Disclaimer: I do not own MIOBI

A/N: this is the, hopefully, improved version of Someone Like me. Hope you like this as well, and sorry again for the changes (but I will finish this story, I wouldn't dare keep you hanging in an half finished story).

Summary: What happens after Worlds? Will Sasha and Payson be able to hide their feelings for each other, or will everything be revealed? And, will they be able to face all the consequences that come with it?

CHAPTER 1

She is stretching in one of the corners of the gym. Glad to be home, but not to be in the same room with her coach. Ever since Max showed up in Rio he had been grumpy and had avoided every conversation with her. What's up with that? She's the World Champion after all. His champion, he should be working with her, upping every DOD, but instead he is training Kaylie. She shouldn't feel jealous, Kaylie saved their asses with her beautiful floor routine, but still Payson can't help but feel a little sting when Sasha makes her friend smile after he says something. So she averts her eyes and sees her supposed boyfriend enter the gym. Already she feels a blush creep up her cheeks. How can she ever face him again? After telling him she's in love with him, and him telling her he might feel the same about her in Rio. She should have never said the words, she sure doesn't mean it.

"This is going to be a long practice." She sighs quietly. Absentmindedly she walks towards the water cooler trying to clear her head before continuing practice. She doesn't notice Max coming up to her, so this time she can't avoid him by running away to an apparatus.

"Payson, can I talk to you for a second?" He asks, standing closer to her than he has been in days. Spooked she turns around, before reluctantly nodding to him, encouraging him to tell her what he wants.

"I want to explain my behaviour." He starts awkwardly, she wonders what behaviour he means, she has been the one to avoid him. Payson waits for him to continue anyway, but he seems lost for words. After a few uncomfortable moments, she decides to make it easy for him and for herself, so she can go on with her life as well.

"You don't have to explain… I was just so happy with everything, going to Worlds and having the endorsement I needed… I-I just didn't think it through." And it was the truth, she hadn't thought it through. But afterwards she had and realised she actually didn't love him at all. He was just so easy to be with and not complicated. Exactly what she needed, but not at all what she wanted.

"We can still be friends right? I mean, we always were and I would like to keep it that way." She asks him hopefully. They had been, when Lauren was still in the picture, when she wasn't his only focus. She never made friends easily and it'll be a shame to lose one of the few she has. And it would definitely be awkward now with Austin and Kaylie being a couple and Max being Austin's best friend. His disappointed look brings her back to reality and seeing those puppy eyes, she almost takes back her words, but that wouldn't be fair, for either of them.

"Yeah I guess that's the best thing for now." She decides to ignore the 'for now' part, not wanting to upset him even more. He keeps looking at her though as she walks away from him, after giving him an encouraging smile and ending the conversation with it.

Reaching the vault, to practice her new jump, she rolls her ankles one by one before preparing the fast sprint, but somehow her little ritual can't get her mind to shut up. She closes her eyes for a brief second, trying to visualize the jump before actually attempting it and than goes for it. After taking a deep breath, she runs as fast as her legs allow her. The Tsukahara Straight with a Double Twist is all about speed, a lot of speed, but even though she knows that, she can't land it. The minute her hands find the vault, she knows she will fall. Her run not providing the power she needs to let her body make the double twist. Twisting awkwardly in the air she makes sure she doesn't land in a way that will injure her. Frustrated she gets up to try again, but after falling on her butt five times in a row she decides it isn't going to happen today, like nothing has happened lately. Everything that happened the past few weeks was too much for her concentration.

Giving up on vault she goes on to bars, hoping this will set her mind at ease. The good thing about bars is the fact you cannot afford to let your thoughts to wander off. You need to focus one hundred percent and you can't be distracted by anything. You just simply can't afford it. She takes a quick glance around the gym. Lauren is trying her new dismount on beam; one Sasha gave her two days after they returned from Rio. Kelly is working on her floor routine with Austin spotting her tumbling. And Kaylie, she is getting all the attention from Sasha, like he has been doing this whole week. She vaguely senses Max watching her, his peering gaze making her a bit uncomfortable. His interest will weaken… she hopes.

