Page 14 of The Dance Deception
‘But Merle’s not going to let you do anything stupid,’ Lucy reassures me. ‘So you don’t need to worry. I think you’re going to blow everyone away. I can’t bloody wait to see you up there doing your thing.’
‘Rachel’s not coming either,’ I tell her.
‘What, again?’ Lucy frowns. It’s not the first time Rachel has let me down. ‘What’s it this time? Her job again?’
I nod sullenly.
‘Well, I’m sure Aiden will step in if you want him to,’ she suggests. And there’s such hope in her voice that I tell him he’d be welcome. Not least because it saves me trying to find someone else at the eleventh hour – the last thing I need right now.
‘So you are going!’ Lucy claps her hands triumphantly. ‘I knew you’d see sense. Tell you what, I’ll jump on the Tube with you when you’re ready to go. We’ve got no plans today till we come down for the show later.’
‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘I want to make sure you get there. I’ve put a bet on you to go through to the next round so I don’t want you to bottle out en route,’ she laughs.
‘Lucy!’ I put my head in my hands. ‘Like I need any more pressure.’
‘I’ve got faith in you.’ She gives my arm an encouraging squeeze. ‘You’re going to smash it.’
I’m glad one of us is so sure.
My palms sweat for the whole Tube journey and my anxiety is off the scale by the time we arrive in Channel 6’s sunlit atrium. The thought of seeing Merle is making me just as jumpy as our imminent performance. How will he act? How will I? Will he just play it cool like he did in front of the camera crew?
I’m greeted by an enthusiastic girl with a clipboard, who ‘can’t wait to take me through to where the rest of the dancers are having a morning coffee before things get exciting’.
‘Good luck,’ Lucy calls after me, but my confidence dissolves even further as she waves goodbye. I was crazy to think I could pull this off. I’m not a dancer or a TV star. I’m just Kate who works in admin. I don’t know why I let Lucy talk me into it. I should never have agreed to take part.
My heart races as I follow Clipboard Girl through a maze of corridors, recognising parts of it from my first visit here to meet Shane. But instead of heading to his office, she leads me to a reception room lined with red velvet seating, where a few small groups of people aresitting chatting. I can barely take it all in as she ushers me into the room and tells me to make myself at home, pointing out the drinks machine and telling me to help myself to refreshments.
It’s a relief when I realise two of the people chatting in a corner are Tammy and Liam. Seeing their familiar faces briefly makes everything feel a fraction less terrifying. I can’t wait to get over there and talk to them.
Clipboard Girl explains where I can find the toilets and the fire exits and tells me she’ll be back when the last few people have arrived. I practically sprint across the room to Liam and Tammy as soon as she’s gone.
‘I think I’m having a panic attack,’ I announce by way of greeting. ‘I’m hyperventilating.’
‘Whoa, girl, take a breath,’ Tammy says. ‘It is mad finally being here, isn’t it? I think we’re all feeling the pressure.’
‘I brought some Dutch courage with me,’ Liam confesses, showing us the hip flask in the top of his rucksack.
‘Liam!’ Tammy exclaims. ‘You can’t get pissed before you go on TV.’
‘I won’t be pissed. Just a little looser around the hips. I might as well tell you now – I’ve got the salsa.’
‘Nice,’ Tammy nods. ‘I’ve got the merengue. What about you, Kate?’
‘Kizomba. It’s going to be so weird doing it in front of an actual audience.’
‘It will, but I’m excited,’ Tammy says. ‘Elijah seems happy with what we’ve rehearsed and he knows what he’s talking about. That’s my pro partner, by the way. When he’s not doing this he’s teaching classes at Bar Salsa on CharingCross Road, so this is a big deal for him. He can’t wait to get out there.’
Beth comes running over, out of breath and sloshing her coffee over the side of her cup.
‘My bloody train broke down – I thought I was never going to get here. That was not what I needed this morning. How’s everyone feeling? What have I missed?’
‘We’re all fine, and you haven’t missed anything,’ Liam assures her. ‘We’re just waiting till everyone is here then we’ll find out what happens next. You’re not even the last one.’
‘Oh, phew.’
She turns to scan the room to see who we’re still waiting for and I do the same, although it’s really only Merle I’m looking for. And there he is. He has his back to me but there’s no mistaking his broad shoulders and pert bum. He’s talking to a guy and a girl I don’t recognise, but they must be two of the other pro dancers judging by their physiques. I don’t know whether he’s seen me or not, so I try not to feel upset that he hasn’t come and said hello. God, I hope I don’t let him down today.
