Day 53 -

Day 53 - 9.53am

Day 53 in the Big Brother house. Yesterday, Laurie and Tess were involved in an argument with Isabel while Alex was alone in the den.

Alex is sitting and looking at the three girls uncomfortably. Tess and Laurie are sitting on one couch while Isabel and Alex are sitting on the other.

"So...um, any of you girls want breakfast? I'm going to cook some pancakes so you know they will be edible..." Alex says as he looks between them all and tries to sound cheery.

Tess smiles at him warmly. "Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?"

Alex smiles at her and looks at Laurie. "Ms. Du Pris? Pancakes?"

Laurie nods her head and smiles at Alex. "Pancakes sound good...thanks."

Alex smiles and then turns to Isabel. "Izzy, can I tempt you with some pancakes?"

Isabel looks at him and smiles warmly. "Please. Thanks Alex."

Alex stands up and looks at the three of them and grins. "All part of the service..."

He walks to the kitchen and hums loudly as he makes the mixture. He looks up at the girls occassionally but they are sitting in an icy silence. Tess and Laurie occasionally whisper at each other but Isabel doesn't say anything. Alex puts the mixture in the pan and turns the heat down low. He looks over and Tess and Isabel are exchanging cold stares and he shakes his head and walks over.

"Okay, that's it. What's going on with you three?" He asks as he looks between the three of them.

The girls all look at him and Isabel and Laurie shake their heads.

"Nothing's going on Alex..." Laurie says as she looks at him and then to Isabel who adds.

"Laurie's right, everything's fine."

Alex looks at her and shakes his head. "I might not be that smart but you can cut the atmosphere in here with a knife."

Tess avoids looking at Alex as Laurie looks at him. "Alex, nothing is going on."

Alex shakes his head and looks at Tess who is still avoiding looking at him. "Tess, what's going on? Have you guys had an argument or something?"

Tess looks at him and then to Laurie who is indicating with her eyes. She sighs and looks at Alex and forces herself to smile. "No, we haven't had an argument. You would have heard it if we had had an argument wouldn't you have? I mean, you've been with us all morning."

Alex looks at her and shakes his head disbelievingly. "This has been going on for a while though..."

Tess smiles at him. "Alex, it's just really early and we are all just feeling nervous about nominating...you know how it is."

Alex looks at her and then to Isabel and Laurie who are both looking at him and smiling reassuringly.

"You all sure that's all it is?" He asks slowly.

The girls nod their heads in unison and Tess sighs as she answers. "Yes, that is all it is." She looks over at the kitchen and turns to him. "Umm, Alex? Now might be a good time to check on the pancakes..."

Alex turns abruptly and runs towards the now sizzling pan swearing loudly. The girls all laugh as they turn to see him remove the pan from the cooker and slide a slightly blackened pancake onto a plate. He looks up at them and grins. "Don't worry, it's alright. Everything's fine..." He laughs lightly as he looks at the plate. "I like my pancakes a little well done anyway..."

11.38am

Isabel is in the conservatory while Laurie and Tess are all sitting in the lawn while Alex is in the Diary Room.

Isabel walks out into the garden and stands in front of Laurie and Tess. "Alex has been called to the Diary Room."

Laurie looks at her and nods her head. Isabel sits down and looks at them. "Do any of you think it's fair that he is caught in the middle of this?"

Tess looks at her. "He wouldn't be caught in the middle of it if he knew the kind of things you have been doing..."

Isabel looks at her. "I haven't said anything to you that I wouldn't say in front of Alex, so if that's what you think knock yourself out and tell him all about your little problem with me. Tell him exactly what you both think of me. Go on! See what he thinks!"

Tess glares at her. "Fine. I will!"

Laurie looks at Tess and then to Isabel. "Isabel is right. It's not fair to get Alex involved in this. He hates confrontations..."

Tess looks at Laurie. "He has a right to know. Should we just pretend that nothing is wrong? Lie to him?"

Isabel looks at her. "I don't know what your problem is. You lied to him earlier about it, and I have said that you can go tell him whatever you want to. Yet you aren't happy?"

"I told him nothing was wrong so he didn't have to get involved. I didn't do it for you."

