Chapter 2
As she was thinking she felt a familiar presence next to her.
"You look deep in thought" says Sasha.
"I was just thinking about how everything turned out and how lucky we've been" says Payson.
"Well you should be proud Payson, three of my girls went onto the Olympics and all of them medalled on at least one apparatus, and you Payson are an inspiration to every gymnast out there, you made the comeback of a lifetime, everyone thought your career was over the moment you fell of those bars at Nationals and here you are a five time Olympic medallist and three of them gold's most would've given up but you didn't" smiles Sasha.
"I tried remember several times actually but you just wouldn't let me I couldn't have done it without you, none of us could've gotten this far without you Sasha, you've shaped us all, we're better because of you, you opened my eyes to how wrong I was in my views of gymnastics and showed me a whole new side of it, you helped Kaylie improve on everything and Lauren well she's a better person because of you" says Payson.
"Not all of you" sighs Sasha.
Payson puts her hand on his arm.
"Hey Emily was not your fault, you had no way of knowing, none of us did, and once she'd made her mind up about the baby she wasn't going to change it, she was stubborn and headstrong, you did everything you could, we've all been through a lot, betrayal lies, backstabbing, blackmail, injuries, eating disorders, break ups and heartbreak, pregnancy and vendettas every drama possible but here we are on the other side in relatively one piece that's nothing to scoff at" soothes Payson.
"You've been listening to me for too long" he chuckles.
"Since the day you walked through that door looking like you wanted to be anywhere but here" smiles Payson.
"I'm glad you talked me into staying Payson, sure there are some things I wish I could change but it has been amazing knowing you, training all of you, my rock rebels" smiles Sasha.
"Well that was more Emily, Kaylie and Lauren than me, besides I was the one who always followed the rules" adds Payson.
"You did indeed but your were rebellious in a different way, little miss hop on a plane and fly to Romania to drag me back here pulling Lauren and Emily in tow, because I know you masterminded that plan" warns Sasha.
"Of course I did and look where it got us, coach for the World team and three Olympians, plus if I hadn't got you back I'd have murdered Darby or staged a mutiny, or both, hell I'd probably have murdered Lauren as well, I almost did when I found she was the one who sent that video to Ellen Beals" admits Payson.
"Yes I've heard the two of you butted heads and you had a habit of calling her out" chuckles Sasha.
"She said she wanted a friend, couldn't control the gym or the gymnasts, she was trying to be everyone's best friend, I mean she called Lauren Lo and she kept hugging us" says Payson.
"Is hugging your coach really that strange?" asks Sasha.
"When not in comfort, or celebration or something more then hell yes it's weird, and not when you do it every time you see them or when you meet them" replies Payson.
Sasha just laughs, he'd seen a video of the Pinewood Meet and had blown a gasket with it, especially when he'd seen Payson's vault, she'd already broken her back and that vault could've done it again or at the very least caused an injury that cost her everything, he'd never fully forgiven himself for her injury, he remembered the horror as he realised she was falling, the sickening feeling in his gut as she landed on her neck, the terror as he ran towards her limp body, terrified she was dead, the momentary relief when he realised she was breathing before being replaced by worry over how injured she really was. He'd flashed back to the Amelia and for a few moments he was terrified he'd failed again.
"Stop it Sasha, my injury wasn't your fault" says Payson.
He turns and looks at her, "how did you know I was thinking about that?" he asks.
"I know you pretty well, you were wearing your broody and feeling guilty look" replies Payson.
"I shouldn't have let compete Payson I knew your back was bad, it could've killed you" sighs Sasha.
"You couldn't have known, hell my own parents didn't know, I hid it pretty well" replies Payson.
"How did you hide it so well?" asks Sasha.
Payson bites her lip and looks down which Sasha knew meant she felt guilty about something.
A/N So here is the second chapter, please review, feedback is really appreciated, if it sucks let me know