Standstill Bonds

Chapter 2 ~ Contemplation

Josephine's determination burned like an unquenchable flame as she navigated the bustling corridors of her new school. The day's classes had passed in a blur of unfamiliar faces and incomprehensible lessons, her mind fixated on a singular goal; finding Jotaro Kujo.

She found out he was a biology teacher at the school and there was talk of him being someone with exceptional knowledge in his field of marine life but science wasn't on her mind; she needed his guidance, his expertise in controlling the untamed spirit that simmered within her. When she got there, she pushed open the door to the biology lab, Josephine's eyes scanned the room, searching for him inside. Her heart sank as she realized he wasn't there and that the room was empty. Dammit! Where was he? Had she missed him already?

She hesitated, considering what she should do next. Should she wait and see if he showed up? Or should she try and see him tomorrow? Her thought process was interrupted when the sound of footsteps approaching made her turn. It was one of the students from earlier; the ringleader of the group that had cornered her in the hallway.

"So, you decided to show your face again, huh?" he sneered, flanked by his cronies who loomed behind him like shadows. His silver white hair was short and wavy, and his height matched her own. He was pale skinned and wore his uniform with his blazer jacket tied around his waist, sleeves of his undershirt rolled up with his fists clenched to his sides.

Josephine's pulse quickened, her mind racing for an escape route. The last thing she wanted was to get in a fight, she could barely hold her own herself and with an incredibly reactive stand that wreaked havoc whenever she was upset only exacerbated things. But the bullies seemed determined to finish what they had started earlier in the day, their faces contorted with malice.

Before she could react, the situation escalated once more. The lead lunged forward, his fist aimed at Josephine. Panic surged within her, and in that split second, her Stand materialized once more. The energy surged forth, creating a barrier that deflected the boy's blow, sending him stumbling backward in shock as he groaned in pain, some books being knocked off their shelves and papers flew into the air.

The rest of the bullies hesitated, their expressions morphing from arrogance to uncertainty as they felt the power Josephine displayed. As he stood, the head of the group's eyes narrowed as though he was examining in his head what had happened...could he see it? But before anything progressed a familiar voice resonated through the room;

"What is the meaning of this?!"

The students turned in shock as Jotaro Kujo stepped into the room, his gaze fixed on Josephine. She felt a rush of relief at his arrival, a sense of hope rekindling within her. But Jotaro's expression remained stern as he assessed the situation.

"One of you speak up right now, what happened here?" he commanded as he scanned the mess in his classroom.

Josephine looked at him, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as adrenaline coursed through her veins. "I... I was trying to defend myself," she managed to say, her voice still quivering with fear.

Jotaro regarded her silently for a moment, his eyes narrowing in thought. There was a glimmer of something in his gaze, but still, he seemed totally impossible for her to read. Their quiet moment was fleeting, disrupted by the bullies' defiant snarls. "She's the freak! We're just trying to teach her a lesson," spat the ringleader, but his bravado wavered quickly under Jotaro's scrutinizing gaze.

Jotaro's response was swift and decisive. "You're the ones who need to learn a lesson, Hiroshi, take your posse and get out of my classroom."

The bullies exchanged uneasy glances and with reluctant compliance, they shuffled out of the room, leaving Josephine and Jotaro alone. As the tension settled, Josephine found herself in debt to Jotaro for the second time that day. "Thanks. again..."

Jotaro regarded her with his usual inscrutable gaze, his demeanour guarded yet not empty, "You need to learn control," he repeated, his words echoing with a hint of reluctant consideration. "This is no game, you could hurt someone."

"I know," Josephine replied earnestly, meeting his eyes. "I want to understand. I need to know what this... thing is, and how to control it. Please Mr. Jotaro... I beg you..."

Jotaro hesitated, his gaze fixed on her. The weight of his own past battles, the scars he carried, lingered secretly in the silence between them. But before he could respond, the bell signalling the end of the school day rang and the bustling of students exiting nearby classrooms filled the silence around them. Jotaro thought for what was only a moment or two longer, still saying nothing, but it felt far longer for her. "Meet me here tomorrow after school." he finally said, abruptly exiting the room without continuing the conversation, leaving Josephine to her thoughts.