Sasha was miserable. It was evident during their first practice back, that something was wrong. He was shorter and meaner than usual. At first Kelly thought it had something to do with the national team practice which was imminent. Every gym in the country with girls on the National Team would be feeling the strain, longer practices, perfecting every last move down to the fingertips. International invitationals were important. The were like mini World Championships. This particular meet would feature 12 countries but they would be knocked down to the top six by the first day. It was not an exaggeration to say that the world would be watching this meet, and Sasha had the reigning National Champion who was unable to compete, and the World Champion who had been off at a photo shoot for half the week. Needless to say he was feeling the pressure.
"Kelly, do you not recall what a proper handstand on the bars is supposed to look like it's twelve o clock, not ten, not eleven, but twelve. Get it there. Now."
"Emily, did someone put babyoil on the beam, because that is the only reason you should be able to fall off that much."
"Lauren it's a floor exercise not amateur night at a college bar, sell the sizzle, not the steak."
"Do you guys want to make this team or not. I'm not sure if you do perhaps you would rather be out with friends at the mall, or taking silly photographs in New York. Maybe none of you has what it takes to be champions."
No one was immune.
"Tucker, how did you win that gold medal again? If you had been competing against myself or even Marty Walsh we would have wiped the floor with that messy pommel horse routine. Do you want to be known as a one hit wonder?"
"Russo I'm starting to doubt why I let you back in the first place. You have about as much originality as an autotuned popstar."
Kelly was pissed. He was taking his anger out on them when the one person he wanted to be yelling at was in New York taking said fancy photos. Well today was the last day for that. She almost felt sorry for Payson. She was going to catch hell tomorrow, with only one day to prepare before the National Committee showed up.
At home, she and Austin commiserated over their growing hatred for all things Belov.
She gently lowered herself onto the sofa next to Austin, after another day spent in the ninth circle of hell. He placed her legs in his lap and held the ice pack against her ankle. "I swear the man has no compassion." She grumbled.
"He's a monster."
"I cant feel my... hell I cant feel my anything." She complained laying her head back, savoring the relief the ice was producing. "We should revolt."
"Declare a mutiny."
"Banish the Belov." They both laughed at Kelly's words
"I will be so glad wen Payson gets back. He is nicer when she is here." Austin paused for a moment and looked thoughtfully at Kelly. "You're friends with her, and you saw the picture of that kiss do you think..." He trailed off and raised his eyebrows.
Kelly paused she and Austin had grown incredibly close. She took a moment to consider the ramifications of telling him the truth. It would be nice to have someone else's opinion on the situation, to be honest she didn't know how she felt about it, it was weird. She knew Austin could be trusted he would keep any secrets she shared with him. On the other hand it would be a massive betrayal of Payson's confidence. "I think it is none of our business."
"You're right, but doesnt change the fact that we need her back to calm the beast."
"Amen to that."
Payson was miserable. She had tried to use this three day trip as a distraction from the unholy mess that her personal life had become, but halfway through the first day she had given that up as a lost cause. Everything had reminded her of Sasha.
It seemed like the more she tried to forget him, the more the universe shoved reminders of him down her throat. The very first day, one of the many overly helpful assistants brought her a coffee to start off the morning. The smell immediatly brought back all the mornings she had done the same thing for him. She threw it in the trash, and walked out of the dressing room. The day had gone downhill from there.
The shoot was done in an opulent hotel. The architecture was had a medieval feel to it, and there were gilded accents throughout. It was for a new his and hers fragrance, aptly named, Golden. She was shooting alongside a male tennis player named Eric Dalton. In his 2008 Olympic debut, he'd won silver in the men's singles final. He was tall, blonde, talented, and disgustingly handsome. Just like someone else she knew.