Isabel sighs. "Fine." She takes a deep breath and tries to sound calmer. "Listen, I'm not saying that we should all lie to him, but I think we should at least pretend that everything is alright. If for no other reason than to make this as easy on Alex as possible."

She looks at Laurie and Tess as she continues. "There is a good chance that he will be in here for another 2 weeks with two of us. I don't want him to hate his time in here and I certainly don't want this atmosphere to last forever."

Tess looks at her. "I can't just forgive and forget everything you said. You had no right..."

Isabel cuts her of. "Fine, I'm just saying that we can deal with that outside of here."

Tess looks at her and shakes her head as Laurie looks at Isabel. "I think that sounds like a good idea."

Tess shakes her head. "Fine, but this is for Alex, not for you."

Isabel smiles as she looks at her. "Good. We can go over this when we get out of here."

Tess sighs and looks at Isabel. "Fine."

In the Diary Room Alex is looking at the camera.

Hello Alex.

"Hey Big Brother."

Alex, how is the atmosphere in the house today?

Alex shakes his head. "It has been really tense. Really tense. I have no idea what is going on, the girls have said that they are just nervous but...it just doesn't seem like that's it."

What do you think the problem is?

Alex sighs and looks at the camera and shrugs his shoulders. "I have no idea..."

2.26pm

This weeks weekly task is to practise a variety of different drawing styles using 3 different mediums. Today the housemates must practice portraits and Big Brother has asked them to each draw a different housemate. Alex and Isabel have been paired together as has Laurie and Tess.

Alex looks at his picture and lifts up a pastel chalk. Isabel notices this and looks at him. "What's wrong?"

Alex smiles at her and shakes his head. "Um...nothing..." He looks from his paper to Isabel and squints. "This doesn't have to be exact does it, we are allowed to intrepret stuff in our own ways..."

Isabel looks at him worried. "What do you want to interpret in your own way?"

Alex grins as he picks up another pastel and starts applying it furiously. "Nothing..."

Alex looks over at Tess' drawing. "Wow, that looks like Laurie..."

Tess blushes slightly as she continues to apply. "It's not that good..."

Alex looks at her. "No it is, in comparisson to mine...."

Tess looks at him. "I'm sure yours isn't too bad...let me see."

Before she can look at it he jumps in front of it. "Uh uh, none of you get to see the work in progress..."

Isabel looks curiously from the chair she's sitting in. "Alex? We only to change soon so you could maybe just let us see..."

Alex turns to her and shakes her head. "Nope, there is no way that you can see it. You'll never speak to me again..."

Isabel stands up and looks at him. "Alex, come on, I told you, none of us will take it personally..."

Alex looks at her and shakes his head. "Isabel...you haven't seen the picture. It's out of proportion and you look like an aging drag queen..."

Isabel raises an eyebrow. "I hope you mean that in the picture I look like an aging drag queen and not in the reality..."

Alex blushes furiously. "No, I mean. You definately don't look like that in reality...you look really good in the flesh..." He turns away and looks embarrassed. "Umm, please don't take that in the literal sense as I of course do not know anything about your flesh..."

Isabel begins to laugh affectionately as Alex babbles and Tess looks at him. "Alex? You should maybe stop talking now..."

Alex nods his head and picks up another pastel and holds it at the picture. Isabel looks at him and he scratches his cheek leaving a chalk mark.

Isabel begins to laugh gently and he looks at her puzzled. "What?"

She smiles as she reaches over and slowly wipes his cheek. "You had a chalk mark..."

Alex nods his head as she moves her hand away. "Thanks..."

She smiles at him and walks over to her seat again. "No problem..."

Laurie watches Alex and Isabel sadly before turning away and looking down at the ground. Tess notices this and glares at Isabel again before turning to Laurie. "You want to see your picture?"

Laurie looks up and smiles. "Is it finished?"

Tess nods her head. "Yeah, you want to see it?"

Laurie stands up and walks over to Tess and looks at the easel. "Wow, that's really good..."

Tess smiles. "I wouldn't say that..."

Alex rolls his eyes dramatically. "Show off..."

Tess smirks at him. "Okay, lets see Isabel."

Alex shakes his head. "I don't think that's a good idea..."

Isabel stands up. "Alex, it's only a piece of fun. Relax and lets see..."

