The Old Therebefore

episode six , quid pro woe

WEDNESDAY sat in her bedroom, knowing but disregarding the fact her love may or may not have helped planned the ridiculous surprise party. "Careful," Wednesday didn't turn to look at Thing, "that's my cold shoulder."

Enid turned from the other side of the room. "Don't blame Thing, the part was my idea." It was, that part was true. But she had requested Josephine's help, to which she begrudgingly did; this was her girlfriend, how was she not supposed to help their (possibly) mutual friend in planning a party? "I believe everyone deserves to be celebrated on their birthday."

"I preferred to be vilified." Wednesday waisted no time slashing down Enid's point of view about birthdays with her quick witted words.

"What happened anyways, it looked like you were having a seizure?" Enid gave both Wednesday and Josephine a concerned look. Wednesday huffed with annoyance.

"I wasn't that lucky." There was this awkward silence as Josephine looked between the two.

"Can I at least get some kudos for pulling one over on you?" Wednesdays sent going to tell Enid that she suspected this party, due to Enid's suggestion to go to the crypt. Everyone knows Enid hates dead things, and everything that would typically up Wednesday's alley.

Wednesday put her pencil down in anger and stared at the colorful girl. "The subterfuge was impressive." Was all Wednesday said, her tone crystal clear with annoyance. Thing was pulling out a box from under Wednesday's bed, Josephine grabbed it, accidentally filing Thing across the room and onto Enid's bed. Josephine handed the gift to Wednesday. There was a card written in posh handwriting, "'May your sixteenth be as sour and misery-filled as your desire. Your ever-doting mother and father.'"

"They asked Josie to hide it before they left on Parents' weekend." Enid claimed as Wednesday opened a taxidermy kit. "Ew! That's so gross." Enid gagged as Josephine rolled her eyes.

"I would have preferred live squirrels." Wednesday antagonized as Enid walked away. Wednesday continued fiddle with her gift, Enid came back over with her own gift.

"While we are still accepting gifts." Enid trailed off with her sentence. Wednesday opened it, revealing a crochet object in black and white.

"What is it, exactly?" Wednesday saw out of the corner of her eye, Josephine signing the letters 'S-N-O-O-D' to her.

"It's a snood, silly!" Enid gave a perky smile. "I made it in your signature colors. And you want to know the best part is?" Enid pulled two things from behind her, one was pink and the other was blue. "I made us all one!" Wednesday stood in stunned and almost slightly disturbed silence. "We can wear them together to class."

"Oh, Enid..." Wednesday didn't know who the break the news without being rude, "this is far too unique to wear to something like class." Was all the author could think of. "I suggest we wait for a more special occasion, like a funeral." Enid's excited atmosphere dimmed at the word 'funeral'.

"Oh." Was all Enid could mutter out.

🦇

While Wednesday was away, out on her own investigations and visiting Eugene. Josephine was at the old abandoned theater. Sitting the seats within the first front row, Josephine wrote in her notebooks.

"I knew I'd find you here, Florence." The boy from a few months ago, Neville, appeared behind her. The boy that Josephine had been avoiding for months suddenly appeared behind her.

"Why are you here, Fortescue?" Josephine didn't look up at him, and didn't meet him in the eye.

"You know, you haven't changed much since we were kids, except for the whole talking thing." Neville didn't answer Josephine's question, he couldn't have been bother too. "We had a deal."

Josephine scoffed. "You had a deal with that wench of my mother, not me." Josephine stood up, and tried to walk away, but Neville touched her back.

"I know you don't actually like that Wednesday girl. She's a freak, Florence." Neville was smacked in the face by Josephine's book.

"You know nothing about us, you didn't even know me. What happened years ago is dead, besides. If anyone should know about being a freak, it's you? Leave me be, we aren't friends and we never were." Josephine walked away and up to the second level of the old theater.

"I know you want me, Florence." Neville called as Josephine scoffed again, but quieter.

"The only place I where I would want you, is six feet under ground." Josephine snarled at him, walking away as he ever got closer. "You don't know me, and you will continue to not know me. I need you to leave."

"I'm not leaving without you." Neville blushed.

"Thats unfortunate." Josephine walked back down the stairs and out of the theater; she walked into town where she made her way to the Sheriff's office. But she couldn't get to it since there were a shit tone of police outside of the Weather Vane.

Josephine sighed as she walked inside to see just the man she wanted to see, the sheriff. Talking to Wednesday. Joy. "Sheriff." Josephine stomped her leg multiple times trying to get his attention. It didn't get his attention. Nothing did, he and Wednesday we knew deep into her statement about why she once again was stuck in the middle of a crime scene.

"Josephine." Wednesday packed up her things and went to go grab Josephine's arms. "What's wrong?"

"This boy has been stalking me, he would leave me alone." Josephine had noticed Neville watching her, around corners; in the library, during class. "Sheriff." Josephine stomped her foot again and the sheriff turned around.

"The deaf girl; what are you doing here?" The sheriff sneered, he didn't like Josephine one bit. He had his opinions of her, and Josephine definitely had her opinions of him.

"I came to speak with you." Josephine gave an almost bored sign, she need to get this over with (that's if he believed her anyways).

"Miss Addams you're going to have to translate." Sheriff shrugged, he knew Wednesday could speak ASL.

"She needs to speak with you." Wednesdays repeated; already tired of the sherif's attitude.

"A boy has been stalking me, I need to file a restraining order against him." Wednesday translated Josephine'e word quickly as the sheriff sighed.

"His name?" The sheriff got up from his seat in the Weather Vane booth and walked over to the two girls.

"Neville Fortescue."  Josephine thought back to her interaction earlier that day.

"Please, that boy wouldn't hurt a fly, besides. He brings for the sheriff's office every Sunday." The sheriff dismissed as Wednesday's blood started to boil with anger.

"Don't let your bias get in the way of solving crimes sherif." If Josephine hadn't been holding Wednesday's hand, Josephine as sure that the small black haired girl was going to smack the sheriff right across his stupid face. Wednesday glared that the older man. "If you're not going to do anything, I will."

"I'll think about it."