Page 51 of Just a Little White Lie

“I was wondering about…” I press Play, and “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé starts. I bob my head from side to side, smiling at them.

And I’m quickly shot down.

“No way!” Arlo shouts from the back.

Maverick is shaking his head. He stands and reaches out for my phone.

I hesitate.

“Come on, Miss. Hand it over. Let me look for something decent.”

With a little cringe, I pass him my phone. He types something into the search, and a groovy song with a nice beat starts playing.

“What is that?” I look around his arm and see “Sugar Shack.” That sounds a little dodgy to me.

“I don’t think—”

“That’s way too slow, bro. They’re gonna fall asleep.” Arlo jumps up. “Give it to me.”

Arlo snatches the phone and starts playing a more dance-style song, bopping and spinning around the room.

Ha! Busted. The kid’s got moves.

I raise my eyebrows, impressed with his quick feet, then grin at the goofy look on his face.

“‘Cha Cha Slide’?” Alexia scoffs. “No way, Arlo. Give me the phone.”

“Uh—” I raise my finger to try and bring this to order, but Alexia grabs my phone before I can say anything and starts blasting a she-rock number I’ve never heard before. She turns the volume up to full and starts mouthing the words and shaking her tooshie in a way that is way too sexy for a sixteen-year-old.

“Okay! Okay!” I walk forward to grab my phone, but it’s in Dante’s hands before I can stop it, and soon “Dancing Feet” is screaming out of the little speaker.

Catcalls are fired his way, and fast arguments erupt all around me.

Fabulous. We can’t even pick a song without warfare.

“Enough!” I shout it so loud my throat hurts.

Everyone freezes, bulging their eyes at me like I’m some fire-breathing dragon.

“Give me my phone back.” I snap my fingers and wrestle for control.

Dante eventually passes it over, and I huff to my desk, slapping it down and ordering them to sit.

They do, sort of, slumping onto the ground and lounging back. Their stubborn faces have returned in full force.

Great. I’ve just lost all my momentum, and we’re back to square one.

Ugh, I can just hear Jack’s snicker now.

“Nice going, Tinker Bell.”

Kneading the palm of my hand with my thumb, I shove thoughts of Jack aside and try to stop my voice from shaking. “Why don’t we pick a song later? I think for now, we should spend a week or two working on dance and fitness exercises and getting our bodies ready for competition. By the time we’re done, no one in the Waikato is going to forget the name Haven Hoofers.”

“Haven what?” Alexia’s face bunches. She looks like she’s just sucked on a lemon wedge.

I clear my throat. Jack’s laughter running through the back of my brain makes it hard to sound confident. “The…uh… Haven Hoofers. That’s the name I entered for us.”

“What’s a hoofer? Is that some kind of horse or something?” Arlo asks.

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