Free How to Win at High School by Owen Matthews Page B

dad’s vodka.”
    â€œNot enough,” Adam says. “I need, like, a carload. This is a party, man. It’s huge. I want to show up with all the favors.”
    Brian studies Adam across the schoolyard. They’re shooting hoops. Shooting air balls, more like.
    (It’s something to do.)
    Brian takes a shot. It sails over the backboard. “Fuck basketball,” he says. “When do you need this stuff?”
    â€œTomorrow night,” Adam tells him. “At the latest.”
    â€œYou paying?”
    â€œTop dollar. I just need someone who can pick up what I need.”
    Brian jogs over and picks up the ball. Dribbles a few times. “My cousin’s legal,” he says. “I’ll talk to him. You make him a list, he can pick up the stuff.”
    â€œNice,” Adam says. “Tell him just pick up some stuff highschool kids like. Beer, vodka, something for the girls. Tell him to be creative.”
    Adam shoots. Misses. Brian catches the ball on the rebound. “So who’s throwing the party?”
    â€œThis girl from school,” Adam tells him. “Her parents are out of town.”
    â€œBig party?” Brian says.
    Adam looks at Brian. Brian’s watching him. Adam shrugs. “Not really,” he says. “Kind of a get-together, really. You know how it is.”
    Brian looks at Adam a moment longer. Then he shrugs and shoots again—
    (airball).
    Brian knows how it is.

101.
    Tommy.
    (Brian’s cousin.)
    He’s a skinny guy with a raggedy beard and a big goose-down parka. He rolls up to Adam’s house in Remington Park in a mean old Ford Mustang five-liter. Climbs out and gives Adam a gangster handshake, pops the trunk to the Mustang and it’s filled up with booze.
    Beer.
    Vodka.
    Rum.
    Tequila.
    Jägermeister.
    More beer.
    Smirnoff Ices.
    Palm Bays.
    Even more beer.
    (Party time.)
    Tommy helps Adam lug the booze into his parents’ garage. Walks back out to the Mustang, counts Adam’s money. “You need anything else?” he asks Adam. “A little dope or anything? Maybe some pills?”
    â€œNah,” Adam says. “Not this time.”
    â€œMake those girls do anything you want, get a couple pills in them,” Tommy says. “You know what I mean?”
    â€œI’m good,” Adam tells him. “I have a girlfriend, anyway.”
    Tommy shrugs. Pockets the money. Climbs into the Mustang and drives away. Adam stands there and watches the Mustang drive off. Hopes his parents don’t find the booze before he can get it to Janie’s house.

102.
    Adam picks Victoria up in a taxi. They ride together to Janie Ng’s house. Adam pays the driver, pops the trunk. Victoria’s eyes go wide. “Did you rob a liquor store or something?” she says.
    â€œParty favors,” Adam tells her. “Can you give me a hand?”
    Victoria gives him a hand. So does Paul Nolan. So does Alton Di Sousa.
    Rob Thigpen sits on the couch and watches.
    (Asshole.)
    Janie Ng hugs Adam, hard. Tries to pay him. Adam shakes his head.
    â€œYou’re throwing the party,” he tells her. “This is my treat.”
    Janie hugs him again, presses her whole body up against him. Breezes back to the party to spread the good news. Victoria nudges Adam. “She totally wants you.”
    â€œNah,” Adam tells her. “She’s just grateful.”
    He’s lying, though. He sees it too.
    But it doesn’t matter. He has Victoria.
    She’s more than enough.

103.
    The gods are in Janie Ng’s living room.
    Adam and Victoria wade in. Grab a spot on the couch next to Paul Nolan and Jessie McGill. Across from Alton Di Sousa and Sara Bryant.
    Right in the middle of things.
    Janie Ng walks in with a couple bottles, Bacardi and Cîroc. “Looks like we’re getting drunk tonight, y’all,” she says. “Adam came through with a ton of booze.”
    Paul Nolan slaps Adam five.