Page 8 of Girl Violence

He breathes a laugh, but Josette can tell he hates her saying his full name. He hated it back when they were kids, too. “No.”

“Then I’m not telling you shit.”

Bringing the bottle to her lips, she takes another gulp. At the same time, people huddle together in groups and stare at them. Exhaling slowly, she glances at Tyler again, seeing the dark look on his face as he stares at them both. As if to say how dare Josette bring another guy to a party.

Vince leans in close, and Josette shudders when she feels his heat. “You don’t have to tell me if I’m right or not. Your face says it all.”

CHAPTERTHREE

Something’s wrong. Josette knows it by the way everyone is acting. Those who aren’t drunk or dancing are staring in their direction, giving Vince and her too much attention for Josette’s liking.

She takes another sip of beer, now on her second bottle, and it’s doing nothing to rid the anxiety building inside of her. Not only that, but after what Vince said about Tyler, Josette’s skin crawls with irritation. Because he’s right—to an extent. She doesn’t dream about Tyler anymore. She’s well overhim, just not what happened.

One drunk night last summer, Josette gave Tyler her virginity, and it was a slap to the face when she caught him with his tongue down another girl’s throat later that same night. Like many girls before her, he’d used her. Josette was more upset that she fell for it when she’s always prided herself on not being naïve. Vince, even though she hates admitting it, is right. Tyler had done an excellent job making her feel like the only one in the world.

Josette only tolerates Tyler now because she doesn’t want to give him the satisfaction that he got to her when he used her for sex. His pathetic attempts at making her jealous tonight are amusing and bewildering. He’s trailing his lips up the redhead’s neck while staring straight at Josette. Instead of the effect he wants, it only makes her want to vomit—

“You shouldn’t let him get to you,” Vince’s voice breaks through Josette’s thoughts like a balloon exploding beside her ear. She’s plunged back into the party, her senses filling with laughter and rock music.

“He doesn’t get to me.” Josette turns to see Vince reach into his jeans and pull out a packet of cigarettes. He takes one out of the box and places it between his lips, using a dragon lighter to light it. “You don’t drink, but you smoke? Makes sense.”

“I smoke. Get over it.”

“I was only observing. I really couldn’t care less what you do.”

“Glad to hear.” His eyes darken, and Josette’s heart does a weird little flip. Why does that look really get to her? She’s disturbing herself. “How about we keep it that way?”

He turns away from her, and she can’t help but smile. She knows they’re technically nipping at each other, but even she can’t deny it’s comfortable sitting next to him. It shouldn’t be. They’re not friends anymore. He’s made that crystal clear. But, God, how she loves being in his presence again.

After a few minutes, Josette breaks the silence, “You can go and talk to someone else, you know? You don’t have to sit with me all night.”

“Nah.” He finishes his cigarette and stomps it into the grass with his now muddy converse. Josette waves her hand in front of her face to air out the smoke around her.

“Why not?”

“I won’t be sticking around for long. There’s no point in making friends here.” Josette tries not to have a reaction, but she can’t help it. Not that Vince’s future plans are any of her business.

“Even so, it would still be better than sitting with me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re so fun.”

Josette swats his arm. “Asshole—”

“Is there a problem here?” Someone cuts in. Turning sharply, Josette’s stomach sinks when she sees Austin standing behind them in all his masochistic glory. Of course.Nowit makes sense why everyone’s staring at them. Josette broke one of their stupid rules: Don’t bring someone new without asking.

Vince technically isn’t new, though. Certainly not to Austin. They used to be friends. They hung out together in high school. Before Vince had left, they stopped talking. Over what, Josette has no idea. When she asked, Vince said it didn’t matter, so she dropped it.

Austin’s quite the scary guy. Always has been, and tonight, he’s no different, wearing nothing but black. Tall and hard as a coffin nail, he’s covered head to toe with tattoos. The only place that’s been spared is his face, but very soon, Josette reckons he will get something there too. His dark blond hair is shaved at the sides, the length on top falling over a pair of the coldest, steely eyes she’s ever seen. He usually keeps to the shadows of parties, but when angered, he’s a bull ready for a fight.

And Jenna is entirely in love with him—though she will never admit it.

“No,” Josette says, but Austin doesn’t even acknowledge her.

“You’re back, then?” he says to Vince instead.

“For now.” The tension between them is like a thick blanket of snow. It’s gone cold. Finally, Austin turns away, and relief spreads through Josette’s chest, but it’s short-lived.

“Come join us,” Austin throws over his shoulder, returning to his group of misfits waiting for him.

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