Chapter2-Stiff Choreography

February 2, 2009

  It's now February, and The X Factor 2008 Live Tour is about to kick into full gear. At the same time, 7th Anthem has been re-recording their UTurn songs, including those rejected from their first and second albums. They've also begun recording their comeback album.

  If all that wasn't enough, they had much to do get ready before they filmed their TV series, The Delinquents. They had to get dialect training for their characters, as they're from Newcastle, England. They're already learning their lines, but in their real accents first. Now they're about to start dance rehearsals for the musical sections of their series. All of this while on tour.

  It's the first day of dance rehearsals, and 7A waited in a dance studio for their new choreographer. They wondered who it would be for a while, but they didn't have to wait long. The choreographer arrived, and it was Brandon.

  The 7A members weren't surprised to find out that Brandon would be their choreographer. When 7A was UTurn, their goal was to become the new, American S Club 8. They were actually successful with that concept, but not enough for international success. So it made since that they'd be working with Brandon, even though they're not aiming to be S Club 8 anymore.

  Still, the girls were excited to work with Brandon. The guys were cool with him...except for Andrew. He was apparently nervous. Justin noticed, so he told, "You need to Alyson the truth about Brandon, or else she'll find out from some other source."

  Andrew nodded his head. Then Brandon spoke to 7A, "Okay, we will start with the music from the second episode of your new TV programme. That episode has the whole band dancing together."

  Andrew asked Brandon in a snarky attitude, "Do you have the UTurn songs?"

  Brandon ignored the attitude as he replied, "Why, I do actually."

  "How'd you get a hold of them? Our music was only released in North America and parts of Europe."

  "I know, and it was quite expensive to buy your imported albums. But I got them last week just in time."

  "And you got the choreography down right before we rehearse?"

  With that, Brandon and everyone in 7A stared at Andrew. Alyson, on the other hand, glared at him. She was actually standing next to him. Andrew turned to her, and gave a smirk.

  Brandon nervously laughed, and replied, "Actually, I searched for your songs on YouTube and MySpace last month. I needed to prepare myself if I were to get hired as your choreographer. Once I got the job, I was ready. Besides, being a former popstar myself, I believe in supporting the artist. I'm willing to spend close to a 100 pounds just to support you."

  Then Andrew said sharply, "The money's not going to us."

  Alyson said to him while gritting her teeth, "Will you shut up?!"

  Andrew just glanced at her. Alyson asked Brandon hastily, "Can we start rehearsals before Andrew grills you any further?"

  Now it was Andrew's turn to glare at her. Brandon replied, "That's actually a good idea."

  Alyson gave Andrew a smirk, while he continued glaring at her.

  It's now noon, and rehearsals weren't over yet. Brandon gathered the 7A members for a meeting. He told them, "As usual, you lot picked up the choreography really well. Your technique and performance quality are spot on. Now here's the bad news: You were stiff when I gave you some sexy dance moves. You have no excuse cuz I've seen your music videos. You were almost pornographic, and you were what? 16, 17?"

  Andrew, knowing the answer, asked, "Which video?"

  "Getting Here with You, No/Yes, and Dangerous. All the other videos were tame."

  As Andrew was about speak up, Alyson spoke hastily, "Andrew comes from a family of lawyers and attorneys. That's why he likes grilling people."

 Andrew, once again, glared at her. Brandon said, "That makes sense. Anyway, I thought of something that could help with your rustiness. Tonight at 6, be at my flat. You should be ready to dance all sexy by tomorrow."

  Then Brandon wrote down his apartment address and building. Alyson snatched the paper before Andrew got a chance. He, once again, glared at her.

  Brandon then said to them, "And also maybe tonight, you two can work things out."

 Then the 7A members left the studio. Alyson pushed Andrew against the wall, and asked angrily, "What the f*ck is wrong with you?!"

  Andrew replied, "I just think he's arrogant."

  "So are you! Look, I'm not leaving you for him. Got it? You're mine, and no one's!"

