Chapter 22
Next morning she was up and out the door before the other two were aware needing space.
She drives to the gym and as usual sees Kelly outside.
"Good morning birthday girl" smiles Kelly.
"No it really isn't" says Payson as she walks into the gym.
"Payson you're 20 today why aren't you happier?" asks Kelly.
"Lauren was there when I got home last night" explains Payson.
"How is that bad I take it she's here for your birthday right?" asks Kelly in confusion.
"Yeah its nothing I'm being stupid, lets just focus today" pleads Payson desperately wanting to drop the subject.
"Okay, whatever the birthday girl says, which reminds me, here" says Kelly handing Payson a present.
"You didn't need to get me anything" says Payson as she starts to unwrap it.
"I know but I wanted to" smiles Kelly.
As the last of the paper comes away Payson sees a copy of Romeo and Juliet, her favourite book.
"Oh Kelly thank you" smiles Payson.
"Look inside" says Kelly.
Payson opens the front cover.
"A first edition how did you swing this?" asks Payson.
"I have my ways, so you like it?" asks Kelly.
"I love it" replies Payson hugging her friend.
"Good" smiles Kelly.
Payson starts the day off in slightly better spirits but by lunch time her nerves were starting to get the best of her, she'd tried to call Rigo and Lauren a few times and had gotten no answer.
She sat in the office trying to calm herself down.
Sasha walks in and shuts the door.
"Okay Payson what is it, it's your birthday why do you look like you're going to throw up?" asks Sasha.
"It's nothing I'm being stupid" replies Payson.
"How about you tell me and I'll be the judge of that" suggests Sasha sitting next to her.
"It's just I went home last night and Lauren was there, and that was nice because she came for my birthday but then I went to bed before them and I heard them talking, things like she can't know and she's at the gym tomorrow and its perfect and I've tried to call them both but I'm getting no answer and I know I'm probably being paranoid but it's just every situation like this has ended with the guy preferring one of my friends, Nicky picked Kaylie and Max had a thing for Lauren and hell Austin too and I don't want this to be going down the same road again, I know its ridiculous but I'm starting to see a pattern" explains Payson her tears running down her face by the end of it.
Sasha pulls her into a hug.
"I'm sure it doesn't mean what you think it mean Payson, Lauren isn't like that anymore, and she has Jake, and Rigo has you he's not stupid enough to choose anyone over you" soothes Sasha.
"I know but it just keeps happening" sobs Payson.
"Not this time, I'm sure there is absolutely nothing untoward about it they're probably planning a birthday surprise for you, this time Payson you come first, anyone who lets you go is a complete and utter idiot because you are one of a kind" he assures her.
"I hope your right" mumbles Payson.
"I usually am, speaking of your birthday, here" he reaches across and pulls the box out of his draw and hands it to her.
"What's this?" she asks.
"Happy birthday" he smiles.
She flicks open the lid and her face pulls into a smile.
"To the brightest star" she reads.
She pulls the necklace out of the box.
"Its beautiful thank you Sasha" she smiles kissing his cheek.
"A reminder Payson, don't ever forget what you've done and what you can do" he smiles.
"I'll try not to, can you put it on for me?" she asks.
He takes it out of her hands and loops it around her neck before fastening the clasp.
She turns back to face him running her hand over it.
"Why do you always know what to say when I'm having doubts?" she asks.
"Because I'm just that good" he replies echoing what she'd said to him when he'd asked the same thing.
She laughs and wipes away her tears.
"Now stop worrying" says Sasha.
"I will, thank you Sasha" she says.
She gets up and heads out looking better than she had for the past morning and he's happy to know he did that, now he just hoped he was right about Lauren and Rigo, he knew from personal experience that letting her go made the guy an idiot because he'd called himself one a fair few times after she'd kissed him, even if it was for the best.
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"That's pretty did Sasha give it to you?" asks Kelly nodding at the necklace.
"Yeah" smiles Payson.
"Any particular story behind it?" asks Kelly.
