HEARTBURST,, The Next Step

[2.30] i don't know

[2X30]

{Small groups and duets have their time to shine at Nationals and, while James struggles on whether or not to include a challenging move in the routine, Maxie struggles with coming to terms with her own feelings all while battling with the growing tension between her and West.}

❝Maybe it's a big deal because I like you, too!❞

The faint sound of LOD's small-group music number could be heard through the crack in the doorway to The Next Step's dressing room as Maxie paced herself through the steps to her own routine.

She had barely slept a wink that night; the conversation she had shared with West the day before had plagued her thoughts and would not let her rest for reasons unknown. The girl kept thinking back to the events that had led to that moment and how much thought and effort West had put into telling her he liked her, ready to face whatever response he got in return.

In all honesty, she was still unclear about her feelings for him. Her mind, instead, was clouded with nothing but the routines she had to perform and how she could help her team in any way possible, regardless of the butterflies that erupted any time she had even stolen a glance at West.

As she had tossed and turned in the unfamiliar hotel bed the night before, Maxie had even considered pulling out of the small group dance altogether, knowing that with a few modifications, it could've easily been pulled off as a four-person routine, however, she knew deep down it wouldn't have been as good. She knew that by pulling out of the routine, she would have risked the team's chances of advancing to the duets round and she couldn't risk it — she couldn't risk letting her team down, letting the boys down and most importantly, she couldn't bring herself to let West down, either. This dance was his only featured number at Nationals and she knew how much it would mean to him if he was part of the select group that helped the team move on and even hopefully be noticed by big-name companies.

Maybe the unwillingness to let The Next Step fail when they had already come so far was what seemed to be powering her through the one-person rehearsal she was creating as she ran on an hour or so of sleep, or maybe it was just the large proportion of scrambled eggs and toast she had consumed that morning. Either way, she hoped it would last her through their small group that was drawing inevitably closer by the hour.

After having decided to give herself a break, Maxie made her way towards the wings at the side of the stage, standing beside Emily who watched on in a trance-like state as LOD performed in synchronised motions with both each other and the beat of their song.

"This is the small group round," The blonde girl explained with a giddy tone, "We're starting with thirty-two teams and after this round, there'll only be sixteen teams left."

"They're actually scarily good," Maxie breathed out as she, too, became mesmerised by the extensions each dancer perfectly displayed with their movements.

Jumping back slightly, Emily placed her hand over her heart as she chuckled, "Max! You scared me," She grinned before dropping the shocked act upon noticing the worrisome look on her friend's face, "You're not worried about dancing today, are you?"

Swallowing her growing nerves down, Maxie gave the girl a quick shake of the head. "About the small group? No, I've rehearsed it enough to be able to dance it in my sleep. What I am worried about is the potential of going up against these guys." She gave a small head nod to the five girls performing in sequined dresses on the stage that had managed to captivate the audience.