Chapter 4
The days following the car ride to hell seemed to drag on painfully slow. It was an endless stream of monotony you certainly would’ve drowned in if it weren’t for Wednesday Addams. Nothing major changed in your behaviors, but there was certainly a shift in the unspoken dynamic between you two that was difficult to put into words.
Your routine in botany remained the same, what with her staring at you and you pretending not to notice, however the intensity behind her gaze was like nothing before. It made the side of your face burn uncomfortably, and some days it got so unbearable it took all your will not to throw your notebook at her for a single moment of relief.
To make it worse, other students were beginning to notice, and the extra attention, mostly via curious glances, was starting to make you sick. The instant class would end you’d hurry out of the room and be halfway down the hall before Wednesday had so much as packed her book bag.
It was a difficult few days to say the least, but it was an oddly nice distraction from otherwise uneventful routines. Besides, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Xavier Thorpe had asked you to the dance.
Unexpected as it was, you said yes. You didn’t know him very well, but he wasn’t half bad looking, plus his goofiness rarely failed to make you laugh. Neither one of you were broadcasting the news to anyone, but that didn’t stop it from spreading like wildfire. You suspected Enid had caught wind of it and that was the swift but savage end to any shred of privacy you and your date may have been clinging to. At least everyone seemed excited about the new pairing; Well, almost everyone.
Ever since the news broke, Bianca Barclay went out of her way numerous times to talk to you, whether it was passing notes in botany or simply interrupting you mid conversation during passing periods. She was always friendly, but you could see the danger lurking just beneath the waves.
Now it was the night of the Rave ‘n and all you could do was pace your dorm and focus every fiber of your being into not throwing your head through the nearest wall.
It was all just too much. You felt too many things and your head was spinning far too fast to single any one emotion out of the horde. You were looking forward to this, right? You liked Xavier after all. Or did you? Did you just like the way it was safe? No one would judge you for being with him, except maybe a few of the sirens. And Wednesday. Oh god would Wednesday judge you for this.
The boards creaked beneath your feet as your steps grew heavier. Your hair parted as you ran both hands through it, grabbing fistfuls at your scalp. With wide eyes you realized what you did, restless feet taking you to your mirror in no more than three long strides.
Gazing at your reflection did little to calm you as you frantically fixed your hair and checked your makeup for the eighth time that night. A quick glance at the clock made your heart skip as your sympathetic nervous system switched into high gear.
You opened your window and leaned outside to gaze tentatively at the bush seven stories below. Survival was unlikely, but you were an optimist.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. You quickly pulled yourself back inside and shut the window, checking yourself in the mirror one last time before smoothing the front of your dress, taking a deep breath, and opening the door.
For once Xavier was speechless, whatever quip he had at the ready loosing itself on his tongue as he took you in. He must have looked you up and down at least four times before the power of vocalization seemed to return to him.
“Wow,” he said, still gawking. “You look beautiful. Like really, really beautiful.”
You laughed lightly and looked down, hoping to hide a blush on your cheeks if one was present.
“No, I’m serious. You were already so gorgeous I didn’t even think it was possible for you to surprise me, but here I am, standing in your doorway unable to form a coherent thought.”
You finally met his gaze, and if you had any doubts in his words, they immediately fleeted when you looked in his eyes. Whatever Xavier was doing must have worked because you found yourself leaning in to kiss him. He seemed a little caught off guard but closed the last few inches, his hand coming up to touch your neck as yours settled on his chest.
It was a soft, sweet kiss lasting no more than a few seconds. When you pulled away and opened your eyes you were met with his half-dopey half-charming grin that he wore so well.
“Is that you’re attempt at looking charming?” You teased with a smile.
“Charming? No, I would say it’s closer to a smolder.”
“Whatever,” you laughed, playfully pushing your hand into his chest.
“As much as I want to hang out with you here all night, we should get going. Preferably before you lose interest me,” he added with grin, offering his arm with a bow. You accepted it, and you two made your way downstairs and into the courtyard.
So far so good. Things were going well with Xavier, you weren’t tripping over your dress, and you were actually grateful you hadn’t flung yourself out your window. Only a couple more hours and you could put this night behind you. But the hardest was yet to come.
As if sensing your apprehension, Xavier gave you an encouraging poke with his elbow.
“Hey, it’s gonna be a blast. Don’t worry about Bianca, I’ll handle her if she tries anything.”
You leaned the side of your head into his for a moment then the two of you strode forward, steps perfectly aligned. Heads turned as you made your way through the courtyard, the pumping bass drowning out your small sigh. If only he knew it wasn’t Bianca you were worried about.
