Hi Lovely people, I'm in a bit of a hurry but wanted to get this out before I dash off so I'll restrain myself from the usual apologies and just say enjoy!
Chapter title – You can have it all…
It had reached the point where Lauren no longer knew the reaction she was going to get when she walked into the gym. That was what she expected after nationals. Clearly slapping Kelly Parker and winning silver had earned her recognition, if not respect. Juniors waved and welcomed her back even as their parents offered up a wary "congratulations."
Kaylie had asked how New York was and pointed out she'd started landing her triple twist dismount again. Then mentioned how Lauren, as the runner-up, didn't get a parade. Payson had offered a polite welcome back. Becca had barreled over not long after.
"Have you heard from Austin?" They all wanted to know.
"Yeah. He's still in London, training with the English head coach."
"Can he really just switch countries like that?" Emily jumped in.
"Normally you have to wait three years." Payson informed her. "but your original country can release you, or the IOC can grant special dispensation, normally that's for humanitarian reasons."
"and Nicolai is his old coach." Lauren cut in. "not to mention he was Sasha's."
The conversation continued on while Lauren stretched. Her muscles groaned under the effort. No matter how in shape you kept yourself, your first day back in the gym was always rough. It happened every Monday if you took Sunday off, but a few days of competition, followed by another few days off the mats made you very rusty. By the time Sasha pulled them up, Lauren was just starting to get flow back into her easy tumbles.
"How was New York?" Sasha demanded.
"Good. M.J. worked everything out."
"You're in Boulder until trials"
She nodded. It wasn't a question.
"After nationals there's a big question mark over your consistency. You should have stuck the Rudi vault, so we'll start with bars."
Lauren almost groaned. Sasha just reminded her "You need to up your degree of difficulty if you're going to be taken seriously as an all-around gymnast."
"So I up my dismount."
"It's going to be a double-twisting double back by worlds"
Lauren's head snapped around as Sasha continued. "But first I want to add some new low bar work. Your DOD is going to hit six by trials."
"I… I can't get that on bars. I don't have the swing."
"We're going to train this smart." Sasha assured her. "A weiler kip and a weiler half, into your Gienger? You can pick up those points." He patted her shoulder reassuringly. "I wouldn't tell you if I didn't think you could do it."
"Can I at least spend an hour on beam first?"
"One hour." Sasha informed her. "Then we get you on bars. Janet's going to work with you."
- chapter break -
"Good morning." Sasha informed Kim. "How was your break?" After nationals, the gym had gone into hibernation for a few days. Summer and Sasha had overseen any gymnasts who came in to work independently, Payson amongst them, but Kim had enjoyed a few relaxing days off.
"Good, Mark sends his congratulations on the club title."
Through the window onto the floor, Sasha could see Payson. Kim followed his gaze. "She's already focused on world trials."
"She should be." Sasha nodded. "She has a real chance at more than one medal. Your youngest is coming along very nicely as well." Becca was warming up though Sasha took note she wasn't with the other junior elite girls. "How is she handling things?"
"You mean her new 'friend'?" Kim asked.
Sasha raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know Mark's she's doing it for attention, and she might be. I don't know. She's not even fifteen. Should she even be allowed to date this older girl?" Kim threw her hands up in the air. "I don't know what to do. When Payson was her age, all she was concerned about was whether Marty would let her upgrade her vault."
Kim had always been worried about Payson. Becca was the normal kid. The one they didn't have to worry about, the one that did gymnastics for fun and liked hanging out with her friends. Suddenly, it had become all too apparent that all the positives Becca's attitude had brought had negative connotations as well.
"And this girl isn't even a normal girl. She's in a rock band. It's completely inappropriate." Kim stated. "Can't you…" Kim trailed off.
Sasha raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it time we started enforcing the no dating regulations? I mean properly. You've said it yourself. You don't believe these girls should be dating."
When the head coach didn't respond Kim prodded. "Sasha?"
"I'm thinking about it Kim. I am."
"Well I appreciate that." She told him. When she ducked over to the coffee machine Sasha shook his head. The advantage of his Romanian team had definitely been the isolated location and restriction of boys to the ridiculous soaps they watched in their dorms.
- chapter break -
When Sasha pulled the whole gym up, Lauren was nothing but relieved. Immediately she grabbed the scissor to cut at her tape, even as she walked over.
"I have an announcement to make." Sasha told them all, from his position of authority at the top of the stairs.
"In recent months I have been bombarded with complaints that gymnasts have been violating Rock rules regarding dating."
Lauren immediately searched for Carter and felt a hundred eyes on her.
"There have been complaints I haven't punished gymnasts, complaints I haven't promoted abstinence, complaints that the rules are archaic, sexist and" Sasha's mouth stretched around the word "heteronormative. Let me make one thing clear. The Rock rules are not to be negotiated. This is not high school, I am not your teacher, your guidance councilor or your parent, I am your coach and my word is law." He let that sink in.
"In my infinite wisdom I can appreciate that some of you believe that having complete control over your bodies in here, means you can control your bodies out there. But for the vast majority of you, it is impossible to date and be the best gymnast you can possibly be, so as your coach, I'm telling you no. If you think you are the exception to this rule, you can come and see me. I'm imposing a new gym rule, that every Sunday my door will be open, to discuss your concerns, about training, nutrition, dating, whatever you like. On Sundays my door is open. However, if you think you are capable of being exempt from any Rock rules you better have a good reason why.
That said, I am your gymnastics coach. I'm not your parents. I'm not your church. Don't even think about telling your parents you're allowed to date because I said so, and trust me, I'm going to make this as uncomfortable for you as it is for me. Now, get back to work."
Sasha's tone was vicious and they all leapt too it for the rest of the day. Gossip over the new dating possibilities was more than surpassed by Sasha and the other coaches barking at any group of people not entirely focused on their gymnastics every single second.
