Chapter 3- Preparations and Interrogations
"Pay, I have to ask you something and you can't get mad."Lauren said, breaking the comfortable silence from her place on the floor in front of the mirror in Payson and Emily's hotel room. Payson sent the devious blonde a glance; she was currently unrolling curlers from her hair letting them fall gracefully, while Lauren was straightening her own.
"Yeah Lo?" Payson asked, slightly wary and fully alert, she tossed one of the now useless curlers onto Emily's empty bed. Emily and Kaylie were in Kaylie and Lauren's room getting ready. The rooms weren't large enough for four girls to comfortably get ready in a timely fashion, so they split into groups that would be least likely to fight.
"Where did you go with Austin?" She sent Payson a curious look. This was one of those moments, those incredibly rare moments, where Lauren was asking as a genuinely curious friend, and not as a bitch who would horde information for a later date.
"When?" Payson asked, distracted. She was focused on untangling a stubborn blonde curl without completely ruining it.
"When you abandoned Kaylie so Nicky could man up and ask her to this dance thing," Lauren stated bluntly, taking the section of hair she had recently straightened and braided, pinning it to her scalp.
"Kaylie told you." Payson stated just as bluntly. Why did I think she wouldn't?
"She said you pulled him down the hall and he was shirtless, which I want details on later, and that you weren't picking up your phone." Lauren replicated her braided crown on the other side of her head perfectly, and relocated herself to sit beside Payson on the bed. She began to twine her fingers in Payson's soft and newly curled hair, separating the curls from each other and fiddling with them, switching from an updo to a twisty sort of contraption.
"And?" Payson started on a particularly large curler at the nape of her neck, they seemed to be everywhere, What is she getting at?
"And nothing! Spill!" Lauren seemed to have decided that Payson's hair looked good as is, down and natural looking, and grabbed her massive make-up bag, starting to thumb through it looking for God knows what.
"Nothing happened." Payson answered truthfully, At least nothing that would interest that gossip fueled brain of hers. Lauren wouldn't have any interest in how comfortable Payson felt around Austin, how nice his skin felt against hers, how good he smelt, something tangy that she thought was cinnamon. She wouldn't care about the fluttering that began in her stomach when he pulled her up, and the tension that radiated off the both of them while they were so damn close. No, Lauren would definitely not be interested in any of that.
Lauren scrutinized her, apparently deciding that Payson was telling the truth. She pulled out some light grey eye shadow and eyeliner that was barely a shade darker. Payson extracted the last curler and ran her finger through the curls, hoping the conversation was now over.
"Oh." She sounded genuinely disappointed and Payson willed herself not to take the bait, but she knew Lauren well enough that she wouldn't just let this drop and it was probably better to have this conversation while Kaylie wasn't around.
"What did you think happened?" Payson asked warily, Lauren has quite the active imagination. Who knows what ran through her head?
"Nothing really. I just kinda hoped her asked you to be his date for tonight." Lauren brushed some grey powder onto a makeup brush and motioned for Payson to close her eyes and lean in. Payson may not trust Lauren with secrets, but she had full trust in the beauty queen's make-up abilities.
"Well," Payson hesitated, Do I really want to do this? I haven't even told Emily. Payson sighed inwardly, closing her eyes, while fingering a curl that had fallen across her shoulder. Lauren started to apply the make up.What's the point in hiding it from her? She's going to see us later anyway. " He did."
The brush stopped mid-stroke across her eyelid. Payson opened her eyes so find a completely shocked Lauren Tanner .
"What?"
"Austin asked me to go to the gala with him?" She asked, not really sure what brought about this reaction.
"Payson Keeler, that is so not nothing!" Lauren's face spilt into a wide smile, her dimples coming out in a way they rarely did. Payson could see the cogs turning in Lauren's head.
"Yes it is," Payson rolled her eyes and contemplated taking the make-up brush from Lauren and finishing the job herself. "We're going as friends."
"Friends?" Lauren cocked one perfect eyebrow, "Like friends with benefits friends?"
"No!" Payson exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air hastily. Why does her mind always go straight to gutter? Atleast she asked, not just assumed.
Lauren's face fell, "Why just friends?" She sounded genuinely disappointed.
"Because that's all we are?" Why are we even discussing this? "Lo, you know I'd rather be reviewing old competition tapes and that Austin isn't a party fan if he isn't the one who's throwing it. Neither of us wants to go to this thing and as he put it, "Since we have to I'd rather go with someone I'd enjoy it with.""
"Aww!" Lauren cooed, a sappy smile she reserves for stupid sitcoms and romantic comedies splashed across her pink lips, "That's like the sweetest thing!" Oh Lord, I'm stopping this right now.
"Don't even think about it." Payson pursed her lips and arched a challenging eyebrow at Lauren, who waved it off.
"Why not?" Lauren pouted, probably figuring that it always worked on her dad, completely forgetting that Payson had built up a immunity to her pout a long long time ago.
"Because we're just friends. Not in the way that Kaylie and Carter were friends. Just. Friends." Payson picked up a hand held mirror and realized how ridiculous she looked with only half and eye done. "Besides, he's still torn up over Kaylie."
