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Mrs Boss
Are you all at home and free?
4:14pm
I can wait if not
4:14pm

Clay (lead)
Yep, we're all back at the house now just waiting
4:14pm
Are you nearby then?
4:14pm

Mrs Boss
Yes
4:14pm
I shouldn't be more than a few minutes away tops
4:14pm

Clay (lead)
Alright, we'll see you soon then
4:14pm
[location shared]
4:14pm
Keres says she can't wait to see you by the way
4:15pm

Mrs Boss
How sweet, tell her I can't wait to see her either
4:15pm
I'm going to focus on the road now, I'll see you all soon
4:15pm

Clay (lead)
Alright, will do
4:15pm
Seen

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At the chime of the doorbell, Keres was the first to shoot up and jog towards the door, somewhat alike to an excited puppy. Though the room couldn't see it, they heard the muffled warm greeting through the walls and could only assume that Keres had been pulled into a soft hug when all went silent. A few short moments later, Keres and Mrs Bosko arrived in the doorway side by side.

There was a ripple of hi's and hello's that Mrs B returned breezily and politely before Clay spoke up, getting straight to the point. "Are they allowed to hear as well or should we move somewhere else?" He asked, somewhat nervously but mostly seeming tired. Tired of having to hear from Damien.

Mrs B shrugged. "It's up to you lot." The group looked between themselves with quiet murmured decisions for a moment before Ophelia spoke up.

"We can head out if you want, this feels like a band and their boyfriends kind of deal." She offered, standing with a stretch. The band looked between themselves for a moment in quiet agreement before nodding gratefully.

"Ker, you staying?" Keres looked from Ophelia to the band and back again before nodding shyly. Ophelia nodded in return, reaching to tuck some of Keres' hair behind her ear fondly before making her way out of the room, closely followed by Geo and Jethro, who was dragging Clark behind him with ease.

With seats freshly vacated, Mrs B and Keres sat and got themselves comfortable facing the six others. "I'll try and sum it up because dear God did that man bang on, I'm surprised they let him talk that much and were willing and able to relay it all to me." She huffed.

"He was upset about the lot of you talking to your misters and their friends, saying you're being selfish and jeopardising the chances of the band progressing and growing." Vincent couldn't help rolling his eyes.

"He was especially pissy about your coming out video." She pointed to Clay. Darryl held back the temptation to remind her of her language. "Which is just stupid because people loved the song, it's possibly the most liked video on the channel and it's brought in a whole new audience to sell to. If anything, it's only served to improve your career." Clay smiled sheepishly, not missing the shining pride with which George beamed at him. He reached and squeezed George's forearm, not having to move far at all. George shifted to tangle their fingers together and squeezed back.

"He ain't happy about you two either." Mrs B gestured to Zak and Darryl and they shared a somewhat panicked look. "But I don't think anyone would be surprised at all if you came out with it. He's acting as though the whole world doesn't already know." Zak grinned, sliding an arm around Darryl's shoulders as they both relaxed against one another again. Darryl giggled bashfully, cheeks a soft pink.

"I'm pretty sure he's scared of you though." She pointed to Vincent with a poorly contained laugh. Vincent arched an eyebrow in question. "He said nothing about you and your mister specifically. Just told me to keep the lot of you off all social media." Vincent attempted to keep the smug expression from his face but clearly didn't do a very good job of it.

"He tried to make me hand over control of the accounts too but I'm not gonna police ya like that. You keep doing what you're doing and I'll keep him off of your case. What's he gonna do from a hospital bed, I mean?" There was a round of soft chuckles. Despite their humanity, none of them felt guilty.

"So, basically, he's not happy with any of us because we've decided to be more honest with ourselves and our audience?" Darryl asked somewhat sassily and Mrs B nodded.

"He started throwing about threats too but I'm not about to relay any of those." She waved a nonchalant hand and the others were rather glad for the sheltering, they didn't want that looming over them in their last few days together.

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@JeThrowMeAway
I stopped looking for five seconds... why am I not surprised?

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retweets likes
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@KeresHexxOff
O.O You guys can come back now by the way :)) if Clark isn't dead
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@luciddreamer
May I reiterate
Clark,,, what the fuck is wrong with you?
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@ClarkNotKent
Ophelia said I couldn't and wouldn't and I wasn't about to live with that b l a s p h e m y 😤
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     @JeThrowMeAway
     @OhOphelia what have I said about
     challenging Clark, you know he'll end up
     hospitalised
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     retweets      likes

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"We brought snacks!" Geo called happily, bag in hand. Clark, Jethro and Ophelia followed behind into the sitting room with more. They were quick to empty the bags onto the coffee table.

"Clark bought seven boxes of mini muffins so you all better like them." Jethro sighed out and Clark practically bounced with them, holding out two boxes - one blueberry and one chocolate - to Darryl who more than happily accepted them.

After a few quiet moments in which people rooted through the snacks, picked out their own and settled, Mrs Bosko spoke up. "So, am I getting a grand introduction?" She asked as Keres pulled out a box pocky with a wide grin.

"This is my Georgie-poo!" Clay announced, wrapping his arms tighter around George's waist from where George was practically sat in Clay's lap. He reached over his shoulder to stuff a mini muffin into Clay's mouth in order to shut him up.

"Just George is fine, it's nice to meet you." He greeted politely, smile wavering as Clay desperately attempted to tickle him, trying to choke down his muffin at the same time. Finally, George burst out laughing and Clay grinned, trapping George and tickling him mercilessly.

"I'm Nick, I'm Vincent's boyfriend." Nick picked up with a grin, offering out a hand. Mrs Bosko took it and shook it firmly. The way that he'd said the words with such pride did absolutely nothing at all to Vincent. They didn't make his ears burn and his heart stutter. They didn't make the corners of his lips pull into a smile and they most certainly didn't make his eyes crinkle at the sides.

"Jethro." Jethro continued gruffly, shaking Mrs B's hand as well. "A friend." He stated, somewhat awkwardly.

"Geo! A friend as well." Geo said next, eyes bright and smile kind.

"Clark, the eye candy." Clark stated with a wink that made Mrs B chuckle to herself. He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her ring and Jethro tugged at the back of his shirt with a huff.

"That makes you Ophelia." Mrs Bosko finished, turning to Ophelia with a raised eyebrow. Ophelia nodded, suddenly very much alike to a deer in headlights.

"Yes ma'am." She choked with wide eyes, glancing from Mrs B to where Keres was attempting to stifle giggles behind her hands and back again.

"Oh please, ma'am makes me feel old, Mrs B works just fine." She replied with a wave of her hand and shook Ophelia's firmly. Ophelia didn't marvel at the strength at all. Nor did she rub her hand when she pulled back. "I've heard a lot about you from my Kerrie."

There was a childish, rising of 'ooo' that caused Ophelia to rub bashfully against the back of her neck. "You have?" She asked, voice absolutely not higher than it was normally.

"All good things, don't worry." Mrs B reassured, eyes bright with amusement. Ophelia sighed out in relief.

Soon, a warm buzz of conversation settled around them as they each filled up on definitely not good for you snacks in place of dinner. Afternoon turned to evening and Mrs Bosko bid them adieu with a firm instruction to take care of themselves and each other and not to worry about the rest of it.

And, as evening turned to night and the noise faded to quiet chatter, the soft atmosphere remained.

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1.5k words

We're having a mini heat wave where I am at the moment and it's making me feel all gross and sweaty and giving me a headache, I hope it doesn't show in my writing :/  I'll take this chance to remind you to drink plenty!!!

Feedback is welcome and appreciated!!

Yours, Dandelion