CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BUBBLEGUM SECRET

July 5, 2002

    It’s now July. No Rules are busy with their promotions for their latest single, Get Someone Else. They’re also busy with their two opening-act tours: skate5’s British Isles leg of their European tour, and BG6’s first solo tour across Britain.

    At the moment now, skate5 have halted their tour for a week. It’s so they can start promoting their latest single. As for BG6’s tour, there have been changes to it. Since No Rules hasn’t released their debut album yet, while BG6 has. So now NR’s role has been reduced to an opening act.

  BG6 has gotten over their shock towards NR’s plans to go to USA so soon. They’re now supportive of NR. Somewhat.

    Both bands are at Newcastle as their first stop. NR were onstage doing sound checks. BG6 were in the audience, watching and waiting. They noticed Hannah T. was staring Alex.

    Sean told her, “Face it, Hannah. These guys are older than us.”

    Hannah T. said, “Not Alex. He’s gotta be 14 or something. He’s like a dreamy bad boy my mum would never let me date.”

    Rhys scoffed, “He looks 10, and, if I remember correctly, he said he’s dating one of the No Rules girls.”

    Kelsey chimed in, “He’s 14, and I remember he said he’s dating Stacey.”

    Sean added, “Besides, he’s that goth guy we’d always used to see with them.”

    Hannah T. said in an irritated tone, “Shut up! He’s not that goth guy!”

  Travis said calmly, “Putting all these crushes aside, I think No Rules are pretty good. They’re different, but in a good way.”

    Sean then asked, “Do you lot remember the age group for the BG6 auditions?”

    “8-13. Why?”

    “I read on No Rules’ website that Alex’s born in December of 1987.”

    Tina asked, “So?”

    Sean replied, “I remember there were auditions going on at the same as our auditions. The age group for that was 13-19. I’m guessing that was the No Rules auditions. Anyway, Alex would’ve been about 13 had he audition for us.”

    Hannah T. said, “I’ll ask him once they’re done with the sound checks.”

    Kelsey: “I’ll come with you.”

   An hour later, NR had arrived in their posh dressing room after doing sound checks. Just then, BG6 entered.

    Hannah T. said gushingly, “Hi, we all think you are great singers”

    Edward smiled, “Thanks. It’s great to be treated well compared to skate5.”

    Rhys said, “Yeah, they are kind of mental.”

    Sean then spoke up “I have a few questions for Alex.”

    Alex nervously looked up as Sean asked him, “Are you the goth we’d usually see with No Rules whenever we were waiting to meet with Logan?”

    Alex nervously looked at the No Rules for permission. Charlie gave no response, while the others gave him permission.

    Alex said nervously, “Erm, y-yeah I was.”

    Hannah T asked, “Aaww, why?”

   Alex just shrugged. Sean continued, “Also, I read you’re birthday is on the 22 of December. You would’ve been 13 at the time of BG6 auditions. Why didn’t audition for us?”

   Hannah T. scolded Sean, “Sean! Leave him alone! I’m sorry, Alex. Sean’s always questioning other groups.”

  Travis chimed in, “It’s true. He has grilled Sugababes, Blue, BubbleGum, S Club Juniors, and Liberty X.”

    With that, Sean stormed out, and Tina followed him.

    Hannah then asked Alex, “So Alex, why didn’t you audition for us?”

    Alex laughed nervously, “Erm, you wouldn’t like my answer.”

    Charlie taunting, “C’mon, Walsh. Give them your answer! I wanna hear you got to say.”

    Edward said him angrily, “F*ck off, Declan!”

    Rhys said, “We would always see Charlie arguing with Alex. He was always quiet.”

   Alex glared at Charlie, then he faced the BG6 members as he said confidently, “There were two auditions going on at the same time: The BG6 auditions, and the auditions for an original, which would be No Rules. There was also the S Club Juniors audition. I didn’t care for either BubbleGum, and there was already a spin-off band out there being formed already, which is S Club Juniors. I felt one spin-off was enough already, and I never really cared for skate5, Steps, the S Club bands, and BubbleGum. So I decided to audition for No Rules instead. Plus, I felt more comfortable being in a band that had teens, not kids.”

    The BG6 members felt awkward after hearing Alex’s answer. Then they left.

   The concert has now wrapped up. As BG6 went backstage, Kelsey slipped away to find Charlie. She found him backstage with NR in the dressing room.

    Kelsey asked him, “Charlie, can I talk to you?”

