ChapterFourteen:The Tour

FLASHBACK-Friday, November 30, 2001

Alex looked through the window in the cab. His parents were with him on the trip to London. They had to drop him off at the hotel he would be staying at with his bandmates. A part of him was trying to find the building, but he was also entranced by the busyness of the city.

It was the second time he was in London. It still felt surreal to be in this city. It was where all the industry stuff was. The music scene, the TV shows, the West End shows. It was where dreams would come true. It felt like that when he was added to juniorConnect.

The cab stopped in front of a hotel that looked like it might've been around since the Victorian Age. Alex got out of the car with his parents. They all took out his luggage, soon walking inside.

As they entered the lift, Alex's mother said, "I know London is this amazing city, but make sure you stay with your new friends. Don't drift away from them. Make sure you do your homework. You have your GCSEs coming up. Don't talk to strangers, both in person and online."

Alex laughed, albeit nervously, "Mum! I'll be fine!"

She hugged him. "I know, Alex. I just want you to be safe."

He hugged back. "I'm sure I will be."

His father added, "And make sure you call us. We gave you that cellular for a reason."

"I know, dad," he said as he broke away from his mother.

The three walked down the hall to find Alex's hotel suite. He looked at the artwork, feeling out of place. This was much too posh for his liking. Sure, he knew his parents had some money. They were a middle-class family, but they were nowhere near being rich.

Alex looked at the paper where his room would be. He saw he was standing in front of the door with that number. He knocked on it, feeling the nerves swimming in his stomach.

He watched the door being opened by a woman that seemed to be around his mother's age. The woman asked, "Alexander Tredinnick?"

He nodded his head, too nervous to actually speak. The woman led both him and his parents inside the suite. Alex saw his bandmates huddling over something on the coffee table. There were eight people, three guys and five girls. Alex was the fourth boy in the band.

He grinned, flashing his braces, as he walked up to his bandmates. He may have been nervous, but he was ready for this new life as a popstar.

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FLASHFORWARD-Friday, December 18, 2004

Clothes folded inside a suitcase, flapped zipped up. Alex sat on his bed for the last time. He looked at the room he shared with Caleb. It was almost empty; the whole house was bare. Sarah and Holly had already packed and left. Caleb was still around, taking his time.

Alex was told the two girls got the call to hurry up and get their things. He wasn't sure what was going on with Caleb. Alex did get a phone call from Seth, but he didn't answer it. He let the voicemail get filled up.

He felt his phone buzz. He picked it up, seeing it was the dance troupe he applied to. He flipped it open, and asked, "Hello?"

"Alex!" the director greeted excited. "I'm calling you to let you to ask if you're available next month. After the holidays, perhaps?"

Alex looked at the calendar on the wall. It was part of the juniorConnect merch. There was nothing underneath it. He debated whether or not to take it home to give to his parents. He was sure they would cherish it, despite the writings scribbled all over. He made none of his bandmates' faces were blacked out by accident.

He said to the director, "Yeah, I am."

"Brilliant! Can you begin work on the third of January?"

"Yeah, I can."

"Alright! We'll see you then!"

Alex closed his phone. He had found an apartment near where the dance studio was situated. He wasn't going to move in just yet. He was going home to his family first.

He took the calendar off the wall before walking out of the room with his suitcase. He saw Caleb walking up towards him. "Leaving already?" he asked.

Alex replied, "I have to."

"Maybe the band will keep going?"

"I doubt it. Rachel's got that presenting gig. I just joined a dance troupe."

"Or maybe I'll get a solo career?"

Alex shrugged. "Why not? You're popular and all."

Caleb scoffed, "You're still more popular than me."

He rolled his eyes. "Bye, Caleb."

"See you again sometime?"

"Yeah, whatever," Alex said as he walked towards the door.

He looked at the interior one last time. It felt like it was yesterday that he had barely turned fourteen and arrived in London. Now he was seventeen, watching all he and his bandmates worked for fade away.

Alex was back to where he started, as a nobody. Well, he was still a public figure, but on what scale? He didn't have a MySpace account. He didn't feel like joining the fan forums, knowing they could get toxic pretty quick.

For once, he was scared of what his future held. Will he have to attend a university? Maybe do Sixth Form? Will he continue his music career? Or could he become a renowned choreographer? Or will he have to take on a normal job like everyone else?

He didn't want to fade into obscurity. He still wanted both his name and his face out there. Maybe he will eventually, but for now, his cab was waiting for him.

Alex walked into the car, looking at the band house one final time. His time as a teen celebrity was over. The future was unknown. It was time to start over as a nobody from the edge of England.

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PRESENT DAY-Monday, December 12, 2005

Alex entered the dance studio with his bandmates. It was the first day of their rehearsals for the upcoming spring tour, The Say It's Nightfall 2006 Tour. It was to cover Ireland, the UK, France, and Germany; the areas where Connect8 had some level of popularity. Well, they were much bigger in Britain.

As Alex put down his gym bag, he heard voices entering the room. He looked up, seeing Seth and some people from his team with him. Alex glanced at his bandmates, who seemed just as confused.

Lauren asked as she approached the men, "What's going on?"

Seth said, "Everyone! I have an announcement to make!"

The band stood closer together. Seth began: "So I got an opening act for your British leg of your tour."

"I think I know who it is," Alex heard Diana muttering. Alex secretly hoped she was right.

"You know that American act I told you about? The one I signed? UTurn?"

Diana said sourly, "Yeah, we know."

"Well, they will be the opening act for the tour!"

Alex couldn't believe what he heard. UTurn, the band that was clearly inspired by Connect8, was going to open for them. He ignored everything else Seth was saying. Something about the American band releasing music in the UK? Sounded about right.

"Alex?" Seth asked. "Are you still with us?"

He blinked, "Yeah, I am."

"So UTurn will be here in London at the end of February. They'll be living with you lot for a little while. It's to make sure both bands will get along with each other."

Diana scoffed. Alex, on the other hand, felt his heart beating. He would be under the same roof as Andrew. Why am I chasing after Andrew? That guy has a girlfriend!

Alex looked away, trying to block out those thoughts. At the same time, just the thought of being around Andrew felt surreal. Hell, meeting a pop group formed by a fangirl felt like a dream. It was like Connect8 were truly an influence.

Maybe his band that was mostly popular in the UK were the voices of his generation. Or maybe that was too grand of a label for them. Still, they were an influence, potential legends. For Alex, it meant he wasn't a nobody. There were people who knew who he was, both within England and outside. He may have felt trapped by the confines of the paparazzi and the internet trolls, but at least he was a somebody.