Page 45 of Girl Violence

“Yeah,” she lies. “You?”

“Sure.” He looks around. “You on your own?”

“Aren’t I always?” Josette winces when that comes out way more emotional than she wanted it to. Jason picks up on it and bumps his shoulder against hers, giving her sympathy she doesn’t like.

“You want to talk about it?”

“Do you want to talk about your problems with me?” He gives Josette a look, and she sighs. “I just...I came here for Vince, but he—”

“Is with someone else,” he finishes for her, obviously knowing Vince is here. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on between you two yet? I’m bored. I’m up for a bit of juicy gossip.”

“No juice of any kind.” Josette shakes her head. “I shouldn’t be talking to you about anything. I’m using you as a distraction. It’s kind of messed up.”

He laughs. “Use away. I don’t care.”

“And that’s just sad.” Josette turns to look at him, her eyes meeting his. When she saw him a few weeks ago, he looked sick and withdrawn, but now he seems better. Maybe he got clean again?

Josette glances down at his notebook, seeing words scribbled on the pages. She frowns when she sees Alyssa’s name carved in black ink, the page almost torn, like he’s run the pen over her name too many times. Josette quickly diverts her gaze away. Maybe he’s not clean, not from her, anyway.

Jason lets out an embarrassed laugh. “Funny, right? How you can’t ever get over your first love?”

Josette glances at Vince, who’s smiling at something Carson said. “Yeah, I guess.”

Jason suddenly snatches her sunglasses from her face. “You look like a bumblebee wearing these things. Can they get any bigger?”

Josette squints from the sunlight and goes to snatch them back, but he moves them away before she can grab them. “My eyes are burning now, thanks.”

“Why are you hiding?” he questions, and Josette moodily looks away. “You really like him, don’t you?”

Her eyes find Vince again, and she melts at his sight. Her chest tightens, seeing that smile and flutters erupt in her stomach. In a way, they shouldn’t. Not anymore.

“He’s my best friend, Jason,” she murmurs. “Orwasmy best friend. I don’t know why I’m bothering anymore. He doesn’t want me.” Jason laughs loudly, and she turns to look at him, her eyebrows pulling together. “What’s so funny?”

He’s still laughing. “You’re shitting me, right?”

“No?” He shakes his head. “Why are you shaking your head? He said he doesn’t.”

“Don’t take offence to this, because if I wasn’t fucked in the head, I probably would be super chuffed to have a girl like you sitting next to me. But do me a favour and go away. Go and do what you came here to do. That fucker wants you so bad he has blue balls. Are you really going to let Rosie showyouup?”

“You know Rosie?” He gives her a wide smile, and Josette rolls her eyes.Of course.“Does she really have the nicest rack?”

He laughs again. “Like a porn star’s.”

“You’re vile.”

“You asked. She has her sights on Vince now, huh?”

Josette sighs. “They kissed.”

“And you say you had no juice, you little liar.” He chuckles and his shoulder touches hers again. “What are you waiting for? Go and get him.”

“That’s easier said than done. I don’t know him anymore. There are too many secrets that he’s not willing to share.”

“He can’t be that different deep down. Just takes the right person to get it out of your system. Now, get off this ramp before I push you off.”

“Sadist,” Josette hisses and stands, climbing back down the ladder. Jason leans over to watch her with a smile on his face.

“Good luck.” She flips him off, hearing his laugh as she starts walking, about to do something she really doesn’t want to do.