Chapter 23
The group was reunited. They talked deep into the night, and each of them reconciled themselves with the new situation. Rather, the new information. Adena still felt a little lonely, but the lovebirds had all decided to be just a bit more tactful around each other. In the morning, they ate together for what seemed like the first time in months.
"So I was checking the rankings," started Megan.
"When are you ever not checking the rankings?" asked Squib.
"Shut up!" teased Cody.
Megan raised her voice, "so I was checking the rankings, and I just remembered…they're picking the players to go to the Hamstead tournament in two days!"
"What's the Hamstead?" Sebastien needed to know everything, in case he missed a chance at making the millions he and his father hoped for. Or at least, making the rent.
Adena swallowed her last piece of pasta and explained. "It's this international tennis tournament. Every year, the European board picks two players from Canada, and every year, the player's come from Cascadia. It's bigger than the K-10!"
Sebastien heard this, and vowed to get into the tournament. He was already ranked at the top of his age group, and he needed international coverage to make a mark on the tennis world. It could be his big start! On the other side of the table, Megan was contemplating the same thing. Hamstead would definitely get people's attention.
"Think about it…international tourney! You'd get endorsement deals, media attention, the whole world would know your name!" Squib got lost in his fantasy, staring off into the distance.
"Well, we're not going to get into the Hamstead if we don't practise," Megan rose from the table and picked up her tray. "Coming, Adena?"
"Nah…it's okay. I'll come later!" Sebastien was lost in a fantasy of his own, but it was shattered when Megan stood up, giving him a clear view of the caf. Standing in the entrance, was Jake.
Sebastien walked towards him in a daze.
"Hey tennis star! Where's Cody?" Jake sneered.
"What are you doing here?" hissed Sebastien, ignoring the question.
No one had ever heard him sound so angry. Megan turned and ran to Sebastien, and everyone at the table had frozen when they saw the two of them, face to face. Cody paled, and dropped her eyes to the table. Jake had broken her the last time she saw him. If he tried anything this time, she wasn't sure she could resist.
"Hey I asked you a question!" Jake was seething. "Where's Cody?" He scanned the room, and his eyes fell upon the girl, now in Squib's arms. Jake shoved Sebastien out of his way and marched towards her.
"What do you think you're doing!" he thundered. Squib squeezed her tighter, wishing he could knock this guy into a million pieces. "LOOK AT ME!"
Cody timidly turned her face towards him. She expected the slap that whipped across her cheeks and held on tighter to Squib. He remained deathly silent, staring unequivocally at this intruder.
"Who is this?" When Cody didn't answer, he pulled her wrist away from Squib and twisted it. She seemed unfazed- all her energy was spent on keeping Squib from fighting him.
Cody whispered in Squib's ear, "Whatever you do, don't fight him. Please."
Jake seemed to grow two feet taller in the seconds it took for him to realize he was the outsider here, not anyone else. He couldn't alienate them. "Secrets, Cody? You're keeping secrets from me?" He laughed. "You can't hide anything from me." He pulled her up and away from Squib in one deft move, clutching both her wrists in one hand. Squib willed himself to obey Cody's words, as everyone in Top Gun stood up, and Megan looked up anxiously as she tended to Sebastien. He pushed back her hair and whispered, "Your friends can't help you." With searing deliberation, he cracked one of her wrists. As she moaned in pain, he released her and knocked her out. Cody crashed to floor with one broken wrist and completely unconscious. The last thing she saw was Squib, hurtling at Jake.