Chapter 12 - The Party & Its Aftermath

Adam and Jessie went through a small door on the other side of the kitchen. Suddenly the sounds just got bigger. The sounds of conversation, bass, and glasses clicking together rang out through the warehouse.

Adam and Jessie started walking around the room looking for Terry. Adam grabbed a cold beer from the table. He twisted off the top and scanned the room for Jessie's twin.

Jessie disapprovingly said, "Hey Cake-eater, do you really think that's such a good idea?"

Adam just nodded his head and said, "Don't worry about it. I got it under control. I've gotten drunk before."

Jessie gave a disappointed look Adam's way then went back to looking for Terry. Jessie saw Terry over by some of their friends from their school. Adam and Jessie walked over there.

Terry was the only one that wasn't drinking, smoking, or taking some other drugs that were floating around the party standing there before Jessie showed up. Jessie said hi to everybody and one guy told them where the pills were in the place. Another guy offered up his smokes. Terry and Jessie refused. Expecting Adam to do the same the twins were dumbfounded to learn that their good friend smoked when he accepted and inhaled without coughing up a lung.

Terry picked up this one chick that he knew, Melanie. He had always thought she was fine. She was always kind of liked him and the alcohol helped a great deal in making her decision to be more than friendly with Terry.

Adam continued drinking and smoking throughout the night. Jesse talked with all of his friends. He went to the back room after awhile to make out with his girlfriend, Tiffany. Adam had made friends with a few of the people there.

Jessie and Terry had an 11:30 curfew. The three of them left the party by eleven. Jessie wanted to take Adam back to the dorms since Adam had gotten visibly drunk by the time he left the party. Jessie had gotten Adam all the way to the edges of the Eden Hall campus when Adam said, "Hall, why are we here? Dorms close at 10 buddy. I need a cab home."

Jessie put his hand in Adam's coat pocket. He looked around for money. Jessie found enough money to get Adam back to Edina for the rest of the weekend by cab.

Adam sang his way through the ride back to Edina. The cabbie just laughed at him. Adam could barely get up his driveway by himself.

Adam's little brother, Josh, came outside when he saw the cab pull up outside. He helped Adam into the house. Josh could just smell the alcohol and cigarettes on Adam's clothes and breath. Disgusted with his mess of an older brother Josh threw Adam into his bed and went back to the movie he was watching.

Adam was lucky that his parents were at some pointless fundraiser thing that night. They didn't even suspect anything in the morning when Adam just "had a headache" and slept in.

Adam got himself cleaned up and in his old clothes again. Before his parents had a chance to suspect anything Adam got back to Eden Hall as fast as he could.

As soon as Adam got back Fulton got on his case about being a little sellout. Adam didn't get what he was talking about and didn't much care.

Adam went to his room and went right to sleep. When he awoke Guy's alarm clock was going off for morning classes.

Adam went to his classes for the day. During his last class Adam got the message to head to the dean's office after the day was done.

When the final bell rang Adam went silently to the dean's office. He didn't know what to expect.

Adam went into the dean's office where he found the dean along with his father and Coach Orion. The dean offered Adam a seat to discuss an important matter involving his attendance at Eden Hall.

Adam's scholarship was being terminated by the end of the term since he had chosen not to play hockey. He had until then to find other educational opportunities with the help of his parents.

Adam's father, Philip Banks, just kept his eyes to the floor. Adam had never seen him angrier in his life.

Mr. Banks waited until the principal was finished. Then he said, "Thank you for giving Adam until the end of the term, but that much time will not be necessary. Adam, you will have your things packed and ready to go by nine o'clock Friday night. I have already enrolled you in another school which expects you to be there Monday."

Adam just went back to his room. He looked up at the ceiling until he fell asleep. Something had to be done.

Adam didn't want to stay or go home. There wasn't many options out for him right now.

Adam packed up all of his things like he was leaving. He put everything he needed in his hockey bag and left everything that wasn't absolutely necessary in the closet. On Wednesday he called the number of one of the guys he met at the party. He agreed to help him out.

Thursday morning Adam got up very early to leave. He had his hockey bag and school bag full of clothes and hygiene products. Adam couldn't leave behind the Soma. He walked a block where there was a car waiting for him.

Adam got in the car and it took off. Fulton got suspicious. He knew that no one in the Banks family would ever stoop to driving a muscle car and the car that just left was a '68 Thunderbird.

Fulton knew something was up, but Adam wasn't his concern anymore. Fulton just went to classes and forgot all about seeing Adam leave.

On Friday when Mr. Banks came to pick Adam up he was furious that his son just disappeared without anyone noticing or notifying anyone. The police reassured him that they would find Adam and bring him back.