the one reason ❤ j.s & d.b

Chapter 1

Joe's POV

I woke up around 7:30 this morning, before my alarm which was there to wake me up for the long day ahead. Today was the opening night for Strictly. We had already filmed the fashion show or runway thing, whatever you call it, during the week as well as rehearsed the first celebrity number with the pro dancers.

I am feeling super nervous for today though, because tonight is the night we are pre-filming the opening/partner reveal for this year's strictly season. I reach over to my nightstand and grab my phone and begin to check all the socials and catch up on whats been posted while i was asleep. I scroll through Instagram, liking pictures, watching satisfying videos and stalking the usual fan pages to see their creative edits, sometimes they are a little creepy but none the less, still very creative. I lie in bed on my phone until my alarm that I had set chimed, in which I decided it was probably time to get up and get ready. I did the usual morning routine, starting off with a shower, getting dressed into trackies and a hoodie, trying to do something to my hair and failing miserably and then brushing my teeth. The studio was providing brunch, so I figured I would just eat there.

The butterflies in my stomach were really going for it today as I was so nervous to find out who my partner is. During the week when we were learning the routine, I got to dance with some of the female pros like Amy and Janette. They were really lovely, and I am hoping I get one of them as they were so helpful when teaching the celebrity dance. I mingled with mostly everyone, as all the celebrities this year were really down to earth and honestly were in the same boat as me. We shared stories about our professions, our worries about the show and honestly just got to know each other better. From the beginning I had hit it off with Stacey Dooley, I know that her and I are going to be good mates by the end of this experience.

Anyway back to today, I left my apartment, and decided to walk to Elstree studios as it was about a 20 minute walk from my apartment and I thought the fresh air would kill off some of my nerves for tonight. By the time I got there almost everyone was there in the green room chilling out, having coffees or tea and just chatting away. I placed my backpack down, grabbed a bowl of fruit off the catering table and looked around for a place to sit down. I heard my name being called and turned to see Stacey sitting with Kevin and Aj, waving me over to come join them.

"Hey guys, how are we all feeling for tonight", I announce as I sat down on the couch next to Stacey.

"Ahh babes I can't even tell you how nervous I am, I mean all the male dancers are absolutely fab and I'll be happy with any but I've already kind of made my mind up on wanting King Kev here", she said with a nervous laugh, nudging Kevin's arm.

"Stace, whoever you are with you will have fun with trust me, but just letting you know I am the best and you'll miss out big time if you don't get me", Kevin teased.

Aj laughed at the two and then turned to me, "So Joe, who are you hoping to be partnered with?" he asked curiously. Just as I was about to reply I was knocked in the back of the head, I turned around to see a girl looking flustered and very guilty.

"Oh my god I am so sorry! Are you okay? I'm legit the biggest clutz in the world", she spews out in her Australian accent.

"It's a'ight love", I say as I rub the back of my head with my hand,

"Let me introduce myself, I am Dianne", she says as she extends out her right hand to shake mine. I return the gesture, "My names Joe, we briefly talked during rehearsals this week, but I don't think we were properly introduced" I say with a smile. She returns the smile, hers ten times as bright as mine, with her brown eyes glistening. We lock eyes for what feels like forever, until she finally breaks the silence,

"Well once again I am so sorry for bumping you in the head, hopefully it doesn't affect your dancing" she giggles and then walks away to go talk to the other people in the green room.

I find myself wanting to look at her a little longer, admiring her fiery red hair that was put up into a high ponytail, and her cute little figure that was perfectly outlined by her leggings and top.

My gaze was interrupted by Aj waving his hand in front of my face, "Joe? You alright mate?" he asks concerned,

"Yeah, yeah man I'm all good, just thinking." He nods at my response and then repeats his question from before,

"So who do you want to be partnered with?"

"I honestly don't mind really, as long as they are willing to have a little bit of fun as well as working hard, and of course if they are shorter than me that would also be a plus" I laugh, the other three joining in as well.

❉ ❉ ❉

The day went on for ages, as we walked through how the night would run, learned our cues, were shown around to all the dressing rooms and cast rooms, meeting the hair, makeup and wardrobe team etc before it finally got to the start of the show.

I was waiting back stage as nervous as anything for three of the other male celebrities and myself to be called on for our part of the night where we meet the partners. Tess calls us down the stairs one by one and I am last for the group. I walk down, automatically feeling awkward and sweaty.

I chat with Tess for a minute or so about my thoughts on strictly and how I wanted to go to Blackpool for my nan, and then it got to the time where I would find out my right hand woman for the next couple of months.

"So Joe, the girl who will be keeping you in line when you're not online is......"

I can feel my heart racing as I look around to all the pro females, I give a slightly awkward wave and wait to hear the name,

"... It's Dianne!" She exclaims,

I look over to see the red head from earlier smiling at me whilst she runs over. She goes in for the hug and I pick her up and spin her around. Once I've put her down, she wraps her hand around my waist helping me with my balance, she is a pro, she has done this before and knows I'm as nervous as hell. We talk with Tess and the Judges for another 30 seconds before running up the stairs to talk with Claudia. After our section is done, we are allowed to move back into the greenroom. Everyone seems pretty excited with their partners so far, and I decided it was time to get to know the girl who id be spending every day with for the next 3 months, a bit now.

"So Dianne...."

A/N: Hey guys here is the second chapter, hope you are enjoying it so far!