Page 85 of Girl Violence

“The truth.”

“…Ian?” Josette can hear a hint of apprehension in her tone now.

“Ah, come on. You know I told them the usual bullshit. Besides, it’s hardly my fault that she passed out. She wanted me; you saw her. She was all over me that night.”

“But you did give her something...”

“Nothing that she didn’t ask for,” he says angrily. “And why are you saying it like I was the only one who had a go at her? Ethan and Jamie had their fun, too. Stupid cow only decided to mention me to the cops. Must have fucking amnesia from how hard I banged her. At least it was memorable for her, I guess.”

Josette feels sick.

There’s shuffling in the background, before Alyssa says. “Ian, that’s not going to fix things.”

“Relax. We’re just paying her a little visit to clear up her memories” Josette can hear the smirk in his voice. “Tyler’s coming with me.” He laughs. “Don’t look so worried, would you? She’s got nothing on any of us.”

The recording ends there, and Josette swallows thickly, once again glancing up at Jason’s face. Taking out the earphones, she gives them back as she comes to grips with what she just heard. She asked Jason for something to get back at them with, and he gave her this. “Why—”

“You already know the answer to that, if you think about it hard enough,” Jason cuts her off, something that looks like guilt clouding his gaze. “It’s the same reason why you didn’t tell Vince right away about what Ian did to you. To protect him…because you love him.”

He’s had this all this time and has done nothing about it. Because he loves Alyssa? Because he’s protecting her?

“Did something happen to that girl?” Jason nods but doesn’t elaborate. Not that Josettewantsto know what Ian might’ve done to her to shut her up. “But you gave this to me, in hopes I exposed it?”

“Maybe…I don’t know.”

That confuses her. “Jason…this is—”

“Something I’m going to ask you to take to the grave. Not that they deserve it. Not thathedeserves it. But because I did you a favour by stepping in for Vince, so do me a favour and forget about this. I shouldn’t have given it to you.”

“But—”

“No. I made a mistake.”

Josette shakes her head. “I don’t know why you’re protecting her when she doesn’t give a shit about you.”

“Nobody does.”

“I do.”

“No, Josette. You don’t.” He smiles. “Now go on back to your boyfriend and leave me be.”

Turning, he walks away, and Josette doesn’t have it in her to call him back. To demand why he’s keeping evidence so close to his chest for a girl who doesn’t love him.

What Josette does know is that Graycott is a fucked-up place.

Josette reaches the library a few minutes later. When she enters, Miss Finn is standing behind the desk, sorting through a stack of papers. She looks up, but her customer-friendly smile fades, and she sighs.

“Afternoon, Josette,” she greets her formally. “I hope you’re keeping out of trouble.”

“Maybe,” Josette says, which she rolls her eyes at. “Where’s Vince?”

“Working. Don’t bother him,” she says sternly.

“Oh, I’m going to rent a few books out so I can smell them.”

Miss Finn pulls a face. “You are disturbed.”

She disappears into her office as Josette smiles, knowing Miss Finn secretly likes it when she is here, even though she’d rather die than admit it.

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