taking her threat seriously "turning Jovi into one of your minions, eh, Alex?" He remarked with a chuckle "still trying to get a date with Aria, eh, Ares?" She responded back with just as much sarcasm and sass "it's a work in progress..." the boy replied with tone more of a hushed hiss as he narrowed his eyes at the girl, Jovi laughed mockingly "you? A date? Please, don't make me laugh"

Ares slowly turned his head to face the laughing girl "rich coming from the girl who's never had a relationship"

Jovi narrowed her eyes at the boy with a sly smile "doesn't bother me, you wouldn't even be alive if I hadn't been off saving the world the past few years"

"She's got a point, Ares" Jody spoke walking towards the table, the boy looked up at her with betrayal written across his face "don't worry, Jodes, I know you're only taking her side because she's new round here" Ares shrugged the woman off with a cheeky smile, Jody sent him a look that clearly said she didn't agree with him but Ares turned back to Jovi grinning confidently "see? She totally agrees"

Jovi hummed looking between the irritated woman and smug boy "hmm, sure, totally"

A cars horn sounded from outside which caught everyone's attention, Alex quickly stood from the table nodding to Jovi "that'll be Henry, come on"

The Winchester girl sighed heavily preparing to put on her new high school persona, Ares stood too which made Jovi frown thinking he'd find his own way to school. Ares caught her look a smirk pulling at his lips "Henry's a friend, we're on the football team together" he told her knowing the information would annoy Jovi even more because it meant she couldn't hang with Alex without Ares being there — she wanted to smash her head into a wall.

Jovi didn't respond to him, instead she grabbed her bag from the hallway slinging it over her shoulder "have a good day!" Jody called out to the three teens, Alex and Ares both responding with a "we will!" While Jovi called out sarcastically "I'll try!"

When they stepped out of the house Jovi was met with a red Jeep sitting at the end of the driveway, she followed after Alex and Ares. As they approached the car Jovi caught sight of Alex's boyfriend, Jovi raised an eyebrow. So, this was Henry.

He looked like a guy with an easy smile and hair that looked like it belonged in a shampoo commercial — he still had nothing on her Uncle Sam though. Said hair neatly parted to the side, blonde curls falling to one side with hazel eyes and sporting a Marshall high varsity jacket — she wasn't sure if this guy would be nice or the biggest douchebag she'd ever met. Guess she'll find out!

As Ares opened the back door, Jovi pettily pushed the boy aside climbing in first tossing a smirk over her shoulder making Ares roll his eyes with a clenched jaw. Henry turned in his seat after greeting his girlfriend, his eyes met Jovi's a friendly smile pulling at his lips "you must be the new girl, Jovi right?"

She hummed "and you must be Alex's Prince Charming? Nice to finally meet you" she said, her voice dripping with mock seriousness. "I was told you have all your own teeth and everything. Impressive."

Henry chuckled, clearly amused. While Alex cringed. "And you must be Jovi. Alex and Ares told me about you."

The girl glanced at Ares who she was sure had probably thrown her under the bus in some way or another, so she turned back to Henry placing a hand over her heart, feigning shock. "All good things, I hope. If not, I'm going to have to rethink my 'World's Best Bad Influence' mug."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Jovi, be nice."

Ares scoffed "yeah, Buffy."

Jovi grinned, leaning back in her seat. "Oh, I'm always nice. I'm just the kind of nice that comes with a side of sarcasm and a sprinkle of inappropriate humor. But don't worry, Henry, if you hurt Alex, I'll only make your life mildly inconvenient. Like, hide-your-left-shoe inconvenient. Or cancel-your-Netflix-subscription inconvenient. I'm not a monster but do feel free to shove Ares here in a locker or two."

"Not cool" Ares hissed at the smirking girl.

Henry laughed, the sound genuine. "Duly noted. I'll keep my shoes close."

Jovi's eyes narrowed playfully as she leaned in. "And your streaming services closer."

Alex groaned, covering her face with her hands. "This was a bad idea."

Jovi shrugged, smiling innocently at her friend. "Nah, this is great. We're bonding. Aren't we, Henry?"

Henry nodded, still smiling. "We sure are. I can see why you guys are friends."

