Disclaimer: I arrange the words, but own nothing.

Warning: I'm not known for finishing what I start. Is that a chance you're willing to take?

The Difference Between

Chapter Eleven: A Talk (or Four)

Kaylie doesn't go to meet Carter. It's amazing that she manages to drive home safely with hot tears that roll down her cheeks. She sits in her dark driveway and cries for what feels like hours. She cries until she can't breathe and she's unconsciously quivering. She texts Carter and says something came up and she can't even think of a descent lie she's so broken up. She just keeps it vague and carelessly drops her phone afterwards and crawls into bed.

Her thoughts are racing and Kaylie doubts she'll get any sleep tonight. She feels like the stupidest person in the world because when Nicky Russo basically tells you he chooses you, the mess you are, over Payson Freaking Keeler, it sounds a lot like happily ever after. She has a weak spot for him and a part of her, the damaged princess part, longs for that fantasy life with him so, yes, she kissed him back and she loved every second of it.

When she's lying in the darkness of her room late at night (more like, early morning), huddled under her blankets and finally somewhat calm, Kaylie can't help, but shakily run her fingertips over her now dry and chapped lips. She may not have seen fireworks or some other cliché image Nicholas Sparks novels promise, but it'd be a lie to say she didn't feel anything because she did.

For one, Nicky is a frickin' amazing kisser which is surprising because he doesn't seem like the type to practice on the back of his hand or, considering he has gymnastics constantly on the brain, practice with girls. Kaylie almost laughs when she realizes that all she really has to compare it to is kissing Carter.

Carter had always been sloppy even after they got past the awkward first kiss. It was always rushed and almost forced like he was trying too hard to prove something to someone even though most of their kisses where kept in the shadows. Kissing Nicky made her feel things she always thought was romanticized idealism. It's almost magnetic like even God himself couldn't have stopped their lips from meeting. It came so naturally and for a single moment suspended in time, Kaylie felt it was okay to be selfish, that the consequences are worth it.

That Nicky is worth it.

As nice as it is to keep her thoughts on Nicky and those lips and those hands, it's nearly impossible for Kaylie to not think about Payson. As dramatic as it probably sounds, Kaylie wants nothing more than to curl into a ball and die. As right as it felt, that first kiss will always be tainted because it was rooted in betrayal. If Payson ever somehow found out about the kiss it would probably be the end. Kaylie would have just lost both of her two closest friends.

In the morning, Kaylie is grouchy beyond recognition. She takes a moment to compose herself and then she goes straight into her normal routine of getting ready, carelessly picking out an outfit and lazily applying makeup. She decidedly skips breakfast and when she passes Leo on her way out, he's grinning like he has a secret, but Kaylie can't bring herself to care right now. She jets out of the house and drives straight to the Rock.

In the parking lot, pulled into her designated stall, Kaylie sits behind the steering wheel, frozen. He's going to be inside and she's debating maybe briefly talking to him just to make sure they're on the same page with everything that's happened. Then there's the way more appealing idea of avoiding him like the plague, which shouldn't be hard all things considering.

Before Kaylie can come to a decision there's a tap against the glass of her window. Seeing Lauren there, waving enthusiastically, hair in her usual braids, Kaylie pops her door open and pushes all her conflicting thoughts to the back of her head.

"Morning, Kay."

"Morning," Kaylie mimics. She's almost startled at the sound of her own voice. She hasn't used it in a while besides all the crying so it sounds rough and raspy.

"Are you coming down with something?" Lauren asks, wrinkling her nose. "Because if so, we cannot be standing too close together. I love you, Kales, but getting sick is an ever bigger bitch than Kelly Parker."

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking, Lo," Kaylie says sarcastically as they make their way inside.

"So how was your night?" Lauren asks perkily, practically bouncing alongside Kaylie who's sluggishly dragging her feet.

Kaylie looks at her from the side, trying hard not to glare, wondering what right the blonde has to be so cheery so early in the morning. Lauren looks around innocently and Kaylie weakly shrugs. "I went home and straight to bed. There. Cool enough story for yah?"

"Nothing else?" Lauren asks hopefully.

Kaylie shakes her head. "I was supposed to meet Carter…"

"Why didn't you?"

"I really don't want to talk about this or anything, really," Kaylie says tiredly.

She pushes past the front door and people are already milling all around the Rock. There's a crowd gathered towards the back, near the pommel horse and both Kaylie and Lauren can't help, but be intrigued. Girls are always on the beam or floor, attention seeking, but hardly the boys. Emily walks by, already in her leotard, all ready to start training, hands chalked and all.

