Lost in the Middle

Five

AN: Set during "Twinkle Toes".

Natalie insists on taking way too many pictures of the three of them before they leave for dinner. Secretly Richelle is kind of happy to have them because if this whole thing blows up in her face somewhere down the line, she'll at least have these photos to look back at.

Noah ended up keeping his dark purple tie that matches Jacquie's dress, because the girls decided to get him a dark blue boutonniere to match Richelle's. And they each have a corsage that matches the other's dress. No one could look at them that night and not know they go together.

They go to a small, little Mom and Pop Italian restaurant (that has gluten-free pasta), for dinner. It's far enough away from the studio that hopefully no one else from TNS will be there.

Richelle ignores the unpleasant squeezing of her heart when Jacquie and Noah hold hands above the table. And when they swap bites of their meals, that's at least a more common feeling (not being able to share food), the jealousy is new-ish though. Getting to spend time with them had started to quell the jealousy that started to spike all those weeks ago at their trio rehearsal. But even if by some miracle either of them return her feelings (and it doesn't rip their friendship apart) they'll never be able to be open like this. She's been reading stories from people in polyamorous relationships (that's what she wants, she thinks) and so few of them seem to be actually out, especially not at their age.

She tries not to think about it too much once they're at the dance though. Both her and Jacquie end up barefoot less than 10 after getting there. Most of the time "Electric Eldon" is playing party music and they're all dancing together, being more goofy than they ever normally would be at the studio, but there's a few slow songs and Richelle dances once or twice with both Noah and Jacquie individually, but she doesn't question it though because she doesn't want either of them to overthink it and stop dancing with her. And of course there's a few songs Noah and Jacquie dance by themselves too but Richelle finds her earlier jealousy has quieted a little. She spends some of the songs sitting in the office with J-Troupe, giving herself some time to recharge. And she obliges Ozzy in one dance as well until she feels Winnie glaring daggers at her.

When the last song plays Richelle starts to head toward the benches on the side to let Noah and Jacquie have their last dance together. But Noah pulls her back and the three of them dance together. Mostly it's just swaying softly to the music but Richelle and Jacquie are mirroring each other again, both of them resting their heads on Noah's shoulder. She finds she doesn't care that all of A-, B-, and J-Troupes can see them, she just really doesn't want this moment to end.

***

"Natalie said you guys could stay over tonight, if you want to." She's stimming with her hands slightly unconsciously. Maybe they had their own plans for tonight, she's not naïve, she knows the stereotypes surrounding prom night. When they don't answer Richelle starts to take it back, "Never mind, that was—"

"I just need to check with my dad, but it should be fine. He might want to talk to Natalie though, make sure we're actually there." Jacquie cuts her off.

"It should be okay with my parents too, we certainly had enough sleepovers at your place growing up."

Richelle texts her sister as the other two go back to the locker room to grab a change of clothes, something more comfortable than a dress or suit. She's still sitting alone when Emily sits down next to her.

"They're good for you. Lola had to practically drag you to the fundraiser a few months ago."

"I almost didn't come," Richelle admits. "They're the only ones I wanted to go with, but I had convinced myself that I'd be a third wheel. It wasn't until that day I asked Noah that I knew for sure I was coming tonight."

"Look at this." Emily pulls up a picture of the three of them during one of their silly group dances, "They look at you the same way they look at each other. They aren't where you are yet, but I think they're closer than you think."

Richelle hugs Emily, "Thanks, Em. You're a good sister."

***

Richelle is physically exhausted by the time they're finally back at her apartment, but her mind is racing. The other two seem like they're still wide awake too so Richelle pulls out some extra blankets and pillows to make a little nest on the floor in front of the couch. She points out the bathroom so the other two can change while she goes to her room. She grabs the first pair of her dance shorts she can find and a soft, oversized t-shirt. She debates whether or not she wants to grab her favorite stuffed animal, a lion from one of her first trips to the zoo, but decides that Jacquie's already seen her with her snow leopard, her lion's not a big deal. She's continuing to let her walls down, a little at a time.

When they've both reemerged she hands them each a hanger from her room for their prom clothes. They playfully bicker about what movie to watch before settling on West Side Story. Richelle's heart skips a few beats when Noah lays down with his head in her lap, after a few minutes though she starts running her fingers through his hair. It's nice she decides, the three of them like this.

Richelle falls asleep sometime during their second movie (she still can't believe she somehow got talked into watching the Shrek musical). But when she wakes up the next morning she's wrapped in a tangle of limbs. They're both still fast asleep, but that's not really surprising because she's always been an early riser (even if she's sure she didn't fall asleep until almost 2 in the morning). She carefully extricates herself and finds her sister in the kitchen.

"Did you have fun last night? I saw some of the pictures Emily took."

Richelle looks back over at her sleeping friends, "Yeah. It was fun," she smiles a little bit to herself. "I don't know if Emily took any pictures, but we all danced together for the last song."

"I like seeing you come out of your shell more. I know why you keep your guard up at the studio, but not that long ago you never would've had both of them over. Even Noah hasn't been around in a while." Richelle looks over at Natalie when she stops talking abruptly. Clearly her sister has more she wants to say. "Now look, I'm not saying you need other people to make you happy, you don't; but you close yourself off and don't let people in even when you want to."

Richelle can't find the words to explain to her sister how much she understands that. But she's been burned before and it's hard to trust that people won't leave when she's "too much".

AN: As of this week I started live blogging my reactions to season 8. Mostly it's just whatever thoughts cross my mind as I watch each episode because I say out loud anyway, so I figured I may as well see if anyone else agrees or disagrees even. If that sounds like something you'd like to see you can find it at https://livebloggingkidshows.tumblr.com/ (or by clicking the external link at the end of this chapter.