Chapter Text
Let’s start by recontextualising things a little bit. The Addams family had arrived in Assimilation about a year ago, let’s say. People had basically adjusted to their presence, but also their novelty had worn off somewhat after the collective apology that was reconstructing the old house on the hill.
Parker Needler still lived with her mother, Margaux, and there was some fairness in saying that some of the novelty had worn off for the both of them, too. Margaux and Fester had split up about six months ago, in large part because Fester was entirely useless.
Parker still saw Wednesday every day at school, of course, still saw her outside of school many days of the week. Sometimes Parker would suggest they go to the mall with the twins, Layla and Kayla (I hate those names, by the way). Sometimes Parker would suggest they go to the mall without the twins.
Sometimes Wednesday would climb into Parker’s bedroom window unannounced. Sometimes Wednesday would suggest they go to the cemetery, or the junkyard or the library. Sometimes Parker would knock politely on the Addams’s door and ask if Wednesday was there.
For Parker, the decreasing novelty had more to do with her new look. Over the months, Parker had calmed down along with her mother. There was a little less need to rebel, but she liked her new look enough to keep some of it.
She still had a side-shave, for example, but her orange roots were showing under the fading black. She didn’t wear as much lipstick or eyeshadow, but she put it on sometimes. A lot of her clothes were in black, but sometimes she wore colours, or white.
The novelty of spending time with Wednesday had not worn off, not at all. Parker still smiled when she thought of her friend. She felt most relaxed when they spent time together. And despite Wednesday’s finger-twisting with almost everyone else, they might hug from time to time, or bump into each other, or touch hands or shoulders.
It didn’t seem like that much, somehow. It was like a natural extension of Parker’s life that she noticed less and less as time passed. Until one day, it changed.
It was nearly summer break in Parker’s last year of middle school (which I’m pretty sure makes them both 14, but I’m also Australian so I don’t know about middle school). Wednesday had, of course, made something intense and maniacal for the science fair. Parker had tried to keep up, but she could only keep the gist of the machine straight in her head.
Parker was wandering around the fair with the twins, Margaux had not attended, mostly killing time until it was Wednesday’s turn to present, when the Addams family arrived.
Despite people mostly acclimating to the weird family on the hill, and all their weird relatives in town, you could still find them by the commotion that they caused. Parker spotted Pugsley diving into a soda volcano off to one side, but she was distracted by the spotlight that shone on Wednesday.
She watched along with everyone else, she hooted and hollered in support of her friend’s weird invention that seemed to be specifically designed to make Fester less useless. She wondered if she agreed with Wednesday’s condemnation of participation trophies, and she ran for the exits when Pugsley managed to turn the volcano into an explosive.
***
‘It just feels as if we are so different from one another,’ Wednesday declared, pointing her crossbow out the window of Parker’s bedroom. ‘It is strange to think we are a single family, when they are all buffoons.’
Parker nodded sympathetically, trying to decide on a good angle for a selfie. ‘I know the feeling.’ She got a pic of herself looking sympathetic, gave it a self-help sort of caption and posted.
Wednesday was staring at her, crossbow still pointed out the window. ‘I suppose you do,’ she said after a moment, then fired the crossbow. ‘I can think of no viable solution to the problem.’
Parker nodded sympathetically again. She held out her arms to Wednesday, who put down the bow and came to sit beside her on the bed, declining the hug. ‘I don’t know, dude,’ Parker said, cautiously leaning against Wednesday. ‘It took the whole town turning on her to get my mum to even start changing.’
‘That would not be so affective for my family, I suspect.’ Wednesday leaned slightly against Parker. ‘There must be something I can do. Perhaps I can get them all into my machine.’
Parker shrugged lightly. ‘I dunno,’ she said, pulling out her phone to take a selfie of the two of them. ‘Did it actually work on Fester?’
‘He seems largely unchanged, so far.’
Parker nodded, applying some filters to herself in the picture, they never worked on Wednesday for some reason, no matter what settings Parker messed with. ‘It might need more work, in that case?’
Wednesday went ‘hmm’, quietly. ‘Perhaps. In the meantime, I may continue to avoid interaction for now.’
Parker showed her the picture, Wednesday nodded and Parker posted it with the caption ‘families, am i rite?’
‘That mostly works for me,’ Parker said. ‘You sure you don’t want me to come over some time?’
‘No, I would rather come here. I feel that I need more time away from my family.’
