AF Outfits: www dot polyvore dot com slash art_factory_outfits slash set?id=184465427

La Belle Epoque Outfits: www dot polyvore dot com slash cgi slash set?id=184946067

"Hello everyone, welcome to this year's Art Factory! I'm your host for today's festivities, Hannah Merkle. All of us here at the Factory hope you enjoy the event! There are art exhibits, dance classes, and more! If you have registered for a dance class, please head over to the Left Wing. If you are here to enjoy anything else, please head towards the Center and Right Wings! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to visit one of our booths!"

Maya jumped around in her heels nervously. "This is so nerve-wracking," she whispered to Kaelyn, who was making a minor adjustment to the placement of a snowflake decoration, which was next to a jar full of sand. "I hope people don't think you're the artist."

Kaelyn rolled her eyes. "That's rude. But I do look more the part of the artist in question, don't you think? You look more like the assistant."

Maya threw her hands up. "You should have let me wear what you're wearing then!"

Kaelyn smoothed the orange part of her hem. "But I made this in my size last night!"

"You couldn't have made something for me?" Maya asked through gritted teeth, glancing down at her black and white dress. It was professional, but formal. Not exactly a dress one would picture an artist wearing.

"There wasn't much time," Kaelyn said apologetically. "Oh look," she said, changing the subject. "Here they all come!"

Maya's exhibit was filled with people within the next hour. She lost count of the number of business cards she was handed, and Kaelyn received many accolades for her designs, as well as several compliments on her dress. Maya rolled her eyes. Kaelyn never missed an opportunity to promote herself.

But she was glad Kaelyn had the opportunity to promote herself out in California. Any exposure was good exposure, especially for one trying to start out in a design industry.

"That was exhausting," Maya whispered to Kaelyn after being interrogated by some graphic designer.

Kaelyn giggled. "Thankfully, things are starting to die down. There are only about fifteen people now, compared to the hundred we had a half hour ago."

"Yeah," Maya said with relief. She turned to adjust a painting, which had been tilted on the wall in someone's haste to get to another art piece, probably. Someone's hands clapped over her eyes.

"Guess who?" Josh asked her, grinning as Kaelyn had a hand over her mouth, trying not to squeal.

Maya shoved him off of her and spun around. "What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded. "I thought you couldn't get out of work."

"I wanted to surprise you," Josh admitted. "Are you surprised?"

Maya glared at him. "You just wanted to come and see Riley."

Josh shrugged. "Maybe that was part of it. But Maya...your exhibit looks stunning." He smiled at her. "It's very...you."

"In what way?" Maya asked.

"Why did you decide to do your exhibit like this?" Josh asked quietly, changing the subject.

"I don't know, it just seemed like a cool way to bring some of New York to LA," Maya said. "Why?"

"I think subconsciously, you wanted to do it because it resembles your relationship with Riley now. You represent New York. She's LA. Both cities are different. Very different. Just like the two of you. Just like your relationship now."

Kaelyn's eyes went wide. "Josh, that's really insightful."

Maya stared at her fiance thoughtfully. "You really do know me better than I know myself. I hadn't even thought that was the reason. But now that you've said it, I think you're right." She gazed wistfully at the painting of two pairs of shoes she'd drawn. A pair of strappy sandal heels, next to a pair of dark velvet ankle boots. Maya wore that pair of ankle boots almost every single day.

What she hadn't realized until now was that the sandal heels had been a staple in Riley's wardrobe since freshman year. "She's always been sunny and bright, just like LA," Maya said aloud.

"Your exhibit is brilliant to someone who doesn't know your history with Riley, Maya," Kaelyn realized. "But it's even more awe-inspiring for those who do."

"Hello everyone!" Riley called. "I'm Riley Matthews!"

There were so many people in the ballroom.

"And this is my assistant today, please give a warm welcome to Shannon Ramirez!"

Did the amount of people in the room double?

Riley shook her head. "I hope you all came ready to dance!"

The cheers were deafening. It brought her back to Nationals, and she smiled. "So here's what's going to happen! Shannon and I are going to teach a combo to you, and she's going to demonstrate to you. If you look down at the number each of you is wearing, at the end of the class before you leave, we're going to be calling out a few numbers that have stood out to us today. If we call your number, you're going to stay back for just a few minutes, and you'll find out why if and when you get there. Does anyone have any questions?"