Summer had protested the changing of the dating rule, and then thrown her hands up at Sasha and left. Then she'd returned and argued some more. Then she insisted on being present. Despite being a gym with an elite reputation, there weren't actually that many elite gymnasts at the Rock.
About 25 juniors, eleven rising seniors and then his top six. Of them, he wasn't sure how many would actually have anyone to date.
Carter Anderson had come first, and stumbled his way through an incredibly awkward meeting. The boy was so head over heels it almost made Sasha laugh. Then he had let Summer give her emotional spiel before launching into a very graphic and horrific spiel of his own, on the dangers of unprotected sex.
Carter had hastily nodded and been very conciliatory. The more Sasha got to know the boy the more utterly perplexed he was by his relationship with Lauren Tanner. The two could not be more opposite and the more he got to know Carter the more he hoped that their relationship didn't consist of Lauren steamrolling the poor boy.
Lauren Tanner entered by rapping on the door and sauntering in, before draping herself across the chair. As uncomfortable as this was going to be for Sasha, he was determined it would be more uncomfortable for Lauren, which was why, when she crossed, her legs, smirked and asked "So… How does this work?" he scowled and glared back.
Sasha scowled, glared and stated "You tell me why you think you should deviate from the program designed to get you to the Olympics, and no, I'm in love, is not a reason."
"Because I'm a better gymnast." Lauren retaliated. "Carter Anderson makes me a better gymnast. Add to that he's been a consistent form of emotional support and will continue to be, I have a better shot at winning, with Carter."
"Did M.J. write that?" Sasha asked.
Lauren shrugged. She hadn't, but Lauren took it as the highest compliment.
"What happens if you break up the night before the Olympic trials?"
"Then we break up." Lauren shrugged. "but we're both serious gymnasts. Should it come to that point I think we're both mature enough to either end things well before the trials or put them off until after. We both are set on going to the Olympics and the reason we can date is because the two things are not mutually exclusive. If they were we'd never consider it."
"Are you sexually active?" Sasha looked like he wanted to die.
"Yes." Lauren answered honestly. Then she looked to Summer. "Very."
"Are you aware of the consequences of being sexually active?" Sasha prodded.
"Sexual gratification, increased intimacy and trust, stress relief, it's a good workout…" Lauren sighed at Sasha's stern look. "STIs, STDs, Unwanted pregnancy, if you listen to Payson my hips are going to stretch…"
"This isn't a joke Lauren." Summer was appalled "the decision to have sex is something that will affect you for the rest of your life."
"And it's a decision I've already made." Lauren retorted. "So at the very least can we stop pretending that my virginity is a once in a lifetime gift I can somehow get back. It's gone. The ship has sailed. Bon voyage. This is a conversation about whether I'm sexually active and I'd prefer the people who have a say in it are people who have had healthy relationships or are at very least have an educated mind and are open about them." She turned back to Sasha.
"I am educated." Summer continued "which is why I know that choosing abstinence is the right path. You might think you're in love and you're going to spend the rest of your life with this boy…"
"I don't." Lauren cut her off again. "I mean, I know I'm in love, but I know this isn't a Disney movie. The guy I love at seventeen won't necessarily be the guy I marry, if I get married, but that doesn't mean I can't have a fulfilling relationship with him."
"Waiting is the right choice." Summer replied. "The bible…"
"Your bible, written when women were chattel and not having a hymen was a stone worthy offence, I My hymen probably broke the day I first threw a double."
"You're playing Russian Roulette." Sasha cut in "no contraception is fool proof, and you cannot guarantee that Carter won't break your heart in the worst possible way right before the Olympics."
"Or run off with my biggest rival like M.J. did to you?" Lauren demanded. Sasha's scowl gave away her misstep. "I know that. I know how high the stakes are, but doing elite gymnastics is a gamble too. Our whole lives are, but I know what I'm capable of." She met Sasha's eyes decisively. "Carter could dump me for Kaylie the night before Olympic finals and he still would've been a positive influence on my career. Carter could turn out to be a serial killer and I wouldn't regret not being a virgin anymore. I feel empowered. I can handle this."
"God says…"
Lauren cuts Summer off. "I can handle this." She repeated to Sasha "I know all the arguments for both sides and I'm making an educated, weighted, choice."
"You're a smart girl, Lauren. I have no doubt you could argue yourself into just about anything but just because you can justify something, doesn't make it the right choice, for you." Sasha sighed. "You're a smart girl." He repeated "So I want a three page essay."
"On why I should be allowed to date and have sex?"
"On why you shouldn't, arguments advocating abstinence. I have no doubt you could make a better case than I ever could, so three pages. I want it researched and well written, your full effort put to understanding and advocating the arguments."
Lauren looked stunned.
"I already know you know all the arguments for dating." He reminded her. "I want to know you know all the arguments for not."
"And if I write it then I can date?"
"If you genuinely try to understand the reasons for not dating?" Sasha nodded. "Sure. But the new rules still apply. The moment your performance in the gym drops, you drop him."
"Done. Now, seeing as though it's Sunday, I'm going to spend some time on a beam."
- - chapter break -
Later that night, Steve Tanner rapped on his daughter's door.
"Hey kiddo. Is that homework I see?"
"For Sasha." She answered. "What's up?"
"M.J. wants a conference call this week. Tuesday lunchtime alright? I was going to come by the Rock in the afternoon."
"Did she say what?" Lauren was excited.
Steve ignored her and held up a printout. "What exactly are you writing?"
"Uh, that's from the section on the long term ramifications on STDs. Sasha has me learning about the value of abstinence."
Steve sighed and took a seat. "That's a conversation we need to have as well."
Lauren groaned. "We really don't."
"No. I let you go to New York. You're not here half the time. We will discuss this."
Lauren groaned. "Fine. Discuss."
"You're seventeen. You have your whole life to be dating boys. You don't need to be doing it now. You can wait."
