[Chapter 1] Weirdo
The middle Zeppeli child playfully drummed on his thighs with his fingers, inpatient to leave the car and see his new home. The family of four were currently on their way to a fairly small upper-middle class town. There were three boys, the two youngest in the backseat and the oldest in the front with their dad.
Gyro, the middle child, was the most excited about the move, he didn't really have many friends back in Italy. Most of the kids in his old school thought he was weird and loud, hopefully at this new school he could find at least one good friend. It was safe to say,Gyro was pretty optimistic.
His ten year old little brother, Caesar, was fast asleep in the backseat next to him, his head resting on the pulled down arm rest and cup holder, evading Gyro's space with his fluffy hair touching his arm.
A 'Now Entering...' sign knocked Gyro out of his daydream about something he doesn't even remember now. He looked out his window bright-eyed and excited at the possibilities.
William, the oldest brother, looked back at his little brothers with a smile on his face. Though he would miss his old town and friends, Will knew this was the best choice for his brothers after their mom abandoned them and ran off with her boyfriend. Their father didn't like them talking about her and actually forbade the boys from speaking about her. She was dead to him. A new change of scenery was definitely what the Zeppeli men needed.
"William, is it this exit or the next?"
"Oh, um... the next one I think."
It was not the next exit.
The boys spent the rest of the twenty minute car ride being lectured at about respect and the importance of listening. At the mid way point Caesar had waken up confused and slightly angry at the tone of voice his father was using despite them being in a small car with no need to yell.
He finally stopped when they turned on the street, the moving truck already outside and the movers waiting for the Zeppelis to arrive to let them in, Gyro resumed his spot looking out the window and at all the houses surrounding their new home. All the neighboring houses where huge. And though the Zeppeli's home was also big, it was clear it was the cheapest and smallest house on the block.
Gregorio Zeppeli was a rich man, he was a surgeon after all, and without the high maintenance "needs" of his (ex) wife he had quite a bit of money and savings. But that's all he was. A surgeon. He wasn't a CEO or came from old money but he spared no expense for the well-being of his boys.
Their father left the car to speak to the movers, directing them on where the boxes and furniture belong, his two oldest sat in the car, bored out of their minds, while Caesar fell back asleep. This time, removing the armrest and laying his head on Gyro's lap, selfishly, taking over the entire backseat.
"Boys!" Gregorio loudly called them from outside the car, startling his youngest and causing him to sit up right away and slam his head against Gyro's chin and nose.
The boys cussed in unison in Italian while their older brother harshly shushed them. He could see their father shake is head in shame and embarrassment.
The three got out of the car and walked over to their father, who was now speaking to a wealthy, older looking man with someone who seemed to be his son standing next to him.
"Boys, these are the Joestars. Our new neighbors." Gregorio gestured to the man and his son.
"Nice to meet you guys. I'm George and this is my son Jonathan." George held his hand out for a hand shake. Will and Gyro shook the man's hand, Gyro more excitedly then his brother, while Caesar just stared at George's hand with no distortable facial expression.
Now it was Jonathans turn introduce himself. "Nice to meet you!" he seamlessly broke the awkward silence with a cheery tone and smile. Gyro was impressed by his social expertise and they way he was able to get the two families back on track. "What about you?"
"Well, I'm William, and this is Gyro and Caesar!"
"Oh, are you guys Italian?!" Jonathan excitedly asked.
"Yeah, what could've given you that idea." Caesar rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath sarcastically. Gyro jabbed him in the stomach harsher then necessary.
Jonathan didn't even flinch at the rude comment that he most definitely heard.
Will and Jonathan got to talking and actually had a lot in common. They seem to already be close friends.
George spoke up again. "Why don't we all head inside my and get to know each other?" he cheerfully said. Now Gyro knows where Jonathan gets his bubbly personality and confidence from. "You can even meet my wife and the rest of my family!"
The Joestar estate somehow looked even bigger from the inside. The Zeppelis stepped into a classy old-money-looking foyer. If Gregorio had to be honest, he was kinda jealous. The group heard encroaching foot steps descending down the staircase.
"Oh my word! I didn't know we were expecting guests! Excuse the mess." an middle aged Asian woman walked fast towards the men with a small four year old in her arms. "Should I call down Josuke and Jolyne?"
George waved his hand dismissing the idea. "That's not necessary, Darling. These are our new neighbors."