"No?" Riley asked after a moment's pause. "Great, let's get started! Parents and guardians, if you could head off to the sides of the rooms so that your kids have a little more space to move around. We're going to teach the combination as a collective group and then what's going to happen is we're going to divide you up by age. That way, the younger kids will have more time to learn the choreography. Please find your own little space and try not to kick anyone!"

Shannon took her place on the stage and Riley began counting out steps. "One, two, step back and in place. Fan kick three, four, illusion five six, step seven, push off in the opposite direction for eight. Let's take that from the top."

After a ten minute instruction period, Riley asked the kids aged 5-7 to stand in one corner, ages 8-11 in another corner, 12-15 in the third corner, and 16+ in the last corner. There were a lot more 8 to 11 year olds than any other age group, so she moved the 11s to the third group and made the final group 15+. The groups now looked a little more balanced.

"All right, seniors! That's my 15+ group, you're on the floor first. Are you ready?" she asked, picking up a clipboard to write down numbers of dancers that impressed her. The music started and Shannon did the combination with the group the first time, and then without them a second time. Riley spotted at least four dancers that impressed her, writing down each number. There weren't many mini dancers that impressed her, but in the other two groups she had written at least sixteen numbers.

"That's it for this class, I want everyone to give themselves a round of applause. You were all great today," Riley said, after adding a few more numbers to her clipboard following the flexibility, jumping, and turning challenges. "Would the following dancers please remain in the center of the room please?"

After more minutes, Riley led the 32 dancers into the other ballroom where Aspen's masterclass had been taking place. "Please just line up in the middle of the floor," Aryana instructed. She'd been helping Aspen with her masterclass. "Riley, how many did you bring?"

"32," Riley replied.

"And I brought in 29," Aspen said. "All right, Ary, do the honors."

"Okay," Aryana said excitedly. "So, of the five hundred dancers that we saw today, the 61 of you are the ones that obviously stood out to Aspen and Riley. So, I think you all deserve a round of applause."

"What we'd like to know now, I guess," Shannon continued after the applause, "is if any of you are interested in coming to dance for Far West Movement."

"We're not asking for a full-time commitment, we don't want you to switch studios or anything," Riley added hastily. "But there are some dancers that dance at different studios for periods of time to get different training. If you're interested in becoming a part-time student at FWM, please let us know. And if you are interested, you can go to the registration booth outside the ballroom to where Jolie is. Tell her that you were invited to be a part time student and would like to register, and you'll go from there. If you have no interest in dancing at FWM, that's perfectly fine. We thank for your time and we'll see you hopefully in the future."

Riley turned to the girls as the dancers began to file out the door. "I think that was super successful, don't you?"

"I think so," Aspen said, smiling. "I guess we have to do some recon with Jolie in a bit."

"We're still going out for dinner later, right?" Riley asked. When Aspen nodded, she turned to Shannon and Aryana. "Do you two want to come with us?"

"I can't," Shannon said apologetically. "School calls."

"Same here," Aryana said. "Next time."

"All right," Riley said, smiling. "Thank you girls so much for helping us out! Do you need us to sign any forms for school?"

Three hours later, the Art Factory closed its doors to the public and Hannah popped open a few bottles of a champagne to share with all the event runners. "Congratulations you guys, this year's AF was a complete success!"

They all cheered. Riley tipped back her champagne flute and swallowed. She noticed Josh and Maya across from her. When Hannah was finished with her speech, Riley stood up to greet her uncle. "Hey, Uncle Josh."

"Hey, Riley," Josh said, smiling at her.

She shoved him. "Didn't bother to call to ask my permission for you to marry Maya?"

"I can't tell if you're being serious or not," Josh said, his eyes wide.

Riley rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm not being serious. I'm super happy for you guys, even though it's a little weird that Maya's going to be my aunt."

Maya laughed. "Remember back in seventh grade when you were horrified about that happening? Well, it's happening right now."

Riley shuddered. "We were so young and innocent back then."

