A/N: Thank you to Ida-cullen, BearyFunny66, JCI, and alliclaire for your reviews!
So I have a question for everyone: JCI recently requested some outtakes for this story. If you've read her stuff, you know what the outtakes are. And if you don't read her stuff, go do it. She's great. Anyway, the actual question, how many of you would be interested in some steamy outtakes? Let me know!
Also, check out my one shot "Let Me Go."
As always, review!
Chapter 29
Lauren Tanner sighs and looks at her watch, again, as they wait for Payson to come out of the dressing room. The National Champ had invited Lauren and Emily to come hang out with her while she shoots a commercial for Dr. Scholl's inserts, the ones that supposedly make dancing for hours in six inch heels feel like walking on a cloud. Lauren snorts, unconvinced.
"What is taking her so long?" Lauren huffs. Emily looks sideways at Lauren, in that way Lauren knows means she's losing her patience.
"She has a lot to do, Lauren."
"Like what, sit there while people do her hair and make-up? Oh, the horror," Lauren snaps. She knows she hasn't been the easiest person to get along with lately, especially when it comes to Payson, but she's hurt. And when Lauren's hurt, she lashes out. Payson has a boyfriend, and she hasn't even told Lauren about it. She's pretty damn good at keeping secrets…when she wants to, and she can't understand why Kelly-freaking-Parker found out, officially anyway, before she did. The truth is, Lauren has known for a while, and she even knows who it is, but she wanted to see if Payson would come to her. Apparently not.
For a while now, Lauren has been feeling like she's losing her place at The Rock, and her place with her friends. Everyone is moving on to bigger and better things; Emily has somehow surpassed her in skill, and her home life is more stable, Kaylie is flourishing in high school and dating some football star and Lauren hardly ever sees her, and Payson has a secret boyfriend and a glam lifestyle.
Really, it should be Lauren with the sponsorship deals. Out of all of them she is clearly the most glamorous, even if she isn't the most talented. She supposes that Kaylie, if she were still a gymnast, could have the same earning potential, but Lauren meant what she said about faking bone structure that one time. But Payson is the very least glamorous person ever, a tom boy through and through.
"Holy crap," Emily breathes. Lauren looks in the direction Emily indicates and her eyes go wide. Payson Keeler, or someone who looks a lot like her, is strutting across the studio in a short, form fitting black dress. It's banded, with a slightly scooped neck and straps that flare wider as they approach Payson's shoulders. Lauren has never noticed that Payson actually has incredible curves. On her feet are patent, blood red, four and a half inch heels. Her hair has volume that Lauren hasn't ever seen on Payson and the curls scream "sex pot," as do her smoky eyes.
"Oh. My. God."
"How do I look, guys?" Payson asks, walking over to where they're standing. Lauren can't bring herself to stop staring.
"Wow, Pay," Emily says. Lauren nods.
"You're…sexy," Lauren says, surprised. Payson smiles.
"Thanks. So, it shouldn't take long to shoot, and then we can go," Payson promises. Lauren and Emily both shrug, unconcerned.
Lauren watches as they film the commercial. They put Payson and a bunch of extras on a small dance floor and they dance like they're in a club, looking carefree and happy, before Payson turns to the camera and delivers some cheesy line about how awesome Dr. Scholl's inserts are. The director yells cut and make-up and hair people rush at Payson.
Her phone starts to ring from her purse, which she left with Lauren and Emily.
"Pay, your phone is ringing!" Emily calls, pulling Payson's Blackberry out of her purse.
"Who is it?" Payson asks. Emily frowns.
"Liam," Emily says, almost carefully. Lauren thinks hard until she remembers the name; the guy fighting in the bar was named Liam. Payson jogs over, surprisingly graceful in the heels she can't possibly be used to wearing, and takes the phone from Emily.
"Hello?"
Lauren watches as all the color drains from Payson's face. Her eyes go wide with terror and her hand starts to shake, but she doesn't say anything.
"I'll be right there," she says quietly, like she can't find her voice. She runs back to the director and says something, her body language verging on hysterical. He nods, patting her gently on the shoulder and she thanks him before running back and grabbing her purse from Emily.
"Payson, what's wrong?" Emily asks. Payson looks between Lauren and Emily.
"Sasha's been in an accident."
