Chapter 12
Sasha woke up to an empty bed and a note attached to his bathroom mirror.
I woke up early to sneak back into my bedroom. So ends my rebellious teenage phase…Thank you for last night.
Payson was no Shakespeare, but he appreciated the gesture. He smiled to himself as he got ready that morning. He didn't even get mad at the television like he had the day before. The small screen in his trailer was emitting the usual garbage.
Payson Keeler's representative hasn't indicated any response at all. She hasn't confirmed interviews or public appearances yet. Bob, do you think this is a wise move on her part?
Sasha chuckled. The idea of Payson Keeler tolerating a representative was absurd. He listened on as they speculated her and Austin's relationship. That, on the other hand, was harder for him to stomach.
Clearly, she and Austin Tucker had a falling out years ago, but honestly they seem indifferent to each other. Here on the screen we're showing some footage from the most recent Boston invitational between Tucker's Boston Elite gymnasts and Payson's Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Club.
Well, Bob, as you recall that event did inspire a buzz after Rock coach Sasha Belov punched Austin Tucker before the competition. No word yet on whether that conflict is linked to Payson and Ally Keeler.
Sasha paused and stared at the screen with mild amusement as their playback showed him punching Austin on replay. He had no idea someone caught that on tape. He was sure that a few million people were watching this now.
The shrill sound of his phone ringing pulled Sasha away form the television.
"Sasha Belov." He answered.
He was stunned at the voice he was hearing on the other end of the line.
"Wait – you're where? With who?"
Payson spent the day at home with Ally. Candyland, hair braiding, and baking was exactly what she needed to recover from the current state of her public life. At one point Ally begged her to go outside and do cartwheels in the backyard, but Payson had to say no. Her father had just caught a few over zealous reporters on their property yesterday. The last thing she wanted was to give them an easy picture of Ally Keeler doing gymnastics. She could just imagine it rolling on ESPN later that day with three gymnastics commentators critiquing her form and potential. No, they stayed inside and tried to amuse themselves.
"Mommy," Ally said as they played their third game of Candyland that afternoon. "Is this all my fault?"
"Oh Ally – no!" Mrs. Keeler assured her. "It's sort of my fault, honestly."
"Why?"
"I didn't tell people about your father."
"About Austin?" she asked, placing down a card.
Payson nodded. "But now they know. You see, your dad was a gymnast like me, so people are pretty curious about you and our family."
"OK…" she said, staring out the window longingly.
Payson sighed. "Tell you what," Payson said, putting down the game. "Why don't we go in the basement and do some somersaults, uh?"
Ally's face lit up and she followed her mother downstairs eagerly. The two took turns doing simple tricks. Payson held her daughters legs and helped her perfect her handstand. They stayed down there for some time until Mrs. Keeler came with some news.
"Hey Pay," she said to the girls. "Sasha's here."
"Sasha's here?" Payson asked with a small smile.
"He's waiting outside for you. He says it's important."
Ally and Kim went into the kitchen for some grandma/granddaughter bonding time. Payson made her way to the front of the house, stopping by the mirror to let her hair down and examine her face. Her mother noted this gesture with interest, but decided not to comment.
Sasha Belov was leaning against his car when she emerged. She beamed when she saw him. She walked up, checked the surrounding area for spectators, then kissed him on the lips.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself."
He opened the car door for her and then got in too.
"Are you kidnapping me?" she asked once they started driving.
"Actually, yes." He said. "I'm on a transport mission. I'm taking you to the Rock."
She furrowed her brow. "I don't understand…it's Sunday. Is there a special practice?"
Sasha smiled. "This isn't for work."
She sat there for the rest of the drive wondering what Sasha Belov could be up to. The Rock parking lot was mostly deserted except for some scattered cars in front. She recognized one of them.
"That's Emily's car. Is she here?"
"Yes." Sasha said, though he looked like he was holding something back.
