One Moment In Time- Joanne Oneshots

2018

Elstree Studios

Neil Jones finished making his coffee and turned round carefully, making sure not to spill any of the liquid. He quietly took a sip and scanned the rest of the room. He didn't take in who was present but rather who was absent. Neil had had his suspicions about a certain redhead and Youtuber for about three weeks now. Nothing had been confirmed but, Neil mused, nothing had been denied either. With his coffee in tow, he walked over to Amy, Janette and Oti who were talking in a rather conspiratorial manner. 

"Good afternoon ladies," he said, sitting himself down on the white sofas. "What are you gossiping about?"

The three of them exchanged guilty looks. "We were just..." trailed Amy. 

"Talking about the Prime Minister," finished Janette. Oti and Amy shot her looks which clearly said 'are you for real?' while Neil guffawed with laughter. 

"Shh Neil," said Amy, barely managing to conceal her smile. 

"Okay," said Neil, still recovering form his mirth. "So, how long do you think Joe and Dianne have been a thing?"

Amy and Janette hesitated. Oti did not. "A month," she said with a completely straight face. 

"Oti!" gasped the other two girls. 

Neil shook his head. "No I reckon three weeks. Something changed when they did the waltz,"

"Dianne's normally very open about who she's going out with and now whenever we speak about it she's very careful. Almost like she's afraid of giving something away," said Janette and Amy nodded thoughtfully.

At that moment Dianne entered the room. Luckily, she was on the phone. The four of them breathed a sigh of relief that she probably wouldn't have heard what they'd been saying. Neil watched her very closely on the phone. She was grinning like a Cheshire cat and giggling away. Neil and the girls exchanged knowing glances before Dianne got off the call and came to join them. 

"How's Joe getting on this week Di?" Neil asked the redhead. 

Dianne grimaced. "We had tears on Wednesday, like actual tears. Samba just isn't his dance at all,"

"Oh bless him," said Amy comfortingly. "It's one of the hardest ones isn't it?"

Dianne nodded. "He came to the studio an hour early on Thursday so he could practise and get it right for me. I couldn't cope when I walked in and saw him doing the steps. He's just the cutest human being I've ever-" Dianne paused as she realised what she was saying. The other four people in the circle held their breath. 

"Anyway enough about Joe! Ames, Oti how are you guys getting on?" said Dianne in a determinedly bright and cheery voice. 

Neil sipped his coffee whilst he and Janette raised their eyebrows at each other. Dianne would tell them in her own time. 

//

Joe Sugg wandered around Elstree, a growing feeling of dread settling in his stomach. His dream of Blackpool was closer than ever before and he couldn't stop thinking about the disappointment that he would feel if he messed it up. 

"You alright mate?" It was Neil. He breathed in and out and allowed Neil to sit him down in the studio. They were near the back but could still see Oti and Graeme practising. 

"I just don't like this one," confessed Joe looking at his lap. 

"Sambas are notoriously difficult," agreed Neil. 

"It's been my dream to get to Blackpool for my nan and the rest of my family. But I want to get there even more now,"

Neil nodded his head. "It's a massive milestone to get there," he was keeping his words to short statements in the hope that Joe would open up more. 

"For Dianne, it would be such an achievement for her. I've wanted this for a few months but she's wanted to compete there for nearly all her life. I'm terrified that I won't be enough to get her there," 

Neil was shocked at Joe's sudden admission. He knew that the man suffered from nerves on a Friday camera block through but this was deeper. This was more personal. And the way that he had spoken about Dianne was proof of a stronger relationship between the two of them. 

"I think you should know that Dianne is already so proud of you no matter what happens," he began in a quiet voice. "She's having the time of her life and it's mostly down to you. I know that its scary and you want to do well for her. But you already make her so happy,"

Joe looked up at Neil's ending statement. "How did you-"

"I guessed," he said simply. "Mainly due to the change in Dianne. She wasn't sad before, far from it. But since she's been with you, it's like the sun's come out,"

Joe smiled gratefully and Neil clapped his back. 

//

"Hello," came a soft voice from the doorway. Joe looked up from his phone and smiled at the owner of the voice. 

"Hey," he said quietly. "Come in,"

Dianne left the door ajar before sitting herself next to Joe on the couch in his dressing room. 

"I can't believe we're through," he admitted. "We're going to Blackpool,"

"You made sure I could compete at the Blackpool Tower," whispered Dianne. "10 year old me is shaking in her dancing shoes,"

Joe laughed at her phrasing and placed an arm around her. She immediately snuggled into his side. The level of comfort that they had reached in just nine short weeks together was unlike anything the two of them had ever experienced. 

"I can't wait to tell my parents," said Dianne. 

"Me too," said Joe pressing a kiss to her forehead. 

"I also can't wait to tell them about this," she said, gesturing to the two of them. 

"I think Neil knows," confessed Joe. 

Dianne laughed quietly. "Yeah I heard him, Janette, Amy and Oti talking about us the other day. Neil even guessed the timing right. He said something about us changing at waltz week,"

"It's our own fault for being too obvious. I think the whole world can see how much I love you,"

Time appeared to stand still. Both figures in the room were absolutely frozen at Joe's words. Dianne turned in his arms and looked him in the face. And the moment she did, all the fear melted away. She had been petrified seconds earlier and as soon as she looked into his enchanting blue eyes, she came to the very obvious conclusion. She loved him too. 

"I love you more," she said. Joe's face lit up in the same way the sun would give light to the Earth and he captured Dianne's lips in a deep, romantic kiss. 

And from the doorway, feeling a bit like a stalker, Neil watched. And smiled. 

Author's Note- I will be so sad when I finish this, it's been so enjoyable to write. A form of escapism from the current troubling times. A big thank you to all of our NHS workers, paramedics, supermarket workers and everyone who is helping the fight against this virus. Know that your work doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated.