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Her brain cells fried from overuse, Enid let out a whiny sigh and stretched her arms in the air. Even with the spiderweb window wide open, the stuffiness in her dorm room added to her gloomy mood, as she stared baffled at the math textbook in front of her. The pages full of numerical figures looked like another language to the blonde-haired girl. With a pouting face, Enid fiddled with the pencil in her hand, before slowly doodling in her notebook a unicorn. However, the raven-haired girl beside her was having none of that.
"Enid! Pay attention!" Wednesday snapped.
"Eek!"
A vein popped on Wednesday’s forehead at the female werewolf’s lack of concentration. They had been living as roommates for almost three years by now, but Wednesday knew she would never get used to how easily her best friend could get distracted. Snatching the notebook from Enid’s colourfully manicured hands, Wednesday scowled as she skimmed over the few equations that Enid had answered. She let out a disgruntled sound at how many errors there were, her black eyes twitching slightly.
'Forgot to multiply the three. Divided instead of square-rooted. Honestly, this girl...'
"Wednesday…” Enid whined. "I'm bored. Can we take a break right now?"
"Seriously, Enid?! You're the one who came kneeling at my desk and begged me to tutor you for your test in the first place," Wednesday sighed.
"But that's because you get perfect grades all the time," Enid replied.
"Because unlike you, I study," Wednesday retorted. Not that there was really any need for her to, considering that she already learned most of the material years ago. "If you're just going to slack off, I'm going back to writing my novel.”
"No, Wednesday! You can’t leave me for dead!" Enid dramatically cried, grasping the hem of her best friend’s uniform skirt. She quickly released it, out of fear of losing her hands once she saw how Wednesday was shooting daggers at her.
“On the contrary, leaving you for dead is an option I am seriously considering right now.”
“Oh, Wens, how could you?!” Enid cried.
Regardless of having Nevermore’s top student as her best friend and tutor, Enid knew she would never get close to becoming a math whiz like Wednesday. What the hell was with all these complicated numerical rules and weird ass equations?! And when would she ever need to use the Pythagorean Theorem in real life?
"Ugh. That’s it. I give up," Enid grumbled, flopping on Wednesday’s bed, and mashing her face in the pillow. “Whatever. I'll study tomorrow."
"Your exam is tomorrow, you twit!"
"I'll wing it," Enid said.
The goth girl shook her head in exasperation. 'Saying you'll wing it about something you most definitely should not wing...'
“Fine,” Wednesday deadpanned. “I’m not your mother. If you want to fail, that’s your decision.”
Releasing another sigh, she went outside onto the balcony to get a breath of fresh air before working on her novel. Snow was falling lightly to the ground, blanketing the campus of Nevermore Academy with a thick layer of small ice crystals. Some students were tightly wrapped in their warmest coats and scarves, hurrying to get inside as quickly as possible. On the other hand, a small group stood in the quad, clearly indifferent about the freezing weather. From the looks of it, they seemed to be making a snowman. The courtyard was decorated with tinsel and holly, and even the scraggly tree in the fountain was festooned with Christmas lights.
Intolerable familiar spectacles Wednesday would see every winter that were signs of the worst time of the year…
Too caught up in the festive mood, everyone below was oblivious to the girl staring above them as if they were the scum of the earth. Her heart as cold and numb as the snow outside, Wednesday let out a “tch” and headed back inside.
No sooner had she done so, Enid asked, “Oh yeah, Wens, Xavier texted me earlier saying that he and the other Nightshades are planning a Christmas party tonight before we all go home for the holidays. They’ve invited us and were wondering if you’ll be able to make it.”
“I’m already forced to be in their company for the majority of the day during classes,” Wednesday grumbled, sitting down at her desk. “Why would I wish to drain a social energy battery which I don’t even have by spending time with them after hours too?” She began pounding away at the keys of her typewriter, hoping Enid would take the hint.
“Because…you’ll be missing out on the fun?” Enid vainly attempted to joke. “Oh, come on, Wens! This is our last year together before we graduate, and the Christmas season should be about spending time with those we care about most!”
“First of all: your definition of fun and mine are like water and oil. Second: using a holiday as grounds to spend time with people is a terrible rationale.”
Christmas was just utter nonsense to Wednesday on all levels. A time of family and good cheer? What a joke. They seriously needed some bullshit holiday as an excuse? Not to mention all the damn commercialism—spending tons on useless trinkets as a vain temporary way to get empty words of gratitude from others. And the fricking carols! Playing and replaying 24/7 on the radio, in the stores and in restaurants—it was like her ears could never escape from them. On top of that, Wednesday knew she'd never understand how all this originated from the birth of a baby. Seriously?
And yet, deep in her heart, amongst her long list of dislikes, there was a personal reason that hit Wednesday harder. Christmas was the time when...
Unaware of the inner storm surging in her best friend, Enid looked thoughtful. “I guess that last thing you said is indeed true. We should spread happiness and cherish times with our loved ones every day in general. I do think it’s important that we treat each other with love and respect as much as possible, and not just save it all for Christmas Day. Perhaps then the world would be a better place.”
“I don’t know how you always see a glass half-full,” Wednesday said.
“I try my best,” Enid sheepishly replied with a shrug. “Life is too short to be grumpy all the time.”
She returned Wednesday’s scowl with a sympathetic and almost sad smile. Wednesday never liked it when Enid looked at her like that. It always caused her stomach to twist into knots and make her regret her words. What made it worse was that she knew Enid deserved none of it. Enid had always been concerned about her and everyone in general. She had the generous heart of a giver, always wanting to help, and just trying to be a good friend as always, like the kind-hearted girl she was. No matter how harshly Wednesday criticized her for it, Enid bore it surprisingly well.
To Wednesday, it was a foolish thing to do. Kindness always led to naivety and usually offered no personal reward, except the consequence of being taken advantage of.
“Shit, I’m late!” Enid cursed when she checked the time on her phone. She flew to her closet and immediately began bundling up in a ridiculous number of pink layers until all that could be seen were her eyes and nose.
She looked so in a hurry that Wednesday couldn’t help raising an eyebrow and asking, “Where are you going?”
“Oh, I’m doing volunteer work down in Jericho,” Enid explained. “Yoko, Divina, and I will be helping out at the orphanage—just to spread a little holiday cheer to the cute little kids, ya know? Ooh! Do you wanna come?”
