Chapter 6
To Darcey, the dances had been a blur. She was just waiting for the one name she loved, but dreaded, to hear.
Darcey sat up straight as Joanne's name was called from the speaker and Craig noticed her shift in posture. He frowned.
Darcey didn't notice his slight confusion, nudging Len next to her, "what do you think their showdance will be like?" She asked him excitedly. Len paused a moment to consider: "fun but classy," he remarked loudly, before told to 'shh' by Bruno - the dance had just started.
Darcey gasped quietly as the music began and Joanne looked beautiful, perfect. She had almost forgotten about the incident earlier and how the blonde had practically screamed at her and how she'd promised to ignore Joanne for her family. But she was in awe of Joanne. She looked amazing and there was no point, Darcey decided, to deny that. She couldn't stop her emotions. 'Just a silly crush', that was what she had thought, but seeing Ore touch Joanne's hand wrought a pang of jealousy - Darcey wanted to be him. She sighed. 'Best to just concentrate on the damn dance!' She muttered inwardly. But oh! Joanne was brilliant! Darcey was left stunned at how the girl moved so effortlessly and how she even thought up these routines! And how she managed to look so beautiful!
'Shut up!' She told herself - but nothing she did could stop her from marvelling over Joanne at this moment.
The music's volume increased and Darcey sensed the dance was coming to an end. The lights seemed to explode - they brightened, illuminating Joanne and Ore in a somewhat victorious glow. Darcey smiled. Joanne was fantastic, they both were.
The applause was loud, insanely loud and even though it hurt her ears, Darcey smiled and she couldn't stop smiling.
Then they came over, and any praise Darcey gave them, she couldn't remember, all she was thinking about was Joanne; Joanne, Joanne, Joanne. She couldn't leave her, not even for her kids, for her own husband! For gods sake! - what had she been thinking? She couldn't leave Joanne, even if she'd wanted to. She just couldn't.
Finally, it was time for Joanne and Ore's second dance - the jive.
Admittedly, Darcey was really looking forward to this, and, judging by the nervous grins of the other judges, they were too.
"Do you think they'll mess it up?" Craig asked, deadpan, a few seconds before the dance was due to start. Bruno gasped, "how dare you say such a thing!"
"Well," Len murmured thoughtfully, "you never know."
"I'm sure they'll be fine," Darcey said with much more conviction than she actually felt.
All four of the judges were nervous wrecks - they had been since the very start of the finals, there was no point in pretending they weren't.
Joanne and Ore took their places on the dance floor. Joanne's heels seemed to echo loudly on the stage and Darcey inhaled. She knew the dance they were about to do - she knew how good it was.
The music started too quickly, Darcey had no time to steady herself for Joanne's first move although she knew it was coming.
Joanne flipped her hair, almost ducking down and sort of moving her hips, for a split second, against the stair rail. There was no other way to describe it really. And every time, it took Darcey's breath away. She felt the familiar pang of need, of lust and it was all for Joanne. She felt like running up onto the floor, grabbing Joanne's shoulders and screaming at her that she needed her and she loved her, but, Darcey reasoned absentmindedly, she would be sacked straight on the spot - not really the ideal way to go.
She watched as Joanne hitched her dress up, her legs stretched out, her dress a little too high for Darcey not to moan, receiving an elbow from Craig and a raised eyebrow from Len.
Darcey had to admit that Joanne really did look very sexy in that short dress. Saying everything to Joanne before had been such a mistake. What state had she been in to convince herself that she didn't, just for one second, need Joanne.
She frowned as the blonde walked off the dance floor - did she limp? Darcey lean't over the judges table, scrutinising Joanne's leg. Yes, definitely limping.
"Wasn't that simply fantastic!" Len gushed, touching Darcey's arm.
"Y-yes," Darcey replied, distracted, "lovely". Her gaze was still on Joanne as she could see the slight wince of pain printed plainly on the girl's face.
The other three judges were too busy blubbering over the dance to notice that Darcey had left them. She ran to Joanne, catching her before the girl entered the strictly changing rooms.
Darcey touched the blonde's arm lightly, and Joanne turned.
"Jo, I'm really sorry about what happened earlier, I know I was a total fool and an inconsiderate idiot."
"It's fine," Joanne muttered, brushing her off.
"That was a brilliant dance though Joanne; and let me grab a cool-block for your ankle."
Joanne's eyes widened, "it wasn't too obvious was it? The limping?"
"Oh no," Darcey hurried to reassure her, "I think only I noticed."
"Don't you need to be back on the panel?" Joanne enquired.
"No, we're having a quick break."
"Oh."
"Sit down Jo." Darcey almost commanded her, and the younger girl sat quite heavily down on a nearby chair. The older woman pressed the cool-block to Joanne's ankle and Darcey heard the sharp hiss of pain from her. She glanced upwards, seeing Joanne's features twisted in agony.
"I'm so so sorry about earlier Jo, I'm so sorry."
"Stop calling me 'Jo'", Joanne said harshly, before screaming in pain.
"Shh darling," Darcey comforted her, "I thought I shouldn't throw away my family, but then I realised, that YOU are my family, Jo, I'm so sorry, I've only ever wanted you."
Joanne slumped in the chair, a tear trickling from her eyes. "Darce, I love you; please don't do that to me again."
"I would never, Joanne, oh I would never."
Darcey rose to look Joanne in the eyes, she cupped her hand around the blonde's chin and smiled. "I love you so much darling, and you were amazing."
A flicker of a smile crossed Joanne's lips, the younger girl leant forwards, trying to gain closer contact with Darcey.
"What are you trying to do, Jo?" Darcey asked, feigning innocence and confusion. "You know," she continued, "for a second I would have thought you were trying to kiss me."
A frown darkened Joanne's features and she pouted, (rather adorably, Darcey thought).
Darcey traced a slim finger over Joanne's lips, eliciting a small moan. "Not now darling, let's get your foot better for later on."
Joanne sighed heavily, but made no further comment.
Darcey smirked; "there's a good girl."
"Where the bloody fuck is Darcey?" Craig growled, pacing impatiently. Bruno sighed dreamily, "I do love it when you're irritated Craig, you look so dominant."
"Oh I'll show you what damn dominance is in a bit!" Craig almost yelled at him.
"I'd like that," Bruno replied coyly.
Craig was annoyed, to say the least.
The show was about to re-start in a few minutes and Darcey was nowhere to be seen, Bruno was mocking him with sexual innuendos and Len was just sitting passively - probably being the most aggravating to Craig. Why wouldn't the man just damn move?! He liked Len, of course, but sometimes he was just so -
Craig's thoughts were cut-off sharply but the return of a slim figure - Darcey Bussell.
"And just where the hell do you think you've been?" Craig hissed.
Just as Darcey was about to reply, the countdown started, the far too familiar countdown. The countdown that filled the contestants with dread and thrill. The countdown that really pissed the hell out of Craig.
"Fuck damnit!" He muttered as Darcey swiftly took her place next to him.
"Five, four, three, two, one, zero!"
They were live - again. And this time, there was going to be a winner.