Alex looks at her and sighs. "Okay, I'm going to apologise in advance then..." Before walking away and heading for the lounge.

The girls converge around the picture and all of them begin to laugh loudly. Alex looks uncomfortably at them. "Hey, come on, remember a guys feelings here..."

Isabel looks at the picture. "You were right when you said it was a little out of proportion weren't you..."

Alex smiles hopefully. "Will we call it modern art?"

Laurie looks at the picture and smiles as she looks at him. "I think it has potential...you only need some more time..."

Alex looks at her and smiles gratefully. "Thank you, you are lying but I'll forgive you."

Laurie grins before trying to smile enthusiastically. "I'm not lying..."

Alex grins at her. "Sure your not..."

4.01pm

Big Brother has gathered the housemates in the lounge in preperation for the final round of nominations.

Alex is lying on one couch while Tess and Laurie sit on the other one. Isabel is sitting on the chair.

"I really don't have the energy for this today..." Alex sighs as he looks at the others.

Laurie smiles at him. "Is that because we kept you up last night?"

Alex looks at her and nods his head. "You two really need to stop being evil to me..."

Laurie begins to laugh gently. "Evil is such a strong word..."

This is Big Brother, will Alex please come to the Diary Room.

"Well, at least they are moving quickly today." Isabel says as Alex rolls off the couch.

Alex sighs and looks at the camera. "Big Brother, I'm not nominating again, can I maybe just stay here?"

He waits a second and reluctantly stands. "Okay, I will see you ladies in a few minutes..."

He walks to the Diary Room and sits down.

"Hello Big Brother, again..."

Hello, Alex. Can you please give the name of your first nomination?

Alex sighs and looks at the camera. "Nope, I'm not nominating again."

Big Brother rules state that you must nominate two housemates for eviction, Alex. Or else Big Brother will choose the names of the two people closest to you in the house.

Alex sighs. "I know that. But I really can't choose as I care about all the people in here. So, you guys do it."

The rules state that Big Brother will choose the two people closest to you in the house if you fail to nominate, do you understand and accept the rules?

Alex nods his head. "I understand and accept the rules."

Thank you, Alex, you may now leave the Diary Room.

As Alex has chosen to abstain from nominating again, Big Brother will choose the two people closest to him in the house. At this point in time, in Big Brother's judgement, Alex is closest to Isabel and Laurie. So that is the two people that have been chosen for his nominations.

Alex nods his head and sighs as he walks out the Diary Room. He heads towards the others and flops down on the couch again. "Well, that's that done with..."

"You were really quick this time." Laurie says as she looks at him.

Alex smiles. "I just went in said I wasn't nominating and that I accepted the rules and left..."

This is Big Brother. Will Isabel please come to the Diary Room.

Isabel sighs and stands up. "Finally, the last round of nominations..."

Alex nods and she walks in the Diary Room and sits in the chair.

Hello Isabel.

"Hi, Big Brother."

Can you please give the name of your first nomination?

Isabel nods. "My first nomination is Laurie."

Can you please give the reason for this nomination?

Isable looks staright at the camera and sighs. "I do not get on with her recently and she is the cause of the friction between me and Tess. She has been stirring trouble for me all week and she hides behind this sweet exterior to fool the others. I would just rather we weren't in the same house at this moment in time, maybe once we get out of here we'll be able to patch things up, but I don't think it will happen in here."

Can you please give the name of your second nomination?

Isabel answers quicky as she looks at the camera. "My second nomination is for Tess."

Can you please give a reason for your second nomination?

Isabel shakes her head. "Tess...Tess and me see things differently and she cannot accept that I have a different opinion on things. I didn't like Kyle and she wants me to hide that and I refuse to do it. That's her problem and I just don't think it would be good to spend the next 2 weeks with the kind of tension that we have at the moment."

Finally, can you please give the name of your 2 nominations?

Isabel nods. "Laurie and Tess."

Thank you Isabel, you may now leave the Diary Room.

Isabel nods her head and stands up. "Thanks Big Brother."

Isabels nominations mean that Laurie now has two nominations and will definately face the public vote on Friday. Isabel and Tess have one nomination each and Alex has yet to be nominated.

