"God what is in here, your childhood rock collection." Payson groaned, balancing a large brown box on the edge of a stair as she leaned against the wall to catch her breath.

"Trophies," came the reply muffled by the box in front of Kelly's face.

"That is like the fifth one."chimed Emily.

"What can I say I'm that good."

Payson sat the box down as they reached the landing at the top of the stairs in front of Kelly's door. She and Emily had been helping Kelly move in all morning. The results of an ill thought out Thanksgiving wager. Kelly had agreed to come spend the day with the Keelers only if Payson helped her move the following Saturday. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but Payson was starting to realize she had drawn the short end of the stick. Emily had been recruited the following Friday. She should've known something was up when Kelly offered her mat cleaning services in exchange for help with a "few" boxes. It was not an even exchange.

It wouldn't have been that bad because Kelly didn't have that much stuff, but they had to load it all into the car from the bed and breakfast and then unload it again at the building. Even that wouldn't have been to terrible except Kelly lived on the fifth floor of a building with a with a broken elevator. All three girls were dripping with sweat.

"Consider it conditioning." Kelly said as they traversed the path back downstairs. "Plus think of how good my ass is going to look after climbing all of these stairs everyday."

"I fail to see how the condition of your butt supposed to be a motivating factor for us?" Payson deadpanned.

"Because we're friends now. I thought you would be happy for me."

"I'll be happy once this is over."

"That's the spirit."

"I still dont see why we didnt enlist some help of the male variety." Emily said as they reached the car again. Payson grabbed one of the larger pieces from Kelly's luggage set and struggling back to the building. She must have packed bricks in one or maybe both of them but she carried on anyway. They were tantalizingly close to being done.

"Because we are bonding. Girl talk and all that jazz." Kelly replied following her inside with a two boxes. Truth be told Kelly didnt want to face Austin after the incident and her subsequent breakdown at the coffee shop, and any male help would probably come complete with him. She had made avoiding him at the gym into an artform and she didn't plan on giving in today.

"Well your idea of bonding sucks. Ever heard of shopping or movie night?" Emily questioned.

"Yeah, because you spend your spare time at the mall."

"Well we certainly don't spend it bench pressing luggage." Came Payson's reply from half a flight down.

"I can pay you in pizza, whole wheat veggie of course."

"Ugh don't say pizza I have to be at the shack in an hour."

"Lucky for you, I live down the street."

Payson was amazed at their natural rapport. She, Lauren, and Kaylie had been training together for years, and they were friends, but she had always felt like an outsider during their more personal interactions, like she was only there because they didn't have another person they could call. She was surprised she could relate so easily to Kelly. Since their trip to Worlds, she had felt a connection with her. Maybe even before then, after all rivalry is a form of relationship. Having spent everyday together for the past week she had realized that they were suprisingly similar, both having a strong work ethic and and an unrelenting desire to succeed; to reach the dream no matter the personal costs. Everything else, including friendship, was secondary. Emily rounded off their trio nicely. She was just as determined to prove herself. Together they just worked. With Emily and Kelly she could be herself and there was someone else who would understand, no judgements.

There was another person who allowed her to be herself, encouraged it even, but she was trying not to think about him today. Since he'd returned she'd felt... funny, tense, but not in a bad way. Their day started the same every morning. She and Kelly would meet him outside the Rock and she would give him coffee. His fingers would graze hers as he took it and every morning she bit her lip at the shiver it sent down her spine. Once inside he would give her a bottle of the greatest water known to man and she would purposely brush her hand against his just to recreate the feeling. He never moved his hand. The only words spoken during the exchange were thank you. After warm ups, they would begin their rotations he focused on both of them in equal measures until the other gymnasts arrived. If Kelly noticed anything she didn't say a word. Although she had been in her own little world in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, which is what prompted Payson to make the offer that landed her in this mess.

Thanksgiving proved to be uneventful even with the addition of Kelly at their holiday table, and Friday saw practice as usual along with the return of snarky Kelly. Still she couldn't shake the off feeling. She knew it was due in some part to Sasha but she couldnt put her finger on the root cause. They had been perfectly polite and respectful to each other since their fishing trip at the lake. She would go so far as to say she could see their friendship rising from the ashes of bad decisions, only this time different. She felt like she was winding up a jack in the box. Sure the tune was catchy, but just as you find yourself happily humming along out pops jack destroying the illusion and scaring the little children. She felt like she was on the second to last line just waiting for the doll to make his appearance.

"Payson... Payson,"

She shook her head removing herself from her inner musings.

