Chapter 7: The Plan

Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in like forever. I just needed to come up with ideas for this chapter. By the way, this story may seem like I hate Kaylie, but I don't. I just wanted to show a different side of her, other than the "Sweet Kaylie." I also got tired of Lauren always being the bitch, so I thought I'd make her not so mean in this story.

Austin and Emily decided to let Lauren in on the plan. Austin was very skeptical about it at first knowing how she could be a blabber mouth, but Emily finally convinced him, stating she's good at this stuff.

"What?" Lauren exclaimed as Austin and Emily let her in on what has been going on. "Why wasn't I told of any of this until now?"

"Because we all know you would tell the whole gym!" Emily countered.

"So… when I asked you a few weeks ago if you heard anything else about this, and you said no…?" Lauren asked.

"I lied." Emily admitted.

"Okay, so you lie to me… and you expect me to help you with your 'plan?'" Lauren put air quotes around the word "plan."

"Look Lauren I'm sorry I lied to you, but-"

Austin cut Emily off, finally speaking up. "But we know how great you are on plotting things out, and we really need your help."

Lauren smiled. "Well… I'm glad you guys finally take me for real." Lauren paused. "Under one condition."

"Shoot it" Austin said.

"You guys can't lie to me anymore. I need you to be 100% honest and fill me in on everything if this thing is going to work. Got it?"

"Yes sir!" Austin joked. Lauren sent him a dangerous glare that made Austin want to run away. "Mam."

"Good! Well then… Lauren Tanner at your service!" Lauren said as she let out her hand to shake.

….

"So… why exactly do we have to go to the gym at midnight? When we should be sleeping?" Payson questioned Lauren and Emily.

"Uhm because you need extra help on your vault!" Lauren explained.

"But my vault is almost perfect…"

"Yeah, but… look... you didn't hear this from us, but Sasha doesn't think so. He asked us to help you." Emily lied.

"Why would he ask you guys? Why not him?"

Lauren and Emily both glared at each other, thinking of what to say. "Because he has a date with Summer." Lauren blurted out.

Payson thought for a second. She wasn't sure what was going on. Their story was a little fishy, and not completely adding up. If it was only Lauren telling her this, she would probably not believe her, but Emily never really lies to her.

"Fine. I guess, if this will help me in the long run…"

"Great! Em and I will pick you up by 11:45."

Payson was contemplating whether she should confirm this with Sasha, but decided not to because there was no point. This is going to help my gymnastics, so there's nothing to lose.

….

At 11:30 when her mom, dad, and Becca were asleep, Payson quickly changed into her leotard, then put a tracksuit over it.

She was still wondering if this was the right thing to do. If this was some type of practical joke Lauren and Emily were trying to pull, that Sasha actually had no idea about, they could get in trouble if they get caught. Payson was interrupted from her thoughts by her ringtone.

"Pay we're here." Lauren said from the other line.

"Alright I'll be out in a sec." Payson said quietly.

Payson quietly left her house, not wanting to wake any of her family members and went to Lauren's car.

"Hey guys." Payson said as she entered the back seat of Lauren's car.

"Hey Pay." Lauren and Emily simultaneously answered.

"So are you guys sure this is safe and Sasha knows about this?"

"Payson, chill. Everything is fine!" Emily said.

"Alright then, but if we get in trouble, it's your fault."

"I promise we won't." Lauren assured her.

…..

Lauren, Emily, and Payson entered the Rock at exactly 12:01. Lauren was trying to hold back a smile, happy that this was going to work.

"Lauren, what are you smiling about?" Payson questioned.

"Oh, nothing! I was just thinking about Max."

Payson rolled her eyes "You and boys…"

"Funny you say that." Lauren mumbled. Emily let out a chuckle. Payson luckily did not hear what Lauren said.

"What was that?" Payson questioned.

"Nothing." Emily and Lauren said simultaneously said.

"Okay. Let me go change out of my tracksuit. I'll be right back." Payson said.

"You don't need to." A familiar voice said. Payson turned around to find Austin standing right next to the ropes.

Payson looked at Lauren and Emily. "Guys… what's going on here?"

Lauren and Emily just turned around and left the Rock. Payson walked to follow them out, but felt a hand grab hers.

"Payson stop! I'm not going to let you run away this time." Austin said.

"Austin, what the hell is going on here? I'm supposed to be-"

"Payson just hear me out." Austin paused. "Listen, I'm sorry for catching you off guard the other day, but I can't help the way I feel. Payson, I love you so much. And I know you feel the same."

"Wow. Thanks Em." Payson mumbled sarcastically. "That doesn't mean I want us to be together."

"Look, I know you spend your whole life competing. So… maybe it won't be only for gymnastics."

"What do you mean?" Payson asked curiously.

Austin walked back over to the ropes, while Payson just stood there. "Let's compete." Austin smirked. "Whoever can climb up and down the ropes 10 times first will win. If you win, we go our separate ways. But if I win, we give this relationship a shot."

"You can't be serious…"

"Actually, I am. Come on. Afraid you might… lose?"

"I'm aware of reverse psychology, Austin, I'm not gonna fall into your trap." Payson said while grabbing her gym bag off the ground, attempting to leave.

"Payson, what have you got to lose if I do win?" Austin shouted after her.

"Hmm… I don't know how about Kaylie?"

"Alright, last time I checked you already lost her." Austin countered.

"It's still not a good idea." Payson paused. "But, I will do your little competition."

Austin smirked. "What changed your mind?"

"Because Payson Keeler doesn't turn down a battle." Payson said while dropping her bag down on the floor. "One thing though. No cheating."

Austin laughed. "Don't worry Keeler, I don't cheat."

…..

At this point Payson and Austin were neck and neck. They both had a score of 8.

"…9." Austin yelled.

"…9." Payson followed. I gotta speed up, he cannot win this.

"I got this in the bag!" Austin yelled. Payson did not answer.

They were so close at this point, and this was the final round. They were on their way down when Austin heard "….10!"

Payson smiled as Austin sadly followed "….10."

"Yeah… you totally had that in the bag." Payson said sarcastically.

She won. She beat me. No shot with her. "Alright. You win." Austin said, turning around to walk to the door.

Payson's heart was beating faster than ever. "Austin wait!" Payson shouted while running over to him. "Rematch."

Austin smiled as he hugged Payson picking her off the ground, then capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.

"I said rematch, not a makeout session!" Payson said while pulling herself out of Austin's arms, before walking over towards the door.

"But that will work, too." Payson said before jumping back into Austin's arms and kissing him more passionate than ever.

Author's Note: This is NOT the last chapter, by the way. I don't know how many more to go. Review!