Here you go! The next part in this story!

Enjoy!

Thank you for all the reviews! :) They always make me happy.

BTW, I have no idea where this chapter came from. No idea at all.

Part 3

III

"And what did you think when all the commotion happened and Payson Keeler fell?" The journalist asked.

"Well, I honestly didn't really pay attention you know" She answered to her phone, as she stirred her coffee while sitting at a pretty promenade in LA, with Austin making faces at her on the other side of the table. "We train to get into our zone, to abstract from the noise of the crowd and the music of the floor routines. If we don't, every time the crowd oohed or ahhed we ran the risk of falling from the apparatus and seriously injuring ourselves. Sacha is very insisten on training us in this, he even puts strange noises in the gym stereo so we get used to ignoring them."

"So, you didn't notice that something was wrong?"

"I guess I did, in a subconscious level, but my training kicked in and kept me going through the commotion. Of course when I came out and noticed what was happening my first thoughts were for Payson and her family. We trained together and are close friends. I hope she can recover."

A few more questions and her phone interview was wrapped up, allowing her to enjoy her coffee.

One year out from the Olympics and the Gymnastics media was starting to pay attention. Nothing incredibly huge, considering it was just some gymnastics magazines and forums, but it was something. And according to her new manager, it was important to get out there now, so people would remember her in the future.

A manager that was most definitely not MJ Martin. The woman had come sniffing around the gym and Austin had just told her and Andrea to sign under his own manager if they ever decided to drop their NCAA eligibility, and avoid the whole Sacha/MJ drama.

Now hadn't that been a good idea?

Therapist approved even.

It had led to her taking four days off for media almost right after Nationals. She wanted that out of the way so she could start focusing on Worlds as soon as possible.

"You finally free?" Austin asked, pulling his sunglasses down just enough to see her over the rim.

She chuckled. "Yes. We can go to the Japanese store now before we have to go to the airport."

"It's not just a Japanese store Tanner!" he cried out, in mock outrage.

She snorted. "Right. It's also Nerd Central" She said rolling her eyes to show she was just joking, before allowing him to put his arm around her shoulders and lead her towards his self proclaimed favorite spot in LA.

Who would have guessed that Austin Tucker would be an Anime fan?

Not her.

Who would have guessed that he would manage to convince her to watch five straight episodes of his new pirate show addiction when they got back to their hotel?

No one in the world, that's who.

Well, her therapist approved of the comic relief it provided, saying it left her in better spirits.

Thank God there where like, 400 episodes of the thing and it wasn't even half way through.

Secretly she enjoyed the silly cartoons immensely.

Just as much as she enjoyed spending time with Austin watching them.

Even of it was completely platonic time.

They both understood the commitment they would be under for the next months to let themselves fall into something right now.

Her phone beeped with a text message, prompting her to pick it up from the bench where she had left it while she was getting dressed.

"What's with the messages Tanner?" Kelly asked, pulling her leggings over her leotard.

Lauren smirked, reading the message. "Oh, it's nothing really. Just the verdict from the analysis to Payson's medical files."

Kelly and Andrea blinked, trying to understand what she could mean.

"Wait, what?" Austin asked, coming up behind them.

"I got Payson's file to the back specialist here in the Center. So he could see if there was anything that could be done to help her." She explained, pulling her shirt over her head.

Kelly narrowed her eyes. "Did you sneak her files out of the Hospital? That is something that just screams Tanner to me."

Lauren chuckled. "I was tempted, but no." She said, giving them a wink. "I asked her dad when I went to visit her."

Austin laughed, putting his arm around her as they left the gym. "Good on you, for resisting temptation like that."

Kelly and Andrea shared an exasperated look at their antics.

"So, what's the verdict?" Andrea asked.

"I think we might just get a new Gym mate." Lauren said with a smile.

Getting Pay's medical file had been a nightmare.

She would have given up, had it been anyone else. But it was Pay, someone Lauren loved and respected enough to go to the trouble of finding convoluted ways of getting her hands on confidential stuff.

First, she had been tempted to just discreetly borrow it for long enough to take pictures of it.

Then, she remembered that no Doctor back in Monterrey would be willing to take those photos as evidence.

Stealing the files could be troublesome for Payson, so she had to convince her parents. Her dad seamed the best option. The man had always been the most rational of the two.

That done, she had quickly forwarded all the information to Monterrey and let the specialists do their job.

Well, they had done a good one. Even if it had taken them a month and a half, before they were certain they could help her friend.

Pay was on the way to recovery. Now it was only a question of what she would do next.

"I want to go back to Boulder." She stated, three weeks after arriving and having a back surgery.

