Joanne through the years.

Partner Picking

Joe

As we walked into wardrobe many heads turned to look at us but Dianne and I didn't meet anybodys eyes, we just kept our heads down, retrieved our costumes and walked out again. We walked off to our assigned dressing rooms without saying a word to each other. It wasn't because we were angry. We just didn't feel the need to talk to one another. I got changed and headed back out to the celeb lounge where I met up with Stacey.

"Looking good" she grinned and gestured to my costume. I grinned back.

"You look so good. That dress is so cool" I replied.

"Thanks.  Anyway, how did it go?"

"It went...really well" I smiled. "We've sorted things out and now we're friends again."

"That's great...just friends?"

"Yes" I rolled my eyes jokingly. "Just friends Stace"

"Just checking" she smirked at me. We resumed our earlier conversation. There was no air of awkwardness between us even though we had literally just met. Just then a tall man with red hair poked his head around the celebrity lounge door.

"We're on in five everybody" He called. There was a reply of whoops, mainly coming from Seann and Graeme. Stacey and I turned to one another and gave each other weak smiles. We both looked like we would throw up if we opened our mouths.

Dianne

"How did it go with Joe?" Oti asked whenever I got to the pro girls dressing room.

"It went well" I smiled.

"Can I ask something?"

"Ask away" I looked up at her.

"Whenever you first moved to England you kept texting me about some boy. You talked so very highly of him and how much you loved him. Was that Joe?" Oti asked. I smiled again.

"Yep. That was Joe. He hasn't really changed one bit. He didn't get angry at me earlier and he forgave me before I had even apologised."

"He's a good spud. They're hard to come by these days" Oti smiled. I smiled back.

"How long till we're on?"

Oti checked her watch.

"Three minutes" she looked at me. "Who do you think you'll get?"

"I dunno. Maybe Lee Ryan?" I suggested.

"Do you want to get Joe?"

I thought for a moment before answering with one word. "Yes"

*

Joe

My name had just been called and I walked out onto the stage. The lights blinded me and the clapping made my breathing quicken. I took a deep breath to calm down before making my way down the stairs and up to the presenter Tess. 

She opened her arms for a hug and I hugged her awkwardly before making small talk but in my slightly dazed state, I wasn't sure what I was answering and just to hope that I didn't sound like a right idiot.

Dianne

Whenever Joe first appeared at the top of the stairs, he looked terrified. He even had to take a deep breath to calm down. When he was talking to Tess, you could tell that his mind was elsewhere. He was breathing in his nose and out his mouth. My own mouth was set into a thin line. Was this my doing? Was he panicking because he might get me?

"The person that will be keeping you in line when you're not online is..." Tess began and I looked up and caught Joes eye. He looked away. Things might have been sorted between us but it was never going to be the same. 

"IT'S DIANNE" Tess shouted. I ran forwards grinning and even Joe smiled.  He looked happy. Maybe he wasn't dreading getting me.  He picked me up and spun me around.  We then hurried off up to the Clauditorium where the rest of the pairs were waiting.  

Amy grinned at me. And made a love heart with her hands. I gave her the middle finger. Thankfully the cameras had flicked back to what was happening down below and missed it otherwise my job would have been on the line.

 Joe and I were then pulled back stage to change into our costumes for the group dance that we had to perform.  His eyes met mine.

"I'm am so glad I got you. Katya, Oti and Karen were the only other ones left and they seem nice and all but...very strict" he breathed out. I laughed.

"Yeah. Katya and Oti are probably the two that will push you the hardest out of all of the female pros" I smiled.

"What's my first dance?" Joe grinned.

"You'll have to wait and find out Suggy.  I will only reveal our dance on Monday morning" I laughed at the look on his face.

"Oh and by the way. I'm having a birthday party on Saturday. I'm inviting some strictly folk and all because we're gonna watch the launch show as that airs on Saturday. Are you able to come?"

I thought about it.  All of my old friends were likely to be there.  Obviously I wanted to see them but what if they hated me.  What if they despised my very existence because I didn't keep in contact.

"Ummm" I began. But Joe read right through my um.

"They will want to see you Dianne. They've missed you as much as I have...which is a lot. They'll be chuffed to bits to see you again."

"Okay. I'll come."

"Yessss" Joe grinned.

"I can still back out cant I?" I asked.

"You're stuck now. Its a binding magical contract. Like when you're name gets picked out of the Goblet of fire. You have to compete in the Triwizard tournament. I asked you. You said yes. You are bound to it."

"A tri-what?" I asked confusedly.

"Harry potter and the Goblet of fire? Triwizard tournament?"

I shook my head.

"You've never seen Harry Potter?!?" Joe looked shocked to the core. "It's an outrage.  It's a scandal" he joked. "That was another Harry Potter reference" he explained. "Right. Before the end of this competition. We are watching all the Harry Potter films. Deal?"

"Deal" I grinned.

"OI. JOE AND DIANNE! QUIT YER CHIN WAGGING AND GET TO WARDROBE" a Scottish voice nearby yelled. We both burst into a fit of giggles and headed off to wardrobe.