28
Clemy_juicy: Did your evening end well? If you know what I mean…
Alma_from_paris: Better than well.
Clemy_juicy: I want details!
Alma_from_paris: No.:)
Clemy_juicy: Selfish…
Alma_from_paris: I’m sure Felix would be happy to remind you what it’s like…
Clemy_juicy: Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not that desperate.
Alma_from_paris: Wait, Vadim just logged on.
Clemy_juicy: Yeah, so I have time to read the complete works of Victor Hugo, and we’ll talk later, right?
I see a new window flash open on my screen.
Arcadius: Alma?
Arcadius: Are you there?
Alma_from_paris:?
Clemy_juicy: Surprise, surprise, she’s already stopped answering me…
Clemy_juicy: Almaaaaaaa?
Arcadius: I just received a new photo.
My heart drops. I close my chat with Clémentine to focus on the new one.
Alma_from_paris: I’m here.
Arcadius: Did you read what I just wrote?
Alma_from_paris: Yes. Where is it this time?
Arcadius: At your place. The night I snuck over.
I close my eyes, trying to hold back my tears.
Alma_from_paris: That means you’re right… It must be Basile.
Arcadius: No, the photo was taken from outside, in your driveway. From the street, again. Your brother was in his room sleeping, right?
I sigh, feeling slightly reassured.
Alma_from_paris: Yes. Did you tell anyone?
Arcadius: No one. This freak is following me everywhere. It’s the only explanation.
Alma_from_paris: And you’re still positive it’s not Felix?
Arcadius: Yes, I’m sure it’s not him.
Alma_from_paris: Then some dude from his gang? Or the guy you stole the car from?
Arcadius: What would be the point? I’m not committing any crime by going out with you.
Alma_from_paris: What can you see in the photo?
Arcadius: Not much, we’re just kissing. But I’ve got my hand under your T-shirt…
Arcadius: Just forwarded it to you.
I study the shot carefully, but find no clue as to who might have taken it.
Alma_from_paris: I hate how those security lights stay on all night…
Arcadius: Thanks, Daddy Lancaster, for the deluxe home with all the bells and whistles.
Alma_from_paris: They’re supposed to protect us.
Arcadius: How ironic…
Alma_from_paris: Now is not the time to get philosophical!
Arcadius: Homo homini lupus, you know?
Alma_from_paris: Vadim! So, what should we do?
Arcadius: I have a plan. This weekend, we’re going out. You tell your family, Clémentine, everyone, that you’re going somewhere, anywhere. It just has to be suspicious enough to make them wonder. I’ll meet you. We’ll be careful… And we’ll see if anyone follows us.
Alma_from_paris: I’m going to kill whoever it is!
Arcadius: I love it when you get feisty, Lancaster.
I don’t change anything about my routine, but I spend the whole week studying every glance and every suspicious-looking stranger, changing sidewalks or breaking into a run whenever a car slows down behind me. By the time Saturday night arrives, I’ve completely succumbed to paranoia.
Coincidentally, Basile tells our parents that he’s going out tonight, too. I leave just before him, my heart pounding, convinced that in no time at all I’ll catch him red-handed spying on me. I run to meet Vadim, without taking any detours. But my brother doesn’t follow me.
Unconvinced, Vadim decides to switch tactics and catch up to Basile, who had headed toward the campus. We drive with the headlights off, and after a few minutes, make out his silhouette, standing ramrod straight near the gym.
“What’s he doing here?”
“What do you think?” Vadim counters, raising his eyebrows.
“Is this everyone’s go-to spot for hooking up or something?”
“I guess so. Should we leave?”
“Let’s wait just a little longer. I want to know who it is.”
“I’m betting on a cheerleader. He’s such a snob, he’s probably scared of anyone finding out.” Suddenly, Vadim points through my window. “Look, isn’t that the basketball coach arriving? Maybe your brother is dealing drugs or steroids to those meathead basketball players!”
“That’s the assistant coach, Zach Powell. He—”
I’m stunned into silence when the coach, tall and sporting a sky-blue, yellow, and white polo, throws himself at my brother and kisses him passionately. My mouth drops open. Stunned by the surreal scene, my brain refuses to process what I’m seeing.
Only Vadim’s laughter abruptly brings me back to reality.
“Lancaster is gay!” he exclaims, bouncing in his seat.
“My brother is gay,” I repeat, trying to take it in. “Or bi.”
“Your parents are never going to get over this! You with a Russian thug and your brother with a Black, male coach!”
“My parents aren’t xenophobic! Or homophobic! They’re lots of things, but neither of those.”
“All right, I take it back. But your brother mustn’t be so sure if he’s keeping it a secret.”
“Damn… Basile likes men,” I murmur.
I can’t believe it.
A few feet away, I watch my brother kiss Zach Powell. A strange pride washes over me, followed by a wave of sadness.
“He could have told me.”
“The good news is that he isn’t the one taking pictures of us. The bad news is that it’s not exactly ethical, a coach and a student…”
“Since when do you care about ethics?”
Vadim shoots me a wink and taps the tip of my nose. I push his hand away before he can do it again.
“Hey, I didn’t do anything!”
“It’s your fault we followed him!”
“And it’s thanks to me that we discovered this crucial piece of information! If you ask me, it explains a lot!”
“Oh yeah, like what?”
“Well, for starters, that Basile can’t stand you being true to yourself and speaking up when he can’t do the same.”
“He could, if he trusted us.”
“Alma, that will come, eventually. It can’t be easy for him.”
“He must feel lonely.”
“Doesn’t look like it right now,” Vadim sniggers.
I look at the two guys again, unable to stop staring. They’re still kissing. And it’s getting more… physical.
“So, that’s why Basile is always hanging out with the basketball players,” I mutter.
“Chances are, he thinks they’re just as stupid as I do.”
“So, you two are going to become best buddies now?”
“Him and me? Never! But you two… Think about it, Alma. A brother and sister, each tangled up in an impossible love story. That would make a great romance movie!”
“Yeah, and it’ll make a great family drama too, complete with tears, screaming, disappointed looks, and long silences: everything we do best in the Lancaster household.”
“Well, your perfect, ordered little life had to get complicated at some point. No reason it should always be the same people taking the hit!” Vadim laughs, then leans over and kisses my neck.
“So, you got your revenge. Happy now?” I whisper.
“No, I would have preferred to break one of Timothy Wallace’s legs. Or both of them.”
“You have to promise me not to say anything about Basile. Not even to Felix. No one can know.”
“With all the secrets you have on me, I wouldn’t risk it.”
“Still, Zach Powell… He must be almost thirty!”
“And half the girls on this campus have a crush on him, right?”
“My brother has good taste.” Finally, I smile. “Let me remind you that the other half of those girls have a crush on you, Arcadi. So maybe don’t get too—”
He grabs me around the waist, and I end up on his lap. Vadim looks straight into my eyes and gives me his most irresistible smirk.
“For once, we’re going to follow your brother’s example.”
His mouth presses against mine, his tongue slips between my lips, and already I hear myself moan, completely wrapped up in him.