The first time Elliot passes by studio 1 is the first time he sees A Troupe dancing. He pauses a moment in the doorway, analyzing what he was supposed to go against. They're good, that's for sure. But they're not great either. Sure, he has to get into "TNS West" before bringing them down, but come on, that will be a piece of cake. TNS West needs his technique, regardless of their level. He could only make them better.
His eyes shift to the big broad guy in the back and he frowns: he struggles with the choreo and it seems he doesn't have the technique background every other dancer seems to have. If he was up to him, this guy wouldn't be in A Troupe. A movement catches his attention and he sees a girl, the shortest of the group, going next to the big guy. She says something he cannot hear from where he stands and immediately, the arms are well placed and the legs are more turn-out. The girl snaps her fingers to the beat of the music and after making sure he could handle it on his own, she goes back to the front, her high ponytail moving to the rhythm of her movement. She picks up the dance and Elliot can't help to feel almost impressed. Almost being the key word. She's not as good as he is, because come on, he is Elliot Waisler for god's sake, but she is slightly better than every other dancer. Her lines are well defined and he can feel the power radiating from her body. A lot of power for such a tiny body. She's going in for a pirouette and suddenly, her eyes are on him, hard and cold.
She doesn't stop dancing, but the message is crystal clear. He's an intruder and if he doesn't leave now, she will make him. A smile come tickling his lips and he takes a step back, just enough so she can't see him now.
"How you must be Elliot!"
He turns around to see a short guy with a huge plastered on his face. Elliot frowns, a little taken aback by this sudden intrusion.
"I'm West, TNS West head choreographer. Michelle told me you're going to audition for our troupe?"
West works for TNS West? Original much? Elliot wonders for a second if that's why Michelle hired him but shakes his head and tries to focus on what West is saying. It all comes all blurred though. Blah-blah-blah something about the building blah-blah-blah. He focuses on what he's saying when the short guy talks about directions to find the right studio. He smiles politely and when West decides to guide him, he follows him. He's going to kill this audition.
He can't help to glance one last time at the short girl.
The second time he meets with Emily is when the studio head tries to make him come to A Troupe. He can't help to smile proudly at the proposition. He knows he is a great dancer, but it's better when something proves it. It's sweeter on his tongue.
"Sorry I'm late", say a high-pitched voice behind him. "I wanted to rehearse one last time the choreo."
He turns around to see the short girl coming their way. Her body is covered in sweat and she obviously didn't take the time to change from her black dance clothes. Not very good for a job interview, but at least it shows her dedication towards her dancing. She shakes his hand, looking right at him in the eyes. They're green, the kind of autumn green, pale and with hints of yellow in it. It doesn't know why it strikes him that much. It's not like it's something important.
"I'm Elliot."
"Richelle. I'm the dance captain of A Troupe."
He nods his head appreciatively. From what he remembered, she is the most talented dancer of the troupe, so that makes sense. At least Emily seems to know what she's doing with her troupe, not like Michelle. The thought of the TNS West studio head makes his skin crawl, so he pushes it back somewhere deep in his mind.
"So why should I join your troupe?" he asks.
To be honest, he already knows his answer. But the idea of someone begging him to save the day is getting the best of him.
"Because you don't have one, maybe? Last thing I heard, Michelle fired you." The short girl cuts coldly.
"Richelle!" Emily warns.
The dancer crosses her arms and narrows her eyes, not adding anything. Elliot raises his eyebrows. He wasn't expecting that kind of answer. His eyes wander on her blonde ponytail, her slime figure, her thin but muscular body. She lifts her chin, daring him to say something. She's defiance incarnate.
"You're right." he finally admits. "We both have something the other want."
A smile illuminates Emily's face.
"So that's a yes?"
"Yes. I will gladly join your troupe."
The studio head barely contains her excitement. She remains professional though and shakes his hand. Richelle just nods, barely smiling.
"Come on." she says once the calm is back. "We don't have time to lose. I'll teach you your part of the choreo."
He follows her to studio 1, leaving Emily's office. Elliot allows himself to smile. All of this is too easy. Way too easy. But when he looks at this girl, he can't help but thinks he could find something worth of his time here.
The third time he gives his very well-thought out advice to make the choreo better is the time Richelle snaps. They already won against TNS West and are now working for the qualifier video to go to Regionals. For the first dance, he stayed pretty silent and just learned the choreography. But now, he is a dancer of A Troupe as much as everyone else and he deserves to give a piece of his mind. Especially because his mind is better than most of theirs. Richelle freezes and turns toward him, so slowly. He can clearly see that he just pushed her over the edge and a rush of adrenaline goes through his veins.