Wednesday’s patience was already a ticking time bomb long before this whole conversation started. It began wearing thin weeks in advance once she saw all the Halloween decorations replaced with ones for Christmas once it became November 1st. But now, her fuse finally exploded.
Turning around in her swivel chair, Wednesday snapped, “Enid, you of all people should know that you’re asking the wrong person. First a party and now an invite to waste my time offering paltry entertainment to pathetic weaklings who can’t help themselves and are dependent on the generosity of others?”
The look Enid gave would have broken anyone’s heart. But experience taught her that her ebony-haired roommate wouldn't budge. Once Wednesday set her mind upon something, it would be easier to try to convince a brick wall. Quickly looking away so that Wednesday wouldn’t see her tears, Enid’s voice was low and quiet.
“I always knew that it was difficult for you to empathize with others, Wens, and I always tried giving you the benefit of the doubt. But sometimes…it just makes me sad that you can’t spare a kind thought for those who need it most.”
Opening the door, she did not turn around as she choked out, “I think I’m going to room with Yoko tonight. Don’t wait up for me.”
Not wanting to hear anything Wednesday might say back, she quickly fled the room. The goth girl was left all alone, staring at her typewriter. She was full of self-hatred at how easily Enid’s dejected tone gutted through her. But she was in no mood for making apologies or even admitting out loud what she knew to be her own mistake. However, in the heart that she had which was two sizes too small, Wednesday wished she could take back her words. She never liked upsetting Enid and somehow even she knew that she had gone too far in letting her tongue get the best of her.
When she heard the door creak five minutes later, she prepared herself for another typical instance of the female werewolf returning and saying she had merely forgotten something. However, it was not Enid’s voice she heard.
“Hey, is everything alright?” Xavier asked, poking his head in.
“Have you ever heard about the common courtesy of knocking?” Wednesday asked.
Xavier stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, putting his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. “I have, but knew that if I did knock, you wouldn’t answer anyway.”
“And what may I ask has prevailed you to disturb me?”
“Well, the reason is that Enid came running to Ajax in tears and he got the reason why out of her,” Xavier said. “And even though I knew it probably meant me practically asking for a death wish, I came to get your side of the story.”
Though they had been dating for more than a year now, he and Wednesday still found communication to be their biggest issue. Especially since the latter had never been the greatest at expressing herself without offending others. Yet, one of Xavier’s best traits was his patience, something which Wednesday both secretly admired and could never understand. Even though she could treat him like absolute shit, he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and forgive her every single time.
It made Wednesday uncomfortable.
“There’s nothing to discuss,” Wednesday said, turning her back to him and continuing her novel. “Enid is just sensitive as usual.”
Xavier frowned. “Well, the things you said to her were unnecessarily cruel, Wednesday—even for you. Enid didn’t deserve such spiteful words. She loves helping the kids at the orphanage.”
“Enid can do whatever she wants. It’s not my fault she can’t find something better to concern herself with.”
“Well, she doesn’t pour scorn on the things you enjoy, so why did you do so with her?” Xavier demanded.
Wednesday knew the conversation was becoming more and more disagreeable by the second and wanted to end it now before things got worse. “I was just feeling testy, Xavier. End of story.”
Trying not to lose his temper, Xavier just couldn’t understand what was with the alteration in Wednesday’s behaviour. Somehow, she seemed more cross and malicious than normal. And he had noticed this change earlier too. Since the beginning of November and through till present mid-December, Wednesday was as grouchy as the Grinch that stole Christmas.
“That still doesn’t justify how harshly you treated her,” Xavier said. “Just because you aren’t happy doesn’t give you the right to make others unhappy too. Enid did nothing wrong and I know you weren’t interested in her invite, but you didn’t have to reject her so sharply.”
“Are you done with your lecture?” Wednesday asked, turning to glower at him again. “I’m not obligated to have to walk on eggshells around other people just to spare their weak feelings. So, take some advice, Xavier, and just get over it! In this world, you have to kill or be killed. And you know how I survive? By just ignoring it all. The more people you love, the weaker you are. You want to help someone? Why don’t you quit being so concerned about others and start being more concerned about yourself for once?”
“If you truly believe that, then why the hell did you even agree to date me?!” Xavier cried, aghast.
The look on his face was starting to make panic take hold of her. She didn’t know how their disagreement got so out of hand up to this point. Desperately, she tried to think what to say to downplay her words or take them back. But nothing came to mind when she needed it most.
So, she said nothing.
Xavier looked as if she had just punched him in the gut. He opened his mouth, before pressing his lips together and looking away. And then he nodded resignedly, his broken voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
“You know what? You’re right. It was a mistake to be so concerned about you. I’m sorry for caring.”
The slam of the door was the loudest sound to fall on Wednesday’s ears and even long after Xavier had stormed off, the sound kept replaying in her head. Though her fingers rested on the keyboard, she could not find the will to move them. For hours, no inspiration for her novel entered her mind; she was only conscious of staring straight into space. A space that was filled only by Enid’s teary eyes and Xavier’s face, full of anger and disappointment.
To Hell with it all.
Seeing no point in staying up when she couldn’t be productive, the goth girl made her way to her bed. Better than sleeping at her desk and getting back pain and stiffness in the morning. Already her muscles were cramped from sitting so long. Changing into a black nightgown, Wednesday was just about to crawl under the bedsheets when she pulled herself up short. Something wasn't right—she could sense it.
“Hello, Miss. Addams,” greeted a familiar voice.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Wednesday groaned, turning around.
Standing tall and proud, Principal Weems’s ghost looked as prim and proper as when she was still alive and breathing. She smiled at her former student. What with her previous encounters with Goody Addams, Wednesday was unfazed by the late headmistress’s unexpected visit and found it more annoying than shocking.
“What are you doing here?” Wednesday demanded.
“To offer a bit of guidance,” the female apparition replied.
“Well, you wasted your time coming here,” Wednesday said, getting into bed.
But Principal Weems wasn’t having it. “Despite what you may think, you and I ought to have a little chat either way, Miss. Addams, like it or not… The night is waving. We do not have a lot of time, and there is much you need to be shown.”
Turning her back to the woman, Wednesday’s voice was slightly muffled under the blankets. “I still am not interested in seeing what you have to show me.”
