CHAPTER ELEVEN: SELF-DESTRUCTIVE ISOLATION

January 28, 2002

    It’s been a few weeks of filming Dare 2 Dream. The filming has slowed down a bit. It was due to most of the No Rules members going to a school near their house. They had GCSE exams colliding with the filming. Only Alex and Hannah had no exams. For maybe a year or two. So in the meantime, Alex and Hannah, along with the rest of the cast, continued filming whatever parts they had.

    It was lunchtime for the cast, and Jeremy and cast member Eliza Monteith were at a nearby bistro. Eliza is well-known actress in Ireland, even though she’s British. She’s from Northern Ireland.

    Jeremy asked her, “So, how’s London for you?”

    Eliza replied, “Well, it’s bigger than Dublin, that’s for sure.”

    “What do you think of that new band we’re working with, No Rules?”

   “I could care less for Charlie, but I like everyone else. But I don’t get that Alex. How is he supposed to be in year 8 when he’s 10?”

    “Mariana told me that he’s 14. I know, he looks really young. But he’s awfully quiet.”

    “And kind of angry. He’s probably the most fowl-mouthed 14-year-old I’ve ever met.”

    “Yeah, I’ve heard him drop a few F-bombs.”

    “I’ve tried to get to know him, but he seems very shy.”

  “Mariana also told me that he doesn’t like to make new friends immediately. He prefers to get to know the person slowly.”

    “You know, we should show him that we’d be great friends with him.”

    “I guess. But we shouldn’t rush him. Let him take his time.”

  When Eliza and Jeremy returned to the set of Dare 2 Dream, they approached Alex, who was reading his lines. He was alone.

  Jeremy called out, “Oi Alex, Eliza and I were talking, and we were thinking of inviting you and the rest of No Rules for maybe a party.”

    Alex repled shyly, “Erm, I’ll tell them. I don’t think I’ll go, though.”

    Eliza said, “C’mon, Alex, it would be fun. Oi, we can ignore Charlie since no one likes him.”

    “Erm, no thanks,” he muttered.

    Then Jeremy said, “Okay. We’d just thought we’d make you feel welcome.”

    Alex just glanced at Eliza and Jeremy, and walked away.

    “I feel sorry for him,” she told him

    He responded, “Like I said, we shouldn’t rush him. Give him time.”

    It’s the next day, and the rest of the members arrived for filming. Charlie was drinking his coffee when he overheard Eliza, Mariana, and Jeremy talking.

   Eliza said, “So Jeremy and I suggested that we throw a small cast party with No Rules. We wanted to make Alex feel comfortable around us.”

    Jeremy added, “But he refused. He seemed kind of scared. But I told Eliza that Alex needs time.”

    Mariana responded warmly, “Aawww, that’s sweet of you two. But I have to agree with Jeremy. Alex needs time to get used to the cast. I mean, look at No Rule. He’s slowly becoming friends with us. He’s already dating Sophie, and she’s helping him come out of his shell.”

  With that, Charlie ran off to find Alex. He found him in his dressing room, dancing. Charlie marched up to Alex, and yanked off his headphones. He was startled by this.

    He told Alex coldly, “I heard that Eliza and Jeremy were gonna throw a kick-ass party. They invited you, but you declined it. Why is that?”

    Alex was too scared to speak, so he slowly walked backwards.

  Charlie continued, “Tell me, were you selfish? Scared? Stuck-up? C’mon, Walsh, tell me the truth.”

    Alex stuttered, “P-Please d-don’t b-beat m-me u-up.”

  Just then, Charlie heard his name called out. He turned to see it was Sophie. She told him, sternly, “Charlie, stay away from Alex.”

    “I’m trying to get something out of him.”

    She said angrily, “Get away from him, or I’ll call security!”

    With that, Charlie stormed out of the dressing room. Alex ran up to Sophie, and hugged her. She asked him calmly, “What was he trying do?”

    Alex replied calmly, “Yesterday, Eliza and Jeremy invited me to a party they’re throwing for us. They invited me, but I turned it down. I’m guessing Charlie found out about that party cuz he looked like he was gonna beat me up.”

    “Why’d you turn down the offer?”

    He said quietly, “I’m shy, Sophie. I prefer to be alone, and not talk to anyone.”

    “Eliza and Jeremy are nice people. They mean well. Look, we’re in the music industry now. We’re about to become famous. I’m not trying to force yourself out of your shell, but this industry will. So you need take up that offer. Having piercings and a foul mouth won’t make you tough.”

    Alex slowly grew a smile, and then he followed Sophie out the dressing room.

    A few hours later, Charlie stormed up to Jeremy and Eliza. He said coldly, “Oi, if you wanna know why Alex turned down your little party?”

  Jeremy said, “Actually, he changed his mind. He told us that he wants to go the party this weekend.”

  Eliza asked suspiciously, “Yeah, and how’d you know about the party? We weren’t gonna invite you.”

    Charlie answered, “Alex wants to use his weekends for self-destruction.”

    Then he walked away.

  It’s now Saturday evening. Everyone in No Rules came to Jeremy’s house, except for Charlie. Eliza was also there. During the small party, Alex didn’t talk much. He clearly had fun, but was still shy. Then Jeremy and Eliza took him aside.

    He asked Alex “Alex, what’s up with Charlie?”

    Alex replied, “He’s just f*cked up. Why?”

    Eliza asked, “Then why he did say you do self-harm on the weekends?”

    Alex knew exactly what they meant. He said nervously, “I-I don’t do that on the weekends.”

   Eliza and Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief. Then Alex rolled up his sleeves from his shirt. Eliza and Jeremy saw his scarred arms. They were in shock.

  He said to them in a serious tone, “I used to do this almost everyday, though. I don’t show my scars, but since you and the rest of cast works with No Rules, you have to know. My in-house doctor told me to do this. I’m recovering, but there’s still more to be done.”

    With that, Eliza hugged Alex. He hugged her back.

    Jeremy told him, “We’ll help you through this.”

    Eliza agreed. Alex gave a small smile. Then the three went back to the small party.