The last day had been a jewelry shoot. The staff spent two hours using warm wax to soften her hands, buffing the calluses from her palms and fingers, ripping the hair from arms, and polishing her nails to perfection. She modeled an array of rings, watches, and bracelets. The shoot itself hadn't taken long and M.J. had given her the rest of the day to go sight seeing, which wasn't much fun because she was alone. She bought a gelato from a street vendor and found a place to sit, and think, while basking in the ambiance of the city.
On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum she let her thoughts run rampant. She was three months shy of eighteen, and she had accomplished more than some people could ever hope to achieve in a lifetime. Granted, there had been many highs, and even more lows, the commonality between everything was that she always bounced back. She always came out on top. She knew that she owed alot of that success to her family and friends. Their love and unwavering support had buoyed her during her darkest hours, she owed them a debt that could ever be repaid.
A more recent, but no less important truth, was that Sasha was an integral part of that network. He had become a constant in her life. Her port during the storm, her rock. She leaned on him and drew strength from his indomitable nature. But it seemed that whenever a problem arose between them they ran away, it was a flaw that they both shared.
It was strange for her, because she knew she was the type of person to face problems and challenges head on. But something about Sasha Belov scared the shit out of her. It wasnt so much him as it was the thought of losing him. He had become so important so quickly, that the thought of her life, without him in it in some capacity, was inconceivable.
She thought back to what Kelly said on Christmas Eve. He was trying to protect her, probably from himself. Which was stupid, if anything he needed to protection from her. The discovery of their past intimacies would be far more damaging to him than her. The problem lay in the fact that there was no forcing Sasha to do anything once he'd made up his mind, and he'd made up his mind to end this.
It was probably for the best. Her focus needed to be on the Olympics, not some impossible romance. She and her parents had sacrificed so much for this dream, she couldn't falter now. Everything was on the line. Success was the only option. She had earned this. She would put him out of her mind and focus solely on gymnastics.
She stood up and headed back to her hotel to pack. Tomorrow she would face her problems, and come out on top.
Sasha hurried from his trailer around five forty the next morning. He was late. He wanted to have the gym already opened by five thirty because Payson was back, and he was avoiding her. If he could leave the front door open, and make it to his office, before she got there, then they wouldn't have to interact until there were many other gymnasts present to act as a buffer. Hell she probably didn't want to talk to him anyway, after the way they left things. Hopefully she would be with Kelly, and they could keep each other entertained.
What he didnt expect to see was Ellen Beals leaning up against the building. He cursed ever deity known to man, as he made his way over and started unlocking the door. He kept his back to her but she spoke anyway.
"Good Morning Belov."
"Ellen. We weren't expecting you until tomorrow, with the rest of the national committee. To what do we owe this visit?"
"I stopped by all of the gyms that have girls on the National Team. Thought I'd save the...well you, for last. Some interested parties have concerns about the...impartiality of your coaching abilities. I mean you coach five members of the womens national team. We at the NGO want to make sure that none of our athletes needs are being neglected." Her lips curled up a cross between a smirk and a sneer.
"Is that so?" He asked his tone dangerously low. This woman was a serious piece of work.
"It is." She lifted her lips again and this time he was certain it was a sneer. "You needn't worry. I'm just here to observe. Marty will be along shortly to keep me occupied."
"Marty has his own gym to run."
"The National Team takes precedence. And since he no longer has any team members to train, thanks to you, his presence is required here."
Two cars pulled up almost simultaneously. He glanced back and saw Austin and Kelly get out and share a laugh at something only to stop short when their eyes found Beals.
"Kelly." Beals said in what she probably thought was a warm voice, instead it reeked of sarcasm and thinly veiled scorn. "I spoke with your mother earlier this week. How's the ankle?" She asked with faux concern.
"Never better."
"I look forward to seeing what you have to offer to the team today." When Kelly didnt respond she turned her gaze to Austin. "Ah, Mr. Tucker, early for practice. It is nice to see you actually taking things seriously for once."
Austin rolled his eyes, and walked through the now open door followed by Kelly. Sasha inwardly smirked at the affronted look on Ellen's face. "After you," he gestured towards the entrance. she brushed past him, slammed through the double doors, and headed to the far side of the gym.
