ChapterSeven-The Boot Camp

June 16th, 2008

   It's now June, and it's time for the boot camp round of The X Factor. 7th Anthem, along with numerous other contestants, arrived at the O2 Arena. They were all staying at a hotel nearby.

  The 7A members grabbed their seats, and were surrounded by other acts. Then the judges arrived on stage. Simon spoke to the crowd, "Welcome to the boot camp round. This week you will go through several rounds to decide who will be in the top 24. You will sing, dance, and perform with other acts. Good luck."

   All the contestants went on the stage. After about 30 acts (both soloists and groups), it was 7A's turn. They performed Rihanna's Don't Stop the Music. The judges and most of the contestants were impressed with their strong vocals and slick dance moves.

   After all the contestants performed, the judges put through almost half of them, including 7A. Next was the choreography round. Once again, 7A was through to the next round.

  They were now in a group of other acts: boy band JLS, girl trio Thre, Cody, Amery, John, Liam, Trish...and Ethan Jackson! The 7A members were shocked to see Ethan as one of the contestants. During the first round, they heard a guy singing in a familiar voice. They thought he sounded like Ethan, and as it turned out, he was.

  Ethan gave a smirk as he taunted, "Well, isn't it UTurn. I know you're now 7th Anthem, but I'm going to call you by your old name."

   Andrew asked him coldly, "Did you get that court-ordered mandate we issued?"

  Andrew was talking about a court-ordered mandate concerning Ethan holding information on Libby's promiscuous past. Ethan knew exactly what he was talking about, so he replied, "I did. I didn't know you knew so much about British law, let alone be interested in it."

   Andrew shrugged as he said, "It's very similar to American law. Besides, the Hawthorne family is mostly made up of lawyers. You know I'm very familiar with how the legal system works. And no, I have no interest in becoming a lawyer. Broadway, dancing, and pop music are my real passions, and you know it."

   Then Alyson asked, "And another thing, Ethan, how did you get on this show? Did you somehow buy your way into the auditions? You're not even a great singer, let alone a dancer."

   Ethan laughed as he said, "If only it was that easy. I did what you all did. I got a passport, a visa, and a little bit of voice lessons. Amazingly, the judges loved me. So here I am. And besides, if I wasn't supposedly a 'great singer,' then why did you add me into UTurn?"

  Alyson replied, "If anything, you wormed your way into the band, along with your then-minions Amanda and Libby. Now they're on our side."

  "No, I mean the time you, Bailey, and Justin were starting to form the band, and you asked me to join. I turned you all down, and instead you replaced me with the f*cked up Hawthorne guy."

   Andrew rolled his eyes, and said, "At least I didn't try to destroy the band from within and without."

   Ethan argued, "But you choked on live TV, and UTurn was almost eliminated. That was almost a dream fulfilled."

  "Okay, that was one time. A week later I saved the band, and then we got signed."

  "But you'll choke on live TV again, and UTurn will be close to elimination."

  "I've performed on TV numerous times!" Andrew argued. "I haven't choked, and I'm not about to this time!"

  Just as Andrew and Ethan were about to get into a physical fight, one of the contestants in the group, Liam Payne, said nervously, "Erm, we need to practice now...and there's a camera in front of you two."

  With that, Andrew and Ethan looked into the camera. The cameraman grinned as he caught the fight. Ethan then said to Andrew smugly, "Well, you just made your first scandal in Britain. Congrats."

  Andrew just gave a glare. Alyson told him, "Don't listen to him. Besides, we've faced way worse stuff than this."

   He nodded his head, and went to work with both 7A and everyone else in the group. Soon it was time to perform. After about two groups, it was 7A's group. They all performed Who Knew by Pink. It was a success, despite Ethan trying to pick a fight with 7A. They all went through to the next round.

  It was now time for the final round. What's left of the acts had to go on the stage and perform one last time in front of the judges. The judges were to give no critique in this round. After several acts, 7A performed Caught Up by Usher. They, once again, sang well and had slick dance moves.

   After it was all over, all of the acts went to their hotel. 7A were at the hotel bar (in Britain, they're old enough to drink) when they saw Ethan approaching them.

 Andrew said to Alyson, "I feel like we're back in that year when Ethan was in UTurn."

    Ethan said to Andrew while smiling, "That was a great year."

    "I was hospitalized because you got half the school to bully me."

    "Well, now you know what's like to be bullied."

  Andrew angrily said, "I never sent anyone to hospital! Maybe the nurse's office, but I never once went to the extremes as you did. All I did was beat up several guys, and threaten numerous lawsuits. I've actually followed through with some of those threats."

   Alyson asked Ethan in an irritated tone, "Why are you really here, Ethan?"

  Ethan replied smugly, "I'm here to get another chance to be in the music industry after you guys kicked me...unless you let me rejoin."

   Andrew scoffed, "If you rejoined, you'll probably have me killed."

   Amanda chimed in, "Yeah, me too."

    Ethan said coldly, "I'll find a way to destroy UTurn."

   Alyson told him, "Before you even try, our name is 7th Anthem now. Disney, Maurice, and their people don't own us anymore."

   With that, Ethan walked away, smirking. Andrew said to the 7A members, "His act is getting old. I need a drink."

  Amanda said, "He might just be plotting more shit. If he can hack into our phones and computers, who knows what he'll do."

   It's the next day. After a few days of different rounds, it was time to reveal the Top 24. The groups were in one section of the arena as they waited to be called in. As 7A waited, one of the four members of boy band JLS approached them.

   He asked her, "I heard you lot sing, and watched you dance. You lot are way too good to be on The X Factor. Besides, you look familiar. Did you perform on GMTV?"

   Alyson replied, "Yeah, we did, but we were signed and under a different name. Now we're starting over. By the way, your band, JLS, are really good. You guys could be the next biggest boy band."

   The guy smiled, "Thanks. I'm Aston by the way."

   Alyson introduced the 7A members to Aston and his band. Aston noticed that Amanda was staring at him. He asked her, "Erm, are you okay?"

    Amanda snapped out of the stare, and replied, "Oh sorry. Um, you're Aston?"

    "Yeah."

    "I'm Amanda," she greeted a little too excitedly while giving a big grin.

   Just as Aston was about to speak, the groups were called to be on the stage. After about five groups were chosen...7A was chosen to be in the Top 24! The band was excited to go to the next round: The judges' houses.

  As the six chosen groups left the stage, Aston approached Amanda, "So, we'll see each other again in a few months."

  Amanda smiled as she said, "Unless you live in London, I'm sure we'll run into each sooner than later."

   Aston smiled, and went back with his band. As for 7th Anthem, their comeback was getting closer, and they're determined to not let Ethan stop them.

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THIS IS ASTON MERRYGOLD OF JLS IN THE PIC, AND YES LIAM PAYNE OF 1D WAS IN THE STORY>>>>