Title: Miles from Where You Are
Disclaimer: I own nothing, obviously, because if I did Cody Longo would have been bumped to series regular before Brothers and Sisters could steal him for a miniscule one-episode stint.
Spoilers: 2x02
Notes: So I've decided that this is where I'm going to post my none-related oneshots that loosely follow the episodes. I don't think I'll do every episode because that would be a little overkill. I'm fueled on inspiration and I don't know how long it will last so just sit back and enjoy this ride.
Miles From Where You Are
All or Nothing
"What do you mean Nicky Russo isn't here?"
Kaylie Cruz pouts because this boy is too busy drooling to really give her the answers she needs right now. If she's being completely honest it makes her feel pretty good about herself especially after that insanely embarrassing run-in with Austin Tucker earlier in the day. Kaylie knows for a fact that he trains in Denver. So the real question, how did this kid get to France and not Nicky frickin' Russo?
Now that she's giving it some thought, Kaylie doesn't remember Nicky saying much of anything every time she brings up France and how excited she is to compete again. Nicky just gives a small smile and asks a question or changes the subject. Kaylie had just assumed Nicky already had his suitcases packed, going into his pre-competition calm down mode and getting ready to go. She never even thought it necessary to ask. Apparently, she was wrong.
When she hears that Marty isn't going to be there with them, a part of her is relieved, but an even greater part is curious. Beals is vague in her explanation, but she does divulge that he's under review by the Committee. It's a little detail, but ever since the affair between her mother and her old coach, just hearing his name sends a tremor through her entire being. What could Marty have possibly done this time?
There are so many questions and so little answers, but Kaylie somehow manages to push all that to the back of her head. She worries about Emily and is anxious for Payson and suspicious of Lauren, but the only way to win this thing is to for her concentrate on herself. It may be selfish, but gymnastics is all she has left and she's going to fight for this one with everything she has.
In the end, Kaylie takes the gold and that look on Lauren's face gives her an even better feeling than the weight of the gold metal around her neck. She smiles through the ceremony and the pictures, but she doesn't go out and party afterwards. She doesn't gloat (unless it's to Lauren, usually just snippy side comments) and spends the rest of their time in France, sitting by Payson and Emily. She doesn't say anything, but grips their hands and hangings her head.
It's moments like this where she wonders why bad things can happen to such good people (Payson with her rejection by the Committee, Emily not being able to compete at all) yet Lauren Tanner comes in third. It may be one of the sweetest victories, but simultaneously one of the bitterest losses.
…
Everything is quiet and it's unnerving.
Lauren, too proud to show her shame, spends the entire bus ride from the airport to the Rock on her cell phone, mumbling quietly in a baby voice (probably to Carter). Emily is always quiet and stares thoughtful into space and Payson keeps her gaze forward in the distance. Kaylie wants to say something, anything, but she simply can't, too afraid they'd think she was pitying them, which isn't what she means at all. Man, she sucks at this leadership stuff.
The moment that bus pulls up in front of the Rock, Kaylie sees all the gymnasts rushing to greet their parents, but there's not a Cruz in sight. She twists her fingers tight around the strap of her gym bag and bites her tongue. After everything that happened in France, especially to Emily and Payson, they really need their mothers right now. Standing alone, Kaylie tries to smile, reminding herself that she just took home gold. That should be enough, but if she's being honest with herself, it isn't. It never is.
She feels a hand on her shoulder and Kaylie tries not to seem disappointed when it's just Sasha. He starts talking to her, maybe trying to distract her as the rest of the girls happily reunite with their families. He compliments her technique and proudly mentions the fire in her eyes, but the look in his own says even more. His eyes say, 'this win was for you, not your parents, not the media, not the world. This win was for you and you did it all on your own.'
So Kaylie smiles wide and holds her head high even if, in the end, she's alone.
