A/N: Today is a great day, you know why? SNOW DAY! I'd pretty much abandoned all hope that I'd ever get a snow day in law school, but this blizzard that's sweeping the country means business. Woohoo! If you're a reader and you're in it's path, I hope you stay cozy and warm!
Thanks as always to BearyFunny66, Ida-cullen, Anonymous, JCI, and alliclaire for your reviews! I can't tell you how excited I get to read what you all have to say when I see a new review pop up.
Housekeeping: Nathan Adrian and Teren Oddo are real people (Teren is Chelsea Hobb's hubby and his photography is GORGEOUS, google him and check it out) so they're not my creation. Also, there's a point in this chapter where Mark and Kim agree to let Payson do something and I know that they agree quickly and it's maybe a bit out of character, but them agreeing is just a stepping stone to something else, so I may have glossed over it a little too quickly.
As always, enjoy! And review! It only takes a second and I'll love you forever!
Chapter 26
"That's great Payson! Tilt your chin up a bit." Payson does as the photographer says, tilting her chin. She's uncomfortable, being posed like a doll isn't the most natural thing in the world, but she flashes the camera a brilliant smile.
"Gorgeous, Payson!" The photographer snaps a few more shots in a few more poses and then releases her back to the make-up artist. Seventeen Magazine flew her to New York for a photo shoot with several other young Olympic hopefuls. It's been months since she signed her representation contract with MJ, and this is her first major photo shoot. She's done a few ad campaigns for make-up, Bare Minerals, and one for Neutrogena, as well as one for a new line of leotards. Then there was a launch party for that, and some philanthropy stuff. Payson hates every second of it, except the philanthropy because at least then she feels like it all serves a purpose, but it's earned her a college education in the span of twelve weeks.
"Purse your lips, darling," the incredibly flamboyant make-up artist says, poking at her with all kinds of make-up brushes. She groans.
"Aren't girls supposed to like this kind of stuff?" Payson glances into the mirror to see Nathan Adrian, an Olympic swimmer just a few years older than her, watching her with amusement.
"Payson isn't like most girls," Austin says, coming up behind Nathan. Both boys have been to the Olympics once, and are slated to go again. "And I wouldn't waste your time flirting, she's got a boyfriend."
"Really?" Nathan asks, looking between Austin and Payson.
"Yes," Payson confirms.
"I'm starting to think she's lying, though, cause no one's ever seen him. Either she's lying, or crazy," Austin says. Payson glares and gets a sharp smack on the hand from the make-up artist.
"I'm very good at keeping my private life private. And plenty of people know him, just not you," Payson says.
"Austin, Payson, and Kelly! We need our gymnasts over here," the photographer, Teren Oddo calls. Payson gets out of the chair and follows Austin over to where he's shooting. Kelly's already there, and Payson grins at her. Outside of actual competition, Kelly and Payson have actually formed a sort of camaraderie. She won't go so far as to call it a friendship, but that haven't killed each other yet, and they've been sharing a hotel room. "Okay, let's get Austin in the middle and Kelly and Payson on either side."
His assistant poses them. In the end they have Austin holding Kelly close to his side and spinning Payson beneath his other arm. They're all laughing, and it isn't forced. They take a few hundred more photos in a few different poses and then they're released.
"Let's celebrate," Austin says, slinging an arm around each girl's shoulders as they exit the studio.
"Celebrate how?" Payson asks. Kelly snorts.
"Dinner and a club," Kelly says, like it should be obvious. Payson frowns.
"A club?"
"Hell yes! We can dance the night away," Austin says. He hails a cab and they all pile in.
The cab takes them back to their hotel, where they change into more night out appropriate clothes. Payson puts on a black skirt and a deep purple, silk top that showcases her muscular back and shoulders, plus flats. If they're going dancing, she doesn't want her feet to hurt. Kelly puts on a tiny silver sequined dress and sky high black heels.
"It's pretty different, being around each other like this, isn't it?" Payson muses as they ride the elevator down to the lobby.
"Yeah. You know, you're pretty cool outside the gym," Kelly offers. Payson laughs.
"Thanks. You too."
Austin, who's the most familiar with New York, takes them to a famous and delicious sushi restaurant. Then he takes them to a club uptown and talks their way in. They dance for hours, using Austin as a buffer for creepy guys and laughing together. Payson never thought she could have so much fun with these two people who she never really considered friends.
When they get back to the hotel, she and Kelly go back to their room. Payson quickly changes into her pajamas and then crawls into bed with her Blackberry. There are a couple of texts from Sasha, just cute reminders that he loves her, he hopes she's having fun, etc. Since Kelly's in the room, Payson will have to settle for just texting him, instead of a goodnight phone call.
I missed you today
Sasha: What are you still doing up? Isn't your flight at some ungodly hour in the morning?
Lol. I went out with Austin and Kelly, we just got back. Flight's at 5 am.
Sasha: Have fun?
