But I need to audition?

All I knew was it was an interview as a backup dancer for an idol group. I had no idea which, how many they needed or what was required, just that my resume had been picked to come in for an audition. I'd been dancing since I was three, starting with ballet and tap, continuing with ballet and adding contemporary and hip hop as I got older. Now at 23, I had moved to South Korea, having been selected as an extra in a dance based K-drama. That contract was almost over and I was hoping to line up something else so I could pay the bills.

I'd made it through the first few stages of this audition already. Once they'd viewed my resume, I'd been asked to send in a newly recorded dance sequence that showed all my styles. That had been fun, incorporating it all in a one minute visual audition. They obviously liked what they saw though as I'd been told to come in this morning and now I had been escorted into a small dance studio and told someone would come in about ten minutes. A throw away comment, that there was music ready in the sound system if I wanted to practice anything piqued my interest and I walked over, turning it on. The music that came out was unfamiliar but the beat was something I could feel and I rolled my shoulders, pulling my arms behind my back, turning to the large mirror and dropping into a stretch, quickly preparing something in my head that would go with the music in case it was my audition music. I was a little nervous but no matter what happened, I was aiming to enjoy the dancing, the reason I was here in the first place.

"Don't you think this is a little voyeuristic?" The last candidate had walked out when we'd asked for them to be sent away early. They weren't suitable, not even picking up on the hint that there was music to practice with, sitting on the ground playing with her fingernails instead while gum snapped in her mouth. Definitely not someone who acted like a team player.

The audition process had been fairly easy this time, our choreographer picking people based on their skill sets on paper then narrowing it down after viewing their dance audition videos. Today we had the final 10 coming in and each was left in the room for ten minutes so we could see what they did in that time. We were a big team, a family that worked hard and played together behind the scenes. Whoever we picked had to be the right kind of person to fit in with that if they were going to travel with us.

"Because they don't know this is a two way mirror," Jimin asked in reply, raising an eyebrow. "The company has had them all sign a waiver that says there are cameras everywhere and that they may be filmed and observed throughout the building apart from bathrooms. I think that covers what's happening here too. And," he continued with a grin, "it's kind of fun when they don't know we're here. It feels a little naughty."

"Jimin-ah, I've always thought you had some of your own personal videos hidden away from your dates," Hobi said cracking up and then softening his voice. We didn't know how soundproof the room was so we were making an effort to keep the noise down as much as possible.

"Doesn't everyone," Jimin replied, looking confused but catching Namjoon's eyes and they both smirked.

"I don't but I have a photographic memory so I can replay things anytime I want," Taehyung said, smirking.

"No you don't hyung, you just have a really good memory for dances," Jungkook flung back at him and they lapsed into a play fight as the door opened, Yoongi and Jin walking in to join the other five.

They'd seen four candidates so far, one was a possibility but the others had all been sent home. They were planning on hiring three to dance for a few songs in their upcoming tour. It would be a new experience having only really worked with male dancers before so that there were no distractions in their early years. But now, they were all in their mid to late twenty's, some in long term relationships and the company had conceded they were old enough to be sensible. Although, as Jungkook wrestled Tae to the ground, tweaking his nipple as he sat on him, that was debatable. All of them had busy schedules but unsurprisingly, they'd all suddenly been free enough to come for some or all of the dance auditions, enjoying sitting and watching who they might work with for the next few months.

"Oooh, here's someone," Jin said, grabbing a seat as the studio door opened and a young woman was escorted in by a manager. Tae and Jungkook popped up from the ground, all the guys focused on what was happening in the studio room, the manager giving her the same info as the last four candidates. She bowed and dropped her bag to the side, walking straight over to the music and turning it on as soon as the door closed behind him.

"She's the first to do that," Hobi commented to Jin and Yoongi, hyper focused on what was happening in the room. Along with the choreographer, he would have a large say in the final candidates.

"One other did turn it on after a few minutes but she rolled her eyes and turned if off again," Namjoon said. "She was asked to leave shortly afterwards." It was one of his songs, one he'd put a lot into writing and he wanted the dancers to at least enjoy what they were dancing to. If they had to be ruthless, at least they would get to work with the right people.

They watched as she turned to face the mirror and, unknowingly, them as she started to stretch. Hobi and Jimin were nodding as she dropped into some leg and back stretches before she stood up and turned the music back to play from the beginning again. There was silence as they all watched her head bob in time, getting a feel before she began to move and their mouths all fell slightly open as she did, eyes tracking her dance. It wasn't intense or big in movements but there was power behind the sharpness of her dancing as she transitioned from hip hop into a flowing contemporary style which clashed with the style of song but somehow was exactly what it needed.

