Jana clicked the play button and started counting, nodding her head to the beat and like liquid, her body started moving to the steps. Just as she had seen them in her head, it all fell into place, making seamless movements with arms and legs, hips and head. She felt her hair snap against her back and shoulders and just as she made her way into the last movement, the tendrils flipped over her forehead and she flipped it out of her way, tilting her head to the side as she lifted her arms to hold the pose.

"You're not expecting us to do that, are you?" she heard behind her. She looked into the mirror, seeing a blond guy standing in the doorway behind her wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and red football jersey with the sleeves and neck cut off. He was holding a towel and leaning his shoulder against the door with a crooked, teasing smile.

"As a matter of fact, yes, I am," she answered with her own grin of amusement, turning to face him. "I was told you were all professionals."

"Are you forgetting we're supposed to sing?" he chuckled, stepping further into the dance studio.

"Not in that segment, you're not," she replied. "And it's not like a video is live. I think you can handle it."

"But what about when we have to perform it?" he asked, dropping his towel on the floor against the mirror and coming to stand in the middle of the room.

"I'm sure you can handle it," she said dryly. "Are you the only one here?"

He looked over his shoulders and then to her. "See anyone else?"

"No, but I didn't just come out of the changing room," she returned, tilting her head. "Don't start off difficult, or I'll throw moves in there that will have you limping in pain for months."

He laughed, pointing at her. "You think that won't?" His voice rose, almost to a squeak.

"Oh, just think of the little train that could," she teased with a shake of her head. "I think I can. I think I can…" She walked past him, tousling his hair with a smile and headed over to the entrance of the changing room. "If anyone else is in there, you have five minutes." She started back across the room, passing the blond and hearing a low mutter as he looked at himself intently in the mirror. 'I think I can, I think can, I think I can…'

"Cute," she chuckled as she passed him to rewind the tape back.

"I do what I'm told," he called after her, turning on a boyish charm -- a charm, that wasn't very long out of 'boyish' regardless of his size and shape of his body.

He was busy watching her, his mouth partly open in thought when he was knocked in the shoulder. "Stretch the rest of your muscles too, dude. You've kept that one in good enough shape already."

"Aje," he muttered, shaking his head so that his hair flopped back and forth slightly.

"Niiick," AJ mocked, heading straight over to the girl. "Hi."

"Hi," she said, turning to smile at him.

"I'm AJ," he said, offering his hand. "The rest are coming. Kevin was held up in the gym."

"Okay, great," she said.

"You're gonna go easy on us, right?" AJ asked. "We're out of practice."

"I'll get you back in shape, don't worry."

"It's the getting us back in shape that I'm worried about!" Nick called over, leaning over and stretching his hands towards the floor.

"Oh, whine, whine, whine," she laughed, walking over to him and placing her hand on the middle of his back, pressing down so his hands hit the floor.

"Ahh!" he yelped, coming back up. "Whatcha do that for?"

"Felt like it," she answered. "You whine, I revenge. Deal?"

"I don't think I like that very much," he said, crossing his arms in front of him.

"That's the plan," she said with a nod. "You whine, I revenge."

~

"Fuck," he muttered as AJ chuckled, beginning his stretches.
   
"I consider it my job to make sure you boys don't have time to stand around, making fists and emoting passion," Jana said over the music as she watched the five of them dance. "Hands, Brian!" she called, tapping his shoulder. "Think of the beat…2, 3, 4…"

"Gonna knock yer head through a door," Nick called out, giving up and sitting Indian style on the floor. He rested his head in his palm as his elbow went to his knee and he looked up to her with a sigh. "It's too hard."

"Up, little man," Kevin said standing next to him. "We don't have time."

"Feet, Kevin," she called, coming to Nick's rescue. "Nick? Is there a problem?"

"I can't keep it straight!" he muttered, flopping his hands open.

"So, you're supposed to learn by sitting on the floor?" she asked, standing over him.

"I figured if I watched again, I might get it."

"Instead of asking," she said. "I see."

"Well..no, I mean…" Nick sighed and dropped his shoulder. "Isn't it time for a break?"

"A break," she repeated. "Sure. Guys, take a break…except for you, blondie. We'll go over those steps one on one."

"One on one?" Nick moaned.

"Up." She tapped her toe against his knee as the other teased Nick. "It's not rocket science, blondie. Honest. Where are you getting stuck? Show me what you can do."

Kevin and AJ sat against the back mirror watching her stand behind Nick, lifting his arm and correcting his posture. "Whadda think?" AJ asked, leaning his head over slightly, keeping his eyes on them.

"'Bout what?" Kevin asked, sipping some water out of a bottle.

"She flirting? Or is he?"

