{River's Apartment}
Malibu, California
The Next Day
It's around 8:30pm River was getting ready to enjoy the rest of the evening. She finished eating dinner and now she's washing the dishes. She hated doing the dishes but you can't leave them in the sink. Tomorrow's practice wasn't scheduled so she was going to take time to relax. She's probably going to stay home and do nothing for once. This doesn't happen often so you have to take advantage of it when you can. Once the dishes were clean she was going to her bedroom when there was a knock on her door.
"Who could that be?" River asked herself before walking to the door. She opened it to find an unexpected visitor.
"Hey," Michael stood with his hands in his pockets.
"Michael. Hey, what are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry about showing up without calling. I just...." He let out a sigh. "I need some advice."
"Yeah come in." She moved to the side as he came into her apartment. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No, I'm good." He looked around her apartment. "Your place is nice."
"Thanks I got some work done on it and I'm satisfied with how it looks. I had my apartment in New York remodeled so I thought I should give this one the same treatment." She wanted to make sure she was comfortable. She gestured for him to sit on the couch with her. "Tell me what's going on?"
"Nova and I got into it again." He ran a hand across his face. "We've never fought this much in the two years we've been together."
"Is it about me again?"
"She told me she was okay but now I don't know." He shrugged his shoulders. "She's upset that I didn't tell her about us going to the club. I explained to her it was to prep us for the routine. She flipped out on me Riv. Am I doing something wrong?"
"No, you're not doing anything wrong."
"I don't what to do. Maybe you can help explain to me what she's feeling."
"I wouldn't want to overstep my boundaries." She didn't want to make things worse.
"You're not I need a resolution."
"Well..." She took a breath. "I can understand where she's coming from. She's not comfortable with us being around each other for all of this time."
"But I've had the same conversation over and over again. Why is it such a problem that you and I used to date?"
"She might think there's some hidden feelings beneath the surface." She looked down for a moment before looking back at him. "It's because we were each other's first love. That can have a lasting impact on a person. She's worried about her position in your life. Maybe she thinks I might try to take you from her."
"But you would never do something like that." River wasn't the type to hurt someone on purpose. "I know you."
"You do but she doesn't. Right now she can't control the situation with us being partnered up. That wasn't up to me the producers pick the couples."
"Exactly" He agreed with her. "So what can I do to fix this?"
"Well..." She trailed off before her face saddened. Michael has been on her mind since they danced at the club. She knew it was wrong to think about him when he was with another woman. That was more than just a dance she felt it but wasn't sure if he did. She stood up from the couch. "Once the shows are over we can cut all contact with each other." She walked to the kitchen. "That way you won't have to do anything. I'll do it for you."
"River" He got up and followed her. "You can't be serious about that."
"We haven't seen each other in years up until now. So after the show things will go back to the way they were." She opened the fridge getting a bottle of water. She didn't want to put Michael's current relationship in jeopardy. If she removed herself things should get better for him. "Problem solved"
"No River the problem isn't solved." He stared at her in disbelief. "You're going to cut all contact with me after this?"
"Michael" She sighed. "There's no reason for us to talk to each other. You know that and I know that. We so happened to run into each other at the charity ball. I didn't think I would see you again after that night but I did. Nova hasn't liked the idea of us being around each other from the start. I'm not going to cause trouble for your relationship. I'm your ex remember?"
"You're not just an ex to me River." Frustration was evident in his voice. "You're so much more than that."
"And I shouldn't be Michael. Right now I'm just your coach and partner. After the show, I'll be your ex again. Things are...becoming too complicated. Everyone will be happier that way. Nova won't have to worry about me anymore." She didn't want to do this but this was her only option.
"River," He said that she stopped making eye contact. "River look at me please." She slowly turned to look at him. "I already lost you once and I'm not going to lose you again."
"I have no right to be a part of your life." She had to stay firm with him. "Once the show ends I'll be going back to New York since I'll have time before the DWTS tour starts."
"You're going to leave me again!" Michael began to get angry but he wasn't sure why. "Just like you did last time?!"
River's eyes widen caught off guard by his sudden anger. She realized he was speaking of when they broke up. "Are you for real?" She scoffed. "I debated for months about going because I didn't want to leave you. You told me I couldn't pass up the opportunity."
"I did say that you're right. I wasn't going to let you give up your dream. But you didn't even try to fight to keep us together." He felt himself getting angrier. He wasn't aware of this pent-up tension he still had. "I wanted to do long distance but you weren't willing to. After that, you disappeared and I never heard from you again. I was a wreck River. A WRECK. Most days I didn't want to get out of bed because I was so hurt. You didn't even care Riv." Once he finished he saw River's face. She was on the verge of crying. He zoned out for a moment and everything spilled out. Now he felt awful. "River I'm sorry I-"
"I think you should go, Michael." She tried to blink her tears away.
"River"
"Leave now" She walked over to the door opening. "I'll see you when we're doing camera blocking." He knew he couldn't change her mind. He wished he could take back what he said. The best thing for him to do right now is give her space. Without another word, he walked out of her apartment. She closed the door and the tears she held began to roll down her face.
River never meant to hurt Michael. She didn't know he held so much resentment towards her. Things went left out of nowhere. She and Michael hardly fought when they were together. Everything is so confusing right now.
