Next thing Orla knew, Michelle was also a Studio Head of TNS, but a different TNS.
She got the story from two perspectives. One was Emily. The other was Michelle.
Emily told a story about her picking the best ten dancers for A-Troupe, choosing people with technique but still with diversity, and cutting all the rest. She said that she didn't let some of the weaker ones audition, but it was because she knew what kind of team she wanted. Orla didn't agree with that completely, and said so, but the damage was done now.
Emily then said that Michelle, out of nowhere, asked Miss Kate to make a team out of the people she had cut, but the problem was, she wanted this team to be competitive.
It was called TNS West. So... yeah. Basically, there were two TNSs, and the whole studio was in turmoil.
Michelle told a very different story.
She said that Emily had cut all the hip hop and non-technical dancers, opting for a team based on technique. She then said that she had appealed to Miss Kate who let her start TNS West. The two teams were now rivals, and both vying for the title at Regionals.
Orla only knew one thing.
This was not gonna end well.
However, when Michelle had asked for her help, along with James, Eldon, West, Riley and Thalia, she wanted to do it. She didn't want to take sides in this.
Basically, the thing she needed help with was a twelve hour dance challenge, created by Piper, the new TNS West dance captain (Orla had been delighted when she found that out) to raise funds for people that didn't have enough money to dance.
So, around eight hours in, the six of them charged into the Studio A.
"ALRIGHT PEOPLE, LET'S DO THIS!"
The studio was set up with snack and drink tables round the edge with a dance area, with around fifteen people inside it. There were loads of people around on the benches and some near the count clock, which was at eight and a half hours.
Instantly, Orla delved into the dancers, recognising Henry and LaTroy with another boy (Kingston, apparently) next to them. She also saw another new girl Michelle had told her about called Heather, who was very, very good.
As she, Riley, Thalia and Michelle did some old choreo from years back, and got cheers for it, Orla was reminded of why she loved dance, and how much she still wanted to be around it.
Michelle and Emily didn't know how lucky they were.
She couldn't help but look to the side and see Noah, clapping along with a little awkward smile on his face.
Of course, she thought with a small eye roll. He's on Emily's troupe.
And apparently, because of the stupid rivalry that was more about Emily and Michelle one-upping each other than the actual dancers, things were awkward between the two troupes.
Nevertheless, she ran off the dancefloor to hug him, saying. "Hey bro! I haven't seen you in ages!"
Noah grinned as they pulled away from the hug. "True, but I get reminders of you here everyday, Orls, so I don't need to see you in person."
"Excuse me-"
"Orla! Oh my gosh!"
Orla turned to see Richelle rushing towards her, hugging her. She was soon dragged away from Noah as she embraced the girl.
"Hi, Richelle, how are you getting on? I heard Ems made you dance captain this year," she said, pulling back.
"Yes, and it is amazing!" Richelle grinned. "I understand why you liked it so much."
Orla smiled, turning her attention to the girl at Richelle's side, who had an unsure expression on her face.
"Hey, I'm Orla," she said to the girl kindly.
"Oh, I know," the girl smiled. "You're Noah's sister, Emily's best friend and- James' girlfriend?"
"Yup," Orla laughed. "Wow, everyone knows everyone here, clearly."
"You're talked about here quite a bit," shrugged the girl. "And I'm Lola."
"Well, hello," Orla smiled. "You enjoying A-Troupe, Lola?"
"Yeah, it's been really fun," smiled Lola. "Oh, but, it's also been really hard work as well, you know, I wasn't-"
"Don't worry, I'm not going to tell Ems anything you say, I'm not here to see her today," shrugged Orla. "Today, I'm here to dance and have fun."
And that's what she did.
Soon, the people still dancing in the challenge cleared the floor, swaying to the side (they just had to keep moving, as that was 'dancing') and the others taking the floor.
It was the same quartet Orla, James, Eldon and West had done a year ago, for Noah and Amanda, dancing to Noah's song.
It was a very fast dance, with a lot of tricks and intricate choreo.
It definitely pumped the dancers up.
And it made Orla feel amazing.
"Wow," Kingston was shocked. "Eldon, West, Orla and James are doing tricks I've never seen before. They're absolutely insane."
Orla soon did eight back handsprings, corner to corner on the dancefloor. Yes, she had mastered eight, now. She was just getting better.
Her and James' lifts were also going from strength to strength as she got spun around in the air, his strong arms holding her in place. She had really missed this.
Soon, others were crowding onto the floor to dance with them, and the boys and Henry and Kingston formed a circle, all doing a synchronised backflip.
However, this proved too much for Kingston; he had been dancing for eight hours and the flip was clearly the last straw. He collapsed to the floor and the boys had to drag him off.
Orla giggled. She had also missed this. The silliness and fun that came with being in A-Troupe.
It was nice to be back.
♥︎♥︎♥︎
Soon, it was just Heather and Henry in the challenge.
Orla smiled as she saw James talking to Piper across the room. He had previously confided in her that he was going to tell her how proud he was of her, and how happy he was that she was dance captain.
And the look on her face... she looked so happy.
Orla knew that Piper (and Noah, come to think of it) had always felt a little stuck in their sibling's shadows. With both her and her boyfriend out the picture, it felt nice to know that both of them were advancing further in A-Troupe.
It was nice to know that someone was continuing their legacy for them.
♥︎♥︎♥︎
Eleven and a half hours in, and Henry and Heather were still going strong.
They were the only ones on the floor, as everyone else was either dead (well, exhausted) or chilling on the sides.
"Oh my- Orlie?"
Orla's head turned from where she was sat (next to Thalia) and saw Emily at the door.
"Ems!"
Orla ran at her best friend, hugging her tightly.
"Hi!" Emily said, pulling back. "I didn't know you were gonna be here!"
"Well, here I am," Orla smiled. "I'm glad I got to see you, I miss you!"
"I miss you too, Orlie," grinned Emily. "We need to catch up at some point."
"We do," agreed Orla.
They stayed silent for a second before Emily said. "Right, well, I have to go and give Michelle a little something, but I'll see you soon, okay?"
Orla smiled. "See you soon."
♥︎♥︎♥︎
One. Minute. Left.
"Whoooooo! Come on, guys!" Orla shouted to Henry and Heather, both of whom were still on the floor.
Her vision was then suddenly averted by something on a nearby bench.
Noah was sitting there, a girl with dark brown hair and a purple shirt on next to him, and they were holding hands.
Holding. Hands.
Orla gasped, a smile making it's way onto her face. Who was that girl? It wasn't someone she recognised from last year, but it could be a new girl. And... were they dating? Did her brother have a girlfriend and hadn't told her?
"Hey," she nudged James who was beside her. "Look."
She pointed over at Noah and James grinned. "Ooh, Noah's got a girlfriend-"
"Well, he hasn't told me," Orla shrugged.
James scoffed. "Orls, how long did it take you to tell him about me and you?"
"Like, a day," Orla shrugged. "But regardless, I just wanna know who she is."
"Shh! The end is upon us!" James said, gesturing to the clock, where it was five seconds to go.
So they counted it down.
"Five! Four! Three! TWO! ONE!"
Everyone flooded onto the dancefloor as the end was announced, Michelle holding both Henry and Heather's hands and lifting them up high.
As soon as she let go, they both tumbled to the floor, but everyone kept clapping regardless, all of them so happy. Orla smiled round at everyone.
She had missed TNS so much.
♥︎♥︎♥︎
James and the band were the perfect way to finish the day.
Perfect.
Orla danced around with A-Troupe, both A-Troupes, and her friends, and she felt brilliant.
"Whooo!" She yelled, being crazy.
As the beat lessened, Orla grabbed Noah, happy for a chance to embarrass him in front of A-Troupe or his possible new girlfriend, and danced with him, but Noah didn't seem to mind. He was glad to just be crazy with her for a second.
She also joined Riley, Michelle, Lola and Richelle in a clap and duck move, all of them forming a line and laughing as they did it.
James even came out from behind the drums at the end, lifting Orla and swinging her round, everyone cheering.
It was such a nice atmosphere as the last line of the song hit.
Can you feel the love?