We're going to be friends
The White Stripes
0:18 ——•———————————
𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔

𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒎𝒃
𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 11
𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓

☆

𝑱𝒐𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆, slamming the front door harder than she meant to. The familiar warmth of Jody's home didn't comfort her the way it usually did. Everything felt wrong—her dad's decision, the way he had forced her here, the suffocating silence between them. She dropped her duffel bag onto the floor with a thud and rubbed at her eyes, trying to push down the mixture of anger and hurt boiling inside her. She felt like she could've screamed, all that pent up emotion was overwhelming her. She ran both her hands through her hair sucking in a breath trying to steady her breathing.

She finally took a deep breath not allowing those feelings to get to her, she walked looked up stepping further into the living room but barely made it halfway through when a irritating voice she hadn't heard in months stopped her in her tracks.

"Well, well, if it isn't Jovi Winchester."

Jovi froze, her entire body tensing as she turned toward the voice. You've got to be fucking kidding! This — this was going to be the actual death of her.
Ares Cassidy was leaning against the doorway to the kitchen, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. He looked the same as he always did when they'd first met — cocky, dark eyes gleaming with mischief, and that infuriating attitude that got under her skin. His hair was messier than usual, but overall Jovi still wanted to punch his god damn face in.

Jovi's stomach dropped, but her anger flared instantly. Of course, she couldn't have one moment of peace. If he wasn't careful all that anger was going to be directed at him, on second thought — maybe he could do with the humbling.

"What the hell are you doing here, Ares?" she snapped, taking a step forward, her voice sharper than she intended.

Ares shrugged casually, like he wasn't the last person she wanted to see right now. "Guess we're roommates for a while. Jody took me in after I got kicked out of another school. Lucky you, huh?"

Jovi felt her blood pressure spike. She couldn't believe this. This was who she was going to be stuck with? On top of everything else, her dad thought it was a good idea to send her here when Ares Cassidy, of all people, was around? It felt like a cruel joke, one she was very much not in the mood for. The universe was throwing her the middle finger saying a big fuck you like she deserved this.

"Great," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. "Just what I needed."

Ares's smirk widened as he stepped closer, eyes narrowing like he was sizing her up. "Don't tell me you still find me annoying? I'm a changed man"

Jovi stepped forward, her face inches from his now, her eyes blazing with fury. "I don't have the patience for this. Not today."

Ares's expression shifted, losing some of its amusement. His smirk faded, and for a moment, his eyes flickered with something like curiosity. "Tough day, huh?"

"Don't," Jovi warned, backing off and grabbing her bag from the floor. "Just stay out of my way."

She turned to leave, heading toward the stairs. All she wanted was to get as far away from him as possible. The last thing she needed right now was his attitude making her even angrier than she already was.

But Ares, never one to know when to shut up, called after her. "You're really gonna sulk all day? That's not the Jovi I remember."

Jovi froze on the stairs, her grip tightening on the banister. She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to turn around and tear into him. He had no idea what kind of day she'd had — what it felt like to be forced out of her own life, to be abandoned, in a way, by the one person she trusted most. And now, having to deal with him?

She didn't turn around, didn't let him see how much his words got to her. Instead, she clenched her teeth and forced herself up the stairs, one step at a time, her anger building with each one. The sound of Ares's laughter followed her up, only fueling the fire inside her.

By the time she slammed the bathroom door shut, Jovi felt like she was going to explode. Her dad had sent her here, to this, without even warning her. And now she was stuck, not only in a place she didn't want to be but also with the one person who could make everything worse.

She threw her bag to the side and sat down on the closed toilet seat, her heart racing, her mind spinning with all the things she wanted to say — to Ares, to her dad, to everyone who thought they knew what was best for her.

But instead, she sat in silence, staring at the wall, letting the anger simmer, unsure of what to do next. Her hands gripping her hair so hard she was sure she could pull it out. She stared at the floor, her mind racing, a knot of emotions tightening in her chest that she could barely keep in check. Everything felt wrong—her dad sending her away, Ares being here, the helplessness she couldn't shake. She was so angry, so hurt, that she didn't even know where to put it all.

