They turned around and looked into the stunned face of Emily Kmetko, who was standing slightly behind the person who had just spoken, and equally stunned Austin. He was staring at Kelly and his eyes had a hard, discerning edge to them. Her heart lurched in her chest. She couldnt tear her gaze away from his, she only hoped her eyes didnt give away to much. He looked away first, but she didnt like the flash of understanding that crossed his features prior to him doing so.
Emily's eyes were swinging back and forth between Kelly and Sasha. "Lauren is getting ready to declare war, or cry. Probably both."
"I couldn't give a rats ass about Laurens intentions or her feelings." Kelly muttered.
"Agreed. Now what is wrong with Payson?"
"Practice was rough today, for everyone.'' Kelly said with a non chalant shrug of her shoulders.
"Payson did fine at practice, better than any of us. That cant be it. Something else is going on," Emily responded.
Kelly wanted to scream in frustration, couldnt she just let it go. "People get upset, they blow off steam, it's completely normal. Payson is fine." She glanced at Sasha for help. Why didnt he pull rank and end this inquisition; send them all home to rest, or back inside. He was just standing there staring blankly at the two gymnasts before him. She was on her own.
"Beals. It wasnt the routines that got to her upset, it was Beals."
"She said something." Emily concluded. "That woman I swear, I still have no idea what we did to make her hate us so much." Kelly let out a sigh of internal relief, and congratulated herself for averting a near disaster. Emily seemed to have accepted her explanation. She was shaking her head at the absurdity that was Ellen Beals.
"She said something about you two, didnt she?" Kelly looked up to see that Austin wasn't addressing her, he'd turned his penetrating gaze onto Sasha. She wanted to throw up her hands and groan in defeat. Great time to get your Sherlock on Austin. He didnt stop there. "That's why she is so upset with you specifically, and that is why you look like your dog died." His voice didnt hold the reverence it usually did when he addressed his coach.
All of the color drained from Emily's face. "Oh my God. Is this about that picture again?" Her voice took on a hysterical edge. "Are you leaving? Is that why Payson was so upset? You cant leave Sasha."
"No, it's not and no I'm not." Sasha answered. He focused solely on Emily. "Beals thinks I favor her, to your detriment. Do you? Has my interest in her had a negative effect on your gymnastics?"
Emily looked down and took a deep breath, Kelly saw Sasha flinch. She wished she had been close enough to slam her hand over the girl's mouth and answer for her when Emily began to speak, "When I moved to Boulder it was to train with Marty. You dont know this, but he walked into the YMCA out of nowhere and told me I was good, but I had the potential to be great. He said I could be an Olympian. No one had ever told me I could be anything, let alone great, but he believed in me.
So I packed up, moved here, competed and cracked the top three. I thought that was the height of my success, being number three at The Rock, just getting to compete on the same floor as Payson Keeler or Kelly Parker at Nationals. Then Marty left, and everything fell apart again. I know now that he left rather than changing my ranking, but back then I didnt. I just saw the dream slipping away.
Next, you came, and basically told me I was nowhere near as good as I thought I was; you said I lacked discipline, that I was uncoachable. And then, you kicked me out of the gym."
"Emily I-" Kelly started.
"No let me finish. He asked me a question, and I intend to answer it."
She turned back to Sasha. "You kicked me out of the gym, told me my dream was over. Then you procceeded to allow me to break into the gym every single night and train. You could have put a stop to it the very first night, called the cops, but you didnt, you gave me another chance. Was that favoritism?"
Sasha shook his head once.
"No. Then the night before the China meet after I'd blown what should have been my last chance you put on an apron and bussed tables with me so that I could get home at a decent hour. Was that favoritism? I won two individual medals, against one of the strongest teams in the world. Did I win those medals because you favored me?"
"You earned them."
"Exactly. You give us the tools, and we use them. You have this amazing capacity to give all of yourself, to each and every last one of us. You know exactly what we need to succeed, and you make sure we have it. You go above and beyond just being our coach. You did it for me, and you did it for Payson. Ellen Beals doesnt get it, because she has never cared about anyone other than herself. You, you care about everyone but yourself.
Marty may have thought I was good, that I could be great one day, but you made me great. Today I am great. I'm the third best gymnast in the world because of you.
You and Payson both taught me that it is okay to trust, To trust other people, and myself. So trust me when I say this, you couldn't favor one of us if you tried. It's not in your nature."
Sasha swallowed harshly. "You truly believe that."
Emily smiled. "I know it, and so does Payson. She'll come around."
"Well, that was touching. I especially like the part where I was simply a preview, to the Sasha Belov Show, that was great for me." Emily tensed, but Kelly heard the teasing lilt in Marty's voice.
