𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑯𝑨𝑻𝑺 ♥︎ 𝑶𝒓𝒍𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 (The Next Step)

𝑺𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑺 𝑻𝑾𝑶 ♥︎ 3

Game, set, match. The solo auditions were about to start. Orla watched, clutching her clipboard to her chest, sitting on one of the benches outside the office, looking out at everyone warming up in the studio.

"James!" She rolled her eyes as she watched Beth run up to James, grabbing his arms. "What's up? I'm so excited!"

" 'Oh James! Oh my god, James'!" Orla rolled her eyes, mocking Beth in a high pitched voice.

"Um, hey," James said, picking her arms off his.

"D'you think I have a shot?" Beth threw her arms back onto his shoulders and he winced.

"Um, maybe, maybe..." James looked down.

"Yeah, I've been practicing so hard, I'm so ready..."

Orla rolled her eyes again, which was something she just couldn't resist doing when Beth was around.

"Okay, I have to go and talk to Orla about something, be right back," James said hurriedly.

"Okay, byeeee, good luck!"

"Um, yeah."

"Close call there," Orla said bitterly as James reached her.

"Yeah, don't worry about her," James said. "She's nothing on you."

Orla's face lit up with a smile and she looked down, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks. "Thank you."

"Don't even worry about it, it's true."

Orla grinned. "Good luck for today, by the way. But you don't even need it."

James shrugged. "I still have to dance, it's not like I'm getting in just because my girlfriend is part of the judges."

Butterflies still filled Orla's stomach every time he called her his girlfriend, even though they had been together for months now, so that was what she was.

"Yeah, but-"

"Alright everyone, it's time!" Kate called across the studio.

Orla sighed, standing up off the bench. James smiled at her and quickly kissed her cheek before heading off into the crowd.

Orla smiled after him.

"A minute ago I was having doubts about him because of Beth, but... now I couldn't be more sure."

♥︎♥︎♥︎

"Okay, round one for auditions for the National team," Kate grinned around at the group, Pheobe and Orla on one side, Emily on the other. "Let's have everyone spread out to the sides so we have room for the solos."

"In solos, we're looking for someone who just has that wow factor. That you could throw up on the stage at Nationals and they would just bring the house down."

Eldon started, walking out into the middle of the stage and waiting for the song to start.

Eldon's solo was what he was always like; amazing. Orla was pleased as she clapped along to it - he was really setting the bar high for TNS.

"Watching Eldon do his solo is amazing," Emily smiled. "I mean, one of the reasons I even dated him was because of how good of a dancer he is."

Michelle followed him, and her solo was great as well, filled with power and energy.

Hunter followed, and his dancing interested Orla. He was the first new person she was seeing and he didn't disappoint. He was a sort of breakdancer, with some technical moves and even some hip hop in there.