CHAPTER SEVEN: EXPOSED SCARS

December 17, 2001

      It’s been a few hours, and No Rules were relaxing in their house. Edward was still bothered by what Charlie said concerning Alex pulling on his sleeves. Knowing that it’s obvious Sophie liked Alex, he went into her room to talk to her.

      She saw him enter her room, so she asked, “Edward, what is it?”

   Edward responded with a question, “Did you hear what Charlie said about Alex pulling on his sleeves right before we left the studio?”

      “Yeah. Why?”

      “He did bring up a point. I mean, Alex keeps rolling up his sleeves, but then he keeps pulling them. Doesn’t that sound suspicious?”

      Sophie thought for a moment, then a horrified expression grew on her face. Edward noticed this, so he asked, “Sophie, what is it?”

      She asked nervously, “Erm, keep an eye on Alex. Where is he?”

      “He’s in my room last time I checked. Why?”

      “I have a bad feeling about this. Go to your room now, and see how he is.”

      Edward agreed, and to his room. He saw Alex walking out of the bathroom, looking disoriented and disheveled. He asked Alex, “Alex, are you okay?”

      Alex didn’t respond, and he looked like he was about to pass out. Then Edward saw blood dripping out of Alex right sleeve. He muttered a cuss word, and rolled up Alex’s sleeve. He couldn’t believe what he saw. He saw slits all over Alex’s arm, and saw a really deep cut. Then Edward rolled the other sleeve, and saw more scars.

      Alex soon realized what Edward was doing, so he sprinted out his room. He abruptly stopped at the top of the stairs. He looked down for a few seconds, as if he was trying to come up with a decision. He closed his eyes, and was getting ready to jump off the stairs. But instead of falling, he was grabbed from the waist. It was Edward that grabbed him, and was dragging him into his room.

      Alex screamed as he was struggled to break free, “Let me go! I wanna die!!”

      Edward was shocked by what Alex said. Edward yelled out to Sophie, “Sophie, get in here! I need your help!”

      Sophie ran into his room, and saw Alex struggling to break free from Edward. Alex yelled, “Let me go now!!!”

      Edward ignored him, and said to Sophie “Sophie, he wants to die. Talk him out of it whilst I call the hospital.”

      She couldn’t believe what she heard. Before she knew it, Edward was out of his room, and Alex looked more unstable than ever. He was pacing very quickly, searching through his drawers. She noticed his arms were covered with scars.

      Sophie nervously said to Alex “Alex, please stop yourself! We need you, this band needs you!”

      Alex replied angrily, “No one needs a f*cked up guy like me! I’m just a freak. I’m better off dead!”

      “No Alex! I-I need you!”

      Alex muttered, “You don’t f*cking need me!”

      Then Sophie cried out, “I love you!”

      With that, Alex froze. He stared at her in shock. Sophie slowly walked up to him, and said to him with a quivering voice, “Alex, please listen to me. You need to live. You’re a great singer and dancer. You’re the most fittest bloke I’ve ever seen. I can see you’re troubled, and I’ll help you. I love you, and I don’t want you to die. I don’t want to see you in pain. I want to see you happy and full of life. You deserve better, not shit.”

      Sophie then gave Alex a hug. He hugged her back, and held her tightly. He started to cry. They stayed like this for a few minutes. Eventually, an ambulance arrived. Edward went back to his room, and said, “Alex, there’s an ambulance waiting for you. You’re going to get help.”

      Sophie said to Alex “Alex, I’ll come with you, okay?”

      He agreed, and all three left the room, the house, and went with Alex to the hospital.

      An hour later, the rest of the members were gathered in the living room by their chaperone. There was confusion as to what’s going on. Ashley asked the chaperone, “What’s going on? Where’s Edward, Alex, and Sophie?”

