Page 145 of You + Me – Against the World

“I eventually realized that he’s only been coming after us since we refused to do what he told us. He keeps Fe and me from seeing each other, from earning our own money. He follows us everywhere and tries to keep me away from you, Alma. He can’t stand that we’re slipping out of his grasp.”

A shiver runs through me.

In this café full of students, where most people’s worries boil down to a handful of exam results and a few broken hearts, I listen to the guy I’m in love with talk about a corrupt social worker, crooked cops, threats and harassment, criminal activity, and prison.

The four of us decide not to do anything else for now. It’s too dangerous. The boys ask Clem and me to keep everything to ourselves, and Clémentine announces that she’ll keep seeing Keith, so as not to arouse his suspicions.

“I’m just going to invent an STD that burns really bad to freak him out. That way, he won’t be tempted to touch me.”

We almost manage to laugh about it.

“Are we going home, Arcadi?”

I let my words float toward Vadim. I feel as if he’s slipping away, trapped somewhere deep inside his thoughts, buried beneath the shadows and pain he’s kept hidden for too long. His usual teasing, defiant smile no longer plays on his lips. His eyes avoid mine. I hate seeing him hurt.

“I should have believed you,” I murmur.

“I don’t blame you for anything, Alma. I’m the one who should apologize for dragging you into all this.”

“Remember…”

“What?”

“You + Me is stronger than that. Stronger than everything.”

50

“So, Arcadi, did you do okay?”

It’s Monday morning, and we’re coming out of the exam.

“I didn’t turn anything in, and I don’t care.”

“I suppose you don’t care about turning twenty-one today either?”

“Not at all. And I don’t want to celebrate it. No gifts, no party, no cake. I don’t want anything!”

I kiss the old grouch on the cheek, then whisper a few words in his ear. “How about a quiet evening, just you and me?”

“I’m okay with that.”

He doesn’t smile, just places a quick kiss on my lips.

“It’s our last night of freedom, you know… My parents will be back tomorrow.”

“We’ll go to my place, then. It would be just like them to show up earlier than planned.”

“You know what I like best about you, Arcadi?”

“Hmm?”

“Your unfailing sense of romance.”

He chuckles briefly—very softly, but the sound makes me feel incredibly good.

“I’d love to shut you up with a good comeback, Lancaster, but what I like best about you… I can’t say in public.”

***