Chapter 10- Back to Boulder
Sasha studied the stacks of unfinished paperwork in front of him warily, debating whether or not to even attempt tackling the monstrous amount of work on a Sunday. It's not like I have an excuse not to.
He looked out to the gym floor, almost expecting to see Payson working the beam or Austin on the parallel bars, but it was empty. He sighed, not knowing why he thought he'd see them out there, training like it was any other mid-Sunday morning, they were in California with MJ until tomorrow.
Sasha leaned back into his chair, mulling over the whirlwind of excitement that had controlled the last few weeks since arriving back in the states.
The flight attendants gave the okay for the passengers to start disembarking the plane. Sasha stood and stretched, taking a quick survey of his gymnasts. Emily was trying to reach the overhead storage for her bag, a determined look set onto her face.
Michael came up behind her, reaching easily where she could not. He retrieved her bag and handed it to her with a smile. She returned the smile and looked to Lauren, who was batting her eyelashes at Adam. Sasha chuckled to himself as he watched the boy melt like putty in Lauren's hands.
Kaylie was in the row in front of them, sitting between Andrea Conway and Nicky Russo. Nicky spoke quietly to her and she smiled tenderly at him. Both had faced disappointment this week and seemed to be dealing well enough. Sasha hoped that his talk with Kaylie helped her get her priorities in order, but he feared a relapse in her concentration if she became involved with boys again.
Making a mental note to keep an eye on her he turned his attention to Payson, a few rows further back than everyone else. Typically Austin was at her side, grinning at her. She smiled back at him talking quietly. Sasha couldn't help notice that she seemed happier than usual, and much more relaxed.
Sasha attributed this to the fact that she had finally regained her confidence, her fire. She had taken one large leap in the correct direction to reaching her goal of Olympic gold. He reached up and got his own bag from the compartment, watching as Austin took her hand, subtly entwining their fingers.
Something stirred in the back of Sasha's mind. An old protective instinct that always latched onto his girls when they were around boys. He shook it off, he didn't need to worry, it's not like they were dating or anything, he trusted them.
The entirety of Team USA exited the cabin and walked down the ramp into the noisy airport. Sasha, hung back, walking behind the chattering gymnasts as they made their way towards the exit where a bus was waiting to take them back to the Rock.
He couldn't help but let his eyes wander to Payson as she walked with Emily, Michael and Austin. They were all walking together, but they were clearly sorted into two distinct pairs. Payson hovered closer to Austin than she did to Emily, who was veering closer to Michael as well. Neither boy seemed to mind, Austin had his arm thrown casually over Payson's shoulder as they walked, an easy grin on his face.
Mike was less relaxed, not having any physical contact with Emily, though his arm would occasionally brush hers. Sasha watched silently, not daring to over analyze anything.
The gymnasts exited the building, and were enveloped in a massive wave of sound and motion. Sasha hurried to the front of the crowd, catching Paul's eye on his way, trying to take control of the media frenzy that had been no doubt waiting for them.
Dozens of reporters with cameras aimed at them were shouting and no doubt over whelming the gymnasts. Sasha and Paul managed to clear a path to the bus, but Ellen Beals stopped them, telling the two coaches to let the kids mingle with the press.
Paul had a tight grip on Sasha's shoulder to hold him back from attacking Beals as she stood in front of them and all three watched as reporters snagged sets of gymnasts for interviews.
Emily and Lauren were at one section of the crowd, Lauren completely at ease in the spotlight and even Emily was smiling at the reporter as they answered her questions. Kaylie and Nicky had been paired off by the very same reporter who had cornered them upon their arrival in Rotterdam. The twins seemed to be having a grand old time with an elderly man as he tried not to get them confused.
The pair that everybody seemed to be waiting for was Payson and Austin. They slowly went down the line, hopping from reporter to reporter and smiling through countless interviews. Sasha furrowed his brow as she smiled at yet another one, though he could see the weariness in her eyes.
