Free Girl vs. Boy Band by Harmony Jones Page B

honey. Maybe you and Mimi should leave the boys alone with Jasper for a bit. This is business, after all, and he might not want the band manager’s daughter and her friend hanging around. Would you mind?”
    Mind? It was like the answer to a prayer. Lark was just about to tell her mother this when Mimi burst into the kitchen.
    â€œGrab your dancing shoes, girlfriend!” she cried. “Jas says we can learn the dance routines with the boys!”

CHAPTER
    SEVEN
    â€œWe’ll start with a little freestyle to get warm,” said Jas, placing his iPod into the speaker dock and hitting Play.
    Ollie went first. He wasn’t a bad dancer, but he wasn’t what one would call a natural, either. He managed to keep time with the beat, but his moves were more athletic than graceful.
    Aidan stepped forward next. “What do we have to dance for, anyway?” he protested. “We aren’t some manufactured boy band. We’re real musicians. We play instruments.”
    â€œDonna wants us to be the whole glossy package,” Ollie reminded him. “The fans will like it. That means we’d better like it. So shut up and dance.”
    Aidan grumbled but did as he was told.
    It was immediately clear why he was against adding dancing to the act. He couldn’t stick to the beat and everything he did looked awkward and forced. Clearly, he would have trouble picking up Jasper’s complex hip-hop moves. When Aidan finished his ungainly performance, he glared around at the group, as though daring someone to make a negative comment.
    No one did.
    And then it was Max’s turn.
    The second he broke into his routine, Lark gasped. She marveled at the way he was able to move in perfect sync with the music, sliding, spinning, even throwing in a little pop and lock.
    â€œHe’s incredible!” breathed Mimi. “God, I wish I had my camera!”
    Max finished with the backflip Lark remembered from their homemade music video, and everyone began to cheer.
    â€œWell done, Maxie!” said Ollie, clapping his bandmate on the shoulder.
    â€œWow! But you’re lucky you didn’t bust your skull on those flagstones,” Aidan groaned, but underneath the words, Lark heard his respect.
    â€œWe’ve got a lot of talent here,” said Jas. “How about we try a combination? Guys, line up. Max, let’s have you right here in front. Girls, come on, jump in. The boys need to get used to sharing the stage with backup dancers.”
    Mimi didn’t have to be asked twice. She planted herself right next to Ollie.
    Lark positioned herself a good three feet behind Aidan.
    Then Jasper broke down the combination for them, shouting out the steps and counting off the beats as he demonstrated. The boys followed his lead, as did Mimi and Lark. Ollie had some trouble with the turn at first, nearly tripping over his own feet, but he got it right on the second try.
    â€œOkay, from the beginning,” said Jas, reaching for the iPod. “Five, six, seven, eight . . .”
    The music began to thump, and three handsome Brits, one lifelong Angeleno, and a very nervous Tennessee transplant started to dance.
    â€œ
Yeah
, baby!” said Jasper, snapping his fingers in time. “Yeah, that’s it. Aidan, loosen up, dude. Ollie, stay with the beat. Mimi, nice attitude, girl. I love it! Max, you’re doin’ great. And Lark . . . perfect!”
    Lark felt her cheeks burn, though whether it was from the praise, the exertion, or the hot midday sun, she couldn’t say.
    When they finished the combination, Jas gave them high fives all around, then told them to take a minute to catch their breath. Max offered to run inside and grab some water bottles for everyone.
    â€œThat was so cool,” said Mimi, slipping a hair elastic from her wrist and wrangling her long mass of dark waves into a messy bun. “We’re taking a dance class with Jasper Howell! If