 She's the author of the novel Adam, which is totally blowing up right now and for good reason. It's so fantastic I'm so psyched. She's here. Please welcome Ariel Shragg So I'm gonna be reading from my novel Adam and just to give you a little back story Adam is a 17 year old straight boy who from Piedmont, California who is now spending the summer with his older sister in bushwick, Brooklyn and His older sister Kasey is gay and he has been tagging along with her and her lesbian friends just sort of going wherever they go The year is 2006 and they've just come from a gay marriage rally and are now going to a party Adam sister Kasey is dating two people at this time a trans guy named Boy Kasey and a trans girl named Hazel The party was in a super fancy building with a giant marble lobby and a doorman We're here for a Carlisle said Kasey The doorman gave her a look like really because I couldn't tell Floor 17 he said They waited for the elevator and another group of Carlisle people came up behind them The elevator dinged and they all crammed in we got room for everyone someone shouted this elevator is inclusive Adam got pushed against the wall More people were squeezing in and as Adam shifted to try to make room He realized right in front of him was the redheaded girl. He'd seen at the rally The elevator jerked and red heads back slammed up against him. Ah, sorry. She said turning her head around briefly Her body was fully pressed against his as the elevator chugged slowly up. He could smell her hair It smelled delirious Adam moved his hand to cover his crotch. Oh god. His dick was totally sticking out He fixed his eyes on her tiny little soccer ball ear stud Everyone flooded out redhead followed her crowd Adam stayed in the elevator his hands around his crotch. What are you doing Adam said Kasey? We're here. I Think I dropped something in the lobby. He said I'm just gonna ride back down and come back Uh, okay, said Kasey like Adam was crazy, but she wasn't interested enough to care. It's apartment 17e Kasey June and Agnes rounded the hallway as the elevator doors closed Adam pressed the stop a button. He'd never done that before Part of him was scared it would transmit a signal to some room where a man was watching all the elevators on TVs But he just needed a minute alone. He needed to chill the fuck out Redhead was here. This was his chance. This was motherfucking destiny and he knew it There was a fucking God and for whatever fucked up reason he liked Adam All Adam had to do was not blow it do not fucking blow this freedman He took a deep breath and pressed open The party was packed it looked like the same crowd as the whole except now instead of everyone crammed into a graffiti Spray trash strewn gutted concrete building they were crammed into a fancy apartment with expensive-looking furniture Art on the walls and floor to ceiling bookshelves Adam's house wasn't nearly as nice as this, but he suddenly felt homesick For a moment he wished everyone at the party would leave so he could curl up on the velvety couch and pull the soft white Afghan over him Adam surveyed the crowd, but he didn't see the redhead Hazel's not here. Casey was standing next to him. Should I just give up and make out with boy Casey? Boy Casey is annoying said Adam. I know said Casey, but he's hot What are you guys talking about said June Agnes beside her? Nothing said Casey. She looked around so Adam. I bet some of the girls here are by anyone you like Adam was surprised Back in Piedmont on the phone. Casey had gone on and on about how she was going to hook him up with a hot New York girl, but once he got here it had never come up He figured it had been all talk just Casey loving the idea of herself as the cool older sister, but not actually wanting to bother Maybe said Adam. Let's go do a lap said Casey. She grabbed his arm and pulled him away You really think someone here would hook up with me? He said should he mention redhead? But what if Casey knew her and didn't like her? What if she was like that bitch? No Maybe Casey had someone else in mind for him. He talked to that girl redhead would watch get jealous Huh, said Casey distracted. I only said that to get away from June and Agnes. We cannot just hang around to them all night She was still in a bad mood But is there someone you think I could hook up with are you on crack everyone here is like way older than you and gay Adam hated Casey just because her life wasn't working out perfect didn't mean she had to be a bitch to him He wanted to punch her in the face and go home See that girl over there said Casey in a hushed voice She nodded her head toward a short stalky girl with a mullet. She transitioned and then went back Adam didn't want to hear about someone's dumb transition again. He wanted to get drunk Her name was Linda and then she transitioned to Len got top surgery