Chapter 11

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Sasha slammed down on the alarm. The time read 5:30 am. Though he'd risen at this hour countless times before, each repeat still felt like a cruel joke. He reluctantly rolled out from under his covers and walked to the bathroom to shave and brush his teeth. On the way he switched on the television for background noise.

"Surprising rumors have surfaced this morning."

"Really, Joan? What kind of rumors?" a morning show woman asked curiously.

"Bloody American news." Sasha muttered. "Early morning gossip, more like it…" He squeezed the last bit of paste from the tube and shoved his toothbrush in his mouth.

"Actually," the voice continued. "This is very interesting and concerns a long unsolved mystery in the sports world. No, I'm not talking about steroids! I'm talking about the most scandalous female gymnast to win a gold medal – Payson Keeler."

Sasha's mouth opened and his toothbrush fell on the floor. He ran back in his bedroom to see the screen.

"Of course you all at home must remember the news years ago when she announced her pregnancy half a year after the Olympics, but refused to reveal the identity of the father. Well, our sources have confirmed that it is the one-and-only Austin Tucker. That's right, this child's parents are the two all around gold medalists from 2012!"

A picture of Ally came up on screen and Sasha shut off the television in disgust.

"Damn it!" he screamed, grabbing the first pair of pants and shirt he could find and put them on quickly as he ran out the door and down a flight of stairs to Payson's apartment. He was still pulling his shirt over his head when he ran into the small crowd of reporters outside of her door.

"Get out of my way!" he shouted sternly over their questions. Some of them recognized who he was.

"Sasha – Sasha Belov" one cried. "Did you know about Ally's father?"

He ignored them and pushed through to the door. He knocked on it loudly, but he doubted that Payson could distinguish his voice from the noise on the other side of her door.

"Payson!" he yelled. "It's me. Let me in!"

The lock jiggled and the door opened hastily. Sasha practically jumped in, helping Payson push the door shut once he was inside.

"Well, you were right about the media frenzy…" he said in awe of the display he just witnessed. He turned to Payson and shut his mouth.

Her eyes were puffy and tired. If she hadn't been shaking so badly, he would've guessed that she was sleepwalking.

"Hey." He steadied her hands. "I'm here, OK? You're going to fine."

She nodded. Sasha went into the kitchen to make her a cup of coffee.

"Where's Ally?"

"Sleeping." she answered. "I don't want to wake her yet. I had a talk with her last night about all of this. I mean…she's always known about Austin, but I don't think she knows what this widespread news means for her."

"Her picture was on the news this morning." He said.

Payson groaned and rubbed her tired eyes. "Great…"

He handed her the coffee and rubbed her back.

"Austin called me last night." She explained. "He and his fiancée broke up."

"Did she..?"

"Yes." she answered sadly before he could finish his sentence. "He told her a few weeks ago about Ally. He thought he was going to marry her, so…."

Payson brought the mug up to her face and let the steam rise on her skin. Sasha watched her nurse her cup with a stoic expression. He had no idea what was going through her mind. Maybe nothing was – he didn't know.

Suddenly, he took the cup from her and grabbed her hand.

"Come on," he said, leading her to Ally's room. Payson watched as he picked up the sleeping girl, stuffed animal and all, then grabbed Payson's hand with the other.

"Get your purse." He said, walking toward the door.

"W-Why?" she asked, eyeing the door like there was a fire-breathing dragon behind it. "What are you doing?"

"I have no idea." Sasha Belov admitted. "But I'm sure as hell not going to let them trap you in here like a rat while they camp out at your door."

A minute later Sasha was skillfully escorting both Payson and Ally through the crowd of reporters. It took him thirty minutes to take them to her parents' house – a journey that usually lasted about five minutes. He drove around in circles for a while to make sure no one was following them. Then, he finally pulled in to the driveway.

Mr. and Mrs. Keeler flung open the door before they could even knock. Mr. Keeler took the still sleeping Ally from Sasha's arms, no doubt anxious to get her inside. Mrs. Keeler latched on to her daughter tightly.

