A Glimmer of Hope

It was hard to explain exactly why, she didn't even know what technological breakthrough Maggie had been on the verge of achieving let alone if she would be able to figure out how to make it happen with her friend stuck in frog form, but Cassie suddenly felt a wave of optimism. Her transformed friends revelation had been the fist indication of a possible turning of the tide against Rebecca, and she needed to grab onto it with both hands. For now, her priority as leader wasn't to make a move against the witch that would doubtless be doomed to failure, it was to buy time to figure out what Maggie had been working om while raising the morale of the group. She decided to call a meeting.

"Okay glitches, I know this trip hasn't been easy and things haven't gone entirely according to plan since we arrived here" she told the group when they had assembled downstairs "Mel is still stuck in the app, Lexie is a still a frog, and now Sophie and Maggie are missing on top of that. There is no doubt we are up against someone very powerful and very dangerous. Therefore, if any of you wish to return to the ranch, I understand and Barbs will pay for your tickets home. That said, I will be staying here and seeing this through"

"I'll be right beside you babe" Barbie added "It is at times like this we need to stick together"

"I'm not going anywhere without Sophie" Abigail added.

"I'm staying too, for my sister" Claudia added, drawing confused looks from the others until she covered herself "I mean my sisters. My glitches!"

"Mel, Sophie, Lexie and Maggie all helped me when I needed them. I'm staying to return the favour" Jenny added.

"Likewise. I'll never forget what the glitches did for Jenny" Julianne added.

"It's not like we were any safer on the ranch anyway" Leilani shrugged "She is going to keep messing with us unless we stand up to her regardless of our proximity. Plus, Lucy can get us all a 24/7 camera feed and audience, which should avoid a repeat of whatever happened with Maggie. And if we all make sure we have a roomie that should help too"

There were further supportive murmurs around the room until it was clear all of the glitches were on board.

"James? Tania? You weren't even there during our fight with NA. Are you sure you both want in on this?" Cassie checked.

"There is no way I am abandoning Mel" James replied instantly, earning himself a big smile and a squeeze on the arm from his friend, before he added as an afterthought "Or any of the rest of you for that matter"

"I'd be completely alone in my current situation without the glitches" Tania added "You all took me in without question. I consider myself one of you. I want to prove my worth and my loyalty. I'm staying"

Cassie smiled triumphantly. That was 100% success with regards to keeping everyone united. Now for the next part of her plan. This was going to sound crazy, inappropriate even, but she knew it needed to be done.

"I can't say too much, but I have my reasons for thinking the tide may start to turn in our favour soon. But for today, there is nothing we can do to fight Rebecca that isn't going to result in another one of us getting zapped. So, I propose we have some fun instead"

There were confused murmurings around the room. It seemed like a strange suggestion under the circumstances, even if everyone knew they needed some relief from all of the adversity.

"I have brought my beloved wife thousands of miles to my home country and she has barely seen anything beyond the mansion." Cassie continued "I suggest we all get outside and do something together. Lucy, can you get a camera crew and pretend to film an episode for your show? Nobody should bother us if they think we are naked for TV"

"Pretend?" Lucy answered "Forget that, let's film this for real. I was planning on getting my show back online anyway. This would be the perfect relaunch. Fifteen hot, sexy, naked glitches from both sides of the pond out about in the UK!"

Melanie's phone buzzed and she disappeared from the mansion.

"Better make that fourteen" Tina sighed.

"No, fifteen. Lexie is still one of us and nobody better forget it, isn't that right Sexy Lex?" Barbie smiled down at the frog in her cleavage. Maggie played along, ribbiting in agreement.

"Okay, then it looks like the glitches are ready to have some fun" Cassie smiled, hands on her hips and ready for action "So what do we want to do?"