Trust
The clean-up would be easy enough, she was in a bathroom stall after all. If she just gripped the offending object hard enough, surely it would shatter into millions of tiny glass fragments.
Wednesday's eye twitched again as she stared at the images.
'Fun times or wrong guy😳'
They were of her and Caspian at the Bash. The first was of her smiling as she spoke to him. Wednesday was slightly disturbed by the width of her grin. The second was of their faithful handshake and the last was of her dragging Enid past his bewildered face.
They were all taken from the perspective of the mosh pit of inebriated adolescents, which meant there was no way for Wednesday to know for sure who took it.
She stormed out of the washroom, nearly shoving past a gaggle of perturbed girls.
She darted her eyes up, barely making out Thing's shadowy figure scurrying along the rafters. She'd have to inform him of the new developments. The hand has been trailing her in public spaces ever since the attack. His main priority was to keep watch for any suspicious phone usage in her vicinity. Which was an alarming amount from what he says. Of course, Wednesday will need a larger sample size to make any definitive conclusions.
The stalker has been quiet lately, so why they decided now was a good time to send her a picture was suspicious. Did they know she was in the washroom? And why a picture of the Bash which was now three weeks ago? Why not something more recent? Did the stalker somehow know they were being watched?
Wednesday was so caught up in her own thoughts she almost walked straight into the dining hall. She stopped just short of the oak doors, checking the time
She was five minutes early to her daily lunch with Caspian.
Well, a daily lunch insinuated a consensual gathering with emotional benefits for both parties. In reality, it was more like a strategically planned interception.
The only real alone time she had with him was in Botany, but even then he made his disdain painfully clear. He would sit at the most extreme edge of their shared desk, eyes stoically forward. Any motion Wednesday made to speak with him was met with a dangerous side eye that would have a lesser person trembling. Luckily for her, Wednesday got as good as she gave and was able to weather his storm.
She recalls the countless times she tried to speak with him outside of that classroom. In fact, she's memorized the exchange down to the exact words.
“Can I sit here?”
“No.”
“Very well.”
It was as simple as that. Wednesday would go to approach Caspian, ask to join him, get rejected with a rather nasty look, and leave. The last thing she wanted to do was pressure him, but how was she supposed to take initiative if she was deterred at every turn? She was quickly finding out that being the proactive person in a budding friendship was tiresome work.
Wednesday wasn't sure how Enid and company did it last term. If anything, it made her more grateful for their efforts.
Trying to talk to Caspian Lee was like casting a lure out into a minefield. She was eager for any small quiver of her rod, any sign that the outgoing boy she knew he could be. But one wrong move could blow up in her face.
And blow up in her face it did.
Her last attempt at speaking to him alone went just as badly as one could expect. She apparently caught him in quite a mood that day.
“Can I sit here-”
Before she could even get her last words out, her tray suddenly snapped in two, the contents spilling all over her. Gasps and concerned words soon filled the air around them.
Wednesday held the broken tray up to her eyes, then shifted them to Caspian. It was cleanly cut in two. The boy merely looked at her once, his bitter features not even allowing a smug smirk as he went back to eating. Wednesday assumed Caspian would be more selective with his magic use in public, but she was apparently still free reign.
It was clear he still wasn't fond of her, but he seemed to tolerate her existence if she was in a group setting. So she always made a conscious choice to approach him with at least two of their friends.
He's never spoken to her directly and was quite cold, but at least he wasn't outwardly trying to ward her off.
Wednesday shook her head at the sound of the bell. With one last glance at the clock, she entered the dining hall. Her eyes were immediately drawn to his table, Caspian was already seated opposite Ajax and Yoko. It would appear Enid and Xavier were running late today. She quickly got her food. Clutching her tray, she took in a deep breath before approaching the trio.
“So that's why I honestly don't think it was his best album. Like I could be biased, I mean the first time I stoned myself I was listening to…Oh hey, Wednesday.” Ajax greeted.
