The Edensville High Series: Adam Book #1 Page 11

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  It hadn't taken long to shovel the mulch out of the back of the green monster. Adam's anger was fueling him as he had worked. It wasn’t until he had placed the shovel against garage and headed to get on the lawnmower that he remembered that in the midst of his anger he had forgotten to get gas for it. He grumbled under his breath angrily. He was covered in sweat, mulch and dirt from head to toe and now had to head back out to get gas. Ugh! All he really wanted was a good hot shower and a nap, but there was no taking either right now when he still had to mow the yard. He could kick David for making him so upset that he forget the gas. Adam cleaned up as best he could and hopped in the green monster to head down to the gas station. He glanced at himself in the rearview mirror. Dirt was still smeared on his face. He wiped at it angrily and for whatever reason it stirred once again his anger at David. Some friend he thought and now here I am left to do all this work by myself when he knows everything that I have to do just to get to be home this weekend! Yeah some friend!

  Adam didn’t want to be angry with David, and he really didn’t know if he was mad at David or himself in all honesty. He was just filled with should haves, could haves and would haves and had no real answer to any of them. David was old enough to make his own decisions. Why did he feel he had to protect him? Because he always had that’s why. Whenever he got bullied on the playground when they were little Adam always came to his rescue. Whenever David let his mouth overload his butt, Adam was always there to come to the rescue. Adam was kicking himself because this was the one time that David could have really used his help to say no to the peer pressure of alcohol and he wasn’t there. Yeah, that was it. He hadn’t been there and should have been for his best friend, but he had let his own wants and desires put him in a position that consumed him with guilt and shame. Adam vowed to call David later and apologize and take responsibility for his part of their argument. He wasn’t mad at David at all. He was angry with himself and what he had done to begin with. Taking his dad’s F450 to the game.

  Driving through town with the windows down in the green monster helped to blow off the anger that had tried to consume him. He had to give it to his dad, with this being such an old truck it sure was still in great condition. He had even made sure that it still ran great and the duel exhaust still gave that nice deep rumble when given gas. The radio was one of those AM/FM turn the knob types and you slid the button in to change the channels, but it still found the tunes. It wasn’t equipped with fancy lights, digital moving parts or CD player, but it was in amazing condition. His dad didn't want to upgrade anything on it. It's a classic and you just don't ruin a good classic with fancy upgrades and features. That’s why it’s called a classic as he put it.

  Adam drove along in silence listening to the antique radio playing the modern music, it wasn’t until he heard Kutless’ version of Take Me into the Holy of Holies flowing from the speakers that he cranked it up and sang along. The deep electric guitar slides took him to another place entirely. It just seemed to make the anger he felt toward David fall right off. About the time he pulled into the gas station the song was ending and an overwhelming peace washed over him. The anger was gone. He turned the truck off and smiled to himself, he liked it when the music spoke to him like that. Grabbing the keys, he headed inside to pay for the gas, grab a Vitamin water and some beef jerky and head back out to fill the tank and the gas can. He had opened the Vitamin water and was drinking it as he walked across the parking lot and caught a glimpse of a black Camaro pulling in. Lucian Black was the only one in Edensville, or the surrounding towns, that had a black on black Camaro with windows so darkly tinted that Adam was positive that they couldn’t possibly be legal. So it came as no surprise who got out and made his way to the pump on the opposite side of the one that Adam was going to be using. Adam frowned, but made his way to the pump to draw his own gas. The two made eye contact.

  “Hey.” Adam didn't want to seem rude. He blamed his mother for good manners.

  “Hey.” Lucian returned the greeting.

  Adam then heard giggling coming from the car. He didn’t have to bend over and look inside to know who was in Lucian’s car. He knew her laugh. It was Eve St. Clair and her friend Miriam Marah, as usual. The pump seemed to be taking its own sweet time to fill the tank of the green monster, so Adam busied himself with reading the pump as the numbers slowly clicked over. He fought desperately to not get caught stealing a glance over at Lucian. Too late. He couldn't help it. They were all nearly face to face with one another. How do you keep from making eye contact with someone you are facing, but not facing? You don't and it's a good thing you can't. Adam nearly freaked when he saw that Lucian was smoking a cigarette while pumping gas!

  “Dude!” Adam yelled before he had time to think. “What are you doing?” He motioned toward the cigarette and then the pump.

