Big Brother Pt 7 After that, it was hard to see Noah at all. Every time I tried to look at him, Carla glared at me. Every time I came around, she slammed the door in my face. Every time I called, she ignored it. When I called her house phone, and Noah picked up, Carla would pick up another one and scream into it until I hung up. I was pretty miserable. At school, I had no one to talk to, and at home I just sat around, staring into space. I didn't want to read, because Carla and had always read the same books and then spent hours talking about them when we had finished. I didn't want to do any clubs, because Carla and I had always done all our clubs together. I definitely didn't want to try to meet up with anyone else, because Carla was my only friend and I thought it only right not to betray her any more. Plus, we had been so close that no one could really fill her place.

Big Brother Pt 6 A month passed of secret meetings with Noah, and doing chores while my mother was on a work trip to Spain. I was reluctant to tell Carla about Noah and me because I expected her to react badly. Not that I didn't trust her, but I expected she would probably have a fit or something. Of course, it couldn't stay secret for long. At lunch, on a nice, sunny April morning, I was eating a tuna sandwich. Carla was sitting opposite me, eating a lunch her mum had packed for her. She was eating chicken and olives and drinking a special homemade smoothie. She leaned in close and whispered to me "Noah's got a girlfriend." I gasped. Then I realised I should act as if I didn't know. "Wow, really?" "Yeah, he was acting all lovey or whatever this week. I badgered him for three whole hours before he said anything." "What did he say?" I asked, both looking forward to and dreading her answer. "He said she was the most beautiful girl on Earth, and she was the kindest, funniest girl he knew. He said I might know the girl." Smiling, I asked if she had any guesses who it might be. She answered no, and then continued to jabber on whilst I gazed off into the distance, thinking about Noah. Suddenly, Carla stopped talking. "Oh my god, you have a boyfriend! Or maybe just a crush. Tell me everything." "I-" what could I say to that? I blushed a very deep shade of crimson. "Oh come on, out with it!" I just remained silent, so Carla tried to ask questions to guess who it was. "Is he blonde?" "Yes." "Is he... Is it a he?" "Yes." I giggled. "Do I know him?" I pondered whether to answer it truthfully, but in the end I went with a yes. "This is so exciting!" She exclaimed. "Oh, please, what is his name?" "No-" I stopped. I wasn't thinking straight. I couldn't tell her. Unfortunately, she had already worked it out. "Oh no, it's not, Noah?" I blushed even more. "Oh, no Beth! I trusted you! I trusted you, and you let me down! My big brother?! My horrible big brother?! How long have you been going out?" "J...just a month." "Just a month?! And you didn't tell me?! Beth!" "I'm sorry." I offered, but Carla was having none of it. "No sorrys, Beth, you have truly hurt me! Beth, don't you care that you have injured your best friend!? Bethany Clarkeson! Are you listening to me?!" "Yes. And don't call me Bethany." "I can call you what I bloody well like! Bethany Bethany Bethany!" In the most ferocious temper, she stormed off, leaving the lunch room surprisingly quiet after all her shouting. Most of the lunch hall was turned around and staring at me. I left.

Big Brother pt 5 On Monday, I went into school as usual. It was the year 13 assembly day, and they were going to do a play about Internet safety. To be honest, I was not looking forward to it. When the actors came on stage and began to perform, I noticed that Noah was in the back doing the slideshow. He looked beautiful like usual, and he totally distracted me from the play. He winked at me during lunch, and I found a note slipped into my locker at the end of the day. It said: Hey, Carla and mum are going to get their hair cut and then shopping. They will be back at about eleven tonight. Want to come round? I smiled and shoved the note into my pocket. Then I grabbed my school bag and left the school, heading to Noah's instead of home. When I got there, he welcomed me in, hanging up my coat and scarf and leading me through to the kitchen. I sat down, and he started making us sandwiches. "How was school?" He asked. "The usual." I replied, casually. "Yep." "You know something, Noah?" "Mmm?" "I love you." He stopped making sandwiches and turned his whole body around. He looked at me for a second and then said, "I love you too." "All of my other crushes have never been as true as this one." "Me neither." He agreed. "Noah, I love you more than anything on this Earth." He made his way across the kitchen, and nodded. Then he gave me another passionate kiss. Soon, we were locked together, only pausing to breathe. His hot breath smelled sweet and his smooth skin was like velvet on mine.

Big Brother pt 4 The next day, I went round to Carla's again. When I arrived, Noah answered the door again. "Hey." He said, "How are you?" "Great, yeah." "Carla and my mum aren't in, but they should be back in about two hours." "Oh." I sighed; my house is an hour away, what was I going to do for two hours without any money? "You could wait here until they come if you want." Suggested Noah. "That sounds great, actually." I stepped inside. "Do you want to see my invention?" He enquired. "Sure!" I made my way upstairs behind him and into his room. He gestured for me to sit down and we sat together on the floor and he began to show me his creation. It was pretty cool actually, and he said it was designed to iron your clothes for you. It was a present for his mum. As he was explaining all the parts and their functions, his eyes lit up and he truly looked beautiful. Although he is two years older than me, I still have always thought of him as a sort of step-brother. He leaned forward to show me one last bit, and put his hand down on mine. He turned to face me and we just sat there for a whole minute, staring into each other's eyes. When he finally moved, it was to hold my hand properly. I did not resist. As we sat there, our hands clasped together, I realised that Noah was something a little more than a step-brother to me. Simultaneously, we brought our heads together, and our lips touched. He kissed me, and I kissed him back. I had never kissed someone whom I had been so passionate about, and it was like tasting Nutella for the first time. His warm lips felt like pure gold, and his heart, in his chest was beating like a stampede of elephants, trying to escape from his chest. Mine felt much the same. When we finally parted, he stayed close, and held me tight. I gazed into his dreamy chocolate eyes and hugged him back. "Oh, Beth." He said. "Noah." And then he swept me away with another kiss.

Big Brother pt 3 Twelve years ago, my dad left my mum and me alone. My mum stayed silent, staring at the wall, not saying anything. She stayed in a trance-like state for two years, and then one day she just got up and got a new job. Now, she has a really well-paying job and goes on a lot of business trips. I am sixteen now, and it has been ten years since mum got up and went out. The thing is, although she tries to hide it, I know she is still sad about it. I don't really remember him, though, as I was only four when he left.