Strictly '18

6

-Joe-
That night we ran off stage from performing our last dance for the final. All of our dances went really well and I was feeling confident about it.

I held Dianne's hand as we waited for our score.

38

We both grinned and hugged each other.

"Well done, Joe! I'm so proud of you!" She hugged me tightly.

"We've done so well!" I chuckled as I hugged her. We went through to the green room back stage where we spoke to the cameras briefly. Then we rushed back to my dressing room before anyone could notice.

As soon as we got there, Dianne hugged me tightly and kissed me.

"I'm so proud of you. I can't believe how much you've improved." She chuckled. I smiled and kissed her. "I really don't care if we win, in my eyes you've won."

"Dianne?" I said seriously. She frowned softly, obviously worried why I had gotten serious.

"Yeah, Joe?" She asked slowly. I leant down and rested my forehead on hers.

"I love you, Dianne." I whispered and smiled widely.

"Joe..." she sighed softly. I began to panic that she didn't feel the same way.

"Oh god. I rushed things, didn't I? Things have gone too fast. You don't feel the same way, do you? I'm such a knob." I stood up right as I realised that I had told her I loved her for the first time.

"Joe? Joe... I feel exactly the same way. I love you too." She said calmly. I calmed down instantly and relaxed.

"Oh... Okay, good." I chuckled nervously. She laughed and kissed me.

"We better get back out there before anyone notices that we've gone." She told me as she smiled. I nodded and didn't let go. "Come on, you're gonna need to let go, Joe."

"Okay. Just one more minute." I sighed as I kissed the top of her head. "Alright, let's go then."

I let go and opened the door of the dressing room for her. She walked out towards the studio and I followed. We got back into the studio with everybody else. Nobody had noticed that we were apart from one person.

"Where did you and Dianne go, Joe?" Kevin chuckled as he asked me.

"Oh... um... nowhere." I told him nervously.

"Yeah you did. I know you, Joseph." Kev smirked at me. "I checked the only two places you were supposed to be. Where did you go?"

"We went back to my dressing room for a minute. And I might have told her that I love her." I could feel myself blushing as I thought about it.

"Really?! Well done, mate!" He grinned.

"I hadn't even planned it. I just happened." I chuckled nervously. As I said that, I noticed how everyone was getting ready to be on camera again. I looked around for Dianne's red hair.

"What do you mean, it just happened?" Kevin laughed.

"I'll explain later. The cameras will be back on us any second." I replied to him as I rushed over to Di. I brushed my hand past hers as I approached her, she turned round and smiled to me.

"Hey." She smiled softly as she held my hand. I smiled as I wrapped my arm around her waist. I felt her relax against me until the producer showed the countdown for the camera switch to us.

We stepped away from each other slightly, she let go of my hand but I kept my arms around her waist. We both watched Tess and Claudia talk to the camera as we were in the background.

The cameras turned to the floor as the past celebrities started their dance. Dianne and I went down to the stars lounge to wait until we were called onstage.

We both sat down on the sofa and she rested her head on my shoulder. I rested my head on top of hers and watched the TV which was showing everyone on stage as they danced. I noticed Dianne wasn't her chatty self.

"Di? What's wrong?" I looked down to her.

"I'm just nervous for the results." she sighed as she sat up and looked at me.

"In my eyes, the results don't matter. I've won you and you know that." I told her seriously. She smiled softly.

"Thanks, Joe." She nodded and rested her head on my shoulder again. I kissed the top of her head and sighed softly, I was trying to calm the nerves I had.

Within a couple of minutes, somebody came in to call us on stage. I stood up and helped her up.

"This is it, Joe. Like you said, it doesn't matter if you win. You came here and did what you wanted to do; you've made me and everyone so proud. Your nana will be so proud no matter what." She smiled widely, her Australian accent making me love her even more. I smiled widely and hugged her tightly.

We walked out on stage together - hand in hand. As we got ready for the cameras to be on us, I hugged Stacey and wished her luck.

We stood waiting for the result. I held Dianne close and rested my head on hers.

"And your champion of Strictly Come Dancing 2018 is..."

I held my breath as I waited for the result.

"Stacey and Kevin!" Tess shouted. I let go of my breath and turned to the winners.

Stacey was jumping around, screaming. Kevin had fallen to the floor.

I ran over to Kevin and crouched beside him.

"You did it, Kev! You finally won! Well done!" I shouted over the cheering and screaming. I helped him to his feet and hugged him. "You deserve it, man. You've worked so hard for so long for this!"

"Cheers, Joe!" He was grinning and hugging me. I let him go and he ran over to Stacey. I looked around for Dianne and hugged her.

"It doesn't matter, like you said." Dianne smiled. We kept hugging until Ashley and Faye came over. I hugged them both then hugged Stacey.

"You deserve this, Stace! Well done!"

"Thanks, Joe! You and Dianne deserved it too!" She hugged me back. Tess and Claudia started interviewing the runner ups. They eventually got to us.

"I'm gonna miss dancing with Dianne. Of course I will. I'm gonna miss you so much." I smiled to her as I looked into her eyes.

"Awh, I'll miss you too, Joe!" She looked into mine then hugged me tightly. I heard some people cheering in the audience and Tess made a comment about us being cute. I tried not to blush, not sure if it worked.

I watched as they interviewed Kevin then Stacey. As Tess and Claudia began talking to the camera, we all ran over lifted Kevin up into the air.

I was so happy for him, he deserved this. He had been in the final 5 times now, missing out on the trophy every time. Nobody could deserve it more than him.