Fight Song

Chapter 27

"Wait for real?!" Zoe gaped.

"Oh my god this is crazy!" I said, grinning massively. "My life is being absorbed by Strictly Come Dancing."

"Bro, next year we're gonna make Strictly," Neil said.

"We're sixteen," I rolled my eyes at him.

"Bro, some day we're gonna make Strictly," Neil corrected himself, and we all laughed.

———

Dianne's PoV
I woke up the next morning knowing in a few hours Joe would be leaving for the airport. He'd gone to the celebration party after the competition finished, but I'd been way too tired, so Katie and I had stayed in our room watching Disney movies eating popcorn. It was also a good way to get my mind off not seeing Joe again for a whole damn year. However, that night had gone, and I now only had a few hours with him until he left. We'd agreed to meet at 9am before they had to leave at 2pm, just so we got to spend as much time together as we could.

Joe: you ready?

Dianne: just walking down, the cafe right?

Joe: yes indeed, i just ordered us two ice caramel frappuccinos

Dianne: you truly do know the way to my heart

Joe: everyone can admit I'm perfect *hair toss*

Dianne: you don't have any hair to toss😂

Joe: *tosses imaginary long hair*

I laughed, putting my phone away as I walked into the cafe.

"Well hello there," Joe said, embracing me then kissing me softly.

"Hey," I smiled back.

"Our final hours," Joe said sadly.

"Don't put it like that," I frowned. "This isn't goodbye. It's just...see you later."

"See you later," Joe smiled and nodded, "I like that."

"Of course you do, I said it," I smiled and tossed my hair. "And I also have real hair to toss. Fully winning."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head, laughing. "I really love you, I hope you know that."

"I do," I smiled and held his hands across the table. We might've been in different team jackets, but we were the same team at heart. "I love you too."

We spent a while just sat there, drinking our frappuccinos and enjoying each other's company, talking about anything but leaving. It was going to be awful saying goodbye.

Just then, we got a message from Briar to our group chat. I hadn't heard from them for a while to be honest.

Briar: wassup my dudes, we need to meet before we all leave - when's everyone's flights?? Ours is 6pm and we're not leaving til 3, but my pal from America is leaving in like an hour so I wanna know when y'all are departing

Joe: My flight is at 5, but we're leaving the hotel at 2

Neil: Im also leaving at 2

Joe: we're on the same goddamned flight

Neil: separate seats, I also wanted to give my input

Joe: i spoke for both of us

Neil: i don't recall giving you permission to speak for me

Briar: aw i'm honestly gonna miss you guys so much

Neil: well obviously, i'm such a remarkable human and everyone misses me the moment they're not around me - Joe is current with Dianne away from me, but I bet he misses me