No Man's Land

Shock (Part 2)

Noah POV - 6am

I wake up with a splitting headache. I clutch my forehead in pain as I struggle to stand up. I throw my clothes on having no idea why they are off in the first place. I recognise the clothes of our past TNS competition costumes. It is clearly the costume closet. I walk out, I must have fell asleep here, by the looks of it so has everyone else has. There is Miss Kate and Pheobe in the office sleeping, all the boys slept in the music room. I wonder why I didn't. The girls are in Studio B... Where is Richelle? Oh please tell me she has gone home. I run back to Studio A as I hear the click of the office door opening. I see Miss Kate squinting her eyes and her hair tied up.
"Why are you awake Noah?" Miss Kate asks.
"I can't find Richelle and she never goes home without telling me!" I say scared and worried.
A flash of worriedness flash in Miss Kate's eyes.
"Go wake everyone up!" She says frantically.
I run and grab the gong from the music room. I bash it Jame's drum sticks shouting repeatedly "GET UP EVERYONE AND START LOOKING FOR RICHELLE!" They finally get up and search the whole building. After 30 minutes we couldn't find her. I start pacing and James tries to calm me down.
"Guys come over here!" I hear West shout nervously. He is by Miss Kate's office door. He is holding a piece of paper. He begins reading it out.
"Dear TNS Studios and EVERYONE in it,
I love you guys, you are my family. That is why I am doing this. I will be a burden." He stops reading and I suck in a breath. How could she think she is a burden! Tears stream down my face. "No matter how much I want to stay and live my life and grow as a dancer, I can't. I am sorry, especially you, Noah." Everyone stares at me and I fall to the floor sobbing. "You are my best friend. We have been through everything together but this time no-one can help... I am currently crying right now but once again I am sorry and I love you, all of you.
Just to be clear I am leaving Toronto all together, by myself. No-one follow me.
From Your loyal B-trouper Richelle."

By now everyone has tears streaming down their faces, even Phoebe. I slowly stand up.
"Noah," James starts as he stares at me sympathetically. "She's-" He gets cut off by my voice which is surprisingly loud.
"SHUT UP!!" Everyone is taken aback.
"She's not missing, she's at home safe and sound," I whisper trying to convince everyone or rather myself.
"Riche-" Michelle starts.
"NO! DON'T SAY HER NAME! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! SHE IS NOT MISSING!" I start grabbing on to my hair pacing slowly. "She's not gone, she is not gone." I repeat to myself. I feel a hand on my shoulder so I push the person behind me and run. I can hear the team screaming for me to come back. Fat chance! I run all the way to my favourite place in the world, our secret place, her favourite place. I run to the edge of the forest. Poison ivy and stinging nettles cover the entrance but I don't care. I run through it to see the luscious green grass and roses surrounding the edges. Roses are her favourite. I even remember he nickname I gave her, Rosie Richelle. I begin scratching my arms, the nettles taking effect.

Flashback - 10 years old
"No, look!" She says pointing to the ivy. I look at her in confusion.
"It is a secret entrance!" She says before she attempts to run in. I grab hold of her.
"I go first, you wait until I check it out. I don't want you hurt." I say worried. She nods and steps back. I run in instantly scratching. Richelle carefully steps.
"Noah!"

Flashback end

After that Richelle would alway trim the nettles a bit so we could step through with minimum damage but also so that no-one but us would know about it.
My thoughts are stopped by... West? I wipe my tears away and look at the swing set Richelle and I set up a year ago. I sniff quietly and get up. I carry on scratching my arm as I sit down on the swing. The stinging finally fades away so I rest my hands in my lap. I sigh as I see the ever flowing tears hit my skin.
"Noah?" West says quietly. "Are you ok?"
"Does it look like it?" I snap at him. I run my right hand through my brown hair. "Sorry, I just-" I begin.
"Miss her." West finishes. I nod.
"After dance, Richelle would always tell me when she was going so 10 minutes later we would always meet up her to do our made up duets, we would sing and just talk. With her I felt like I could do anything and no I feel hollow. Nothing but seeing her will change that." I explain.
"You just need to meet new people." West points out. Anger fills up inside me.
"THAT'S JUAT IT! I DON'T WANT TO MEET NEW PEOPLE, I WANT RICHELLE!" I scream at him. He looks at me wide eyed.
"I know how you feel." He whispers looking down at his hands. "My adoptive sister ran away a few days ago."
"West, I-" I begin.
"No it is fine. I just we act so much like each other that I never change. It would make me feel like she has actually disappeared." He laughs a little, probably remembering his sister.
He looks up at me.
"Keep dancing Noah, trust me. It is something you both share." He smiles softly at me and I nod. We get up and he claps my back as we walk out, I make sure I cover up the Nochelle hideout after.