"Darren, this is Dylan, Brian and Jaime." Joey gestured to each person in turn, "Guys, this is Darren."

Darren waved awkwardly to them, the other three laughing and waving back.

Joey leaned closer to them and covered his mouth as he spoke in a stage whisper, "He's kinda lonely at the moment so we have to pretend to like him."

Peeking over his hands, Joey found Darren glaring at him, only the slightest smirk on his lips throwing away his cover.

"Aw, I'm just kidding, man." Joey grinned, throwing and arm over Darren's shoulders, "I love you really, and I'm sure these guys will."

"You know who I think will really love you?" Brian smirked, glancing to Dylan and nodding, "Lauren."

"Oh yeah! You're both tiny!" Jaime laughed.

Darren sighed dramatically, "Joey, I think I've decided I don't like your friends very much."

"That's okay, Dare, I hate them too." Joey agreed jokingly, watching Dylan nod approvingly at him.

_____________________

"Okay, wait." Darren held up a hand, beginning to point at each person as he said their name, "Brian, Dylan, Meredith, Bonnie, Jaime, other Brian and Joey. Did I get that right?"

Joey nodded, "Yep."

"Apart from the fact that I'm Brian." Brian raised his hand, pointing to Brian, "That's other Brian."

"I think you'll find it's the other way round, Other Brian." Brian replied.

Brian raised an eyebrow, "I don't think so, Other Brian."

Darren closed his eyes, shaking himself out of it and shutting his mouth which had been wide open as he watched the pair argue, "Okay, Brian 1 and Brian 2 it is."

"Why is he Brian 1?" Brian yelled.

"Because I'm always the winner, hence why I'm Brian 1." Brian smirked.

Brian shrugged, "First the worst, second the best, third the one with the-"

"I don't know how long I can stay with your friends, Joey." Darren shuddered, turning to stare pleadingly up at his friend.

"You'll get used to it." Joey laughed, turning to watch his two friends argue over who knows what.

_____________________

"Hey, how're you doing, man?" Dylan smiled as he approached Darren. The two of them were currently in the kitchen, Darren being in there in the first place to get another drink.

"I'm doing good." Darren frowned at the other man, "How're you-"

"No, I mean, how are you doing?" At Darren's confused expression, Dylan elaborated, "Joey told me everything that went down with what's-his-face. Casper, was it?"

"Chris." Darren rolled his eyes, "And, I dunno. I think- it wasn't really a- a face-to-face break up so I don't think it's properly sunk in yet, y'know?"

Dylan nodded understandingly, "But wha-"

"I'm just really worried about what the outcome of the- wait. Did Joey tell you about the picture?" Darren asked.

"What picture?"

"Oh." Darren nodded, "Uh, well, basically-" Darren broke off, laughing awkwardly and rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'm not gonna judge you, okay? I've been through some embarrassing shit."

Darren sighed, nodding and continuing, "Basically, to put it bluntly; Chris took a picture of me sucking someone's dick and shared it."

Dylan's eyes widened, "That was blunt."

"Yeah, uh, so now you know..." Darren cleared his throat, "I'm just- I'm worried about what people are going to think. I haven't been back to school since it was shared so I'm not sure what people are saying or- or if I'm, like-"

"Darren, breathe." Dylan laughed, "It's gonna be okay. So many people have, like, sex tapes out there. No ones gonna care if there's a picture of some guy sucking cock."

Darren shook his head, "Even if that guy hadn't come out yet?"

"Oh. So that's why you're so upset about it." Dylan stated, "You've been outed and-"

"I don't even know if I'm gay." Darren sighed.

"Well, I mean, it shouldn't come as a surprise that you're gay if you were sucking some guy's-"

"No, I mean, I- I might be bi, y'know?" Darren groaned, sitting down quickly on a stool, "I just- I was going to try find that out before I c- came out."

Dylan scratched his cheek, nodding slowly, "I'm so sorry."

Darren shrugged, "You don't need to apologise."

"I know, I just feel so bad."

"It's alright. Don't worry about it."

"I'm gonna worry, Darren. Even if I've only known you for a little more than 2 days; you're my friend." Dylan smiled.

"Thanks, I could do with a friend or two."

"Wow, you really are lonely." Dylan laughed, recalling what Joey had said when they met.

"Shut up." Darren rolled his eyes.

Dylan grinned, "Anyway, even if people do give a shit; technology is amazing these days. You could so easily blame it on photoshop."

"You really think people would believe that?"

"I don't see why not." Dylan shrugged, reaching a hand out to pat Darren's shoulder, "Anyway, you're one of us now. We got your back."

Smiling gratefully, Darren muttered an almost silent thank you, before the both of them walked back through to the living room to join everyone else.

_____________________

About half an hour later, when everyone had finally decided on a film to watch, the doorbell rang and Joey leapt up.

"Why's he so excited?" Bonnie asked.

"Lauren's here." Meredith grinned.

Darren frowned, "Who's-"

"Guys!" Joey exclaimed, "Lauren's here!"

Lauren laughed as she walked through, "Thanks for the introduction Joey." She glanced round and found everyone staring at her, "Whys everyone so excited to see me?"

"We've got a new guy!" Brian nudged Darren, the man looking up to meet Lauren's gaze.

"Ooh!" Lauren laughed, "New Guy!"

Suddenly a hand was thrusted into his face, Darren jumping backwards and reaching a hand up to high five the girl, soon realising that she was going for a hand shake and blushing deeply when he realised his mistake.

However, Lauren didn't seem to mind, the girl laughing loudly and sitting down right next to Darren, the whole half of her body pressing up to Darren's side.

"What're we watching?" Lauren asked, looking up at the screen to find her answer and grinning when she saw what it was, "Star Wars! Good choice."

This is so unlike Starkid and I'm about 50900000% sure I've got the times when the starkids joined all mixed up but WHO GIVES A CRAB

Also

Filler chapters be coming ur way bcos I'm trying to figure out how to transition to a different time without constantly adding '2 years later' or something bcos I feel like that's confusing and annoying and I'm gonna stop talking