Hey everyone, this is an outtake from my story The Pied Piper it's set between chapters 11 and 12, Payson is trying to convince Sasha to let Emily come back to the Rock
Payson looked at Sasha anxiously. Uncharacteristically she wrung her hands and bit her lip. She didn't normally get nervous but she knew Emily's career virtually depended on Sasha's answer. A smaller part of her relished the challenge of arguing with him and convincing him that she was right and that the most rebellious of all the Rock rebels deserved another shot.
Sasha's blue eyes glinted angrily. "No Payson! That girl has had far too many chances and her choices prove that she doesn't have what it takes to be an elite gymnast." He was lying through his teeth of course; Emily Kmetko had talent and determination in spades, more than any gymnast he'd ever trained. Except the one standing before him. No, what he was feared was letting her down again. No matter what anyone said, he blamed himself for Emily's arrest and pregnancy.
To his surprise Payson smiled at his answer. It was nice to see her smile; Payson put too much pressure on herself. She handed him her new fancy phone. "I thought you'd say that, here watch this." Sasha stared at the thing for a while, he saw there was some sort of video on it but he couldn't find the play button. He frowned, not wanting Payson to know how completely useless with technology he was. He didn't know why but he cared what Payson thought of him more than anyone else, and for some reason he didn't want her to think of him as an old man. Eventually though Payson figured out he didn't know how to use it.
"It's a touch screen, I know I hate them too but MJ practically forced it on me apparently I have my image to protect." She said mocking MJ's accent.
Sasha laughed at her terrible accent and Payson cupped her hand over Sasha's and guided it to where he was meant to press play. The touch of her hand sent tingles fizzing up Sasha's arm and he had to force himself not to do anything stupid. But the feeling soon passed as he watched one of the most beautiful uneven bars routines he had ever seen, Emily moved fluidly with perfect lines. Even with Damon filming from the low resolution phone camera she looked gorgeous, expressive but most importantly in control. He was silent for a while and Payson nudged him.
"So what did you think?" She said grinning, clearly pleased for her best friend. Sasha loved how Payson didn't bother with jealousy or beating her competition by sabotage. She was genuinely happy for Emily.
"That was the best routine I've seen her do. She was controlled and determined, she looked like she'd overcome something and was stronger for it. It actually reminded me a bit of when you did your floor routine."
Payson blushed "Sasha don't compare her to someone boring like me, that was Nadia Comaneci material at least: I'm sure you could think of a nicer comparison."
"Comparing someone to you is the highest compliment I can give." Sasha said softly. Payson averted his eyes and Sasha wondered if he'd come on too strong. Eventually she looked up at him, with an expression he couldn't place.
"So that's a yes then? It would mean so much to me if you invited her back."
Sasha wanted to reply that he would do anything for her – he'd coach the most hopeless gymnast in the world if she asked him to. But he couldn't. She was his athlete, his star and he couldn't let anything happen to her, least of all himself. And if that meant living a lie then so be it. "Of course Payson, she's come a long way. To get a routine like that only a few months after having a child it requires some phenomenal will power."
Payson beamed and quite uncharacteristically she ran to Sasha and hugged him tightly. And Sasha without realising what he was doing lifted her up off the ground and spun her around and for a moment he pretended that they weren't coach and gymnast, rather two people in love with nothing to trouble them. Finally he snapped to her senses and let her down gently.
"Uh Payson, I'm so sorry I don't know what happened I just got caught up in the moment I guess." She probably thought that he was some creepy old guy who was so pathetic he had to resort to his gymnasts to get physical attention. But instead he saw Payson with the spark back in her eyes that had been missing for a few weeks, she looked passionate again.
"Did you feel it too Sasha, between us?"
Sasha's heart jumped to his mouth. He couldn't stop her, not this time. If he lied to her he would crush her again and break his own heart in the process. But on the other hand if he admitted his feelings, he winced at all the consequences that would follow. Their relationship as coach and athlete was tainted forever and if those rumours were proved true he would be ruined but more importantly Payson would be the laughing stock of the international gymnastics community. The lump in his throat rose and he realised he was on the verge of tears. The last time he had cried about a woman was when his mother died, and all Payson had to do was ask a question and he couldn't control his emotions.
Payson's face turned completely pale "Oh sorry, forget I said anything. I'm an idiot; please don't read any more into this." Payson mumbled and turned to walk out of the locker room.
Sasha swore under her breath, followed her and touched her gently on the shoulder. She turned around and he held her small calloused hands in his. They were a perfect fit. "I can't answer you now. I am your coach and I would do nothing to jeapordise you. But I will be here if you want to ask me again in a year's time when you have another gold medal hanging around your neck: the all around though, not just the uneven bars."
Payson's blue eyes met his, "a year. I can do that."
Sasha gave a relieved laugh and then Payson put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him tenderly, and just for the slightest moment Sasha gave into weakness and kissed her back, it wasn't long but it was enough. "Just so you remember what you're waiting for." She whispered, and Sasha couldn't tell if it was joy or sadness that he heard in her voice.
"As if I could forget. Now we should go back, everyone will be wondering where we are. And remember to be professional." He said, returning to his coaching voice.
"I'm always professional." Payson retorted.
Sasha snorted "someone has a short memory." And they walked out onto the gym floor, coach and gymnast once more. They wouldn't speak of what happened in the locker room but they both knew they would never forget it. Sasha watched Payson run excitedly to tell Kaylie that Emily was going to be invited back and he was amazed at her transformation from the passionate woman who'd kissed him a moment before to the teenager excited about being reunited with her friend. Seeing her like that reminded him of how young she was, despite her maturity. He had made the right decision to wait, but it was going to be agony.
There will probably be a couple more outtakes that don't really fit with the general flow of the story that I will put in here. They will be mostly Payson/Sasha, but there might be a couple with Summer and Chloe too (and a couple of OCs like Margi and Larissa)
As always, let me know what you thought =)