Thomas Strode

Kate Strode (Sister)

Thomas Strode was a teen residing in Sunset Ridge, Colorado. He is first introduced in Grinded, as the best friend of August Thrombey.

He was a confident member of the football team, brimming with self-assurance and a quick wit. He also has a tendency to smoke a lot of marijuana, something which causes tension between him and his friends, mainly August and Lily Mason.

In the first story, he is introduced as August's best and closest friend, the two having known each other for the longest. He was later one of four survivors of the Sunset Ridge Massacre.

After the events of Grinded, Thomas finds himself drawn to August as the two begin developing their friendship into something further. In this time, Thomas also moves out to Los Angeles with Sophie, the promise of a fresh start lulling him into doing so.

In the sequel, he is still living in LA, sharing an apartment with David Evans, his friend and co-worker. He hasn't been on the best of terms with August, due to their last encounter. But the reunion between him and August is soured when a new killer strikes.

## Biography

### Early life

Thomas was born in 2001, in Sunset Ridge, Colorado, to Christina and Patrick Strode. He is the younger brother of Kate, who he doesn't have a strong relationship with. When he began pre-school, Thomas met August Thrombey, and it wasn't long till they soon became best friends. Growing up, Thomas's relationship with his parents became a lot more rocky, specifically with his mother.

Thomas then began attending Sunset Ridge High School in 2015, alongside August. He quickly joined the school's football team, where he meet Freddie Blackwell and Marcus Winters, introducing the former to August.

### The Sunset Ridge Murders

Thomas gets to school and smokes a joint before joining his friends: August, Freddie Blackwell, Sophie Dlamini, Lily Mason, and Marcus Winters. He is scolded by August for his apparent cannabis addiction, which Thomas disagrees with. He brings up the fact that Michael called him last night for a booty call, leading to him believing his friends may find that suspicious and so he defends himself. The bell rings and Thomas and August walk to class together, since they spend a lot of their classes together.

At lunch, he is sat with August and Lily when he brings up another smoke break, earning him a look of disappointment from August. Lily calls them unbearable, when they're joined by Sophie, who is experiencing painful cramps. Freddie joins them shortly after, which sparks a conversation regarding the assembly taking place in a few minutes. Thomas expresses his disinterest in going, which he is reprimanded for by his friends. They then walk over to the assembly, where he is less than happy to hear that the football game on Friday has been cancelled. During the assembly, he gets into a dispute with Paul Beauregard, who makes a comment to him regarding Quentin and August. Marcus and Freddie both step in and stop the arguing from escalating any further.

The following day, Thomas is watching the show of journalists and cops racing around the high school campus when Freddie walks up beside him. He fills Freddie in on the death of Paul, although he shows a lack of compassion towards him. He then spies out August and encourages Freddie to go make a move, as now seems like a better time than any.

After all classes are suspended until the killer is caught, Thomas and his friends make plans to go to Lily's house that night for a few drinks and to raise a glass for those who've died.

Later that night, Thomas is at the gym when he spots another police cruiser speeding by. Concerned, he quickly finishes up and heads into the locker, while messaging someone on Grindr. He hears the news radio bulletin reporting the murder of deputy Erica Rhodes. He refuses to stick around at the gym knowing he's alone, but as he packs up to leave, he gets a message from the account that reads 'Do you think I made it inside the building while you were in the lockerroom?'. Terrified, Thomas exits the lockerroom and starts beelining it towards the exit, but he is attacked by Blank Face.

Thomas puts up a worthy fight, managing to trap Blank Face under one of the gym benches, but not before the killer managed to slice his arm open. Fleeing the gym, Thomas is saved by someone driving by, who takes him to the hospital. Once there, it isn't long before his parents are called in, where his mother, Christina, is eager to post it on Facebook.

When Lily and Freddie come into the room, Thomas is happy to see his friends, becoming slightly emotional at the sight of them. He tells his Mom that he is going to Lily's tonight and there's nothing that is going to stop him being around the few people he feels completely safe with. Sarah arrives and speaks to the teens privately, with her showing sympathy towards Thomas. She then asks Lily and Freddie regarding their whereabouts before revealing Quentin was questioned earlier this evening. Thomas remains suspicious of Quentin, but not to the level his friends feel, thinking that Quentin may be a red herring. He is shortly discharged and Sophie arrives to take them up to Lily's place.