She sighs and starts chalking her hands when she feels another man's gaze on her figure. This one also makes her uncomfortable, but not in the way Max's gaze does. This one makes her feel on fire, his eyes burning through her walls right into her soul. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, she doesn't need this right now, or ever. But all to soon she feels the burning presence of the person next to her, the man she doesn't allow her mind to go to at night and certainly not during the day, when she's practicing dangerous routines.

"Are you alright Payson?" He asks concerned. His British accent never failing to make her shiver, and once again she can feel the tremble flow through her body. She curses inwardly for her teenage behaviour and hopes he writes the blush on her cheeks off as a flush from exercise. Not turning around to answer him, not trusting herself, she nods instead and goes her way. She can feel his eyes on him her whole routine, but won't -can't- allow her mind to go to any thoughts that might lead to falling. That is something she has done quite enough today. Determined to ignore him she performs her routine nearly flawless, a small smile appearing on her face in satisfaction. For the first time today she feels slightly happy, as long as she can concentrate on her gymnastics she'll be fine. Distractions may effect her performance occasionally, but if she pushes herself hard enough she can ignore everybody around her and be better because of it. She owes herself that much.

#

He watches her from across the gym, not paying very much attention to Kaylie. The girl doesn't need him to watch her, she just needs his guidance and presence to feel secure enough to perform up to her standards. He has been working on it all week and finally he sees some improvement, a bit of the old Kaylie coming back to the surface. He is staying away from Payson though, and he can see she knows it. This week had been even worse than the previous one and he was the one to blame. Right now, he's about to throw all caution to the wind and walk up to her and ensure everything is alright between them, but they both know it isn't. After all that happened, he wonders if she really read his intentions wrong when he took her to the ballet. Maybe he had wanted more maybe he still wants more. He isn't going to tempt faith though, so he stays away. The emotions on her face confuse him though- worry him.

The change of colour in her face, however, is even more concerning. It may have had something to do with the conversation she had with that punk Max and if he weren't such a good gymnast he would have been long gone, but he can't be sure. She had been performing poorly all day long and he can't figure out why. It's not like him keeping his distance is new this week. Again, he briefly considers talking to her, asking what is wrong, but he doesn't want to intrude too much in her personal life, nothing good can come from that. Payson has always been a quiet person, especially when it comes to her feelings. Maybe she just has a bad day, he really hopes that's all to it, but subconsciously he knows better. Even after all that happened, getting her spot back on the National Team and becoming World Champion, he knows it doesn't mean she already made it to the Olympics. So much can go wrong in the meantime and with all the distractions, he sure won't be surprised if something catastrophic were to happen. His girls' distractions have always been the reason of most of their problems.

'If by tomorrow she hasn't improved I'll talk to her,' he decides then, not wanting to ponder about it more. He turns his focus back on Kaylie again. She can't hold his attention for long though, her beam routine being solid for days now. The conversation Payson had with Max keeps bugging him, the sound of their voices did not reach him, but the expression on her face clearly showed awkwardness. Maybe he should have intervened. He knows he has every right, but also realizes nobody follows his no dating rule anymore, apparently not even Payson. That reminds him of something he wanted to address soon, he has to talk to Austin about his stunt in Rio. They may not follow his rule anymore, but outing his disobedience in front of international media was a bit much in his opinion. Rubbing his hands over his face, he tries to focus on Kaylie once more.

A sudden loud thud makes him jump inwardly. His head snaps to the vault on the far end of the gym and he sees a figure on the mat behind it, flat on her back. He shakes his head, seeing she is alright physically. Mentally he isn't so sure, she could nail that Tsukahara weeks ago.

"Watch your extensions Kaylie." He says without actually watching her. He can hear the flaws in her movements. Most of the time he doesn't even need to watch his girls perform anymore. Just hearing it is enough. He learned that the hard way after Payson fell and when they started training together to get her back on top. He could dream her routines, he still can. Her extensions, the way she looked at him when she was mad, when she was confused or frightened. There he had learned he didn't need to watch to know what was wrong with her or his other gymnasts. That's why he knew Kaylie was in trouble, and that Lauren had a lot on her mind. But it didn't make him take a lot of action. Of course, he went to Ronnie and Alex and told them about his concern, but that was all he had done. And with Lauren and Emily he hadn't done anything.

