Saving Jax by Ramona Gray

innocently.  “He’s never mentioned a Janine to me.   You must not have dated very long.”
    Janine’s eyes widened.  “We were together nearly three years.”
    “Really?”  Julie replied.  “Three years and he’s never said a word to me about you.  Weird, huh?”
    Tina and Bev snickered loudly and Janine’s face flushed.
    “This is a joke right?”  Janine said loudly.  “He can’t – I mean there’s no way you’re dating Court.  Look at you.”
    “What the hell does that mean, you stupid cow?”  Mel snapped. 
    “I hardly think I’m the one who deserves the ‘cow’ nickname,” Janine huffed as her gaze fell on Julie again.
    “You fucking bi – “
    “It’s fine, Mel,” Julie said hurriedly before placing a hand on Melanie’s arm.  “It’s hardly worth arguing with a woman whose best insult is calling a fat girl a cow.”
    She gave Janine a frosty look.  “That’s not very creative.”
    “How long have you and Court been dating?”  Janine asked again.
    “None of your business!” Mel snapped.  “Get lost, Janine.”
    “You’d better get used to Mel being in your business,” Janine said to Julie.  “She can’t keep her nose out of her brothers’ personal lives.  It’s why Court and I broke up.”
    “Bullshit!” Mel shouted.  “You broke up because you were fucking every guy who looked twice at you.”
    “Whatever,” Janine shrugged.  “You have no idea the true story.  I suppose Court would have tried to protect you from the truth.  He loves you, despite your inability to stay the fuck out of his personal life.”
    “Go away, Janine,” Mel said.  “And stay the hell away from my brother.”
    Janine smiled at Julie.  “It was lovely to meet you, Julie.  Say hello to Court for me, would you?”
    “Of course,” Julie replied sweetly.  “What was your name again?”
    Bev and Tina laughed loudly and Janine flushed again before turning and walking away. 
    “Bitch,” Mel muttered under her breath as Julie slumped back in her chair.
    “Nicely done, Julie.  The ‘he’s never mentioned you’ bit was brilliant!” Tina crowed.  “There’s nothing Janine hates more than not being the center of attention.”
    Julie smiled weakly at her as Mel placed her hand on her arm.  “Are you alright, Jules?”
    “Yes.”
    Mel stared at her worriedly.  Julie was pale and trembling and she looked sick to her stomach.  She touched her arm again.  “Julie, are you sure?”
    “Yes.  So that was Janine, huh?  She’s pretty.”
    “She’s awful,” Tina said dismissively.  “No one likes her, Julie, and you’re way lovelier than her.”
    “Thanks,” Julie said softly before glancing at her watch.  “Listen, I’d better get going.  I’m pretty tired and I, uh, need to get up early tomorrow.”
    Mel jumped to her feet as Julie stood.  “Jules, just wait.  Janine isn’t – “
    “It’s fine, Mel.  Really,” Julie said quickly.  “I had a really nice time tonight, thank you for inviting me.  Bev, Tina, it was lovely to meet you both.”
    “Nice to meet you too, Julie,” Bev said.  “You’ll have to come out with us again.”
    “I’d like that,” Julie hesitated and then hugged Mel briefly.  “Bye, Mel.”
    “Bye, Jules.”  Mel watched her leave, biting worriedly at her lower lip, before pulling out her cell phone.
    “Who are you texting?”  Tina asked curiously.
    “Court.”  Mel replied.  “Julie is, well, she’s a bit fragile and I think Court should know what just happened.”
    “She didn’t seem that fragile to me,” Bev shrugged.
    “I think it was a bit of an act,” Mel said distractedly as she texted Court. 
    She knew she was doing exactly what Janine had accused her of but she really was worried about Julie. 
    * * *
     
    Julie dropped her keys on the side table and kicked off her shoes before hanging her jacket in the hallway closet.  Her head was throbbing and she felt sick to her stomach.  She