Page 129 of Just a Little White Lie

Before the van even pulls to a stop, I take in the stream of dancers. Clumped together in school groups, they move and chatter. Their nervous energy can be felt through the van windows. Or maybe that’s just me. Maybe I’m generating enough nerves to power this entire competition.

“You ready?” Maverick leans over the back of my seat.

I glance over my shoulder at him and nod. “Yep.”

“Let’s go, then.” He takes the lead, encouraging the crew out of the van.

I’m last to step down, and they’re all waiting in a circle for me. Waiting for my command.

They trust me.

I can see it on their faces.

And it turns my heart to a wet bowl of custard.

“You guys are the best,” I tell them. “You’ve come so far, and I’m incredibly proud of you.”

They share awkward glances, but I can sense the smiles hiding beneath the surface.

“We haven’t won yet, Miss,” Arlo jokes.

I grin. “It’s important that you know this before you dance even one step today.I am proud of you. No matter what the outcome or what the judges think. To me, you’re the best dance crew this world will ever know. You’re Misfits. You’re my Misfits, and I love ya.”

In a power cheese move, I thrust my hand into the middle of the circle. They follow suit without one snicker.

“Misfits on three,” Maverick calls it. “One, two, three—”

“MISFITS!” we all yell together, and I can feel it all over again, this certainty that today, we’ve going to prove every one of our doubters wrong.

LAUREN

Ilead my comrades into the arena and find our allocated station. The dance competition is starting soon, and the current in the air is electrifying.

We watch other groups move around us, and I can’t help noticing how in sync and focused they all appear to be. We’re novices. It’s abundantly clear, and it’s messing with the Misfits’ mindset.

“Hey.” I snap my fingers to get their attention. “Don’t play the comparison game. It’s murder on the mind, believe me. We just have to focus on our goal, which is…”

“Dancing our asses off.”

“Doing the best job we can.”

“Sticking it to the man.”

The answers all come at once, and I smile at each of them.

“What I want most is for you guys to work as a team and just get lost in the music. Forget about all the other stuff, clear your minds, and make this about the dancing. These are the songs you chose, the moves you helped put together. Your stamp is all over this thing. You guysownit.”

They’re staring at me like they just might believe me.

“Wish Jack was here,” Trixi murmurs. “They’re kind of his moves too.”

“Yeah.” I nod, and it takes a concerted effort to bolster a smile. “But you guys made them you’re own. And they’re incredible. So trust in that.”

I rub Dante’s shoulder, because he’s standing right next to me, then give Alexia a sideways hug.

“Come on, let’s go watch the beginning.”

We’re dancing twelfth, which means we have a good chunk of time to use up. I lead the kids to the contestants’ seating area so we can hear the welcoming speech from the director. A polite applause follows his greeting and instructions, and then we’re into it.

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