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"Keep up, Ty. Come on."
Tyler scowled, his hands shoved in his jean pockets. He was following his dad from behind, not by choice but rather obligation. He was still ticked off at having to cancel his date with Wednesday at the last minute. And for what? Some crappy bring-your-kid-to-work day event that he hadn't gone to since he was eight. No amount of protesting or attempts at a negotiation worked.
He'd been sulking ever since and he didn't care.
"Well maybe I might if you didn't ruin my whole Sunday, Dad ," Tyler said, his voice filled with just a touch of bitterness.
"Don't even start it," Dad warned him. "I've heard enough of that already. You know you should be grateful; there are kids out there who would jump at the chance to come."
"Take one of those kids, then," Tyler muttered to himself, ignoring the look he was receiving that told him he needed to shut his mouth now . Sighing, he said, “Where to next?”
“Cemetery,” Dad grunted. “Just got to check everything out then we can go home.”
“ Finally ,” Tyler said in relief. He might have a chance at FaceTiming Wednesday if Enid didn’t mind sharing her phone for a while.
“And I expect you to do more than talk to Addams all night,” Dad told him. “You got school tomorrow. Get off the phone before midnight.”
“ Okay ,” Tyler groaned. It had happened once or twice. He was absolutely useless the next morning, but Wednesday remained unaffected, so he’d heard. She could function on a few hours of sleep whilst he could not.
There was only one streetlight that hung outside of the cemetery, dimly lighting up the entrance for them. The sidewalk was vacant, the streets free of cars except for the occasional bright white headlights that come into view and momentarily blinde him. Dad held a flashlight, keeping it straight. He gestured with his other hand for Tyler to follow.
The wind came through, sounding eerily like a low howl. Tyler glanced at the line of graves, his pace slowing down which allowed his dad to get several steps ahead of him. He would have stayed in the car if his dad hadn’t forced him out.
Faintly, he thought he heard a rustling noise but passed it off as his imagination working overtime. That was until he heard his dad swore loudly and before he knew it, he was at his dad’s side.
“What?” he asked breathlessly.
Dad flung a hand forward. Tyler’s gaze flickered and he could feel a smile appearing when he saw his girlfriend seated in between two graves. Her eyes lifted up to look at his dad, nodding once.
“Sheriff.”
“Addams!” Dad barked. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Conjuring up a demon,” she said in her usual monotone. “It’s been far too long since I’ve had an adequate playmate.” Tyler spied a trace of amusement in her eyes, a slight crack in her stoic expression.
“That’s a bit kooky even for you, Addams,” Dad rubbed at his temples.
“I prefer spooky.”
“She prefers spooky.”
Their eyes locked on one another. She gave him the briefest of smiles.
Dad noticed the exchange. “Alright that’s enough of that. Addams, what are you really doing here? The cemetery’s closed.”
“Studying,” she said without moving from her spot.
“Studying,” Dad scoffed. “Right. Cut the crap.”
“Dad,” Tyler put a hand on his father’s shoulder, pulling away when it was shrugged off. “Come on, Wednesday’s not causing any trouble.”
“Not yet .”
Wednesday gracefully rose to her feet. Tyler had to resist the urge to hold out his hand for her to take. Extending her hand, she showed his dad a paper-- which explained the rustling . Dad took it and Tyler used this opportunity to catch a glimpse of it. With the limited lighting, he could spot her name at the top, the word botany in the middle of the title. “It’s homework,” she spoke again. “I have a botany exam later this week and I have nowhere to study. The library is full. The weathervane is too noisy and to avoid giving into any homicidal urges-” Tyler snorted. “I had to find a suitable location elsewhere.”
“What about your dorm?” Tyler asked.
“As it so happens, Enid prefers to study while blasting unreasonably loud music.”
Tyler frowned in sympathy. He would have gladly let her use his room to study.
Dad only seemed to hear half of what she said. “You’re loitering,” he said. Tyler rolled his eyes. “Get out of here and go back to Nevermore.”
“ Dad ,” Tyler shot her an apologetic glance. “She’s just studying. What’s the harm?”
“Cemetery closed at nine,” Dad said tightly. “No exceptions. Not even for your girlfriend.”
Wednesday took back her paper. “I’ll be on my way,” she began to gather her things.
“Can we at least give her a ride back?” Tyler would feel better about it than for her to walk alone in the dark. He knew she could handle it, that the other person would be in more danger than she would be, but it would ease his nerves.
“Ty,” Dad looked annoyed.
Wednesday’s face was blank. “I don’t need one.”
“There you go,” Dad nodded.
“Please?” he said softly. “I’d feel better knowing you got back safely.”
She looked up at him. Not many would see the subtle signs of softness in her eyes but he did. Tyler knew he could read Wednesday Addams better than anyone because no one else had bothered to look hard enough or beyond the first impression.
He ached to bring her into his arms, though he knew better with his dad there. He’d witnessed it before, it was just best not to further agitate him.
“Very well,” she said eventually.
“Thank you,” he smiled. She’d opened up her backpack to put three textbooks in when he stopped her. “Let me take those.”
“I can take them myself.”
