35 Ways to Say 'I Love You' | Joanne (One Shot Series)

Glitterball (Gifts)

"Are you sure about doing a q&a?" Dianne asked as Joe flicked through the incredible amount of questions they had been sent. "It's not your usual thing. I mean, I know it was my idea and it's for my channel but..."

Joe looked up from his phone and smiled. "I was only funny about it in the beginning. Plus, if there's any questions we don't want to answer, we don't have to. That's the beauty of it being your own channel. You can do what you like. And you" Joe leaned forwards and planted a kiss on Dianne's head, "look gorgeous, by the way."

"Thanks" Dianne said with a grin. "You look very handsome yourself. Anyway, are you ready?"

Once the cameras were all set up, Dianne introduced the video and Joe began to read out some of the questions.

"Ooh! I like this one" Joe said. "What is your favourite part of each other's bodies?"

Dianne giggled. "I think you can probably guess mine."

"My willy?"

Dianne rolled her eyes and shoved Joe, laughing as he caught himself before he fell off the bed. "No, rude. It's not your willy. It's your eyes."

Joe blinked dramatically. "You always tell me how blue they are" he said. "It's cute. Anyway..."

"Go on," Dianne said, "what's your favourite bit of me?"

Joe grimaced. "It's going to sound really pervy, and it's not meant to, but it's your hands."

Dianne looked across at her boyfriend. "Why?"

"I don't know" he shrugged sheepishly, "I just... I like holding your hand. I like that you play with my hair and stuff. I... sorry, it's a stupid answer."

"It's not stupid, it's cute" Dianne said. "Although I'm disappointed that my baps didn't make number one. Please tell me they're in the top 5."

Joe chuckled. "Of course they are" he said, knowing the camera was capturing his flushing cheeks. "And your arse."

Dianne grinned. It was amazing to think how shy Joe had been about their relationship at the start. Now, saying things like that in front of a camera, it was clear just how comfortable he had become with her.

"Next question?" Dianne asked.

"Favourite takeaway."

"Do you know mine?" Dianne asked. "I don't know if you'll guess this right."

"Erm... well. You're a weirdo when it comes to food so it's hard to guess. Definitely not fast food like burgers or anything. Is... is it curry?"

Dianne shook her head. "No. I love curry, but it's not my favourite thing to order in. I've not actually found anywhere that does it here yet. But it's Vietnamese food."

"You'll have to take me for Vietnamese food when we're in Australia" Joe said with a smile, forgetting for a moment that they were on camera.

"I will. Anyway, what's yours? I know you love a cheeky Chinese. And pizza. But maybe yours is Nando's?"

Joe nodded. "Probably. If I'm ordering in as a treat, I'd usually go for Nando's."

"And I make you order extra spicy rice so I can have some" Dianne said. Joe smiled, before turning to roll his eyes at the camera.

"OK, next one. Oh, this is interesting. And I think we'll say we're talking about this house, OK? If the house was on fire and all of your loved ones were safe, what is one item you'd come back for?" Joe put his phone down. "I'm going to add an extra thing. Your phone and purse are already safe. So are any photographs you have. So it has to be something else."

Dianne took a moment to think. "Right, this is going to sound soppy and sentimental and, well, that's because it is. I genuinely think I'd come back for a glitterball."

"Really?" Joe asked, genuinely surprised. "Why?"

"Because" Dianne took a deep breath, "because it's a reminder of the most special year of my life. It's proof that, when we're together and working as a team, we can do anything. Well, except win the actual show but that's in the past."

Joe glanced up at the camera. "It doesn't sound like it."

Dianne shook her head. "It's just something that's really special to me. Something irreplaceable, I guess." She smiled as she felt Joe reach over and take her hand in his, resting it on his lap and squeezing gently. "It's special. I kind of wish I could take it everywhere."

///

From that day on, the glitterballs took on a new meaning for Joe. Every time he saw them in the corner of the room, he thought about what Dianne said. About what they represented. It wasn't just the fact that they had done so well dancing together, or even that they had fallen in love in the process. It was about them becoming a team. The idea that two relative strangers could meet and connect in such a way that they begin to believe that- together- they can do anything.

Joe had openly admitted that, before Dianne, he had never been in love. It had been overwhelming to experience those feelings for the first time, but it had made him appreciate Dianne even more when she had proven herself to be patient and understanding, letting their relationship develop at a pace he was comfortable with. The glitterball seemed to represent that entire journey, moving all the way from leaving the dance studio with a rapid pulse and a head full of questions to holding her in front of a crowd of thousands of supportive strangers who loved that they were together.

"I kind of wish I could take it everywhere." Joe knew exactly how Dianne felt. Sometimes, he would spend a few minutes just staring at the disco ball and thinking about everything it represented. There was, however, a way to take a reminder of their journey with her. Smiling to himself, Joe picked up his phone and called the one person he knew would be able to help him: his mum.

///

"Is it OK?" Tracey's voice rang out through the phone a few days later.

"It's perfect. Honestly, you're amazing." Joe looked up as he heard the lift doors open. "I think she's back. I'll talk to you later."

He managed to put the phone down just as Dianne walked into the apartment.

"You OK?" she asked. "Why are you sweating?"

Joe wiped his brow and smiled. "I don't know. You made me jump when you walked in. Maybe that's why."

"Alright" Dianne eyed her boyfriend suspiciously. "Anyway, who is cooking tonight?"

"I will," Joe said. "Although, can you take a look in the cupboard and see if we've got any rice? If not, I'll get some."

Dianne nodded and walked over to the cupboard. When she opened it, she noticed a grey box, tied with a white ribbon, sat on the shelf.

"Joseph..." she pulled it out and turned around. "What's this?"

Joe smiled and got up to walk towards her. "Why don't you open it and find out?"

Dianne pulled at the ribbon, setting it down on the counter before opening the box. Sat on a cushion of folded, glittery tissue paper sat a silver bracelet with a single bead on it- a tiny glitterball.

"Oh, Joe" Dianne said quietly.

"Do you like it?"

She looked up and smiled. "I love it. Come here." She reached forwards, hand gracing the back of Joe's head as she kissed his lips. "What was this for?"

Joe shrugged. "You said you wished you could take the glitterball with you everywhere. Until they invent a proper shrink ray like in the films, this was the best I could do."

Dianne had no words. Instead, she leaned in once more and captured her boyfriend's lips before resting her forehead against his.

"It's just a little portable reminder" Joe whispered tenderly, "that whatever we face, we're strongest together. You and me- we're a team. It's us against the world and I can't wait to see what the future brings."