Kelly raised her eyebrow in suspicion. "Can't stand us anymore, Keeler?"

Payson fidgeted uncomfortably. "Uh... It's not that, it's just that I should get back to my family. And training at the Rock."

Lauren rolled her eyes, sharing a glance with Kelly over Payson's head.

Her fellow blonde could give all the excuses she wanted, but Lauren had always been able to read her like a book.

Payson was frustrated with Sacha and his training methods. It was clear for everyone to see. She wanted to get back to her previous level as fast as possible, while Sacha wanted her to take her time so she could focus on her problems in execution and figure out different ways to raise her difficulty scores without risking further injury.

The problem was, being in a gym surrounded by girls who were improving day by day and raising their own levels was making Payson antsy. She saw them train and compared herself to them, and found herself lacking. Especially when she looked at Andrea, who had always ranked bellow her, but was now flurishing under Sacha's tutelage.

Payson was simply a ball of frustration. The fact that she knew that Marty would be all for getting her back into her National standards as soon as possible was not helping things.

Lauren sighed. Not knowing what to do. On one level, she loved Pay, but on another, four senior elites would be starting to push it when a new Junior Elite had just moved into town with her family just to be able to join their gym.

"You can always stay in the dorms with the other girls." She offered, but knew immediately that Payson's mom would never accept it.

Payson shook her head. "My mom doesn't want me to do that. We should stay together" Kim Keeler was big on family staying together, which was awesome, but not always financially possible if one wanted to make it to the top.

"Isn't your dad in Minnesota during the week though?" Kelly asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, but that's because mom didn't want to uproot Becca again." Payson answered, looking uncertain.

Kelly rolled her eyes. "Look Keeler. We can't tell you what to do. I have no doubt that Walsh is a good coach, but Sacha is the best and I think his idea for you is the way to go." She shrugged, raising a hand to fix one of her devil horns. "You're the one who needs to decide in the end."

Payson looked at her, searching for advice.

"Why don't you hold off on deciding until we go to Boulder for the next National team training?" She proposed. "You can check in with your family and with Marty in person and see what they think?"

It was the best solution possible. Even though she did think that Sacha was right, and had told Payson so, she couldn't make the other girl's mind for her.

Her therapist should be proud of her for respecting other's people wishes over her own.

Who cared if the fact that she didn't even really know what she wanted in this case?

Hellen Beals was a Bitch. But she was an executive type Bitch that Lauren could read a mile away. She kept herself and Andrea well out of trouble by making sure they were all smiles and 'Of course Coach Beals, I will do my best!'.

One thing she had noticed the first time she had met the woman a bit more than a year before was that she had a need of reaffirming her authority and status. Lauren had no problem with playing to the woman's insecurities and always made sure to be on good terms with her. The more Beals liked her the better.

There was no way that she could be kept from Worlds when she was the National champion, but Ellen Beals certainly had the power to make the road difficult to travel.

There was no need for it when the mask of a good, innocent girl would keep her on the favorites list.

And Lauren was an expert on playing favorites.

Keeping Andrea in the top of the list was not too hard. That one was a good girl by nature, and with her improved routines, Beals had nothing but compliments to dish out.

"Andrea, your dedication his wonderful. The progress you have accomplished in the last half-year is truly amazing. Keep up the good work!" The National team coordinator said.

"Thank you so much, Coach Beals!" Andrea said with a smile. "I'm so glad you approve of the routines! Should I try to add another element on beam? We shouldn't leave it just for Lauren I hope!"

Beals chuckled along with Andrea, patting her on the shoulder. "That's what I want to hear! I will speak with your coach this afternoon during the coaches meeting. For now, keep training your floor. If we can upgrade your final pass maybe we can have you contributing to team finals there as well."

Well, wasn't Kaylie's face at that interesting? Her former teammate had turned to furiously whisper on Marty's ear, no doubt complaining about how she was supposed to be number three on floor. She snorted. If Kaylie wanted to win, she would have to seriously upgrade in several places. Like, right now.

When Kelly finally petitioned to the Team, Kailie would be dropped in the blink of an eye. So would Kmetko, who was practicing her floor in such a desperate way that it was obvious she was just trying to show off and get Beals' attention.

She rolled her eyes. How pathetic could the girl get.

She refocused on her bars, which were still her worst apparatus, but where she wanted to prove to Beals the most that she could be counted for on a pinch. Sacha had done a good job with her, but there was still more that could be done.

She just hoped Sacha would keep up the good behavior. The man could be hotheaded when he felt that someone was diminishing his, or his athlete's work, and he could get quite reckless.

