Thinking Out Loud

Chapter 4

"Week four baby!" Joe shouted as he walked into the kitchen on Saturday morning, the morning of the fourth live show, where Dianne was getting ready to leave for Elstree Studios.
"You are far too awake." Dianne sipped on her coffee and leaned against the counter. "Especially for a Saturday."
"I'm just happy, I'll get the majority of tomorrow with you."
"Cute." Joe kissed her cheek as he walked past to get himself a drink.
"I know I am."

"Hey babes!" Dianne dropped into the hair and makeup chair. "How's it going?"
"Not too bad, yourself?" Liv asked as she began to get the first products she would need out.
"I'm alright, girly things stressing me out but that's alright?"
"What... things?"
"Well," Dianne dropped her voice, "I came off birth control about three/four weeks ago so my body's just sorting itself out."
"Ah, any reason you uh... stopped taking it?"
"Liv, you best not be suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Liv giggled as she dipped her eyeshadow brush into the pan of colour and turned back to Dianne.
"No idea what you're on about. Eyes closed missy."
"I came off it for no other reason than it was making me ill," Dianne said as she shut her eyes, "no other reason. We're not ready, not yet."

Dianne sat in the girls changing room, stretched out on the sofa, earphones in, eyes closed. She didn't have a chance to think when she was on set; it was far too busy. They were rushed off here, there and everywhere constantly and she didn't get a minute to chill. As she laid on her own, Dianne thought about what Liv had said, or at least what she was implying. Dianne had told her they weren't ready but the more she thought about it, the more she found herself wishing for it to happen. They were engaged, but Dianne wanted to take it further. Joe meant the world to her and Dianne was beginning to feel ready to take their relationship that little bit further. But it was soon. They'd only been engaged for just over a month, together for just over a year, and it did all seem a bit too fast-moving.

"Dianne?" The Australians eyes flickered open to see a brunette leaning over her sleeping form. "We need to go and get ready."
"Okay," She slurred, sitting up slowly and holding a hand to her now-throbbing head.
"You feeling okay?" Amy asked, watching Dianne carefully.
"Yeh, just a bit tired that's all."
"You look... pale."
"It's fine, just my hormones sorting themselves out I think." Dianne began to stand up, any colour left in her face draining as the room blacked out for a second. Amy, seeing her best friend swaying, grabbed ahold of her shoulders to steady the red-head before she sat down heavily on the sofa.
"You aren't," Amy took a deep breath, "you aren't pregnant are you?" Dianne looked up and laughed.
"No, of course I'm not. I only came off birth control a few weeks ago and we haven't... well ya know what I mean, so no. There's no way."
"Okay, well I think you need a rest then. You're exhausted."
"I told you Aimes, it's just my hormones sorting themselves out."

"Bruno, who would you like to save and why?" Tess asked. Dianne and Tim, along with Oti and Brian stood next to each other, dramatic music playing quietly in the background as the audience waited for the result in an almost deafening silence. So far, Oti and Brian had two votes and if they got another one, it was game over for Dianne and Tim. Stood under the bright lights, cameras aimed at them from every angle, Dianne could feel herself losing her balance every now and then as she swayed slightly, tightening her grip onto Tim to steady herself. She knew they were out, but they had to wait for Bruno's vote which didn't seem to come for ages. When it did and Dianne and Tim became the third couple to leave the competition, the last bit of filming flew by and Dianne was grateful for it. She couldn't wait to get into bed and go to sleep. There was definitely something wrong with her and she couldn't work it out.

Dianne stepped out of the lift, into the corridor and walked to the end, pushing her key into the lock and unlocking the apartment door. She walked in, dumped her things in the hall and went through to find Joe sat up waiting for her by the tv. Joe, having heard the door open, looked up from his phone and put it on the sofa as he stood up to hug Dianne.
"Hi gorgeous," he said softly as he leaned in for a kiss.
"Hiya," Dianne said, her voice sounding defeated. "We got voted out."
"Aw no," Joe soothed. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm alright, I knew we weren't going to ge-"
"No, not about that. You don't look like yourself. You've been off all evening, I could see it when you didn't think the cameras were looking."
"I'm fine, I think I'm just over-tired, that's all."
"Well, let's get up to bed then and you can go to sleep."
"But I'm hungry," she moaned. "I haven't eaten in ages."
"Oh my days," Joe laughed. "Okay, plan of action. I'll make you some toast or something while you go and get ready for bed, I'll bring it up to you and you can eat it in bed whilst we watch something. Then you can go to sleep. Deal?" Joe held out his hand for Dianne to shake.
"Deal."

"Um excuse me, I uh I have some toast for um Dianne?" Joe poked his head round their bedroom door, a plate of toast in his hand. He'd put on a timid voice and was pretending to be a waiter.
"Thanks Joey," Dianne giggled from where she was laid on the bed, legs stretched out in front of her. Joe passed her the plate and climbed in next to her.

Dianne switched the lights off and settled into the pillows. On her left side, Joe was laid on his phone, messaging his friends.
"I want a cuddle," Dianne whined from beside him; she still felt poorly and it was the only cure, or so she told him.
"Fine." Joe messaged a good night into the chat before putting his phone away and holding out his arm for Dianne to roll into him.
"Good night Di."
"Night Joey."