𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑯𝑨𝑻𝑺 ♥︎ 𝑶𝒓𝒍𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 (The Next Step)

𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑰𝒏 𝑨 𝑱𝒂𝒓

Orla had longsince put everything down the list and made a BNB text priority. Especially if it came from Ems.

So right now, she was travelling to TNS, the bus going way too slow for her taste.

The last time she had seen Emily was prom, and everything was fine there, but she couldn't help but think something big was going on.

The only new thing at the studio was that Jacquie's sister, Davis, had been brought onto the team. Orla had been shocked to find this out, as Jacquie had been adamant that her sister was never coming to TNS, but from what Orla gathered, it had been Emily's choice, not Jacquie's.

But anyway, when she got to the studio and saw Michelle, Emily and Noah sitting in the office, her thoughts were confirmed.

"Right, what is going on?" She asked, tapping her hands on the desk as all these stared at her with stony faces. "Judging by your faces right now, I'm going to say... not good-?"

"Just, sit down, Orlie," said Emily, Orla sighing before sitting down.

Orla frowned as Emily said. "Right, we're going to cut to the chase. Noah's eighteen."

Orla chuckled. "Um- yeah, Ems, I think I know my brother's ag-"

"No, that's not what we're saying," said Michelle. "Listen, Orla... there's different rules to Regionals this year. There's an intermediate advanced division and a senior advanced division. And we were going to compete in the intermediate, but all our dancers have to be under e-"

"Eighteen to qualify for it," Orla barely breathed, looking at Noah, who still hadn't spoken yet. His eyes were trained on the desk, and he wasn't moving.

"Listen," Emily said softly. "We've thought of a way to deal with it."

"And that is?" Orla asked, looking at Noah. She wanted him to tell her.

"Well..." her brother started. "We've decided on a v-"

"Noah, look at me," Orla muttered, causing her brother to make eye contact with her.

He continued. "We decided on a vote. Give everyone a red marble and a white marble. Each dancer drops the white marble if they want me to stay, the red one if they want me to go. I decided on a unanimous vote. One vote for me to go and I..."

He trailed off.

Orla couldn't believe it. She didn't want her brother to leave. Obviously that was because she didn't want him to give up on Regionals and dance captain and all his relationships he had built their and his 'best dancer at the studio' reputation, but... there was one other reason.

Having him there still tied her to TNS. It meant she was able to come back and visit and reminisce. If he didn't go to the studio anymore...

She didn't know what would happen.

But she just said. "Okay."

Noah continued to look at her.

So it was Orla that eventually broke their eye contact as she turned to Emily, saying. "I'm staying for the vote. When is it?"

Emily bit her lip. "In about half an hour."

Orla nodded. Great.

♥︎♥︎♥︎

Orla stood beside Noah as Emily and Michelle explained why they would have to put the whole team up to the senior division if Noah was to dance with them.