Page 5 of Girl Violence

“Miss you, too,” Jenna says flatly. Josette knows she’s thinking the same as her. “I’ll try and call you soon. Please have a social life on behalf of us both because the kids here are so weird.The Wrong Turnkind of weird.”

“Sure,” she says but knows that’s never going to happen. “I’ll speak to you later.”

“Bye!”

After hanging up, Josette munches on the last slice of pepperoni pizza that finally arrived while thinking about Jenna’s words. She’s right. Her dad can’t punish her forever. She’s been good, has a job, and deserves a bit of fun.

After polishing off the last bite, Josette takes the box downstairs and puts it into recycling. Then, inhaling a breath, she heads into the office. “Daaad?”

“Whatever it is, no.” She stands in the doorway and switches on the light. He squints and moans, “Turn it off.”

“Can I go out?”

“No.” He scoffs. “Turn off the light.”

“Vampire.” She knocks it off. “Why not?”

“Because you’re grounded,” he says, like it’s obvious.

“It’s been a year. I’m seventeen, which I’ll never be ever again. I’m working in a library and doing all my chores. Which, I realise, is cleaning the entire house, including your thousands of coffee mugs and smelly socks. Give me a break. Let me breathe.”

Leaning back in his chair, he rubs his eyes tiredly. “And you say you’re not dramatic?”

“I’m miserable.”

He sighs.

“Fine. You can go out.” Josette’s insides light up, and she smiles. “If you invite Vince.” Her smile drops. Fuck.

“No freakin’ way.”

He’s insane. Hours spent on the computer have obviously sizzled his brain. Just because Vince and Josette used to be close doesn’t mean she has any plans on going near him now. Especially not embarrassing herself by asking him to hang out with her. How desperate does that seem? “You and that boy were inseparable when you were kids.”

“Thatboyis older now. I’m sure he has better things to do.”

“Diane says he’s finding moving back here hard. I’m sure he could use a friend. He’s a nice guy.”

“A nice guy?” Josette chuckles with disbelief. “You don’t know him anymore. How do you know he’s nice? He could be a sociopath now or…or a murderer.”

“Invite him, or you’re not going. Simple.”

Her teeth grit in annoyance. Josette doesn’t want to go anywhere near Vince, but she knows her dad’s stubborn ways since they’re basically the same person.

“Fine,” she says. “I’ll tell Diane you said hi. Should I give her a little wink for you?”

“Don’t you dare—” Ignoring him, she leaves the room laughing.

Slipping her feet into her Doc Marten boots, Josette grabs a jacket. She had dried and straightened her hair before Jenna rang, then put makeup on out of boredom. She’s now wearing a long black T-shirt and skinny jeans, accessorised with her favourite obsidian necklace, bracelets, and pendant earrings.

Jittery nerves course through her body as she makes the journey next door, which seems shorter than she remembers. It’s been a long time since she’s done this, and she almost turns and runs home. But there’s no hope of avoiding this if she wants to get out since her dad will ask Diane if she came over or not.

By the time she reaches the door, her stomach is doing flips. Lifting her hand, she rings the doorbell, and a few moments later, it opens. It’s Vince, and he seems surprised when his eyes lock with hers.

“Hey.” Josette internally cringes at herself.Hey? Really? This didn’t use to be this hard. “Want to come to a party?”

“What?”

“A party. You know, a place where people drink and socialise?”

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