HEARTBURST,, The Next Step

[3.21] blind

❝ You know we're blindfolded, our hearing is still perfectly intact❞

‧₊˚✩

Once news had broke that Thalia and her team of three other countries had come in the top four for their round, meaning The Next Step had officially advanced, the game was on for the group of girls who had been working relentlessly to nail their routine.

Once again, Maxie found herself amongst other dance captains, awaiting the challenge for the second round of knockout battles.

"Congratulations for making it this far," The woman in a disgustingly bright yellow top paced before the 16 dancers, "But look around you. Because after today, half of you will be gone."

After the first round, the competition had been officially narrowed down to sixteen teams, with just four rounds left, each remaining round was a head-to-head battle, meaning the amount of countries still in the running would halve every time.

The woman continued, "Now, as you know, you will be performing the two-to-seven person dance. But the only challenge you'll be facing... is that you'll be performing this dance blindfolded."

Maxie scoffed, "The one dance I didn't get put in, and it's the one I'd absolutely smash." She sighed in disappointment, "The rest of the team's got no chance in a blindfold... No offence guys."

"Go!"

With that, the captains scrambled out of the auditorium, desperate to relay the curveball to their teams.

‧₊˚✩

"No, Cierra, wrong arm. You're about to smack Riley straight in the face!" Maxie exclaimed, rushing to adjust the younger dancer's position, "Crazy how a lack of sight makes you mix up your lefts and rights."

Elvita pouted from the other side of the room, "I can't tell if my hand is on Giselle's shoulder or the fake plant."

"I can't feel your hand on my shoulder," Giselle called back, her voice coming from much further away than El had expected.

"Damn it," She mumbled, taking a step back from the leafy plastic object she had mistaken for her teammate.

"Right now we're rehearsing our two-to-seven person dance for Maxie, blindfolded." Elvita explained to the camera, "It's not going well at all."

Whilst the music continued to play, girls stumbled into each other, yelps of pain and confusion started to drown out the song, and soon enough all that was left was a heap of frustration, mainly radiating from Maxie. 

All just in time for West to enter the room.

He made a beeline for his girlfriend, dodging and evading rogue limbs, and brought her in for a side hug as he wrapped his arm around your shoulders. A bemused look graced his face.

"Taking the next round by storm are we?" He hummed with a sarcastic grin.

Maxie couldn't help the small smile that spread across her lips in West's presence. "There'll definitely be some sort of storm on that stage."