CHAPTER FOUR: BANNED DREAMS

April 25, 2003

 It’s been a few weeks of recording their second CD. NR just finished recording a song when they had a meeting with their managers.

 Logan said, “I’ve heard a few songs, and you sound pretty good.”

 The NR members stared at Logan. Then Alex stuttered, “I-I d-don’t r-recognize m-my v-voice.”

 Sophie added, “He told me that he sounds like a robot.”

 Edward said in an irritated tone, “Hell, all of us sound like robots, and a bunch of other singers.”

 Ashley chimed in, “Yeah, and our music sounds way too much like skate5. There’s even a mixture of BG6, S Club, and Liberty X in our music.”

 “I can’t believe you told our producers to make us sound unrecognizable and skate5!”

 With that, both Logan and Peter became confused. Peter said, “We never told the producers that. Look, we didn’t know what was going on until we heard some of the songs. They said it was Epic and Sony that told them to make No Rules do Europop. We told them to change the sound, but they said they weren’t allowed.”

 The NR members looked dejected when they heard that. Then Logan said, “There’s nothing we can do, so you’re stuck with this. In the meantime, you’ll begin taping Dare 2 Dream this Monday. Have you memorized your lines?”

 NR nodded their heads. Then the meeting was over, and the members arrived at their house. They weren’t too happy. Edward made that clear when said, “I can’t believe our labels! They made us sound like robots and skate5! I mean, how is that possible?!”

 Ashley said, “I don’t know, but it feels suspicious. Why would anyone want to make us sound like skate5. We were told that we were the ‘better alternative’ to skate5. We were ‘different’. So why make us like them?”

 Charlie then taunted Alex, “Maybe they’ll cut some members out. Walsh, you’re out of the band.”

 Alex then did something he’s never done before, lash out: “Declan, will you shut the f*** up!? I don’t need anymore of your bloody shit! It’s bad enough I sound like a robot on this CD!”

 With that, Alex stormed off to his room. The members were shocked at how he reacted. He was usually too scared to stand up for himself; but this time he just lashed out! Sophie followed him to his room. She found him in his closet.

 She asked, “Alex, are you okay?”

 Alex shook his head. She continued, “I’m glad you stood up for yourself. You need to do that more often.”

 Alex said calmly, “I guess. It’s just that things aren’t going well. I can see that our second CD will be a failure. I really don’t need anymore trouble from Charlie.”

 With that, Sophie hugged Alex.

 Later that day, NR got a call from Peter. They put him on speakerphone. “No Rules, Logan and I got a message from Epic and Sony. They’re banning us from using the songs you recorded for your second CD for Dare 2 Dream.”

 Edward asked, “So, what do you think we should do?”

 “At the moment, just start your rehearsals for your new single, Let Me Go. Okay? Logan and I will figure out what to do.”

 NR agreed, and then hung up. Ashley asked, “So, now we can’t film Dare 2 Dream?”

 Alex muttered, “It’s getting worse.”

 “What is?”

 Sophie nudged Alex as her way of saying ‘speak up’. He did, and he explained as he slowly gained confidence, “Erm, I feel we’re headed for disaster with this second CD. We sound robotic, and the songs sound like skate5, BG6, Liberty X, Hear’Say, Bubblegum, and the two S Club bands would sing. And our next single, Let Me Go, could be compared to skate5’s music.”

 Then he continued with anger in his voice, “Now we can’t film our TV series? I agree with what you said, Ashley. There’s something suspicious going on!”

 The members were shocked once again at Alex’s growing confidence. Edward said calmly, “Okay, we all agree there’s something weird going on. But let’s just try to make the best of this. Besides, skate5 doesn’t have the best dancer. We do, and that’s Alex.”

 Everyone, except Charlie, hugged Alex. Then Hannah blurted this out, “I bet our sound has been switched.”

 The members stared at Hannah in shocked. Edward asked, “What do you mean?”

 “Well, how else how sound would change from urban-pop to dance-pop?”

 Ashley said, “But if our sound has been switched, who’s doing urban-pop?”

 With that, the members were silent.