𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑯𝑨𝑻𝑺 ♥︎ 𝑶𝒓𝒍𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 (The Next Step)

𝑺𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑺 𝑻𝑾𝑶 ♥︎ 26

However, once the initial euphoria of getting back together wore off, what was left was quite... well, awkward.

"Sooooo..." Orla said, her voice higher than usual. "We're back together!"

"Yeah...!" Jame nodded, in the same awkward tone.

They were in Culture Shock, having their first meet up after they were back together, and yeah, it wasn't... the best.

"Thank you," Orla was glad she was granted a brief lapse in the tension as the barista came and gave them their drinks.

"Thanks, man," James added lowly as the tension returned, perhaps even fuller than before, when the barista walked away.

"This is the first time we're sort of talking and hanging out since we got back together, so, yeah, it's awkward," Orla nodded.

"I feel like we're looking for things to talk about, things aren't just coming naturally," James sighed.

"Hi, lovebirds," came the next lapse in tension, which was Thalia and Giselle, walking towards them and stopping at their table.

"Hey...?" Orla asked confusedly.

"Okay," Giselle got straight into it. "So, since you guys are back together, we want to give you your duet back."

"Thank goodness James and Orla are back together," laughed Giselle.

"This has always been their duet," Thalia added.

"What?" Orla asked. "No, no, that's your duet, you won it fair and square."

"Yeah, you guys already have it," nodded James.

"No, seriously, you guys have to take it back," insisted Thalia. "We have to do what's best for the team, and that's you guys."

"Yeah, I mean, you guys have been dancing together since you were four. Thalia and I have barely known each other a year and you have so much more chemistry than us," Giselle laughed.

Orla looked to James, both of them chuckling.

"Alright, if you insist, I guess," said James finally.

"Thank you," Orla smiled.

"You're welcome," Giselle smiled. "Good luck."

"And don't mess it up, okay?" Thalia grinned as she and Giselle walked off to get juice.

"When Giselle and Thalia tell us that James and I have a better connection than they do..." Orla said slowly. "I'm just looking anywhere but him and thinking, not right now."

♥︎♥︎♥︎

After rehearsal, where the Nationals semi final routine was being practiced, Orla and James went to the music room to work out a duet.

But, uh... it went as everything else was going these days. Awkward.

"Okay, let's go from that part," James mumbled.

"Yeah," Orla nodded, going to the side of him she knew she had to be.

"Isn't it the other side?" James asked.

"No, you're on this side of me," Orla replied.

"Oh, okay. Ready?" James asked, his hands on her hips. She nodded slowly.