ChapterSix-Haunted Past 

April 30th, 2007

 It's now the end of April, and UTurn are packing up for their first British tour...well, okay, they're just opening for Britain's biggest girl-band, Girls Aloud. But still, it was a very big gig for them.

 Not only are they opening for Girls Aloud, they're also going to release their debut British single, Our Love. The song is on UTurn's just re-released second album, Turn It Up. It was released in both America and Canada, and it had a pop-rock sound. So far, it's selling well.

 As for their two current singles, No More Us (North America) and Getting Here With You (Eastern Europe), they were successful, despite little to no promotions. The latter single has become their most successful to date, peaking at number 4. Whereas their North American single, it was a success on Radio Disney and Canadian top 40 radio. They have cracked mainstream American radio, peaking at number 19.

 But with rising, though gradual, success comes controversy. When UTurn's racy music video, Getting Here with You, came out, it was uploaded on YouTube by some of their fans. Out of all the music videos they've released, this one had the most hits. Fans from both Europe and North America were shocked by the skimpy outfits (on both guys and girls), provocative choreography, and the sheer sexuality it was displayed. It even raised questions if Andrew and Alyson were together based on the near-sex scene in the video. The band's small, though slowly growing, British fan-base called them 'the R-rated S Club 8'.

 When the video came out, criticism from American parent groups came blasting. UTurn was told by these groups that they were too young to be sexy, ignoring the fact that everyone (except Trevor) were turning eighteen. The parent groups also accused the teen band of supposedly having an 'identity crisis'. UTurn has, so far, made no comment.

 As for Libby's place in the band, the fans were split. Half liked Riley, as she never went to the same school as everyone else in UTurn. The other half like Libby for her big voice, giving Bailey competition. Of course, the band had to say that Riley left due to 'artistic differences'.

 UTurn were in their house, packing up for London. Alyson was in her room that she shared with Bailey when she was on her laptop. As Bailey was packing one of her suitcases, she asked, "Aly, why are you on your laptop? We're leaving for London in a few hours."

 Alyson replied, "I'll get back to packing, just as soon as I read these comments from the S Club 8 fans."

 Alyson was on a S Club 8-fan forum from the fansite, sclub8hangout.nl.

 "You know they're just commenting that music video we did."

 "I'm just seeing if they're talking about our opening act for Girls Aloud."

 "And anything?"

 "Nothing yet," Alyson sighed, and added, "I'll find out tomorrow."

 So Alyson turned off her laptop, and packed it up. After about an hour, she and Bailey met up with the other UTurn members.

 Justin said happily, "I'm actually looking forward to going back to England. I haven't been there since a few years ago, and that was before I joined UTurn."

 Alyson said nervously, "I hope the S Club 8 fans are okay with us being in Britain."

 "If they weren't, they would've said something on our MySpace page," Bailey reassured.

 Then UTurn left their house.

 It's now midnight. Ethan was on his laptop, and on MySpace. He went on UTurn's page, and read their latest posting. It announced that they were leaving for London this week for tech and dance rehearsals for the Girls Aloud tour.

 Ethan felt anger burning inside himself. He's been waiting for UTurn's downfall ever since he got Libby in the group. Instead, the band gained a boost of success with notoriety on the side.

 I must get that f*cking Hawthorne's bullying past leaked, he thought angrily. But I'll be anonymous, and reveal every single detail he did.

 So Ethan created a new email account, and started a new MySpace. He grinned evilly as he set the page up.

 It's the next day, and UTurn had arrived in London, England. As they were almost done unpacking in their suite, Alyson immediately got on her laptop. Andrew noticed it, and asked, "Couldn't wait to read what the British S Club 8 fans have to say?"

 Alyson replied, "I just wanna know if they're okay with us being in Britain. You know how similar we are to S Club 8?"

 Libby, overhearing the couple, commented sarcastically, "And who's fault is that?"

 Alyson retorted, "Shut up, Libby! You weren't the one who formed this group!"

 Libby rolled her eyes, and walked away. Alyson then went back to her laptop, and Andrew joined her. Then the couple saw a link to a MySpace page on the band's page. Alyson clicked on it, and was shocked, as was Andrew.

 On this particular MySpace page, it was titled, "The REAL Andrew Hawthorne". It's summery explained that it's purpose is to expose Andrew's past from the time he entered a Boston elementary school to right before he joined UTurn. There were about eight blogs, explaining his bullying past in each grade. Even these postings showed a few photos of Andrew from first grade to ninth grade.

 Andrew asked angrily, "Who their right mind would leak all this out?"

