Riley: We have our 12 dancers and a studio to dance in. We may not be bonding yet but that will come and I can't wait for A-Troupe when that happens.
Michelle: I'm back from Madison. For now. I have no idea when my mom will want me back there. All I know is The Next Step is where I want to be.
Amanda: It is a bit weird to have people from Elite on our team, just because of the history there but I'm confident that we have the strongest possible team now.
Giselle: Seeing Daniel again definitely stirred up some emotions but I am 100% confident that we will win Internationals with this group of dancers.
Chantel: We don't have to like each other. We need to have an amazing routine and look like a team. That's it.
Cierra: I love this studio. The dance is great but when the song ends the divide between us and the other dancers is obvious.
As the music stopped, all the Next Step dancers sat on the benchs, near the office. The Elite dancers on the other hand, stood in the middle of the floor.
Phoebe came out of the office and joined the group as they finished up. "It is looking really good. Nice job guys".
Cierra had heard enough. "Stop. This dance is never going to be amazing because we are not connecting as a team".
Phoebe looked intrigued. "That's a greeat idea. What do you suggest". Cierra looked thoughtful for a minute, before she replied, "I don't know. Duets".
"That's a great idea. Each new member of A-Troupe will partner with someone to create a duet. Shantel will be with", she scanned the options, "Giselle". The two girls looked at each other and it was obvious that Shantel had no interest in getting to know each other.
"Max with West". The boys looked excited for the duet and headed off to Studio B.
"I actually want Noah to do a duet with Amanda", Phoebe spoke, "I think she will definitely help you settle into A-Troupe".
"Which leaves Cierra. I would like you and Michelle to make an awesome duet. You can stay here in Studio A". They gave each other a nod of approval before beginning.
"The rest of you can go and enjoy your afternoon", Phoebe finished.
Emily: I'm in the music room right now to just test my knee and see what kind of limitations are still there.
Stephanie: I'm going into the music room right now because Riley told me Emily is in there, but when I go in I see Emily on the floor and I know instantly that she shouldn't be dancing.
"Emily. What happened".
"Steph, I lied to you at the doctor's office. The doctor didn't clear me to dance".
Stephanie looked shocked. "I can't believe this. I'm meant to be your best friend".
"That's exactly why I didn't tell you. Would you have kept my secret if I had told you. Don't answer that. I already know the answer. You would of told someone and I wouldn't have been able to dance".
Stephanie didn't say a word. She just walked out and came back with Miss Kate. "Emily. I'm sorry but you can no longer be part of A-Troupe. There is no way you will be ready and we need the best dancers to Intenationals". With that she walked out.
"Thanks Steph", Emilysaid with tears in her eyes, "Great friend".
Cierra and Michelle were sitting on the floor in Studio A. Neither of them were talking and it was getting a bit awkward. "Soooo. New to A-Troupe. How do you like The Next Step so far".
"It's good. Probably would be better if we", She gestured her hand between them, "Could bond". Michelle looked thoughtful. "Ask me a question. Anything you want to know and I will answer it".
Cierra seemed unsure of what to ask her, "What is your favourite food".
"Wow. You could of asked me anything and you ask me my favourite food".
"I want to know you. Not just the deep bits. I want you to trust me enough to tell me them things. I don't want you to tell me because you have to. I want you to tell me because you want to. Because you trust that I will understand. So yeah, I want to know what your favourite food is".
"Pizza. What about you". "Well, I'm more of a lasagne girl myself". Michelle looked at Cierra. Studied every feature. The dimples in her cheeks as she laughed. The way her eyes scrunched when she was thinking. The sparkle in her hazel eyes. "By the way, my favourite colour is hazel. Shall we dance", she said standing up and extending a hand for Cierra to grab onto.
The girls worked fantastically together. Each move was one that they had both agreed on and it was going amazingly.
By the time Phoebe came back, the dance was not only good. It was well rehearsed.
Noah and Amanda were the same age. It would seem almost an impossibility but Amanda had developed extremely fast into a top dancer. At 13, she had been dance captain at Elite and the best dancer in the studio. Now at 15, she was going to Internationals with a different studio. Noah had been at The Next Step for as long as the dancers who won Regionals. He had started in J-Troupe when he was 9. It had been quite the journey to A-Troupe. In a respect, they were similar. Both of them were new to A-Troupe but not really.
"How are you".
"Good".