Parker nodded, holding out her arm to give Wednesday a side-hug. Wednesday nodded and Parker gave her a quick hug. ‘I’m sure you’ll think of something, you’re smart.’
Wednesday nodded. ‘That is true.’
***
The first Parker heard of the road-trip was Wednesday climbing in her window at ten at night, while Parker was getting ready for bed. ‘They have decided to go on a road trip,’ Wednesday announced.
‘Oh,’ Parker said, sitting heavily on the edge of her bed. ‘When?’
‘Tomorrow.’
‘Oh.’ Parker slumped. ‘For how long.’
‘They have not decided.’ Wednesday sat down beside Parker on the bed, just enough space between them that they weren’t touching. ‘I suspect it will not be very short.’
Parker knew that that was a thing some people did: take trips during the summer holidays. Especially rich people. She’d never been on a holiday trip, all her memories of road-trips were Margaux dragging her from shooting location to shooting location without much warning or any concern for whether she wanted to go.
‘I…’ Parker wasn’t sure what to say.
‘I do not wish to go, of course,’ Wednesday said. ‘But mother and father did not seem interested in my opinion on the matter.’
‘Yeah,’ Parker said, continuing to deflate. ‘Parents can be like that. What are you going to do?’
‘I will go along with them,’ Wednesday said. ‘I do not appear to have a choice.’
Parker nodded. ‘I’ll miss you.’
Wednesday was quiet long enough that Parker wasn’t sure the girl would say anything. Parker only deflated more. Maybe she’d overestimated how close she and Wednesday were.
‘I will miss spending time with you, Parker Needler,’ Wednesday said. ‘But I do not believe there is any alternative.’
Parker sighed again and, cautiously, leaned against Wednesday. ‘That sucks, dude,’ she said. ‘I wish there was something we could do.’
‘There is not.’
‘I know…’ Parker tensed. ‘Actually…’ She leaned away from Wednesday and crawled across the bed to reach into the bottom of her chest of drawers. ‘Here it is!’ she announced, holding up an old phone.
‘One of your magic boxes?’
‘An old phone,’ Parker said, turning it on. ‘Hang on.’ She got up and went to find her portable charger, which was in a drawer on her desk. ‘You can use it to text me and call and stuff…’ Parker blushed. ‘If you want.’
Wednesday accepted the phone and the charger, giving it a curious and thorough looking over. ‘I am not familiar with how this device works, unfortunately.’
Parker spent the next ten minutes explaining how the phone worked, Wednesday was a quick learner of course. They spent nearly the next hour customising the phone, installing apps, changing backgrounds, apparently hacking it so that it would have better signal – Wednesday did that.
‘I had better return home,’ Wednesday said, once the phone was customised to her liking. ‘We will be leaving in the morning.’
Parker nodded and held out her arms toward Wednesday. This time Wednesday accepted the hug, albeit briefly, before heading once more for the window.
‘I could come and see you off, tomorrow,’ Parker said.
‘That would be nice,’ Wednesday said. ‘But there is no need. I am not sure what time we will be leaving.’
Parker nodded. ‘I’ll try to see you off, ok?’
Wednesday nodded and let herself out the window.
Parker barely slept, and when she did eventually fall asleep, she wasn’t asleep for long. Her alarm went off at 6am, in the hopes that she could get to the Addams house before Wednesday left. But she fell back asleep almost immediately. It was closer to nine when Parker managed to get up, get on her bike, and start up the hill to the old mansion.
She was just in time to nearly be run off the road first by a small man in a small car, and second by the big, gothic, smoke-spewing campervan that belonged to the Addams family. Parker waved, but she didn’t see Wednesday before she turned around and biked back home.
When she got home, Parker saw she had a text from Wednesday:
‘Dearest Parker,
I hope I am not disturbing you, but I am writing you with a query. Did you see a strange man driving away from our family house this morning, not long before we passed you on the road? I hope that Thing’s driving did not rattle you too severely.
In anticipation,
Wednesday Addams’
Parker blushed at the opening, then frowned. She texted back ‘i did’ then ‘little guy in a little car’ then ‘i’m fine’ then ‘i’m sorry i didn’t make it in time to see you’.
A minute later, Wednesday texted again:
‘Dearest Parker,
Thank you for your swift reply to my earlier communique. I am glad to hear you are well, and while I too regret that we could not see each other before I left, I do not hold it against you. Another query: did you notice any details about the man or his car?
