Dance your heart out

Chapter 27: Take a break

{Emily's POV} 

I sat down next to Derek, who looks concerned about what I'm about to say. He looks at me attentively waiting for me to speak. I can't even say the words I wanted to say. I hope he doesn't get disappointed about what I'm gonna say. 

"Emily?" he asked. 

"Okay" I took a deep breathe " Derek, I know having Alexis in your life has been amazing" I said

"I know. It's been a blast getting to know her and.." he started but I cut him off.

"Derek.. I'm not done" I said. "Look I know it's hard to balance time between work, Alexis and me and I want you to know that I completely support every decision you make." 

"Yeah. Where are you going with this Emily?" he said

"I want you to stop asking me if you could go every time Jane calls you about Alexis. Make that your decision not mine because every time you ask me, in my mind I don't want you to go but I keep letting you go." 

"I'm sorry you feel that way. Okay from now on I'm gonna make my own decisions about Alexis. I'm sorry babe" he said and held my hands

"Another thing Derek" I said and tilted my head down

"What is it babe?" 

"I think we.. umm... we should cool off for a bit" 

"What??" he said in shock. "No, no babe please. no" he said stuttering

"I just.. I just think that we should.. I should take a break from you and alexis. It's becoming too much for me and.."

"Babe, please I love you.. please don't do this" he said tearing up

"Don't do that. Don't.." I said tearing up as well. "I love you Derek. more than ever. I just want you to concentrate on Alexis for a while and once you're used to it, then maybe we can resume our relationship." 

"Please babe I can do this. I can give my attention to Alexis and keep my relationship with you. Give me a chance" 

"Derek, just trust me on this. Please don't make it harder for me" 

"Harder for you? I thought that we're going to have a lovely dinner tonight and you tell me this?" 

"Please don't get mad at me Derek" 

"I'm not mad. I just don't understand why you gave up so easily" 

"You think this was easy for me? I had to think about what I'm going to say the whole day. I have been talking myself out of doing this ever since Alexis came along and now I'm doing this because I love you. I don't want you to lose Alexis. I don't think it's our time to be in a relationship. Maria, Blake and Alexis has been ripping this relationship apart for a while and now I think we just have to think about what is best for both of us right now"  

"No.. I can't do this Emily. I just can't" 

"We should do this Derek. I'm sorry. We need to cool off for a bit. I'll cancel my flight back to London and give back the money I owe you" 

"No! if you cancel that flight that means I lost you completely please. I still want you to be happy if we are going to do this" 

"Okay Derek. I'm sorry" I stood up and placed my hand over my face crying my eyes out. 

"Em, I love you so much. I know you're doing this for me and Alexis. I promise I will get you back. I will" he said and stood up to hug me while I was crying. 

{Derek's POV} 

It has been a couple of weeks since Emily and I took a break. I haven't spoken to her since. I focused my attention at work and Alexis. She's doing great at school. I go to Alabama every once in a while to visit her. If I'm in LA and in my day off, I try to see if Emily is doing okay. I check up on her through Mark. I asked Mark if he could ask Emily to skype with her every week just to check up on her and I look at the screen where she can't see me. She's doing good. I can see that her place is finished and has a few friends come over. I'm happy just to see her through the screen. She actually asks about me and how I'm doing with Alexis when she talks to Mark and it puts a smile on my face every time she mentions my name. 

Dancing with the stars is almost over in a few days and I've been rehearsing non stop with Shawn to perfect our finals routine. I can't believe another season is almost over and I had a blast with this one. I'm excited to see who wins this all-star season. 

(Finals Day) 

I was in my trailer getting ready for the show, the last show this year and I'm ready to finish this with a bang. I'm sitting on my couch scrolling through my phone when Emily texted me. She said *Good luck today. I'm proud of you no matter what happens*. Her text instantly made me smile. I know we shouldn't be talking but it's nice to see that she still wished me good luck. I replied a thank you with a smile and she didn't text back after that. I left my trailer because the show is about to start. A couple of hours later, we finished our final cha cha and we're just waiting for the announcement. It's either Shawn and I or Melissa and Tony. Then Tom finally spoke, The winner of season 15 is.... Melissa and Tony! Everybody shouted and jumped for the new champion. I hugged Shawn and congratulated Melissa and Tony for their deserving win. After the show, a party was held at Tony's house because he won this season which means it's his turn to host the victory party. 

The party was a blast. I didn't drink though because of what happened last season. I didn't want anything to happen to me tonight. A couple of hours had passed and I was a bit tired. I looked for mark if he wanted a ride home because he's been drinking all night. He told me that he was fine and he'll just take a cab home. I went to my car and went home. I was about to open my garage door when I saw Emily walking up to our porch. I stopped in front of the house. 

"Em?" I was confused. She turned to me. 

"Hey Derek, I was just about to knock on your door" she said walking down the porch and towards me. 

"Oh, no one is in there though. What are you doing here?" I asked

"I..I..well.. It's the finale and I thought you were at Tony, drinking. I was just making sure you got home safely." she said stuttering

"I didn't drink this time. I wanted to go home sober because I didn't want what happened last season to happen this time" I said

"Oh good. Okay. I..I'll go ahead. Good night." she said and started walking away. 

"Do..Do you want to come inside for a coffee?" I said because I really want her to stay.

"I really have to go. I have a test next week" 

"Come on, just for a couple of minutes then I can drop you off. I don't want you to take a cab this late. please?" I said

"Sure" she said and smiled.