𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑯𝑨𝑻𝑺 ♥︎ 𝑶𝒓𝒍𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 (The Next Step)

𝑺𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑺 𝑭𝑶𝑼𝑹 ♥︎ 21

The next problem was: what was happening with the duet?

Piper had been the one that was taken off, and Noah had been sought out. He had declined because he wanted to rest his back, but Orla and Emily both knew it was because he didn't want to spend a minute more with Alfie after what he had done to his sister.

So Orla sat in the office with Emily and Michelle, all of them mulling over options.

"Okay, we need to choose the best possible dancer to do this duet with Alfie," Orla said.

Michelle smiled. "Honestly, I would be happy to do the duet-"

"I know you would, Michelle, you tell me everyday you wanna do more but we need to consider all of our options here," Orla said. "We could go back to the original duet with Piper and Alfie, but I think that the duet with Noah and Alfie was much stronger."

"You're right, it is much stronger, but the only one who can do that choreo is Noah, and he's out," shrugged Emily.

"Alfie showed us the choreo and it's perfect," said Emily. "We have a winning routine for two male dancers, we just need... two male dancers."

"Well, what about Henry or LaTroy?" Michelle suggested.

Orla sighed. "Uh, I don't know. They're amazing dancers, don't get me wrong, but they don't have enough competition experience to do something as big as the qualifier. I just don't know how they'd deal with the pressure."

"Well then it looks like you're out of options-"

"Or," both girls turned to Emily. "And I- know this sounds like a crazy idea, but... I actually know a male dancer that could do that choreo."

"Who?" Orla demanded.

Emily shrugged.

"James."

♥︎♥︎♥︎

Orla let out the first thing she thought of.

"You're out of your damn mind, Ems."

"Look, just think about it," Emily said. "He is as explosive as Alfie, he is as dynamic as Alfie- he might actually be better than Alfie."

"He is," Orla muttered. "But that's not the point."

"I agree with Orla, have you lost your mind?' Michelle demanded. "He's not even on A-Troupe!"

Emily smirked. "Orlie, have you and Ri submitted those names to the qualifying board yet?"

Orla shook her head and Emiky smirked in Michelle's face.

But Orla just said to her best friend. "Asking James to do this would he torture, for him and me. And I... I'm not hurting him anymore than I already have."

"Okay, so you don't ask him," shrugged Emily. "What happens to the duet?"

Orla looked at her for a second, before collapsing, head in her hands.

"She got me there."

♥︎♥︎♥︎

Thinking and thinking and thinking made Orla feel sick. Her stomach curdled and her throat was dry.