In anticipation,
Wednesday Addams’
Parker lay on her front in bed, kicking her legs in some kind of excitement, she liked this ‘dearest Parker’ thing that Wednesday was doing. She wracked her brain, trying to remember any details about the car. ‘i think the car was grey or white’ she texted ‘pretty sure the dude had glasses’.
Parker had almost fallen asleep again when Wednesday texted back nearly half an hour later. She appreciated the information and regretted to inform Parker than the family vacation was planned to take three weeks.
‘Damn’ Parker texted ‘i’m really gonna miss you’.
‘Agreed.’ Wednesday sent back.
***
‘Dearest Parker,
We have arrived at Niagara Falls. It appears that my uncle Fester commandeered the camper while the rest of us slept and has taken us to the waterfalls. They are quite impressive, I will admit, I suspect that the pressure of being at the bottom of the walls would be quite enough to kill a man.
Still, I find that I am not very interested in the scenery. Perhaps I will conduct an experiment with my brother Pugsley to pass the time.
In anticipation,
Wednesday Addams’
Parker did some googling about Niagara Falls and replied ‘the pictures make it look pretty’ and then ‘apparently up to 30 people die every year at the falls’.
‘Dearest Parker,
I do wish you could have accompanied me; I think you would enjoy this dismal place rather more than I am. I appreciate you informing me of that statistic, as it does provide me some plausible deniability when I send Pugsley over the falls to his death.
Gratefully,
Wednesday Addams’
***
‘Dearest Parker,
We have stopped for the night in a bog in a town called Sleepy Hollow. I prefer the dimness and insects to the sunlight of Niagara Falls, but I am finding that the longer this trip lasts, the more my family wears on my nerves.
In anticipation,
Wednesday Addams’
Parker did some googling and was disappointed to discover that it would be something like a seven hour bike ride. ‘sorry you have to deal with them’ Parker texted. ‘you can get through this’
‘I hope you are right, and I appreciate your sympathy.
Gratefully,
Wednesday Addams’
Parker was asleep when Wednesday texted her again:
‘Dearest Parker,
Something is afoot. My parents appear to be attempting to hide some doubt as to my biological origin from me. I suspect it has something to do with that strange man who accosted us as we were leaving the house.
Suspensefully,
Wednesday Addams’
***
‘Dearest Parker,
We have arrived in Miami, Florida. I despise it here. It is rather too warm and sunny for my liking. The people here are unreasonably rude and disruptive to my attempts at learning. I have yet to uncover any more information about the nature of my birth.
In anticipation,
Wednesday Addams’
Wednesday had been gone four days by the time Parker got that text, and Parker was depressed. As the summer break started, she felt like she had nothing to do, no one to talk to. All she seemed to do with her life was meander about and wait for texts from Wednesday.
‘I’m sorry to hear that’ Parker texted back. ‘I’m sure you found some suitable punishment for them?’
‘Dearest Parker
I rather did. They will be unable to shake the cloud I gifted them for some time. Once again, I find myself wishing you were with me. I do not think you would enjoy Miami particularly, but I believe it would be rather more bearable if we were together.
Regretfully,
Wednesday Addams’
‘I wish I was there too, dude’ Parker responded. ‘I’m so bored here without you’ and then added ‘but I found this, which is funny’ and sent Wednesday a link to one of the videos of Pugsley crazed dancing at Niagara Falls.
Parker had tried to capitalise on the viral videos a little bit, posting about how she knew Pugsley, but she’d given up when the volume of people calling her a clout-chaser got too high.
‘Parker, I appreciate you alerting me to these films. I agree, very amusing.
Gratefully,
Wednesday Addams’
***
Parker got semi-regular updates over the next few days as the Addamses drove west across the South. Wednesday was bored, and it was too hot, and she was suspicious of what was going on with her family.
Parker was also bored and suspicious of what was going on with Wednesday’s family. She missed Wednesday. She was still spending most of her time waiting for Wednesday’s next text.
‘Parker, dear,’ Margaux called from downstairs. ‘Could you come down here for a moment?’
Parker sighed and trudged down the stairs. Though things had calmed down over the last year, Margaux in particular, Parker still didn’t really like spending time with her mother.
‘Parker!’ Margaux smiled as she saw Parker enter the lounge. ‘Have a seat, dear. I’d like to have a chat.’
