Friends with Benefits | Joanne

31- Confessions

"Go on, Joe! Keep those arms up!"

The salsa routine was coming together. Dianne, Joe and the other dancers had only been rehearsing for a few hours, but it was beginning to take shape.

Dianne grinned as she watched Johannes pick Joe up and lift him above his head. She had absolute faith that Johannes could make lifting Joe look as easy as lifting one of the girls. She chuckled to herself; Joe wasn't that much taller than her, and Johannes had definitely danced with women who were bigger than he was. In Johannes' strong arms, Joe looked tiny.

Joe was trying his hardest to keep up. With five professional dancers in the room, he didn't want to stick out. He wanted to make a good impression and so he was putting every ounce of energy into focusing on the routine. It was the week before the semi-finals, and he wanted to make Dianne proud.

It was all he wanted at this point.

Johannes put Joe down and he grabbed Dianne's hands, falling easily into the next part of the dance.

They got to the end, and Trent called time. "Lunch! 40 minutes, then back here please!"

///

A few people left the room to go and get food. Since Dianne had got the coffees in the morning, Joe had stopped at Pret on the way to the studio and picked up some food for them both.

"Take whatever you want" he said passing her the bag. "I'll have whatever you don't fancy."

Dianne smiled and peered into the bag. "Yes!" She pulled out her favourite- a beetroot and feta salad. "Oh, and you got the apple slices. Can I have both?"

Joe grinned at her. "Of course you can. I got it for you."

Joe took the other salad from the bag and handed Dianne a plastic fork. "I remembered this time" he said with a smile.

As they sat, Johannes and Neil came back into the room with sandwiches.

"So, Joe. Do you have any stories for us? Any mishaps? You've spent long enough dancing with our beautiful Dozy Di now. Something must have happened?"

Joe looked over at Dianne as he heard the nickname Neil used. She didn't look uncomfortable, but it still wasn't fair.

"Di's been amazing actually" Joe jumped to her defense. "She's got better at pranks, that's for sure. We spend most of our time trying to catch one another out. Apart from that, it's been smooth sailing."

Dianne smiled over at him. "You're only saying that because I'm sat here" she said between mouthfuls of salad. "If the boys took you out for a drink, I bet all sorts would come tumbling out!"

Johannes laughed and turned to Joe. "I don't know if Di's told you, but we lived together for a short time before I got my own place. I have got some stories I could tell you!"

Dianne groaned. "What is this? Gang up on the only girl day? Anyway, I wouldn't start on any stories you have about me. The stories I could tell about you are so much worse." She leaned closer and elbowed Johannes. "Shall I share the story about the washing machine and the drag queen?"

Joe and Neil both burst out laughing as Johannes hid behind his hands. "What?!" Joe exclaimed.

"Dianne, you wouldn't dare" he said.

Dianne smiled. "Nah. I'll save that one, I think. For when I need to blackmail you. I'll keep it in my back pocket."

Joe sat back, still smiling. "So how was living with Dianne?" he asked Johannes.