The parking lot of the Rock starts slowly clearing out and Kaylie just sits on the hood of her car for a while. Word spreads about a victory party at the Tanners and Mr. Tanner makes a point to invite everyone, even the Keelers. Kaylie's fairly sure Payson won't show and Emily and her mother rushed off, not even giving the invitation a second thought. Kaylie sure as hell won't be caught dead there. Her plans for the rest of the day include her dark bedroom and at least ten hours of sleep.
"So I guess I should start calling you National Champ instead of Princess, huh?"
Nicky Russo seems to have other ideas.
"Hmm, I don't know. National Champ is kind of long and, well, a little condescending. Plus, I know how attached you are to your little pet name for me," Kaylie sweetly replies. She feels her lips instinctively slide into a smile, a genuine one this time. "Nicky, what are you doing here?"
"You did good, Cruz," he says, like his trite words are supposed to be some big compliment. From Nicky Russo, it kind of is. "I thought I'd come and show my appreciation."
Right then, Payson walks out of the Rock, wrapped up in her mother's arms. Nicky lifts his hand into the air for a wave and Kaylie smiles weakly in the general direction. Payson nods, but can't bring herself to smile. Wasting no time, the mother and daughter rush off to their car and drive away soon after.
"I feel so horrible for what happened to her," Kaylie confesses. She feels this weird sort of sensation in the pit of her stomach, sympathy maybe, but it doesn't sit well with her. Kaylie presses her teeth into her bottom lip, not hard enough to break skin, but enough for it to distractingly ache.
"You're not alone there," Nicky says simply.
"Are you going to go talk to her?" she asks. If there's one thing she's certain of it's that Nicky Russo unknowingly radiates this comforting presence. He may not have the right words and he carries himself awkwardly in tough situations, but just the fact that he cares enough to be there makes her feel better.
"I gave her a hug when I first saw her. That counts, right? She looked like she really needed one," Nicky says, driving his fingers through his short, prickly raven tresses at the back of his head. "All I know is that when I get like that I like to be left alone. The wound is still fresh. Besides, I don't know anything I could do or say to help her right now. It's good she's got her mom."
"When you get like that?" Kaylie asks because it's just easier than concentrating on the mom part. "When exactly have you had your dream taken away from you for a second time?"
"Alright, so it may not be exactly the same thing, but I didn't get to go to France either," he reminds her.
"What's with that anyways?" she asks, genuinely curious.
Nicky shrugs. "Forget it. Let's get of here, huh?"
"Yeah, sure," Kaylie says, though her curiosity isn't satiated in the least. "Where did you have in mind?"
Nicky's lips turn up in a smile full of mischief. He moves to stand right in front of her, too close for Kaylie's liking, especially right out in front of the Rock. His hand covers hers and at his surprisingly soft touch, Kaylie can feel a blush crawling up the side of her neck. She gets that sort of pained, uncomfortable yet slightly aroused look to her face as Nicky untangles her fingers from around her ring of keys and steals them from her.
"C'mon. We'll take your car."
Nicky quickly moves around the side of the vehicle, smirking successfully to himself. Kaylie lingers at the front of her car, trying to compose herself. Seriously, they've been friends for a while now. He shouldn't still be able to get to her like that. Sucking in a deep breath of air, Kaylie goes to the passenger side with Nicky already behind the wheel. She tugs on the handle just to be rejected, seeing Nicky smirking at her from behind the glass window.
"Very funny Nicky," she growls. "Open up!"
He starts the car and revs the engine while Kaylie slams her palm against the hood, grumbling beneath her breath. Her convertible starts slowly moving forward, out of the parking stall and she would have gasped if she weren't too busy gritting her teeth. After pulling completely out of the stall and ready to exit the parking lot, Kaylie hitting the car and cursing loudly. Nicky finally leans over the seat to unlock the door and even pops it open for her, grinning innocently.
"What a gentleman," she glowers at him.
"Sorry. I couldn't resist. You just looked so pathetic," Nicky says. He takes the top down as Kaylie gets in, slamming the door a little harder than necessary. She pulls on her seat belt and stares out her window, purposefully ignoring him, which is fine because Nicky doesn't mind the quiet. He just doesn't want her to be alone, especially not her first day back.