Parker sprawled on one of the couches, putting her boots up on the cushions. Margaux winced, but didn’t say anything. ‘What can I do for you, Margaux?’
‘Parker, I’ve noticed your Social Blade numbers are down,’ Margaux said. ‘Is everything alright?’
Parker shrugged, then nodded. ‘Yeah, it’s fine.’ She went to get up.
‘Is it because the Addams family is out of town?’ Magaux asked. ‘Your weird friend isn’t around?’
Parker sighed her way back into the couch. ‘Her name’s Wednesday,’ Parker said. ‘And I’m fine.’
‘Of course, dear,’ Margaux said. ‘I just wanted to say that I don’t think it’s healthy how much you rely on your friend for emotional stability. You need to be more self-reliant.’
Parker stared at her mother for a few seconds, trying to decide how to react. ‘What would you know?’ she asked. ‘You don’t have any friends.’
Margaux leaned back, put a hand to her chest. ‘That’s very rude, Parker.’
‘Am I wrong, Margaux?’ Parker asked, sitting up. ‘You didn’t have any friends before, you don’t have any friends now. You don’t even have Fester around.’
‘Fester was completely useless, Parker,’ Margaux said.
‘I know,’ Parker said. ‘But you don’t have anyone, do you? You barely even have me.’
‘I wish you wouldn’t say that, Parker,’ Margaux said, tone staying even.
‘You wish it wasn’t true? Or you wish I wouldn’t say it?’
Margaux stared at her daughter for several, long, indecisive seconds. ‘Both, but most of all I wish you wouldn’t say it, Parker,’ Margaux said, eventually. ‘I would like if we were closer, but I understand what happened. And I understand who I am, Parker. I only had followers, fans, viewers, same as you.’
‘We’re not the same, Margaux. I’m not a narcissist.’
Margaux stared for another few seconds. ‘I understand who I am, Parker,’ she said. ‘Do you understand who you are? Are you a part of someone else, or are you self-sufficient?’
Parker slumped into the couch. ‘That therapy is really working, huh?’
‘Wonderfully. But do give it some thought, dear. If you can’t last a week when someone goes on vacation, I think we can both agree that that is a problem.’
***
Parker texted ‘can I call you?’
Almost two hours later, as Parker was lying in the foetal position in bed, checking her texts constantly in case she didn’t get a notification, Wednesday texted back: ‘Yes.’
Parker immediately hit dial.
The phone rang twice before Wednesday picked up.
‘Hello?’ Parker said. ‘Wednesday?’
‘Yes,’ Wednesday’s deadpan voice said. ‘Parker. It is nice to hear your voice.’
‘Yeah. I miss you.’
Wednesday was quiet for a moment. All Parker could hear on the other end was the faint rattling and bumping of the camper and the rushing wind, not quite close enough to distort the call.
‘I miss you too, Parker,’ Wednesday said. ‘I was planning to tell you about my day regardless, but would you like to hear it?’
‘Of course,’ Parker said. ‘My life’s been so boring since you left, I’d love to hear about whatever shenanigans you’re getting into.’
Another long moment of silence. ‘My parents are trying to keep me away from that strange man, who is certainly following us. I believe he has something to do with their concern regarding my parentage. They went so far as to force me into a beauty pageant today.’
‘Oh, dude, that sucks,’ Parker grinned. ‘Are there any pictures?’
‘Thankfully, there are not,’ Wednesday said. ‘That man arrived during the performance, and my parents created quite a scene in aid of escaping him.’
‘Yeah, that’s annoying,’ Parker said.
‘It bothers me, Parker,’ Wednesday said. ‘They do not trust that I can handle the situation myself. I had hoped that they would know better.’
‘Family can be like that though, you know?’ Parker said. ‘It feels like they don’t know you at all sometimes…’ She trailed off, thinking of her talk with Margaux. ‘Sometimes they’re not too far off, though.’
‘It feels as if I am an outsider to my family,’ Wednesday said. ‘They are so cavalier and foolish. They do not seem interested in what I am interested in. It confuses me.’
Parker frowned and rolled over to look at the ceiling. ‘I know,’ she said. ‘My mum’s like that. But… I don’t think your family is like her. She doesn’t care because that’s the sort of person she is. I think… your parents seem like they have good intentions.’
‘I am not of the opinion that their intentions matter,’ Wednesday said. ‘My father dragged us along on this trip so that we could become closer as a family. And yet he continues to take no interest in my interests and passions.’
