"Hello everyone," the guy said, "I'm Sebastian, your new housemate."

He looked so cocky standing there, his pose strong and confident, that the other housemates could only stare at him, then at each other, wondering who this guy thought he was. The housemates weren't all close but despite their differences the thought of someone coming in to ruin their closely guarded community and threaten the leadership worried them. After a while a few people came up to introduce themselves to Sebastian though Blaine and Kurt deliberately hung back and crept closer to each other, seeking safety. The screen soon came back on to announce that they were to have a movie night in celebration of Sebastian's arrival and the housemates seemed happy at the news, though Kurt and Nicola look instantly suspicious.

Kurt kept himself busy at the kitchen, making Sebastian and a few others hot drinks and settling himself on the sofa to watch and listen to the new guy. Sebastian already seemed eager to please, telling jokes and enjoying hearing the general laughter.

"So what's it been like on the outside?" Bradley asked him, edging closer, eager to impress the new guy too.

"I've been excluded from a lot of it, they thought it would be best but I've been allowed to see a few newspapers and obviously watch the coverage on the television," he said. He suddenly looked over at Kurt and Blaine who were close on the sofa and smiled. Kurt leapt further away from Blaine as if he had been burnt. He blushed furiously at what Sebastian was implying and sipped his coffee. Blaine looked at Kurt carefully, trying to impart something through his eyes, trying to urge him not to worry but Kurt deliberately avoided his gaze as Sebastian continued.

"I mean they've shown the best bits really," Sebastian said laughing but a few people looked around nervously, worried he meant them. "Drunken escapades, the truths and dares, the whispered conversations that have all been picked up by the microphones that some of you seem to have forgotten are on your person constantly," he continued, "It makes for interesting viewing," he chuckled and nervous laughter filled the room. El left with Ed to have a smoke in the garden area.

"So what's your deal?" Nicola asked, filling the silence with her sneer and looking like she just might throw Sebastian to see how far she could trust him, "Why are you suddenly here?"

"I don't know sweetheart," he said sneering, "I guess they thought the house was slightly boring without me."

"If what you've implied is true than I doubt that very much. I can't imagine what the producers see in your horse teeth and smirky meercat face," she said, smirking herself at her witty comment. Kurt smiled slightly, feeling new respect for Nicola in their mutual distrust of Sebastian and her ability to say exactly what she thought. He made himself scarce, wondering if he could talk to the smokers though he didn't smoke. Blaine eyed him as he left but decided not to follow and started to talk to Heidi who looked a little panicked at what Sebastian had said about drunken escapades and suddenly worried what her parents might think of her.

Kurt joined Ed and El who were sitting on the wooden corner bench in the garden, protected from some of the cameras in their little alcove and Kurt suddenly saw the appeal of smoking. El looked up at him in surprise but Ed moved up to allow him to sit down.

"You don't smoke," El said.

"I know," Kurt said laughing "But I like peace and this seems a peaceful place." Ed nodded in understanding and El smiled.

"Yeah it does seem a little strained in there," El said, "What do you make of him?"

"I don't like him," Kurt said, "But I'm waiting it out. I'm pretty sure Nicola will kill him soon and we'll be spared the trouble of nominating him for eviction." El's laughter peeled out and Kurt looked pleased he had an ally. "I guess it's anyone new though, they would all get that reaction."

"Yeah," Ed said, "We must develop a pack mentality in here." He looked around the garden at the sad remnants of the party from the other night littered on the grass and sighed.

"We're quite a strange bunch though," El said, "We wouldn't be friends out in the real world, but in here, we're loyal to the end," she laughed ruefully. Kurt looked through the large French windows where he could see the group gathered around Sebastian, no doubt getting the gossip from the outside world and trying to understand what made him tick. He could see Blaine had come closer to Sebastian on the sofa, still separated by Anisa who was speaking to him animatedly. Blaine was so friendly and charming, he would want to make Sebastian feel welcome in the house and Kurt joined Ed in his sigh as he realised his time in the house was about to get so much harder.