"I don't want to wait." Lauren protested. "Okay? It's not like I'm twelve. Seventeen is a perfectly acceptable age to date."
"With a nineteen year old boy? Why can't he date girls his own age?"
"Because he spends fifty hours a week in the gym. We have that in common and we share similar goals. He understands what it takes. So do I."
"And why can't you wait? Carter Anderson is still going to exist after the Olympics."
"So are you." Lauren told him "so are my friends and my career and everything. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise London, but I do have time for other things."
"I know kiddo, and I know you're growing up, but I don't like how in love with him you think you are. After the Olympics the whole world is going to open up for you, and, as nice a boy as he might be, it's not going to be the same for him. Has he talked to you about what he's doing after the Olympics."
"He'll be training for the next Olympics. Here in Boulder probably."
"and is that where you'll be? Here in Boulder? I thought you didn't want to go to UofC."
"I don't." Lauren insisted, and here was her trump card.
Steve gave her a pointed look that made Lauren sigh.
"I know what I'm doing okay?"
"And what's that? Parties and endorsement deals?"
"I had an admissions interview at Columbia when I was in New York."
Her Dad froze.
Lauren smiled weakly "The Dean of Admissions said he thought I'd be a unique contributor to the class of 2016."
"Lauren." Steve breathed.
"It's not for sure yet, or anything." Lauren continued. "But I put in for early admission."
"That's fantastic…"
She barrelled on "I forged your signature. I wasn't going to tell you until I heard, but." She shrugged "you asked."
"You're going to do great kiddo." Steve insisted. His face curling into a smile. "just great."
"See Daddy." Lauren spoke into his suit jacket "I can have it all. I swear it. I can do this."
- chapter break -
- chapter break -
Sasha's grueling new bars approach meant that for the first time since Payson had joined the gym, Lauren was one of the fastest up and down the ropes in conditioning. Unfortunately, the particularly brutal Monday morning conditioning also meant team bonding. Nothing brought girls together like rank, sweaty, exhaustion.
"It must be nice" Payson began "not having to hide your relationship."
"Sasha hasn't approved us yet." Lauren watched Kaylie struggle. All her lost condition was slowly coming back, and good old Emily stood by and cheered her on.
Silence reigned.
"Have you spoken to Becca recently?" Payson asked.
"Just hi. She said stuff was weird."
"Yeah. She and Mum are not talking."
Lauren turned. "Why are you being friendly?"
"Because I'm your friend. Don't you want to be?"
"I guess." Lauren answered. "To be honest, yeah, I miss the way it used to be, before you got injured, before Marty left. Even if you didn't think I was capable of beating you."
Payson winced. "I didn't think anyone was capable of beating me."
"Look Kaylie's already pulling the passive aggressive undermining, you're entitled to a shot as well, but I basically trademarked undercutting, so good luck."
"I don't want to undercut you." Payson bit her lip. Lauren was so difficult. "I wanted to see if you were interested in putting the past behind us. All of it. It's a new year, a new national team, if there's a chance of us being friends then I want to take it."
"What happens if Kaylie and Emily don't? The first time they stomp their feet are you going to take their side?"
"No, I'm not taking anyone's side. I'll be Switzerland, and focused on my gymnastics."
"Austin's in London and Razor's on tour so I'm not exactly rolling in friends. "Lauren smiled nervously "I do miss you. We could have a sleepover sometime. Watch Nadia, complain about conditioning…"
"Yeah." Payson nodded. "That sounds good."
After Lauren picked herself up off the floor she dragged herself into Sasha's office, essay clutched in hand.
"Here." She held it out.
"What's this?"
"My essay."
"I said three pages."
"Oh it is, and an appendix, with pictures." She smiled brightly "So? Can I date?"
He flicked through and visibly winced at the pictures.
"And after writing this, you still think dating and having sex is a good idea?"
"Yes." She sobered.
Sasha set down the essay. "Alright."
"Alright?" Lauren clapped her hands together.
"Lauren?" Sasha checked "do not abuse this privilege. I mean it, one bad sign and it's gone."
"Of course not." She chirped, and ignored the look Kim gave her.
She didn't even complain when she saw Kaylie sticking her triple dismount
- Chapter break -
They sat awkwardly for a while. This wasn't how they operated, forced conversations and polite discussions. Carter awkwardly asked after Lauren's bars, when she rubbed at her shoulder and she was abruptly reminded that gymnastics was their common thread.
She gritted her teeth in determination. She hadn't come this far to have it all fall apart, one shared interest or not. Then she remembered Dead Mothers! And delightedly changed the subject to inquire into Carter's search through his mother's history and possessions.
At the end of the night, when he draped her in the jacket she'd brought him for Christmas and when she kissed him on the busiest street in Boulder she was struck by the strength of his jawline and the stubble she could feel. The hand he had on her hip felt hot and, enjoying it, she deepened the kiss.
This, they were very good at, and the thought made her giggle a little, into Carter's mouth.
"What?"
"Nothing." She shook her head and then kissed him again. "Thank you for dinner."
"I guess… anytime, from now on."
"Lauren!" A voice interrupted and Lauren turned to come face to face with Summer Van Horne and behind her a slightly more amused Sasha.
Instinctively she pulled away from Carter but he tugged her back so her much smaller body was pulled against him, his arm draped across her neck. "Coach, Miss Van Horne." Carter was ever polite.
Lauren, having quickly overridden her instincts, was less polite. "Nice night for a date, don't you think."
Sasha considered the pair. "I'll see both your bars tomorrow morning."
They turned, Lauren tucked securely under Carter's arm, only to freeze at the sight of the entire Cruz family, Kaylie right in the middle.
"Hi." Carter was the first to speak. His eyes darted to Kaylie but they locked on Leo Cruz. "Leo."
"Anderson." He clearly was not thrilled.
Lauren smiled prettily. She'd accepted the Cruzes, once her second family, probably hated her.