Wednesday wasn’t particularly happy about her forced attendance at the dance, no thanks to Thing, but admittedly this was the next best place to be other then investigating the cave. All of Nevermore’s students and staff in one place. She scanned the crowd again. Almost, all of Nevermore’s students.
“Hey roomie!” Enid popped up out of nowhere, hands clasped behind her back and doing an excited hop. One look at Wednesday and her smile turned into a frown. “Yeesh, I know this isn’t really your scene but sulking seems a little dramatic, don’t you think?”
“I am not sulking,” Wednesday replied with annoyance.
“Oh please, we live together, remember?”
Wednesday just continued to glare at her, causing Enid to sigh and explain something she really didn’t think would need an explanation.
“Those are your sulking eyebrows. You can tell because they’re too low to be your surprised eyebrows but too high to be your ‘contemplating murder’ ones.”
Wednesdays eyes narrowed.
“Uh oh, I better go. When you finish sulking come find me, I’ll be on the dance floor!” By the end of the sentence she was practically squealing, skipping off to find Yoko.
Just then all the air was sucked out of the room. Her chest tightened and throat constricted as conversations all around her hushed. Beneath her sternum her heart sped up slightly, as if it was warming up for the sprint it knew it was about to run. There was only one thing that could make her feel like this.
Wednesdays hand tightened around her glass when she looked at the entranceway. You were wearing a long, white dress, with a slit that reached all the way to your hip, allowing your skin to peek through with every other step. Two slender straps were holding the dress around your shoulders, but since there was virtually no back they just looped right back under your arms to connect to the front again. It fit your form well, but was still modest.
Your hair was beautifully done and breezed behind your shoulders as you walked, exposing your collarbone and neck. Somehow even with everything about you being so heart stopping, your eyes still stole the show. They were glowing with electricity, the lighting only making them appear bluer.
It was only when you turned your face away from her direction that she realized you were with Xavier. The glass cracked in her hand but she didn’t put it down. Someone stood in front of her.
“Need help with those drinks?” Tyler asked, hesitantly waving his hand over her line of sight. Wednesdays thoughts returned to her date. She had been over here quite a while and only managed to pick up one drink.
You and Xavier floated around the room together, drifting from conversation to conversation. It was surprisingly easy, and you were actually really enjoying the night. It was a ton of fun catching up with friends and forgetting about everything else going on outside. No one was thinking about classes or monsters, just having a good time.
Xavier excused himself to retrieve drinks, kissing your hand before he left. It barely fell back at your side before Bianca swooped in out of nowhere, standing in front of you the moment his back was turned.
“Well don’t you two make a cute couple,” she said with a sweet smile.
“Thanks, he’s actually a really gre-“ she cut you off.
“Enjoy it while it lasts, blondie; It won’t be long before he realizes how utterly superior I am to you and comes crawling back at my feet.”
You squinted your eyes and pursed your lips with an amused smile, raising your hands in surrender.
“Hey, if that’s what y’all are into I guess. Feet aren’t really my thing but I’d be happy to throw rose petals down the aisle at your wedding.”
She made a face, not even sure how to respond to what you just said.
“You look really beautiful tonight by the way,” you continued, leaning in with a playful smile. “Trust me, I would not blame Xavier if he did ditch me for you.”
You weren’t sure how she reacted, your attention already behind her to Ajax waving you over. If he wasn’t so high he’d probably look frantic.
“Hey! I love the outfit, white is definitely your color.”
“You’re joking, you’re the one who looks like an actual angel,” he insisted. You laughed at his joke, but stopped when you realized he was serious.
“Like I saw you and for a good thirty seconds I thought I was dead…” he gazed into space, his spine shivering once like he was remembering a traumatic memory.
You breathed out a laugh to ease the tension.
“Uhm, well I promise I’m not an angel and you’re definitely still… alive…” you tried to reassure him, but you were fairly certain he was beyond comprehension of words from a sober at this point. After a few more seconds he seemed to remember you were there and that he was the one who had summoned you.
“Oh, yeah! I was trying to tell you about Enid. Did you see that she’s here with some other guy?”
“Um, no I hadn’t noticed,” you said, glancing around. “Huh, I’ve never seen him before, what grade is he?”
“He isn’t, he’s like totally a normie. I don’t know why she’d want to go out with him, but they look like they’re having fun...”
“Yeah they do…” you said absentmindedly, still looking around. “Hey have you seen Wednesday anywhere? I know this probably isn’t her idea of fun but I still figured she’d be here…” If nothing else then to keep an eye on her suspects, you reasoned, finishing your thought in silence.
