Here's the real Chapter 1. Parts of the dialogue are taken directly from the Pilot of PLL and partly are modified to fit the story. There are also some brief lines and references to the first book of the PLL series but blink and you'll miss it! I worked really hard on this so I really hope you'll like it!

Tricia Tanner is Lauren's older sister. She's three years older than her.

Summer and Steve are dating in this story like they were in Canon. The difference is that in my story Leslie Tanner and Summer Van Horne are sisters. (Van Horne is Leslie's maiden name). Summer works as a gym manager at the Rock like in Canon.

Just so you know, Kaylie is not homosexual like Emily is in PLL, she's bisexual.

Characters featured in this chapter in order of appearance: Lauren Tanner, Tricia Tanner(played by Tarah Paige), Brad Weston(played by Trent Garrett), Kaylie Cruz, Ronnie Cruz(played by Rosa Blasi), Jordan Randall(played by Chelsea Tavares), Emily Kmetko, Heather Whitmore(played by Tracey Fairaway), Payson Keeler, Sasha Belov and Kim Keeler(played by Peri Gilpin).

Characters mentioned in this chapter: Kelly Parker, Steve Tanner, Summer Van Horne (played by Candace Cameron Bure), Carter Anderson(played by Zachary Abel), Alex Cruz, Marty Walsh, Nicky Russo(played by Cody Longo), Chloe Kmetko (played by Susan Ward), Wendy Capshaw(played by Amanda Leighton).

BTW Every girl has a personal color:

Payson - Purple/Blue

Kaylie – Pink

Lauren – Orange

Emily – Green

(Kelly - Red)

Chapter 1

NEW ACQUAINTANCES AND OLD MEMORIES

10 June 2011 - Friday Evening

"The secret to any regret

is not to let it affect you but don't ever forget."

(The Secret by Brandtson)

Practice was over for the day. Lauren went outside, orange and white gym bag on one hand, and reached her silver Mercedes SLK. Her father wasn't back yet from his business meeting, so she was on her own for the time being.

Today had been better that she thought it would be. Of course everyone had felt Marty's absence but they had been able to train like it was any other day none then less. Darby was a good enough coach even if she had trouble being respected and listened to by the other gymnasts. Maybe because she wasn't strict like Marty was.

Still, she knew they couldn't go on like this for long. They needed someone who would take charge and call them on their crap if they mess up in any way. And Darby wasn't there just yet.

Of course they had fun with her but fun wasn't what they needed right now, not this close to Nationals.

She still couldn't believe Marty had left. She was so angry and hurt. And she knew she wasn't the only one. Emily and Kaylie felt the same. She knew that even if she hadn't talked with them about it. They trusted him and he had betrayed them. How could he do something like this?

Lauren got in the car, trying not to think too much about it. Alex Cruz or her father would find a solution soon enough, she just knew it.

She tried to think about her routines instead. They were coming up nicely, beam especially. Of course she was the best in the Country on beam so it wasn't such a novelty.

She was a little amazed with herself that she had been able to concentrate during practice, no matter what was going on.

That was something Kelly taught her, something she had taught all of them. The capacity to leave all of your problems out of the gym while you're inside it, even if they were gymnastics related like in that case. To think of nothing but your next move, your next pirouette, your next tumbling pass while you're executing your routines.

Of course now that she was outside all her troubles were still there waiting for her. But at least she could say she hadn't lost a day of training just because she was too distracted.

She didn't know what she was supposed to do now. Until two years ago she would have gone to the mall and done some shopping with one of her best friends. But she wasn't close to them anymore now and doing shopping on her own wasn't fun, at all.

She usually tried not to think about the past but sometimes she just couldn't help it. She missed that time, when the five of them were always together, training at the gym, dancing inside some club they had sneak in with a fake ID, at the house of one of them during a slumber party, at some high school party. But most of all she simply missed them, her best friends, and not just because all that she had really left in her life right now were her father and gymnastics.

Kelly was gone one year but she still couldn't help but hope that she would come back someday, grinning and saying that it was all a joke made just to scare them.

But she knew she wasn't coming back. Everybody knew it. Still, a thing was thinking it and another one was accept it.

Lauren tried to shake off those gloomy thoughts and, turning the key in the ignition, she came out of The Rock parking lot, ready to spend an evening watching boring TV shows.

Still, all the way home she couldn't shut off her brain and the only thing she could think about was Marty's betrayal. Because that was the way she saw it. Because she trusted him – all of them trusted him – to never leave and helping them in their way to the 2012 Olympics.

Instead he just left, without a warning or an explanation, for a club that – everyone knew it – wasn't worth half a single gymnast at The Rock. And it didn't matter that there was probably Sheila Baboyan behind it all. It didn't exist a single reason that was worth the fact that they were left without a coach 50 days before Nationals. It didn't matter that Darby had done a good job today, no matter how young or inexperienced she was. It didn't matter that, despite everything, everyone had been able to concentrate enough to train today.