A pause.

Riley gathered up her nerves. "The girls and I are going to grab dinner now, did you guys want to come? Lucas and Charlie are coming," she added to Josh. "And Hannah."

"Yeah, sure, it sounds like fun," Josh said. "Maya, did you want to go?"

Maya shrugged. "Can Kaelyn come?"

"Oh, of course," Riley said, smiling. "I think Aspen would be offended if I didn't invite her along."

"Sure, then I'll come," Maya said, smiling back. "What time do we meet you?"

A little while later, the gang gathered in Little Italy at Riley's new vintage find, La Belle Epoque. It was an Italian restaurant, but served its owners were from France. It basically meant 'The Good Times'. When Riley had asked them all those years ago why they hadn't just named the restaurant that in Italian, the answer had been because it was extremely long and not at all appealing to customers.

"Riley, ciao bella!" The owner Giovanni said, hugging her.

"Hi, Gio," Riley said, hugging him back. "A table for 9?"

A couple of minutes later, after pushing a few tables together, they settled into their seats and began to look at the menu. The girls were chattering excitedly about how much fun the Art Factory had been, and the guys were catching up with each other.

"You guys have to come back for next year's AF," Hannah told Maya and Kaelyn. "Kaelyn, you can do your own exhibit if you like."

"That would be amazing," Kaelyn said, beaming.

Maya sat there with a smile on her face, although she didn't say anything. She just nodded.

"Aspen," Kaelyn said, studying her dress. "Is that one of mine?"

"Yeah, I got it online after a three-person bidding war," Aspen said sheepishly.

"How much did you pay for it, exactly?" Riley asked, raising an eyebrow.

"More than I'd like to admit. I know I overpayed. I'm just glad I got it, because I really love it."

"How much?" Kaelyn asked.

"Five hundred," Aspen sighed.

Riley's eyes bugged out. "How?"

"Well, I had some emergency money, and now I don't have anymore," Aspen said, shrugging. "It's worth it."

"You may not think so in a few years," Riley sighed.

"Aspen, my outfits are not worth that amount of money," Kaelyn groaned.

"They are here," Riley admitted. "Actually, what Aspen paid is on the lower end of how much your designs are worth."

"Seriously?" Kaelyn asked. "That's it, I'm moving to California."

"Wow, ditcher, much?" Maya asked, rolling her eyes.

"You have six more months at NYU, Maya. Then you can move out here," Kaelyn suggested.

"I can't, as much as I'd love to. I need to stay in New York."

"Why?" Jolie asked.

"I just have to." Maya stared off into space.

Riley frowned but said nothing. Was it because she lived here?

"Riley?" A voice said from behind her. Riley watched Aspen's eyes bug out, and even Jolie went still for a moment. She turned around, and her breath hitched.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a small voice.

"I was just out with my friends, like you, apparently," he said, glancing at the table. "It's been a while."

"Yeah, I guess it has," Riley said.

"You never called."

"I have a tendency to do that," she replied, crossing her arms. "So, you just came over here to say hi?"

"Riley, is that," Lucas began, but stopped when she glared at him.

"Who is he?" Josh demanded.

"Riles, who is this?" Maya breathed.

Riley stood up. They were now almost face to face. "I think you should go," she said flatly.

"Back to my table or out of the restaurant?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "I hope you remember that the owners love me just as much as they love you."

Riley crossed her arms. "Back off, now."

"Fine." He took a step back. "I'll see you around, Riley."

Riley sat back down. Her Californian friends all looked at her with sympathy. But her New York ones...confusion was written across each of their faces. "Riley, who was that?" Josh asked again. "I'm asking as your uncle now."

"It doesn't matter," Riley muttered, although she knew that the evening is ruined. "Forget about it, all right?"

"This isn't over," Josh warned her.

Riley ignored him and returned her attention to her menu, just as Giovanni returned. "Are you ready to order?"

"Yes, we are," Riley said. "Hannah, why don't you go first?"

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I'm leaving for vacation this week for the holidays so I won't be updating in the next little bit. If I can, I will but I won't promise anything. I wanted to get this up before I left. Hope you enjoyed!

Lauren.