"So what's going on with you and Blaine?" El asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "In the words of Marvin Gaye did you 'get it on' last night?" Kurt blushed furiously. It was one thing to discuss it with the girls and giggle at a sleepover, quite another to discuss it front of Ed and all the viewers at home.

"Yes," Kurt whispered, sinking in on himself.

"Well that's great," El said spotting his uncomfortable stance and stroking his arm, "You seem really sweet together."

"It feels a little strange to experience it all in front of so many people and cameras," Kurt said, still slightly pink, "I mean romance is all about the simple things not the grand gestures. It doesn't have to be in front of loads of people, it can just be the touch of the fingertips, the soft look across a crowded room."

"You can have that here," El said, "You just might have to be a bit more sly about it all."

"Yeah," Kurt said and he felt a little awkward for Ed who seemed to be getting a little bored by the discussion and was suddenly smoking his cigarette a lot quicker than he had been. Kurt looked at the window again and saw that Blaine and Sebastian were talking in the kitchen, the others still gathered in the living area, seemingly engrossed in their own conversations. Sebastian looked like he was trying to eat Blaine alive, a little too close, a smirk gracing his lips as Blaine continued speaking.

"Do you think Sebastian's gay?" Kurt asked El and Ed, his eyes still on Blaine and Sebastian in the kitchen.

"Maybe," El said, "You'll have to watch that one," she said, her gaze reaching where Kurt was still staring.

"Definitely gay," Ed said, nodding as if it was final, "Impeccable dress-sense, always a sign."

---

"So are you enjoying your time here so far?" Blaine asked as he started to make a drink, "What do you think of the place?"

"It's great," Sebastian said smiling, "I think I'm going to love it here." He looked a little too closely at Blaine, who noticed and smiled nervously. He had a sudden feeling that he might be eaten alive and he searched the living area to see if anyone might help him.

"You know you have quite a fan following on the outside world," Sebastian said, leaning in conspiratorially, "Guys and girls love you."

"Oh," Blaine said laughing nervously, "I'm afraid I'm definitely not a ladies' man."

"Oh me too," Sebastian said nodding in understanding, "They know all about you and Kurt by the way."

"I suppose we haven't been that subtle really," Blaine said.

"Well nothing gets past the cameras and everyone could hear the kiss even if they couldn't see it," Sebastian said. Blaine blushed.

"Yeah, we'd had a little to drink," Blaine said, "Not that I don't like him," he finished, "But it's strange for us in here."

"Oh I definitely understand," Sebastian said, "Don't let him tie you down though," he smiled, "I've been watching you recently but I've been reading the papers since you entered and I said to myself 'I don't know who this Blaine guy is but apparently he's sex on a stick and sings like a dream'."

Blaine laughed feeling nervous energy fizzle in his stomach and he waved Sebastian away as if to say he was being ridiculous. Sebastian just chuckled.

"What do the papers say about me?" Blaine asked, feigning indifference and trying to sound casual. Sebastian recognised his true feelings.

"Just all about your college activities, how you sing whenever you can in bars, clubs, anywhere that will have you. Some guy came out of the wood work saying he kissed you once and that you were very skilled with your tongue," Sebastian winked and Blaine couldn't have looked more shocked if he tried.

"Benji said that?" he exclaimed and everyone on the sofas stopped talking to look over at Blaine and Sebastian.

"Yep unfortunately," Sebastian said, "Don't worry about it though, everything that was said was complimentary and only made me want to meet you more."

"I can't believe he did a kiss and tell like that, I can't believe anyone would really care," Blaine said.

"The public are going crazy for this programme, a real taste of what college life is like, even though it's all for the cameras and the public. This will do wonders for your career afterwards," Sebastian said.

"I never really thought about my career afterwards," Blaine said quietly, feeling like a naïve little boy and he looked up at Sebastian towering over him and swallowed.