None of it mattered because he had left them. And she was so damn angry with him – everyone was really – that she would probably punch him if he only dares to show his face in the gym again.

She wished Payson would come back. She was the most level headed among the five of them. The one ready to draw the line if one of them had too much to drink or ended up in trouble in some way. Not to say that she didn't know how to have fun, just that she was the most responsible one. And in a case like this she would have said something along the line of 'keep concentrating on your training, now it's not the time to get distracted. Everything will solve itself in time' or something like that. And she would have had such conviction in her tone that nobody would have had a problem believing it.

Lauren smiled to herself at that, and then frowned immediately after. She had been hurt when Payson had decided to leave Boulder, just three months after Kelly's disappearance. Of course she knew that her father had been hired as Managing Director in one of the offices oversea owned by the Company he worked with. And nobody would have given up a job opportunity such as that one.

But she had been disappointed none than less. Without Kelly and Payson it just hadn't been the same. And after a very short time, Lauren, Emily and Kaylie had just started to call each other and go out less and less. They had begun to see each other only at the gym and now, one year since Kelly's disappearance, they barely talked with each other.

Lauren huffed at that. It was her fault just as much as theirs and now it was too late to bring back things as they were.

She was finally home. She parked the car and then climbed the stairs that connected the garage with the inside of the house.

She decided to take a shower and change in something more comfortable than a leotard. She turned the faucet on and left the water cascading down her body. She was tired. And not just physically, because of today's practice, but in general. She just wanted things to return as they were. With Kelly alive and with them, with Payson still in Boulder and the five of them closer than ever.

No matter how she still loved gymnastics, it wasn't as fun as before. Nothing was as fun as it was before. She sighed, and then went out of the shower, changed in a red top and a pair of sweatpants and reached her bedroom, when she heard the front door open. Maybe her dad had come home earlier than expected.

But when she reached the living room, it wasn't her dad waiting for her. It was her sister, Tricia, with a guy she had never seen before. The boy in question was very handsome, with dark brown hair and brown eyes, high cheekbones and the body of a model, or an actor. He was probably twenty years old. He was probably her sister's new boyfriend. She frowned internally but she plastered a wide smile on her face for their guest's benefit.

"Tricia. It's so good to see you." She said, hugging her. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at Uni?"

"Hey Lo. We were supposed to be here this morning actually but they shifted my morning class at the last minute so here we are now. How was practice? Dad's not back yet? And Aunt Summer?"

"Practice was like usual. No, dad's not here yet. He's going to be back soon though. And Aunt Summer's still at the gym working I think. So who's your friend?"

Tricia smiled tightly at her, a clear warning before smiling sweetly at her new boy toy.

"This is Brad. Brad Weston. I met him on campus. He's studying to become a doctor. Brad, this is my little sister Lauren. She's a gymnast like I was. Of course she didn't win three Olympic medals like me but she's young after all. I'm sure she will be great soon enough." Lauren grinded her teeth at that but smiled flirtatiously at Brad.

"Well, future 'Dr. Weston', it's a pleasure to meet you." She took his warm hand in hers while looking at him through her eyelashes. The sensation of their hands intertwined send a hot shiver down her spine.

Tricia glared at her and took his arm possessively. Lauren smiled innocently at her and asked again to what was due her unexpected visit.

"Well, we have something to celebrate tomorrow, don't we?" Lauren smiled at her genuinely for the first time, happy she had remembered her birthday. "Why don't you go to the mall? Buy something nice for tomorrow evening? I heard that dad made reservations at 'Le Privilage', tomorrow at eight." Lauren smiled again, suddenly feeling guilty for her behavior. If Tricia had brought her new boyfriend 'to meet the family', so to say, it must be something serious.

This was new. Tricia wasn't the type to get serious with someone. She usually dated someone for a couple months and then dumped them, moving on to the next conquest. The only exception had been Carter. Best not to think about Carter though. The fact that she had brought him with her for a dinner whose only participants were she, Lauren and their father meant that she was serious this time. That she loved him.

Flirting with her sister's boyfriends was something she had always done to rile Tricia up but this time it was a little different. And for once Tricia was behaving like the sister she had always wanted to have.

Since Lauren could remember, Tricia had always behaved like she was better than her, perfect in a way that Lauren could never achieve. Lauren had felt that way only with Kelly, but with Kelly it was different, Kelly was her best friend. And anyway Kelly could make anyone feel that way; she was effortlessly perfect. She was just good at pretty much everything.

Tricia was different. Yes, she was certainly smart and she had been a good gymnast but Lauren was a better gymnast now than Tricia ever was. Lauren's DOD now was higher than the one Tricia had when she had gone to the Olympics. Lauren was just as smart as Tricia was, though she preferred to use her mind in a more devious way, something that Kelly had always appreciated about her. She was not smart like Payson was but nobody was smart like Payson was, not even Kelly had been that smart. And Lauren was not less pretty that Tricia was. And yet, Tricia had always tried to make her feel like she was less than her at everything. And that was the reason why they had competed over pretty much everything since Lauren had been three and Tricia six. And when Lauren had become friends with Kelly, it had been even worse.