‘Sometimes that’s what friends are for,’ Parker said. ‘I love to hear about your science stuff and your…’ She struggled for the right word. ‘I love when you tell me about the things your passionate about, even if I don’t always understand them.’
‘I appreciate that, Parker,’ Wednesday said. ‘I truly do. I feel as if I have been separated from the one person who understands me. I regret you could not accompany us on this trip.’
‘I miss you too, Wednesday,’ Parker said. ‘But I’m here now. We’re talking now. You can tell me anything you want, you can talk to me about anything and I’ll listen, even if I don’t get the fine details.’
‘Thank you, Parker,’ Wednesday said.
The two of them talked into the late evening. Wednesday recounted some of the things she had seen on her trip that she hadn’t bothered to text Parker about, and talked about her trait-swapping project. Parker didn’t have anything to contribute, really, but that was fine.
Eventually, Parker was finding herself falling asleep, and Wednesday had run low on things to talk about. Parker was curled up in bed, smiling ear to ear and about to fall asleep.
‘I enjoyed this conversation, Parker,’ Wednesday said.
‘Me too, it was great,’ Parker said. ‘Maybe we can talk again soon? It’s more fun that just texting.’
‘I will keep that in mind,’ Wednesday said. ‘Until next we communicate, Parker.’
‘Until then, miss you.’
‘And I, you.’
Parker sighed, happily this time, and spread out on her bed. And then a thought rammed into her head. Parker wondered what Wednesday would have said if Parker had ended the call ‘love you’ instead. Would that have been weird?
Maybe she would try it some time, if she worked up the courage.
For now, she needed to go to sleep.
***
Parker perked up the next couple of days. She went back to posting about food and going to the mall and that sort of shit, rather than posting vaguely depressed selfies from bed. And she talked to Wednesday on the phone both days. Wednesday still texted, of course.
‘Dearest Parker,
We arrived at the Grand Canyon today. It is quite impressive, I must admit. The sheer size and emptiness are quite striking. It is a shame about my family. I suspect you hear about it soon, but Pugsley took it upon himself to rearrange the canyon somewhat.
In anticipation,
Wednesday Addams’
‘oh, that sounds pretty cool’ Parker replied. ‘did you get any footage?’
‘I did not.’
‘fair’
Parker got on the socials (is that how kids talk?), and within a minute she had some videos of the explosions in the Grand Canyon. Someone had been flying a drove, and the footage was amazing, she sent it to Wednesday.
‘Though I am loathe to give him any compliments, I am once again forced to admit my brother’s skills with explosives. We are staying nearby for the night; I should like to speak again once we have stopped.’
‘I look forward to it’ Parker replied.
Wednesday call in the early afternoon and told Parker about her parents’ reaction to Pugsley’s redecoration of the Grand Canyon.
‘Weird,’ Parker said. ‘Seems like the sort of thing they’d be into.’
‘Precisely,’ Wednesday said, it sounded like she was dragging something through sand. ‘It feels as if we are being hunted.’
‘You think it’s still them trying to stay away from that guy?’
‘I do.’ There was the distinct sound of a knot being tied.
‘You gonna do something about it?’
‘I am,’ Wednesday said. ‘I will not be the hunted. I will be the hunter.’
‘Hot.’
‘I am not using fire, no,’ Wednesday said.
‘Oh, cool, then?’
‘Oh, vernacular. I appreciate the compliment, Parker.’
Parker told Wednesday about her day, she’d gone to the mall with the twins. It was still fairly early when Wednesday announced that she had to go.
‘I will resume contact soon enough,’ Wednesday said. ‘Until then.’
‘Until then, love you,’ Parker said, cringing with her entire body.
‘Hmm’ was Wednesday’s response as she hung up.
Parker had definitely screwed that up. It had been weird. With a sigh, Parker spread out on her bed and hoped that she hadn’t scared Wednesday off and would, in fact, hear from her again soon.
About five minutes later, Wednesday texted: ‘That odd man was hired by Mr Strange, who claims that I am his long lost daughter who was switched at birth.’
‘oh shit’ Parker replied. ‘that’s real sus tho’
‘Agreed. I will do my own research.’
‘yeah, good plan’ Parker replied. ‘I’m here if you want to talk about it’
‘I appreciate that, Parker. For now, I need to set up my DNA testing apparatus.’