"How long are you in town for?" Carter asked.
"As long as my family needs me."
"Well, I'm sure I'll see you around then." Carter extradited them both from the situation as quickly as possible and around the corner he joined Lauren's giggles with his own laughter.
"I'm sorry." Carter apologised, but they were both laughing.
"Clearly we both suck at this dating thing." Lauren leant against his chest. "Oh well, we're good at everything else.
- chapter beak -
Conditioning followed date nights but even shared agony couldn't stifle Kaylie's glare. Lauren, still irked by Kaylie's behavior, instead found herself delighted by a baffled Payson, who's polite, if not friendly overtures to Lauren, were treated by Kaylie as the worst offense.
She wished she could've been a fly on the mat for their confrontation but, alas, her father summoned her to a conference with M.J.
"Good morning Lauren." M.J. greeted her over the conference line. "I was just discussing some opportunities with your father."
"Awesome. What?" Lauren was ecstatic. "I mean, I did all those meetings in New York and they went great. Didn't they?"
"They did. Lots of companies are interested, but now we need to close the deal. Second place at nationals might get you attention, but it doesn't write endorsement contracts. For that, I'm going to need a little more effort from you, Lauren."
"I am here, and ready to give you my… effort. What do you need me to do?"
"Well, we have your magazine interviews coming out in the next few weeks. There's the profile in Gymnastics Today, plus all the other bit pieces. There will probably be some follow up press to those. Remember, glamorous, but not arrogant.
"Got it." Lauren nodded.
"Now, Calvin Klein is interested. They're launching a new athletics range."
"Well that's sounds perfect." Her father spoke up.
"It is. Except they're hedging their bets. They want you, Kaylie and Payson in the campaign"
"What? Why? I beat them!"
"Yes, you did, and you need to keep beating them, but we also need to get your face out there. We might have an opportunity with Rimmel."
"Just me?"
"You'd be joining their team of spokeswomen, led by Kate Moss and including some of the brightest stars across film, television and music. Their choice athlete."
"So, what do I do?"
"Well they're a big company with lots of resources, some of which they're putting into investigating just how good a deal you would be. I guarantee they'll know exactly what happens in your life, especially at national practice. If they sign you, it will probably be before worlds, maybe even the world trials, so they get a mention in the press, and what they want, is glamor. I've sent you some videos of the current Rimmel girls."
Lauren nodded. "Got it. Anything else?"
"It would help if you got your face out there. I know Sasha's keeping you confined to Colorado but there must be something going on. If you look the part and get your face out there, I can make sure it gets seen. Text me, anytime there's anything."
"My friend Razor's playing in this indie music festival next week." Lauren offered up.
"You'll go, and I don't care if it's snowing, you'll go in your highest stilettos, red lipstick and with your hair braided. Everyone loves the braided hair."
"Got it"
M.J. softened. "These things take time, Lauren. The first big endorsement is always the toughest, but I'll get it for you."
- chapter break -
The lack of drama in Sasha's gym lately made him cautious. The lifting of the no-dating rule hadn't caused any explosions, his senior girls all seemed be going alright (and he had the sports psychologist's reports to prove it) and much to his surprised enthusiasm, Carter Anderson was developing into a gymnast Sasha never saw coming. Carter didn't have the raw power but behind his lanky body he had the grace missing in so many men's gymnasts today.
To add to his joy, Nicolai had called to inform him that Austin had started landing a double-double on floor. Sasha had good-naturedly scowled and accused his former coach of stealing his most decorated gymnast, to which Nicolai had retaliated that Austin had been his first.
The conversation had softened and Nicolai had admitted that Austin seemed to be walking around with a smile on his face "not put there by any gymnastics."
Still, with all the good going around, Sasha was expecting drama. It was why, when Lauren Tanner rapped on his door at the end of the day he resisted the urge to groan.
"Lauren? How's the half-kip?"
"Good." She had started integrating it into her routine.
Now she invited herself into his office. "I want to talk about my beam."
"You want to up your DOD." He guessed.
She nodded. "I can do it. If I'd upped it before nationals I would've won."
"Maybe. But if you want to be taken seriously in the all-around you need to control your bars."
"I will. I have, but I want to do this too. I've been working after hours, I swear. I won't take any time away from bars."
"What skill?" Sasha asked.
"What?"
"You just admitted to already doing it, without my permission. What skill?"
"I haven't exactly done it yet. I've just been preparing." That had Sasha frowning in confusion. "I just have an idea."
She followed him down onto the floor but not to the low beam.
"It's just an idea." She repeated and then gestured to beam over a pit. It wasn't used much because it encouraged gymnasts to fall, the last thing you wanted with beam.
"I need a springboard."
"You want to up your mount? You have a round-off Arabian. Most gymnasts don't even bother with a mount."
"What if… what if I extended my mount, did a mount into a tumble?" She asked. "I mean, how do you think they'd score that? Regular connection marks? No one connects their mount, and a mount is a distinct move, and I thought maybe I could…" Lauren rambled off.
Sasha's mind whirred. No one did that. This was Natalia Yurchenko saying, hey, maybe I'll do a round-off entry. This was like nothing else out there. Eventually he realized Lauren had stopped talking.
Sasha stared. "Do you think you can do it?" He asked.
Lauren nodded. "I just, don't know where to start." She admitted.
"We start simple. You'll need a mount first, something with momentum. Not the Erceg. No twists. Simple."
Lauren nodded.
"and then afterwards a flic-flic layout. Straight and simple." He repeated
She nodded again.
"Alright. Let's start with round-off flic-flac mount, and then we'll discuss where to go from there."
By eight-thirty she had a round-off flic-flac onto the beam and transferring into her flic-flic layout with varying success.
"Alright, that's enough. I'll call FIG." Sasha admitted.
Lauren had gone careening off the side again.
"I hurt everywhere." She complained. "Is the ice machine on?"
"I'll even carry the buckets myself. Just this once."
