Rollercoaster [Motough Fanfic]

chapter 5

[A/N]: Don't worry, a light is coming. I really want to spend time with each of their thoughts and feelings because I'm not going to extend this fic too far after DWTS. I promise you there are cute moments to come, be patient! :) 

Derek breathed in a few deep breaths before taking the last three steps needed to be at the door of her trailer. “Bethany?” He called through the door. 

“Enter.” Bethany called back, and Derek swung open the door, standing in front of his partner, holding a small bouquet of flowers. Bethany scrunched her eyebrows together, “You got me flowers?” 

“Um yeah,” Derek dragged out his words, “I, uh, know you’re nervous about performing tonight, and about opening up and everything, so I wanted to bring you something to cheer you up.” 

Bethany smiled, taking the flowers from his hands, and took a moment to smell them. “I just love flowers. Thank you, Derek.” She set them down on the table next to her, and looked back up at him. 

Derek took a step toward her, grabbing her hand in his, “Bethany, I uh…” 

Bethany looked into his eyes, and then at ground because the moment became way too intense and she couldn’t take it anymore. 

“I, um,” Derek started again before being interrupted by a voice outside. 

“Bethany and Derek for dress.” 

Bethany let out an inaudible sigh, Saved by the Dancing With The Stars producers, she thought, again. 

. . . 

After Bethany and Derek ran through rumba on stage a few times, Bethany made her way over to Janel and Witney on one side, while Derek headed to Mark on the opposite side. 

“Did you tell her?” Mark pestered him. Derek knew he shouldn’t have told Mark about his feelings for Bethany, but it was eating away at him so much that he had to tell someone. Considering he lived with the guy, and could pretty much tell him anything, well, the rest was history.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Derek pointed to the three girls in the corner just across from them. Half of him was trying to dodge Mark’s question, but most of him was just really curious. 

“Dude. Quit drooling from afar, and tell her the truth.” Mark scolded him again, “Do it or I will, because we all know that I’m her switch up partner.” 

Derek glanced away from Bethany and glared at his friend. “You wouldn’t.” 

“Stop waiting, and tell her.” Mark had tone in his voice that let Derek know he wasn’t going to say it again. 

The stare down was come to a close when Sadie skipped over to the two male pros, “Ready, Mark?” She asked, considering they were up next for dress rehearsal. 

“Yeah,” Mark broke the eye contact with Derek to look at his partner, “but first, don’t you think Derek should tell Bethany his feelings for her.” 

“Heck yeah!” Sadie said excitedly. 

“Is nothing a secret?” Derek directed his question to Mark, but they were already walking towards the stage. 

“I would have figured it out eventually.” Sadie called back, and then turned back to her partner. “You know, Bethany was shocked to find out that Witney and I knew her feelings for Derek this morning, too.” 

Mark rolled his eyes. “They’re both so caught up in their own thoughts that they’re completely oblivious to the other. It could really hurt them.” Mark sighed before they began the first run through of their samba. 

. . . 

“Now we have Bethany and Derek dancing a rumba to her most memorable year,” Tom Bergeron announced on live television. He said something else to introduce them, but neither were completely paying attention. Their rehearsals package ended, and the music started. 

Bethany didn’t miss a single beat, and her footwork was flawless. However, the connection that was there during their practices that week was gone. Bethany chose to focus on the message of the dance since it was for her fans, but completely ignored the emotion they practiced.

At the end of the dance when she was writing “I Love Who I Am” in the air, a single tear fell onto her cheek. She squeezed her eyes shut, and the images of all she had accomplished in the past five years, flooded her mind. 

Derek grabbed her hand, and pulled her into a quick hug before they made their way to the judge’s table. It was simple friend hug, but honestly, that’s all she needed right now. 

Carrie Ann started off the round of comments by praising the message. “However, I hate to be this person right now, but I thought that some of the more intimate moments seemed a little forced, which is weird, because I’ve seen the chemistry before.” 

Derek and Bethany shifted uncomfortably in their positions as the comments carried on. They all mentioned something positive about her message, Julianne saying that she just told so many people what she wished she could have told herself, and Bruno applauding her footwork. Tom quickly sent the two up to the skybox for their scores, and for a quick interview with Erin. 

They ended up with all 8’s, which they agreed with. Carrie Ann was right, even if neither wanted to come forward with their feelings. 

The cameras panned off of them and they both headed to the railing. 

“You know,” Janel said in a whisper so only Bethany could hear, “the only thing fake about your chemistry is that you’re trying so hard, to not have chemistry.” 

“You could have been looking at all 10’s tonight if you just would have told her.” Mark crossed his arms, as he whispered his comments to Derek at the same time. 

“I know,” Bethany and Derek both sighed, but only to their friends.