"Mama! Mama! Look at me, I'm a ballerina!"
Emelia twirled around the living room, arms in a fifth position. Dianne just chuckled, slapping her knees and getting up. Impromptu performances of Emelia's were one of Diannes favourite things, and would never get tired of them, even if it meant knowing the hairspray sound track inside and out, or being haunted by the phrase "sugar, butter, flour."
"You are. A very cute little ballerina, you could be the next Darcey Bussell!" Emelia shrugged and crawled onto the sofa next to her mum, cuddling into her side.
"Maybe, or Shirley. I like Shirley, she's very nice, she's my favourite I think." Emelia had met the judges last year at the final, and a few times throughout the year. Emelia was no stranger to Strictly, having been a few times in her life, but it was in Dianne's best interest to make sure she wasn't swarmed by the media.
"Me too, she's a very nice lady, just don't let the other judges hear you say that." Emelia let out a little laugh.
"I won't. Mama?"
"Yes my gorgeous girl?"
"Can I come to Strictly sometime, I really want to meet all the famous people. Please?" Emelia looked up to Dianne, giving her puppy dog eyes and pouting her bottom lip out slightly.
"Probably. Maybe the final, and you could come with me to Blackpool too, if I get that far." Emelia got excited.
"You will, you're a very good dancer." Emelia sat up to kiss Dianne's cheek, making Dianne feel all mushy inside, she was a very cute little girl indeed. "And I really really want to go!"
"We will have to wait and see, and me too, I've always wanted to go." Dianne smiled softly, remembering all the times she had wished to go, seeing the shores and the British seaside, especially the infamous tower ballroom, how grand and fascinating it seemed. "Why don't you do a drawing of blackpool?"
Emelia shook her head. "Maybe later, I'm tired." She yawned as she said this, the clock reading eight o clock, placed delicately on one wall along with photos and other small things that could be hung up.
"You sound tired, early night?" Emelia nodded, Dianne relieved in a sense, opportunities like this never really came around, Emelia usually hyper and excitable, having the potential to stay energetic until ten, although she never had apart from New Year's Eve.
"Okay, why don't you pick out a nightie and I'll run a bath, that sound good angel?"
"Yes mama."
///
"Mama, when are you going back to doing your dancing, at Strictly?" Dianne had just tucked her into bed, and was now crouched down beside her, level with her. Emelia was already falling asleep, shattered from the day.
"Not until next week angel, is there anything you'd like to do between now and then?"
Emelia took a moment to think. "Hmm, maybe we could go to see Buckingham palace? I've always wanted to go there."
"I'm sure we can. Alright, I think it's time you went to sleep." Emelia nodded, starting to close her eyes and go into dreamland, smiling as she did. Dianne watched her for a few moments, savouring the moment. Emelia had freckles which were dotted on her cheeks, making her all the more adorable as they rested a rosy shade.
She stood up, tip toeing to the door before shutting it slowly, sighing to herself contently. The door clicked shut, and with that she sat on the sofa, watching a documentary for half an hour before going to bed, having an early night herself.
She laid in bed, on the phone to one of her closest friends on the show, Janette. Janette was one of those people that didn't judge people, and gave everyone a fighting chance, which Dianne was very thankful for. She had gone into Strictly with a child: things were hard enough with scheduling, she didn't need negavity swarming her at the same time, and thankfully it wasn't as everyone at Strictly was accepting, and also took interest in Emelia, which Dianne was relieved by.
"How's Alijaz?"
"Really good. He's been feeling a bit ill though, but he's made out of strong stuff. Anyway, how is Emelia, she's going into year one isn't she?"
Dianne sighed, wishing her baby girl would stay her baby girl a little longer. "Yeah. She's growing up too fast, I want her to be tiny again." Janette cooed.
"They all do Di. One minute they're newborns and the next they're teenagers, but that's just life I guess. She's doing well though, she is."
"Thank you, I just hope she's okay with me being on Strictly, sometimes...sometimes I feel like I don't see enough of her, but it's all I can do." Dianne had a hard job, there was no denying that. She just hoped that the little girl would understand.
"You're doing fine Di, she knows that things aren't all smooth sailing. Plus, wouldn't she like to go to the Strictly final? I think that can be arranged." Dianne smiled, the light back in her eyes.