"Don't know," Kevin answered with a carefree shrug. "But if he doesn't knock it off, I'm gonna kick his ass."

AJ laughed, resting back against the mirror and stretching his legs out in front of him. "I think he's just out of practice, really. None of us have really kept up on this."

"Like she said, it's not rocket science," Kevin said, keeping his eyes on them. "It's not like he's never had to learn a dance before."

"Kevin?" she called over her shoulder. "Could you help us out?"

"Or is it you?" AJ laughed, patting Kevin's calf as Kevin pulled himself up.

~

"Thanks, guys," Jana said, looking over from where she turned the tape deck off. "We'll pick this up tomorrow morning first thing. You're half way there." She headed over to the door as they started filing out and placed her hand on Nick's shoulder. "You're doing great, Nick," she encouraged.

"Thanks," he said with a tired smile. "But I think I proved you wrong. I didn't even mean to be difficult and I'm feeling muscles I didn't know I had."

"Soak in a hot tub tonight and do some slow stretches," she said warmly. "It'll be easier tomorrow. Promise."

"Promises, promises," Nick teased with another charming grin and a wink.

"See you then," she smiled, brushing her hand down his arm and heading into the opposite dressing room.

~

Jana stepped up to the bar late that night. She brushed her hand through her shoulder length hair, letting it fall back off her forehead and slipped onto the stool, ordering a white wine. She smoothed her dress casually and leaned her elbow on the bar and looked down its length. "You haven't changed a bit," she said.

Kevin looked up from the bar a few stools down and let a slow smile cross his lips. "You certainly have," he replied.

"You think?" she asked, tilting her head slightly with a grin.

Kevin picked up his drink and moved to the stool next to hers. "I wasn't sure if you remembered me."

"The infamous Kevin Richardson?" she asked, taking a sip of her wine. "How could someone forget you?" He smiled, looking down to the bar, almost shyly. "I see your rhythm's improved." He looked up to her, his eyebrow lifting curiously. "Last time I saw you, you weren't all that coordinated."

"There was a lot of blood in my alcohol, I think," he said.

"Definitely," she laughed. "You look great." She reached out and brushed her hand through his hair.

"So do you," he said with a nod, looking her over. "I had to wonder today if you were the Jana, or just some freaky kind of coincidence."

"Perhaps a bit of both?" she offered. "It's been quite a ride for you these past few years, huh?"

"That it has," he agreed. "But what about you? How did you end up here?"

"What's that joke? Practice?" she teased. "I went on to study professionally," she continued with a shrug. "Met the right people, got the right jobs. Been professional for about three, four years now, I guess."

"It's great seeing you," he said sincerely, nodding slightly with a smile. "It feels like a lifetime ago."

"It has been, hasn't it?" she asked. "You're married now?"

"Yeah," he said, biting his lower lip. "You?"

"Nah," she shook her head.

"You haven't been swept away by Mr. Right?"

"Not even close!" she laughed, reaching into her purse for a cigarette.

"That's not very healthy for you," he commented.

"Neither is dating," she retorted blandly, giving him a cross look through the corner of her eye.

He lifted a shoulder and took a sip of his drink. "How's your sister?

"Married," she answered. "She just had her second baby."

"That's great!" He smiled.

"She's a fan, too," Jana laughed. "You had to see us the first time we saw one of your videos. The two of us gaped at the screen, pointing." She shook her head. "And we knew the song without knowing it was you."

"You living under a rock?"

"No, Kentucky," she answered with a giggle.

"When'd you cut your hair and go red?" he asked, fingering the ends of her hair gently.

"Ages ago," she answered, turning to look at him.

"It looks good on you," he said, pulling his hand away awkwardly.

She quietly inhaled and turned away from those green eyes, biting her lip. "So, where's the rest of your clan?"

"You mean, Nick?" he asked.

"I mean Nick, AJ, Brian, Howie…" she answered. "Why are you the only one down here?"

"Nick's probably soaking his poor, pathetic muscles in that bath you recommended," Kevin said, rolling his eyes. "He's not that out of shape. He's just milking it, you know."

"So?" she asked. "It's not like we don't have tomorrow before you have to know it by heart. What's the harm in a little flirting?"

"He's got something of a girlfriend," Kevin said.

"And?" she asked, dragging the word out. "You're married. We're not allowed to talk?"

"Talk is one thing," he said, looking forward and taking a drink. "Acting stupid to flirt is another."

"Thanks," Jana replied.

"I didn't mean you," he said quickly.

"I know," she answered, "but I happen to think it's cute the little blonde one is flirting." She shook her hair slightly. "It breaks the ice." Kevin didn't seem too impressed by the idea. "You know, you used to know how to flirt."

