�Alright guys,� Fatima said clapping her hands and everyone looked. �We got work to do this morning so let�s go. You start your tour next week and I�m going to be working ya�s. Alex, Nick, B-Rok, get in here; playtime�s over.�
�C�mon, Fatima,� Alexander said. �Just another five minutes.�
�No,� Fatima said. �Get in here now.� The three guys sighed disgustedly and walked back into the dance studio. �Alex, I want you to come meet your new dance partner.� Alexander walked over to Fatima and saw the young brunette Shakira look-alike. She stood about 5�8 and had gorgeous brown eyes and a killer body. Alexander looked her over and smiled, liking what he saw. He looked at her well-toned stomach and found her belly ring quite sexy. �Alex, this is Eva Martin. Eva, this is Alex McLean.�
�Hi,� Eva said extending her hand. �It�s a pleasure to meet you.�
�A pleasure it is,� Alexander said with a mile wide grin and shaking her hand.
�Yeah,� Eva said pulling her hand away.
�Ok, let�s get to work,� Fatima said. �Positions everyone!� She looked at Nickolas, as he stood there talking on his cell. �Nickolas, put that away and get over here.�
�It�s Aaron,� Nickolas said.
�I don�t care if it�s the president,� Fatima said. �Put it away now.� Nickolas gave a sly grin and Fatima looked at the others. �That boy is gonna ruin your performance.�
�Give him a break, Fatima,� Brian said. �He�s young.�
�Don�t make excuses for him, Brian,� Fatima said, as Nickolas walked over. �I don�t wanna hear it.�
�What�s up, Fatima?� Nickolas asked grinning and noticing the short brunette next to her.
�This is your new dance partner, Jacqueline Montgomery,� Fatima said. �Jackie, this is Nick Carter.�
�Hi,� Jacqueline said extending her hand.
�Hello,� Nickolas said smiling, as they shook hands.
�So, Eva, Jacqueline,� Kevin began, �What got you girls into dancing?�
�Um, my grandmother did ballet and taught it,� Eva said. �It looked fun so we started it. I was about seven and Jackie was about five. As we got older we got into other kinds of dancing like hip-hop, ballroom, and stuff like that.�
�And that is why you have a well-toned bod,� Alexander said and Eva looked at him.
�Yeah,� Eva said. �Something like that. I eat right too.�
�Don�t mind, Bone,� Kevin said. �He likes to flirt.� Eva nodded.
�Hi, Eva, Jackie, I�m Kristin,� a thin blond said. �I�m Kevin�s dance partner and also his girlfriend.�
�Hi,� Eva said, as the three ladies shook hands. �This is my first real paying gig so I�m a little nervous.�
�Don�t be,� Kristin said. �You�re gonna have fun.�
�I hope so,� Eva said.
�Where are ya from?� Kristin asked.
�Michigan,� Eva said. �A small town in the southeast part.�
�Like where?� Alexander asked.
�It doesn�t matter where,� Eva rebutted. �Because I�m never going back. As far as I�m concerned I never lived there.� They looked at her. �I�m sorry. I�m just having a bad morning.�
�It�s alright,� Kevin said. �We have those too.�
�Well I ain�t nervous about anything,� Jacqueline said. �I love dancing and don�t care where I do it just as long as I do it.� She smiled and Nickolas looked at her. �Eva loves it as much as I do. Don�t ya, Ev?�
�Uh, yeah,� Eva said.
�You�re going to have fun,� Kristin said. �I promise ya.�
�Ok,� Eva said.
�Positions! Positions! Positions!� Fatima yelled. �We got a busy day and we�re already behind schedule so let�s move it.�
�Fatima makes ya work your ass off,� Alexander began, �but she�s awesome.� The two girls nodded.
�C�mon, Jackie,� Nickolas said taking Jacqueline�s hand and leading her to their dancing spot.
�After you, Miss Martin,� Alexander said and Eva just looked at him. �Perhaps you prefer Eva.�
�Yeah �Eva�,� Lisa said.
