AN: I want to thank those that have reviewed. Thank you guys so much. I'm glad you're liking this story. I'm going to be following the show to a point, but after awhile that will be out the window...obviously. So please let me know what you guys think on this chapter. Read and Review.
Disclaimer: I forgot last chapter so I figured I'd put it in this so I don't get in trouble: I own nothing. All right go to ABCFamily and the creators.
She bolts up on the morning of the exhibition in Denver and races to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her. As she begins to feel her stomach turn in a familiar way she grips the sink and swallows roughly before looking at her reflection. The dark circles under her tired eyes indicate the rough time she'd went through the day before. Dealing with seeing Kaylie in rehab, dealing with Lauren make jokes and ridiculing her about him, and finding out a life changing and career ending secret was almost too much for her to bare. If only Sasha was here to help her through this, maybe she could be strong and maybe they could still have each other. The thought of Sasha and what could possibly be a career ending dilemma caused the bile to slowly rise in her throat. She lunged for the toilet emptying her stomach of her dinner the night before just as someone knocked on the door.
"Pay...you okay in there?" Emily's worried voice carried through the thin door.
Payson slowly lifted her head and leaned back against the cabinet sighing before placing her hand protectively over her abdomen. Her hoarse voice carried through the door of the bathroom. "Fine...just nervous, Denver looks really good. With Darby coaching us we don't stand a chance. Not without our real coach anyway."
Emily sighed before leaning against the other side of the door. "If you're sure. You don't sound fine. One second you're laying down and the next you're practically racing to the bathroom. Just wanting to make sure you're okay. Austin wants to meet us in the lobby before we go to breakfast. We should be heading out soon."
Payson mumbles a short 'fine' before lunging to the toilet again. A few minutes later she slowly stands and sways the short distance to the sink. After brushing her teeth and hair she makes her way into the bedroom where Emily is perched up on her bed waiting patiently for her to finish getting ready. After Payson pulls on her leo and warmups the two girls head downstairs to meet Austin and Lauren in the lobby.
"Kmetko and Keeler nice of you to join me on this fine Saturday morning." Austin gives a friendly nod and smile to both girls as they enter the lobby. Upon seeing Payson's pale face Austin's smile falters.
His brows crease in concern before slinging his arm around Payson's shoulders. "Whoa Keeler, you don't look so good. You doing okay?"
Payson smiles tightly before nodding slowly. "Yea I'm fine, just a little nervous. This is a first meet we've been to without Sash...a coach."
Austin nods knowingly at Payson's true meaning before squeezing her shoulder. "You'll be fine Pay. You always are. Just take deep breaths and relax." He turns towards Emily with his signature smirk before leading them to a small box sitting on top of the lobby desk.
"Okay guys this is the best thing I can come up with on such short notice. These are colorful leg warmers that go real well with our outfits." Austin smirks holding up a fuzzy green and gray stripped leg warmer.
Lauren joins the group and eyes Austin with a critical eye, before shoving between Payson and Emily to get the box. Ignoring Payson's glare at being shoved and Emily's eye roll Lauren screeches in Austin's face. "What in the hell is this fashion monstrosity? These are going to look hideous with our leos."
Austin glares back at Lauren before crossing his arms over his chest. "Well Lauren we are trying to save Emily from embarrassment. You know, your teammate. So if you don't like them, then you can just sit your ass down on the sidelines and don't compete."
Lauren crosses her arms trying to fix Austin with a glare. When it doesn't work, she rolls her eyes and grabs the first pair of leg warmers before stalking into the small restaurant in the lobby. Payson and Emily smile at each other before turning towards Austin and nodding.
Emily throws her arms around Austin's neck and gives him a bone crushing hug. "Thank you Austin."
Austin laughs before pulling back and grinning. "Kmetko, you're my teammate, but Em, you're also my friend. I got your back. Just like Payson does. Ain't that right Keeler?"
They turn to Payson and see her pale face and both of them go to either side of her. Emily bites her lip before putting her arm around Payson's shoulders. Payson tries to shrug her off, but thinks better of it when she starts to feel dizzy. "Guys, I'll be fine. I just didn't sleep well last night is all."
Emily rolls her eyes before shaking her head. "So you were puking your guts up this morning because you didn't sleep well last night? Somehow Pay, I don't think so. You haven't been well since Sasha left."