"Hey, Em," Kaylie calls, "What's going on?"

"Nicky Russo has been training like a madman all morning," Emily says, lowering her voice like it's some sort of secret. "We have no idea what happened, but he's been challenging and shutting down every male gymnast in the Rock."

"Looks like the Android makes his return," Lauren coos.

Kaylie doesn't say anything. Swallowing hard, she can feel her eyes start to water and, damn it, why is Lauren staring like that? Emily goes back to training and Kaylie starts to make her way to the locker room with Lauren trailing after her. Sadly, Kaylie can't duck into the girls' locker room to avoid Lauren like she does with Nicky. Her blonde (sometimes) friend only follows her right inside.

"Lauren, drop it," Kaylie says before the blonde can even form a sentence. Dropping her bag onto the nearest bench, Kaylie then turns to her locker and swirls the dial. She's trying to keep herself focused on what's important here, but it's hard when Lauren Tanner is looking at her like that, like she just knows.

"I'm not an idiot. I know how to connect the dots," Lauren says. "The way you're acting and he's acting, it must be big. I'm just saying if you need someone to talk to…"

"So you can just go and spread it around the Rock afterwards?" Kaylie snaps. "No thanks."

"Kaylie, I know I can be a shitty friends at time, but you know me," Lauren tries.

"Yeah, I do know you," she returns. "And I know I don't need any of your help so just back off, Lo."

"Alright. Sheesh," Lauren says, planting her hand on her hip. Kaylie jiggles the little metal handle of her locker and when it doesn't open, she gives a cry of frustration and beats her fist against the cold metal. "It's five by the way. The last number. You keep stopping short at one."

One. It's Nicky's favorite number (for obvious reasons). Damn her subconscious.

Kaylie's eyes shift over to Lauren who's just standing idly by. She then goes back to her locker, twisting the knob, slower this time. The little triangle points to five and Kaylie tries again, finally getting her locker open. She doesn't need to look over to know that Lauren's trying to fight the triumph threatening to expose itself across her lips.

Without looking over, Kaylie mumbles a quiet, "Thanks."

"Anytime," Lauren says cheerily. "What are friends for?"

Lauren leaves to get ready for the long day ahead and Kaylie does the same. She really wishes she could feel something akin to warmth with Lauren actually trying to be a friend. However, Kaylie can't help, but hear the superficial sweetness in her voice, the undisclosed desires behind Lauren's eyes. Regardless, Kaylie knows this distance she's trying to keep from Lauren will disappear with time. She'll eventually forgive Lauren like she'll eventually forgive Carter. It's just the type of person Kaylie is and if that makes her a fool then so be it.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Lauren asks when Kaylie's in her pink leotard and already heading for the locker room door. "It may not mean much to you, but I know things about Nicky, things he definitely doesn't want leaked to the press or anyone, really. If he hurt you, Kales, just say the word and I—"

"Just stop it with this devious bullshit," Kaylie says. "Honestly, Lo, it's getting old."

"I don't know how, okay?" Lauren says. Her voice rises and her masks slightly cracks and Kaylie's convinced this is the real Lauren Tanner shining through. "We all use what we've got to get to where we want in the world. What is so wrong with that?"

"People get hurt," Kaylie says simply.

"Now this holier than thou bullshit you've got going on, that's getting old, Kaylie," Lauren retorts. "We all weren't born to be perfect like you, alright?"

"Why do people keep saying that?" Kaylie asks, starting to feel her frustration mounting. "You need to explain that to me, Lo, because I don't see it. First Payson, now you. I'm not perfect. I'm not. I'd give anything to be anyone other than me right now. Everything, with my parents, with Carter, with you, with…with Nicky…it's like everything I ever want, everything I try so damn hard to hold on to, just…disintegrates."

Kaylie, who'd been staring at her hands, finally looks up and she sees Lauren, the girl she's known since they were eight, but there's something different. At first Kaylie thinks it's pity and she feels this burning, silent fury that warming her more than any of Lauren's seemingly nice things could ever do. Suddenly, Lauren starts looking around and it makes Kaylie do the same. It's only now that either notices all the girls around the locker room, watching them.

"Hello! This isn't a fucking reality TV show!" Lauren snaps. "Don't you have better things to do, like, I don't know, train?" All the other gymnasts start to scatter and Lauren scowls. "That's right. And if any of you ever mention this to anyone, especially the media, it's the last thing you'll fucking do and that's a promise."