After getting to Lily's house, Thomas finds his way to her living room and takes a seat, staring at his arm cast retrospectively. As the time passes, he is encouraging Sophie to ask out a girl she has a crush on when August and Freddie excuse themselves. He then announces to Lily and Sophie that he's going for a smoke break, which causes a heated argument between him and Lily, with him claiming that everyone is breathing down his neck when its his life and he wants a way to cope before storming out to the back yard.

Thomas isn't seen by anyone for a while, but he is attacked off-screen by Blank Face, who leaves him for dead. He manages to wander back inside where he finds a terrified August, who begins to think Thomas is the killer. Thomas is attacked by the actual killer, who reveals themselves to be Freddie. After being stabbed and thrown to the ground, Thomas comes to and tackles Freddie, managing to knock his weapons from his hands. Thomas grabs the gun and isn't hesitant in shooting Freddie. He watches in awe and gratefulness as August stabs Freddie two more times, securing his death. He and August hold hands as they wait for the police to come, realising they're now closer than ever.

### The Los Angeles Murders

Three years on from the killings of Sunset Ridge, and Thomas is living in LA and working at a gay bar with his friend, and roommate, David Evans. He ignores Grindr messages as he begins thinking about how August is getting into LA this morning, and it's been several months since they've saw each other. David reassures him before Thomas gets a text from Reese Rivers, a guy he has slept with several times before. He then gets a call from Carly Blake, Sophie's assistant. He tells her they'll be down at the gallery when August gets here. David promises him that everything is going to be okay, before heading out for the gym. Thomas then gets another Grindr message, but ignores it, as he begins getting ready for August's arrival.

A few hours later, August finally gets to Thomas's apartment. David dismisses himself to let them catch up, and Thomas starts out with smalll talk. When August notices the Grindr notification, Thomas feels bad for the hurt on August's face. They then begin to talk about the time they last saw each other, with Thomas having confessed his love for August. However, they're interrupted by David, who claims that Sophie is becoming impatient. Thomas promises they can talk later and the three head outside.

Outside of the complex, Thomas is annoyed to see Reese waiting. Reese attempts to provoke Thomas, and he almost takes the bait but when Reese turns to August and makes lewd remarks, Thomas becomes aggressive, threatening his former sexual partner. David keeps the situation detained and the three then continue their walk to the art gallery, with Thomas still angry over Reese's stunt.

They eventually get to the art gallery, where August confides in Thomas over their reunion with Sophie. Thomas pulls him close and assures him that they're all going to be there for each other. But Thomas feels slightly guilty for the art piece Sophie has been working on, knowing that it could trigger August. Once inside, they meet with Sophie, Carly, and Luis Dominguez. Thomas and David then make plans for them to go to their bar tonight.

Sometime later at the gallery, and Thomas is finishing cleaning his hands in the bathroom, thinking of his relationship with August and what could possibly come from it. Another Grindr message grabs his attention, but he's apprehensive about replying, August's words ringing in his head. He thanks the account for the compliment before exiting the bathroom, where he runs into Luis, scaring them both. After talking about Sophie's art, Luis brings up August, much to Thomas's confusion. He affirms that his and August's business is none of Luis's concern, and Luis apologises. Thomas then spies out August, calling him over. They then have a walk through the gallery as they finally start talking about their last time together. Thomas insists August can't shut people out forever. Tyler Montoya, a friend of Sophie's, tells them that their friends are headed to the bar now. Saying goodbye, Thomas and August rejoin their friends and make their way to the bar.

As the night grows on, Thomas and his friends are at the bar he works at. Thomas heads to the bar to order a new round of drinks, where he's met with Reese, who still has an attitude. At first, Thomas ignores Reese's further attempts to annoy him, but when he makes another sexual remark over August, Thomas threatens to punch him. Luis and David rush over to try and calm Thomas down, but another remark from Reese earns him a punch from Thomas, who promises to kill him if he says or looks at August again. Ben, their boss, scolds both boys. Thomas goes back to the table, where they continue to drink.

Towards the end of the night, Thomas finds himself close to August at the end of the booth as they talk about Sunset Ridge. It isn't long before they briefly talk about sex. Thomas gets a Grindr message that unnerves him, and as he's about to bring it August and Sophie's attention, Ben interrupts him and advises Thomas to stop starting fights at work as well as informing him that Reese is infuriated over being humiliated.