They drive through town, past the odd yet functional mix of righteous bicyclists and giant SUVs. Kaylie, feet tucked neatly beneath her, stares out at the front range of the Rocky Mountains rising on the west side of town. Though France was new and exhilarating, there's something comforting about being back in Boulder. She probably wouldn't admit it, not even to herself, but Kaylie's sort of glad Nicky showed unexpectedly. It's nice to have someone to come home to.
"So what do you say we hit up a kegger at CU to celebrate?" Nicky asks.
Kaylie scowls, amused nonetheless. "You wouldn't be caught dead at a frat party."
"Yeah, probably not. I can't do that. It just sounds exhausting and, well, I'm not prone to stupidity." Nicky shrugs and then smirks. "But I hear you've had your fair share of fun at wild parties."
Kaylie groans. "Who told you that?"
"I share a confined training space with dozens of girls, most of who talk a lot," Nicky says offhandedly. "Kaylie Cruz, National Champion, not as perfect as she seems, turns out to be a popular topic with them."
"Aw, say it like you don't enjoy being surrounded by girls 24/7." Kaylie rolls her eyes. Nicky only throws her a smirk and Kaylie looks away. "So I think we can cross keggers off our to-do list for the day. Once you've done the whole drinking and hangover thing it loses its allure."
"Good to know." Nicky nods. "So what do you want to do then?"
"Just don't take me home," she whispers.
"That I can do."
They go to lunch at the Pearl Street Mall and then browse the bookstore for a while. He teases her about her face littering the magazine section and she smiles graciously when a couple little girls ask for her autograph. From there they're on the road again and he takes her to Boulder Creek where they randomly pick a trail and walk at a leisure pace. Everything is so green and smells so fresh. It isn't something you can get from inside a gym of sweaty gymnasts.
"So is it everything you'd dreamed it be?" Nicky asks. He kicks at a particularly large rock on the path, watching as it tumbles forward.
"I'll admit it isn't what I expected, but it feels good," Kaylie says, kicking the rock herself.
They settle down on some large rocks by the stream, beneath the sky that almost seems clearer and bluer than it's ever been before. There's the rushing of water in the background and faint laughter, voices of tourists and natives alike, tubing down the creek. Nicky asks how her trip was and Kaylie goes on to explain, modest at points, frustrated at others and leaving out certain key moments that would only serve as Nicky's ammunition to tease her immensely.
"So, um, what do you think of Austin Tucker?" Kaylie asks casually. She tugs at a lock of her straight chocolate tresses that are down and fanning across her shoulder blades. Nicky sits lazily beside her, turning over a pebble in his hand.
"He's a complete idiot," Nicky says with such conviction.
"A complete idiot whose face is plastered everywhere, wearing gold," Kaylie adds.
"I'll tell you what. The only way he could have possibly gotten those medals is if he was screwing one of the judges or something. The guy doesn't even have a system or anything," Nicky argues. "Whatever. Winning doesn't mean anything when you treat your craft like a total joke and your competitors don't respect you. Olympian my ass."
"Hmm, Nicky, if I didn't know any better I'd think you were jealous," Kaylie says.
"Jealous?" Nicky snorts. "What's wrong? Taken too many falls off the beam there, Princess? And what's with this sudden interest in Austin Tucker?"
"I might have ran into him a couple times," Kaylie quietly mentions, twirling strands of her hair around one finger. She knows the implication of her words, her tone, and saying them to Nicky leaves her feeling sort of unexplainably embarrassed.
Nicky looks up at her, brows furrowed. "Wow."
"Wow, what?"
"Wow," he repeats and then adds, "I just figured out your type."
"My type?" Kaylie raises both her eyebrows in surprise.
"Yeah."
"Enlighten me, Russo."