“I know you can but I want to,” he told her sincerely. He liked doing those little things for her; opening the door for her, carrying her stuff, giving her his jacket when she was cold. She always rolled her eyes at him, telling him he didn’t need to do it. But she put up less resistance now. Tyler suspected she even liked it but to avoid the possibility of having his fingers chopped off, he kept that thought to himself.
Her stare was indecipherable. It felt like it lasted for eternity before she gave them up, though somehow he knew she was contemplating on rethinking her decision. “I don’t need your chivalry.”
She still gave them to him.
“Alright, Addams,” Dad broke through the moment, looking disgruntled. “Apparently my son doesn’t think he needs to ask for permission,” he leveled a glare at Tyler who had the decency to look sheepish. “But I guess this one time I’ll give you a ride.”
Wednesday didn’t say anything.
“ However ,” Dad held up a finger. Alarm bells went off in Tyler’s head. “I’ll have no fondling in the backseat or whatever you kids are calling it these days.”
“ Dad !” Tyler had never felt so mortified in all his life. “I’m so sorry, ignore him,” he apologized to Wednesday.
But she paid him no mind; her eyes were locked on his dad. “You should have made that known before all those car rides we've taken.”
Tyler watched his dad practically choke on his tongue. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he guided her away before an explosion could occur. A part of him couldn’t help but find himself turned on. God , she was so attractive when she talked back to his dad. Truth be told, they’d never gotten particularly heavy with things. Wednesday was still navigating how to be in a relationship. That was completely with Tyler. Really, he was pleased and honored that she’d chosen to be with him.
“Sorry about today,” he referenced their canceled date.
“You’ve already apologized. Twice is unnecessary.”
“I know,” he said. “But I felt bad that I didn't get to say anything sooner.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she was walking beside him when he let go of her shoulders. Eyeing him, she came closer, nearly tucked in his side. “As you can see, I had to study anyway.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” he promised. “I’ll help you study if you’re okay with that.”
“You could help me by bringing me a quad when I come over.”
He chuckled, kissing her head. “Whatever you want.”
The walk down the sidewalk was quiet. That was fine. They didn’t have to talk all the time. Tyler was aware that Wednesday often appreciated the silence, using it as a means of decompressing especially if she’d had to endure more socialization than she preferred.
“What did you do today?” She made conversation, her face reflecting something akin to curiosity as she interlaced her fingers with his.
“Missed me?” He said in a gentle tease.
“I missed your competency!” She huffed.
“That has to be the kindest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
She scowled. “I went to get a quad and the barista is clearly not qualified to make one. Hers was utterly repulsive. Yours are mediocre but tolerable.”
“Thanks, Sweetheart,” he said dryly.
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“That’s because your coffee was a more pressing matter,” Tyler shifted the books in his arm so he could still hold Wednesday’s hand.
“You mentioned accompanying your father to work,” she said. “What was that like?”
“Nothing special,” he thought back to his uneventful day. Most of it was spent either in the petrol car or the station. “Believe me, I would’ve rather been with you.”
There came a tinge of pink that stood out against the paleness on her cheeks. Tyler was just so smitten by the sight. Not anyone, probably no one, had ever seen Wednesday Addams blush or made it happen. But he did. He was able to see a side of her no one else did.
He didn’t remark on it or let his gaze linger. She wouldn’t want attention towards it or she’d clam up.
“Car’s this way,” he escorted her. “And sorry but it’s the petrol car and someone’ll have to sit in the back. I can if you want.”
“I’ve always wanted to ride in a petrol car.” She wore a look on her face that was akin to childish excitement, if by only slightly.
He shook his head, suppressing a laugh. Of course she did.
“Pugsley and I took turns trying to get ourselves arrested when we were children,” she told him.
“....Why?”
“Boredom.”
“Too good for a game of catch?” He arched his brow at her.
“I would never allow myself to participate in a useless game.”
“So you’re not good at it,” he translated. She glared darkly at him and he instantly knew he was right. Wednesday disliked not being proficient and if there was one area where she lacked it, it was most sports.
“I don’t have to answer you.”
“That cute glare of yours already did,” he teased her.
She scowled.
“I’ll teach you sometime,” he offered. “It’s easy.”
He could already see that he would need to invest in a softer ball. Wednesday throwing a regular baseball could be dangerous, especially if she lost her temper.
“I’ll consider it.”
Which meant a yes.
“Great,” he said. Then, to mess with her, he added, “I’ll go easy on you.”
Wednesday looked greatly offended. He wouldn’t be surprised if she mustered up some sudden strength and pushed him off the sidewalk. “You’re signing your own death warrant, Galpin.”
“What can I say? I like to live on the edge,” he winked.
They stopped walking in the middle of the sidewalk. With his dad still behind and therefore out of sight to see what was about to happen, Tyler bent down, his lips centimeters from her own. Wednesday’s eyes dilated in anticipation.
“Do you know what else I like?” He whispered.
Instead of capturing her lips into a kiss, he abruptly stood back up, smiling brightly. He almost burst into laughter at her wide-eyed expression.
“That was cruel,” she declared. “And not even the good kind of cruelty.”
