CHAPTER THIRTEEN: FORBIDDEN LOVE

June 1, 2002

   It’s the beginning of June, and No Rules’ debut single, Energized, was a huge hit. It charted at number 2 for two weeks. Now they’re getting ready to promote their second single, Get Someone Else.

    NR arrived at the O2 in Dublin, Ireland for their opening act for skate5. For their opening act, they perform four songs in this order: All Around the World, Get Someone Else, Breathing, and Energized. A concert producer gave the members a tour around the arena. skate5 saw that NR got a really nice dressing room…much nicer than skate5’s!

  Kimmy said to No Rules in an irritated tone, “OMFG, I can’t believe More Rules got the posh dressing room! What are you, spoilt?”

    Hannah said smugly, “Jealous, are we?”

    “This isn’t your real dressing room.”

    Charlie asked, “It isn’t?”

  Kimmy lead the NR members to filthy unisex bathroom. She grinned evilly as she announced, “This is your dressing room.

    The NR members were disgusted by what they saw. Ashley asked in a disgusted tone, “OMG, did someone die in here?”

    “Maybe, but it’s yours.”

    Edward said angrily, “That’s not ours!”

    So the NR members went back to their real dressing rooms.

    A few minutes later, NR went to the stage to start sound checks. skate5 were on stage. Kimmy saw them, so she asked, “What is it, More Rules?”

    Hannah responded angrily, “Look suck5! We No Rules members have enough of your rubbish! skate5 has been around since the late 90s, and now everyone’s tired of you! It’s time for something different.”

  Charlie chimed in, “I agree! By now, Steps-style pop is outdated. Everyone’s outgrown cheesy BubbleGum’s and S Club’s music, and they just came out with spin-off bands. There’s Hear’Say, Liberty X, and now us, No Rules!”

  Jake said calmly, “You know, No Rules’ right. I think it’s time for Britain to have something that’s not Steps-like, S Club-like, or BubbleGum-like. No Rules and Liberty X are different. No Rules does Euro-American pop, whilst Liberty X does urban pop.”

    Kimmy asked Jake angrily, “Jacob Tisdale, who’s side are you on? skate5 or More Rules?!”

    “Wow, only my parents call me by my full name.”

    Hannah then said in a snobby tone, “Looks like someone prefers No Rules than suck5. Now, get off the stage. No Rules needs to rehearse.”

   With that, Kimmy stormed off. Chelsea and Matt followed her. Libby and Jake helped No Rules with the stage.

  After NR performed, Jake took Hannah aside backstage. He said to her “Hey, look, I’m sorry for Kimmy’s outrageous behaviour.”

    Hannah replied, “Thanks. It’s good to know that skate5 has a sane member.”

   “Yea, that’s true. Anyway, I’d like to take you on a date with me. I really like you, especially when you defend No Rules.”

    “Okay. Where do we go?”

    “I’ll drive you. I’ve been in Dublin before. I know a restaurant that’s opened at this hour. I’ll take you after the show’s over.”

    Hannah squealed, then she calmed her inner fan-girl, and got her things.

    Jake parked at a posh restaurant, and took Hannah’s hand. Hannah was still overwhelmed that her favourite famous guy, Jake Tisdale, has taken her on her date! They talked for a few hours about each other and their bands.

   When it was over, Jaknah (Jake/Hannah) returned to their hotel (NR and skate5 where in the same hotel, but both bands have separate suites). Just before they entered the building, they shared a kiss.

   The next morning, Hannah was on her laptop reading gossip. She was on Popjustice when she saw an article about her. Then she saw a photo of her…kissing Jake! She knew it was paparazzi since skate5 were a huge pop band.

   With that, she closed her laptop, and decided to tell the NR members to not go on their laptops. She grabbed the computers, whether they’re being used or not, and took them in her closet. The members were wondering what’s going on. Just then, they heard banging on the door. They saw it was Kimmy.

    Ashley opened the door, and asked angrily, “What do you want, Kimberley.”

    Kimmy asked furiously, “DID ONE OF YOUR RULERS KISS MY JAKE?!?!?!”

    “What the hell are you talking about?”

   Kimmy showed her laptop screen, and it was an article on Frankie and Jake kissing. The NR members were shocked.

    Ashley said coldly, “We’ll deal with it.”

   After Ashley closed the door, all the NR members glared at Hannah. Hannah’s face grew red. Then they walked away.

    Later that night, Ashley and Edward were on a date at a posh restaurant. He asked, “What should we do about Hannah?”

   Ashley replied, “I don’t know, but we need to keep her away from Jake. I don’t care if he’s fit or supposedly ‘supportive’ of No Rules, he’s in a band that hates us.”

   Then Edward came up with an idea, “What if we take over No Rules as the leaders of the band? We’re the lead singers, and besides, I’m tired of Charlie and Hannah being in charge of the band.”

    Ashley liked the idea.

    A few hours later, Ashward (Ashley/Edward) returned to their hotel suite. They gathered NR for a meeting.

    Edward started, “Ashley and I talked, and we decided that we’re going to be the leaders of No Rules.”

    Ashley added, “Which means Hannah is banned from seeing Jake, and Charlie must respect Alex.”

    Sophie, Alex, and Mariana liked the idea, but Hannah and Charlie were outraged.

    Hannah grabbed her laptop, and went inside a closet to IM Jake.

    HannahNORULES: jake we have a big problem

    JakeSKATE5: I know. I’m lucky I’m still alive after Kimmy’s yelling.

    HannahNORULES: we need to keep our love a secret from everyone

    JakeSKATE5: exactly. It’ll be risky, but do we have a choice?

    HannahNORULES: no we don’t

    Then both Hannah and Jake logged off.

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