"She's definitely well trained in ballet or contemporary," Jimin said softly, his hands unconsciously following hers as she finished a sequence after about a minute. He could have watched her for a whole lot longer, admiring her form.

"She's sharp in her hip hop too," Hobi added, head tilted to the side and his face broke out into a huge smile as she stopped the sequence doing a little boogie, smiling to herself. She seemed relaxed, radiating a certain confidence that was very attractive. She knew she could dance and she seemed prepared for whatever was needed. So far so good.

"I think she's fun," Taehyung said, watching as she continued to boogie her way over to her bag, taking off her sweatshirt as she heated up a little.

"She does seem like someone we could all get along with," Namjoon said thoughtfully. "I like the look of this one."

"Her body is...," Jungkook's voice trailed away.

"Yes, definitely a dancers body," Hobi said over his shoulder towards him, focus still on the dancer.

"Yeah because that's what he meant," Yoongi said under his breath and exchanged a look with JK who grinned back, both raising their eyebrows, everyone in the room now grinning.

Then they watched as she approached the mirror, lightly patting her skin, possibly making sure she wasn't sweaty after her dancing. She ran her finger along her lips, testing to see how dry they were after her exertions, they all knew that feeling. And then the room collectively held it's breath as she leaned forward, almost right up to the mirror, feeling like she could see them as she used her tongue to moisten her lips. Her eyes were vivid, striking in the green that looked natural when teamed with her pale skin and the freckles that seemed to dot along her nose. But it was a colour they were unfamiliar with, constantly surrounded by mainly brown eyes. They were beautiful.

She swallowed a few times and they realised she was probably thirsty, Namjoon sending off a text to a manager, asking him take her in some water.

"We thought you might like this while you wait," the manager said a minute later as he entered and handed her the bottle.

"Oh gamsahabnida," she answered with a bow and they heard her speak for the first time. It was unexpected, lower than they would've thought but with a richness that was smooth to the ear.

"It shouldn't be too much longer," he answered as they both bowed again as he left.

She sank down gracefully in the middle of the floor, unscrewing the bottle top and they all watched as she began to drink, gliding down her throat as the liquid eased the dryness, swallowing it down as she threw her head back a little, letting it coat her throat.

"I vote yes," Yoongi said, the sound a little gravelly as he swallowed but he'd voiced what they were all thinking, murmuring a yes along as they continued to watch her, eyes glued as she put the bottle down. She leaned back on her hands, stretching a little again before jumping to her feet and switching on the music again, running through more steps.

"So, we can all agree we'd like this one to join us, the audition is over," Namjoon asked as they all followed her with their eyes.

"Yes hyung," Jungkook said and everyone else nodded along.

"I think she'll be great to have around," Jin said.

"But not as a distraction," Namjoon said, frowning at them all.

"Of course, just to work together," Jimin said before he winked at the others with a smirk once Namjoon had turned away. That's definitely what all of them were thinking about; working with her.

There was a knock at the door and the same manager poked his head in, speaking over the music as she came to a halt. "That will be all for today thank you, you can go."

"Oh, ah, OK, thank you," I said, bowing to him as I walked over to my bag and grabbing for my sweatshirt, sliding it back over my head. It was a little confusing, I'd come for an audition but hadn't ended up having one. Maybe they had already cast everyone they needed or maybe there was some hold up. It was a little disappointing but this was the kind of industry where there were a lot of hurdles so she took it all in her stride. "I wonder what Idol group it was for," she wondered, walking down the hallway and out into the sunshine.

One week later a phone call from her agent took her out of her growing funk. "Well, you must've impressed them as you're in," he yelled down the phone.

"But wait, what? Remember I told you that I went for the audition and they sent me home before I even started?"

"Yes, I'm a little confused too but they specifically said all the members were very impressed when they saw you dance and were looking forward to you dancing with them."

"Maybe they saw the tapes and just cast from there instead," I said, excitement building in my stomach. "Thank you, that's the best news!"

"I thought you'd be excited. Right, so they want to start right away. You're due at the studios tomorrow at 10am and then they'll fill you in on what will be needed but it sounds like you're set for at least the next six months, all fully paid."

I blew out a sigh of relief. My savings hadn't dwindled away completely but it would have taken a huge hit if something didn't come up in the next month.

"Great, the same location?"

"Yes, the HYBE offices. You'll meet the guys properly in the next week, I think tomorrow is the choreographer."

"Oh guys, so it's a male Idol group?"

"You don't know? Marley, it's for BTS."

And I dropped the phone.