Wrong Time

Chapter Three: Secrets

| Riley |

"Is it weird being back?" Dad asked as I sat in the kitchen with him before leaving for practice
"Not weird, more like welcoming" I said earning a confused look
"When I'm there, when I'm  dancing part of me feels like mum is right there" I shrugged
"She never missed a performance and I don't think she'll start now sweetheart" He smiled before the horn or a car sounded making Dad chuckle before nodding to the door letting me go

The drive to the studio got quicker and quicker over the last week I swear. What used to feel like hours was a matter of seconds now
"Want me to come in with?" Marcus asked making me look at him with a raised brow
"You've never come in before" I reminded him earning a shrug but honestly I was late as it was 

As soon as I stepped into the building I was greeted by the one person I would rather never have to talk with, Beth stood by the office with her arms crossed against her chest like she was ready to pounce
"You've been staying late recently Riley. I'm not stupid, I know what you are doing" Beth spat making me roll my eyes

"All I'm doing is trying to catch up Beth, I haven't been here in a year and competition is not long away" I said before she grabbed my arm pulling me back to her
"You've been gone a year but still don't know your place" She glared making me raise a brow at her

"Oi!" A voice said making the pair of us snap to see Marcus walking into the building with my water bottle in his hand
"What is going on?" James' voice said walking into the corridor with Hunter by his side
"Someone needs to put her bloody claws away" Marcus said glaring at Beth getting me out of her grip
"Beth?" Hunter asked

"Riley and I were just talking. That's all" She lied
"I doubt that" James muttered looking over at me then to Marcus

"You okay Ri?" He asked making me look at him
"Peachy" I replied taking my bottle off Marcus and walking straight into Studio A

--

"That was a great practice guys. Now Beth and James. We need to see the duet" Miss Kate said making all of us look to the pair, I looked at Beth knowing that she was in no way prepared for this performance 
Pretty much every night after practice, James and I spent at least 2 hours rehearsing. It usually only takes Beth about 10 minutes to get bored and leave

"Yeah Miss Kate, I don't want to show something that isn't complete. We want it to be perfect, right James?" Beth said batting her eyelashes at him while his gaze trailed over to me slightly 

"I don't know what you mean Beth, you have both had plenty of time to perfect it. James hasn't been leaving the studio until almost 9pm most nights? Were you not with him?" Miss Kate asked making me smirk
"Well I-" She stuttered
"No Miss Kate, she wasn't" James said

"I'd tried getting Beth the practice but she would only give me 10 minutes of her time and even those were spent scrolling on her phone. I don't think she even knows the first 10 beats" James said making Beth's entire face turn beet red
"So what have you been doing every evening?" Eldon asked, James then turned to look at me which only made everyone else do the same thing

"Ri's been helping me with the routine in the hope that Beth would buck up her ideas and focus. But in all honesty, the entire process of the duet went so well with Riley I don't think I'd want to do with with Beth anymore" James confessed at this point I could feel Beth's glare burning into me 
"Let's see it then?" Beth said with a snark to her tone making me take a deep breath in before looking over at James who was trying his best to give me a supportive smile
But I was beginning to think I was far out of my comfort zone right now

As we finished I let out the biggest breath I didn't even realise I was holding before turning to look at everyone else who all stood their with the biggest smile on their faces
Well all but one.. but that was a given

"You guys managed to do that in a week?" Michelle asked
"Well a couple hours here and there" James added
"you and Beth have been working on that for months and came up with nothing?" Hunter laughed making me sneak a glance at Beth and of course she met my gaze instantly with a look that would kill me if that was possible

"I think you are right James" Miss Kate said bringing everyone back into the room focussing on her
"You and Beth have had chance after chance to get the duet together, it's pretty obvious that you were prepared to do so but had an... obstacle" Miss Kate said looking over at Beth before looking back at us 
"But I'm glad to see that you managed to find someone who was prepared to step up to the plate to help the team" Miss Kate continued, offering me a wide smile

"Riley and James, you both are now our tie breaker. Providing Riley is comfortable with that?" Miss Kate said making everyone look at me

Honestly I hadn't thought this far ahead. I thought i had been helping James until Beth sorted herself out, I didn't realise I would be fully replacing her. I didn't sign up for this 

But at the same time.. I can't help but feel a little achieved by it all

"I'm in" I smiled at her before hearing the slam of Studio A's door
It's a no brainer as to who that was