The Next Step: Reality

Chapter 4: Riley

"Dance, dance like you're -"

"Ugh!" I groan as I get myself out of bed, slamming my hand on my alarm clock's snooze button. It's about seven in the morning, but I stayed up so late yesterday that I'm too exhausted to get out. Thank goodness today is Saturday. Yesterday was crazy. I got up to twelve thousand new followers from one post, and so many comments and likes from fans. I've even seen a few fan pages pop up already.

As I try to fall asleep again, Emily bursts into my room. "Hurry up, Riley!" She says. "Auditions are in an hour!"

I gasp. I completely forgot about auditions.

Just great, I think.

~

As I walk into Studio A, wearing makeup (because Emily said, "You have to look perfect."), I immediately notice the large cameras that the camera men are holding. They're flashing red, which means they're already recording. So now everything I do may end up on national television, and although it's a bit nerve wrecking, I also find it exciting.

I see a young man talking to Kate. He must be one of the people who runs this whole thing. As I set down my dance bag into my cubby with Emily, I pass by James who winks at Emily and I. Emily nudges me, chuckling but I don't find it funny. He does this to everyone and it's annoying quite frankly.

"Hey," Michelle greets us smiling. I can see Emily is trying really hard not to make a face at her. As she walks away, Michelle smiles at me. "Excited? Nervous?"

"Um...yeah, kinda." I say, grinning back.

It still feels awkward with cameras in the room. Michelle probably sees how nervous I am because she takes my arm and leads me out of the room, into the girls' washroom. There are mirrors, and I can see that I'm shaking a bit. I don't look a bit nervous, I look really nervous.

"The cameras?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. "Are they making you nervous?"

"Yes." I sigh, relieved that finally I can talk without something recording me. "I mean you have it all the time, how do you even handle it?"

"Well, I don't have cameras following me every minute of the day." She responds, crossing her arms. "Didn't I warn you guys it would be different?"

I bite my lower lip. "I know, but Michelle maybe it's just the matter of getting used to these cameras. I mean so many people have reality shows, so it must have felt weird in the beginning of it all."

"You're so sure everything will be fine."

"Yes."

For a long time, Michelle just stares at me before shaking her head. We both start to head out as we bump into Emily who is smiling very widely. I didn't think it was possible to smile that wide. She looks at Michelle with the same smile as she says, "Guys! You should start warming up since auditions are starting soon!"

"Um..." I say, as she pulls me to Studio A.

Michelle follows behind me as I hear a text notification. It doesn't sound like my phone, and when I turn I see Michelle checking her messages. She's starting to frown as she scrolls through something. I start warming up, watching Michelle. Her expressions seem to change. She's frowning more and more.

"Michelle!" I call. "Warm up?"

"Yes...of course!" She replies, setting her phone aside as she joins me in our corner. She starts with a few arm stretches but she's clearly not focused.

I frown. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Michelle catches my look of disbelief. "I'm serious, Ri." She sighs as she starts some of her leg warm ups as I start some splits. When I raise my eyebrow at her, she does the splits with me, so now we're at the same level. "You don't believe me?"