Page 17 of You + Me – Against the World

“You’re surprisingly open-minded. Die or marry Timothy Wallace?”

“Ha! Die or date Hannah Goldberg?”

“Kill me right now!” He tugs on his gray sweater, exposing the bare skin over his heart.

“Clémentine D’Aragon or Nicki Scott?”

I do my best to tear my eyes away from his torso, where I can make out the shape of his muscles.

“Nicki for a night, Clémentine for life. But I’d still rather die.”

We go on like this for part of the evening, making impossible choices between the plague and cholera, targeting each other’s weak spots, talking endlessly about relationships, friendship, sex in all its forms, and occasionally drifting into movies when the conversation ventures into risky territory. Despite our differences, we find common ground, agreeing that Gattaca is last century’s masterpiece. I can’t believe he finds The Green Mile average, The Bridges of Madison County terrible, and Dances with Wolves trite—“Movies made solely to make you cry,” he claims.

“Well, it’s a terrible cliché, but since your teeth are chattering, I’m going to lend you my jacket.”

“I’d rather die!”

“Come on, I’d really love to see Alma Lancaster in a leather jacket, just once.”

His gaze challenges me again, but I’m saved the bell as my cell phone rings. I fumble for it at the bottom of my bag, my hands numb from the cold, and answer just in time.

“Alma, it’s twenty past midnight! I hope you’re on your way.”

“Yes, Dad, I was just about to call you.”

I feel a surge of panic.

I cover the receiver with my hand to warn Vadim that it’s my dad. He glances quickly at his watch and slaps his forehead in an exaggerated gesture. Then he whispers to me, “Stay,” while my brain lights up, firing on all cylinders, whirring at top speed. Vadim continues his whispering, louder and louder, planting himself in front of me, and challenges me again with his persistent refrain: “Stay, stay, stay, stay…”

“Alma, are you there? Is everything okay?”

“Yes! Well… no. Clémentine felt a little faint leaving the movie theater. But she’s fine now. I walked her back, and…”

Vadim starts a victory dance, whistling and hopping around me. I silence him by pressing my hand over his mouth. He freezes, hands in the air. I feel his warm lips against my palm.

“Is that her I hear in the background? Has she seen a doctor? Do you need me to come over?”

“No, no, it’s… you know… a girl thing.”

“Ah, I see.”

“If it’s okay with you, I’m going to stay with her. She can lend me what I need for tomorrow. I don’t feel too good about leaving her alone…”

“Alma, I know how important Clémentine is to you, but this isn’t what we agreed.”

“A heavy period wasn’t something that was planned for tonight either… Dad, I’m in her dorm room on campus. I’m perfectly safe. I’m spending the night with my best friend like I’ve done a thousand times. That’s all.”

My dad hesitates, and I hear myself lying to him as if I’ve been doing it my whole life.

“Call me anytime if there’s a problem. And tomorrow morning, first thing, to let me know that everything is okay.”

“I promise! Goodnight, Dad.”

I hang up and slowly pull my hand away from Vadim’s mouth. He still hasn’t moved an inch.

My heart feels like it’s trying to burst out of my chest. I don’t know if it’s my lie… or the truth that I refuse to face. If it’s what I’ve just pulled off… or everything it implies. Or maybe just this first physical contact with Vadim.

“A professional liar, on top of everything else,” he quips as he takes a step back. “You never fail to surprise me, Lancaster. All night, huh?”