Page 15

Jodi sat on her bed that evening going through the pictures and video she’d taken of Emily’s journal.

Emily’s real journal? Could she be sure of that?

Even as she looked over what was clearly Emily’s handwriting, Jodi still couldn’t be positive that the police had a fake. Maybe this one was the fake.

Jumping off her bed, Jodi sent the pictures and video to her computer so she could examine them better. She had been flipping pages so fast that a lot of the entries were too blurry to make much out of them.

But just as Jodi could have guessed, Zack’s name was everywhere.

Zack Thrasher invited me to hang out with them!

Zack told me he liked my orange Converse!

I asked Zack what kind of music he listens to, and I’m going to download absolutely every song by Frank Ocean.

But nothing was jumping out to her as something that could help Zack or her friends. She wished she’d had the date that Emily said she’d had sex with Zack. She could have flipped the pages right there. Jodi checked the clock. It was almost midnight. She still had a term paper to write. Rubbing her forehead, she went to make coffee in the kitchen.

Her dad was asleep in his chair, snoring over the Food Network. When she’d gotten home from the Millses’, she’d shown him the paperwork from the DA’s office explaining that she wasn’t indicted. He’d breathed a sigh of relief and offered to grab celebratory tacos. He’d returned with a six-pack of Corona as well. Jodi watched TV with him for an hour before excusing herself to her room to go over Emily’s journal.

She could at least hope that no more lawyer fees would mean that things between the two of them could return to normal again. As she watched the coffee drip, she tried to decide what to do about her other problem.

There were five “Thrashers,” and only four of them were in trouble now. Jodi couldn’t pretend she wasn’t thrilled that she might still have a shot at college, but how could she be happy about that when her friends’ futures were at stake? How was she supposed to break the news to them?

More importantly, how could she hide the subpoena from them?

That night, Jodi dreamt she was in an unfamiliar bathroom, attempting to take a bath, but every time she started the taps, rusty water splashed down. The door was locked from the outside. She screamed for someone to find her, but there was a party happening on the other side of the door. When she got into the tub, clothes on, her left arm was throbbing. She looked down to see why and found a hand holding hers.

She jerked awake, in her own bed. She had no feeling in her left arm. It had been stuck under her shoulder at an odd angle.

She shook feeling into it, but it took hours to feel right.

“I’m sharing my birthday with Paige,” Lucy said one morning, after joining Jodi at her locker. “She didn’t get an eighteenth birthday party, so we’ll share it.”

“Okay,” Jodi said. “And she doesn’t think the ground will open up and swallow us into hell if the five of us are in the same place at the same time again?”

“Oh, she does,” Lucy said with a grin. “But it won’t just be the five of us. It’ll still be small, but I’m inviting more people. Do you want me to include Spencer Gordon?”

Jodi shut her locker and blinked at Lucy. “Oh. Uh, yeah, okay.”

Aside from a few waves in the hallway, she hadn’t talked to him this semester. She hadn’t thought about him, either, until Julian had brought him up at homecoming.

“Cool,” Lucy said, winking at her before walking off to class.

Upon hearing there was an exclusive Thrashers party being thrown, Reagan Matthews promptly announced a rager at Folsom Lake for the same night. Lucy said it didn’t matter to her, but Jodi saw the way her jaw tightened and eyes narrowed every time someone said they were “busy.”

It wasn’t until Jodi arrived at Lucy’s house that she realized Zack had invited Kiera. A short girl with a tiny waist and pretty green eyes was in the kitchen with Zack and Paige, listening to Zack’s story with bright interest. Her light brown hair was curled with those beach waves Jodi always failed to get right. She watched as Zack nudged her ribs, and Kiera giggled.

“So,” said a voice from just over her shoulder, “what are we gonna do?”

Julian sipped from his red cup, eyes on Kiera and Zack.

“Nothing.” Jodi swallowed and tore her eyes off them. “It’s not our business. That’s what got us into this mess.”

She remembered the way Emily used to stand at Zack’s side and listen to him talk as if he were giving the Sermon on the Mount. It had seemed clear to them then that Zack was being friendly, and Emily was taking things out of context, but now…

Zack offered Kiera another drink, and she shook her head demurely. He pointed outside, and she agreed, following him closely through the back door.

“He can’t sleep with her,” she blurted out. Wincing, she turned to Julian. “I mean, like with the case, not because… of any other reason.”

“Sure,” he said slyly.

“Seriously though. How old is she?”

He nodded, agreeing with her. “She’s a junior.”

Jodi shook her head, her hands running through her hair. “Is he stupid enough to do it? Does someone actually need to tell him why hanging out with this girl is a bad idea?”

“I’m handling it.” He took a long swig of whatever was in his cup, staring out to the patio where Zack, Kiera, and a few others were in the hot tub.

“‘Handling it?’” She scoffed. “What are you gonna do, seduce her?”

He lifted a brow and looked down at her, almost a full-foot difference in their heights.

