When Rick entered the basement, Tank was drinking the rest of Warren's drugged beer. He wiped his mouth with his arm.
"Kinda flat, got more?"
"Yeah, here's one."
"You only got a six pack? You know Chad invited like 100 guys, and I texted about 100 other guys I know."
Rick's eyes widened. He had only meant to text the football team. Damn, Chad must've had other guys on his teammate list. Of course, he did, he was on multiple teams!
"Sorry, I didn't realize Chad invited that many. Don't suppose you could go on a beer run? You look 25 easy."
"Don't have a fake ID, but I know a guy who's 21, and owes a favor. I'll call him for the keg," Tank said picking up his cellphone. He didn't seem fazed at all my roofied beer, but then again he was three times bigger than Warren. He looked at Rick and yawned, and said, "You order more pizza!"
"Right-oh!" Rick grabbed Chad's phone, and opened the Pizza Hut App, and keyed in an order for 10 more zas.
He looked at the bowl of candy he had laced with potion. No way near enough for 200 or more guys. He tossed Tank a candy, and pretended to eat one himself.
Tank popped it in his mouth without looking, and said, "Get more candy too. And chips. Huh, not you, Sal, you just get the beer. $60? Yeah, oh, and a $20 service charge. Okay, we'll give you $60 when you get here, and waive the $30 cover charge." He hung up, and said, "Beers taken care of."
"Tank Top!" said Rick.
Tank recoiled as if stung by a bee, and said, "URP!"
Then he dwindled away until he was just a shiny Royal Blue Lycra-Spandex tank top. Rick pulled him on, and collected his clothes and Warren's and dumped them Chad's basement closet. He looked at the bowl of candy, and put a fistful in each pocket.
Then he headed upstairs to await the next arrivals. He saw one of Chad's parents' empty suitcases sitting on the floor by the door. They hadn't needed it for their trip. He checked it was empty, well at the moment at least.
The doorbell rand.
"Hey, Randy, Stu, Vic!"
"Rick? Where's Chad?"
"Not enough Pizza, and Beer. He's buying more. Here have a candy. There's pizza and beer in the basement. You're the first ones here."
The 3 line men pushed passed Rick, and each popped a candy into his mouth as they headed downstairs.
Vic turned, "Hey, wait. Tank's car's out front?"
"Tank lives across the street," Rick replied.
"Oh," Vic nodded, and headed down.
Rick closed the door, and picked up the chalk gun he'd filled with yellow powder. He headed downstairs.
When the doorbell rung again, Rick was halfway up the stairs with his arm filled with a pair of sweatpants, a hoodie, and a wrestling singlet. Rick shoved them in the suitcase and opened the door.
"Hey, where's Chad?"
Right here, thought Rick, as he squeezed his crotch. But he said, "Pizza & Beer's down in the basement. Chad's buying more. Head on down, and be sure to eat one of these breath mints." Rick handed each guy a candy. He might run out, but he'd have filled the suitcase before that happened. He watched the dozen muscled bums descending into the basement. He heard a pickup pull up. Then he stopped the last two on the stairs.
"Hey, Mike, Steve, I think that's Tank's buddy Sal with the keg, would you mind taking it down to the basement?"