Sasha left Lauren with an ice tub to retreat to his office. He had piles of tape and piles of paperwork to go through and contacts to call to get a ballpark figure of how they would score such a skill.
When the heavy gym doors announced Steve Tanner's arrival he emerged from his office.
"Tanner?"
"Is Lauren here? She's not answering her phone."
"She was in the locker room."
Cautiously, the two men knocked and then knocked again.
"Lauren?" Sasha let Steve be the one to open the door. He relaxed when he heard the man laugh.
Lauren was fast asleep in the ice tub, hands pulled up to her face, still shivering slightly.
"She's been in, maybe, 10 minutes" Sasha checked.
"Alright, come on kiddo." When Lauren Tanner lazily blinked awake, Sasha was reminded of just how young she was "home time."
Her legs wobbled under her as her father wrapped her in a towel. She smiled softly at Sasha. "It's going to be amazing." She told him.
"Yes. It is."
- chapter break -
The next morning, Lauren looked like death during conditioning, and lagged behind the other seniors.
"Pick it up, Lauren." He insisted. She scowled every time he called her out until she finally flopped on the mats.
Everything hurt and she groaned.
Payson was concerned.
"Are you okay?" She checked.
"Yeah, you seem really out of shape." Kaylie helpfully pointed out.
"Well spending two days meeting sponsors and doing interviews in New York had to have its consequences." Lauren replied to Kaylie with a cheery smile. She half-heartedly poked the bruises on her knees from the night before.
"It's like you said when I was the national champion." Kaylie continued. "We're all catching up to you now."
Lauren scowled. She would've stayed like that flopped on the mat except Carter caught her eye. For some incredibly unfair reason he was nowhere near as out of shape as she was, or perhaps it was because he did his conditioning with the NCAA boys.
"Come on." He tugged her to her feet.
"Why did we go to New York?" She grumbled, and then screamed a little when he tossed her over his shoulder and carried her into the empty rec room. She screamed again when he deposited her into the ice bath.
"You got me an ice bath." She chattered.
He grinned, sheepish but proud. "Don't say I never get you anything."
Glancing around to make sure no one was watching she pulled him in for a quick kiss. "This whole coaching thing you've got going on is kind of hot." She told him.
"Well I don't think Sasha would be thrilled if he caught me kissing gymnasts on the clock."
"Off the clock then"
"10 minutes." He reminded her about the ice-bath and while she rolled her eyes she was also grinning.
Half an hour later she'd iced down and then warmed up all-over again. Too Sasha's amusement she immediately headed for the bars. At his questioning look she informed him "I'm getting this over and done with." She told him. "So then I get back to beam."
He hid his chuckle.
That was how it went. She trained all day until her arms ached and when she wasn't on bars or running through vault and tumbles she was on beam, connecting her onodi and aerial walkover before drilling again and again flic-flic-layout until she could do it in her sleep. The mount, the simplistic round-off flic she planned on turning into a round-off back tuck eventually, she had to practice after hours, when Kaylie and Emily had gone home and Payson had been shuttled off to ballet practice.
Carter took her out for lunch but when he asked if she wanted to come over that night she shook her head. "I told Sasha I'd stay late."
"Again?"
Lauren managed to shrink and grow defensive at the same time. "Yes? What?"
"Nothing, you've just been staying late a lot lately.
"National team practice is in nine days and Sasha's making me add weilers, weilers! Not to mention he wants a one and a half-twisting double back by trials. Next week we get to relax, but how about tomorrow night I come over and take advantage of your Jacuzzi?"
"Would I get to take advantage of you?" Carter checked.
Lauren leaned over to creep into his lap and kiss him deeply. "You can even take advantage of me, in your Jacuzzi." She promised.
The Jacuzzi felt like a far off dream that night, when Sasha was drilling her in the annexe. "Commit, Commit! Momentum, Rhythm."
"Alright. That's enough for tonight." She dropped off the side. "It's only six thirty." She pointed out. There were still night classes going on in the main gym.
"And I have plans that exist outside of this gym." Sasha couldn't believe he was saying this. "So should you. You don't need an injury, and I want you to start wrapping your ankles. The impact isn't good for them. You can use the bars for another half hour then rest."
Lauren nodded. "You know, it wouldn't hurt to let word of my scary mount leak out before trials, put Kelly Parker in her place."
"You can handle Kelly." Sasha held open the door. "What you don't need is Genji Cho or the Russians finding out now and getting months of training instead of the five weeks they will have after trials."
Lauren froze. She'd been so focused on trials it hadn't quite sunk in that this beam could win her a world title.
"Fine." She flounced "have fun on your date then." She called.
The class that was running was all high-school girls but when Sasha turned towards his office he froze. Standing at the foot of the stairs with an undeserving hurt look on her face was Payson Keeler.
"I thought you had ballet?" Sasha questioned.
"Ms Viola's mother is sick." Payson scowled. "I came to get some extra training but Janet said you were having a private session."
Jealous Payson was hilarious. Lauren decided.
"Don't worry Pay, I've got my own coach to be hot for, remember."
"Lauren, I'll see you tomorrow." Sasha told her sternly "Payson, we can talk in my office."
"No, it's okay." Payson retreated "I'll go home too. Goodnight."
"Payson…" he called, but she was out the door.
Lauren chased after her across the parking lot.
"Pay, wait."
"What, Lauren?" Payson finally responded once you were sitting in her mother's car, key in the ignition.
"Well you seem upset." Lauren pointed out unnecessarily.
"Goodnight Lauren." Payson started the car.
"Wait." Lauren interrupted again. "Okay, I get it. You're upset I'm having private training sessions with Sasha, but come on Pay, I have Carter. Sasha is not my type."
