Running Out Of Time

Now Or Never - Part One

Audition day was the most nerve-wracking of the year — but Anthony tried not to think about that. He smiled as he scanned the room, letting the rush of energy in the studio lift his spirits. The familiar buzz of nervous chatter, the stretching, the excitement — it was a lot, but it was also what he loved. Being dance captain felt right, even though the weight of the role was starting to settle on him.

His friends were all in the mix of auditionees. Some had been his teammates for years, and he wanted nothing more than to see them back on A-Troupe with him. But the hard truth lingered at the edges of his thoughts: he couldn't guarantee that for anyone. He couldn’t pick people just because they were his friends. He had to make the right call, the best call, and the responsibility of that was looming larger than he wanted to admit.

But he wasn’t going to dwell on it. Not yet, at least.

He let out a breath, running a hand through his hair, and tried to stay focused on the excitement. It’s just like any other audition, he told himself. Everyone here is good. It'll be fine.

As Michelle and Eldon prepared the audition process, Anthony tried to tune out his anxious thoughts. He could handle this. He was good at this. He’d choreographed routines in under two hours, led A-Troupe to a win at Internationals — he had the skills to pull this off. And besides, it wasn’t all on him. Michelle and Eldon would be making decisions too.

But then his eyes landed on one person he hadn’t expected to see. Theodore.

Anthony’s heart skipped a beat, and his smile faltered, just for a second. Theodore, standing there with his usual swagger, smirking like he already knew something Anthony didn’t. That old, uneasy feeling started creeping in, the one he thought he’d buried. He straightened his posture and forced himself to focus. It’s fine, he thought, pushing down the nerves. He could handle Theodore. He had to.

But the longer he stood there, the harder it became to ignore the thoughts swirling in his head. What if his decisions today didn’t just affect the team, but also his friendships? What if someone he cared about didn’t make it? What if choosing Theodore or someone else over one of his friends turned into a bigger mess than he could handle?

Stop. Breathe. He shook his head slightly, trying to push the doubts away.

Suddenly, Theodore was right in front of him, his smirk in full force. “Well, well, well… if it isn’t the dance captain” Theodore said, his tone casual, but the glint in his eyes anything but. “Feels weird seeing you in charge, man.” Anthony chuckled, trying to keep things light. “Yeah, well, times change.”

Theodore’s eyes flickered, and he leaned in a little. “So, who’s gonna make the cut? Got any favorites?” Anthony’s stomach twisted, but he kept his voice steady. “I’m keeping it fair. We’ll see how everyone does.” Theodore raised an eyebrow. “That’s cute. Real diplomatic.” Anthony smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Just doing what’s best for the team.” Theodore’s smirk widened. “Sure, sure. Just like old times, huh?”

Anthony’s throat tightened, but before he could respond, Michelle’s voice rang out, calling everyone to attention. He turned away, relieved for the momentary escape, but the knot in his chest didn’t go away. As he made his way to the front, standing beside Michelle and Eldon, he could feel Theodore’s eyes on him, that grin still lingering in his mind.

He tried to shake it off, forcing himself to focus on the audition. He had to keep it together. There was too much at stake to let his nerves get the best of him. He was the dance captain, and he had a job to do. But the anxiety was creeping in, no matter how hard he tried to push it away.