Behind The Camera

Chapter Thirty Six.

"Surprise!" Everyone shouted. What was going on? I look around the room and see everyone I love. I look at Tee who is smiling up at me. Did she plan this?. I walk around the room, everyone coming to my in groups, congratulating me on getting to the final, even though I didn't win. My mum and dad both pulling me into hugs. Starr and Elvie cheering as I walk around. I felt like this room of people meant more to me than how far I had got on a show. These people were the reason I was doing what I loved to do, they gave me reason to do what I wanted to do. As I stand talking to Theo and Isaac my eyes drift over to Tee who is stood talking to Jordan and Ashley. "go speak to her, its obvious you want to" Theo chuckles, I nod my head and walk over. "Can I steal you for a moment" I whisper in her ear, Jordan smirking at me.

Me and Tee walk into the reception of the Dance Studio, I just keep smiling at her. "I couldn't be here yesterday, I couldn't be there last night, but i'm here now" She breaths, smiling at me. I shake my head, pulling her into a hug. "Have I told you that I love you lately" I whisper. She giggles, making my heart skip beats. "I suppose you have, but there's still something" She whispers, pulling away. She leans up and places her lips on mine, igniting the feeling I had missed the last few days. "A kiss?" I ask, smiling down at her. "Nope, come on" She says. pulling me back into the studio.

When I walk in, the balloons have been cleared from the middle of the floor and are placed around the room, clearing a space. In the middle of the floor there's a chair. "Sit" She whispers. I look at her, shaking my head 'no' "Oh come on Pel, at least listen to what the girl has to say" Ash shouts, turning the music down. I shake my head and sit on the chair, much to my dismay that Tee has walked over to Starr and Elvie, chatting amongst themselves. "So, this morning I had a phone call from Tee, which never happens actually" Ashley chuckles, standing at the top of the circle that had gathered around me. "But she asked for a favor, now this isn't a favor, to me.. this is a family coming together to celebrate great accomplishments" He states. "This is a family that has been here for years" He starts, pointing to Jordan, to me, to Sam, to Mitch and so on. "But it's also about accepting new family members too" He smiles, walking over to Chess, acknowledging Naomi, smiling at Tee, making me smile. "It's about supporting peoples choices, supporting tough decisions and making everyone happy" He carries on. "So, when Tee rang this morning and said she wanted to do something different at a Dance Studio, I was a bit mind boggled. What else could you do in a dance studio?" Ashley chuckles to himself. I turn to face Tee who's smiling at me. "But, when she told me what she wanted to do, I couldn't say no" He smiles at me. "So, Tee I believe you have something you want to say" He says, as everyone around claps as Tee walks to where Ashley was previously stood. "Ashley you make public speaking look so easy" She chuckles, making me smile, she never was one for public speaking. "But I agree with every word you've said. You have all been so supportive of me and Perri, you've all played a part in making sure he didn't drive me insane, making sure that we was both keeping our mental states good when we first got together and people wasn't as supportive" She starts, looking down at the ground, making me want to stand up and hug her, shelter her from anything bad. "But, I don't dance" She chuckles, and there's a few 'boo's' around the room. She laughs. "But, I do know people who can" She chuckles as Starr and Nathan step forward, joining her at the top of the circle. "So, Perri, Pel, my Pel, I just want to say thank you for being you, but the only way I know how to do that isn't through dance, so these incredible guys here are going to help me do that" She smiles at me. "What are you going to do?" I ask, confusion flooding over my face. "You'll see" She chuckles as some music starts to play.

I watch as she takes a deep breath "Get it together, That's what I say to me, I put on the pressure, You could do better, Be who you're supposed to be" She starts singing her voice shaking from the nerves, Starr and Nathan dancing beside her, Tee doing simple moves. The smile on my face shone, i was so proud of her. I take a quick glance around the room, everyone else in awe of her. She was perfect. "But that's when you came in, Right when I needed you, said all of the things that I was believing, not one of them were true" She smiles at me, walking over to me, i don't know how i was still sat in the chair. She stands in front of me, still sat on the chair and sings to me, it was like it was just us two in the room, it was really like no one else mattered. "You lifted my head up" She sings to me, lifting my head up. "I was keeping my head down" She sings, placing hers on my shoulder. "I didn't know love, but i do now" She whispers in my ear.

The backing track comes on and as the beat drops everyone's dancing, Tee grabs my hands and pulls me up into the middle of the floor, dancing with me. I wrap my arms around her waist and dance with her, moving her hips to the music. She leans her head in my chest as we dance, i look around the room, everyone dancing together, i see Elvie and Danielle recording what was happening, i couldn't wait to watch it back. Tee was so special to me, and if i could let her know what she meant to me, i would a thousand times over.

The rest of the afternoon was spent within great company, eating cake, dancing like idiots with dance battles, and stealing kisses from Tee like my life depended on it.

"You've got a keeper there Pel" Ash says, coming down the stairs from his little studio. "Can i have a word?" He asks, looking around the room. I nod my head, following him upstairs. "What's up?" I ask, following him to his mixing desk. "About America" He whispers. I sigh and nod my head, i didn't want to go, but i knew it was a great opportunity. "What about it?" I ask. "There's two things i need to tell you" He starts, motioning for me to sit down opposite him, i didn't like how this conversation was going already. "So, you're still due to fly out in a few weeks" He whispers, looking at me, i nod my head, nothing that i didn't already know. "But they've extended the contract, you're going to be there for at least three months" He states, i open my mouth to object, no way was i staying away from Tee that long. "I'm letting Tee go with you if she wants to" He smiles. I look at him, my eyebrows raised. "I had my doubts, i'm not going to lie, seeing how she was a week ago with the hate, i didn't think you'd still be together, you can hate me for saying that, but today, looking at how in love you guys are, how much you care about each other, it reminded me of when i first met Chess, and look at us now, our second baby on the way. You're young Pel, but this is your life, if you want Tee to go i can sort that out" He smiles at me. I stand up and hug him. "Thank you" I whisper, instantly feeling emotional. "I'm going to go and tell her" I exclaim, running down the stairs as fast as i could, hearing Ashley chuckle as i stumble down the last few. I scan the room looking for the blue eyes i adored. I spot her dancing with Starr and Elvie. "Can i borrow you" I ask, taking Tee's hand. "Erm, where's the fire?" She chuckles as i drag her out in to the reception for the second time today. "You can come" I say, the words coming out too fast for her to understand. "I can come?" She chuckles, shaking her head. "come? what are you on about Pel?" She laughs. I shake my head. "You can come to America" I whisper. Her eyes go wide. "I can come to America with you?" She asks, repeating the worlds slowly like she didn't understand what i was saying, i nod my head. "Ashley's got to clear it but yeah, we can go together" I whisper, kissing her head. She doesn't say anything, but i guess she's just processing it all, it was great news, i wouldn't have to be away from her.

This really felt like the best day of my life.