‘of course you brought one of those on a family vacation’
‘Of course.’
A couple of hours later, Parker was in bed when Wednesday texted again: ‘Disconcerting news: it appears I am not Gomez’s daughter.’
‘oh shit’ Parker replied. ‘what are you going to do?’
‘I believe I will be going to Sausalito to speak with Mr Strange.’
‘are you sure?’ Parker texted. ‘he seems kinda sus’
‘You are right, Parker. But I need to know the truth, and I do not know where else to go to find it out.’
‘just be careful alright?’
‘I will be careful, I promise.’
***
‘Welcome home,’ Margaux called, from the couch.
Parker had just gotten home from the cinema. ‘Thanks.’
‘You seem to be in a better mood lately,’ Margaux said. ‘Did you give any thought to what we talked about?’
Parker slouched onto the couch. ‘Not really,’ she said. ‘I still think you’re off. But I appreciate the concern.’
‘Oh, well I’m glad you appreciate it rather than being too much of a teenager.’
Parker nodded and checked her phone, it had been hell to have it off through the movie, but there was still no word from Wednesday. ‘I don’t think your dichotomy holds up,’ Parker said. ‘Even if you’ve basically got the spirit of things.’
‘You’ve been talking to Wednesday a lot, haven’t you?’
‘It’s not needing someone else or not, Margaux,’ Parker said. ‘I can miss Wednesday when she’s not here without being like, a simp or whatever. It’s more of a spectrum than a binary choice.’
‘Just like sexuality I suppose.’
‘What?’
‘You think I didn’t look up what it means when my daughter gets a side-shave and dies her hair.’
Parker laughed. ‘It’s not…’ But she didn’t finish the thought because now she was thinking about whether or not she would be lying. ‘That’s not the point, Margaux.’
‘Ok. But I’m glad to see you’re in a better mood.’
‘If you were right about anything, you were right that I was maybe overreacting to Wednesday not being here.’
Margaux nodded.
‘But that doesn’t mean I’m self-sufficient.’
Margaux nodded again. ‘I suppose we’re not the same, Parker. And that might be a good thing.’
‘Might be.’
***
‘Dearest Parker,
Things have gotten rather confusing today. I arrived at Cyrus Strange’s house this morning and his DNA test indicates that we are related. I had decided to stay here, with my biological father, but I have some grave concerns. Would you be amenable to a phone conversation?
In anticipation,
Wednesday Addams’
Parker, lying in bed, immediately hit dial.
‘Parker?’ Wednesday said. ‘I feel I need to bend your ear about all this.’
‘Of course, Wednesday,’ Parker said. ‘Are you alright?’
‘I am physically well,’ Wednesday said. ‘But this situation is all rather confusing, and all moving rather fast.’
‘Tell me about it.’
‘It appears that I am Cyrus Strange’s biological daughter, and I believe that that makes sense. We are more alike in some ways than I am alike to the Addams family. But, as you noted, the man is highly suspect.’
‘You’ve decided to stay anyway, though?’
‘I had decided to stay with him,’ Wednesday said. ‘But his reaction my the Addams family arriving has concerned my somewhat. Additionally, when we were in San Antonio, Pongo warned Lurch that I was in danger.’
‘Pongo?’
‘Mr Strange’s strongman, an old friend of Lurch.’
‘Ah, right. So he’s real sus, then?’
‘Yes, very much so. But I cannot shake the feeling that I fit in better here than I did with the Addamses.’
‘Hmm’ Parker deflated. ‘So you’re going to stay in California? I would really miss you.’
‘Perhaps your mother will find a new television show to do in California?’
‘Maybe…’ Parker sighed. ‘She did her whole apology tour, and she’s still working on getting back in the public eye, but… I would hate to be separated for however long that takes.’
‘I agree,’ Wednesday said. ‘If I am being honest, that is one of my greatest concerns about the potential of this decision. Aside from Cyrus’s suspicious behaviour, it is the main reason that I am not so sure that I wish to stay here.’
‘Aww’ Parker couldn’t help but say. ‘That’s really nice of you, Wednesday.’
‘I…’ Wednesday paused. ‘I am not sure what to do. Perhaps if I sleep on it, I will come to a conclusion.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Perhaps I should go, I expect it is quite late there.’
Parker checked the time, it was just past midnight. ‘Yeah, but it’s alright. I don’t have any real plans for tomorrow.’