Jovi winked. "Of course you can. I'm the full package — wit, charm, and the ability to make a grown man cry with nothing but a well-placed insult. But don't worry, I save that for special occasions."

☆

𝑱𝒐𝒗𝒊 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 walked beside her friends as she stepped through the front doors of Marshall High School with a confidence that turned heads almost immediately. Her long, dirty blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves, and her sharp green eyes missed nothing as she navigated the bustling hallways. It was her first day at this school, but she moved with the ease of someone who had been through this routine before— though in truth, she was more accustomed to facing down monsters than high school cliques. Although she appeared confident, her heart was racing with anxiety but she wouldn't let these high schoolers see that.

From the moment she walked in, people noticed her. It wasn't just her looks — though she was undeniably stunning — it was the way she carried herself, like she owned the place without even trying. Jovi was no stranger to being the center of attention; in fact, she thrived on it in her day to day life. She knew how to play the game, flashing a smile that was equal parts charm and challenge to anyone who dared to stare too long.

As she sauntered down the hall, she could hear whispers ripple through the student body.

"Who's that?"
"Is she new?"

Jovi caught snippets of conversations as she passed by, her lips curling into a smirk. It was all too easy.

Alex leaned over a smile on her face "centre of attention already? Sure know how to make your mark" Jovi chuckled looking back at her friend "I'm a Winchester, what do you expect?"

Alex pulled a piece of paper from her bag holding it out to Jovi "so I got your schedule from the office yesterday and your locker combo, which is conveniently near mine. So come on, I'll show you the way" Jovi let Alex lead her to her locker, the two boys following behind talking between each other.

When they reached her locker, Jovi and Alex figured out the lock and combo, the boys still talking beside them but then a new presence joined the conversation. Turning her head, she found herself face-to-face with yet another varsity wearing boy. With his tousled brunette hair, dark brown eyes, and an easy, confident smile, he was the kind of guy who made girls swoon without even trying. And he knew it.

"New girl, huh?" Blake said, leaning casually against the locker next to hers. His voice was smooth, with a hint of amusement with also a thick British accent that almost made Jovi's heart flutter. "Blake, meet the annoyingly sarcastic, Jovi Winchester" Ares spoke with a overly dramatic mocking voice "she's a little rough round the edges but she's a badass in her own way" the boy continued shooting the girl a knowing look, Jovi narrowed her eyes at him though she'd take the badass compliment. "thanks for the introduction, Ares" she said through clenched teeth glaring at him, she would've liked to have given her own introduction but no this annoying little bastard had to go and do it for her...if she had her gun she would've shot him.

The boy stepped forward offering a hand "I'm Blake, by the way. Welcome to Marshall High. Need any help finding your way around?"

As she took his hand, Jovi didn't miss the way his eyes traveled over her, taking in every detail. She had to fight back a blush, trying to keep herself from breaking character and giving this boy the satisfaction of knowing he made butterflies form in her stomach. She raised an eyebrow, meeting his gaze with a boldness that caught him slightly off guard. "Thanks for the offer, Blake," she replied, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm, releasing his hand. "but I think I can handle it. Unless, of course, you're offering to be my personal tour guide. You look like you know all the best spots."

Blake's grin widened, clearly enjoying the banter. "Oh, I definitely do. I could show you around—maybe even introduce you to some of the local legends." He winked, his tone suggestive. Ares rolled his eyes fighting back the urge to gag dramatically meanwhile Alex was biting her lip trying to fight back a smile.

Jovi chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "Legends, huh? I'm more interested in making my own. But I wouldn't mind seeing what this place has to offer. Who knows? Maybe I'll surprise you."

Blake's eyes sparkled with intrigue. He wasn't used to girls who could match him word for word, and Jovi was proving to be more than just another pretty face. "I like surprises," he said, his voice lowering just a touch. "So, what do you say? Let me show you around, and maybe you can teach me a thing or two about making legends."

Jovi leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper that only he could hear. "Careful, Blake. You might find out I'm not like the other girls around here."

Blake's smile never wavered, but there was a new glint of curiosity in his eyes. "I'm counting on it," he said softly, before pulling back with a smirk that matched hers. "Catch you later, Jovi."

As he walked away, Jovi couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. She'd caught the eye of her year groups golden boy on her first day, and she had a feeling this was only the beginning. She watched him go for a moment before turning back to her locker, her smirk still in place.