"You like guys who treat you bad," Nicky says matter-of-factly. Kaylie's immediately taken aback by his audacity and inhales sharply. "If Carter cheating on you crushed you as bad as you say it did, which we both know it did, then what are you expecting from this Austin guy so soon after that mess? Just know that while he's smiling at you and chatting you up, he's probably got some fangirl meeting him in his hotel suite later that night."
"Why are you getting all worked up over this?" Kaylie asks accusingly.
"I'm not."
"It kind of sounds like you are, Nicky," she shoots back.
"Is it so bad that I don't want my friend turning into one of his groupies?" he asks, sitting up a bit and tossing a pebble into the creek. "Honestly, Kaylie, being friends with a girl who looks at Tucker like a faithful puppy, now that's downright embarrassing. Plus, you're better than that."
"Wow, you just know how to make me feel so good, don't you?" she says sarcastically.
Nicky leans back and grins. "It's what I do best."
"And for your information, he invited me to a party and I said no. Partying the night before a competition is suicide. Not even I'm stupid enough to chance that," Kaylie explains. She leaves out how she was in her pajamas, face covered in cold cream, munching on ice cubes. There are some details Nicky just doesn't need to hear. "I know you don't really care or anything, but I'm totally with you about Austin. He's such an ass."
"That's why I don't date gymnasts."
"Hmm, funny," Nicky says. "I think you use to say the exact same thing about me."
"Funny," Kaylie mimics dryly. "I still say the exact same thing about you."
"Too bad you can't earn points for wit. Then you'd be National Champion forever, huh?" Nicky asks sarcastically. He playfully nudges his shoulder against hers and Kaylie nudges him back.
Nicky's phone ring and he shows her the screen with 'Coach Jackass' flashing across the screen. She encourages him to answer it and Nicky groans, pressing a button and taking his phone over to a bench in a shady area. Kaylie picks up a small, smooth stone and runs her thumb over it. No matter what she does she can't help the way her mind keeps wandering back to France. The more she thinks of it, it doesn't feel like a win at all.
"What's with the frown, Cruz?" Nicky asks. Kaylie blinks, trying to clear the foggy feeling from her head as Nicky settles back down beside her. "I don't know if it's registered yet, but you just placed first worldwide. You do realize that, right?"
"Yeah, sure," Kaylie says softly. "It's just that I…I tried. I really tried as hard as I could to keep everything from falling apart in France and none of it paid off. I'm starting to think I'm not cut out for this team leader thing."
"Who's asking you to be?"
"Beals." That name tastes like poison on her tongue.
"I mean, teamwork, it's the American way or at least that's what our country tries to sell, but competition is human nature. You can say what you want, but you know every gymnast has some ulterior motive, a rivalry between supposed teammates. Trying to be in charge of girls who secretly hope their teammates rip an Achilles tendon try as you may, but it's a waste of time." Nicky shakes his head. "Don't let Beals in your head. Woman's a complete mind-fuck."
"You sound a bit personal there, Russo," Kaylie says. "Does this have anything to do with the reason why you weren't in France when I clearly needed someone to talk to and all I had was Lauren Tanner?"
"I can't be here for you forever, Kaylie," he tells her honestly.
"Don't try to chance the subject, Nicky," she says quickly in return.
He moves his eyes down to the bank where water is just barely trickling over the smooth stones. Kaylie looks hard at him. She knows that once you get past the arrogance and the defenses Nicky is just this puzzle waiting for people to be bold enough to try and figure him out. She's had this strange feeling ever since she saw him across the parking lot. No doubt Nicky Russo is full of secrets, but there's one he's trying particularly hard to hide from her.
"The people I train with in Denver are annoying," he says.
"Duh," Kaylie can't help, but add.
"Like so annoying," Nicky says with an even greater emphasis on his words. Kaylie has a Valley Girl comment on the tip of her tongue, but finds some self-restraint and holds her tongue. "And I don't just mean the girls. Marty…wow, that guy is one piece of work."
