Chapter 10

"Payson, are you nuts? You're redesigning your entire floor routine," Kelly said. Payson frowned at her friend, not in the mood to hear reason. Sasha had been dating Kristen for weeks, and it was driving her insane. Her bedroom window faced Kristen's house, and every time Sasha picked her up or dropped her off, Payson saw it. She saw the way Kristen was throwing herself at Sasha, practically mauling him on her front porch, and it made her want to throw up. Even worse was that Payson didn't expect Sasha to deny himself for long. He was a grown man after all, and they weren't together so it wasn't like he would be cheating. He was free to do whatever he wanted, and if he needed a little release every now and then, who could blame him? Payson certainly couldn't.

"I am not. The first tumbling pass is the same. And the rest of it will be fine. I still have plenty of time to polish it before the Trials," Payson promised. She positioned herself in the corner of the floor, her heels wedged as far back as she could go without crossing the white line. She took a breath to center herself, feeling her feet sink into the floor, anchoring her. Then she was off.

She took a few running steps and then threw her body into the first tumbling pass; a layout one and a half into a round off, back handspring. She used the momentum from the handspring to launch into a two and a half twisting layout.

The landing stuck. She didn't waste any time moving into her second pass, a whip into a triple twist. She stuck that landing too.

"See?" Payson said, unable to bite back a smile. Kelly looked a little bit shocked.

"You did not just pull that out of your ass. Where did that come from?" Kelly asked. Payson just shrugged. Actually, she'd been working on the new routine for weeks, since the night Sasha and Kristen came for dinner, but only after hours until she was ready to show it off.

"I've been coming in early, staying late, you know."

"You're going to work yourself to death before we even get to London. That was impressive Payson but seriously, a whole new floor routine? You aren't changing any of the others, are you?" Kelly asked. She looked wary; like she was afraid she'd just answered her own question.

"Not in any major ways at least," Payson said. She'd made adjustments to all her routines, but most of them were minor. It was her floor routine that needed the most change after everything that happened between her and Sasha.

The double doors burst open and Kristen sailed inside, a basket swinging from her arm. A picnic. Payson gagged and offered only a grimace when Kristen waved at her. For a moment Kristen disappeared inside the office and then reappeared in front of the window, kissing Sasha like she was trying to swallow him whole.

Payson turned on her heel and readied herself for her third tumbling pass. It was more complicated than the first two; a full twisting layout into a round off back handspring and then into a double front half punch front. Her concentration was off though, and she fell on her ass instead of sticking the landing.

She stood and brushed herself off, going back to the start to do it again. If she kept her back to the office, she could pretend that Sasha was in there alone. That Kristen wasn't sucking his face off.

The second time, she landed on the side of her foot and went down, trying to spare her ankle. Kelly ran to her, crouching down, and turning to call for Sasha.

"I'm fine," Payson hissed, standing up as quickly as she could. She put some weight on her ankle, testing it. No damage.

"Payson…"

"I'm. Fine. Help me land it," Payson growled.

For the rest of the afternoon they worked on her floor routine with only a couple of short breaks for water. Payson was relentless, pushing herself to the brink. Kelly begged her to take a break, to walk away and come back to it the next day, but Payson refused.

"Well, if you keep what we worked on today, you've got a 7.0 DOD," Kelly said, though she didn't sound all that enthused. Payson nodded.

"Yup," Payson said. She still couldn't shake her irritation at Kristen's behavior. Kelly gave her a long look and then glanced up at the office.

"So what happened between you and Sasha? Did you break up?"

Payson's heart dropped into her stomach. Kelly had just hit the nail on the head, and acted like it was common knowledge. They had been so careful, hadn't they? Well, not really, but how did Kelly know?

"What?" Payson stammered. Kelly frowned.

"Oh, I just assumed you guys were together. Were you not?" Kelly asked. Payson thought about denying it, but Kelly knew her; she would see through the bullshit. Besides, Kelly was her best friend, did she really want to hide something like that from her?

Looking around the gym, Payson grabbed Kelly by the elbow and pulled her into the bathroom. Kelly checked each stall and then locked the main door.

"We did have something going on, we don't anymore," Payson admitted. Kelly scowled.

"Does it have anything to do with that blonde cheerleader brat that was in here at lunch?" Kelly asked. Payson could see the gears turning, could see her jumping to conclusions, and quickly shook her head.

