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

Chapter 4

Lucien's POV
I lock up the office, walking out of MY studio. It's great to own this place. I finally own The Next Step.
My new rules are...unique. I get to make their lives miserable and use the Elite dancers as moles to get the Next Step ones on their side. It's a team chemistry exercise. Perfect.

Eldon's POV
I hesitate on tapping the send button on my phone. I'm in bed, about to go to sleep, but I felt like I had to do something. Text Thalia.
All I said was "Hey." But I know that of we do get together, it'll just all go downhill. We won't be able to see each other, Lucien will be in the way, our schedules will be all over the place. But this is something I want and I like her. Really like her.
I press send.

Michelle's POV
I had no idea so many TNS dancers got cut. They were all amazing as well. James, Giselle, Amanda, Thalia, etc. The studio will never be the same again. I hate Lucien. We all do.
I plug my earphones into my ear and relax on my pillow. I press shuffle. The song that comes up is "Unsinkable"; our semifinals Nationals song.

***FLASHBACK***

"Guys CALM DOWN!" Emily yells over everyone. We've been at this for ages now. We just can't agree on anything or any concept for this routine. I'm so sick of it. James wants to do Hip Hop, Thalia wants to do some mythical kingdom thing, Eldon wants to do another Shakespeare play....
"Look, should we just have a break or something? Go to culture shock or whatever?" Riley brings up.
"Down!" Hunter says, getting up and leaving. Slowly, everyone else leaves studio A.

Once I've ordered a blueberry juice, I see Riley and James sitting on a sofa together. (This is before their break up BTW) I decide to walk over and sit with them.
"Hey," I say quietly.
"Hey," they both say back, their voices overlapping. They clearly don't want to talk to me.
"Go any ideas for the routine?" I ask.
"Nope," Riley sighs.
We don't say anything for a few moments. Then I have an idea.
"How about, we do dance with a concept that'll help us connect as a team again? Do you get what I mean?" I say. They both look at each other, then at me. James nods reassuringly.
"Yeah, that could work," he says,"But what would we do?"
"Maybe something to show how connected we are as a team. When we're not fighting I mean," Riley suggests. I smile and nod.
"Let's go back to studio A."

***END OF FLASHBACK***

I sigh. Our team use to be great. We have so much chemistry, we loved coming to dance. But now, since Lucien's taken over, it's all gone away. It's just been snatched out of our hands.

Miss Kate's POV
I walk into my bedroom, cursing to myself. My job application failed. Someone else got it.
"Babe, what's up?" My fiancée, Stefan, tells me.
"Didn't get the job," I sigh. He walks up to me.
"Don't worry about it," he says before pressing his lips to mine. I smile through the kiss,"There's a million other jobs out there. All perfect for you," he says, smiling. He kisses me again, moving down to my neck. I moan, rubbing his back, as we go into the night.

Riley's POV
The next day, I'm on my way to rehearsals. My head is bowed as I plod along the pavement (or sidewalk😳) my hands in my pockets. I can't stop thinking about what Shantel told me yesterday and if it means I'll be able to see James more often. I enter the studio, peering into Hidalgos. He isn't in there. I sigh, I wave of sadness flowing through me. I just want him to be there.
I stroll up the stairs, go round the corner to see everyone lining up. I'm the last to arrive. I join the back of the queue behind Nick. Shantel is near the front. She checks to see if Lucien is coming and then makes her way towards me.
"Hey," she whispers. I greet her the same way.
"So, do you want to be able to see James more often?" She says. I feel a sense of hope, so I agree to her.