Page 15 of Girl Violence

Vince takes that moment to glance over his shoulder at her. He smirks. “Take a picture. It will last longer.”

Josette’s eyes slant from his dare.

Lifting her phone, she snaps a picture of him, trying to hide her reaction to having him on her phone. It’s a good fucking picture. She wants it as her screensaver.

“Enjoy,” he says, and she rolls her eyes, but her insides feel like fireworks are being let off.

Throwing down the hammer, he walks back to her and sits on the empty recliner beside her, leaning his elbows on his knees. Josette squirms uncomfortably, the throbbing intensifying by his nearness, unable to get the image of his hard-on out of her damn head. “What are you doing?”

“Taking a break, obviously.” Josette slumps back in her seat and puts her sunglasses back over her eyes to hopefully shield her thoughts like Vince blatantly didn’t. “I hung out with Austin last night.”

“You did?” Josette didn’t think he would go near Austin again. “How was it?”

“Boring. Until I saw some of my old friends,” he says. “It was cool seeing them again.”

Josette’s heart sinks. He clearly didn’t think the same when he saw her. She swallows bitterly before saying, “Good for you.”

“We hung out at Austin’s and then went to the bowl.”

The bowl is a regular hanging place when it’s not a dodgy apartment or the park. It’s full of ramps that skaters and BMX riders use to pull stunts. Girls swarm the scene to mostly get attention, and it’s also great for hooking up, drinking, and buying drugs—it all depends on what you’re into. Jenna skates, so she used to drag Josette there often, but she hasn’t been since her friend left.

“Oh?” Josette says, not sure why he’s telling her this.

“I got off early when Austin started pulling girls.”

Her stomach clenches. Austin was hooking up?

“Pulling girls? As in kissing them?” Vince’s eyes narrow, and Josette realises how that must sound. “I’m asking for a friend.”

He shrugs. “He took one to his car. That’s when I left.”

Her lips push together in anger. While Josette knows Jenna and Austin are kind of over, she also knows how much Jenna loves him. Maybe it’s for the best she does move on, seeing as Austin is up to his old tricks again.

Vince watches Josette closely, gauging her reaction. She knows he doesn’t believe her, and maybe it does look like she’s into Austin from his perspective. She wonders if it’s why he’s telling her to catch her off guard?

“If you want to keep your head down, hanging out with Austin isn’t a good idea,” Josette finally says, making him grunt.

“I could say the same thing to you.” His smile looks tight and doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Then I guess we’re both stupid.”

He gets up and walks away.

* * *

Jenna calls Josettethat night to chat while hiding out in the bathroom again. While it’s nothing out of their new ordinary, and Jenna spends most of it whining about her aunt and uncle’s indifference to living in today’s era, Josette feels awkward knowing what Vince told her about Austin. They’re halfway through their conversation when Jenna starts picking up on it. “You’re quiet tonight. Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Josette brushes off. “Just tired.”

Jenna chortles. “You’re always tired. Have you been partying too hard?”

“I wish…”

“Have you seen Austin around?” Josette’s stomach clenches. It’s like her friend is psychic or something. She doesn’t usually ask about him, so why is she now?

“Uhm, no...” Josette swallows down a lump in her throat. “Not since the other night when he asked where you were.” Then she adds, “Vince said he hung out with him last night.”

“Did something happen?” she asks, picking up on Josette’s wary tone. “Did they fight again?”

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