Chapter 6

The flight to Boston was less than satisfying for Sasha. Nina and Jessica were sitting next to ear other, complaining and arguing about elbowroom for hours. He thought he might throw them out the emergency exit, but he reminded himself that he needed them for the competition the next day. Payson wasn't much better. Suddenly, she had become a shaking, neurotic woman and her jitters only increased as the distance between them and Boston decreased.

He touched her knee to keep it from bouncing up and down. "Nervous flyer?"

She shook her head.

"Do you miss Ally? She could've come for the trip, you know." He said.

"No." she repeated with a steady voice. "I'm just not feeling like myself. Boston isn't my favorite place."

"Aww, what's not to like? Boston cream pie, history, tea, boats, academics…"

Sasha gave up trying to cheer up his assistant a few minutes later. He was never one for impossible battles. He let her mysterious nervousness marinate silently for the rest of the flight.

When they arrived at the hotel, Payson couldn't get to her room fast enough. She claimed that she wanted to call Ally before bedtime, but there was something odd in her expression. Sasha couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"But I thought we could grab a drink at the bar first." He said. "I've invited Austin here to gave a little pre-competition chat."

She shook her head adamantly. "I'm really tired. I should get some sleep."

He laughed. "You know, you're not competing tomorrow, Payson. You can stay up with the grown-ups this time."

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her bags. "Very funny."

"Will you at least say hi to him like a professional?" Sasha asked.

"I am a professional." Payson said. "I'm a tired professional who needs to retire to her bedroom now." With that, she hurried to the elevator and jumped in. Sasha sighed.

About a minute later, Austin Tucker walked into the Lobby in his usual fashion – suave, confident, and loud. He still sported the nonsensical nighttime sunglasses. Cleary, not much had changed from his Olympic days. Sasha had touched base with the ex-gymnast from time to time over the years and even offered him some advice before he began coaching after the 2012 Olympics himself.

"Belov!" Austin cried. "I see you made it to my city in one piece."

"Indeed."

"Let me buy you a drink."

The two coaches headed over to the bar and Austin bought Sasha a local brew. They chatted for a few minutes, catching up on life details and most importantly, gymnastics.

"Are you nervous for tomorrow, Belov?" he asked with a smirk, finishing his beer.

Sasha chuckled. "Now why would I be nervous? My girls are more than ready."

Austin looked doubtful. "I dunno…have you seen Keera Donaldson lately? She's got the highest level of difficulty on every apparatus."

"Keera is one competitor" Sasha admitted "and an excellent one at that. I should know - I also coach her, remember?"

"You do." Austin said. "But I also know that your best bets are Nina Hart and Jessica Rudolph."

"Your point?"

"Jessica is too cookie cutter to be the best, though she has talent. Nina, on the other hand, is just – uncontrolled." Austin said.

Sasha eyed his acquaintance with suspicion. "Right, my girls aren't threats at all – I'm sure that's why you invited us all the way over here on your dime. Come on, Tucker. You invited us here after Nina's splash at the last National Team practice. You see, the Rock doesn't just house great gymnasts. We make great gymnasts."

"Fine," Austin said unwillingly. "I did notice Nina's improvement, I admit. I was interested in your gym's progress."

"I have Payson Keeler to thank for that." Sasha said.

Austin's eyebrows shot up and he stared at his empty glass. "That's right," he said, not looking up. "She's your assistant coach now, right?"

Sasha beamed. "Yes, and our new secret weapon. Payson's almost as good at coaching as she was at the real thing – and that's saying a lot. Sorry she couldn't be here, by the way. She's up in her room resting."

"Oh." Austin said. "S-She's here. You brought her to Boston?"

"Of course." Sasha said, observing Austin's pale face. "You feeling OK?"

"Yeah." Austin said, laughing nervously. "Oh! Look at the time. We should turn in so we can wake up with our gymnasts."

"OK…" Sasha said to abrupt ending to their meeting.

Austin threw some money on the counter and shook Sasha's hand firmly. "Til tomorrow, Belov."

"Till tomorrow."

"Mommy, what's Boston like?"

