The Thrashers(30)

But when Paige and Lucy picked her up at seven that night, Julian was already on his way with Zack.

There was a system they’d used for years. They’d meet at the Denny’s two blocks from the drive-in, hide three of them in the truck bed, and then only pay for two tickets at the cashier. Jodi didn’t know why four of the wealthiest kids she knew did this. Maybe it was just for the thrill of it, but either way, it was only three bucks each for the five of them to spend a night getting high or drunk or just eating Red Vines until Lucy puked.

They pulled into the Denny’s lot and parked next to Julian’s black truck. The smoke from his pipe was already curling up and out of the windows.

She watched as Zack got out and swept Lucy up into his arms. “I haven’t seen you in so long,” he said into her curls. Jodi looked away, straightening her shirt and trying not to think of the simple kick to her shoe she’d received upon seeing Zack for the first time in two weeks.

Paige made them wait while she went inside and ordered a milkshake for her and a bunch of fries for the group. While Paige was inside, Lucy hopped up on the truck bed and answered questions about Reagan.

“Every time I enter French, she’s leaning into someone, whispering, and then she shuts up. Obviously spreading shit. And I saw her talking to the news crew last Monday, but I couldn’t find any stations that played her.” Lucy sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know what she wants from me. She didn’t give a fuck about Emily Mills, so what kind of clout is she trying to get?”

“She saw an opening, and she took it,” Julian said, leaning forward on the side of the truck and stretching out his calves. “If you’re out of the way, she has a chance at starting position volleyball, nationals in the spring, homecoming court…”

Jodi snorted. “You think Reagan Matthews wants homecoming queen bad enough to lie to news cameras?”

Julian tilted his head at her with a slippery smile. “Says the only one of us who’ll never be nominated.”

She flinched.

“Hey.” Zack stepped forward.

“You want homecoming queen, Julian?” Lucy cooed. “I’ll put in a good word.”

Julian shook out his shoulders and walked around to the front of the truck, done with them.

“What is his deal?” Lucy reached out her hand, and Jodi stepped into her.

“He’s had a rough week,” Zack said weakly. “It’s no excuse for being a dick, but—”

“I got my arraignment papers yesterday.” Julian’s voice carried to them from the other side of the truck. Jodi and Lucy snapped their heads toward him. “That’s right. Ya boy’s going to jail.”

Lucy jumped up and peered down at him. “What? Don’t talk like that. It’s … It just means that—”

“It means”—Julian reappeared on the other side, walking the parking spot line like a high wire—“that my case was easier to research than the three girls’. Easier to conclude.” His smirk didn’t reach his eyes. “It means that Emily Mills had some fascinating things to say about me in her diary.”

Jodi stared at him, her heart beating in fear.

“No,” Lucy said matter-of-factly, “it means the mail in Sacramento is shit, and we’ll get ours tomorrow. Fuck, I haven’t been home. Maybe I already have it.”

Jodi’s mind spun. Her dad was on the road to Denver all weekend. The mail would be on the entryway floor.

Maybe going to the drive-in was a bad idea after all. Julian was right: they shouldn’t be seen hanging out together.

Just then, Paige jogged out of Denny’s, a milkshake in one hand and a to-go box in another. “Let’s do it! Friday night and I got my milkshaaaake.” She wiggled her hips and growled her words, and it was enough for them to forget Julian’s news for a time.

“Truck or Paige’s car?”

“Truck,” they chorused, and Jodi sighed. Taking the truck to the drive-in meant that she sat up front with Julian. Jodi had lost her shit once and cried when Julian sped out of the parking lot while she was in the bed of the truck, and now it was understood that Jodi would not be one of the three in the back anymore. Which meant it was Zack, Paige, and Lucy in the back, rolling around and clutching each other.

Lucy grabbed a six-pack of her Mexican Coke bottles from Paige’s car and placed them in Julian’s truck. Then the three of them climbed in the back and shut the tailgate behind them. They tugged a tarp over themselves, laughing and trying to steal fries from Paige, and Jodi turned to Julian.

“Do you want me to drive?”

He stopped, keys in hand, and raised his brows at her.

“Are you high?” she clarified.

“Not yet.” He tugged open the driver’s door, and Jodi reluctantly followed to the passenger’s side. Julian only let her drive his truck when he was blitzed out of his mind. They’d had a screaming match outside a party last year when she refused to get in the truck after his third beer, and he refused to let her drive. Zack had to step in and order an Uber for himself and Jodi, letting Julian do whatever he pleased.

Jodi managed to buckle just before the truck zoomed backward. They had only a handful of minutes alone together. Maybe Jodi could get something out of it.

“When is your arraignment scheduled?” she asked him.