HEARTBURST,, The Next Step

[1.19] first date

[1X19]

I do not own any characters/plot from this show apart from my own!

{A-Troupe's reworked routine for Regionals adds a duet for Eldon and Michelle. Meanwhile, James returns and takes Riley up on her offer of a date, at the expense of Maxie's sanity.}

❝"God knows what I did to be roped into this. But here I am. Again. Third-wheeling on another James and Riley moment. And what do I get in payment?" she held her fingers up to form a zero, "Nada."❞

After the events of Stephanie's sudden arrival, the group had decided to sit her on a bench while they deliberated on what to do.

Michelle looked up to the group who all looked on edge, "Are we sure about this?"

"It's our best bet at Regionals," Chloe shrugged, "There's honestly no other option."

The Dance Captain then looked to Maxie for confirmation, at which the girl sent her a supportive nod, "Let's do this."

With that, Michelle went off the get Stephanie and in the time she was gone, West leaned into the British girl, "You know, you'd make a pretty good Dance Captain."

"Not this again," she sighed, chuckling lightly as she turned to look at him, "Can we get this over with before you start anything else?"

"Roger that," he grinned back at her, mimicking a salute sign and eliciting a small laugh out of the girl.

Michelle, Stephanie and Riley all made their way back to the centre of Studio A where the group was crowded in anticipation. Steph came to stand in front of them all, her fists were bunched up in nervousness and her whole body language portrayed what one might say a 'deer in headlights'.

"They don't look too happy to see me," she frowned, already second-guessing the decision to come back, "I either dance here or I don't dance, I'm alone. That's it."

Kate explained, "The reality is, dancers switch studios, but the fact that Emily and Stephanie didn't come to me? It really hurts"

Miss Kate was the first to break the silence in the room, "Stephanie, the way you handled yourself was completely inappropriate."

"Because of your actions," Chris continued, "you're going to be auditioning like everybody else."

She looked both terrified and grateful at the same time as she stammered, "Okay, um, I just... I have no clothes."

"You can dance like that," Michelle stated, trying her hardest to keep a poker face.

"Okay."

Stephanie sulked, "I might as well try. At least if I try, then I know. Rather than just go home."

Straightening out her shirt and brushing her hair out of her face, the girl took a deep breath and looked up to A-Troupe and began dancing, even without music.

She hadn't even gone through a full sequence before Michelle cut her off, "Stop."

"Okay," Stephanie sniffled, already coming to the worst possible conclusion and walking off, "I'm sorry."

"Stop," the phrase was repeated, this time by Maxie before the girl had walked out the door.

She turned on her heel to look the brunette in the eye, wiping stray tears from her own.