Sasha felt paralyzed. It wasn't inappropriate. People kiss other people on the cheek all the time. In Europe is hardly uncommon, but there they were. He felt like he'd violated her though he was the one kissed. And before he could move, she shot around him to the oven. He was about to ask why she'd thanked him when he heard several giggles come from the foyer. Damn she's good. That would have been…not okay to say the least.

"Sasha? What are you doing here?" Olivia, Payson, and Becca stopped.

Coach Belov quickly returned. "I came here for answers. It is never okay to just walk out of the gym. Is that understood?"

Yes Sasha left their mouths in unison and he was gone before they had time to realize that they weren't even the ones in trouble.

Emily's POV

Becca and Liv fell asleep hours before they planned, leaving Payson and I just staring at the TV.

"Can I tell you something?" Pay said, seconds before I was sure I was going to doze off. Without waiting for an answer she continued, "I think you're a coward." I sat up straight against the arm of the couch. "I don't understand how you can just quit like that. You left me when I needed you. We were both supposed to be at the junior nationals and we were both supposed to be at nationals and you know it."

Her words didn't sound bitter, but rather sad. I nodded, but chose my words carefully. "I know, but I don't have a reason for you if that's what you want."

She shook her long blonde hair and hid her face from me. "I don't want one; I just don't want you wasting a lot of people's time if you're just going to leave again."

I took the hint and crawled across the couch to hug her. "I'm back Pay, I'm not leaving." I didn't know what had prompted her tears, but she'd been through a lot, a lot that I wasn't there to help her with.

I didn't go to sleep that night. Payson passed out at barely midnight and I sat at the kitchen table by myself for hours. I don't think it's possible to count the cups of tea I made. Wide awake and yet still dreaming, my thoughts alternated between my coach and my gymnastics. I visualized the different tumbling passes I had worked on, the beam routines I practiced countless times just because. Then I saw him, and the way he looked at me when he smiled, and the feel of his breath on my skin as I shivered and cried.

I ran to the living room at 3:15 on the dot. I shook Payson lightly to wake her. "How mad would Sasha be if I went to The Rock right now and begged him to train with me?"

She went from asleep to squinting at her phone so fast I wasn't completely sure she had woken up. "Scale of one to ten?" I nodded as she relaxed back on the pillow. "Remember when you cut the rope to the tree house while we were in it so Becca and Olivia couldn't get in and then your dad had to call the fire department to get us out?" I nodded again and she turned into the back of the couch, taking a deep breath. "Madder."

I smiled anyway, running to put on a leo and grab my bag. I had my doubts that Payson would remember our conversation so I left them a note by the fruit bowl. I drove, fast. Curfew was one on the weekends for minors so I crossed my fingers on the steering wheel. It wasn't until I was standing outside of his trailer that my heart started to pound. My fist knocked on the metal door unconsciously. I was scared to try any louder. I put my back against the door and slumped to the ground. I ran my fingers across the Astroturf and checked my phone. For the first time in years I wanted to be in there tumbling and sweating and trying to be perfect, but my timing sucked.

I looked at the sky trying to pick out constellations when I saw the light coming from a window inside The Rock. I was hesitant as I stood in front of the doors, but they came open without any effort. The sight of Sasha on the parallel bars caught my breath. I stood only a few feet away, staring at his lack of shirt, before I cleared my throat.

Sasha's head jerked to the right, but he didn't move. "What are you doing? You do realize it's three in the morning?"

I set down my gym bag and began to pace in front of the bars. "I need to explain some things to you. I know why I changed to dance, I know why I quit. I told you I didn't want to be perfect. I was scared, but I guess I never really knew why, or I just didn't ask myself why," my hands were fumbling in the air, desperate for somewhere to be. I watched my feet for a moment then watched Sasha do another push up before I continued, "Do you know how many dancers there are? I can tell you there are a whole lot more of them than elite gymnasts. And I always told myself I was just doing gymnastics to stay in shape, but then it hit me. I was just sitting there drinking my tea thinking about tumbling, and I never quit gymnastics. When I wanted to escape from dance and school I came here to work with Marty, and then I started going to Oakwood's. I didn't just go a few days a week Sasha; I went every day they were open."

He hopped down from the bars and grabbed a towel to wipe his face with. I started talking before he could. "It's what I always wanted to do. I just wanted to believe that I sucked because then I wouldn't have to make that choice. This sport is such a gamble. We're gambling on our lives, our futures, in hopes of what? I just, I've been lying. I'm such a liar." My shoulders sagged and I stopped pacing.

"Are you done?" he questioned, face stern, arms crossed. I nodded feeling like a child who is about to be scolded. "Floor, now." I blinked twice. "What are you waiting for? Go stretch."

I tripped over my feet as I tried to get my shoes off and walk at the same time. I fumbled with the zipper to my jacket, and almost fell to my knees as I pulled down my basketball shorts. I ran my hands over the blue floor after I sat down. I was momentarily lost in thoughts when Sasha barked again.

"I'm sorry, I was unaware day dreaming became an Olympic sport, I'll just leave you to it."

I looked up to see he had wiped off most of the sweat and put on a plain gray t-shirt. He looked back at me, first stern, then confused. Embarrassment hit me as I realized I was staring. My cheeks heated so I put my feet out in front of me and leaned forward to hide my face.

"What are you doing up so late, if you don't mind my asking?" I switched to a v-sit and looked at him before reaching forward.

"I had a lot on my mind and couldn't sleep."

I looked up at him and for a split second he appeared vulnerable. I saw the real Sasha. He wasn't looking at me, and obviously didn't know I was watching him as he ran a hand through his hair and stared at some invisible speck on the ground. His face was soft and I swear there was the faintest smile on his lips. But it all disappeared as he looked up from the ground to see me, not stretching.

"Do you need to do an extra half hour of conditioning to remind you what stretching is?"

Sasha pushed me harder than I had ever been pushed by Marty or Eric at Oakwood. He made me want to quit, but half way through I understood that was his point. He thought this was just some passing thought in my head and he needed confirmation that I was serious. I tried to prove it to him. I didn't complain. I put all of my worries about why I quit out of my head and tried to stay in the moment.

The only time my thoughts diverted was when I caught a glimpse of Sasha without his stern coach face on. When I did I would falter, just a bit, and the coach would come back and ruin it.

"Emily, I think we should be done for today," Sasha said putting a hand on my shoulder.

Even I couldn't argue. I could feel the sleep in my eyes; they were heavy. I thought I would shatter from the stiffness I felt in my joints. But most of all, I could feel my body heat up as Sasha touched me. I smiled up at him wrapped my arms around his torso in a quick hug. His body went rigid before he hugged me back lightly.

"Thank you. Thank you for making me realize that I was being an idiot, for pushing me until I thought of quitting. But I don't want to quit. I want this. I pretended I didn't, but you made me want this," I pulled away and turned before I regret saying anything.

"And I want you," Sasha said and I snapped around. "I want this FOR you, for you."

I nodded as I watched him chuckle nervously. "I'm going to go sleep now, even though it's," I looked at my watch, "eight in the morning. And Payson is going to kill me. I've really got to go."

He followed me out, locking up the rock, and heading into the air stream. I sank into the driver's seat after he closed the door.

"I want you too," I started the car and headed home to call my mom and do damage control.

A/N: So. It's been a bit. Probably not as long as it feels, but a bit. I wanted to write on this one but I kept having these crazy ideas for other stories so I had to get them all out so I could focus on this. I might be posting another Sasha/OC or Sasha/Payson fic if I can get all of my thoughts organized.