ChapterTwentyTwo:Overanalyze

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Alex stared at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep. Both his band and UTurn were set to perform on the same morning show. His mind was on Amanda, Andrew, and UTurn as a whole.

He did appreciate Amanda defending her relationship with him, demanding not to monetize it. Yet what struck him was when she said that Andrew and Alyson's relationship was not made public at all. She called them "Andyson," which he assumed was the couple's ship name.

Alex had seen the UTurn fanfiction and the fan art. Andyson was clearly a power couple among the UTurn fandom. It even seemed like it was public knowledge. He noticed the gestures in the band's photoshoots, from the way they would hold their hands to their waists. One would have to be blind to not see the two were in love with each other.

Then his mind went to Andrew. The UTurn boys agreed to sleep in the living area while the girls took that small room, with the exception of Riley and Bailey.

He thought about how Andrew seemed trapped in his situation. It was the only the beginning of his exploitation. Alex assumed it was because the American guy was openly bisexual. He thought maybe Andrew would be left alone, but it seemed like that wasn't the case. Why was his relationship with Alyson being hidden? Why was Andrew forced to wear a BDSM harness? The whole thing seemed fishy.

Then his mind went towards UTurn and their whole "rebellious" school uniforms. Something wasn't sitting right with him. Sure, the whole band looked awesome, but it felt misleading. All of it seemed like Seth had a hand in this, and Marcel was clearly no better.

Alex closed his eyes, hoping he'll fall asleep. No, his thoughts and concerns kept whirling inside his head throughout the night.

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"Alex?"

He opened his eyes, seeing he was now in front of the TV studios. The sky was still dark. He turned to see Mason poking his arm. Alex sat up, remembering he was in a van with both his bandmates and the UTurn boys. He couldn't see their faces, but they seemed tired as well.

Alex got out of the van, glancing at Andrew who was wearing a cap. The guy was clearly exhausted, not wanting to be bothered. Alex wasn't sure when he could talk to both Andrew and Alyson. He wanted to make sure they were okay; wanting to know what was going on. He wanted to even warn them about Seth.

It would all have to be in the evening once the gigs were done for day. But he just wanted to check up on Andrew for a quick second. He walked up to him and asked, "Tired?"

Andrew nodded and said, "I need coffee."

The statement surprised Alex. He never ran on caffeine of any kind, from coffee to soda to the very British tea. He wanted to make sure his teeth were pearly white. It was something he learned to do when he used to wear braces.

He said, "Maybe there's coffee in the lounge?"

He heard Andrew made a disgusted sound, as if he hated watered-down, bitter coffee. Alex said, "Maybe we'll go to Starbucks after all this."

"I guess."

Andrew suddenly stopped in front of Alex. He looked directly at Alex, seemingly annoyed. "You're pretty hyper," Andrew said.

Alex noticed Andrew's blue eyes. A piercing baby blue with a sense of powerful ferocity, and maybe a hint of innocence. He would hate to see that be removed, but as long as Seth was UTurn's manager, Andrew will come out all of this as a different person.

"Alex?" Andrew asked, taking him out of his trance.

"Oh," he said. "Sorry. I didn't get much sleep last night."

Andrew softened his annoyed expression on his face. He nodded his head and said, "Like you said, we can go to Starbucks afterwards."

Without thinking, Alex felt his mouth moving into a smile. He noticed Andrew did the same. The two went back to walking towards their dressing rooms. Alex figured maybe he could talk to the couple during a trip to Starbucks.

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Both bands entered a Starbucks after their TV gig. Alex noticed the paparazzi running up to them. Luckily, both bands had their bodyguards the pushed the two pop groups inside.

Alex only wanted water as he got in line. He noticed Andrew and Alyson ordered black iced coffees. He figured that was probably part of their diets, along with not drinking dairy.

He sat with them, seeing Amanda sitting next to him. He smiled at her. She said, "It's like a double date!"

Alex chuckled, "Kind of. We're just taking a break before we off to our separate projects. Besides, I wanted to talk to these two. You can stay."

Amanda seemed a bit surprised, then looked away, as if she was trying to figure out what he was going to do. Alex faced Andyson, who also seemed confused.

