Chapter Two

Megs hung her jacket up, tucking her mittens into it's sleeve. Now what do I write for that report? She thought. The door burst open and Tanis and Adena came through, both looking exhausted.

"Hey Megs, how was your community service thing?" asked Adena.

"Yea, it was at the Welfare Office, right? You've got to get some good stories for Wiley's report." Tanis tossed her racket onto her bed and turned to face Megs.

"It was…long," she said shortly.

Adena raised her eyebrows at Tanis. "Yea…that's good. Listen, do you think I could just fake the report? It's not like anyone around Cascadia actually needs help!" Megan laughed hollowly- it was too cruel that Adena had thought to mention that. After all, she'd thought Sébastien was just as wealthy as the rest of them for six months. And she'd fallen in love with him too…

"I'm sure you'll uh…you'll find something to do." Megan wandered out of the room, and proceeded to walk around the building aimlessly.

"Hey Megs," she heard. Looking up, she saw a flash of bright red hair, followed by the flash of a camera. "You're the picture of teenage angst, you know that?"

"Mmm," Megan answered Cody. "Just feeling a little…out of sorts." Cody lowered her camera and eyed her.

"Anything wrong?" Cody asked as they continued walking.

"No…well, I have to tell someone!" Megan pulled her into a corner and whispered the whole story to her. "So it turns out Sébastien's dad wasn't able to make this months rent and he's applying for welfare."

Cody looked uncomfortable as she said this- partly because she was only halfway into the corner, and partly because she'd already known this secret for quite a while. "Well…what difference does it make? He's still Sébastien."

Megan looked taken aback. She'd figured from the moment she realized Mr. Dubé was Séb's dad that things would have to change. "I…I don't know," she stammered.

Suddenly Cody felt a tapping on her shoulder. "Oh! Hey! Séb…" she said awkwardly.

"Hey Codes…I'm going out this weekend- gotta meet my dad for a uhh…diplomat's reception," he said, watching Meg's from the corner of his eye.

"Right, a diplomat's reception. I'll tell Squib and Cameron and them," promised Cody.

Sébastien sighed, "Thanks Cody." He nodded a hello to Megan, and turned around to leave.

As his footsteps faded away, Megan hissed, "You knew? You've been covering for him the whole time?"

"Well what was I supposed to do? I saw him sneaking off campus a few days after he showed up at Cascadia and I got curious. My dad's the school shrink, maybe I accidentally kinda sorta maybe caught a glimpse of his school transcript!" Cody shrugged. "And then- well, I was bugging him about staring at Adena after class a few months ago, and then it turned out he was watching you and I let it slip that I knew…and I've been covering for him ever since."

Megan's scowl softened. "He was watching…me?" She still harboured thoughts of spending hours alone with Sébastien, even if she'd been tempted by Cameron a few times. The new kid Nate would have been a good prospect if he wasn't so obviously in love with Cody- even though she and Squib were still together.

"Yea! That whole stupid thing with the banquet, all he talked about was Megan Megan Megan Meg-" Cody caught herself and blushed.

"So what do I do then? I don't want to drive him away…what if his dad mentions he met me?" Megan bit her nails self-consciously, still warm from the idea of Séb thinking about her.

"I…I don't know. Just wait and see, ohkay Megs?" Megan nodded, and they both slipped out of the corner and headed for The Open.

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"Sébastien, I've got something to tell you." Mr. Dubé put away the damp cloth he was using to wipe the counter, and walked over to his son. Arnie's had closed an hour ago, and they'd just finished cleaning up. Séb had laid out his books on the table, wondering if he could count his work at Arnie's as volunteer service. Of course, he really didn't have a choice about it… "Séb? Sébastien?"

"Huh? Ouay, papa?"

"Well…your tuition went up this month and I couldn't make the rent. So I requested welfare assistance." Henri Dubé sighed and slid into the seat next to Séb. "Don't worry, we'll make it through, right? After all, your maman is still watching over us." He lifted his eyes to the ceiling and gave Sébastien a gentle shake.

"Right…but why didn't you just ask me to come and help more? Papa…welfare?" A pained looked grew on Sébastien's face. He knew Cascadia was eating up more money than ever, but what could he do? He already had to deal with practise and homework!

"Ohh you're so busy at that school. I couldn't- we'll be fine. Eh?" Henri stood up and gazed down at his son. "I forgot- I met one of your friends at the welfare office! Une belle fille…I think her name was Michelle."

Sébastien's heart stopped, and he turned pale. "My- my- was it Megan?"

"Ai! Yes, Megan. She was very nice, she even told me a few stories about you. Ahh always getting in trouble, eh?" With another pat on the back, Mr. Dubé went into the backroom for a final sweep.

Oh God, what do I do now? Thought Séb. That's why she was hiding in the corner with Cody…how am I supposed to act around her? What if…

"Sébastien?" called Mr. Dubé.

"Oui, papa?" he said, shaking himself out of this trance.

"A little help?" Séb rose from his seat, abandoning his homework and his thoughts for a moment.