The Next Step A-Z One Shots 4

Middle of the Night-Richozzy

DESCRIPTION: Richelle and Ozzy talk after Dancemania - before they head home (S7)
WHAT TO READ: N/A
DATE PUBLISHED: 25/10/20

A/N Hey guys. I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update - I've been busy with school and prepping for an exam. I'm hoping to be more active in the next week or two as if written a couple of one shots in advance. Let me know what you thought about this piece, and comment what couples you'd like to see next!

"Hey! You cheated!" Heath says pointing to his controller to the TV screen in the hotel room.

"I did not!" Ozzy shouts back trying to concentrate on the game he was still playing with Finn, Henry and Kingston (and formally Heath). "You're just a sore loser."

"Can you guys be quiet?" Kingston questions, trying to get his focus back on the game and not on the bickering currently happening between two of his friends. "I'm trying the win here."

"You're not gonna win," Henry says, his full attention on the game. "Finn and I are smashing you guys."

"Wait. Are you two teaming up?" Heath questions putting his now unused controller on the floor.

"Yup," Finn says, eyes glued to the TV. "And you guys didn't suspect a thing."

"That's against the rules!"

Soon, the five boys are arguing over whether team-ups are allowed or not (while still focusing on the game, of course) when a knock at their hotel door interrupts them.

"Who's getting it?" Kingston asks.

"I will," Ozzy sighs, realising that he'll need to forfeit the game. But then again, there was no way he was going down with Heathcliff watching the battle play out.

Standing up from the floor, Ozzy stretches his legs to get rid of the cramps, before walking to the door. Although when he opened it, he was surprised to see who was on the other side. "Hey, Richelle."

This comment soon gets the other guys attention, and soon the name 'Richelle' is being thrown around the room.

"Can I talk to you?" Richelle asks.

"Outside? Sure," Ozzy replies before ushering the blonde outside and leaving the other guys to finish off the game. "Sorry about them," he apologises to Richelle as the two head down the hallway and towards the stairs leading down to the lobby. "So, what did you wanna talk about?"

Richelle sits down at one of the couches in the lobby, with Ozzy following shortly after. "I wanted to thank you."

"What for?" Ozzy asks adjusting his glasses. He can't imagine he had done anything that deserved a 'thank you'. Especially from Richelle. You had to really be on her good side if you were going to receive any kind of 'thanks' from her.

"You were the only one who forgave me," Richelle tells him, resting her hands in her lap. "Everyone else followed each other, but you, you had faith in me and forgave me for what I did. You actually wanted me back on the team."

Ozzy smiles for himself. He had been the one to bring back (in his opinion) the best dancer A-Troupe had ever seen. Just yesterday, he and Finn had been criticised for not being serious and not taking the competition seriously. But today, he had proven them wrong. He had been the one to bring back Richelle. Even though they were probably going to be disqualified for bringing Richelle back for the finals, it'd be worth it. They all knew that.

"You're welcome."

There a soon a silence between the pair, other competitors walking past them as they leave the hotel: something that A-Troupe and their studio heads would soon have to do. After all, Nationals was just around the corner and if they were going to compete, they needed as much time as possible to prepare and get all of their routines together.

"I'll see you later, yeah?" Richelle asks, breaking the silence. "On the bus ride home?" She knew Ozzy wasn't dumb, but with half of the team still trying to have trust in her again, Richelle just wanted to know that she'd have someone to sit next to and talk to. Hopefully Ozzy understood.

"Sure. Wanna sit with me?" Richelle smiled at the comment. She had an inkling that Ozzy would understand where she was coming from. As much as she had refused any feelings for the former J-Trouper, Richelle knew there was something mutual between the pair, and even if nothing came of it (as much as Ozzy wanted something to) she was happy to have a friend in Ozzy, someone she could trust and someone who could trust her.

And Richelle, not wanting to boost Ozzy's ego (as it sometimes gets when Richelle "oversteps the mark") lets out a laugh before replying to her friends offer. "Why not."

After answering the question, Richelle stands up from the couch and neatens up her clothes, as if she's expecting the paparazzi to catch her on her way back to her, Summer and Kenzie's room.

Ozzy soon follows her actions, not sure if he'd move off the couch if Richelle were to leave before he stood...and...he wouldn't say no to a hug - after all, his "heroic" actions before the finals were definitely affection worthy. Holding out his arms, with hope sprouting, Ozzy takes one step towards Richelle, who ends up covering the rest of the distance to join the surprised boy in a hug.

Soon after pulling apart from the short-lasting hug (one which lasted an eternity for Ozzy), Richelle put a hand up. "See ya." And, as if things couldn't get better for Ozzy, Richelle quickly kisses his cheek before hurrying out of the lobby and back upstairs to her room.

What was she trying to do to him? Momentarily stunned, Ozzy holds his hand to the cheek which his dream girl had just kiss - all this for forgiving her actions? Maybe he should be this nice more often. Who knows, maybe he'll get a girlfriend out of being a "nice guy". After all, that's how Noah, Kingston, Henry AND Finn managed to get girlfriends...right? Maybe his long time dream of being Richelle's boyfriend could soon be a reality, it was her who made the moves tonight - the feelings are reciprocated.

Ozzy makes his way up the stairs back to his room (where his sure the bros are currently talking about him and Richelle), thoughts of Richelle and the "kiss" plaguing his mind, unsure what it meant. Was it a friendly kiss, or a romantic one? And while a valid question, Ozzy knew that the night (now a couple of hours) before he was going to sit on the bus - and plane - with Richelle was not the right time to be jumping to conclusions. He needed to focus on Nationals, and then maybe he'd ask her about what they were.

But for now, before the havoc of tomorrow morning, Ozzy had a video game to play. And possibly some questions to dodge. But if he could get past his bros messing around and pestering him about Richelle, he could handle a bus drive and aeroplane trip with Richelle by his side - surely.

All Ozzy knew though was that there was no way that his bros were going to ruin the moment he had just had with Richelle. He'd been waiting far too long for a moment with the girl of his dreams to let some teammates (and good friends) destroy what had happened...even if he did have tomorrow to look forward to.