"Well, Elliot, at the Next Step, the dancers listen to the dance captain!"
"The dancer" he counters stepping closer "is just trying to make the dance better."
She takes a step towards him, too and Elliot can see that her cheeks are red with anger. The thought that she's absolutely beautiful like this crosses his mind. Elliot shakes his head to regain himself, steps closer, and locks eyes with her.
"Well, I know how to make the dance better!" she argues.
"I get that! But good enough is not going to cut it."
Indeed, he sees how hard Richelle works to make the best dance possible. She is better than the others A-Troupers. But she isn't at his level, not yet, and he's just trying to push in the right direction. To make something good become incredible. It's what they have to aim for to go to Regionals. But his words don't seem to impress her. She's still deadpan faced, so he does what he does best: he dances. He finishes inches from her face, and Richelle holds her breath. It makes half smile, because he knows right at this moment that he just won. He takes a step backwards.
"But only if the dance captain thinks it's a good idea."
He's just saying that to give her the power of decision, to make her understand that she's still in control. Elliot is well aware he can't push her too far either. She could very well fire him and he can't afford that. He needs this team.
"I'll consider your changes to the choreo. For now, get to work and get the markings."
"Ok, perfect."
Everyone take a deep breath, trying to release the tension that filled up the room. He starts talking excitedly, giving directions and orders. But Richelle calls him back, and he freezes, waiting for what's coming next.
"Good job", she finally says.
He can't help but smile at her, a true smile. Not the ones he usually puts for show or good measures. His heart even jumps a little in his chest because someone recognizes his talent. He stays still for a few seconds, and thinks about unstoppable they could be together. The best dancers in the region. But he focuses on the rehearsal, and goes back to giving his instructions.
Until the end of the rehearsal, Elliot can feel her gaze burning a hole in his neck.
The fourth time he meets A Troupe outside of the studio is for a party. Amy organized it, trying to tight the bonds of the group. She invites him reluctantly, more by obligation than anything. She doesn't like him. But it's not like he really cares. He knows his own worth, and that's more than enough.
She even invited a few people from Michelle's troupe: he recognizes Piper, Fuzzy, Noah and some others he cannot put name to their faces. Not that it matters though. Elliot happily waves at them as he passes by, and loves the way their jaw clench with anger. They still haven't digested the way he went to TNS East after they fired him. But they're the only ones to blame.
When everybody is here and a little drunk, Amy decides to play a game of turn the bottle. It's so Amy, those childish games, but he doesn't say anything. Instead, he sits down with everyone, with the firm attention to enjoy what he can of the game. In the corner of his eyes, he can see Richelle sitting a few meters on his right. He noticed that the girl has been moody all night but he doesn't know why and that tickles him. Not that he really cares. He just finds it odds. Right now, her green eyes are glued on Noah and her first smile of the evening floats on her lips. He quickly put two and two together, and he closes his fists. Richelle can't be serious! Come on, Noah, really? Why does he have that makes every girl fall for him?
"I'll play first!" declares way too happily the barista.
Elliot blanks out, not a caring in the world. But he focuses back when Richelle reaches for the bottle, minutes later. He can see her biting her bottom lip. She must certainly be hoping that it lands on Noah and somehow that makes him boil in anger. She's better than pining after some half-decent guy. Someone that left her troupe, furthermore.
But the train of his thoughts is blocked, because the bottle has finally landed. It didn't land on Noah though. It landed on him. His face lifts up so their eyes can meet. Her face is priceless and he has to fight the urge to laugh or smile or even both at the same time. She stands up and his eyes follow her movement.
"This game is stupid." she mutters. "I'm not playing anymore."
Of course, this game is stupid. But they could find something good in it.
"Come on, Richelle" says Lola drunkenly "Give the example like a dance captain is supposed to do."
Lola is sitting really close to the basement dancer from TNS West. They've been close all night and it doesn't take half a brain for understand there is something between these two. She giggles uncontrollably and Richelle gives her a furious glare. She turns then to face him and instinctively, he straightens. Elliot knows he's good-looking. But for a reason still unknown to him, he wants Richelle to notice.
"Fine." she sighs. "I'll do it."