The next morning, Thomas finds out that Reese was murdered and is quick to tell August. When August expresses his worries that it's linked to them, Thomas is adamant that its not as Reese had a big mouth. But the thought is very present in the back of Thomas's mind, although he tries not to think about it. David comes into the apartment, having already seen the news. When David then gets a Grindr message, Thomas and August share a concerned look, but its eased when David explains he knows the account. Thomas and August then head outside to see Sophie, but when August and Sophie begin bickering over the possibility of the murders happening again, Thomas tries to keep them from fighting. She invites them both to the art studio, so long as they don't mention Blank Face. Thomas pulls August into a hug, promising him that niether of them are alone.

Later that day, Thomas, Sophie and August arrive at the art studio only to find it seemingly empty. When they hear voices further down, Thomas is skeptical as they proceed but his worries are relieved when they find it to be Carly and Alanda. When they begin discussing plans to attend Demi's promotional event tonight, Thomas isn't so sure of it. But before they can agree to anything, August and Alanda argue and it ends with August rushing to the bathroom, so Thomas makes chase after him, not wanting him to be alone. He waits outside for August and when he comes out, the two hug. Thomas tells August not to think about what Alanda said, saying that she was far out of line. August expresses his guilt over what is happening, but Thomas pulls him into another hug, promising August that they're a team. After a beat, Thomas gets an idea and proposes that he and August do something with just them tonight, to which August is all for. They then return to their friends.

Night has fallen over LA and Thomas has took August to the Santa Monica pierre, where they catch each other up properly on what's been happening with them. August tries to coax Thomas into coming to New York, at least to check out what kind of colleges they have. Thomas finds them a bench and lights a joint for them, when August suddenly apologises for avoiding him when Thomas confessed he loved August. Thomas listens with a soft smile and fluttering anxiety as August admits that the concept of loving someone the way he did Freddie terrified him. Thomas then explains that he's felt that way for years, but after the murders when they got closer was when he only just became aware of his own feelings. He then asks August what the endgame is, who replies by saying *'we're just two fucked up queers trying to figure our shit out. Together.'* They lean into each other and laugh as they notice sirens flying by to the direction of the gallery.

Sensing something to be wrong, Thomas and August return to the apartment to find a bewildered David pacing the kitchen anxiously. Thomas attempts to calm him down, but that stops when David drops the bombshell that there was a murder at the gallery. David then confirms that Sophie is okay before Thomas decides to asks where David has been. His roommate explains he was at another hook-up before grabbing a cigarette and heading for the front door, exiting for a smoke break. August begins speculating that history is repeating itself, but Thomas tries to keep him from freaking out, explaining that LA is a big city with crazies at the corner of every street. But August, frustrated with his disbelief, walks out of the apartment. Thomas is about to go after him when he gets a Grindr message, and something in his gut tells him its not just any old message. He beats around the bush and asks the account who it is. But when he gets a vague response, Thomas tries calling August and then Sophie, but neither of them pick up. Suddenly, he hears the front door click shut and he immediately heads to the knife block. Another Grindr message comes through, taunting him. Grabbing a knife, Thomas then sprints for the front door when he's attacked by the killer. Being chased down the apartment complex corridor, Thomas narrowly avoids a knife swipe before being thrown through the fire escape. Grabbing a plant pot and throwing it against the assailant, Thomas tries fleeing the balcony. He manages to put some space between him and the killer by releasing the ladder from the apartment above, and takes the chance to head back inside and run, until he runs into August, who is confused. They glance over to where Thomas came from, the killer having seemingly vanished. As August calls the police, they're unnerved by David's convenient appearance.

## Relationships

#### Family

* **Christina Strode** - Mother
* **Patrick Strode** - Father
* **Kate Strode** - Sister

#### Allies

* **August Thrombey** - Former best friend & love interest
* **Sophie Dlamini** - Former friend
* **Sarah Abbott** - Former friend
* **Marcus Winters** - Former friend
* **Lily Mason** † - Former friend
* **Quentin Vaughn** **†** - Former friend
* **Erica Rhodes** **†**
* **Michael LeBeck** **†** - Former friend with benefits

##### Los Angeles

* **David Evans** **†** - Former friend and roommate
* **Carly Blake** **†** - Former friend
* **Tyler Montoya**
* **Chai Hardin †**
* **Alanda Laurent** - Former friend

#### Enemies

* **Freddie Blackwell** **†** - Former friend and attempted killer
* **Paul Beauregard** **†** - Former thrall
* **Reese Rivers** **†** - Former sexual partner
* **Ivan Cascella †** - Attempted killer
* **Nichole Peterson †** - Killer

## Appearances

* ***Grinded - Appears in 13 of 31 Chapters***
* ***Grinded Part II***

## Quotes

* *"They asked you if you knew about how they've both whacked off thinking about you?"*