Again, he hears a loud thud coming from the vault and sees Payson lying on her back, he's lost count how many times she has fallen down today. Irritation is clear on her face, her eyes burning with fire. He doesn't need to stand in front of her to see the desire to nail that Tsukahara. Slowly he walks away from Kaylie not knowing if he wants to get closer to Payson or get away from his torturing thoughts. He sighs again and realises he's sighing a lot lately. He doesn't have a legitimate reason for feeling disturbed, four girls on the USA team are his and they just won Gold at Worlds. All his girls are healthy again, everything is going fine, or so it seems at least. So why doesn't he feel more relieved and happy?

When he sees Payson abandon the vault without sticking the landing, he decides to talk to her today after all, especially because he sees what direction she is headed. She can't do her bars routine while she's in this mood. Closing the distance between them, he comes up behind her, for a moment not saying anything. He knows she has noticed him through the light shiver that always appears visible when he approaches. It never stops him to inch even closer.

"Are you alright Payson?" He asks, not knowing what else to say without making her uncomfortable. He can see her hesitation, but than she suddenly nods and goes to stand in front of the low bar. He watches her intensely and is surprised at her performance, it's nearly flawless. From the moment she mounts her perfect Gurova* she has him mesmerized. Her twists and handstands are spot on, her transitions looks as natural as can possibly be and her dismount, the Hip Circle Hecht* makes his heart skip a beat, for fear of her falling, but also because of its beauty. He wants to go to her and congratulate her, but she has already moved on to the floor, replacing Kelly on the apparatus and leaving Austin to himself. Making this as the perfect opportunity to make clear to the boy he doesn't like to be disobeyed. He may be the best male gymnast at the moment, but it doesn't give him the right to do what he wants.

"Austin, I want you on rings. Let's up your DOD." The look on Austin's face makes him grin wickedly. 'This is going to be a long practice.'

#

"What did I do to deserve this?" Austin complains after yet another punishing workout from Sasha. He had to endure the worst conditioning and increasing difficulties since, well ever. Nobody had ever pushed him this hard, worked him this hard. The girls can't help but laugh at his pouting figure. Austin may be one of the best gymnasts, but he also has to obey the rules.

"Well maybe you did break a rule or two." Payson points out, nodding towards the girl sitting next to him. Austin smirks when he thinks of it and puts his eyes on his now girlfriend.

"In that case it's worth it, I don't care if I have to do this every day if that means we can stay together." Payson vaguely hears Lauren squeal at that, going on about how sweet they are together, but she sees Kaylie isn't smiling. She covers the hand of her best friend with her own, also remembering what happened to Carter when he got busted.

"Austin, this is not something he'll just let go with only conditioning. We all know what he did with Carter. Maybe I should go talk to Sasha tomorrow and explain why we are breaking his rules and everything." She said with a little voice. She highly doubts she could make Sasha understand or calm down. Only Payson could do that. She looks carefully at her best friend, maybe Payson can lighten the mood before she goes in to talk to him. She decides to ask later when they are alone, nobody needs to know, especially Lauren with her unkind comments.

"Well we're not at the Rock now." Austin pouts, pulling her in for a kiss. Soon all her worries were pushed to the back of her mind. She will worry about them tomorrow.

Payson looks away, not really paying much attention to her surroundings. This last week had been awkward to say the least, but Max had finally seemed to give her space and had stepped back. She wondered if they would be able to stay friends after all that has happened, she really wants that, but if he doesn't she can understand that. It has been awkward for him as well, everybody keeps whispering about what might have happened and Lauren took the first opportunity to sneak back into his life. 'Well she can have him if she wants him,' Payson thinks, Max is sweet and all, but not what she wants. If he chooses Lauren maybe both of them will be happy.