"A reminder, that I can do anything, and I've done a lot, the brightest star" smiles Payson running her hand over it.
"He's right" smiles Kelly.
Payson nods and heads back to work; Kelly looks up at Sasha who's watching Payson with a smile.
Those two, dancing around each other, it was so infuriating honestly she wanted to lock those two in a room together and force them to deal with it.
You didn't buy a necklace like that for just a friend, and the whole brightest star thing, there was so more to that story than just reassuring Kelly knew it.
She just needed to get the whole story, and since tipsy Payson was kind of loose lipped maybe a little bit of alcohol would make Payson a bit more honest.
And since it was her birthday it was okay to break the rules.
As the end of the day drew to a close Maria walked up to Payson.
"Happy Birthday" smiles Maria holding out a present gingerly.
"Thank you Maria" smiles Payson as she takes it and unwraps it.
Inside is a multi picture frame and each on is filled with a different picture of Payson from different meets and competitions and in the centre she's stood on the podium with all her medals, and next to it is her and Sasha after her one footed vault at Worlds.
"Oh Maria, this is beautiful did you make this?" asks Payson.
"Yeah, I wanted to show you how amazing you are to everyone else and how much I appreciate everything your doing to help me, and I took your advice by the way and its over with the guy" smiles Maria happily.
Payson pulls the girl into a hug.
"See you tomorrow" smiles Maria as she walks out.
Payson stands there looking at the pictures and she feels tears well up in her eyes.
"Payson what's wrong?" asks Sasha when he sees her face.
"Nothing I just, I think I get what you mean now" she smiles wiping away the tears as she hands him the picture.
He looks down at it and instantly sees why Payson's crying.
"Maria made that for me" smiles Payson.
"Well I told you, you're an inspiration and you are amazing Payson" smiles Sasha.
"Thanks to you" she replies.
"No I can't take credit for this, I may have helped but this is all you Payson" he says.
She sniffs slightly and wipes her eyes on her sleeve.
"Go on birthday girl, go home and don't worry, remember the brightest star" he says.
Payson nods and quickly throws her arms around him before taking the picture and walking out of the gym.
Kelly walks up behind him.
"That was really sweet of Maria" she smiles.
"Yeah she seems to have bonded with Payson" agrees Sasha.
"Just like you did" says Kelly brightly.
He turns and narrows his eyes at Kelly.
"Hey it's true as a coach to an athlete, she trusts you and she needs you, even now" says Kelly.
Sasha studies her but he can't get past her poker face.
"So you know anything about a secret birthday bash for Payson?" asks Sasha.
"No why?" asks Kelly.
"She overheard Lauren and Rigo talking and I'm really hoping she got the wrong end of the stick" replies Sasha.
"Who know, Lauren may have grown on me but a tiger never totally changes its stripes" sighs Kelly.
"So does that mean you're still a raging bitch?" asks Sasha.
"Yes I can be, but a lot of that was image, I hope your right because I think the only reason Payson stopped reeling over the fact Lauren sent that picture was because she found out her best friend had a potentially fatal heart defect and Rigo was brave enough to knock on the coaches door so he could at least kiss Payson once before he left for his meet, don't worry I told him you'd murder him if he tried that" assures Kelly.
"You're so helpful Kelly thank you for your charming insight and Lauren has changed" argues Sasha.
"Whatever you say, I've bonded with Kaylie and with Payson, not so much with Lauren" says Kelly.
Sasha just sighs.
"Don't worry I'm sure your right and tomorrow Payson will come in here tomorrow with the afterglow of an amazing night spent with her loving boyfriend" says Kelly as she walks out.
"I hate that girl sometimes" mutters Sasha.
"You just hate me because you know I'm right and I see right through you" she yells back.
A/N So major Payson/Sasha feels here, hope this makes you feel better for all the Payson/Sasha shippers, fear not Kelly is now fully ready to put her plan into motion, I know exactly how this is going to end and it is written now just a case of uploading it.
Review, follow and favourite please and don't worry it isn't a proposal Brooke :)