No Man's Land

Singing (Dancing: Part 3)

Jocelyn Macnab as James/Jamie

Joshua Lester as Riley

Don't judge me- they look alike, have brown hair and brown eyes!

Richelle POV

We are all waiting for Elite to finish their group dance... That's right we ARE up against ELITE. But they've improved compared to when most people left. As they finish the audience begin clapping and they walk off.
We hear a judge begin speaking.
"Since The Next Step Studios have had a winning streak up until now, we have decided to change they're group. It is an all team internationals dance, you have 5 minutes to discuss then come on stage. We all stare at each other in shock...
"WAIT!" I shout, they all stare at me. "I've got an idea!" They all look at me intently.
"Luke, Leia, I want you to sing See Through Me until Noah steps centre stage then Noah will sing a part of Broken By You before everyone surrounds him. He does a few tricks to get away from them." They all nod, Luke and Leia go off practising for a bit.
"Ok, it starts with all of us in a line. JILEY twins, stay backstage until I come to get you." They nod.
"Noah, you start happy with all of us. Half way through a minute before you sing, I leave back stage. You will go to where Luke and Leia are singing and sing your Rock n' Roll song. James, West, Eldon, you break dance in that period of time. Everyone else to a routine you know but modify it slightly. Towards the end the JILEY twins and I will come back on stage. I run to Noah and he lifts me. JILEY twins run after me and Noah looks down and picks Jamie up. I pick Riles up. Got the plan?" Everyone nods.

Ashley POV

I over heard the plan and THAT gives me a perfect idea to use my camera...

I plug it in the projector and the judge announced for them to come on.
TNS take the stage and begin striking a contemporary pose one by one to the beginning of 'See Through Me'. I play the slide show of Noah, Richelle and the TNS squad minus the Jiley twins, obvs. I hear the crowd gasp in excitement. Their names flash up on the screen along with their photos.
Around halfway Richelle turns away and ariels out leaving Noah staring at her. He tears his eyes away. I play his first break down dance video. (Sing,Dance,Sing.Everyone's watching... (Part 1))
I hear the audience gasp and a few sniff. Noah slams himself to the floor and slowly stands up. He does a few pirouettes as the rest of TNS surround him. He runs and does a few tricks as a troupe leave a gap in the circle. They all freeze. The audiences gaze is fixed on Noah as he takes the mic off Leia. I play the Rock n' Roll song but only show him singing it, I don't play the audio. James, West and Eldon unfreeze and begin doing their hip hop routine. I play the video of when the 3 boys did a routine to show how good Noah's singing was amazing. (NOMANDA fans. Sorry, not sorry (no offence, I respect you guys buuuuuut...)!)
Noah hands the microphone back to Leia and they sing See Through Me from the beginning. The team on stage freezes. I play a video of the Jiley twins saying their first words. I hear the crowd 'aaaaawwww!' at their cuteness. I play a compilation of Richelle shouting for the Jiley twins. Sometimes using their full names but with Nolet - just in case... I play a video of the Jiley twins doing their duets together. I also do the one where Richelle and I taught them to sing the chorus of 'Broken By You.'  At the end of the Jiley twin segments, I do a photo of them now, arms around each other's shoulders, their names underneath the photo. The twins stride out boldly, linking arms. Richelle runs in pulling them back as her eyes catch Noah's. Richelle has a smile on her face, she runs to Noah and they do the helicopter lift. The last verse of the song is sung so as they do a short, mini duet, I play parts of videos when they reunited. Unexpectedly, as the last word is sung Noah kisses Richelle and she kisses back. The Jiley twins crinkle their noses in disgust. They break away and they join the rest of the TNS team and strike their beginning poses as the last note plays. I roll the credits.

'See Through Me' Written by Leia Cast - Sung by Leia Cast and Luke Transom

'Broken By You' - Written by John   Hart - Sung by Leia Cast and Luke Transom

'Rock n' Roll' Written and sung by Noah Stark

Choreographing by Richelle Renton

Videos, photos and editing by Ashley Samantha South

They get a standing ovation. Noah picks up James and ruffles Riley's hair. He kisses Richelle's cheek. They all smiling in happiness.