"Would it make you feel better to know that you are the Sasha Belov in my life, my hero, the wind beneath my wings?" Kelly joked.
"Can I get top billing when you thank your coaches in any future speeches?"
"Done."
"Alright then I'm good. Although, I'm still a little confused." He addressed Sasha. "I asked you to get us a table, while I parked the car. Why am I a last minute guest on the Oprah show?"
"Payson and Lauren had a fight, and Ellen Beals is a massive bitch who screws with everyone's head, including coaches." Kelly answered for Sasha.
"Right, so just your average Thursday night in Boulder."
"Precicely."
"Wait did you say Lauren was inside." Marty questioned.
"Yes."
"And Payson was here." It was a statement not a question.
"Yes."
"O.K. No offense, but I think we might need to go somewhere with an age limit. Preferably 21 and older." He glanced at Sasha. "You look like you need more than a Spruce Juice anyway."
"Yeah mate, and Emily, thank you." He nodded to Kelly and Austin, and walked away.
"Well ladies, Tucker, this has been fun. Dont stay out to late. Make good choices. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning ten oclock sharp." He said backing off in the same direction as Sasha.
"Ten? Practice starts at eight." Kelly called.
"And I will get there at ten, ask Tucker, he can explain it to you."
"Nevermind, be safe."
Marty saluted and Kelly smiled. If she ever had a brother she would want him to be just like Marty. She had only been half joking when she said he was the Sasha Belov of her life. He had been there for her in ways that no other coach could manage, she thought of him as a close confidant and quasi friend. If it had not been for the strangle hold her mother had over Denver Elite, she never would have left him. He understood that.
When she turned back to the resturant her smile remained. Emily looked quite pleased with herself as well, the two girls shared a smile before Emily spoke, "I'm going back in are you guys coming?"
"Give us a minute." Austin said. He had been so quiet during the latter part of the exchange she had almost forgotten he was still standing there.
"Yeah see you inside." She echoed.
Austin waited for the door to shut before he turned his full attention back to Kelly. "Well you tied that up with a nice, neat, little bow. You were like a grand master, placing the pieces where you want them to go, anticipating their reactions three moves in advance. That little show you conducted was very convincing, I almost let myself believe it."
"What are you talking about I didnt do anything. There was no show."
He kept talking as though she hadnt spoken. "You see, the part you couldnt smoke and mirror away, was the part where I was standing here long before Emily."
"How long?"
"From...what was that colorful turn of phrase you used...oh right. 'So what if Sasha likes to munch your cookies from time to time.' Now, call it a hunch, and please corrrect me if I am wrong, but I dont think Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines had anything to do with the cookies you were talking about. If I had any doubt, the fact that she was sitting there crying, about loving him would have been a dead giveaway. So dont try to handle me. I want to the truth, and I want it now. Is she in trouble? Did he hurt her?"
"No. They are both hurting, but no one is in trouble. They're in love, which is so much worse."
"How the hell did that happen?"
"I have no idea." She gave him a side long glance, he was staring at the sky with his hands in his pocket. "We cant control who we fall in love with, the heart wants what the heart wants."
"Tell me about it."
"It's getting late, I think I'm going to head home."
He walked her to her car, and opened the door, "Yeah I'll see you there, and we will finish this conversation.''
"Looking forward to it." She grumbled, before he closed it behind her.
Practice the next day was tense. Everyone had something to prove. The gym was alot quieter, with only twelve girls, six committe members and one coach present. Anyone not on the national team had the day off.
Kelly was determined to redeem herself from yesterday's abysmal showing. She and Austin spent a good portion of the night talking, he took her revelations and withholdings in stride. He wouldnt be writing Payson or Sasha any sonnets, but he didnt seem nearly as thrown as she had been initially.
She watched Emily run through her bars routine. The words she said to Sasha seemed to have had an effect on her as well. The girl had her game face on.
She wasnt the only one. Lauren was on the floor. She was giving the show of her life, and it was still just practice time. It caused Kelly physical pain to admit that the girl had hit her stride lately. She shuddered at the thought and moved to stand next to Payson. They watched Andrea Conway land a near flawless Produnova...three times in a row. It seemed like The Rock Rebels werent the only ones bringing their A game today.
"What the hell are they putting in the water in Boston?"
"I don't know but I want some." Payson grumbled.