#
Emily insists on driving, because Payson is practically having a meltdown. Lauren watches from the backseat as Emily tries to calm Payson without giving away why she's so upset about their coach being in a car accident. Lauren almost tells her to drop the pretense, but part of her is a glutton for punishment and wants to see if this little experience will force Payson to tell her what's going on. Of course, Lauren is worried about her coach too. It must be bad, because Payson didn't even bother changing into regular clothes, and Lauren hopes that he isn't dead. She'll never make it to the Olympics without Sasha, that much she knows.
They pull up to Boulder Community Hospital, the best hospital in Boulder. Emily parks as close to the E.R. as she can and they all hurry into the hospital. Payson is crying and Lauren feels badly, she really is worried about Sasha.
The guy from the bar is standing in the waiting room, ready for them. Payson flies into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"Where is he? Is he okay? What happened, Liam?" Payson says quietly, all in a rush. Lauren knows she's still trying her best to keep her in the dark, and it makes her angry again. One of her best friends can't even bring herself to spill under the worst circumstances.
"Payson, he's fine. The accident was minor; some bumps and bruises, a few stitches but that's it. Another truck ran a red light, T-boned him in the intersection. Some glass cut his forehead, but it only took six stitches. He's fine," Liam insists. Looking at the pair, Lauren realizes they could be siblings; both blonde with blue eyes and rounded faces.
"Can I see him?" Payson asks, her voice shaky.
"Yeah, he's back here." Liam leads Payson away and Lauren looks at Emily.
"Why is she so freaked? That guy just said Sasha's fine," Lauren asks, digging for information. Emily sighs, shaking her head.
"Payson and Sasha have gotten really close since her accident," Emily says, noncommittally. Lauren rolls her eyes. All she wants is for someone to tell her the damn truth.
#
"Payson, he's fine," Liam insists as he leads Payson back to Sasha's hospital bed. Payson nods, knowing he's right, but unable to stop her heart from pounding. Her mind had immediately jumped to the very worst case scenario when Liam called her, only saying that Sasha had been in an accident. So really, it was all his fault she was in panic mode. "You look smokin', by the way."
"Shut up, Liam," Payson says, though there's no actual venom in her voice. She smiles, unable to help herself; Liam certainly knows how to lighten the mood. He stops her outside the curtain around Sasha's bed.
"He doesn't look pretty, Payson, but he's fine. Okay? Now take a deep breath and go play naughty nurse. I'll keep an eye out for actual hospital staff and cough twice if you two need to put your clothes back on," Liam jokes. Payson rolls her eyes, laughing and slips between the curtains.
Liam was right, Sasha doesn't look pretty. He's bruised, and the bandage over the stitches above his eye is spotted with fresh blood. Payson winces.
"Liam called you?" Sasha asks, shifting over so Payson can sit on the edge of the bed. She notices that he winces when he moves.
"He did," she confirms. Sasha grimaces.
"He wasn't supposed to."
"Why not?" Payson asks, running her fingers gently through his hair.
"Because I didn't want to worry you," Sasha admits. Payson sighs.
"You don't think I'd have been worried when I didn't see you later today? Or when I saw you and you were bruised all over?" Payson asks. Sasha frowns, knowing she's right. He settles his hand on her leg, playing with the hem of her dress, just for something to do.
"Maybe it wasn't the best plan," he says. Payson smiles.
"I'm glad he called. Although Lauren was at the shoot with me, and she's probably wondering what the hell is going on," Payson says. Sasha frowns at her.
"Lauren's here?"
"And Emily too." Sasha falls silent, his eyes closing as Payson continues to play with his hair. Payson watches him, so thankful that the accident was minor.
"I don't know what I would do if I lost you," Payson whispers. Sasha opens his eyes, letting the full force of his intense gaze hit her. He reaches for her face, pulling her in for a kiss before hugging her to him.
"You won't ever have to find out, Payson. I promise."
#
Emily watches Lauren as she sits in the uncomfortable plastic emergency room chairs, waiting for Payson to come back. Lauren is buried in her phone, doing who knows what. She's pretty sure that the blonde knows about Payson and Sasha, but she's remarkably good at playing dumb. Payson's only been back with Sasha for a few minutes, but Emily is worried that if Lauren doesn't know, she will soon. This whole situation is way too telling.
