ChapterSeventeen-UpRooted [Part 2] 

January 25th, 2007

 It's now January of 2007. UTurn has just released their second in the New England region, titled Turn It Up. Their singles, Thinking of You (North America) and Turn Around (Eastern Europe), have done moderately well. Thinking of You made the Top 30 mainstream charts in America, but of course, it's a major hit in Canada and on Radio Disney. Despite little promotion, Turn Around is a Top 20 hit in Eastern Europe. There are now plans to start promoting a third single, Say Nothing.

 As for Ethan and Libby, they've hit a brick wall in trying to get one of the female members of UTurn kicked out so Libby joins. They're both at the Beacon Hill High library, sitting in front of a computer.

 Libby said, "You know, we could go on MySpace and Facebook to spread lies about the one of the girls. I'd suggest we kick out Amanda. She's a hot mess, and not even MAC makeup and BigSexyHair products can fix her up."

 Ethan said, "Better yet, we find dirt on all the girls."

 Libby scoffed, "Please, we grew up with those girls. We already know all their dirt."

 "Except Stacie, Amanda, and Riley."

 "True. Stacie used to live in the Jamaican Plain neighborhood of Boston before her parents struck rich. She lived in a very progressive Latino area in the neighborhood. She was told to call them 'Chicanos', but she prefers not to be called that. She says it's too 60s. Her older brother is a self-described Robin Hood-"

 "-Of the Latinos. I know that already. I'm still surprised he even went to college."

 "Bunker Hill Community College to be exact, and he'll be transferring to Boston College."

 "None of that is scandalous. Okay, how about Amanda. She just popped up out of nowhere."

 With that, Libby does research on Amanda and her life back in Pittsburgh. After about 30 minutes, she found an old, long-unused Group MSN website. There was a picture of Amanda, and she looked about 13. She was dressed very girly, had messy blonde hair, and a big, toothy metal-filled mouth. On the website, she made her most recent post, from June of 2003. Ethan and Libby smiled at this.

 It was the next day, and UTurn were at the Boston Creative Arts School. As Amanda was walking through the halls, she noticed some of the girls were staring at her. Suddenly, Alyson, with Stacie behind her, approached her with an evil smile.

 Amanda, feeling irritated, asked, "What it is, Blondie and Blondie's Minion?"

 Alyson asked in a snobby tone, "So, you were popular back in Pittsburgh?"

 "That's ancient history."

 "And the reason why your parents moved to Boston was cuz they're too liberal for a community in Pittsburgh?"

 Amanda asked suspiciously, "How'd you know about all this?"

 "Your old Group MSN is on the band's MySpace."

 Amanda cussed under her breath, and stormed off to go into the school's library. She went onto UTurn's MySpace page to find her Group MSN. She opened the link, and saw her old page. She then logged onto the group's MySpace page, and commented about the old website. She explained that it was her old life, before becoming a 'bad-ass rebel' she is today.

 It's late afternoon, and Libby and Ethan are at a coffee-shop. They were discussing about Amanda's comment. Libby said, "It sure looks like Amanda is not leaving UTurn."

 Ethan said, "That only leaves us Riley."

 "You're lucky I brought my laptop. I'm gonna do some research on Riley."

 Ethan agreed. After about 30 minutes, Libby looked defeated. He asked, "What's wrong? No dirt on Riley?"

 Libby replied, "No, she's clean. I think we should give up. Face it, I'm not gonna be able to worm my in UTurn."

 Then Ethan's eyes lit up.

 It's a few days later. As soon as UTurn got out of their school, they received a text-message from their manager. He told them it was an emergency meeting, and it involved with one of the members.

 As UTurn arrived at Maurice's office, they were nervous. They were in the waiting room. Stacie asked, "I wonder if anyone's in trouble."

 Andrew said, "I hope not. If I'm in trouble, I'll sue."

 Justin said, "Okay Andrew, ease up on the lawsuits."

 Andrew gave an arrogant smile. Stacie continued, "I bet my brother, Alan, did something stupid. He always did stupid stuff in the name of activism."

 Bailey asked, "Isn't he in college now or something?"

 "Yeah, but he's still crazy."

 Andrew said, "How he even survived living in the Beacon Hill neighborhood is beyond me."

 Just then, the members were called into the boardroom. Their manager looked furious. Alyson asked nervously, "What's wrong, Maurice?"

 Maurice said coldly, "I have a confirmation that Riley has been repeatedly breaking house rules by bringing in her boyfriend. She has even went as far as sleeping with him. And you all allowed this behavior."

 Andrew asked, "And who told you this? Ethan?"

 Riley said, "Look, whatever he told you, it's not true. He's crazy, and hates Andrew for no reason."

 Maurice asked, "So you don't have a boyfriend from Harvard?"

 "Okay, that part is true."

 "Did you take him into the UTurn house multiple times?"

 "Well, yes I did. But he's a sweet, caring guy. He saved Trevor's life, which we all brought him into our house. But that was one time!"

 "Did you sleep with your boyfriend in house?"

 Riley then said angrily, "Okay, what Marcus and I do is none of your business! But to answer your question, no we didn't do it in the house."

 "But you've actually done it?"

 "Not in the house!"

 Alyson said, "Okay this is going nowhere. So we allowed Riley to bring her boyfriend into our house. So what? He's a great guy, and he supports both Riley and UTurn. He's even our friend!"

 Maurice said, "Riley, I'm going to give two choices: You may stay with your boyfriend, but you must leave UTurn. Or you can stay in UTurn, but you must leave your boyfriend."

 This shocked the members, while Riley was both angered and sadden. She said, "I'm not gonna choose either! I love my boyfriend, but I love my career!"

 Andrew said angrily, "Look, you cannot kick Riley out! She's an important member to the group!"

 Maurice said, "Riley, are you sure you don't want to choose?"

 Riley: said sternly, "I'm sure of it."

 "Then I have no choice but to remove you from UTurn."

 This angered all the members. Alyson scolded, "This is uncalled for! Riley should stay in UTurn!"

 Riley pleaded as her voice broke, "Please don't kick me out! I wanna stay in the band!"

 Maurice said coldly, "Forget it, Riley. You repeatedly violated house rules, and the others never stopped you."

 With that, Riley ran out of the boardroom, crying. Maurice continued, "UTurn, you will start looking for a replacement immediately."

 Alyson exclaimed, "Replacement?! No! Let Riley stay in the band!"

 "No. Meeting adjourned, and Andrew, don't tell me your sue me. If you do, UTurn will be dropped, and will be forced to split up."

 Andrew stood there, stunned. Then the he and the other members left the boardroom in anger. As they left the building, they saw Riley standing out in the cold air, crying. They approached her.

 Alyson said to her, "Riley, what he did was uncalled for."

 Andrew added, "We'll fight Maurice, one way or another."

 Then the members gave Riley a hug.

At the same time, Ethan was in his car, not too far from the Maurice's office. He saw Riley crying her eyes out, and the UTurn members hugging her.

Just then, Ethan got a call from Maurice: "Riley's out."

With that, Ethan grew an evil smile. It seems like UTurn might fall apart. Can they survive Ethan's destruction? You'll see...

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THIS IS THE PROPOSED UTURN SINGLE, SAY NOTHING, SUNG BY ALYSON, IN THE VID>>>