Chapter5-The Truth About Andrew

March 12th, 2011

 It's a week later, and 7th Anthem were back in dance rehearsals. After going over three new dance routines, it was time for a lunch break. Brandon walked up to Andrew, and said, "Look, I'm sorry for the way I acted last weekend. I was way out of line."

 Andrew responded coldly, "I know. You apologized that same day."

 "Look, we haven't been getting along for the past several years. I think we should start over."

 Andrew gave a snarky question, "What do you have in mind?"

 "Well, I was thinking tonight after rehearsals, we crash at my flat, and we just get to know each other."

 Andrew was now puzzled. He wasn't exactly sure why Brandon was making this request. So he said, "Can I get back to you after lunch, I mean, dinner?"

 Brandon smiled as he said, "Sure. And you've been living in London for what, 3 or 4 years now? You should've been familiar with British English."

 "Yeah, well, I'm still American. You can't exactly get rid of old habits."

 With that, Andrew followed the other 7A members out of the dance studio. They soon arrived at a restaurant. As they entered, Libby took Trevor aside, and said, "So, how about that movie tonight? Just you and me, dodging the paparazzi, and making out?"

 Trevor nervously laughed as he replied, "Yeah, about that."

 Libby gave a frustrated sigh as she asked, "What now?"

 "Well, I just have things to do."

 "You have 'things to do' after rehearsals, which end at 8 at night?"

 Trevor just shrugged his shoulders, and went inside the restaurant. Libby pouted, and then came up with an idea. She approached Amanda, and took aside. Amanda asked, "What is it?"

 Libby asked, "How do you feel about plotting schemes, just like in high school?"

 "Does this have anything to do Andrew?"

 "What? No! I mean, that wouldn't be bad, but this has nothing to do with him. It's Trevor."

 Amanda rolled her eyes as she asked, "What now? You think Trevor's gay now?"

 Libby, growing irritated, said, "No! I saw him kissing another girl! And it's not just any girl. It's Lana, one of our backup dancers."

 Amanda was shocked by this news. She asked, "Are you sure? Maybe it was a guy who looks like Trevor."

 "No, it was him. That's why I need to expose him."

 "But why do you need me?"

 "I need a witness."

 Amanda agreed.

 At the same time, Alyson took Andrew aside to talk to him. She asked him, "What did Brandon say to you?"

 Andrew replied, "He offered me to crash at his place so we can get to know each other."

 Alyson then became suspicious. She asked, "Why would he want you at his apartment? Why couldn't he just talk to you now?"

 "Trust me, this offer does seem suspicious. I'm not sure if I should take it or not."

 "The guy hit on you last weekend. I bet he wants to sleep with you."

 That made Andrew more nervous. He thought for a moment, and soon replied, "Aly, I won't let that happen. I only feelings for you. If I take the offer, and nothing happens, then we're good. But if Brandon tries to make a move on me, I'll leave. Okay?"

 "So, you're considering his offer?"

 "It would interesting to hear how and why S Club 8 split up. I'll take it."

 Andrew kissed Alyson's lips. When he pulled away, he saw an "concern" written on her face. He said reassuringly, "Don't worry, Aly. I love you and only you."

 "What if you're bi?"

 "If I'm bi, I'll still love you. But I'm straight, okay?"

 He kissed her lips again, and walked back to his table with 7A. Alyson stood, getting a bad feeling in her stomach.

 It's now after 8pm. Earlier in the day, Andrew took Brandon's offer. Now he's at Brandon's apartment. He was nervous, not sure what to expect. He knocked on the door, and soon it was opened.

 Brandon greeted him warmly, and offered him wine. Andrew refused, but requested water. Brandon gave him bottle water. Soon they sat down. Andrew sat on the couch, while Brandon sat on a chair.

 There was an awkward silence, until Brandon asked, "Do you want to start?"

 Andrew nervously said, "Um, you first."

 So Brandon talked first. He explained how crazy his S Club 8 years. He explained that the reason they split up was that they went through major lineup changes. And it didn't help that Britons were more into indie rock than pop music, and that everyone had exams.

