Let's Take a Chance

Chapter 9

Dianne was sat at the breakfast bar in her apartment, fully ready and drinking her morning coffee when Luba walked into the kitchen. Swallowing the coffee in her mouth, Dianne looked up from her phone to speak to Luba. "Morning, I uh need you to do something for me."
"What?" Luba looked suspicious.
"I need you to cover this for me." Dianne pulled her hair over one shoulder, revealing the purple mark just beneath her ear. "I can't see it very well otherwise I'd do it." Luba walked over and looked at the bruise on Dianne's neck.
"I'm guessing you had a good night at Joe's then."
"We didn't do it before you get too excited" Dianne said sternly, "Please will you cover it, I don't want to get ambushed like I did the other day."
"Fine, stay here." Luba disappeared from the room and came back moments later with a makeup bag in her hand. She rooted through it and pulled out some yellow concealer to counteract the purple and foundation.
"Will you hold your hair for me?" Luba asked, scraping the wisps of red away. Dianne held her hair over one side, letting her head flop the same way to make it easier for Luba. A couple of minutes later, the purple mark was non-existent.
"Just keep your hair over it, it looks a bit cakey."
"Thanks Lubes."

Dianne walked into the studio after pro rehearsals and spotted a lonely looking man stood in the corner, immersed in something on his phone. Taking the opportunity to get him back for the countless times he's made her jump, Dianne crept up behind Joe and jumped on his back, wrapping her arms round his neck ensuring she didn't slip off.
"Ahh" Joe shouted but quickly started laughing, "You loser!" He put his phone down and placed his hands on Dianne's arm, leaning forwards slightly so she wasn't dragging him down as much.
"I got youuuu" she sang in his ear a she wrapped her legs around his middle. Letting go of Joe, Dianne slid off his back and jumped around in celebration.
"You're such a weirdo" Joe commented. Dianne stuck her tongue out before turning around and walking over to the side where she had abandoned her dance bag.
"Get those ballroom shoes back on Mister, it's waltz time!"

•••

"Joe, it is Thursday and we've haven't done one solid run-through yet. What are you doing?!"
"I'm really trying, I really am!" Joe sighed, exasperated. "It's just not sticking in my head!"
"Watch the video on your phone again, I'm going to the toilet." Dianne left the room in a strop, the door slamming behind her. Slumping to the floor, Joe watched the videos he had of each section a couple of times. Full of will power, Joe stood up and, keeping the videos playing, ran through the dances by himself, using the footage as a guideline. When Dianne came back in minutes later, Joe had just finished a successful run of the waltz, having gotten from beginning to end without having to look at the video for help. His arms where in the air and he had a relieved, happy look on his face.
"Did you do it?" She asked as she walked back over to him.
"Yes!" His voice was breathy and tired but Dianne could hear how excited he was beneath it all. Out of pure relief, Joe gave his partner the biggest hug, psyching himself up to do it again.
"Come on then, let's see if you can do it with me." Dianne moved to the sound system and pressed play, running back to her starting position as quickly as possible.
The music ended. They were in their ending positions. It was the music that stopped first not them. They'd done it. Joe had done it.
"Joe!" Dianne squealed, "you did it!" She felt so relieved now she knew it was possible that he could get from beginning to end.
"Yesssss." Joe pulled Dianne in for a hug, his arm slipping round her waist. "I'm so relieved" he whispered.
"So am I, I didn't think you were going to be able to do it."
"Thanks for having faith in me Dianne" Joe quipped sarcastically. "Love you too." With a cheeky grin, Dianne giggled at Joe and placed a kiss on his lips.
"Come on, we'll do a power hour. Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke."

•••

"The first couple through to next week are..." The air was thick with tension and nerves. Even though it was only week five, the competition was already getting tough and it was slowly turning into anyone's game. Joe and Dianne stood close, Dianne's arm in its usual spot round Joe's shoulder, his wrapped around her back, his hand resting in the dip of her waist.
"Joe and Dianne!" They both breathed a sigh of relief, said thank you to the cameras before turning to face each other and hugging. The spotlight above them went out, leaving them practically invisible to everyone. Once she was sure her microphone would have been turned off, Dianne reached up to whisper into Joe's ear. "I told you you could do it. I'm so proud of you." She pressed a kiss softly onto Joe's cheek, turning back just in time as the first couple to be in the dance-off was announced.

"Are you ready to go Dianne?" Luba asked as she came back into the dressing room having taken her costume back to wardrobe.
"Yeh, I just need to say bye to Joe quickly."
"Okay, I'll wait in the car then." Luba left leaving Dianne on her own. She tied up her laces quickly and slung her bag over her shoulder. Walking through the corridors, Dianne knocked on Joe's door just to let him know she was there and pushed it open. Joe was putting the last of the fan-mail into his bag when a certain redhead came up behind him.
"I'm so proud of you Joe" she said with sincerity, "you amaze me every week and I'm so happy to be on this journey with you."
"Thanks Di." Joe turned round and kissed her lips. "I couldn't do it without you."
"I mean, you can't get out of bed early without me ringing you five times every morning!"
"Excuse me, it was only twice."
"Set an alarm."
"I do, but I always turn it off and then accidentally go back to sleep."
"Whatever. I came to say bye, Luba's waiting for me in the car so I'll see you Monday?"
"Tomorrow."
"Why, what's tomorrow?" Dianne asked. She had nothing in her diary about tomorrow.
"Our date day/night. I'll message you details tomorrow."
"Oh okay, see you tomorrow then I guess!"
"Yep."