Chapter Text
The cold was perfectly biting. Strong winds clawed at her face so Wednesday unbuttoned the top button of her thick jacket, letting herself soak up the cold. She always loved dreary weather, it reminded her of when she’d be the only little girl on the playground because the others were too scared of getting a little wet. Now, at the age of 20, she looked back on school fondly in some ways, as she enjoyed quiet study sessions in the library (despite being interrupted by a few frisky couples) and competing in the Poe Cup with Enid. However, she didn’t miss the other people in her town who were less accepting of Outcasts, and even the people at Nevermore who somehow always had a smile on their faces. Enid was the exception.
Wednesday had decided to take a little break from school, it was mid-December, leading up to Christmas, and as she didn’t feel excited like her little brother about the holiday, she went up to the countryside to work on her book.
Writing was always something she adored, it helped her escape into the world she wished she lived in: where things and people were clean-cut and understandable, and no one played little games or cared too much about their emotions. It was easier to write her mysteries in that kind of world. However, she found they were less fun to solve too, when everything was clear, so she allowed herself to add a little emotion here and there. Plot development, that’s all.
‘are you there yet? looks like snow here!!’ Wednesday looked down at her phone and saw the text from Enid with several snowflake emojis tacked on.
‘Yes. Just reached the house. Cold here too.’ She sent back. She allowed herself a few more minutes out in the cold and rain before her bag got too soaked, and then headed up to the little house she was renting. There were a few small, semidetached houses scattered around the area - air BnBs run by a little old man who Wednesday suspected was an Outcast; she always had an eye for them out and about. Wednesday spotted him then, standing at the doorstep of her rented house, waving ferociously with a wide smile on his face. “Hello there! I’m Paul! I assume you’re Miss Addams?”
“Yes.”
“Ah well! Perfect. I have your key here, make yourself comfortable and I’ll be off!”
“Thank you.”
“It’s funny, no one comes down here this time of year! All home for the holidays.”
“I’m not a… festive type of person.”
“I see! Well, enjoy the home!”
Paul smiled again and opened his umbrella before tottering away back to what she assumed was his house. She turned and unlocked the door of her own. It was quaint and old, hopefully, haunted in some way, but she doubted it. The floors were dark wood with a hallway leading to a small living room and comfortable kitchen. A creaky-looking staircase lead upstairs, and when she dragged her bag up them, she found a cute bedroom and bathroom. And by cute, that meant floral bedsheets. She scoffed and reminded herself to check the cupboards to see if there was anything darker.
Wednesday set up her typewriter on the kitchen table and glanced out the fogged-up window. Snow. And it was coming down fast too. It already looked about an inch thick and she relished the fact that she’d probably be snowed in. No excuses for procrastination then. Lately, she’d been distracted, and already had to stop herself from skimming the bookshelf to see if there was anything other than 40-year-old phone books and cringey romance novels. No distractions.
She wrote for about an hour, crumpling up a page every once in a while, clipping her bangs out of her eyes, drinking water, and pacing the room. Doing anything but writing really. That’s when she heard a knock. A knock? Paul said no one else was renting.
Wednesday slowly got up, walking towards the door, hoping for a deranged countryside serial killer, perhaps she’d get to use the bread knife waiting for her back in the kitchen. Instead when she opened the door, she was met with a tall, bundled-up man. He had a hat and scarf so she couldn’t see his face, but she assumed he was young from how he bounced on his heels gently, trying to keep warm by moving as much as possible.
“Oh! Hi! I’m so sorry, I thought Paul would still be here, he was cleaning up earlier and I thought to bring him some snacks because he always-“
“Paul left a while ago.” Wednesday cut the rambling man off, he was already talking too much for her liking.
“Sorry, sorry. Who are you? Not to sound rude I just-“
Wednesday sighed, “I’m Wednesday Addams.”
“As in… the day of the week? Is that when you were born then.”
Oh, how she tired of this question. “It’s from a nursery rhyme. I was born on Friday the 13th.”
“I see. I’m Tyler. Tyler Galpin. I’m in the house next door.” He shivered and pulled his hat further down. Wednesday rolled her eyes; it wasn’t that cold yet.
“Would you…. Would you like to come in?” She said reluctantly.
“Oh no! It’s alright don’t worry. Do you want the food I was going to bring for Paul? There aren’t a lot of stores around here, none that you can get to in this weather.” Wednesday thought for a moment. He did have a point.
“Sure. Thank you.”
He nodded and handed her the little basket of food, smiling and turning away. She closed the door, leaning on it when it closed. She was hungry after all and who was she to turn down free food?