Isabel walks quickly back over to the chair and sits down. Alex looks at her. "Well, thats you finished with...tell Laurie and Tess how good they'll feel now that it's over with."

Isabel looks at them and forces herself to smile. "Yeah, it takes a weight off knowing that thats the last time you have to go in there..."

Alex smiles at them. "See? I told you both not to be nervous..."

This is Big Brother. Will Laurie please come to the Diary Room.

Laurie sighs as she stands up and looks at the others.

The others wish her good luck as she walks to the Diary Room. She sits down and looks at the camera.

Hello, Laurie.

"Hello, Big Brother."

Can you please give the name of your first nomination?

She clears her throat and pulls her legs up onto the seat. "I only want to nominate one person today if that's alright. You can choose the other one."

The rules of Big Brother will not allow that to happen. If you fail to nominate two housemates then Big Brother will choose the two housemates closest to you in the house for eviction. Big Brother will not only choose one housemate.

Laurie sighs and looks at the camera. "But I can't choose between them..." She looks down at her hand and sighs before looking up sadly. "In that case, I want you to pick my two nominations for me."

The rules state that Big Brother will choose the two people closest to you in the house if you fail to nominate, do you understand and accept the rules?

Laurie looks at the camera and nods her head sadly. "I can't choose between them so yes. I understand and accept the rules..."

Thank you Laurie, you may now leave the Diary Room.

Laurie stands up and walks out the Diary Room door.

As Laurie has also chosen to abstain from nominating Big Brother will choose the two people closest to her in the house. In Big Brother's judgement the two housemates closest to Laurie is Alex and Tess. So that is the two people that have been chosen for his nominations. Due to this Tess and Laurie have two votes each and will definately face the public vote on Friday. Alex and Isabel have one vote each.

Laurie sighs as she sits down. "Alex? You never said they were so official when you don't vote..."

Alex looks at her. "You didn't vote?"

Laurie smiles. "No, I couldn't..."

This is Big Brother. Will Tess please come to the Diary Room.

Tess stands up and looks at the Diary Room. "Well, this is it."

Laurie smiles at her, "Good luck..."

Tess smiles as she walks into the Diary Room and sits down.

Hello, Tess.

"Hi, Big Brother," Tess says as she looks in the camera. "Big Brother, I only want to nominate one housemate this week and you can choose the second one, is that ok?

Tess sighs. "So I have to vote then. Okay, I'll nominate..."

Can you please give the name of your first nomination?

Tess looks straight into the camera. "Isabel."

Can you please give the reason for this nomination?

"I'm nominating Isabel because I resent her presuming how I feel. She knows nothing about me and I do not appreciate her making accusations about me and my relationships on national tv. When it comes down to it she knows very little about me and the past few days has reaffirmed that as well as showing how little I know her. To be honest, at this point in time, I'm not even sure if I like her." Tess says angrilly as she pulls her leg up onto the chair.

Can you please give the name of your second nomination?

Tess pauses for a minute and her gaze softens. She takes a deep breath and looks at the camera. "I...I have to nominate Alex as my second nomination."

Can you please give the reason for this nomination?

Tess shakes her head. "I can't give you a reason. I have to, because I won't nominate Laurie, but I think Alex is the best. He has been so great for the past few days and made things a lot easier for me. I don't want him to go but...he's the one I have to nominate."

Finally, can you please give the name of your 2 nominations?

"Isabel and Alex."

Thank you Tess, you may now leave the Diary Room.

Tess nods her head and walks out the door.

Tess' nominations mean that all the housemates have received two nominations and they will all face the public vote.

Tess walks over to the chair and sits down. "Thank god that's over with."

This is Big Brother, this weeks nominations are now over, the results will be announced later in the week.

Tess sighs. "Good."

Alex looks at them all as he lies on the couch. "You realise that we don't have to do that again? That's good news. We should celebrate..."

The others all look at him and he sits up and looks at them. "We have lots of junkfood in there, we have a hot tub outside. We have 4 teenagers locked in a house with no source of entertainment...let's just blow of some steam..."

The girls look at each other and then to Alex before nodding their heads enthusiastically. Tess stands up and looks at him. "Good idea, Alex."

Alex smirks smugly. "I know..."

Laurie looks at them. "So, after dinner we'll just..?"

"Gorge on chocolate?" Tess says.