 Alyson replied, "It's probably someone who grew up with us, went to our schools, and was in most of our classes."

 "That would be you, Bailey, and Libby. Wait, did you write this?"

 "Andrew, I love you. I would never write this! Besides, Libby wasn't in any of our elementary classes except in fifth grade. And Bailey's too nice to pull this kind of shit. So it must be someone who's not in UTurn."

 Andrew thought for a moment, and looked at the blogs. He noticed the first blog, titled "First/Second Grade", didn't have many mentions of his bullying in first grade. It was mostly second grade stuff. Then he muttered, "Ethan!"

 Alyson asked, "What about Ethan?"

 Andrew replied angrily, "Look at one of the blogs! It barely mentioned my bullying in first grade. Ethan didn't come to our old elementary school until second grade. It's obvious that it's him."

 "What are you gonna do?"

 "Call him."

 So Andrew got out his cell phone, and called Ethan. Surprisingly, Ethan answered. Andrew yelled at him, "Jackson! Did you make that f*cking MySpace page that detailed my bullying past?!"

 Ethan replied coldly, "Yeah, I did make that blog. It's about time your crazy-ass fans know the real you. Besides, I had enough of your newfound status as a 'sex god' just cuz of that racy music video. It's time for you to be brought down."

 "Take down that page, or I'll-"

 "Sue me? Yeah, I'm willing to take that chance. No, I'm not gonna take down that page when you got several people confirming your past. They even say that you used to chase Alyson around during first grade. They think you liked her back then. Oh, before I hang up, I'm recording this conversation right now. Face it, Hawthorne, your past has finally caught up with you. It's time to confirm it."

 With that, Ethan hung up, leaving Andrew groaning in frustration. He sat down with Alyson, grabbed her laptop, and read the comments. He noticed that half of them are UTurn fans, and those that are fans don't like Andrew. They confirmed his bullying past, and think he's just pretending to be nice.

 Andrew sighed in frustration. Alyson asked him, "What are you gonna do?"

 Andrew replied, "I have to confirm this. For several years, I haven't denied or confirmed my past. But this is too detailed, and already a lot of people are backing up Ethan. He even recorded my yelling at him. It'll just support him."

 Alyson held Andrew's hands. He looked at her worryingly, and said, "I'm scared, Aly."

 "Scared of what?" she asked.

 "I'm scared that I'll lose my fans. It's like no matter how I try to portray myself as a nice guy, my past follows me."

 "No matter what happens, I'll still be here with you. And so will everyone else. Maybe your fans will still love you. C'mon, you're Andrew Hawthorne. You rival all those other teen heartthrobs, like Zac Efron and Brandon Hilton."

 Andrew laughed, "Oh, I just trumped your Brandon?"

 "I love Brandon, but I love you more. I got to see you naked before anyone got a chance."

 Andrew grinned, and kissed Alyson.

 It's the next day, and UTurn were at an arena for tech rehearsals for the Girls Aloud tour. Even though the first tour stop is at Newcastle, the rehearsals were headquartered in London.

 As the members were on break, Andrew got a call from Maurice. He told Andrew sternly, "Andrew, if you were about to confirm your bullying past, don't do it."

 Andrew asked, "Why not?"

 "I know about the anonymous MySpace page detailing your past. I paid MySpace to shut it down. I'm also wiring the hush money to your bank account."

 "So I'm paid to cover up the truth? Again?"

 "Yes, you are. The PR team is also working around the clock to repair your image. This is the internet, Andrew. One little comment can change everyone and everything."

 Andrew asked angrily, "Well, what if I get asked about my bullying past by interviewers? What do I say if I'm being paid to shut up?"

 Maurice replied angrily, "Maybe you should've thought about that before you started bullying your classmates!"

 Just as Andrew was about to speak, Maurice hung up on him. Andrew turned off his phone, and went back to his band. The members were facing him as he approached them.

 Alyson asked him, "Who was that?"

 Andrew replied, "Maurice. He told me that he paid MySpace to shut down that page that detailed my bullying past. He's also paying me to not confirm my past. He also told me that I should've started bullying people if I knew I was gonna be famous. Like I knew I was gonna be a popstar at age 6."

 The members were silent for a while, and then Bailey spoke up, "Well, at least you keep your past a secret."

 Andrew replied, "Yeah, but for how long? Eventually I'll confirm my past."

 Justin chimed in, "But you're being paid to keep quiet. How are you gonna speak about your past?"

 With that, Andrew was silent.

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sclub8hangout.nl IS AN ACTUAL WEBSITE. NO, IT'S NOT MINE.