As they walked in together Sasha grabbed her hand and laced his fingers between hers. She liked the feeling. She decided that she could get used to it. A comforting warmth was spreading from her hand to her arm and down her spine. Suddenly, as they entered the main doors, she let go. Payson looked at him in protest.
As if reading her mind Sasha said, "We probably shouldn't do that right now. I'll let you decide when and if you want to tell them."
"Tell what to whom?" she asked with confusion.
Sasha pointed toward the center of the Rock, answering her question with a simple gesture.
Payson had to blink twice slowly to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. There, in the middle of the gym stood the rest of the Rock Rebels. They were gathered around the beam talking casually. If they hadn't been in regular clothing, Payson would've thought she had stepped back in time. Lauren turned around and smiled. She was wearing a stylish, professional outfit and stood confidently next to the apparatus like she always had done as a teenage gymnast. Kaylie was next to her – still petite but with a new air of sophistication. Her girlish characteristics had clearly matured since Payson had last seen her. Then, of course, there was Emily Kmetko who walked over to Payson quickly and gave her a hug. The other girls followed her. Suddenly, Payson was completely covered. She hadn't been expecting any of this.
"How are you, Pay?" Kaylie asked, pulling away from her old teammate and squeezing her arm.
"I've been better."
Payson peaked above her friends' heads and saw Sasha standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, watching his old athletes bond.
"Not going to join the group hug, Sasha?" Lauren asked.
He laughed, but stood where he was. "I'm with you in spirit."
"You guys came all the way over here?" Payson asked, feeling a happy sensation bubbling in her stomach. She was truly touched.
"Duh." Emily answered.
"But, Kaylie you live in Europe now…"
Kaylie shrugged and smiled. "This is what frequent flier miles are for. Lauren came from North Carolina."
Payson turned to her. "What's in North Carolina?"
"Duke Law."
Payson and Sasha both raised their eyebrows in surprise. Neither knew about that.
"What?" Lauren asked looking back and forth between them. "Everyone always looks so shocked. I was a smart student!"
Payson exchanged a meaningful look with Sasha. She was sure they were both feeling pity for any lawyer do dared face her in court.
"Well, Emily called us up when the news broke." Kaylie explained. "We joined forces, jumped on planes, called Sasha and now here we all are – back at the Rock."
"Seriously guys," Payson protested. "you didn't need to come all the way over here for -"
"For your crisis?" Lauren placed one hand on her hip with attitude. "Payson, you were the least dramatic teenager here. The least we can do is pay you back with support now that you finally need it. Just shut your mouth and accept that we're here, OK?"
"Lauren does have a point." Emily agreed in surprise. She wasn't used to agreeing with Lauren Tanner.
Sasha started heading toward the door. "So…I'll leave you girls alone to chat."
"Don't leave…" the words escaped from Payson's lips before she could stop them.
"Don't worry, Pay. We'll drive you home." said Emily, not understanding Payson's reluctance.
Sasha waved one last time, then exited in silence.
Once he left the girls gravitated toward the mats and sat down. A few years ago they'd been in the same spot, stretching, gossiping, and (most likely) fighting. It was weird to recreate that environment now.
"This is so surreal…" Kaylie said, letting her eyes survey the eqipment. "Honestly, the idea of going on that again –" she pointed to the vault. "sort of terrifies me."
"It's amazing what a few years of retirement can do, uh?" Lauren asked.
Emily hugged her knees to her chest and gave Payson a comforting smile. "You're amazing for dealing with all of this, you know that?"
"And not just this press," Kaylie agreed. "but everything…your secret, raising Ally alone…"
"I can't believe you didn't tell us that you slept with Austin Tucker!" Lauren interjected. Kaylie and Emily stared her down with disapproval. Lauren cleared her throat hastily and tried to recover "I mean….not that it was any of our business."
"What was I supposed to say?" Payson asked. "It all happened so fast. I didn't even know what we were."
"What's he doing about this anyway?" Emily asked. By the pessimistic tone in her voice, Payson could tell that Emily was already judging Austin.
"I asked him not to talk to the press and he's respecting my wishes."
