A Siblings Advice

Love: Buzz, did I read it wrong?

Dianne's  POV:

Semi-finals! Oh my GOD we have made it to the semi-finals of strictly come dancing 2018. As he bustles into the studio, armed with two coffees and two breakfasts, I can't help but grin at him- that's my dance partner turned...boyfriend I guess? It's the little things, like bringing me breakfast to training, knowing my coffee order and always approaching our training each week with such a great attitude and willingness to learn, it never gets old. " Soooo, you gonna tell me what we are dancing to this week?" Joe asks, wandering over to wrap me in a tight hug before we establish that student-teacher relationship again during our working hours. Savouring the moment, I press a kiss against his ever-so attractive neck, settling for this little display of affection to get me through the next twelve hours of training before we head back to his, where we can just be us again. Stepping back, I glance at him excitedly, " This week... we are doing....an Argentine tango AND the Viennese waltz! Both very romantic dances so it'll be interesting." I wink, moving away from him as he stretches and I begin to get the music set up, continuing to explain the differences in dance and technique for this week, determined to do well and hopefully make it to the final!

Imagine!

Finalists!

Halfway through the day, Joe seems to have hit a brick wall, after doing so well all morning! He just cannot grasp the footwork or the technique associated with the tango and it is stressing me out. "Come ON JOE! You can do this! I have seen you do this before and you have never struggled. No, No, NO LEFT FOOT PLEASE JOSEPH LEFT!" Pausing the music, I storm away from him before I say something I know I will regret later. Just because i'm a redhead, doesn't mean I let my temper rule my heart. "Di?" He calls softly after me, one arm extended, almost like he is reaching for me. "Can we switch and do the Waltz for a bit? I just can't get my head to work with my feet in this tango right now, maybe a waltz break and coming back at it with fresh eyes, will do the world of good. A good few runs of This Years Love might just clear my head." He pleads, his eyes sparkling with what I assume are unshed tears and in this moment, I just want to walk over to him cuddle him and tell him that it will all be alright.

But I can't.

I have to stay in teacher mode or nothing will get done so offering him a confident smile, I rush over and set the sound system up to play This Years Love...an accurate song for us to be performing to at least. Smirking to myself, I get into position and allow Joseph to lead me through the dance, definitely more successfully than our tango had been but still lacking in the necessary technique. In the following run throughs, Joe stumbles over the same section time and time again and I can feel the frustration in both of us building to a climax. Stumbling once more, my temper goes. " Joseph Sugg! If you don't get this section right, then this years love wont last at all between us. So help me GOD! I love you, but I KNOW you can bloody do it!" I shout, pushing his arms off me and leaving our ballroom hold, slapping his chest in anger.

And then I realise.

I had just told Joe I was in love with him...we hadn't said the L word yet...this was new for us. I mean, I know I am in love with him, I just hadn't told him and this was definitely NOT the way I had intended to tell him either. I know he has never been in love before and that it was a big deal for him...and I ruined our chance with that. Well done Dianne! Suddenly my brain kicks into gear again, just in time to see him run out of the studio door.

Well fucking done!

Semi's week is going to be the death of me I swear.

Overcome with emotion, I know there is only one person who can help me right now, one guy who can explain this reasonably to me.

Sighing deeply, I call my brother.

Andrew's POV:

" Alright our Dotty! How's it going little sis! Semi-finalist of strictly come dancing 2018 with that fabulous boyfriend of yours? Dot? Dianne? Are you there?" my chirpy tone all but disappears when I hear the sobs coming from the other end of the phone. "Dianne love? Take a breath okay? What's going on sweetheart? Has he hurt you? I'll kill him if he has? Dot come on, talk to me or i'm on the next flight to London." I plead, waiting for her breathing to calm down...the thought of her crying alone, in a dance studio 14665km away absolutely kills me because i'd do anything to be able to cuddle her right now. Hearing your baby sister upset is never easy, I've always felt protective of her to an extent, even when we were dancing competitively together; they could say what they wanted about me but don't even look at her the wrong way..?

"I fucked up Buzz! I've ruined it all...our relationship, our friendship, our competition, I've ruined it all!" She cries frantically, clearly not being able to rationally deal with the emotions she's feeling. Composing myself for what I know is going to be a tough conversation, I begin my questioning. "Dianne! Slow down! You haven't ruined anything at all. Now I'm assuming this is an issue between you and Joe and I need you to be honest with me, can you do that?"

Sniffling softly, she whispers a response and I begin again. "Now Dot, I don't want to jump to conclusions but what you're saying, that you've ruined it all...makes it sound like you've done something wrong. Have you..." drawing a breath, not quite sure why I'm about to say what I'm going to say... "did you cheat on him Di? Is that what you're telling me?" I ask gently, trying my best to not hurt her already fragile feelings. "Andrew! Of course I didn't!" She half yells, shocked at my assumption but I'm relieved to hear that if I'm honest. "Okay good. Not that I think you ever would but it sounded...never mind, so what's happened then to make you think that you've ruined it?" I can hear her gulp for breath, rapidly trying to calm herself down before recounting the story of what happened in training today.

"Buzz...did I read it wrong? Is he not interested in me? Just using me to pass time until strictly is over? I just don't understand why he ran Andrew." She sighs, having finally gotten her breathing in hand. I can just see her in my minds eye, curled up in a ball, on the floor of a studio, with her head in her hands. I'd do anything in my power to be close enough to go and pick her up...but I can't.

Choosing my words carefully, I ask her to think about Joe, about his past and his track history with girls. I've spoke to him a few times and he seems like a lovely guy, very warm and genuine but everyone has their ghosts and maybe this is one of his. " Can you think of any other, less serious reason as to why he ran off? Is there something else in your words that might have set him off? Think Dot." I encourage, glad to have her more collected again.
And then it hits her.

"He's never been in love before. He's never had a serious girlfriend before either. Oh god Andrew I SCARED him! I was so angry with him too before I blurted out that I love him! Oh he doesn't deal with emotions too well yet, he's not used to having to deal with my emotions too. Oh bless his soul! Oh I have put us in a right mess. STUPID Di!" She rambles, frantically scrabbling round the room she was in. "Okay Buzz! Thank you, love you! I'm going to go find him, buy him some food and coffee as a peace offering and we are going to talk about this like adults. I love him and that's good enough for me. Sorry for this! Love you! Can't wait to see you when I'm back but I gotta go! Bye Buzz!"

And with that, my scatter brained sister hangs up, leaving me with a daft grin on my face. I don't say it often but I'm proud of her, making her own life in London and fighting for what she loves.

Annnnd I can't wait to interrogate her when she's home!