"No. He didn't start seeing Kristen until after we ended things," Payson said. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, noting the bags under her eyes. She needed more rest. Kelly came up behind her, meeting her eyes in the mirror.

"Just tell me one thing; are you okay?" Kelly asked.

Payson nodded, even though she wasn't okay at all.

#

"Austin!" Kelly called, running after the Men's World Champion as he left the gym for the day. He stopped, his motorcycle helmet halfway to his head, and looked up at her.

"What's up, KP?" Austin asked, frowning. Kelly went to lean against his bike, her shoulder brushing his.

"Have you noticed anything strange about Payson the last few weeks?" Kelly had noticed a difference so stark, she could probably pinpoint the day she and Sasha broke up, but she wasn't sure if anyone else did. Austin's frown deepened.

"Yeah, she's been oddly focused lately. I mean Pay is always focused but this is like old school Payson. Did something happen?" Austin asked. Kelly could read the concern in his eyes.

"Yes," Kelly said.

"What?" Austin asked. Kelly sighed. She couldn't tell him if he didn't already know, and there was no way for her to figure that out without giving it away.

"I can't tell you, but we need to cheer her up. Take her out, get her out of the gym and out of her house," Kelly said. With Sasha dating Payson's next door neighbor, he was haunting her. Payson couldn't turn a corner without running into him and Kelly couldn't even imagine how awful she must feel.

"Great. Friday night let's take her out. My friend Rigo is already in the Springs, we can get him to come out with us," Austin suggested. Kelly faltered. She wanted Payson to be happy, but she wasn't sure that pushing her towards another guy just a couple of weeks after breaking up with Sasha was the right way to do it.

"I don't…" Kelly started. Austin rolled his eyes.

"I'm not saying we push them to hook up, it would just be nice to have another guy around for once. As much as I love having two gorgeous women on my arms when we go out, I need another guy to appreciate it with," Austin teased. Kelly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Okay. Thanks Austin, I think this will be really good for her," Kelly said. Austin reached out and covered her hand with his, squeezing tightly.

"No problem," he said. Their eyes locked and Kelly found that she couldn't quite look away. Austin's eyes were warm and brown, just like her own, and she felt like he understood her, maybe even better than Payson. Like her, Austin had a public persona that was nothing like him. There was something comforting about training with someone who understood that.

"Hey guys." Kelly jumped at the sound of Kaylie's voice, even though she didn't mean to. She and Austin weren't doing anything wrong. They were just talking.

"Hey babe," Austin said, letting go of Kelly's hand and reaching for Kaylie. She went into his arms and kissed him lightly on the lips, eyeing Kelly the whole time.

"What's up?" Kaylie asked. Kelly watched her gaze tick back and forth between the two of them. She shrugged.

"Nothing, just talking." Austin raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't elaborate for Kaylie. Kelly breathed a sigh of relief. She liked Kaylie well enough, but things were still a little awkward between Kaylie and Payson after all that happened with Lauren, and she didn't think Payson really wanted to hang out with her. Austin would understand that. "See you guys tomorrow."

Kelly watched Kaylie climb onto Austin's motorcycle and ride away. Something that felt disturbingly like jealousy zinged through her stomach. She didn't like it at all.

#

Payson looked hot. She knew that she did in Kelly's short, tight black dress, with her hair tumbling around her shoulders, but she didn't feel it. She felt like a giant in the tiny dress.

"Every guy in the club is going to swallow his tongue when you walk in," Kelly said, holding up a pair of silver earrings. Payson rolled her eyes.

"I hate clubs, you know that," Payson grumbled. Kelly checked her shoulder gently.

"You need to get out of your head and stop thinking about Sasha, right? Well what better place to do that than in a club?" Kelly said.

"How about in the gym?" Payson suggested. Kelly huffed.

"The gym is the worst place for you to try to get over Sasha. Now come on; we're going out and you're going to have fun," Kelly demanded. Payson knew that tone, Kelly Parker meant business. Resistance was futile.

"Okay, I'll try to have fun," Payson said. A horn honked outside and Kelly scoffed.

"What, he can't come to the door like a gentleman?" Kelly said. Payson laughed, which was something she badly needed to do.

"He's not taking us on a date, Kelly," Payson said. She grabbed her purse, a tiny black clutch courtesy of Kelly (just like the rest of her outfit), and they went to greet Austin.