“You’re not being given a choice.”
“What the Hell do you me—woah!”
Feeling herself getting yanked by the hand, Wednesday only got to let out a foul curse in Spanish before she found herself being caught up in what felt like a tornado. Though she was repelled at the crawling sensation of someone holding her hand, Principal Weems no less, she didn’t let go. Strong gusts of wind whipped around the two of them, blowing away the dorm room, the school, and the surrounding landscapes…
“What’s happening?” Wednesday demanded.
“We’re going to the past,” Principal Weems said.
“Tch. Of Christmas?” the ebony-haired girl scoffed.
“No. Yours.”
The first thing Wednesday registered was the sound of a child giggling. There was something so familiar about it that she couldn’t quite understand. The fragrant scent of candles wafted through her nostrils, along with the stench of something delightfully rotten. It wasn’t until her vision cleared that the goth girl realized where they were. The rooms she had become so intimate with since birth were hard to not recognize.
“I’m back home?”
“The home you once knew,” Principal Weems said.
Wednesday had almost forgotten the female ghost was there. She quickly tugged her hand out of Principal Weems’s grasp with a scowl. What was the point of bringing her here?
“I’m sorry. I don’t quite understand,” Wednesday snapped.
“Let’s go further inside then, shall we?”
This was ludicrous to Wednesday—to be escorted through her own home. Perhaps it was because she was still in a state of shock at all this; or the annoyance she felt towards Principal Weems; or the memories beginning to stir up that made Wednesday follow the late headmistress. As if she was the stranger in the house and Principal Weems the main occupant. How did the woman even know her way around? Wednesday felt she shouldn't bother asking; something told her she'd only become more confused.
Leading the way, Principal Weems brought Hiyori to the living room and the sight before them immediately made the goth girl half-gag, half-groan. Sitting upon the black loveseat before the fireplace was her mother and father in a full-blown make-out session. Seriously? This was what Principal Weems brought her to see?! Hadn’t she seen her parents like this enough times already throughout the eighteen years of her miserable life? Bloody hell, she even placed her name on the list of students staying at Nevermore for the holidays just to avoid having to be cautious every time she entered a room, lest her parents were canoodling as usual. Wednesday immediately turned around in an attempt to leave but discovered in horror that her feet were practically glued in place. Even closing her eyes did not help in hiding the passionate sounds her parents were making.
Unwilling to have to endure such torture a second longer, Wednesday growled at them, “Are you both done?” Morticia and Gomez either didn’t hear her or were so oblivious to their audience because they did not even show a sign of acknowledgement.
“What is the meaning of this?” the goth girl asked between gritted teeth. She looked up at Principal Weems to see that even the older woman seemed unable to hide her disgust at their lack of decorum.
“They cannot hear you, nor can they see us,” Principal Weems explained. “We are simply in one of your memories.”
“My memories?”
The principal did not reply because, at that moment, the childish laughter Wednesday first heard started to come closer, accompanied by the sound of running feet. The goth girl’s black eyes widened in understanding. This child was…”
“Eeewww! Mama, Papa, stop that!”
Morticia and Gomez separated, neither of the smiles on their faces breaking as they beckoned to the little girl to stroke her hair affectionately. “Ah, my little death trap!” Gomez said. “Have you been playing with Nero again?”
Wednesday’s six-year-old self hugged the scorpion in her arms with a beaming face. “Yeah. Nero and I finished helping Lurch put up the Christmas tree!”
Leaning closer to her former student, Principal Weems said, “Looks like you weren’t so upset it was Christmas back then, Miss. Addams.”
“Shut up,” Wednesday said. She crossed her arms together, but whether it was out of anger or to unconsciously shield herself, she didn’t know.
“Nero and I were thinking of taking a walk together,” the little girl said. “Wanna come?”
“That sounds like a lovely idea, darling,” Morticia replied, giving her daughter’s head one last rub.
If Wednesday saw her own face, she would’ve loathed herself for breaking her usual stoniness, as her eyes widened. Turning to Principal Weems, she breathed, “Is this when…?”
The shapeshifter said nothing but only followed the family out of the haunted mansion, leaving Wednesday with no choice but to trail along also. She watched her younger self happily holding Nero’s leash with a feeling in her heart almost close to self-hatred. She couldn’t believe what a weakling she had been back then. Foolish girl. So naïve, emotional, and vulnerable. Well, she’d soon learn the hard truth of reality.
Just as the little girl turned a corner, two young boys grabbed her forcefully as another of their comrades came barrelling down on a bike, Nero right in his path. Both Wednesdays watched in despair, the younger crying out, “Mama! Papa! Save Nero!”
Yet, the parents were nowhere in sight. Nowhere near enough to hear their daughter’s pleas for help.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion…
Nero scuttling on the road unaware…
The bicycle coming closer and closer…
And then the crunch.
It was just once, but the sound repeated in the young Addams’s ears over and over and over again. The six-year-old girl’s expression altered. The blood in her face drained making her skin more paper-white than usual, her pupils dilated, and her breathing quickened erratically. She stood still like a statue even after her scorpion’s murderers ran laughing away, as silent tears streamed down her cheeks.
Just crying and crying.
Slowly picking up every last remain of her beloved pet that was left.
Holding them close to her chest, the young girl cried her heart out—a heart that was shrinking and becoming as black as coal. A bitterness welled inside her core as she walked back to the house, her head hung down. The iron gates were just within sight in the distance when she heard the sounds. Familiar ones coming from one of the town alleys she walked by.
Passionate moans and the noise of lips pressing together repeatedly.
This was where they had been the entire time? Abandoning her and Nero to seek seclusion only for themselves? Too caught up in their own world, unaware of her pain and desperation five minutes ago? They didn’t care about her. They didn’t care about Nero. They only cared about each other, romantically blinded to anything else. The six-year-old girl stared at her parents, her face as blank as a slate.
Morticia must’ve sensed her daughter’s dark presence because she unlocked her lips from her husband’s and inquired, “What is it, Wednesday?”
“I HATE YOU!” was all her daughter screamed before running away.
She fled past her future self and Principal Weems, the former who had a vacant look and the latter having one of sympathy.
"The day your pet scorpion died was Christmas Day," Principal Weems quietly said.
"Yeah..."
