CHAPTER SEVEN- LACKING IN SURPLUS

Megan hesitated between the two beds. Sebastien laughed and said, "I'm not going to break if you go near me, you know? Just don't be whacking my head with a racket." Megs smiled before coming under the covers.
"Sebastien…I'm so sorry!"
"Naw…your dad had a right do that. He really believes in what he said- and from his point of view, it made sense," answered Seb.
"Violence never makes sense," commented Megan.
"No…I guess not. What I'm trying to say is, don't worry about this. I…I understand where he was coming. At least, as best I can."
"Well, I don't. He had no reason to do this," started Megan. "When is it ever right to hurt someone I love?" Megan blushed as Sebastien glanced at her quickly, then turned away again. "Déjà vu?"
"What do you mean?" asked Sebastien.
"You pulled that move back when we got locked in the gym. I was hoping you were looking at me…" Megan stopped. "Wait- you were looking at me, weren't you?"
"Yes of course! Who else would there be?" Sebastien looked a little embarrassed at his brash remark, but also a little proud that he'd been able to say it.
Megan turned away from him and spotted a tiny TV in the corner of the room. "Did you see that there before?"
"Didn't you? It's really small," said Sebastien.
"Good enough. At least, we can get some local channels." Megan got up and rolled it closer to the bed. She picked up the remote and hopped back in with Sebastien. They stopped when they saw a familiar sight- Court 4C!
The reporter started narrating with the picture. "This is the up-and-comer Sebastien Dubé, playing one of the first matches of the Hamstead Tournament. He beat Michael McCabe with a few well-placed serves, and plays again in three days. He celebrated after the match with his new girlfriend, another new player, Megan O'Connor." The picture on the screen changed from Sebastien's winning serve to him kissing Megan. They both glanced at each other before turning back to the screen. "Both hail from Cascadia Tennis Academy, and seem to be the new stars of the tennis world. Ms. O'Connor played Jessica Choi later in the day, and came back from a double deuce to scoop up an early win. However, O'Connor didn't stay to celebrate much- after Mr. Dubé came down from the stands to congratulate her, she ran off the court looking rather flustered. In other news of the Hamstead Tournament…" Sebastien turned off the TV, and turned to Megan.
"What do I do, Seb? I'm just…so lost." Megan sighed. "My father's hurt the only guy I really love."
"You don't need to do anything, Megs. I know you're sorry, even thought you don't need to be. I also know why your dad did…" he motioned to his head, "this. I love you all the same…and we'll find a way to fix this. Together."
"Thanks Seb…I just hope I don't get any of these stomach pains in the middle of a match. I have one in two days, right? I've been worrying so much it might just come up right there," said Megan anxiously.
"Megs, you'll do fine. If something like that happens on the court, well…you've already got the media attention. There will be endorsement deals and everything, just with this first match." Sebastien didn't want to mention her spot on TV- it seemed like a rather touchy subject.
"I…I guess." Megan sighed again and leaned her head on Sebastien's chest. "It's been a long day…I should go to bed."
"Alright…but if you need to talk, I'll be right here." Seb looked at Megan, before realizing that he was literally, right next to her. "Uh…I mean, I'm ready to talk."
Meg laughed and reached to their bedside table to turn off their lamp. She pulled the covers up and snuggled up with Sebastien.
"Megs?" asked Sebastien quietly.
"Yea?"
"Goodnight."
"Oh yea…goodnight Seb."
Sebastien yawned and they both fell asleep. A few minutes later, the phone rang. Seb moaned and answered.
"Salut?"
"Is this Mr. Dubé?" a courteous voice asked.
"Ahh…yes," he answered.
"You have a phone call. Since it's quite late in the night, I'm required to ask if you wish to accept it."
"Oh, ohkay. I mean yes, I'll accept," said Sebastien. Megan woke up and looked over Sebastien's shoulder.
"Thank you, Mr. Dubé. The caller would like to ask you to put on the speaker. Just press the blue button on the phone."
"Thanks." He searched the buttons on the phone, and found the speakerphone button. He put down the handset and said tentatively, "Hello?"
"SEBASTIEN!" Seb jumped back and almost crushed Megan.
"Sorry Megs!" he cried.
"Seb, what was that?" she asked.
"Uhh…someone's on the phone, Megs," he answered. They both turned towards the phone and stared.
"MEGAN!" Then someone in the background said, "Come on guys, move it, move it!"
Sebastien and Megan looked at each other. "Coach Gunnerson!"
"Yes, O'Connor. We saw you two on TV. I hope I didn't make a mistake putting you two in the same room?"
Sebastien cleared his throat and answered. "No sir, not at all."
Then Squib's voice came across the phone, "Seb, my man! You're such a player!"
Megan and Seb started laughing as they remembered Sebastien's failed attempt at imitating Squib the night before. "Hey, what's so funny guys?" asked Squib.
"Nothing, nothing!" Megan said. "Hey, where's Dena?"
"Right here, Megs! I can't believe you hooked up with Sebas-" they heard Gunnerson giving her a warning in the background. "I mean, you guys are so cute together!"
Sebastien cut in to their conversation, "You guys need to see the look on Megan's face right now!"
Megan cuffed him over the head. "Aie! What did you do that for Megs?"
"What do you mean, the look on my face?" she asked indignantly.
"Nothing…you just look so beautiful, all happy like this," he said.
Cody's voice came over the speaker. "Guys, don't get all mushy on us now."
"How can I resist?" said Sebastien.
Coach Gunnerson got a hold of the phone again. "We heard you left the court a little quickly. Is anything wrong?"
Sebastien looked at Megan. She shook her head and spoke. "No Coach. Nothing's wrong." Seb pulled her away from the phone, telling them to wait for a little while.
He turned towards her, "Are you sure you don't want to tell them? They're our friends- you know you can trust them. All of them."
"No Seb. Not until after the Hamstead. Especially after today…if Gunns found out, he might talk to my father, and that would just make him more angry."
"Megan, it might end up helping, more than hurting."
Megan touched his head. "It's hurting already, isn't it?" She turned away from him and walked back towards the phone.
"Megan, what's wrong?" asked Adena.
"Nothing, Dena. I'm…" Sebastien was walking bed to join her. "I'm…"
"Megan?" asked Sebastien worriedly.
"Oh…no!" Megan was doubled over in pain. She moaned and reached for Seb's hand as he rushed to her side.
Cody was speaking from the phone, "Guys, what's going on?"
Megan's face was contorted with pain as she tried to reassure her. "Nothing, I'm just having a…stomach ache."
They could hear Coach Gunnerson telling Top Gun to go back to their rooms. When he got back on the phone, it was just him. "O'Connor, are you alright?"
Sebastien saw that she couldn't answer and spoke in a strangled voice, his worries seemed to be stuck in his throat. "Coach, Megan's been having bad stomach pains for a while. Her dad showed up today…"
Megan's eyes widened as she heard those words. "Sebastien…no!"
Gunns sounded surprised. "Her father? What happened?"
As much as Sebastien wanted to tell him about that day to help Megan, he knew this wasn't the time. "Coach, what do I do! We can't tell anyone, Megan needs to compete in this tournament!"
"Look, get O'Connor to lie down. Stay with her. If…" Megan let out another moan.
"Please, Seb!" she pleaded.
"Coach, call back. Tomorrow. I have to go." Sebastien hung up the phone and focused on Megan. "Megan please, lie down. Breathe!" He pulled the covers back and laid her on the bed. She took a few deep breaths and grabbed his hand. He whispered to her and wiped away her tears until the pain went away. "Oh God Megan, I'm so sorry…"
"Now what do we do?"