The Next Step Oneshots

14. Return - Richola (Hints of Richozzy + Kingstola)

A/N: New 'story' out, with some ideas and drabbles. It's not really anything to read per say, but I just wanted to get some ideas out and share them with you all.

--

She hadn't really made friends with anyone since her previous best friend had left. Said friend's parents had moved to France for their constantly moving jobs, thus her best friend had also needed to move.

They had kept in contact, with frequent calls and texts. But it was hard. She wasn't the type of person to make friends easily. Her emotional barriers were too high. People were often intimidated by her. She didn't mind that, but sometimes, she wished she had a friend around.

Sure, she had Noah, whom was basically her brother. But he had other friends, as well as a girlfriend. They didn't spend as much time together as they did as children.

She had a boyfriend. They'd gotten together after her debacle at regionals. He was amazing, and so supportive of her. But he wasn't the best friend she wanted. For once, she wanted to have a girl best friend. Ironic, considering that she'd always gotten along with boys so much better all her life.

--

She takes a deep breath. It had been over a year since she'd been in this studio. It still felt like home, but there was an element of intimidation. What if she wasn't accepted back here again?

The team had changed vastly since she was here. Sure, some of the dancers were still here, but Jacquie, Noah, Zara, Heather, and lots of others had left alongside her. She didn't know a lot of the new dancers, despite Richelle filling her in about the studio.

She knows that the team was mostly complete; only two of the dancers had left since regionals. Her best friend had told her. So it would be difficult to make it onto a troupe again. But she'd try her hardest.

She steps into the studio she'd once visited every single day.

"Hey, are you guys holding auditions?"

--

She's running a grueling rehearsal. As the new dance captain, she had to make sure that all of the dancers on a troupe were ready for the challenge. Emily refused to have anything but the best of the best on the team, and she agrees with the sentiment.

She's about to make them run the routine from the top again, when she hears a familiar voice. Turning around, she finds... her best friend?

She runs up to the blonde, squealing and smiling uncharacteristically. The team watches in shock. None of them had ever seen her this carefree, let alone willing to show emotion. Even if they had been here for years. She'd always been someone who had hidden her emotions from the world, refusing to show weakness.

"Lola! What are you doing here?"

The two embrace each other, and she pulls away to take a better look at her best friend. They'd both grown since the last time they'd seen each other, and they were still about the same height.

"I'm back in Toronto since my dad got a permanent job offer here. So, are you holding auditions for the challenge?"

"Yeah! They're actually later on today. Do you want to join in for rehearsals right now though? I'm sure a troupe won't mind." She gestures around to the curious dancers.

All of the a troupers nod, most of them either knowing Lola from before and others wanting to get to know the girl who made Richelle act like a completely different person.

--

They settle down into a stretching routine, when her best friend is called by Emily to help out in the office. So she's left by herself with the other dancers.

"So Lola, how's everything been since leaving?" Piper asks, eager to catch up with one of her previous teammates.

"It's been great. I've gotten the chance to train more ballroom by attending some conventions around."

"So is ballroom your favourite style?" A girl she thinks is called Summer asks.

"Yes. But I also like hip hop and jazz."

Unlike her best friend, she wasn't much of a ballet or acro dancer. They each had their unique styles, making it so they rarely danced alongside each other. But it was always fun when they meshed together to create a whole new genre of dance.

"Oh that's cool! We don't have any ballroom dancers here." The girl beams prettily. Summer seemed like a nice person, with a personality similar to her.

"So. The real question. How'd you get Richelle to act like that?" A pretty curly haired girl dressed in yellow asks her.

"Oh that's easy. Richelle's a softie at heart. But don't tell her I told you." She laughs. It had taken her a while to get within the other blonde's mental barriers, but it was completely worth it. As she talks, she doesn't realise that her best friend's has returned and is right behind her.

--

"Lolaa" She crosses her arms across her chest.

"Don't tell them that."

"I'm not wrong, am I?" Her best friend smugly replies. She doesn't grace her with a response. Only a pout that was trying, and failing to be hidden, as well as laughs from all the teammates.

"Well, if you can break Richelle out of her grueling conditioning and rehearsals then you're definitely welcome on this team." Ozzy laughs.

She rolls her eyes at him jokingly. Really, she didn't mind his jokes that much. But she'd never admit it to him outright, even if they were dating. She sees her best friend send her a 'look', and she sighs, resigning herself to the teasing that would come.

--

She dances her hardest at the auditions, wanting desperately to rejoin the family she oh so loved. She marvels at her best friend's talent; her skill in acro tricks was unbelievable- a real powerhouse.

Biting her lip, she waits anxiously for Emily to announce the new members of a troupe.

"Welcome back, Richelle!"

She smiles and claps loudly for her best friend, who walks up to Emily's side confidently. There wasn't any doubt that Richelle wouldn't make a troupe, being the most senior member, as well as dance captain.

"Welcome back to a troupe, Lola!"

She squeals, and the team cheers. She runs up to her best friend and gives her a big hug. She then turns to Kingston, who'd been quiet ever since she'd returned. She knows that there had been something special between them over a year ago. It had probably hurt him a lot that she'd left so abruptly.

"Want to go get something to drink at the next steep?" She suggests unsurely. She doesn't know whether he wanted to talk, but she wanted to get the chance to catch up properly.

"Yeah, sure." The boy gives her a half-smile.

"See you tonight, then, Lola." Richelle gives her a pointed look, knowing immediately what she wanted to do.

"See you tonight, Chelle."