So much. Wish you had been there though.
Sasha: Me too. How was the shoot?
Fine. My face hurts from smiling so much. Issue will be on the stands in a few weeks.
Sasha: Can't wait to see it. Get some sleep, okay?
Yup. Love you so much.
Sasha: Love you. See you tomorrow. Fly safe.
Payson takes a second to erase the texts. Her parents know, but she can never be sure who's going to get a hold of her phone so she's made it a habit to erase everything. Kelly looks over at her.
"Texting your boyfriend?" Kelly asks. Payson sets her phone on the nightstand and lays down, turning off her lamp.
"Yes," she answers.
"Do I know him?" Kelly asks, crawling into her bed.
"No," Payson lies.
"How'd you meet him?"
"Kelly," Payson sighs. She's treading carefully because her relationship with Kelly is still tenuous. "I work really hard at keeping my private life just that, private. So I'd really rather not talk about him."
"Okay, that's cool," Kelly says with a shrug. They turn the light off and go to sleep.
#
When her plane lands in Boulder, Payson goes straight for the apartment. Since it's Sunday, she knows Sasha will still be sleeping and she wants to wake him up. Using her key, she slips into their little sanctuary as quietly as she can, leaving her purse, suitcase, and shoes at the door. She drops her coat on top of her bag and then tip toes to the bedroom.
Sasha is sprawled out on his back, deeply asleep. Payson creeps to the edge of the bed, crawling on as gently as possible. He stirs, but doesn't wake, and she snuggles into his side.
Payson doesn't realize she's drifted off to sleep until she opens her eyes to find Sasha lying on his side, propped up by an elbow, staring at her. He smiles at her groan.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's way creepy to watch people sleep?" She mutters, burying her face in her pillow. He laughs, reaching out to brush the hair away from her face.
"Good morning, love," he whispers. She rolls over to make some comment, but she doesn't remember what it is because suddenly his mouth is over hers and he's pressing himself into her. She grunts in surprise and immediately her arms are around his neck.
They do nothing more than kiss lazily for a few minutes before Sasha pulls away, bracing himself over her.
"I missed you," he whispers. She reaches up to cup his cheek, smoothing her thumb over his stubble.
"I missed you too," she says. Sasha gets off the bed, pulling on a t-shirt.
"So, I have to go out of town Valentine's weekend," Sasha says as Payson follows him to the kitchen, where he pours himself a cup of coffee and Payson an orange juice. Payson leans against the counter as he starts pulling out breakfast supplies.
"Oh?" She asks, a little bit hurt that he won't be around for their first Valentine's Day together. He nods, his back to her as he fixes their meal.
"Yes, and I was hoping you'd come with me." Payson looks up to find him grinning at her, like he had a plan all along. She shrugs.
"Well I might have plans," she says.
"Oh really? Too bad, I thought you might like to get away for a few days," Sasha says, sighing. "I guess I'll just have to take someone else."
"You know, my schedule just cleared up," Payson says quickly, even though she knows he's just baiting her. "Where are we going and why?"
"We're going to Romania. A cousin of mine is getting married, and we promised a long time ago that we would never miss each others' wedding day," Sasha explains. There's a little sadness in his voice, and a tightness around his mouth that Payson knows means he's burying emotions that he doesn't want to confront.
"That sounds like fun," Payson says earnestly, crossing the room and rubbing a hand between his shoulder blades.
"We'll need to check with your parents, but if they agree then we'll leave late that Wednesday and be back late Sunday night. I'll cancel training at the gym so you won't have to explain our coinciding absence to anyone," Sasha says.
"Sasha Beloff, cancel three days of training? I never thought I'd see the day," Payson jokes. He rolls his eyes.
"There's enough time between then and Nationals that it won't hurt anyone. Besides, you girls work hard, everyone deserves a break," Sasha says. Payson levels a look at him that lets him know she doesn't believe him. He smiles, breaking under her gaze.
"I'll talk to my parent's tonight," Payson promises. He smiles, reaching forward to kiss her forehead.
"Let me know if they want to talk to me about it."
#
"Payson, I don't know. It's Eastern Europe," Mark says, sighing. Payson huffs.
"Dad, please? Look, Sasha knows the two of you, and Becca, and he's part of our family. You guys have accepted him even after everything that's happened, and I've never met his family, except for his father. It's really important to me that I meet them, that I see where he comes from, and what's made Sasha, Sasha," Payson explains. She sees her dad waver.
"Mark, we should let her go. She's traveled abroad without us before, it's just for a different reason this time," Kim mutters, squeezing her husband's hand. Payson watches, hopeful.
"Okay, I suppose you can go," Mark sighs. Payson squeals, lunging forward to hug her parents.
"Thank you, thank you!" Payson cries.
"Just, be good, okay?" Mark begs. Payson smiles at her dad.
"I promise."
#
Monday morning, the gym is buzzing. Sasha's just made the announcement that in two weeks, the gymnasts will have four entire days off of training. Lauren can't stop bouncing, her smile broad.