Introductions and small talk flew between the adults while Will and Jonathan continued their conversation from earlier. Gyro stood silently in between the young adults and adults, bored out of his mind. Since it was school hours Gyro assumed that the older couples only children were toddlers or preschool aged kids.
"Oh boys!" The woman leaded down to the thirteen and ten year olds. "Why don't you kids play in our back yard? Our other kids should here soon so you can play with them."
Gyro, being bored, agreed, while Caesar opted to stay inside with his dad and brother (Still feeling kinda drowsy).
"Diego, I swear to god, get that finger away from me." a short blonde kid said to his 'friend', annoyed at his childish behavior.
"I'm not touching you~" the slightly taller blonde responded cockily before tripping over a rock because he wasn't paying attention.
The duo was walking home from a seeming endless day of school. Johnny looked across the street at the house directly on the other side of his. There was a moving truck. Johnny wasn't aware the house was up for sale, much less getting new neighbors.
After Diego put his hand and finger away from Johnny the two walked in comfortable silence towards their, now shared, home.
Walking through the door Diego is the first to notice the strangers sitting at the dining table talking about taxes or whatever adults talk about, Diego didn't know.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, my nephew and my sons brother are staying with us at the moment." George introduced the strangers to the boys. "This is Johnny and Diego."
Johnny, being polite, shook the man and his older son's, who was talking to Jonathan, hand. Diego on the other hand, hesitantly shook the man's hand but just stared at the one who was with Jonathan with a light glare.
George defended the kids actions by whispering to older kid, 'He's just shy.'.
"Um boys, why don't you go into the backyard, Will's little brother should be out there, go play with him!" George's wife cut in with a smile.
"Absolutely no-"
"Sure!" Diego cut in with a phony smile.
Johnny side-eyed his cousin with a harsh expression but Diego was either unaware or simply ignored him. Probably the latter.
"Great now we have to babysit for our new weird neighbors." Johnny complained.
Diego stayed oddly quiet as he opened the backdoor. His classic smirk plastered on his face.
"Ok, what the hell are you planning?" Johnny aggressively asked. Stopping the two of them right before they reached the door.
Diego turned to face his cousin, smile in tow. Somehow making Johnny feel both angry and uneasy.
Diego wasn't book smart in any sense of the word, but he sure was street smart. In reality he that smirk could've meant anything, and it both terrified the blonde and intrigued him.
"Whatever do you mean Jojo?" Diego batted his eyelashes at the other, innocently.
Johnny was not impressed.
"Why are you so insistent on come out there and playing with some weird Italian kid?!"
Diego shrugged as the two continued walking. He put his hand on the doorknob and pushed. "I don't know actually. I think it could be fun!"
"Fun?" Johnny asked as they entered the massive backyard. "Do you're just doing this to humor yourself? Jeez, I knew you were dumb but thi-"
Johnny stopped dead in his tracks.
Sitting by himself by the big tree in the center of the Joestars massive backyard was a boy, around their age, with long light brown or dirty blonde hair (Johnny couldn't tell from this far). He had on a grey cowboy-looking hat on with googles (?) sitting on top of it. The stranger was wearing jeans far too big for him with an oversized green flannel shirt being used as a jacket.
Johnny was mesmerized by their new neighbor.
Gyro looked up from leaf he was picking at and saw two boys approaching, (actually it was more like one boy approaching and the other standing still staring at him).
The taller blonde spoke up first. "Hey, you must be our new neighbors!" as he spoke Gyro noticed the fake cheeriness in his voice and the sinister intentions the Italian could see in his body language. Actually that was a lie, the first thing Gyro noticed was his very strong cockney accent.
None the less Gyro stood and shook the kids hand.
"And this," the blonde grabbed his friend who was still staring dumbfounded at the Italian. "Is my friend-"
"Cousin" the other interrupted with an eye roll. Gyro liked him already.
"Dear friend, Johnny!"
As Johnny got closer Gyro could see him more clearly now. He had long blonde hair, only slightly shorter then his own, and was wearing a beanie that covered most of the top of his hair. The boy was wearing a oversized blue hoodie with stars on the sleeves.
Despite his average-ness, Gyro couldn't look away.
Diego looked at the two conversing with a genuine smile on his lips.
Diego honestly had no idea why he was so instant with meeting their neighbors. But he did know one thing, if he hadn't got Johnny to follow him into the backyard neither of them would've met their soulmate (as cheesy as that sounds).
But hey it's a fun story to tell at their wedding. And Diego is pretty excited.
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