''Was that Kelly Parker I just passed on my way up here?'' He didn't glace up when he heard Summer's voice, he was too busy pouring over Kelly's file. The girl had belonged to over a dozen gyms in the past two years alone.

''It was indeed.''

Summer bristled at his nonchalance. ''And she is training here?''

''She is indeed.'' He replied in the same monotone.

''Do you think that is wise?'' She questioned attempting to draw out a response.

Sasha looked up from the file slighty annoyed at her prodding.''I didn't know we were in the business of turning away talented gymnasts.''

Kim walked at that moment interuppting the mounting tension. She was carrying three coffees and a bag of delicious smelling sugary confections. ''I could have sworn I just saw Kelly Parker, Carter Anderson and Nicky Russo headed out of the locker room.''

''Carter is back,'' Summer hissed in a scandalized tone.

''Well he is the reigning world silver medalist on rings and Nicky Russo is the reigning World All-Around bronze medalist. It's a coup for the gym. As i said we are not in the business of turning away talented gymnasts.''

''But Carter has caused so much heartache for the girls is it really worth it.'' The disapproval was evident in her tone.

''The Rock is a gym not a social club we don't house athletes based on their abilities to give you the warm fuzzies. We are training for the Olympics not a Miss Congeniality pagent.''

''Carter broke the rules he dated Lauren and Kaylie and it nearly destroyed those girls and this gym.'' Summer's tone was exasperated.

''I don't agree with what he did and I will make sure it never happens again, but I don't think it destroyed them it made them stronger better. If we follow your logic neither Kaylie or Lauren should be allowed to train here.''

''That is not what I meant. I just feel like the girls need to be protected.''

''If it makes you feel better he has been made aware that any hint of impropriety and he will be out of here before he knows what hit him.''

This seemed to mollify Summer somewhat.

''And Kelly,'' Kim chimed in, ''In the trouble starting arena I say she has those boys beat hands down.''

''She requested to work with your daughter actually.'' He told Kim a healthy dose of skepticism in his voice.

''Well that can't be good.'' Summer muttered.

''Actually,'' Kim said looking thoughtful ''I think they have put aside their differences for now. Payson calls them friendly she says Kelly isn't that bad once you get to know her.''

''I'm still not sure about this.'' Summer murmured

''Well lucky for you I am.'' Sasha stated definitivly, ''The girls have to learn to compete and succeed under less than ideal circumstances better they be tested here where we are around to help them than out there where failure can have career ending consequences.''

Kim walked over to face the window that looked out over the floor.'' Well I guess it's something that they're all standing together and the gym hasn't been reduced to ashes... yet.''

The group she was refering to was Lauren, Payson, and Kelly all standing or sitting near the floor. Kelly was on the mat stretching while the other girls stood on either side of her Lauren and Kelly even seemed to be speaking to one another. The three adults stood watching the three gymnasts.

"I'm going to ask you one time only Parker, what the hell are you playing at?'' Lauren whispered.

''I'm sure I don't know what you mean.''

''What did you get tired of ruling you loyal minions in the dictatorship you ran in Denver?'' Lauren said lifting her leg up behind her.

''Yes I decided to come depose you and conquer Boulder. Oh wait that would mean you were someone important in this gym but you're not that would be Payson.''

''No, do not involve me in your pissing contest.'' Payson said not looking at either girl.

''We don't have dictators and queen bees here Kelly. We are a team all for one and one for all.''

''Yeah until you decide to sleep with Payson's boyfriend, or is that what all for one and one for all means in your book.''

''Not involved.'' Payson repeated.

''Nicky Russo eww, but I'd be happy to give Carter another go, show him what he's been missing while he was slumming it in Denver.''

''Oh you are more than welcome to them both.'' She nodded her head indicating Carter and Nicky who seemed to be laughing with Max and Austin about something. The girls watched as the four boys seemed to be engaged in a lively converation as they spotted Austin on the rings.

''See why can't we be more like them just training with no headgames and no drama.'' Payson said.

''Thought you weren't involved Keeler.'' Kelly intoned.

''Yeah, Switzerland and all that.'' Lauren said.

''I'm just saying, infighting makes us look weak, and we are better than that.'' She stepped away from the group to take her place on the floor, leaving the two girls alone.

Lauren watched as Carter seemed to be telling Max a very involved and animated story about something like they had been best friends forever. Ugh they had only just met and had absolutly nothing in common. "As if I would ever act like that with you I'd rather eat mat."

''Don't worry Tanner we are in no danger of being friends...ever, and I'm sure the mat eating will come shortly enough. Afterall we know how well you handle the pressure of being demoted and with Keeler, Kmetko and myself here now, you're a solid fourth and once Kaylie gets back you will no longer matter. So if I were you I would enjoy these last few moments of glory, they're fading fast.''

''You and I both know that I will destroy you on the beam.'' Lauren was seething.

''You can have the beam Lauren no one cares. Unlike you I'm All -Around material not just a one hit wonder.''

"Lauren beam.'' Mandy called from across the gym.

Kelly smirked. ''Looks like your only chance to medal is calling I wouldn't want you to miss it.'' With that she turned her back and finished stretching. Lauren narrowed her eyes turned and stomped away.

Kelly stood and observed Payson. It was going to be a long day.

The next morning found Payson shifting nervously from foot to foot as she stood outside the entrance to The Rock holding an insulated cup. She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Kelly pull up or come to stand beside her until she spoke."Fancy seeing you here this time of morning Keeler."