"Stay in the hot tub too long?" Alex adds.

Laurie sighs as she sits down. "Both sound good."

Alex looks at Isabel. "What about it Izzy? You up for pigging out?"

Isabel smiles. "Having fun sounds like a good idea."

8.14pm

The housemates are all in the hot tub.

Alex takes a bite from the chocolate bar he's holding and sighs. "You know, I could get used to this..."

Isabel looks at him. "Eating chocolate in a tub full of water?"

Alex rolls his eyes as they all begin to laugh. "No, relaxing...just forgetting that we are being filmed..."

Laurie looks at him with a smile. "You know, it's not really forgetting about it if you drop it into the conversation..."

Tess sighs as she looks at the cameras. "Do you think the others are watching us?"

Alex looks at her. "I hope so, we would have watched them."

Tess begins to laugh. "They probably started to and then realised that we made really boring tv..."

Alex looks at Laurie and Isabel. "I would be pretty insulted if they said that to me. I walk out the doors and see Liz and Maria. I walk up to them and ask them what they though and they said that it was too dull and they couldn't watch it..."

They all begin to laugh. Isabel grins. "Well, I'm pretty lucky, I know for a fact that my family have been forced to watch some of it because of the Friday show...they probably show up at the studio and have absolutely no idea what is going on..."

Llaurie smiles. "Yeah, the crowds outside might be hired to make it sound a lot bigger than it is..."

Tess smiles. "The shows probably been cancelled..."

The others all laugh and Alex takes another bite from his chocolate bar. "What do you guys think the public thinks about us? If you were talking about us all, give me 3 words that would describe all the individuals." He looks at Isabel and Tess. "Lets not be insulting about anyone..."

The girls nod as Alex starts. "Hmm, Sean? Give me one line that would sum up his time in the house?"

Laurie puses her lips. "I thought he was sweet..."

Isabel looks, "A little bit of a stirrer..."

Tess sighs. "Pretty shielded, like he was hiding stuff."

Alex looks at them. "Come on, its supposed to be single words here people. Okay, for Sean we have Sweet, Shielded, Stirrer?...hmm, all the S's...that's pretty funny." Alex begins to laugh before continuing. "Next, give me one word each that would describe Max?"

Isabel sighs. "Quiet."

Laurie looks thoughtfully. "Surprising...I didn't know he could have thought up the prank..."

Tess looks carefully. "Hmm, energetic?"

Alex grins as he looks at them. "Quiet, Surprising & Energetic?, okay, next we have Michael..."

"Blunt." Tess says.

Isabel nods her head. "Serious."

Laurie thinks for a moment and then smiles. "Thoughtful."

Alex looks at her in surprise. "Thoughtful? Okay...so we have Mr, Serious, Blunt and Thoughtful. Okay, next up was...Maria?"

Isabel looks at Alex and smiles, "Loud?"

"Talented." Laurie says as she nods her head.

"Um, bouncy."

Alex grins. "Maria, if you can hear us, this is what the girls think of you. Loud, bouncy and talented. That's a pretty good list...okay, Liz."

Tess looks at Alex and answers quickly. "Thoughtful?"

Alex nods as Isabel takes a drink. "Great cook?"

Laurie smiles. "Umm, nice."

Alex looks at her. "You guys are really nailing these now. Okay, Ms Parker is thoughtful, nice and a great cook. Next out was Brody. How would you ladies describe Brody?"

Isabel nods her head. "Competitive."

Alex grins and Laurie continues. "Great."

Tess smiles. "Funny."

Alex looks at them. "Okay, Brody is a Great, Competitive, Funny guy...next up is, Kyle..." He looks at Tess awkwardly and Tess smiles at him reassuringly.

"Kyle is...charming." Tess says with a sad smile.

Laurie smiles at her as she adds. "He's funny."

Tess and Laurie both look expectantly at Isabel who appears to be thoughtful as she thinks of a word.

"He was...hard-working. He always attempted all the tasks even if he hated them."

Alex makes a "Whew" noise and exhales slowly and looks clearly relieved as Tess and Lurie turn away from Isabel. "So, Kyle is a Charming, funny hardworker?...Hmm, that's probably not how I would have described him but..." He grins at Tess to let her know that he's kidding and she kicks water at him.