Ally Keeler's little voice was a welcome sound at the other end of the line. I was just what Payson had needed to calm down. She made sure to call her parents' house right when she knew her daughter was getting ready for school.

"It's great, sweetie. Maybe you can come next time."

Payson was pacing outside the locker rooms, getting some long distance alone time with Ally.

"Are you there with Sasha?" she asked.

"Yes I am." Payson said.

"Tell him I say hi!"

She laughed. "OK, hon. Be good for grandma and grandpa, OK?"

A minute later she hung up the phone with great reluctance. She was getting a horrible, bubbly feeling in her stomach that wasn't just about the invitational.

"Oh my gosh! It's Payson Keeler!"

Payson whipped around and came face to face with something she hadn't run across in years: a fan.

The young lady was about her age – no doubt an enthusiastic past viewer of the 2012 Olympics. She was stylish, petite, and had long blonde hair. Payson observed her high heels making loud clinking sounds as she awkwardly ran over to Payson.

"Hi." Payson said, caught off guard.

"I loved your performance at the 2012 Olympics! Your story was so inspiring – the back injury, the recovery, the underdog!" She lightly punched Payson's arm. "What a great journey!"

"Oh well, thank you." Payson said. The woman was slightly crazy, but the ego boost was not unwelcome.

"Can you sign this paper for me?"

"Sure!" Payson graciously took the pen and paper and started to sign her name against the wall. As her back was turned, her fan yelled something else.

"Sweetie! Come see! It's Payson Keeler. She won the woman's title that same year as you won your medal. Didn't you know her from way back when?"

When Payson turned around her "fan" was hanging off the arm of Austin Tucker. The Austin Tucker. It was then that she noticed the woman in question was sporting an embarrassingly large ring on her left hand. Payson sure hoped that her face wasn't displaying the same level of shock she was feeling at the time. Truth be told, Austin Tucker didn't look too comfortable either. His face had gotten two shades paler and he was unable to respond to his fiancée's excited remarks.

"Sweetie!" she cried again, shaking him a bit. "You're being rude. Say hi to Payson!"

"Hi Payson." He repeated obediently.

"Austin." She nodded back.

The couple looked like a postcard or a magazine ad – perfect from head to toe. Their skin was clear, teeth white, and clothing wrinkle free. Payson suddenly felt very frumpy without make-up and her hair pulled back.

"There you all are!" Sasha suddenly entered the scene. He walked in with great animation, not noticing any preexisting tension or awkwardness. "All the girls are warming up and everything looks ready, Tucker. I hope you are in for a great competition today. Oh – I see you've caught up with Payson."

"He certainly has…" Payson said, forcing a smile on her face.

"Hi!" the girl spoke up again, giving her hand to Sasha. "I'm Meg, Austin's fiancée."

"Lovely to meet you." Sasha said politely. "I never thought Austin would settle down. You must be one hell of a girl to inspire him."

Payson snorted and everyone's heads turned to her. She turned her unintentional reaction into a coughing spasm and pounded on her chest.

"Excuse me." She croaked out. "I – um – I need check on the girls."

She hastily handed Meg her signed paper and power walked down the hall. Sasha excused himself as well and followed her at a jog. When he finally caught up with her she was at the water fountain splashing cold water on her face.

"Payson," he asked placing his hand on her shoulder. She was avoiding eye contact with him. "What's going on?"

"Nothing." She said in her usual Payson way. Payson Keeler had a bad habit of being brave at bad times. Sasha looked at her and saw a teenager lying about her back pain again and putting on a smile for competition. Luckily, he could see right through it even now.

"Liar."

"I'm fine!" she insisted harshly. "Let's just get back to the girls and give them a pep talk, OK? I want to win today."

"OK…"

They started walking across the main gym floor. The gymnasts and coaches were starting to take their places at the various events. Payson and Sasha could see Austin from across the way whispering something to Keera Donaldson. Payson in particular was staring very hard.

"What?" Sasha asked her, observing her line of sight. "Are you intimidated by Austin Tucker?"

Payson smirked bitterly. "That man doesn't intimidate me, trust me."

"Well, his fiancée is nice – seemed to be a fan of yours."

"Yup." She said tersely.

