This is set at the end of I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me. I thought Payson and Sasha's dynamic in that episode was so sweet and I just had to write about it. Enjoy! Please review and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I don't own Make It or Break It
"That was incredible!" Payson gushes "I mean, I can't believe I didn't recognize her. I mean, I always pictured ballerinas looking like supermodels, but Adrian looked… normal. And she was incredible." Sasha smiles to himself. Payson has been babbling like this the whole way home. Obviously his plan had been successful. Suddenly, he realizes it was quiet in the car. He whips his head to look over at Payson, making sure she hadn't choked or anything. She is leaning her elbow against the car door, her hand against her cheek, a smile of disbelief playing on her lips. "I can really do this," she whispers to herself.
"You can," Sasha replies, placing his hand on top of her other hand. Payson looks over in surprise. Quickly, Sasha withdraws his hand and turns his eyes back to the road. "Sorry," he mumbles.
"It's ok," Payson says softly. Sasha doesn't look at her the rest of the ride home. He does his best to focus on the road and not think about how his hand tingles where it had touched hers.
Finally, Sasha pulls into Payson's driveway. He gets out and quickly crosses to the other side of the car to open Payson's door. Payson smiles appreciatively, but doesn't say anything. Sasha guides Payson to her front door, unconsciously placing his hand at the small of her back. When they reach her door, Payson turns to Sasha.
"Thank you for taking me, Sasha," she says. She grins. "I had a great time." Sasha smiles back.
"I did too," he says. He clears his throat, suddenly feeling like a teenage boy on his first date. He looks at Payson. She looks so different than she does at the gym. The dress she's wearing is feminine and sophisticated, and shows off her body better than any skin-tight leotard ever could. Unlike in the gym, she is wearing make-up. Not too much, just enough to accentuate her features, particularly her eyes. A few strands of hair are falling loose from her bun. In a word, she is stunning.
"Sasha?" Payson asks. It is only then that Sasha realizes he'd been staring. He looks down at his feet, ashamed at the blush that he feels creeping up his neck. He hears Payson shift uncomfortably. "Well, uh, goodnight," she says, stepping toward her door. Sasha catches her arm and pulls her back toward him. It seems like it happens slowly and yet all at once. He is kissing her, gently at first, but then the kiss evolves into something more passionate and fevered. She is grabbing at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in her hair. He pulls her against him, pressing her body to his with so much force, he briefly worries he's crushing her. The only sounds are their heavy breathing. The kiss goes on for minutes, or is it hours? Sasha seems to have lost all track of time. Finally he forces himself to pull away. Payson looks at him, face flushed and eyes bright. He takes a step back, confused at what just happened.
"Goodnight," he says softly and all but runs to his car.
That night, he lies awake in bed, mulling over what to do. He can't stop himself from replaying the kiss over and over in his mind, poring over every detail. He shouldn't have done that, he knows. Maybe if Payson were a few years older and he wasn't her coach, it would be okay, but in their current situation there was no way he and Payson Keeler could be together. Knowing that didn't stop his mind from drifting back to the kiss. And it didn't stop Payson from being the first thing he thought of when he woke up the next morning.
"I think Payson had a real breakthrough last night," he tells her mom at the gym, hoping she doesn't notice the way he's smiling to himself. The memories of the night come rushing back again and he gets so caught up in them that he only half listens to the conversation until Kim Keeler asks,
"Do you like Summer? Because she likes you. And if you do like her, would you just ask her out?"
Sasha stares at her, dumbfounded. There was a time when he liked Summer, but that time wasn't now. But what is he supposed to say, 'Sorry Mrs. Keeler, I'd rather date your daughter'? Without a word, he walks out of the room. He has some thinking to do.
Later in the day, he asks Summer out. He tries not to look over at Payson, who is sitting at the side of the mat. Everything in him wants to close the distance between them and fold her into a warm embrace. But he can't do that. He knows he has to be responsible and do the right thing. Getting involved with Payson would be very, very irresponsible. Still, after Summer leaves, he glances at Payson, his mind swimming with the memories of that goodnight kiss.