Sasha glanced back to the parking lot. There were no other cars pulling up, he told himself he wasn't looking for anyone in particular but he stood there in the doorway longer than he should have. After about five minutes of not waiting, he shut the door and headed into the gym. Beals couldn't be trusted alone with his gymnasts for much longer.
He could feel the frost in the air when he entered. It was as though everyone had chosen their battle stations. Ellen was standing on the far side of the floor, while Austin and Kelly warmed the on opposite side of the gym. The two groups were as far apart as the space would allow.
"Kelly when you finish warming up and Amanda gets here, I want to see you perfecting that anamar. Austin I want you up on the rings." He called.
Kelly nodded and Austin gave him a mock salute. He headed up the stairs to his office. sitting down behind the desk, he shifted aimlessly through a stack of papers. Telling himself he was just edgy because Beals was there breathing down his neck, not because a certain pint sized blonde would be returning today. He had steadfastly avoided thinking about her for the past three days. Instead throwing himself into readying his other gymnasts.
The morning wore on and Sasha didnt leave his office until nearly eight oclock; the official start of practice. She still wasn't there. He was about to call his gymnasts over and give the instructions for the morning when the door slammed open. He turned, expecting to see a harried Payson rushing in, only to find Marty instead, He did not look happy. He watched as the slightly older man marched over to Beals and furiously whispered something to her, then they both walked out the double doors.
Most of the gymnasts had stopped working, whispering about the unfolding confrontation.
"Back to work." He called, as he followed the duo into the outer chamber. He heard low harsh voices coming from the direction of the hallway, near the locker rooms. As he made his way towards them, he caught whisps of the heated conversation.
"I'm not some dog at your beck and call. Why are we here?"
"I'm here to make sure that you put an end to this." Beals hissed.
"An end to what?"
"Over inflated d.o.d.s, reckless endangerment of children, the rampant favoritism that has been shown here."
"There is no favoritism. I have trained all of these girls and not just as the National Team coach. They are on the team because they deserve it."
"Oh please! They are on the team because they have made spectacle of themselves and a mockery of the NGO. They dont play by the rules. Rules that we have for a reason. For example why is Payson Keeler's degree of difficulty on the beam higher than Lauren Tanner's. She is not even a contender in the event, but because of the way that this gym has been run, some of these girls think they can just do whatever they want. It takes away from the other girls with an actual chance to medal. Girls who have been fighting just as hard, who work just as hard, only to watch as their dream is handed to someone else. It is blatant favoritism. As the National Team coach I expect you fix this."
"Payson's d.o.d.s are that high on every event because she is the World Champion."
Beals scoffed. "She is a one hit wonder. We both know that was a fluke. The judges were wowed by her "miraculous comeback", and it was obviously reflected in their scoring. But that time is over. we need to focus on the girls who can actually deliver on a consistent basis, not over indulged brats with propensities toward injuries."
"I will put the best girls on the team we take to Greece."
"Then we both want the same thing. I dont have to be you enemy Marty. Work with me. Lauren Tanner and Andrea Conway, those should be our all around girls. Power and fire, and above all consistency, everything that is great about USA gymnastics"
"Everyone will be where they deserve to be, every spot on that team, will be earned."
"I'm here to make sure of that."
Sasha ducked behind the trophy case as the duo made their way back into the gym. Damnit this was what he had been trying to avoid. Granted he knew that Ellen Beals was simply a spiteful woman, it didnt change the fact that people were already judging Payson through her association with him. He was hurting her gymnastics, killing her dream.
He looked up sharply at a loud bang from the locker room door. Payson. Her face was emotionless, but there was a tight set to her jaw. She'd heard the conversation as well. This was not what she needed right before a national team practice. Her confidence was shaken.
