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‘’This is taking forever.’’ Wednesday thought stomping form one leg to another.
The day started terrible all the way through for her. The sun woke her up, which was enough of a reason to be extra grumpy this day, and there was also Enid and Ajax being full of love for each other since sunrise. Not that they were not like this all the time, yet it seemed like the sun only made this worse. Another reason to hate that giant.
She would make Thing do this thing for her, yet it was a Saturday morning, and he had his manicure appointment at this time. Great. Amazing. Who else would betray her today? What else life would throw at her today? Guillotine would be nice, and quite appreciative.
Xavier rolled from one side to another in his sleep, unbothered, not knowing what this day has in store for him. If he did, he would wish for that guillotine as well. Or not? Ah, who knows with him. He was just way to everything not to appreciate ‘’nice’’ sunny day. Those artists. Hate ‘em.
He looked so vulnerable, just like a baby. Would be shame if someone would try to harm him. What happened with primal instincts? Did he had no survival instincts? Wednesday was standing there, over his bed, starring at him intensively for around 15 minutes now. 15 minutes and 27 seconds to be exact. 29 now. 32.
Was that kind of creepy of her? Yes. Did she cared? No. Starring at him was way more bearable than listening to Enid giggle while cuddling in bed with Ajax. Wednesday felt uncomfortable feeling going through her entire body at a reminder of their action. Ugh, teenagers.
Finally. Some movement. He was clearly waking up.
This day was about to finally be interesting. NOT because he would be in it. She doesn’t like him like that, or at all. That was her official statement at least.
Just between you and me, she did like him. Shocker, I know. Xavier Thorpe somehow made Wednesday Addams feel soft inside, that at least how she described it in her head. Not just outside, if you observed her body language around him, and other people, you would see the drastic difference that there is. This wall made of stubborn, annoyed at everything, and sarcastic clap backs somehow was gone every time that his eyes met hers. Just like she would have feelings towards him, right?
She blushed around him, her eyes went soft, once there was even a little smile, almost not visible, but there was, and that is what counts. He realized it at some point, yet didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to ruin this for both of them, yet he took this as an opportunity to tease her every damn time he could, knowing very well that she wouldn’t act on it. She could threaten him, but that was let’s say, her love language. Only towards him, Enid, and Pugsley, the others were in danger when she threatened him.
‘’Hello, Xavier.’’ She said, when she was sure that he was up.
Why didn’t she wake up him herself? Why did she wait, and respected his boundaries? Clearly she didn’t respect his privacy, why would she? Did he really need it? No. Yes, that was only her opinion, yet no one asked Xavier himself about his, because we act like we don’t care about him, remember? Or did you forgot it already?
He smirked, not even bothered enough to open his eyes to look at her.
‘’What’s so funny?’’ she tilted her head a little bit on the left. She actually did that a lot when she was interested in something, or intrigued. No, she didn’t understand why he would laugh. There was no reason to do so on such a dreadful day. Maybe he is a mad man?
‘’If you wanted to join, should have said something. I would have made you some space in here. No need to creep up, Addams.‘’ his wide blue greenish eyes were glancing at her softly. If you wonder, if it made her soften her attitude toward him, yes, it did, but she wasn’t going to show that just yet.
‘’I didn’t.’’
‘’What other reason to sneak in my room, and stand over me, like death over a poor man?’’ Xavier licked his bottom lip, feeling the dryness of it. That was one of ticks that he had, along with obsessively scraping the dried paint off his hands after painting.
‘’Maybe, I wanted to kill you. I could do this twice in the time I was there. I could have even took my sweet time.’’ Wednesday was still there, at side of his bed, very intensively looking at Xavier. No, she didn’t want to join in him in bed. That would make her just like Enid and Ajax, the thing that she ran away from not that long ago. Would be ironic, wouldn’t it?
Young artist quickly brought himself to sit on the bed, looking shocked at his little missy. Yes, it was all an act, but the teasing was still there, and he loooved to tease her.
‘’Did you fail an attempt? Where is our good old Wednesday? Did friendship with Enid softened you up?’’
Wednesday’s eyes widened in shook. She didn’t saw that coming. Clenching her jaw as hard as she could, she felt like her teeth are going to turn into dust in no time.
Xavier was glaring at her face as she sat on his bed after the occur of temporary shook. At the opposite side of course. She could not allow for them to be too close to each other. She didn’t like the body warmth of another person to close to her skin. It burned her. Yes, she liked when it burned, but not for this exact reason. This one was just wrong, and it felt that way.
