ChapterFive-Overprotecting Dreams 

September 26th, 2004

 It's now late September. The Alyson/Justin/Bailey/Andrew band is still unnamed, but they already registered for Boston auditions for New England's Teen Superstar. And so far, they haven't told their parents.

 Alyson was doing her homework when her parents barged into her room. Startled, she asked, "What did I do?"

 Her mother asked angrily,  "Alyson Sarah Bauer, explain this paper bracelet!"

 Alyson got the paper bracelet, and saw the NETS logo on it. It was her audition bracelet. She explained nervously, "I'm auditioning for a regional TV search called New England's Teen Superstar. But not as a soloist. I'm with my group."

  The father asked, "Who's in this group?"

  Alyson said, "My bestie Bailey, my boyfriend Justin, and Andrew."

  "Who's Andrew?"

  Mrs. Bauer asked, "Is it that Andrew Hawthorne? Isn't he your school's bully?"

  Alyson replied, "Well, yeah, but-"

  "Look, you are NOT auditioning! And you are grounded!"

  Alyson then grabbed her laptop, her purse, some of her clothes, her cell-phone, posters of the S Club 8 boys she printed out, and her pink messenger  bag. She stuffed her stuff into the her bag, and stormed out of her house.

  Alyson went to Andrew's house two houses down her street. As she was about to call Andrew, her name was called out from a window. It was Andrew. He asked her, "Alyson, what are you doing here?"

 Alyson replied, "My parents have grounded me from auditioning for New England's Teen SuperStar. So I can stay over?"

  By now, Alyson and Andrew have become very good friends.

  "My parents have banned me from auditioning too. And they've grounded me. So I'm not allowed to have friends over. See if Justin or Bailey will take you in. Hopefully they aren't grounded either."

  So Alyson went over to both Justin and Bailey's houses. They were both grounded. So Alyson went back home.

 The next day, the Alyson/Justin/Bailey/Andrew band met at the school's library. Alyson said, while whispering, "What are we gonna do? All of our parents banned us from auditioning for NETS. And the auditions are this Saturday." 

 Justin whispered, "We could sneak out of our homes."

 Bailey whispered as she got irritated, "And then what? We walk to the auditorium? In the dark? In 3 in the morning?"

 "We can drive over to the auditorium."

 Alyson said, "But none of us have a car."

 Then Alyson, Justin, and Bailey eyed Andrew. Alyson told him, "Andrew, you're the only one who has a car."

 Andrew said, also whispering, "Okay, I guess. But we have to be discreet. No one in our neighborhood should know we're auditioning. If they do, they'll tell our parents, and then our school will find out about us."

 The members agreed.

 It's now Saturday, and it's 2 am. The Alyson/Justin/Bailey/Andrew band woke up, and started getting ready for their audition. They were dressed like popstars so the judges would be impressed with them. 

 They all snuck out of their houses, and went to the nearby neighborhood parking garage. The parking garage was for residents living in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Andrew unlocked his car, the members got it, and off they went.

 As they were driving to a auditorium where the auditions were being held, they started laughing since they felt the thrill of sneaking out of their homes.

 Alyson said excitedly, "OMG, I can't believe we snuck out!"

 Bailey said, also excitedly, "Our parents are gonna kill us!"

 Justin said to Andrew calmly, "Andrew, you just missed the auditorium."

 Andrew cussed under his breath, made a u-turn, and drove to the auditorium. Once they arrived, they waited outside along with hundreds of other people who were auditioning.

 As they waited to go in, Andrew spoke up, "I thought of a name for our band. U-turn."

 Justin asked "Why 'U-turn' as our name?"

 "Our lives about to change by auditioning for NETS. We're good enough to get to the callbacks, and hopefully the live shows. We're going from being regular teens to teen stars. Plus, I made a u-turn to get to the auditorium."

  Alyson said, "I actually like the idea."

 Justin said, "You know, Andrew, the more we work as a pop band, the more I like you. I think we should we be called 'U-turn'."

 Bailey said, "It's deep, except for making that u-turn to get to the auditorium part. But yeah."

 It's now 7am. By now the newly-named band U-Turn have entered the auditorium. The members' parents woke up to find that the members had 'disappeared'. Soon they realized that the members had snuck out to audition for New England's Teen Superstar. So they left together to go to the audition.

  At the same time, U-Turn were in the lobby, waiting to audition. Then their name was called, and they entered a room that had the three judges. The judges were well-known music producers in Boston.

  One of the judges asked, "So the name of your band UTurn? What are your names?"

  Alyson replied, "Yes, we're UTurn. I'm Alyson Bauer, I'm 15, and I'm from Boston."

  Andrew said, "Andrew Hawthorne, 15, and also from Boston."

  Bailey said, "I'm Bailey Richardson, and I'm also 15 and from Boston."

 Justin said, "I'm Justin Harrison. I'm 15. I'm from Boston, but I'm originally from Britain. I moved here about 5 to 6 years ago. I'm recently an American citizen."

  Another judge asked, "What are you singing for us?"

  Alyson said, "You Are The One by S Club 8."

Alyson: Have you ever had a friend 

Who never let you down 

Right by your side every night and day 

Andrew: Always hear you when you're calling 

Catch you when you're falling 

Have somebody show you the way 

Justin: It's OK 

Now I know 

There is a love for everyone 

Bailey: I will go on with you here 

By my side 

UTurn: You are the one I wanna love 

You are the one I'm dreaming of 

Whenever I'm down 

And feeling lonely 

You are there to hold me 

With you all my troubles are gone 

  A few minutes later, the parents of the UTurn arrived at the auditorium. Just then, UTurn ran out of the auditorium, screaming.

  Alyson said excitedly, "OMG! I can't believe we made the callbacks!"

  Then Mrs. Bauer said to her sternly, "Alyson Bauer, you and your group audition?"

  Alyson said firmly, "Mom, my group made the auditions to go to the callbacks in November. We've worked hard to get here, and we're not gonna back out. This is what we want. We want to be popstars."

  Mr. Bauer said, "There's a coffee shop nearby. Wait there for us while I talk to the parents."

  U-Turn agreed.

 An hour later, the parents entered the coffee shop to meet with U-Turn. Justin's father said, "Justin, Alyson, Bailey, and Andrew, we've reached an agreement. Your group can stay together, but you must keep up with your studies. If you don't win the TV competition, you must wait until you graduate high school to go into the music business. But if you do win or get signed, then you may stay together for as long as you want."

 U-Turn agreed to this. The pop band was going to stay.

_____________________________________________________________________________ THIS IS BAILEY'S SINGING ON THE VID, AND THIS IS S CLUB 8'S SONG 'YOU ARE THE ONE' IN THE EXTERNAL LINK>>>