Page 50 of Take the Lead
‘It looks like she’s not on anyone’s side,’ Aleksis frowns. ‘I don’t think this will undo all the other coverage we’ve had this week, though. It’s just a setback. I still think we can do this. We’re not going to let him win.’
He puts his arm round my shoulders for the walk to Channel 6, but when Olivia greets us in the lobby, she tells us we’re the first to arrive. So much for making a grand entrance.
Tammy turns up next and she’s so fired up about her performance today she can’t wait for the live show to get started. She doesn’t seem at all resentful about our coverage in the press, which is a relief, and her positivity is infectious, so we’re chatting away merrily when Merle and Emilia eventually stride into the room.
While Emilia completely ignores our little group, Merle looks straight at me and doesn’t look away until I break eye contact. It sends a little shiver through me. Why does he always look like he knows exactly what’s going throughmy mind? Like he knows something’s off with me and Aleksis, like he can tell how much effort it’s taking to keep my cool. I turn my gaze back to Aleksis and remind myself that even if he is faking our romance, I know he’s got my back.
Beth and Liam’s dance partners are the last to arrive. They’re no longer in the competition but theFOTDFbosses want to add a group performance starring all the professional dancers to the following week’s show, to fill in the time left by another couple being voted out.
Olivia kicks off the usual rounds of hair, make-up, costumes and dress rehearsals.This time, the waiting in between is made more bearable by the fact that Aleksis stays with me for most of the time, maintaining the pretence of our relationship. He persuades Olivia to send us to the costume department at the same time and we emerge in matching outfits – him in a sheer red shirt and me in a red sparkly corset, black trousers for him, black sequinned leggings for me.
‘Snap!’ he laughs, and we hold hands on the way back to the reception room.
Merle and Emilia don’t hide away in his private dressing room today and I catch him watching me more than once across the reception room. It feels like he’s trying to catch me out, but I know I’m just being paranoid. I do my best to ignore him, but when Olivia tells everyone it’s time to head to the studio for the live show, it’s a relief to be away from his questioning gaze.
‘Feeling okay?’ Aleksis checks. And I nod. If nothing else, we’ll surely be the most improved couple after lastweek’s salsa. He pulls me close and kisses the top of my head, I’m sure to reassure me. Instinctively I turn my face up to his and kiss him back, brushing my lips across his cheek. He doesn’t shy away. Filled with pre-show adrenaline, I think we both forget for a moment that our relationship isn’t real.
As Kimberley kicks off proceedings, Aleksis stays close beside me. I have to force myself to pay attention as she gives everyone a quick reminder of who’s left in the competition and how we all did on last week’s show.
I’m not thrilled to be reminded of Merle’s hypnotic bachata or my less than spectacular salsa, but at least they’re only short clips. Then Kimberley banters with the judges for a few minutes before inviting Tammy and Elijah to join her on the stage, to see how they’ve progressed since last week and how they enjoyed their night out watchingHamiltonat the theatre.
After their video clip has played, they get into position for their salsa. And Tammy is just brilliant. Their performance bags them a respectable 8.6 from the audience.
‘Now that’s how to dance the salsa,’ Kimberley gushes. ‘What an incredible start to the show. I can tell it’s going to be an electric night tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together once again for Tammy King and Elijah Gill!’
They exit the stage to a loud round of applause and we all clap Tammy on the back as she squeezes back in between us. She looks delighted. But with Merle and Emilia up next, I wonder how long for. I have no doubt they will raise the bar even higher, especially whenKimberley announces that tonight they’ll be dancing a raunchy rumba.
The clip of their rehearsals is all lingering looks and smouldering eyes and their night out is at a burlesque show, to really drive home what a sexy couple they are. Not that they need to. Emilia’s outfit this evening is half dress, half sequinned bikini and doesn’t leave much to the imagination. I reluctantly have to admit she looks incredible.
And it’s not hard to imagine the intimacy between her and Merle once they start dancing, as he bends her backwards with his hands on her waist till only their hips are still connected, then lifts her high up into the air before sliding her slowly back down the whole length of his body.
I brace myself for a flare of jealousy as it stirs up memories of my own passionate encounters with him. That used to be me. If things had turned out differently, that could still have been me. But although watching them transports me be back to our Kensington studio, to Merle undressing me, to what would follow, I find I no longer ache for it quite as intensely. Before I can delve into the reasons why, Olivia moves in next to me and Aleksis with her clipboard and whispers, ‘You two are up next.’
‘What? No!’ I hiss, as a roar erupts from the crowd, interspersed with whoops and wolf whistles, signalling the end of Merle and Emilia’s dance. ‘You said Theo was going to be after Emilia. We’re on after Theo,’ I remind Olivia.
‘I know, but Shane’s just changed the running order. Don’t ask me why, but he wants you to go next.’
‘We can’t!’ I desperately don’t want to dance straight after Emilia. ‘We, er, we …’
‘Don’t worry, the sound and lighting guys have been given a heads-up and your videos are all set up and ready to roll,’ she says. ‘Right, here come Merle and Emilia, you’re up, off you go!’
And as we run out to join Kimberley, Aleksis firmly gripping my hand in his, I realise I’ve missed both the judges’ comments and Merle and Emilia’s score, so I have no idea what we’re up against.
‘Oh, this is just adorable,’ Kimberley swoons, placing a hand on her heart as we watch the playback of Aleksis drawing his flowers on our studio mirror.
‘Love really is in the air here tonight, folks,’ she says to the audience as he puts his arm round me in our capsule on the London Eye.
‘After last week’s performance from Merle and Emilia we all know how steamy the bachata can be. Let’s see if the same sparks are flying for Kate and Aleksis as they bring us their own version of the bachata this evening. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Kate Wareing and Aleksis Lapsa!’
She backs away, leaving the two of us in the spotlight. Aleksis steps towards me and sweeps my arms up above my head then guides them gently down and round his shoulders.
‘We’ve got this,’ he whispers. Then our song starts playing and our dance begins.
It’s not like the salsa, where I could channel my nervous energy into the physical demands of the routine, so I take a deep breath to calm my nerves and pretend it’s just me and Aleksis in our own privatebubble, where nothing matters but him, me, the music and the choreography. It does help me relax, but I don’t know if I remember to smile.
We must deliver a convincing performance though, because the audience makes as much noise for us as they did for Merle and Emilia. The second our music stops, they’re clapping and cheering, and I turn round to see two of the judges are on their feet.
‘Sensational,’ Mariana declares.
