Highschool

THIRD PERSON

Josephine's heart pounded in her chest as she stood at the front gate of the high school, staring up at the looming building. The sky was a dull gray, as if the universe was already sending her a message about how this day would go. She wasn't sure if she was excited or terrified—probably a bit of both. The first day of high school was always a big deal, but joining for the first time in her life? That made it feel like even more of an uphill battle.

Vito stood beside her, acting as if he didn't even notice the intimidating atmosphere. He adjusted his suit, hands shoved in his pockets, and gave her a smirk that could only mean one thing: he was ready to get this over with.

"I'm telling you, Jo, you're gonna be fine. High school isn't as scary as it seems," Vito said, sounding almost too confident for Josephine's liking.

She raised an eyebrow. "You say that, but you went here over a decade ago. A decade!"

Vito raised his own eyebrow in response. "It would've been enough to say it once. And you will find your place, I'm sure of it."

Josephine wasn't so sure. She'd heard the stories about high school—the cliques, the cafeteria politics, the constant pressure to fit in. She wasn't exactly the outgoing type, and she could already feel the weight of the stares that would follow her every move. She wasn't prepared for this.

They walked through the gates, and Josephine was grateful they arrived late. At least most of the students would already be in class. Skipping the first lesson was Principal Storm's idea—she was supposed to meet her now—and Josephine actually agreed with the principal's decision. The school felt imposing enough, and Josephine figured easing into it without the stress of her first class would help.

"Alright," Vito said, stopping and glancing at her with a grin. "Let's head to the main office. You'll need to grab your schedule and figure out where you're supposed to go. Riccardo and Matteo will show you around during the next break. I'm sure they'll be with you every free second."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Josephine muttered, nervously scanning the empty corridor. Her heartbeat quickened as she realized just how unfamiliar everything was. She wasn't ready for this. It felt like too much.

They made their way into the main office just in time before the ball rang. A receptionist greeted them with a friendly, albeit distracted, smile. Before Josephine could say anything, the door to the principal's office opened with a quiet whoosh, and out stepped a tall woman with sharp features and a warm, professional smile.

"Ah, Mr. Marini. Its nice to see you. It has been a while since we had that pleasure. And you must be Josephine," Principal Storm said, her voice calm but carrying the authority of someone who was used to running the show. "I'm Principal Storm. I understand this is a bit of an unusual first day, but I'm confident you'll adjust quickly. Welcome to our school."

Josephine felt her throat tighten as she tried to muster a polite smile. She wasn't sure how to respond. "Uh, thanks... It's just... a little overwhelming."

Principal Storm nodded knowingly, her smile softening. "I can only imagine. But don't worry, it's completely normal to feel a little lost at first. I'm sure you'll find your way in no time."

She gestured for them to step further into her office, where a small stack of papers sat neatly on her desk. "Here's your class schedule," Principal Storm continued, handing her the papers. "And here's a map of the school. You'll need it, at least for the first few days. Take a deep breath—this place can be a bit chaotic at first, but soon you'll find a rhythm."

Josephine accepted the papers, her hands slightly trembling. She could feel her nerves bubbling up again, and the prospect of navigating the labyrinth of classrooms and hallways suddenly seemed like an impossible task.

But Principal Storm wasn't done. She placed a hand on Josephine's shoulder in a surprisingly comforting gesture. "I want you to know that we're here to support you. You're not alone in this and we all understand your circumstances, so whenever you don't understand something or don't find a way to learn it, you can ask the teachers to explain it to you. But I have no doubt about you getting on. Your home tutor said only the best about you."

Josephine managed a half-smile, appreciating the effort but still feeling the weight of the unknown pressing in on her. She nodded slowly. "Is Miss Sophie here?"

Principal Storm gave her a final reassuring look. "Yes, you'll meet her twice a week to go over everything new, until you've got the feeling you don't need her anymore."."

"Oh, thank God.", Josephine said quitely and felt relief.

The Bell rang again and with that, Vito gave his sister a small, encouraging nudge toward the door. "Come on. Let's go find your first class before you're late."

The brief relief dissapeared. Josephine followed him out of the office, still clutching the papers tightly in her hands. The hallway was now more crowded, but no one looked at them.

As they walked, Vito glanced over at her. "I know this is a lot, but you're not alone. You've got me. You've got Riccardo and Matteo. You've got Valentino and Domenico. And most importantly, you've got yourself."

Josephine didn't feel particularly reassured, but hearing Vito's words helped quiet some of the anxiety gnawing at her insides. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she could do this.

They finally arrived at the classroom, Vito gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before opening the door. "Go on. I'll be right here after school to pick you up."

Taking one last deep breath, Josephine stepped into the room, followed by a few other students. Mr. Pearson, a friendly-looking man with glasses, stood up from behind his desk and greeted them with a warm smile. The class was full of unfamiliar faces, but she managed to find a desk in the back, hoping to stay out of the spotlight. As she sat down, she glanced around, already feeling the stirrings of nervousness creeping back.