Caspian sized her up before turning his attention back to his fish and chips. Yoko was sitting next to him, Wednesday unable to read her reaction through her tinted glasses. The only one who looked mildly thrilled at her arrival was Ajax, who flashed her a polite half-smile. The kind you give when you're mutual friend wasn't around.
“Ajax, Yoko,…Caspian.” Wednesday's eyes lingered on the latter. “What were you discussing?” She tried as conversationally as she could, delicately taking the empty spot next to the Gorgon.
Ajax's mouth fell open before snapping shut. “M-my favourite Tyler the Creator album. I know Iggor is like, the end of the conversation, but I think Flower Boy is peak Tyler…”
Wednesday merely nodded in fake understanding, going to prepare her soup. An awkward silence blanketed them. It was clear that everyone was still a little put off by her attempts at actually joining the conversation.
To be fair she wasn't too comfortable with it either.
Ever since she'd actually been able to sit with Caspian, she'd made a conscious effort to appear 'normal'. Either as being an active participant or attempting a laugh at one of their terrible jokes. Which she only forced once and never again. It came out as a strangled cough and earned her multiple alarmed glances and a near trip to the nurse's office via Enid escort.
Ajax cleared his throat. “Uhhh s-so do you listen to him? Tyler the Creator?”
“No, I'm more into the classics.”
“Right, those late-night cello sessions. It's dope y'know, if not a little distracting.”
Wednesday gave him a sidelong look. “Duly noted…” She tugged on her bottom lip, dragging her eyes over to the real reason she was sitting here in the first place. “Caspian, who is your favourite artist?”
Caspian froze mid fry bite, before grunting. “I don't listen to music.”
“Oh…” Wednesday said tonelessly.
“What are you talking about I've totally seen you listen to music!” Ajax laughed, punching an unamused Caspian in the arm. “Xaviers have been putting him on some emo-underground-rock roll shit. Not hating but it's not for every occasion. Rather that though than what Enid's been feeding him. Enough pop to run an entire Aritzia for a day.”
“I quite enjoy it actually, she gets very enthusiastic when she talks about her music.”
“Dude, you don't have to lie just cuz I'm her boyfriend, you can say her taste in music is ass.”
“I'm not saying that, why... are you?” Caspian's suddenly turned his hardened gaze upwards.
Ajax waved him off. “Whatever, Bianca's been showing him some oldies which are valid I guess. But I'm the only one actually showing him some real music. A little hip-hop, rap, R&b. Tunes you can bump in the gym and get a little faded to ya know what I'm sayin'!” Ajax leaned over and shook Caspian's shoulders roughly who looked like he was on the verge of exploding.
“We got a shared playlist and everything. We would've added you Wednesday, but we weren't sure you had a Spotify account. You can join if you want…I'm sure Caspian could appreciate the classical stuff for…I dunno sleep?” Ajax snorted.
Wednesday spooned some of the soup into her mouth. “I'll consider it. Though I'm not sure how to get a Spotify.”
“Enid's got a spot left on her family premium account. Just ask her.” Ajax grinned but then his phone went off. “I gotta go.”
Caspian looked up suddenly. “Wait where are you going?”
“I was serious about switching out of Vampire Lineage,” Ajax stuffed his papers haphazardly into his bag. “I got a meeting with my guidance counsellor. I'll be back before lunch ends, make sure Enid doesn't eat my brownie!”
Just like that, Ajax left, his outgoing and laid-back aura leaving their table much stuffier.
Caspian quickly turned to his side. “So Yoko- Anddd you're gone. Brilliant, bloody brilliant.” He muttered as the brooding Vampire gracefully got up, stalking over to another group.
It was just her and Caspian now. She was sure he'd get up to leave if it was easy for him, but then again, Caspian was a proud person. He wouldn't just give up his table just because she was there.
Wednesday was just as equally caught off guard by their sudden privacy. She was so focused on interacting with him in a group setting she completely disregarded speaking to him one on one. But she was anything but a quitter.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I'll speak with Enid about that Spotify Premium account, Vivaldi is all one really needs...”