Payson froze on the front stoop. In the front seat next to Austin was a guy she didn't know; dark hair that peaked out from a knit cap, dark eyes, and an easy, goofy smile.

"No," Payson said, turning to go back inside. Kelly caught her by the elbow and started towards the car.

"No, what?" Kelly asked, playing dumb.

"No, I am not letting you and Austin set me up," Payson hissed, digging in her heels. Kelly snorted.

"We're not setting you up. Austin was just feeling a little alone, he needs another guy to hang with us," Kelly explained. Payson eyed her warily, not entirely convinced she wasn't being set up.

"Fine," she relented. She followed Kelly the rest of the way to the car, glaring at Austin and smiling tightly at the newcomer.

"Payson, Kelly, this is Rigo. He's a BMX-er at the OTC," Austin said. Rigo turned in his seat and reached out to shake their hands.

"Hey," he said. His eyes lingered on Payson for a moment before he turned back to the front. It made Payson shiver, and she had the strongest urge to call Sasha. Austin eased his car out of the driveway and pointed it towards Denver.

"Where are we going?" Payson asked. Austin looked at Rigo and smiled.

"We're going to Suite Two Hundred." Payson sucked in a breath so fast she almost choked on it. Suite Two Hundred was one of the most exclusive clubs in Denver. Celebrities who came to town almost always showed up to enjoy bottle service and a huge dance floor, and local stars were there almost every night. It was bound to be a media nightmare.

"Guys," Payson groaned. "The media…"

"Might be there, but so what? We're not going out drinking, just dancing," Kelly promised. Austin snorted.

"Well, Rigo and I might drink, but we're both legal," Austin said. Payson rolled her eyes.

"And just what is Kaylie going to think about this?" Payson asked. Austin shrugged.

"I'm sure she'll be fine. Kaylie doesn't keep me on a leash, she trusts me," Austin explained. Payson wasn't so sure about that, but she didn't say anything.

The club was packed when they got there, the music loud and the bass pounding so hard that Payson could feel it in her toes. The line outside was so long it wrapped around the block, but once the bouncer heard Austin's name, he let them in and had them escorted to the VIP room.

Payson enjoyed Rigo. He was funny and not at all afraid to make fun of himself. He made her laugh. She didn't see a future with him, not the way she did with Sasha, and he didn't make her skin sing like Sasha did, but he was fun. It wouldn't be awful to spend time with him.

So when he kissed her in the middle of the dance floor, holding her close, she let him.

#

"So, last night was fun," Austin said as he stood with Payson and Kelly outside the Rock. They'd stayed out late, incredibly late, and they were all dragging because of it, but it was fun. Payson couldn't remember the last time she just let herself relax and enjoy something normal teenagers did. Although she was pretty sure normal teenagers didn't get special entry into exclusive clubs.

"It was great," Kelly agreed. "And Rigo was certainly a cutie." She nudged Payson with her elbow and Payson stifled a smile.

"He's nice. I'm not going to marry him or anything, but he's fun," Payson admitted. Austin laughed and threw his arms around them both, ready to go inside.

The double doors burst open, slamming against the concrete walls, and an enraged Kaylie came flying out. She had a piece of paper crumpled in her hands as she marched towards the trio. When she saw Austin's arms around them, she shrieked.

"Um, gotta go," Kelly said, but Austin tightened his hold on both her and Payson.

"Oh no you don't. She can't kill me with witnesses present," Austin hissed. Payson stifled a laugh.

"Austin Tucker, how dare you!" Kaylie screamed, slamming her hands into his chest. He dropped his arms from around Payson and Kelly to block her attacks, but she just kept coming at him.

"Kaylie, stop!" Payson finally shouted, pulling her tiny friend away. Kaylie thrashed in her grip. "What the hell is going on?"

"You two," Kaylie growled, pointing at Kelly and Austin. "How long have you been hooking up behind my back? Weeks? Months?"

Austin stared at Kaylie, dumbstruck.

"What are you talking about?" he asked after a long moment. Payson worked the paper from Kaylie's hands.

It was a blog posting, with pictures of the four of them from the night before. There was one of her and Rigo dancing, and kissing, and there was another of Austin and Kelly at the bar, their heads close together as they talked. Another picture below showed all four of them leaving the club, Austin and Rigo with their arms around Kelly and Payson, respectively.

