Chapter5-Guilty Switch

October 10th, 2011

 It’s now October. Bailey and Justin were released from the hospital, and are now back with 7th Anthem. By now, they’re still sore and bandaged, but they were able to walk. As for Bailey, she contacted the band’s manager that she was going to rehab for her partying, drinking, and getting high ways.

 When she made this announcement, that put the future of 7A’s tour uncertain. He asked the girls if they sing her parts. They agreed they will. Bailey appreciated the gesture. She booked a 30-day stay at rehab center in Los Angeles. She asked if she could be sent there as soon as she’s released from the hospital in Vancouver. Once she was released, she packed her belonging that she brought along on the tour, and left for LA.

 As for Justin, since he was still seriously injured, he was advised by both Brandon and the tour production team to not dance. He was allowed to perform, but he must be sitting on either a stool, or on the stairs, as there are stairs on stage for the concerts. He agreed to this arrangement.

 Because of the car accident, 7A had to cancel a few stops, as they were on a tight schedule. They were able to savage their last stop on their North American leg of their tour, which was Boston.

 As soon as Bailey and Justin were released, six of the 7A members left for Boston. It was a three-day concert, and it has been sold-out. They are very famous in Boston, as they were first pop act from Boston since New Kids On The Block to become an international sensation.

 When 7A arrived in Boston, Justin was apparently not very excited to back at his hometown during the first half of his teen years. The members noticed that he looked depressed while he was unpacking at their suite.

 Alyson approached him, and asked, “Are you okay, Justin? You’ve been upset since Bailey left for rehab.”

 He replied, “Of course I’m upset. I pushed my own girlfriend away and cheated on her. All because I didn’t want to deal with her partying ways. I was the one that caused that care accident. I should’ve done more to stop her from driving the car. I was the one who sent her to rehab. I was the one who led her to drinking and getting high on weed. It was all my fault.”

 “Not everything was your fault. Yes, you didn’t help her situations by pushing her away, cheating on her, and breaking up with her. But once you came to your senses, you did your best to save her from herself. You showed that you still cared about her.”

 With that, Justin stormed out of the suite, leaving Alyson feeling concerned for him. She walked up to Andrew, who saw and heard everything.

 She told him, “I’m concerned for Justin. I haven’t seen him this depressed since…pretty much never.”

 Andrew said, “He does seem pretty bummed out over Bailey. He should make things right with her, but I doubt it.”

 “Why not?” Alyson retorted.

 “You know how Justin is. He can be nice, but he’s sketchy. I’ve been great friends with him, but I keep getting a nagging feeling that there’s something not right about him.”

 “You’re just saying that cuz he used to cheat off your tests back in middle and high school.”

 “It’s not just. I don’t know. There’s something about him that rubs me the wrong way. You didn’t get that feeling when you were dating him?”

 Alyson thought for a moment, and answered, “Kind of. He wasn’t really that open towards me. Then again, I only dated him cuz he’s British, and I was crazy for S Club 8 back then. I still am, of course.”

 Andrew smiled as he said, “Of course you’re still a big S Club 8 fan. You still listen to that Sundown CD. I’m amazed how that CD still works. It’s really worn out.”

 Alyson beamed as she said, “It’s like a really good vinyl, except our generation’s vinyl were CDs.”

 With that, Andrew and Alyson shared a light kiss on the lips.

 A little later, Justin was at the hotel bar. It was night when 7A arrived in Boston. He already had two alcoholic drinks. He was still very much depressed.

 Just then, Brandon sat next to him. He was also visibly upset. Justin noticed, so he asked, “What’s getting you upset? You still miss Andrew? You might as well forget about him. He’s very much straight now.”

 Brandon replied, “Of course I still miss Andrew. He’s not like any other guy. And no, he’s not really straight. He told both me and Alyson that he still finds lads attractive, just not as much as he finds girls attractive.”

 “Maybe you’ll find another Andrew.”

 Brandon scoffed, “Yeah, right. He was special, but I accept his relationship with Alyson. I always knew they were meant to be. I could see it in how they interact with each other. They would be very loving and caring towards one another.”

 Then the two guys were silent. Justin soon broke the silence by telling him, “When I was starting middle school, which would be secondary school back in England, I wanted to be the alternative to Andrew. He was popular, but that was because he made sure he was. He instilled fear in everyone, whilst all the girls were swooning over him.