Technically you can’t feel wrong, so if a person with more experience in feeling complex emotions would describe this, they would say, that it is mix of feeling uncomfortable, unsure about yourself, and just a pinch of cozy warmth, that some seem to hate for no reason really.
‘’I am here for another reason.’’ She swallowed her saliva loudly, as she observed young artist fix his messy morning hair, by running his fingers in them. Did it affect her? N(yes)O! ‘’I considered your proposition for a while ago, and decided to let you give me drawing lessons.’’
He couldn’t keep that smile on the inside. The day was a win so far, at least in his book.
‘’So what you are saying, you are here to ask for my help with your drawing skills?’’
‘’No.’’ she blinked. Didn’t he hear what she just now said? Or did he just choose to ignore it? ‘’I am here, to let you do what you seemed to want, which is those exact lessons.’’
‘’Okay. Why do you suddenly need them?’’ he was a bit curious about the reason of her visit, and sudden need of his help. She never just casually walked in to have a conversation with him, it was always somewhere public. So what changed? Did she simply wanted to spend more time with her very artsy friend, or she had something more complex planned? If so, what was it?
‘’I don’t. I simply am giving you the opportunity to become better teacher.’’ Yes Wednesday, lie your truth. Lie as long as it is needed for it to become the truth.
Hey, I just want to spend some time with someone who is not Enid and Ajax would make her sound like she wanted to spend that time with Xavier. Like she would have desire to be somewhere with him, and have fun? Is she able to do so? Anyone knows the answer to that?
Xavier scoffed.
‘’You are such a terrible liar, Wednesday. ‘’
That one was offensive, she did take that one personally. Like, what did he mean? She was excellent liar. She was winning the family lying competition every year since she learned to speak. So it simply makes him the liar in her scenario.
His words met silence.
Xavier was yet once again studying her face with a soft, and a bit sleepy look on his face. It was always just something nice, soft, comforting even? Somehow Wednesday never saw that pure raw anger and coldness look on him. Of course it was her go to face impression, which was, is, and never will be a big secret. It made her consider, what does it take to achieve this? How badly does she need to cross his boundaries? Does she need to make him angry? Or did he just doesn’t have this side? Is it only for some people that he feels that pure despite towards? Would she saw it, if his father bothered enough to show his face in school? Or did Xavier lost his interest towards his father, just like his old man did with him?
She heard that the old Thorpe was quite an asshole towards, well, everyone. Just full of himself snob, that shines on the stage like vampires in the sun. Wednesday would like to fight him. She liked to make his type of people cry. She liked to make anyone cry, but those people’s tears were giving her the most satisfaction of all. Would she call this being protective towards her friend? There is such a possibility. If someone is allowed to make them cry, it is her, Wednesday Addams herself.
‘’Fine.’’ She started to look around the dorm room, pretending to appreciate the drawings hanged around it. Anything not to met his eyes again. ‘’I don’t want to be in the same room with Enid and Ajax anymore, because they make me sick, and I need something to do, or I am going to be charged with double homicide.’’
Xavier got up from the bed, that Wednesday was still sitting onto, quite comfortably to be clear, to get his water bottle of the desk.
‘’That bad, huh?’’ he sat on the chair by the desk, still facing her. Always facing her.
‘’They giggle.’’ She said dead serious.
You and me, we both know that he couldn’t miss that opportunity to mess with her. You wouldn’t either.
‘’Would you like me to talk to them? Set them in line?’’ She had no clue. Zero. Null.
‘’Doubt if it is going to work, my countless interventions did nothing.’’
‘’You would think that talking to horny teenagers would work, hmm…’’ He took a sip of his water with half smile. That was when she started to get it. He was laughing at her. Bustard.
He saw the betrayed something, not really sure what those feelings could be, face expression on her pretty soft face, and just could not act like so anymore.
‘’Okay, so I am going to have a shower, and breakfast, and we can get started.’’
‘’Just make it quick.’’ She followed his movement, by standing up off the bed, and taking one big step to face him. The significant height difference made her look up, just to be able to face him, and there again was the smirk. How could he laugh so much? Is it normal? Is it contagious?
‘’I will try my best. No promises tho.’’
‘’So what are we going to paint today?’’ Asked Wednesday standing in the very middle of Xavier’s ‘’art studio’’.
‘’I don’t know. I usually pain what I feel, or my dreams. Really depends.’’
‘’I don’t have dreams. They ruin my sleep.’’ Of course she did not. No one would expect that miss Wednesday Addams does not allow herself to have them.
