Unfaithful

Chapter 30: Lola

I'm worried about Richelle. Like seriously, seriously worried. She's not an emotional person so seeing her having a break down in Studio 1 last week was really scary. She kept saying she was fine and I believed her but she clearly isn't. I feel guilty, because I should have been there for her more but I wasn't. She literally lost her boyfriend and best friend at the same time, and I just believed she was able to be happy and ok about that. I know she says she's relieved her and Noah are over, and I do believe her, but she also lost her main support system almost overnight. I should have known she'd need someone to replace that.

But I think it's good she's got the regionals qualifying dance to focus on. We're filming the day after tomorrow and as dance captain she's got so much to do, but I think being busy helps keep her mind off of things. She told me about the awful private lesson she had to help West give to Noah before I found her in Studio 1, but thankfully that was a once off and in general, being in the studio dancing seems to help her.

We're talking more now as well. She told me about the conversation she overheard between Noah and Jacquie in the locker room. I've actually never despised someone as much as I do Noah after hearing that. Either he lied to Richelle throughout their relationship or he's lying to Jacquie. I don't know who he thinks gave him the right to mess with people's feelings like that, but I wish I could make him stop. Honestly, I know everyone's pretty annoyed at Jacquie and she did do awful things, but I think she's as much of a victim as Richelle is. She's getting played by Noah just like Richelle did. But I'm worried for her because when Noah breaks her heart, I'm not sure anyone will care enough to pick up the pieces.

A crack brings me back to Studio 1. I look up to see Richelle, wincing slightly in pain. She was meant to just be stretching to warm up, and no one else is here, so I don't know what else could have made that noise. Unless...

"Richelle?" I ask. "Yeah" she smiles, but it looks forced and she's holding herself to the side slightly, as if to avoid putting weight on her side. "Are you injured? And don't lie to me like last time." She hesitates for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, but it's only a tiny thing - my hip's just a bit off. And I need to dance in this qualifier or I let the team down, we don't have any alternates remember?" "Richelle, I don't care" I say. I realise I'm yelling slightly, and bring my voice down. "You could permanently injure your hip, you're risking a career in dance." "I know what I'm doing Lola, I'll be fine" Richelle snaps back. "No, you don't. You're making a stupid, rash decision that you're going to regret. You can't dance" I say firmly. "Don't tell me what to do" she replies, equally firm and also furious. She returns to stretching, pointedly refusing to look at me.

Emily walks in to her office then, smiling at both of us. I hesitate. If I tell Emily, Richelle won't dance injured and she'll be ok. But I know she needs dance right now. And she's right. We don't have an alternate. If she doesn't dance, we might not have a chance to compete for a spot at regionals. So against my better judgement, I decide to leave it. What's the worst that can happen?