"How old were you?" Many things having been revealed to her since becoming part of the spirit realm, Principal Weems already knew the answer, but she wanted to make Wednesday speak for herself.
Staring at the crying little girl that was once her, Wednesday said in a dull voice, "Six-years-old. I was in my first year of elementary."
Suddenly, the remembrance of it all only refuelled her hatred. She spat, “This is stupid.”
"Stupid?" Principal Weems repeated.
"Every Christmas I just try to forget what happened all those years ago. And all you've done is just brought it back to life!" Wednesday yelled, half-choking on the lump in her throat.
Her vision blurred by the tears starting to poke out of her eyes, the goth girl demanded, "Take me to Nevermore. Just bring me back to my own time!"
Principal Weems knew there was no point in arguing and took Wednesday’s hand again. "Very well, Miss. Addams."
“When I said I wanted you to take me back to Nevermore, I meant my room, not the quad!” Wednesday said.
Much as she loved the bitter cold, the temperature reminding her of a morgue freezer, she didn’t find dying of it very exciting. Freezing to death was too silent; she preferred demises of a more bloody and macabre kind that involved lots of organ carving.
Still not letting go of the goth girl’s hand, knowing she’d book it if she got the chance, Principal Weems pulled her through the inner courtyard. Even late at night, the windows of the boarding school were well-lit with a warm glow. A stark contrast to Wednesday’s dorm window that was dark and cold, and which would’ve emanated an impression of abandonment and neglect were it not for Enid’s colourful half of the panes. Principal Weems eventually stopped in front of the Edgar Allan Poe statue which had been decorated with a Santa hat atop his head. Even the dark poet was made to look as friendly, inviting, and holly jolly as possible—a great insult to his legacy in Wednesday’s opinion.
“We’re here. Let’s go inside, shall we?” the ghostly shapeshifter said, even though she wasn’t really giving Wednesday a chance.
Once she snapped her manicured fingers and the statue slid back with a groan, she allowed Wednesday to enter first. Laughs ringing merrily, accompanied by carols coming from a speakerphone, could be heard down below. Descending the stairs, Wednesday recognized at once who the jovial voices belonged to.
'Of course,' she thought, surlily. 'The party...'
In the Nightshades Library were all the members, including Enid and Eugene, both there due to invitations from Ajax and Xavier. Empty pizza boxes and bags of chips were around them in a mess. In the corner was a large Christmas tree with piles of colourfully wrapped presents underneath. Ajax and Kent were quite rowdy in particular, daring to see who could drink the most carbonated beverages in one go, despite warnings from Bianca and Divina. Most of the others were singing to some Christmas carols that Enid was playing on her phone.
"You're singing the wrong lyrics, Kent," Divina said, mid-way. "It's not 'the least knobby dot'. It's 'Feliz Navidad'!"
"Sounds the same to me," Kent said incoherently, tugging his fuzzy onesie tighter around him. Letting out a loud burp, he decided that was enough Coca-Cola for one night and switched to some hot chocolate instead.
Rolling her eyes, Wednesday turned to Principal Weems. "So, this is what you wanted to show me? Just everyone wasting their time with pointless frivolities?"
"Be patient," Principal Weems said with a frown. "You'll see. If you're so cheesed off at seeing your friends having fun without you, why did you turn down their offer in the first place?"
“As if I’d even want to join them,” Wednesday said. A vein popping on her forehead, she restrained herself from pulling the knife she kept under her nightgown to slit her own throat, instead turning her attention back to the group.
Swigging down one of the spiced wines she made, Yoko asked, "Wednesday decided to take a rain check on the party?" Though she was standing by herself at the cocktail table, everyone by instinct knew that she was directing the question at either Enid or Xavier.
Enid bit her lip before tediously replying, "Yep,” popping the “p” at the end.
By now, everybody had paused what they were doing. There was no mistaking the disappointment on Enid’s face. As for Xavier, who hadn’t said anything at all, he stood in the darkest corner of the library where he had been during the whole party since it started. The mostly full cup he was nursing that contained some of Yoko’s spiced wine had gone cold hours ago.
Principal Weems gave Wednesday a look. Although she was annoyed, some small conscience inside of Wednesday couldn't help feeling a bit bad about being the reason why both her best friend and boyfriend had such forlorn expressions. But this seriously wasn't her fault! They had several friends! Surely, the absence of one couldn't be so bad a disappointment...right?
“Were you hoping to sneak a kiss with Wednesday under the mistletoe, Xav?” Kent teased.
“Bro, not the appropriate time,” Ajax admonished.
An awkward silence fell upon the whole group, the majority of them glaring at Kent for his ill-timed joke.
Desirous to break the tension, Yoko quickly changed the topic, “On a happier note, Divina, Enid, and I had a good time helping out at the children’s orphanage. Y’all should watch the videos I took! They’re so friggin’ cute!”
Everyone except Xavier crowded around and despite her uninterest, Wednesday found herself going up too. What she saw on Yoko’s iPhone screen was a bunch of kids crowding around Enid, who was reading a story to them called The Little Matchgirl. They looked up at her with the pure innocent adoration such small children have towards a kind and amusing older-sister figure. They strove with each other for the privilege of standing close to her or sitting on her knee and insinuating their small hands into hers. Wednesday could see that it fed Enid’s hungry heart to feel them nestling up to her, and in turn that it filled theirs as well.
“Aw, they’re so cute, Enid,” Eugene said.
“I know, right?” the female werewolf gushed. “They’re just so sweet.”
“You’d make such a good older sister, girl,” Bianca commented. “You look so natural at it.”
The smile Enid gave was genuine, but even emotionally oblivious Wednesday could detect the faint trace of sadness behind it. She recalled how the female werewolf once longingly said how she wished to be an older sister rather than a younger one to a bunch of older brothers who didn’t care about her. Or perhaps even a mother in the future. Yet here she was lavishing her thwarted maternal instincts on other people’s children.
For a brief moment, Wednesday felt something almost close to pity for her best friend.
“That’s Enid for you. She always has a big heart,” Ajax said, always ready to compliment his girlfriend.
But Enid was humble. “I think being kind and helpful to others is just important in general, and that it’s something we all ought to do. Simple things, even just a friendly word or a smile, can go a long way. Especially on Christmas—aside from spending time with family and friends, there are still people out there who need to be shown signs of care the most. That’s why I like reaching out to them whenever possible, whether during the holidays or not.”
