Chapter 4: Confusion
Emily promised to herself that she would try to get herself out of the Kaylie and Payson drama. Now she is finding herself being stuck in the middle. She knew that there would be tension between the two and there would drama when she got back from California, but she didn't expect it to be this much. She had so many things going in her head. She just asked Payson yesterday if there was anything going on between her and Austin, and she totally freaked out at her. But from the scene she saw yesterday between Payson and Austin, it looked a lot more than friendship. She didn't know what to do. Should she tell Kaylie? If she does tell Kaylie, Payson might get angry at her. But if she doesn't tell Kaylie, Kaylie would be mad at her, too. Should she confide in Lauren? No, Lauren would just make matters worse, she thought. She would probably end up telling the whole gym. Or maybe she should confront Payson about this, and then pretend she saw nothing. Either way, she is still in a lot of trouble.
"Hey Em!" Lauren quickly rushed to Emily when she walked into the Rock in the morning.
"Hey Lo, whats up?"
"Nothing. Want to stretch with me?"
"Yeah sure." Lauren has been especially nice to Emily these past few weeks because they are the ones stuck in the middle of the Kaylie and Payson fight.
"So I heard Sasha increased your DOD yesterday! Congrats, Em!"
"Thanks. I think it's cause Kaylie has been pushing us more than ever, you know cause she the "captain" now."
Lauren had a smirk on her face when she brought up Kaylie. "Speaking of which… have you heard the latest news of the drama?"
"Nope." Emily lied. "Have you?"
"No, but seriously this is getting out of control. Did you hear about what happened at the party?"
"Yeah, Payson told me."
"Honestly though Em, do you think there is anything going on between Payson and Austin."
Emily's heart rate went up when Lauren asked that. She didn't know whether she should tell Lauren what she saw or not. "Uhm, I don't know." There was a pause. Lauren could see she was hiding something.
"What do you know that I don't?"
"What do you mean?"
"Em, tell me. You know something. Don't hide anything from me. We are the two mediators. "
Emily sighed. "Well yesterday, I asked Payson privately if there was anything going on between her and Austin, and liked completely freaked out at me, but she said no, and then just left."
"Hmmm... interesting.. So are you sure that's it?"
"Yep. Positive." Emily lied.
….
We almost kissed, Payson thought to herself. Why didn't I just continue? Why did I pull back? couldn't do that to Kaylie, even though her and Austin were broken up.
Payson was doing her floor routine when she saw Emily coming over. She finished it before going over to her.
"Hey Em."
"Payson, I'm-"
"No wait. I'm sorry for freaking out like that yesterday. It's just even though Kaylie and Austin are broken up, and Kaylie and I aren't really friends anymore… I'd never want to hurt her."
"I know. That's why when I saw you and Austin yesterday almost kiss. I wasn't shocked that you pulled back." Emily whispered. Payson pulled Emily into hidden corner of the gym.
"You saw that?"
"Yeah, its been killing me trying to keep it a secret from everyone. But don't worry I haven't told anybody."
"Please don't. We were just... caught in the moment you know?"
"Your falling for him, aren't you."
"What? No, trust me, I'm not." Payson lied.
Emily stared at Payson waiting to hear the truth. "Payson, I'm your friend. You know that you can tell me anything. You don't have to keep your feelings to yourself.
Payson took a deep breath then looked at Emily with tears in her eyes. "Emily I'd be lying if I said I wasn't falling for him."
"Payson, have you tried to tell him this before?"
"No, because I figured I can just brush it off, but these damn feelings won't go away."
"Payson," Emily giggled. "That's because you're in love. Those feelings don't just go away overnight."
"Unfortunately."
"Have you talked to him ever since what happened yesterday?"
Payson shook her head 'no.' "I've been avoiding him."
"Payson, you have to talk to him. And a word of advice? Just give it a shot."
Payson chuckled. "Its harder than you think."
"Well, take it from me whose madly in love with somebody. You don't wanna have regrets later on. You don't want to stay up late every night thinking about the 'what if's'."
"But Kaylie..."
"You know you have to stop thinking about Kaylie's feelings all the time. Its obvious she doesn't give a damn about how you feel, so why should you."
There was a pause until Emily spoke up, again. "Think about it, Pay." Emily left to go back to practice while Payson stood there for a couple more minutes before going back to her floor routine.
...
Austin was sitting watching TV alone in his house when he heard a loud knock on the door. The person kept knocking.
"Alright, Im coming!" Austin opened the door to find a drenched Kaylie in the doorway because it was pouring outside. "Kaylie." Austin said with confusion in his voice.
"Austin, can we... talk?"
"Yeah, come in."
"So what are you up to?"
Austin rolled his eyes. "I dont have a girl in the house if that's what you're thinking."
Kaylie's eyes widened. " I-I wasnt actually." There was a pause. "Look Austin, I wanted to talk about what happened at the party."
"About what? About how you didn't let me explain? About how you accused me of cheating?"
"I wanted to apologize. I don't know why I got like that. I guess I have this fear of losing you to someone else who maybe better than me. I guess, what I'm trying to say is. I love you, Austin."
Austin got up from the sofa and went to give Kaylie a hug. "Its alright Kaylie. I forgive you." Kaylie was sobbing at this point.
"I dont want to lose you again. I need you, Austin."
"I'm here for you Kaylie, don't worry."
...
The next day at the Rock was... hectic. Everyone was getting ready for a huge meet next week. All their routines needed to be perfect.
Austin ran up to Payson when she walked into the Rock early in the morning. They were usually the first two there. Some days Austin would come in earlier, some days it would be Payson. Today, it was Austin.
"Pay, hey we need to talk."
"Yeah I know..."
"About what happened- well... almost happened the other day at practice."
"Austin, we were just caught up in the moment. We both weren't ourselves that day. It didn't mean anything."
"I agree! I think we should just forget like it never happened."
Payson faked a smile. "Its a plan."
...
Later on that day was a shock to Payson when she saw Kaylie walking up to her with a slight smile on her face.
"Hey Pay, I gotta talk to you about something."
"Yeah sure Kaylie." said Payson with a smile on her face. This is the first time Kaylie said something to her that was not rude in weeks.
Kaylie made sure no one was watching or could hear them.
"Hey so, uhm, me and Austin are back together now." Payson's jaw slightly dropped.
"Uh, that's great! Im so happy for you two..." Payson didn't know whether she was lying or not. She was trying to get over Austin, but somehow this still hurt her that they were back together.
"Yeah.. well... Look. I know you and Austin are close friends and all, but if Austin and I's relationship is going to work... I need you to do one thing."
"okay.. what?"
"Stay away from Austin, okay? Dont talk to him. Dont call him. Dont text him. Dont go over each other's houses. No contact." Kaylie enforced.
"Excuse me?"
"Is there a problem? You want Austin to be happy, dont you?"
Payson stood there shocked and confused for a second before shaking it off. "Yeah.. but-"
"Then stay away from Austin. Clear?"
Payson didn't know what else to stay. Kaylie is Austin's girlfriend, she has to respect her wishes. "Crystal." Payson faked a smile.
"Great! So we're good right? I wanna put this silly stuff behind us."
"Yep."
"Good." Kaylie walked away leaving Payson clueless and almost in tears.
Author's Note: I DO NOT own Make it or break it! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and watch out for Chapter 5! Review!