"Pay-"
She sped by him without looking, as if he hadn't spoken. He swiped his hand down the front of his face. Today was going to be one of those days.
It was a disaster. Practice hadn't gone any better than he expected. Marty tried to help, but It seemed as though Beal's presence alone was enough to throw the girls off their game. Kelly sat down on almost every vault, and Emily still couldn't stay on the beam or the bars. Payson and Lauren had done surprisingly well. Though the former hadn't said more than two words to anyone for the entirety of practice. It was only five thirty and the gym was empty.
He was sitting at his desk, looking absently through the window at the darkened gym. Tomorrow would be even more important now.
"Thought I might find your ugly mug in here."
He looked up, and made a face at Marty's intrusion.
"Well, it is my office, and my gym, So I should be here. Can't say the same about you."
"Hey, I did not orchestrate this. She blindsided me with a voicemail saying the NGO required me here a day early."
"That woman, and I use the term loosely, has some serious issues."
"She's gunning for Payson and Emily. She wants them out."
"I know."
"I'll do what I can."
"I know."
"So how is...that with Payson? Things seemed a bit...chilly between you two."
"Complete understatment."
Marty raised his eyebrows, waiting for an explanation.
"No I don't care to share. What are we women." Sasha rolled his eyes.
"Is it anything I need to worry about?"
"You saw her today. She's angry but fine, gymnastics wise."
"You know as well as I do that these girls, especially these girls, have a habit of letting their personal lives affect their performance. For better or for worse."
"Not Payson, the sport comes first to her."
"I hope so. All we need is some sort of meltdown in front of the National Committee tomorrow."
"Payson will be fine. All of them will be fine."
"From your mouth to God's ears. Now lets get out of here. Watching you stare at an empty gym is just to depressing for me."
"I should have been a cheerleader." Kelly moaned, putting her head down on the table while she, Payson, and Kaylie waited for Lauren and Emily to come back with their order.
"Ellen Beals is a grade a bitch. I think she was actually trying to make me fall off the beam. She physically hit it."
"She asked me if I really needed to be there just to run conditioning exercises." Kaylie grumbled.
"That woman is fifty shades of fucked up," came a new voice, a male voice. "Mind if we join in the Beals bashing."
Max smiled down at them. Standing next to him was an uncomfortable looking Austin.
Everyone's eyes turned to Kaylie. It seemed as though Max was the only one unaware of the awkwardness.
"The more the merrier." Their attention turned to Lauren who had chosen that moment to return with Emily to the table. Carter, the idiot who had spoken, was standing behind them with a wary looking Nicky Russo.
"Great. Lets grab some chairs." Max said.
Kelly sank further into her seat. She knew coming out with them had been a bad idea, but it was nice to feel like part of the group. However this was shaping up to be a massive failure of epic proportions.
She squeezed closer to Payson as Austin placed his chair next to hers. Yes this was going to blow up in her face. Wiping her sweaty palms on her yoga pants, she took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. She looked around the table. Lauren was sharing her smoothie with Carter. Gross, who knew where either of their mouths had been. Payson was staring off in to the middle distance deep in thought, completely oblivious to Nicky who was throwing furtive glances across the table in her direction. Austin and Kaylie where looking everywhere but at each other. Tense didnt even begin to describe the atmosphere for the majority of the table.
Max was asking Emily a question about a selection on the menu, to which she shrugged, before looking up and addressing the table, "So what's good here?"
"Strawberry kiwi-"
"Strawberry kiwi-"
She glanced to her right again to find Austin smirking at her.
"Get out of my head Kels."
She smiled back. "Get some original ideas then." Austin's smile had a way of making her feel better.
Carter took the guy's orders and he and Max headed to the counter.
"Kels?"
They both looked away from each other, to see a scowling Lauren looking suspiciously between the two of them.
Austin recovered first. "That is her name."
"No, her name is Kelly, or Parker, or Satan, but not Kels.'' She turned the full force of her glare to Kelly. "Why are you here again?"