Jodi’s brow matched his. “Seduce him ?” she teased.

“The places your mind goes, Dillon, I swear to god…”

He walked away, and Jodi smirked.

Paige was a nervous wreck when Jodi found her in the kitchen. She was able to carry on a conversation, but halfway through, she’d turn and check that the stove burners were off. Jodi caught her counting the number of knives in the block.

In the living room, a few people chatted while the music played from Lucy’s parents’ stereo system. Lucy’s mom and dad had promised to give her some space on her birthday; they were at a hotel tonight.

When Jodi headed toward the couches, she saw that Spencer was already there, chatting with a few guys from school. Spencer was nice enough, and pretty cute. He had curly brown hair and deep-set brown eyes that made him look constantly exhausted, but they brightened when he saw her. He stood up and gave her a little wave.

“Hey,” she said, trying for nonchalant. “I don’t think we have any classes together this semester.”

“Not a one.” His cheeks dimpled when he smiled. “Did I hear you’re in the school play?”

“No, god no.” Jodi laughed. “I’m painting the backdrop.”

She told him all about Mrs. Calloway and her dramatic tantrums. Spencer kept his full attention on her, and she felt almost smothered by it. Jodi tried to enjoy herself but she couldn’t help it when her gaze drifted to the patio where she could just catch the corner of the hot tub.

When Julian was called into the living room, his gaze swept over Jodi and Spencer on the couch, and the cat-that-got-the-canary grin on his face made her want to lock herself in the garage for the rest of the night.

“Hey!” Julian called out, getting the attention of the whole party, but keeping his eyes locked on Jodi. “Truth or dare time!”

Jodi groaned, watching Julian cut through the room like a shark hunting a minnow until he happily dropped onto the couch across from her and Spencer. She tried to think of any way to excuse herself to go do something else for the next hour, but everyone was coming in from the patio, piling onto the couch cushions.

The game started out easy. A handful of truths later, and Jodi had learned that one of the water polo guys had slept with the girls’ softball coach, that Paige cheated on her math final last year, and that one of the girls there had enough cocaine in her purse to get her put away for a long time. The dares were gradually getting less tame. Lucy had to switch shirts with one of the guys, someone had to eat a raw egg from the fridge, and Julian agreed to strip down, run naked down Lucy’s street, and then jump in the pool. (A few of the girls there ran to the window to watch.)

When Julian had climbed out of the pool, slipped back into his shorts, and plopped back down on the couch next to Paige, Jodi was hoping that had been the big finale. But with a clap of his hands and a bellowed “My turn!,” Julian drew their attention back. His eyes were locked on her, mischievous and bright. He ran a hand through his wet hair, and Jodi sipped from her water bottle.

“Dillon. Truth or dare?”

She swallowed. Julian knew too many of her secrets already, and some of them she knew he would make her say in front of everyone just to humiliate her.

“Dare.”

His brows shot up, and a smile lifted his lips. The murmurs around her indicated that no one thought she’d choose dare. Neither did she. But if the dare was too ridiculous she knew Paige and Lucy would be there to fight it for her, maybe even take her shot for her.

Julian opened his mouth—closed it. Then grinned like the Cheshire cat.

“I dare you to make out with the hottest person here, in your opinion.”

Jodi watched him settle back, slinging an arm behind Paige’s head on the back of the couch. The group laughed, and the tension ratcheted.

Her skin felt like a rubber band pulled tight. He wanted to see if she’d tell the truth and kiss Zack, thereby embarrassing herself. Or lie and create some false hopes in Spencer by kissing him. She wouldn’t look at either of them, afraid of what she’d find.

When she spent too long staring Julian down, someone started to chant “Jodi. Jodi. Jodi” until everyone was joining in, except for Paige, who was smiling softly and jumping at every noise the house made, and Julian, who just smirked at her, waiting.

An idea hit her—there was a way to kill two birds with one stone. She rocked forward onto her knees and crawled to the couch, passing Spencer, passing Zack. Reaching their knees, she pulled herself up to lean over Julian. The room started screaming in joy, watching Jodi Dillon about to choose Julian Hollister as the hottest in the room.

Julian’s smile dripped from his lips. His lashes fluttered in shock and his bare chest didn’t move.

She smirked at him, swerved right, and grabbed Paige’s distracted face. Paige laughed into her mouth as she pressed their lips together, and the room shook in glee. She dropped to the couch, kneeling over Paige.

Jodi opened her eyes to pin Julian with a glare that she hoped read joke’s on you .

He wasn’t laughing. Or cheering. His eyes were glued to her mouth on Paige’s. His face had a rosy blush from either the alcohol or the run around the street. He almost looked mad.

Grinning, Jodi finally pulled away, finding Paige almost crying from laughter. Jodi had pulled her mind off her troubles and had singled her out as the hottest in the room.

“I said guy,” a voice cut over the clapping.

Jodi and Paige looked at Julian. He was definitely mad about something.

“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.”