"Nicky, don't tell me…"
"He said some things he shouldn't have," Nicky goes on. "It wasn't very professional of him and I didn't particularly enjoy it. We had a sort of altercation days before France. That was my coach on the phone. He says I'm all in the clear and to expect a lot of running tomorrow at practice. It isn't a big deal. I wasn't worried. They need me. Like they can count on a slacker like Tucker to bring America a gold on his own."
Kaylie can't help, but smile a little. "Aww, Nicky, you were defending my honor. How noble."
Nicky looks at her with brows furrowed. "Who says things like that anymore?"
"Shut up. I'm trying to show my appreciation," Kaylie says, linking her arm in the crook of his elbow. She rests her cheek against his bicep as they watch the light fade from the sky. "That was kinda stupid, don't you think? Sweet, sure, but what did you say about not being prone to stupidity?"
"You know, you really suck at showing your appreciation," Nicky warns her. Kaylie only smiles her herself and curls her body closer towards him, hugging his arm.
Kaylie doesn't push for details and Nicky doesn't seem to be boasting about it either. They just sit and observe nature. Kaylie won't mention the warmth she feels, spreading all throughout her body at the thought that at least someone cares enough to fight for her. Because, sure, the universe may hand her opportunities and she may take them, but life is empty without someone to share all of that with.
Nicky just turns to her and asks if she knows how to skim rocks. Kaylie nods and tells him this little story about her father, one of the few that aren't marked by shouting and slamming doors. It starts out innocent enough. Both scoop up a handful of stones and one by one make them skid across the surface of the water. Inevitably, it becomes somewhat of a competition. It ends with the two knee-deep in water, clothes drenched and wearing matching smiles.
It's baffling to think that a moment like this, as miniscule and unimportant as it seems, can feel just as good as standing up at that podium, smiling, as the surrounding crowd explodes with cheers. The smiling, clapping, nameless faces don't seem to measure up to Nicky Russo, just Nicky, smiling, actually smiling, and using his huge man hands to douse her with water.
They race back to the car and when Kaylie gets there first she locks him out much like he had earlier. She starts driving, laughing to herself, watching in the rearview mirror as Nicky Russo with his soaked hoodie and dripping shorts, jogs after her. Eventually she stops, afraid he might pull something or strain something. Then they start the drive back to the Rock. Kaylie's beaming and it's Nicky's turn to purposefully ignore her and stare out the window.
"So you don't want me to follow behind and see you home?" Nicky asks once they're back in the parking lot of the Rock.
"I think I can manage without you. You know, you won't be here for me forever," Kaylie says with a knowing little smile. "Plus, being friends with a guy who follows me around like a faithful puppy, now that's downright embarrassing."
"Shut up," Nicky rasps, but there's no malice in his voice. He brings his strong arms around her in a hug, resting his hands at the small of her back. Kaylie encircles his neck and turns her face into his neck, screwing her eyes closed to savor the moment. "You really did do great, Kaylie. You're a strong gymnast. I mean it."
"Thanks, Nicky," she whispers against his skin. Coming from him, it really does mean a lot.
"Just remember," he says quietly into her hair. "If I was a chick or you were a dude and we were competing against each other I'd totally kick your ass."
Kaylie groans and tries to push him away, but Nicky just chuckles and gives her one last squeeze. Then he kisses the top of her head and walks away.
Fini
Author's note: So I'm trying to write a potential novel, but Kaylie and Nicky just won't get out of my head and refuse to let me work on anything else. If you write then you have to know what I'm going through, right? The Kaylicky plot bunnies are relentless.
Secondly, guys, I love Payson/Nicky! I do, but I just can't write them. Like, their story is something so sweet and pure and I can't bring myself to even try to touch that perfection. Kaylie/Nicky on the other hand is a hot mess and fun to manipulate. I love hearing from readers and talking about shows, but these Payson/Nicky, anti-Kaylicky PMs are getting out of control! I'm allowed to like both, aren't I?
Anyways, favoring is great. Reviews are love. Both of them = Gold. [:
