𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑯𝑨𝑻𝑺 ♥︎ 𝑶𝒓𝒍𝒂 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 (The Next Step)

𝑺𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑺 𝑻𝑯𝑹𝑬𝑬 ♥︎ 15

"Well, know that I'm here, which one of you is leaving?"

The team had certainly been surprised when a girl with fringed wavy brown hair, an English accent and a smirk on her face had walked into the studio that morning.

But they had been even more surprised that she was suggesting one of them was to leave.

"Sorry, what?" Orla raised her eyebrows.

The girl didn't answer her, but instead pointed to Riley. "Is it you? You look like you need a holiday."

Orla was torn between laughing and shouting at the girl.

"Uh, who's the new girl?" West frowned.

"My question exactly," Orla didn't know why, but she didn't trust the girl in front of her.

She didn't seem affronted at all, and said. "The new girl is Ella. Nice to meet you."

The so-named Ella smiled round at them all, and Orla shrugged. "Way to make an entrance..."

Before Ella could say another word, Kate strode in from the office, saying. "Ella, here, is part of the exchange programme at Internationals."

Oh, right.

"Okay, yeah, that makes more sense," West smiled, Orla nodding with him.

"She's from a dance studio in England," Kate smiled.

"Basically, the exchange programme is where every team in Internationals sends one of their dancers over to another country to learn about their cultures and how they dance," explained Ella.

"And none of you have actually answered my question," she reminded the group. "Which one of you is leaving?"

"Well, we don't know," Orla replied, turning to Kate. "Care to, um, tell us?"

"Yes, Orla,' Kate smiled, addressing the group. "One of you is going to Sweden! You'll be back in time for Internationals, though, don't worry."

"Miss Kate, who's leaving?" Thalia asked point blank.

"I have chosen, Amanda," said Kate.

"Me?" Amanda pointed at herself, shocked.

"Yeah," Kate smiled.

As the team clapped for her, Orla fully realised.

"The exchange is great and everything, and it would be cool to go to another country, but if you leave now, there's next to no chance that you'll be featured in a dance at Internationals," she said hesitantly. "So this kinda means Amanda's an alternate."

Plot twist.

Amanda had been one of the best dancers last year. Dance captain at Elite, over to TNS, and instantly at the top.

It was strange that she wasn't going to be featured.

♥︎♥︎♥︎

Orla had another encounter with Ella the next day, at the cubbies. She was just lacing up her shoes when she noticed that the laces of Noah's and West's (who were on either side of her) were tied into hers.

Then she noticed Ella, watching keenly from the all but empty office.

Does she seriously think I'm this dumb?