"I bloody hope so, I really want her to see me there, even if I'm not a finalist, to see what I do all this time. But yeah, I'm going to try and put a word in."
"I get it, I'm not a parent but I know other parents like you, with tough jobs. But I think she does get it, and she loves you just the same. You're a great mum Di."
Dianne shuffled down. "Thank you Janette. That's really helped, and I think I might go to sleep, it's been a long day."
"Alright, I'll see you later. And say hi to Em for me won't you?"
"Course, she loves her auntie Janette."
///
"Can you believe it, I'm actually going on Strictly Come Dancing." Joe chuckled, editing his latest video, a vlog which had taken longer than expected to edit, much to his discontent. Byron was also in the room, browsing through his phone on the sofa beside him.
"I know, but it's going to be great, then you can teach us all to dance too, for the next wedding." Joe laughed, imagining himself trying to teach the boys to waltz, an amusing thought.
"Oh that would be brilliant, but I'm not sure if they'd agree to it, plus I wouldn't exactly be qualified either."
"True true. But hey, you'll still learn to dance. Do you know which ones you'll look forward to the most?" Joe hadn't really thought about this question in detail, not having really done any research into the matter; but from what people had told him, he was looking more forward to the ballroom dances than the Latin ones.
Joe took a moment to think before answering. "Probably the quickstep, it's so like, elegant, and decadent, you know. Plus the outfit looks well cool, dress robes and stuff."
"Oh yeah, speaking of outfits, you ready for all the sparkles and glitter?" This was a big thing in Strictly: the glitz, the glam and the everlasting sparkle that seemed to be sprinkled like confetti everywhere, intriguing all that graced the ballroom, never having seen so much sparkle in their lives.
"Suppose I better be. And this video is taking way longer than expected." Joe tapped agreesively at the mouse, already having been tied to the sofa for two hours, one hour longer than usual.
"Oh god, but I mean you haven't got much left so it won't be long now. Fancy a drink?" Joe nodded. Editing videos had turned out to be thirsty work, particularly this one. Byron got up, taking out two cans of Coke Zero.
"Thanks mate."
Around two hours later the two boys were sat at the kitchen counter, joined by Emily, Byron's girlfriend. They had been dating for a while, and seemed serious. Joe had seen how happy Byron was, and hoped that one day a girl could do the same for him. He hoped.
"Have you ever danced?" Emily shook her head assured at Byron. "I reckon you'd be alright you know." The couple exchanged a sweet glance, love in their eyes. Joe had noticed the look in Byron's eyes, one that made Emily feel warm inside, the corners creasing slightly and pupils dialating; they always say the pupils grow at the sight of something you love. The corners of his mouth had curled up into a small smile.
It's funny how one look can give so much away.
"Nah, I'll leave it to Joe to show us how it's done." Joe chuckled at her comment, rolling his eyes. His eyebrows also raised, feeling as though he was now the dancer of the group, which in a way he was.
"No pressure then, and I swear I've got two left feet."
Emily had come and gone, dinner had been eaten and soon enough Joe was sat on the edge of his bed in his boxers, running a hand through his hair and thinking over the months ahead, how things would be. They would be hectic, and tiring, that was for certain. But they would also be amazing, and hopefully the best few months of his life.
"Phone: on silent. We don't need any rude awakenings now do we." He sighed to himself, his voice a low murmur before he laid down.
He sighed, feeling his head hit the puffy pillow which was a crisp white shade, scented with fresh linen having been washed that day and left to hang dry. The duvet felt slightly cold against his skin, having been folded facing the ceiling for so long. The room was pitch black, his eyes closing slowly and his mouth slightly parted, air passing in and out through his lips in steady passages.
Silence filled his room, the sound of his heart in his head the only thing audible. He rolled over to his other side, feeling the mattress cover underneath his fingertips. As comfortable as it was, Joe couldn't help but be reminded of the dampened reality that made his nights so very much bittersweet.
He was alone, and part of him wished he wasn't. Although he hadn't had the time for relationships in the past, he couldn't help but wonder if he was ever going to be in one, having been single for so long, seeing everyone around him fall in love and change for the better. He sighed in his sleep after a few moments of dwelling on the dampened thought, knowing that when the time was right, she would come.
When that was, he didn't know. But he had hope, and that's what mattered.