A/N Sorry. I realize that much of the story has been written about things that any MIOBI fan already knows about. This chapter will be much different. Also, I know I've included some about Kaylie, and I am planning to delve into her eating disorder but in a different way, and Kelly's issues, and touch on Lauren and Emily a bit.

Keep reviewing! Thank you so much!

After Kaylie had been rushed out by a team of EMTs in an ambulance, the quiet returned. Sasha had gone with the Cruzes and Austin to the hospital to be with Kaylie. Payson understood, but wished he had stayed to hear what was about to happen.

Marcus stepped to the microphone. "We will now announce the names of the girls who have been selected for the US Worlds Team," he said with a slight smile. Ellen Beals looked ticked.

"In first place," Marcus began, "from Boston, Andrea Conway." Everyone clapped politely as Andrea accepted her jacket, but really, they were all waiting for the big news. "The committee has decided to hold second place vacant until we receive a full medical evaluation of Kaylie Cruz. If Kaylie Cruz is deemed unable to compete, then she will lose her spot on the Worlds team as well as the National team." Payson bit her lip, and saw that Lauren too was gnawing on her fingernails. What was wrong with Kaylie?

"In third place, Lauren Tanner of the Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Training Center," but all Lauren heard was Lauren Tanner...Tanner...Leslie Tanner. She wished even more that her mother was here to see this, and hot, bitter tears sprung to her eyes as she let the NGO rep put her Worlds jacket on. Her dad had never looked more proud. Summer was smiling at her, and all Lauren wanted to do was hug them, both of them. She forgave her dad. But she held her ground and stood on the podium as hot tears streamed down her face.

"In fourth place, Tessa Grande, from the Denver Elite Gymnastics Training Center!" Lauren smirked a bit as Tessa made her way up. The little snot had been so certain that she and KP would take second & first, respectively, and now Kelly was benched with an ankle injury while Tessa took home fourth.

"In fifth place, Emily Kmetko of the Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Training Center!" All of the Rock family and friends cheered loudly, but were quickly silenced when Emily was nowhere to be found.

"All right, moving on, and finally, in sixth place, by special vote," Marcus winked at Ellen, "Payson Keeler, of the Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Training Center!"

Payson couldn't breathe.

Becca gave her a little shove. "Get up there, superstar!"

So Payson accepted her jacket and joined Lauren on the podium.

THREE WEEKS LATER

Payson stepped just to the right. The bright lights were beaming down on her and she felt herself began to sweat. Calm down, she told herself, but a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Step back to the left a little, honey," the photographer said. "The light looks awful funny."

She shifted her weight a bit until the photographer looked satisfied. The stretchy gold leo she was wearing was awfully comfortable, if not a bit over the top. Her hair was done back in a typical Lauren style, which made sense, since Lauren had been the one to do it. It was braided in a French braid across the top of her head like a headband, and Lauren had tied it into a braided bun at the back of her head. Various gold medals hung around her neck in place of the ones she'd destroyed after the accident. She held a plastic trophy up and beamed a Lauren smile.

"That's right, honey, now act shy," the photographer barked. Payson bit her lip to keep from laughing. She had to act? "Perfect, that's perfect." Payson smiled. This modeling thing was easier than she thought.

"That's enough, that's enough," Sasha yelled over the multiple photographers, camera teams, and journalists begging to get a look at the comeback kid. He gestured to the Adidas photographer who was finishing up Payson's shoot. "You, out. We're done." She flinched at the aggressive tone in his voice and scurried to finish packing up her things.

"Sashaaaaaaa." Payson whined jokingly. He looked down at her.

"Okay, okay, I'll get back to training," she said and headed towards the mat to start stretching. He stopped her.

"Like that?" he asked, gesturing to her gold leo, Lauren-esque hair, and makeup. "No. Wash your face off, change into a practice leo, and then come back out and get started. You'll do 100 push-ups before we get started on your beam routine." Payson sighed. She knew he was only being so hard on her because she'd had so little practice time in the last two weeks, but he knew as well as she did that she needed all the endorsements to help support her family, whose financial situation had gone downhill after her dad had lost his job. She'd already done a photo shoot for Adidas, a commercial for Secret, signed to an ad campaign with Got Milk?, and was negotiating a deal with Pantene, and turned down offers from Victoria's Secret, , and Pepsi (hey, if she couldn't drink it, she wasn't going to pretend she did).

In the locker room, she was stopped by Kelly Parker, who'd made the move to the Rock gym when Sasha and the Rock had been chosen as the coach and host gym of the World team. "Hey, Pay," she said, changing into her new Rock warmups, "what was that you were saying about you training harder than me at the invitational?"

Payson stood, openmouthed, as Kelly moved around her and left the locker room.

The lights flashed in front of her eyes, and the scene unfolded in front of her from only months before.

You're such a legend in your own mind. While you've been selling mascara and blush, I've been training, day and night.

You're such a legend in your own mind.

In your own mind.

In your own mind.

"Payson? You okay?" Lauren shook her by the shoulder. "Nice hair, by the way," she added with a smirk.

"Wha-oh, sorry Lo."

"Let's go," Lauren said, and turned to leave.

Payson changed into one of her nicer, competition leos - the one she'd worn when attempting to petition her way onto the national team. She figured at very least it might give her the humility she needed. She followed Lauren out onto the floor, where Sasha stood, tapping his foot.

"Payson? What took so long? Now go, 100 push-ups." He motioned for her to get down on the floor, and squatted next to her to speak as she began her workout.

"Payson, I'd like to start off your routine with a front tuck mount." Sasha stroked his stubble as he flicked his eyes over her arms, her legs, and finally her back, visualizing the mount.

"Sasha! That's way too easy, I was thinking something more like a straddle mount, like Emily did at World trials."

"Well, you're not getting to think about your routine, I am. And a straddle mount is great, but everyone does that. Emily's done it. Lauren's done it dozens of times. You need something more unique, so the world can see you're not the same gymnast you were before. Break the status quo."

"Sasha, this isn't High School Musical," Payson protested, leaning over on her side. "Maybe a front tuck mount will make the world think that I can't do something harder than that."

Sasha sighed. "A front tuck mount is a C skill. Get back to your push ups. And if you wait to dazzle the judges on the mount, it'll be so much less satisfying when you hit a standing piked full, layout series, and a triple full dismount."

Payson stopped again. "A triple full? But that's hardly been used since Amy Chow!"

Sasha gestured for her to continue. "Are you Amy Chow?"

Payson shook her head. "Heck no."

Sasha smiled. "Then you can be a heck of a lot better."

A/N: I'm fascinated by gymnastics, but I hardly know anything about it. So to those of you that are criticizing me for making stupid mistakes on gymnastics terminology, I deeply apologize. PLEASE REVIEW! It makes my day :)