The Thrashers(61)

“Are you going to testify against us?” Zack’s voice was tight, confused.

“I don’t—I don’t want to, but they’ve summoned me. So I’ll have to.”

“What would you even say? What do they think you’ll know?”

“I have no idea,” Jodi said, dropping down to sit two chairs away from Lucy. “I don’t know anything, you’re right.”

“Yeah, it’s probably just routine or something,” Paige added brightly.

Zack took a deep breath and nodded, turning his attention back to the screen. Lucy didn’t say a word, her chin rested in her hand and her fingers over her lips.



* * *



A few hours later, after Aunt Bette, Julian’s water polo coach, and half his teammates had come and gone, the four of them were the only ones left in the lobby.

Mrs. Hollister broke their tense silence when she came out to tell them that Julian was awake but couldn’t have visitors. When they left the hospital piled in Lucy’s car, Jodi felt like there had been a fault line drawn. Maybe if she told them about the journal in the wall? Or the page she’d stolen from the guidance counselor’s notes. Maybe she could prove to them that she was still on their side. That she was trying.

Lucy turned toward Jodi’s house, and she realized she was getting dropped off first. Even though Paige was closest. She’d assumed they were going to one of their houses to hang out. But Lucy wouldn’t even meet her eyes in the rearview as she pulled up in front of her house.

Jodi waved her goodbyes, feeling like there was something she needed to say, or even hear from them. But all she got was a “see you at school.”

When she turned to go inside, she found Oliver Burns sitting on his front porch, smoking a joint and watching her.

“Is he alive?” he said.

She nodded.

“Pity.”

Sending him a quick glare, she walked over to him and gestured to his joint. “Care to share?”

He lifted a brow in surprise and offered it to her. She plopped down next to him on his patio sofa and brought the joint to her lips. She imagined the smoke traveling down into her lungs, spreading to her head, and clearing her troubles away.

“I’m shocked you even inhaled,” Oliver said, taking it back.

“I’m the only one not facing criminal charges.”

She stared at the small garden Oliver’s mom used to keep beautiful.

“That makes sense,” he said.

Turning to him, she narrowed her eyes. “It does?”

“Emily loved you. Her parents know it.” He sucked on the joint one last time before putting it out. “And there’s no evidence against you, I’m sure.”

“Do you think there’s evidence against the rest of them then?”

Oliver took a deep breath and said glibly, “Without a doubt.”

“How would I not know about it?”

He stared at the cuticles on his right hand and said, “I’m positive there’s tons of stuff you don’t know about, Jodi. Conversations you’re not a part of. Things you aren’t invited to.”

Jodi’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”

He cracked his knuckles and said, “It’s probably best you don’t know, yeah? For your testimony?”

Shock battled with confusion and jealousy inside her. “You already saw the news?”

“Please,” he scoffed. “I’ve gotten fifteen messages about it already. The whole school knows by now.”

Pressing her eyes closed and leaning her elbows on her knees, Jodi tried to take deep breaths, wishing she hadn’t had a hit.

“It’s not like I … like I got a deal or something—”

“I know. But it’s you versus them now.” He stretched his legs out and smiled, winking at her. “It’s going to be carnage.”





Chapter Eighteen





The next day after school, Paige drove Jodi back to the hospital to visit Julian. Lucy and Zack had gone that morning, apparently. Jodi felt stupid for thinking it had anything to do with them avoiding her, but she couldn’t help it.

“I didn’t go looking for a deal, like the news says,” Jodi said to Paige on the way there.

“Of course! I didn’t think you did.” Paige smiled at her.

When they were allowed back to see Julian, he looked pale and exhausted. His dark-rimmed eyes flitted over the two of them as they entered. Paige hugged him, but Jodi hung back.

“Oh, my god. You were literally dead for, like, three minutes or something, right?” Paige asked.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I guess.” His eyes found Jodi again. She awkwardly took a seat in the chair next to the bed. “They’re discharging me tomorrow though.”

“So, I don’t know if you, like, remember or anything,” Paige started, “but when we were at the medium yesterday trying to talk to Emily, I think she sensed your presence.” Paige’s eyes were glittering. “Isn’t that weird?”

There was a pause. Julian stared at Paige, and then his lips quirked. “Weird.”

“She had to stop and everything. Like she wasn’t allowed to tell us you were dead. I just think it’s so creepy…”