Her hands were shaking.

Why did it always have to be like this with Dad?

Her breath came faster and shallower, her chest heaving as the argument played over and over in her head. Dean's voice, sharp and angry. Her own, rising to match him. The way his face had fallen at her lack of response to his 'I love you' — it was hurtful, she knew that but she also couldn't take it back. And then him telling her she needed to go, calling Jody, sending her away like she was a kid who couldn't handle the truth. She wasn't a kid anymore! And he needed to understand that.

Jovi felt like she couldn't breathe.

Her vision blurred, the bathroom walls closing in. Her chest tightened like a vice, the air refusing to come. She tried to suck in a breath, but it only made the panic worse. She gasped, her hand flying to her throat as if that would somehow help her force in more air.

She couldn't think. She couldn't—

There was a knock on the door.

"Jovi? You alright, sweetheart?" Jody's voice was calm, soothing, but Jovi couldn't respond. She tried, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, all she could do was let out a choked sob.

The door creaked open, and Jody's concerned face appeared in the crack. "Jovi?" she asked again, stepping inside when she saw the state the girl was in. She closed the door behind her softly and approached Jovi with slow, careful steps.

Jovi didn't know what to do, didn't know how to stop the overwhelming rush of emotions crashing down on her all at once. Her breathing hitched as tears spilled down her cheeks, unbidden and uncontrollable.

"Hey, hey," Jody said gently, moving closer. She knelt in front of Jovi, her voice soft but firm. "Breathe with me, okay? Look at me. Just breathe."

Jovi tried to focus, tried to follow Jody's calm, steady breathing, but the panic was too much. Her heart was racing, her mind spinning in circles, and it felt like she was drowning in everything that had been building for weeks. For months. Her dad, the Mark of Cain, her powers, The Darkness, the constant feeling that she didn't belong— like she was always caught between being a kid and being a hunter.

Jody placed a hand on Jovi's arm, grounding her. "You're okay, sweetheart. I've got you. Just try to breathe with me, alright? In through your nose, nice and slow."

Jovi's breaths were shaky and uneven, but she tried to follow Jody's calm example, mimicking her deep inhale, though hers was more ragged. Still, Jody didn't let up, staying patient, her presence reassuring.

"In and out, just like that," Jody continued. "You're safe here. I've got you."

The words pierced through the fog of panic just enough for Jovi to grab onto them. She took a deeper breath this time, though it still shook in her chest, her hands clinging to the edge of the sink as if it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

"That's it, Jovi," Jody said softly. "You're doing great. Keep going. In... and out."

Little by little, Jovi's breathing began to slow. The tightness in her chest began to ease as Jody stayed right there with her, guiding her through the storm. Jovi let out a shaky exhale, her body trembling as the flood of emotions started to recede. The panic didn't vanish all at once, but Jody's steady presence made it easier to handle.

"There you go," Jody said, brushing some of Jovi's hair away from her face with a gentle hand. "You're okay."

Jovi collapsed onto the floor, leaning against the wall, her legs too weak to hold her up any longer. Jody sat beside her, not saying anything at first—just being there, her shoulder touching Jovi's in a quiet show of support.

The silence felt different now. Softer. Less suffocating.

After a long moment, Jovi wiped at her face, sniffling. "I-I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I just... I couldn't..."

Jody shook her head. "You don't have to apologize, Jovi. There's nothing to be sorry for."

Jovi swallowed hard, her throat tight. Tears still stinging her eyes. She shook her head, barely able to speak. "He didn't even ask me," she muttered, her voice breaking slightly. "He just... made me leave. Like I didn't have a choice."

Jody nodded, her expression thoughtful but sympathetic. "Dean's scared, Jovi. You know how he gets when he's scared."