“Here, here!” Kent agreed, raising his hot chocolate.
Principal Weems smiled down on Wednesday, who only rolled her eyes. “Mush,” she grumbled.
Her eyes then trained on Xavier, who had stayed in his dark corner the entire time. What a pathetic miserable mope he looked. Taking two cups of spiced wine, Ajax went over to his best friend giving one to Xavier to replace the one he had that went cold.
“So, you going to tell me what happened with Wednesday?”
“H-Huh?”
“Come on, bro. I know you argued with her. Call it brother instinct.”
With a face still red, the saddened tortured artist proceeded to tell Ajax everything. From his latest argument with Wednesday to how even after all that, and no matter how many times she hurt him in the past, he still couldn’t help loving her. Principal Weems and Wednesday continued to listen, the latter with a knowing look and the other bewildered and embarrassed. For a second, Wednesday was almost foolishly happy until the headmistress spoke once more.
"Your fellow Raven has all his thoughts focused upon you, Miss. Addams," the principal commented, leaning against one of the stone columns.
"He’s just confused," Wednesday said, trying to keep her face straight. "Anyone with sense would be able to tell him that his dreams are hopeless. I could never give him the life that he wants."
"Do you truly believe that or are you telling yourself that to avoid the possibilities that can follow?" Principal Weems questioned. “If you thought you both wouldn’t work out, why did you pursue a relationship with him anyway?”
Wednesday was silent for a long time. “…I don’t know.”
“I just sometimes get the feeling that Wednesday and I are drifting apart,” she heard Xavier confess to Ajax next. “I’d been hoping that with it being Christmas soon, we’d get an opportunity to spend time together. I get the impression that she sees the holidays as a time dedicated to just an excuse for commercialism, silly songs, and fun.”
“That seems like something Wednesday would judge Christmas as, the ol’ grumpy Scrooge she can be sometimes,” Ajax joked. “I doubt the true meaning of Christmas is something she’d even be aware of. Anyway…what do you think you’ll do? I mean…after an argument like that…”
He, along with Wednesday, expected Xavier to say that he’d take some space to think. Then, perhaps they’d just forget about the matter, pretend everything was fine, and go back to the way things were before. After all, that’s what normally happened whenever they’d fight.
So, Ajax and Wednesday were both taken aback when Xavier instead sighed, “I don’t know, bro. I think she’s made herself quite clear.”
Wednesday felt her heart stop. Was he thinking of breaking up with her? Surely, that wasn’t what he truly meant, right? Though she didn’t have a clear idea of how she and Xavier would work out in the future, that didn’t mean she liked the idea of him splitting ties with her completely. Sure, their relationship wasn’t one of the best out there…but Wednesday began to wonder if perhaps she cherished him more than she knew. She hated their constant bickering and door slams on each other, but she hated the idea of forever losing him more.
With the threat of something worse hanging over them, Wednesday realized, tedious though it could be…
…being in love made her happy after all.
“We should probably all go to bed soon. How about singing one last Christmas carol together before we break up the party?” Yoko suggested.
“Xav, you haven’t given a song request yet. How about you decide?” Ajax suggested.
The tortured artist made no reply even when Enid passed him her phone to search for something on Spotify. A soft synthesizer began to play, a stark contrast to the bouncy and buoyant tunes most of the other Christmas songs had. This music was happy…but in a more peaceful and solemn way.
“I don’t recognize this one,” Eugene said.
“It’s Avalon’s cover of Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day,” Xavier said.
“Well, we can always try singing something new,” Enid sunnily said. “Xavier, why don’t you lead first, since you know the lyrics?”
She took Yoko’s hand and then Ajax’s with her other, nodding for everyone else to follow her example. Within three seconds, they had all joined hands in a circle. In a rich tenor voice, Xavier began singing:
Don't get so busy that you miss
Giving just a little kiss
To the ones you love
Don't even wait a little while
To give them a little smile
A little is enough
How many people are crying
People are dying
How many people are asking for love
He was such an accomplished vocalist that it took Wednesday a bit by surprise.
Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love everyday
Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
Because holidays have come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love
How could you wait another minute
A hug is warmer when you're in it
And Baby that's a fact
And saying "I love you's" always better
Seasons, reasons, they don't matter
So don't hold back
How many people in this world
So needful in this world
How many people are praying for love
Nodding to each other, the rest of Xavier’s friends joined in on the chorus, their voices raised in exultation. Either by sheer musical talent or due to being sirens, Bianca, Divina, and Kent sang along in harmony without error. Although not all of the others had perfect pitch like them and Xavier, no one cared, simply enjoying the opportunity to sing together as friends and appreciate the meaningful lyrics.
Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love everyday
Don't save it all for Christmas Day
Find your way
Because holidays have come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love
“They all look so wonderful together, don’t they?” Principal Weems observed as she and Wednesday listened to the last lyrics of their song. “A pity that it’ll be the last time they are with each other ever again.”
“What?”
Receiving no further clarification for an answer, Wednesday swerved from left to right, looking around only to realize that the headmistress was nowhere to be seen. "Principal Weems?"
Her surroundings were starting to fade into inky blackness. The brightly decorated library and its occupants vanished like a dying flame. Her hand having a mind of its own, Wednesday found herself unconsciously reaching out towards Xavier, but could only watch as the tortured artist slipped through her fingers. Wednesday was left all alone, her heart pounding a mile a second. Alone in nothing but darkness. Almost like an awful realm where one forgot the existence of time. Where one was doomed to walk on and on endlessly without heed. Without anything. Without anyone.
As much as she found Principal Weems a real pain, even solitary-loving Wednesday was beginning to think any company was better than none at all right now. Before she met Enid, Xavier, and all the others, she never understood loneliness. This should have been a paradise for her. Just her all alone in the darkness. But now...
Hopelessly, she crossed her arms as she continued forward, not knowing which other way to go. It seemed like hours...her just walking on and on and on…
All alone…without anyone…
She was in such a trance-like state that she didn’t notice how her surroundings were getting slowly brighter. Blinking her eyes, she found herself in an unknown study that screamed big money. From outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows were the muffled sounds of traffic and the buzz of vibrant civilization. Just from the sight of the city landscape that stretched before her, she knew immediately that she was in New York in what appeared to be a large penthouse.