Apparently Austin saw it too. As they turned away from the woman from USA Gymnastics who had finally closed up her segment Sasha caught him whispering in her ear, his lips brushing her cheek. She flushed pink and smiled at him, touching his arm lightly.
"I think that's enough." Sasha said forcefully, loud enough so that Beals as well as the reporters closest to them could hear them. The women glared at him scathingly, but he had Paul to back him up and together they rounded up their gymnasts, herding them onto the bus quickly.
Payson and Austin were the last left outside, finishing up an interview with ESPN that they couldn't get away from. Sasha stood close, listening in on the conversation.
"So how does it feel to bring home the World Champion titles?" The young Asian women asked them kindly, her eyes flicking to Austin every few seconds. Sasha laughed at how oblivious Austin was, not even noticing the women's glances.
"It's beyond amazing," Payson said sweetly, beaming at the woman. "I honestly didn't even think I had a real shot, and was just happy to be on the team."
"Come on Pay, that's not true," Austin interjected with a smile. "You knew you were going to go in there and dominate, you just needed some convincing." They both laughed, and Sasha caught himself smiling at their lighthearted banter, not even the slightest bit concerned.
"Convincing. That's actually a pretty appropriate word, though a bit of an understatement." Payson smiled at him, though her words were meant for the reporter. "He's almost as bad as our coach Sasha with the pep talks, they just keep on coming."
The two girls laughed while Austin rolled his eyes dramatically, smiling all the same.
"You two seem pretty close," The woman was treading in dangerous waters, but she seemed to know what she was doing. "Forgive me for asking but is there any truth to the rumors that you're dating?" Payson's cheeks tinted pink and Austin laughed, slinging an arm around her shoulder.
"Not another one," She groaned, running a hand through her hair. Austin was smirking at her.
"That comes to a total of fourteen, I'm winning." Payson hit his chest lightly, mumbling "Shut up."
"Excuse me?" The reporter asked, the two had apparently forgotten that she was there.
"Austin and I had a bit of a competition on the probability of being asked if we were dating. Since stepping off the plane, we've been asked fourteen times. I honestly didn't think we'd be asked at all." She sent him a mock glare, Sasha recognized it well, "Clearly I was wrong."
"To answer it though, no we aren't dating." Austin threw a look over his shoulder at Sasha. "And no, we aren't just saying this because our coach is right there." They all shared a laugh and Sasha even smiled as the interview came to a wrap.
"That was great you guys," The reporter said kindly as her crew began packing up their equipment. Payson thanked her, Austin stepped away to take a phone call. Sasha sidled up to them, touching Payson's shoulder gently. She turned at smiled at him.
"I know, we're coming," Payson assured him, shifting her bag on her shoulder. The reporter looked like she wanted to say something and she seemed to sense that she had to say it quickly.
"You know, we'd love to do an editorial with you two, have your agent call us and we'll set something up." The reporter smiled at her and Payson smiled back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Thanks but, I'm still declared under an amateur status, I don't have an agent," The reporter gave her a card with a few numbers on it anyway and they bid each other goodbye. Sasha waved over Austin as they started to get on the bus.
"You'll never believe who just called me." Austin said as he climbed the steps behind Payson. She sent him a curious glance as she headed towards the back of the bus. Sasha slid into his seat at the front, but he couldn't help but catch the last thing Austin said.
"MJ Martin. She wants to be your agent."
Payson had sat down with MJ the next morning, her mother and Sasha sitting in. The famous sports agent was made some very convincing arguments and Payson had apparently been thinking about it for awhile now.
It was shocking to hear the amount of big name companies that wanted to sponsor her, and the well known editorials, Sports Illustrated among them, that wanted to interview her or feature her in their magazines.
Kim was wary, worrying about college and future eligibility for scholarships. Payson soothed her mother's fears with a single statement. "Mom, after the Olympics, collegiate gymnastics just simply won't measure up."