She knew her dad was scared after what happened, but it didn't make it hurt any less. "But he didn't listen to me," she said, her voice growing shakier with each word. "I tried to tell him I can handle it, that I'm not a little kid, but he just—he treated me like I didn't matter. Like my opinion didn't matter."

Jody was quiet for a moment, then she turned slightly, facing Jovi more fully. "I know it feels like that. And I'm not saying Dean handled it the right way. But he's scared of losing you. He's seen what this life can do. He's lived it. And you're his kid. That terrifies him more than anything."

Jovi felt the dam break. Everything she had been holding in—the anger, the frustration, the hurt—started spilling out. She looked up at Jody, tears welling in her eyes. "But he doesn't trust me. He doesn't believe that I can take care of myself. He just... he just sent me away like I wasn't good enough."

Her voice cracked on the last words, and she wiped at her eyes quickly, trying to pull herself back together, but it was too late. The tears started falling, and once they did, she couldn't stop them. "I didn't want to come here, Jody. I don't want to be here. I just want to help. I want to fight like they do, like we do. But he won't let me, and now... I'm stuck here. With Ares Cassidy, of all people!"

Jody reached over and gently placed a hand on Jovi's back, rubbing it softly. She didn't say anything for a while, just let Jovi cry. The comfort in that simple gesture, the quiet understanding, was enough to finally let the walls crumble. Jovi broke down completely, the sobs she had been holding in for so long shaking her shoulders as she leaned forward, burying her face in her hands.

"I hate him," Jovi choked out, even though deep down she knew she didn't really mean it. She hated the situation, hated feeling so powerless. "I hate that he sent me away. I hate that he doesn't believe in me. And I hate that I couldn't even stop him. I didn't know what to say. He just—" Her voice trailed off as another sob wracked her chest.

Jody kept rubbing her back, her voice calm and soothing. "I know, sweetheart. I know it feels like the world's against you right now. But your dad does believe in you. He trusts you more than you realize. That's why he's so scared. It's not about you not being good enough. It's about him being afraid that something could happen to you. He's been through hell, Jovi, and losing you would be worse than any monster he's ever faced."

Jovi cried harder, the words cutting through her anger and hitting at the heart of what she was really feeling —abandoned, untrusted, like she didn't matter. She didn't want to be angry at her dad, but she couldn't help it. She felt like he had given up on her, like he didn't see her as capable. And that hurt more than anything else.

Jody pulled her in gently, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and holding her close. "I know this feels like the worst thing in the world right now. But you are stronger than you know. And just because Dean doesn't want you in the line of fire doesn't mean you aren't capable. You're one of the toughest people I've ever met. And I know it's hard to see it now, but this isn't forever. You and your dad will figure this out."

Jovi leaned into Jody's embrace, her sobs starting to quiet down, though the tears kept coming. "What if he doesn't lets me come home? What if he keeps treating me like a little kid?"

Jody sighed softly, resting her chin on top of Jovi's head. "He will. You two are too much alike to stay mad at each other for long. But for now, you need to give him time to come around. And maybe, just maybe, you need to give yourself time too."

Jovi sniffled, wiping at her face again, though the tears kept slipping through. "I just... I don't want to be stuck here, Jody. I want to help."

"I know you do," Jody said, pulling back slightly so she could look Jovi in the eye. "And you will. But for now, you're here. And I promise you, this is a safe place for you to figure things out. As for Ares? Well... you and I both know he's not the easiest person to deal with, but if anyone can handle him, it's you."

Jovi let out a weak laugh, though it sounded more like a sob. "That's the last thing I need right now."

Jody smiled softly. "I know. But you've got me. And I've got you. You're not alone, kid."

Jovi nodded, wiping the last of the tears from her face. The pain was still there, the hurt lingering, but Jody's words helped. Just being here, in her arms, let some of the weight fall away. For the first time that day, Jovi felt like she could breathe again.

Jody smiled, squeezing her shoulder. "We'll figure this out together. One step at a time."

