It was February 16th in 2004. Tom was 19, Danny was 18, Harry was 19, Dougie was 16. The youngest member had sent the rest of the boys a text each, despite them all being in the same house, explaining that he needed to talk with them all.

'Dougie! Dougie what's the matter?' Danny said quickly, him and the other boys pulling Dougie into a hug, noticing that he was crying. They had been living together for just over a year now and they were more like brothers than friends.

'I-I need to t-tell you something. I-It's important.' he muttered, gathering the rest of the guys into the lounge and sitting them on a sofa, he himself sitting on a chair opposite them.

'What is it Dougie? Why are you upset?'

'I... Erm... P-Promis-se that you w-won't h-hate me for it?'

'Dougie, we've known you for like 2 years and we haven't even had a single argument yet. It's pretty much impossible to hate you.' Harry said reassuringly, Danny and Tom nodding away to what he was saying.

'W-w-well I-I... I-I'm s-sorry. I-It's g-going to r-ruin the b-band b-b-but I-I c-can't h-help it.. I-I've t-tried t-to ignore it I-I r-r-really h-have, I j-just c-can't.'

'Dougie, it's okay. You can tell us anything, you know that, we won't mind.' Tom said, the boys walking over to Dougie and all squishing onto the chair he was on, rubbing his back supportively.

'W-w-well I-I'm.. I-I'm g-gay. I-I d-didn't know b-but th-then I s-started g-getting these f-feelings and I c-can't g-get r-rid of them. I'm s-s-so sorry. I'll j-just l-leave a-and you c-can get a n-new b-b-bassist. B-Bye g-guys, t-thanks for e-everything...' Dougie muttered, starting to stand up from the chair. He was stopped when he felt a strong hand get hold of his arm and spin him around. He froze and closed his eyes, expecting to feel a fist punching him in the face at any moment as punishment for being gay, but the impact never came. He slowly opened his eyes and when he did, his best friends and band mates all pulled him into a bone crushing hug.

'Why would we ever want you to leave Dougs?'

'I-I thought y-you'd b-be ash-hamed to be w-w-with me.' Dougie mumbled nervously.

'Of course not, we love you Dougs, You're like our little brother, that won't ever change. We don't mind that you're gay, not one bit, we just want to make sure that you're safe and that the guys you get with aren't all total arseholes.' Danny said comfortingly.

'Thank you so much guys! You're the best! I need your help though...'

'What for Dougs?'

'I.. erm.. I haven't told my mum yet and I don't really want to tell her on my own... can you guys come and help?'

'Yeah sure Dougs, and don't worry, I'm sure she won't mind at all. When do you want to go?' Harry spoke softly in reply.

'I was thinking maybe later today? She has the day off and asked me to drop round and say hi.. I figured that'd be the best time to go.'

'Okay then Butty, come on, lets get ready!' Harry said happily, dragging me up the stairs.