  Then Alyson dragged Andrew out of the building, and the members followed them.

  It's now 4pm. 7A had to go to Brandon's apartment building, so they decided to leave early to try to beat the traffic. They drove in separate cars: The boys in one, and the girls in the other.

 As Andrew was driving the guys' car, Justin asked, "So, what was up with you this morning? You grilling him like you're suing him or something."

  Andrew replied nervously, "Brandon's just...annoying. He acts like he's the shit."

  Trevor said, "Well, so do you."

  Andrew then asked sharply, "What? You're now comparing me to him?!"

  Justin told him, "Woah Andy! You need to chill!"

  Andrew said to Justin, "Stop calling me 'Andy'! It's 'Andrew'!"

  "Wow, I didn't know that," Justin said sarcastically.

  "F*ck you," Andrew muttered.

  Trevor asked Andrew, "But really, do you actually have a problem with Brandon?"

  Justin added, "It's not because he's gay, yeah?"

 Andrew replied calmly, "No, it's not. I've worked with gay people before and during UTurn-7th Anthem. I'm cool with them."

 Then Trevor and Justin exchanged looks, and grinned as Justin teased Andrew, "Do you think Brandon fancies you?"

  Andrew quickly glanced at him, and asked, "Wait, what?"

  Trevor also teased, "Yeah, Brandon loves it when you grill him. It turns him on."

  Then Justin sang a chorus of S Club 8's song, Automatic High, in a falsetto. Trevor continued, but in a fake southern English accent, imitating Brandon, "Oh Andrew! Your porno UTurn projects turns me on! I wish I was Alyson snogging you instead of your actual girlfriend!"

  Andrew snapped at the two guys, "Shut the f*ck up!"

 Justin and Trevor laughed as Andrew rolled his eyes. Justin said to Andrew calmly, "Look, it's not you have anything to worry about. He knows you have a girlfriend, and you know she won't leave you. Brandon also knows you're straight, although your attitude this morning seemed questionable."

 Andrew said in an irritated tone, "I'm straight, Justin. Besides, you and Trevor have turned me off from guys even further, if that was actually possible."

  With that, Trevor and Justin laughed.

 At the same time, the girls in their car were also talking about Brandon. Alyson, who was in the backseat with Bailey, gushed, "OMFG, I wonder what sexy moves Brandon's gonna give us."

 Libby said, also gushing, "I know I'm dating Trevor, but I wouldn't mind if Brandon put his moves on me. He's so f*cking hot!"

  "You know how hot he's gotten lately? He's practically too hot for his clothes!"

  Bailey asked Alyson, "You do know you're with Andrew, right?"

  Alyson smiled, "I know, and I'll only do him...which I did."

  Amanda gave a heavy sigh, and said, "Look, Brandon's hot and all, but I think he's gay."

  Alyson also sighed heavily, "Again with the gay rumors on Brandon? Last time I checked, he has a girlfriend."

  Amanda mocked her, "Well, last time I checked, I saw a picture of Brandon kissing some guy's check!"

  Alyson turned to Bailey, "Bailey, help?"

  Bailey said reluctantly, "He does seem kind of gay."

  "Bailz!" Alyson exclaimed.

 "It's just the way he talks and acts. Even the photos are questionable. I've never seen him pout until his recent photo-shoot."

 Then Amanda continued, "Speaking of gay rumors, Alyson, what's up with your boyfriend Andrew? He acts like he's all hot and bothered by Brandon."

  Alyson retorted, "Andrew's not gay! Besides, you dated him!"

  Libby chimed in, "Then why did he act the same way he used to act towards you?"

  Alyson said angrily, "Okay first, he never once grilled me. He would argue with me, but that's it. Second, he dated a bunch girls, which means he has interest in girls. Third, Andrew and I had sex a couple of times. He loves the way I do him. You should've heard him moan."

  Libby stopped her, saying, "Okay, Andrew's straight! Just don't give me any details."

  Alyson then taunted, "What? Jealous of the fact that Andrew would rather do me than you?"

  Libby then rolled her eyes.