 He also explained that while he was in college, after a night of partying and getting drunk, he woke up in someone's bed. He found out he slept with a guy. Brandon also admitted he struggled with his sexuality, but he eventually transitioned from straight to bisexual to now gay.

 Then Brandon talked about being bullied prior to joining S Club 8. It was due to his involvement with the performing arts, his love for dancing, and having very few girlfriends.

 That made Andrew feel guilty, as he was a grade-school bully. He terrorized guys like Brandon. Of course, he's still a bully. His parents are lawyers! But he doesn't misuse his natural persuasiveness like he used to.

 Brandon asked, "So, what were you like before we met?"

 Andrew asked nervously, "Um, what if you met a guy a who was a bully in the past, but is not anymore?"

 "I would tell him that I hope he gets what he deserve for what he did. Why are you asking?"

 "Um, I was a bully in school. I bullied guys like you. I'm not like that anymore, but it's complicated."

 So Andrew explained his reasons for bullying, which were being mad at his parents for moving from Hartford to Boston; for becoming power-hungry; and eventually for being scared of what the other students would think of him as a performing artist. He said that he had lived a double-life since he was about six, and it messed him up as a teenager during UTurn years.

 He also explained his complicated relationship with Alyson, that they started out as enemies; they eventually had an on-and-off friendship, which lead to a relationship. The two soon put aside their pride, and became an official couple when they were fifteen.

 After Andrew explained his life before UTurn, there was another awkward silence. Then he said, "So, do I go now?"

 Brandon watched Andrew putting his jacket on. He had to stop him from leaving, so he asked, "Do you like me? As a person?"

 Andrew stood there, and stared at him. He asked Brandon, "Why are you asking?"

 "Well, do you? I mean, I just told you my life story."

 Andrew thought for a moment, and replied as he bit his lip, "Okay, I feel sorry about what you went through before S Club 8. I think it's great you figured yourself out. Now that I know how your band split, I can give Aly some closure. I think you're a nice guy in general, but you act like you're the shit. You look down on me just cuz I joined a band when I was 15 instead of 13."

 That made Brandon irritated, so he said, "Andrew, I'm sorry if I seem to look down on you, but I'm kicking your arse so you can become a great performer. Why can't you get that in your thick skull? But let me ask you this: When you were a kid, did you fancy Alyson?"

 Andrew was puzzled by that question, so he said, "Yeah, I did, but what's that got to do with anything?"

 "I'm getting to that. So you fancied Alyson, but you fought with her because you didn't want to admit you liked her. Is that correct?"

 "Yeah, but-"

 "Then why are fighting with me? Do you actually fancy me?"

 With that, Andrew was stunned. He couldn't believe what he heard. So he said nervously, "Look, um, I gotta go. I told Aly I'd be back."

 As he was about to walk out the door, he was grabbed by the wrist. Before he knew it, he was kissed...by Brandon! What was more surprising was that Andrew didn't fight him off. He just stood there, allowing Brandon to kiss his lips.

 When Brandon pulled away, he saw Andrew's shocked expression. He said, "Andrew, tell me how you feel now."

 Andrew stared into Brandon's brown eyes. He swallowed hard, and said, "Okay, I admit it. I like you. I've always like you ever since Aly introduced our high school to S Club 8."

 Then he slowly walked back to the couch, and said, "It started when I was 15. I was going through a really bad relationship with a girl. I couldn't be with Alyson at the time cuz she had a boyfriend. I started to gain feelings for you, but I tried to brush it off. When I was in New York for the summer, I met a guy who was also 15. I liked him. I tried to act on my feelings on him, but I couldn't. Yeah, I was scared, but my love for Alyson was strong. So I considered myself as straight but bi-curious.

 "But my crush on you was also strong. About as strong as Alyson's. When I first met you when I was working at Topman, I had to keep myself under control. Once 7th Anthem had you as our choreographer, I fought with you because I was trying to suppress my feelings for you."

 Then Brandon asked, "Do you still love Alyson?"

 "I do, but I want to be with you also. I have recently considered myself as bisexual, though I never openly admitted it."

 Brandon then sat in front Andrew. He asked him, "Do you want to go back to Alyson? Maybe spend time with her?"

 Andrew looked at him. His blue eyes went from icy to lustful. He said, "I want you first."