CHAPTER TEN: DREAMING LOVE AND LOOKS

January 7, 2002

    It’s the beginning of January, and No Rules are at a exclusive salon to get makeovers. They were to do a photo shoot before they start filming their TV series, Dare 2 Dream.

    Just before they got their hair styled, the band’s main stylist told them what their hairstyles will be. This is what she described: “Sophie, your hair will have fluffy curls, but you’ll have a red colour. Charlie, you’ll just get a trim. Edward, you’ll have blonde highlights and a trim. Hannah, you’ll have choppy layers. Ashley, you’ll get a trim and lighter blonde hair. Mariana, you’ll get a bob. Alex, you’ll get shorter, lighter hair. For some of you, you’ll get a second round of makeovers after you wrap up filming Dare 2 Dream.” 

    The members agreed. While they were getting their new hairstyles, Alex was told to remove his piercing. He agreed, but he was allowed to keep his eyebrow piercing and his never-before-seen tongue piercing.

  Charlie was seeing all of this, so he taunted, “Hey Walsh, who in their right minds would let a 13-year-old bloke get piercings?”

    Alex scoffed, and stayed silent.

    After No Rules got their new hair, they moved on to their costumes. They liked the costumes they were given…except Alex.

    “I’m not going to wear this short-sleeve shirt,” Alex protested.

    The stylist told him, “Alex, this is your costume. You must wear this.”

    Charlie, once again, taunted “What’s wrong, Walsh? You think you’re too good for a t-shirt?”

  Alex was apparently nervous, but he got the courage to speak up, “I’ve never showed this to anyone, except to the No Rules members.”

    Then Alex lifted his sleeves from his hoodie, showed the stylists his healed scars. His bandages were removed before the members got their makeovers.

    Alex explained, “I’m a cutter, and this is why I can’t wear short-sleeve shirts. But I’m recovering.”

    Sophie asked the stylist, “Can you cover his arms with makeup?”

  The stylist replied, “Okay, these slits look recent. For health reasons, I can’t cover his arms with makeup. There are some long-sleeves shirts and jackets. If you don’t self-mutilate yourself for a year, you can start wearing t-shirts.”

    Alex agreed, then the members changed into their costumes, and went to their photo shoot.

  It’s the next day, and No Rules were at the set for their TV series, Dare 2 Dream. They were wearing their ‘uniforms’ as they waited to met the cast.

    Hannah said, “I wish my school’s uniforms were this cute.”

  Hannah was referring to the fact the show’s uniforms for girls were cropped blazers, ties, white dress shirts, plaid miniskirts, and boots; the boys’ uniforms were blazers, ties, dress shirts, baggy pants, and sneakers.

    Sophie told Alex “Alex, you look so dapper and adorable!”

    Alex grinned, and said, “I think you look cute.”

    Sophie then hugged Alex.

   Just then, the cast arrived. Mariana eyed one of them. She approached the guy, and greeted, “Hi, I’m Mariana. What’s your name?”

  The guy replied “I’m Jeremy. I’ve done some telly projects, but not one with a band. Especially a brand new band.”

    “Yeah, I’m not that impressive. I’m a member of the unknown band called No Rules.”

    Just then, the director of the show told the cast and No Rules to take their places.

  It’s been a few days of intense filming, and they finished taping episode one. Afterwards, Jeremy approached Mariana. He asked her nervously, “Hey, I was thinking, since we have a weekend off, do you wanna go on a date?”

    Mariana smiled, and said, “Sure!”

  After that, Mariana went to the No Rules girls’ dressing room, and screamed. Hannah asked, “Damn! What’s gotten into you?”

    Mariana “You know that bloke I fancy, Jeremy?”

    “Yeah.”

    “Well, he asked me out on a date!”

    The No Rules girls screamed for joy. At the same time, Charlie overheard all of this.

    It’s Saturday night, and Jeremy and Mariana were at a restaurant. Jeremy asked, “So what’s No Rules like?”

    Mariana explained, “Well, our music sounds like Britney and NSYNC combined. Our look is very American popstar. The girls are nice. The blokes are fit. We’re all pretty much friends.”

    “Really? Cuz I sometimes see Charlie making fun of Alex, and Alex looks sad. And he doesn’t seem very talkative.”

    “Alex’s very quiet actually, but he’s really good with singing, dancing, and acting. Charlie, he’s good, but he’s such an arse. You know, in our contract, we can replace people if anyone drops out. If Charlie drops out, maybe you can join No Rules.”

    Jeremy laughed, “Yeah, maybe. Depends on what I’m doing by then. Let’s hope things work out for the better.”

    Mariana agreed.

    An hour later, Mariana returned to the No Rules house, while Jeremy returned to his hotel. As Mariana entered the house, Charlie was sitting, facing the door.

    Mariana asked, “Charlie, you’re creeping me out. Why are you waiting up for me?”

    Charlie replied, “Jeremy shouldn’t be with you. You should be with me.”

    “Listen here, jerk! I’m not interested in you. You completely turned me off when we first met.”

    “How did I turn you off?”

    “By bullying Alex! God, and you’re still doing that crap!”

    With that, Mariana stormed up to her room.

  It’s a few days later, and No Rules returned to filming. Before they started filming, Charlie marched up to Jeremy. He asked “Charlie, are you okay? You look pissed.”

  Charlie pushed Jeremy hard, and almost fell. Jeremy asked angrily, “Oi, what the f*ck is wrong with you?”

    Charlie replied, also in anger “You stay away from Mariana. She’s mine, you know.”

    “No, I didn’t know, but then again, she told me she had no interests in any of the blokes of No Rules. Except maybe Edward.”

  Then Charlie pushed Jeremy again. Mariana saw this, so she ran over to the two boys. She confronted Charlie, “Charlie, leave my Jeremy alone! I told you that I’m not interested in you!”

    Jeremy added, “And Charlie, if you try to mess with me, I’ll sue your arse off.”

    With that, Charlie stormed off.

    Mariana explained to Jeremy calmly, “Jeremy, I’m sorry about this. He can be kind of mental.”

    Jeremy replied, “He sure seems like it.”

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THE PIC ON THE RIGHT ARE THE "DARE 2 DREAM" UNIFORMS>>>