Author note: Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! It means so much to me. This is the first story I have ever wrote. I hope you all are enjoying it. I will have chapter 4 up before Friday - Mallory
Chapter 3
I wake up in the best mood. I am so excited about practice today, and I get to see Derek again. I think I have always found him attractive. Even back in season eight. I have a shower and my make-up done fixing to walk out the door. Then I realize I don't have a car. Great. I guess I will have to call Derek and ask him to swing by here. I can't believe I forgot to call the dealership. He probably will think I am irresponsible. Fantastic.
" Hello" he answers on the second ring. His voice is groggy like I woke him up. Oops.
" Hi, did I wake you up?" I ask
" No, I was fixing to head to the studio for practice." he says
" Can I ask you a favor?" I whisper
" What do you need?" he ask
" I realized as I was fixing to leave that I have no car. Do you care to stop by here and pick me up?" I say quietly
" I don't mind. I will be there in ten or so minutes."
" Okay, thank you so much."
" Your welcome, I will see you in a minute. Bye"
" Okay, Bye"
I've been sitting on the couch watching TV for five or so minutes. I hear the doorbell ring. I get up and look through the eye hole and see Derek. He is a little early. But I'm not complaining. I am just glad he is picking me up. I open the door and see Derek standing there with his hands in his pocket. He is wearing peachy colored pants, a white t-shirt, and leather jacket. He has his sunglasses pushed up on top of his head. He looks like he just stepped out of a magazine, and he looks better than ever.
" Hey" I say still gazing at his gorgeous body.
" Hey, you ready?" he ask
" Yeah, just let me grab my bag." I say
" Okay, I will wait for you at the elevator." he says
I walk out of the apartment heading towards the elevator. We hear it ding and I walk in first. We both reach to touch the button to go to the ground floor. Our hands brush pass each other. Derek has extremely warm hands. I look up and he is smirking. I immediately start blushing. We get in the car and the tension that was there goes away when he starts talking.
" Are you liking LA? I know you have been here before, but do you like it?" he ask
" Yeah, I love it. Besides by hometown this is my favorite place to go. Especially when I want to go hiking or exploring. I love to go walking or running up trails and discovering things you never would have none was back there." I say
" That's is awesome. I love to go hiking too. We should go together some time." he says
" That sounds great to me. Do you ever get tired of the craziness that goes on in LA? And the paparazzi following your every move?" I ask
" Not really, I knew when I signed up to be a pro on the show that it goes with it. It doesn't bother me anymore. Before I was on the show Julianne and I would hang out ,and the paps would follow us. he says
" I guess just being in Iowa and coming back here I am still not used to it." I say shyly
" Well maybe that will change. They are going to be following us around for a while." he says
" I hope so." I say
We arrive at the studio before I know it. I guess time flies when your talking. I get out of the car and the paparazzi are surrounding us. They are asking tons of questions. I just try to keep the plastered smile on my face. I notice that Derek was telling the truth, he really don't mind them. He is smiling and answering question like he really knew them. They have a lot of questions for us. I don't know how much he could be telling them. This is our first practice. We walk into the studio and the place looks great. I love that the other cast members will be practicing at the same place. We find the room that we are suppose to be practicing in. There are cameras set up everywhere. There are some in the corner of the wall, in the wall, and one on a table that looks pretty heavy and expensive. There is nobody else in the room but us. Derek goes to the radio and puts in a cd and I go and set my bag on the floor. A man walks in. He has a fanny pack on and looks like a important guy.
" Hey, Derek and Shawn. I am Matt." hey says
" Hey" we both say
" I am the guy over the recording of the practices and I need to tape the first time that you see each other."
" Okay. What do you need us to do?" Derek ask
" Shawn go outside, when I say action your going to walk in and act like this is your first meeting. Derek I need you to be doing something and then hear a knock and turn around. Got it?" he ask
" Got it." we say
I walk outside. I hear him say action so I knock on the door and walk in.
" Derek" I yell
" Shawn!" he yells as he is picking me up and giving me a hug.
Dang he smells good. They say cut and he sets me down. Matt leaves but keeps the cameras on. It feels weird to not have anyone in here with us. My mom was with me all the time last time. Mark and I were never alone. I feel more independent.
" I found out what song and dance we got for the first week." Derek says
" What song and dance?" I ask
" The foxtrot and the song is Good Time." he say smiling
" I love that song." I say
" Me too, so lets get started. The choreograph is not very hard. I made it up this morning once I new the song and dance style." He says
" Okay, lets get started then." I say
Derek starts smiling " I love the enthusiasm!"
" I am excited." I say
" Since you have done this before you know the basics. I don't think I am going to have to teach you how to walk in heels. Am I?" he ask
" No, I don't think so." I say laughing
" Okay good." he says smiling
We have practiced for two hours and I am starving. My stomach is growling. I hope Derek cant hear it. I didn't eat breakfast this morning. I probably should have. Derek is explaining some of the dance to me when I hear his stomach growling.
" Are you hungry?" I say laughing
" Umm, just a little bit." he says smiling
" Do you want to go get something to eat?" I ask
" That sounds fantastic. Where do you want to go. I will drive us of course." he says smirking
" That little café about ten minutes from here." I say smiling
" Alright, well lets go."
It only take us five or some minutes till we reach the café. There are not many people in the building. Which is good. We walk in and hear gasps and " oh my goodness's" from the workers, I start laughing. Derek follows shortly after. A woman waiting tables start whistling at Derek. He starts blushing. That is the first time I have ever seen him blush. I can't help but laugh. We walk to wait in line. There is a little girl and her mother in line in front of us. The little girl keeps looking back at Derek and grinning. If she grinned any wider her face would break.
