Disclaimer: I don't own Make It Or Break It.
Chapter Twenty
Payson so looked so serene and peaceful the next morning that Austin couldn't bring himself to wake her up. Austin carefully got out of bed trying not to disturb his sleeping girlfriend; he was unsuccessful. The blonde frowned as her eyelids fluttered opened. Her face looked pale and sickly as she stretched her arms.
Austin could already tell that Payson felt horrible, "How are you feeling?" Austin asked sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Horrible," Payson replied. "I just want to go back to sleep."
"Okay," Austin sighed. "I'll call Sasha and tell him we're not coming."
"No!" Payson shot up. "We're going; I don't care if I am throwing up all the way there."
"I do." Austin began, "Payson you don't feel good, and haven't felt good for over a week. You need to go to the doctor, not a meet."
Payson crossed her arms across her chest and pouter her lips like stubborn child. "I'll sit and just watch, I promise Austin."
"Pay,-"
Payson cut him off, "Please, Austin." She whined, "I'll go to the doctor tomorrow with no complaints I promise."
Austin shook his head, "Fine."
Payson leaned over to Austin and kissed him on his lips, "Thank you."
Austin smiled, "Go get ready, and I am sure traffic is horrible."
Payson hugged him, before running off to the bathroom to get ready. Austin sighed running his hands through his hair; he could tell that today was already going to be a long and stressful day.
…
The air in the arena was already thick with the feeling of excitement, as Payson watched Austin help their girls warm up. Payson wished so badly that she could be with Austin helping the girls warm up, but her stomach wouldn't allow it. Her stomach felt like if it had knots in it, and Payson couldn't help but double over in pain when her stomach would cramp up. Watching her girls nervously warm up made Payson feel even worse.
Mindy, as far as Payson could tell was the only one that seemed not to be nervous. The gymnast that look ready to compete, with her dark blonde hair French braided back, and her makeup carefully done to perfection. Unlike the other gymnasts Mindy wore a bright smile that matched her bright white leotard with red sleeves. Mindy made Payson feel a little better, comforted that at least one of gymnast wasn't nervous.
The arena began filing up with people, as the Chinese team entered. They each wore matching leotards expect the smallest girl on the team. Payson looked at the USA they all were wearing the dark blue leotard, besides Mindy who wore her white and red leotard. Payson eyes widen, China must have brought their own Junior National Champion to show off, she thought in her head.
Ignoring the pain in her stomach, Payson got up and walked towards Austin and the girls. The girls smiled, and seemed less nervous as Payson approached but Austin's frown.
"You said you would just watch," He said.
"Did China bring their Junior National Champion?" Payson asked as Mindy's eyes widen.
Austin looked at the girls, "Girls go put your warm ups on so your muscles don't get cold." The girls complied, slowly walking away from their coaches. "I didn't know until this morning, apparently Sasha didn't either."
"So is Mindy and China's junior champion are going to perform?" Payson asked concerned about how Mindy's routine would hold up against the China's Junior Nation Champions' routine.
Austin shrugged, "Apparently; Sasha wasn't really in the position to say no."
"Great," Payson muttered. "Mindy is probably freaking out, now."
Austin wrapped his arms around Payson, engulfing her into a tight hug. "I'll take care of Mindy, you just to need to rest."
"How can I rest when my gymnasts are about to compete against one of the hardest teams in the world?" Payson questioned.
Austin kissed the top of her head, "Go sit down, and watch, Pay. You're just going to stress yourself out and make yourself even sicker."
"Austin, please at least let me sit with girls?" Payson pleaded, "At least with Mindy."
"Fine, just don't complain when they are all sick next week because of you." Austin said. Payson smiled and kissed him on the cheek, before walking over to sit with the girls.
"Payson!" Mindy yelled, as her coach sat down. "Please tell me the Chinese Junior National Champion isn't performing?"
Payson frowned; she hated being the bearer of bad news. "She is, but you have nothing to worry about, you two aren't competing against each other."
Mindy sighed, "We might as well be."
…
"So, what is going on with the performance?" Austin asked Sasha after talking to Payson. "I know have not only Mindy freaking out but Payson."
"Austin," Sasha began. "As of right know Mei-Xing will perform then Mindy will follow."
"Great," Austin sighed. "So how long until the meet starts?"
Sasha looked at his watch, "We should be starting five minutes; I would suggest you go and make sure Mindy is ready." Austin nodded and went to check on the girls.
…
"Ladies and Gentlemen the NGO would like to thank everyone in attendance and watching at home for supporting this meet." The announcer said over the speaker. "Today to start off the meet against the USA Women's National Team and China's National Team, the two countries Junior National Champions will be performing."
