This story is set after the 2012 Olympics. It contains some flashbacks, the flashbacks will tell you a little more of how the characters got to where they are. Hope you enjoy!
It has been 5 days since the gymnasts returned from the 2012 Olympic games.
The athletes were taken straight from the airport to an awaiting open top bus tour, where they had to wave and pose for an insane amount of photos. They were then sent to various parts of the country to do interviews, photo shoots and personal appearances. As soon as they had finished in one city they were whisked off to another. The American gymnastic team, more specifically the ROCK Girls, had done so well in London that everyone wanted to see and talk to them. The first day of 'media madness', as Sasha called it, was surreal. The girls loved every interview and enjoyed the attention they were getting, then they received their schedule for the next few days.
Kaylie sat down to look through her schedule "Interview after interview, photo shoots, TV appearance, more interviews and more personal appearances, man, I just need to sleep".
"You need to focus, if you want a 'celebrity' lifestyle after gymnastics you need to do well in these next few days. You know, say all the right things, meet the right contacts and most importantly look good at all times" Lauren says with her usual integrity.
"'Celebrity lifestyle' did you seriously just say that" Kaylie and Emily giggle.
"Well HELLO, this is my chance to shine, we cant all be like 'golden girl' over there" pointing at Payson with a snarl.
"Don't bring me into this, I just want to go home and keep my medals all to myself"
"WELL why don't you just do that, maybe the rest of us could actually speak at an interview" Lauren snarled for a second time.
"Low blow Lauren. They want to speak to her get over it" Kayleigh interjects.
Lauren rolls her eyes and heads for bed, she hates the fact that Payson has had the majority of the medias attention, with her 5 Gold medals and her stupid all American dream girl routine.
The others stay up, talking about the days events, when all of their cells bleep. An email off Sasha, an article that will be published tomorrow in their local newspaper.
"ALL AMERICAN DREAM TEAM IS NOT SO ROCKEY"
FLIC FLACK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE AWESOME FOURSOMES MEDAL TALLY
Lauren Tanner – Team gold
Bronze on beam
Kayleigh Cruz –Team gold
Bronze on floor
Bronze on Vault
Emily Kmetko – Team gold
Silver on uneven bars
Individual bronze
Payson Keeler – Team gold
Individual gold
Gold on Beam
Gold on uneven bars
Gold on floor
Silver on Vault
The article was based on the success of the ROCK Girls and had photos of them training over the last few months. Interviews with the coaches and staff at the ROCK.
"WOW, when you see it like this we look like the awesome foursome. Not such a hot picture, at least do us front on" Emily smiles throwing the cell on the bed.
"OH MY GODDNESS, what is this picture they used. Who allowed this, wait until I find out who made this happen" Lauren snorts out. "Golden girls best shot and my worst, typical".
"ENOUGH with the 'golden girls' remarks Lauren" Payson shouts and deflates back into her chair.
Kaylie and Emily move towards her to comfort her. "Hey whats up, you should be enjoying this"
"Yeah. You have defiantly earned it, plus this will only happen once" Kaylie adds.
"Sorry guys. It's OVER, gymnastics I mean, and I need to get on with my life", Thinking of more than just gymnastics.
"Pay, you can still do gymnastics"
looking uncharacteristically low, "I gave up so much for it and now its done. I can not get those things back"
"Look at what you've achieved, nothing can compare to that" Kayleigh says handing her the cell.
"Yeah, your right. I think I'm just overwhelmed with everything. Sleep deprived too" she says smiling and heading off to bed.
The next few days went as the previous few had; interviews, photo shoots, radio work and Lauren's constant bitching. Soon enough the girls were on their final flight back home. All four girls were beat, and just wanted to sleep.
FLASHBACK – Payson found Sasha's letter and followed him.
" I can not believe you, why in the HELL are you leaving us"... "well, the least you can do is say something, explain why you would leave" payson continues to rant .
Sasha butts in very calmly and whispers " Payson... I don't know how to explain"
looking at him in complete shock "from the beginning would be good, Sasha, I mean you get me on the national team & disappear, why?"
his heart melting "Please Pay, don't do this, let me go"
Payson stares at Sasha & softens "WHAT, what is so bad"
Sasha looks away, trying to build the courage to let her down, "Payson, drop this, my dad will look after you, he'll make sure you get the gold"
moving herself into his eye line, "NO, I want you, I trust you , he will never be as good as you and I".
she trembles as she remembers Sasha placing his arm on her shoulder and turning away , as so closes her eyes again to fully remember that day, she remembers his exact words.
"this is why I need to go" his scared expression shocked her to the core. She remembers wincing in confusion at him.
"You really don't see this" he added, now sounding angry, not at her but at himself.
"what, I don't understand!" she said wanting him to spell it out.
He grunted out almost laughing "this, us, me & you".
The smile cascading onto her face, "I knew it, Sasha you feel it too, right"
Sasha looked almost in tears "yes Payson, I feel it too"
Staring down at the floor, tears welling up in her eyes, just like they did that night. She remembers asking him "is that why your leaving, because of me".
He nods silently, thinking of the words he needs to explain to her, none of them fit, "Pay, I have to protect you, it's not right, I shouldn't feel like this"
She knew exactly what he meant,but she didn't care, this felt right to her and that was all that she needed to know, "Sasha, I want this too"
"no, pay it can't happen" he interrupted her, not even allowing the words to sink in.
"well not yet" payson says with a smirk. "just listen, come back with me & we can wait, we can, you & I have enough self control to do this".
Payson gets pulled out of the memory when the air steward passes her food over. She looks at it and hands in straight back before falling back into her daze.
As she closed her eyes, she remembered all the things that they had discussed before returning home that night. They decided that they were willing to wait until after the games, nothing was to happen before that. She would be almost 19 and he would no longer be her coach. They could come clean about their feelings eventually, say they didn't realise how close they'd become and that they'd missed one another's company. They would then live happily ever after!
She also remembered the countless brushes of finger tips and hugs they had shared between then and London. They lost control a good few time and ended up in many passionate embraces, locking lips not wanting to stop. Control would soon take over, at least one of them anyway, and then they were back to coach and athlete, moving forward like nothing had happened.
Tears started to form in Payson's eyes as she thought back to what had happened last time she was with Sasha.
"hi, I have been looking for you" he said softly
instantly melting into his beautiful eyes"Me too" .
He held her word for just a moment, before continuing, "can we go somewhere more private"
"yes please" she signed happily
They found an unoccupied corner outside the main venue."It's over and your not my coach any more" she beamed happily, she had been focusing on this moment for so long.
"Yes" he smirked lowly.
"So" she said shooting him a gorgeous grin
snapping himself back to reality,beyond the beauty of her smile,"So, the 'media madness' is going to take over you when we get back"
she didn't care about then, all she wanted was for her and Sasha to do as they had planned,"huh, NO, no. I know exactly what I want next and..."
he cut in before she had change to finish, he knew what she wanted but this was already hard enough for him to say, "I know you do, but I don't think the world is ready for us just yet"
she has been waiting for this moment for almost 2 years, and can not control her pain as his words enter her brain,"Wait, after London we agreed" she snapped.
He could see how hurt she was, and hated himself for it"Payson"
she felt the pang in her heart, just as she did when he said it,"NO SASHA DON'T"
he tried to reason,"we both need time to adjust, we will get there"
"I'M there, I thought you were too, I will leave you to adjust" with that she got up and walked away from him.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WERE ARE ABOUT TO LAND. PLEASE RETURN YOUR SEATS TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION AND FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS".
Payson got straight into action; preparing to land, preparing for the local media but most of all preparing to face Sasha.
