Bitter Rivals
Chapter 2
Surprise!

Payson watched Meghan work on her floor routine with the Junior-Level coach. She couldn't help but smile when she saw her perfectly land a round-off backhand spring lay-out step-out. It took most gymnasts months to perfect, but Meghan had land it in just a week.

Payson was secretly jealous of how easily gymnastics came to her. She was only five, yet she could easily compete with the best 7-9 years olds in the nation. Not that Meghan didn't work her ass off, she trained day and night. She did tumble routines through the hallway of their Manhattan apartment so often that Payson had bought mats to put down. Anything to keep her safe.

Meghan was Payson's pride and joy. Her only child. Her baby girl. Her last link to Nicky Russo. Payson was 21 when she and Nicky had broken up. Nicky wanted to stay in Denver, coach, and settle down. He had proposed to Payson, but she turned him down. The next week, she moved to New York. A month later, she found out she was pregnant.

When Meghan was born, Payson had very little money. She worked two jobs just to make ends meet. Mrs. Heinske, the elderly women that lived in the apartment next door, watched Meghan every day until Payson got home from her second job.

After three years of struggling, Amanda Johnson had showed up at her front door. The ex-figure skater had offered her more money than she earned working two jobs to coach her 14 year old daughter. Payson had taken the offer, and she regretted it every day. She and Meghan may have a nice apartment, food on the table, and enough money to pay for her to train at the Manhattan Gymnastics Center, but Payson hated coaching. It just reminded her of what she had lost. And who she was coaching didn't help.

McKenzie Johnson was talented, hardworking, and determined. She was also a rich only child who was used to getting anything that she wanted. Although her tantrums were getting fewer and farther between, she had thrown a few dozies. The most memorable coming when Payson had refused to allow her to compete at Nationals the previous year.

But after much convincing, Kenzie had agreed to wait until this year. Payson's winning argument being that her body could only handle so much elite gymnastics and that she would have a better chance in the 2024 Olympics if she sat out those National trials. Although that was only half the reason. Payson didn't think Kenzie was good enough yet to compete with the best gymnasts in the country.

This year, though, Payson knew Kenzie was ready. She had it all: bars, beam, floor, and vault. Her style was very graceful. And judges loved graceful. Evidenced by Kaylie winning Nationals after Payson fell. Kenzie was, in Payson's mind, a sure-fire medalist.

Meghan walked over to her, already dressed in her sweat suit. Payson looked at her watch. 4:30 P.M. She had been reminiscing a lot longer than she had thought.

"Ready?" Payson asked.

"Yupp. Let's go," Meghan said.

The two walked out of the main gym area and ran right into Amanda Johnson. Her face was the same color as her bright red hair and her green eyes were full of fury.

"You didn't tell me she was her daughter!" Amanda snapped at Payson.

"Amanda, I don't know what your talking about," Payson lied.

"I know you damn well do! Why did you not tell me that Bailey Ellington is Lily Fredrick's daughter!"

--

Nicky sat behind his desk in his office. He had his gymnasts doing conditioning so he pretty much had the rest of the day to do whatever he pleased. Then Kelly came storming into his office.

"Did you know?" Kelly said. She tried to keep her voice calm, but Nicky could tell she was barely controlling her anger at him. He glanced up from the paperwork he was filling out to look at the gymnastics magazine she was holding in front of his face.

"That McKenzie Johnson's mom and Bailey's mom were figure skater who got suspended for life for fighting with each other? Yeah, I knew. And I also know that McKenzie is supposed to be Bailey's main competition at Nationals next week. I know a lot of things, Babe," Nicky replied. He stood up to kiss her but she shoved the magazine in his face.

"No! I meant did you know that Payson is her coach?!" Kelly shouted.

I know I didn't write much about Nicky and Kelly, but this chapter was mainly about Payson. The next one will center around them, and Bailey though.

I'm sure everybody saw the whole Amanda-Lily thing coming though, right?

I'm totally in love with this story right now, so I might update again today. But only if I get motivated by good reviews (;

PLEASE REVIEW!