Page 104 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘Yes. And when you kiss her at the end of the night, make sure it’s mind-blowing.’

Duncan’s cheeks flush again. ‘No pressure, then.’ He tips his head towards the TV. ‘Boys are on.’

I grab the remote. ‘Quick, volume up.’

Meredith races back into the room, pouring us all water glasses full to the brim with champagne, as one of the presenters introduces Rebel Heart.

The cameras cut to outside in Times Square, where a vast, screaming crowd has gathered for the boys’ live performance of “Shame About My Face”, on a stage that’s been specially erected. I note that they’re using a crane for overhead shots. In the centre, the boys are all in formation, wired up with microphones. Their hair has all been preened to perfection. The bass line pumps, the beat striking up, their movements all in sync. Cal is at the front, doing the majority of the singing. They are wearing baggy low-slung jeans, metallic black puffer coats, all of them open to reveal stark white vests underneath.

The camera cuts to Aidan momentarily and I’m mesmerised. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to him being on TV, the man that only a few hours ago I was so intimate with. When it’s Miller’s turn to sing, the crowd gives an even louder scream and I roll my eyes.

‘You can see the breath coming out their mouths,’ Duncan says. ‘Must be Baltic out there.’

Meredith is glued to the screen. ‘I wonder what time people started lining up.’

‘Have you ever queued up all night to see a band, Dunc?’ I ask.

‘Not all night. Queued for ages to get into a festival once.’

‘What about you, Mer?’

My assistant’s eyes are still trained on Miller on the screen.

‘Mer?’ I say again.

‘For bands? Oh god, a few. My sister and I camped out once or twice.’

‘For which band?’

She looks to her food. ‘You know, I can’t even remember. Think it was Maroon 5 or something.’

I want to ask her what she’s wearing for her date with Duncan, but I keep silent.

Towards the end of the song, the cameras scan the crowd.

‘Oh sweet, look, Bianca’s watching,’ I say, breaking out into a grin.

In the early evening, whilst Duncan takes Meredith out on their date, I conduct Ravi’s second interview in a room I secured through Ziggy. Ravi asks for Tun to be present.

There are parts where I think I see him trembling. The moment he says the words ‘I am gay’ strikes me as particularly powerful, the simplicity of his confession holding so much emotional gravitas. When I switch off the camera, Ravi is grinning. Tun goes to him, throwing his arms around him and saying ‘I’m so proud of you,’ before they fold each other into an embrace, their lips finding one another’s.

‘I want to go and tell the boys now,’ Ravi says. ‘Before I frighten myself and chicken out.’

‘You want me to come with you?’ Tun asks.

Ravi squeezes his hand. ‘Can I tell them, then come get you? Would you hate me for that?’

‘Of course I won’t hate you,’ Tun says, kissing Ravi again.

I’d already hooked myself up with a concealed body camera in anticipation of him making that very decision.

‘Do we know where they’ll be?’

‘They’re upstairs.’

Outside the chill-out suite, Bianca is with Cal. Social media speculation regarding the status of their relationship has gone into overdrive, the Rebelles falling into two camps: either for or against.

I greet her with a hug, aware of the camera I’m wearing.

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