Amanda: Fantastic. It's already getting awkward. I'm meant to be making him feel welcome in A-Troupe. Not scaring him away.
"Do you want to get started", she asked, trying to avoid anymore awkward silences.
About half an hour later, the dance was finished. They decided to show it to Phoebe and went to look for her. They found her talking to Michelle and Cierra. Evidently, they had just done their duet.
"Hi Phoebe", Amanda spoke as the girls walked away, "We're ready to show you our dance".
The music started and they danced. They had added lifts, a turning section and even some acro. When the song finished, Phoebe clapped her hands in excitment. "You really grasped the idea of the exercise. Well done".
Max and West were next.
West: We haven't really choreographed a dance so we'll have to just wing it.
They really seemed to understand each other and the dance was fantastic.
West: After today, I definitely consider Max as a friend. Not a best friend yet but eventually, maybe he can become a bro.
Shantel was bossy. Very bossy. It was her way or no way. Giselle learned this the hard way. Phoebe wanted them to perform their duet. "No way", Shantel said, "I'm not performing. It's messy".
Giselle: Right now, I'm performing our duet as a solo and it doesn't look good at all. It was specifically designed for two people. After this, I am so done with trying to make Shantel feel welcome.
"I'm disappointed in you both". Phoebe was shocked. She had never seen a dancer flat out refuse to dance.
TheNextStepTheNextStepTheNext
"Unfortunately, Emily has further injured her knee and will not be dancing with us at Internationals. That means we will need another dancer", Kate started at the start of rehearsals the next day, "I also need to pick a dance captain".
Everyone looked at Michelle. "Actually guys. Michelle has stepped down as dance captain and I have chosen Giselle to take over".
Shantel stepped forward. "I want to be dance captain". Kate was going to stand her ground though and sounded more authoriative then usual as she spoke, "I do not want this to become a debate. Giselle is our dance captain and that's final".
"I am done with this studio. You're obviously going to pick her over me because she's your friend". With that she stormed out, leaving A-Troupe with just 10 dancers.
"I guess we need to find two more dancers then", Miss Kate seemed unfazed.
TheNextStepTheNextStepTheNext
A-Troupe were holding auditions. However it was for 1 spot. Not 2. James was now a fully fledged A-Trouper. As A-Troupe watched the damcers, there were a few stand outs.
"The auditions are in here right". Looking at the source of the noise, they found Daniel standing there.
Giselle: I want him to audition. The others will be against it. I know they will but I want to see him audition knowing what he has done to us.
"Ok then. You can go before Beth".
A mere 5 minutes later, Daniel was dancing.
Daniel: This solo is a reflection of me.The true me without the attitude layered on. I miss who I used to be.
Giselle: As much as it pains me to say, Daniel is one of the most amazing male dancers, I have ever seen in my life.
At the end of the auditions, it was clear who the new member of A-Troupe would be. "Congratulations Daniel. You are part of A-Troupe".
"Thank you so much. I will never let you down again".
Giselle was ready for this, "You better not or you won't last very long". With that, she walked off. Daniel chased after her. "Giselle. Wait up". She spun to face him. "Thank you for letting me audition".
"Don't thank me. Just do me a favour and leave me alone. We are not friends". She spun back around and left.
James was doing a solo in the music room when Daniel walked in and sat down on the bench inside the door. He stayed seated as the music ended and James approached him. James sat down and waited for Daniel to talk to him.
"I heard about you and Riley breaking up before Nationals. How did you win her round".
James looked at him and laughed. "Are you asking me for Giselle advice". Daniel laughed with him. "No. Girl advice in general", Seeing the look James was giving him, he caved, "Yeah. That obvious". "Kind of".
James: He thinks he can trick me but he can't. I'm to good to be tricked like that.
"Yo. Just talk to her man. Girls like you to be honest". As he stood up he added, "Also, don't expect her to forgive you straight away. You left when she needed you most so you're in what is called the doghouse".
Thinking about what James had said, Daniel went to Hidalgo's to find his friend. He saw Giselle sitting in the corner by herself. Her eyes looked red and puffy.
"Is this seat taken".
"No".
That was a start. "I know I messed up. What I did is unforgivable. All I'm asking is that you give me a chance. I want us to get to know each other again. The people we are now".
It was like something snapped inside her. "You want me to give you a chance to what... talk. I think we're long past talking. Don't you. Leave me alone Daniel. I can't be around you right now".
