Page 33 of Girl Violence

“What are we even talking about anymore?” Josette’s head throbs. “What do you want from me?”

“A deal. Give me a way to contact Jenna, and I’ll tell you where Vince is with that girl.”

Josette actually laughs. “Didn’t you hear me? I said I don’t care.”

“Bullshit. You’ve always cared about him. Even after he was gone and ghosted you. You’re letting him use you.”

“Maybe the question I should be asking is why doyoucare?”

“I don’t...” He looks thoughtful. “But you do look pathetic right now. Go and ruffle some feathers. He’s not your friend anymore.”

Josette leans back in the seat, knowing Vince isn’t close to being her friend anymore. “Jenna was caught with her cousin’s phone. She snuck a new phone but hasn’t answered my messages in three days.”

“She will to me,” he says. “Give me her new number so I can talk to her. I’ll even tell Alyssa to back off as a bonus. How about that?” He takes a piece of paper and a black pen from his coat and throws them on the table in front of her. Josette stares at him, and he sighs. “Please?”

Giving in, she pulls the paper forward and scribbles down Jenna’s new number, knowing her friend will kill her when she finds out. “If you hurt her, I will beat the crap out of you,” Josette tells him earnestly. “I mean it, Austin.”

“I didn’t even get a red mark from your punch the other night.” She slips the paper toward him, and he takes it. “Your man is at the bowling alley with little miss priss. She’s a looker, but she isn’t you.” He winks, and Josette can’t help but smile at that. Charming fucker.

“Right...”

She watches him leave, his words playing heavily in her mind. He gets into his black car and drives off.

The bowling alley. Vince had to go there, didn’t he?

They used to go there to hang out, and now he’s on a date with someone. Despite Josette’s anger, her gut twists. How could he go on a date after what happened between them? It’s like Tyler all over again, something she thought was behind her, and she wasn’t naïve enough to let it happen again.

Grabbing her bag, she goes into the bathroom, no longer in the mood for her hot chocolate. She has questions, and Vince is going to answer them whether he wants to or not, even if he has to in front of his date.

Once inside, Josette goes to the mirror and pulls her hair out of the messy bun it’s in. It falls in waves down her back, and she brushes it through with her fingers a few times until it looks somewhat decent. After applying a little concealer and lip gloss that she finds in her bag, she’s ready.

Pulling out her phone, Josette goes through her contacts until she gets to a name she shouldn’t. She’s not sure this is even his number anymore, but she presses call and waits as it rings.

“What do you want?” He finally answers.

“That’s no way to greet someone, Jason.” He chuckles lightly in reply. No backing out now. “I was wondering if you could do me a big favour?”

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Josette stops outside the bowling alley, wondering if she should go through with this or not. Especially since Jason Meade is on his way after somehow persuading him to meet her here. She figured he owed her after the video, which he laughed at, telling Josette she hadn’t listened hard enough. If shelistenedany harder, she might’ve vomited all over Vince’s bed.

Doubt has already set in. Perhaps inviting Jason wasn’t the best idea she’s ever conjured. But then, Vince doesn’t care who she shows up with. The boy fingered her and still refuses to care about her. In fact, he’s even on a date. It’s better than showing up alone.

Going inside before she changes her mind, the scent of polish and wood is exactly as she remembers, even though she hasn’t been here in years. The noise of balls colliding into pins has her taking a trip down memory lane when she was last here with Vince.

She beat him at a game, though she thinks he secretly let her win. His friends from school—the ones who told him hanging around with her wasn’t cool—showed up. She remembers Austin being among them, but it’s a little blurry in her head. They hired out the lane next to theirs and made fun of them all evening.

Josette was too young to understand, but she knew they were annoying Vince by calling her his little girlfriend. So, Josette turned and told them to fuck off. It was the first time she’d ever sworn, making them laugh harder. Then they called Vince a sissy for letting a girl stick up for him.

Fuming, Vince grabbed her shoulder. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Why? They’re being annoying—”

“Never mind what they’re being. Don’t do that again. Do you hear me?”

Josette had nodded, eyes watering with tears that Vince was mad at her. She didn’t get it—she thought she was defending him like he does with her all the time.

Some boys cornered them as they were about to leave after their game. One of them, a tall guy with dark hair, started making fun of Josette’s clothes. She didn’t dress herself back then. Her mum did, so she was wearing childish clothes—a dress with daisies on it. The boy tried to pull up her skirt, and Vince punched him, tackling him to the ground. Josette screamed, and adults rushed over to separate them. Hearing her terror, Vince went over to her and wrapped his arms around her, promising her that no one would ever touch her again.

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