Turning around, Wednesday felt her heart stop at the sight of the man before her, hunched over a carved desk. From the piles of books and papers surrounding him, she hadn’t seen him at first. It didn’t matter that he now appeared at least thirty years old, and his hair had been cut short. Wednesday’s heart would’ve recognized him even if he were an elderly man.
“Xavier?” she breathed.
It was strange to see Xavier so...hard at work other than with his art. A smirk came to the goth girl’s face. So, he was finally being productive? That was the first positive thing she'd been shown so far. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all.
However, at the sound of people carolling down below, Xavier let out an abnormal grunt and shut the curtains fast. It was so unexpected that Wednesday took an involuntary step back. The crotchey look on her boyfriend's face looked alien to her. She had never before seen Xavier look so...bad-tempered from the merriness of others.
A tap came from Xavier’s study door, earning an annoyed bark of, "What is it?"
Slowly, Bianca entered with a closed-off face. "Hey."
“Mm,” Xavier grunted.
It was a poor acknowledgement. He did not even look up from his papers. For a few seconds, Bianca just stared at him wordlessly. Eventually, the female siren said, "Wens and I were wondering if you wanted to join us for dinner at the Ritz. We have a reservation with Divina and Kent as well."
Wednesday was confused at this usage of her nickname by Bianca—a nickname only Enid had the privilege of calling her.
Xavier only let out a scoff, smart enough to know that the female siren wanted anything but to have to bear his company. "No, thank you. I don't want to and I'm sure neither do you."
What was going on? Wednesday’s eyes were growing rounder by the second at the scene in front of her. Why were Xavier and Bianca treating each other so coldly?
“Xavier, it’s Christmas. A time for family and Wens is your daughter! Our daughter!”
The tortured artist finally raised his eyes to look at his wife. “But not truly the Wens that I want.”
Bianca’s face was suffused with red. Though her eyes flashed fire, and she had remained brave through all these torturous years of abuse, even courage and perseverance could not prevent her tears at this moment. It hadn’t mattered that she was his wife; she knew his heart had belonged to another for all time and always would.
"This needs to stop, Xavier!" Bianca cried out, making Wednesday flinch in spite of herself due to shock. "Y-You need to stop being so...racked up over her! She's not coming back!"
Moved to anger now himself, Xavier retorted, "What? And you think me attending one of your frivolous hotel dinners would help? It's taken me too long to realize how all this Christmas shit just wasted my time. Wednesday certainly helped me see it. She was smart to deny our company."
“You’re just like your father,” Bianca spat. Only to cry out when she felt the box to her ears, knocking her to the ground.
Wednesday’s hands flew to her gaping mouth before she knew it. The scene had been turning more dreadful by the second since it had started, but this was the final turning point. Her chest heaved in unison with Bianca’s as she stared in horror at the figure of Xavier towering over the siren, his fist still raised. A purple bruise was already starting to form on Bianca’s cheek.
“Why? What’s going on?” Wednesday whispered though she knew Principal Weems was no longer there to answer anything. “Xavier…”
Bianca herself asked the question that was running repeatedly non-stop in Wednesday’s head. “Why?” she gulped.
“Take my advice, Bianca. I wasted half my life loving a girl who didn’t even know what love was. And if she did, she was only capable of loving herself and no one else. Not her family. Not Enid. Not me. You know what she once told me? The more people you love, the weaker you are. She said to me, ‘You want to help someone? Why don’t you quit being so concerned about others and start being more concerned about yourself for once?’ So, I took that advice. And who would be a better role model of that than my own dad?”
The whispered apology fell from Wednesday’s lips more easily than anyone would have expected. “I’m sorry, Xavier…”
Her sight was going blurry, and she refused to admit it was because of her unshed tears. She never wished for Xavier to be like his dad, but now she understood her words made him feel he had to be. She loved Xavier as he was, though she never said it. He never asked her to, but now she realized he wanted to hear her say it. The thought scared her. Did this also mean she was no better than Vincent Thorpe?
There was a long silence in the study. Her chest heaving with vexed passion, Bianca fiercely said, "Despite how stupid they sounded at first, I see how Divina and Kent were right. You are beyond hope."
"I'm sure you won't mind one less guest," Xavier said, turning back to his work. "You should ask Ajax instead—oh wait, he’s dead. Never mind."
Both Wednesday and Bianca were taken aback at the cruelty in Xavier’s words—not to mention about his best friend. With a whimper, the female siren put a palm to her mouth, her eyes tearing up. Not saying another word, she dashed out of the room, not bothering to close the door behind her.
Thunderstruck, Wednesday was rooted to the spot. Ajax? Dead?! And Enid…what about Enid? Wednesday had enough to simple guessing.
Her voice raised in a desperate plea, she demanded to the air, “Enid…I want to see Enid!”
Nothing happened.
And Principal Weems still was nowhere in sight. Evidently, she had been abandoned by her former mentor. Traitor.
Cursing the woman for leaving her stuck in this future hell, Wednesday looked back at Xavier, who was furiously wiping away at the tears streaming down his face with his suit sleeve. Slamming his fists upon his desk, the tortured artist yanked on his coat and left his study, unaware of the goth girl trailing close behind. Uncertain of where he was going, Wednesday kept hoping, pleading, praying for an answer. None she was given.
Out of the penthouse, into the snow, hopping in an awaiting limo, the two of them went. During the ride, Wednesday wished with all her heart that Xavier could feel the hand she placed on his shoulder. To offer him the comfort that he needed in his anger and despair...
Xavier was always there for her...and yet, she was rarely ever there for him.
At last, after a long drive, the limo pulled through a wooded thicket towards a castle Wednesday and Xavier would both know anywhere. As the silhouette of Nevermore Academy drew closer in view, Wednesday’s gut twisted painfully as she tried to figure out the meaning of all this. Something was wrong... She soon realized what, her eyeballs bulging at the sight of Nevermore in ruins, its towers crumbling and dilapidated.
Ordering his driver to stop at the entrance, Xavier exited the limo and made his way through the hallways, now barren with nothing but cobwebs and dust. From the looks of it, the school had been abandoned for years. Wednesday would’ve relished the upgrade in its spooky look, but instead found it only depressing. She followed Xavier through the familiar corridors to the quad where at the bone-dry fountain stood a woman with her back to them. She was dressed from head to toe in black with a lace veil covering her head.
