The Only Exception | W2S

THREE.

"Can't fault that, I'm with you there," Chip laughs.

"So - the breakup happened because -" Cal starts, but I interrupt him.

Leaning forward in my seat, I cough. "The breakup happened because a certain someone was caught cheating on me. Multiple times!"

"Absolutely foul," Chip comments, and Cal is shaking his head.

"Yeah, so he went back to the States to visit his family for his mum's birthday, I think, and I woke up one morning to every single social media site posting pictures and videos of him making out with another fitness guru," I say, and it's lucky I'm over the whole thing, because I would've been a blubbering mess by now.

"That's the problem with having a public relationship, I suppose. Everyone knows your business," Cal says sympathetically.

"Exactly! Even before he cheated on me, if I didn't post a picture of both of us, my comments would be flooded with people asking if we'd broken up! But yeah, once we did, and once everyone knew he'd cheated on me - the safe space I'd once had, and y'know, like - owned, wasn't safe anymore. He'd ruined it for me, because everyone kept asking about the relationship about him cheating. It was tough. It's the reason that I made my own rule that I wouldn't date anybody remotely famous anymore."

"I bet. On the plus side, his career seems to have derailed a little bit since you broke up, and yours has seemed to have taken off!" Chip says cheerfully.

"I guess that's what you get for being a cheater. I've always aimed to be truthful with my audience. Authenticity is important, and my parents have always drilled it into me to be honest. I mean, obviously there's some occasions where I'll avoid talking about something to protect myself, but I'd never lie. It's just not me," I shrug, once again telling the truth.

"Admirable. Not a lot of people are like that nowadays. But it looks like it's served you well - you've just hit ten million subscribers on YouTube - congratulations on that by the way," Cal said.

"Thank you! I kind of got an influx of subscribers after the pub golf video I did with the Sidemen, ten million feels crazy," I smile, thinking back to a few days ago when the plaque had arrived. It now sat proudly on my shelf, above my bed.

"Now this is something I'm excited to talk with you about! Obviously, you became friends with George and Arthur, just by proxy - but you also became friends with Talia, Freya and Faith, right?"

"Yeah! I started watching Talia on Twitch, and then she recommended Freya, and through them I met Faith. I've had all three on my podcast - they're great, I love them all to bits. It's how I met some of the guys - I met Simon first, and he introduced me to Tobi. I've been friends with those two for a while, and then obviously I got to know Ethan and Josh a little more. But it wasn't until the Christmas party a just over a month ago that I met some of the others," I explain.

"I mean, yeah, that's how we met," Chip explains, starting to laugh, because the way I'd met him and Cal was awkward, albeit hilarious.

Cal starts laughing. "Fuck, yeah! You came over to us at the bar, and accused both of us of stealing your drink. We hadn't even ordered yet and suddenly this random girl comes up to us both, shaking her fist and accusing us of stealing!"

I look sheepish, but still laugh along. "You're lucky Tobi came along when he did, I'm hella protective of my alcohol, if you hadn't noticed already. I did apologise though!"

"Yes, you did. It was fucking hilarious though, genuinely."

"Well - hey, I can't be held responsible for anything I say or do when I drink. I become a different person entirely," I shrug.