HEARTBURST,, The Next Step

[3.2] let the games begin

❝The Next Step is officially going to have its first Elite member after this round. ❞

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     The competition between The Next Step and Elite hadn't even begun and yet, within a span of days, the troupe had already changed so much. As twelve dancers stood in studio A, rehearsing and stretching out before the inevitable, they couldn't help but look back on who they'd lost and gained.

  Despite the challenge being thirteen dancers competing from each troupe, Michelle had, unfortunately, had to travel back to Madison and stay there, helping her mum choose a house whilst the battles were to take place. However, Lucien had decided to allow the blonde dancer a guaranteed spot on the team, under the premise that she counted as a win for Elite, already putting The Next Step at a disadvantage.

  What Miss Kate had failed to mention to her team when announcing the challenge was that if Lucien were to get seven of his Elite dancers on the team or more, there was a strong chance that he would take ownership of The Next Step, removing Kate and Phoebe from the studio to dance. So, not only were their spots on the Internationals team at stake but what the dancers were yet to find out was that the very holding of the studio they loved was riding on the battles.

  Since there had already been a free spot on the team, following Daniel's early departure on the road to Nationals, Miss Kate had decided to offer the spot to Noah, hoping that his experience at previous events would provide useful for the competition ahead.

  And then all eyes had fallen to Emily: she had returned from her dreaded visit with the doctors claiming that the medical professionals had given her the all-clear, only to be exposed in front of the entire troupe by her own sister, who was not willing to let someone she loved sacrifice her entire future of dance over a risky knee injury.

  So, after having finally come to terms with not being a part of The Next Step's dance team for Internationals, Emily had suggested that Richelle take her spot at the competitions. Although she knew Elvita may have probably had a better shot, El had willingly let Richelle take the opportunity to make A-Troupe, knowing that her best friend wanted it more than she did. Though, Miss Kate had given her word to the young dancer that if any spot were to open up on the team, she'd be the first pick to fill it.

  As of current, The Next Step was stood on one half of the studio, along the outside of the office where the benches had been placed, facing Elite, who stood along the ballet bar on the opposite side, seeming cold as stone compared to the nervous-looking Next-Steppers. The Nationals-winning troupe had already been rattled by Elite's unified entrance earlier, as they tried to put on a show to startle their rival studio at their own place of practice.

  Soon enough, Lucien, Kate and Phoebe walked out of the office together, with the latter holding the hat filled with twenty-six names that were all to be drawn out within the next two days. Although she wouldn't be competing for The Next Step, Elvita had decided to sit with A-Troupe during the games to cheer on her two best friends, Noah and Richelle.

  "All right, you guys," Kate grinned, feeling someone confident as she addressed the room, "It's time for the competition," Whilst the troupes moved towards the edge of the walls, leaving space on the dance floor, the woman continued, "All the names have been placed in the hat."