A Dunphy's Basketball System ( Modern Family )

Adrian wasn't entirely sure how he felt about parties. Sure, he loved basketball games, packed gyms, and roaring crowds, but high school parties? That was uncharted territory. The invitation had come earlier in the week, handed to him during lunch by one of the school's most popular juniors, a guy named Logan, whose charm and athletic prowess made him the de facto king of the social scene.

"You've gotta be there, Dunphy," Logan had said, flashing a perfect smile. "It's the kind of thing a star like you needs to show up for. Everyone's dying to meet you."

When Adrian announced the invitation at home, the reaction was immediate and chaotic, as expected from the Dunphy-Pritchett clan.

"A party?" Claire's voice hit a pitch that made Adrian wince. "Do they even have adult supervision? Who's going to be there? And what kind of party is it?"

Phil clapped Adrian on the shoulder, grinning. "Our boy's growing up! High school parties are a rite of passage. Just remember to use charm, but not too much charm."

"Phil!" Claire shot him a glare. "This isn't about charm. This is about making sure he's safe and doesn't end up on some viral video doing something stupid."

"Don't worry, Mom. I'm not planning to do anything viral," Adrian replied, trying to keep a straight face.

Jay chimed in from his recliner. "As long as he doesn't end up in some ridiculous TikTok dance, I don't care what he does. Just don't embarrass the family."

"Oh, come on, Jay. Let him have fun," Gloria said, smiling as she walked in with a tray of snacks. "It's good for him to enjoy life. Adrian, you'll be careful, yes?"

Manny adjusted his glasses, looking up from his book. "Parties are overrated. People are loud, the music is obnoxious, and no one appreciates a good intellectual discussion."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Thanks for the advice, Manny. I'll keep that in mind."

Cam and Mitch entered the room, catching the tail end of the conversation. "A party?" Cam said, his eyes lighting up. "Oh, I loved high school parties. They're where I learned how to two-step and how to make a proper entrance."

"Cam, this is a modern high school party. I don't think Adrian needs a lesson on grand entrances," Mitch said dryly, though a small smile played on his lips. "Adrian, just be careful. And maybe don't listen to Uncle Cam's advice."

Haley appeared at the top of the stairs, already laughing. "Adrian at a party? This I've got to see. Let me guess, you're going to stand in a corner and talk about basketball stats?"

"Actually, Haley," Adrian shot back, "I was planning to dominate the party, just like I dominate on the court."

Haley rolled her eyes. "Sure you were. Just remember, parties are about two things: making an impression and knowing when to leave."

Adrian smirked. "Thanks for the tips, party expert."

Adrian had laughed it off at the time, but now, standing in his room, staring at his reflection, he felt the weight of that statement. Everyone was expecting him to show up.

"Why do you look so nervous? It's just a party," Kendall said, lounging on Adrian's bed while Kylie sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through her phone.

"Easy for you to say. You guys do this kind of stuff all the time," Adrian replied, adjusting his shirt in the mirror.

Kendall smirked. "True, but you've got us to guide you now. Just stick with us, and you'll survive."

"Survive? I think you mean thrive," Kylie interjected, tossing her phone onto the bed. "With us by your side, you'll be the center of attention… well, more than you already are."

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Great, just what I need. More attention."

Before the conversation could go further, a knock sounded at the door, and Dylan and Cole walked in, each carrying bags of snacks.

"Snacks? For a party? This isn't a movie night," Kendall said, raising an eyebrow.

Dylan grinned. "These are for pre-party fuel. You don't want to hit the scene on an empty stomach."

Cole added, "Also, they're for us. We're crashing this thing whether you like it or not."

Adrian sighed but couldn't help laughing. "Alright, let's just get this over with."

The party was already in full swing when they arrived. The house was massive, with music blasting from high-end speakers and lights illuminating the backyard where most of the students had gathered. Adrian felt the weight of dozens of eyes turning toward him as he stepped through the door.

"Adrian!" Logan called out, weaving through the crowd to greet him. "Glad you made it, man. Everyone, this is the guy I've been telling you about. Dunphy, the future of basketball."

