Adam by Ariel Schrag

someone, you had to stand in their scummy water. The tub was some varying degree of cesspool throughout the day.
    â€œUgh! Those fucking hebes!” said June. They were arguing over who got to take the first shower.
    â€œI know,” said Casey. “I’ve been calling them, like, every day since it stopped. They keep telling me someone’s on their way to fix it, and then no one shows up.”
    â€œThey don’t care about anyone who isn’t Hasidic,” said June. “There’s probably lead in the walls, too.” June glanced around the apartment, as if she realized a bomb could be lurking in any corner.
    â€œI say oldest gets to shower first,” said Ethan.
    â€œSecond oldest second!” said Casey.
    â€œFine,” said June. “I’m next.”
Thrilled
to get to shower in Casey’s filth.
    â€œWait, that’s not fair,” said Adam.
    Everyone ignored him.
    While Ethan was in the shower, Casey’s cell rang. Their mom always called Casey first. Casey chattered away on her bed until Ethan came out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist, and Casey handed the phone to Adam.
    â€œCasey just told me all about her new boyfriend!” his mom said, as though in the throes of religious rapture.
    â€œUh, yeah, I’ve met him,” said Adam.
    â€œIs he just marvelous? Is he wonderful?” she said.
    â€œNot really,” said Adam.
    â€œOh, how wonderful,” said his mom. She then moved on to how the roots of their neighbors’ bamboo plant were growing on their property from under the fence, and their dad had had words with the neighbors, but they hadn’t cut the bamboo down, and legal action might need to be taken . . . and then they hung up.
    By the time it was Adam’s turn for a shower, the brown, oily water was sloshing out the sides of the tub.
Whatever
, he thought, naked and stepping in. He was going out to a club in the city with Ethan to look for girls, and a little flare of excitement sparked inside him. He closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and let the fresh spray hit his face.
    ***
    Adam, Casey, June, and Ethan walked down Bushwick Avenue to Boy Casey’s apartment, where everyone was meeting to “pregame” before The Hole. A few of Boy Casey’s best friends were going to be there, and Casey was nervous.
    â€œHe’s always telling me how important his bros are,” said Casey. “What if they don’t like me?”
    â€œWhy wouldn’t they like you?” said June.
    â€œI don’t know. Why would they?”
    â€œBecause you’re funny and smart and beautiful and—”
    â€œI know. But they’re all so
cool.
”
    â€œWe’re cool!” said June.
    But everyone knew she didn’t believe it.
    â€œI don’t know, he seems pretty into you, to me,” said Adam.
    Casey smiled at him. The good thing about spending 75 percent of your time insulting someone is that if you do actually say something nice, it counts.
    They got to the apartment, and Casey rang the buzzer. She applied lip gloss and tugged the collar of her V-neck T-shirt down lower.
    â€œCome up,” said Boy Casey over the intercom.
    Boy Casey’s apartment was full of
Star Wars
paraphernalia:
Star Wars
posters on the wall, pillows on the couch, and a giant R2-D2 model in the corner.
    â€œI guess you hate
Star Wars
,” said Ethan.
    â€œ
Star Wars
is my jam,” said Boy Casey. “You guys want some beer?” He gestured to the couch. “You know Schuyler, and that’s Jimmy.”
    Schuyler and Jimmy were watching skateboarding on TV. Schuyler didn’t bother to look over at them, but Jimmy cocked his head.
    â€œWhassup.” Jimmy was wearing a crisp Orioles hat tilted to the side, his tiny body engulfed in a baggy T-shirt and baggy jeans stuffed into puffy, colorful Nikes. Adam recognized a PSP sticking out of his jeans pocket.
How old was this