CHAPTER ONE: BRAND NEW YEAR, SAME OLD DRAMA

March 24, 2003

  It’s now March, and No Rules has just wrapped up their tour, No Rules Theatre Tour 2003, in the British Isles. They’re now getting to tour in Europe. But before they leave for their first stop, which is Paris, they’re at a meeting with their managers, Peter Dillon and Logan Fulton.

  Logan told the members, “The songwriters have 30 songs written. Now we’re ready to start the demos. As usual, we’ll send you the demos.”

  Peter added, “This time around, you’re allowed to have a say on a music style you want on your second album.”

  The NR members were excited that they now have a say on a music style for their second CD. They talked amongst for a few minutes, then they turned to their managers.

  Edward suggested, “We want to keep our sound from our first CD, but we would like to have new sound too.”

  Ashley added, “Something like a mixture of Liberty X, Sugababes, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera, with a hint of Steps.”

 The managers liked the idea of keeping No Rules’ hard-pop, but mixed with urban pop with a touch of dance-pop. Then the meeting was over.

 As NR were leaving the boardroom, they saw their PR team. Alex and the PR team exchanged glares. Alex remember immediately that this is the same PR team that tried to get him out of the band.

 The PR team greeted Alex coldly, but he himself didn’t say anything as he walked away. Then they entered the boardroom.

  Logan and Peter saw them, so Logan asked, “What is it?”

  One of the PR members replied coldly, “We want Alex Walsh out of No Rules.”

  Peter told them in an irritated ton, “Again? Look, Alex has been very cooperative in No Rules. He’s still a little quiet, but he’s worked hard. He’s gotten praise from TV critics for his role on Dare 2 Dream. He’s gotten good reviews for his dancing and singing abilities, even though his voice didn’t crack yet. And he has the largest fan base, with Edward quickly catching up to him.”

  “But-”

  Logan interrupted, “No ‘buts’. Alex is staying in No Rules, and that’s final!”

  With that, the PR team stormed out of the boardroom.

 Later that day, No Rules’ rival band, skate5, were at a Starbucks. They just finished a radio interview. As the members were talking, Kimmy overheard some professional-looking people talking about NR member Alex. These people were complaining about him, and how they want him out of NR. With that, Kimmy got an idea.

  Matt noticed this, so he asked her, “Kimmy, are you awake or something?”

  Kimmy kept staring as she asked, “When are we going to Wales?”

  “Ermn, not anytime soon. Why?”

  Kimmy then grabbed Matt’s arm, and took him to the back of the coffee shop.

 Two days later, Kimmy and Matt snuck in the back of a hospital…in Swansea, Alex‘s hometown! They went into a room that stores medical records.

  Matt angrily whispered to her, “Why are doing this again?”

  Kimmy replied by whispering, “Just shut up and watch for anyone coming in.”

 So Kimmy looked in different file cabinets for Alex’s medical records. After going through many ‘Walsh’ files, she found Alex’s. After looking through it, she wrote what was on his file, grabbed Matt, and left.

 The next day, Kimmy and Matt returned to London. Kimmy found the profession-looking-Alex-bashing people at a Starbucks. She asked them “What is your connection with No Rules or Alex Walsh?”

  One of them asked her suspiciously, “We’re No Rules’ PR team. Why?”

  “Well, I heard you trashing Alex. You want him out of No Rules even though he’s the heart and soul of the band? Burn him out completely. He‘ll be so exhausted that he‘ll surely drop out.”

  “Wouldn’t that mean burning out everyone in No Rules?”

  “Well, let’s be honest. Do you really like No Rules?”

  “Hmm, not really. We were just hired because their managers wanted the best people to make No Rules a success. In reality, Britain has too many young mixed pop groups There were 5-piece bands and two 7 to 8-piece bands, and Britain loved them. But a third 7-piece band? I seriously doubt it.”

 Kimmy gave an evil grin as she said, “Then burn out No Rules. Burn them out completely that they’ll never want to continue in the band.”

 Later that day, Kimmy told about her new plan to destroy NR to skate5. She even told them about teaming up with NR’s PR team to burn them out, and looking at Alex’s medical records. When the skate5 members heard that, they were shocked.

  Libby asked, “Wait, what does Alex’s medical records have anything to do with burning No Rules out?”

  Kimmy evilly grinned as she replied, “Alex has condition from birth that he can’t be extremely exhausted. He won’t die, but it would force him to leave the band.”

  Libby angrily told her, “You’re not gonna put Alex’s health at risk just for your obsessive desire to destroy No Rules!”

  Kimmy mocked her, “Oh, are you fancying Alex?”

 “My mum’s maiden name was Walsh. She’s from Wales, but moved to London, married my dad, and started one of largest law firms in England. So Alex’s my distant cousin.”

  “OMG, is Walsh a large family or what?”

  “Walsh is a common name. What do you expect?”

  With that, Jake snuck to his room to email Hannah. He emailed to her the plans that Kimmy’s going through. Hannah emailed him back, saying she feels helpless because she can’t tell NR Kimmy’s plan without saying she got the info from Jake. Jake replied, saying that he understands, but warns her to be careful.