and went on tea and everything Was a guy for like a year and a half But then she like changed her or his mind and went back to being female now. She just goes by L. It's not crazy Who cares said Adam? Everyone enjoying themselves here a girl with short hair wearing a purple like robotic suit flounced in front of them Totally said Casey. Thanks for having us the girl swiveled her head and bit her finger looking across the room That boy is fine And she flounced off again Carlisle. He's such a little faggot said Casey You're just saying that because that's what Skyler said said Adam What that's what Skyler said today that that Carlisle boy or girl or whatever is such a little faggot You're a follower you copy everything everyone does and it's pathetic Adam almost never got this mad at Casey. He felt like he was drunk even though he just wanted to be drunk You're an asshole said Casey go find your own fucking life then you think I want you hanging around me all the time Talk about pathetic. What are you even doing here? At least I belong here Adam's face turned red you wish he said you're just obsessed with everyone here Go the fuck home Adam. I can't believe you thought you would get a girl here. That is so sad Hey, cutie. It was Hazel. Oh, hey said Casey suddenly beaming like she wasn't in the middle of a fight Like she was filled with a fabulous spirit of life and always had been Hazel was holding two drinks. She handed one to Casey. You look hot said Hazel looking Casey Up and down then she cocked her head at Adam. I'm Hazel. Yeah thought Adam. I met you like two hours ago I'm Adam started to say but Casey interrupted him. That's just my little brother. I don't know why he's here Hazel looked away from Adam instantly bored She went back to giving Casey that stupid loaded gaze and Casey went back to lapping it up I really want to fuck you tonight said Hazel. I want you to said Casey Did they completely not care that he was standing right next to them? I Want to fuck you while people watch? continued Hazel I Want you to fuck me while people watch? Said Casey I'm out said Adam Good said Casey not even looking at him Why was your brother here Adam heard Hazel asking as he walked toward the door He kept walking before he could hear Casey's answer He got to the door. He stopped No, he was not gonna bail. He was not some pussy. Maybe nothing would happen with that girl But he had to know that he fucking tried She was somewhere in this apartment and no matter what he was gonna force himself to talk to her Fuck Casey fuck Hazel fuck boy Casey fuck June fuck Agnes fuck mom fuck dad He was not going home until he knew that he tried Adam whipped around headed straight for the liquor table through some ice in a cup filled it to the brim with vodka took a swig Felt a lot better He saw Casey and Hazel talking where he'd left them and didn't give a shit if they saw he was still here in five minutes He'd be talking to redhead and what could they do then? Adam rotated his head a slow 180 degrees scanning the party for the redhead like a superhero with infrared head vision He spotted her Standing by the window talking to some girl He imagined his vision like in Terminator 2 targeting in on her giving him all the necessary stats Everything was coated and fluorescent green. He was moving in nothing could stop him He started walking toward the window took another swig of vodka, but how how would he get her attention? What do they do in the movies on TV? They're walking down the school hallway They bump into each other the girl drops her books and the boy picks them up something like that He was getting closer two inches away Decision decision alarms are going off. He had to act now now Adam threw his drink on the redhead Redhead and her friend stared at him Redhead slowly started to brush the vodka and ice off her shirt Adam stood there and watched She said Adam broke into action. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry He said he looked around and saw a stack of colored napkins on the liquor table He ran over grabbed a handful ran back and handed them to redhead. I am so so sorry Why did you I am I tripped? It was this rug. I you didn't trip said the friend You just walked over here and threw your drink on her. I Redhead stared at him, but it wasn't mean just intensely curious. I Wanted to talk to you said Adam Redhead and her friend burst out laughing that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard said redhead and then I love it Who are you said the friend? I'm um Adam. I'm Jillian said redhead. They shook hands I'm Claire said the friend. She and Adam shook hands too So, what do you want to talk about said Jillian grinning? She had that smile like she'd had when he saw her marching. It was actually happening. This was actually happening I don't know said Adam You are fascinating said