Both teams were sent into separate dance studios. They would have the rest of the day to start their planning but would have to commence with normal lessons the next day. However the teachers had reserved the two same two studios for the after school slot for the entire month. This meant that the two groups would be able to practice on whatever days they wanted. Both groups were relieved at this as sometimes it could be truly hellish reserving the after school slots, because everyone wanted them. Luckily there were six other studios in the school so the other students couldn’t complain too much.

The six boys walked through the door and Baekhyun noticed that it was the same dance studio that he and Kai had been in the other day. Relief and happiness filled him, this was perfect, it was his favourite of all eight of the rooms. It may seem strange to have a favourite dance studio and if he was being honest with himself, he didn’t know why he loved it so much. Maybe it was because the mirror covering the door made it feel impenetrable. Maybe it was because the honey, wooden bar that stretched around all of the walls was such a close shade to Chanyeol’s hair that it made him feel fuzzy inside. Maybe it was even because all of the windows that wrapped around the very top of the room above the long mirrors, that brought bright light into the room, reflected on the mirrors and wrapped him in its warmth. If he was ever asked however he would always put it down to the fact that it was one of the only two that had the changing rooms and showers directly attatched to it.

He flopped down onto the floor with the others, but being more careful as he did so not to twinge his waist. He couldn’t help but grin as he noticed that Kai and Kyungsoo, sat beside each other in the circle they had formed, were sat in the same position. Both had one knee up, arm resting lightly, while the other leg and arm were stretched out before and behind them to balance them. It looked as though there was a mirror between them and one was merely a reflection of the other.  He had sat beside Chanyeol and was leaning against his shoulder, he really wanted to be close to him but he didn’t want his friends to have a reason to make fun of him.

“So.” Kai grinned, leaning his chin on his arm. “What are we going to do then?”  His eyes glittered and Baekhyun could see his excitement radiating from him.

“Umm.” Kyungsoo’s mouth hung open slightly as his trained his orb like eyes on the ceiling in thought.

“Well, we could….” Suho trailed off, biting his bottom lip with his eyebrows furrowed. They all sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to think up some ideas. Baekhyun found himself saying; Right, ideas, ideas. I need ideas. Over and over in his head but not really thinking of anything productive. He was sure by the vacant expressions of his group that similar things were happening, or not happening as it were, in their heads.

“Tho, no ideath then?” Sehun asked as he looked around at his hyungs.

“I thought that we were off to such a good start.” Kai sighed dramatically, “The name EXO is so cool and kinda spacey.” His eyes brightened. “Oh, oh, oh, please can we wear black and silver clothes to perform! They’ll look cool like in space and we all know that I look hot in black.” Sehun who was sat on his other side pushed him and his arm slid off of his leg making his jaw fall hard onto his knee. Everyone laughed at Kai as he rubbed at his chin and glared at Sehun. “What, it’s true.” Kyungsoo shrugged at Baekhyun in a sort of, you can’t deny it way, before Kai could see.

“Oh we should so be aliens.” Chanyeol said happily clapping his hands. He looked like an overgrown child and Baekhyun’s heart swelled at the sight.

“Yeah.” Sehun said, his eyes alight with enthusiasm. “And we can all have superpowers!”

“Six awesome aliens with superpowers, no wait! Twelve awesome aliens with superpowers but then, evil rose against us.” Kai almost yelled with a deep menacing voice. He stood, arms raised to the ceiling before falling down to the floor on his knees and fake sobbing. “And tore us apart.” Kai looked up from his pitiable stance on the floor at Kyungsoo and winked. Kyungsoo’s wide eyes grew even larger as he blushed and tried to hide the small smile pulling at his lips. Kai pouted his lips at Kyungsoo, “Oma, wae would you separate us? So cruel!” Kai had an outraged expression as he clung to a very confused Kyungsoo. Everyone just stared at Kai. They had all been joking around but Kai had gone crazy with his act. Bakehyun was the first to laugh as he felt bubbles rise in his throat and he was unable to stop the giggled snort that came from him. As soon as his snort had broken the silence the boys fell about laughing at Kai while he mimed blowing on his fingernails before pointing at himself and saying, “Talent.” Before grinning with the rest of them at how ludicrous he was.

