No Man's Land

7 Years Later (For Noah) Part 2

Noah POV
John spins the bottle and it lands on me...
"Truth or dare?" He says straight faced.
"Truth." I say unsure.
"Who is Richelle?" John asks curious. My throat tightens at her name.
"I can't" I stammer as I look at the floor.
"Ok then do a dare." Luke interjects. I nod happy. "I dare you to tell us why you quit The Next Step." I look at them in shock as they wait patiently for an answer. I sigh and start explaining.
"It all started when we won internationals. We had a party. The next day I noticed I couldn't find Richelle. Richelle is my best friend, my other half. I told her I was in love with her, I still am. But I had to do it over the phone. She is gone. I had a massive breakdown when West read out the letter she left." Tears stream down my face as I speak. I hand them the letter I kept with me and they read it.
"I wanted her, heck I still do. She runs off without an explanation but somehow, it feels like it is my fault. I just wish I could have her with me. I quit dance because it was too painful, that's studio is where we grew up together as best friends. Even when I was in A-troupe, I would always find a way to meet up with her. I can't have her not in my life. All I have is the photo albums of us and this letter to remind me of us."
Theo looks like he is about to cry and look is looking at me sadly. John is just staring at me. They all are looking at me as if I am a different person, I HATE IT!
"This is exactly why I don't want to tell you." I say angrily before running to Nochelle's forest.
I break down on the floor just as I enter the secret hideout.
"Why Richelle?" I sob into the ground curled up. "Why?" I bang my fist to the grass. I scream in anger and sadness until my voice becomes hoarse. I keep sobbing never the less.
"Are you ok?" I hear a small voice behind me. I turn around to see two kids around the age of 10, one boy and a girl. I nod and smile weakly trying to hold in a sob which fails.
"What happened?" The girl said. I shake my head as if to tell them I won't say anything.
"I'm Sam." The boy says holding out his hand. I shake it and reply. "Noah."
"I am Amelia. Now are you going to tell us or tell us?" She says stubbornly. Sam laughs a little and I smile.
"Fine I will tell you. Do you know who The Next Step are?" The nod. "I was the teenager who danced with the blindfold on." Their eyes widen in shock.
"Why don't you dance with them anymore?" She asks innocently.
Suddenly my phone rings and I look at the caller ID.

❤️Richelle❤️
I quickly answer it forgetting my surroundings.
"Richelle!" I say in shock.
"No. I am sorry." She replies.
"I thought you didn't want to talk to me. It's been 7 years Rich but I never lost hope. I know that some way I will be with you. Because I am in love with you. Ok?"
"I love you too Noah." She says most likely smiling.
"I may not know where you are and what your appearance is now but I am still head over kicks in love. I have been for the past 7 years."
"Wanna try 14 Noah?" Richelle replies.
"14 years? Jeez Richie." I laugh and so does she. "Hey I am doing internationals with the team just this once."
"No duets?" She says sternly.
"You know I only do duets with you Rosie Rich." I hear her giggle at the end of the line. I hear some shouting in the background and Richelle says she has got to go.
"RICHELLE! RICHELLE!" I scream into the phone. No reply. The phone slips out of my hand and I lay on the grass.
"Was that your girlfriend?" Sam says startling me.
"No, it wasn't." I reply in a monotone voice.
"Was that the reason you left the Next Step because Richelle ran away?" Amelia says quietly. I stay quiet.
"How'd ya know?" I whisper sadly.
"I am Eldon's younger sister!" She says before running off with Sam. I smile slightly and walk back to The Next Step studios.