"I have been talking to you for five minutes. We are almost done so I'm about to order the pizza. Did you want anything else?"

''No thanks.''

Kelly nodded and made the call. They brought in the rest of the bags with little fanfare and the pizza arrived shortly thereafter. They did some light unpacking, laughing uncontrollably when they realized that Kelly had packed glow in the dark ceiling stars along with a vast array of fingernail polishes and make up items but didnt have any dishes or flatware. Nor did she have tissue, towels, a dresser or a bed. There was a sleeping bag though. Emily left headed to work and Payson helped Kelly put up her stars. They laid down on the sleeping bag and stared up at the newly decorated ceiling, tired from the long day.

"So what does it feel like to have your own place?"

"I mean minus the lack of a bed or a dresser or dishes... it feels pretty damn good. You should try it we could be neighbors." Kelly asked hopefully.

"I'm good for right now. My family needs me at home and I need a bed."

"Must be nice..." Kelly whispered wistfully. Payson waited, if Kelly wanted to talk she would be glad to listen.

"Your family is perfect. You have the caring Mom, loving Dad, cute little sister. It's like a picture from a greeting card. It was always just me and Sheila, there was never a dad. Now there isn't even a Shelia.'' Once she started the words just flooded out along with the tears. ''She always said it was us against the world, that no one could love me better. She said all of it was for me, so that I could have a better life than her. Then I find out she was robbing me blind. I gave my childhood, my life, I have given everything, for this impossible dream. I have been at this for years and I have nothing to show for it. That's why I'm here. I'm broke and I'm alone."

Payson reached over and took her hand just as she had done after her fall at Worlds, but this time she spoke, "You are NOT alone. You never have to be alone again." Kelly squeezed her hand back tightly almost afraid to let go. They let the moments pass without comment.

Kelly finally got up, and went over to a box pulling out a picture frame. It had been taken in Rio right after they won the team gold. Everyone was holding their medals and smiling. She and Kelly were in the middle framed by Emily, Lauren, Andrea, and Reagan. Without saying anything she placed the frame on a makeshift mantle in what would become the living room portion of the studio. She stood back and looked at it, then sat down to finish her pizza.

"So we have entered the girl talk portion of the evening." Kelly started brightly, staring at her with knowing eyes, "Nicky Russo."

Payson tried to hide her blush. "What about him?"

"He spends more time staring at you than practicing. When you are performing the poor boy practically drools. It's sad and completly obvious and I don't know how I didn't spot it sooner. You were probably the reason he moved back."

Payson didn't have a response to that, she never noticed her surroundings while performing, practice or otherwise. ''What are you even saying right now?''

"All you have to do is look at the boy to see he is head over heels for you."

"Boys don't like me."

"God Keeler get over yourself. You are hot. Trust me boys like you. I seem to remember a night in Rio-"

"That we agreed to never speak of," Payson interjected.

Kelly held up her hands in surrender.

"Anyway I don't need anymore distractions, therefore, no boys."

"Normally I would agree, but you need something to pull you out of this funk. You spend every moment at the gym or at home."

"Um so do you."

"Yes, but I'm having a quarter life crisis, and intense family issues. What's your excuse?"

"The Olympics."

"Ok there's that," Kelly smiled, "But, Russo is cute, not my type but cute. And I know the two of you had something before he left.''

''That was nothing. He had a 'thing' with Kaylie."

"What kind of incestous soap opera are you people running over there. Lauren and Carter, Kaylie and Carter, Lauren and Carter again. You and Nicky, Kaylie and Nicky, there's probably a Lauren and Nicky saga that has yet to be discovered. Then there is the you Max, and Lauren chapter which is still unresolved. Kmetko is the only one with the good sense to date outside of the small town that is the world of elite gymnastics at the Rock" Kelly laughed. ''Now that I think about it all I'm amazed any of you people ever managed to squeeze gymnastics in between your daily episodes of 'As The Rock Turns'.

"Hey we're your people now."

Kelly shrugged her sholders but sombered a bit. "You just seem sad. I want you to be happy." She hesitated biting her lip.

''You really are a sap.''Payson joked.

''Breathe a word of this, and I will deny everything. I have my reputation to consider. Took me years of grade A bitchery to perfect my persona. I can't have you destroying it with lies.''

''I wouldn't dream of it.''

They stayed on the floor talking and laughing as they took turns making up storylines for 'As the Rock Turns' each one more outlandish than the last. Payson felt the tension slowly disappaiting as laughter filled the small studio with happiness well into the night.