Sasha thinks that it was a mix of MJ's assurances about setting up a college fund and the full return of Payson's confidence that finally convinced Kim to take the offer. Days later Payson and Austin were boarding a plane to California to start the press tour/endorsement fiasco that is a part of the elite athlete lifestyle.
He got regular check-ins from both gymnasts, and Payson's were filled with complaints about the media and Austin's were about how she was blowing it out of proportion. MJ called him too, and her reports were surprisingly the most useful.
Naturally the press was all over Payson and Austin, dubbing them with the typical pairing name, "Paystin." Austin had found this hilarious, and Payson was mortified. Sasha didn't think anything of it. Until he caught Lauren and Emily giggling over a magazine that had Payson and Austin on the cover that is.
The picture that was featured on the glossy cover of US weekly showed Payson and Austin sitting at a small café. They were obviously oblivious to the cameras, facing each other. Both had silly smiles plastered on their faces, leaning in toward each other. Once again Sasha found himself doubting their ever present statements that they were only friends, and he was faced each time the blatant fact that he couldn't do anything about it.
There was no real evidence that anything was going on between them. The media tends to blow things out of proportion old man, you know that. Still, he couldn't help but be suspicious of the pair. They had gotten too close too quickly for it to be simply nothing.
The ringing of his phone brought him out of his thoughts. He reached over one of the monstrous stacks, mentally debating if it would be appropriate to beg Kim to do them tomorrow. "Hello?"
"Belov you need to control your gymnast." MJ's voice was instantly recognizable to him as it sounded out of the tiny speaker in his phone. Her tone was annoyed and exasperated. Sasha couldn't help but smile, leaning forward on his desk.
"What did Austin do now?" He must be on speaker because he distinctly heard Austin comment in the background, "I take offense to that!" Payson shushed him and MJ huffed in annoyance.
"Not him, he's been perfectly agreeable. I mean Payson." He heard the blonde huff angrily over the line.
"He's going to take my side," Payson said from the background. Austin laughed.
"What exactly am I taking sides on?" Sasha was fighting back the urge to laugh. Both women were obviously at odds with each other and he had to admire Austin's ever going ease and calm in the no doubt tense atmosphere.
"Payson is refusing to take part in the photo shoot that she agreed to." That doesn't sound like her. As much as Payson hates the limelight, she sticks to her agreements.
"Oh don't even!" Payson exclaimed. "MJ I swear to God!" Payson's voice grew louder. Sasha heard a familiar tone of defiance that he recognized from the early days of her reinventing training. "I was misled!"
"Payson, breathe."He tried to calm her through the phone. She complied, taking three deep breaths before continuing.
"My lovely agent seems to be forgetting that I was not told, what the photo shoot was for." Payson's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"I'm still lost." For the last two weeks Payson and Austin had been subjugated to every single amount of exposure that MJ could think of. Photo shoots, interviews in both print and talk show form, even a few commercials. What could Payson be so opposed to?
"Sports Illustrated." Austin supplied helpfully. Sasha sat back, impressed. MJ had actually managed to swing something with SI.
"She should be thanking me!" MJ declared from the background. Payson scoffed, obviously thinking otherwise.
"Yeah, the Swimsuit edition!" Sasha's throat went dry. "And I don't even get to choose the swimsuit I'm being forced to wear!" Payson huffed, he could almost hear her smirking in satisfaction. She had been right. He was going to take her side fully.
"MJ," He pinched the bridge of his nose, I really don't need this. "You can't go against Payson's wishes. If she is opposed to the shoot, then you can't make her go through with it." He waited for an annoyed response but one never came. He glanced down at the screen of his phone and saw numbers flashing on the screen, with CALL ENDED blaring in red.
She hung up on me. Sasha stared at the device for a moment, stunned that MJ had actually hung up on him.