Dreams might be nice, comforting even, allow you to solve your inner conflicts, or scare you to the core, bring this wild animal that you hide behind a smile and politeness out of the dark shadow that you hide it in all day long, months even. Don’t worry, it is still alive. It will be there even if you are not, but under no condition do not let it loose.
On one side you could be jealous of that let’s say ability, but on the other, how does it feel like, to be blank page all night?
‘’What about letting go of your emotions? I do not have to bet to know, that you have a lot of it inside you.’’ Instinctively he grabbed ease with canvas already placed on it, and set it right in front of her. There was no turning.
‘’Very well.’’
The painting process was quite calm, there was almost none conversation between the two, just like they could understand each other without using any words. Xavier was looking over Wednesday’s shoulder all the time, making sure she feels like she is in a strict teachers class. This was all in good fun, she knew that, but she felt reassured that he did so, and pointed out what, or how she could do things quicker or more effective. She respected good criticism. It made her work harder, and get better results.
The painting so far turned out to be full of gore, dark, almost overfilled with emotions. If you could see it, you probably would have said, that you can see the anger, madness, and pain that the artist felt with every move of the brush. It was beautiful in it’s darkness, and mystery.
Her teacher was standing behind her, close. Wednesday could feel his body heat on her back, and his breath on her neck as he was there. It gave her chills, every breathe of his made her shrivel a tiny bit. Unnoticeable one of course.
‘’That is impressive, but I think it is missing something. Like a little bit of red maybe…?’’ Xavier dipped his fingers in red paint squeezed out on the wooden table, and in fox like move smeared it on Wednesday’s checks and nose in one long line.
She only managed to hold in her breathe, and before she realized what her companion has done, it was all over. That was brave of him. Way to brave. Like he had a death wish.
Wednesday was not about to be behind on his little game, and thank to her flexibility she turned on her heel just to face him, and with the paint brush that she had for all this time in her small, pale hand smeared his face with grey paint the same way that he did it to her. As she was about to do second stroke of her new art project, Xavier somehow managed, do not ask me how, grab her by the wrist, and pulled her so close to him, so close that their bodies touched, and Wednesday could now with all it’s force feel his body heat. He pulled her hand up, so she couldn’t do any of her twisting out tricks, and looked her deeply in her chocolate brown eyes, as he smiled wickedly at her.
‘’Are you trying to outsmart me at my own game, Addams?’’
‘’No need, I do that without even trying, Thorpe.’’
No, it was not the end of their little trickery.
Miss Addams used her left hand to reach Xavier’s painting palette and get a big generous amount of black paint in her fingers, and whipped it across his lips, as he let her. He did so only because he knew that his revenge would be even better, and as sweet as it possibly could be.
‘’Okay, Wednesday. You win. You outsmarted me, you little rascal.’’ He said, as he let go of her hand, not even for a second breaking the eye contact that they developed.
‘’Weak.’’ She have him a smartass smirk. She liked how the victory felt, especially victory over Xavier Thorpe. It was just waaay more exciting tan any other.
It was a pain to break such an intensive connection. Her eyes felt warm. Yes, you red correctly, warm. There was something that he did, that made her soften her sharp do not come closer attitude, and it showed in her eyes the most. Like she was melting, just so soft, so electric.
Only if she knew that he had a stash of glitter infused paint that Enid gave him, to paint something very cute and nice for her, she would not have celebrated so quickly. He was about to serve her hell in a sparkly form.
As Wednesday turned around to face her painting, with victorious smirk on her face, Xavier looked through a few drawers, and BINGO! He found them. The game was about to begin for real this time. He squeezed a little bit of iridescent glitter on both of his index fingers, and as Wednesday was mixing another shade of grey paint that her painting needed, he smeared it under her eyes going down almost to the corners of her burgundy painted lips.
‘’Your guard is down, Addams.’’ He whispered in her ear, as she froze yet again under his touch. What was happening? Why was he right? Why did she let him do it?
‘’I’m going to kill that Enid.’’ She said more to herself than to him, but suddenly the soft look evaporated and the bad and angry Wednesday has shown up again. ‘’We are not done here.’’ She pointed her finger at him like an angry mother would do before storming out of the studio.
‘’Oh, dear.’’ Xavier said, grabbing his phone from the back pocket of his jeans, and immediately texting Enid. Like, we do not know, what she was about to do to her, right? That was the reasonable action.
‘’I did not know that he would use them for that purpose. Please, do not hurt me Wednesday. Please. Please. Please.’’ Enid screamed in squeaky voice hiding in the corner of the room, behind big teddy unicorn that Ajax gave her.