The Jiley twins run backstage to me.

Richelle POV

"Now before we tell you the winner. WHAT WAS THAT?!?" Chuck says excitedly.

"I don't know Chuck, hang on!" Ashley Leggat stands up and quickly walks on stage with a mic in her hand.
"WHAT WAS THAT?" She shouts into it.
"That was excellent acting for the videos there!" Ashley says intrigued. "So full of raw emotion, love, regret. Simply amazing!" She squeals.
"It wasn't acting." Noah mumbles.
"What was that?" She says confused. He looks up, regret and hatred in his eyes, he snatches the microphone off of her.
"IT WASN'T ACTING!" He shouts, his and my eyes full of tears.
He turns away and begins crying. I gently take the mic off him and do one of the things that make him happy.
I sing. I sing "I Found My Voice." By Clara and John... Noah's head snaps up and he stops crying. He turns around to face me and smiles weakly. His eyes glistening with tears, looking at me. My breath hitches and I run to him. I embrace him in a tight hug and he reciprocates my action.
I look up from Noah's shoulder to see the TNS squad slightly crying, some harder than others. I move away from Noah and raise the microphone.
"Those videos were real." I whisper into it as I look down. I glance up to see everyone including Elite staring at me.
"After we won internationals 7 years ago, we had a party, obviously. The drink was spiked by someone. I woke up and took in my surroundings. I felt like I was going to explode in tears. I ran only leaving the dance and the note I did and wrote addressing it to The Next Step. I met Ashley in the airport. We had become friends. I found out she was West's sister. On the airport I had 2 breakdowns, both about leaving my best friend and lover behind as well as my life of dance and passion. 9 months later, I gave birth to twins. I named them after the Jiley couple because they have this bond that only few couples have. The Jiley twins danced tonight, amazingly. Ashley and I taught them to sing, play the guitar and the piano. They are naturals, considering who their father is." I get stopped by Ashley who asks me a question.
"Who is their father?" She asks smiling.
As she asks this Riley runs on screaming.
"DAD!" Noah's head snaps to mine in panic and question. I nod slowly and he crouched down to Riley's height.
Pretty much everyone gasps in shock.
"Jamie punched me!" He pouts. Noah stifles a laugh before he calls for James.
He whispers something in her ear which makes her smile and laugh.
"Don't hit your brother again!" Noah says fake sternly as he points at Jamie.
He picks both of our kids up. Jamie and Riles on each of his  shoulders and holds them so they don't fall. Jamie balances on Noah's shoulder as she stands up. She jumps off and runs backstage. She runs back a few minutes later holding a sign.
"Mommy, will you marry Daddy?" I frown in confusion as the audience scream in excitement. I slowly turn around to see Noah on one knee.
"You always wanted the perfect internationals comp, how about I make it even better? Look, Richelle, we have known each other since we were five. We've been through everything together minus the twins but I would have rather you left. If you didn't I wouldn't have my hopeful fiancé and our wonderful kids with me. I love you Rosie Rich and I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you because those 7 years were hell. You may not be my girlfriend but we both know that we care for each other so Rich. Will you marry me?" I stand staring at him shock. Not trusting my voice I nod vigorously. Noah  slides he ring on my finger and pulls my hand making my fall into his arms. He leans down to kiss me but gets stopped by the Jiley twins running between us. Laughs are heard. We hug both of them. Noah kisses my cheek and Jamie's head. He ruffles Riley's head and then we both hug them again.
"Would Elite come on the stage please?" The announcer say. We all scoot over to one side as Elite step on stage glaring at us, arms folded.
"The winner of Internationals is THE NEXT STEP!" We all scream in joy and Noah kisses me passionately as we rock slowly side to side. I kiss back. After a while we pull back and pick up the twins and spin them around. The laugh. The whole crowd burst in cheers. This is the life... I have a fiancé, 2 amazing kids, my family, Ashley, my TNS friends and dance...

One chapter left - the wedding.....