Chapter Two: Right and Wrong, Part One
I woke in the morning to silence. The room was empty, just as I had expected it to be. Sighing, I dressed and slunk out of the room, hoping not to attract the attention of my teammates. Regardless of Barthez's reassurances, I wasn't completely positive they were 'OK' with him, for lack of a better phrase, fucking me. Even if it was…
"An act of love?" I questioned out loud. "Was it?"
"Was what, Miguel?"
I turned quickly to see Mathilda, beyblade in hand, staring at me.
"Nothing," I quickly dismissed.
She looked narrowly into my eyes, she knew I was lying. "Care to explain last night Miguel? We all heard you two… You know that it's wrong Miguel, why do you let him—"
I wouldn't have it. "What I do is none of your business, Mathilda."
"It is my business if you're doing something harmful to yourself! This team is like a family, and we should all look out for eachother! What Barthez is doing to you is a matter we all need to deal with!" she said, eyes getting a bit misty. "You shouldn't have a sexual relationship with him, Miguel. It's wrong, don't you realize that?"
I let Mathilda's words sink in, but not far enough. My defiance would win in this battle.
I looked up at her, determined to drive my point home. "I love him, Mathilda. He loves me. There's nothing wrong with that."
Mathilda just shook her head. "You think you love him, Miguel. Think. But really, it's just part of his control over you! I know we're all intimidated by him, but you shouldn't let him do things like that with you because of it. I would refuse, Miguel. Regardless of what he says. He's brainwashed you."
"She's right, Miguel." Came the simultaneous voices of Claude and Aaron, who had been listening from the hall and picked this time to add their pieces.
Blinded by anger, I snapped. "So you're all against me? Well, I don't care! I'm Team Captain and I declare this conversation over! What I do in private is private, and you have no say in it! If you think it's wrong, keep it to yourselves! Now, all of you, to the practice room. Right now!"
They weren't about to follow my orders.
"You're making a big mistake Miguel!"
"Yeah, and who put you in charge?"
I could feel a fight beginning to break out, when the door opened, slowly.
"I did," came the voice of Coach Barthez, "Now off the practice room, you three. For hassling your teammate so, I want two thousand beyblade flips, each!"
Mathilda and the others nodded. "Yes Coach Barthez sir!" they said, filing off to the practice room without a complaint.
When it was just Barthez and I alone again, I slumped against the wall. "They don't approve."
"Funny, I thought they would be understanding. I guess not everyone appreciates love," he said, stepping forward to kiss me.
I accepted the kiss, it was short, sweet and wonderful, and I leaned against him as he held me close.
I felt so secure. I just knew that no matter what, Jean Paul Barthez would always love me.
And I stayed in his arms.
Upon being informed by the officials that our next matches were to be held in Spain, we quickly boarded our flight and were on our way.
It was dark now, the dim light inside the plane was tiring on my eyes, and my eyelids drooped as I sat in my reclined seat. I yawned. I wanted to go to sleep, but I found that I could not.
My mind was racing.
All sorts of thoughts ran through my head, some about the upcoming match, which I learned would be against the BBA Revolution, but most thoughts had drifted back to this morning, where my teammates' words haunted me. It all led to burning questions, the types that needed to be answered.
Is this right? Is any of this right?
And if it's wrong, do I care?
I knew that my relationship with Coach Barthez might not be appropriate in the eyes of some, but that was one thing. Whether or not it was right, was another. But did it matter to me? Was this love? Or was he taking advantage of me?
Sighing, I nestled my head into my airline pillow, not feeling like searching for the answers to the questions just yet. The idea of staying in a fog about the issues seemed like a good idea at the time, and I let myself drift off to sleep.