"Payson!" she cried through teary eyes. "I'm so sorry, sweetie."

Payson Keeler buried her face into her mother's shoulder and hugged her.

"Thank you, Sasha." Mrs. Keeler said with gratitude.

"You're welcome." he said. "I doubt any of those reporters remember where you live. They might get the address later, though."

"I'll have Mark call the police." She said. "No one is going to trespass on my property."

Payson smiled at her mother's moxy, then turned to Sasha.

"Thank you." Her words were pure and heartfelt. She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his middle.

Sasha left quickly, not wanting to leave his car in front of the house for too long. He went straight to the Rock where he knew that gymnasts were probably waiting to get in.

Sasha had been right. Gymnasts were waiting to get in. They, however, were not alone.

It was times like these when Sasha Belov wished that he had a shotgun handy. The reporters badgered his gymnasts as they entered for practice. It was unbearable and distracting. The one that crossed Jessica's path was probably regretting it, though. With a killer instinct, she whipped some pepper spray out of her bag after he grabbed her arm and – without an ounce of hesitation or remorse - she shot the liquid with perfect aim.

"That was brilliant!" Nina said after they entered the Rock.

Jessica looked quite satisfied with herself until she noticed a frowning Sasha Belov standing in front of her with crossed arms.

"Uh -." She said, putting the can back in her bag with guilt. "Hi Sasha."

He paused and stared at her. "Well done." He said simply, turning away abruptly and heading for his office.

Jessica let out a sigh of relief after he was out of earshot.

"Do you think that Payson is going to quit?" Nina asked with fear as they stretched.

"I sure hope not…"

"Do you think there's anything we can do for her?" she asked.

"Besides pepper spray reporters?" Jessica asked. "I don't think so. "

"Can you believe the news, though?" she asked, leaning in and whispering. "You know – Austin Tucker. Wow."

"It's nuts." Jessica admitted. "but let's not talk about it in the gym today, OK? Too many people are going to be gossiping about it already. We should set an example."

Nina nodded in agreement, taking her cue from the older gymnast.

The two top elites gave Sasha a solid practice, performing well in front of their shaken peers. Sasha appreciated the gesture, even if it didn't decrease the chaos surrounding them. The reporters stayed there all day and badgered them again when they walked out in the evening.

Sasha stayed in his office until he saw the last one leave from his window. He occupied his time by watching old footage. Years ago, Kaylie's father had paid someone to put together a montage of the Rock Rebels in their prime. He popped the DVD in. Emily's floor routine from Worlds came up first. She did a perfect tumbling pass before the camera cut to Lauren Tanner performing strength elements on beam then to Kaylie's vault that won her the title at Worlds. The last part of the montage didn't fit the rest, but it was equally breathtaking. It was the full clip of Payson's simple bar routine from the Rock meet with China. He watched her smile as she circled around the bars, performing elementary skills with ease and comfort, finally landing solidly. She was glowing. Her teammates ran to her as the announcer's voiceover cut in, "You know….it's strange seeing the great Payson Keeler do such a simple routine, but I've never seen her look better."

He shut off the television and walked outside to the deserted parking lot. There was no way he was going to go back to his apartment tonight and run the risk of running into camped out reporters. Instead, he made his way to the trailer still standing on the edge of the lot.

Sasha woke with a start. Someone was banging on his door. He scrambled out of bed clumsily and fumbled around for a spare cricket bat he knew was somewhere on his floor. He found it, crept over to the door, and opened it quickly.

Payson Keeler looked startled at the sight of an angry Sasha threatening her with a wooden stick.

"Hi." she said with wide eyes.

Sasha lowered his arm and sighed. "Sorry about that…what are you doing here?" he surveyed the still empty lot and pulled her inside hastily.

"I climbed out my window." She explained.

Sasha laughed.

"What?"

"What are you – twenty-five?" he asked, amused.

"There's a first time for everything. I didn't go through a rebellious teenage phase, remember?"