In a matter of seconds the room empties and Kaylie can't help, but laugh. It hurts to laugh almost as much as it hurts to think or talk or remember. Lauren looks so concerned. It's one of the first real moments they've had in what feels like an eternity.

"A classic Lauren Tanner threat if I've ever heard one," Kaylie laughs, sounding miserable. "So that's what you mean about using what you've got, huh?"

"I know. I totally lack a profanity filter too, probably because that brother of yours is hanging around the gym so much," Lauren says, smiling gently. "So all of this Kaylicky weirdness has something to do with Payson, huh?"

Kaylie shakes her head. "Please do me a favor and never say 'Kaylicky' ever again."

"Whatever you say." Lauren nods. "I haven't even been to visit Payson."

"You know?"

"Summer might have let something slip completely on accident." Lauren shrugs. "That really sucks, what happened."

"Have you ever noticed how the three of us are supposed to be best friends, but at the same time we're not? At least, not lately," Kaylie says. "I mean, we still hang out and talk all the time, but I've been so wrapped up in my own life. What happened to us, Lo?"

"Gymnastics brought us together and tears us apart all at the same time."

"No," Kaylie says, such a stinging bite to it. "Boys did."

Lauren looks taken aback for a moment and Kaylie just waits for her to jump up and down, blurting out questions about Nicky. A part of Kaylie wants to even think Lauren feels a flash of guilt over the whole Carter thing. Instead, softly, nostalgically, Lauren mutters, "We should get it back; You, Payson and me, maybe even Emily. We should get back to the real us."

"Nice attempt," Kaylie says, trying to smile, "But it sounds more like fantasy then reality at this point."

"Doesn't mean we can't try," Lauren counters. "Come on, Kales, we have to at least try."

"Alright," Kaylie says finally. "And I know how you can start."

Lauren smirks. "I am all ears."

"Whatever you have on Nicky, forget it," Kaylie says. "Wipe it clean from your hard drive. I don't want you ever talking about it or even thinking about it. If you cross that line, Lo, and Nicky gets hurt, because we both know when your scheming is involved, someone gets hurt…that's it for us. I can't keep trying to repair a friendship with someone I can't trust."

"Wow, you really fell for him, huh?" Lauren says. It's more of an observation than teasing and Kaylie absolutely hates that.

"We, uh, better get out there before Sasha comes in looking for us," Kaylie says. It's a lame way at avoiding the topic at hand and it makes Lauren giggle, but Kaylie tries hard to pretend she doesn't notice.

"And just so you know, I'm game," Lauren says. "The dirt on Nicky, already forgotten."

"Good."

They walk out of the locker room and Kaylie feels somewhat better than when she went in. She still doesn't know about Lauren and her motives and it's obvious their friendship will never be at the level it had once been. Like a broken mirror, the shards may be able to fit together perfectly, but nothing will ever make those cracks completely disappear. At least Lauren seems to be trying and Kaylie knows she can't really ask for more than that.

It's all really distracting and Kaylie isn't watching where she's going (when is she ever?), but then she sees someone jet by her and she quickly looks and sees Nicky. He stops a moment for a drink of water and Kaylie can't help, but feel sort of hurt with the way he's acting like she doesn't even exist anymore. Quickly snapping out of it, she makes up excuses for him in her head (maybe he has a lot on his mind too) and slowly walks over.

"Hey," Kaylie says hesitantly.

Nicky gives a little sigh. Kaylie immediately gets distracted, seeing the light sheen to those incredible lips, slick with water. His forehead crinkles a bit and immediately breaks Kaylie free from that train of thought (thank God). She sees his eyes and the way he quickly looks away. She notices how he backs away from her a little bit, so guarded, so like the arrogant ass she used to know.

"What can I do for you?" he asks. Kaylie frowns at how formal, how cold he sounds.

"Do you have a sec to talk?" she asks in return.

"Not really," Nicky replies, sounding bored. His eyes are across the gym and he nods and smiles at someone like he completely forgot she's standing there in front of him. Kaylie finds herself annoyed, but then his eyes flicker over to her for the briefest of moments before he looks away again. It's like he can't even look at her, like it hurts too much.

"Look, I just thought that after last night—"

"I'm kinda busy right now," he says. "Plus, I think you made things pretty clear."

