CHAPTER TEN: COMES AROUND GOES AROUND

November 22, 2003

 It’s now November, and No Rules are promoting a new single from Tonight (their second CD), Not This Time. Their previous single, the same as their second CD, did well worldwide. But the actual CD didn’t sell as well. Tonight was only released in Britain, and it was moderately successful. Not This Time is only being promoted in Britain, and even then, the new single is not as heavily promoted as their previous singles.

 As for revealing their rivalry with skate5 and BG6, the fans of all three bands were torn. They want to keep supporting all three of them, but they’re not so sure anymore. As a result, NR lost some fans. Most of them stayed though.

 Mariana was at a date with her boyfriend Jeremy at a restaurant. This was their first date in months. Jeremy had been busy filming several movies, while Mariana was busy with NR.

 The couple were in awkward silence. Then Mariana tried to break the silence. “Jeremy, we can’t stay silent forever. We gotta talk sooner or later.”

 Jeremy became irritated, and said, “What’s there to talk about? I’m tired of waiting to film Dare 2 Dream, so I’m filming a few movies.”

 Then Mariana snapped, “Jeremy, No Rules’ having problems with our record labels. We can’t promote our music worldwide; our 3 rival bands are squeezing us out of the charts; our second album has been unsuccessful; and now we’re facing the possibility of splitting up if our latest single doesn’t sell well.”

 Jeremy also snapped, “Well maybe we should break up if No Rules’ having problems!”

 With that, Mariana was in shock. Jeremy noticed her expression. So he said calmly, “Mariana, I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve been stressed out lately.”

 Now it was Mariana’s turn to be irritated, “Oh, and I haven’t been stressed out?”

 Then the couple fell back in their chairs silently. After a few minutes, Mariana spoke up calmly, “Maybe we should take a break for a while until things get sorted out.”

 Jeremy agreed, and the two teens left the restaurant.

 The NR members were in their flat as Mariana returned. They all had a performance earlier in the day, and were resting up. They were watching TV when they heard Alex cussed out loudly. Then Alex stormed up to Charlie.

 Alex said to him angrily, “I know it was you!”

 Charlie breathed a heavy sigh, and asked out of irritation, “What did I do this time, Walsh?”

 “This never happened before, until today!”

 “What?”

 “Gay rumours about me! Everyone knows I’m with Sophie ever since that obviously botched interview a few months ago!”

 The members were shocked when they heard this, except Charlie. Sophie scolded Charlie, “Charlie! How can do this to my boyfriend?”

 Charlie laughed as he replied, “Yeah, I planted those rumours. It’s easy to make this shit up considering Alex a metro-sexual.”

 Alex exclaimed, “I’m not a metro-sexual! It’s all an act! I hate designer stuff. I even think modeling is stupid!”

 “Oh, so what are you? A punk? A goth? A…freak?”

 With that, Alex punched Charlie in the face. As he was about to retaliate, Alex beat him up. None of the members stopped him.

 After a few minutes of beating Charlie up, Alex stopped. He realized what he did, and ran to his room. He ransacked his side of the room he shared with Edward to find something sharp. All he found was a pair of scissors. He went into the bathroom, and locked it. He rolled up one of his sleeves from his black jacket. His arms had a bunch of really old scars, but it also had a few new ones. He had relapsed to cutting due to No Rules’ rising problems.

 Alex pointed the scissors toward his wrist. He was hesitant, and started sweating. Then he threw the scissors harshly to the floor. He paced around in the bathroom, and then he stopped to look at himself in the mirror.

 While looking at the mirror, he remembered when he was 13, with bruises all over his body, and having two black eyes. Then, out of anger, he punched the mirror. The mirror shattered to the floor. He saw his right hand, the hand that he used to punch the mirror, was bleeding. He grabbed a long gauze to cover his hand.

 An hour later, Sophie entered Alex and Edward’s room. She found Alex in his closet, trying to write in his notebook. She saw his hand covered with a white bandage.

 Alex knew what she was thinking, so he said quietly, “I punched the bathroom mirror.”

 Sophie gave Alex a hug. He added, “I’m guessing you’re not mad about me beating up Declan.”

 “No, I’m not mad. It’s been a long time coming. He deserved it for treating you like crap. I’m glad you stood up for yourself. Before you would’ve too scared to even say anything, now you’re actually defending yourself.”

 Alex gave a small smile, and kissed Sophie on the lips.

 An hour later, Alphie came downstairs to face the other members. Sophie said, “He’s fine now.”

 Ashley said, “That’s good. We were talking with Charlie, and he agreed to not talk to and mess with Alex for a year. That way there’ll be peace during all the trouble we’re having with Epic.”

 Alex smiled, knowing there will be peace within the band. Despite the trouble they’re receiving from Epic.

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NO RULES' SINGLE, 'NOT THIS TIME,' IS IN THE EXTERNAL LINK>>>