After about fifteen minutes, Payson appears looking a lot calmer than she did when they arrived. She's got that dreamy smile on her face that she always gets when she spends non-gymnastics time around Sasha. Emily can't imagine how they stay so business-like at the gym, but she supposes that's because they have a level of self control she can't even comprehend. No one controls themselves as well as Payson and Sasha do, not just in terms of their relationship, but in every aspect of their life. She also doesn't understand how Payson can handle not sleeping with Sasha. The man is gorgeous, it's impossible not to notice, and if it were Emily, she wouldn't be able to stop herself.
"He okay?" Emily asks. Payson nods.
"Yeah, he's fine. Come on, I ran out on the shoot and they weren't quite finished yet. I just called and told them I was on my way back," Payson explains. The even calm of her voice is back, and Emily smiles.
"Finally," Lauren mutters. Emily can't imagine how Lauren isn't even a little bit concerned for their coach. She was worried sick, until Payson had calmed down.
"I'll drive," Payson says, taking her keys from Emily.
"You remember how you guys used to make fun of Austin for all his sponsorship bling?" Emily asks as they walk towards Payson's Acura MDX.
"I'm well aware of the irony, thank you," Payson says lightly, pre-empting what Emily was about to point out. One of her newer endorsement deals is with Acura, and she gets a free car out of the arrangement, plus money for driving it around.
Emily is actually proud of how Payson's been handling the sudden onslaught of sponsorship and endorsements. She hasn't let any of it go to her head, and she actually pretends like it doesn't exist unless she's on a shoot. She's been given more clothing, jewelry, etc, than she can possibly handle, but she doesn't make a point of showing it off. She wears it because it's part of the deal, but that's it. Emily isn't sure any of the rest of them would have handled it so gracefully.
"What's it like seeing your face on tv?" Lauren asks. Payson shrugs.
"I don't know, I none of the commercials I've shot have aired yet. It's weird hearing my voice. They air the Acura commercial all the time and it gets really creepy hearing myself," Payson says. "I mostly try to stay away from it."
"You're such an anti-celebrity," Emily laughs. Payson just rolls her eyes.
"Please, I am so not a celebrity."
#
Media is crawling all over The Rock the next Wednesday morning. Payson frowns as she climbs out of her Acura, wondering what the hell they're doing there. She was expecting Amelia Marks, the reporter from People Magazine who'd done a profile on the Rock Rebels, for a follow up article that had been scheduled for months, but the rest were a total surprise.
Wanting to avoid questions until she knows what story they're looking for, Payson slips around to the back entrance. As usual she's the first gymnast there, but Sasha is already in the office. Climbing the steps quickly, she stands in the doorway and waits for him to notice her.
"Morning," he says carefully. Payson can see in his face that he isn't sure if she knows why the reporters are outside. She can also see that he knows exactly why, and he's afraid she'll be mad.
"Morning. Why is there a media mob outside?" Sasha takes a deep breath and Payson braces herself for whatever he's about to say.
"Kelly Parker has decided to train at The Rock. Her first practice as a Rock Rebel is today," Sasha explains. Payson narrows her eyes. That was the very last thing she expected Sasha to say.
"Please tell me you're joking," she says. Sasha shrugs, looking sheepish.
"I thought you said the two of you are friends now?" Sasha asks. Payson snorts.
"It's not me and Kelly Parker I'm worried about. She and Lauren are going to tear each other apart, and they're going to destroy the gym in the process," Payson insists. Sasha shakes his head, obviously not believing her.
"It will be fine, Payson, and she'll be great for The Rock. Having the two of you in the same gym is really the best thing for both of you. You'll push each other," Sasha promises. Payson rolls her eyes.
"This isn't about me, Sasha. It's about everyone else. I'm telling you, this is a very bad idea. You're an incredible coach, but you've only been at The Rock a little over a year, and Lauren's beef with Kelly Parker goes back much, much farther. You will never get them to play nice, and it will force everyone else to take sides. It's going to be a huge distraction, and we don't need that a year out from the Olympics."
Sasha stands up, coming around his desk until he's standing in front of her. He puts his hands on her shoulders, rubbing firmly.
"It can't be undone now, but I'll keep a close eye on it, I promise love," Sasha whispers. Payson closes her eyes and feels the tension drain out of her shoulders, mentally cursing Sasha for knowing just how to make her relax.
"Damn your magic fingers," she groans. He laughs and leans in, his lips trailing softly from the corner of her mouth, over her jaw, to her earlobe.
"That isn't what you said the other night, if I recall," Sasha teases. Payson can feel the blush rise in her cheeks.
