The Next Step Oneshots

4. Deserving - Richozzy

She was placed in the resurrection round. Her routine had been brilliant, but she'd injured her ankle doing one of the tricks on the slippery floor. This caused her to fall, and almost be disqualified. But she refused to give up. Instead, they had compromised, and placed her into the dreaded resurrection round.

She had planned to destroy the competition, placing her back in it to win it. There should've been no reason that she couldn't win the whole competition. But then her opponent is announced. And all the life drains from her face.

'No, no, no. This cannot be happening', she thinks.

How on earth could she attempt to drag the only person who cared about her, down and out of the competition?

--

Their routine had been ruined with failed chemistry. And now he's forced to pick up the pieces. Nobody knows who their opponent is. All he knows, is that his terrible luck had forced the team to rely on him. And him alone.

He steps forward, as the team leaves the stage. And then he sees them. He sees his opponent. And it's her. The woman he'd loved ever since he laid eyes on her. And he'd be forced to compete against her.

He knows that he stands no chance. Her dancing was impeccable; the best he'd ever seen. The only reason she had been here was that she had injured herself. And she was dancing despite all the pain.

They stare at each other, unmoving. Neither know what to do. They don't notice the questioning looks they get from the audience. The glares she gets from the team. The tension in the air.

Eventually, everyone else is evacuated from the room for their rehearsals, the stage divided in half. Murmurs fill the air as the two continue to stare. Nobody knew what to do with the pair.

How on earth was he supposed to compete against the love of his life?

--

"I can't. I can't do this."

He blurts out once the room is empty. He vehemently refuses to compete and fight against his love, let alone his previous team member.

"I'm not doing it either."

He's shocked. She had never refused the chance to win or be competitive. This was a huge opportunity for her- why was she so willing to give it up for him?

"I'm injured. Remember that year of snapping hip syndrome? I have the chance to aggravate it again if I have to compensate for not putting pressure on my ankle. There's no point in me risking that if I'm going against all of you."

He remembers that terrible season. The season which led to the awful events of Emily and Michelle being fired, almost letting Ms Angela take over the studio. He shudders, remembering the terrible snap of her hips after filming. He never wanted to hear the sound ever again.

"Then why were you so adamant to keep competing?"

"I wanted to push myself; prove to everyone that I could do better things. But it was selfish of me to leave. So I'm going to make it up to you now."

"I can't let you give it up for me."

"You can't stop me."

"But I can. Don't try to deny how much you want this. I know you want it; and badly. Look, if you really want to make it up to us, dance. Fairly."

"Fine." She relents.

He doesn't know it yet, but she values his opinion and feelings so much. In fact, he had been one of the reasons she had hesitated in leaving. But she'd never tell him. Not in a million years.

Or at least, that's what she thought.

--

"An in a huge turn of events, we have Richelle, the injured soloist, going up against the next step, the studio she actually used to dance at."

He takes the stage, doing his amazing musical theatre number. His charisma and appeal captivate the judges and audience. She watches from the sidelines, in a beautiful golden costume. She's so unbelievably proud of him, and all of his improvement over the years.

She takes the stage next. A beautiful contemporary piece with her floating through the air. It was near impossible to tell that she had an injury, except for the ankle wrapped in black.

With a flourish, she finishes the routine. But then, she asks for a microphone.

"I'd like to forfeit. We danced fairly, and I would like the next step to advance to the next round. I know that they have what it takes to win. With this injury, I can't risk dancing again. And they deserve this win much more than I do. I was selfish to leave them just before the competition. So, to all the a troupers here, I hope this makes up for it. And Ozzy, I may not express it often, but I'm so proud of how far you've come since joining us. Take this win proudly, okay?"

Everyone is shocked to silence. Nobody expected the most fierce competitor to withdraw from the competition for the other team to win. Unsure, the commentator announces that she is no longer competing, and the next step advances to the next round.

They begin to celebrate, and she slips out of the room, smile on her face.

--

He notices that she leaves the room. He tells his team, and they all smile at him, urging him to go after him. They're no longer angry at her. She had paid her dues with that selfless decision. And they 100% support him in his love for her.

Running out the room, he catches her in the corridor, still clad in her golden costume, blonde hair flowing freely behind her.

"You didn't have to do that, you know."

"I did, though. You said I had to dance fairly, and I did. But you deserved that win much more than I did."

Damn her. Damn her and her way of thinking out of the deal, he thinks. He'd always loved that about her, but it was strange being on the other side against her.

"So, you're proud of me, huh."

"Don't make me say it again, Ozzy."

He walks closer, and she backs up into the wall playfully. They both smile, and they look into each other's eyes. There and then, he finally realises that she had accepted him. Much longer ago than he had thought.

Their eyes flutter shut, and his long awaited kiss finally happens. And he couldn't be happier about it.

"This is the best day of my life, you know."

 "Oh I know", she sassily replies.

--

She stays and watches them all compete, a front row seat in the audience. She cheers loudly every time they dominate, and smiles when they perform the best. As the most senior member of them, she feels like a proud mama bear. She's so happy for all of them and how far they've come.

When she finds out that they're threatened to be controlled, she's the first to fight for them. And she wins the catfight. Though Maria towers over her small body, she stares at her defiantly, arguing her way to the top. And they thank her profusely.

As she watches them do their final performance, she can't help but be so proud of them all. Especially him.

When they finish, the whole crowd cheers, and she's the loudest in the room. She runs up to congratulate them, and they all hug her happily. She's not one for much affection normally, but today was a special occasion.

Then, she turns to him and gives him a huge hug.

"You deserved this, you know."

"Thank you for everything, Riri."

She doesn't say anything. Instead, she kisses him. Right there as the cameras or recording. She should've been self-conscious that they were being recorded. But she doesn't care.

It was just Richelle and Ozzy, right here, right now.