Page 64 of You + Me – Against the World

“Hey, I’m not done! There will also be classes on how to flirt, dancing in your underwear in front of the mirror, and even Twix tasting. So Andrew Clark will enroll, for sure!”

“And there we go, you’re in love again…”

“Listen, a guy who loves food that much definitely knows how to enjoy all of life’s pleasures, you know what I mean? Come on, let’s go.”

At lunch break, I’ve barely stepped out of the classroom when I spot Felix slouching on a bench outside. When our eyes meet, he forces a fake smile. Looking decidedly uncomfortable, he gets up and slowly walks toward me, his movements restricted by his huge, baggy pants—whose crotch is almost between his knees.

“Hey, Lancaster. Can we talk for a minute?”

“I’m listening.”

“In private would be better. If your friend could take a walk…”

“With pleasure, Alonso!” Clémentine replies. “Careful, you’ve got a toad trying to escape from your boxers.”

“It’s the coquí frog, and it’s a symbol of Puerto Rico, you idiot. Don’t look down there if you can’t handle it,” he taunts, rubbing a hand over the amphibian print on his underwear.

“Maybe you should give your big brother back his pants back, little guy!” Clem retorts, unfazed.

“So what did you want to tell me?” I cut in, to put an end to their ridiculous bickering.

Felix waits until my friend is far enough away before softening a little. His “tough guy” act gradually gives way to that of a sheepish kid who has done something stupid and doesn’t know how to apologize.

“I think I was a bit too hard on you the other day. So, yeah, sorry.”

“Okay… Is that all?”

“No. Vadim is going to be released. They have nothing on him. Or almost nothing. And he gave Keith something for you. Since I’m a nice guy, I came to give it to you.”

Felix digs into one of his vast pockets and pulls out a yellow piece of paper folded several times. He dangles it in front of my face, between his index and middle fingers. I reach for it, but he dodges me and lifts his hand above my head.

“And since I’m also a curious guy, it goes without saying that I read it. I think you’re going to like the message…”

“Then why don’t you give it to me?”

“Because I’m a little short on cash, you know. If you could make a little contribution for coming all this way… I didn’t have to do this for you. Besides, I can always leave if you aren’t that interested in reading it.”

“You want me to give you money, is that it?”

I can hardly believe it.

“You catch on real quick when you want to, Alma. It would just be a little something to help me out. Vadim will pay you back. Although, you’d need to know where to find him first, right?”

“I have barely anything on me.”

“How much?”

“Twenty or thirty dollars, I think.”

“That’ll do.”

Am I really going to pay to receive a note addressed to me? This guy doesn’t seem to have any limits… And he scares me. But Vadim has written to me, and his words are priceless.

After a discreet exchange which makes me feel like some kind of drug dealer, Felix saunters away without looking back, and I bolt to the girls’ restroom. I lock myself in and lean against the cold wall, my mind racing. With trembling fingers, I unfold the slip of yellow paper. My mouth is dry, and my heart is pounding.

Vadim’s writing is more illegible than ever. Did his hands shake too when he wrote these words?

Free soon! I’ve been thinking about you so much… Longest week of my life. You + Me at the Sunset, 8 p.m. Tell me you’ll be there. V.