The Next Step: Reality

Chapter 7: Michelle

When I walk into Studio A the next day, I see all the dancers stretching. Miss. Kate won't be posting up the team until noon, but the cameras are already here. I see Riley talking to someone. I can't tell from my angle, but as I peek over I see that the person has red hair. At first I think the person is Giselle, but then I realize she doesn't have curls, and she's a lot taller. That's when I recognize who it is.

As Riley follows her out of the room, I feel tense. When she passes by me, she looks over but when she sees me looking she immediately looks away. I don't know what I did but she's obviously upset at me. That's very obvious. Sighing, I scroll through my messages. There are so many unread messages from my friends: Hunter, Richelle...but none from Riley.

Yesterday I called her, but she seemed in a hurry to hang up on me.

"Michelle," George says, making his way towards me. I try not to face him with an angry expression, so I just turn and smile. He's about Miss. Kate's age, and I know him slightly from my old show. He was friends with the director there. "Is it alright if you start warming up with the other dancers?"

"I slipped during auditions," I say, crossing my arms. "I'm almost sure that means I'm not going to be on the troupe."

George sighs. "It was one accident, Michelle. You're a great dancer, and I'm sure Miss. Kate takes that into account. Sure, she might judge you based on that audition, but you also have so much experience compared to the other dancers. It's all good."

I see the red-haired woman looking at me, her arms crossed. I try not to look at her, remembering what happened yesterday. Without looking him in the eye, I nod, walking away. I know he wants me there because he needs it on camera. He doesn't need to sugar coat his words, but at the same time I just want to avoid conversation with him, so I might as well do what he says.

I start warming up beside Giselle. She's always been welcoming to me because she's just that type of person. She welcomes everyone. She smiles at me while in splits. I start warming up beside her as I look around the room. I see Riley coming back into the room, her eyes scanning the room. When they land on me, she immediately looks away.

I frown. What's going on?

"Hey," Emily walks over to me. I'm very nervous around Emily. She just seems to be messing with me whenever she can. She motions for me to follow her. We're outside of Studio B, with no cameras in sight before she says, "I don't know what you did to my sister, but I know who you really are."

I try to not make any gesture that might indicate something. I hope she doesn't know that I messed up on purpose, because I have a feeling that's what she means. But that's impossible because nobody knows. Except maybe one person.

"And if you ever hurt Riley, you will regret it." Emily says, now very close to me.

I back away, trying not to show how nervous I am. "Don't speak to me like that." I snap. "I would never hurt any of my friends, obviously contrary to you."

"Friends?" Emily almost laughs in a scary way. "You think we're friends?"

My mouth falls open before I mutter. "I thought we were."

"Before you became this 'perfect' Michelle Baldesarra you think you are, we were friends. But now, I see through your mask." Emily says, her eyes narrowing at me. "You don't fool me. This show you put on? It's not you, and it will never be the same person you used to be." She observes me, scanning me up and down. "I don't even know what happened to you."

She walks away, leaving me speechless. Then, around the corner, the redheaded woman claps slowly before facing towards me. She crosses her arms, "You're doing a very great job at keeping your studio together."