Let's Take a Chance

Chapter 19

"Dianne Buswell, you do not need that much." Her suitcase with twice the size of his, full to the brim of who knows what.
"I need to be prepared."
"For what?! We're only going for a week!"
"Yeh, I've got sets of workout clothes for every day of rehearsal because I won't be able to wash them in between. I've got clothes for the days when we aren't dancing. I've got jewellery, makeup, and shoes. I'm a girl, Suggy, I don't pack light."
"I can see that." Joe picked up the handle of his bag and began to carry it downstairs. He left it at the top of the landing and turned back to his bedroom.
"Do you need help Di?" He asked, "carrying it down the stairs I mean."
"Nah, I'm stronger than you."
"You're not."
"Oo I bet I am."
"Bet you're not." Joe backed out of the room and carried on taking his suitcase downstairs. He left it by the door and waited for Dianne to come down in the kitchen. Hearing a suitcase being pushed along the floor, Joe walked over to the double doors and was shocked to see Dianne already at the bottom of the stairs, pushing her suitcase next to Joes. He didn't do a very good job of hiding how shocked he was and Dianne was very quick to notice it.
Smirking, she flexed her muscles. "See, I told you I was strong."

"Are you sitting with me, or are you gonna sit with Luba or someone?" Joe asked as they joined the queue to get on the bus after giving the drivers their bags to be stowed in the luggage compartment.
"You, obviously."
"Okay." The line moved forward as everyone started to climb onto the bus. Joe found a double seat in the middle and sat down next to the window, Dianne next to him, Stacey in front.
"Oh god, what's she doing here?" Joe whispered to Dianne loud enough so Stacey could hear. The smile on his face gave away that he was joking.
"I've come to captain the love birds!" Stacey announced, kneeling on her chair to look over the back of it. Joe turned to Dianne and pressed a kiss to her lips. Pretending to faint, Stacey held her hand to her forehead and sat back down in her chair properly.
"That's a good trick that" he said as Dianne giggled.
"What is?"
"One kiss can make Stacey Dooley faint!" He said in a presenters voice. Dianne laughed again and leant against Joe's body, going through her phone as the bus started to move.

"My legs have seized up" Dianne groaned as she stepped down from the coach.
"Same gorgeous. I'd say let's go for a walk but I've got some work call in about half an hour."
"We've got to walk to dinner anyways."
"Oh yeh." Looking through the collection of suitcases on the pavement, Joe and Dianne found theirs and took them, following everyone else into the hotel to get their room key. Joe took their room key and led Dianne up to their hotel room.
"Ooo, this is nice" Joe said as he pushed open the door, looking around. "The art in here is so cool."
"There's no coffee machine!" Dianne groaned from behind him.
"Seriously, I'm sure you'll be able to survive."
"I need caffeine Joe."
"Whatever you say."

•••

"I still can't get over how big this place is." Joe was sat next to some of the celebrities in the front row as they watched the professionals rehearse.
"Neither mate" Graham agreed, "there's so much more ground to cover."
"Tell me about it. We've got to bloody leg it in our show dance!"
"I'll tell you what still awes me" Lauren said from the other side of Joe, "how good they all are." She gestured to the pros dancing. "I knew they were going to be good, they are pros, but I didn't realise just how good they would be."
"Neither." Joe watched in awe as Dianne started to dance with Graziano. "It sounds weird but I always forget how good Dianne actually is. Like, she had to dumb everything down massively for me so watching her properly dance is amazing."

•••

"Ready for your last rehearsal before show day?" Dianne asked as they laid next to each other in bed, having just woken up.
"Yes. I know all my dances-"
"Finally."
"And I can't wait to dance with you again."
"You've been dancing with me for like two weeks."
"You know what I mean." Dianne giggled and pulled herself on top of his body.
"I love you" she smiled, tilting her head to kiss Joe's lips.
"I love you more" Joe said as they broke apart.
"Oo, I don't think that's possible."
"Yes it is. Actually, considering you nick my chocolate all the time, no it's not. You definitely love me more." Dianne rolled off Joe in a fake strop.
"That's just mean." Joe laughed at her pouting lips before moving so he was sat on the tops of her legs, one leg either side of her.
"I'm joking silly." He transferred his weight into his hands more and leaned forward. "There is no way you love me more than I love you." He leaned further until his lips met Dianne's in a slow and passionate kiss. 
"We'll agree to disagree then."

"We are going to do a dress run. I need you all to act like it is an actual show please. This is our last chance to change anything so we need to see it done properly okay?"
"Yep" everyone involved in the show chorused.
"Good, we need to be ready to go for 3:30. Let's get going folks!" The producer moved away from the block of seats where everyone was sat and left them to get ready. They already had their hair and makeup done from the Strictly Live Tour press day so all they needed to do was change into their first costumes of the show.

In what seemed like no time at all, the very sweaty dancers made their way backstage after a near perfect dress run. There were a few hiccups along the way but nothing major; things that could easily be sorted out. Traipsing into the dressing rooms, the cast handed back their costumes for the team to organise and hang up ready for opening night. Some of the girls, the ones with more elaborate hairstyles or wigs, had to stay longer in hair. Not wanting to overwork their performers before the first show, the producers decided that they were done for the day and could go back to their hotels for a well-earned rest.

Once they were back into their normal clothes, Dianne, having not had any elaborate hair pieces sewn in or gripped, was free to go. She found Joe who was waiting in a little corner that had been set up opposite a tv screen that allowed everyone backstage to see what was going on, sat on a chair and seemingly nodding off. Walking over to him, she stroked over his hair with her hand to get his attention.
"Shall we head back?" She asked.
"Let's, I don't know about you but I'm knackered."
"Come on then." Dianne laughed as she pulled Joe from his chair. "You've got everything haven't you?"
"Yes mum."
Dianne pushed his chest gently, "cheeky. Let's go."