He asked the couple, "What do you think of Seth?"

The couple look at each other, as if they're trying to figure out what to say. Amanda said, "Seth's a piece of shit."

Alex looked at her with widened eyes. It shocked him to hear her say that. She asked, "What? He is!"

He heard someone clear their throat. Andrew said, "Well, she's not wrong. Hell, Marcel ain't that great either."

Alex asked, "Who put you in that harness?"

Andrew raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by that question. He asked, "How did you know what that was?"

"I looked into it."

Andrew sighed as he slouched in his chair. "I don't know. Marcel and Seth probably."

"But why?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's cause I'm bi? They want me to start pandering to the gays when I'm not even seventeen yet?"

Alex glanced at Alyson, who seemed to be thinking. She said, "Marcel hadn't been that great, even before we met Seth. Andrew, remember when one of our producers made Amanda scream out her voice on a simple pop song?"

"Oh yeah, I remember that," Andrew said. "That guy want us to somewhat imitate t.A.T.u. or something?"

"It might explain the 'uniforms' we have to wear for the tour. It can't be just because we go to a private school."

Alex was surprised to hear all of this. It seemed like UTurn was already on the path to being exploited before they even met Seth. Both curious and concerned, he asked, "What was Marcel like before you met Seth?"

The couple looked at each other. Alyson muttered to Andrew, "Should we tell him?"

Andrew shrugged. "He seems pretty concerned for us. Why not?"

Alyson faced Alex, telling him the numerous things Marcel had done with UTurn, from playing favorites during the live shows of New England's Teen Superstar to trying to add people behind the band's back. Alex couldn't believe what he was hearing. Everything Alyson was saying pretty much confirmed about his opinions on Marcel. The similarities between the two managers were uncanny, except for their appearances.

Alex exclaimed, "Marcel's no better than Seth! Hell, he sounds like Simon Cowell!"

Andrew said, "Well, Marcel O'Brien is considered as the Simon Cowell of the New England region. He's the one who produced that regional American Idol show. He managed successful solo acts coming from Boston. We're actually his first group."

"Weren't there any other talent agencies to turn to in Boston?"

Alyson looked away as she said, "Well, what made me form this group in the first place was when I saw a poster for the auditions for New England's Teen Superstar. If it weren't for that, we wouldn't even be here"

She looked up, and said, "Connect8 wouldn't be back. I would be stuck at home in misery."

Alex sighed as he watched Andrew rub her back. Andrew added, "I would've also stayed in closet."

Amanda also said, "Derrick's band probably would've imploded anyway."

Alex glanced at Derrick, who caught him looking his way. It seemed the red-head guy was listening in on their conversation. He wasn't sure what Derrick thought of him. That guy didn't seem to like the idea of Alex and Amanda dating each other. He wasn't sure why. Maybe he was like Diana; thinking things were moving too quickly to be considered as an actual relationship.

Alex looked away from, still feeling the glare from Derrick. He overheard Alyson adding that she felt weird about Seth after she told him how she became a Connect8 fangirl. A part of Alex wanted to be UTurn's manager instead, but how? He and the American band were all teenagers, but he had more experience being in the music industry than them.

No, things were just going to have to be the way they were. Alex would be in Connect8; while UTurn continue their path to become internationally successful. But at what expense?

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As Alex walked towards his band's van, he heard his name being called. He turned to see it was Derrick, who was walking up to him.

Derrick said, "I heard what you and some of my bandmates were talking about."

"I figured," Alex said.

"Alyson would never ask this as she's a fan of your stuff, but I will: Why was Connect8 brought back together? Was it because of UTurn?"

Alex was stunned by Derrick's questions. They just came out of nowhere. He looked away, as he did wonder the same thing. He never vocally aired them out; but did write them down in his journal.

He looked up and said, "I don't know, Derrick. I'm asking the same questions. Why?"

He heard Derrick's name being called out. He knew UTurn had their gigs for the rest of the day, so he said, "Go do your band stuff. I have my own myself."

Derrick nodded his, walking back to his own van. Alex entered his with those questions running inside his head. Everything seemed suspicious. No one could get out of this mess, but it didn't mean he won't try to find the answers.