There's a bitter edge to his voice and Kaylie literally feels her heart sink down to her stomach. He has to understand. She has to make him understand why she did what she did last night. Some lines are just not meant for people to cross and they may have blurred last night, but Kaylie is firm in her decision not to go there again.

"Nicky…"

"And just for future notice, this right here," Nicky says, motioning to the space between them, "completely defeats the point of me giving you space."

"See, this is why last night shouldn't have happened," Kaylie says, trying to keep her voice low, not wanting to cause two scenes in a single morning. "I knew things would have turned out like this."

"Like what?"

"Weird," Kaylie answers. "Just because we can't be together doesn't mean you have to go back to being that arrogant ass you were before. Seriously, Nicky, you're acting like we weren't even friends to begin with."

"I just can't do this with you right now, alright? I'm not trying to be an ass. I'm just trying to deal," Nicky says. "You know what? Maybe it would have been better if we weren't friends to begin with."

Kaylie literally feels like she just face-planted trying a dismount. "How can you even say that?"

"Because then we wouldn't be standing here, having this stupid conversation," he says.

"So you just want to go back to hating each other?"

"No." Nicky sighs. It's obvious he's just as upset. "Now, if you'd quit lying to yourself—"

"Lying to myself?" Kaylie repeats, feeling her anger building.

"Nicholas!" a voice shouts from across the room, interrupting their growing argument.

Nicky looks away, but Kaylie just keeps staring right at him, hoping to make him feel just as uncomfortable as she does. What right does he have to treat her like this? Just as that initial thought crosses her mind, Kaylie thinks about last night, how she had probably gotten his hopes up by kissing him, just to bring everything tumbling down by walking away. She looks down at the ground and can't help, but wonder, how the hell did they get to this point?

"Are we done here?" he asks frigidly. "I have things to do."

Kaylie nods slowly, but then realizes that the sound of that voice and the figure approaching is the one and only Dr. Russo. He's dressed in a casual polo shirt and dress pants, no suit or tie or white lab coat. Dr. Russo is smiling and walking over and Kaylie tries to summon her sweetest, brightest smile as much as she wants to go sit in her car for a bit and start bawling.

"Why is your dad here?" Kaylie asks curiously. Nicky doesn't reply.

"Nicholas, if there's one thing I can't stand more than suck-up interns, it's traffic," Dr. Russo explains once he finally meets his son from across the gym. "If we're going to Denver we need to leave now."

"Yeah, dad, I just need a few things from the locker room and then we can go," he says. He looks at Kaylie from the corner of his eyes a moment, before finally walking away. She may be putting up a brave front, but she feels completely dead inside.

"Kaylie."

"Doctor Russo," Kaylie says weakly. "Hi."

"It seems like we're running into each other all over Boulder," Dr. Russo says. Kaylie tries to match the smile he has plastered on his face. Being a doctor and at the very least twice her age, he's obviously had more practice. "I'm sorry. I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?"

"No, just talking," Kaylie lies. "So, um, why are you two going to Denver today?"

"We're meeting an old colleague of mine for lunch and then I have some other business to take care of. The details would only bore you. Nothing to worry about."

"Oh. Nicky tells me you two have been spending more time together lately." Kaylie tries to focus on the good (the little there is) because everything else just hurts too much.

"It's difficult, sure, with both our schedules being so convoluted, but we've both agreed to make more of an effort, yes. You played a big part in that," Dr. Russo says, looking at the girl in the pink leotard like she's some sort of messenger angel from God or something.

"Dr. Russo, I don't think—"

"Don't be modest," he tells her, smiling. "Our little chat that day at the hospital was the last sort of push I needed and I'm truly grateful for that."

"Nicky certainly seems happier," she says. This one only feels like a half-truth. "As long as Nicky's happy then I'm happy."

"He's lucky to have such a good friend. Now, I know how serious you gymnasts take your craft. I wouldn't want to keep you from your training. Again, it was really nice seeing you, Kaylie."

"You too, Dr. Russo."

As she waves and turns away, Kaylie's glad the conversation ended before Nicky could get back. Seriously, having to say goodbye and watch him not even acknowledge her, Kaylie's certain she'd fall apart all over again.

When she hits that mat, Kaylie treats it the exact same way she treated National and Carter and Lauren. She converts all the pain over losing Nicky and the anger over the shitty situation into being a better gymnast. Every movement is sharp and exact and it makes her feel so powerful, invincible even. Kaylie knows her body and how it moves. Unlike her social life, she can control everything that happens. That's why she loves gymnastics so much.