"You don't seem pleased."

"It's not that I'm not pleased, he just didn't have the balls to pick up his phone and mention it to me is all. I had to find out five minutes before my first big competition as professional gymnastics coach that he is -" Payson immediately realized her slip up and cut off her rant with a panicked look.

"Wait what?" Sasha asked in confusion. "Why would Austin need to tell you about…"

Then suddenly, like a horrible epiphany, Sasha Belov started to see the pieces of the puzzle fall in place. Flashes of truth were coming to him – Payson's dread of the Boston meet, Austin's reaction last night at the bar, Ally's hair, light freckles, and smile…

Sasha Belov's face hardened like cement. He looked over across the crowded gym at the man in question.

"No!" Payson said, as if reading his mind. "Sasha, don't!"

But it was too late. Sasha Belov was now walking quickly across the gym past elite athletes, respected coaches, and National Committee members. When he arrived at his destination he was not smiling.

"Belov!" Austin said good heartedly, Keera at his side. "Forfeiting?"

"No."

"Then what brings you to this side of the gym? Shouldn't you be giving your Rock girls some wisdom right about now –"

"Keera," Sasha interrupted Austin's charm. "Would you back away from us about five feet?"

"Why?" she asked curiously as she stepped back.

"So I can do this."

Just about every head in the gym turned when Sasha Belov threw all his weight behind his fist and punched Austin Tucker in the jaw.

Keera screamed and covered her mouth. Whispers broke out all around them and Payson Keeler came running over.

'Stop it! Just stop it." Payson cried, grabbing Sasha and pulling him back. Austin had stumbled back into a group of screaming girls, but managed to stay on his feet. Blood was dripping from his nose.

"What did you say to him?" Austin demanded, finally addressing Payson directly.

"Nothing!" she hissed, looking nervously around at the spectators.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Ellen Beals had just arrived at the scene. She looked far from happy as she took a place standing between the feuding coaches. "Austin, you told me this was a friendly pre-Worlds invitational. Why are the coaches fighting?" she demanded

"Hell if I know!" Austin cried.

"Hell is he does." countered Sasha.

"There was a – misunderstanding." Payson said, trying her best to put a band aid on the gaping wound. "That's it - just a misunderstanding. The National Committee should not be alarmed."

Ellen Beals looked doubtful. She surveyed the room and saw enthusiastic sports journalists snapping pictures of a bleeding Austin Tucker.

"You better be right, Ms. Keeler." She shot at them angrily. "All three of you will perform post-competition interviews with the press laughing off you "misunderstanding" of else you'll have the committee to deal with!"

Sasha looked like the "committee" was the least of his worries right now. He was still staring coldly at Austin Tucker like he was a piece of rotting meat.

Payson finally forced him back to the Rock girls. They were just minutes away from the competition. Payson was in shock. She had no idea such gymnastics drama could occur with Lauren or Kaylie around, but apparently it was possible.

Still riding off his angry reaction, Sasha grabbed Nina and Jessica and waved them to the side. The girls sprang up form stretching and followed him over.

"Now is not the time or place to explain why," he said. "but bottom line – you two better deliver today. No regrets of mediocrity here. Lay everything you're made of on those bars, beam, vault and floor. We're going to beat Austin Tucker today and I don't care if we die trying. If you don't do it for yourselves or the gym, do it for Payson."

He left the confused athletes abruptly.

"What was that about?" Jessica asked. "First he punches Austin Tucker and then –"

"What cares?" Nina interrupted her angrily. "You heard him – we need to do this for Payson so let's win this."

"That means no scratches and more control." Jessica pointed out to her younger teammate.

"Yeah! And that also means a bit of risk and higher difficulty." Nina shot back. "Look, Jessica I know we're not best friends but we both care about Payson. I also know what you can really do out there if you were just brave enough to try."

Jessica paused, blinking incredulously at Nina. When did this young girl become so wise?

"F-fine." She said, staring nervously at the crowd. "Let's win this thing."

Nina grabbed Jessica and gave her a hug. Jessica, though shocked, patted her awkwardly on the back.

"For Payson." Nina said.

"For Payson." Jessica repeated.