Got it figured out the hard way

whats her problem

The morning at The Next Step Dance Studio felt louder than usual.

Music blasted from Studio A while dancers stretched across the floor, half talking, half arguing over choreography counts.

At the front desk, Richelle flipped through competition schedules while Noah carried three coffees and looked exhausted already.

"No one told me running a studio involved this many emails," Noah muttered, dropping into the chair beside her.

Richelle didn't even look up. "I did. Multiple times."

"No, you said it was stressful. You didn't say I'd have parents emailing me at six in the morning asking why their child didn't get a solo."

Richelle finally smirked slightly. "And?"

"And I panicked and almost replied with 'ask Richelle.'"

"That would've been the correct answer."

Noah laughed quietly before his expression softened.

"How's Scarlett today?"

Richelle's face immediately changed.

"She's better. Maisie stayed with her most of the night." She paused. "The doctors are happy with how treatment's going."

"That's good."

"But she's frustrated," Richelle admitted. "She wants to come back before she's ready."

"That sounds like Scarlett."

Richelle finally leaned back in her chair.

"I just... I don't know how I'm supposed to do all of this at once, Noah. Internationals are in a few weeks, the studio's chaos, Scarlett's recovering, and half of A-Troupe is emotionally unstable."

"Only half?"

Richelle gave him a look.

"Fine. All of them."

—

Inside Studio A, rehearsals were already messy.

"From the top!" shouted Ariana.

The music started.

Everyone moved sharply into formation until Olive missed a turn and collided lightly with Finn.

"Oh my god, sorry," Olive said quickly.

Finn frowned. "You okay?"

"Yeah, obviously."

Ariana stopped the music immediately.

"Olive, you're off by like two counts."

"I know."

"Well then what's going on?"

Olive crossed her arms. "Nothing's going on."

The room went awkwardly quiet.

Laura exchanged a glance with Amy while Olivia stood near the mirrors, watching carefully.

Ariana stepped closer.

"You've been weird with me for weeks."

"I'm not being weird."

"You literally leave every room I walk into."

"Maybe I just want space."

Ariana's voice softened.

"Olive..."

"I said I'm fine."

Olive grabbed her water bottle and walked out of the studio.

The silence afterward was painful.