“Screw it! This means I don’t even have to try anymore. I have the grades to get into college and have the scholarship to play football, so why should I worry about school? I should just go out and get drunk tonight,” I said, turning to Pam. “You’ll go drinking with me, won’t you?”
“Uh,” was Pam’s witty reply.
“Hell! I haven’t gotten high since middle school,” I said to a tableful of suddenly worried faces. “Phil, you probably know where I can get some drugs.”
“No, not really,” my little brother replied.
“You know what? Why am I still here?” I asked, looking around. “I’m a senior! If that’s the way it is, I should just skip this afternoon and go get baked. I used to love getting high and not giving a flying leap. I mean, really. If everything I’ve worked for has gone down the drain academically, why shouldn’t I?”
My phone chirped with a text. I pulled it out and saw the message was from Brook. I must have gone a little too far with my meltdown.
‘
I let a little smile touch my eyes.
“He knows,” Gina proclaimed to ruin my fun.
“We aren’t skipping out to smoke ganja?” Wolf asked.
I touched my forehead with two fingers to represent tipping my hat to Darius and Gina.
“Well done. Tell Brook that paybacks are hell.”
“You got 587 for number eight?” Dare asked.
“Yep,” I said, and Gina nodded her agreement.
Now Dare wasn’t happy. I think our boy genius had actually missed one. That might have just made my year. He would be pouting about that for the next week. It gave Gina and me a shot at getting a better grade than him … of course, only if we were both right. I crossed my fingers and said a silent prayer that we were. Though I wasn’t really worried; I was pretty confident about that one.
◊◊◊
I’d come to Pam’s building early so I could spend some time with Carol, Allen, and Dawson. The added benefit was hanging out with Ashley and Scarlet. It also meant I didn’t have to buzz Pam to get into the building.
“How did you get in?” Pam asked when she opened her condo door.
“I know your neighbors,” I reminded her.
“Oh,” she said, realizing her misstep. “Mom, I’m leaving for my date with David!”
“What time are you going to be home?” Lacy called from the other room.
“She’s sleeping over,” I said.
That brought her mom out of the kitchen.
“Okay. You kids have fun,” Lacy said.
I grabbed Pam’s hand and pulled her out the door.
“How do you get away with that?” she asked as we got in the elevator.
“Moms love me.”
“Next time I want to do something I’m sure my mom won’t like, you’re talking to her for me.”
◊◊◊
Pam had a fun idea for dinner: we were going restaurant-hopping. We started at my favorite Italian joint and had antipasti and bruschetta. Then we shot over to Washington and had blue crabs for dinner. We ended up at Our House, where we had Meyer lemon-cranberry cake for dessert.
At Washington, Paul had to join us for dinner because the place was packed. When we got to Our House, he managed to grab a barstool and keep an eye on us.
For some reason, they put us at a table for four. Our House was pretty full, and the band would be starting soon. I would have been happier with a table for two.
After we finished eating our dessert, Tracy and Jocelyn showed up to crash our date. Pam saw my look, grabbed my hand, and leaned in close.
“She misses you,” she said of Tracy.
I just nodded that I was okay. If Pam wanted her best friend and Tracy’s roommate to join us, I could live with that.
They’d barely sat down when Mary Dole appeared at our table.
“Do me a favor,” she said, looking at me. “Introduce the band.”
I gave her a startled look like I wasn’t sure I could do it, and both Tracy and Pam laughed at me. Mary handed me the microphone and headed toward the back. I got up and followed her. When I got backstage, she gave me a piece of paper and pointed for me to go out front and do my job.
Mary cut the house music and dimmed the lights. As I walked out on stage, she turned on the stage lights, almost blinding me.
“Welcome,” I said as I waved at everyone to get their attention. “I’m David A. Dawson, and I thank you for coming tonight. I know you have a lot of other options for spending a Friday night. It means a lot to me personally that you would come to my restaurant to have some fun.
“Tonight, we have a special treat for you. There’s a local band that’s blowing up, and it won’t be long before you start hearing them on the radio. Please give a warm Our House welcome to Five Odd Cats!”
I stepped aside as the band came out from backstage. I personally had never heard them play, but from the crowd’s reaction, they were popular. The group was made up of two sisters and three brothers, and they played their version of Indie Pop. They were loud, energetic, and their music had a good beat, perfect for dancing in a club.
Paul ended up joining our table and helping me dance with the girls. We all had a great time.
◊◊◊
Paul pulled into the drive. I saw a light on through the back door.
“Let’s pop in and say goodnight to my parents,” I suggested.
