Three Shots || Jaden Hossler

40. Sunflower

Rye's Point of View

The adrenaline rush as soon as I walked into the studio was unbearable. I had to take a few moments to myself before saying hi to everyone, I felt like crying and I certainly wasn't going to do that in front of them.

This place used to be my home, as I've said before; all I've ever known. Dancing will forever be my safe place.

After having a few chats with my old teammates, the ones I don't hate, I made my way to the office where I'm supposed to meet with Joshua.

"Rye, didn't think you'd actually show up!" My former boss says seconds after we bumped into each other. She was exiting the office when I was a about to reach for the door.

"I like keeping my word." I smile, not trying to sound mean. "You do?"

"Just kidding." She quickly says and I joined her in a fake laugh. She's being passive aggressive but that's nothing new.

"No really, I am." That's hard to believe. "I can be mistaken for being rude when I'm not trying to." She comments. I've known this woman for years and she's plainly rude, there's not other way to put it.

"What I'm trying to say is that you're welcomed here. We've missed you." Nothing that she said before has anything to do with this but it's nice to know she's trying to be decent even though there must be a reason behind her act of kindness.

"I've missed it here too."

"Go on. Joshua's waiting. By the way that hair color suits you!"

I nod and smiled, proceeding to go in the office.

"Hello!" I sang going directly to grabHunter from Joshua's lap. "I've missed you little one." I'm hugging the baby about to cry from excitement.

"Oh hi Joshua." I say normally making him laugh. "Hi Riann."

It's weird when someone other than Jaden calls me Riann casually. The boys call me that as a joke sometimes but Jaden has taken it seriously. I don't mind Joshua calling me that, it's my name, but it felt off.

I need to stop obsessing about my boyfriend. My God!

"So let's do national's talk."

"Fun!" I respond sarcastically. "It hasn't been a month but I really thought your mom was going to find someone else for nationals during my absence."

"Are you crazy? After all the losing solos's we've had after you left? My mother won't jeopardize her name, this is her last nationals."

"I expected Paula to bring some wins after all the shit she gave me on our last competition."

"Third place has been the best score so far."

"Oh that's bad." I laugh. "I guess I have to win at nationals."

"No pressure." Joshua jokes. "So, what are we going for this year? I think I have the perfect song and type of dance."

"Is it Niall Horan?" I ask excited. Joshua and I have a mild obsession with doing dances to Niall's music, they're like good luck, I always win. "Hell yeah."

"The song Flicker, contemporary, a red costume- you won!" He raises his hands and cheers making us both laugh. "We have exactly one month and two weeks which is more than enough for you to perfect a dance."

"I still want to start training now."

"Of course. Mom already cleared the schedule for the month in studio two which is the smallest room, for us. We'll have it from ten in the morning until three o'clock everyday except the weekends."