"You done flirting now?" Ares spoke irritation in his tone as he placed a hand on his hip, she turned raising a brow "hardly, but I'm just making friends. Nothing wrong with that"

Henry lazily slung an arm over the boys shoulder "yeah, man, lighten up. It's sweet plus Blake could use with a little humbling and a girl who's going to challenge him" Ares jaw clenched in annoyance a frown on his face "sweet? More like revolting..."

Alex laughed lightheartedly "let's not get ahead of ourselves, they've only just met"

Jovi sent Ares a smug grin just as the bell rang signalling class "look at the time? Well, it's time to divide and conquer. Apparently math is calling my name—unfortunately" the girl spoke sighing heavily, Ares then responded "great, I'll walk you. According to you're schedule we share a few classes"

Jovi's face fell into disbelief "you've got to be shitting me"

Ares now grinned entertained "yep, suck it up otherwise it'll be a long year for both of us. Come on, Winchester, Mr. Thompson doesn't like late comers" he walked towards her throwing a arm around her shoulders guiding her int he direction that they needed to go but Jovi glared up at him "remove you're arm before I break it"

He didn't hesitate before quickly removing his arm knowing full well she really would break it. Jovi sent one last helpless glance over her shoulder to Alex who only laughed waving bye to her leaving Jovi with Ares and math — a duo that would be the death of her.

☆

Mr Thompson. God, did Jovi already hate him. Here she was standing at the front of a full class while he introduced her because nothing was better than being forced to stand in front of a judgmental audience and state your name and something about yourself. It was so embarrassing! And to make things even worse Ares was grinning at her like a Cheshire Cat and Blake was sat in the back his eyes watching her closely.

"Class, this is our new student Jovi Winchester" he introduced like he was expecting an applause from his very uninterested and bored audience. He looked at the girl who held her head high with confidence trying to mask the awkwardness in her chest "is there anything you want to tell us about yourself?" He asked her with a kind over enthusiastic smile, she turned to look at him responding bluntly "not really"

He shifted awkwardly before gesturing to the seats "okay, why don't you take a seat next to Katherine?" He said nodding towards the girl near the back of the room who was beside Ares, she had brunette curls tied up into a messy bun, her chocolate skin flawless and doe eyes bright. She was wearing light blue jeans and a white T-shirt that was tied into a knot in the front. Jovi liked her style, she moved towards the girl taking a seat beside her. Katherine sent her a kind smile, Jovi looked her over.

"Nice outfit," Jovi said with an approving nod. "Very mysterious, hides the personality but in a stylish way. I approve."

The girl smirked, her brown eyes flicking up to meet Jovi's. "Thanks. I like yours too but I can tell by how you carry yourself that you say 'I'm here to cause trouble, and I brought snacks.'"

Jovi grinned. "You read me like a book. I'm Jovi."

"Kat," the girl replied, extending her hand with a firm shake. "So, first day, huh? You've got that 'new girl but not new to this' vibe."

"Yep," Jovi said, popping the 'p' with a grin. "First day, but I'm a seasoned pro at this whole 'new school' thing. Just looking to make my mark before I inevitably have to skip town again."

Kat chuckled, clearly entertained. "Well, you're off to a good start. We could use some excitement around here. This place is as dead as a ghost town without the cool ghosts."

Jovi was about to reply when she noticed Ares glaring at her from the other side of Kat. He leaned over interrupting their conversation "I wouldn't be fooled by this one Kat, she's the nightmare dressed like a daydream."

"Glad I asked for your input, Bieber" Jovi shot back sending him a saccharine smile, then turned back to Kat who glanced between them "you two know each other?"

Jovi sighed "unfortunately"

Ares narrowed his eyes saying "she's quite the charmer"

Kat laughed, a genuine sound that Jovi immediately liked. "I think I'm gonna like having you around."

"Likewise," Jovi replied, leaning back in her chair. "I could use a real partner in crime. Especially one with a sense of humor and an eye for style."

Ares rolled his eyes turning his attention away from the girls and towards the lesson

"Consider me recruited," Kat said with a grin. Just then, the teacher finally decided to start the class, droning on about numbers and letters and more irrelevant information the girl knew she'd never use. Jovi tuned him out, already planning ways to spice up the day. With Kat by her side and Ares unwittingly providing target practice, she had a feeling this school might be more fun than she'd initially thought.

