Chapter 19
Payson is stood at the stove cooking dinner while Rigo works on his computer.
"So what did you think today?" she asks.
"It was cool, some of those moves I mean wow, Jake is totally wrong to call you Barbies more like action men" he smiles.
"I will take that as a compliment" she smiles.
"It was intended as one, and I see what you mean Coach Belov is a scary man" says Rigo shuddering slightly.
"What makes you say that?" asks Payson.
"Well while you were outside we were talking and he told me if I ever hurt you he'd make it his mission in life to destroy me, and he said it with a smile" gulps Rigo.
"Told you he was scary" giggles Sasha.
"And I thought coach McIntire was bad, I have a distinctive feeling if I knock on the day while you guys were talking and asked for five minutes he's probably kill me" says Rigo.
"Very likely, but don't let it fool you, he's an amazing person and he really does care, he goes above and beyond for his gymnasts, I wouldn't be here without him, he's my inspiration" smiles Payson.
"Yeah, I've heard that in one of your many promotional appearances, I get to see your stunning face all over the place" smiles Rigo.
"Yeah it's not all it's cracked up to be" sighs Payson.
"What do you mean?" asks Rigo getting up and wrapping his arms around her middle.
"It's just, I still get asked about some stuff I wish they wouldn't and it's frustrating" explains Payson.
"You mean when you kissed your coach?" asks Rigo.
"Yeah" replies Payson.
"It was a crush and clearly got blown totally out of proportion besides, they should be asking about me" he smiles.
"Yes they should" agrees Payson leaning into him.
He kisses her neck lightly and steps back.
Soon enough the food was ready and they started eating.
"So you coming tomorrow?" she asks.
"No I have an essay to turn in" he replies.
"Okay" she smiles.
That night as Rigo sat tapping away at his computer Payson sat at her desk working through the rosters and analysing the girls and their performances, she was hunting for last weeks when she saw Sasha's medal laying underneath it.
She picks it up and runs her hand over it, even though he'd asked for his medal back she'd given him one of hers, she didn't really know why but this medal had kind of become a reminder for her, it had been what had helped her keep going and she'd grown attached to it.
She wouldn't have gotten here if it hadn't been for Sasha never giving up on her, she's been so horrible and so ungrateful but he'd just kept trying, she'd let her anger overwhelm her but he'd just taken it in his stride, from the moment he'd walked into the rock she'd known nothing would be the same, sure as she'd said things hadn't turned out how she expected but if she was totally honest there were very few things she'd change and as much as some people thought, she knew she wouldn't change having kissed Sasha, that had been her first big risk, her first big jump and despite the fall out she did not and would not ever regret it, no matter what she knew she could always count on Sasha, he'd made mistakes and so had she but they'd always found each other and kept his promise, he would always be a huge part of her life and she didn't want to imagine it without him, he was special to her and always would be, he understood her in a way no one else could or had, even thought Rigo and she clicked it wasn't the same as how she clicked with Sasha.
On impulse Payson puts the medal around her neck just like she'd done so many times before, it felt as right there as her own.
She thought of the last time she'd given it back to him, it had been in Romania when she'd left it on the bar expecting to never see him again and then when he'd knocked on her door that night it took everything she had not to grab him and pull him into a hug just to reassure herself that he was real.
It had been exactly what she and everyone had needed on that night, things could've done so differently if he hadn't shown up but Payson had hoped deep down that he'd come back and he had.
Just then the door opens and Rigo walks in.
"Hey, that one of yours?" he asks nodding at the medal.
"No actually it's Sasha's" replies Payson.
"Why do you have his, haven't you got enough?" he teases.
"It's kind of a thing we did, when I was having doubts Sasha gave me this and told me I could keep it until I won my own, then when he left and I went to find him I gave it back, then at the TC he gave it to me, then well you heard him in the gym he wanted his gold medal back and since it would only happen when I won one of my own, so the night after the Olympics I gave him one of mine instead, it's kind of become a talisman, sort of like Otis you know, to remind me never to give up" smiles Payson.
"Nice, he seems to really care" says Rigo.
"He does" smiles Payson.
"You about done, I'm beat" he says.
"Sure" she smiles.
They got dressed for bed and slipped under the sheets curling up together with Rigo idly stroking her hair.
Soon enough Payson fell asleep but Rigo lay there thinking.
He knew Payson had a special bond with Sasha, BMX was different to gymnastics, gymnastics required a deep level of trust between coach and athlete, they literally put their lives in their coaches hands and the stresses that came with it he'd seen it when he'd called Sasha to help Payson the way she'd brightened when he walked into the room and the way he automatically agreed with her, believing in her ability and he'd been right.
Since seeing them interact together he saw that Payson's bond to Sasha went deeper, it had been hammered home for him when he'd seen them together, the easy way they were it was based on a mutual level of respect and trust and from what Payson had told him he'd been a huge support for Payson after her injury, he'd gotten Payson to the TC which meant he'd gotten Payson to him and he couldn't be happier, but he knew that Payson shared a bond with Sasha that he could never understand on replace, he had Payson's love and her trust but it was Sasha who she truly respected and Sasha obviously cared a lot about Payson he'd given her one of his medals to help her and the way he'd automatically known what to tell Rigo about her birthday present and the scary way he'd threatened him, not that he'd ever hurt Payson but it had hit home how protective Sasha really was of Payson and while it was good he felt a tiny stab of insecurity, Sasha understood Payson, and Payson understood Sasha, he'd often heard the other rock girls say things like if Payson couldn't get Sasha to do something then no one could and they called her the Sasha whisperer. Was it really just a friendship or was it something more, I mean she'd kissed the guy and there had been a huge scandal about him and his underage gymnast, though he now knew it was entirely Payson and that was the first and only time he still could feel a niggling doubt he loved Payson and he knew she loved him but did she still have those feelings for Sasha, or maybe he was being paranoid, he didn't want to be one of those guys who couldn't handle is girlfriend being around her ex and Sasha wasn't even an ex really, he trusted Payson and he was being insecure and stupid, it was him that Payson had come to today at lunch and the way she kept looking at him as if to check he was still there, he had nothing to worry about and with that thought he let sleep take him.
A/N So there you are Payson and Rigo again I'm afraid but there will be a few more Payson/Sasha moments before realisation hits Payson or rather Kelly hits Payson with the realisation, anyhow hope you survived this chapter.
I've started a new story The heart wants what the heart wants, so please check it out and give me opinions.
As always, review, fav and follow, opinions always welcomed, including you silent readers :)