"Alright ladies, next...me." He smiles at them all. "And before any of you are smart mouths remember that I will be giving a word to describe you as well..."

Isabel sighs. "Sweet."

Alex looks disappointed with Isabel's choice and turns to Laurie and Tess. Laurie smiles. "Funny?"

Alex shakes his head again and Tess looks at him. "Hmm, I don't know. Annoying? Sarcastic?"

Alex looks at her. "You are next. Okay, I am, according to you three, Handsome, Irressistable and talented...thank you ladies."

The girls look at each other and burst out laughing as Alex looks at them offended. "What? I knew that's what you all really meant." The girls continue to laugh as Alex reaches over the side and grabs another chocolate bar. "Fine, okay. Tess now. I'll start. Tess is...hmm, passionate. See, I can give the good emotive words..."

Tess smiles as Laurie looks at Tess. "Hmm, she's funny."

Alex looks at Isabel as she looks at Tess. "Tess is...bubbly."

Alex looks at her and then to Tess. "Right, Tess you are a, Passionate, funny and bubbly girl. Next up is Isabel."

Laurie looks at Isabel and sighs. "Isabel is strong."

Isabel smiles slightly as Alex looks at her. "Hmm, I'm going to say caring...she looks after us all..."

Isabel blushes as Tess looks at her. "She's smart."

Alex looks at Isabel, "Nice list there Isabel. Smart, strong and caring...and finally, we have Laurie. Lets see what we all think about Laurie..." Alex smiles at her as he talks.

"Laurie is understanding." Tess says with a grateful smile.

Isabel looks at Laurie and sighs. "She is...funny."

Alex smiles at Laurie. "She's...sweet."

Laurie blushes slightly and turns away from Alex as he begins to talk. "Okay, Laurie, you are Funny, sweet and understanding."

Alex slides down under the water and looks at them. "We're a good group aren't we? There, wasn't that fun? We all got to say something nice about each other. We should all hug, we haven't done a group hug in here...saying that we should have probably done that when more people were here..." He sighs as he looks around. "You know, we should have done more things as a group then...I miss the others...it's so quiet without them." He sighs sadly as he looks at the others who are looking at him strangely. "What?"

Laurie looks at Alex and smiles. "Alex? How much chocolate and soda have you had tonight?"

Alex looks at her and shrugs his shoulders. "Not much...I might have had a couple of cans and a couple of chocolate bars...my dentist will probably be yelling at me on the tv just now. Actually, my mother will probably be yelling at me on tv just now...she always said I would eat nothing but junk if I was left alone long enough...my mother has no faith in my ability to cope on my own. Of course, she blames that on my inability to cook...and that I could live quite happily on take aways..."

Tess looks at him. "You are on a major sugar rush aren't you?"

Alex looks at her and shakes his head. "Of course not, I am calm..."

Isabel looks at him. "Alex...for someone who was crashing out on the couch a few hours ago you have way too much energy..."

Alex looks at her and grins. "I was recharging then..."

"What are you? A battery?" She smiles at him as she starts moving her hands on the water.

Alex smirks at her before looking at the other girls. "You know what would be nice? If Big Brother would give us something to do...a movie. Or a mini task...anything..."

Laurie smiles at Alex. "Alex, it's about 9.30pm, there is no way they will give us a task..."

Alex groans as he looks at her. "But I'm bored...I want to do something..."

"You could go clean out the chickens...or do the garden...if you're that bored." Tess says with a smirk.

Alex rolls her eyes at her as he answers. "I want to do something fun...anyone know anything?" He holds his head back and looks up at the sky. "Ooh, it's a nice night tonight...a little cold though."

Isabel looks at him and smiles. "You guys want to go in?"

Alex looks at her and sighs. "Yeah, why not. We can talk as well in the nice warm house as we can out here..."

He stands up and gets out the pool. Isabel does likewise and she heads towards the house. Alex turns to Laurie and Tess. "You two coming?"

Laurie nods her head. "Yeah, we'll be in soon."

Alex looks at her and shrugs his shoulders before walking in the house. Laurie turns to Ttess and sighs. "Is it just me or is it really awkward in here."