“Enid,” Xavier said.
It was so unexpected and horrific that Wednesday could taste the bile in her throat when her best friend turned around. The formerly vibrant girl had transformed into a dark and depressed woman, leaving only a hollow shell of any goodness that remained. Her once blonde hair was now dyed as black as Wednesday’s and pulled into a tight bun. Her shadowed eyes looked like they could fall out of their sockets, what with how hollow and anemic her face appeared. Her luxury design clothes seemed to be sagging on her skeletal form.
“I should’ve known you’d come,” Enid said. Her voice was devoid of any happiness, any remnant of the happy person she once was sucked straight out.
“How could I not?” Xavier half-scoffed. “Still determined with your futile search for the Addamses?”
“With my husband six-feet under, who else have I got to keep living for?” Enid lamented.
Xavier gave a scornful laugh, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Who’d have thought this was once the happy-go-lucky girl of our grade? Done with all your social media, fashion designs, and charity work?”
“I’m sorry that I ever had any interest in those,” Enid contemptuously said. “Especially the last one. God, I realize how right Wens was. I was a fool to spend so much time and energy on pathetic little weaklings. Thank God, I never had any of my own with Ajax.”
“Enid…” Wednesday breathed.
Seeing both Xavier and Enid, the two people she cared for the most, adopting her cruel nature…taking her spiteful words to heart…
No…she didn’t truly want this…
Were these the consequences of her actions? Did they seriously have this horrific and profound an effect? Wednesday had imagined that Enid and Xavier would just eventually forget what she said and did. Pass it off as her being her usual selfish self.
But it seemed that if there was anything they wouldn’t forget, it was how she made them feel.
Everything was her fault.
Enid held a bouquet of red roses in her hands, the only spot of colour to her drab appearance. Ripping off the flowers, she placed the thorny stems at a gravestone by the fountain. Wednesday honestly hadn’t noticed it being there, so distracted had she been by Xavier and Enid’s heartlessness. Judging by the looks of it, it had been neglected for a long time.
However, her bones froze in place once her gaze landed on the bold letters upon it: WEDNESDAY ADDAMS.
No…why was she buried here? Why wasn’t she interred at the cemetery in her family grounds? Where even was her family? What had even happened to them?
“Goodbye, Wens,” Enid whispered. “I promise next year when I return, I’ll bring your family. I swear on my life that I’ll find them.” She kissed her gloved hand, placing her palm upon the stone before giving a curt nod to the man beside her.
“Goodbye, Enid,” said Xavier.
“Where are you going after this?”
Xavier shrugged. “Hell, most likely.”
Enid said nothing in response to this, but only walked away, leaving Xavier all by himself in the snowy cold. After making sure she had actually gone away, he then knelt before Wednesday’s gravestone and lovingly stroked the cool surface, before planting a tender kiss upon it with his lips.
"I'm coming," Xavier whispered, as he withdrew a charcoal drawing of a pistol.
Wednesday’s breath caught in her throat so fast that she nearly choked. “Xavier? Xavier, no!”
Her blood as cold as ice, the goth girl tried to stop him but found her fingers only passed through like a wisp of air. It was no use. She could only watch in horror as the tortured artist psychically animated the weapon and brought it to his head. Squeezing his eyes shut, Xavier then pulled the trigger. Red stained the white snow, splattering on the gravestone.
Wednesday’s black pupils dilated. Her breathing stopped. Silent tears fell from her eyes.
The last thing she saw before blacking out was the gory mess of Xavier’s brains…
With an ear-splitting scream of Xavier’s name, Wednesday shot up from bed, her fingers tightly clutching the sheets. Her eyes were bulging, wild with fear, and her body sweating like a sprinkler. Taking in her surroundings with fright, her anxiety died down once she saw where she was. She was no longer in the abandoned school quad, stained by Xavier’s blood. She was back in her own dorm room with the pinkish-orange sunlight of the dawn, filtering in through the stained-glass window.
'M-My room...? I'm alive?'
Throwing the bedsheets over, Wednesday stumbled over to her desk where her blasted phone was, turning it on. The time showed: 7:00 AM December 15.
"Only a night has passed since then..." she murmured.
It was so hard to take everything in all at once. Principal Weems… The visions and ominous warnings she gave... The threat of her life, along with Xavier's, being in danger if she didn't change... One thing Wednesday knew for sure—she had to see Enid and Xavier right away. Half of that was answered when Enid came in, needing to grab stuff for her first-period class.
“Enid!”
“O-Oh, Wens…sorry if I woke you up.”
“No, y-you didn’t.”
“I see. Well, I’ll be out of your way soon.”
“Enid, no.” Wednesday hadn’t meant to grab Enid’s hand, but she did. The unexpected move took the female werewolf by surprise.
“Wens? What’s wrong?”
Taking a deep breath, Wednesday steeled herself. “Enid…I’m sorry. For yesterday. For everything. I see now that helping others is something that makes you happy. Although I thought of it as weakness, I realize that it’s strength. I understand now that it’s not just Christmas when one should show appreciation for the people one cares about…but every single day. Every moment matters.”
“Wens…”
“Enid…that kind and generous heart of yours…never lose it.”
Enid’s smile could’ve brightened the entire world more than the sun at that moment. With glistening tears brimming, she sniffled, “Thank you, Wens…”
The two stood facing each other, before Wednesday sighed, “Five seconds only.”
Squealing, Enid latched herself onto her best friend, throwing her arms around her in a bear hug. But Wednesday did not let her continue a second longer and wiggled free. After all, her patience still had its limits and most importantly of all, there was still one more person she had to apologize to…
The number one thing Xavier liked about Friday was that he didn’t have first-period and thus, had the blessed chance to sleep in early. Especially after that night-long Christmas party he had with his friends. They had so much fun that they were wide awake until three in the morning.
At present, he and Ajax were back in their shared dorm, snuggled in their respective beds in a deep slumber. In the early morning's stillness, the only sounds to be heard were from a snoring Ajax, whose left leg and arm were hanging off the edge of his bed.
So, it wasn't a welcome thing for either of the boys to wake up abruptly at the sound of Xavier’s phone blaring its Rolling Stones ringtone. A chorus of groans echoed.
"Yo, bro..." Ajax grumbled. "Turn off the phooooone..."
