Practice Make's Perfect
"Are you even trying?” Wednesday scoffed, tearing her fencing mask off.
She had just scored a point against Xavier, making it her 10 to Xavier's zero. Even with the odds heavily in her favour, she anticipated him getting lucky at least once.
Xavier staggered back, unscrewing his helmet. “Yeah, I am. I'm just a bit…distracted.”
She appraised his sweaty, heaving form. “Take a 5-minute break.”
“I'm good let-”
“That wasn't a suggestion.” She bit out, striding off the makeshift piste. “I didn't come out here to face the equivalent of a training dummy.”
She heard Xavier grunt in half-hearted protest before he too wandered to his bag.
Wednesday eyed him all the way there, taking a suspicious sip from her bottle. She knew something was off the moment she stepped foot in his art studio. He was setting up the piste in a slow, lethargic manner. Almost absent-like.
Which was strange. For the past few weeks, all he could talk about was their meeting today. Even though Wednesday wasn't as enthusiastic as him, she still came prepared. She brought along a cooler of various roadkill specimens she took off Jorgensen's hands. Like raccoons, groundhogs, and the pick of the litter, a fox.
Wednesday was particularly excited about the fox. She hadn't had the chance to work on one. But when she arrived with a cooler in hand, Xavier almost seemed like he had forgotten about that aspect of their meeting. He sheepishly admitted he didn't have the supplies ready, so she had to trek back up to get her own.
Wednesday placed her bottle down before letting out a small huff. This was unlike him, being this distracted, especially around her. Something was wrong.
She stared at Xavier as he punched away at his phone. She debated whether she should inquire about his change in demeanour or leave it be. After some reflection, she stalked up to him carefully, stopping a few feet away. She rationalized that if she was going to spend her Friday afternoon here, she better make it somewhat enjoyable.
“What's wrong with you?”
“What?” Xavier glanced up briefly,
“Let me clarify. Why are you acting strange? Stranger than usual, that is.”
“I dunno. I guess,” Xavier shrugged. “Midterms and everything.”
Wednesday didn't buy it. “Midterms aren't until after the break. You have the entire week to study for them.”
“Well, not all of us have the luxury of a study buddy now do we?” Xavier bit out before he could stop himself.
Wednesday blinked. Study buddy…
Xavier seemed to stiffen up, quickly pocketing his phone. “I mean…it's” He brushed swiftly past her and towards the cooler. “Nevermind I'm just tired - “
“No finish that thought.” Wednesday prodded, following his long strides.
“Let's come back to fencing later. We should start stuffing some animals.”
“If you think I'll let go of this issue, then you're sorely mistaken.”
Xavier chuckled, his hands hovering over the lid.
“What's so funny?” Wednesday rounded the icebox to face him.
“I just noticed…” He shook his head. “I mean…It's funny…It's been a while since you've been this interested in what I had to say.”
“Well, if it's as incriminating as I think it is, I have a right to object.”
“What happened with not caring what others thought of you?”
Wednesday clenched her jaw. “I don't.”
“So act like it and drop it.” Xavier tossed the lid off with finality. “Let's just move on to chopping up this- Ah Jesus!” He gagged, taking a step back from the frozen carcasses inside. “Gross.”
“Xavier, something is obviously on your mind, and the pressure is building up like a powder keg about to explode.” Wednesday kicked the cooler behind a nearby cabinet. “I'd rather alleviate the pressure now before it can cause any further damage.”
With nothing to distract him, Xavier finally drew his attention to her. Wednesday noted the far-off look in his olive eyes and the faintest hints of a scowl forming on his mouth.
“Do you like Caspian?” He suddenly blurted out.
Wednesday reeled a bit. She was prepared for the conversation to veer towards the wizard, but Xavier's uncharacteristic bluntness was unexpected. Her eyes drifted to the table in the far corner, that very same table Caspian tended to her a few weeks ago.
“No, of course not-”
“Why did you hesitate?”
