The interview

"Yall right?" Ant asks as he turns toward Dec, who was hunched over the cup of tea at the breakfast bar. The boys were both in Dec's pristine monochromatic kitchen, Ant was busy loading the dish washer the other side of the island as they both were preparing to leave. Today they were doing one of the most important interviews they'd ever done. The interview to get the public to forgive and, not necessarily forget, but understand what had happened last year. Surprisingly, even though it was Ant who had the closet full of demons- he was remarkably calm compared to Dec.

"Hmm" Dec just looked up, having not heard what Ant had said, just hearing a blur in the background to all his screaming thoughts.
"I said... are you okay?" Ant paused from loading the dish washer, instead leaning over onto the marble top of the kitchen island, so that he could stare intoDecs eyes.
" I I ... I don't know to be honest" Dec finally uttered, meeting Ant's deep brown eyes, as they burrowed metaphorical holes in his skull.
"We... oh um I" Dec corrected himself quickly but Ant was far too sharp to not notice, and secretly it was a little knife in his side " I've never done a talk about your feelings interview have I? I don't know how far to go and and..." Dec let his voice trail off, unsure that he could finish the sentence.

It was all true of course, Ant had done 2 previous reveal all exclusive interviews with the sun- Dan Wooten no less- and had in both been really upfront about what he was facing. But for Dec, he had never been anything less than the joker, had never in the public been serious about anything, and some of his thoughts about the last year  were so dark he scared himself.

" Do'ya trust Simon?" After a moment Ant cut the silence, rather matter of factly, no tone of support at all - which shocked Dec a little, but by now was used to it.
" I ... I don't trust any journalist to not stab us in the back as soon as they get their exclusive." 
" No listen Dec, Simon. He's not a normal journalist, there is a person there too. He doesn't hunt down the story, he writes well worded pieces, a snapshot into someone's life. You can feel safe with him, and we can always call time out. He won't print anything that we don't want him to."

It was fair to say Ant had done his research. They both had
; that's why they chose him- his works were mature and condense, and not boasty or braggy. This single article was going to be a career defining moment and they desperately wanted to get it right.

" And Dec... Simon he is going to see straight through the lies, we're both going to have to be honest, please don't hold back. Anything you feel but we haven't talked about, get it out please. "

Dec was a bit taken a back by this. He and Ant had had many really hard talks in the past year and Dec had been angry and hurt and so abondoned. Yet, they both knew there was still some pent up emotions that Dec hadn't really realeased to anyone.

In a small timid voice Dec replied " I don't want to hurt you" as he stared down again- at the lukewarm tea. Ant sighed, sensing this was coming already, and walked round to the other side of the counter top, slinging an arms around Dec. "If it hurts me, then it is hurting you being pent up inside... the only way is to let things go." Dec just nodded in response, but did think very carefully about what Ant had said.

" Cars here!" Ali shouted from the other room, interrupting the deep thoughts achimg the brains of both men.
It was going to be a long day.

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" okay so I've prepared some questions based on the brief sent over. Please feel free to have breaks whenever , just let me know. And remember I'm here for you to share your stories- both of you. If you say something and don't want it to ever see the light tell me. My job isn't to expose you.... having said that shall we begin?" Simon had kind deep green eyes, and meeting him again really put both boys at ease. They'd been there usual selves throughout the photoshoot; giggling at the proximity of some of them like immature teenagers, and were now sat on a black sofa in the corner of the photographers studio. It was a lovely light and airy space, Simon was sat opposite in a plush black armchair and had all his equipment laid out on the coffee table separating him from the boys. The way the clipboard , the notes, the coffee was arranged Ant thought this man must have OCD and smirked, before instantaneously realising he really couldn't judge- the irony also making him smirk.