The Thrashers

by Julie Soto

But one phrase slipped into multiple interviews. Two words I whispered against their ears, until they were as quick on their tongues as followers, filters, and finals. The Thrashers.

“Who’s Zack Thrasher?” she asked, feigning curiosity. The girl gaped at her. “You’re joking, right?”

Zack was Jodi’s best friend. But she was only one of Zack’s many best friends.

“Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be you.” Jodi looked up from her biology book. “Me?” Emily nodded, her thin blond hair shimmering around her cheekbones. “A Thrasher.”

“‘The Thrashers.’ What a pleasure.”

Emily Mills might have been odd—a little moon-eyed—but the one thing she had in common with every other girl at New Helvetia? She was in love with Zack Thrasher.

She wondered where Emily’s wires had gotten crossed. Sophomores needed to be invited by upperclassmen to prom, so there must have been a misunderstanding if she was in her dress when she died.

I TRIED TO ASK HOW SOMEONE BECOMES A THRASHER. THEY SAID, “YOU DON’T.”

Maybe it wasn’t being lonely she was afraid of. Maybe it was being alone

She felt … she almost felt like Emily. Like no one wanted her around, but they were tolerating her.

“You coming tonight?” she asked. He curled his lips like she was something sour. “It’s a stupid idea, Dillon. You honestly think no one else is going to be at the movies on a Friday night?” “The drive-in. We’ll be in the car—” “Am I not allowed to get food? Or piss?” She glowered at him. “I’ll bring an empty water bottle for you.” “You wanna see my dick that bad?” He lifted a brow.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

The movie was still playing, projected onto the trees behind where the screen used to stand. A streetlamp winked at her. And then went out.

I CAN’T LISTEN TO MRS. HUBERMAN TALK ABOUT MITOSIS—NOT WHEN JODI IS SITTING NEXT TO ME. SHE’S FASCINATING. I THINK I COULD BE HER IF I TRIED.

Alright that is weird

Oliver waved when he saw her, and Jodi felt her chest swell when she sent him a shy wave back.

If Emily’s journal was hidden in the bathroom wall … then what did the police have?

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.”

“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.”

She blinked. “Did you—You sat through the whole thing?” “Yeah. You could have mentioned it was three hours, Dillon.”

“Believe what you want. I didn’t sell them out.” Jodi crossed her arms. “And nobody’s going to juvie.” Reagan’s eyes glittered. “That’s cute. That they’re still keeping things from you.” The door started to close. Jodi felt her skin pulled taut. Her arm shot out. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

NOOOO that would so suck if they're liars damn

Julian scanned her up and down. “You look like you’re about to rob a bank.”

She scoffed to herself, shaking her head at how unfair it was to all of humanity that Julian Hollister knew how to wear his clothes.

She felt so foolish. What would she even say if anyone asked why she was crying? My friends’ lives don’t revolve around me? I got sad, and getting sad got me sadder?

He just looked at her and saw her. “Maybe she did. But I don’t want you to,” he said. Like it was as simple as that.

Her chest tightened, and bile crept up the back of her throat. Her skin felt like it didn’t belong to her.

“Also,” Lucy said, pushing her hair behind her ear, “Did I hear something about you and Julian?” “Oh, dear. Look at the time.” Jodi grabbed her books and shut her locker, fighting the blush on her cheeks as Lucy cackled.

“I’m headed to the theater building for tech rehearsal. Walk with me?” He fell into step beside her. “The play opens this weekend?”

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She nodded and said, “I don’t think of it as a loss. I think of it as … a chance to find each other again. You’re going to the East Coast, I’m staying here. It’s impossible to stay what we were, so let’s just see what else we can be.”