Sway with Me

Cristiano swallowed nervously as he sat in his dressing room, he couldn't believe how fast the last two weeks had passed and tonight was the first live show of Más que baile.

The Portuguese knew that his family would be watching tonight, his mother and her boyfriend would be in the audience with Irina while the rest watched from home.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” mused a voice making Cristiano turn round and stare in shock at the sight of his team-mate; Sergio chuckled amused as he leant against the door and stared at the Portuguese.

“Sergio, what are you doing here?” Cristiano asked as he tried to sound calmer than he actually was; he hadn’t expected any of his team-mates to come tonight, he had counted on it since he didn't want to face them after he danced until training the day after.

“I’m here to support Pilar since she presents the show,” Sergio said with an amused shrug while Cristiano took a deep breath as he cursed himself for forgetting that Sergio was dating the presenter of the show.

“So what are you dancing tonight?” the Spaniard asked as he moved into the dressing room and sat down as he glanced at the costume that Cristiano would be wearing.

The Portuguese sighed, he ran a hand through his hair as he tried to calm his nerves.

“The foxtrot it isn’t my favourite dance, but it’s okay,” Cristiano said making Sergio nod as the make-up ladies entered the room making the Spaniard smirk before he wished his friend goodbye and left to find his girlfriend.

***

“Ronaldo, you look so handsome,” Dolores said as she kissed her son on the cheek, Cristiano nodded as he glanced at his girlfriend; who looked like she wanted to laugh, like she had during the introduction show.

“How are you feeling? You look nervous,” Dolores asked making Cristiano look at her, while Irina messed with her mobile phone; it was clear that she would rather be somewhere else than supporting her boyfriend while he was on the show.

“Just pre-show nerves Mãe,” Cristiano said making his mother smile at him softly before they heard people talking as they walked down the corridor.

It was a man and two women that seemed to be bickering as they stopped outside Isabelle’s dressing room, which was next door to Cristiano’s.

“So when do we get to meet your partner? I’m sure Isabelle is a lovely woman,” Jose Andrade asked making Irina glare at Dolores’ boyfriend; who ignored her as he looked at Cristiano expectantly as the three strangers disappeared into Isabelle’s dressing room.

“She’ll be getting ready for the show, we’ve already done our dress rehearsal,” Cristiano said making Jose nod as Irina fought back a bored yawn making Dolores glare at her.

“Well we better find our seats; good luck for the show and I hope we get to meet your partner soon,” Jose said sensing that there was an argument brewing.

He quickly led Dolores and Irina away, making Cristiano look at Isabelle’s dressing room as the red head stepped out with the three people from before.

“I’ll see you after the show,” the oldest woman said as she gave Isabelle a hug while the man rolled his eyes and checked his watch before his eyes locked on Cristiano; who swallowed nervously.

The youngest woman rolled her eyes and poked the man in the side making Isabelle look at him then turned her attention to Cristiano.

“I’ll see you guys later,” she said before she walked over to the Portuguese as the group left, the red head offered Cristiano a smile as she stopped in front of him.

She was wearing a pale blue ballroom gown with open back and no sleeves which had been paired with golden heels.

“Sorry about that, Stefan’s a big football fan,” Isabelle said as she moved her hand to fix Cristiano’s blue tie that matched her dress.

***

Standing in the back room, Cristiano shifted nervously as one by one the couples graced the dance floor to do either the Foxtrot or the Salsa; the Portuguese didn't know if he was ready for this.

Isabelle got to her feet and smiled at the footballer, as she approached him from where she had been seated.

“It’s our turn,” Isabelle said softly making Cristiano stare at her, he took a deep breath as he spotted the producer signalling for them to follow him.

The couple quickly made their way to the dance floor while the last couple that had just dance got their results, Cristiano swallowed as they stood off to the side.

“Dance like no one is watching. It's just you and me, okay?” Isabelle said as they stepped onto the dance floor, while Pilar introduced their training reel that had been filmed while they had practiced over the last two weeks.

Isabelle offered him one last reassuring smile before Pilar called their names and announced what dance they would be doing as the pair moved towards their starting positions and the crowd cheered.

Then there was nothing but silence before ‘Just the Way You Are’ by Bruno Mars started to play by the band and everything that Cristiano had learnt over the last two weeks fell into place.

Before Cristiano knew it, it was over and Isabelle was giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek as people in the audience cheered for him and the red head.

Pilar smiled as Isabelle led Cristiano over to her and the judges; Boris Izaguirre, Víctor Ullate, Aída Gómez and Santi Rodríguez.

“Cristiano, you can dance but Isabelle you have to sort out his posture, he needs a little more work and then he could be fantastic,” Boris said as he got the judges’ comments underway; Isabelle nodded as she took in what was being said while Cristiano licked his lips nervously.

“There was nothing great about it but there was also nothing terrible, it lacked finesse and it lacked quality of movement,” Víctor said making a couple of people boo as Isabelle gave Cristiano’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

“Cristiano, I think you moved brilliantly, you are one of the best dancers here tonight,” Aída said making the two judges before her frown while the audience cheered; Cristiano smiled at her gratefully as the final judge prepared to speak.

“You were strong, you were focused, you had a great feel for the music with Isabelle’s help I can see you going far,” Santi said making the audience clap and cheer before Pilar smiled at the couple before telling them to head up to the onset lounge so that they could await their results.

The two were cheered as they entered the lounge by their fellow dancers before everyone feel silent as the judges finished preparing their results.

“Six,”

“Six,”

“Eight,”

“Seven,”

Were quickly announced by Pilar as the judges held up the score cards; Isabelle sighed relieved that they hadn’t ended up with the last score.

Her eyes glancing at Anita who had received the overall total of nineteen out of forty for her foxtrot with Lorenzo Milá; Cristiano had received the overall total of twenty-seven out of forty for his first ballroom dance.

###

Author's Note:

Check out the video attached to see what I had in mind for the dance :-)