What if...? A TNS fan fiction [Ended]

Chapter 3

West's POV
At the end of rehearsals, all I want to do is A, pee. B, get some water. C, just put everything back to normal. No one's happy, nothing's fair and we just want our old team back. I miss my bros, I miss the energy of our old team.

Riley's POV
It's 9:30 and Hidalgos is closed, as is everywhere else in the city. When rehearsals ended earlier, James and I would usually hang out somewhere and come home later, but, of course, he's gone home and I should too. It's pretty late and I have school tomorrow. It takes me about half an hour to get home now as I have to take the bus in case "you get attacked by a naughty man" as my mom would say.
I walk through the streets, wrapping my jacket across my chest. For April, it's pretty cold. I look straight ahead and see that the stop is only on the next block. That's when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I fish it out of my jacket pocket and see that it's a text from James.
James: I hope u understand y I helped u out 2day.
I smile. But I don't want a repeat of what happened with the whole spot on the team thing.
Me: I do. Thnx btw :)
I instantly get a reply.
James: that's great. Love you😼
Me: y the cat emoji??
James: they're feisty...like u...
Me: OK then
James: can't w8 2 c u again
Me: look I know we won't 4 a while so I just want u 2 know that I love u
James: dw, we'll be ok
And that's when I switch my phone off, putting it back in my pocket.
I continue to walk to the bus stop, with so much on my mind. I genuinely don't think James and I will be OK. I mean, we're not exactly allowed to see each other. I know he's just saying that. It causes a tear to roll into the bottom of my eye. I look up in an attempt to dry it out, blinking rapidly at the same time. I reach the bus stop, leaning on the seat under the shelter. I wipe my eye with the sleeve of my jacket, trying to erase the thoughts from my head.
"Riley, right?"
I look to my right and see one of the new Elite people in A-troupe. I'm not so sure what her name is. Her approach seems friendly and sympathetic, but I'm still not sure if I can trust her.
"Yeah, why do you care?" I say to her.
"I just want to tell you a few things you should know about this whole merging business," she says again. I look at her with my red and puffy eyes. She seems nice. I nod, and she starts to tell me.
"I know that Lucien said that how the studio is working right now is how things are run at Elite, but it's not. He made all those rules up just to make TNS feel bad."
I'm in shock. I thought he might be a little honest but apparently not.
"And I know that you miss James," I start to cry again as she says that,"and nothing like that would happen and Elite. It's just Lucien. Do you believe me?" She asks. I nod.
"Yeah, yeah I do," I say to her,"so what's your name?"
"I'm Shantel."

Shantel's POV
I love it when people believe me...