Adrian smiled awkwardly as people began introducing themselves, shaking his hand or patting him on the back. Logan gestured toward the backyard. "Drinks are over there, games are set up outside. Make yourself at home."

As Adrian made his way through the crowd, Kendall and Kylie stuck close to his side. Kendall was calm and poised, greeting people with a practiced ease, while Kylie's sharp wit kept everyone on their toes. Dylan and Cole, meanwhile, had already found their way to the snack table, drawing laughs as they performed mock play-by-plays of who was eating what.

Adrian quickly became the center of attention, with students crowding around him to ask about his basketball career, his training routine, and even his family. Older girls flocked to him, complimenting his game and his looks, much to Kendall and Kylie's visible irritation.

One particularly bold senior leaned in, twirling a strand of her hair. "So, Adrian, any plans for after the game? Maybe we could grab coffee sometime?"

Before Adrian could respond, Kendall stepped forward, her smile sharp. "Actually, he's got a pretty packed schedule. You know, basketball star and all."

Kylie chimed in, her tone equally pointed. "Yeah, can't let him get distracted. We're his PR team, after all."

The girl backed off, muttering something under her breath, and Adrian gave the sisters a questioning look. "PR team?"

Kylie shrugged. "What? Someone's gotta manage your image."

Meanwhile, Dylan and Cole were thriving in the chaos. Dylan had somehow found a karaoke machine and was loudly belting out an off-key rendition of a pop song, much to the horror of everyone nearby. Cole, filming his brother's antics with a phone, provided a running commentary dripping with sarcasm.

"And here we witness the rare Dylan Sprouse, serenading the masses with a voice only his mother could love," Cole said, earning bursts of laughter from the surrounding crowd. "This is going viral for all the wrong reasons."

Dylan, not to be outdone, grabbed Adrian by the arm. "Get up here, Dunphy! Show these people what real charisma looks like!"

Adrian, horrified, tried to resist, but Dylan was surprisingly strong for his size. Within seconds, Adrian was reluctantly holding the microphone as Dylan shouted, "Sing something inspirational! Like the basketball star you are!"

Kendall and Kylie appeared at that moment, both smirking. "This I have to see," Kendall teased, crossing her arms.

"Adrian, if you do this, it's going on every social media account I own," Kylie added, holding up her phone.

Adrian sighed dramatically. "Fine, but only if Dylan stops after this." He sang a few lines of a classic song—just enough to get through the moment—but his deep voice surprised the crowd, drawing cheers and applause. Dylan, of course, took full credit for the performance.

"See? I told you he's a natural," Dylan proclaimed, throwing an arm around Adrian's shoulders.

When Adrian finally escaped the karaoke fiasco, Cole grinned at him. "You know, you could have just run. That would've been less painful."

Adrian shook his head, laughing. "I'll get you both back for this. Just wait."

As the party wound down, Kendall leaned over to Adrian. "Hey, what do you think about getting out of here this weekend? Just us. We could go to the beach house for some peace and quiet."

Kylie, overhearing, quickly added, "That sounds fun. I mean, you could use a break, right, Adrian?"

Adrian hesitated, glancing between the two. "I don't know… I've got practice."

Before Kendall could respond, Dylan appeared out of nowhere, draping an arm over Adrian's shoulder. "Practice schmactice. We're in. When do we leave?"

Kendall blinked, her expression shifting to mild irritation. "We? Who said anything about 'we'?"

Cole smirked, joining the conversation. "Oh, come on. You didn't think we'd let Adrian have all the fun without us, did you?"

Kylie's brow furrowed as she crossed her arms. "So, you're just inviting yourselves?"

Dylan grinned. "Exactly. Someone's gotta document the chaos. It's practically our civic duty."

"I'm not sure the beach house can handle that much… energy," Kendall muttered, shooting a glance at Adrian.

"Don't worry," Cole said, deadpan. "We'll bring our own snacks. It's basically like we're self-sufficient."

Adrian looked between the twins and his friends, trying not to laugh at the tension brewing. "Alright, fine. But if this turns into a disaster, I'm blaming all of you."

Kendall sighed, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "This is going to be interesting."

Kylie rolled her eyes. "'Interesting' is one way to put it."