Lauren was determined not to fall into her usual patterns when it came to Tricia though, so she decided that – at least for a few days – she would try not to antagonize her sister...too much. And that meant, trying to stay away from her boyfriend unfortunately.

"You're absolutely right Tricia. Actually, I have already made plans to go this evening. You just gave me the perfect excuse." She excused herself then, going back to her room to get ready to go out and try to relax her nerves at the same time. She changed clothes quickly and left the house after a last wave towards them. It didn't matter what had happened with Carter. She had no intention of repeating the same mistake with Brad.


"This very secret

That you're trying to conceal

Is the very same one

That you're dying to reveal"

(Secret Heart by Feist)

Kaylie had finished practice about two hours ago and was now sitting at the living room table, the voices coming from the television just sounds in the background. She was trying to study algebra but she just couldn't seem to concentrate. Her father had told her yesterday morning about Coach Marty's sudden decision to leave The Rock and everyone else in it. She still couldn't believe it. What they were supposed to do now? They were left without a coach just less than two months away from Nationals. Darby had been able to control the situation and they had been able to practice more or less like every other day but just like everybody else, she knew that she wasn't yet to ready to coach elite gymnasts, especially this close to Nationals. They needed a real coach and soon.

"Honey, are you okay?" Her mother's voice distracted her from her thoughts and she turned in her direction.

"Not really." She answered with a grimace.

"I know that right now it seems impossible to believe, but everything will be okay. Steve assured your father that he has already found Marty's replacement. You'll have a new coach in no time at all, don't worry." Her mother tried to reassure her.

"It's not just that mom. How could he do this? How could he leave us without any explanation?" Kaylie shouted angrily.

"I don't know honey. Nobody can really explain it. But he's gone, you have to accept it and move on. You can't let something like that distracting you from gymnastics. Nationals are just around the corner."

Kaylie sighed. Why every time she tried to talk to her parents, all they were able to say was that she needed to concentrate? She knew that. Of course she knew. That didn't mean that she wasn't entitled to be upset about something like this though.

Her mother disappeared a moment to go to the kitchen and reappeared a moment later with a basket in her hand.

"I was going to drop this basket off at the Parkers' house today. Maybe you want to do it instead? I think another girl your age just moved in." It was an obvious way for her mother to distract her but Kaylie grimaced at that.

"I can't believe Kelly's parents sold the house." Kaylie commented aloud.

"Just too many memories for the Parkers. I can't even imagine."

"It's just so weird, thinking of other people living in Kelly's house."

"I know honey." Her mother hesitated a little and then said. "Maybe I should go there myself. It would probably upset you too much."

"No mom, it's fine. I'll do it." Kaylie got up and took the basket from her mother's hands. She retrieved her jacket from the coat rack and went outside. She reached her white BMW Z4 from the garage and drove until she found herself in front of Kelly's house, the one her parents had bought just five years ago when they came to live in Boulder shortly before The Rock opened for the first time.

She noticed a freight truck just in front of it and scattered just in front of the gate were numerous boxes full of Kelly's things. With a sudden lump in her throat she approached the house, the basket still in her left hand.

She noticed an old medal between the various books and notebooks inside one of the boxes and she couldn't help herself. She grabbed it with her free hand, trembling slightly. She still couldn't believe she was gone. One moment she had been there with them and the next she just wasn't. How was it possible for people to disappear just like that?

"Do you want that?" Kaylie raised her head and she suddenly found herself face to face with the obvious new owner of the house. Her mother was right, the girl in front of her was probably the same age as her. Very pretty, with long, curly dark hair, warm brown eyes and bronze flawless skin. She was not overly tall but she was thin. She kind of had the body of a gymnast actually. "I'm Jordan Randall, aka new girl." Her smile was beautiful, with straight white teeth. Kaylie smiled at her, an unexpected blush covering her cheeks.

"I'm Kaylie. Welcome to the neighborhood." She handed her the basket her mom had given her and Jordan took it, their hands brushing slightly against each other.

"Hum, foiegras and chornichons. My favorites." Jordan said, slightly sarcastic.

"It's from my mom. She's the unofficial Welcome Wagon lady here in Boulder."

"I figured. So, if you want some of this stuff, it's yours. It was in my room and I don't know what to do with it."

"It all belongs to Kelly."

"Is she a friend of yours?" Jordan asked her curiously.

Kaylie sighed, not really in the mood to talk about Kelly to some stranger. "She was. A long time ago."

"Why? What happened?" Jordan inquired farther.

"I don't really want to talk about it."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. I was just curious."

"It's okay... There were five of us. We used to hang out together but we don't anymore."

"Oh. Listen, would it be outrageous of me to ask you to help me carry the rest of these boxes up to my room?" Jordan looked at her with big, pleadingly eyes.