  Lucian cracked a wide grin and replied, “Living dangerously,” before pulling a huge drawl off the butt and flicking it away from both vehicles and the pump.

  Adam watched as it rolled into the gravel away from the tanks. “Thanks.” Sarcasm dripped heavily from his voice.

  Adam finished filling up the truck then started filling the can he had brought, but out of his peripheral view he kept a close watch on Eve in the passenger seat of the beautiful sports car.

  “Hey man, aren’t you Adam Grace?” Lucian's voice sounded so far away, too far away, Adam’s mind had wandered so far with Eve so close by that he had forgotten where he was. “Dude? Uh...HELLO!!!”

  “Huh? What?”

  He motioned toward the gas can and the gasoline beginning to spill onto the pavement, “Now who's living dangerously?”

  “Oh snap!” Adam released the handle on the pump and his eyes darted over to the cigarette that Lucian had flicked away.

  “Hey man no worries, the cigarette is out.” Lucian seemed to be at his side with a few paper towels before Adam could reach them and began to wipe down the side of the can. “Oh snap, huh? That's a little harsh for my ears man, careful you may assault my delicate nature…..” Lucian laughed out loud.

  Adam ignored him and replaced the nozzle on the pump where he was met face to face with Eve hanging out of the driver side window, her voice sounding a bit whiny. “Hey, what are you doing?” Her gaze met Adam’s. He felt a lump rise in his throat. He couldn’t answer her.

  “Nothing, get back in the car, babe.” Adam was thankful that Lucian answered her and that he didn’t tell her he was being stupid for clearly watching her instead of the gas pump.

  Adam grabbed a handful of sand the station provided for spills and tossed it on the wet surface then bent back down to finish cleaning off the can. “Thanks man.” Adam indicated to what Lucian had helped him do.

  “Hey no problem, what are friends for?” Lucian grinned and stuck out his hand in anticipation, Adam extended the greeting. “Say, I hear you and I have a mutual friend.” Adam glanced over at Eve. “No, not her, my man David, he's pretty crazy. We had a good time last night, you should have come along.” He kinda nudged him with his elbow.

  “I…uh….I had some things to do.” Adam stood and wiped at his gasoline covered hands.

  “Yeah I heard. Sweet ride man and leaving before anyone knew who was in the truck….. complete brilliance! Now you have that whole vibe of mystery going for you.” Adam’s head jerked up in shock. “Hey, hey, hey take it easy. Yeah, he told me, but only after I drug it out of him. He knew that he could trust me……and I haven’t told a single living soul, okay? So your secret is safe with me.”

  Adam turned his attention back to wiping his hands off and nodded. “Thanks, man.”

  “Hey no problem.....so I also heard that you are bachelor kickin’ it this weekend.”

  Adam was caught so off guard that he didn’t know what to say and evidently forgot how to breathe because he felt light headed from lack of oxygen. No one was suppose to know he was home alone, one of his father's many stipul
ations.

  “Dude, relax, I said I wouldn’t say anything to anyone, remember? David just kind of mentioned that your parents were gone to get Joshua. Joshua and I go a long way back, we’re old friends. Him and a couple other friends of ours use to kick it every weekend on the indie band circuit. We lost touch about the time he left for West Point.”

  Adam was wary and showed it. He never remembered hearing about Lucian until he transferred in last year.

  “Dude, come on it was huge news around here when he got that full ride.” Adam nodded his head. He did seem to know a lot about Joshua, but of course everyone around here did. He was a huge icon that cast a larger than life shadow on everything he came in contact with and unfortunately Adam had to live in it.

  “Yep it sure was.” Adam raised his eyebrows up and down as he always did when someone brought up Joshua, but they didn’t realize that it was his cue to get gone. Adam stole one more glance over at Eve and Miriam still waiting in the car. “Well I guess I’d better head out. Good to see you again.” Adam grabbed the gas can and lugged it up into the back of the truck, but Lucian wasn’t ready to let him go yet.

  “Hey man….” Lucian’s voice stopped him from getting into the truck. “I was thinking that maybe since your parents are gone you’d like to have some company this weekend? I mean….there is no sense in spending all that time alone when you have friends.” His grin deepened as he motioned toward his car.