With a groan of her own, the tortured artist untangled himself from his duvet and blindly reached for his cellular device, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. His long hair was a frizzy mess, and a line of drool was still hanging from his chin. His attention became more conscious once he noticed the familiar name lit up on her screen. Strange for her to be calling in the first place since she refused to be a slave to technology. Stumbling half-blindly out of his room, Xavier answered his phone with a yawn.
"Wednesday...? What's wrong? It's 7:15 in the morning..."
“Meet me in the shed,” was all Wednesday ordered, before hanging up thus leaving no room for argument.
Releasing the half-yawn half-sigh he'd been holding in, Xavier debated whether he could snatch just a few more minutes of sleep. Going back into the room where his gorgon best friend was still sleeping, Xavier looked at his own empty bed, tempting him back. Nope, he refused to let his fatigue win him over. Especially since he knew what sort of reaction Wednesday would have if she were kept waiting. Dazedly, he pulled on the first clothes he could find, hopping back out again while trying to pull on his soft gym pants. All he got, as a result, was tripping and getting a flat dent on his nose.
Oh well, at least he did end up arriving at the art shed in one piece.
Going inside, Xavier found Wednesday sitting on a stool, wrapped in her winter coat. The goth girl who had her hands in her lap initially held them out to reveal a poorly wrapped present.
“I didn’t have time to wrap it properly nor figure out whether it was a suitable gift or not,” Wednesday apologized.
Xavier just stood like a statue for a few seconds, the full magnitude of the situation flying over his head. He blinked before it finally hit him.
“Oh. W-Wow…” he breathed, accepting the small box. “T-Thanks, Wednesday.”
His eyes shone like stars, the most beautiful expression she had ever seen on his face. It made her regret not trying to make him happy more often.
Giving a cheeky grin, Xavier asked, “Can I open it now even though it’s not Christmas yet?”
Wednesday gave a single nod, her heart thumping in fear of his reaction. Xavier unwrapped the paper as carefully as though it had a beautiful design, and he did not want to tear it. Once he opened it, he was clearly surprised and slightly amused, as evidenced by the smug smile on his face.
“Interesting gift selection,” he commented, taking out the mistletoe. “I’d have never thought it of you, Addams.”
“Don’t think anything of it!” Wednesday said, more harshly than she intended to.
Crossing her arms, she turned her face as far off to the side as she could so Xavier couldn’t see how it was burning up. “I just wanted to give you something I know you’ve been wanting for a while. I know that I’m not the best at showing affection, so I’ll make an exception now since it’s the Christmas season.”
Xavier twirled the mistletoe between his fingers, still with that amused expression of his. “You ripped this off the ceiling, didn’t you?”
Wednesday’s nostrils flared in indignation. “That’s seriously the first thing that comes to your mind?! And yes, I did—woah!”
She felt herself lifted off the ground and the world began to spin, as Xavier whirled her in his arms. He laughed with a broad smile on his face, full of delight and joy.
“Stop that! Put me down!” Wednesday half-shrieked, half-laughed.
Eventually, they ended up toppling onto the wooden floor after one of Xavier’s feet accidentally slipped. And suddenly, they landed in a heap, still in each other’s arms. But after Xavier’s laughter died down, the mood became more serious. Not a grim seriousness, but one where the two of them just stared into each other’s eyes with uncertainty.
Swallowing hard, Wednesday softly said, “You’ve always given me so much, Xavier…and I’ve never returned it. Instead, I’ve repaid your kindness with contempt and took it all for granted.”
“Wednesday…”
“It was wrong of me to say the things I said to you yesterday,” the goth girl whispered. “I-I’m sorry…”
She had to say it. She had to tell him that she loved him.
She tried forming the words…but she just couldn’t.
The goth girl held her head down, not wanting to look at her boyfriend in the face. With her mouth all dry, Wednesday felt like bile was about to come up her throat. Fear was preventing her from speaking. This...this was bad.
If Wednesday couldn't say words, then actions were her only option. Steeling herself, she held Xavier by the shoulders, took a deep breath, and pressed her lips against his. She didn't dare open her eyes. All she focused on was the warmth of Xavier’s lips. When Wednesday finally broke the kiss, she kept her head down again.
"Kent asked if you wanted to kiss me under the mistletoe, right? Though you never replied, I knew you wanted to," Wednesday said with burning cheeks. "S-So, I granted your wish."
The silence that followed was agonizing. Feeling tears make an appearance, Wednesday started to pick herself up from the floor. She should've known. Of course, Xavier may have once had strong feelings for her before, but now...
"Wednesday, wait."
This time, it was Xavier who grabbed Wednesday’s shoulders. Looking into the tortured artist’s eyes, Wednesday was astounded to see her boyfriend beaming with happiness. He was practically glowing. Holding Wednesday in a firm grip, Xavier took the initiative this time to kiss her, pulling her back down. It stirred something within both of them, though they shared a few kisses before. The phrase "a stomach full of butterflies" was an understatement. What the two Ravens felt was something trying to burst out of their chests...no, claw out. A feral beast mad with hunger... Relaxing into the kiss, Wednesday let herself be consumed by Xavier’s passion—until something between a giggle and a snort was heard behind them. Their faces now red like tomatoes, Wednesday and Xavier turned to see Enid and Ajax clustered near the doorway of the shed, watching them.
"So, this is where you guys were,” Ajax simpered. “Don’t worry, you two. Take your time…"
Xavier and Wednesday jumped back from each other at least an arm's length, the former looking away in embarrassment and the latter seeing red.
Thankfully, Enid rescued the two Ravens from their discomfort, grabbing Ajax by the arm and saying, “We’ll leave you both alone…unless you’d rather join us in the quad? We’re all having hot chocolate before first-period starts.”
"Last chance since it’s our final day of school for the year,” Ajax added.
“We’ll come.” All were surprised that it was Wednesday who had answered, but it was met with beaming smiles.
Following behind their best friends, the two Ravens held each other's hands like they had many times in the past. Making sure no eyes were looking back at them, Xavier gave his girlfriend a peck on the cheek.
"Merry Christmas, Wednesday."
Wednesday returned the smile, content at last. "Merry Christmas, Xavier."
"By the way, Wednesday, how did you know Kent asked last night if I wanted to kiss you?"
Wednesday stiffened. She was in for a long explanation.