Emily regretted mentioning Sasha as soon as Payson tensed at the uttered name. Everyone was very careful about mentioning Sasha around Payson since the whole ordeal with him leaving. Sasha leaving seemed to affect Payson more than anyone and seemed to tare her up the most. Emily sighed before rephrasing her statement. "I just meant that we've all been a little wacky since we don't have a coach to lead us. We're going to be okay. So just try to relax and breathe. We just have to do one small team routine and then we can sit down and do nothing for the rest of the weekend."
Payson slowly nods before leaving Austin and Emily's small circle and heading into the small restaurant. She finds a small table in a secluded corner and orders water. Once her drink arrives she orders toast and eggs. She figures it isn't good for anyone to not eat before a competition...especially her. As she waits for her food her mind drifts back to when she first met Sasha and her first impression of him. From the beginning he was always their pushing them all to do their best. Now that he's gone, possibly for good, that fire that Payson felt when doing gymnastics is gone. A part of her is gone and she's scared that she'll never get that portion of herself back. She's pulled from her thoughts as the waitress places her food in front of her. The smell of the eggs makes her mouth water. A few minutes later, Payson is being ushered out of the restaurant by Darby and the rest of the team.
The short drive to Denver Elite passed by in a blur for Payson. Once there everyone split up into groups and began walking the designated areas for the exhibition. Emily, Austin, and herself was by a concession stand when a tall guy about their age walked up to Austin and tapped him on the shoulder. Austin turned around and stared for a moment before giving the guy a quick hug. He turned around staring at Emily and Payson before shaking his head and introducing his friend.
Austin smirked before the introductions. "Ladies this is my friend Max. Max these are my ladies. Actually they are my friends to. Brunette is Emily and blonde is Payson."
Max smiled and shook each of their hands before raising up his camera. "Do you lovely ladies mind if I take a quick pic?"
Emily and Payson look at each other before shrugging their shoulders and posing. "Looking good ladies. Payson could you turn sideways a bit?"
Payson runs her hand down the front of her shirt acting like she's smoothing it out, but really make sure nothing is showing. Once she's satisfied that nothing is out of the ordinary she turns slightly so her picture can be taken. She notices Austin rake his eyes from the top of her head to the bottom of her toes before zeroing in on her middle. She feels exposed as he eyes her, so she crosses her arms across her tummy in an attempt to keep his eyes from prying. She sighs in relief as Max nods, and stalks across the area to where Denver Elite is gathered.
Austin clears his throat before stepping up next to Payson. His voice makes Payson jump. "You sure you're okay Payson? Now that I think about it, you have been acting kind of funny for awhile. Something just seems...diffrent."
Payson rolls her eyes while discreetly placing her hand over her abdomen. "I'm fine. I just want to get this stupid exhibition done and over with. Tell me something Austin would you like it if everyone mentioned Kaylie left and right?"
Austin looks at the ground before meeting Payson's eyes. "I guess I never thought of it that way Pay. At least the person you...care for isn't dying."
Payson smirks at his choice of words before shaking her head. "At least the person you love is in reaching distance."
Austin stared after Payson as she walked away from him. The word she used to associate her feelings for their former coach was love. He always knew something was between those two, but never really got into it. Yes it was technically 'illegal', but you couldn't helped who you fell in love with. He above all people should know that. He shakes his head before trotting off after Payson to prepare for their exhibition.
The exhibition seemed to pass without much incident. After Emily's fumble and heartfelt apology, the meet went by quickly. Soon after the exhibition was over, The Rock piled into the bus with the parents following in their separate cars. Payson makes her way to the back, but before she could make it all the way she glanced out the window and saw a familiar blonde headed man. She gasped before sprinting down the isle and out of the bus. She runs towards the person only to stop short when she realizes it's not who she thought he was. She can feel the tears start to form in her eyes, but she stubbornly blinks them back. She slowly makes her way back on the bus and back down the long isle to her original seat. She slumps in her seat as her heart starts to break all over again. His absence is as prominent as it was the second she realized he'd left. She slowly turns around when she feels a hand on her shoulder.
She smiles as Austin rubs her shoulder soothingly. "Pay, you may not believe this now, but whatever is happening to you and what you're feeling, will get better."
Payson nods before turning back around as the bus slowly makes it way out of the parking lot. As she closes her eyes she hopes that eventually things will get better. They have to...for her baby's sake.