PartThree:The Awakening

ChapterFifteen:The Plans

FLASHBACK-Monday, January 6, 2003

Alex sat in the boardroom with his bandmates. It was the first meeting of 2003. He wondered what could be in store for juniorConnect. Maybe a fifth single to keep the momentum going for their debut album? He figured either this one disco-pop song or this very 2002-sounding song would be good choices.

Then again, wouldn't they have to rerecord those songs? Caleb's voice had already deepened. Alex's was just beginning to change, while Jerrod remained the same, somewhat. The songs might have to be in a slightly lower pitch for the boys, but not too much for girls' sake.

Alex heard the door open, turning to see Seth walking in. The manager walked in front of the band and began speaking: "Happy new year to all of you. How were your holidays?"

They all said it was pretty good. Seth replied, "That's great! Well, I got some new announcements!"

"Are we releasing more singles from All for You?" Jerrod asked.

"No, you're not. My team and I thought about it. We all decided against that."

Alex slightly slouched in his chair, feeling sad over that news. He hoped the band would keep going with the promotions. It would keep their name going on while they get ready for their tour with Connect. The senior group lost a member last spring. Peter dropped out, which turned Connect7 into a six-piece.

Caleb asked, "So we're doing that second album now?"

Seth said, "Yes! But here's the thing: All of you are aging out of this 'junior' concept very quickly. So, to help your music and your image grow with you, you'll become Connect8 instead!"

Alex noticed his bandmates' facial expressions were blank. It seemed they didn't want to let go of their kiddie junior concept. Alex was torn about this. He was already fifteen, feeling slightly out-of-place with a group of people who were barely starting their teen years. Then again, most of them were also getting older. Hell, Caleb didn't sound like a kid anymore! Maybe a slightly mature concept would be what they would need, especially for their fanbase that included those who shared their ages.

Alex placed his head on his hand as listened to Seth's plans for the band, until the man mentioned something that really piqued his interest.

"So, this year I'll be back and forth between here and America. I'm creating a singing competition for a kid group that'll be singing your songs, known as juniorUS!"

Alex looked at his bandmates, seeing everyone was surprised by this move. Why would Seth form an American version of juniorConnect when he got the actual band? It didn't make any sense.

Caleb asked, "Why are you doing this? You got us. Why don't we go to America ourselves? If Connect can go to America, why can't we?"

Seth replied, "That's different."

"How is that different?"

"They were older than you when they worked in the US."

"Jake, Holly, and Bryce were practically our ages when they were in America filming their series."

"Yes, but they had members who were in their twenties already."

"But still!"

"Caleb," Seth said sternly, "I may let you be the male face of Connect8, but you need to take a step back. I'm forming juniorUS, and they'll be covering your songs and Connect's as well."

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"This is stupid!" Caleb exclaimed as he paced around the dinner table.

Alex poked at his food, which looked no better than the stuff made at his school back in Penzance. He knew band's chaperones weren't great cooks. It would've been better if Seth hired an actual cook, but no, two grown women who probably had ramen during their uni days were the best to offer.

Sarah said, "Caleb, just let those kids have their fun."

"But why can't we go to America? What? Are we too young to go there?"

Sarah sighed. Caleb continued, "That's probably it. We're too young to be performing on those morning shows in New York. Or maybe Seth is afraid of that band in America, Jump5."

"Maybe?"

"Have you heard their stuff? They're like a Christian Steps!"

"I mean, they're not bad."

"We can beat them on their Radio Disney charts! We can be on whatever Disney Mania album Disney will put out! Hell, we can even one-up them! Somehow!"

Alex cleared his throat. He asked in a cracked voice due to puberty, "And how do we beat a Christian group? You know that's what sells in America."

"Oh?" Caleb asked. "You don't think Connect can't sell in America?"

"Connect had that one song in America that actually did well. But you know America is all patriotic and conservative. I don't get why, but they are."

Caleb scoffed as one of the chaperones scolded him, "Caleb, sit down and eat your dinner."

The Scottish teen sat down reluctantly as he rolled his eyes.

Sarah said, "Caleb, I'm sure we'll go to America one day."

"But why can't we go now?"

Alex sighed out of annoyance. Listening to Caleb ranting was enough to tire him out. So, he took out his phone, and began texting a girl from his school he started expressing interest in. Or he was sure he liked her that way. He probably did.

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PRESENT DAY-Saturday, February 25, 2006

The audience screamed and clapped to the song. It was a pop-rock song, on-trend with the charts across Britain. It was slated to be released in the middle of March.

Connect8 were on a Saturday morning TV show promoting their second single from Say it! The song, Not In You Head, song sung by the girls, while the guys were basically back-up dancers.

The band had been doing very well on the charts. The demand for a fourth album was high. The tickets for their theatre tour were all but sold out. It was enough to keep Connect8 going for another year or so, despite they were now the only co-ed band on the British charts.

Except they weren't going to be the only co-ed group on those charts.

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Alex and his bandmates get shoved into a van after their TV performance. They were on their way to a meeting with Seth before heading off to a magazine interview.