☆

𝑱𝒐𝒗𝒊 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒊𝒆. Was she dramatic? Yes. Did she have reason to be? Abso-fucking-lutely! High school aka hell was awaiting her, from across the room Alex's alarm rang out — she was fighting every urge to use her mind to throw it at a wall. Ares got the last bedroom when he moved in which left Jovi to share a bedroom with Alex — which she wasn't happy about.

She despised school with every ounce of her being, her last experiences hadn't exactly ended well. Even when she was younger and had gone to school she always found herself in trouble, whether it be for running her mouth with a teacher or getting into a fight with another student. Before her dad had gone dark side she attended high school for a short period of time, she thought by keeping her head down and staying quiet she could get through the day without being noticed or troubled but that only made her a target to the popular kids; long story short they made her life even worse. But this time she was determined to make a mark, if she was going to be forced to step foot in that place then she was going to make it her bitch.

She glared at the ceiling, thinking about how much she couldn't wait to get back into this bed at the end of the day. "You want the bathroom first?" Alex spoke from her bed above Jovi, her voice scratchy and tired. Alex was trying her best to make the Winchester girl feel welcome and comfortable knowing how hurt she was from her father leaving her here, she thought she'd take Jovi under her wing she could see the girl needed support even if she wouldn't admit it.

"I guess so" Jovi spoke her voice mirroring how miserable she truly was, Alex sent her a small smile as she tried to lighten the girls mood "you might want to get in there before Ares does, he spends a good half an hour just doing his hair"

Jovi rolled her eyes not at all shocked by the revelation "of course he does, probably thinks his Taylor Lautner..." the girl said as she sat up pushing her messy blonde locks from her face, Alex chuckled watching as the girl stumbled out of the room rubbing at her eyes.

☆

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 from the bathroom she found Jovi stood in front of the mirror wearing some basic blue jeans and a old band Tshirt, the older girl frowned as she prepared to set off the Winchester girl "are you wearing that?" Jovi glanced at Alex in the reflection, her brows furrowing and eyes confused. "Yeah?" Was Alex seriously judging her? It was nearly 7:30 in the morning why would she want to look like Barbie?

Alex sighed taking steps towards the girl "don't take this the wrong way but this..." she gestured to Jovi's outfit "it's a bit basic, don't you want to make a great first impression?"

Usually Jovi would be telling Alex to kiss her ass but she wanted this time to be different, she wanted to fit in and make friends and climb the social food chain which Alex was apparently climbing so maybe it'd be best to listen to her...

Jovi sighed her jaw clenched as she turned to Alex "I don't have any different clothes"

A excited grin came over the raven haired girls face.

After a whole fashion show and many no's the two finally came down to a decision, Jovi now stood in front of Alex sporting a solid white mini skirt, a cream jumper that was tucked in with white cleated boots Alex had lent her. It was a miracle that they even fit her but either way Jovi actually liked how she looked, she felt normal...like she wasn't a hunter or had weird powers. Alex had also applied mascara and concealer with a finishing touch of lip gloss to Jovi's face, when the blonde looked into the mirror she actually felt pretty like she could walk into that school and make sure everyone knew her name.

Alex smile widened taking in her masterpiece with proud eyes "perfect, your perfect" she told the girl who's cheeks reddened in embarrassment "stop, your gonna boost my ego" Jovi told her waving the older girl off, but she loved the compliments. "Wouldn't be the worst thing, the other girls in school all have egos bigger than Texas so it wouldn't be a bad thing to match it" Alex told her as she stood up from her bed grabbing her jacket and bag

"I'm not sure they'd want me to, I could make a grown man cry if I wanted to" Jovi said smirking as she picked up a simple white backpack Jody had gifted her from the floor "that's a good thing. Now, come on let's get some breakfast".

☆

𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕, Ares looking Jovi up and down as if asking what she was wearing and Jody commenting on how pretty she looked. Jovi cringed not used to the simple compliments but she thanked the woman anyways before shooting Ares a glare silently daring him to make a comment but the boy smirked at her not