Joe and Dianne: Life away from you

30 minutes

Dianne's POV:

"Di!" Amy caught my attention with my name being bellowed from across the studio - "Will you please... for the love of god... put. the. camera. down!" Her words were harsh, and accentuated by the pauses between each word, highlighting to me just how much trouble I was in. I nodded and finished up what I was saying to the camera before putting it away with the rest of my stuff. 

Since meeting Joe, I had tried my hardest to get involved in his world; much like he had got involved with mine - in reality Joe and I came from almost opposite ends of the work spectrum, the only real similarity is that we both share a common goal - to entertain our audience. When he gave me his old camera, I promised myself to give this old vlogging malarkey a go - and much to my surprise - and to Amy's hatred - I was loving doing it, from creating content - to editing it in any spare time I found that I had.

"Thank fuck for that!" Amy rejoiced, throwing her hands up in praise, "now that Dianne is taking her ACTUAL job properly, what routine are we going to do next Patrice?" I knew that Amy could get like that when she was stressed, so taking her relatively bitchy comment on the chin - I went and stood next to Chloe and Pasquale, waiting to learn yet more choreography. Don't get me wrong; I love my job more than anything in the world, and I am nothing but professional when it comes to rehearsing and performing - I mean fucking hell, the way I hid my thoughts for Joe during the last season of Strictly proved that - but the child inside of me often comes out more when those around me are stressed out. It's my coping mechanism more than anything. Being up for a laugh and acting stupid keeps both my own and others spirits up, and I have found that life is so much easier if you go through it with a smile on your face... so that's what I do. After all, if I didn't live my life that way then I know I wouldn't be where I am today - I would be back in Australia, cutting peoples hair for a living - no dancing career, no championship title to my name, no big move to London, no tour and more importantly, no Joe.

...

"I think we should call it a day there guys, It's almost nine o'clock - we've over run by a couple of hours but that'll do us no harm - I'll see you all at eight tomorrow morning." As Patrick finished up today's training session, I wiped my brow removing the layer of sweat that had formed over the past hour or so, and headed over to my stuff - turning my phone on again, I found that I had a missed call and a voicemail from Joe - I ordered myself an Uber back home and finished gathering my stuff up before saying goodbye to everyone, and getting into the awaiting car once it showed up. Getting into the back I quickly went onto my contacts on my phone and began to listen to the mellifluous voice of my boyfriend.

"Hiya Di, I'm assuming that your phone is turned off for the day, and that you're right now working your arse off at what you do best. I know that you have much more important things to do all day then listen to me rabbit on for hours so I'll make this quick... Basically just wanted to make sure that everything is going well so far, I'm sure that it is because you are amazing at everything that you do, actually, amazing is an understatement because every time I see you dance I can only think of two things - firstly I can't believe how talented you are, and secondly I can't believe how lucky I am that I get to be with you. I know that you're smashing right now but I can't wait for you to get home, because whilst you are out there doing what you do best, I'm here walking around waiting for you to get home to me. Oh god, it's only been two days and already I've gone soppy - either way I can't wait for you to get back and tell me all about your day, I'll see you later"

I rested my phone back onto the empty seat next me, allowing a smile to come to my face as I thought about Joe's message. Admittedly, this is a side to Joe I never fully expected to see. The soppy and protective side of his character was seen by only a small handful of people, but the fact that I get to see it first hand almost everyday warms my heart and gives me the butterfly feeling in my stomach - Of course I love Joe's jokey and cheeky side but his sensitivity and care is what has made it so easy to fall for him, and fall hard.

Eventually I was back home, the car pulling up outside of our flat, I grabbed my bags - thanked the driver and hauled my aching muscles up into the lift and through the wooden door that seemed 10 times heavier than usual, much like my eyelids as my tired eyes were willing them to shut. It was well gone nine o'clock , bordering on 10 at night, but the moment that I walked through the door I was hit by the smell of dinner. I dropped my stuff and went into the kitchen to see Joe plating up two portions of dinner for us to eat.

"Have you not eaten already?" I questioned, certain of the fact that Joe would have already eaten without me given the time. He gave me a cute smile and opened his arms to me, embracing me in a warm and comforting hug - kissing the top of my head gently before leaning down to kiss my lips.

"Dianne - you leave at half seven in the morning so no matter what time it is you get back, we will always eat together. Even if it is only thirty minutes a day that I get to spend with you properly, then those are thirty minutes that I would wait decades for if I have to - because thirty minutes with you will undoubtedly be better than any amount of time with anyone else."

"Even with Mila Kunis?" I joked

"Even with Mila Kunis and all of her friends" He joked back with a deep grin on his face

I smiled at him deeply, his words were touching and meant more than life to me - suddenly feeling awake, as promised Joe and I sat down together, eating dinner, having conversation and laughing like there was no tomorrow. Knowing all to well that tomorrow would be the same.

But as I sat there next to my boyfriend, I realised he was right - 30 minutes with each other is all we needed to make any of the days stresses, pains and miseries go away - because when I'm with Joe, I have everything that I could ever need sat right next me...

and that is not the worst way to end the day... sat next to the man that I unashamedly am in love with.

A/N Hey people. So sorry that this wasn't the best chapter of my story - these first five or so parts have really been to set up the scene and everything, but don't worry because on Friday I will be uploading the next part, and that is when shit goes down!! Also thank you so much for 1k reads already that is amazing - I love you all and thank you sooo much. xx