The whole group cheers and in two steps she's in front of him. He smiles sweetly at her and she rolls her eyes because she is having none of it. She kneels next to him and the whole group is getting silence. She draws her face slowly closer to his and everyone stops breathing. Or maybe it's just him.
"Don't enjoy it too much" she warns him between gritted teeth.
He doesn't answer and instead, cups her right cheek and closes the space between them. Her lips are soft against his and so different from her sharp words. She's a bit taken aback, first, but then he feels her body relax and she starts kissing him back tentatively. It's intoxicating in its sweetness and when their tongues meet, Richelle put her hands on his shoulders for support. Elliot smiles at the gesture, and with his free arm, he circles her waist to bring her closer to him. He wants more of it, more of her, more of her faint taste of beer and candy.
It's only when someone coughs that they pull away and Richelle steals the little breath he has left. She seems as surprised as he is and no one says anything. No one even moves. She just keeps looking at him like he suddenly grew a second head.
"Well for a kiss that was a kiss!"
It seems to bring them both back to reality. Elliot lets go of her and smiles, trying not to feel too disappointed. He doesn't even understand why he is disappointed. He rocked her world with this kiss. She's the one who should be disappointed. Richelle stands up, a smug smile illuminating her face.
"Well Lola said I should give an example, so I did." she laughs "And as no one would be able to top that, I think it's time to do something else."
No one dares to object and the group part away. Someone puts music on and some starts dancing. Others go in the kitchen to get some alcohol. Elliot follows them to grab a beer but once he's back in the living room, Richelle already ran away.
The fifth time Emily comes in the Studio since the party, she announces a big change in the choreo: there will be a duet in the middle of it. She had already chosen the dancers and Elliot holds his breath as he hears Richelle's name. The dance captain smiles proudly, her chin high. Of course she is one of the two dancers. She is the best girl dancer of this studio.
"And with Richelle, I chose Elliot. You'll be performing a contemporary duet, so I'm counting on you to crush it."
He takes an awfully long time to process what Emily said. He looks at the studio lead.
"Me?"
Emily raises her eyebrows.
"Did I stutter?"
Elliot mumbles an apology and goes next to Richelle. Her smile faded and she barely looks up to him. They haven't talked since the kiss, and it's making working on Regionals weird. Everyone felt the change in the air, but no one said anything. It's like she's avoiding him and Elliot loathes it.
"We need to talk." He mumbles to her. "If we have to work together, we have to sort things out."
He can see her take a deep breathe before looking up to him and –goddam he had forgot how beautiful her eyes are.
"There is nothing to sort out" she says dryly. "We are dance partners, that's all."
His heart skips a beat and before he can't answer, Richelle walks away to warm up. He watches her go. His throat goes dry and he has a little problem to breath. What has he gotten himself into?
The sixth time Daniel comes to see how well they're doing, he's not happy with their performance. He roams Studio 1 pointing everything wrong with the duet.
"It doesn't even look like a duet! Seriously guys, you need to work together." Daniel inhales sharply. "if the next time, it's not perfect, I'm getting someone else."
Nor Elliot nor Richelle protest. They both look down and stay still, at opposite sides of the room. It's only after the lead choreographer left the room that Elliot speaks up.
"You need to work on this with me."
He sounds a little exasperated, but it's nothing next to the way he feels. It's becoming hard to work with her. To have her so close yet so far away from him. Sometimes, when he lifts her, he wishes he had never let go of her at that party. He wishes to he could hold her close like this indefinitely. They're dangerous thoughts, and he's doing his best to push them away.
"I know. I'm trying."
"Really? Because it doesn't seem like it."
His words are harsh and she looks hurt. Her jaw is clenched and her eyes are shining, but he can't take it anymore. He has enough of the silent treatment.
"It just something I have trouble with- connect with people. So instead of being angry with me, you could help me. "
"Help you? I'm doing everything I can! I'm carrying this whole thing!"
"Oh come on! You've been angry since we started working on this duet!" she's almost screaming now. "I don't know what I did: I'm just trying to be professional, be focused on dance! And you're making this so hard… Why do you have to be this angry? And why did you have to kiss me like this?!"
She stops, horrified at the words escaping her lips. He stares at her, the mind blank. It's the first time he cannot think of something to say. So he acts. In a couple of steps, he's just inches away from her. One arm slides over her way to bring her closer to him if that's even possible. Her breath hitches and he stays still for a few seconds, giving her the chance to pull away, to reject him, to start screaming. But she does none of that. So he leans in and captures her lips between his. She answers immediately, both her arms locking around his neck, like she was waiting for this since forever. It's hungry, and passionate, and it makes his head spin.
