ChapterFour-Rumours 

September 11th, 2004

  It's the next day. Bailey and Justin were at a parking garage at a hospital. They were told by Alyson to meet with them there. Bailey asked, "Justin, did Aly tell you why she's meeting with us here?"

  Justin replied, "No, I thought she told you."

  Just then, a black BMW arrived. Alyson came out of the passenger side of the car. Then the car parked. Bailey asked her, "Aly, whose car is that?"

  Justin asked,  "Yea, and why are we here?"

  Alyson beamed, "We're here cuz we're gonna start practice for our band cuz I got the second male member."

  Bailey squealed, "Oooo, who is it?"

 Just then, a boy got out the driver's side of the car. It was Andrew. Bailey asked in a sligtly disappointed tone, "Andrew? He can sing and dance?"

  Justin said angrily, "Why the hell is Andrew in the band? He's the school's biggest bully! I'm pretty sure he sucks at singing."

  Andrew was surprisingly quiet, and he actually look scared. Alyson defended him, "Look, I heard him sing and I watched him dance. He's actually good! He could be our Justin Timberlake!"

  Justin got into Andrew's face, and said, "Listen here, Andrew Hawthorne! You are an arsehole. You were never wanted in this band. We wanted Ethan. All you are is an unwanted replacement. Nobody wants you in this band cuz you suck. Get it?"

  Andrew was visibly upset, so he stormed off to his car. Alyson followed him.

  Bailey told Justin, "That was rude, Justin."

  Justin calmly said, "You know Hawthorne is nothing but a jerk-face."

  "I don't think he joined the band to break it up. He actually looked scared about joining. Besides, we should at least give him a chance."

  At the same time, Alyson stopped Andrew from getting into his car. She told him, "Andrew, don't listen to him."

  Andrew's voice started to break as he told her, "That's what I am. I'm an ass, and I know it. I've been nothing but a jerk since I was 6. And I'm tired of it!"

  Alyson was shocked to see Andrew almost crying. She always thought he was strong. Now she has nothing to think. But she said, "This changes today. You're too good a singer and a dancer. So please stay."

  Andrew stood there a for moment, and gave Alyson a shy smile. They went back to Justin and Bailey. Andrew showed what he can sing and dance. Justin and Bailey were shocked.

  Alyson beamed, "See? Andrew is really good! And he's staying because of it. But he and Justin need to get along, at least within the band."

  Now the band was ready to go. Even though they must keep the band a secret.

   It's now Monday morning. As Alyson was opening her locker, Libby approached her. Alyson asked, "What's wrong, Libby? You look pissed."

   Libby said with an irritated tone, "I'm not pissed! I actually dirt on you."

  Alyson said smuly, "Awww, Libby. You never give up on trying to take my Queen Bee position. So what's this supposed 'dirt' you got on me?"

  "Let me ask you this first: Is your pop group with Justin and Bailey still together?"

  "No, we split up. Why?"

  "I heard your little pop band is still together, and the school's hottest jerk, Andrew Hawthorne, is a member."

 With that, Alyson became nervous. She thought, How did she know? Then she asked nervously, "Um, what makes you say that?"

 "My step-dad works at the hospital nearby. He was just leaving when he heard singing. So he walked around the parking garage, and he found a group of kids singing. He recognized they were you, Bailey, Justin, and Andrew."

 "Okay, your step-dad did not see us. We were at our homes, not at a hospital parking garage."

 "Well, that's what he told me. Oh, you know he's a speech therapist, right?"

 "Okay."

 "My step-dad knows Andrew cuz he was his patient since Andrew was 6. Apparently he had a speech problem cuz my step-dad was surprised to hear Andrew sing so well."

 With that, Alyson grabbed Bailey, and took her aside. Bailey asked, "What is it?"

  Alyson whispered, "Get Justin, and you two meet with me and Andrew at the back of the bleachers at the football field."

  Bailey was confused, but agreed. Alyson walked off to find Andrew. She saw him holding a guy's violin, and the guy's shirt. Andrew was doing this to act like everything's normal.

  Andrew growled, "Now do you want your f*cking mini-guitar!?"

  The guy's voice shook as he said, "I-It's a violin."

  "I don't care! All I know is that I'm gonna beat you up with this!"

  Alyson called out to Andrew coldly, and he asked angriy, "What is it?! Can't you see I'm busy?"

  Alyson replied, "Hit the badly dressed guy on the head with the violin. It's more effective."

  Andrew actually liked the idea, so he did what she suggested. Then he pushed the guy to the floor. He asked Alyson calmly and breathlessly, "Thanks. So what is it?"

  Alyson whispered, "Meet me behind the bleachers at the football field, now."

  "Why?"

  "Just meet with me."

  So he did what she said. Once Andrew and Alyson arrived at the bleachers, they saw Justin and Bailey. Justin asked, "So why are we meeting here?"

   Andrew said, "I have to agree with Harrison. This place is where drugs are being exchanged."

   "And how do you know about that?

   Andrew said smugly, "My parents won a case to keep the drug dealers off the school grounds."

   Bailey asked, "Back to the question. Why are we here?"

   Alyson told them, "Libby found out we're a band, and that Andrew is a member."

   Andrew asked nervously, "How did she know?"

   "Her step-dad works at the hospital as a speech therapist. He heard us singing, and he saw us."

   Andrew muttered, "Oh, Dr. Middleton."

   Justin, Bailey, and Alyson heard what Andrew said. Justin asked him, "You know him?"

   Andrew remained silent.

  Alyson continued, "Anyway, we need to practice somewhere else. Somewhere where no one knows us."

   Bailey said, "But we're in Boston. Word will get around that we're a band."

  Justin suggete, "Well, Aly and my parents work at Harvard as professors. Maybe we could practice at one of the arts buildings."

  The members agreed to this, but then Bailey told them, "But word might still get out since some of the here have siblings that go to Harvard."

  Andrew said, "We have to try to keep this band secret."

  Alyson said, "All we can do is deny this band exists until the New England teen shows airs."

  Then Justin and Bailey walked away, but Alyson stopped Andrew from walking away. He asked her, "What is it?"

 Alyson said, "Libby says her step-dad, Dr. Middleton, knows you since you were 6. Was he your doctor?"

  Andrew nodded.

  "Why?"

  Andrew answered shyly, "I couldn't talk. He's not my doctor anymore. He let me go as soon as h can fully talk. I was about 12, 13 when I stopped going to him."

 Alyson became quiet. Andrew walked closer to her, and held her hands. He told her, "I'm sorry for hurting you back in fifth grade. I was dared to play with your feelings since it was obvious that you liked me. I actually liked you back, but I was dared. I felt horrible about what I did. I still like you, and I'll understand if you don't like me back. I deserve your hatred towards me."

  Then Andrew walked away. Alyson thought, I don't hate you anymore. I still like you too.

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THIS IS JUSTIN HARRISON'S SINGING>>>