Joe and Dianne: Life away from you

It's okay to be apart

Dianne's POV:

It was 5:30 by the time I found myself fiddling with the key inside my front door. The heavy bag on my arm weighing me down, the blisters on my feet coming back already even after only one full training day, and the wisps of out of control red hair that I could see hanging around my eyes, almost definitely creating one hell of a picture to anyone who saw me.

As the door finally unlocked, I found myself in a sate of complete and utter silence. With no lights on, no background hum of life coming from any room, and nothing but an unwelcome chill that escaped through the empty, lifeless apartment, welcoming me home.

Shrugging it off however, I walked inside. Ensuring to turn on all the lights and the heating before taking off my shoes and flopping onto the soft sofa cushions. I sat there for a few moments, taking in the unsettled silence around me, allowing my thoughts to wash over my tired brain.

Today with Dev had been more successful than I could have ever dreamed of. He was such a nice guy, his natural talent was an abundant source, and we got on incredibly well. The Foxtrot was by no means an easy dance to learn. In fact, when it comes to the world of Ballroom dancing, it was the toughest one going. But somehow, after only 8 hours, Dev had managed to pick up the incredibly difficult techniques with ease. But it just wasn't the same.

Last year with Joe, our first day had gone a little differently. Sure, he gave it his all on that first day, but it was clear that this was not a natural thing for Mr Joseph Sugg. In fact, I distinctly remember coming home that first day in a state of mild panic that my second year on Strictly might be as unsuccessful as my first. But that panic was dulled by a heap full of inside jokes, memories and loads of other little things that Joe and I got from that first training session.

I still remember sitting in silence on my old sofa, in my old apartment on the other side of London, laughing at the stupid jokes he had told me hours before. Thinking about him, and feeling guilty knowing that I shouldn't have been. Feeling the same butterflies that I had when I first met Anthony. Feeling... Knowing that the rest of that season of Strictly would be special.

//

"What are you smiling at there miss Buswell?" I found myself being ripped out of my trance as my roommate Katie walked out of her bedroom and into the living room.

"Huh?" I questioned.

Hearing her chuckle slightly, I gave her a confused look as she poured the two of us a glass of wine. "I asked what you were smiling at, then I saw that you were looking on a certain YouTubers channel and I filled in the blanks."

Turning my phone off and shoving it into the pocket of my hoodie, I turned away from Katie so that she wouldn't be able to see the obvious blush rising up my neck. Feeling utterly embarrassed that she had caught me red handed. "Didn't get to spend enough time with him today then Di?" She questioned giving me a knowing glance.

"Shut up Kate." I retorted back quietly. Once again failing to hide the smile that spread across my lips.

"So how is he then?"

"Eh.. Well..." Struggling to get my words out, I looked up to Katie as she sat across from me on our sofa.

"That bad then huh?" She said with a concerned look.

"No not THAT bad... But not fantastic as of yet." I confessed as I looked down sheepishly at the glass in my hand.

"What?" Katie questioned accusatory, as she stretched out her leg to poke my knee with her toe. "Spill it Buzz."