"There is something wrong with that pink obsessed brain of hers." Lauren pounced on the new topic with a fierceness that led Payson to believe that she had been thinking about this for awhile.
"I think she's confused." Payson felt the need to stick up for Kaylie, even if she did completely agree with Lauren. Austin was a good guy and he had been ready to put aside his Playboy days for her, and Kaylie brushed him aside, like she does every boy who chases her. "I was talking to Austin on the bus yesterday, and when she saw us she shot me the most defeated little puppy dog look."
"She said it looked like you were flirting," Lauren's input was immediate and said in a way that let Payson know that none of this conversation would leak to Kaylie.
"Oh yeah?" Payson took the brush from Lauren's hand and completed her eye quickly, about to start on the other, throwing a glance at the other blonde, "What'd you say?"
Lauren shot her an innocent smile and batted her long lashes, speaking in her sweet little girl voice, which set Payson's entire body on red alert, "That you didn't have a flirtatious bone in your entire body." Payson raised her eyebrows, a coy smile played across her lips as she caught the possible innuendo that probably had slipped right past Kaylie. A fit of giggles erupted out of the two of them and they exchanged smiles. Payson leaned back against Lauren's shoulder, still laughing, almost knocking the makeup bag on the floor. Why cant things with Lauren always be as easy as this?
"Yeah well," Payson said when she was able to calm herself, she still had discreet smile lines crinkling at the corners of her eyes, " I hope it shut her up." Lauren cocked an eyebrow at her tone."I mean, I don't need drama like this before what's going to be the most important competition of my life outside of the Olympics."
"Well then you shouldn't be going to what's going to be the most publicized event of this week outside of the competition with Austin Tucker." Lauren pointed out, unscrewing the cap to a bottle of mascara. "Speaking of Austin," She turned eagerly to Payson, "I want a full detailed encounter of him shirtless. Now."
Payson rolled her eyes with a small smile. This is going to be a long night.
...
"You asked who?" Sixteen year old National bronze medalist Michael Patrone nearly shouted at his twin. Austin leaned against a pillar that was planted in the luxurious lobby of the hotel with a smile. The Men's National team was gathered together, waiting for the Women's National Team, and their respective dates for the evening.
Adam smirked, taking amusement in the complete horror that was written across the replica of his own face. "Lauren Tanner." Austin fought back a laugh, He's so screwed. Michael's complexion tinted green. This was one of very few differences between the identical gymnasts, their personalities.
Michael was the better gymnast, but he was more soft spoken than his brother, so he was overlooked a bit more. Adam was more of the slacker that Austin pretended to be and got by on talent alone. Austin had trouble telling them apart, until they spoke. Adam tended to be a bit cruder than Michael, which was both hilarious and trying at times.
"Dude I know she's hot," Michael stated nervously running his hands through his curly black hair, his tense green eyes flicking to Austin's amused smile before returning to his brother's relaxed demeanor. "But Lauren Tanner is scary!"
"But she's hot as hell!" Adam reiterated, a playful smirk parting his lips. Michael slapped his forehead huffing a sigh. They both turned to Austin. This should be interesting.
"Dude you train with her. She's nuts right?" Michael pleaded with him.
"Lauren's not nuts," Austin responded with a smile, Adam's face lit up in triumph. "She's dangerous though."
They both looked up in surprise, "What do you mean?" They asked simultaneously. I hate when they do the whole twin vibe thing. It's weird. He saw where their confusion came from. Lauren Tanner was about half their size and she looked so sweet and innocent, most of the time, and she wasn't even a serious All Around competitor. What did they have to worry about right?
Wrong. So very wrong.
"All I'm saying is that you should be careful what you tell her. She has a tendency to store information for later use. It's a slippery slope you've chosen." Austin realized he kinda sounded like Yoda and wanted to laugh but thought that would ruin the overall effect of the moment.
Determined to get the upper hand on his brother Adam asked in an almost childish manner, "Well who'd you ask Mikey, since you think my date's so horrible."
Michael's skin tinted a deep red, Oh Lord. Who'd he ask? "Emily Kmetko." He mumbled, so softly that Austin was almost sure he imagined the boy even speaking. Austin smiled again. He knew Michael and he knew Emily, they'd be fine. Now that I think about it, they actually a lot in common. Adam frowned; you couldn't say anything bad about Emily Kmetko.
"What about you Austin?" Michael asked hurriedly, trying to change the subject, "Who'd you end up asking?"
"Payson." He noted the surprise on their faces and fought back a grimace. They'd been expecting Kaylie. He could see it written all over their damn identical faces.
"Wait, like Keeler? Payson Keeler?" Adam asked, trying to clarify his confusion.
"How many Payson's do you know?" Austin smirked. They really shouldn't be so surprised. After a few beats of silence Michael smiled, Adam nodded.
"Cool dude. She's hot." Adam said with a smirk. Austin narrowed his eyes and Michael promptly slapped Adam upside the head.
"Dumbass." Michael muttered. Adam turned to his brother and started to speak rapidly in their native tongue of Italian. Their parents had moved here when they had gotten married and preferred to speak Italian at home, Austin had gotten full dose of this when he had gone back to the twin's house after a National Team Practice earlier this year.