Kaylie looked at her strangely. "Yes." She exclaimed a little too forcefully. Jordan kept looking at her pleadingly and Kaylie relented. She smiled. "But I don't mind."

Together they made their way inside the house, two boxes each in their arms.

"So why aren't you still friend with the girl who lived here?" Jordan asked again.

"You ask a lot of questions." Kaylie answered a little irritated.

"You're right, I'm sorry. But how else I'm supposed to get to know you?"

"There you go. Another question." She said absently.

They had reached Jordan's bedroom, the same bedroom where Kelly used to sleep. Kaylie sighed, looking around her. It was more difficult that she thought it would be, being here again but without Kelly in it. She felt woozy all of a sudden and leaned against the wall for support.

"Put it anywhere." Jordan said. Kaylie rallied herself to stand, set her boxes down at the foot of the bed, and looked around.

"Fine. Your turn. Ask me anything." Jordan said with an apologetic shrug. Kaylie looked at the bedroom, noticing the various additions in it compared to how she remembered it, obviously courtesy of Jordan. She spotted a photo of a guy on the nightstand and asked, "is this your boyfriend?"

"Yeah. His name's Adam."

"He's cute." Kaylie commented just to say something. She was feeling a little awkward around her and it wasn't just because Jordan asked too many questions or because she was standing in Kelly's old bedroom.

"That he is. But he's also 3000 miles away." Jordan shrugged again.

"My boyfriend's name is Nicky. Even if technically I'm not supposed to have a boyfriend."

"Why?" Jordan asked her with her head titled slightly.

"I'm an elite gymnast and so is he. We're not allowed to have relationships. Our coach says that it's just a distraction. Or he used to since he's not my coach anymore." Kaylie explained. She didn't mean to reveal so much about her but it was like her mouth was running ahead of her.

"Oh, wow. You're Kaylie Cruz. I saw you on TV, you're really good." Kaylie smiled at that. "Well, you won't believe it but I'm a gymnast too."

"What?" Kaylie asked surprised.

"Yeah. This guy, this coach guy, saw me one day doing gymnastics at the public gym I used to go and he said I had enough potential to train as an elite gymnast. So here I am. Unbelievable hum?"

Kaylie looked at her surprised. "Wow. That's pretty amazing. You must be pretty good."

Jordan shrugged at that. "I guess."

"But wait, this coach, who was it?" Kaylie asked her with a sinking feeling.

"Marty Walsh. Why?"

"Because he left the gym just yesterday. We're without a head coach for the moment."

"What? Are you kidding me? My family and I moved here from Boston just for me to train at the Rock."

"Don't worry. My father told me that the new coach is on his way. I'm sure he won't have any problem with you training at The Rock. You're part of the team now."

"Oh, okay. I hope so." Jordan was visibly relieved at that.

There was a moment of silence that was immediately filled by Jordan. "So, do you think my future coach would kill me if I'd smoke a little weed?"

Kaylie looked at her surprised. "You want to smoke now?"

"I won't if you don't want me to."

"No, it's not that. But...hum...first, where are your parents?" Kaylie asked looking around her, almost as if she was expecting to see them pop up out of nowhere from behind the wardrobe or from under the bed.

"Relax. They're out." Jordan pulled out a clear plastic bag from inside the nightstand drawer obviously filled with weed and began preparing the joint.

"Wait, no. You can't. It would appear in the blood tests we do before every competition." Kaylie exclaimed a little desperately.

"What? Are you kidding me? I can't smoke a little weed now? Damn, this sucks." Jordan complained, pouting a little. Kaylie couldn't help but notice that it was a really cute expression on her face.

"I'm sorry." Kaylie shrugged.

They talked some more but then Kaylie realized how much time had passed – it was almost time for dinner – and she told Jordan she needed to go.

"Oh." She sounded disappointed. "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at The Rock then?"

"Sure." Kaylie smiled at her and Jordan smiled back. "I presume you know how to find the way out?"

"Yes, of course."

"Okay then. See you tomorrow then Kaylie." Kaylie waved at her and after a last look at Kelly's bedroom – Jordan's bedroom now – she descended the stairs and went outside. She noticed with surprise that she wasn't as upset as before that someone was living in Kelly's old house. Now Jordan lived there. And Kaylie was happy that she did.


"The perfect shoes with matching clothes

it is the lie we're always told

but nothing masks the shallow touch

by saying words that cost so much"

(The Terrible Secret by Emery)

Once out of the gym, Emily drove all the way to the nearest playground and sat on a swing, taking off her shoes and scraping her feet in the sand. Every time she needed time to think, she went to a playground, since she was little. She remembered that the first time her mother brought her in a playground for the first time, when she was just three years old, instead of getting on a swing like every other kid her age, she went straight for the high bar, beginning to swing with her arms similar to what she does now on the uneven bars in the gym. It was for this very reason that her mother had decided to enroll her in a gym and that was how her love for gymnastics was born.

