Page 36 of You + Me – Against the World

Alma_from_paris: You’d better not be.

Arcadius: We’re going to find the bastard who’s threatening us.

Alma_from_paris: Are you sure about Felix?

Arcadius: Why would he do something like this?

Alma_from_paris: Because he hasn’t liked me since day one. Because I’m a rich kid who represents everything he hates. Because I’m stealing his best friend, and you won’t be there for him anymore if you’re with me.

Arcadius: Alma?

Alma_from_paris: Vadim?

Arcadius: I’m with you?

My heart skips a beat. I didn’t expect to have this discussion right now.

Arcadius: Are we together? What are we, you and me?

Alma_from_paris: You + Me?

I couldn’t come up with anything better… and yet, I’m smiling as I reread the few letters I just typed.

Arcadius: You + Me + Tim…

Arcadius: There’s one person too many there, right?

My stomach knots.

He’s right. And if anyone has been a coward up until now, it’s me. I don’t want to hurt Tim. It won’t be easy to cause him pain, or to disappoint my parents and his. But it’s time to own my decision. This can’t go on anymore.

Alma_from_paris: I think he’s figured it out, but I’m going to talk to him. Tomorrow. I promise.

Alma_from_paris: Vadim, believe me, I didn’t see any of this coming. I didn’t plan anything, but now… it’s just You + Me.

My heart flutters, and I would give anything to be able to see his face right in front of me. To read the emotion, however subtle, in his eyes.

Arcadius: And I’m going to track down whoever took this photo. I won’t let him hurt you.

Alma_from_paris: Do you have someone in mind?

Arcadius: We must have been followed. Perhaps Timothy suspected something and wanted to know for sure. Or maybe one of his buddies decided to pay me a visit to tell me to stay away and found you there. Or maybe even… Abrams. Imagine, he shows up at my place, planning to give me a lecture, and sees you there. He thinks I’m distracting you from your studies, that our getting closer is making you lose sight of your goal of succeeding in cinema, so he takes that photo and sends it to your killjoy brother to put you back on the right track.

Alma_from_paris: Abrams means well. He’s just taken me under his wing, that’s all.

Arcadius: Maybe he’s fascinated by you, too.

Alma_from_paris: “Too”? Who else is fascinated by me?”

Arcadius: Ah, forget it…

More ellipses. More trouble with my heart.

Arcadius: I’ve gotta go now. Good night, Alma:)

Alma_from_paris: No, wait!

Arcadius: I’ll be thinking of you…