Part III

The Next Morning at the Gym

All the girls were practicing, trying to perfect some last minute faults before they left in the morning for nationals. Sasha and Kim were watching them practice from the office.

"Sasha I don't mean to tell you this the night before we leave for nationals but were starting to get calls from the press."

"That's normal around this time … what's the big problem?" He asked not really concerned.

"They are getting very persistent, a lot of them are saying they will be here we leave tomorrow."

"What" Sasha said as he turned toward her.

"This is gonna be a problem"

"I wouldn't be surprised if soon we have reporters lined up outside ready and waiting for a picture of any of the girls even the night before."

"For right now … write a statement and release it and then talk to all the parents and make sure the girls don't freak out. Right now they all need to stay focused." He said.

"Ok" Kim said then she went to work as Sasha headed down to the floor.

He helped all the girls' fine tune … purposely leaving Emily for last.

"Emily show me your floor routine. Can you all clear the floor please?" He asked all the other girls standing around the floor. He started the music once Emily was in her starting position.

As Emily was doing her routine, Sasha was spending the whole time trying to figure out a way to tell Emily. She stuck her last landing finished out her routine then ran over to Sasha.

"How was that?" She asked.

"Great … changing the music back really helped."

"Thanks"

"Now run your routine again."

After Lunch

Chloe walked in just as the girls were coming back from various places after either eating lunch or just getting out of the gym. She walked up to Emily who was stretching on the edge on the floor.

"Hey" Emily said.

"Hey … how did your morning go?"

"Good Sasha's having my mainly work on my floor and it got a lot better."

"Good" Chloe said then she walked to the parent viewing area.

"Girls …. Over here please" Sasha yelled from the office " Good practice today … now go home and finish packing and get a good nights sleep. We will meet in here tomorrow morning at 8 am sharp."

"I thought we were meeting in here?" said one of the girls in the back.

"We were but as some of you may have not have noticed we are being bombarded by the press and I don't want them to effect you guys tomorrow morning. Don't talk to them. We are handling it. Now see you all gong to nationals tomorrow morning." Sasha said then he went back into the office.

"This is going to be a long couple of days" Emily said then they went and changed and left the gym.

As soon as Emily walked outside with her mom, she was bombarded with press. It wasn't that much, but it was enough to get annoying. They ignored all the questions, got into their car and drove away.

3 pm Emily's House

There was a knock on the door; Emily was laying on the couch, reading a book for her English class. Chloe had been having Emily just rest ever since they got home from the gym. Tunefully, Emily was glad. She has been working really hard, making sure she was ready for nationals in the coming days.

"I'll get it" Chloe yelled as she was coming from the kitchen.

When she opened the door, Sasha was standing there with one suitcase and one small bag.

"Hey" Emily said from the couch.

"Resting I see" said Sasha.

"Yea ... she won't let me move" Emily said with a sly smile towards her mom.

"Well she's got to be good for nationals" Chloe said as she shut the door behind Sasha as he walked towards Emily.

"But to tell you the truth … I'm enjoying it. All the working out and everything is starting to catch up to me now. I'm so tired."

"So that means no staying up late tonight you two" Chloe said "Make yourself at home Sasha" Then she went back into the kitchen.

Sasha walked over to right next to the couch, picked up Emily's feet, sat down and started giving Emily a relaxing feet rub.

"That feels amazing thank you"

"No problem … just relax" Sasha said and Emily went back to relaxing and reading her book while Sasha continued to tub her feet.

A Few Hours Later

"Dinner" Chloe yelled from the kitchen. Even though she had a few downfalls no one could say she was a bad cook.

"This looks amazing Chloe" Sasha said.

"Thank you … dig in everyone"

Once everyone was finished Brian went to his room and Emily and Sasha went back to the living room to watch a movie. They had offered to help clean up the kitchen but Chloe had insisted on doing it herself and for them to relax. Sasha sat on the couch with his feet on the audiomin and Emily curled up to his side with his arm around her.

"Can we just stay like this forever? Just forget about nationals and all the press?" Emily asked looking up at Sasha.

"Umm … don't think so … you could … but you would have to leave the rock and … and leave me" He said in a joking manner.

"and we could never have that"

"After nationals your all going to have some time off. We'll have time to relax then" Sasha said then he kissed the top of her head.

They spent the rest of the night just relaxing and enjoying their time together. They went to bed early. Chloe took the couch and Emily and Sasha took the bed. Chloe trusted them and knew they wouldn't do anything. It was just a nice treat right before nationals.

Day of Nationals

"Wakey … Wakey" Chloe screamed as she walked into the bedroom.

"What time is it?" Emily asked not moving from Sasha's grasp.\

"6:30"

"That's early"

"Well Brian's already awake and breakfast is almost ready."

"She's too hyper this early in the morning" Sasha said not moving an inch either.

"She's not normally like this … I usually have to drag her out of bed to get me to practice on time"

"Hurry up you two … Nationals today!" Chloe yelled from the kitchen.

"We do have to get up" Sasha said.

"Fine" Emily said as she gave him a kiss and got out of the bed. Sasha lingered for a moment then followed.

They slowly dressed in their rock sweatshirts and jeans then headed out into the kitchen where Chloe was putting the last parts of breakfast on the table.

"Come sit … come sit … my future Olympian and her coach/boyfriend gotta eat"

"I think she's more excited then me!" Emily said as she ate.

"She has a right to be … 5 days from now you could be on the national team and I truly believe maybe even a medalist. She has every right to be proud. This is a big deal" Sasha said then he kissed Emily.

"Watch it … that's my sister" Brian said then laughed. Sasha just gave Brian a small smile then they all continued eating.

