Page 23 of Girl Violence

The door opens, and she steps into view. Glancing upwards, Josette gasps a little. Jason peers down at her, completely topless, muscles bulging and skin damp with sweat. His dark brown eyes, framed with thick eyelashes, frown in a way that would terrify anyone, even her. And she is slightly afraid of him. Maybe because of howunhingedhe looks. His light brown hair is damp and flops over his forehead, and the circles beneath his eyes aren’t hard to miss. He looks unwell, like someone who wishes death hadn’t cheated him.

“Josette?” he says her name imploringly, and she blinks.

“Hey, Jason.” The door almost swings shut in her face, but she stops it and pushes the door open with her boot. Not that he puts much effort into keeping her out.

“What the fuck do you want?” he demands. “I don’t want anything to do with any of you.”

“I know,” she says. “But we used to be friends.”

He stares at her before nodding, finally gesturing for her to enter. Josette steps into his apartment and cringes at the mess as she shuts the door behind her. It looks like he doesn’t even leave the place, but then again, maybe he doesn’t.

“What do you want?” Josette’s eyes go back to him. He’s sitting and holding a weight, making his bicep pop as he lifts it up and down.

“Uh...well, I wondered if you could help me.”

“If this is about Alyssa, no,” he says, and she makes a face. How did he know? He chuckles. “You think I don’t hear shit?”

“Last time I checked, she broke your heart.”

He drops the weight to the floor with a huff before going to his couch. Picking up a tray, he starts rolling a joint. “I just don’t want anything to do with you all.”

“You said that already…” Josette sits on one of his other chairs and looks around his place, deciding on a different approach. Jason clearly wants to be buttered up before he gives anything away. When she glances back at him, he’s staring at her in a way that freaks her out. Eyes dulled, expression blank. “So, what have you been doing with yourself?”

He scoffs. “Nothing that would interest you. Where’s blondie?”

“Germany,” she replies, knowing he’s talking about Jenna.

“You two were joined at the hip last time I saw you. Both being little twats and annoying everyone.”

“How were we annoying?”

He shrugs. “When you decided to start coming around the group. You sure had all the guys hard for you.”

Josette laughs, though she shouldn’t. It’s not really funny. “That’s not true.”

“You know Alyssa hated you both for it, right? Thought you were fucking attention seekers. It was quite funny when Jenna started screwing Austin... I don’t think anybody seen that one coming.”

“Yeah, I guess… Did you hate me?”

“Nah,” he says, eyeing her thoughtfully. “Maybe I’d have turned out different if I chased you like the other boys and not her.” He sighs then. “What is it you want? I could use some entertainment.”

“I want to get back at a few people,” Josette replies. “Your ex being one of them.”

“Because of that picture online?” Josette internally cringes. God, Jason saw that too? “Doesn’t seem like Alyssa’s style.”

“Someone else took it, but she put it up because I punched Austin.”

Jason laughs humourlessly. “I really don’t miss any of you. Or the drama.”

His statement about “entertainment” begs to differ. With another sigh, he goes over to his computer. It’s kitted out with two desktop screens and an Alienware system. Josette isn’t sure how he could have afforded that when he lives in such a dump, but maybe that’s being judgemental. He yanks open a drawer and takes out a USB stick before turning back in her direction.

“How about a kiss as payment?” A small smirk toys with his lips, and Josette shakes her head.

“How about you give it to me out of the kindness of your heart?”

He chuckles, flicking it between his fingers as a way of teasing her. “I hear Vince O’Neil is back in town.”

Josette’s eyebrow rises. “You know Vince?”

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