They steal each other's breath as easily as Richelle stole his heart.
The seventh time they're the last to leave the change room after A Troupe rehearsal, they do not leave right away. They stay behind and enjoy the moments of silence and calm after a good rehearsal. Once they're in their daily clothes, Elliot takes her by the waist and gives her a sweet kiss on her lips. He feels her smile and it makes his heart pounds a little harder.
They have been doing this for a while now: stolen kisses and secret glances between rehearsals. Nobody else knows and it's better this way: nobody to criticize them or to mess with them. The others dancers need to focus on dance and not on the best couple the Next Step.
Some things haven't changed, though. Richelle and he still bicker about dance, but it's different now. There is a playfulness in their words.
"I'm taking you home?" he proposes.
Richelle escapes his grip to go get her sport bag.
"Can't. I have to go the theatre. There is this new movie – the one with Di Caprio – I've been dying to see."
She's talking in a high-pitched voice, like she always does when she's excited and Elliot can't resist. He hugs her from behind and he gives butterfly kisses on her shoulders. A small laugh leaves her lips, a sound reserved for him.
"I could take you. To the movie. Then maybe we can go to dinner somewhere. " he says quietly.
His thumb is tracing slow circles on her stomach, making her whole body relax against his. Elliot buries his face in the crack of her neck. They never did that kind of things, like going out or holding hands in public, and he has no idea what her answer will be.
"It sounds like a date." she declares, unsure.
"That was the idea." he says not moving.
There is a moment of silence, then he feels her trying to move. He lets go of her reluctantly. But she has a big smile on her face and she's more beautiful than ever.
"That's the best idea you're ever had."
She jumps into his arms and they hug. Her little body fits so well against his. He can feel a heartbeat beating feverishly. He doesn't know if it's hers or his. Or maybe, and it's his favorite idea, their hearts beat at the same rhythm.
The eighth time Michelle enters Studio 1, they're doing a ballet barres practice. When she enters the room and stops the music, everyone turns around. Something is wrong. He can feel it in the air: it's getting thicker.
"You're not going to Regionals! Elliot has disqualified all of you!"
Michelle looks so smug right now and he almost wants to slap her. But he's too preoccupied by her words. It's bad, it's really, really bad. He looks around to gather everyone's expression and he feels a burden being put on this shoulder when he sees Richelle's. She's looking at him with pleading eyes. But he cannot say anything, not matter how much he wants to.
He let himself being dragged into Emily's office. Everyone stares at him, already angry. He drops into one of the chairs. There is not coming back from this, especially after Michelle pulls out a brochure of his Don Quixote show. He stops himself from rolling his eyes. Bad memories.
Emily starts questioning about it, and he doesn't bother lying. He tells the truth, all of it: yes, he is a Broadway dancer. Yes, he was fired from 6 of his shows. Yes, A-Troupe needs him to win Regionals. Emily still fires him and he walks out, angrier than never.
He doesn't leave the building right away, however. He paces the corridor in front of studio 1. He stays until the practice is over. When A-Troupers leave the room, they doesn't say anything. They just look at him like he has the plague. He ignores them. He doesn't care about them. Then he sees Richelle. Her eyes are shining. He steps towards her to hug her, to tell her everything, to explain that it's not his fault, it's everyone else's but she raises her hand.
"Don't." her voice is trembling. "You lied to me."
He opens the mouth to say something, anything, but he cannot make a sound. Richelle bites her lips.
"If I ever see you again, you will regret it." she threatens.
She leaves before he can react.
The ninth time someone goes on the Regionals, it's Richelle. He doesn't know why he is in the audience in the first place. Actually, he knows exactly why, but he doesn't want to admit it.
It's been four months since the last time he saw her. He tried to enter in others studios: Gemini, School of Dance, but it seems that Michelle and Emily had passed the word to not hire him. It's alright though. He has found a company that suits him, a company that values his talent. He should be happy.
Richelle is followed by Noah, and they start performing a duet. It's a romantic duet, inspired by the famous movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. Richelle is beautiful as a modern Holly, looking for love and security. Noah is always behind her, as Paul Varjack, ready to catch her if she falls. Ready to love her. Being here feels too weird, but he can't get himself to get out here. His eyes are stuck on the little dancer. She is amazing. Her technique, her performance, her freaking musicality. She is perfect in the girl with big dreams. She is unstoppable in her quest.