"I still can," he answered, looking to her quickly.

"So, what's wrong with him flirting a little?"

"Nothing, I suppose," he admitted. "He just…he knows what he's doing. Just don't let him make you think he's some klutz out there."

"Kevin, darling," she said, turning to face him and placing her hand on his arm, feeling the solid muscle with surprise, "anyone standing next to you when you dance looks like some klutz out there. You've always had that ability to move like liquid."

He turned his head away slightly and looked down, almost blushing at the compliment. "Thanks."

"You really haven't changed much," she chuckled, brushing her hand off his arm and taking hold of her wine glass with a grin. He looked at her through the corner of his eye and smiled with his lips together, shyly.

As he took the last of his drink, he could hear someone squeal from the doorway in the bar and he dropped his head. "Busted," he muttered. Moments later, the girls were escorted out and bodyguards stood more prominently at the doorway.

"You look annoyed," she commented.

"I hate when they have to be obvious," he said, glancing over his shoulder. "It's one thing to have them, it's entirely another when they have to stand guard. Takes away the whole idea of relaxing."

"I suppose it would," she realized, looking at the two men in the doorway.

"Want to come up for a drink?" he asked suddenly. "There's only going to be more girls showing up soon and I'll have to vacate."

"Sure," she said, finishing her glass of wine.

She was led into an elevator with a bodyguard. Kevin had left a few minutes earlier so she wouldn't raise any suspicion among the on-lookers and she was brought up by a bodyguard and showed to his room. As soon as he opened his door, the bodyguard headed back down the hall, wishing them both a good night.

"Nice room," she said, coming into the suite.

"Yeah," he nodded easily. "Not bad. So, drink?" he asked, placing his hands together and pointing his fingers towards her.

"Just water, really," she said, moving to sit on the loveseat. "If I have anything more tonight, tomorrow will be miserable." She placed her elbow on the back of the couch and slipped a strand of hair behind her ear, folding her knees to the side.

He handed Jana a bottled water and sat across from her, slouching comfortably into the cushions and kicked off his shoes. "So…what've you been up to these last few years?"

"Dance classes, mostly," she answered with a shrug. "Nothing even remotely as exciting as what you've done."

"It's been a ride, that's for sure," he agreed. "I'm sorry…you know." He turned to look at her. "For…well, you know."

"Walking away without a word?" she asked.

"Yeah," he nodded, looking to his hands in his lap, "that."

"And for hitting on my best friend?" she added with a lift of her eyebrows.

He nodded slowly. "Yeah, that too."

"Do you know how long ago all that was?" she asked, poking his shoulder, again reminded of how solid his muscle was. "I'm well over it."

He grinned and shook his head. "No guy wants to hear that they've been…gotten over," he teased, winking at her.

"And still the ego," she laughed.

"I thought I hid it pretty well." He smiled slyly at her.

"You try. But it's there. That's part of what I liked back then, actually." She rubbed her palm over her legs. "Mr. Nice Guy all the way around, but there was that…smoldering bit. That was your ego. It smoldered when you didn't let it out."

"And they tell me I'm the dark and mysterious one, but you figured me out!"

"Let me go call the teen mags!" she threatened playfully.

"Oh, God!" he cringed. "How much do I have to pay you to keep quiet?" He leaned over, placing his hands on her legs, pleading with her playfully.

"Relax," she patted his hands, "you weren't that interesting."

"Oh!" he exclaimed, falling back into the corner of the couch and clutching his heart. "Ouch!"

"The only thing I'd have to tell them is how you stepped on my feet when I got stuck dancing with you," she laughed.

"Ruin my reputation, why don't you!"

"Muah ha ha!" she snickered evilly. "All part of my dastardly plan to take down the Backstreet Boys! You found me out! Now what?"

"I knew it!" He wagged his finger at her, tilting his chin. "I can spot an N*Sync fan a mile away!"

"Yeah, it's all about Justin Q-Tip," she nodded casually. "I'll get him away from that Britney person yet!"

"Oh, stop!" he cringed, lifting his shoulders and cringing.

"Yeah, I'd much rather seduce the little blond flirty boy," she said, winking.

"Not gonna happen," Kevin said.

"Oh." She wrinkled her nose. "I'll settle for dancing with you again."

"That can be arranged." He jumped up from the couch and went over to the stereo. He flipped through several cd's in his case before choosing one and hit play. He strode to the couch, squaring his shoulders and leaned over, extending his hand. "May I?"

She placed her hand in his and stood, letting him lead her into the center of the room, pulling her close and started to lead in a waltz. "See?" he said, guiding her, "your toes are safe now."

"Good thing," she chuckled, "you're a lot heavier than you were back then. I might not survive another trampling."

