HEARTBURST,, The Next Step

[3.19] who are you, really?

❝I'll do anything for my team. And I'd do anything for you, too. Friend.❞

‧₊˚✩

"Welcome, everybody, to the Absolute Dance International Championship, right here in vibrant... in beautiful Miami, Florida," An enthusiastic voice poured over the thousands of people sat patiently, awaiting the competition to start.

It was the first day of Internationals and it was safe to say that everyone was buzzing, their energies vibrated off each other and contributed to the already lively atmosphere that surrounded them in the wings.

To kick it off, each team were allowed a mere few moments to guide themselves across the stage and introduce themselves to the daunting audience, who they were set to perform in front of if all went well.

After a quick breathing exercise and reassurance that nobody was about to fall flat on their face, The Next Step took to the stage in a light jog, led by their very own Dance Captain. Maxie, as hard as she found it, was running on adrenaline fuelled by the cheers of the crowds to keep her going, and allow her to forget everything from the past forty-eight hours. 

"Here is the team that is really wowing the dance community," The commentator announced as they lined up in single file to face the crowd, "Especially here in Miami."

Luckily for Maxie, all she needed to do on day one was put on a brave face and support Eldon and Riley; it was the solos that kicked off the competition and, although it wasn't everything to play for like at Nationals, they could still have the potential of winning that five-point advantage.

"It's pretty crazy walking across that stage," James told the camera, "Because the theatre is huge, and of course it's Internationals, so it's all sold out. There's just so many people."

Maxie looked somewhat nervous, "Seeing the excited faces looking right back at us almost fills me with hope. If these people are cheering just for us to take the stage, I can't wait to see the reaction after we dance for them."

Once the opening ceremony was over, most of the hard work fell down to two dancers in particular, as they mentally prepared themselves for their solos. Maxie, glad the pressure was off her for the first day at least, was allowing her adrenaline to encourage her to forget everything from the past forty-eight hours.

"Oh, this competition is so serious," Eldon sighed with exasperation, whilst Maxie lay her head against West's shoulder, "And I don't even have my lucky coin."

Maxie, Max, West, James and Eldon were sat in the team-allocated zone of the crowd, watching Poland's Barteck perform his solo; the latter had not stopped talking about the small piece of metal he'd misplaced the previous day while he and the boys were in the Everglades.

"I've never been at a competition without my lucky coin before, and Internationals is an odd time to start," He continued to complain.

James was fed up, "It's not even a lucky coin!" The brunette groaned. "If it was a lucky coin, he wouldn't have lost it in the Everglades."

‧₊˚✩