“She was here earlier, she might have left though. It’s actually funny you should mention her; When she walked in here with Tyler I totally thought I was dead…”
“Mistaking Wednesday Addams for an angel? That’s something I never thought was possible.” He was definitely on the moon right now.
“No, I thought she was a demon or reaper or something. Dress was sick though…”
Wednesday was here? And she was here with that barista? Why would she ever do that, was she being blackmailed? You almost laughed at that last thought. She’d probably be excited if someone tried something that stupid on her. Maybe she’d even smile.
“Hey I’m gonna go look for Xavier, but you should talk to Enid.”
You smiled and poked his arm, then headed off to find your date. That’s when you saw it, making you stop dead in your tracks. Wednesday Addams was dancing. You were captivated. You couldn’t move. A million questions flooded your mind, but one rose to the top. Why weren’t you the one she was dancing with?
Her movement was breathtakingly beautiful, something so unexpected yet so perfectly her.
And that’s when everything came crashing down on you. Every feeling, every thought, every action, every hope. You were into her. In fact, you were so down bad for Wednesday she could stab you again, as deep as she pleased, and you wouldn’t even mind. She could leave you there on the ground, bleeding out and gasping for air, and you wouldn’t cry for help, or beg for mercy. You wouldn’t so much as shed a tear. And it was terrifying.
You shoved your way through the crowd, running outside and not stopping until you were far enough away that the blasting music was drowned out by your own heartbeat. With your hands braced on your knees you took ragged breaths, not as a result of the activity, but rather the weight of your thoughts. The woods loomed at the edge of the clearing. Maybe if you tried to focus on the chirping of crickets you could escape yourself.
You calmed your breathing and strained your ears for several minutes, but all they were met with was the scratching of branches as the wind grate them together. Strange.
As you stared into the darkness, it stared right back. There was a sudden noise in the distance, and the trees shook rigidly as the vibrations from the explosion reached the edge of the woods. You could barely feel anything; Or see or hear. All you could do was smell. It was a fear so strong it overpowered all your other senses, black fog spreading through your mind, vehemently ravaging your rational thought.
No. You had to fight this. Someone was in danger. You had to help. You were on such thin ice. You would get expelled. You’d never see Wednesday again.
You fought with everything you had, the darkness violently clashing against your will. It pushed back hard, the force almost bringing you to your knees. You wouldn’t fall. You couldn’t fall. You were weak, but not this time. Wednesday would want you to stand.
And so stand you did. And soon enough, when the feelings returned to your limbs, you walked. And as your vision returned to your eyes, you ran. And you followed the overwhelming taste of fear with every once of self control you could muster. As you grew closer the smell grew stronger. You should give in. Just this once. No one would know…
“Eugene!”
Was that her?
“Eugene!”
“Wednesday! I’m over here!”
Eugene was on his stomach, doing fuck-all as the rampaging monster closed in on him. You had to get there first.
Just in time, you stepped in front of the boy right before it could reach him. It slid to a stop, retreating sideways a few steps as it snarled as menacingly as it could at you. You stared it down, the glint in your eye keeping it at bay.
Without warning the monster closed the gap in one swift motion, it’s gangly arm raising up to take a tentative swipe at you. It’s claws tore through your dress, grazing your stomach with a painful sting. You didn’t flinch, standing your ground and burning your eyes into its inhuman pupils. It growled in frustration, but retreated further, giving you one more malevolent glare before racing off into the darkness.
Your feet stayed planted in place and your body remained rigid well after it had disappeared. There was too much adrenaline, too much fear, too much hate. At least Wednesday was here now. You couldn’t see her, but you could feel her presence. Her gravity was crushing you.
The fog in your brain lingered for so long it was hard to make sense of your surroundings. There were some snapping twigs as Eugene stood, and were those pine cones being crunched under approaching feet? They were red. Wait, no, those were boots. Wednesday was the one covered in blood, why was everyone looking at you? Thornhill was too, actually. No. Don’t let her near me, Wednesday. I did well. I don’t want her help. It makes me sick.
There were voices, and you could see mouths moving, but you couldn’t understand them. All your mental capacity was focused on staying on your feet and staying in control. Why were people still afraid? The monster was gone, you chased it away. You grit your teeth together, planting one foot in front of the other as you made your way back towards the school. You had to get away from them.
You un-grit your teeth and suddenly you were in the infirmary. No, that was wrong. You were in the conservatory.