"Did you really just hang up on him?" Payson asked, her arms crossed tightly across her robed chest. She had refused to let anyone see her in her bathing suit, calling it an act of rebellion. Austin rolled his eyes at her ridiculousness. She sat down at the makeup table where she had been fussed over, mainly being decked out in layers of mismatched jewerly, her long loose curls falling over her shoulders. Austin leaned against a wall in a t-shirt and swim trunks. He was all ready to goof off in the ocean, he didn't seem to find a problem with the whole situation.
"Yes. Belov doesn't scare me. If I remember right, when we were together all those years ago, I had him on a pretty tight leash." MJ smirked at the two of them. Payson looked scandalized and Austin burst out laughing, apparently finding it hilarious that their Sasha had ever been someone's puppy dog.
MJ's phone started ringing and the agent sighed. "Speaking of the British bulldog," She stepped away to answer the phone, leaving Payson and Austin alone in her dressing room. As soon as the door shut behind her Austin turned to Payson.
"Alright, what's really up?" She crossed her legs, the robe falling to the side to reveal her long lean legs. He caught himself staring, and mentally slapped himself. Focus dude!
"I don't want to do it." She insisted, locking her eyes with him. He could see her defiance clearly in her eyes, but there was something else lurking there as well.
"You keep saying that, but you won't give me a reason why." He sat down in the chair next to her. She had the barest amount of makeup on her face, just some eye shadow dusted delicately over her dark eyes. She was beautiful and he wanted to tell her, but not until this issue was resolved. "Come on Pay," He reached out and framed her cheek, "Just tell me."
That first kiss up on the roof top had unleashed a whole new torrent of emotions. Emotions that they couldn't do anything about. Not unless they wanted to sneak around and lie to everyone. Her parents wouldn't take to well to her getting involved in anything with the Bad Boy of Gymnastics, and Austin really didn't feel like have the NGO breathing down his neck for corrupting America's Sweetheart as all the magazines were calling her.
They agreed that they couldn't date, not really, not now. He had actually been the responsible one and the one to remind her of all the obstacles. Shocker right?
One problem. The feelings just wouldn't go away. They had spent the last few weeks together, spending nearly all of their days is each other's company, it was torture. They fell into a familiar pattern. They would hang out, enjoy being with each other, and one of them would say something offhandedly and it would throw them into a moment laced with tension and attraction, and they would come so close to breaking their resolve. And then one of them, sometimes it was her, other times it was him, would pull back and the moment would fade away.
If Austin was being honest with himself, then he had to admit that it was getting harder to pull back each and every time.
"I can't go out there." Her tone was so small and vulnerable. She leaned into his palm, sending him a shy little look from under her lashes. "I don't want to embarrass myself."
"And how would you embarrass yourself?" He didn't understand how her brain works. She was this amazing girl, in both looks and personality. He just couldn't wrap his head around how she just didn't see that.
"They're all models." She spun in her chair so that she was facing away from him. He saw the embarrassed blush creep under her skin. He knew that if he laughed then she'd get mad, he couldn't keep the smile off his face.
"And?" He moved closer to her again, brushing her hair away from her neck and letting his cheek brush up against hers. He dropped his voice to a whisper, grazing his lips against her ear, hoping to distract her, "What, you think you're not a pretty as those walking stick figures?"
"Austin, don't." She shifted away from him again, getting up to move toward the other side of the room. He watched her for a moment. She really does think that. "You can't sit there and tell me that I'm prettier than those girls out there, the ones who make a living on their looks. It's their job to beautiful "
"And it's just one of your hobbies." She sent him a look dripping with disbelief. He sighed heavily, "I don't get why you don't see what I see."
"And what exactly do you see?" She planted her hands on her hips and sent a burning look that just dared him to take a plunge. He couldn't help but be extremely attracted to her in that moment, that look was dead sexy. He stood, taking slow calculated steps toward her as he spoke.
"I see a girl; she's powerful and strong, sweet and kind. She's kinda short, but then again everyone's short compared to me." He grinned, stopping when he was right in front of her. "She's got this long blonde hair that falls in her face, it's fun to play with," Austin let his fingers run through her hair gently, the strands falling between his fingers like silk.
