CHAPTER SEVEN: DOUBLE DATE

June 13, 2003

 It’s now June, and No Rules are heavily promoting their single, Let Me Go. They’re now in NYC, but they made sure their gigs were ‘surprises’ because of their labels Epic and Sony.

 It’s evening, and the band’s two power couples, Alphie (Alex/Sophie) and Ashward (Ashley/Edward), are getting ready for their double date. Mariana, Charlie, and Hannah stayed behind in their suite.

 Alphie and Ashward arrived at a posh restaurant. As they got their foods, they talked about everything, except about the problems with their labels.

 When they finished eating, they talked about what to next. Sophie suggested, “I think we should watch a movie.”

 Ashley said, “I don’t know. I want us to walk around Central Park.”

 Alex said cautiously, “I heard there’s crime at night in Central Park. Besides, we’re not completely familiar with New York City. London yeah, but not NYC.”

 Both Ashley and Sophie pouted. Then Edward said, “I have to agree with Alex on this. So, how about a movie instead?”

 Ashley said, “Okay, but none of the horror rubbish.”

 Now it was Alex and Edward’s turn to pout. Edward said, “Fine, but make sure it has common English. I can’t understand half of what those stories from 100 years ago are saying.”

 Sophie beamed, “Don’t worry, my Alex can translate what they’re saying. He’s the smarty one.”

 Alex blushed at that comment. So the two went to a movie theater nearby their hotel.

 After the movie was over, the two couples decided to walk separately to the hotel. Edward really wanted to talk to Ashley about NR. He told her, “I’m not sure what to do, but I think we should confront our labels.”

 Ashley said, “I don’t know, I want to avoid confrontations. But if we have to, we’ll confront them.”

 “Do you want No Rules to stick around, and show skate5 that we’ll be successful? Without getting replacements?”

 “I do, Edward. But I’m scared.”

 “Of what?”

 “What if we’re forced to split up? I mean, what if Alex’s right about the direction we’re heading? I know he’s usually pessimistic about everything, but for some weird reason he’s usually right.”

 “Look, I agree with Alex that we’re headed for disaster here. But if it gets to the point when we lose everything due to our labels and skate5, we’ll fight for what’s rightfully ours. Our music, our TV series, our everything. We won’t back down, and we won’t split up. Are you really willing to fight for No Rules?”

 Ashley smiled as she replied with determination, “Yea, I’m willing to fight.”

 Edward smiled, and hugged Ashley. 

 At the same time, Alex and Sophie were walking to the hotel. She asked Alex, “So how was the date considering we haven’t been on a date for ages?”

 Alex replied, “Our last date was, erm, the date you set up for me on my fourteenth birthday?”

 Shocked, Sophie asked, “That long?”

 Alex laughed, “Yea, we were busy with everything. It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it. That date really turned my life around for the better.”

 “Really?”

 Alex smiled, “You were the first person that I could fully trust.”

 “You went through so much crap, you deserve to be treated with respect. And I’m glad to see you smile and laugh. You deserve something positive.”

 Alex then frowned as he said, “Yea, but there’s much to smile about since I fear that No Rules’ headed for disaster. Something’s up, and I want to know what it is.”

 “Look, we’ll be fine. We’re No Rules, we’ll win this fight. We’ll surprise the world with our rise to international success. But if we want that, we must fight against our labels and our rival skate5. In the end, we’ll be as successful and influential. But with all seven of us, but replace Charlie with another guy, and maybe add an eighth member.”

 Alex laughed, “Okay, let’s take this one step at a time. But yea, I’m willing to fight for No Rules. I’ll do whatever I can to pursue my dream as a performer, and stay out of Swansea.”

 With that, Alex and Sophie kissed. The Alex said, “I actually wrote a song for you. It’s the lightest song I’ve ever written.”

 Sophie grinned, and Alex sang to her. When he was finished, they were just outside their hotel suite. Then he gave Sophie a box. She saw a ring in there.

 Alex said as he grinned, “It’s a promise ring. I love you, and I don’t want to lose you. I want us to be together.”

 Sophie, getting emotional, said, “OMG, I love you too!”

 Once again, Alex and Sophie kissed. Soon they went into a full-fledged make-out session. They went into a janitor’s closet, and continued making out.

 Then Sophie tried to take Alex’s pants off, but he started to scream ‘No’. With that, Sophie stopped and remembered that Alex was raped a few years earlier.

 She said to him quietly, “I’m sorry. We won’t hook up until you‘re ready. Okay?”

 Alex nodded his head. Then Sophie gave him a small hug, and the couple went to their suite. They saw that Edward and Ashley had been in the suite for some time.