Kelly turned to face Payson. "Are you sure you are ok? After everything...last night? If you need to talk-"
"No, I dont want to talk about it. It's over. I'm over it. I'm going to get on every apparatus, and Im going to nail every routine and I am going to shove them down Ellen Beal's and Sasha Belov's throats. You, you are going to get on every apparatus and nail every routine, and shove it down your mother's and the national committee's throats. All of our problems will still be waiting for us after we make onto the team headed for Greece. What we do in these next few hours, that is all that matters. Are you with me?"
"Over a cliff."
"Then lets go show them that it takes more than some fancy vaults, to dominate this gym."
"Agreed."
"Good morning ladies." Marcus Mcgowan stood in the center of the floor next to Marty. "That concludes practice, now the selection will begin. The committee, myself, and Coach Walsh, will be observing you individually on each event. I hope you all have been working hard. We look forward to seeing the fruits of that labor. First up we have Payson Keeler, on the beam.
Payson took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She stepped up to the beam and immediatly pressed into her handstand. When she performed her switch ring leap into a sissone, Kelly actually heard one of the members of the committee comment on its effortless elegance.
After the dismount Payson let her self acknowlwdge the group. Mcgowan was smiling from ear to ear, and Ellen Beals was seething. Payson held her eye for a long moment before smiling and moving out of the way for the next girl.
" Ms. Parker, we are ready for you. Your final vault please."
Kelly walked to the end of the runway. She was feeling confident. Her routines had gone extremley well, there was a step on her bars dismount but otherwise everything had been solid.
She was the last gymnast of the day and then the committee would deliberate. She was 76 feet, a round off, and 2 and a half twists away, from making the team and proving everyone who counted her out after Worlds wrong. She tightened her fists and released. Raising up on her toes she took off down the runway. She felt her hands hit the crest of the vaulting table. One rotation and then another, half a turn later she dug her toes into the mat and held on for dear life.
She stood tall and saluted. It was over and she knew she'd done it. The committee huddled up and started disscussing their options. She was mid internal fist pump when she felt the twinge. She sat down and gentley rubbed her ankle.
Payson casually made her way over, she leaned down in the pantomime of a hug, "Kelly that was great." In a softer voice she whispered, "How bad is it?"
"It's not bad, I think I can get up."
"Just sit here, and look normal, I'll go get the tape."
Kelly looked over to the group that held her future in their hands. Ellen Beals was saying something and using lots of gestures towards her clip board, Kelly was glad her attention was elsewhere. Payson returned applied the bandage and tape tightly to her ankle.
"Let's get you up before they notice, here," She linked their arms and took the brunt of Kelly's weight, "Smile and lean on me." Payson manuvered them so that Kelly was between Emily and herself.
They all stood in silence as they watched Marty writing on his clipboard, while the committee nodded. Ellen Beals didnt look happy so that could only mean good things for them.
"As you know, this particular competition utilizes six member teams, which allows us to showcase more of what USA gymnastics has to offer. That being said, Coach Walsh will announce the members of the National Team that will be going to Greece."
"The team we will be taking to Greece is as follows: number one and team captain, Payson Keeler, Andrea Conway, Wendy Capshaw, Lauren Tanner, Kelly Parker, and Reagan Brown. The first alternate is Emily Kmetko; the second alternate is Tessa Collins. Ladies thank you for your time. We wish we could take all of you."
"Payson can I speak with you for a moment."
"Sure, Mr. Mcgowan."
"I just wanted to congratulate you on everything, you have accomplished. I was just speaking with my colleauges and we are more than thrilled with what you are doing for American Gymnastics. Everyone will be looking to you as the leader in Greece. You are the face Team USA now, make us proud."
"I'll do my best."
"Then you will be great."
He walked behind her, "Emily you were great today, it was so close with you and Tessa, better luck next time, work on that beam and your floor. Ms. Parker, congratulations and welcome back." He greeted warmly.
They came to a stop in front of Payson. "So we are all going to Greece, we made it."
"That we did." Payson said.
"Alternate is better than staying home."
"We could always take out Lauren." Kelly offered
"Unfortunatly the team needs her on beam." Emily sighed. "Apparently I'm usless there."
"Want to go grab a bite and discuss our secret pain?"
"Not the Spruce Juice." Payson said shrugging on her jacket.
"And no pizza. I have to be at work in two hours." Emily chimed.
"You guys are really severly limiting our options. This is Boulder pickings are already slim."
The three girls linked arms and left the gym.
I cant believe the response this story has gotten! I'm at almost 100 reviews, and humbled beyond belief by all of you. From the bottom of my heart thank you all so much. There are some of you who review every chapter and I look forward to each one everytime. A special thank you to maroneyairlines who gave me the routines that I will be using throughout the story.
Next up Greece
There will be a Kelstin oneshot of the second pt of the conversation going up soon.