Caspian didn't make any notion he even heard her.
Wednesday bit her bottom lip, perhaps he didn't hear her. “I do suppose Vivaldi would seem inappropriate for more intense activities. For that, I recommend Bach and Saint-Saëns. Rimsky-Korsakov would also be a decent option-”
“Why are you still talking?”
Wednesday suddenly locked eyes with him, her breath hitching every so slightly. “Just trying to make conversation.”
Caspian drew his wand up to the table. “What makes you think-” His voice grew quiet, retracting the object when a group of students passed by. “What makes you think I want to speak with you?”
“I said I regretted how I treated you before-”
“And that makes everything better? How ignorant of you. I mean, what can you possibly gain from this?” he spat back in a hushed voice, stuffing his wand back in his jacket.
“I just…wanted to get to know you.” Wednesday cringed at how dim she sounded. She couldn't think of a better way to word her intentions.
Caspian laughed out loud, electing more stares. “Oh great, the psycho wants to get to know me how wonderful.“ He shot her a sneer, picking at his poor lunch like it insulted his very being. “I know nothing about you, yet you already know everything about me. And don't deny it, I'm sure Enid's filled you in.”
Wednesday clamped her mouth shut, the defence dying on her tongue.
It was true.
She badgered Enid for details about his life which her roommate all but happily regaled. That was one advantage of Caspian keeping his disdain for her private, she was free to get closer to him using their shared friends. She was so very fascinated with his home. Hogwarts, Fantastical Beasts, sorting hats, and dragons. The wait to speak to him was almost too much to bear, but she was unfortunately forced to.
Of her own doing she'll admit. She wasn't the kindest to him at the start, but she had her reasons.
Wednesday bit her bottom lip. “You're right… you know nothing about me.” Then her face brightened. “Let's change that then shall we?”
“Wha-”
“My full name is Wednesday Friday Addams. I was born on October 13, 2006, in Westfield New Jersey. I live in my ancestral home on 0001 Cemetery Lane. I am a descendant of Goody Addams, one of the original outcasts, banisher of Crackstone, and founder of the Nightshades. My mother is Morticia Addams and my father, is Gomez Addams. I live with a younger brother named Pugsly and occasionally my Uncle Fester. I had a grandmother, Eudora Addams. She lived with us up until her demise early this year. My family has two ancestral aids, Lurch, and Thing. I've inherited psychic abilities from my mother which I have yet to master, as well as a knack for swordsmanship from my father. I'm of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent on my father's side and Welsh and Irish on my mother's. I'm 5'1 and weigh approximately 46.72 kilos-”
“Hold on hold,” Caspian cut her off with a cold chuckle. “That wasn't a bloody invitation for you to share your life's biography. I know nothing about you and I'd like to keep it that way.”
“You knew nothing about me, now you do.”
“Oh ok then! I'm glad I now know you have an Uncle named Fester! I'm more than happy to share all my deepest darkest secrets with you!”
Wednesday looked away bashfully, her cheeks warming at his sarcastic jabs. He really could be quite rude when he got like this.
Caspian scowled. “No, you imbecile! Real trustworthy stuff Addams I feel like I knew you all my life.” Caspian roughly pushed his food away, apparently losing his appetite.
Wednesday searched through her mind for more to share with him. What did he want to know?
Well, he just told her he wanted to know nothing.
She chewed on her bottom lip vigorously, stealing glances at the boy. His frustrations seemed to be growing at an exponential rate, steam practically radiating from his ears. Any minute now he was going to get up and Wednesday would have squandered her chance with him.
She had to think, and fast. What did Caspian value? What could she really give him besides a dossier of her past?
“Real trustworthy stuff Addams. I feel like I knew you all my life.”
Trust.
Wednesday suddenly stopped biting her lip, tilting her head up to stare at the boy. Caspian valued trust. That was one of the keys to his friendship. It made sense, trust comes from a place of vulnerability. The very nature of trust insinuates that when you are around that person, you believe they won't take advantage of you the second they get the chance.