"You got pregnant." he pointed out.

"That doesn't count."

"Oh really?" he asked, smiling as he stepped forward over her.

Payson looked slightly more rested than she had that morning, but was by no means her usual self.

"How'd you find me?" he asked.

She shrugged. "You weren't at your apartment so I came here."

"Ah – I see." said Sasha.

Payson shifted her weight underneath him nervously. "I was just…alone in my old room and I couldn't sleep."

"So you came here?"

She took in a shaky breath and looked up in his eyes pleadingly. "I…uh…I didn't want to be alone tonight, Sasha."

"Oh."

The two stood there in silence for a moment, Sasha staring at Payson like an immobilized, mute man.

"Did I wake you?" she asked apologetically, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"No." he lied. "It's fine."

He took her hand and escorted her to the small twin bed in the back of his trailer.

"There you go." He said. "You can sleep here tonight."

He grabbed a pillow and set it on the ground for himself. He sunk down on the cold floor and started to situate himself. Payson, however, was still standing above him, staring.

"Don't sleep on the floor, Sasha." she said.

"But I –"

"Please…" her voice cracked and there it was – Payson Keeler's breaking point. For the first time that day he saw her cry. Any other woman would've done it hours before, but she of course had kept it all in until now – until she was all alone late at night. Sasha's heart jumped in his chest at the sound of her voice. "Please, I just…please…."

He got up and hugged her tightly without hesitation. She sobbed into his shoulder.

"Shhh." He said in his soothing voice. "I'm here for you, Payson."

He set her down on the bed and opened the covers for her. She climbed in, but she kept a firm grip on his arm, pulling him in with her. Reluctantly, Sasha lay down next to her. They were horizontal on the tiny, soft surface facing each other separated by just a few inches.

Payson buried her face in his chest again and he wrapped his arms around her. His shirt muffled her cries. Sasha wasn't sure whether she needed contact or whether she was hiding her face from him. He knew how much she hated when people saw her cry. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of his head.

Finally resurfaced from his chest and sniffled. A tiny laughed erupted from her mouth. "Oh gosh…I just soaked your shirt."

He shrugged indifferently. "I've got others." He used his thumb to gently wipe a streak of mascara from under her eye. She bit her bottom lip.

Sasha felt something under the covers at the hem of his shirt. Payson's hands were slowly pulling it upwards – up and over, forcing his arms above his head. Even though it wasn't, the moment felt like slow motion. The whole time Sasha's mind was racing with questions and second thoughts. Still, he let her get the garment off his body.

Payson was now resting her left hand on his stomach. The other weaved between them reached the back of Sasha's neck. Gently, she pulled his face to hers and lightly kissed him on the mouth. She looked into his eyes, then leaned in again to repeat the kiss, this time increasing the duration. Sasha was suddenly aware that he was only wearing boxer shorts now and that Payson's pajamas consisted of athletic shorts and a thin tee shirt. The small surface area of the bed forced their legs to touch, then eventually intertwine as Payson leaned into the kiss and pressed her chest to his.

"Wait –" Sasha said, pulling back. It had literally taken him every ounce of will power he had to resist her.

"Payson…" he continued, gently running his fingers through her hair. "We can't do this now. Not while you're this upset."

"Is it…" she started timidly. "Is it me or -?"

"No." he assured her confidently. "Payson, I know you and I know that right now you're not ready for this. You told me so yourself yesterday."

"I said I'd be ready if you asked me." she recalled.

He sighed and looked into her blue eyes. "I'm not asking you today, Payson."

She nodded slowly and rolled over away from Sasha's gaze feeling a few more tears well up in her eyes. Suddenly, a pair of strong arms encircled her middle and pulled her in securely. Sasha fingers traveled up to her hands and linked in with her own.

"W-What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm holding you." She felt his breath tickle the back of her neck as he answered her. "Is that OK?"

Payson brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed it. He couldn't see her face, but the shape of her lips against his hand felt like a smile. He took that as a "yes."

Payson Keeler had never felt safer.