum when I was eight," he said, "She died of cancer and I don't know how I would have coped without my dad. He was really there for me."

"Well I didn't get that chance," she said angrily, "My mum was never there for me afterwards, only selfishly thinking of her own grief, she didn't have time for a little girl. I was left to look after myself. That's why I was so determined to get out and make a name for myself. I don't need her anymore, I'm going to make it on my own. I don't need anyone."

Kurt felt instantly sorry for Nicola, which took him by surprise. When he had been handcuffed to her, knowing he would have to be polite, he would never have guessed that she would start to explain so much about herself. He had coped because he had had people around him. Nicola was an example of what Kurt could have become. He realised he was really lucky and he wanted desperately to somehow convey that to his dad. He looked at the camera in one of the corners of the room and smiled.

"I'm really lucky to have my dad," he said tears in his eyes as he spoke to the camera but still sort of addressing Nicola. "I would want him to know that I love him above everyone else and that he has been the best dad I could ever have asked for."

Nicola seemed to understand he wasn't talking to her anymore and she nearly scowled until she remembered the task.

"One day he'll be gone and you'll have to make it on your own," she said, not meaning to be particularly mean, just pragmatic and Kurt seemed to understand.

"I know, which makes it especially important that he knows now and that I give him everything I have to say."

Nicola nodded her head. Conversation turned to lighter topics afterwards but near the end of their four hours, Kurt turned to face Nicola and ask the question that he knew might put the contest into jeopardy.

"Why do you hate gay people so much? Do you really believe all that crap you spurted earlier?" Nicola looked at him carefully and smiled.

"I don't really care what you do with your life," she said in her kindest voice, which took Kurt by surprise, "But I never want it forced into my life. You think my opinions are mean? Wait 'til you see people on the outside, wait 'til you leave. I'm just trying to keep it real. I bet high school was tough for you?" Kurt nodded. "Well real life can be even tougher." Nicola seemed to go off into her own little world then and Kurt didn't know what to say to bring her back. She looked suddenly sad and small, as if she was the loneliest person here and Kurt felt sorry for her. Perhaps being bitchy was her only defence, her only outlet for her anger with the world.

"Do you have a boyfriend out in the real world?" Kurt asked.

Nicola looked at him sharply and then at the camera as if it might scorch her with its rays.

"No but there is someone special," she whispered and then she changed the subject, asking about favourite movies and Kurt was left to listen and wonder who this woman was that he had thought he understood so well when she moved in and now seemed like a complete enigma. His stay here would surely prove to get more and more interesting after all.