"Payson…" Kaylie said. "I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear now, but you can't stay silent forever. You should do an interview – you know, control the story. My dad could help you if you want."
Payson made a face, "The whole idea makes my skin crawl."
"Well, you obviously can't avoid it now." Lauren said logically.
"They're right, Pay." Emily said, placing her hand on her shoulder. "It was going to come out sooner or later."
Her stomach started doing flips at the mere thought of speaking in front of cameras, but deep down she knew it had to be done and she was the one that needed to do it. Payson never minded the spotlight before, mostly because she could just let her gymnastics speak for itself. Unfortunately, her days of flipping and twisting were over and now her only option was to look the cameras straight on and speak.
Payson took a deep breath. "Fine."
Kaylie proceeded to call her father and make plans for a short press conference outside the Rock the next day. Lauren helped her organize all the details too. Payson would be giving a short statement and answer a few questions.
"You know what we need?" Lauren said in the midst of their planning. "We need some food. Anyone up for take-out?"
"Oh my gosh!" Kaylie half shrieked, half laughed. "We could eat it on the mats!"
"Take-out?" Payson asked incredulously. "Are you crazy? This is the Rock. The Rock. It's sacred ground."
"Payson," Lauren put her arm around Payson and sighed. "Do you understand the amount of self satisfaction and dominance we will feel…sitting here….where we once were trained and tortured…eating pizza."
Emily made a face. "No pizza, please. I'm getting minimum wage flashbacks."
"And you guys understand," Payson said. "That I'm a coach here with Sasha too?"
"Oh right." Lauren said, circling Payson playfully with crossed arms. "I bet you two rule this place with an iron fist, uh?"
Payson blushed. "Not really...I mean, we have high expectations."
"Nina has clued me in." Emily teased. "It isn't surprising. I mean, you two are the most intense athletes this gym has ever seen."
"Yeah, Pay." Lauren joked, half laughing. "You and Sasha should make some champion babies and see if you can repopulate the Rock with greatness."
"What?" Payson asked with a panicked voice. "Babies? Sasha and I? What made you..."
But Kaylie and Lauren didn't hear her panic. They were too busy laughing hysterically. When Payson realized that they were joking, she reluctantly joined the laughter nervously. Emily, on the other hand, observed her friend's odd reaction with interest.
"Can you imagine it?" Kaylie said, holding her side. "...a tiny blonde army of flipping children."
It took a while to calm them down and get back to more serious matters. Payson suddenly felt relieved that she hadn't admitted the true nature of her relationship with Sasha to her old teammates. Clearly, they - with the possible exception of Emily Kmetko - weren't ready to take that bit of news seriously yet.
"Can you two please stop speculating about my personal life?" Payson asked. "Haven't people been doing that enough this week?"
A few hours later, after a few phone calls and arrangements, the girls nailed down all the details for Payson. She couldn't have done it without them. At one point she sat the beam, legs dangling off the top, staring at her old friends rush around, talking to media outlets on their cell phones, and eating chinese food out of containers (Payson had caved on the no eating rule by then). Payson felt lucky to have such a great support system at her disposal. The past twenty-four hours had been a personal rollercoaster to say the least, but she at least she didn't have to go through it alone.
"So Pay," Kaylie said as they walked to the parking lot at the end of their evening of planning. "I'm not sure which surprises me more - the fact that you hooked up with Austin after the Olympics or you now have the ability to cause a bigger scandal than Lauren."
Emily erupted in laughter. Truer words were never spoken.
Lauren sighed at her friend's words. "See what happens when you attempt to swear off boys and drama in your teenage years, Payson? It's like karma. The universe needs to be balanced, so it spills out later."
"More like explodes..." corrected Payson.
A/N - Need advice! After the season is over, should I edit the story to make it canon (aka add elements of the kiss, etc. into the back story and character development)? Mildly tempted...Let me know! Thanks for reading! I'm so thrilled that people are reviewing.
BTW, in regards to that kiss...
Keeler, your timing SUCKS!