Bound by Blood; Chosen by Fate

Chapter Three

*🔷*

The sound of a door slamming jerked me awake. I groaned softly, pressing my face further into the pillow.

I was exhausted from all the work I'd been doing on the house, muscles aching all over my body.

Until a familiar voice tumbled through the thin walls, characteristically blunt and irritated. I pulled my head from the pillow, blinking blearily.

Jotaro was up this early?

My gaze slid to the clock on the floor next to me, black wire trailing over the wooden flooring to the outlet.

I stared at it for a long moment, trying to make sense of the numbers blurring before me. When they finally made it through my head, I bolted upright.

School.

In fifteen minutes.

I jumped up, grabbing clothes and jumping into them, still working the pins into my coat as I barreled through the hallway. The door next to me opened, and I skidded, twisting my body to avoid the mass of shadows.

"I call bathroom," I cheered, already swinging over the door frame and shutting the door. I worked the gel into my hair, pouting as it decided that it didn't want to cooperate.

A few minutes later and halfway through, the door clicked open. I met Jotaro's gaze in the mirror, Crazy Diamond floating just over my shoulder. His gaze skimmed right over the giant floating pink humanoid, seeing through it before meeting my gaze.

Worldessly, he reached around me to grab the toothbrush. I sighed quietly, though let him have space.

"You missed a spot," he pointed out as he pulled back, wiping his mouth. I paused, angling my head to see it in the mirror with a frown.

"What? Where?" I asked, patting down the top. He watched me for a moment, eyes impassive before letting out a quiet breath and fixing it for me.

I beamed at him, though he only rolled his eyes and left. A few minutes later, I emerged, the other two waiting for me in the small living room.

My gaze went to the breakfast, stomach rolling at the smell of fat. I wrinkled my nose. Jonathan, already prepared, tossed a ring of dough at me. I caught it with a brightening smile.

"You're going to be late," he warned lightly. With that, Jotaro shadowed out the door, hands tucked deep into his pockets. Joseph followed him quickly. I made to do the same, though Jonathan caught me with a,

"Don't do anything stupid."

His gaze was cold, a rarity for the upstanding gentleman.

I gave him a serious look.

"I won't." With that, I headed out the door. Joseph began to chatter about some new video game, instantly capturing the full of my attention. The walk passed quickly, the school wall casting a dark shadow across the sidewalk. We paused for a collective moment, then stepped inside. Everyone seemed to freeze as they noticed us.

Joseph let out a little grin, stretching his arms above his head and giving the girls winks. I glanced around, meeting the gazes of everyone with a curious feeling.

I wanted to make friends, really.

But, unfortunately, anyone who might approach me was scared off by the death glare Jotaro was giving the collective assembled students.