That was why today she had decided to go there. The Boulder playground was often deserted in the late afternoons and evenings and she really needed a quiet place to think today. After all, she had a lot to think about.

And, truth to be told, she wasn't ready to go home yet. She wasn't ready to face her mother and listen to her saying that everything was going to work out fine. Because there was nothing fine about the entire situation. How could he do this? What kind of coach leaves his team seven weeks before Nationals?

God, she was so furious. But most of all she felt betrayed. He swore that he would never leave. And what did he do? The exact opposite.

She thought he was different, that she could rely on him. She thought that, no matter what other men in her life did, he would not leave. But she was wrong once again. Men always leave. Or at least, they leave her.

First her father, then he-who-will-not-be-named, then her stepfather and now her coach. So much had changed in the last year, with Kelly's disappearance only being the tip of the iceberg. Of course not everything had changed for the worse. Some things were good, like her makeover or her friendship with Heather but sometimes she couldn't help but think about the past and the friendship she used to have with Kelly, Payson, Kaylie and Lauren.

But Kelly was gone – she couldn't bring herself to say 'dead' – and Payson was in England, nor was she still friends with either Kaylie or Lauren.

She didn't even know how they got to that point. They had just begun to drift away from each other, and then one day she had woken up and realized that she hadn't talked to her best friends in months.

Emily sighed then. She missed them, of course. Thinking that they were so different from each other, personality wise, and yet they were so close once. But she guessed that that was life, people drifted apart, stopped being close.

She sighed again, going from furious to sad in less than a minute. She began swinging, raising her legs and going higher and higher. She threw her head back, seeing everything around her upside down. She stopped suddenly then, using her feet to slow down the swing and looked at the sky. It was still early, maybe she could convince Heather to go the mall. She needed to distract herself, badly.

She got up and returned to her car, a red Alfa Romeo 4C. She retrieved her phone from her green and black gym bag that she had left on the passenger seat and called Heather.

After three rings her bubbly best friend answered. "Hey Heather, you're free now? How do you feel about some shopping?" Her friend was on board immediately so they decided to meet at the entrance of the Boulder Mall.

Fifteen minutes later they were inside and sitting around a table, sipping from their cold drinks.

"I can't believe Marty is gone. I mean, who would have thought he would do something like this? I'm so angry, aren't you angry?" Heather was saying in her usual fast-talking way.

"Of course I am, but I don't want to think about it now. How about we do something fun?" Emily asked with a slight smirk.

"Like?" Heather asked, obviously intrigued.

"How about a dare? We have to steal something from here and get out with that something still on us, in plain view. We have...hum...one hour and a half of time to do this. So, you in?"

"Of course." Heather smiled at her, excited. It was something they often did, stealing from shops. At first it was little things, like lipsticks or nail polishes but they had become more daring as time went by.

Emily wanted a pair of sunglasses, maybe a pair of Gucci or Ralph Lauren so she headed towards the specific glass counter where a dark-haired guy of twenty-three, maybe twenty-four years old was working. Heather headed instead towards the part of the shop where they sold scarves.

Emily flirted a little with the guy – thing she had perfected in the last year – and convinced him to pull out of the counter various pairs of sunglasses for her to try on. After a good twenty minutes, she asked to try yet another one but this time the guy protested a little. "I have to put some of these back."

Emily smiled flirtly at him and answered. "But they're all maybe."

The guy smiled at her – obviously a little smitten – and gave her the desired pair of sunglasses. "Thank you."

"Hey, is this me?" Heather called from behind her. She was wearing a striped blue and white scarf that didn't look particularly good on her.

Emily watched her critically before asking rhetorically "Or is it a little too much your...mother?"

Heather looked at herself in the mirror, horrified. Emily smiled amused. Heather immediately took off the scarf and went back to find another one.

The clerk waited patiently for Emily to turn back to him. Finally, she did. He handed her the Gucci glasses and she tried them on, looking at herself in the mirror. They looked good on her and they were one of the priciest pair. She immediately decided to go for this one pair; they were perfect.

"I am loving those glasses. How much?" Heather asked her once she was back with another scarf, this one blood red.

"Three fifty." Emily answered with a smirk. She looked a moment past Heather and saw Lauren perusing the women's fashions on the upper floor. As Heather turned her attention to a yellow scarf, Emily turned to the clerk "I'll be right back." She said with a sweet smile, the sunglasses still on her.

She turned around and put the sunglasses on her head. She reached the upper floor and called aloud. "Lauren Tanner looking for new clothes. Why am I not surprised?" She smirked at her.

Lauren smiled and shrugged. "You know me, every occasion is the perfect excuse for me to buy a new dress or a new pair of shoes." Lauren hesitated a little than added. "Did you see the papers today?" her tone suddenly serious.

Emily stopped smiling and nodded with her head. "Yeah"

"She's gone but she's everywhere."

Emily looked at her and added, "I can't believe it's already been an year."