"Be careful there, Champ," a voice warns just as she dismounts the beam and her feet stick perfectly, hands in the air. Kaylie turns to see Carter standing there, clapping lighting, smiling proudly. "Sasha sent me to tell you to go home. You've done enough for the day."

"No." Kaylie shakes her head and feels the strands in her tight ponytail whip from side to side. "I almost fell off when I was trying to do a full turn on one foot. I need to go again."

"Kaylie, half the gym is gone," he points out. "You can tackle it first thing tomorrow."

"There are girls always hogging the balance beam," she argues. "No. Now it's empty, it's perfect."

"Jeez, it's like you're turning into Nicky Russo or something…"

Kaylie had been ready to mount the beam from the mat, but at the mention of Nicky she just freezes. All that concentration she's been feeding off of for the last few hours has completely disappeared. All she can see is that insufferable smirk and those sad eyes. All she hears is his voice, rasping "Princess" and just the mere memory gives her chills.

"Hey Kaylie, you still here?"

"Huh?" She turns quickly to see Carter standing there, looking at her with concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine. I, um, you might be right about going home now," Kaylie says quickly. "I'm just going to grab my things and go. Thanks, Carter."

"No problem, but, um, do you think we could maybe talk first?" he asks, following her towards the girls' locker room. Kaylie's still trying so desperately hard to get all thoughts of Nicky Russo out of her head.

"Oh. Right. I'm sorry about bailing last night," she apologizes.

"No. It's fine. Um, I know you're probably tired so I'll try to keep this as brief as possible," Carter says, nervously wringing his fingers. "So, do you remember how at Payson's prom I told you that I was seriously ready to move on?"

"Hmm, yeah."

"Well, I have."

"Oh." Kaylie makes this bewildered face and, honestly, she had expected him to grovel and pull out more of that soul mates mumbo-jumbo he's been preaching ever since their breakup. This, well, this is a new one. "So, let me get this straight. You wanted to meet last night so you could tell about your new girlfriend?"

"Wait, just hear me out, okay? Then you can scream later if that's what you really want," Carter says calmly. "Look, Kaylie, I just want to apologize again. I know I can beg you to forgive me and it still won't change anything I did, but that won't stop me from doing it over and over again because, yes, I still care about you to some degree and your opinion really does matter to me."

"Alright." Kaylie nods. It sounds so rehearsed and he looks so nervous. "I forgive you."

"Really?" Carter asks, eyes wide. "Or are you just saying that?"

"Honestly, it still bothers me, but this whole living in the past thing isn't working for me either," she says. "I just want all of us to move on from this so I hope you and whoever she is are happy together."

"Wow. Well, Phase One complete."

Kaylie's forehead crinkles. "There are phases now?"

"Don't judge the phases," Carter says lightheartedly. Kaylie almost even smiles and maybe, just maybe they have a chance at happily coexisting after they finally bury all of this baggage. "You don't know how much sleep I've lost, trying to think of what I'd say to you."

"Okay, then just say it," Kaylie urges him. "What's Phase Two?"

"Telling you that—" Carter pauses to take a deep breath, "—That the girl I'm interested in…it's, well, Lauren."

A silence follows and Kaylie can't help the way her eyes glaze over and her jaw drops a little, especially after having that talk with Lauren this morning. Now it makes sense why Lauren seemed so chipper this morning, asking Kaylie bout the night before, probing the topic of Carter. Lauren must have figured that if Kaylie was talking to her then Carter told her and things were on its way to okay. Lauren wasn't kidding about her fatal attraction to deception.

Honestly, Kaylie doesn't know what to say. This isn't going with her plan. Her is plan for all of them to move on, to let wounds heal and find new people (preferably ones that don't train at the Rock, even more so ones who don't follow gymnastics). All of that seems to go right out the window. It seems Carter is asking permission for him and Lauren to make their relationship official (but still under Sasha's radar, of course).

"Kaylie?"

She honestly doesn't know how to react and clings to the first thing she feels – anger.

"Seriously, Carter?" she hisses.

"Yes, I'm serious," he says, soft and slow.

"Unbelievable."

"Kaylie, listen—"

"I cannot believe this is happening!" she shouts. "What is it with you people? I constantly beat myself up for this thing with Nicky and how it could potentially harm, more like already harmed my friendship with Payson and here are Lauren and you still going behind my back! You and I were in a relationship. Nicky and Payson haven't even gone on a real date. Tell me, how do you keep the guilt from eating you up alive?"