About 30 minutes later they were all done eating and while Chloe was finishing cleaning up and getting ready Sasha and Emily went back to the bedroom to grab their stuff. Once everything was together they sat on the bed and just talked.

"You know we could be waiting for awhile … she has to put her face on" Emily said teasingly.

"That's okay" He said as he pulled her back on the bed.

"What was that for?"She said.

"So I could do this easier" He said as he leaned over and kissed her.

This continued until they heard a clearing of the throat from the doorway. They jumped to see Brian sitting there.

"Moms loading the car. She said she needs your guys help"

"Okay … we'll meet you guys outside" Emily said and Brian rolled away.

"That was embarrassing" She said.

"Well … ummm … yea … lets get going" Sasha said then he helped her off the bed, grabbed their bags and walked outside. They put their bags bag the trunk where Chloe was loading in her and Brian's bags. Sasha insisted that she go check the house and make sure they had everything while he finished packing the car.

"Thanks Sasha …. Don't forget to leave enough room for Brian's chair once Emily loads him in." She said then she headed in the house.

Once Emily had helped Brian get into the car and put his chair in the trunk she helped Sasha put the last but of stuff in the trunk.

"Once we get to the gym I'm going to have to go be coach and deal with all the press."

"That's understandable "

"Also when we get there I suggest you go straight inside so your not bombarded by questions from the press … me and Kim will handle that" Sasha said while they were sitting the back seat.

"I'm surprised they didn't try to get us here" Emily said looking around.

"I know … I'm surprised too" Sasha said while looking around.

"Everyone sure they have everything?" Chloe said as she got in.

"Yea" All three said back.

"Ok lets go" Chloe said as she started the car, pulled out of the driveway and headed for the gym. As they drove away you saw on the back window it said "London 2012 or BUST!"

Emily Kimetko

Future Olympic Champion

The Rock

As they pulled into the gym they were surprised that the only things in the parking lot were the bus, and the people loading in all the girls bags, no reporters in sight.

"Ummm" Emily said.

"Yea" Sasha said just as shocked as she was.

They pulled in and as Sasha got out of the car Kim walked over to her.

"Kim … I thought we were going to have a press conference? Why isn't there any press here?" Sasha asked.

"I spent most of the night making sure they wouldn't disturb us."

"Okay … I'll see you inside?" He said to Kim.

Kim nodded then headed back into the gym. Sasha grabbed Brian's chair and put it by the passenger side door for Brian to slide into. Once he was in Sasha shut the door behind him. They all went and grabbed their stuff, they took what they wanted with them for the trip and put the rest by the bus where some guys were loading them into the under bus storage. They then headed into the gym.

When they entered, Sasha went upstairs into the office and Emily walked over to where Kaylie, Payson and Lauren were standing.

At about 8:30 Sasha came out of the office with Kim following close behind. He walked down the stairs and stood in front of all the girls.

"Today …. Is a big day … once you guys walk out that door some of your lives will never be the same … some of you will be on the national team and yours lives will change forever. Okay … lets go" Sasha said with a slight smile.

Emily walked to his side and gave him a smile he smiled back as they walked out to the bus. Once they got onto the bus Sasha sat in the front seat by the door with Kim on the other side behind the driver. Lauren sat with Kaylie a few seats behind Sasha and Payson sat towards the back with Emily, both of them listening to their ipods, most likely going over their routines, so started their 2 day journey to Boston.

2 Days Later

"Pack up your stuff kids were about 10 minutes away from the hotel" Kim said.

"I never want to be stuck for this long on bus ever again" Payson said.

"I hear that" Kaylie yelled from a few seats in front of them.

"Well were about 2 min away from the hotel then you all can stretch and get good nights sleep" Sasha yelled so everyone could hear.

They pulled up to the hotel and concierge started right away getting all their bags off the bus and started bringing them into the hotel. They all headed upstairs to the 17th floor where their rooms were located. Sasha stopped them just short of their rooms.

"Any distractions that happened in Boulder you left them there, understand?"

"Yes Sasha" They all responded.

"Okay then … I'm in room 1616, Kaylie and Emily are in room 1615 right across from me, and Payson and Lauren next to then in 1617. So for the rest of the day you can do anything you want dinner is at 6 and lights out is at 11." He gave one last smile to Emily, handed everyone their keys then headed into his room.

Kaylie and Emily's Room

They walked in and Emily took the bed closer to the window. She lifted her suit case on the bed then layed on the other side.

"You okay?" Kaylie asked concerned as she unpacked her things.

"Yea … I just wished the press would leave us alone and just concentrate on our gymnastics"

"Well … all the press care about when they can get it is scandal. They are looking for anything to give them a sports star scandel"

"Yea I know … I just didn't think it would be all they would talk about … were at the national championships … there are things way more interesting then our personal lives"

"I'm sorry Em … so ummm … what are you wearing to the big mixer tomorrow?"

They spent the next few hours just talking till at about 3pm Payson and Lauren came in and they continued talking. At about 4:30 Emily got up and started walking towards the door.

"Where ya goin?" Payson asked.

"Ummm I'm going to see my mom and Brain … see how their settling in." was all Emily said then she walked out the door and across the hall to Sasha's door. He answered after the first knock.

"Hey" He said as she walked into the room and layed on his bed.

He followed her in and layed down next to her. Once he layed on the bed Emily rolled right into his open arms.

"This isn't how I thought it was going to be like"

"The press" He guessed.

"Yea … I just wish they would leave us alone and only concentrate on our gymnastics"

"I know … me too … but the press will do anything to get their stories … anything to keep their readers interested."

"What's funny is Kaylie said almost the same thing"

Sasha just laughed and pulled her closer to him and placed a kiss on her head. They layed there just enjoying each others company and the simplicity before the real work began tomorrow.