  Charlie agreed, and left the room. Kelsey then kissed Charlie on the lips. He was taken back by this, so he pushed her away.

    He asked, “What the bloody hell was that for?”

   Kelsey replied seductively, “I fancy you. I always liked you since I saw perform on the Radio1 concert a few months ago.”

    “You do know I’m 16, and you’re, what, 13?”

    “Age is nothing but a number.”

    Charlie lustfully grinned, then he kissed Kelsey. Then Kelsey pulled away.

    Kelsey said to him sternly, “But you mustn’t let BG6 and No Rules know about us.”

    “Way ahead of you.”

    It’s a few nights later, and NR and BG6 were in Liverpool. In the middle of the night in NR’s suite, Charlie went out of his bedroom to get something to drink. As he was about to his room, he saw Hannah W. slowly and quietly enter the suite.

   Charlie turned on the lights, and Hannah W. saw him. He asked her smugly, “Let me guess, you snuck out so you can sneak in quickies with Jake Tisdale, yea?”

    Hannah W. said in an irritated tone, “Oh, f*ck off!”

    “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone…that is if you’re willing to help me out.”

    “If it’s to treat Alex like shit, then forget it.”

    “I didn’t think of that, but that’s not it.”

    “Then what is it?”

   Charlie sat on a couch, and signaled Hannah W. to sit with him. She reluctantly sat down. He said to her, “This may sound wrong, but I fancy Kelsey Morris of BG6.”

    Hannah W. was shocked when she heard that. So she hit him with a cushion. She scolded him loudly, “Charlie! You’re almost freakin 17, whilst Kelsey’s 13! That’s completely wrong! Hell, you’re almost a man!”

   “Shhh! That’s why I need your help so I can secretly date Kelsey. If you can sneak out to f*ck Tisdale, then you can, at least, help me sneak out.”

    Hannah W. whispered angrily, “Get your mind out of the gutter. Jake and I are not having sex. And neither will you with Kelsey.”

    “So can you? If you don’t, I’ll tell No Rules that you’re seeing Tisdale. I’m sure Ashley and Edward will love to hear you’re dating a guy who’s in a band that hates us.”

   Hannah W. glared at Charlie, and then rolled her eyes as she reluctantly replied, “Fine! I’ll help you. But if I hear you’re hooking up with that tween, I so will not help you. And I’ll ruin you.”

    Charlie smugly agreed.

   It’s the next night. Both BG6 and No Rules have finished their concert. As soon as BG6 ran into the backstage, Charlie grabbed Kelsey.

    Kelsey asked, “Charlie, what is it?”

    Charlie replied, “We’re going on a date tonight.”

    “Really? How can we do that?”

    “We sneak out of our hotel rooms, and then go to a restaurant that’s open 24/7.”

    “You’re sure? That’s a big risk.”

    “Trust me, I’m sure.”

    Kelsey grinned, then walked away happily.

    It’s the next day, and Hannah W. was on her laptop. She was, as usual, reading celebrity gossip on PopJustice. The night before, she helped Charlie find a 24/7 restaurant for his date with Kelsey, which ended up being a pancake house. Not exactly romantic, but it was either that or a McDonald’s.

    As Hannah W. was reading, she saw a picture of Charlie and Kelsey kissing. By now, NR has been gaining a lot more attention. So much so that they’ve gained the paparazzi. She was shocked and angered. So she showed the picture to Ashley and Edward. They were just as angered, so they grabbed Charlie…and all the other members.

    They all sat around the couch, and then Alex asked in an uninterested tone, “Why are we sitting around Charlie?”

    Ashley said in an irritated tone, “Because Charlie, who’s almost 17, kissed a 13-year-old girl!”

   Edward, also irritated, said, “And on top of that, that tween girl is Kelsey of BG6, a group that’s slowly starting to hate us!”

    The members gave disgusted faces, while Charlie gave Hannah W. a glare. He told them, “Oi, look at Sophie and Walsh! They’re dating, and Sophie’s 16, and Walsh’s 14! And besides, we didn’t do anything. We just ate, talk, and kiss. Nothing else!”

   Sophie retorted, “That’s different! Alex’s gonna be 15 later this year. And besides, that’s only a one year difference.”

    Charlie rolled his eyes, then left to his room.

    Alex asked the members, “Since when that motherf*cker expressed interest in our relationship?”

    Hannah W. replied, “He’s probably mental, knowing him.”

    Then she thought, And that’s what he gets for fancying a tween girl.

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THAT'S SKATE5 IN THE PIC>>>