"Here," Payson said, handing the paper to Austin. Kaylie was overreacting, but she wasn't about to say that. Not yet, anyway.

"Kaylie, this is crazy! Kelly and I aren't together! The music was loud, I had to lean in to hear her. If they'd chosen a different moment it would have looked like I was making out with Rigo!" Austin shouted. Kaylie shook her head.

"I don't believe you, Austin." She snapped. Kelly stepped forward, ready to defend Austin, but Kaylie reached out and shoved her instead. Payson angled herself between them.

"Whoa! You two are teammates, and Kaylie, I was there all night. They are not hooking up. Nothing happened," Payson promised.

"If nothing happened, why didn't you invite me instead of Kelly?" Kaylie asked.

"The whole thing was Kelly's idea! We couldn't very well leave her behind!" Austin shouted. Payson looked back and forth between them, the whole situation was escalating ridiculously fast and she had no idea how to stop it.

"Then why didn't you invite me and another guy for Kelly?" Kaylie snapped. Payson had to admit, Kaylie had a point there. But she also knew that the three of them had a special bond, and Kaylie wasn't a part of it.

"Because this wasn't about you!" Kelly finally exploded. Kaylie looked at her, dumbstruck. "This was about Payson! Okay, Kaylie? Austin and I were trying cheer her up. Aren't you supposed to be her friend? If you were, you would have noticed how sad she's been lately, how angry! You would have noticed that she needed to get out of the damn gym for five damn minutes! So I'm sorry we didn't think to invite you along, but this was never about you, or me, or Austin! So get over yourself!"

Payson shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable that all the attention was suddenly being focused on her. But in the same instant, Kaylie was lunging at Kelly, her hands curled into claws, scratching and hitting. Austin tried to get between them, to pull Kaylie off, but he couldn't do it on his own.

Sasha would be able to help. Payson turned and dashed for the Rock, barely pausing as she wrenched open the double doors, taking the stairs to the office two at a time. Sasha was standing at the windows, arms crossed over his chest, staring out at the floor.

"Sasha…" Payson gasped. "Kaylie and Kelly…"

"Were you even going to warn me?" Sasha interrupted. Payson sputtered.

"What?" she asked.

"The boy," he spat, like it was a dirty word. "That you were out with last night. Were you going to warn me or did you want me to find out you were seeing someone from the morning gossip circuit?"

"Sasha, I don't know…"

"You were kissing him!"

Payson was at a total loss for words. Outside her friends were fighting to the death and Sasha was standing there condemning her for going out one night, with one boy. As she stood there, staring at Sasha, his blazing eyes, tense shoulders, and jumping jaw muscle, the shock gave way to anger. She could feel it blooming inside her, spreading through her veins like a fiery wave that threatened to pull her under. She was tempted to let it.

"You kiss Kristen all the time!" Payson hissed. The door was still open, she didn't need anyone else to hear their argument.

"At least you had fair warning about it!" Sasha countered. Payson snorted. "At least I didn't take her out to some club and make a fool of myself!"

Payson didn't even realize she'd lifted her hand until she felt her palm stinging. Sasha's cheek flared red and his mouth hung open.

Payson had just slapped her coach.

Before the guilt and embarrassment could set in, Payson moved close so that there would be no mistaking her next words.

"This was your choice, Sasha. This is what you wanted. Don't you dare penalize me for that."

She turned on her heel and walked back outside. She would break up the fight herself.

A/N: I know you guys are going to hate on me so hard for bringing Rigo into this story, but I kind of love him. Obviously I want Payson to end up with Sasha, but Rigo isn't such a bad placeholder. Right? And I promise you, I SWEAR to you, Payson and Sasha will eventually end up together in this fic. They've still got a bumpy road, but I promise that Rigo will not steal her away for long. And I won't make you wait forever either.

As usual, a huge thank you to Elylou, DarkMoon2222, BearyFunny66, Ida-cullen, Kiwiflea, Perko, threewishes6716, Kissin Concern, flowerchild3286, Nathascha, and ncisluver for your reviews!

I'm sorry this chapter took so long to post. I've been travelling a lot for school and work and fun, etc, and on Wednesday I get to go HOME and watch one of my dearest friends walk down the aisle! So, it might be another long-ish wait for the next one. But I promise it will be worth it!

Review please!