"This isn't about…" Payson gaped. "You came second at Nationals, you, who's always cared more about boys and your hair than gymnastics." Before Lauren could interrupt Payson carried on. "Fine, I accepted that. And you have Carter and you go out and have fun and fine, you can be the top gymnast and you can just start connecting an onodi and a walkover, just like that, when I spend day after day, trying to stick it. Kaylie did it too, last year. But Sasha was supposed to be mine. I was his favourite. It was the one thing, I still had, okay? I just wanted Sasha to be mine."
"I get it." Lauren answered. "And he is."
"No he's not. You're his favorite."
"Please. He's making up for lost time. He, just like you, thought I was some half-talented girl whose Daddy bought her trophies." She shrugged "so I proved him wrong and now he's wondering what else he missed. And he's all Team USA and doesn't want my beam ending up on a blog, which we know would happen if we did it in the main gym, thus the private training sessions."
"I never thought you were half-talented." Payson told Lauren "I just thought… you could do more, and now you are, so that shows me. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Pay…" Lauren called, but Payson was already pulling out.
The next morning, there was Lauren, flicking up and down the beam. Payson frowned. She made her flic-flic layout look easy but even so it made no sense to spend so much time on an already conquered skill. It made Payson furious Lauren wasn't even training efficiently.
Then she changed and connected her aerial and an onodi and Payson full-on scowled. What Payson's long legs and grace made look elegant, Lauren made look almost dirty. Still she set her shoulders and approached.
Flic-flic-layout. Lauren continued.
"You're here early." Payson approached and kept her voice steady.
"Yep" flic-flic-layout. Lauren apparently did change it up sometimes because she performed her jump combination, the switch and then Teza, all higher than what Payson was capable. Then flic-flic-layout.
Payson ground her teeth but made up her mind. "Can you help me on beam today?" She asked, swallowing her pride.
"What?"
"Can. You. Help. Me. On. Beam. Today?" She ground out.
Lauren paused and then jumped off sideways.
"What do you need my help for?"
"You seem to manage what I can't. The connections… the stupid choreography. Sasha says I should be as graceful on beam as I am on floor and you make it look easy"
"Okay." Lauren stated.
"Really?"
"Sure. Let's put a little sizzle in your beam."
"I'm not doing the flirty thing." Payson hastily retracted.
"Fine." Lauren conceded. "But then you have to help me on bars. Sasha's ridiculous idea of adding two weilers into my routine by the first national practice is killing me."
"Deal" they shook hands solemnly.
While the gym was still mostly empty, they took turns on the uneven bars. On Kelly Parker's best event they had two very different styles but score-wise were fairly evenly matched.
Then they swapped to beam where they so clearly weren't.
Lauren was not only relentlessly capable to sticking things, she had little understanding that Payson couldn't, and was even worse since she'd grown even longer limbs. Then got started on Payson's choreography.
Payson had never felt so uncoordinated.
She was beyond grateful when they were called for conditioning.
At the end of the day's scheduled activity Payson was relieved to find Lauren tossing her grips into her bag with glee.
"You're not staying tonight?" She checked.
"Nope, I've got a hot date."
"With Carter?" Kaylie asked.
Payson could never quite understand why Kaylie was such a glutton for emotional punishment.
"And his hot-tub. Guess I am doing an extra-workout today."
As Kaylie scowled, Lauren sauntered out.
"She's just riling you up." Emily pointed out. "Don't let her get to you."
"I'm trying." Kaylie replied. "It's just, does she have to keep bringing it up, at every opportunity? We get it Lauren, you won. I shouldn't have to see them and hear about it everywhere."
"Actually" Payson stated "you brought him up."
She winced under the power of Kaylie's glare. "Thanks Pay. Way to be supportive." The brunette scowled. She took note that Payson wasn't changing.
"Are you staying late, again?"
"Yes." Payson was defensive.
"I'd stay, but I have a video call with Damon scheduled." Emily unhelpfully pointed out.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow."
As Payson turned back to the floor she heard Kaylie bemoan "I'd love to be able to train all day but instead, I have to go, to my shrink. How is that fair! Lauren cannot beat me, again!"
- Chapter break -
With eight days to go until the first national team practice, Sasha had been spending what seemed like half his time fielding calls from the NGO. They might have been sounding him out for National Team Coach but they weren't done making him jump through hoops yet. He abandoned his office gratefully and stared out over the floor. Beyond his senior girls paired up on uneven bars, he took note of Carter Anderson, leading a group of after school kids. Carter had turned into perhaps his most surprising gymnast, and the one he was least concerned over. Then his eyes flickered back to Lauren on bars.
It had been awkward, training with Payson; training alone with Payson. Sasha would be the first to admit it. But at the same time he cared about his girls and wanted to be there for her. He'd tried talking it over with Nicholai, even attempted a conversation with Summer, but he was still stuck.
He made a decision watching Payson watch Lauren. He'd thought it after she injured herself and he still thought it today. Payson would make a great coach. She couldn't help herself, even when it was her competition.
"Lauren; A word." The blonde was always eager to jump off bars, even as her two new skills folded in nicely.
"Yes coach?" There was always a hint of mocking in her tone.
"Payson will be joining us tonight" he informed her.
"So you caved?" She prodded. Sasha gave Payson what she wanted; of course he did.
"It's not that simple."
"Oh, no?"
"Starting next week, I'm going to have a lot less time to coach you one-on-one, and your teammates will probably be upping their after hours in the gym. If you train with Payson you'll get more beam time and another set of eyes."
Lauren considered "Can we train without you when you're on one of your dates?"
"Not unless one of you has become a coach while I haven't been looking." He turned to walk away.
"Carter did." Lauren called. Sasha raised an eyebrow. "Start coaching. You were watching though. He could coach us."
"You think your boyfriend would make an adequate coach?"
Lauren raised her chin. "I know he'd make a great coach."
I'll consider it." He told her. "You can tell Payson."
Lauren bounced right over to the blonde who'd been watching out of the corner of her eye. Emily had jumped on bars with Kaylie spotting.