Tess sighs as she looks in the house. "It's definately not just you. I had to bite my lip when Alex asked me to say one word for her. I thought I showed a lot of restraint..."

Laurie nods her head and looks in the house. "We are all going to have to try a little harder though. I think we're making things too hard on Alex. He didn't ask to be caught in the middle of this."

Tess nods her head. "I know that, so I'm going to try. But...what if he heard what she said? What if that's what he thinks? I didn't...I didn't tell him before he left..."

Tess looks down at the water sadly before looking up. "And now he's out there and she's saying all those things and he'll hear them all. I don't want him to think that it's not real...I don't want him to think that he's being compared with Max. I don't want him to think that she's maybe right...I wish I'd told him before he went..."

Laurie sighs and takes her hand. "You can tell him when you meet up with him. Not only that, he will not believe what she's saying. He knows you, and he knows how you feel..."

Tess smiles at the water and sighs. "I hope so. But I guess you're right, I should at least pretend that nothing has happened until we get out of here."

Laurie nods her head and looks in. "I think that would be for the best..."

The both of them look at each other and stand up and walk in the house.

10.14pm

The housemates are in the lounge.

Alex finishes strumming his guitar and hands it over to Laurie. "Okay, your turn."

Laurie looks at him and shakes her head. "Umm, I don't think the rest of the housemates deserve to be inflicted with that just yet..."

Alex sighs and sits down beside her. "Laurie, we've been practising for weeks. You are good, I mean, I wouldn't tell you that if you weren't..."

Laurie sighs and takes the guitar. She sits it on her knee and positions her fingers. She looks at Alex and he shakes his head with a smile as he reaches over and repositions her fingers. "Nope, the index finger should go there..."

Laurie blushes as Alex moves his hand and looks at the guitar. "Okay, I'm going to apologise in advance for this..."

Alex looks at Isabel and Tess and smiles. "Ignore her."

Laurie begins playing a little before sitting the guitar down. Tess claps enthusiastically and Isabel looks at her and smiles. "You've learned that pretty good, Laurie."

Laurie blushes as she hands the guitar back to Alex. "I had a good teacher..."

Alex smiles and gives her a quick hug as he grins. "Well, when excellent pupil meets with an excellent teacher it can't help but work..."

Isabel smiles as she leans back on the couch. "I think I might go to bed..."

Alex yawns and nods. "Me too...since those two were evil last night."

Isabel stands up and walks towards the girls room. "Goodnight."

The others all say goodnight and Alex looks at Laurie and Tess. "I am going to go to bed, but I want you two to promise me that you won't keep me awake tonight, or do anything bad. Because I will retaliate."

Laurie and Tess put innocent expressions on and Alex looks at Tess. "You are a bad influence on Laurie you know that?"

Tess looks at Laurie and nods her head. "Yeah, but we're doing this for your own good..."

Alex looks at her as he stands up. "No! No more character building, tired Alex is grumpy Alex and grumpy Alex is a pain in the ass..."

Tess smiles at him reassuringly. "I promise that we won't keep you awake tonight..."

Alex looks surprised but wary. "You promise?"

Tess nods her head. "I promise. If I wake you up I'll let you let you destroy JC."

Alex grins as he walks away. "I like those odds..."

Laurie turns to Tess and smiles. "Wow, that was brave..."

Tess nods her head. "He knows that I wouldn't jeapordise JC so he is going to be off his guard..."

Laurie grins. "He'll kill us in the morning...and he will retaliate."

Tess sighs as she stands up. "Of course he will, but we'll be ready." She laughs gently. "It's a shame that Alex is the only boy left...we are picking on him."

Laurie yawns as she looks at her. "We are...he is right you know. You are a bad influence..." Laurie laughs gently as Tess grins.

"So, what time should we start at?" Tess says as she walks to the clock.

Laurie sighs. "It needs to be early morning, so say about 5am? Can we get up for 5am?"

Tess sighs as she walks towards the girls room. "For this? Yeah...of course we can."

Laurie smiles as she walks in. "Poor Alex..."

Tess stands at the door and whispers. "Just remember to be careful tomorrow, because he will be looking for revenge..."

"He will...tomorrow should be interesting..."

Tess smiles as she walks in. "It should be, just make sure you hide Loco when you get up...don't give him an easy target."