"Welcome, everyone," Mr. Pearson said in a warm, welcoming voice that helped ease the tension in Josephine's chest just a little. "I'm Mr. Pearson, and I'll be teaching you Algebra II this year. I'll read out your names, and please raise your hand when I do." Mr. Pearson glanced down at the roster. "Maya Lopez," he called out, and a girl with dark brown hair rasied her hand with a smile.

"John Miller," he said next, and a boy, sitting a few rows over, did the same. The list continued, with each name being called out one by one. Josephine fidgeted in her seat, her hands nervously clenching the edge of her desk. Finally, Mr. Pearson's voice rang out, "Josephine Parker." For a split second, Josephine froze. She swallowed hard, feeling a lump rise in her throat. Hesitantly, she raised her hand and kept it up, until Mr. Pearson noticed her. "Yes Miss Parker?"

"I am sorry Mr. Pearson, but my name isn't Parker anymore." Everyone turned towards her.

Mr. Pearson smiled warmly at her. "Ah, I see. It was Parker when you enrolled here, wasn't it? I'm sorry, Miss Marini, sometimes our computer system is messy." he said, before continuing down the list, while whisper started around her. Josephine's hand dropped back to her desk, her fingers trembling slightly. She kept her head down, focusing on the lesson as it unfolded in front of her. For a second, she wished she could melt into the walls and just observe from a distance.

Her eyes flitted to the window, the gray sky outside mirroring the unease she felt inside. But then, a soft voice broke through her swirling thoughts.

"Hey, you're Josephine, right?" A student at the desk beside hers leaned over and smiled at her.

Josephine turned to face her, startled. "Uh, yeah," she said quietly, giving a small nod. Great start, she thought bitter.

" I'm Janu," she said with a smile that made her friendly demeanor clear. "I can show you around later if you need it. Don't worry, this class is pretty laid-back."

Josephine blinked in surprise at her offer, her anxiety lessening just a little bit more. She smiled back, though it was still tentative. "Thank you, but my brothers said they would show me around."

"No problem," Janu said. "How about Lunch? You see Maya over there?" She pointed at the brown haired girl, who waved at us. "We're sitting at the table left to the exit sign. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you sit with us."

Her words were like a balm on her nerves, and for the first time that morning, Josephine felt a flicker of hope. Maybe she could do this. Maybe it wouldn't be as scary as it seemed. "Thank you, I appreciate it, but I'll have to inform Matteo and Riccardo first, so they know where to find me."

As Mr. Pearson began going over the material on the board, Janu continued talking quietly to her, explaining what the class was about and helping her catch up on the notes from the last lesson. Josephine found herself grateful for her kindness, even if it was just a small gesture. It made the whole room feel a little more manageable.

Josephine stood from her desk as the bell rang, a slight sense of accomplishment settling over her. She had made it through her first class without completely falling apart, and that, in itself, felt like a victory. The nerves that had gnawed at her all morning had subsided just a little, replaced by a quiet pride. She had survived.

As she gathered her things, Janu leaned over, her voice warm and reassuring. "Hey, don't worry about the next class. You'll get the hang of it."

Josephine smiled, grateful for the kindness. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."

With her bag slung over her shoulder, Josephine followed the rest of the class out of the room, and her heart skipped when she saw Matteo waiting just outside the door. He gave her a knowing grin. "How was it?"

"I survived," she said, feeling a mixture of relief and pride. "It wasn't as bad as I thought. And my neighbor Janu invited me to sit with her and her friend during Lunch." She felt the gaze of the students around her. "Why are they looking at us?"

Matteo's gaze followed hers, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he observed the students glancing their way. "Oh, you know... they're probably just curious. First day and all that. People like to see who's new, who's connected, and who's already got friends."

Josephine shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of the stares. "But why do they have to stare like that?"

Matteo shrugged, unfazed by the attention. "It's high school. People are nosy. Don't take it personally." He glanced at the other students again, his expression hardening for a moment before he refocused on her. "Just ignore it. If anyone's got an issue with you, they'll know where they stand once they get to know you. And trust me, you've got us."

Josephine wasn't sure if his words were meant to reassure her or to simply brush off the discomfort, but either way, the group of students still hadn't taken their eyes off her. It felt like every whisper was about her, every sideways glance somehow aimed at her. "Do you always get this much attention?" she muttered, half-joking.

Matteo laughed, a low chuckle that seemed to echo through the hallway. "More or less. Riccardo and I—well, we have a certain reputation." He gave her a sideways glance, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Not bad, I promise. Not entirely at least. Certaintly not as bad as Valentinos. But yeah, we're not exactly invisible around here."

"Clearly," Josephine muttered, her face flushing as more students leaned over to whisper to each other.

Matteo's smile softened, and he gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry about them. Most of them are just trying to figure you out."

Josephine wasn't convinced, but Matteo's confidence was somehow contagious, and she found herself following him through the cafeteria with less hesitation. "So about Janu and Maya..."

Matteo shot her a quick glance, his expression shifting just slightly. "Janu and Maya? They seem nice enough. I'm sure they're just trying to be friendly," he said, shrugging. "But you know, don't feel like you have to sit with them if you're not comfortable. You've got plenty of time to figure out who you really want to hang with."