Wednesday needed to show that she trusted him so he can have a reason to trust her. For that, she needs to do the unthinkable.
She needed to intentionally put herself in a comprising position. Make herself exposed.
Wednesday's eyes widened in realization at what she had to do. She hesitated, cursing her therapist for the idea of proactivity.
Why was making the first move so strategically taxing?
Caspian made to get up, drawing her from her self-stalling. She quickly drew her phone from her pocket.
“Here.” She slid it over to him.
Caspian had one crutch under his arm, half sitting up. He looked at the screen suspiciously then back at her.
“Just look at it.” Wednesday implored, opening the photo when it was clear he wasn't going to. “That's us at the Bash.”
Caspian's brows knitted together, leaning down.
Wednesday wet her bottom lip, swiping. “Here's us the first day we met.” His forehead creased further at the picture of them sitting at this very lunch.
His eyes finally met hers. For the first time in a long time, he didn't look violently angry with her. Just mildly disturbed and annoyed. “What's all this supposed to be?”
Wednesday hesitated before clenching her jaw. “I have a stalker. They've been plaguing me since the end of the last term. I haven't shared this information with anyone because I simply don't know who it is. It obviously couldn't be you, but…If there's anything that might be of interest, I figured…”
There was a stifling silence, Caspian darting his blank eyes from the screen to her face. Suddenly, he snorted. “You…You have a stalker?” He shook his head smiling. Wednesday could only watch as he gathered up the rest of his belongings. “Oh, I guess what goes around really does come around doesn't it?”
She couldn't help but pout her bottom lip. “But-”
“All I'm hearing is that being around you is not only insufferable but dangerous. Thanks for reminding me of that. Have a good day Addams.” Caspian chuckled again, giving the stunned girl one last glance before ambling away.
Wednesday sat there, confusion clouding her features.
She wasn't exactly sure what she was expecting, but that certainly wasn't it. She supposes she should be glad he didn't completely blow up in her face, but what he gave wasn't any better. She had no clue what he would do with that information.
The ramifications of what she just did suddenly hit her like a bag of bricks. She just shared vital information about a very real and serious threat with someone who absolutely loathed her.
Would he try to find this stalker himself to team up with them? Was he going to tell their friends? Wednesday wasn't sure if she lost her mind or if she simply was that desperate to get on Caspian's good side.
Perhaps it was a bit of both.
She was glad Thing wasn't here to witness that tragic showing of hand. He'd undoubtedly scold her about how this was exactly what he feared.
Wednesday's little side obsession with Caspian getting in the way of the larger plot.
Suddenly the table vibrated, and Wednesday's eyes immediately darted over to her lit-up phone. Her heartbeat quickened.
It couldn't be.
She slowly reached her hand over the table, carefully picking it up.
'He ain't got time! 🤭'
Wednesday's nostrils flared, it was of her and Caspian, not mere seconds ago. He was halfway out of his seat, leaning over her phone.
Wednesday whipped her head towards the direction it was taken from. It was the main entrance, the busiest part of the dining hall. She felt her eye twitch, a flurry of emotions rising in her chest. On one hand, she was bested by the stalker, catching her in broad daylight yet again. But on the other, she felt a wave of immense triumph.
Thing was watching her from close by. Maybe he wouldn't be able to give a direct answer as to who it was but he must've caught something. Even if he didn't, Wednesday could safely cross off half the students in the dining hall all at once.
So that's what she did. She calmly dug around in her bag for a notepad and pen. She struggled to keep her composure neutral as she wrote down name after name, just in case the stalker was still watching her.
They finally slipped up. She was bound to catch them sooner or later, the only question was, who was it?
“Hey, Wenya!”
Wednesday nearly jumped at Enid's voice. She didn't recall seeing her enter at the last minute, and it would seem she somehow got herself a full tray full of food.
Her roommate's smile turned hungry as she caught sight of something besides her. “Oh? Are you gonna eat that brownie?”