The Next Step - Euphoric

Ch~5

Later on, I'm doing my warm ups like everyone else in the circle: Ozzy, Noah, Summer, Henry, Lily and Amy.

Someone else is also sitting in the room, so I take the opportunity to nudge Noah to try and discreetly ask who she is.
'Who's that?' I whisper to him, glancing over at the girl.

'That's Winnie, she's on B-Troupe.' He answers, immediately leaving me confused.

'Why's she here?' I ask back and Noah proceeds to tell me how B-Troupers sometimes sit and observe rehearsals in A-Troupe.

Before anything else can be said, Miss Angela walks in, which makes everybody stand and get in their positions.

However, everyone looks very confused when Winnie proceeds to stand up also.
I thought she was only supposed to watch?

Miss Angela addresses the situation, 'Everybody, Winnie is going to be joining us at rehearsal today.'

I'm caught off guard when Winnie starts babbling and I can tell she is nervous.

I glance over at Ozzy in confusion and receive a warning glance in return, as he can see that I was about to 'politely' tell her to stop talking.
Luckily, Miss Angela gets their first.

Everyone on A-Troupe is glancing at each other worriedly, if Piper doesn't get back soon she may not have a place here anymore.

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After finding out that Lily is the new dance captain I know I need to confront her.

Miss Angela texted the whole team to come to the studio for an announcement, but I grab Lily to pull her to the side before.

'Um, excuse me? Get off.' Lily exclaims at me.

I release her arm, 'You can't just force people to make you dance captain. It doesn't work like that.'

For a second, I thought a caught a glimpse of regret, maybe anger? But it was gone in the next second.

'What's it matter to you?' Lily's voice starts to get louder.
'I want what's best for the team, and you are not it,'
I sense genuine hurt on her face but I'm too annoyed at her right now to even care.

'I know we aren't friends anymore, but surely the Lily I used to know would understand how wrong this is!'

I get no answer.

It makes me sad knowing that the Lily I knew and loved, may be gone. I know she wouldn't have done anything like this.

I scoff at her before walking away, though I do notice her getting emotional as I leave. It was as if she agreed with everything I was saying but she just couldn't tell me that.

I walk back towards Kingston and Ozzy, who were waiting for me, 'Are you alright?' Kingston asks, which confuses me, but I realise that conversation effected me more than I thought, as I wipe away a stray tear.

'I'm good, thank you.' I try to force a smile though it doesn't come.

Nothing more is said but Kingston pulls me into a side hug and Ozzy rubs my shoulder.
In that moment, I'm so grateful for both of these people in my life.

We all walk towards the rest of the team before Miss Angela can complain, waiting for her to speak.

'Everyone, I would like to introduce your new dance captain.'

A-Troupe wears shocked faces, I'm glad Noah told me or else I would be finding out now.

Lily pays no attention to any of these expressions and immediately takes charge.
'Okay, guys, so as first order of business, as the new dance captain, I would like to present a new member of the team, Winnie.'