Was Wednesday angry at her? Of course. Was she going to get her revenge anyways? Yes. Was the only thing stopping her from attacking her roomie was that ugly fat pink horse with extra horn? Maybe?
Wednesday took a few deep breaths, before she sat down on her bed. The day overall was nice. Had a little bit too many emotions, okay, actually a lot, but somehow it did not bother her as much as she thought it would. Not that she thought about getting that close to Xavier. She did not. Do you understand? She did not thought about him at all, are we clear?
‘’So how was your little date with Xavier?’’ Enid asked still from her protection corner, only allowing the head to peak through from under the plushie.
‘’Call it like that again, and the pink donkey will no longer be a problem for me to get out of my way.’’ There she was again, the big (still tiny in height matters) and bad Wednesday Addams.
‘’I would guess it went well. You spent a lot of time there with tall, and gorgeous artist. All alone in small space. Meow. Sounds like good old romantic comedy to me.’’
Wednesday only got to rise from the bed, to do harm, but before she could do so Ajax walked in their room.
‘’Hey sug-Wednesday! Who did you kill today?’’ He asked starring at her in shook. Yes you bet that scared the crap out of him.
‘’Xavier.’’ She said through her teeth, still feeling the rage towards this poor man.
‘’You killed my best friend?’’
‘’He’s alive. For now.’’ Ajax let the air out of his lungs in relief.
‘’Then what is all this on your face? Someone else’s blood?’’
‘’Proof that your best friend is a terrible teacher.’’
The next day has arrived. It was beautiful. Rainy, and cloudy since it started. Wednesday was up all night long thinking how she is going to take her revenge on Xavier. And it finally occurred to her. Fight him with his own poison. Oh, it was amazing. She just couldn’t wait to see his face, when he finds out. ONLY for that reason, there was no other reason that she would want to see him. Are we clear about that?
‘’Can we not make this a daily thing? I like to sleep in on my weekends.’’ Xavier asked as she was yet again starring at him like a creep.
Yes, she woke him up again. No, he did not mind that.
Actually, he liked how she was the first thing that he saw in the morning.
He lied, he really would not mind this being daily thing.
‘’That is simply plan of my revenge, oh my dear friend.’’
‘’Your what now?’’ he was sitting on his desk, looking down on her, as she was on the chair a little bit on the side from him.
‘’I am going to learn you how to play cello.’’ He was shocked to say the least. Why did she planned revenge like that? Why did she want to do it? So many questions, but no possibility of getting a single answer form this little angel of death in front of him.
‘’Okay? How is that revenge, Wednesday?’’
‘’I am as strict teacher, as you are a terrible one.’’
‘’Well, I did not ask to teach you paint. It was simply you wanting to spend more time with me.’’
‘’That is simply not true.’’ She stood up, and he did the same.
She took a step back.
So did he.
And it so went on, until her back hit the wall.
From there was no escape.
But did she wanted there to be one? Or did she do this on purpose? Did all this was a way to get closer to him yet again? To feel his body heat? To be able to stare into his beautiful eyes?
Oh yes, his eyes were beautiful, like ocean during storm. There was something magnetic in them. She could not stop herself from getting lost in them. Why was he so addictive?
‘’Is it, Wednesday?’’ Xavier grabbed her by the waist and pulled her up, so she stood on her tipy toes. Their faces were dangerously close, she knew that, but she did not bother to fight it. No, her standing like a ballerina did not make them the same height. He still had to bend over her, just to still have some space left.
She knew, that he knew, how strong of an effect he had on her. And she knew, what kind of effect she had on him.
Well, this one is not that big of a mystery, like the other, yet… Why not use it?
‘’We start in one hour. Get ready, because it is going to be a torture for you.’’
Wednesday was the one by the cello, as Xavier was resting on the balcony’s railing. The rain has stooped, and this amazing after rain smell was everywhere. It was simply a pleasure to be outside.
‘’First, I am going to learn you, how to tune the cello.’’ She said making sure he is focused on what she was saying.
Yes, it was a torture for him to learn that.
Should have just left, yes, but why would he let go of opportunity to start the endless circle of revenge between the two? This would be a lose, wouldn’t it be?
Truth be told, he was there mostly to admire her play, no other thing mattered. He was the first one that she let to be there when she played. That was something.
‘’You do not listen to me at all.’’ She noticed, before putting away the cello on the side, and walking towards him. He did get a few bow smacks from her just for that.
‘’This is going to be torture for us both.’’