Alex took a deep breath to calm himself down. The constant going all over the place for gigs and such was enough to tire him out. It was a lot more work than during Connect8's first run. Besides, they had a tour that was about to start and a fourth album to discuss on.

He looked out the window, noticing a billboard with eight people, five girls and three guys, in what looked like flashy school uniforms. The photo only showed their torsos and their hips.

From the producers of t.A.T.u., Steps, Connect8, and Girls Aloud. Coming soon this April.

Alex knew who the group of people were. UTurn was set to arrive in London in a few days. He and his bandmates were told this at the beginning of the year. Alex wasn't quite sure why Seth had to tell Connect8 this. Maybe to get Connect8 prepared to meet them? He low-key hoped so.

"I'm guessing that's UTurn on that billboard," Diana said.

Alex said as he looked at her, "Yeah, I think that's them."

She scoffed, "I saw those photos on their MySpace page. They look like a co-ed punk-rock version of t.A.T.u."

Jerrod said, "I heard rumors that's their concept."

Diana raised an eyebrow. "The pretending-to-be-lesbian thing?"

"No. The rebellious prep school thing."

"And why are they doing this again?"

Jerrod shrugged. Lauren said, "Well, they look pretty cool."

Lori said, "One of the guys is wearing a harness with his uniform."

Curious, Alex asked, "A harness? Why?"

"Look it up when you get the chance."

Alex scrunched his eyebrows at her. He wasn't sure what she meant by that. A guy wearing a harness over his uniform? That sounded strange. He had to guess which guy that would be. He couldn't see Justin wearing it. Maybe Derrick. Andrew? He'd have to go on their MySpace page.

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Connect8 were in Seth's office. Apparently, there wasn't much time to set up a meeting in the boardroom.

Seth began: "So you're all aware that UTurn is coming to London, yeah?"

Everyone nodded their heads. He continued, "On Monday, UTurn will be living with you for a week. It's a way to make sure both bands get along."

"Why?" Diana asked.

"Here's the thing about UTurn: They're very outspoken. They're a little controversial, especially with one of the members being very political. Another member is openly bisexual as he refuses to hide that. Some of the girls are a bit intense, especially the founder."

"So, you think we should scared of them? They're our ages."

"I'm aware of that, but I need all of you to get along with this band. Make small talk. Let them know that Britain has regional accents and dialects; that none of us talk like the Queen. Make sure you lot teach them how to queue properly. Anything, really."

Alex could feel his heart and head pounding. UTurn was going to be living with Connect8 for a week. Andrew would be living under the same roof as him. Would the guys have to share their room with the UTurn boys? It wasn't like the house was that big. It only had one extra room, and it was being used for storage.

He was taken out of his thoughts when Diana asked, "So we have to get our house ready for them?"

"Yes," Seth replied. "Do that. Make them feel welcomed. If things go well, I'll finally consider taking Connect8 to America."

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Alex lifted a box out of the extra room. The band's chaperones decided to assign that room for the UTurn boys, while the girls share rooms with the Connect8 girls. He placed the box in his room that he shared with Mason. Jerrod was still going back and forth between London and Essex for his exams, though there was an extra bed for him whenever he came to live in London.

He looked at the room, thinking about how the UTurn guys will live in the room. It wasn't that big. He could see them getting squished together. Maybe Andrew could live with me.

Alex closed his eyes, trying to push out his thoughts. He couldn't do anything with Andrew. That guy was supposedly dating Alyson. Would Andrew feel the same way about me?

He shook his head as he walked to his room. He was straight, right? No, he was straight. He was very sure of it.

He looked behind him, making sure Mason was helping with cleaning out the room. Alex kicked the door shut, placing the box on the floor. He looked at his laptop, wanting to go on UTurn's MySpace page.

He locked the door and walked up to his laptop. He turned it on as he theorized which UTurn guy was wearing that harness. Alex had to picture what that looked like. He remembered seeing a guy wearing something like that when he snuck into that gay club a few months prior. Except that guy had no shirt on; this one did.

Alex was on UTurn's MySpace page, going straight to the photo albums. He saw one of the links labelled "The UTurn Rebel Academy." It confirmed what Jerrod was saying. Alex clicked on it, seeing the full photoshoot.

There were individual photos, which included Andrew. The guy looked like he was wearing a bit of eyeliner. His wrists seemed a bit bigger than in the past photos, as if Andrew had been working out. Alex finally noticed the harness on Andrew's chest. It was over his shirt, as if it were to replace wearing a tie.

Alex wondered why Lori told him to look up the harness, so he did, leading him to numerous gay sex shops! Alex's eyes widened at this discovery before closing out that browser. He looked at Andrew's photos, feeling disturbed by this.

Andrew was only sixteen, and he was wearing something that was used for sexual stuff. He wondered how that American guy must've felt about wearing that thing. Or maybe he didn't know. Who was Alex kidding? There was this thing called "Google," and Andrew most likely looked this up.

Alex closed his laptop, wanting to tell this to his bandmates. Diana probably could care less. Lori might, though, since she brought it up.

He heard his name being called, meaning it was time to get back to making UTurn feel welcome.