"Shut-up and dance," he laughed, turning her.

"Fancy footwork, even," she cooed, keeping in step easily.

"See?" he said, "I wasn't a total hopeless case."

"No, you were just hopeless when you couldn't figure out who you wanted to have sex with, me or Nicole."

"Ow, man!" he whined. "I apologized! Can't a guy catch a break?"

"You have to do more than a perfect waltz," she teased. "I'll get my revenge on you tomorrow in front of your fellas. Humiliation and all that."

"Jana, please," he smiled, dipping her slightly, "there is more footage of our early years to do that without you even trying. There are pictures all over the internet with us in tracksuits and all having matching haircuts. What more can you possibly do?"

"Gimme some time," she teased, "I'll find something."

~

"Oh, come on, it's been a long time since I've had to…" Nick sighed, dropping his shoulders wearily.

"Up, blondie," Jana said, motioning to him. "I've got exactly an hour to make sure you have that step or Fatima will think I screwed it up."

"Fatima's coming today?"

"Yes, and I'm not gonna have you making me look bad," she told him, tugging him into the middle of the studio.

"She knows how I am by now," he said easily.

"Dance, little man," Kevin said coming from the changing rooms.

"Dance, little man," Nick muttered snidely, wrinkling his nose.

"I can see you in the mirror," Kevin said coolly. Nick gave him the finger via the mirror and Jana grabbed his hand, pulling him into position before anything more could be said.

Kevin squatted down against the mirror and watched as Jana went over the steps again and Howie joined them, brushing up. A few moments later, AJ and Brian came out, moving to stand next to Kevin and wait until they were ready to start.

"Bri," Kevin said, "you remember her yet?" Brian looked at Jana, watching her in the mirror in front of Howie and Nick as she called out the time. "High school?" Kevin hinted, looking up to Brian as Brian's jaw dropped.

"No way!" he exclaimed, looking down to Kevin nodding.

"No way, what?" AJ asked.

"Kevin dated her in high school!" Brian said, and slowly his eyes widened. "Oh…oh, man…"

"It's cool," Kevin said with a nod. "We hung out a bit last night. It was a long time ago."

"What? What?" AJ asked, turning to look at them.

"Yeah, what? What?" Howie called over. They looked to see Nick and Howie looking at them as Jana went over to the stereo.

"Kevin and I dated a hundred years ago and he was a complete shit and left town without saying good-bye," Jana said with a smile. "But not before showing my best friend how much he really liked her. Right, Kev?"

"Dawg!" AJ scowled in laughter.

"Dude!" Nick cackled. "That's fuckin' cold!"

"It was a long time ago," Jana defended for him. "Can we get into positions, please?"

"Why're you pickin' on me then?" Nick teased. "He's the one you should be making suffer!"

"But you're so cute when you whine," Jana told him, shaking her head at him.

Nick wrinkled his upper lip and shook his head, muttering under his breath. "But you're so cute when you whine…"

"The mirror didn't magically go away, blondie," she laughed, looking at him through the mirror as she rewound the tape.

"Busted!" AJ called out.

"Come on, guys, let's get this today, okay? Make me look good in front of Fatima, please?" she called over the music.

"What do we get?" Howie called, moving in time with the fellas, beginning the dance.

"A big, fat hug," she answered, standing in front of them, watching. "Arms, Brian…Nick, kick…yes!" She smiled broadly as they fell into step. As the segment ended, she clapped and threw her arms around Howie. "Thank you!"

"Where's mine, darlin'?" AJ asked, coming behind her. She turned and hugged him just as tightly with a laugh. "See?" AJ said looking to the others in the mirror and reaching down to pat her butt playfully. "Positive re-enforcement makes all the…ow!" Jana had grabbed his earlobe and tugged, stepping away.

She walked over to Nick and tousled his hair slightly and hugged him quickly and then went to Brian, opening her arms wide for him, tilting her head with a familiar smile. "I was wondering when you'd remember me."

"You look so different," he said embracing her warmly. "It's great to see you."

"You too," she said as he released her.

"My turn?" Kevin asked quietly coming up behind her.

"Hit 'im!" Nick laughed.

She laughed and reached up to wrap her arms around Kevin's shoulders as he bent over slightly to wrap his arms around her waist. As she held on, Kevin stood and lifted her off the floor and twirled her before putting her down. "Loser," she whispered with a chuckle, tugging the ends of his hair with a shake of her head.

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Birds In Your Garden Disclaimer | Email Coriander

Read the companion story:
Oreos for Breakfast (Nick Fanfic)
by The Pumpkin Coach & Paperbag Princess

c. 2001, 2002 by Coriander
Some content not suitable for children. You have been warned.