"She's got the most amazing eyes," He let his fingers trail down her cheek, tilting her chin up so that she was looking directly at him. "I see a girl, and she's absolutely beautiful." She seemed to grasp that he was being completely serious.
He feels them slipping into one of those moments, the ones where they almost give into the temptation that comes from being alone with her. He forces himself to think of how upset she'll be if she has to lie to everyone she cares about for him. She breaks the tension.
"Just because that's what you see, doesn't mean that everyone is going to see that." She pulled the robe tighter to her body. He sees her uneasiness is weakening, but that she's not ready to give in just yet. Austin wraps his arms around her, holding her close and places a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
"They will. Believe me, you can't miss it." He whispers into her hair. Payson looks up at him, studying him intensely for a moment. He stares right back, watching the emotions swirl in her eyes. She eventually sighs.
"Fine, I'll do it." He grins in triumph and she breaks the hug, playfully hitting his chest, making the numerous bangles on her arm jingle. She pushed past him without another word and walked out of the dressing room. She walked right past MJ, who is still on the phone. The former tennis player seems surprised to see her.
"The problem had been resolved Belov, I'll send you the proofs when they're done." MJ started walking behind Payson, Austin quickly caught up with them. She didn't question either of her clients, only led the way, taking note of how Austin was smirking at Payson, while the blonde was trying not to smile at him.
Payson took a deep breath, waiting for the photographer to call her over. The California sun beat down on the photo shoot, a light breeze keeping it from getting too hot on the beach. She still had on her robe, not ready to embarrass herself just yet.
Everywhere she looked there were gorgeous models, posing on the beach. They made it look so natural as they sent seductive looks to the camera. She sighed, knowing that her photos wouldn't look half as good as theirs.
She thought of the skimpy bikini she had been forced into. It wasn't anything special. The beaded pink and white design was nice, maybe a bit more Kaylie's taste in color, but it was the only thing she really liked about the bathing suit. Other than that, she kinda hated the thing. And the two others back in the dressing room.
Can't believe I'm doing one shot, let alone another two. The logic behind the process made sense, she might look better in this bikini, but photograph well in one of the others, but she wasn't a fan of any plan that involved her wearing a bikini in public any longer than needed. She crossed her legs, leaning back in the canvas chair they had provided her with, studying some of the poses that the models were using. My dad would have a heart attack if I ever posed like that.
"Austin, don't bother the models!" MJ's crisp accent rang through the air. Payson turned her attention towards Austin's built frame, smiling as she saw him completely not taking this fiasco seriously. He was leaning against a wall of a lifeguards hut, looking completely bored. He was chattering with a few of the models, and they were obviously taken with him.
How couldn't they be? He stood there, shirtless, carelessly flaunting his toned body. He smirked at their agent, before waving goodbye to the pretty models. Payson couldn't help the sharp burn in her chest as he interacted with them. She knew he wasn't flirting, he was just being Austin.
But still. Seeing him with those beautiful girls, it hurt.
Austin walked over to her, she smiled at the grin on his face. The hurt washed away as his eyes lit up when she smiled at him. His body was dripping with beads of water, his hair sticking up at all ends.
"Having fun?" She questioned him, laughing at his goofy grin.
"Hell yeah! The water's great, you should come in!" Payson shook her head, her fingers catching the silver chain of one of the necklaces that she had been given to wear for the shoot.
"No way, the last thing I need is the photographer yelling because he wanted to do a dry shoot." Austin shot the preoccupied photographer a curious look. He looked pretty busy, working with the cover girl, Brooklyn Decker to notice the waiting blonde.
"Come on, just a quick dip, you'll be dry by the time he's done." Payson shook her head firmly, not intending to move from her seat. Austin sent her a pleading look, she bit back a smiled and turned away from him in an attempt to resist him.
