CHAPTER ONE: EIGHT RULES?

January 3, 2005

 At a newspaper stand, there was a girl reading a magazine. The magazine had the re-rising pop band No Rules on the cover, and the headline said, ‘No Rules’ Vengeance’.

 Just then, another girl spoke up with irritation in her voice, “Tara, stop reading about that number band.”

 Tara whined, “But I love staring at Alex Walsh. He’s so hot!”

 “Ugh, that guy is such an arrogant arse.”

 “He’s so not!”

 Suddenly, the NR-hating girl’s boyfriend spoke up. “Seriously, that band has a bunch of fakes. And I don’t like that Alan guy.”

 His girlfriend said, “Yeah, they think they’re the best, especially Alan.”

 Tara, getting irritated, exclaimed, “His name is Alex, and they ARE the best! They’re better than that skate5 band.”

 “Oh god, that band is even worse.”

 The guy said, “Honestly, all those bands suck. Tara, Erica, let’s go somewhere else.”

 Tara said “Let me stare at Alex just one more time.”

 Erica said, “OMFG, I’m gonna hear more about your dreams of having sex with Alan.”

 Tara screamed “IT’S ALEX!!!”

 Erica also screamed, “ALAN!”

 “ALEX!!!”

 “WHO F*CKING CARES!!!”

 Tara rolled her eyes. With that, Tara, Erica, and Luke (Erica’s boyfriend) walked away from the newspaper stand. Soon they saw the EMI Records building.

 Tara squealing, “OMG! It’s EMI! I wonder if we’re see No Rules!”

 Erica and Luke rolled their eyes. Just then, Luke eyed an expensive looking car parked next to the building. Erica knew where Luke was looking, so she ran to the car.

 She covered her hand with the sleeve of her ratty, oversized, black hoodie. She broke into the window that was next to the steering wheel. Suddenly, she heard a man call after her. So she ran off.

 Erica ran as fast as she could, but she couldn’t lose him. Soon, she was stop by a couple of police officers. The man caught up with her. One of the officers asked, “What is she in for?”

 The man said breathlessly, “This young lady was attempting to steal my car!”

 Then he said to Erica, “I’m going to call your parents. They’ll pick you up.”

 She spat, “I don’t have parents. Not even siblings. They’re all dead. I don‘t even have foster parents.”

 “Fine. I’ll have the police keep you in jail.”

 “Go ahead. It’s not like I have something to live for.”

 Then the man thought of something. He had the police to let her go, and asked, “Can you sing?”

 “What kind of f*cked up question is that?”

 “Can you sing or not?”

 Erica sighed heavily, and sang Perfect by Simple Plan. The man liked what he heard; Erica was on-key, and had a high voice with raspy voice.

 A few hours later, No Rules were at a boardroom at EMI. They were waiting for their managers. They were called for an impromptu meeting.

 Finally, Peter entered the room. Edward asked, “So why are we called in?”

 Peter said, “Okay, you know that in your contract, you’re allowed to have 8 people in No Rules, right?”

 Mariana asked excitedly, “OMG, Jeremy Wilds is joining No Rules?”

 Peter said “No, actually it’s an unknown singer. She’s 16, and from East London.”

 Peter called Logan on the intercom. Logan entered the boardroom with their producer Calvin, and a girl dressed in rags with messy brownish-blonde hair.

 Logan announced, “This is Erica Reed, and she’s joining No Rules.”

 Both Erica and NR were in shock. She said angrily, “I’m not joining that band!”

 Hannah said angrily, “That thing better not join this band!”

 “Who you calling a ‘thing’?! I’ll have you know that I’ll beat your arse!”

 Charlie said in an irritated tone, “Peter, did you and Logan approve of this?”

 Logan explained, “Yes we did. And Erica must join No Rules. She needs to pay for the damages she did on Calvin’s car. She’s an orphan, homeless, and a criminal. Social Services allowed Erica to join. She’ll have a place to live, a bed to sleep on, food to eat, clothes to wear, and she’ll be earning money.”

 Peter added, “In addition to that, Erica must stay in No Rules until she’s 18. By then she can decide if she wants to stay or not. Oh, and this band will remain an eight-piece until you split up.”

 So Erica reluctantly signed the contract. No Rules are now an 8-piece. Will it work?