Everyone laughed it off and tried to go back to brain storming ideas, but all they could think of were soppy romance songs and you can’t dance to those. Baekhyun pulled out his notebook and pen, ignoring the conversations around him. He tucked his kneed up to his chest and balanced the notebook on his knees, he pulled the cap off of the pen with his teeth with a faint pop and let the lid rest in his mouth, lightly chewing it as he concentrated. He knew that they had all been kidding when they had been talking earlier but he couldn’t help but hear some potential in it. They couldn’t produce another love song or club track. Whatever they did had to be unique and show all of their skills. There had to be an interesting story line, mega high notes for him and Kyungsoo, rap for Chanyeol, awesome dance moves for the maknaes and something else. Something different. Screamo? Baekhyun shook his head, deciding to come back to that but wrote it anyway. He rolled ideas around in his head, thinking about what Kai had been saying. Anger, the song needed to be angry, asking questions in rage. Angry and loud music was brilliant for dancing and also for expressions. He knew that expression was as important as the singing and the dacning when it came to giving a good show. Hmm. Oma, Kai had said that, but that wasn’t a word you could say in anger, it was too fluffy and cute. Mama? He thought, that was better, he scribbled it down. He spun words and phrases around his head and after about 20 minutes, when the other five boys were becoming frustrated, he thought he had a chorus that he could work with.  

He looked up from his notebook, he had made at least ten pages of scrawled notes and ideas. Sehun and Kyungsoo were both now lying on their stomachs, heads lolling on their hands. Kai was leaning back on his arms, both legs stretched out while his head fell back. Suho was still sat with his legs crossed, a frown on his face, he was clearly still trying to think. Chanyeol was the only one not in a floppy or surly mood. Baekhyun looked up at him to find he was sat with his head on his arms gazing at Baekhyun, his molten eyes warm and soft. Had he been staring at him the whole time? Baekhyun found that almost creepy but couldn’t help the butterflies that fluttered in his stomach as he hoped it was true.

“Guys, I have an idea.” Everyone looked up at him with wide eyes and hopeful smiles. “I have a vague idea of how I want to make the whole song but I have written a chorus and…and another bit.” He scratched his head and pink littered his cheeks as he thought of the scream part he had written, he would not be the one to perform that, that’s for sure.

“Will you thing it for uth hyung?” Sehun asked, straight faced and puppy eyed.

“Yeah, let’s hear it Baek.” Suho said. He seemed relieved that he didn’t have to strain his brain anymore when it clearly wasn’t cooperating with him.

“Aha, okay, I’ll just go get the Keyboard from the back room then.” He shifted his weight from his bum onto his hand, ready to push himself up when he felt a hand on his shoulder pushing him back down. He looked up to see Chanyeol holding up his other hand and pointing accusingly at him with his finger. He had his failed Oma face on. “No Hyunnie. You can’t carry things with your waist.” He tapped his nose with his finger and grinned, “I’ll get it.” Before he could insist on getting it himself Chanyeol was already up and walking away after a slight ruffle of Baekhyun’s hair. Chanyeol turned back when he reached the doors at the back of the room, “Kai.” He whistled twice as you would to call a dog and Kai grinned and leapt up bounding over to his friend.

They came back out moments later, Kai puffing as he carried the keyboard by himself while Chanyeol walked behind him holding the cable. Chanyeol winked at Baekhyun before saying, “Kai, I wanted to take the keyboard, you know you can get shocks from the cables, no fair!” Kai smiled evilly despite his laboured breathing as he set the keyboard down on it’s stand. “Nope, I don’t want a shock.” Kyungsoo’s mouth hung open and he face palmed at the pure idiocy of the person he was in love with.

“Do you need some help getting up?” Kyungsoo asked. Chanyeol and Kai were nearly finished setting up the keyboard.

“Nah, I’m fine Kyung.” Kyungsoo raised one of his perfect eyebrows but nodded. Baekhyun took a little longer than usual but managed to get up without too much hassle. He walked over and plonked himself down on the piano stool, putting his notebook on the stand even though he knew that he didn’t need it.

“Right guys, the bit I will sing isn’t the first chorus but the one that’s followed by the other bit I wrote. Now don’t judge it okay? Once I’ve done I’ll explain my ideas. It won’t be done on the keyboard of course but we can make the soundtrack.” He turned to the keyboard realising that he was just rambling before he thought of something else. “Oh, and also, I will so not be the one who sings the second part, so really don’t laugh if I fail.” He warned. He put his long, slender fingers onto the keys and played something simple that he hoped would do to accompany his voice as he sang;

“Wouldn’t we face our eyes anymore?
Wouldn’t we communicate? Wouldn’t we love?
Tearing up to the reality that hurts
Say MAMA if you can change it, say MAMA

Turnback!

Die, kill, shout the fight. This is not a war
MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA Help me to Turn back
MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA Aware of Rolling back
Getting hit and back, sharing sides, this is not even a game
MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA Help me to Turn back
Yeah-“

He looked up to see silent and gawping faces. No one moved. Then Kai just said, “Dude, that was…awesome!”