Real World Chicago

MTV.COM

Episode 1

We're going to Chicago! Well, at least Aneesa, Cara, Chris, Keri, Kyle, Theo and Tonya are, and we get to tag along for the ride. We meet Theo and Tonya first and immediately there is tension because Tonya--who is from Walla Walla, Washington--doesn't have much experience with people who are different from her, and Theo happens to be a black man. But they get past the tension without much of a hitch and arrive at the bright orange door of their new home.

Aneesa is the next to arrive and Theo is immediately attracted to her. Her vibrant personality and free-spiritedness (that means she likes to walk around naked) has Theo in player mode from their first handshake. When Aneesa reveals that she's a lesbian, Theo is thrown an unexpected loop. But in his mind, the fact that she's not attracted to men seems only a minor hurdle and he continues to flirt shamelessly. "We're going to be here for four months, anything can happen," he reasons.

The rest of the gang arrives and Chris, Kyle and Keri decide to room together, as do Tonya and Cara. Wonder of wonders, Aneesa and Theo end up in the same room. They all decide to have their first house meeting in the indoor spa and get to know each other. As they tell each other what they think makes them unique, Chris reveals that he is a painter and a recovering alcoholic, but chooses not to disclose that he is gay.

Episode 2

After the roommates' time in the hot tub, the group wonders what Chris is hiding-they think he must have a secret. Most of them decide that Chris must be the house virgin. Chris shoots that down and shocks them all when he explains that he was deflowered by his baby-sitter when he was 12 years old. Aneesa, however, deciphers the clues and figures out the truth. Her understanding gives Chris a lot of comfort. Kyle also guesses that Chris is gay but only discusses it with Keri--he doesn't want to put Chris on the spot, especially with Theo in the house.

While Theo is comfortable with Aneesa's lesbianism, he finds the idea of two men together disgusting. His constant comments about it anger Aneesa while Chris silently listens in. However, Aneesa has an interesting way of showing her unhappiness--instead of telling Theo how she feels, she gets in the shower with him and sleeps naked in bed with him. Despite all of the mixed signals, Theo apparently does understand their dynamic. He writes in a note that while he does like Annesa, he thinks they will be great friends. Aneesa thinks the two will be like brother and sister and gives Theo a kiss on the forehead as the lights go out in the house.

Episode 3

Its summertime in the city and our seven strangers are chilling on the sandy Chicago beaches. Newly single Cara is lonely and on a missionthe Boy Hunt is on. First up is Jason, a guy she eyes across the sand castles and through the hard-bodies. She gives him the digits and they plan to make a date out of it.

While Cara is excited about the date, she doesn't seem to really know what she wants. She still has feelings for her ex-boyfriend Jared, who apparently wants to marry her. She feels lonely when she's not with someone and needs physical affection to feel good about herself. This week she must feel absolutely great as she spends the night with a "rock star" and her friend from home, Nick. As she tells Theo, "Friends can sleep together."

While Cara is busy finding where the boys are, Chris struggles with telling his roommates that "finding the boys" is also one of his favorite activities. Everyone seems pretty aware of his sexuality except for Theo, who tells Aneesa that he's surprised there isn't a gay guy in the house. She coyly hints, "You never know."

When Chris finally does come out to his roommates, it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal. Kyle and Theo have a frank discussion about it and Theo is comfortable enough to engage Chris and his boyfriend Kurt in a conversation about architecture. The person who seems to have the most problem with it, however, is Tonya. Her "interpretation of being in a homosexual relationship is just a lot of drugs and a lot of sin." But rather than talk to Chris about it, she keeps her thoughts to herself and pretends to be OK with his lifestyle.

Episode 4

Everyones bondingexcept for Tonya. Shes not about going out, shes about sitting at home talking on the phone with Justin. The rest of the gang is frustrated that she doesnt spend time with them and thinks she might be making up excuses and drama when things get hard. Kyle remarks, "My relationship with Tonya is very much a labor of love. Occasionally, with a heavy emphasis on the labor side of things."

Meanwhile, the cast finds out that they will be working as lifeguards for Illinois State Parks and Recreation. They are all excited about the prospect of being on the beach all the time until they realize that they actually have to pass certification. Theo wants to be a lifeguard but doesnt know how to swim very well. Caras dad is overjoyed that his daughter is following in his footsteps as a saver of lives, but the idea really scares her. She doesnt try very hard because she doesnt want the responsibility and eventually declines getting certified. After all is said and done, only Keri, Chris and Kyle are certified to work.

This is most shocking for Tonya, who has been a certified lifeguard in the past. The problem? Her kidney infection is acting up severely and shes unable to complete the physical tasks necessary to be a lifeguard. Shes in so much pain that she wants to go home and see her doctor. Aneesa doesnt buy it. She thinks that "Tonya probably has a few things wrong with her bodybut shes going home because shes homesick. She misses her boyfriend."

As the gang is driving back from training, Tonya gets a ride from a neighbor so that she can fly home.

Episode 5

It seems pretty obvious to everyone that Keri likes Kyle and Kyle likes Keri, but there's a problem. Kyle has a long-time girlfriend at home that he really loves, Nicole, and he's trying really hard not to do anything to jeopardize their relationship. He says, "Nicole and I met two and a half years ago and we jumped into this fairy-tale love." Apparently the fairy tale includes Keri because Kyle seems to enjoy spending a lot of time in the same bed with her, flirting.

While Kyle, Keri and the rest of the cast members are bonding in Chicago, Tonya is back in Walla Walla with Justin and her doctors. When she lands, it's pretty clear that homesickness was as big a factor in her coming home as her physical illness. Tonya says that she "realized that Walla Walla is an incredible place with amazing people that is the closest to a home that [shes] ever had."

Keri and Kyles flirtatious relationship isnt always wonderful. When Kyle's friends come into town, he gets stand-offish with Keri. He doesnt want his friends to think that theres something going on with her, especially since they are used to him being with Nicole. When Keri and Cara decide to join Kyle and his buddies out for a night on the town, things get heated because Kyle ignores Keri the entire time. As the show closes, the two are arguing outside the bar.

Episode 6

After arguing with Kyle on the train, Keri decides she should start dating other people instead of pining for Kyle. She meets and makes a date with Tyler, and surprise, surprise, Kyle is more than a little bit jealous. His not-so-veiled negative remarks about the boy arent lost on the other roommates and are definitely not lost on Keri. Which is fine, because she still really likes Kyle. After the date, she decides that Tylers a nice guy but that playing the pseudo-dating game with Kyle is more fun.

Meanwhile, Theos finally gotten comfortable in the housemaybe a little too comfortable. Hes taken to inviting large groups of people over to party, annoy everyone else, and puke in uncool places. The roommates arent amused, especially Chris and Aneesa, who call Theo out for his actions. Theo refuses to apologize and says he'll "be damned if these people come down on [him] like [hes] a kid."

When Tonya returns to Chicago, she gets back in her most familiar position--on the phone. While everyone else seems pleased to see her, Theo has gotten used to using the phone at his leisure. Frustrated with her constant yapping to Justin, Theo disconnects the phone while Tonya is on the phone. She reacts by throwing a glass near him, smashing it. Theo responds with his usual bravado, claiming hes not going to apologize. When it becomes apparent that the situation is a little more dire than he thought--the girls want to have a meeting to discuss his behavior--he decides to tone it down and apologize to Cara and Tonya for screwing up.