The Next Step’s studio drama settles into a tense calm as Miss Kate shares good news: A-Troupe has been invited to a premier trio competition. The catch is simple but strict—every team must choreograph to the same song, and no costumes are allowed. It’s the first time the studio has earned an invitation like this, and Amanda, Giselle, and Thalia are thrilled to have been chosen. Miss Kate also assigns J-Troupe to join the trio.
Tensions flare when Emily is late to rehearsal again. Hunter, worried about her attendance, asks about the recent changes in her schedule. He admits not everyone has warmed to him lately. Emily tells Hunter to try to mend fences with the boys.
Meanwhile, Miss Kate works with J-Troupe and rehearses with Josh, Michelle, and Becca for their trio. When Becca’s sister Gabi arrives with the rest of J-Troupe, they question Miss Kate’s decision to favor Becca over Gabi.
As last week showed, James must complete a sequence of tasks to win Riley back. He is on item 11—creating a dance move and naming it after Riley. Riley admits she’s impressed that James is still working on the list; she feared he might have given up.
Hunter follows Emily’s advice and tries to befriend James, West, and Eldon. Eldon is not impressed, thinking about how Hunter ended his relationship with Michelle and how he beat him to Nationals for a solo. West and James aren’t thrilled either, though West quickly forgives Hunter and offers to teach him a cool head slide move. Hunter promises to bake Eldon the best chocolate cake ever, and Eldon’s curiosity is piqued—chocolate cake is his weakness. James, however, remains skeptical, calling Eldon and West sellouts.
Gabi, still smarting from not making the J-Troupe cut, challenges Becca to a dance-off that will decide who qualifies. She trails Becca rehearsing and realizes how strong her sister is. Realizing she can’t deny Becca this chance, Gabi goes to speak with Miss Kate.
When Gabi tells Miss Kate she no longer wants to compete with Becca, Miss Kate reveals she already knows everything. Becca had told Miss Kate she wouldn’t compete because she had to go fishing every year, a lie Gabi knows isn’t true. Gabi feels guilty about putting Becca in this position and sits down with Becca to discuss the trio. As the elder sister, Gabi vows to look out for Becca. She concedes that Becca is a stronger dancer and should compete.
Michelle, a former dancer in Troupe A, decides she can’t stay away from her friends and visits Culture Shock Theatre. She’s excited by how things are going, but her mood shifts when she learns the national female soloist spot has already been filled.
In the music room, James works on Riley’s move as Beth enters. James has been trying to break up with Beth for some time, but she isn’t taking the hint. Hunter sees a chance to build a friendship with James and tells Beth that Culture Shock is offering free smoothies to distract her from James. Even with this relief, James isn’t ready to embrace Hunter as a brother.
Joining Riley in Studio A, James introduces task number 11—the ThenRiley Roll-Up, named after one of Riley’s quirks—she always rolls up her shorts. Riley is pleased by the move and the naming, but she notes that item 1 (the breakup with Beth) remains on the list. James remains determined to handle the breakup himself, without Hunter’s help.
Hunter presents Eldon with a double-layer chocolate fudge cake—what he calls a truce cake. Eldon accepts it but says he needs to do something before he smashes it in Hunter’s face. Knowing he deserves it, Hunter brings his best smile to the moment. Eldon then asks for a solo concert and proposes a dance battle with Hunter, who agrees. The moment hints at the possibility of friendship, even if the alliance isn’t solid yet.
Amanda observes Emily and Hunter enjoying time together and senses what Emily must do to win her trust: break away from the sole ally who still supports her, Hunter.
Will Emily jeopardize her relationship with Hunter to stand with Amanda? Will James ever be able to break up with Beth?