Chapter9-Reluctantly Letting Go

May 4th, 2011

 It's now May. 7th Anthem are heavily promoting their single, Hypnotizer. They're also getting ready to release both their second album (fourth overall), The Anthem, and their North American comeback album, 7th Anthem. They were to release it first in the New England region before the entire continent gets a hold of it.

 After Libby and Bailey's wild night out, Melissa and Ethan "leaked" the photos on the internet. It was already known that Libby has become a party girl; but what shocked the public was good-girl Bailey partying like there was no tomorrow. She was somewhat proud about her new image, but she still wants to remain "good."

 7A were also in dance and tech rehearsals for their highest selling world tour, The Anthem Tour. The tour was starting in early June, and the first stop was in London.

 During the dance rehearsals, they, along with eight other backup dancers, were going over a song from the new album. It was Alyson's solo song, Mind Games. She was doing the moves perfectly, but her face looked empty.

 Feeling concern, Brandon told her, "Alyson, give me some sensuality in your face. You look like you're dead."

 Alyson snapped, "I'm giving what you want! Take it or leave it!"

 With that, everyone stared at her. She ran her hand through her hair out of frustration, and said, "I need a break."

 Brandon agreed, and allowed a one-hour break. The dance routines were clean, but they needed to keep their memories.

 As the members and the dancers were walking towards her bags, Andrew stayed with Brandon. He said to Andrew, "Guess what?"

 "What?" he asked.

 "I got you a modeling gig!"

 Andrew was surprised. He never really put much thought into modeling. He knew he was hot, but he was more focused on 7A. He said, "Really? I've never really did modeling, unless you call doing photo-shoots with 7th Anthem 'modeling.'"

 "So, you in?"

 Andrew grinned, and kissed Brandon passionately. At the same time, Alyson watched the couple kiss. She still hadn't gotten over Andrew. She was still in love with him, but she was too proud and heartbroken to admit.

 She was taken out of her train of thoughts by a dancer named Aaron Carlson. He asked her, "Aly, you okay? You've been staring at them for a while."

 Aaron was an American dancer, and he's good friends with 7A. In fact, he went to the Boston Creative Arts School with them. He graduated in 2007.

 Alyson replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just need to get out of here."

 Aaron looked at the Andrew and Brandon gushing over each other, and then back at Alyson. He gave a sympathetic smile, and asked, "Do you want to go somewhere far from the dance studio?"

 "Where? We have to be back within an hour, and there's the paparazzi."

 "You hungry?"

 "Kind of."

 With that, Aaron took Alyson's hand, and they both left the dance studio. Andrew saw the two leave, and went back talking to Brandon.

 Aaron and Alyson went to a frozen yogurt shop and a juice-shop. Being that it was a mild, sunny spring day, they went to a nearby park. They sat on a bench. There were a few photogs, but they weren't bothering them.

 Aaron asked, "So, are you still in love with Andrew?"

 Alyson replied, "Look, don't take this the wrong way since you're bi yourself. It's just complicated. Then again, anything revolving around him and I is complicated. I still love him. He tells me that he loves me, but if he does, why did he cheat on me? It's one thing for him to cheat on me with another girl, but with a guy? And not just any guy, Brandon Hilton, my teenage crush?"

 "I'm not offended. You seem to take this well."

 Alyson scoffed, "Do I have a choice? I have to act like I'm okay with this. No one knows how I'm feeling."

 Then they were silent for a while, soon Aaron asked, "If you're not busy, do you want to go out with me?"

 "You mean like a date?"

 "If you want to call it that."

 Alyson gave a small smile, and said, "Why not?"

 "There's that smile! I miss it."

 With that, her smile turned into a blushing grin.

 It's an hour later, and everyone was back in the studio. Andrew saw Alyson and Aaron talking, gushing, and smiling. He approached the two, grabbed Alyson's arm, and took her aside.

 She asked with irritation in her voice, "What's the matter with you?"

 He asked her, also irritated, "What did you and Aaron do?"

 "OMG, we just talked. Is that a problem?"

 "I'm just asking."

 Then she said sternly, "Andrew, if you're jealous, get over yourself. Aaron is our friend. Besides, you got a boyfriend. Go be with him."

 Alyson walked away, leaving Andrew feeling both frustrated and even more confused.

 It's now evening. Rehearsals ended early. Alyson rushed to get ready for her date with Aaron. Before she knew it, she saw Andrew standing in the doorway. She asked hastily, "What do you want?"

 Andrew asked, "Why are you going out with Aaron?"

 "Why not? You got a boyfriend. Am I not allowed to have one, too?"

 He approached her, and held her at her waist. He breathed into her ear, "I still care about you."

 Alyson pushed him away, and said harshly, "Andrew get over yourself! If you still cared about me, you wouldn't have cheated on me. But you did."

 Andrew then became irritated as he said, "Alyson, I said I'd leave Brandon to be with you, but you wouldn't let me. So what choice do I have?"

 "Don't give me that shit! I see you making out with Brandon. He showers you with elaborate gifts, like that photo-shoot gig. You apparently love the things he gives you that I can't give you. Besides, you probably love the way he does you."

 "Have you forgotten I'm bi? Yeah, he's good, but you're great. There's one thing that you and I have that he can't give me."

 "And what's that?"

 "Our history together. You gave me almost 20 years of you. You drove me crazy for you. I have loved you since I was 6, and I still do to this day. Since I'm bi, I can easily get back with you. And I'm willing if you want to."