 Amanda then said, "Okay, maybe Andrew's bisexual. He dated a bunch of girls, but he'd always end up with Alyson. But I saw him blush like crazy around Brandon. I even noticed him checking out Brandon."

  With that, Alyson became nervous.

  It's now close to 6pm, and 7A arrived at the apartment where Brandon lived. As they were walking to his building, Alyson took Andrew aside, and asked, "Andrew, tell me the truth. Are you bisexual?"

  Andrew's blue eyes widen as he asked her, "What kind of question is that?"

 "It's just the way you acted towards Brandon. You were trying to start an argument with him like you'd used to do to me. And yet, you were blushing."

 Andrew sighed heavily, and kissed her lips passionately. He then pulled away, and asked, "Does that answer you question? I only like girls, and I love only you. Look, he's arrogant, and guys in general are full of crap."

  Alyson lightly laughed, "You know you just called yourself crap, right?"

  "I stand by what I said, and yes, I'm sometimes full of crap. But I'm better. I'm Andrew f*cking Hawthorne."

  "Yeah, you are full of crap."

  Andrew and Alyson laughed as they met up with the 7A members. They eventually arrived at Brandon's building. He opened the door, and greeted them warmly.

  When they entered, the saw a pole in the middle of the living room. Andrew asked nervously, "Um, why is there a pole in the middle your living room?"

  Brandon replied, "This is a temporary pole. My assignment for you is to pole dance the f*ck out of this. Stripping is optional."

 With that, the members were surprised. The only one who did this was Andrew, and that was for the music video, Zero Degrees. Then they became nervous. Brandon noticed, so he asked, "Are you lot ready?"

 Andrew said hastily, "Ladies first."

 "Good choice," Brandon said with a smile. He then put on one of UTurn's songs, Look, Don't Touch.

  Libby went first. She was a little nervous, but quickly became comfortable. Bailey and Amanda felt uncomfortable, but started to ease up. Alyson went, and tried to be a sexy acrobat for Andrew, but soon she fell on his lap. He was actually turned by her attempt, and they kissed passionately.

  Then Brandon said, "Now it's the boys' turn."

  Trevor went first, and was uncomfortable. As he was doing this, Andrew took Alyson aside, He said to her, "I don't think I can do this."

  Alyson reassured him, "Andrew, you've done this before. You didn't freak out before. Why now?"

  Andrew replied nervously, "Well, I've never been really comfortable of being sexual, and you know that. Yeah, I was sexualized, and I acted like I was cool with it, but I really wasn't. I'm still not to this day."

  "Andrew, you are sexy and sexual. Yes, I remember how nervous you were about being sexualized, but that was when we were barely 18. Now we're almost 20, and it's time to grow up. I don't mean be trashy. Just accept that you're sexy, and proud of that. Puberty did you good cuz you're f*cking hot, sexy man! Flaunt what you got."

  Andrew gave a small smile, and went back with the others. Alyson followed him. The couple saw Justin getting all risqué on the pole for Bailey. As for Bailey, she was blushing like crazy.

 Then it was Andrew's turn. He came up with an idea, and asked Brandon, "Does your stereo system have an iPod dock."

  "Why, yes it does," Brandon replied, "Why? Do you have song in mind?"

  Andrew gave a smirk as he replied, "Yeah, I do. You'll be hearing an exclusive, never-been-heard, never-been-released UTurn single, Zero Degrees. We did the music video, and...well, you'll see."

 Andrew plugged his black iPod Nano onto Brandon's stereo system, and started playing Zero Degrees. Then Andrew went up to the pole, and started gyrating it. Then he did sexy moves, and flirted with Alyson. This was took up most of the song.

 When he was done, he gave an arrogant grin. Alyson blushed hard...and so did Brandon. Andrew noticed, but brushed it off. Glad you liked it, Brandon, he thought, but this means nothing. Or does it? 

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7TH ANTHEM'S UTURN SONG, "LOOK, DON'T TOUCH", IS IN THE VIDEO