CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE TEENAGE BRITISH INVANSION

August 2, 2002

   It’s now August, and No Rules have just arrived in Los Angeles, USA. They have two very big projects to do in America: The Radio Disney World Summer Tour with pop mixed groups Jump5 and A*Teens, and Swedish girl group Play (Play was just recently added to the tour’s set-list); and No Rules’ American debut on the 2002 Teen Choice Awards.

  No Rules have actually rehearsed for the TCA’s a month earlier. As soon as they received the news, they began working with the stage designer and their choreographer. The debut was going to be the biggest compared to their first appearance at the Radio1 concert in April. Everything has been set up to market NR in America as the next British Invasion.

   As for their tour, NR are to sing more songs as their debut album is about to be released in September in Britain. They’ve also met with the other pop acts. NR were actually given warm welcomes, compared skate5’s initial hostility, and BG6’s growing jealousy.

  It’s the day before NR performed the TCA’s. They did tech and dress rehearsals all day for the opening act, which is their debut. Even though they were exhausted, the two power couples, Ashward (Ashley/Edward) and Alphie (Alex/Sophie), decided to go on a double-date.

   Since they weren’t familiar with LA, and don’t know how to drive the ‘American way’, they went their hotel’s restaurant. They all sat together at a table for four. As they got their menus, they started talking.

  Ashley said excitedly, “Can you believe we’re finally in America? And we haven’t even released our debut CD yet!”

  Sophie added, “OMG, I know! It’s a little strange, but great anyway.”

  Edward said, “Yeah, don’t most British popstars wait about a year to come to America after they release their stuff? Well, I’m not complaining. The sooner we make it here, the more suck5 get pissed.”

  Ashley said in a disgusted tone, “Ugh, they’re such pricks.”

  Alex, who’s been the most quiet, spoke up, “I think we’re getting too big too fast.”

  Edward asked, “What do you mean?”

  Alex replied, “I mean, look at us. We’re heavily promoting our music whilst being on 3 tours. We’ll be releasing our debut album, premiering our TV programme, and releasing our own franchise which includes a CD walkman, a small clothing line, a bed line, and a doll line. All at the same, and it’s our first year.”

  Ashley said, “I remember it was like that with the Spice Girls…and I think I know what you mean.”

  Sophie said, “We couldn’t burn out that quickly. We’ve just started."

  Edward said, “We might, or we might not. Look, we just came America. We’ll see how far we’ll go. Who knows, maybe things will slow down a bit. But in a good way.”

  Alex said in an uncertain tone, “I guess, but I’m not sure.”

  Sophie said reassuring, “Don’t worry, Alex. We’re young, so we’ll be fine. Hopefully we’ll last as long, but we all should stick together with no replacements.”

  Edward said with a short laugh, “Yea, but we replace Declan with some other guy, and maybe add an eighth member.”

  Ashley said, “8’s a bit much.”

  “So as being a 7-piece, but we’re doing well so far. I mean, look at S Club and S Club Juniors. They’re doing pretty well. So maybe us as an 8-piece could go far. But we should tell the others about your concerns.”

  It’s a few hours later, and the two couples went back to their suite in the hotel. They gathered everyone, except Charlie, in one of the girls’ rooms. Alex told them his concerns. The members also became concerned, but agreed to stick together no matter what.

    It’s the next day, and skate5 had been given two weeks off after their tour ended. They arrived in LA, the same day as No Rules are to make their big American debut on the Teen Choice Awards!

    A few weeks earlier, skate5 overheard that NR were performing on the TCA’s. Kimmy got a hold of five hard-to-get, very expensive tickets and backstage passes. She forced them on the skate5 members.

    As they were walking out of LAX to go to their taxis, Jake questioned Kimmy, “So, why are going to America, just to watch No Rules open the Teen Choice Awards?”

  Libby said bitterly, “I bet you’re gonna try to upstage them.”

 Kimmy then stopped walking, and turned to face the members. She said to them, “Remember when we first came to America? We were just tweens, and our debut performance was well-received?”

  Matt asked, “On the Today Show?”

  “Exactly. Since More Rules’ are being promoted like they’re the next big thing since the Spice Girls and S Club, I wanna see if they’ll be topping out debut.”

  The skate5 member exchanged weirded-out glances as Kimmy walked off arrogantly.

  It’s now evening, and the Teen Choice Awards are about to start. skate5 sat in the middle of the audience. Since they’re not exactly very big in America, not a whole lot of the teen audience recognized them.

  Then show is now starting. First, a video was shown. It showed the No Rules members and their names. The narrator called them the ‘Teenage British Invasion’. When it ended, it showed the band’s new logo, which the band’s name on a Underground sign. 

  Then the NR members were now ascending on stage, with eight backup dancers. They performed a new song, which on the show’s program said it was titled Tell Me Now. All the NR girls sang. Next was Get Someone Else, sung by the boys. Last was Energized. They interacted with the audience by getting off the stage, and walking in the aisles as each member sang its’ part. Then they went back onto the stage. As the song ended, NR went on the steps on the stage, and they descended.

   The audience loved their performance, which was very much lavish. The teen and tween audience loved the NR boys. They even memorized their names! As for skate5, Kimmy was in shock, while the others were cheered.

  Three hours later, the TCA’s were over. NR were allowed to watch the rest of the awards show. When it was all over, Kimmy dragged the skate5 members to meet with NR backstage. The NR members were shocked to see them there.

   Ashley asked, “What you all doing here?”

 Kimmy said coldly, “We came to see how the competition does with their American debut compared to us.”

  Edward asked, “Didn’t you premiere your stuff here just last year?”

   Kimmy “Yeah, we did.”

  Ashley asked smugly, “We upstaged you, didn’t we?”

  Kimmy lashed out, “That performance was so out there! I can’t believe you now got fans so soon! And you did it whilst singing live! On live TV!!!”

   Edward said, “You look like you’re about explode.”

   The NR  snickered at Edward’s remark. Jake added, “Kim, you do look like you about blow up.”

  Kimmy growled, “Shut up, Jacob f*cking Tisdale!!!”

   Jake laughed sarcastically, “Wow, since when did the F-word become my middle name?”

   Kimmy then faced NR as she said, “And what was up with the British symbols? It’s like you went on overload with them or something!”

  Both the NR and skate5 members stared at Kimmy. Ashley said in an irritated, “Erm, you’re British. So why should it bother you?”

 Kimmy just gave a glare, and then stormed off an angry groan. Jake told the NR members nervously, “Erm, I thought your performance was great. I love the British symbols. Anyway, great show.”

    Then skate5 hastily left. NR stood there. They were slightly stunned, then they laughed it off.

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THIS IS NO RULES' AMERICAN LOGO AND THEIR LATEST SINGLE, TELL ME NOW, IN THE VID>>>>