"You are not a nice man," Payson breathes. Sasha laughs and presses a firm kiss to her jaw. Then he backs away from her, sitting back down at his desk and answering a few emails. Payson sits on the couch, taking a few minutes to relax before starting her circuit.
Payson can't help but worry about Kelly and Lauren training in the same gym. Neither girl is afraid to be vicious, and Payson has never seen two people as good at hurting others as them. The Rock could very quickly turn into a dangerous place to be.
Her thoughts are interrupted when gymnasts start pouring in, looking a little desperate to escape the reporters. Payson imagines that they're all going to be a little upset Sasha didn't warn them about Kelly and the potential media frenzy, just as she is. Payson comes out of the office and moves to the mats to stretch.
"What is going on?" Emily asks, looking a little shell shocked as she sits down across from Payson.
"Kelly Parker starts training here today," Payson mutters.
"What?" Emily cries. Payson looks up at her, sharply.
"Keep your voice down," Payson hisses. "Kelly has decided to train at The Rock, and she gets here today."
"Why? She hates us," Emily muses. Payson raises her eyebrows.
"She doesn't hate us, Em, she hates Lauren." Emily groans, slumping over her feet.
"This is a disaster."
"That's what I said," Payson sighs, glad that at least someone agrees with her. Payson sees Sasha come out to the platform outside the office, leaning on the railing. The way he grips the rail makes the muscles in his arms pop, which practically makes Payson's mouth water. She loves his arms, and his hands.
She shakes her head to rid herself of images that are decidedly not PG-13 and finds Emily smiling knowingly.
"Fantasizing?" Emily teases. Payson rolls her eyes.
"Gather round, everyone!" Sasha calls. The gymnasts hurry over, eager to find out why there are so many cameras outside. "As I reminded you last week, Ms. Marks with People Magazine will be conducting interviews throughout the day. Now I know you've all seen the media outside, and that's because I have another announcement: Kelly Parker will be joining us here at The Rock."
Right on cue, Kelly Parker pushes through the doors to The Rock looking like she owns the place. She isn't wearing the Denver track suit, or the National Team tracksuit, that Payson is used to seeing her in. Instead, she's in UC Denver sweats, her hair pulled back into a single ponytail instead of her competition devil horns.
"Hey Bombshell," Kelly says, sauntering right up next to Payson. She holds out her fist. Payson knows that how she reacts right now could predict how the year spent training with Kelly Parker will go. This is the time to pick her side; Kelly's or Lauren's.
"Tick, tick, boom," Payson says softly, after bumping her fist against Kelly's. Kelly smiles.
"Everyone take a moment to welcome Kelly to The Rock team, and then get to work," Sasha says. Payson moves away, glancing towards the office. She wants to talk to Sasha more about Kelly's move to Boulder, but now is not the time to pick a fight because she sees Lauren stomping over to her.
"What the hell? Did you know about this?" Lauren demands, her eyes accusatory. Payson frowns.
"Why would I know?" Payson asks. Lauren falters for a moment and then shrugs.
"Well…I don't know. You and Kelly Parker are like besties now," Lauren huffs. Payson studies Lauren carefully.
"No, Lo, I didn't know Kelly was coming to train here." Payson walks away, ready to warm up. The Universe is clearly conspiring against her today, though, because just as she escapes Lauren's wrath, Sasha beckons her.
"Payson, Amelia would like to start with you. She's going to be doing the interviews in the office, ostensibly for more privacy," Sasha says under his breath.
"I'm never going to get to train today," Payson grouses.
#
When Lauren sees the way Sasha looks at Payson, the way he carefully brushes his fingertips over her back as she goes into the office to talk to Amelia Marks, she can't help but be jealous. Payson has everything; the perfect family, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect life. She came back from what would have been a career ending injury on anyone else to be better than ever.
Lauren can't stand how blessed Payson Keeler is. It was fine when Lauren felt like she was Payson's friend, part of her inner circle. Now, though, Payson is just her competition.
"Lauren!" She looks to the office and sees Payson coming down the stairs. Sasha is standing at the bottom, looking at her. "Your turn."
She jogs across the mat and up the stairs, meeting Payson's eyes as she passes her. She steps into the office, closing the door behind her and looking right at Amelia.
"I've got some information you're going to want to hear."
A/N 2: The more reviews I get, the faster I'll update and the sooner you'll know how this all turns out. :)
