How to Win at High School by Owen Matthews Page B

jack shit about economics. It’s a miracle he passes, but he does.
    A B-minus.
    Alton gets to keep playing basketball.
    Adam gets a new client.
    (And a few gray hairs.) )

76.
    â€œYou never answered my question.”
    It’s Victoria again. In no known universe is Adam getting sick of seeing her.
    Of seeing that smile.
    She ambushes him in the hall, this time. Sneaks up to his locker and jumps out and surprises him.
    (But it’s the good kind of surprise.)
    â€œYour question?” he says. “Sure I did. I’m not jumping anyone’s bones. I told you that.”
    â€œSo you’re single,” Victoria says.
    Adam shrugs. “As opposed to?”
    â€œAs opposed to dating somebody,” she says. “Anyway, that wasn’t the real question, and you know it.”
    Adam shrugs again. “I don’t even know what language you’re speaking. Is this some kind of code?”
    Victoria shakes her head. “Are you really going to make me do this, Adam Higgs? Do I have to spell it out?”
    â€œSpell it,” Adam tells her. “I’m clueless.”
    (He’s not clueless, he’s just:
    in disbelief.
    Girls like Victoria Lemieux don’t really do this.
    Do they?
    Do they? )
    Victoria looks around. Speaks slowly, like Adam’s aspecial-needs kid. “Do you ever go to movies, Adam?”
    Adam nods. “Sometimes.”
    â€œDo you ever take girls to movies?”
    Adam shrugs. “Not a lot,” he says. Then he catches himself. “I mean, sometimes—”
    (Never.)
    â€œWhy? Are you . . .”
    Victoria: “Wait for it.”
    â€œAre you asking me out?”
    She claps her hands. “My god, there is life in there. You just got asked out by a freshman girl, slugger. How does that make you feel?”
    â€œNot very manly.”
    â€œExactly,” she says. “Next time, smarten up. Ask me when I’m free.”
    Adam asks her.
    â€œFriday,” she says. “I like horror movies.”
    Then she turns and walks off. Halfway down the hall, she turns around. “Make a plan,” she calls back. “Facebook me the details. Pick me up at eight.”

77.
    First date.
    Adam spends a week’s worth of homework money on a new outfit at Abercrombie & Fitch.
    Buys that new Hugo Boss cologne.
    He smells . . .
    Boss .
    Doesn’t calm the nerves, though.
    This is Victoria Lemieux we’re talking about. She has five hundred friends on Facebook. Adam has . . .
    Twenty-three.
    Huge talent disparity. Adam’s out of his league. And he knows it.

78.
    â€œWhat if I screw everything up?” Adam asks Sam. “What if she realizes what a loser I am?”
    They’re pregaming at Sam’s apartment. Adam’s nervous as hell. He’s shaky. He’s hoping Sam has some last-second tips.
    â€œYou’re not a loser,” Sam says. “And you’re not going to screw everything up. Just be yourself. Be normal.”
    â€œThose are two totally opposite instructions,” Adam tells him. “What if she wants to kiss me? What do I do?”
    Sam bursts out laughing. “What do you do if she wants to kiss you? You go with it, obviously. Lean in and kiss her.”
    â€œBut how am I supposed to know if she wants to or not?” Adam says. “What if she’s not cool with it?”
    Sam just laughs.
    â€œI’ve never done this before,” Adam says. He’s starting to freak out in earnest now. “What if I screw up?”
    â€œYou won’t screw up,” Sam tells him. Sam watches him pace. Sam’s grinning wide.
    â€œDamn it, Adam,” Sam says. “I’m proud of you.”

79.
    Adam meets Victoria at the bus loop downtown.
    (“I don’t have a car,” he tells her. “Yet.” )
    She’s cool with it.
    That dope new Italian joint loses his reservation.
    (“We’re sorry, sir, we just can’t find you a