Things had been running pretty smooth at the gym as of late, and before Sasha realized it, the week of Christmas was upon them. He was standing next to the bars waiting to spot Kelly on her new release move while Payson rehearsed dance elements on the floor. He purposely kept his back turned in an effort to keep his mind off of her, which had become impossible. In an attempt to get their old rhythm back they had created a new dance, one that was laced with sexual tension. Her curiousity led to innocent touches and secret smiles throughout the day. Familiarity led him to place his hand at the small of her back when entering the gym, or to allow his fingers to trail from her shoulders down her arms as he imparted instructions. It was beyond inappropriate and he never should have allowed it to happen. He'd rationalized it by telling himself he was treating her like an adult but that caused him to have very adult thoughts about her, alone, and late at night.

Long days in the gym had become torture. Each morning when he accepted her cup of cofffee and handed her a bottle of water in return it made it that much harder to stop. Everytime he allowed his gaze to wander over her form for any reason other than to offer instruction, he was pulled deeper into her allure. Whenever he allowed himself to be affected by her touch, or to smirk back in answer to her smiles, he fell deeper under her thrall. It was an unconsious seduction on her par,t making it that much more difficult to defend against. His resolve was weakening. They were tempting fate and fate was not to be trifled with in such a manner.

So this morning he had her practice only on her dance elememts for floor and beam and focused all of his attention on Kelly. Other gymnasts were beginning to arrive, so he gave Kelly a break and moved on to Lauren and Emily, his diamonds in the rough. They were complementary gymnasts. Lauren all fire and sizzle to over compensate for any percieved weaknesses or vulnerabilities she might have. People overlooked her not because she lacked anything, but because she had too much of everything else. With Lauren it was about pulling back and letting each skill shine on its own, knowing when to be soft and when to go full out. Emily on the other hand wore her vulnerability on her sleeve, gymnastics wise at least. It over shadowed the fire and passion she had for the sport. With her, the breakthrough had been confidence. She needed to learn to infuse every movement with all the fire and passion she possessed, to get out of her own head, stop overthinking, and leave it all on the floor.

Having them work together these past three weeks had benifitted them both in ways they couldn't imagine. Lauren was slowly learning empathy and Emily was picking up on Lauren's unapologetic desire to win. Working with them for the next few hours gave his mind a much needed break from thoughts of Payson. He was standing with them giving his final thoughts on both of their bar sets when he realized that Lauren wasn't paying attention. Her mouth was open and a slightly gleeful expression flitted across her face as she watched something behind happening him.

"Is there something more important elsewhere in this gym?"

"No,Sasha." Emiliy replied immediatly before realizing he was speaking to Lauren. She reached over to tap her partner only to stop midway becoming similarly distracted by whatever had captured Lauren's attention.

He spun around to see what was so interesting, had someone done a new move, or as was more likely in this gym, was someone fighting. What he saw made his jaw tighten. Leaning up against the vault was Payson she had her face down and her arms stretched over head gripping the other side, and while that image would normally be enough to slacken his jaw any other day it was the person standing behind her that caused it to tighten. Nicky Russo. He was standing behind her massaging the lower part of her shoulder while she moaned into the horse. He saw red. He vaguely heard Emily mutter "Oh shit," before he was halfway across the gym and standing in front of the horse.

"Is there a problem here?"

The boy jumped back quickly, while Payson looked up slowly. A confused look crossed her face when she observed his obvious anger.

"I just twisted a muscle the wrong way. It was nothing," she offered in an effort placate him.

He ignored her and turned to Nicky ,who had backed about two feet away and was standing next to Kelly on the runway.

"This is not an amatuer massage parlor, if someone twists, bends, or pulls something the wrong way we have trained professionals to see to it. Do not think you can put your hands on my gymnasts."

"Sasha, Nicky was just trying to help. He didn't do anything wro-."

He rounded on her, "I gave you strict instructions to work on dance elements. How did you hurt your shoulder doing arabesques and back attitudes." His voice was clipped and derisive.

"You told me that at five oclock this morning. I didnt know you expected me to spend my entire day dancing." She could feel her own temper beginning to rise.

"Did my instructons change."

"Yeah, they did actually, when you called for us to change to vault. I don't have any dance skills on vault last time I checked." She couldn't keep the heat out of her tone. Why was he so mad.

Neither realized that most of the gym had stopped working to observe them. They weren't shouting, and only the people in their immediate vicinity could hear what they were saying, but their stances were confrontational; arms crossed with fixed glares.