She let her gaze drift to MJ. She was standing behind the photographer, an young man with coarse black hair that was almost as long as the model he was shooting. MJ was surveying the scenes carefully, she was the managers of two other girls there, a tennis player and a volleyball player, so she was busy approving pictures for them on the iPad in her hands.
MJ caught her gaze, she smiled a bit and waved her over. Payson sighed, Oh goody now Austin can witness the embarrassment too. She stood waving a bit at a grinning, but silent Austin. She hugged the robe tightly to her as the breeze picked up, making the silky fabric dance around her legs.
"Payson I would like to introduce you to Marco Giancarlo, one SI's most esteemed photographers, and one of my close friends." Marco held out his hand, grinning at her widely. He was quite handsome, with kind dark eyes and tanned skin. She took his hand, he kissed hers.
"Pleasure to meet you bella," He had a slight Italian accent that sent a delightful shudder down her spine when he spoke. He immediately started to usher her over to a lifeguard shack type building, she could just sense the energy leaking out of him. "This is your first shoot with us?"
"Yeah, I've only really been out of Boulder a handful of times before, and even then it's usually for a meet." She confessed as he led her across the beach, fiddling with his camera lens as he walked.
"You are a gymnast, correct?" He glanced at her, obviously trying to size up what he'd be working with. She nodded, feeling her self-consciousness flare up as his eyes raked over her robed frame. "Wrong."
"Wrong?" She questioned as they stopped in front of the lifeguard station. Is he high? She sent a concerned look over her shoulder to MJ, a bit concerned that he might have gotten heat stroke.
"Yes. Wrong." He faced her in full, an almost mischievous smile playing about his lips. "At least for today."
"Okay…" She ran a hand through her hair nervously, not exactly sure what he was getting at. "If I'm not a gymnast, then what am I?"
"Today, you are my muse." She blushed at his words and his extravagant smile. He studied her for a moment longer. "Now carina how about you show me what I'm working with?"
Payson hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before she reluctantly removed the robe, laying it on the back of a nearby chair. Marco's eyes lit up, and he grinned at her.
"What?" Payson asked, self consciously wrapping her arms tightly across her chest, glancing back towards MJ. She was smiling at her encouragingly, but the surprise on her was almost obscenely obvious. "Do I not look okay?"
"Bella, you look fantastic!" She blushed, shying away under his eager gaze. "MJ, you should have warned me," He said with a smile, "I thought I'd be working with a stocky little gymnast, and instead I get this long legged beauty." Payson blushed again, not even wanting to take a glance at Austin. "No blushing! You need to own your beauty." She must look as unsure as she felt because he handed his camera to one of his assistants and took her aside.
"You look nervous." He chuckled softly and she bit down on her lip.
"I am. I wasn't prepared for all this." He looks at her likes she crazy, Maybe I am. She explains quickly. "Before competition, any competition I close myself off and I mentally prepare myself. Total focus."
"That might work for gymnastics, and it has served you well, but it won't work here." She bit down on her lip harder, her eyebrows furrowing. I can't do this. Marco looked around and caught sight of Austin. "You see that boy near your agent?"
"Austin? Yeah, we're friends." She couldn't help but let her eyes linger as he stretched in the sunlight, he didn't seemed to have noticed her yet otherwise he would have been smirking relentlessly at her. Get a hold of yourself Payson! Focus!
"Friends. Right." There was a knowing glint in his eye, something that both unnerved and calmed her. "Maybe it'll help if you think of your "friend" while you're up there. Having someone in mind usually helps." Payson took another look at Austin, chewing on her lip again. She turned back to Marco, and nodded, smiling a bit. He grinned back at her and motioned to the set.
It wasn't long before Payson was led inside the Lifeguard station, trying to make sense of what she was supposed to do. Replicate the poses from earlier? Yeah that's not happening. But one reassuring wink from Marco was all it took for her to get out of her head a bit.