 “I always felt like I had to compete against him. Instead of bullying a bunch of students who were older than me, I would create pranks with my American football team. I would slack on my homework, and cheat off of Andrew’s tests. He was one of the smartest blokes.”

 Brandon stared at Justin, and then he asked, “Why the fuck did you want to compete with Andrew?”

 Justin gave a smug smile as he replied, “I have my reasons. Let’s just say he and I started off on the wrong foot as soon as I moved to America.”

 “Did Andrew know what you were doing?”

 “Oh yeah, he knew. He didn’t like it. I could tell he was getting nervous, so he ended up targeting the students who did performing arts and threaten a bunch of nonsense lawsuits. It didn’t help when we entered high school that he was one of smallest guys in the school. I looked older and bigger than him, whilst he looked like he was ten.”

 Brandon said, “I remember when I joined S Club Juniors, I was the oldest member in the group. But I looked a lot younger than everyone else. Like, how can Calvin and Jay look older than me when I’m two years older than they are?”

 Justin laughed, “Yea, I saw those pictures of you. I remember when Alyson and Bailey got into S Club 8, Alyson would always tell me that Calvin was fit. She would always ignore you, but you soon grew on her. Then she started comparing Andrew to you. It makes sense, though. Andrew actually prefers dancing than singing and acting. Dance is his main interest. But he has the strongest voice among the guys, so he was installed as the male lead singer. I remember he would get annoyed by those comparisons.”

 The two guys shared a laugh. Then Justin did something shocking…he kissed Brandon! On the lips! Brandon was shocked by this move. He knew for some time that Justin was bisexual, but it was unclear if he was going gay, or he was just experimenting.

 Brandon pushed him away, and said, “What the fuck was that for? Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

 Justin explained, “I don’t deserve her. I pushed her away, and now she’s in rehab because of me.”

 “Okay, I don’t really feel comfortable about this. I don’t want to be an experiment for you. Andrew treated me like one, and he didn’t care he broke my heart.”

 Justin then said seductively, “I’m not Andrew, aren’t I? Besides, he’s not that crazy about guys. I tried to make him my boyfriend, but he was desperate to get back with Alyson.”

 “I’m not about to get my heart broken again. I’m going back to my room.”

 Justin grabbed Brandon by the waist, and kissed him again. Brandon wasn’t budging, so he pushed him away again. Then Brandon stormed off to his room.

 Justin stood there, and was getting ready to walk away when he saw Andrew standing nearby. He saw Andrew’s shocked expression.

 He walked as fast as he could towards Andrew, but he groaned in pain, and he was limping. He said to Andrew once he met up with him, “Andrew, it’s not what it seems. He’s nothing like you.”

 Andrew asked angrily, “What the fuck are you doing? Aren’t you supposed to be back with Bailey?”

 “I don’t deserve her, Andrew. I pushed her into rehab.”

 “So you’re answer to your problem is to try to sleep with Brandon? And what do you mean he’s not like me?”

 “He’s not easy to seduce, but you, Andrew, are. As for Brandon, I’ve always thought he was fit. Don’t you agree that he’s hot?”

 “Yeah, he’s hot…and I’m not easy! Well, not anymore. I’m serious with Alyson now.”

 Justin grew a smug grin as he asked, “Then why are you bothered with me snogging Brandon? Do you still have feelings for him?”

 Andrew said flatly, “No, I moved on, but I still care about him. He really was heartbroken when I cheated on him with both you and Alyson. On top of that, he was just an experiment to me. I just wanted to try guys out, and now I’m over them…even though I still somewhat like guys.

 “Look, I just don’t want you use him just cuz you feel guilty. You need to make things right with Bailey. You were the one that told her that you loved her. Weren't you honest with her when you told her that? Or were you just feeling guilty?”

 Then Andrew started to turn to walk away. But before he left the bar, he said to Justin, “If you’re going to be with Brandon, don’t use him like I used him. Yeah, he may have been paid to seduce me, but I used him. He fell for me, I just had a crush. I don’t want to see him heartbroken all over again.”

 With that, Andrew walked away. Justin stood there, thinking about what Andrew told him. Is Justin really going to go after Brandon? Or is he willing to fight for Bailey?