Lauren smiled sadly at her. "Do you remember what Kelly used to say? About our secrets keeping us close? I think it was the opposite."

There was a moment of contemplative silence but then Emily smiled and changed the subject. "So, let me guess... your father has reserved a table at 'Le Privilage' for your birthday."

Lauren smiled at her "You know my father, he has to follow tradition. And of course Tricia is taking advantage of the fact that we will be together in the same room for once to introduce us to her new boyfriend. I already met him."

Emily widened her eyes dramatically and asked, "Did the Miss Perfect find her Mr. Perfect finally?"

"Only time will tell I guess." Lauren answered drily.

They walked together towards the pay desk. "He's a med student. A future doctor. Dad will be trilled, I'm sure." Lauren commented sarcastically.

"Hum, and you already met him right? So, how is he? Is he hot?"

"Yeah. He's really hot." They giggled together slightly.

"Then that's not the right top." Emily said, pointing to the simple, white, short-sleeved blouse that Lauren was about to buy. "You need to turn heads."

Lauren raised an eyebrow in Emily's direction, obviously skeptic. "And away from Tricia? Please! And I'm trying to be good anyway."

"Come on Lo, you can't be serious. She doesn't always have to win!" Emily searched among the various tops, one that was more Lauren's style. She found a cute yellow top with a slight neckline that would be perfect for her. "Here. This will be perfect."

Lauren smiled at her, convinced, and took the top from her hand.

"See you tomorrow at practice." Emily said, waving her hand.

"See you." Lauren answered before Emily left her side and made her way downstairs.

She headed towards the exit and was almost outside when she heard a voice calling her. "Miss! Miss!" She froze in her steps and turned around. It was the mall security guard. "Miss! You forgot your bag!"

Emily smiled in relief and said sweetly "Thank You." She took the bag and turned around again.

Heather had reached her side in the meantime. "I so thought you were busted." she commented in her usual slightly high-pitched voice.

"So did I." Emily said then added, looking at her. "Nice scarf."

Heather smirked smugly and said in return "Nice glasses".

Together they made their way out of the mall, Emily still feeling the usual thrill, the adrenalin that made her feel alive when she stole from shops. She loved that feeling. It was similar and at the same time different from the one she got during a routine on bars. Well, at least her day had improved somewhat. She smirked again.


"Your secret's safe

And no one has to know I'm your getaway"

(Can you keep a secret by The Cab)

Payson looked at herself in the mirror, moving from left to right and back again, letting the short black dress she was wearing descend gently down her thighs, her smooth golden tanned legs accentuated by the black high-heeled sandals her feet were enclosed in, gifting her with a few inches. She was taller than most gymnasts but still shorter than most girls her age. An unfortunate trait shared by gymnasts all over the world.

She was wearing little make up, just lip-gloss, mascara, eyeliner and a veil of blush. Her long blond hair were loose, cascading down her shoulders in soft waves. She could pass for twenty-two, twenty-three years old and that was exactly the look she was going for.

She smiled to herself and then looked behind her through the mirror, at her bedroom still stacked full of boxes, her mind elsewhere. It was really strange to be back there, after one year, in the town where one of her best friends disappeared. It was hard to face. All the memories that she had pushed away, during her stay in England, were resurfacing all at once.

She was scared. Scared of going back at The Rock, of seeing her old friends again after having completely shut them out of her life. She hadn't tried to contact them once since her move, not sure what to say to them. It was ironic that while Kelly was still there with them, they were never short of things to say and after her disappearance they just didn't know how to talk with each other anymore.

It all came back to her, Kelly Parker, the girl who was perfect in everything she did. From her school grades to her gymnastics. The girl who won the title of National Champion her first year as a senior elite.

Being friends with Kelly Parker was something that most would have considered a privilege but it wasn't always as great as it seemed. Kelly wasn't always the sweet, charming girl that she appeared to be on camera. She had a manipulative and mean side that she showed only with the people closest to her. Or with her enemies.

The face of Wendy Capshaw appeared, unwanted, in Payson's mind but she pushed it away with force. Best not to think about Wendy.

Kelly could be very cruel when she wanted to and sometimes Payson couldn't help but being scared of her just a little. And of course there was also the fact that Payson had always been very competitive and being best friend with a seemingly perfect girl, had often caused Payson to feel insecure, sentiment that she didn't like at all, not when it came to her gymnastics at least.

Because Payson had once been insecure when it came to the 'feminine' part of her. She had been the kind of girl who had always felt out of place and ugly near girls like Kaylie, Kelly or Emily. Like the Incredible Hulk among perfect princesses. It was the reason why until one year ago she had never put on makeup, never wore a dress or let her hair loose. So at the time she used to play the part of the girl focused mostly on gymnastics and her grades. The girl who didn't care about being seen as a 'girl', just as a 'gymnast'. But Kelly had always known the truth of course and had often used it against her.