"If you are hurt you can go see Jake, If it's so bad you can't go on, you can go home for the day." He walked away and out of the gym needing the fresh air to clear his mind. He knew he was making a fool out of himself but he couldn't stop the jealousy that had overtaken his rationality. He had reacted to the boy as a rival for Payson's affections. He had seen him watching her, but he comforted himself with the knowledge that she didn't notice the boy back. That changed today when he saw them up close and personal. Of course she'd noticed the boy, he was the one she should be noticing. He was appropriate.

Sasha closed his eyes and leaned against the side of the building. This had to end. He didn't realize how much he was entertaining the idea of it happening, until today's blatant reminder of why it couldn't. The fallout from any affair would effect not only their careers, but those of the gymnasts around them. He would lose his objectivity.

The door opened and he knew it was Payson coming to see about him probably to apologize for something that was not her fault. Therefore the male voice startled him.

"I came to apologize and say that it wasn't Payson's fault. I'm taking classes in sports medicine, at the University of Denver and I was just trying to help her. It was her injury that inspired me to take them actually. She is my friend."

He looked at the boy for a long time. Considering him. "Fifty laps and then meet me at the rings."

He made his way back inside and walked straight up the stairs to his office. Kim was eyeing him over the desk.

"My daughter just left here cursing your name."

"I'm not surprised."

"I know you just want to protect them, but they have to grow up sometime. Nick is not a bad kid."

"No he isn't." And that was the problem. He wasn't a bad kid at all. In fact he was probably the right kid.

"Put it this way it could have been Carter Anderson." Kim joked, placing a friendly hand on his shoulder as she exited the office, leaving him with his thoughts.

"It is so nice to see the golden girl finally in the hot seat." Lauren said in a sing song voice as she sat in a chair next to Payson, who was laying down on a bench in the back of the locker room. "So you and Nicky? How long has that been going on?"

"Aren't you supposed to be training?" Payson returned not moving her arm from over her eyes.

"How can I when my coach has disappeared. What did he say to you anyway?"

"Tell Lauren to mind her own damn business." Kelly said walking from behind a set of lockers and coming to stand next to Payson.

"Ugh this has nothing to do with you, Parker, I was talking to my friend. Go back to whatever hole you slithered out of this morning." Lauren said waving Kelly off in an agitated manner.

"Are you alright Pay?" Came Emily's voice full of concern.

"I'm fine. How is Nicky?"

"Probably changing his pants," Kelly muttered.

"Not funny K.P." Payson said nudging Kelly's knee with her elbow.

"I am being honest. I thought Sasha was going to kill him, or at least beat him...badly."

Emily let out a supressed giggle followed by a snort of laughter.

"I thought he was going to cry." Lauren said.

"Guys this isn't funny." Payson countered, but they kept going as though she hadn't spoken.

"Or hide behind Kelly." Emily laughed.

"Enough guys, it's not funny."

"I mean really. Did you see his face?" Lauren guaffewed. All three girl had succumbed to raucous laughter by this point.

"He looked like a kicked puppy." Emily weezed out holding her stomach.

"Or one who had his favorite toy taken away." Kelly added.

"Really Pay what were you guys thinking?" Emily breathed out trying to catch her breath.

"I don't know," came Payson's sheepish reply, "My shoulder hurt, and his hands felt good. I didn't think, I just went with it."

"His hands felt good. How good?" Lauren smirked raising her brows suggestivly.

"Like moaning out loud good." Kelly said.

"Traitor." Payson cried.

Lauren stood and began imitating Payson in an exaggerated voice. "Ooohhhh Nicky," she started, causing the other two girls to burst out laughing again. Even Payson cracked a smile. "Your hands feel soooo goood. That's it ,mmm, right there. Oh ye-"

"If you're quite finished Ms. Tanner. I'd like to see to Payson alone." The quiet accented voice cut through the laughter effectivly silencing it.

It was comical how fast the color drained from Lauren's face to be replaced by a look of abject horror. The other girls hurried towards the door. Emily grabbed Lauren's arm and pulled her with them.

Payson heard Kelly whisper, "Sure you don't need to stay and change your shorts Lauren." As the door swung closed behind them. Leaving her alone with Sasha.

Thank you for all of the reiews I cherish each one and they really do help the writing process. I hope everyone likes the story so far! If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to leave a review or pm me. I live for constructive critisism it only make things better. Don't forget to favorite, follow and review.

Special thanks to maroneyairlines and darkmoon222 for all of their feedback and support.