Page 44 of Girl Violence

He runs a hand through his brushed hair. “Out. I’ll be back later.”

“Out where?” she questions, and he gives her a pointed look.

“Just out. Move out of the way. I’ll see you later.” Josette moves, and after he grabs his keys, he leaves. A trail of cologne follows him, and Josette knows exactly where he’s going. He’s going on a date.

* * *

Josette’s bath relaxes her.It makes her forget about Vince and her dad dipping into the dating pool for a while. She focuses on herself, carrying out her usual routine of scrubbing library dust from her body and hair. She does full-body moisturizing and brushes her teeth clean when she’s done. After untangling the knots out of her hair, she gets into her pyjamas next, even though it’s only turning six. Climbing into bed and turning on the TV to watch her show, the screen of her phone lights up with notifications.

Her stomach drops, and she feels sick when she looks at it.

Today is Vince O’Neil’s birthday.

Josette swallows, but the lump won’t go away. Clicking on his profile, sure enough, his feed is full of birthday messages—at least a hundred. Not only that, but a picture has also been posted of him sitting on a wall Josette knows is at the bowl. He’s with Carson, Lewis, and Rosie. She’s beside him, and they’re all smiling at the camera, seeming to be having a good time.

Josette’s mood darkens when she reads the caption.Out with the handsome birthday boy!And she knows at that moment she’s completely messed up.

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

Josette had an excellent plan tonight: a night of binge-eating and watching a lot of Damon Salvatore. Now, she’s storming across the park, taking the path that leads to the one place she didn’t want to go.

Josette can’t quite believe she’s doing this after promising herself she wouldn’t anymore. Yet, here she is, making the same mistake repeatedly. She doesn’t want to bethatgirl. The girl who chases someone who doesn’t want to be caught. But, inevitably, she’s too pissed to leave it.

What the hell does Vince want from her? How many of her birthdays has he forgotten over the years when he was in London? When he decided she wasn’t worth a card or even a phone call? Josette is so angry that she wants to shout at him for being stupid and not coming out and saying what he really wanted to say earlier.

That he wanted Josette there for his birthday. That he needed her.

That’s the problem these days. No one says anything anymore. The truth is just stagnant, and instead of being honest, it’s edged around, poked a little, and then left alone.

Guilt consumes her, despite it being his fault. He probably figured she had seen it online and purposefully said nothing. Old Josette wouldn’t have forgotten.

Every time Vince had a birthday when he was living here, she sat beside him while he blew out the candles and squeezed her hand under the table until her fingers went numb. He hates his birthdays with a passion. He used to get angry and withdrawn every time the day rolled around. Josette didn’t know why. She thought it was because he was getting older, which meant more pressure from his dad to grow up and be tougher. But Vince was already miles ahead of boys his age, so it didn’t make sense. He was more mature than he should have been back then, and Josette was the only one who brought out the side of him who laughed, joked, and smiled.

When Josette asked why he was always sad on his birthdays, he said he didn’t know but told Josette she made it better.

When he moved away, Josette wanted to contact him, afraid he wouldn’t be happy because he didn’t have her anymore. Only, she had no way of finding him. As the years went by, and he became a fading memory of a boy she would probably never see again, she let it go, just like he let her go.

He has no right to be annoyed with her.

After flinging herself out of bed, she dressed in a pair of black shorts, a Guns n’ Roses T-shirt, and her vans. She quickly put makeup on and straightened her hair. After she was done, she sighed, not sure why she felt the need to go to him. Why she’s so damn jealous that someone else is making his birthday special.

Josette just doesn’t know anymore.

She finally arrives at the bowl. As she looks past the groups of kids playing on their bikes, trying to imitate the older kids pulling stunts, she spots them. Vince, Carson, and Lewis sit on the wall with girls around them. Vince is in the middle, and Rosie is leaning against the wall next to him, too close for it to be friendly.

A pain shoots across Josette’s chest, and her steps slow to a stop. They’re all laughing and looking like they’re having a great time. Vince doesn’t need her here. He seems fine without her. She’s going to storm over to him in front of everyone and say what?

“Hey asshole, thanks for being, well, an asshole? By the way, Happy fucking Birthday.”

God, what is she doing?

Josette looks away, trying to ignore the quick thuds of her heart against her chest. She shouldn’t have come. This was stupid. Why does she keep doing stupid things for him?

The cold beginnings of despair snake around her throat. Until she sees a familiar face—someone she doesn’t expect to see.

Jason sits on top of one of the ramps. He’s alone, writing in a little notebook with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Without thinking, Josette makes her way over to him, and Jason looks up before she even has a chance to say his name. When he sees her, a smile stretches around the cigarette, and he waves.

“Hey,” he says, and Josette takes this as an invitation to climb the ramp and sit next to him. Once she’s sat down, he asks, “You good?”

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