Of course now everything was different for her. In London she had finally found herself. Since she moved to England she had become a little more daring. She liked, she had to admit, not always being the goody-two-shoes Payson Keeler that everyone thought she was. She felt more comfortable with herself, surer of her beauty and grace and that shone through even on her gymnastic routines. In the last year she had completely changed her gymnastics style. While before she was more of a power gymnast, now she was more of a mix. She had in fact started to take ballet lessons – thanks to the advice of the coach who had trained her there – and that completely transformed her style of gymnastics. While before her specialty had been bars, now not even Kaylie – who had been the best in that category after Kelly until one year ago – could hope to beat her on floor.

Her thoughts went back to her friends then. The friends she had left behind when her parents had decided to move to London. She wasn't ready to face them yet, nor was she ready to go back to The Rock. Best to wait until tomorrow.

It was the reason why she had decided to go out that evening. A little bit of fun was just what she needed to distract herself.

There was also the little fact that she had been out of competition for one year and that tomorrow would be her big come back. Being out of her own Country for almost an year kind of forced her to give up competing for awhile but she had kept on training and she was back now, ready to win at this year Nationals.

Her mother's voice from downstairs roused her from her thoughts and with one last look at the mirror, she took the leather jacket and bag from her bed where she had placed them and she ran down the stairs.

"And where do you think you're going young lady?" Her mother stopped her in her tracks, her voice stern.

"I'm going out mom. I think I'll take the car and go around Denver for a while, maybe I'll do some shopping or something. I need to go out of the house and out of this town for a few hours…"

Kim's expression softened instantly at those words. "You're thinking about Kelly, aren't you?"

"Yeah, but not only about her. I was thinking also about the Rock and Emily, Lauren and Kaylie…" Payson answered a bit dejected.

"You should call them. A friendship like yours doesn't disappear just because you moved in another Country…" Her mother tried to convince her but Payson shook her head.

"No, I'll just wait until tomorrow okay? I'm not ready to see them or call them yet."

"Okay honey. Be careful and don't be out late."

Payson laughed. "I'm always careful mom," she answered before leaving, reaching her black Porsche Boxster that was parked in the alleyway, a gift from her dad, probably to buy her silence now that they were back in Colorado.

She wanted to have fun just for one night and absolutely not think about Kelly's disappearance. She would go back to real life tomorrow.

She remembered seeing a little English pub while passing on the way back from the airport, near the Denver University campus. Without thinking too much about it, she decided to go there. It would give her the impression of still being in England.

One hour drive and then she was parking in front of "The Red Lion". There weren't many people inside, maybe it was still early.

She entered and went straight to the counter. "Guinness." She said to the dark-haired bartender. She didn't drink often but today she really needed to get loose a little bit.

"Coming right up." The bartender answered, winking at her. He didn't even ask for an ID.

Payson smiled to herself and then frowned slightly. That was something that Kelly would be proud of.

Payson shook her head then. She had to stop thinking about her. She was just torturing herself.

She took a sip of the beer that the young bartender brought her, trying to stop thinking and enjoy her last free night. She turned her head and suddenly noticed a poster attached to the wall on her right. It was of Kelly. "Still Missing" It read immediately below the photo.

Payson frowned. Another reminder of her disappearance right in front of her eyes.

"Everything all right down there?" She heard a British voice asking her.

Payson turned to her right. There was a blonde, very handsome man sitting two seats from where she was, sipping something that was probably whisky. How could she have missed him while entering the pub?

"Yeah, I just forgot how beer tastes like here. Beer's tastes better in Europe." Payson half-lied. The beer tasted bland and she wasn't lying when she said that it tasted better in Europe, but it wasn't, of course, the reason why she was frowning.

"You've lived in Europe? Where, if I may ask?" He was looking at her curiously, his intense blue eyes studying her intently.

Wow, he's really hot. Payson thought, swooning just a little. And kind of familiar. She mentally frowned soon after. She was pretty sure she had seen him before today but where?

"London." She answered with a little smirk.

"Really?" He smiled then. "I'm sure you haven't noticed but I'm from England." He joked then.

"Oh no, I couldn't say. Your accent wasn't a dead giveaway. Not at all." She said, imitating his thick accent.

The man laughed at that, obviously amused by Payson's answer.

"I'm Sasha by the way." He said then, moving up to the chair beside hers.

"Payson. Nice to meet you Sasha." She shook his warm, calloused hand in hers, feeling a shiver go down her spine.

"So, London hum? It was your year abroad?" Payson was about to shake her head, but then stopped. How could she explain to a complete stranger the reason why she had run away from the USA altogether? It was pretty obvious why he had come to that conclusion. Most people in this pub were college students, since it was so close to Campus.

"Yeah, it was my year abroad. I've just come back today. And you? What are you doing here in Denver?" Let him think what he wanted.

"I just arrived today too. I've accepted a job here, actually, and I'm starting tomorrow. So, what's your major?"

