Replacing Richelle

3. And it breaks my heart

Richelle's POV:

I know I need to let Emily know that I want some time off, but texting her just doesn't seem right. I don't want to go to the studio, but I have no choice. I take my dance bag and leave the house. This chat with Emily is going to be incredibly painful.

"Hi Emily." I say as I knock on her open office door. I'm early, but I always am.
"Richelle! You're back! How are you?" She seems excited to see me. However, I'm not here to dance. I'm here to watch at the very most.
"I'm good. I know I'm supposed to be doing the duet, but please can I have a few days off?" I say it before I have time to think about it. I don't mention Noah or what happened because I don't think she really needs to know.
"Of course. Richelle, you are the most hard-working person I know. You need time off occasionally. However, I would like it if you watched rehearsal." I nod, obviously wanting to be around my friends. Apart from Noah. I don't want to be around him ever.
"Yeah. Of course. Do you have an understudy for the duet?" I can't help but ask. I know there's tension in the air and I'm sure Emily sees it too. As much as I want this duet, she has to do what's best for the team and right now, Noah and I aren't it.
"Amy is the understudy, actually. Her acro is so alike to yours that it was hard not to give it to her. But she doesn't know that yet." I'm so happy it's not Jacquie. Maybe that's wrong, but I don't care. I don't like her.
"Shall we tell her? She's just come in." I laugh. Being around Emily feels like old times. When she was my mentor. I still think about that day when I corrected her. Back then I didn't know she would be my studio head. Back then, I barely even knew who she was. I'm so happy I met her though. Knowing her is one of the best things to happen to me.
"Amy? Can I see you please?" I hear Emily ask. She comes into the office, biting her lip. I look at her with hopeful eyes.
"I wanted to let you know that I, With the help of Daniel and Richelle, have chosen you to understudy the duet. You have the tricks and the choreography. You work well with Noah. You're the perfect choice." I flinch at Noah's name. I hate him. Because if I don't hate him then I love him and I can't do that.

Amy's POV:

Hearing that I'm the perfect understudy for Richelle is so amazing. I've always wanted to be at this level and now I feel like I finally am.
"I'm going to sit in and watch, along with Richelle here, but Amy, you better prepare for a tough day." I thank Emily and go warm up. Richelle and Emily are having a discussion and I kind of want to know if it's about me. I just want to let them know that they won't regret choosing me.

We're in the studio, marking the duet when Richelle walks in. I notice Noah tense up, but Richelle just glares at his back. Then, weirdly, she smiles at me. I have no idea when we became so close, but I like it. Richelle pushing me to be my best is the very thing I need right now. I'm going to be the best on the team. Whether or not anyone else acknowledges it, I will do everything I have to in order to be at the highest level. Even taking extra classes and privates that I can barely afford. I want this. And if Richelle needs some times off, then so be it. I will be her replacement.

Richelle's POV:

I'm watching the duet and I can't help but mark it in my mind. I don't want to dance with Noah anymore, but something always draws me in. Instead, I focus on Amy. She is nailing everything and I'm so impressed with her. I honestly didn't think she would be able to get it. She's not exactly the brightest, no disrespect to her. However, she's doing everything I would do and more. I've never seen this side of Amy and I'm so glad I'm the one to experience it.

I clap a little at the end of the dance. Noah smiles, but I just ignore him. I can't do it with him anymore. He's always wrapped up in someone else. It's never: how are you Richelle? How's your week been? It's always someone else. And knowing it's Jacquie, this time, is annoying. Her laugh is so fake and watching him try to replace me with her is always...ugh! I don't even want to think about this.

"Richelle, any comments?" Emily says and I turn my attention back to Amy. For me, this was a standout solo. Noah wasn't even there. I refuse to admit he exists.
"Yes. Actually. So Amy, where did you come from? I mean I knew you were pretty good, but wow! Like wow! You captured my imagination and if I didn't know you were understudying me, this would've looked like you were the first choice." I know Emily wanted me to say something to Noah, but there's nothing left to say. I'm done with him. He's just somebody that used to be my best friend now.

And it breaks my heart.

A/N: Richelle is back! However, she's broken a bit. I have to say, this is one of my favourite chapters just because of Amy's and Richelle's growing friendship. They're like two of my favourite characters and so I wanted them to be friends. I wonder what Piper will say about this though? What do you think?