Joe and Dianne: Dancing is better with you

Chapter 8 - News flash

Dianne's POV:

' STRICTLY COME DANCING PROFESSIONAL DIANNE BUSWELL SEEN LEAVING YOUTUBE STARS LONDON APARTMENT EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING' 

'Shit' I muttered to myself. I was sat alone in Joe's dressing room reading through what seemed like hundreds of news articles, all saying the same thing - I was dating Joe, I was cheating on Anthony and I was falling to the so called 'Strictly curse'. All a pack of lies, but now all something that practically every single person in the country will hear about one way or another. 

This was only my second year on the show and I was having the best time of my life, and not just because of Joe, but because it has been my dream job for soooo long. Now that I have it, I am not letting it go like this. How could I have been so stupid though? I was so caught up in what was happening in my private life, I didn't realise how vital it was to keep it private. All the press across the world are always looking for some dirt on anyone on TV or in the media and within the space of 40 seconds I had managed to spark the possibility of news articles and TV interviews and so much more for possibly the next 13 weeks I have with Joe on this show.

'OH MY GOD JOE!' I suddenly thought about what effect this is going to have on him. I understood that he hadn't been with anyone in a while and that through his entirety of his time in the media and on Youtube, he has always stayed way clear of the so called 'partner possibilities' that the media loves to get shit on.  I know how important that is for him and how much he cares and wants to do well in this competition. I mean obviously I want to do really well as well but this is just one more thing that Joe doesn't need. One more act of publicity that we need to be aware of. One more distraction. One more reason that I can never be with Joe.

I was taken out of my troubling thoughts as a familiar face walked into the room. His hands were up to his head, his fingers running circles onto his temples. Stress. The only thing  I could see written across Joe's already tired and confused face. I hated seeing Joe like this. I didn't need to ask what was going on, he's just had to chat with one of the shows producers about the articles. He was only in there for about 8 minutes but I imagine my chat with him would be longer.

"Di they want to speak to you now." Joe said as he sat down on the leather sofa next to me.

"Shit, okay - what did they say Joe?" I asked hopeful that he could give me some kind of answer to put me at ease. But to no avail

"Di their mildly pissed off anyway, just go in their and we'll talk later yeah - I promise." Joe said confidently. He rested his hand on my thigh reassuringly as he looked me seriously in the eye. I nodded and walked out of Joe's changing room. Usually a safe space and a relaxing place, but now as I walked away from that safe bubble with Joe, I could feel my stress and anxiety build up within my tired bones. My brain went into overdrive as I knocked on the producers door. "Come in!" I heard the yell through the door. It felt like I was back in school being called into the principles office. 

"Jack, you wanted to speak to me?" I said timidly as I curled my head around the door.

"Yeah please sit down Dianne." Jack was a young guy around my age, he had swept back, jet black hair with piercing green eyes. He was confident but in all honesty a complete prick. He was smug and successful. He's one of those people that you can't help but occasionally want to tell to piss off. All round though he was alright I guess. I sat down awkwardly on one of the plush chairs opposite his desk. Jack looked up from his laptop and towards me.

"Listen Dianne, you're not in trouble with us but obviously we do have to talk to you about the issue that has arisen with the press. The BBC respect your private life and we have nothing against you dating Joe if you want too, but we have to put something in place to stop any bull shit getting out and effecting the show. If it does we may have to fudge the results and kick you and Joe out. I mean that's eventually what it might come to if it gets to much to deal with - end of" I gulped and felt my palms become clammy as I thought about how I may have let Joe down with all this.