Michael rolled his eyes and started to reiterate back in Italian. Their fluid ramblings were complete nonsense to Austin but he couldn't help but smile. The erratic hand motions and overly dramatic expressions were entertaining to watch even if he didn't have a clue what was being said.
Austin stared over their heads, it wasn't exactly an accomplishment, he was the tallest gymnast on the US team, and Michael and Adam were easily the shortest at 5'5, only a few inches taller than Payson, and saw a familiar brunette walking in.
"Mike," Austin gave the boy a shove, catching his attention. The brothers stopped arguing, Michael followed Austin's gaze and he blanched with anxiety, his green eyes widening.
Emily had walked into the room, putting her phone in a silver clutch, Probably talking to Damon. She wore a short bubble dress that cut off at her knees; the deep green was a very attractive color to her, looking even darker against her pale skin. Her dark hair was curled in short loose curls that fell elegantly around her face. She looked great.
Adam gave him a small shove and Michael stumbled forward. Emily smiled warmly at him when she caught sight of him, his pace strengthened. Austin could see the way Emily's cheeks flushed with color as Michael complimented her and the back of Mike's neck turned scarlet as she complimented him back. A few more adorably awkward moments went by before Michael offered Emily his arm and they walked out to the car that was waiting to take them to the gala.
Lauren was the next to walk in, actually looking happy and she was talking with some of her teammates, and it didn't look like she was playing mind games. She was literally glowing with her white dress and blonde hair piled on top of her head, with just a few curled tendrils handing around her face. She beamed at Adam as he walked confidently over to her.
They talked for awhile before he boldly took her hand and they walked outside together. Austin wrinkled his nose, What about Carter? Honestly Carter hadn't crossed his mind until this very moment when Lauren beamed happily at Adam. He shrugged it off; Lauren Tanner was a complex and confusing creature that he would never be able to understand fully.
There was the soft trilling of girly laughter and Austin looked back to the main entrance into the lobby. Payson and Kaylie had walked in together, laughing at the punch line of a joke he didn't hear. Kaylie walked in with the air self confidence that screamed "I know I look good." Her dark hair was twisted into a half up half down style, The dark brown that had captured his eye all those months ago was a striking contrast to the light pink of her sparkly dress. Her tanned legs looked longer than usual and under normal circumstances Austin would have been feeling that familiar clench of his stomach, but he only had eyes for Payson.
Her dress was much simpler than Kaylie's, all black with a satin ribbon tied at the waist. It was strapless and Austin got another glimpse of her collarbone and shoulders. Her golden hair fell in soft curls all around her. There was very little makeup on her face, some grey eye shadow and pale lipstick, but that was it. She was beautiful and unlike Kaylie, there wasn't air of over confidence about her, and that's what was truly appealing about her.
"Wow…" Austin whispered to himself, he felt his lips curl into a half smile and he stepped forward, walking toward the two girls. Kaylie's eyes widened in panic, obviously thinking he was coming over for her. Ego much? Austin didn't slow his pace as Kaylie turned to Payson whispering in a panicked tone. His smile only grew as Payson rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
He walked right past Kaylie, stopping in front of the stunning blonde. He didn't speak to her, and she only smiled brightly at him, her eyes twinkling like mad. He held out his hand silently and she took it quickly, closer to his height than normal in her satiny pink heels, and they walked out, acutely aware of how many of the eyes in the room were on them.
As soon as they exited the hotel, the brisk nighttime air flowing around them freely, Payson burst into giggles. Austin felt the sudden urge to join her, her laugh was just to inviting to ignore.
"I take it you never told her that I was your date," He said between husky chuckles. Her shoulders were shaking with mirth and her eyes were shut, crinkling at the corners, the breeze blew her hair all around her, she looked like a picture perfect moment for a magazine.
"Nope," She opened her eyes and looked up at him, a playful gleam mingled in with her usual sparkle, "It didn't seem important." She's definitely something else. They got into one of the small cars that would take them to the gala. This night is starting off to be pretty great, he thought as he settled in next to this completely different, yet comfortably the same Payson Keeler.
A/N: First off I want to apologize for how long this update took. It was Homecoming week at school and I'm in the middle of prepping for PSATs and planning my schools Halloween Carnival and things just sorta got away from me. Second, I'm sorry that this is so short, at least in comparison to the last to two chapters. Okay, apologies over.
I had fun writing Lauren. I don't want to make her as big of a bitch in this story if I can help it, I just don't see the need for there to be two characters act so horrible, isn't Kelly Parker enough? Plus, Payson never really seems to have an outright problem with Lauren.
Kaylie bugs me. That's it.
Hint: Pay close attention to Adam and Michael. They just might play some leverage parts later on. They were easy to write, almost unnaturally so.
Wow. Long Author's Note. I'm done now and promise to be back with the Gala scene and some drama (because who doesn't love some good ol' drama?) As always reviews are appreciated, and thanks again to all the people who take the time to read this.
Oh! And before I forget, the link for the girls dresses are on my profile.
Love you all!