The Project

20

Riley

It's the day of the auditions and to say I was nervous would be an understatement
"Chill Riley, you'll blow our cover" Hayden teased as we headed to join everyone at lunch
"Oh look who finally has time for us" Freddie said rolling his eyes
"Dude whats your problem?" Hayden asked 
"You two have been MIA since we got back from that Camping trip" He said
"not true, Riley's hung out with us a fair bit" Aspen said making me smile in her direction

"Alright so why am I being left out?" Freddie asked
"man don't be so dramatic. We have lives, get over it" Hayden said and I nodded
"We just have a lot going on at the moment" I said making Freddie's eyes dart to me
"So much that you can't include your best friends?" He asked and I shrugged
"Not until I'm sure on what I'm doing. You know full well how I process things Fred" I said, Freddie was full on but I knew that those lines would be enough for him to wind his neck in

He sighed rolling his eyes ignoring the problem now going on about whatever was next on his list of complaints, Hayden looked at me and smirked before high fiving me underneath the table to Freddie wouldn't see

--

We arrived at The Next Step and Studio A was packed with people, there was a lot more people there then there ever has been to our knowledge
As soon as we walked in, we made eye contact with Michelle who motioned us over where we all watched as James tried to escape a brunette who was almost chasing him
"Who is that?" I asked and Thalia places a hand on my shoulder
"That is Beth. The most annoying B-Trouper you'll meet" She said making me look at the pair a little concerned before looking to Hayden to see a comforting smile

"Alright everyone, Welcome" Miss Kate called as she entered the room giving James prime opportunity to escape and join us
Although it didn't take long for Beth to notice and pout in his direction
"You okay?" I asked and James nodded
"Of course" He said side hugging me 
I won't lie, part of me was curious as to why I hadn't heard of Beth until now

One by one, Solo, Duos and small groups of people took to the floor making their attempt at making the team and honestly, they were all good so I was worried
"And finally we have two brand new auditionees!" Miss Kate said smiling in Hayden and I's direction
"Hayden and Riley" Miss Kate said motioning us to the floor

I looked at Hayden one last time as he poked his tongue out at me making me laugh, we did our signature handshake of linking pinkies before high fiving before taking our first position 

We killed it, we'd done that combo a fair few times over the year but nowhere near as good as that
"Ace Riley!" Hayden said hugging me as we finished, we listened to Studio irrupt in a loud cheer as we fanned back of to James and the gang 

"you two killed it!" West sung
"Dabble was not the right word at all" Michelle said as Hayden kissed her cheek 
They were honestly the sweetest together 
" that was amazing Riley" James said hugging me, I smiled hugging him back
"Thanks" I said 

We had all fanned out to our own conversations waiting for Miss Kate to come back into the room with her choice
"I'm so glad you auditioned" James said as we sat on a bench at the back of the room, I glanced over to see Beth glaring in my direction
"Your girlfriend seems to have a problem with me" I teased making James look in her direction before turning back to me
"She isn't my girlfriend. We tried sure but it was way too much hassle then it was worth" he explained

"Is that why you've never mentioned her?" I asked and he shrugged
"I didn't think she was worth mentioning honestly" He said
"At the end of the day, she's not the girl I'm looking at" he smiled making a blush creep onto my cheeks as I shook my head turning away 
"You can try all you want to hide that Ri but it won't work" James teased turning my cheek to look at him
"Ri?" I asked and he smiled nodded before gently pressing his lips against mine making me smile as I placed my hand on top of him 

"Alright everyone!" Miss Kate called making James and I jump apart before heading back over to the group, the group who barely noticed our exit anyway
"Our final member of A-Troupe is..." She started before smiling in our direction
"Riley" She said making me gasp slightly before being scooped up into a mixture of hugs

"And our Alternates are.. Hayden and Beth" Miss Kate said making us all celebrate with Hayden but I couldn't shake the feeling that having Beth around isn't going to be easy
I looked over my shoulder at her to see her smirking my way while I looked up at James who looked oblivious to it

Was this about to get complicated? Before it even began?