Dancing with Artem Chigvintsev: Part 1

10

Saturday:

"Emma, think fast." Val threw a water bottle at my face. We were all goofing around like one big happy family.

When the dances began I sat down in my workout clothes wanting to watch all the dances. Artem and I are last on the list of routines for the day so we have a bit of a wait.

Peta sat down beside me.

"Ready for this dress rehearsal?" She asked "is everything okay between you guys now?"

"Yeah we are going to kill it."

"Good!" She said "us too, may the best team win." She winked.

"Peta, can you please go to the red room and put on your costume we are up next." Maks said just as Derek Hough and his sister Julianne began their dance.

He hugged her and they had a quick make out session to which I averted my eyes and looked the other way.

Maks laughed and walked over to me as Peta hurried to change.

"Hey girl." He said sitting down in the chair next to me.

"Maks." I nodded. I was worried about the blind date affecting what might happen between Artem and I once we started actually seeing where our relationship could go.

"So we leave tomorrow night, and then I have reservations at the Windsor hotel for dinner for two between you and a special guy on Monday night, then we fly back Tuesday morning early."

I shook my head.

"What." He said but I couldn't tell him that I didn't want to have the blind date anymore because Artem was walking over to us.

"How's it going Maks." He said "sorry I was late, Emma. I was getting things ready for the dance up with the producers."

"Fancy." Maks said then gave him a dirty look behind his back. He still thinks that Artem and I are in a bad place.

"Maks & Peta!" The producers called.

"That's me." He jumped up "adios." Artem then sat where he was sitting.

We sat there in silence watching the competition, and also the two people I consider my best friends. Their dance was so good, phenomenal really, but it was lacking emotion. When it was over everyone watching clapped and carried on with their own business.

When I dance I aim to inspire, that's how it has been since I was a little girl. The rest of the couples went and I just sat there judging each dance not feeling anything from them, people around me coming and going and me just sitting still in the moment.

When there was one dance left before us I got on my dress. It was green and big and beautiful and perfect for this waltz. I took a few deep breaths in anticipation of Artem coming out from the guys dressing room looking dapper in his suit. I already felt so many emotions and knew that it is important to let them out during the dance and show the other teams what is expected out of us.

I was brought back to reality to one of the producers pushing me out onto the stage. "It's go time." She said.

I stepped out into the ball room floor up on the little stage and then stood next to Artem. Our Music began and I saw our colleagues and friends surrounding the stage, they were acting like they were ready to leave and that we were burdening them for being the last ones to go. Except for Maks and Peta who were whistling and shouting for us.

I rolled my eyes at the others and let out my emotion. I shut everything out and let Artem's presence sweep me off my feet.

Everything zoomed past so fast that I had no time to think about anything and then we were in our final hold at the end of the dance. My senses started coming back to me and I first began to hear the eruption of cheers from everyone watching us, then I opened my eyes to see tears and smiles and looks of pleasure on their faces.

I accomplished what has been lacking all day, I evoked an emotional response from the audience.