“And by willing victims, he means I’m going to pick the quietest.” Monique cupped her hand around her ear.
The group cheered and Jasper laughed. They were off and running.
Forty-five minutes later, Jasper was buzzing with adrenaline as Monique wrapped up her section on the importance of agreement in improv. He and Monique had focused mainly on the “Yes, and” principle for this class—how to never block your partners’ ideas. Go with the ideas and then add to them. They linked the concept to brainstorming in a business and how it can help not to shut down any ideas during that initial stage.
They’d played a few simple games with a couple of brave volunteers, but now it was time to get the whole group involved. No more hiding. He raised a hand. “All right, everyone, class is about to wrap up, but before you go, we’re going to play a quick game that involves everyone. Please turn all of your chairs so that they form a circle.”
There were a few panicked looks.
“I promise this won’t hurt at all,” he added.
After a few murmurs, people got up and started dragging chairs across the floor to get them in order. Jasper watched Rodrigo, the fitness vlogger, head over to Hollyn and Andi to help move their chairs for them. Jasper frowned as Hollyn shook her head and lifted her notebook up to Rodrigo. Rodrigo ignored her protest and waved his hand to encourage her to join in. She glanced toward the front of the room, sending Jasper an SOS look. He was already striding over.
Jasper reached them before Hollyn’s chair could be moved. He put a hand on her elbow. “Hey, can I see you for a sec?”
She nodded quickly and smiled briefly at Rodrigo and Andi. “Excuse us.” Hollyn went with him, and he guided her off to the side. He could feel a little tremor go through her, like her anxiety was flooding in. When they got a good enough distance from the group, she said in a low, urgent voice, “It’s going to stand out if I don’t join in, but I’m not down with this.”
“I know. I’d already thought of that,” he said, releasing her elbow. “I have a plan.”
“Run out the back like I’m on fire?” She gave him a hopeful look.
He smiled. “Yes, that’s option one. You can bail now if you want and just meet me back here after everyone leaves or I can give you a behind-the-scenes role in the game.”
Her throat flexed and her facial tics pulled at her muscles. He had the urge to reach out and smooth the tension from her cheek, to soothe her in some way, but kept his hands at his side.
“How behind the scenes?” she asked.
He dipped his head and caught her gaze. “Ever played duck, duck, goose?”
She frowned. “Sure.”
“Well, you’d be the goose in this game. You just have to touch people’s shoulders to let them know it’s their turn to talk. You don’t have to talk or participate in any other way.”
She rolled her lips together and glanced toward the circle the group was forming. Her chest rose and fell with a breath, and he could almost see her brain working, but finally, she nodded. “I guess I can do that. I kind of want to see the game. This has been…” She met his eyes. “You’re really great at this, you know?”
Something warm and potent spread through his chest at the simple compliment. He could tell she wasn’t the type who would say it if she didn’t mean it. “Thanks.”
“So I won’t have to talk?” she clarified.
“I swear. I’ve got you.” He put out his palm in offer.
She eyed him for a moment, and he worried that she would go with plan A, but then she took his hand. His fingers closed around hers, pleasure suffusing through him at her trust, and he led her back to the group.
Monique was critiquing the group’s circle-making skills when they rejoined the class. “There are no mistakes in improv, but this is a poor-ass excuse for a circle, people. Aren’t some of you computer geniuses? Do you remember kindergarten? Show me a circle. Three-hundred and sixty degrees. No corners. Make me proud.”
A few people laughed and others were smiling. Monique had the group in the palm of her hand, so they dutifully complied. She glanced over at Jasper while the circle was being adjusted, and cocked a brow at his and Hollyn’s clasped hands. He quickly released the hold.
Monique strode over. She put out her hand to Hollyn. “Monique, or Monique the Mouth as my group so lovingly calls me.”
Hollyn’s cheek tic was going a little wild, but she managed a friendly smile and shook Monique’s hand. “Hollyn. I’m apparently going to be your very silent goose.”
Monique’s red lips curved. “Ah, easiest job in the place. You must’ve paid Jasper off to get that gig.”
“Something like that,” Jasper said, saving Hollyn from more of his friend’s not-so-subtle prodding. “Everyone ready?”
Monique turned, put her hands on her hips, and sighed audibly at the group. “This is an oval, people, not a circle, but I can only do so much. Let’s get started.”
Jasper left Hollyn’s side so that the attention wouldn’t be on her and moved closer to Monique. He lifted his hand to get everyone to quiet down and then started. “Okay. The way this game works is we’re going to write a Dear John–style breakup letter together. When your shoulder is touched, you add a line to the letter, building on whatever was said before. This will help you practice that rule of agreement and the ‘Yes, and’ principle.
“Don’t deny what the previous people have said, only add to it. This is also a good exercise for learning to listen carefully to the group.” Jasper cocked his head toward Hollyn. “Hollyn will be walking the perimeter of the circle and can touch whoever’s shoulder she wants, so you won’t know when your turn is coming. When she touches you, it’s your turn. No passing. Try to answer without thinking. And don’t plan your answer ahead because then you’ll miss the listening component.”
“Everyone understand?” Monique asked.
Jasper glanced at Hollyn, and she nodded and moved closer to the circle.
Monique went on. “Great. Then I’ll start. ‘Dear Jasper…’” Jasper sent Monique a narrow-eyed look at making him the recipient of the breakup letter, and she gave him an innocent shrug. “What? This will make it more interesting. Poor Jasper, y’all. His girl is dumping him.”
Jasper snorted. Well, the best improv setups often started with a true story. His ex, Kenzie, never would’ve bothered with a letter, though. She’d wanted to live through the dramatic moment and soak up all that emotion. Fodder for future acting gigs. He’d probably see their breakup scene in one of her Aurora Boring episodes one day.