Bitter Rivals
Chapter 7
Awkward Arrival
"You have to tell her about us," Bailey whispered to Nicky. They were sitting together in the backseat of the bus on the way to Boston watching videos from last year's Nationals. However, Bailey was pressed against the window and Nicky was almost falling in the floor.
"No way," Nicky whispered back. He scooted even farther away from Bailey.
"It isn't fair to her," Bailey said.
Nicky rolled his eyes, "You weren't so worried about that before, but now that I'm only with Kelly your Miss Fairness."
"This has nothing to do with that! I really think we're being unfair to her! She's having your baby, for Pete's sake!" Bailey whisper-shouted.
"Again, the timing of this is amazing," Nicky snapped at her.
Bailey looked at him with a sad look on her face, "Do you really think I didn't care? That I didn't stay awake at night feeling guilty? Or that I'm just some backstabbing bitch without a conscience?"
Nicky looked over at her and saw the tears falling down her pretty face. He pulled her into a hug, and she didn't wiggle away.
"I don't think that, Bailey," Nicky whispered. "I feel as guilty as you do. But if Kelly finds out, she'll never forgive either of us."
Bailey sniffed, "And it has nothing to do with the fact that you'll go to jail?"
Nicky pushed her away from him enough so that he was looking into her eyes, "No. If anyone found out about that, I would go to jail. But the regret I would feel there would be nothing like what I feel now. Bailey, I'm so sorry."
Bailey's only reaction to was hug him again.
--
Payson was seated beside Meghan on Amanda's husband's private plane. Kenzie and Amanda were facing them because the four seats which they occupied were arranged in a conference style. Payson's guess as to why was Mr. Johnson used his plane for business like his wife did for pleasure.
"How long are we going to be there?" Meghan asked.
"Two days, plus tonight. I think you can survive," Payson told her.
"I'm not so sure," Meghan said before she reclined her seat back. Payson threw a blanket over her small body.
"Just go to sleep," Payson said.
Amanda had been silent the entire trip until she finally put her BlackBerry away and said, "Can you believe that women?"
"Mom, that's been a month. Can you please let it go?" Kenzie asked. She didn't look up from the portable DVD player Amanda had forced her to bring. Amanda told her to watch videos of the previous Nationals, but Payson was sure she heard Johnny Depp's voice coming from the headphones McKenzie had in her ears.
"I know, darling, but my lawyers won't even let me sue her!" Amanda shouted. Meghan sat up in her seat and glared at her. Payson put her hand on her arm, though, and gently pushed her back down.
"Well, maybe that's for the best," Payson said. "We don't want to add anymore drama to this. Do we?"
Amanda, who lived for drama and revenge, stayed silent.
--
Nicky stepped off the team bus when it pulled into the hotel parking lot. He walked into the beautifully decorated lobby. The manager looked as if she had a ten foot stick shoved up her ass. The was she looked at Nicky when he approached the desk made him want to go hide in a cave somewhere. He smiled at her politely, though.
"Reservations for the Denver Elite Gymnastics Training Center, please," Nicky said. He handed her the forms with all the room information. After Bailey's evening visits had stopped, he was finally able to get all the paperwork finished.
"Here," the women snapped at him. She handed him all eleven room keys. Each of the eighteen girls at Nationals were paired off in groups of two, except for the two top girls. Bailey and Amari were each getting their own room. And Kelly and Nicky had a room.
"And tell those damn kids that I will kick them out if I get noise complaints," she said. Nicky told himself in his head to just let it go. To just go outside. But no one insulted his girls.
"Those kids are elite level gymnasts here to compete for a place on the National team. There won't be any noise complaints about them. But there might be some made by them," Nicky told her before walking out the door. He walked back over to the bus and handed his room assignment sheet to Kelly.
"Okay, Ashley and Carly, Room 301," Kelly said. Nicky handed the two their room keys.
"Mariah and Sally, Room 302. Tamara and Gina, Room 303. Heather and Leah, Room 304. Paige and Jesse, Room 305. Olivia and Cali, Room 306. Phoebe and Sierra, Room 307. Shawna and Tera, Room 308. Amari, your in 309. Bailey, 310. And if anyone needs anything, Nicky and I will be in 311," Kelly said.
"Wait," Nicky said. He held his hand up and everyone sat back down in their seats. "The manager said to tell you guys that she will kick you out if she gets any noise complaints."
Everyone looked at him like he was crazy. Bailey was the only one that spoke, "So in other words, if we hear anything that sounds distracting, call and complain?"
Nicky laughed and locked eyes with the beautiful blonde, "Yeah, for once, listen to Bailey."
--
Payson picked Meghan up and lifted her out of the taxi. Amanda started yelling at the bellhop, but Payson continued into the hotel, happy that it was someone besides her. Meghan, still asleep, had the blanket still wrapped around her. Payson shut the door.
She didn't bother with her bags, she knew Amanda would never let her carry them when there was someone getting paid to do it. Just like she would never raise her daughter when, in her mind, she was paying Payson to do it.
Payson walked into the hotel and saw a very annoyed looking women standing at the front desk. The women was on the phone and Payson heard the end of the conversation before she hung up the phone.
"I'll take care of it. And tell the rest of your friends to stop calling me!" the women snapped into the phone. She then slammed the phone on the receiver.
"Can I help you?" she asked Payson in a tone that told her she didn't want to help.
"Reservations for Payson Keeler," she said with a smile.
"Here," the women said. She handed her the room key.
"Thank you," Payson said. She normally would have complained about her attitude, but she knew Amanda would make up for her kindness. She always did.
Payson hit the ^ button on the elevator. She waited a couple of seconds before she heard the familiar ding.
When the elevator doors opened, Payson saw the one person she had hoped would be out of her life forever. Kelly Parker.
How will Kelly react to seeing Payson again? Better yet, how will she react to Meghan being that close to Nicky? And now that Bailey is her normal, carefree, always up for a good time self again, will she be able to three-peat? Or will McKenzie de-throne her? Stay tuned to find out!
