The Edensville High Series: Adam Book #1

by JIrwin

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  When Edom and Martha Grace came home unexpectedly most of the party goers from the night before had either made a break for it or were too embarrassed to stay and had opted out of the offered coffee and breakfast. However, the ones that did stay were eager to help his parents clean up the mess or cook the breakfast. Whatever the case may be, there was a strange quiet in the house, a kind of eeriness since there were at least a dozen teenagers still hanging around. Those that had stayed and cleaned were the ones that were truly sorry for the unabashed partying at the Grace's home and wanted to make amends in one way or another.

  Adam was so embarrassed and ashamed that as he couldn’t even look anyone in the eye, especially his parents. He fell in line with the others and took garbage out, righted furniture, picked up the broken pieces of his mom's knickknacks vowing to get superglue and fixing every last one of them good as new.

  He was in the living room moving the couch back when Joshua called from the front door, Hey Adam! He stepped into the hallway “Yeah?” He called back.

  “Will you toss me the keys to the green monster so I can get it off the lawn and put it back in the garage?” Adam panicked. The garage! He had to keep his dad from going into the garage until he could find out where Lucian was and his dad's truck.

  “Uh…it’s all good bro….I’ll uh get the…….” He tried deterring his brother from his task when suddenly he heard his named echoing from the back of the house.

  “Aaaaaaadam?!” His dad must have taken a breath then yelled again. “Adam Michael Grace!” Too late, his dad had made it to the garage. Wasn’t it always the case when parents were really upset that they used a kid’s full name? Adam took off running toward the door that connected the three car garage with the house. Others in the house followed.

  “Dad, I can explain!” He nearly wiped out the wall as he skidded through the door to the garage. Adam found his dad in the middle of the garage, anger as clear as day on his visage now.

  Edom Grace closed his eyes in a clear attempt at calming his blood pressure before he spoke to his youngest son. “Adam…” He paused, “….where… is… my…truck?” His father’s words were being dictated rather than formed into a question. His voice was calm, too calm and even too, well, even, completely void of depth and emotion at the moment. Joshua and Martha Grace had caught up to Adam only moments after he reached the garage. He could hear them behind him along with the others that had stayed to help clean up.

  “Dddddad....dad....... just hear me out, I can explain.” Adam stuttered a plea as he made his way down the steps into the garage.

  “Yeah, I think you had better.” His dad stated flatly.

  Adam’s mom had followed him down the steps and placed her hand on her son's back. Adam jumped slightly at her touch. He turned his gaze toward her for a moment before returning it to his dad. “Mom, Dad, look it's all Eve's fau…..” Adam stopped. No he couldn’t blame it on Eve it was his own stupidity and crush on her that caused him to make every stupid move and poor choice that he had made this weekend.

  His gaze dropped to the garage floor. “No….It was entirely my fault.…”

  "You think?" His dad's voice held a bit of sarcasm laced in his anger. Adam stepped toward his father in the garage.

  “I wanted to impress Eve with your truck. I just wanted something that would help me get her attention and impress her.”

  “Eve St. Clair?” His mother questioned.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He met her empathetic gaze and looked away, wishing that he could melt into the garage floor.

  “Oh honey….” His mother’s voice was gentle. “But I thought you two were already friends. Why did you feel the need to impress her?” She asked totally oblivious to Adam’s true feelings.

  Adam didn’t know how to clue her in. The whole thing was embarrassing enough as it was. Thankfully Joshua came to his rescue again and stepped in to explain. “Mom….they already are friends, Adam wants to be more than just friends though.”

  She looked from Adam to Joshua then back to Adam who was nodding his head in agreement before turning his attention back to his father. “Dad, I knew it was wrong, but I just wanted to impress her so bad that I took your truck to the tailgate party Friday night. I got nervous, freaked out and we didn’t stay. We left immediately after we got there. We didn’t even get out.”

  His father's eyebrow shot up in question. “We?”

  “Yes sir…..D….....” He hated to rat out his best friend, but he had to come clean with everything. He was already caught. “.....David was with me.” His gaze fell to the floor again. “We were gathering so much attention that I was afraid that you would find out that I drove it.” He met his father's gaze. “So we left and came straight home Dad. I promise.” His eyes pleaded with his father to believe him. He felt like such a terrible son. Adam squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to try and keep the tears that were burning and threatening to spill over the edges and escaping. “After we got back, David and I got into a fight, right after I parked it back in your spot and started wiping it down. He left angry, I ordered a pizza from Shekinah's and went to bed after you guys called at 10:30,” he added. His guilt leading his gaze to the garage floor.

  “So all that had happened before we talked to you on Friday night?” His father questioned.

  “Yes sir.”

  He let out a heavy sigh. “Alright…..well…." He let out another sigh. "…that was Friday night and this is Sunday." He paused before asking. "So what you are saying is that you think because David is mad at you, he took my truck? Was the fight that bad?”

  Adam's head shot up. “Oh, no….no sir. He would never do anything like that!” Adam stated emphatically, sticking up for the character of whom, he hoped, was still his best friend after all of this.

  “Okay then….who has my truck?” His father leveled his gaze at his youngest child.

  Adam shrugged. “I ….I….don’t know other than......” He hesitated. He didn't even want to hear the name come out of his mouth.

  “.....other than who, Adam? Do you have an idea as to who has my truck? If you do then it’s best you tell me now.” His father eyed him warily then pressed. “You know, don't you?”

  Adam nodded. “Yes sir.....” He didn't want to hear the name out loud let alone say it, but he had no choice. Finally he just blurted it out. “I think this guy Lucian might have it.”

  “Who?” His father asked rather strangely, having heard this kid’s name for the first time.

  Adam squeezed his eyes shut. “Lucian Black has dad's truck?! How?” Adam’s eyes popped open boldly and met his father's upon hearing his brother’s questions coming from somewhere behind him in the doorway. Adam turned toward his brother, and there just beyond where Joshua stood was Eve staring back at a very surprised Adam. She had heard everything.