He recognizes some movements from the duet he and her had pulled together six months ago. His stomach burns with rage. He doesn't like the way Noah just reaps the reward from his work. It's unfair: he should have been able to be on that stage.
When the duet ends and Richelle and Noah have their eyes has locked with each other, their chemistry is asphyxiating him. Everyone stands up to praise them. He stands up, too, but he starts leaving. He needs to go if he wants to be able to breathe again. He shouldn't be here in the first place.
Before reaching the door, he glances one last time at the stage. Richelle is looking right at him. He has a ghost of a smile, his heart heavy, then disappears from the room.
The tenth time he comes at his company's studio to work on the new play, there are whispers all around the studio. He doesn't like whispers he knows nothing about. Being the lead of the play, he deserved to know what's going on in the company. He questions a few people, some whom he doesn't even know the name, and learns quickly that someone has finally been cast as his female counterpart. It's a new comer so he understands the fuze: it's very rare to have someone outside the company being immediately cast as the lead. This girl must be very special. But by now, he knows the director very well and this guy has some weird ideas. People usually think he is a genius; Elliot thinks he is drinking way too much coffee.
So he decides to make his own opinion. A tall red-haired girl said the girl was already rehearsing in the main studio. He goes there, trying not to look too curious. On his way, the director catches up to him.
"Elliot! Here to see your partner?"
He has a thick smile. He only goes by Elliot now. It's less common than William, so people can easily remember him. He nods. The director giggles.
"I'll introduce you, and then you two can start rehearsing together. She's amazing, you'll see. As good as you."
The remarks make Elliot raise his eyebrows in disbelief. He is the best, and he doubts someone can be as good as him. They make their way to the main studio, and Elliot only half-listens to the director's rant. His boss finally opens the door, making the girl inside freeze in the middle of her movement.
"Richelle! Happy to see you so early. I'm here to introduce you to your co-lead. Richelle, meet Elliot. Elliot, meet Richelle."
But Elliot is not listening anymore. It's been two years since the last time he has seen her, on the Regionals stage. He thought he would never see her again. She still has the same high-ponytail and the same shining eyes. She hasn't changed. But she is standing right here, at two meters from him, as shocked. He obviously forgot how small the dance world is, and so did she.
He tries to regain himself. He clears his throat.
"Hi."
"Hi."
The director looks between the two, concerned.
"Hm, that's not what I thought the meeting was going to be. So, hm, I'll leave you two to get to know each other a little, then we will start rehearsing."
They both nods, still staring at each other. They wait until the director closes the door behind him. Richelle is the first one to speak. She raises one eyebrow.
"Elliot? Still not using your real name?"
There is venom in her voice. He shrugs, not wanting to be too affected by her agressive behavior.
"I'm not going by William anymore. I've always preferred Elliot anyway."
She narrows her eyes, put her hands on her hips and it's reminding him of that time in studio 1 when he impressed to change the choreography. A part of him wants to laugh dryly. Maybe all he has to do is to impress her again. It doesn't know why he has to, though.
"So since when are you a professional dancer?" he asks lightly.
"One and a half year." it makes him raise his eyebrows. "What? You think I would never make it?"
"Please, don't be silly. If I had to choose someone from the Next Step to have a prolific dance career, I would have chosen you."
The sincerity in his voice makes her stares at him, dumfounded. Cautiously, he makes a few steps toward her. Now that he is closer, he can see the sparks of yellow and brown in her green eyes. It makes him feel warm inside. He never realized how much he missed this feeling.
"I'm sorry," he said, "for what I did to you. I never meant to hurt you."
His hands are clenched together and he is searching something in her eyes to know for sure that she forgives him. The girl never really left his heart, it seems.
"You lied to me. You made me believe you were someone you're not. I don't even know if I can play this part well with you here." her voice is quiet, like it's the first time she was admitting that.
"Come on, Richelle. You can't leave because of me! That would be a missed opportunity. Plus, we're the best dancers here."
For once, Elliot is just trying to repair what he has broken. Make things right. If someone deserve it, that's the girl in front of her. She narrows her eyes.
"No, I'm the best." she prides herself by lifting her chin.
He grins.
"Prove it."
"Fine."
She goes to put music on, but Elliot is able to see a flash of her smile.