𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑯𝑨𝑻𝑺 ♥︎ 𝑶𝒓𝒍𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 (The Next Step)

𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆

"Mummy, why are you staring at that random building like that?"

"I'm not staring, Ells-"

"No! She's right! You've been giving it weird googoo eyes for ages-!"

"Ha! That was amazing, Oscar!"

Orla Taylor rolled her eyes as she sat further into the passenger seat of the car, staring further at the building they were seeing, having been stuck in traffic for about ten minutes now.

It was The Next Step.

Well, the whole building, but still.

Her and James, who now lived around four hours away, had been in town with their two kids, Ellie and Oscar, to see Orla's parents, and the kids' grandparents.

Orla hadn't been planning on going back to TNS.

There was a reunion happening next year, where all of it's members (as in, anyone who had ever graced the floor there) would be going back. And it would be crowded, considering most of them (like her and James) were married and had kids now.

So it didn't feel right going back this time, just because she didn't want to ruin any surprises or interrupt any rehearsals when she knew she would be going back soon, anyway.

"Mummy, could you please just tell us what that building is?"

Ellie's voice cut through Orla's thoughts and she smiled slightly, turning round to face her children.

Ellie, the older one at seven years old, had long dark brown curly hair, a trademark of her mother. She had the overconfidence of her father and also Orla's sassiness, but was a very big personality with a huge heart.

Oscar, younger than Ells by a year, had lighter brown, short hair, and he was quieter; less outspoken than Ellie. He was more prone to organisation than anyone in their small family, and so was also very good at school and made amazing grades.

"Come on, Orls, just tell them," said James from the driving seat.

Orla sighed. "So, you know how your dad and I grew up dancing?"

"Yeah!" Ellie replied, a sparkle in her eyes.

"Well, our old studio is in that building," smiled Orla. "And- literally everyone in our family has danced there."

"Like Uncle Noah and Aunt Jacquie?"

"Yeah," nodded Orla, smiling.

"And Uncle Finn and Aunt Piper?"

"Yup," James grinned.

"And Aunt Julia? Aunt Alex?"

"No, not them," James shook his head. "They weren't dancers."

"Oh, right," said Oscar.

"But there's plenty more, and there's a reunion next year that we'll all be going to, so you'll meet everyone there," Orla smiled round at them.

"Yeah, and everyone will be calling you two clones of us," smiled James.

Ellie giggled and James looked at her in the mirror. God, she looked so like Orla. He had thought it wouldn't be possible to love someone as he did her, but he loved his daughter and son just as much.

Orla looked at James, then, and he gripped her hand with the one of his that wasn't on the wheel. Then, he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Normally, Ellie and Oscar would pretend to gag at their parents' PDA, but for once, they didn't do or sat anything.

Orla was glad.

As the traffic began to move, she took one last look at The Next Step before they left it behind.

The names flashed through her head.

Eldon. West. Riley. Stephanie. Michelle. Chloe. Amanda. Hunter. Thalia. Daniel. Piper. Jacquie. Richelle. Amy. Alfie. Henry. Finn. Ozzy. Kingston.

Noah.

Emily.

James.

They were all connected by dance.

They were all connected by TNS.

And she loved all of them.

She thought about them every single day.

And they would never leave her.

Neither would The Next Step.