"Jesus Christ, Kelly wear a bell or something! What are you doing here?"

"To train," she annunciated slowly as if speaking to a child, "Why else would I be standing in a gym parking lot at 4:15 in the morning."

Payson gave her an incredulous look no one ever arrived at the gym this early unless it was closer to a competition and even then five a.m. was the limit.

"What? Did you think you were the only one who got up at the asscrack of dawn to train. I didn't accidently win Nationals and should know."

Payson had to give her that. She respected dedication.

''What is in the cup?'' she leaned closer, "It smells great. I'm a little sad there is only one."

Payson looked down at the cup for what felt like the millionth time that morning. She knew it was a horrible idea. The thought occured to her last night as she sat in Lauren's bedroom with the rest of the elite girls at an impromptu meeting to discuss what had been dubbed 'The Kelly Parker Situation.'

She couldn't get her mind off the bottle of water. She vacilliated between it being just a bottle of water to it being some elaborate coded secret message. Most pathetic of all was that she saved the bottle. It was currently sitting at home on her dresser as she just couldn't bring herself to throw it away. She arrived at the conclusion that it was a gesture, a gesture of friendship, and as such it needed to be reciprocated. That presented another series of problems. What would be an equal and opposite reaction, did she acknowledge his giving her the water, what if she was reading way to much into this, amongst other things. The conclusion led to her standing outside The Rock holding a homemade white chocolate mocha. She knew her mother brought coffee every morning when she arrived with Becca at eight, and she had heard her teasing him about his ''girly" taste in beverages, and his response had been that his day didnt' actually start until he had been properly caffinated.

So now she was standing in the parking lot, next to a nosy Kelly Parker, holding a cup of coffee in her hand and deciding not for the first time, that this was a really bad idea. When the door to the Airstream opened.

"Did the two of you plan this or was it a happy accident?" Sasha grumbled pulling on his jacket and grabbing his keys as he exited the trailer.

"Sorry Coach, Payson and I were just discussing the pros and cons of caffination."

Sasha glanced down at the cup in Payson's hand it was a knee jerk reaction to thrust it in his direction.

"Here I... this is... I brought... this... is... white chocolate and expresso and milk and whipped cream...um coffee for you. Yeah, I made you coffee." She stuttered out finally a furious blush coating her cheeks. She could feel Kelly's penetrating gaze aimed at the side of her head.

Sasha looked down at the poffered cup with his eyebrows scrunched.

"A white chocolate mocha."

"Yeah I made it. My mom went through a phase of liking coffee drinks, and it only lasted like a day and a half but we have all of this stuff now at our house, and we never use it, it just sits there, but you like this stuff and I was up, and in the kitchen this morning making things, and I thought you might like something, the drink, that is because I don't like it, my dad doesn't like it, and Becca won't even try..." She was cut off by Kelly's elbow slamming into her ribs.

"Breathe Keeler, before you pass out from that giant babbling brooke of a run on sentence."

"A white chocolate mocha, my favorite." He said taking the cup from her hands with a wide smile.

"Sorry if it's cold."

"It's perfect thank you, Payson." He said still smiling as he took a sip.

She met his eyes with a brilliant smile of her own

"Hate to interrupt what is shaping up to be a beautiful Hallmark moment, but some of us came here to train. Not suck up to our coaches with homemade beverages." Kelly said walking in between the smiling duo and going to stand impatiently by the front door of the gym.

"Thank you again Payson." Sasha said as he turned and made his way over to open the door for them. He entered first and Kelly waited for Payson to catch up.

"What the hell did I just witness?" Kelly hissed grabbing Payson's arm before she could pass her.

Payson fumbled to form a response. What had kelly witnessed? What did she and Sasha look like to people on the outside? "Nothing I just thought he would need it. His coffee maker is broken and it is really early." She kept her face as expressionless as possible.

Kelly stared at her silently for a few moments as if weighing Payson's response against the feather of truth. Letting go of Payson's arm she rolled her eyes, "Geez Keeler you're already the favorite no need to continue brown nosing." Then she walked off headed to the locker room and Payson let out a deep sigh and trudged slowly behind her.

Before she could push open the swinging door completly that led to the dressing room she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning she faced Sasha, he was holding out a blue plastic bottle. The silly smile wound its way back onto her face, he returned it with a boyish grin of his own that made her breath catch and her knees weaken. Tearing her eyes away from his she took the bottle and turned to enter the room forgetting that the door closed on it own and felt her nose slam into it.

"Oh my God Payson, are you hurt?" Sasha said placing his hands on the side of her face and leaning in close to examine the damage.

"Only my pride, I'm fine." She laughed trying not to focus on his hands on her face, his callused palms tickling her cheeks. She fought the urge to close her eyes and inhale deeper as his coffee scented breath drifted across the bridge of her nose and fluttered through her hair. This was the closest she had been to him since waking up in his arms. His scent engulfed her, it had a richness and depth to it, with traces of bergamot and undertones of amber, it was doing something strange to the chemicals in her brain. She could feel her body drifting towards his as though magnetized. Every breath brought them closer. It would be simple just close her eyes and then close the distance seperating them. Maybe then she could find out if his lips still tasted as sweet as she remembered. God this man!

"Everything looks fine from here." He replied gruffly stepping away from her and shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Right," she said shaking herself from a Sasha induced stupor. "I'll see you on the floor." She said before successfully navigating her way through the doorway.

"I'll be waiting." He whispered as the doors swung closed.