The One Who's Wanted

ChapterOne-Then There Was Eight 

May 14th, 2005

  It's the next day, the morning after the big finale on New England's hit TV competition, New England's Teen Superstar. The winner of this American Idol-like show was 4-piece pop group UTurn. The members are:

     Alyson Bauer

     Justin Harrison

     Bailey Richardson

     Andrew Hawthorne

 They're all wealthy, almost 16, from Boston, and wrapping up their sophomore year at a posh public school, Beacon Hill High. They are the most popular students in school, or they used to be.

 UTurn are at their first meeting with their new manager, Maurice Starr. Maurice was a manager for 80s teen pop, such as boy band New Kids On The Block. UTurn just signed their contract with Boston's biggest independent record label, Q Division Records.

 Maurice started: "I'm excited to be your manager. I can see big things with this pop group. So do you have ideas on what UTurn should be?"

 Alyson said, "Well, we know it's not exactly a trend in pop music right now, but we want to do dance-pop. We can dabble with a little rock and urban, but mainly we want dance as our music style."

 "Hmm, that's a big risk, but we can do that. Dance-pop won't exactly make you 'mainstream', but you might still be popular on Radio Disney."

 Alyson added, "Oh, and we add four more people to our group. We want to become the new, American version of British pop band S Club 8. They just split up, so I feel we should take their place. Even though no one can replace S Club 8."

 "Woah, I'm not sure an 8-piece pop group will work! I guess you can try to add some new people from the New England's Teen Superstar. And since all 4 of you are go to the same school, you can ask your classmates if they want to join."

 Bailey asked, "Can we start auditioning now?"

 Maurice said, "I guess so. I have to meet with some people who'll be working with you. I'll give you a week to have 4 additional members with you."

 UTurn agreed to this, and they left the meeting.

 Justin asked, "So...who are we gonna asked to be in our band?"

 Alyson replied, "Let's start with all the contestants from that teen show."

 It's now 2 days later. UTurn now has a fifth member, and that was it. The member is 18-year-old Riley Brown. From Boston, about to graduate high school, pretty, and goes to a different school. She's from a middle-class family. Riley was originally part of the Top 25 Semi-Finalists of NETS, but she was forced to drop out due to her parents pressuring her. She was the ONLY contestant that was willing to join UTurn.

 The UTurn members went to Alyson's house for a meeting. She started, "First, I want to welcome Riley as the fifth member of UTurn!"

 Andrew, Justin, and Bailey cheered for Riley.

 Riley asked, "So you all are trying to add more people to your band? Isn't 5 enough?"

 Andrew said, "It's a long story, but she'll explain it eventually."

 Alyson gushed, "Oh, and Andrew is my boyfriend. He's so sweet!"

 Andrew smiled and blushed at the comment.

 Alyson continued, "Anyway, we need 3 more people: 1 guy and 2 girls. Since Riley is the only contestant from the teen star search to join UTurn, we must go to our school, Beacon Hill High."

 Andrew groaned, "I'm dreading going back to that school."

 Riley asked, "Why? What happened?"

 Bailey said "It's another long and complicated story, but it started back in elementary school."

 Justin said, "We're just holding auditions, not doing schoolwork."

 Alyson agreed, "He's right. Since we're on a deadline, we have to get the principal to agree to this."

 It was 2 days later. UTurn held their auditions in the Beacon Hill High auditorium. No one showed up. At all. After an hour of waiting, they decided to walk out.

 Alyson asked Riley, "Riley, would your school be willing to audition."

 She replied, "They should. They're not as snobby as this school."

 Just as they were about to leave the auditorium, Stacie, ran up to the UTurn members.

 Bailey asked, "Stacie, what is it?"

 Stacie replied breathlessly, "Sorry, I had to get away from Libby, Melissa, and Kat. I really need this audition, like, now."

 Alyson asked, "Is something wrong, Stacie?"

 Stacie said, "My family is moving to New York City cuz my parents' law firm is moving there. I really want to stay in Boston. So the only way I can stay here is if I join UTurn."

 Andrew said, "We'll be traveling across the New England region and all over America. We won't just be in Boston. Are you sure you want to do this?"

 Stacie said, "I don't have much of choice. All I know is I'm not moving!"

 Alyson said, "Okay Stacie, sing for us."

 Stacie sang Goin' Crazy by singer Natalie. The members liked what they heard, so they let her join.

 At the same time, Amanda was about to leave school after spending time in detention, Ethan was waiting for her outside the classroom.

 Amanda asked, "Ethan, were you waiting for me all afternoon?"

 Ethan gave a sly smile as he replied, "There are supposedly auditions for adding more people to that pop group UTurn going on right now."

 Amanda scoffed, "I seriously doubt they'll ask us to join them after they somehow found out about our hacking attempt. Besides, they're too pop for me."

 "Well, I'm gonna get in that band before they run out spots. And I'll secure a spot for you."

 Amanda just there, irritated.

 Just as the newly 6-piece UTurn was about to leave the auditorium, Ethan approached them.

 Justin asked in an irritated tone, "What do you want, Ethan?"

 Ethan said in his fake sincerity, "Well, I just want to say I'm sorry for my strange behaviour recently. You are all talented, and I was just jealous. Plus, I regret the day when you, Bailey, and Alyson asked me to join you but rejected the offer. Instead, you added Andrew. So I would like to join the band now that you're trying to be like this British 8-piece band."

 Alyson asked, "You mean S Club 8?" 

 "Yes, them." 

 Bailey said nervously, "Um, I'm not sure if it's a good idea. I mean, you did try to get us eliminated."

 Andrew started to say, "And you posted up online..." But then he paused to look at Riley. Then he back to Ethan, and continued nervously, "...things about me that were not true."

 Riley is starting to get a little suspicious about what's going on. The other members noticed this, so they asked Ethan to sing for them. He sang Perfect by Simple Plan. They liked what they heard, but they didn't want him in the band. But to keep Riley from getting more suspicious, they added Ethan. Then he spoke up.

 Ethan then said, "Oh, I heard that Amanda Hale wants to join UTurn, but was too scared. So she wants the audition to be at her house."

 The members were suspicious, but they agreed. As they were walking through the school hallways, they saw Amanda about to leave. 

 Ethan called out to her, "Hey Amanda, we're about to go to your house for audition!"

 Amanda said in an irritated tone, "What are you f*cking talking about? None of you are going into my house!"

 Ethan said, "C'mon Amanda! Don't be scared!" Then he mouthed to her, "Just play along."

 Amanda then realized that Ethan was setting her up for an audition. So she said hastily, "Um, let's audition right here. No one's around, so I can sing for you."

 Amanda sang My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne. The members were okay with her singing, but not sure if they want her in the band.

 Alyson asked, "Amanda, are you sure you want to join? Our music will be dance-pop, not rock."

 Amanda gave a forced smile as she replied, "Why not? It's something different."

 Andrew said, "You sure? You're not gonna be all 'I'm an anti-conformist', are you? You acted like were this outsider, but you dated me, the most popular guy in school. You know what that makes you? A hypocrite."

 Amanda knew Andrew was right, but she wasn't going to let him know that. She said, "I'm willing to join UTurn." 

 The members weren't convinced, but they allowed her in UTurn. The band is now complete. 

 This is the new, 8-piece UTurn:

      Alyson Bauer

      Bailey Richardson

      Justin Harrison

      Andrew Hawthorne

      Riley Brown

      Stacie Morales

      Ethan Jackson

      Amanda Hale

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THIS IS RILEY'S SINGING>>>