"Well I bet you will now," Sebastian smirked, "And I'm determined to mimic your meteoric ascent. We should definitely talk some more," he said as he wandered over to the sofa area, looking back at Blaine to check he was understood just as Kurt came in from the garden. He looked fiercely protective all of a sudden and Blaine smiled.

"Where have you been?" he asked casually.

"Just talking to El and Ed," Kurt said coming closer as they both stood by the sofas.

"But you don't smoke," Blaine said looking puzzled.

"I know," Kurt said, looking slightly irritated, "But it was peaceful out there and a little bit too much in here."

Blaine looked at Sebastian as Kurt's eyes wandered over everyone gathered around the room. He understood exactly what he meant.

"Want to wander to the bedroom for a bit before the movie starts?" Blaine asked, his eyes darkening slightly in his desire to be close again to Kurt who nodded as they walked quietly away to the beds.

They lay on Blaine's double bed where they had spent the night before together, curled in on each other and kissing slowly. Blaine lay down on top of the covers and indicated for Kurt to lie next to him so he could see him as they spoke. Kurt soon relaxed as Blaine started stroking his face softly, putting his hands through Kurt's impeccable hair as Kurt closed his eyes.

"That feels nice," Kurt murmured.

"You really are beautiful Kurt," Blaine whispered, "I know we can't do what we want here, I know I can't take you out on a date yet but I can tell you that much and spend as much time with you as possible." Kurt smiled and opened his eyes to find Blaine looking at him earnestly.

"It is strange in here isn't it?" Kurt whispered despite knowing that he would still be heard, "We'll just have to take things as we find them," he continued after Blaine nodded, "And enjoy what we can."

"Yeah, I like the sound of that," he said as he watched mesmerised at Kurt's sleepy expression and porcelain skin.

"Sebastian said that everyone knows about us on the outside," Blaine said and Kurt opened his eyes slowly, "Apparently someone's done a kiss and tell about me."

"Really?" Kurt said clearly shocked and he sat up on his knees. Blaine nodded.

"Yeah, I kissed a guy called Benji in a club last year," he said blushing slightly, "I'd met him a few times for coffee but nothing really came of it but apparently he's told the papers all about me."

"I'm so sorry Blaine," Kurt said, reaching out to stroke his hand then moving further up the bed so his back rested on the headboard behind him and he sighed. "It's really much bigger than I thought it would be being in here," he said closing his eyes as if in pain. "I didn't think this programme would generate this much interest outside."

"Does it change anything with us?" Blaine asked timidly, eyeing Kurt carefully. Kurt opened his eyes to instantly reassure Blaine.

"No of course not," Kurt said, "You can't help that someone's done that Blaine. It's a horrible thing to do."

"Yeah, I guess that's why it never worked out with me and Benji," Blaine said laughing ruefully. "I'm glad that I don't have anything else, I've never done anything I'm ashamed of, nothing that the public will find out about."

"Yeah, same here," Kurt said, looking straight ahead and repeatedly circling Blaine's knuckle with his thumb.

"Kurt?" Blaine said, "Is anything you don't want to get out?"

Kurt looked at him carefully, so aware of the cameras and the impossible idea of having a private conversation.

"Loads of things," Kurt whispered as if he could hide it all away, "But nothing I need to be ashamed about. Just things about bullying and glee club, things that would make other people look bad but would definitely paint me as a victim and I don't want that."

"Yeah I get that," Blaine said, squeezing Kurt's hand in his, "I wish we could run away together, go to some park and eat picnic food and watch the birds as they eat the bread we give them." Kurt smiled at the image.

"Yeah that sounds perfect," he said, lowering himself down again so his head rested on the pillow and Blaine mimicked his pose and turned to face him as he lay sideways.

"I'd settle for spending my hours with you and watching your beautiful face and hearing the silence and the seeing the flicker in your eyes," Blaine whispered as he leant in closer to brush Kurt's lips in a chaste kiss. Kurt sighed.

"That sounds perfect."