As the class went on, Jovi and Kat exchanged sarcastic remarks and shared a few whispered jokes, solidifying their newfound alliance. By the time the bell rang, Jovi knew one thing for sure: high school just got a lot more interesting.

☆

𝑱𝒐𝒗𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑲𝒂𝒕 strolled down the hallway together, dodging clusters of students and heading toward their next class. The morning had been a whirlwind of introductions and awkward icebreakers, but one encounter stood out in Jovi's mind like a neon sign: Blake. Tall, dark eyes, and infuriatingly charming and the grin that was somewhere between cocky and devastatingly attractive. He already filled her thoughts which was annoying Jovi already but she didn't mind too much...

Kat nudged her with an elbow as they walked. "So, about Blake. I saw him talking to you earlier. What's the verdict?"

Jovi smirked, trying to play it cool. "Oh, you know, just your average 'guy with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass' situation. He introduced himself offered to show me around, we had a quick conversation which ended in him saying 'maybe I could teach him a thing or two about making legends' it was annoyingly attractive"

Kat laughed, but there was a hint of something serious in her expression. "Yeah, that sounds like Blake. He's got that whole 'smooth talker' thing down to a tee."

Jovi could feel her heart rate quickening just thinking about him. What was happening to her?! One conversation with this boy and all her morals go out of the window! "He's not just a smooth talker, though. He's got this... I don't know, this energy. Like he's always one step ahead of everyone else."

"That's because he usually is," Kat said, her tone shifting slightly. "Look, Jovi, I like you, so I'm going to be straight with you. Blake's trouble. Not in the 'bad boy with a heart of gold' way, but in the 'he'll mess with your head and make you question your sanity' way."

Jovi raised an eyebrow. "That bad, huh?"

Kat nodded. "Worse, actually. He's got a reputation for making girls feel like they're the only one in the world, and then, when they're hooked, he pulls the rug out from under them. He's left a trail of broken hearts behind him, and half the time, he doesn't even bother to look back."

Jovi chewed her lip, a habit she only fell into when she was really thinking. "So, he's a player. That's not exactly a shocker."

"It's not just that he's a player," Kat insisted. "It's that he doesn't seem to care. To him, it's all a game, and everyone else is just a pawn. I don't want to see you get hurt, Jovi."

Jovi appreciated the concern, she really did, but there was something about Blake that made her stomach do flips, and it wasn't just the way he looked in that varsity jacket. "I hear you, Kat, but... I don't know. Maybe I'm just a sucker for trouble, but there's something about him. Maybe I'm just curious. Or maybe I like a challenge."

Kat gave her a look, half amused, half exasperated. "You're definitely looking for trouble if you're thinking about Blake. But hey, I'm not your mom. Just be careful, okay? The last thing I want is to have to go all 'best friend mode' and hunt him down if he breaks your heart."

Jovi grinned, nudging Kat back. "You've got my back already, huh?"

"Someone has to," Kat replied with a smirk. "Especially when you're making googly eyes at the school heartbreaker. Seriously, though, just promise me you'll keep your guard up. Blake's charming, but he's also got a way of getting under your skin."

Jovi sighed, knowing Kat was right but already feeling that magnetic pull toward Blake. "Alright, alright. I'll be careful. But no promises about the googly eyes. I've got a weakness for a good smirk, and his should come with a warning label."

Kat chuckled, shaking her head. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

"Deal," Jovi said, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "But something tells me this is going to be one hell of a ride."

Before either girl could say anything else, three girls turned a corner appearing ahead of Jovi and Kat. The one in the middle strode down the hallway like she owned it — because she probably did, in some unspoken, social hierarchy kind of way — was Aria. Short, brunette, and practically glowing with that effortless British elegance, she had the kind of beauty that looked straight out of a glossy magazine. Her designer handbag swung casually from her arm, and a couple of girls trailed behind her like an entourage.

"Shit, it's Aria" Kat muttered distaste in her tone, Jovi glanced at her friend "Let me guess, Queen Bee?" Jovi muttered to her friend who hummed "how'd you guess?"

The two acted