"The current Junior National Champion of China, Mei-Xing will be performing her floor routine." The announcer said began as the petite Mei-Xing took her place on the floor.
Mindy slightly cringed as she watched Mei-Xing perform her routine. Her skills weren't as challenging as Mindy had expected them to be, but her height and sharpness was unbelievable. Mei-Xing held a blank face throughout the whole entire routine, but the crowd didn't seem to mind; they would cheer louder and louder each time she would seem to go even higher in the air.
"Don't worry," Payson whispered. "This isn't a competition; all you need to do is stick your tumbling passes, and gave a little bit of a cheesy smile every now and then."
Mindy bit her lip, "I think smiling is the last thing I'll be thinking about."
"Well you to need to smile; today it's all about pleasing the crowd, and they want to see a big cheesy smile." Payson explained, Mindy nodded in response.
The crowded cheered as Mei-Xing finished her routine. Mindy tugged nervously at her sleeves as she walked out onto the floor.
"Smile!" Payson yelled
Mindy smiled as she posed, in the corner of her eye she could see her parents, a video camera in her father's hand. Mindy' smile grew wider, she couldn't believe that they had came.
"Taking the floor is Mindy Webbs the US's Junior National Champion performing her floor routine." The announcer started as Mindy's music started.
Mindy smiled widely as changed poses, she saw Mei-Xing smirk and say something in Chinese to one of her teammates. Mindy bit her lip and smiled wider, that smirk wasn't going to be there for long. Mindy flew higher than Mei-Xing ever did as she performed her double pike. The crowd cheered loudly. Mindy couldn't help but love the feeling of the crowd cheering her on, to point that she felt addict to it. Each time she would try to tumble higher, smile more, just to hear the crowd cheer more.
Mindy breathed in slowly, it was her last tumbling pass; her double straight with a full twist. She knew if she landed it the crowd would go crazy, and they did. Mindy landed the skill flawlessly as the music ended. The crowd never seemed to stop cheering, even as Mindy walked off the floor.
"I told you all you need to do was smile." Payson said as she hugged Mindy. "You did so well."
"Thanks, Payson."
Austin walked up, "I have to say the Chinese team is probably just a little bit frightened now, Mindy." He hugged the junior gymnast. "You did good, squirt; we still got a lot of work to do on that routine."
"Way to be a party popper, Austin." Payson replied.
"What?" Austin asked, "I am told her she scared of the Chinese team probably, and aren't you suppose to be sitting down?"
Mindy slipped off away from her coaches bickering. Payson sat down, "There are you happy?"
"Yes." Austin sat next to Payson, "But this isn't your seat."
Payson rolled her eyes, "Then that isn't your seat."
Austin stood up and offered his hand to her, "My lady," Payson laughed and placed her hand his hand, and stood up. The pair walked hand in hand as they went to go find their seats.
…
So far either Payson's or Austin's bet was looking so good. The U.S. team was trying so hard to score higher than the Chinese, but they always came a little short. The Chinese gymnasts were just so perfect., compared to the U.S.'s. Payson stomach tightened as she watched Suzanne dismount from the bars. She sighed, as she Suzanne's score appeared on the screen, a 15.01. It was good, but it wasn't good enough to knock out any of the Chinese gymnasts.
"Maybe we should go check on them," Payson suggested.
Austin shook his head, "There's nothing we can do Pay; Sasha's the coach we have to let him coach."
Payson sighed, "I know that. I just want to make sure their okay." Payson grimaced as a sharp pain jolted through her stomach.
"Payson are you okay?" Austin asked.
Payson bit her lip and nodded, slowly standing up. "I am fine; I just need to go check on the girls." Payson step out from her row, she grabbed the railing to the stairs as another sharp pain shot through her stomach.
"I don't think-" Austin didn't finish his sentence. Payson's eyes rolled backwards as her body went limp. It happened so quickly, Austin didn't realize he had move to catch Payson from falling and hitting the floor. "Payson!"
Before Austin knew it, paramedics surrounded him and Payson. They carefully checked her pulse as the put her on a stretcher. One of the paramedics was asking questions about Payson as the others continued to work on her. Austin answered them not fully understanding what was going on or what happened. The only thing he knew for sure, as he held Payson's hand in the back of the ambulance, was that she had to be okay.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! So what do you think about this chapter, please feel free to review! Also I wanted to mention that Mei-Xing meant beautiful star in Chinese, but I am not sure how to pronounce it. Look out for Chapter Twenty One!