"Another private training session?" Payson asked, with enough bitterness to be detectable.
"Yes. And you're invited."
"What?"
"And Sasha's probably going to let us train without supervision. Well, with Carter, but just the three of us. Also, BTW, he'll kill us if our routines leak, so don't tell anyone."
"Really?" Payson stated. "Sasha's going to let you, me and Carter train here alone."
"I guess he trusts us." Lauren flounced. "See you tonight and don't invite Emily and Kaylie." Payson rolled her eyes but her gaze followed Lauren, intrigued nonetheless.
One by one, the gym emptied but some, like Kaylie, refused to leave until Alex Cruz himself came in. It didn't matter though, because Sasha led them to the annexe.
"Jeez, Lo. What have you been working on?" Carter asked.
"I'm trusting the three of you to behave like adults." Sasha informed them. "Professional adults." And that look was aimed directly at Carter and Lauren. "Don't abuse this privilege. I'll be in and out as much as I can, and regularly."
The size of the grin on Lauren's face almost makes Sasha change his mind. Payson and Carter at least try to look responsible. Instead he just repeated "regularly."
"Anderson, your parallel bars need work." It was true, without Austin there, constantly pushing, Carter's parallel and horse work had lagged.
"Payson, beam. Lauren will help you."
"Lauren? Why don't you show them what we've been working on?" He nodded at the beam. She quickly shook out her limbs and then moved to the familiar position. He handed her the wires hanging from the roof.
"You're using wires? On beam?" Payson checked. They were normally used for floor. Anything that hindered a gymnast's own balance on the beam was a detriment
"Not for much longer." Sasha answered.
Lauren counted her steps out from beam.
"Ready?" Sasha asked. She nodded and then began.
Round-off, flic, flic, layout. Each foot was secure, off the mat and down the beam. She wobbled at the end and the wires caught her.
Then she darted back down the beam and jumped off.
"Better." Sasha instructed "but still not perfect. This needs…"
"To be perfect. I know." Still Lauren turned to Carter and Payson. "So, what do you think of my super-secret new mount that will destroy Genji Cho at worlds?"
"That could win you a gold medal" Payson quantified the thoughts going through everyone's heads. "Does F.I.G. know about this?"
"They will." Sasha stated, then he repeated "professional, the lot of you. Help each other."
Lauren couldn't help it. She grinned cautiously at Payson.
Payson's smile almost split her face.
- Chapter break -
Friday morning Kaylie arrived first and glanced around excitedly. But no one was there. No Payson, no Lauren, not even Sasha, and she had news!
"Good morning, Kaylie." Summer however, was there bright and early.
"Hi" She waved back, putting on a cheerful smile. "Is Sasha doing extra training with Pay and Lauren then?" She made her voice casual. She had noticed they'd stayed late the last three nights.
To her relief Summer looked baffled. "No, Sasha had to go to Denver to meet with the NGO and I haven't seen Payson or Lauren at all. Wait…"
There was the gym door opening and Payson and Emily walking in.
"Good morning."
There was Kaylie's opportunity to get some unscrutinized training in gone but she had news so instead she painted on a smile. "I guess I beat you here today."
Payson nodded and stripped off before starting to stretch. "I had ballet. Conditioning isn't until 9.30 today right?"
"Right." Kaylie reached for Emily. "Em, help me stretch."
"So, how's training with Lauren." Kaylie demanded.
"Good. My beam's getting so much better."
"Right, well Lauren does know how to flaunt it." Kaylie dug.
Payson chuckled, missing the malice. "Yeah. It's interesting… that's for sure."
"So…" Kaylie drew "I've got news!"
They all perked up appropriately.
"My doctors are finally relaxing and letting me off controlled training, so I guess you and Lauren will have some company." She smiled.
Payson froze. "What?"
"Yeah. It's such good timing with the national practice. I'm going to be back to beating Genji Cho by worlds."
"That's amazing." Emily congratulated
"That's great Kaylie." Payson was a faint echo.
"Wow, way to sound happy for me."
"I am. It's great. Really." Payson knew she sounded insincere. "Excuse me, I have to talk to Sasha." She bolted for the stairs.
She found Summer at her desk and a very awkward looking Carter with paperwork. "Where's Sasha?" Payson demanded.
"Meeting with the NGO" Carter answered.
"Did you need something?" Summer asked.
"Payson?" Kim had followed her daughter into the gym and now glanced around the office in confusion.
"Just to talk to Sasha." She pasted on a smile. "Carter, could give me a hand moving some mats?"
"Of course."
"Thank you." Carter told Payson in a low tone as they came down the stairs. "Summer hates me."
"We have bigger problems, Kaylie wants to start training with us."
"What?"
"Yeah. This is why I hate drama."
Carter laughed.
"What?" Payson demanded "Kaylie's never going to let up, and national team practice is next week."
"We have one thing she doesn't." Carter pointed out.
"And what's that?"
"Lauren. I'll talk to Lo. All you have to do is stay away from Kaylie until she gets here."
"Just like that?" Payson groaned "I swear I'm getting an ulcer."
You couldn't have a conversation with anyone on bars, which is why Payson immediately told Janet she wanted one of the apparatuses. The advantages of status. Then she spotted her sister warming up on the edge of the juniors.
It seemed avoiding Kaylie would give her just the push she needed.
"Can I warm up with you today?" She asked
"Whatever." Becca stuck her headphones back in.
Payson tapped her on the leg again, causing Becca to reluctantly pull out an ear bud. "I was thinking, after national team practice we could have a sisters day… maybe go ice skating …"
Becca glared. "Why are you being nice?"
"I'm always nice."
"Whatever."
Payson internally groaned. It was going to be a long day.
Thankfully, Lauren arrived before conditioning.
"Where have you been?" Payson demanded in a hushed voice.
Lauren smiled, it made her look like a maniacal serial killer. "M.J. wanted me to video conference with some people."
