Rollercoaster [Motough Fanfic]

chapter 6

“So do you have any tips for me so I don’t get catch feelings for Bethany this week?” Mark joked, as the two male pros waited around before it was time to meet their partners for the week. 

“Very funny.” Derek rolled his eyes. “In all serious though, the choreography you designed is sick, and I have no doubt that she will be able to learn all the steps in a week. But, she needs to work on her overall performance and learn how to really sell a dance, so put most of your energy in doing that.” 

Mark nodded, “I’m sure I’ll be able to get it out of her.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Derek asked, not hiding his growing concern very well. 

Mark just shrugged his shoulders, leaving a burning hole of curiosity in his best friend’s head. “And, for Sadie, just keep it light, and have fun. Don’t get too serious on her and limit all yelling and scolding, it doesn’t work on her.” 

“Thanks for the tip.” Derek nodded. 

When Mark left the room, Derek couldn’t help but think about all the things Mark would say to Bethany about him, and how she would react. He lost himself in his thoughts until they were interrupted by a cheerful, southern accent. “Derek!” Sadie said excitedly, “you know, I was really nervous about the switch up, but I’m glad you’ll be my partner.” 

Derek smiled. “Hey, Sadie,” he said, lifting her up in their hug. 

 . . . 

“It looks like Sadie and Derek have arrived in Louisiana.” Bethany squealed when she checked her phone on a water break, clicking on the FaceTime icon next to her name. “want to FaceTime them?” 

“I guess we can stop dancing for the Sadsters,” Mark said, coming into the camera view on Bethany’s phone. 

“Aw, thanks Mark.” Sadie smiled. 

“How long have you guys been there?” Bethany asked. 

“Like an hour, I’ve missed this place so much,” Sadie admits. “I miss y’all this week, too, though.” 

“I miss you, too.” Mark smiled back at her.

Bethany faked a disgusted look at their sentiment. “Is Derek with you?” 

“Are you asking because you want to be all sentimental with him now after you saw how it easy was?” Mark said, barely managing to keep a straight face. 

Bethany took no time to elbow Mark in the side, “Stop that.” 

“Yeah, be reasonable, Mark.” Sadie piped up on the phone screen, “we all know the chances of that happening are zero to none.” Sadie and Mark laughed at their own jokes while Bethany just rolled her eyes. 

Truth was, Bethany was finally comfortable coming to terms with her feelings, and the idea that they might not be one-sided as she previously thought. Especially after she saw how ignoring the obvious, said feelings was only going to negatively affect them in the competition. However, she was not appreciating the jokes when the question was still unanswered, and while they waited for one of them to tell the other how they felt. And, Bethany knew for damn sure she wasn’t going to go first. 

“Where is Derek anyway?” Mark asked, breaking Bethany from her thoughts. 

“He’s shooting. Well attempting to, anyway, he’s actually really bad.” Sadie laughed, flipping the view to show Derek. 

Bethany, Sadie, and Mark died of laughter at Derek. “Derek, come over here and say hi.” Sadie yelled to him in between laughs. 

Derek throws his hands up in surrender as he jogs his way over to Sadie. 

“Dude, you’re like, really bad at that.” Mark said, not quitting his laughs any time soon. 

Derek glared at his friend, “Thanks, I know.” Derek turned his expression to Bethany, not hiding a smile, “How are you? I’m so sorry you got Mark as your partner.” They both laughed, holding onto each other’s gaze for a little longer than normal. 

Sadie and Mark side-eyed their switch up partner and then looked at each other. “So, Beth,” Mark started, breaking up their moment, “how do you feel about a stage kiss?” 

Derek shook his head in confusion, coming back to reality. “Stage kiss? You didn’t mention that this morning.” 

“Just thought of it.” Mark smirked, “but if either of you have a problem with it, let me know and I’ll take it out the choreography.” 

Derek opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it when he realized he didn’t know what to say. 

Instead, Bethany was the one to speak up about it. “I think we should do it. Yeah, I think it’ll add some comic relief to an otherwise stressful show.” 

Bethany raised an eyebrow, and Mark, Sadie, and Derek had a very hard time trying to control their shocked expressions. No one was expecting that. 

“Um, yeah, okay.” Mark said, not quite sure what this was all about.

“I’m going to go shoot something.” Derek excused himself, leaving the frame.

“Well, I better get going, too,” Sadie said in her cheerful voice, “I’ll call you tonight.” 

Bethany and Mark waved goodbye to Sadie as the call ended. 

“Are you sure about this? We really don’t have to…” Mark double checked with his partner once they were alone. Maybe she was just making a scene like he was. 

“To see some sort of reaction out of Derek?” Bethany said, but more like a question. “Absolutely.” 

. . . 

“Do you really think they’re going to kiss?” Derek asked Sadie while sitting on the ground of their practice room. “Do you think they’re going to practice this kiss?” Derek’s voice grew more and more horrified. “Do you think they’re kissing right now?” Derek got up from his place on the ground, and started pacing around the room, not being able to be calm his mind wandered. 

Sadie shifted her weight onto one foot and crossed her arms, “Maybe you should stop whining, and tell her how you feel.”

“Tell her how I feel? Tell her how I feel!” Derek shouted, “yes I should do that. I should call her tonight.” 

“Good.” Sadie faked the extra sweetness in her voice to hide the annoyance that had built inside of her. “Now, can we please go back to our dance?” 

Derek laughed, and the two began work on their Charleston.