Bitter Rivals
Chapter 10
National Team Practice

"She's really talented," Payson said to Nicky. The pair were standing at the far edge of the gym watching all the National Team members practice. Even to an untrained gymnastics eye, the only girls in the gym worth watching were Bailey, Kenzie, Amari, and Claudia, a gymnast at the Rock.

"But incredibly unfocused," Nicky said. Both stared at Bailey, who was currently walking on her hands on the balance beam.

"Bailey!" Nicky shouted at her. She jumped down and flashed him an innocent smile. He blushed a little but not enough for Payson to notice.

"Isn't your fault she's unfocused?" Payson asked. Nicky's heart skipped a beat. He looked at her nervously for a moment.

"What do you mean 'my fault'?" he asked. Payson raised her eyebrows a little, but she didn't ask about his nervousness.

"You're her coach, Nicky. You're supposed to keep her focused," Payson replied. Nicky laughed. She looked at him curiously.

He continued laughing but did manage to speak, "I'm lucky Bailey listens to me when I tell her what time to be at practice, okay? She doesn't like to be bossed around."

"But you're her coach," Payson said.

He laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Not everyone is like you, Keeler."

"What do you mean?" Payson asked. She could feel her cheeks getting warmer from the contact with his arm. She couldn't look at him anymore either. Nicky, noticing her discomfort, removed his arm.

"You would never disrespect a coach. I think the most respect Bailey shows me is when she stops doing whatever she's doing when I yell at her," Nicky said.

"There has to be a reason for that," Payson said.

Nicky laughed again, "There is, but you don't need to know."

"I doubt even you know," Payson said.

"Of course I know," Nicky said.

Payson shook her head, "It's probably something from her childhood. Remember Emily when she first came to the Rock? She had trouble with trusting Sasha because of all her mother's boyfriends."

"I doubt Bailey cares about Lily's boyfriends," Nicky said.

"So do I. I was just using that as an example," Payson said. "But there is something wrong, and I'm going to find out what it is."

"Why?" Nicky asked. "She's not your gymnast."

"She's on the National Team, Nicky. Maybe this will help us win," Payson said.

"How do you plan on finding out?" Nicky asked.

"By befriending her," Payson replied.

Nicky smiled a cocky smile, "No way that'll happen. Kelly's coached her longer than I have, and Bailey still won't talk to her about anything but gymnastics."

"I guarantee you I can get her to open up to me," Payson said. Nicky looked into her eyes for the first time all day. Payson looked at the ground uncomfortably. Nicky lifted her chin up.

"Payson, your daughter's on the phone." They both turned around to see who it was that interrupted their moment. They saw a very pregnant Summer holding a cordless phone.

"Thanks, Summer," Payson said. She smiled at her before she took the phone.

"You have a daughter?" Nicky asked. Payson nodded. "Since when?"

"About five years ago," Payson replied. She then walked up the stairs toward Sasha's office.

--

"Bailey, can I talk to you for a second?" Payson asked. She had waited until every other girl had left the locker room before speaking to Bailey, who was wearing her National Team jacket and had her gym bag slung over her shoulder.

"Sure," she replied with disinterest.

"Bailey, you're the best gymnast in the country," Payson began.

"Obviously," Bailey mumbled. Payson, however, ignored her.

"But your so unfocused. And Nicky said," she continued but once again Bailey interrupted her.

Bailey laughed condenscendingly, "What you and Nicky just stood there talking about me? Shouldn't you be, I don't know, coaching?"

Payson sighed, "Bailey, I don't know what you're problem is with me but it has to stop."

"I don't have a problem with you," she snapped. "My only problem is that I'm late for an interview." The short blonde girl started to walk out of the locker room, but Payson grabbed her arm.

"Bailey, I'm not your enemy. I want to help you," Payson said.

"How do you want to help me? By sleeping with my coach? Because trust me, Kelly does that, and it's never helped me before," with that, Bailey walked out leaving Payson standing there flabbergasted.

--

"So, how'd it go?" Nicky said laughing. Payson looked at him but didn't reply. Instead, she just walked away.

"Keeler, wait," Nicky said. "I told you Bailey wouldn't open up to you."

Payson remained silent. She started walking up the stairs toward Sasha's office, which she and Nicky were using as their's when the National Team practiced.

"Leave me alone, Nicky," Payson snapped. She reached the office and stormed inside. Nicky started to walk in behind her, but she slammed the door.

"It's my office too, you know?" he shouted. Payson opened the door after a moment. She handed him his jacket and closed the door again.

"Keeler!" he shouted. Payson didn't reply. instead she stood with her back against the door and started sliding down the door to the ground. The tears were flowing before she even noticed. Damn it! Why do I let him get to me like this? she asked herself.

--

Nicky walked out of the gym after giving up on getting Payson to open the door. He grabbed his cell phone from his pocket and dialed a very familier number.

"What the hell did you say to Payson?" he asked after she answered.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Nicky," Bailey replied. Even though he couldn't see her face, he could imagine the playful smile on her face as she toyed with him.

"Yes, you do," Nicky said.

"All I told her was the truth," was the reply he recieved, then he heard the line go dead.

He started to call her back, but changed his mind. He dialed his home phone number instead. Kelly picked up after about three rings.

"Kel, how're things at home?" he asked.

"Fine. How was practice?" she replied.

"Interesting. The funniest thing happened. Payson told me that she-" he began, but Kelly interrupted him.

"I can't talk right now, Nicky," she snapped then she rung up on him too.

"Damn, I could right a book. How to Piss Off the Three People You Care the Most About in Five Minutes or maybe just My Life Sucks by Nicky Russo."

I'm so sorry I haven't updated lately! I've been super busy with school. Honestly, I wrote this chapter in like 40 minutes. And if you don't like it, I don't care.

The reason Kelly hung up on him is because she's jealous of Payson. Bailey's jealous of both of them. Nicky's got a crazy love life right now. And it'll get even crazier next chapter!

In this story, we're going to say that the National team practices together for a week every month instead of a day. So they'll be six more chapters before Nicky goes back to Denver. Payson, Meghan, Amanda, and Kenzie have moved to Boulder, so they'll be there in all the chapters.

I'm VERY disappointed in the lack of reviews. People have been adding this story to their "Story Alert" yet they can't even bother to review? Come on!

PLEASE REVIEW