“Well, stupid questions tend to have that effect on me.” Wednesday took a moment to straighten her fencing jacket. “So this whole thing was about Caspian and me? How childish. I thought you were better than that-”
“Wow, defensive much.”
“Nothing is happening between us.” She ground out more forcefully. “If this imaginary scenario bothers you that much, then I don't see any benefit in me being here.”
Wednesday turned to her belongings, half expecting Xavier to immediately try to stop her or apologize. She was surprised when he did neither. She was about to swing her bag over her shoulder when he finally spoke up, sounding much more weary than before.
“Wednesday wait…” Xavier sighed. “Look, I'm sorry I overstepped.”
Wednesday tilted her head imperceptibly towards him but didn't move.
“I just thought…You told me you weren't looking for a relationship. I was okay with that. With waiting. Then I hear all these rumours and…” She heard his arms flop limply. “I guess I felt cheated. Like you lied to me.”
Xavier fell silent, Wednesday taking the opportunity to sit with her increasingly worrying thoughts. His revelation supplemented with what Bianca said last week confirmed it. People were watching Caspian and her way more closely than she initially thought. Why was everyone so fascinated with them?
As much as she prided herself on her expansive know-how, social behaviour among adolescents was nowhere near her area of expertise. Did her stalker put the whole school up to this? Were they spreading lies to cover their tracks? It would definitely make it easier for them to spy in plain sight when half the school already had eyes on her. Enid's gossip blog has been quiet as of late, but that surely isn't the werewolf's only rumour mill. Not to mention Enid isn't Nevermore's only gossip.
And then there was the odd…way they were apparently discussed about. As a pair. Not just two students working together but as something more.
Wednesday wasn't aloof to relationships. On the contrary, she felt overexposed to it. Her parents, Enid and Ajax, and Xavier are prime examples of just how often it seeps into her life. She just never thought she'd have to visualize herself in such scenarios. With Caspian Lee.
She felt her cheeks warm.
Wednesday thought back to last term and the few whispers about Xavier and her. She didn't feel anything at all. She didn't understand why she was so squirmy whenever she imagined Caspian in this context. Whenever she would picture his tussled hair or grinning face. Or remember the way his sharp features dug into her body as he carried her up the ladder. Or how his distinct vanilla rum scent would randomly haunt her throughout the day.
If it was anyone else, she wouldn't feel this…awkward in her own skin.
“Well…” She cleared her throat. “Rumors are nonsensical.”
The boy snorted in agreement but said nothing.
Wednesday frowned at the continued silence. “Is there something else you want to ask me?”
She turned fully to find a pensive Xavier staring at her with unfocused eyes. “Do you…Do you like…”
Wednesday furrowed her brows.
Xavier blinked, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Do you need to go to the pool this Sunday? I would've thought you'd be against something like that.”
"I promised Enid I would.”
“How about you just drop her off and leave.”
Wednesday struggled for a proper response. She was completely taken aback by Xavier's sudden aversion to her involvement. The party was two days from now. They never outright spoke of it before, but she would've imagined he of all people would be excited for her inclusion.
“Well…Enid does, and I swore I'll be there with her-”
“I wouldn't go.” He cut in. “Trust me, you aren't missing much and it gets a little rowdy. I think you'd find it immature-”
“What part of I swore do you not understand?” Wednesday scoffed impatiently. “And why are you so adamant about this?”
Xavier's eyes darted in a restless battle before shaking his head. “Nothing…let's just start fencing.”
“What happened to Taxidermy?”
Xavier spared a thinly veiled look of disgust at the cooler, signifying there was no chance they'd ever get to it tonight. “Well, I'm in a fencing mood. C'mon now.”
She looked at Xavier, then the cooler, then back at Xavier. She was a little sad that they wouldn't be able to rip open that fox.
Xavier was being exceptionally aversive and closed off today. No amount of prying would seem to get him to unpack…whatever he had hidden behind his gloomy exterior.
But Wednesday wasn't sure she'd be able to properly interrogate him even if she could. How could she when her mind was currently on someone else completely?