HEARTBURST,, The Next Step

[2.14] sing

[2X14]

{Michelle and Chloe hold a scholarship fundraiser for young dancers, giving James the perfect opportunity to look for a singer to step in for crowd-shy Noah to perform with his band.}

❝Charlie bails on Beth, which makes me have to do the duet, which gets me into trouble, which makes Riley break up with me so that she can go on to date Charlie. What kind of crazy world am I living in?❞

"I don't see why I have to be here in the first place," Maxie sighed as she, Noah and James waited for Beth to make her entrance into the rehearsal room.

Chewing on the inside of his cheek, James muttered, "You were initially supposed to intimidate Noah into singing at the fundraiser, but you then chickened out after claiming he was, 'too innocent', so now, as a consequence of your actions, you have to live with this with us."

"Now, now, James," Maxie tutted, a mocking tone laced in her words, "There's no need to be so rude about your new girlfriend."

The very comment made Noah snicker whilst James scoffed, "She's not my girlfriend," he mumbled under his breath, making the other two laugh harder.

"Tell that to the 'I'm with James' T-Shirt," Noah commented just as the very girl herself strutted into the studio, the bright pink shirt that confirmed her 'relationship' with James sitting proudly on her chest as she clutched a microphone in her hands.

Once the girl was in position, Noah and Maxie shared an incredulous look before James spoke up, "Okay, Beth. Let's see what you've got."

"Okay," she breathed out, jumping up slightly to correct her posture, "I'm really excited."

"Same," James immediately responded, turning to give Noah a look that said more than words could, "Very excited as well."

With a nod and a smirk, Maxie then added, "I, for one, am over the moon with excitement."

"Right now, we're holding auditions to find a singer for our band," James told the camera, the way he said it showing how it wasn't his initial plan for the day, "Why?" he then asked, the amount of sarcasm in the question causing one of the camerawomen to chuckle, "Because Noah won't man up and sing in public."

Taking a deep breath in anticipation, Maxie watched on as Beth delivered what seemed to be the biggest trainwreck of a performance she had ever heard in her sixteen years of living, and she took a mental note to remind James of the torture he put her through for the next sixteen years of his life.

"If you don't sing for James, your reputation will be ruined by... That," Maxie whispered to Noah, making the young, teenage boy chuckle, somewhat nervously due to the slightly intimidating tone she had used.

"Whoo!" the girl cheered for herself once the screeching had finally stopped, "That was really good."

‧₊˚✩

After the... experience she had received due to Beth's audition, Maxie decided it was best for her to go elsewhere whilst James continued to emotionally blackmail Noah as they continued their search for a new vocal lead for their band.

Walking into the studio, Maxie couldn't help but notice how nobody was there and took it upon herself to take advantage of the empty dance room. It took no time at all to find one of her favourite songs to dance to and, faster than you could say dance, Maxie had connected her phone to the speakers and made her way into the middle of the room.