"We should have a spa weekend!" Lauren suggests as she, Emily, and Payson stretch.
"I can't. This is the longest we've had off of training, ever, so my family is going back to Minnesota to visit some relatives," Payson lies. Well, her family is going to Minnesota for a long weekend, but she won't be with them. She and Sasha will be in Bucharest, where his family is from. According to Sasha she's in for several days of celebration, with the actual wedding on Saturday night.
"Well that's boring. It's not even warm in Minnesota," Lauren scoffs. Emily and Payson each roll their eyes. Lauren scurries off to work on the beam and Emily turns to Payson, arching an eyebrow.
"So where are you and Sasha going?" Emily asks. Payson shouldn't be surprised, but she is a little bit. She looks around to make sure there's no one to hear their conversation and then smiles.
"Romania. His cousin is getting married," Payson explains. Emily gasps a little.
"Four days in Romania? That's kind of a big step, isn't it?" Emily asks. Payson shrugs, smiling.
"I guess. I'll be meeting his whole family; aunts, uncles, cousins. I'm excited," Payson explains. Emily smiles.
"You're going to be insanely jet lagged for practice on Monday," Emily warns. Payson groans.
"I know, I'm already dreading that part. I'll just have to take a sleeping pill on the plane, I guess," Payson says.
"Ladies, get to work!" Sasha calls from the floor. They both look over at him before bursting into giggles and scurrying away.
#
Two weeks pass by quickly for Payson. There's a lot to do to get ready; she needs a new dress for the wedding, shoes, jewelry. She, Kaylie, Emily, and Heather spend the bulk of a Sunday shopping for her wedding look. She also needs a dress for the rehearsal dinner, and for the cocktail party that's going to kick off the wedding festivities. She's never been more thankful for the insane amounts of money her sponsors have given her, because asking her parents to spend so much money for one weekend in Romania would have been too much.
Tuesday night Payson packs her bags and Wednesday morning she stores them in the back seat of his truck so that they can leave shortly after training ends for the day. The day moves slowly, but finally training is over. Payson continues to work, as she always does, while the gymnasts file out.
"Payson, we're getting a vacation, go home!" Lauren says dramatically. Payson waves her off.
"I just need to go through this one more time and then I'll leave. Have a good weekend," Payson says, making it clear that Lauren should leave and not hang around.
"Yeah, have fun in Minnesota." The way Lauren says it stops Payson in her tracks, just for a moment. She can't put her finger on it, but regardless the tone of Lauren's voice makes Payson uneasy.
"I will," she says carefully. Lauren disappears and Payson relaxes, climbing the stairs to Sasha's office.
"Sasha," she starts as she rounds the corner. She stops when she sees Summer there. It looks like she and Sasha are in the middle of an argument, which is no surprise. Though they're perfectly civil to one another, they still don't agree on much and it often leads to verbal sparring matches.
"Yes, Payson?" Sasha asks. His eyes soften the moment they land on her and she smiles at him.
"I was hoping you could watch my beam routine before I go," Payson says. He nods, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Of course. I'll be out in a moment," he says. Payson ducks back out of the office and makes her way towards the beam. She's hoping that Summer will leave so that she and Sasha can get to the airport, but instead Sasha appears a few moments later, frowning.
"She's not going to make this easy," he grumbles as Payson lifts herself onto the beam.
"So I'll run through this quickly, and then I'll go hide in the truck and you can tell her you have to go," Payson offers. Sasha's frown deepens. She thinks she hears him mutter "I can't wait until after London," but she can't be sure.
"I guess that's our only option," he sighs. Payson moves through her routine, Sasha making minor corrections as she goes. It only takes a few minutes before she's done. "Very nice. That will win you Nationals. Now go change and then climb into the truck and keep your head down."
"See you there," Payson says. As Sasha climbs the stairs back to the office, she changes in the locker room and then goes to the truck.
#
The flight is long and grueling. Twelve hours on a plane is not on the list of Payson's favorite things, but spending time with Sasha is. They talk for the first little while before Sasha insists that Payson try to get some sleep. It will be late afternoon when they land in Bucharest, because of the time difference, and they'll have to hit the ground running. Sasha tells her that they'll only have a couple hours to get ready for the kick-off cocktail party once they land.
Payson is deeply asleep when Sasha shakes her gently awake. She groans, reaching for his hand and he leans in, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Wake up love, we're going to land soon," he whispers. She finally opens her eyes and smiles at him, happy for the little getaway.
"How long?" Payson asks, her voice still scratchy from sleep. Sasha nods out the window.
"See for yourself." Payson looks out the window to see breathtaking mountains surrounded by lush green hills. The mountains are capped with snow and in the distance Payson can see the buildings and streets of Bucharest.
"It's gorgeous," she breathes. Sasha laces his fingers through hers.
"Welcome to Romania, Iubito," he whispers.