Involuntarily her mind wanders to someone else, she can't help it. Every day gets a bit easier, but still she finds it difficult to concentrate at times, not because of Max or all the gossip and drama which has increased since they'd gotten back from Worlds, but because of someone else entirely- always feeling his eyes on her, his presence ever close. Whenever she dares to look at him she sees something in those eyes, she doesn't know what, but it makes her stomach flutter every single time. It keeps her from fully concentrating on her routines, the routines he refuses to change. Maybe when she perfects them he will come to her, but when that will be she doesn't know.

The only time when she feels completely at ease is in an empty gym. At moments like that, during lunch or because she comes in early and stays late every day, she can focus, really focus and love the sport she is so great at. But even in this little sanctuary he keeps coming back to her. At first only in her thoughts, but after a few days Sasha came in early as well, watching from the sidelines without saying a word. It frustrates her immensely. Why is he standing there every morning when he won't say a thing, won't even move from the entrance door? She sighs, shaking off her thoughts and looks up. Kaylie is looking at her, as if she knows where Payson's thoughts were just moments ago. She tries to smile, but Kaylie is not to be fooled. The past few days Kaylie had been watching her more carefully, probably trying to figure out why she didn't laugh as much. Thankfully she doesn't push it.

All of a sudden, Lauren perks up, like she always does whenever she gets one of her self-centred ideas. "So what is everybody doing this weekend, I mean, we have two days off, with Sasha being gone tomorrow, how did that happen btw? We could go to the beach or something like that. The weather is awesome and it's been so long since we have done anything together." She sees the unbelievable looks on her friends faces. "Okay, fine, we do stuff together all the time, but seriously, when was the last time we did something together that didn't involve gymnastics one way or another?" She knows she has won when nobody can argue with her, she looks at Payson for a second, challenging her to come up with an argument. Payson just inwardly rolls her eyes; she doesn't have the energy to fight with Lauren anymore.

"I guess we could go to the beach." Payson reluctantly gives in. "But just to relax, nothing too intense. We can use these couple of days to give our bodies some rest."

"Yeah, yeah, fine Keeler, why would you ever get into something without thinking about it." Lauren waves her off. "So it's settled than, tomorrow we'll go to the beach, how does Lion Lake sound*?" Everything is settled quickly after that. Austin, the gentleman he always is, offered to open up his house to have breakfast together.

"Well I need to go." Austin suddenly says, his lack of explanation ensuring the girls he has had enough girl talk for one day. He takes Kaylie by the hand, gently tugging her with him.

"They're so going to make out." Lauren utters, but than remembers who she's talking to. "Ooh never mind."

Payson laughs at that. "I'm sure they are."

They have a few silent minutes tick by before Lauren can't take it anymore. "So, I know you like didn't really have something with Max, but do you know what colour he likes most?" Payson sighs, of course Lauren would only think of stuff like that.

"I think he likes green." She answers anyway, she restrains herself from telling why he likes that colour, the colour of her eyes.

"Green, hmm. Yeah I can do that." Lauren muses, her mind obviously in her walk-in closet. Thankfully it doesn't take Kaylie long to return.

They chat for a while longer and for a while, it seems like old times when there hadn't been all this jealousy and resentment from over the years between them.

"Payson do you need a ride?" Kaylie asks eventually.

"Sure." Payson wonders if Kaylie is going to hear her out about Max, she knows everybody has been dying to know why it didn't work out with him. Reluctantly she gets into Kaylie's convertible. Although she would never choose a car like this, she has to admit with temperatures like this it isn't too bad. They drive in silence for the most part, but when they drive by The Rock Payson has had enough.

"Do you want to ask me something Kaylie?"

"Why would you think that?" Kaylie replies sheepishly. Payson rolls her eyes at her and smiles.

"Because you haven't said a word about Austin since we left, which never happens, but actually because you haven't said anything at all since we've gotten into your car."

"I know, it's just that I'm freaking out about the whole no-dating rule and me crossing it… again."

"Kaylie, last time Sasha didn't find out it was you with Carter. So technically to Sasha you haven't done anything wrong until now." Payson says, trying to comfort her. She doesn't tell her friend that everybody with two eyes knew it had been her, and she doesn't understand why Sasha hasn't done anything, but she is glad he hasn't. She's also relieved that she isn't being questioned about Max.