‘Still. I need time to think on these problems.’
‘Sure.’
‘Until next we speak.’
‘Until then, love you.’ Parker winced, she hadn’t meant to say it again.
‘Actually…’ Wednesday did not hang up. ‘You said that last time we spoke as well. What do you mean by it?’
‘I dunno.’ Parker flailed in bed. ‘I… I really like you, I guess. I like being around you, I miss you when you’re not here. I love listening to you talk, I like that you take an interest in my boring life. I really like spending time with you. I always feel better when you’re around… you know?’
‘Hmm…’
Parker was worried she’d hang up again.
‘I believe I do know what you are talking about. This, too, I will need to consider. Until next time.’
‘Bye.’
Wednesday hung up.
Parker flailed wildly in bed for a few minutes. ‘Damn it,’ she complained to her darkened room. ‘It’s not like… what if she…’ Parker took a deep breath. ‘I’ll worry about it later.’
It took a long time to get to sleep.
***
Parker woke up in the late morning to a text from Wednesday:
‘Dearest Parker,
Many issues have been resolved, many changes have occurred. We are leaving Sausalito now and expect to be back home tomorrow night. I would like to speak with you in person, so please excuse me if I do not communicate with you much until then.
In great anticipation,
Wednesday Addams’
‘see you then’ Parker replied.
Minutes later. ‘Margaux?’ Parker called into the house. ‘I need two hundred bucks.’
Margaux was in the dining room, looking over some papers. ‘What for?’
‘There’s a party at the Addams place tomorrow and I need to be there.’
‘Sure.’ Margaux handed over the money. ‘No drinking.’
‘Sure. Thanks.’ Parker hurried off to the mall to find an outfit.
***
Parker was on the younger side of the people at the Addams’s house party. To her mild surprise, she was also on the gothier side of the crowd as well. There were a lot of girls wearing bright colours, and a lot of Halloween-style decorations for it being only late April.
Parker did not stand out for being one of the many people streaming the party to social media. She probably didn’t have the biggest audience or anything, the bloat to her account from exposing her mother hadn’t lasted. But she thought she might be the most visibly excited streamer there.
Parker didn’t really care about the music, or the popular crowd, though she did her best to subtly clout-chase the more popular people there. She cared that Wednesday would be there soon and they would be reunited after what felt like eons apart.
She was wandering around the house, trying to get a bit of quiet so that she could talk to her audience, when she spotted the camper pulling up the driveway. ‘Ooh, they’re home,’ Parker told her stream, pointing the camera out the window. ‘I’m gonna go meet them, so I’ll talk later.’
She got a bunch of messages along the lines of ‘go get your girl’, which she decided to ignore as she ended the stream and pocketed her phone. Wednesday hadn’t texted to let her know that they were nearly home and Parker wondered about that as she hurried down the stairs and out the front.
The Addams family piled out of the camper and Parker hovered on the steps, not far from Wednesday’s grandmother, who was also hovering anxiously on the steps. But she soon forgot about the rest of the family as Wednesday made her way up the steps of the big house toward her.
Wednesday stopped a step away from Parker and gazed, deadpan.
‘I missed you,’ Parker said, immediately. She held out her arms. ‘I’m really glad you’re back.’
Wednesday hesitated a moment, then stepped into the hug and wrapped her thin, cool arms around Parker. ‘I am glad to see you, Parker,’ she said. ‘I have come to a realisation.’
‘Oh?’
‘I love my family in a different way to how they love me,’ Wednesday said. ‘But I think I love you in the same way that you love me.’
‘Oh…’ Parker blushed, her heart sped up and she held Wednesday a little tighter. ‘I… I really love you, Wednesday. I really mean it.’
‘And I love you, Parker. But I am not as fond of hugs as you.’
Parker let her go with a grin and Wednesday held her hand as the two of them wandered into the crowded, thumping house to watch Cousin It headline the party. They sat together up the back with Gomez and Morticia and Pugsley and the girl that they seemed to have brought home. She got front-row seats to the explanation that Gomez did not, in fact, have any of his own hair.
Wednesday did that finger-twist thing she did to everyone except Parker, and Gomez glanced at Parker when she did it. Parker shrugged and Wednesday came to sit with her. Gomez got death-glares from everyone when he suggested another family vacation.
Parker leaned against Wednesday and they watched Cousin It’s set in peace.