The lights were down in the Rock, and the tension was up. Payson nervously did her triple full routine in her mind. She envisioned herself landing it perfectly. Lauren was mentally performing her new Amanar vault. She stuck it cold every time.
Sasha gathered all the girls in a group huddle. "All right, I've made my decisions for the proceedings today. On beam, Rosie, Payson, Kelly, and Lauren. Emily, you won't compete on this apparatus." He gestured to each of the girls in turn. Payson, his star gymnast and comeback kid. Lauren, the spoiled Queen of the Beam. Kelly, determined but minimally progressing. He was holding off telling her that she had probably peaked at Worlds and her career as a gymnast was likely over. And Rosie, the power gymnast. She was really supposed to be in her last year as a junior, but Sasha had bumped her up to compete with the senior, elite-level gymnasts in Kaylie's absence. She was as talented as Payson had been in her last junior level year, but she was incredibly insecure. She looked downright terrified. He gave her a warm smile, but was inwardly groaning. Why, Kaylie? Why?
"On floor: I want Lauren, Emily, Payson, and Kelly. Rosie'll sit out floor." Rosie nodded, relaxing. Even Emily knew that Rosie's floor routine had a low degree of difficulty. But floor was Lauren's weakest event. Why wasn't Sasha putting Rosie up for massacre instead of Lauren?
"On bars: I would like to have..." Sasha paused, rereading his notes. "Ah. Yes. Emily, Kelly, Rosie, and Payson." Emily spun to face Lauren, who didn't look the least bit surprised. Emily was shocked. Usually it was her who was sitting out bars. She hadn't practiced her routine all week, because she'd assumed Lauren would be competing. Big mistake.
"And, finally on vault, I want Kelly to sit out so that leaves Payson, Emily, Rosie and...Lauren." Emily spun to face Lauren, shocked at this change in their usual line-up. Lauren didn't look surprised. Instead, she looked smug.
"Sasha, don't you think I should sit out for bars so that I could compete on vault?"
Sasha's weak grin disappeared. "Emily, what vault are you doing now?" he asked.
"My Yurchenko 1 1/2," she replied. "Same as always."
"Lauren, what vault are you doing?" Sasha said, more of a demand than a question.
Lauren smiled like the Cheshire cat. "An Amanar, Sasha," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "Which, I believe, Em, is a whole six-tenths of a point higher than a Yurchenko. Unless you could do a 3 1/2."
Emily squirmed. Lauren knew she could barely get two full spins around on her Yurchenko vault.
"So it's settled then," Sasha said, ending the discussion completely. "Lauren will vault today instead of bars."
Lauren stood on the side and watched Rosie weakly finish a beam routine and stumble on her dismount, which was of a low DOD anyway. She looked around for her father and his wench when she spotted a familiar face.
"Kaylie?" she said in surprise. Payson turned around. "Kaylie's still in the hospital, she's not-" but abruptly cut herself off as she too spotted Kaylie's familiar brown hair among the crowd watching the meet. Kaylie was dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and jeans but otherwise looked like she would any other day at the gym. Hair pulled back, no makeup, and face glowing.
Lauren ran to hug her, oblivious to the fact that Kelly was now on the beam and she only had minutes to catch Kaylie up on three weeks. She wrapped Kaylie in a huge hug.
"Kay! Are you okay?" Kaylie nodded. A small tear slipped down her face. "Looks like you're doing fine without me."
Lauren shook her head vigorously. "Do you see that girl?" she said angrily. "Do you know who she is?"
Kaylie nodded. "Rosie Donald. Junior? Really good on bars. Sasha thinks she's like Payson before the accident."
Lauren threw her hands up. "How does everybody but me know her? Anyways, they're using her to fill your spot until you come back. You- you are coming back, right?"
Kaylie began to full-on cry. "I really don't know, Lo," she said finally. "I don't know if I can do this anymore if I'm going to be fat."
Lauren laughed. "Kaylie? Kaylie Cruz, fat?Are you kidding me? You're, like, the skinniest girl at the Rock." She suddenly wished she could take back her words. "I-I mean,-"
Kaylie rested her hand on Lauren's shoulder. "I know. And they're calling the Queen of the Beam to perform, but I just don't know if I can stop restricting and still feel perfect. Recovery is a lifelong battle."
Lauren smirked. "You sound like my therapist."
Kaylie stiffened. "You mean my therapist?"
Lauren pulled back, stricken. She'd put her foot in her mouth again.
"Lauren Tanner on beam, last call!" Lauren dashed off to reclaim her throne. She wasn't letting any stupid thing with Kaylie affect her chances at beating the pulp out of Kelly Parker.
Sasha sighed. He watched Payson complete a flawless but lackluster bars routine. When she came off, he calmly - but firmly - took her by the shoulders. "Payson," he whispered. "Haven't you been practicing bars?" He studied her face. She was searching his and looked disappointed with his disappointment in her.
"No, Sasha. I'm sorry. I was- er, busy."
He began to massage his temples. "You were busy? You were busy filming commercials, and shooting makeup ads, and - and God knows what else! Don't make excuses, Payson! Being a gymnast got you this far and now you want to throw it all away over a few cameras?"
Payson's eyes filled with tears. "Sasha, I-"
"You'd better go out there and perform the best dang vault of your life if you want to stay at the Rock!" He threatened her. Her teary eyes clouded over and she tried hard not to cry as she chalked up and made her way blindly to the end of the vault.
She saluted and began her run. She let the tears spill out as she hit the springboard, smacked the vault, and stuck a perfect landing. A nine, at least. She walked straight past Sasha without waiting to hear her score and slammed the door of the locker room.
Hey guys! Thanks for all the reviews! Keep it up! :)
Also, what do you guys think will/want to happen with Payson? Sorry, not a Pay/Sash shipper so that probably won't happen.
Will Kaylie come back? And why does Lauren hate Amber?
Sorry for the wait! Another chapter will be up tomorrow for your wait!