Josephine nodded, her thoughts swirling. She wasn't sure if she was just trying to be polite or if she genuinely wanted to connect with Janu and Maya. They seemed to offer a small escape from the attention that came with being a Marini. But her brother's words echoed in her mind—you've got plenty of time to figure out who you really want to hang with. As they stepped into the cafeteria, Josephine immediately felt the weight of everyone's eyes on them. The murmurs, the hushed whispers, the curious stares—everything seemed amplified. The room felt like it was closing in, and her pulse quickened as she scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces.

Matteo seemed unfazed by the attention, walking casually with his hands in his pockets, nodding at a few students who greeted him with waves. But Josephine couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was watching her. She had never been the center of attention before, and being the younger sister of Riccardo and Matteo, both of whom were known around the school, made it even harder to escape their eyes.

Her gaze drifted to Riccardo, who was waiting for them, his posture rigid and protective. He seemed to be assessing the room, his eyes scanning the cafeteria as though searching for potential threats. When his eyes landed on her, they softened a little, but the worry was still there.

"What took you so long?" Riccardo asked, his voice low but firm, as if trying to maintain control over the situation. "Sit down, I'll grab you something to eat."

Josephine paused, her stomach turning. "I... I'm sitting with Janu and Maya," she said, trying to sound casual, though she could feel Riccardo's eyes boring into her.

Matteo shot her a reassuring glance, giving her a small nod. He was fine with it, but Riccardo's reaction was the one she was worried about. Riccardo's brow furrowed, his jaw tightening slightly. "Are you sure? You can sit with us, Josie. You don't have to eat with them." His words were gentle, but there was an edge to them.

Josephine took a deep breath, looking between Matteo and Riccardo. "I promised Janu I'd sit with them," she said, her voice firmer than she felt.

Riccardo didn't respond immediately. He looked like he wanted to say more, but he only exhaled, clearly trying to hold back his concerns. "Fine," he finally said, his voice quieter now, while he stood up. He looked around. "Who are they?"

Josephine hesitated for a moment, then nodded toward Sarah and Maya's table, her stomach fluttering slightly at Riccardo's intensity. "Janu and Maya. They're in my Algebra class." She kept her voice steady, trying to reassure him without sounding defensive. "Janu's the one who invited me."

Riccardo's eyes followed her gaze, scanning the table where the girls were sitting, chatting away. There was a moment of silence as he processed the information, his gaze sharp, as if evaluating them without saying a word. Matteo, sensing his brother's protective nature taking over, lightly tapped Riccardo on the shoulder. "Relax, Ric. They're just normal girls, okay? Josie can handle herself."

"Na na na." Riccardo whisteld through his fingers. "You over there. No not you, idiot. You, blondie and brownie." Josephine's stomach twisted as she heard Riccardo's voice echo across the cafeteria, and her heart skipped a beat. She immediately felt the shift in the room—heads turning, whispers starting. Her eyes darted nervously toward Janu and Maya, who had stopped talking mid-sentence, both of them looking unsure of how to react. The last thing Josephine wanted was more attention, especially when Riccardo was being so... well, Riccardo.

Janu hesitated for a moment before standing up, sharing a brief look with Maya. Both of them started walking toward the table, and Josephine's cheeks flushed even more. She could feel the eyes of the entire cafeteria on her now, the weight of her brothers' presence making everything feel ten times worse. Riccardo's voice rang out again, this time with a smirk. "Yeah, you two— Come on over here."

Josephine could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, mortified by how loud Riccardo was being. Why can't he ever be subtle? she thought, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. She shot a quick glance at Matteo, hoping for some help, but he just gave her an apologetic look, as if saying he knew exactly what Riccardo was doing.

Maya and Janu arrived at the table, and Janu, being the composed one, gave a small, polite smile as she slid into the seat next to Josephine. "Hi," she said, trying to make the best of an awkward situation. "You wanted to talk to us?"

Riccardo didn't waste any time. He looked them over, his gaze sharp but not unfriendly. "Just wanted to make sure my sister is in good hands," he said, his voice casual but laced with that protective edge Josephine knew too well.

Maya supressed a smile and streched out her hands. "Can't judge if they are good, but I washed them so at least they are clean."

Riccardo raised an eyebrow at Maya's response, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. It was clear he wasn't expecting that kind of answer, and for a moment, Josephine could see the tiniest hint of amusement in his eyes, though he quickly masked it. "Well, as long as they're clean," Riccardo said, his tone lightening just a fraction. "Can't have anyone sitting with my sister if their hands aren't washed, right?" He shot a brief glance at Matteo, who gave a subtle nod of approval.

Maya grinned, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Well, then, I guess we're safe for today," she said, dropping her hands back onto the table, her smile playful.



Hello there! :-)

Oblivion hit 100k!!!

Aaaand I've prepared a small quiz ;)

In which order did the brothers call Josephine their sister, and in which context?

Which animal would Josephine prefer?

When did we meet Luke for the first time?

When did Riccardo gain his watch?