I get on my tippy toes and whisper in his ear " That little girl really likes you."
" I have noticed." he says laughing
He taps the little girls shoulder, " Would you like a picture?" he ask her
" Yes!" the girl screams
Her mom gets ready to take the picture then the little girl ask me "Would you be in the picture too?"
" Of course." I say
Derek is standing on the right side of her body. I walk over to the left side. I wrap my arm around her little back. Derek's arm goes on top of mine. I am glad he didn't wear his jacket. His arm is so warm on top of mine.
" Thank you so much." the girl says.
" Of course." we say
" Are you ready to order?" Derek ask
" Yeah."
" What would you like?" the man behind the cash register asks
Derek looks at me. " Go ahead, I'm not sure what I want." I say
" Okay, I want a ham, turkey, and cheese sand which." Derek tells him
" And for you ma'am?" he ask
" We are on separate orders." I say
" No we aren't. Shawn I got it." he says pulling out his credit card
" No, its fine. You already have to drive me around." I say pulling out my wallet.
" Am I complaining? No, Shawn it is just a sand which." he says taking my wallet out of my hand while laughing
" Fine, I want the same thing."
" We also need to bottles of water." Derek says
" Okay, for here or to go?" he ask
" To go." Derek says
" Your total is $15.00."
Derek hands him his card. The man takes it and we move to sit down at a table waiting for our food.
" I've got to use the bathroom. I will be right back" Derek says
" Okay." I say
I watch him till he disappears. He walks so smoothly and gracefully. I cant believe he paid for my lunch. He should have let me pay for it. It's the least I could do. I am not going to complain though, he was very gentleman like paying for it. Thinking about him driving me around, I see a phone book on the table beside us. I look up a car dealer ship's number and call it.
" Thank you for calling Bobby's Dealership how may I help you?"
I see Derek walking towards me from the bathroom. He sits down in the chair across from me.
" Yes, this is Shawn Johnson. Do you let people come by and rent cars? I ask
" Why yes Miss Johnson, how long will you need it?" he ask
" I am not sure. I am on Dancing with the Stars and we are not guaranteed a specific time there. I will definitely need it for a week." I say
" And what kind of car would you like?" he ask
" An Altima coupe." I say
" Alright, we will need you to come by and fill out papers. Then you can rent it. In the contract you will have the car as long as you need it. I don't think a girl like you is going to steal it." he says
" No, of course not. I have practice and will come call you when I have time to come get it." I say
" Okay, I will talk to you then."
" Okay, bye" I say
I click end and look up at Derek. He is not sitting there. I get up and see him getting our food. I guess I didn't hear them call our name. He is holding the bag and two bottles of water. I walk up and grab the waters.
" Thanks" he says
" Your Welcome." I say
We walk out to the car. Derek starts eating. " Are you not going to eat after I paid fifteen dollars for our food?" he asks laughing
" Yes, I just don't want to get your car dirty." I say
" Oh you won't hurt her. She has been through a lot." he says
" Okay."
I start eating, by that time he is already done. I guess he was starving.
" Can I ask you one tiny favor?" I ask
" You want me to take you by the car dealership." he says smiling
" Yes, that will be the last time you have to drive me around." I say laughing
" I don't mind it. And sure I will." he says
" Okay thank you."
" Anytime"
We arrive at the studio there are not as many paps out here as there was. We walk in and Derek starts doing our dance. He does the whole routine with ease. It looks great. Of course he looks good dancing too. We practice for three more hours. We have done five total hours which is not bad. You usually do more. Especially on your first day. I got over half of the dance down great. I learned it better then I thought I would. The producers changed a few things this season. You usually have three weeks to learn the first dance. Since this is All Star season we have one week just like any other week in the season. I am actually happy though, we don't have to wait as long to perform it. Practice is over for today. Derek is soaked in sweat. Which I am not complaining about at all. He looks so much better soaked in sweat.
" Are you ready to go to the dealership?" Derek ask
" Yeah." I say
We get in the car and drive. The dealership is not very far away and we get there in no time. I walk in with Derek and the receptionist ask " Can I help you?"
" Yeah, I talked to a man earlier today about renting a car." I say
" Okay and your name?" she ask
" Shawn Johnson" I whisper
She is typing it in the computer and looks up.
" I will be right back." she says
" Okay." I say
She comes back seconds later with a man.
" Yes, I am Bobby. The owner. If you come with me I will get your paper work and show you your car." he says
" Okay, are you coming? I ask Derek
" Nah. I will just wait here."
" Okay, I don't mind if you want to." I say
" Okay, I will come with you.:" he says smiling
We walk in this big office and there are two big chairs in front of the desk. One chair behind the desk.
" You can sit here." he points to the two big chairs
We both take a seat in them.
" Okay I need you signature here, here, and here." he says turning the pages.
" Okay." I say signing the papers.
We follow the man outside and I see my car sitting there. He hands me the keys. It is a nice car. I love it. It is a blackish bluish color. I go and get in it. I roll down the window and motion for Derek to come.
" Get in. I will drive you to your car." I say
" Okay." he says
I drive around to the front of the store and park.
" I like this car." Derek says
" Me too, what time is practice tomorrow?" I ask
" Lets go at nine a.m." he says
" Okay." I say
He opens the door and steps out. " I will see you tomorrow." he says
" Okay, bye."
" Bye." he says and closes the door. I drive home thinking about everything that has happened.