CHAPTER FIVE: BEATEN DREAMS

December 17, 2001

    It’s been a few weeks, and No Rules were still recording their debut CD. After they finished recording a song, they went to a meeting with their manager Logan. Peter was in another meeting.

    “I’m happy to hear that you did very well on your debut CD. In the beginning of January, you will do a photo-shoot. Then you will start filming your own TV series called Dare 2 Dream,” Logan announced.

    No Rules was excited to hear they’re getting a TV series. Hannah asked, “So what’s the show about?”

    “Dare 2 Dream is about seven teens at a prestigious school. They live different lives, but they form the pop band ‘No Rules’ after spending time in detention. Even though they’re a band, they face challenges from their peers, families, and even the headmaster. But despite this, they become a success.”

     The members liked the concept. Edward asked, “What are our characters?”

     Hannah said smugly, “I bet I’m the popular girl.”

     Charlie added smugly, “Maybe I’m the jock.”

     Logan told them “Actually, those parts are given to other members of No Rules.”

     Both Charlie and Hannah asked, “Who?”

     Logan answered “Ashley will be the popular girl, and Alex will be her boyfriend and the popular bloke.”

     Ashley and Alex were shocked when they heard that…and so were Charlie and Hannah. 

     Ashley laughed in disbelief, “That is so different from me.”

  Logan told her, “That was the plan: Make the characters different from the real No Rules members. I may add that your characters will have the same names as you.”

     Hannah asked with irritation in her voice, “So what am I?”

     “Hannah, you are the goth girl, whilst Charlie is the nerd.”

     Charlie and Hannah were obviously offended. The other members laughed, except Alex, who just gave a smirk.

     Logan continued, “Edward is a jock. Sophie is the smart girl. Mariana is the rebel.”

     After the meeting finished, Charlie decided to confront Alex. He approached him angrily, “Thanks a lot, Walsh!”

     Alex had a puzzled look on his face. Charlie asked, “What? You can’t talk?”

     The other members saw this. Sophie asked Charlie sternly, “What’s going on?”

   He replied, “Walsh took my character from me. I’m supposed to be the popular guy, not this freak!”

     “Alex didn’t take anything from you. He was given a role. It wasn’t yours to begin with. So leave him alone. Besides, he’s not a freak.”

     “Oh? So what is he? Do you even know him?”

     “No, I don’t know him. BUT I see he’s misunderstood. He might be a really nice guy. For all we know, he could the star footballer at his school. The point is, we should get to know him and try to be friends with him. I bet he’s a sweet bloke.”

     Alex smiled at Stacey. Then the members returned to their house.

     As soon as they entered their house, Alex sat on a couch, and starting reading his script.

     Charlie asked Hannah, “Hannah, can you believe this?”

     Hannah asked, “Believe what?”

     “Walsh is reading my part!”

     “Look, I’m not happy with the role I’m given. But am I gonna fight Ashley for her role? No! So you shouldn’t go picking a fight with Alex.”

     “I thought you hated Walsh.”

     Hannah stammered.

   Then Charlie approached Alex, and ripped the script out of his hands. Soon Charlie started yelling obscenities and beating him up. Hannah called for the other members, and Edward was able to separate Charlie from Alex. The girls helped Alex up, and sat him down on a chair.

     Sophie told the members, “Get the ice! I think his mouth is bleeding!”

     Mariana got the ice, and Sophie gave the ice to Alex. Sophie noticed there were tears on his face, so she wiped his face. Hannah watched all of this, then she ran to her room.

     Later that night, Mariana found Hannah crying on her pillow. Mariana asked out of irritation “What’s your problem? Are you still mad that you’re playing a goth?”

     Hannah replied with a sniffle, “No, it’s me.”

     “Huh?”

     “Do you believe in karma? You know, the whole ‘what goes around comes around’ thingy?”

     “Yeah.”

     “You know that I told everyone that I was the most popular girl in my school and I dated the fittest bloke, yeah?”

     “Is this leading somewhere?”

   “I just broke up with my boyfriend over the phone. He would always beat up the loner boys. I would always insult the loner girls. When I joined No Rules, I never thought that the band would have it’s own loner. I always thought the band would the fittest blokes. But after seeing Alex joining the band, I was shocked. I felt like the loners constantly follow me everywhere. But over time, I’m starting to see what Sophie sees in him. The more I watch Charlie insult him, the more I see what I’ve done to the loners. And on top of all that, I’ve never seen anyone defend loners…until you lot. Sophie, you, Edward, and Ashley defending Alex. I’ve never seen anything like that. And I can tell Sophie fancies Alex since she’s defending him the most. That’s why I was crying.”

     Mariana was shocked to hear that Hannah’s I-am-the-snobby-popular-girl personality cracked. Now she’s regretful of how she treats people.

     Mariana calmly told Hannah “You know, you should try to be friends with Alex. He may not trust you immediately, but give him time.”

     Hannah told her, “He doesn’t trust any of us.”

     “True, but we’re not pressuring him. Just apologize to him.”

     With that, Mariana left her room. Hannah had a lot to think about.

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THIS IS MARIANA (Tiffany Evans) IN THE PIC, AND HER SINGING (THE GIRL WITH THE BOB) IN THE VIDEO)>>>>