Remind Me

1| Riley.

It's been a long time since I've been in these halls, but I can't say I haven't thought of this place
As I walked through, I couldn't help but see that nothing had changed. Some photos had been exchanged with the new A-Troupe photos, but you still have all of our old competition pictures
We certainly aren't those same kids anymore

"okay, I'll speak to them all tonight to see who wants to do what" I heard Emily say, I chuckled to myself walking into her office. Now that, that has changed. 
It was so much different to Miss Kate's office, to my office when I was studio head. Emily had certainly added her own spin on it 
But I'm not surprised. It's Em.
"I've got to go" Emily's voice said the moment she saw me stood in the door way

Her face was almost a picture perfect moment, her lips curled up into the usual smile before she squealed pulling me into a tight hug
"I knew it! I knew you would come back!" She said making me roll my eyes

Emily and The Next Step have been struggling for a few months, they were on a losing streak which meant that a lot of parents were pulling their kids out of classes. If we didn't act soon, The Next Step was about to become nothing but a memory 

"This place means a lot more to any of us then anything else Emily, I'm not going to let it sink" I said offering her a smile as we pulled away slightly 

I continued to look around the office before seeing my eyes fall on some photos in the office. There were ones with just Emily and I. I had them in my office too so of course I let her keep them

It's strange thinking back to the times where both of us had been rooming the halls, we fell out more times then I think either of us would happily admit
We'd only come out stronger each time though, no matter the repercussions

"Can you believe how small we all were then?" Emily said pointing to a photo of Regionals 

Those days again seem like they happened a lifetime ago. Things were simple heading to regionals, minus our drama with Elite.. It was peaceful
We didn't know of the Love Triangle at the time, there was no Beth, there was no lies, no betrayal at all
"I know that was the first time we were properly a team" I smiled looking at the photo

That was our original team, we wouldn't have wanted to change anything about it. Back then, I couldn't have imagined us changing the team every competition but looking back at it it was the right call
I don't think we would have made it half as far as we had if we had stuck to the same team, the new additions we added each year all had their needed skills to push that much further 

"Everyone is meeting up this evening at mine, Would you want to come?" Emily asked as I placed the photo back down
"Sure" I said making Emily raise a brow
"Are you sure? Because Riles you don't need to if it-" She started making me look at her confused

"Emily, why wouldn't I want to see everyone? Who's going to be there?" I asked, she was scheming something but I didn't know what
"Well after I didn't know if you were coming out. I branched out a little further then just you Michelle Eldon and I" She said making me nod
"So?" I continued

"Well I invited West for the help" Emily continued, it was obvious she was stalling right now making me roll my eyes

"Where West and El are, means James would be too right?" I asked catching on quicker then she would give me credit for
"Is that okay?" She said fidgeting, I may be the known sister for all her nerves and anxiety but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Emily has her own tendencies.. She just hides them better

"Of course it's okay Em. James and I ended on a mutual ground, neither of us have any hard feelings or at least I don't" I shrugged
I hadn't really spoken to James since the break up. I moved out of town, now that wasn't because of the break up.. I wanted a change of a scenery but I guess that gave me the little nudge I needed

"Alright well I'm cooking so don't eat before you get there okay?" She said making me roll my eyes
"I don't know if I trust your cooking Emily" I said earning a glare from her while I sat there laughing 

"Tyler didn't seem to mind it last time you came over" Emily said making me laugh again
"Tyler would eat anything laid out in front of him Emily, that's not a compliment on your cooking trust me" I said, Emily continued to glare sitting back in her chair crossing her arm across her chest
"Speaking of, how is the whole long distance thing going?" She said and I shrugged

"He's there and I'm here. We see each other every other weekend an speak as often as we can but I'm not putting any pressure on it. After what happened last time I tried something with a bit of distance" I said thinking back to the last real time I sat in this office.
This were different to say the least, I made many mistakes and I know that. But I would also say I've learnt from them and grown from it 

I'm not the same Riley I used to be, that's for certain 

--

"I hear a certain Riley is joining us for real now? " Michelle said on the phone to me as I stood in my bedroom finishing getting ready, I didn't need to dress up for this occasion but I at least wanted to freshen up slightly 
"Mhm, it would seem that way" I chuckled

Michelle and I had kept in touch, just as I had with Eldon but sadly everyone else sort of drifted in to the back ground. From what I know West went off travelling so he was already hard to keep tabs on and well James and I went separate ways so neither of us needed tabs there too

"How are you feeling about it all? " Michelle asked, I really do not understand everyone's concern but here we are
"I'm alright. I'm not about to fall into a massive put of depression if that's what your worried about Mich" I answered hearing her sigh 
"I just know that the break up wasn't as easy as you made it seem Riles. I just don't want your to spiral, especially since Tyler isn't there right now " Michelle argued and I nodded

She had a point. I may have painted to everyone that this break up with James was for the best, that it was needed but in reality, it hurt like hell 

"I'm okay Michelle, I'm not a hormonal teenager anymore. I can handle myself" I chuckled making her fall silent for a little

"But if at any point, I struggle.. I'll let you know" I said knowing that should hopefully put her mind at rest a little bit