The Next Step: Reality

Chapter 5: Eldon

The whole room is stunned when Michelle falls. I don't blame them, I'm shocked too. I mean, Michelle messed up one the biggest parts of her dance - the part we've all been waiting for - the ending.

"Yo man, that's gonna be tough." James says, nudging me.

"Yeah, I know man."

Michelle turns red as she exits the room, almost running. I see one of the cameras turning to follow her out of the studio. I feel bad for her. She must have felt lots of pressure, and I understand that.

"Dancers!" Kate calls, trying to get their attention. "Um...dolphin tail!"

No one seems to be responding to Kate's dolphin tail as she sighs. Chris steps in, "Dancers!" His voice is louder than Kate's and almost immediately everyone turns to look at him. He nods. "Riley, you're up next."

I look at the brunette who steps out. Yeah, I know her as Emily's sister. She's also cool. Awesome must run in her family. She looks really nervous, and I don't blame her. After what happened to Michelle, I'm nervous too for my audition but I'm confident I'll do fine. I look over at Emily who seems to have a smug look on her face. Wow, she looks so cute from here.

Riley keeps dancing but she looks worried. She tries to hide it with a smile though, so I think that's good. I see Emily cheering and clapping her on. The way she claps is just so amazing, don't you think?

"Eldon, ma man," My buddy James gives me a slight shove with his shoulder. "You're doing it again, you're staring at Emily."

"No I'm not." I argue, looking away.

"Yes man...you were."

"No I wasn't."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Boys!" Miss. Kate calls, raising her eyebrow as I see Riley ending her dance with a pose. I turn red as I shut my mouth. I see the cameras on James and I.

Great, I think.

"Eldon, you're up." Kate sighs, as she flips to the backside of the paper on her clipboard.

I nod as I step in the center.

When the music starts, I start dancing too, starting my routine with a series of pirouettes, spinning as fast as I can. I then do a jump to the side of the room where Emily is before doing a flip, which makes me very close to her. I give her a long look, in a pose, before I continue dancing. I dance to the beat, and I feel so good when I do.

I see Emily roll her eyes as I do a flip again, but this time to the other side of the room. James gives me a grin while shouting, "Eldon! Bring it!"

I do a series of flips and then I finally end with the b-twist before posing at the end in a "cool man" manner that James always pulls off so well. I hear him shouting my name and I grin, but not at him. At Emily.

She just sighs.

~

"You did well, man. I'm so proud of you." James and I are just at Squeezed getting drinks.

I sigh. "I know man but I feel like Emily isn't even noticing me."

"You've got to stop asking her out." James answers, chuckling. "She's just going to be so annoyed at the end. I mean she's already really annoyed now." I sigh as a few girls pass us as we make our way to a table.

"Hi James," they all chorus before giggling and walking away.

"You do it so easily." I point out. "How can I get Emily to go out with me?"