"I know, but I still did it. Sasha is going to be so mad, and I know I need to talk to him- especially because he has known since Worlds. I only… I'm scared. What if he yells? I know I deserve it, but Sasha is always so strict about the rules. Remember when he first got here and we went to that party and I got drunk. We dishonoured the rules then, I most of all, and now again." She stays silent after that. She really doesn't want to face Sasha, she respects him, but disobeying his rules again and again doesn't show that.

"I know he's strict and yells when he's angry, but he only does it because he cares. Wouldn't you rather have him yell at you than him not caring at all?" Payson says with a little smile and she can see Kaylie agrees.

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just not looking forward to him screaming at me." Her face becomes the most innocent all of a sudden and Payson can already guess what's coming. "Pay, could you maybe… I don't know… talk to him before I do?" Without looking her in the eyes, she can feel the glare Payson is giving her.

"Please Pay, please, please, please. You can always calm him down, you have always been able to." Kaylie pleads.

"I don't know, Kaylie. I have nothing to do with it, and my mind has been occupied a lot as well lately." Payson tries, not wanting to be alone with Sasha for to long.

"Please! Then I'll make sure Lauren doesn't bug you with Max questions or any other annoying questions." Kaylie knows she has her there; it's an offer too good not to accept.

"Fine, I'll talk to Sasha first thing on Monday, but I can't promise anything."

"Thank you, thank you…" Kaylie shrieks.

"Watch the road Kaylie!"

"Sorry." Kaylie apologizes as she calms down. "Now what will you be wearing to the beach tomorrow? Do you even have a bikini?" Before Payson can even shake her head, Kaylie has already changed directions. "We have to go shopping for new bikini's. I know this cute little story which has the most exclusive pieces. I think we can get everything there, but no purple this time. Blue would look so great on you…" Kaylie rambles on.

Payson secretly smiles at her friend, now that her worries are over Kaylie can apparently focus on what 'really' matters; bikini's. After several agonizing hours in just one boutique Payson is indeed the proud owner of a blue with white stripes bikini with matching flip-flops and wrap.

"I can't believe I spent this much money on so little fabric. It's not like I'm buying it for someone." She says wiggling her eyebrows at her friend. Kaylie smiles smugly.

"Well maybe we can invite Max…" The horror on Payson's face makes her change her mind.

"I'm sorry Pay, I didn't think."

"It's okay, I don't mind if he comes. It could be fun, the whole group together."

"Yeah definitely. It's been forever since we did something like this, Lauren was right for once."

"Can you believe it!"

"Let's go home okay?"

When she finally climbs into her bed Payson never felt more exhausted, she'd rather have a day of conditioning from Sasha than go shopping for bikini's again. The minute her mind wanders to her coach, she wished it hadn't. She wished she didn't care about it all, but she does. She wants Sasha to know how she feels, and she wants him to feel the same way. 'Hah don't kid yourself Pay' she thinks to herself bitterly. He's doesn't see you like that, him pushing you away proves that. Groaning in frustration, she throws a blanket over her face and it takes her hours to fall asleep. But when her body finally gives in, her night is thankfully without dreams.

#

His bag was packed, all arrangements were settled and now all he had to do was sleep and wake up on time to leave for the meeting, but he had been lying awake for hours. He hated meetings like this, why did they always have to be on training days and why did he have to be there at all? He may be the National coach, but that doesn't mean he has to talk about the politics of the sport, he just wants to coach his girls to the top, nothing more. Sighing deeply he turns on to his side again. Monday can't come soon enough!

Little did he know that Monday morning five a.m. nothing would ever be the same again…

A/N So I hope this is a better re-start ... I understand if you don't review because this is so similar to my first attempt, many thanks if you doing it anyway!

* Gurova (awesome mount): .com/watch?v=kt_sGN-1prU (2:13)
* Hip circle Hecht with full turn to salto backwards (Ma, and WOW!): .com/watch?v=1v98gDvI9i8 (5:02)

* Don't know if this lake has a proper beach, but it's the best I could find.