"Hum, I'm leaning towards physiotherapy?" She said slightly questioning. She wasn't exactly lying. Back in England she had attended some college courses and once finished her gymnastic career, she'd like to become a physiotherapist. She was far from being a college student though. But he didn't need to know that.

"Wow, I'm impressed." His tone confirming his words. "It's a pretty hard subject."

"Yeah, but I liked it. And it's the best way to stay close to the sport I love."

"Which sport?" Sasha asked her, even more intrigued.

"Gymnastics," she answered a little hesitantly. She really hoped she wasn't giving too much away.

"Really? You love gymnastics? The job I was talking about? It's a coaching job. Elite gymnasts."

And then something just clicked in Payson's mind. How did she not recognize him sooner? "Wait a minute. By any chance, is your last name Belov?"

"You caught me!" Sasha smirked at her then.

"Oh my god, I can't believe I didn't recognize you sooner. I'm such an idiot."

"So you heard about me?" he asked her a little smugly.

"I'm sure this is going to inflate your ego even more. But when I was younger I had a huge crush on you."

"And now?" Sasha asked her, smiling. He gently laid a hand on her knee, getting close to her. Payson's mouth was suddenly dry, her beating heart going a mile a minute. Sasha Belov was flirting with her, she couldn't believe it. The little girl she was giggling and dancing in happiness inside her mind.

She tried to play it cool. "I grew out of it."

Sasha frowned disappointed and he was going to move his hand away from her knee but she stopped it there with her hand. She looked him in the eye, trying to make him understand that she wasn't immune to his charm now that she was older.

Sasha smiled then, relieved.

A song was playing on the background, one of her favorite songs. 'Still Loving You' by Scorpions. She blamed her father for her taste in music. Of course she listened to the current music but she had a special appreciation for the music of the 80's.

"God, I love this song!" She murmured to herself.

Sasha had obviously heard her though because he answered "B26". Payson smiled at him then.

"So… you're smart, you're beautiful, you traveled, great taste in music…I'd like to know more about you."

"Yeah, I'd like to know more about you too." She answered with a little flirtatious smile.

Payson counted to three then. She smiled, maybe a little shakily because she had to admit, she was more than a little nervous, then continued. "I have to go to the bathroom." She looked at him, trying to make him understand what she was implying and then she walked across the bar until she reached the bathroom's door. It was unisex, perfect. She only hoped Sasha had understood her silent message.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror. She looked okay even if a little flushed.

Five minutes later, she was beginning to get worried. He hadn't showed up yet. Maybe he had changed his mind or he had simply not understood what she was trying to say.

Then he appeared, running a hand through his hair nervously.

"Oh thank god! I thought you didn't catch my meaning out there."

"I wasn't sure if that was what you meant." He smiled then, the cocky attitude from before beginning to appear again. He turned around, locked the bathroom door and then reached her in two long strides before kissing her passionately.

Payson responded in kind, folding her arms around his neck. He was tall and she had to stand on tiptoes to reach him but she wasn't complaining. She had never been kissed like that. The boys she had kissed before – and in the last year they had been a few – couldn't hold a candle to the way he was expertly exploring her mouth. His tongue caressed her lower lip gently and she opened her mouth, more than ready to welcome him inside. He tasted of whisky and even if she never liked the drink before, she couldn't think of a better taste right now.

He grabbed her hips then, lifting her effortlessly on the sink and she wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing him closer to her.

They withdrew from each other soon after, gulping in long gasps of air.

"I don't do this often." She said to him then, trying to catch her breath. "Making out with strangers in a bathroom I mean."

"I never thought you did. I consider myself pretty lucky that you decided to make an exception."

Payson smiled shyly at him and reached for him again. She moved her hands to touch his shoulders and then lower, touching the skin of his back under his grey shirt, caressing the muscles and making him moan slightly in her mouth.

Sasha begun to kiss her neck and she brought her head back, giving him space. Her legs brought him even closer to her until their fronts were touching, her breasts pressed against his hard muscled chest. One of his hands made his way through her hair while the other caressed the skin of her thigh.

She could feel him hard against her and she moved her hips up and down, making him groan. Her breath was coming in ragged gasps, a hot, pleasurable sensation making its way inside her belly.

His left hand moved from her hair and caressed her shoulder before lowering the strap of her dress. He kissed her shoulder and then lower still, until he touched her bra with his lips. She brought his head back to her, kissing him passionately once again when suddenly her phone began to ring and she groaned.

"Ignore it!" Sasha whispered against her lips.

"I can't." She reached blindly from her bag and searched inside for her cell phone. It was her mother.

She answered, distancing herself from him slightly, an apologetic look on her face. "Hello? Yes, okay. I'll be right back. Bye!"

"You have to go." Sasha said defeated.

"Sorry!" she apologized, disappointed as much as him that her mother had interrupted them.

"Can I see you again?" Payson smiled widely at that then took a pen from her bag and wrote her number on the palm of his hand. "Call me okay?"

She kissed him one more time before running away to her car. She kept on smiling all the way to Boulder.