There was just something about Marco, it just made her feel at ease. Soon she was letting herself relax, smiling and laughing. It wasn't until she caught Austin's eye, he was standing beside MJ watching the shoot. He looked absolutely stunned at the sight of her. She felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach. And a rush of confidence. She grinned and winked at Austin, loosening up a bit more and smiling coyly for the flashing camera.
"There we go bella!" Marco cried, she smiled brightly and locked eyes with Austin. She bit on her lip in a what she hoped was a seductive way and really started to let herself relax and act natural. This is kinda fun. She tried to pull him in with her eyes, not knowing if it was working, but it apparently made for good pictures because Marco was jumping for joy by the end of the shoot.
He nudged her off, telling her to change into the next suit and meet him at the beachfront hotel's pool where the rest of the shoot was taking place. MJ was gushing praise and Payson merely smiled, and thanked her for forcing her into the shoot.
She walked back to the dressing room alone, smiling to herself as she passed by empty rooms. That was…great. Why didn't I want to be a part of this?
Payson rounded the corner, still smiling like a fool, and stopped short when she caught sight of Austin leaning against the door to the room. He had his eyes locked on her, the intensity lying there almost knocked her off her feet.
"Hi," She said breathlessly. He didn't say a word. Austin pushed off the door and walked quickly so he was in front of her. Payson didn't even have a moment to think before his lips were crashing down on hers passionately. She went weak at the knees and melted in his embrace.
This kiss was different than the one on the rooftop. It was a natural battle for dominance, but she found that she had no problem letting him win. When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, she couldn't help but smile at him.
"What happened to controlling ourselves?" She whispered, not able to tear her gaze from him, knowing that he's catch the underlying meaning of 'What the hell took you so damn long?'
"I had control. All week," He ran his thumb over her cheek, his fingers tangling in her hair while his other arm hooked around her waist. "But you so were asking for it."
"Tucker, I wasn't asking." She pulls away, smiling playfully at him as she opened the neglected door to her dressing room, "I was begging." Payson almost laughs as a crazed grin breaks out on his face. She backs into the room and closes the door, trying to catch her breath.
Wow. Why would I ever not want to agree to this?
Back in Boulder, Sasha's phone beeped at him. He looked up from the untouched paperwork and glanced suspiciously at the small device. He opened the media message from MJ warily.
What he saw almost sent him toppling out of his chair. Is that really Payson? The girl in the photo sure looked like his world class gymnast. Same long blonde hair and intense blue eyes. But this couldn't be Payson.
This girl was staring at him with a whole new level of intensity. It was almost as if she was calling him to her, like she was daring him to take a blind leap. Sasha swallowed dryly. This picture is going to be published all over the country. He felt the beginnings of a headache hit him as he began to over think things.
He made a mental note to talk to MJ and figure out what the hell had gone on in the few hours between talking to Payson and now. Only one thing was running through his mind and it was exactly what he typed in response to MJ's message.
Just wait till Kim and Mark see this.
A/N: I am etremely proud of this chapter.
Wanna know why?
Because I wrote a majority of it in the last three hours. That is the quickest that I've written large block portions so far. Yay me.
Payson has figured out that she can actually get to Austin. Austin has realized this as well. I don't think he minds all that much. Sasha minds, but he literally does not have a clue what is actually going on.
So...I have random little plot bunnies nibbling away at my brain, so don't be surprised if the next chapter has almost no plot development. On the bright side, that very chapter should be coming very soon because I have the rest of the week off. *Happy dance!*
On a side note, if any of you lovely people want to see the photo I used for Payson's shoot, the link is on my profile. The model's name is Esti Ginzburg. She is gorgeous and I just sorta could see Payson in her in that picture. Another side note...would anyone be opposed to a little intrusion by Kelly Parker? :3
I love you all and to those of you who are suffering through midterms this week...My heart goes out to all of you.
Please review! It feeds the plot bunnies!
xoXoxoXoxoXoxo