"I was invited."
"Oh that's right. Kaylie thought you could use some support, after you bombed at practice and probably screwed your chances of going to Greece."
"Lauren-" Kaylie started.
"What it's true. She spent more time falling than she did on her feet."
"At least I fall at practice and not competitions."
"We'll see. You're a has been that never was, Kels. Today should have proven that to you, if not tomorrow will." Her tone reeked of condescension.
"We all had a rough day I'm sure everyone will do better tomorrow. We all deserve to go to Greece." Emily interjected diplomatically.
"Some of us do. Ms. Beals knows who will win gold and who will choke. She told me herself."
"Ellen Beals, is a conniving, manipulative, low down liar, and you are just like her."
Everyone was stared at Payson as she stood up and walked briskly from the table. Kelly jumped up to follow her. She caught her arm just outside the door.
"Hey, thanks for the support and all but Lauren Tanner's pitiful threats are a non issue, on my worst day I could break her spirit with one sentence. Your mother doesnt love you. Bam fight over."
"It's not right! People shouldnt just be able to say whatever they want about people and get away with it! People need to stop being so hateful and cruel and petty and vindictive..." She watched with growing concern as Payson tried to reign in her now labored breathing, but it was getting out of control.
Kelly wrapped her arms around her. The blonde was shaking. "Hey calm down. What is happening here, this is more than just Lauren being Lauren?"
Payson tried to pull away but Kelly held tighter. She finally relented an collapsed into the brunette embrace. "It's over it's over it's over. And it's over for nothing, because they still hate me, I'm still not good enough, and it has nothing to do with him, it's me I'm not good enough."
"I'm going to need more nouns and verbs, but that is a start." The joke fell flat. As the other girl started sobbing in earnest. Kelly led the further into the parking lot away from prying eyes. "Honey why dont you think your good enough? You rocked practice today. You're the reigning World Champion, from one World Champion to another, that makes you good enough."
"Beals told Marty-"
"Ellen Beals is a bitter old woman who survives by crushing the dreams of young gymnasts, or living vicariously through them. I know because I have been on both sides. Anything she says, is to one of those ends."
"She told Marty the only reason I'm anything is because Sasha favors me and I cant be sure that she is wrong. What if it's true? When Marty coached me I was number two, always number two. And now, what if it is a fluke? What if I dont live up to the hype. What if it could have been anyone in my position had they gotten the same attention from Sasha that I did?"
"Look, just because Sasha likes to munch you cookies from time to time, doesnt make you any less talented. We have gone one and two for the past four years. Sasha had nothing to do with that. You had been breathing down my neck since Junior Nationals, years before you even met him. Sasha had nothing to do with that, Marty had nothing to do with that. You did that all on your own. Your talent got you here. And it will take you all the way dont doubt it."
"Oh Kelly. It hurts so bad.I miss him, and it hurts. He hurt me." Her voice came out in a broken whisper.
"And it is his loss, you're better off without him." Kelly's voice was firm.
"I love him."
"Oh baby."
"I love him, Kelly."
"It will work itself out. I promise. Shh dont cry. Please dont cry." Kelly kept murmuring comforting words to the blonde haired girl but it only seemed to make her cry harder. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned.
"I've got her." A crisp British voice said. He slid his arm in between them and pulled Payson into his chest. She pushed back against him.
"Come here love. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."
His scent enveloped her. She let herself be lulled by the words, and the comfort of his familiarity. She wanted so badly to believe again, but she had been burned by false hope before, false hope in this man. She snatched away from him. "No. No. Stay away from me."
"Payson, please let me-"
"I dont need or want your apologies. You made yourself perfectly clear." She turned to Kelly. " Tell Lo I'm sorry." Spinning on her heel she headed to her car. Kelly stood next to Sasha as they both watched her drive away. Kelly opened her mouth when a strained voice cut through the night. They both spun at the sound.
"Anyone care to tell me what that was all about?"