�All right, Eva,� Alexander said. �After you.� He smiled and she walked away.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�You girls did an awesome job,� Fatima said to Eva and Jacqueline. �You were better than your dance partners.�
�We�re serious when it comes to dancing,� Eva said. �Our minds are concentrating on doing a good job. Right, Jack?�
�Huh?� Jacqueline said looking. �Uh, yeah.� Eva rolled her eyes. �What?�
�Like you�re not checking out Nick,� Eva said. �Whatever.� Jacqueline smiled.
�Hey,� Kevin said.
�Hi,� Eva said, as Jacqueline went back to looking at Nickolas.
�Us mature legal people are going to a nearby club tonight,� Kevin said. �Ya wanna come with?�
�I�m only 18,� Eva said.
�It�s for 18+.�
�Oh, um�� She looked at Jacqueline. �I don�t wanna leave Jackie by herself.�
�She can hang out with Nick and play video games.�
�Let me see if she�s ok with it first.�
�Alright.� He grinned.
�Hey, Jack,� Eva said pulling her friend by the arm, as she walked to a different spot.
�What are you doing?� Jacqueline asked. �Nick and I had just made eye contact.�
�That�s nice.�
�What?�
�Kevin asked me to join in their festivities tonight.�
�Cool. Ya gonna go?�
�No.�
�Why not?�
�Because I don�t want to.�
�This is a perfect time for you to get over Mikey ya know. He didn�t believe you and broke your heart and you�re still hung up on him. If a guy did that to me I sure the hell wouldn�t be waiting for the day he�s coming back to me. He believed his father over you so he�s just as bad as his dad is. Time to move on and I�ve been seeing the way Alex is looking at ya.� Jacqueline smiled.
�I ain�t interested.�
�Why not? He�s cute.�
�He�s an arrogant ass.� Jacqueline shook her head. �I�m being serious. He was hitting on me the whole time and I wanted to kick his ass.�
�You liked it so admit it.�
�No I didn�t. Guys like Alex have no respect for women so they�re not worth it.�
�But Mikey is, huh?� They looked at each other. �Just go out with everyone tonight and I can find something else to do.�
�Yeah; Kevin said you and Nick could hang out and play video games.�
�That�d work well.� Jacqueline smiled.
�I can�t believe how guy obsessed you are. I�m surprised you�re still a virgin.�
�Shut up.� They laughed. �Just go and I�ll be fine. If ya don�t have fun and want me to bail ya out just call and I will. No problem.� Eva sighed.
�I dunno.�
�Holy cow just go. You�re going to be working with these people for a while so ya gotta get use to them. Go out, have fun, and forget about what happened in Michigan for a night. You can call if ya need anything. I�ll be here or there or whatever ya know.�
�Yeah.�
�You really don�t wanna hang out with Nick and me do ya? You�ll be so bored when you could be tearing it up on the dance floor showing everyone what ya got.� Eva didn�t say anything. �Ya know ya wanna go, Ev. If ya don�t you�re just gonna sit around and mope about the whole Mikey and Michigan incident.�
�Whatever. No I won�t.�
�Yes you will. That�s all ya been doing since it happened. I know how hard it was for you, but you can�t let it run your life like you have been doing. Not all guys are like him and you know it.� Eva looked at her. �You know I�m right so just go and have a good time. I�ll be fine by myself.� Jacqueline smiled.
�Alright, just for a little while though.�
�Ok.� They hugged. �Thank you.� They walked back over to Kevin who was now joined by the rest of the guys. �Eva�s going to join you guys tonight.�
�That�s great,� Kevin said.
�It�s just for a little while,� Eva said.
�That�s cool,� Brian said. �You can leave whenever ya want. We�re not gonna force ya to stay.� Eva nodded.
�Jackie and Nicky can hang out at the house together,� Howard said, as Jacqueline and Nickolas looked at each other. �And get to know each other.�
�Yeah,� Nickolas said.
�Ya need a pretty woman to distract ya anyway,� Alexander said.
�Why?� Nickolas asked.
�Always thinking about those video games,� Brian said.
�Whatever,� Nickolas said rolling his eyes and walking away.
�Don�t worry, Jackie,� Alexander began, �he�ll come around and notice how fine you are.� Jacqueline just looked at him and he walked away.
�Come on, Jack,� Eva said. �Let�s go home, because I really need to shower.�
�Ok,� Jacqueline said, as they got their stuff and left.
CHAPTER 2
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