      She replied, “Okay, I just got a call from Edward. He’s about to return back to the flat. He told me that Alex has scars covering his arms, and tried to commit suicide. Sophia is with Alex to keep him company. He should be released by tomorrow. Edward told me he called the managers, Peter and Logan, for an emergency meeting to discuss this issue. He told me the meeting will be tomorrow morning.”

      With that, the members were in shock. The girls were in distraught, while Charlie was cold. Soon, Hannah passed out.

      A few minutes later, Hannah woke up, and was surrounded by Ashley and Mariana. She asked, “What happened?”

      Ashley replied, “You passed out after you heard the news on Alex.”

      With that, Hannah started to cry, “So it’s true! Alex was trying to harm himself!”

      Ashley was shocked by Hannah’s reaction, but not Mariana.

      Ashley said, “I thought you hated Alex. You were always insulting him.”

    Hannah replied, “I was starting to regret doing that. Now I hear he’s harming himself. I don’t want him to die because of me!”

      With that, Mariana and Ashley hugged Hannah.

      Mariana assured Hannah, “Alex will be fine. He’ll live. Just apologize to him.”

      It’s the next day, and No Rules arrived at PD Entertainment for an emergency meeting discussing Alex’s well-being. Earlier in the day, Alex was released from the hospital. He had a blood transfusion, and had his arms bandaged.

      When the 7 teen arrived, Edward took Sophie aside. He asked her, “Sophie, how’s Alex doing?”

    Sophie replied, “He’s relaxed now. He questioned me if I truly loved him, and I told him that I meant everything I said. Also, we had to cover up that we’re in a pop group. The doctors could tell we’re not from London cuz from I’m from Bristol, and Alex’s from Wales due to our accents.”

      “What, you told Alex that you love him?”

      “I really do love him, Edward. I may not know him, but I can’t give up my feelings for him. Look, he’s cautious, but I won’t rush him.”

      Then the two teens entered the boardroom. They saw Peter and Logan, looking very serious. Sophie sat next to Alex. He was scared, but Sophie holding his hand comforted him.

       Logan began, “Alex, please explain your situation. You have scars on your arms, and they seem to be self-inflected. You’ve also tried to commit suicide. What’s going on?”

       Alex gulped, then looked at Sophie. He then looked at everyone, and explained nervously, “I-I’m a cutter, and I have been for about five months. I’m also suicidal. I’ve tried to kill myself 10 times. Last night was my tenth time.”

       With that, the members were in shock. Hannah, once again, passed out.

       Sophie whispered to Alex “You’re okay, Alex. You’ll be fine.”

       She could see fear in his eyes as he looked at her.

       Peter asked him, “Alex, can we see you outside?”

   Alex slowly got up, and followed Logan and Peter outside the boardroom. The No Rules members went up to Hannah, and they revived her.

       She woke up, and asked, “What happened? Did I pass out again?”

       Edward asked, “Again?”

       Mariana explained, “She fainted last night when she heard what Alex was doing to himself.”

       “I really need to apologize to Alex! Where is he?” said Hannah.

       Sophie answered, “He’s talking with Peter and Logan.”

       Then Hannah’s voice started to quiver, “I don’t him to him to die.”

       “He won’t, okay? As long he gets help, he should be fine.”

       A few minutes later, Logan, Peter, and Alex were back in the boardroom. Logan announced, “We talked with Alex, and we decided that Alex will have an in-house doctor. He’ll be put on suicide watch, and you all must keep an eye on him.”

       Charlie asked with a stone-cold face, “Can’t Walsh be replaced?”

     Peter responded, “We suggested that he returns home and be replaced, but he strongly refused to go home. So he’s staying. And remember, when No Rules is premiered, do not say anything about this. As far as the public will know, Alex is a stable teen.”

       The 7 teens agreed to this. As soon as they left the boardroom, Hannah gave Alex a hug and apologized to him. He was shocked, but he cautiously accepted it.

_____________________________________________________________________________

THIS IS CHARLIE (Chipmunk) IN THE PIC, AND HIS "SINGING" IN THE VIDEO>>>