Hopefully he still remembered the one-hour briefing session she and Kelly had given him on Hellen Beals and the National Committee. They had made sure tape the '10 commandments on dealing with the NC' on his fridge, so they should be fresh in his head.

Pun intended.

Of course.

"Payson is staying, isn't she?" She asked Sacha as they made their way to their rooms at the Hotel in Boulder.

Sacha nodded, looking serious. "She thinks Marty will get her to where she wants to be faster."

"You don't agree." Andrea said, mater of factly.

"Oh, I agree. I just think that it won't get her anywhere else." He said, holding the elevator door open for them. "You, Lauren and Kelly have upgraded, and will be upgrading again soon. Beals discussed your upgrade on beam with me, she approves."

He sent her a smirk. "How you girls can play her like this while Marty is being plummeted in his own gym, I'll never understand."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "Beals never liked Marty. She is using Payson's fall to pull him down. If Kaylie and Kmetko hadn't come out so far down on the ranks I bet they would have mutinied. Lucky them, they realize they need to lick up some boots, not throw them into the mud. Stuff like that would never fly with Beals."

Sacha grimaced. "Anyway, I wouldn't have liked to be in Marty's position. That guy Harrison from Denver is good, but certainly not on Marty's level. But I guess that may actually be good for the Rock gymnasts. Having their coach as National Team Coach would just give him more work and take time away from their own training."

Lauren nodded, agreeing with his assessment.

Andrea fidgeted. "I think Payson is not thinking clearly though. I saw her talking to Beals about petitions. I think she is thinking of petitioning to rejoin the team in France, like Kelly is. And that's just crazy."

Lauren gapped at her.

It was so freaking crazy that she made sure to tell Payson so, the very next day.

Too bad her friend didn't listen to her.

Two months since that conversation and Andrea had been to China and rocked the Bars, coming second only to the Chinese – so not sixteen – hurricane that was Ghengi Cho. It was a good omen, considering that Wang Fei, another Chinese gymnast was the current World Champion and had to content herself with a bronze.

Lauren hadn't been called to China, but she hadn't been worried. Being Ellen Beals favorite had won her a personal meeting where the woman had reassured her that she would be called for the next meet and that she just wanted her to have time to raise the execution scores of the new elements they had added since Nationals. When she faced the Chinese champion, she should do so with full confidence of her win. And that would be at worlds.

Lauren had been alright with it. Understood the reasons, even, as long as she was selected for the next meet.

Which she was, along with Andrea, Kaylie and Kmetko.

Now, in France, she couldn't help but cringe at Payson's attempts at petitioning for the team. Especially when you compared them to Kelly's.

The truth of the matter was that Kelly was more than ready. Sacha had made sure of it. Her stamina, flexibility and skills were exactly where they were supposed to be. Which for Sacha meant better than before she had surgery.

But Payson… It just wasn't the same level, and you could easily see it.

Lauren shook her head. If Payson wanted to petition so badly, she should have done so at least two weakes after Kelly, so Beals and all the other coaches wouldn't be comparing the two of them. It was not like Pay wasn't National team material – because she was certainly better than Kmetko already – but with Kelly right beside her the message was clear.

Kelly was ready to represent the USA and win. Payson was not.

It didn't surprise her when Kelly came second – behind her, of course – two days later, while Pay went back to Boulder without National Team warmups.

10 Comandments for dealing with the NC

1- You shall not disagree with Ellen Beals in Public.

2- You shall always call Ellen Beals with the title of 'Coach' and never 'Miss'

3- You shall never trust 'Coach' Hellen Beals' nice girl smile.

4- You shall aproach 'Coach' Ellen Beals every training session for opinions on the girls future upgrades

5- You shall cultivate the NC's head (Garret Young) friendship

6- You shall go to Garret Young imediatly in case of a serious desagreement with 'Coach' Ellen Beals

7- You shall share all possibly sensitive information on 'Coach' Ellen Beals with your gymnasts.

8- You shall not let Ellen Beals games into your head under any circumstance.

9- You shall let your girls take care of the problem, if you want something from 'Coach' Ellen Beals

10- You shall join a box club if you feel like punching Ellen Beals, or otherwise wish her bodily harm.

So, Austin is apparently a closet nerd who likes Anime ;) The one that Lauren ends up watching is called One Piece, and a friend of mine spent an entire philosophy class in high school explaining the whole thing to me, just so he would convince me to watch it. He was successful, obviously, but the extremely slow pace of the show ended up making me give up on it. Most funny thing I ever saw though, so if you're looking for a good laugh, I recommend it!

Again, I have no idea where this came from… it just wrote itself.