Jillian She stared at him with a delighted amused look Well, who do you know here the usual said Claire? I know Carlisle said Adam and boy Casey. I mean Casey the boy Uh-huh said Jillian she looked at as if she was going to start laughing again, but it was a nice laugh She liked him. I don't really know Carlisle. We came with our friends Jackie and Nadia But why did she like him? Why wasn't she totally weirded out by this torped teenage boy at the party? She must think he's trans Like Calypso had why else would she like him unless she thought he was trans? This was happening. He couldn't blow this if she found out he wasn't trans this would all fall apart It couldn't he could not fuck this up Yeah, I came here with some of my other trans guy friends Jillian and Claire both nodded smiling completely unfazed That's cool said Jillian. I'm gonna get a drink said Claire She raised her eyebrows at Jillian and left Jillian smiled at Adam and rolled her eyes All my friends are in couples Claire's been with her girlfriend for like three years and Jackie and Nadia are at eight months Whenever we go out they try to turn me into a project Adam blushed. He took a sip of his vodka, but there was nothing left in the cup and he swallowed air Jillian noticed and gave him that amused look again here have some of mine She poured some of her drink into his glass. She wanted to share spit Thanks said Adam. There was an awkward pause So she said What do you do? I am a go to college. Uh-huh. What college? Berkeley, but I'm visiting my sister for the summer. We live in Bushwick. I live in Fort Greene said Jillian There was like a mass exodus of a bunch of us from Smith I live with Claire and her girlfriend Lauren never live with a couple. I mean, I love Claire But it's kind of hell on earth. I Live with my sister and a girl who's totally in love with her But it's like not reciprocated if you want to imagine something worse I don't know at least then everyone's kind of miserable for me It's like the couple cooking dinner the couple snuggled up to a movie the couple coming home from a night out tipsy and in love Me alone in my room eating a salami sandwich in secret. I eat liver worst in secret said Adam Jillian laughed wait, why do you eat it in secret? Are your roommates vegan too? No, I just thought I should eat it in secret Jillian laughed even harder. She smiled that smile at Adam. He felt like the funniest cutest boy alive Yeah, so Jillian even if I knew there weren't totally grossed out by meat I think I'd still lock my door eating alone in my room is not something I want people to know I'm doing It's like masturbating or something Adam felt his cheeks go red Should we get refills said Jillian sure said Adam They walked over to the liquor table and Adam saw Casey and Hazel staring at him Casey leaned in and said something to Hazel. What was she doing? He could not let her come over here Boy, Casey approached them good. He would keep them busy So I know what you were drinking since it's all over my shirt said Jillian at least you didn't mix with cranberry I'm so sorry about that said Adam. That was completely retarded. I'm you stupid Jillian handed him a drink. I don't care. She said Poured on me to get even seriously said Adam He handed her back the cup and stretched his arms out presenting his chest Jillian laughed she dunked her finger in the drink and poked it on his chest leaving a little wet dot on the white t-shirt She looked down at her own chest I should actually go to the bathroom and try to clean up some more real quick She looked up at him and smiled don't go anywhere. I won't he said Jillian walked away Adam looked down at his chest and ran his finger across the wet spot. He could feel his heart underneath Who was that? Casey was in front of him her name's Jillian and I like her said Adam Does she know how old you are? No, I told her I went to Berkeley for college and if she asks I'm gonna say I'm 20 and if you tell her I'm not I swear to God I will tell mom and dad everything and he meant it for the first time He actually meant it Casey scoffed, but she knew he was serious fine. She said we'll see how long that lasts. I'm leaving with Hazel and Casey walked away Jillian came back. Hey, she said I just talked to Claire and Jackie and Nadia and they're all going home to be boring lesbians I was gonna go with them Adam's heart sunk He imagined himself falling through the floor crashing through every story of the building through the concrete foundation into a grave of dirt Unless I don't know were you gonna stay? Jillian continued. Oh sure said Adam if you were Cool said Jillian. She took a sip of her drink. Thank you Ariel Shragg that novel is so excellent. Do you have copies with you? Well, good thing it's available at every bookstore in the whole world and also the entire internet and book thing especially