  “Uh…well…yeah but I…” He didn’t want to sound like a total Walk-on. He knew full well his dad’s rule about not having anyone over, but a little voice in his head reasoned, if they just stayed out at the pool and didn't go in the house you could have everything cleaned up long before your mom and dad get home. “Uh….well I have quite a bit of work to do today so I don’t......”

  Lucian didn't let that deter him. “Awe man, c’mon, you know yourself that hanging out with us would be a lot more fun that mowing a yard!” He gestured toward the gas can and laughed.

  Adam's resolve and resistance faltered a little when he glanced once again back at Eve. “Well I…uh….” Just one look at her caused Adam to realize that he was about to break one of his dad's major rules for getting to stay home alone just to spend a little face to face time with Eve St. Clair.....and yeah, it was totally gonna be worth it!”

  Leaning out of the car on the driver's side, Eve called out again. “Lucian, what are we doing?”

  Lucian put his arm around Adam's shoulders at he turned to face her. “Well, my buddy Adam here was just asking if we wanna come over for a pool party.”

  Eve frowned in confusion. “Yeah?.... But it’s like November.” She rolled her eyes.

  Lucian scoffed. “Babe, the pool is heated.”

  “Oh...well...sure!” She giggled at herself before sliding back down to her seat.

  “What do ya' say, Adam?" He motioned toward his car and Eve. "Babe….in the heated pool?” His voice was low, almost seductive as he paused for a brief moment before retiring his case with, “Let’s put it this way, I get your gal there for a pool party and you let me get a peek at that sweet F450 of your dad’s?” Adam met Lucian’s dark eyes and held it there for a few moments. Then all at once his resistance abated, Lucian knew where Adam's greatest desire lay and it was sitting in the front seat of his car only mere feet away from them. He also knew that Adam couldn’t resist the opportunity presented to him and suddenly all reason melted away with an echo of his dad's voice.....desire won.

  “Yeah, why not, I mean if it’s just the three of you then I don’t see any problem with it.” Adam reasoned.

  Lucian grinned. “Cool.” He grabbed the nozzle of his tank and put it back up on the pump before going to get into his car with the girls. “Lead the way…..we're following you!” Lucian called over to Adam from his driver seat.

  “Oh, wait we can’t go like right now. I don’t have my bathing suit. We'll have to swing by my house to get it real quick,” Eve cooed.

  “Yeah, if I’m in this, I'll need to stop and get mine too.” Miriam mimicked from the backseat.

  Adam fidgeted with his keys. “Well, I do have some other errands to run in town and I have to mow my lawn first, so that works out. You can just come around 4:00 o'clock then?”

  A dark scowl crossed Lucian's face. “Nah man, that won’t work for the girls. The sun is up now and if we wait until the sun is nearly down then it will be too cold on our girls in the night air. Heated pool and outdoor gas heaters or not.” Adam knew he was right, the pool was heated and they had heaters that blew warm air around the area, but it would still wouldn't be like the sun, and he did want to contain the party to the pool house area so he really needed daylight on his side.

  “Hey, I’ve got an idea.” Lucian interjected into Adam's train of thought. “Why don't you just give me the keys to your place? We'll meet you there, have the heaters going and the party started by the time you get home. I'll even help you with the lawn when you get there while the girls swim.” Adam wavered in uncertainty. Give the keys to Lucian?

  Eve leaned across Lucian’s lap and looked up at him and spoke in what sounded like complete frustration. “Hey, are we doing this or not? I mean come on….we have gone to school together like all of our lives, it’s not like you don’t know me!” Looking into Eve's eyes Adam caved. He grabbed the keyring and slid the key to the green monster off and handed the rest of his dad’s keys to Lucian, showing him which key to use for the back gate and which one went to the pool house.

  Lucian flipped the keys over and over on his finger. Was there any situation he didn't have control in? “Alright then, so we will see you in about an hour.” Lucian quipped as he started the engine of his Camaro with Edom Grace's keys in hand.

  “Yeah okay then…I’ll see you guys in about an hour.” Adam waved as Lucian pulled out of the gas station's parking lot, leaving Adam to wonder if the vibrations in his body were from the car's massive engine or his nerves over getting to spend time with Eve. Either way he hurried and got in the truck, put his seatbelt on and headed to the hardware store to pick up his dad's order and do all of the other things still on his to do list before getting home to Eve.