Even When You're Gone

Eight

AN: Slightly late update this week because I forgot.

"Wait, let me see that contract again." It's a few days after the DanceMania audition fiasco and a packet of information arrived at the studio. Thankfully, including everything Richelle had been told on the phone, as well as all the information they'd need for the filming schedule and subsequent rounds, should they make it that far, but also contracts for them all to sign. Emily and Nick were reading over the sample contract while A-Troupe spread out around Studio A and read over their own. When Nick hands over the sample copy Emily reads over it as she walks back to the office to pull the Nationals rule book out from one of the desk drawers.

"No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no," she mutters to herself as she walks back into the main studio. "Guys, doing DanceMania means you're professional dancers."

There's some cheers from her teammates, but the implication hits Richelle like a boulder, professional dancers aren't allowed to compete at Absolute Dance Competitions, they're going to have to choose one. Which is exactly what Emily tells them once she regains control of the room (which she's much better at than Nick).

"You only have a couple days before you have to send the contracts back. We're leaving the decision up to you as a team," Richelle thinks it's kind of funny that Emily says "we" even though she's only just discovered the issue and definitely hasn't had time to talk through it with Nick, but united front or something like that, "you are welcome to get input or advice from either Nick or I, but ultimately it's your choice."

"Should somebody call Summer?" Piper asks.

Even though Summer abandoned the team for the DanceMania auditions she'd been allowed to stay on A-Troupe, which had caused waves of its own. But even Richelle has to admit she should be here for this. Since Summer didn't have to be at the studio that day, since before they were studying contracts they were rehearsing for DanceMania, she had made other plans, but they all agree to stay late after the A-Troupe rehearsal the next day.

Even though they aren't having a large group meeting Richelle can hear the smaller clusters talking about it as they go back to reading through the contracts.

Looking around the room Richelle notes the groups that they've naturally broken into, the same groups they tend to form during breaks. Finn, Piper, and Amy have claimed a spot in the center of the room, and today they're also joined by Henry who often picks different groups based on the day. Although recently those three have been his go-tos. Otherwise he's usually with Kingston and Ozzy. He used to hang out with Summer, Kenzie, and Lily, but apparently he's in an awkward place with Summer at the moment. Obviously she and Jacquie gravitate toward each other, when Noah was still at the studio his friends would often join their little trio, but since neither of them are particularly great at friendships they stick with each other and it's good enough for them. There are times, like now when it's not just a five minute break, when Richelle sees Cleo sitting by herself and thinks about inviting her over. Especially since she seems to be friends with Jude and Richelle is, maybe, sort of friends with Jude too. But she never does.

***

"Isn't this why most of us are here? To become professional dancers?" Amy argues.

They've all been going back and forth for at least 20 minutes now.

"But we worked so hard last season to prove ourselves at Regionals. Are we really going to give that up?" Kingston shoots back.

"And what about Summer?" Kenzie questions.

"What about Summer?" Richelle retorts, slightly harsher than she means to.

"She's off the team if we do DanceMania."

Despite them planning the meeting so Summer could be there, she's been oddly quiet until then, "You guys should go. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Being on DanceMania, even if you don't win, will probably open far more doors than winning Nationals would."

They spend another 10 minutes listing off reasons for one over the other but they eventually decide on doing DanceMania. Not everyone is wholly on board but they're willing enough to agree to it.

When, as Dance Captain, Richelle enters the office to give Emily and Nick their decision, her sister tries to hide it well, (and Richelle's never been all that great at reading facial expressions) but Richelle can still see the disappointment flit across her face. Nick has no such reservations about hiding his emotions and she can clearly see his excitement.

Once their decision had been made they started working on the dances for later rounds. In an effort to both diversify their routines and ensure their choreographer(s) don't get burnt out, anyone who wanted a chance to choreograph had been allowed to audition a dance, or at the very least a concept.

At the moment though most of their rehearsals have been for Richelle's Alice in Wonderland themed dance. Initially she wasn't sure about it, but then she remembered Emily telling her about wanting to do something similar when she was still on A-Troupe, plus it seems like it'll be a fun dance, even with the story.

AN: Christmas fluff coming up next week, only two months late.