It won't keep us apart

Chapter 1: One last visit

Richelle's POV

Miss Kate shut down The Next Step because I danced on my injured hip when Emily and Michelle didn't know until after... I know, I should have listened to Lola, but the Regionals Qualifier video was so important for not only me, but the team as well. After losing at Regionals in my first year on A-Troupe, I was hoping that things would've changed. Now, it's not any better after I injured myself.

I'm now in hospital waiting for another check-up, but I'll hopefully get the all clear by next week. I can't wait to get back to the studio and dance again. I've been taking physio lessons throughout the weeks after healing my hip. Believe me, I felt so useless when I was trying to walk again. Lola was one of the first people to visit me after I got admitted to hospital, but there's someone I thought who'd also come. But he hasn't yet. Which makes me wonder whether we were friends at all, although we had a rocky encounter a few months before I hurt myself. I visited him in hospital when he hurt his back.

"Hey Richelle!"

I snap out of my thoughts and see Lola standing in front of me, wearing a new peach coloured cardigan over a plain white top.

I greet Lola with a big hug. She pulls away and sits down on the chair beside me and studies me carefully. "What were you thinking about?"

"I was wondering whether a certain someone would visit me, but I doubt he will. Ever since...you know," I trail off, thinking about what had happened between us before.

"Richelle, I'm sure he will. Trust me on this one," she said brightly.

I frown. Will he? Or will he not? I look up at her with distrust in my eyes.

She gently places her hand on my arm. "Look, don't even worry about it. I told you Noah will visit, okay?"

"Okay Lola. I'll wait, if he bothers coming at all," I mumble, not quite looking at her in the eyes.

Lola shuffles in her chair, unsure of how to respond. A brief silence hangs over us. I sense that there's more to what she's letting on, and I'm very curious. She opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.

"So, why did you come here? I feel like you got something more to tell me."

She lifts her hands up, then brings them down. "I-I wanted to break some news to you."

I raise my eyebrow questioningly and tilt my head in her direction.

Lola sighs and bites her lip anxiously. "I'm not coming back to A-Troupe."

"Oh." My shoulders droop. "How come?"

"I've gotten a new opportunity and to be honest, I think it's time for me to go." She lifts her shoulders up a little.

"I was hoping that you'd stay for another year at The Next Step, Lola." I peer up at her with hope in my eyes.

She smiles sadly. "I know Richelle. I would've, but I've already decided."

"Well, I'll miss you," I smiled, grateful for our friendship.

She places a reassuring arm around my shoulders. I lean my head onto her shoulder, my blonde curls brushing her cheek. "Go have fun out there, Lola. Show them what you've got"

"You go have a good year in A-Troupe, Richelle. I know it's gonna be different without me, but we can meet up sometime next year, yeah?" she looked at me, patiently awaiting my answer.

I nodded. We both get up and we hug each other tightly, knowing that this wasn't goodbye. Another time, we'll reunite.

"See you later Richelle," she whispered in my ear and pulled back and placed her hands on both of my shoulders.

My eyes began filling with tears. "Later Lola," I said, my lip trembling as I spoke.

Lola smiled and turned around to head towards the exit. I sat back down and watched her leave. When she was gone, I quickly rushed off to the toilets and washed my face, making sure I didn't look like I was crying. I gently dabbed at my eyes with a tissue and peered into the mirror once more. I look alright, I guess.

I walked back to the waiting room, hastily grabbing a magazine along the way. Slumping back onto the chair, I sighed and opened to the first page of the magazine. My eyes struggled to focus on the page. I couldn't think with so many things weighing me down. 

'She's leaving. Lola. Lola's leaving. She's gone. I might get an all clear from the doctor. Then I can dance again. I have to take things slow first though. What if -'

"Richelle?"

I freeze at the familiarity of the voice. All of this jumble in my mind and now what? After slowly closing the magazine in my lap, I look up. I lock eyes with the person.

Wait what?

No, no, no.

This can't be. 

A/N: Hey everyone, this is my first story on Wattpad, so I'm still working on my writing skills. Don't mind this chapter though because it's just the beginning of everything and as you can see, not much has really happened. 

Although I've watched Season 6 already, I just wanted to put something of my own in between Season 5 and 6 (I know there's the Off Season with the Scholarship).