The Thrashers(55)

“You didn’t.” Paige shook her head. “You said ‘hottest person.’ Ha-ha, I win,” she said petulantly.

“Gender is a construct!” Lucy yelled, and the room cheered.

Maybe she was high off being the center of attention, or maybe she was just so pleased to have one-upped Julian Hollister at his own game, but Jodi leaned toward him and yelled to the room, “You mad? Were you looking forward to being crowned ‘the hottest?’”

The room howled, and Jodi braced herself on Julian’s shoulders, leaning toward his mouth. Before she could get far in the game of chicken, he jumped up from the couch, and she tumbled down to where he’d been sitting. The room laughed as Julian stomped away, going to the kitchen for another drink.

Paige pretended to fan herself, and Jodi stole a look at Zack as she righted herself. He was giggling drunkenly into his cup. Kiera was sitting next to him—that’s all it took for Jodi’s spark of joy to be put out.

Lucy took control of the rioting room. “Alright! Alright! Seeing as I offered to share this party with Paige, I accept someone else being crowned ‘hottest in the room’ on my birthday.” They laughed. “Jodi, your turn, babe.”

A loud ding from the speakers jarred the entire room, the music coming to a quick halt before coming back on. Someone yelled “Jesus!” and Lucy placed her hand on her chest dramatically.

“Sorry, sorry!” Paige said, jumping up. “My phone’s hooked up. Everyone I know is here. Who’s texting me…?” Paige climbed over the people sitting on the floor, heading for the stereo dock across the room.

“Okay,” Jodi said, returning to truth or dare. Her eyes slipped over the circle, looking for someone who hadn’t gone yet. Spencer gave her a shy smile, and she swiftly moved past him to the girl on his right. “Naomi. Truth or dare?”

There was an electric hiss. A choked sound across the room. Jodi looked up in time to see sparks fly from the stereo system, and Paige’s body flew through the air like it was on a string. The zing of the speakers as they short-circuited.

Paige landed with a thud against the back of the couch, then disappeared, dropping to the hardwood floor with a smack.

Jodi was on her feet, pushing through everyone else. Lucy yelled out, climbing over the couch, but Julian skidded in on his knees, carefully tugging Paige’s limp body to lay flat. Jodi ran around them to his side.

“Watch it!” Julian shoved her to the other side of him, and she looked up to see sparks flying from the sound system.

People were screaming and crowding, but Jodi didn’t care as Julian’s lifeguard training kicked in. His fingers were on Paige’s pulse, waiting. Waiting. Then without hesitating, he opened her mouth, pinched her nose, and started CPR.

Paige’s chest inflated. Jodi watched it through a fog.

Strange that someone without breath could breathe.

Her eyes snapped up—sound burst into her ears. The room spun back to her. A handful of people pressed up against the far wall, their mouths covered in horror. Zack was leaning over the couch, his phone to his ear—“My friend’s been electrocuted. Send—send help. We’re at … Oak Lane—” His gaze swam to Lucy for help. She grabbed the phone and told them the address.

“Yes, we’re starting CPR. They want to know if she’s breathing. Julian?”

He didn’t respond. Just kept pumping her chest with his two hands.

Behind Jodi, Spencer and two others were trying to unplug the speakers without getting shocked. The sparks flew like concert pyrotechnics.

Paige’s phone was across the room, lying useless from where it had been flung.

Julian covered her mouth again—the fourth time?—and then pumped her chest.

“They’ll be here in five minutes,” Lucy whispered.

He shook his head and bit back something. Was that not fast enough?

Jodi felt her body deflate, like a balloon with too many punctures.

In the kitchen, a few of the others had started cleaning up the alcohol. Damage control.

Jodi’s eyes were blurred with tears. She heard a gasp, and Jodi blinked to clear her vision. Paige took her own breath, and Lucy threw herself over her, sobbing. Julian sat back on his heels, panting. Zack appeared at her side, scrambling to hold Paige’s hand.

Jodi slapped away her tears and watched Paige blink twice at the ceiling, drawing in deep breaths.

Paige’s hand shot out, wrapping around Jodi’s wrist.

Jodi reached to squeeze her back, but Paige’s eyes were on her, fierce and intent.

In a voice like crackling fire, Paige whispered to Jodi, “She wants to talk to us.”





Chapter Sixteen





Paige’s fingers were like a vise on Jodi’s wrist. Even as others started fussing over Paige, giving her water, placing a pillow under her head, her grip on Jodi remained firm.

The EMTs came a few minutes later. Paige had a blistering electrical burn on her arm and a bump on her head. Half the party had vanished out the back door once Paige woke up, making a run for it before the ambulance arrived.

Paige’s parents were called. Then Lucy’s. Soon it was just the five of them and the EMTs. They hovered at Paige’s side as they laid her on a stretcher, explaining that she had to go to the hospital to have her burn treated. Julian asked if someone could ride in the ambulance with them, and the female EMT looked him up and down, dressed only in his boxer shorts, still wet from the pool. “You all should probably sober up before doing anything.”