A Hidden Truth

Two

Amanda walked into the studio to find a forlorn ring of people sat on the ground. The rest of A-Troupe were talking in quiet disbelief at their recent failed attempt to qualify for regionals.
Much to her surprise her wandering eyes found Noah in the circle. He was leant rather heavily against Richelle, an immediate indicator that he was still suffering.
Amanda had to question why he had even come to dance today... Surely he would be better off at home, resting his hidden injury.
However such thoughts flew out of her mind as he caught her gaze from across the room and flashed his signature cheeky grin. She couldn't help but beam back.

Not wanting him to have to get up she hurriedly finished putting her bag in her locker and made her way over to the circle just as it began to disperse. Amanda eyed him carefully as a grimace flitted momentarily across his handsome features as he stood with the rest of the group.
Faithful as ever, Richelle stayed close by allowing Noah to rest a casual hand on her shoulder.
A gesture unnoticed for what it really was by the remainder of A troupe.

As warmup commenced Amanda settled herself into a neat split beside Noah. She noticed he spent a particularly long length of time doing ankle and wrist stretches and seemed to have forgotten to stretch anything else that required standing up.

She knew he was in pain and didn't understand why he was closing himself off like this.

A short while later they where into their first dance. It featured the entire troupe and was an essential part in their road to regionals. This dance determined a whether or not they would secure a win at the next qualifier.

It begun with an upbeat tempo as a hip hop sequence opened the dance. A series of tumbling passes followed by acro led the dance seamlessly into a contemporary section usually performed faultlessly by Noah and Riley. Today however was a different matter. Noah stumbled on his pirouette section and his leaps were half hearted. Riley apparently assuming exhaustion was the culprit called a ten minute break. Noah face broke into a look of relief as he hobbled off towards the bathroom. Amanda's gaze followed him, concern clouding her eyes.
After a moments hesitation she followed suit, deciding to ask for the truth the moment he came out...