"Well Kaylie wants to join our practices."
Lauren shrugged. "I heard." She turned to speak loudly. "Hey Kay, Pay says you want to join us for some late night coaching."
"Yeah." Kaylie crossed her arms "It's not like I need your permission."
"No. Of course not. If you can handle it you're more than welcome."
"I can handle it. My doctors all agree."
"Really? Your doctors think you'll be fine being criticised by your ex-boyfriend?"
"I don't have to talk to Carter"
"You don't know? Sasha's like training him up to be a proper coach. He's good too, right Pay?"
"What?"
"Carter, as a coach…"
"Yeah…" She answered awkwardly
"Sasha's not here most nights." Lauren continued on.
"So he just lets you be in here, unsupervised? Sure." Kaylie was disbelieving
"Carter's supervising. He's learning to coach" Lauren repeated, as though Kaylie were a small child. She rounded on Payson "speaking of which, I am finalizing my bars tonight. I don't care if my arms fall off. I just want to get it done." She sighed dramatically before turning to Kaylie "If you want to come in I'm sure that's fine though, I bet Carter could really help you get your floor up to scratch."
"That's the plan?" Payson demanded later. "Just hope Kaylie doesn't want to be around Carter? What if she shows up anyway?"
"Then Carter will help me stretch, and spot me and I'll stick my tongue down his throat every time I land a trick. Plus, he'll be a hands-on coach for you. She won't stick around, trust me."
Never Payson thought silently. But she nodded. "It seems mean."
"Well then she can come and well see how long it takes for our upped routines to get to Denver…"
"Kaylie wouldn't tell anyone" Payson protested.
"She'd tell Emily and Emily will tell her mother who'll tell to the other gym mums who'll brag to Elite gym mums or someone will put it on a blog. It happens, Pay. That's why we're keeping it secret until trials."
"It just feels wrong, lying to our teammates."
"When did I lie?" Lauren got up. "Now excuse me… Carter babe? Could you spot me on bars?"
She stood nice and close to him, causing him to ne0rvously chuckle. She knew Kaylie was watching.
"Lo… what are you playing at?" He asked her.
"I'm showing Kaylie just what she'll see if she shows up tonight." Lauren told him. She rested an arm on his bicep. "Play along?"
He nodded, not entirely committed, but he lifted her up to the higher bar so she could run through the routine from its midway point up to its dismount. He watched her with a sharp eye and she was completely professional. Her new dismount was a one and a half twisting double-layout dismount. Lower scoring than her previous one, but everyone knew it was just a stepping stone. The final half-twist would add the difficulty.
"Well?" Lauren stepped in close.
"Come here." Carter told her in a low voice.
"Okay…"
Cautiously he took hold of her right forearm and maneuverer it back into one of the harder stretches. She twisted back against him with a smirk. It brought their faces centimetres apart.
"You looked a bit tight through the pirouettes." He told her.
"Glad I had you to loosen me up." Their eyes were locked until Lauren was released.
"Lift you again?" His arms went around her legs.
Later, when they were doing vault runs, Payson leaned forward to tell Lauren "I don't think Kaylie's going to be showing up tonight."
- chapter break -
Twas the night before first team practice and Payson was still unconvinced as to the nature of Lauren and Carter's relationship. Most of the time they acted like teammates, critiquing and congratulating. However, when Lauren had clean bars and they high tenned, they stepped a little too close.
And, it turned out, Lauren's calculating smirk that Payson had always thought to mean trouble also meant a kiss they quickly pulled away from, as though they still weren't used to being able to do that whenever she liked.
But what really threw Payson was the way Lauren responded to Carter. The way when she railed upon "Devil Parker" Carter just tilted her head and she frowned "too bitchy?" before changing the subject. What's more, Lauren moved into Carter's space like a shadow and he kept her close. Even now, when they scandalously at dinner on edge of the mats, Lauren was pressed against his side, phone pulled out.
"Austin?"
"Nope. I still haven't heard. Try this." She fed Carter the last of her rice paper roll.
"That's good."
"Mmm, we should totally get Vietnamese more often."
Payson silently ate her own.
"Kelly Parker's tweeting how she can't wait to spend time with her teamies." Lauren rolled her eyes. "vomit."
Payson was more resolute. "We can beat her." She told Lauren. "We absolutely can."
They both looked up at the sound of a front door clanging.
"Sasha?" Payson called. He was supposed to be at a final meeting in Denver. She glanced around to make sure nothing against the rules was happening.
Lauren was more paranoid about axe-wielding maniacs but her solution was to move closer to Carter.
"Hey teamies…" A voice echoed "I saw the light. Having a party without me?"
Lauren was up in a heartbeat and racing across the gym before throwing herself into his arms.
"Austin!"
- chapter end -
Nigerian Girl: Thanks for the review! I agree, slapping people is wrong, but Lauren is still Lauren and I didn't have a chalk bucket for her to dump on Kelly Parker's head! As for Kaylie, lets just say that while they might not be the best of friends, national team practices have a way of bringing the Rock together! I hope you keep reading, and I'll try to throw a bit more Kaylie in there!
ELM-Tree 10: You always leave the nicest reviews. Thanks so much! I hope you de-stress soon. I recommend good quality ice-cream and a television marathon! (Also reading and reviewing this, of course!)
Iargyprop: I'll miss Austin too, but all our characters had some grown up things to do, and his were in London! That's how I saw Carter's family, as something he had to do before he could move on properly, while Lauren had her own thing to take care of, of course. Between you and me, long term I don't think this, everyone getting everything they want thing will work out. ;-)
Luv2Love: Thanks! The next few chapters should be to your tastes! Hope you enjoyed the Sasha!.
Next time: The First National Team Practice. Austin returns, Carter learns nice guys might not finish last but they certainly don't finish first. There are new teammates, new coaches, old and new rivals and a new gymnast joins the Rocky Mountain Gymnastics club.