"I feel bad, yeah, but, wait, what does Nicky and Payson have anything to do with this?"

"You were saying?" Kaylie says, trying to recuperate from her little outburst.

"I really care about Lauren," Carter admits. "And when you have someone that cares just as much about you as you do about them then, well, fighting it just seems pointless."

Kaylie can't help, but roll her eyes. Carter has always been a bit of a sappy, hopeless romantic of sorts. Why should she expect now to be any different?

"Trust me, Kaylie, it's a slow process, but if someone's worth it then you just start to feel less guilty about doing something that just feels right."

"Are you sure it's not just Lauren and her lack of remorse rubbing off on you?"

"Kaylie, just wait a second…"

"Don't tell me what to do," she sneers, resisting the urge to stomp.

"Look, I know she's your best friend and how bad this all looks, but it's like I can't help myself," Carter argues. "Sure, this thing between me and Lauren, it might have just started out as, well, sex, and it was wrong then and I'm sorry, but the difference between last time and this time, is that now you and me aren't together and I got to know Lauren and…I fell in love."

That word from Carter's mouth feels like a sharp slap across the face. How can he believe in something so wholeheartedly when Kaylie doesn't even know it exists?

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I'd rather you hear it from me," Carter says. "Yeah, it's hard and a lot to digest, but I'd rather tell you myself than you hear it from someone else or catch us together or Lauren have one of her freak outs and use us as ammunition like we both know she would. I'm just trying to do the right thing here, Kaylie."

With her eyes off in the distance, Kaylie gives this some thought. She really has no claim on Carter, not anymore, not for a long time now. Who is she to stop them from being together? Who is she to make them just as miserable as she is right now? Kaylie can't do that. It just isn't her.

"And I'm really grateful you told me like this," she says. "It just took me by surprise, you know? And I've already got so much on mind. Just…just keep it where I can't see, okay? At least for a little while."

"Okay." Carter nods. "And Lauren and you?"

"That's something Lauren and me have to work out for ourselves," Kaylie says.

"Alright. Cool. We'll treat it like you're Sasha. Just know that I asked Lauren not to tell you. I thought it was only right for me to do it myself," Carter explains. Kaylie nods and heads for the locker room, but then Carter calls out to her one last time. "So you and Russo, huh?"

"Don't, Carter."

"What?"

"I am not having this conversation with you," Kaylie says, shaking her head. "It's too weird."

"Come on," Carter says with a smile. "See, I knew you liked that guy ever since you two did your little bullfight routine thing. Well, it's nice to know I wasn't just imagining things."

"Okay, one more word and I might reconsider this whole my ex-boyfriend dating my friend thing. Now I'm going to the locker room and then I'm going home," Kaylie says resolutely. Goodnight, Carter."

"Just know that if you ever need to talk or even just someone to listen, there's me," he says, awkwardly shuffling around. "I really do hope we can be friends."

"Yeah, me too."

Wiggling her fingers in a wave, Kaylie walks off to the locker room. She's made a lot of decisions today and unlike the night before, at least this time Kaylie's leaving the Rock feeling at least some sense of hope.

…

"Parker is a complete schmuck. He beat me once. Once on the golf course and he won't ever let me forget it," Dr. Russo says, pulling into a parking stall and shutting off the engine of his SUV. He massages his temples with his thumb and forefinger before he sighs and looks over at his son to his right. "Well, we're here. Are you sure this is what you want?"

"It's what I want," Nicky says firmly, without a tone.

"But you were just starting to seem happy in Boulder…"

"It's not about being happy, dad," he quickly cuts his father off before he can even think to mention a certain National Champion with a subconscious inclination to pink leotards. "I can't focus at the Rock. There's just too much drama. I should have done this a long time ago. Marty has always been my coach and I was an idiot to think I could do this without him."

"Well, Nicky, if you're sure," Dr. Russo says, wavering in the slightest.

"I'm sure." Nicky nods.

"Alright. Let's go then."

Feeling like a young man about to offer his soul to the devil, Nicky sighs and walks right into Denver Elite.

Author's note: So, first of all, I totally just had this dream that was like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Make it or Break it style. Someone should totally write it because I will read and review that. LOL. I want to know what everyone thinks of season two so far, especially Austin. Lastly, I think I've converted myself to a full-time Kaylicky shipper.