Three Steps Back

35

Riley

"Can you please give me some good news" i said bowing my head at the nurse. James was stood next to us looking at the nurse with just as much worry as I was
This was the make it or break it moment
"Well Riley, you should count your blessings" She said looking over her clip board

"I've seen a lot of my injuries in my time and this one is a minor one" she smiled making my lips form a smile
"Don't go smiling yet young lady" She said making my smile instantly drop

"Although this injury is minor and merely swelling. I do not want you dancing until your showcase in a couple days" The nurse said making me raise a brow

"But you said it was minor" I muttered
"Riley" James warned me
"It is Riley but if you push it. Then you'll make it worse. It'll heal with in a couple days but if you dance on it while it heal" She started
"Then you'll do yourself more damage" She said making me huff laying back on the bed 

I turned to James who gave my hand a little squeeze before we both chose to leave the nurses office

Neither of us muttered a word walking back to the dorms but the moment we got into my room James took a seat with me on the end of my bed
"It'll be okay Ri, you just need to rest it for the next couple days then at the showcase you can go full Riley" he said playfully nudging me but I shook my head

"What's the point?" I asked making James look at me confused
"What do you mean?" He retaliated 
"I mean, what's the point in any of this. What if I merely injure myself more" I said 

"Like you said, this doesn't happen to me, yet it has" I explained
"what's the point trying to continue only to risk myself more" I asked with a raised brow while James' furrowed his 
"So what? You're just going to give up on everything you've worked for over the last 3 years?" He asked and I shrugged
"i don't know James!" I exclaimed making him jump slightly at the tone and volume of my voice

James went to place his hand on my knee but I was soon to push it off grabbing a jacket heading back out the door we had just come through
"Riley!" He called but I wasn't turning back right now 

--

I didn't really have a destination in mind. I knew wherever I went someone would find me. I go to the roof, James will follow
I go to a first year studio, Piper or Oscar will find me
I go to the library, Eldon will find me
I go anywhere, someone will find me 

So instead, I ended up in territory I'd never seen before. I walked into the fourth years corridors only to be greeted by smiles through out. Nobody seemed to notice I didn't belong there this was probably the only place nobody would look for me 

I took a seat by a set of lockers opposite one of the studio's only to see a couple of girls walk past me and offer a smile before a blonde boy did the same but this time he stopped

"now, I might be oblivious but I mean. You're a well known girl around here and I know for a fact you aren't a fourth year yet" he said looking at me, I bowed my head dreading to think what was to come next
"So Riley, what are you hiding from?" He chuckled taking a seat next to me 
"I didn't meant to be here I just don't really have anywhere else to hide" I confessed

"Yo Chase! We need to go!" A voice called making both of us look up to see a small brunette girl walking our way
"Wait a second Ave, I'm busy" Chase said but 'Ave' didn't listen, instead she came to sit with us 

"I ask again, Riley what are you hiding from?" Chase asked as i leant back against the wall
"It's stupid" I muttered
"If this is about your fall last night, I wouldn't call it stupid" Chase said making me look at him confused
"What? How?" I asked

"Matilda is Avery's sister" He said nodding to the girl sat next to me

"So what you're injured now and can't dance?" Avery asked but I shook my head
"Not exactly, the nurse just said not to dance until the showcase" I confessed
"Okay? So have a few days off? I'm sure you've worked pretty hard this year" Chase said but I sighed

"Chase quit being a guy and go bring the car around" Avery said hitting the blonde over the head but sure enough he soon got up and walked away

"Let me guess, you're rethinking dance. You don't want to get hurt again? This is the first time it's happened?" Avery asked making me nod slowly
"That's human Riley. You're spooked. Hell I went through that in my second year" Avery said smiling
"How did you continue?" I asked looking at her

"It's simple, why do you dance?" She asked 
"A mixture of things" I whispered
"When I was little, I started because it was something my sister did, something our mum got us into but since she passed, it's like my way of keeping her close" I offered making Avery smile

"Then you already have your reason to continue Riley. Injuries happen, it's a given considering our line of work. But how you handle them is in your control, you can give up and let them win or you can push through after you've healed" She explained

"All you've got to do is get back on that horse, but maybe have someone around you can trust to catch you if you fall" She winked before we watched as Chase reappeared 

I watched as she got off the floor walking over to greet him, the moment they did. Their hands intertwined and a gentle kiss was shared before then headed off leaving me alone in the hallway with nothing but my thoughts..