 As Andrew was about to kiss her, Alyson pushed him away. She told him angrily, "Andrew, that's the thing. I'm sick and tired of our complicated past. We were always fighting and trying to see who hated each other more. I'm tired of you dating other people while trying to stay with me. I'm sick of your tendency to be unfaithful. You say you love me, but you want to be with someone else, whether it's a girl or guy. I want a simple relationship with a guy who's not some man-whore!"

 Andrew was taken back by what she said. He told her as he tried to hold back tears, "That's what you think of me? A guy who acts like a whore? That we always fought? That my love for you wasn't real? When we were apart, we argued a lot. When we're together, we would show our love for each other. Everything about us was complicated, but it was real. We went through shit until we finally admitted our feelings. We fought for our right to be together during the UTurn years. Now you want to act like it was all for nothing? I'm willing to fight for you, but you want to give up on me. If that's you want, then fine. I won't bother with you again."

 With that, Andrew stormed out of the room. Alyson leaned against her desk. She could see how hurt her ex-boyfriend was. She want to run up to him, and kiss him, and tell him she's willing to have him back. Instead, her anger, sadness, pride, and heartache held her back. She could feel her eyes water, but she dabbed them, and re-applied her eye makeup.

 When she was done, she stared into her reflection. She could see her anger. Then she looked at a picture frame. It held a photo of her and Andrew when they fifteen. It was sometime after they became a couple. She grabbed the frame, and threw across her room. It hit the wall, and it smashed into pieces. With that, she left.

 It's an hour later. Alyson and Aaron went to a low-key restaurant. They talked and ate, but it was awkward. Aaron could tell Alyson was sad. So after they ate, he offered to go on a walk with her. She agreed.

 As the two walked, Aaron said, "Is there's no paparazzi here, tell me how you're really feeling. You looked really sad."

 Alyson was eerily quiet for a good minute, until she said bitterly, "What's there to feel? I can't show any emotion. If I do in public, the media will report a mental breakdown. I can't in private. I'm too busy, and I don't want Andrew to feel bad for me."

 "No one is here. Do you want to let out your real emotions?"

 Alyson stared at Aaron, and then screamed. She screamed as loud as she can, and flipped a trashcan. After she did that, tears started pouring out.

 She quivered angrily, "Do you want to know what I'm feeling? I've been depressed! I couldn't sleep cuz I'm suffering from anxiety. I feel like Andrew ripped out a piece of my soul. I feel lost without the love of my life. I feel like a zombie. I'm doing things like performing, but I'm not there. I'm just a shell of my former self.

 "I hate Andrew for doing this to me, but I still love him! I can see he still loves me. I don't want to love him, but I do. I don't want to hate him, but I do. And tonight, I just tore him apart. I hate myself for hurting him. He's very vulnerable. I've seen him hurt before, and it makes me want to cry. I want to move on, but I'm scared."

 Then there was silence. The two sat on a bench in silence. Soon, Aaron asked, "How do you feel now?"

 Alyson replied calmly, "Relieved to let all that out. I've been bottling this for a month, and it was eating me alive. If I decide to move on, will you be there for me?"

 "Yes, I'll be there for you. You're my friend."

 Aaron then held Alyson. Soon, the two stared into each others' eyes, and kissed. It wasn't exactly passionate. It was sympathetic. When they pulled away, they felt no regret. Alyson asked him, "You went through the same thing I did, didn't you?"

 "Yeah, but I lived. And you will too."

 "I need to clear my head. See you tomorrow?"

 Aaron nodded his head. Alyson then walked to her car, and started driving. She drove around, clearing her head. She felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders after she screamed out her feelings. Still, she felt bad for striking a chord in Andrew's heart.

 Knowing Andrew all her life, Alyson decided to pay Brandon a visit. She arrived at his apartment building, and knocked on the door.

 Brandon opened the door, and was surprised to see her. He closed the door behind him, and asked, "What is it, Alyson?"

 She asked, "Is Andrew in there?"

 "Yes. Why? Do you want to talk to him?"

 "Actually, I need to talk to you about him."

 "What about him?"

 "I've known Andrew all my life. I've seen most of the real him. He's very sensitive and very vulnerable. He hardly shows that side of himself, but I've seen it numerous times. He tries to act strong and tough, but I've seen him broken and torn apart. He's too prideful to show his true feelings.

 "He had been many relationships, and most of the girls he dated used him, cheated on him, and insulted him. Even I insulted him during the times we weren't together. I would get upset to see him hurt. When he and I became a couple, he trusted me as someone who grew up with him, but not as a girlfriend. It wasn't until I told him that I loved him. Since then, I watched him heal. He opened up to me more, and he felt safe being with me. He became the most loving, confident man I've ever dated.

 "The point I'm trying to make is this: Don't break Andrew's heart. It took time for him to heal from the abuse he went through. I would hate to see him one day, close to tears because you hurt him. Be careful with him. He may not show it, but if you dig really deep, you'll see a guy who still has scars from his previous relationships. He just wants to be loved, wanted, and accepted."

 Brandon was touched by what she said. He never knew Andrew had a vulnerable side. He thought for a moment, and said, "I'll do as you said."

 Alyson gave a small smile, and walked away. She felt sad to let the love of her life go, but she needed to do this. She soon went back to the 7A condo. She went into her room, and picked up the broken-up frame. The photo was still intact. She placed it on a corner of her full-length mirror. With that, her heart was filled with love. She still loves Andrew, but she loves him enough to let him go. Now it's up to him to let Alyson go. Will he?

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IN THE PIC IS AARON (Darren Criss).>>>