“I thought you liked that?” Tyler enjoyed nothing more than riling her up. To frustrate her like that left him actually wanting to sneak a kiss in, but he knew better. She probably would maim him for that.
“I’m going to have Thing take some of Eugene’s bees and leave them in your car,” she huffed.
“You could,” he nodded. “But then poor Eugene would be devastated.”
“He’d get over it.” They both know she wouldn’t. At least not when it involved stealing bees from Eugene.
“Besides,” he said. “I don’t have an allergy so I’d probably be fine.”
“Pity.”
He kissed her cheek. “I love you. Even when you wish death on me.”
“I love you as well,” her voice was noticeably quieter as it usually was whenever she told him as such. “Although I wish you were a better test subject.”
“You have your brother for that,” he reminded her. He’d agreed once and he was still certain he was scarred from it.
“You would handle it better,” she argued.
“That’s not really the compliment you think it is,” Tyler used her backpack strap to pull her closer. Standing up on her tiptoes, Wednesday leaned up to kiss him. Tyler kissed her back without hesitation, cupping the back of her neck. When they pulled apart, he was biting back a grin.
“You find something humorous,” she noted. “What?”
“It’s-” He started, knowing she was going to contemplate murdering him for this. Ah, well. He proceeded on. “It’s just cute how you have to stand on your tiptoes to kiss me.”
As predicted, she did not appreciate it. In fact, she was glaring again.
“I will gladly disembowel you.”
It was so hard to take her seriously, to see her as threatening when she was so much smaller than himself. “I have no doubt you would.”
Tyler’s ears picked up on his dad’s footsteps. Turning, he saw him approaching, looking exasperated at the sight of them.
Then, Wednesday, purely to antagonize his dad, asked him, “Would you like me to fondle you, Tyler?”
His dad gave a sigh of long suffering.
Unable to resist, Tyler responded, “Maybe later.”
“Don’t make me regret this,” Dad wagged a finger at them.
When he unlocked the car, Tyler, like a gentleman, opened the door for Wednesday. She glared but it lacked the usual fiery look. “Just get in the car, Addams,” he said good-naturedly.
Wordlessly, she took her backpack off, getting in and sliding over to the other side. He got in as well, shutting the door. “It’s very spacious, Sheriff,” she said when his dad was seated and Tyler couldn’t figure out if she was mocking him or not.
Dad got himself comfortable, looking at through the rear view mirror. He conveniently ignored that remark. “You could thank me for this, Addams. I’m going out of my way for you.”
“If I find your driving satisfactory, I'll consider it,” she responded.
Tyler smirked.
As Dad drove off into the night, Tyler reached for her hand. She glanced at him but didn’t pull away. Now that he looked closer at her face, he could see exhaustion creeping in. “Hey,” his voice was soft, “you okay? You look tired.”
“I’ve hardly slept,” she said as if it were no big deal.
“Why?”
“I needed more time to study,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Sweetheart,” Tyler sighed fondly. “I know you relish being above us mere mortals but even you need a proper amount of sleep.” He kissed her forehead. “Get some more sleep tonight, okay? I’ll help you study tomorrow, I promise.”
Wednesday nodded, to which he smiled.
“You two better be behaving back there,” Dad said, effectively breaking the moment.
Tyler covered Wednesday’s mouth with his hand. “We are,” he said.
She shoved his hand off.
“Just remember that I have to go home with him,” he pointed out. “You don’t.”
She got the message, nodding slowly. Then, in a whisper, she asked, “Would you care to join me on the next full moon? I’ll be at the cemetery grave digging.”
“I feel like I should be asking why ,” Tyler murmured.
“For my own amusement. Uncle Fester and I used to indulge in it whenever he was around.”
“Sounds like some quality bonding time,” Tyler knew he’d end up saying yes. “I trust you know you won’t get caught?”
Even in the darkness as they pulled away from the town’s lights, he knew Wednesday was staring at him as if he were quite stupid. “I nor Uncle Fester have ever been caught.”
“That’s reassuring,” he said. “Sure, I’ll go with. But if we get caught, this was all your idea and I was forced against my will.” The corners of her mouth drew up. It gave him such a warm feeling to know that he was one of the few people, besides Eugene, to get that kind of reaction from her.
“Alright, Addams,” Dad pulled up to the Nevermore gate. “We’re here.”
“An astute observation,” Wednesday said as she and Tyler got out of the car.
Dad grumbled incoherently to himself.
“You got everything?” Tyler asked, handing her back her books.
“Yes,” she said.
“Don’t forget my kiss,” he nudged her when she almost walked off without it. Turning on her heel, she gave it to him; the kiss was shorter this time because of his dad being present but no less satisfying.
“I almost forgot about your tendency to crave affection.”
“Are you forgetting how much you kissed me in the beginning once you realized you liked it?” He enjoyed watching a blush come over her face for the second time that night.
“I was merely attempting to-”
“Oh, don’t try to worm your way out of this one. You’re not as against affection as you say you are,” he said triumphantly.
“Perhaps not,” she conceded reluctantly. “But that’s only with you.”
“I’d hope so,” Tyler cupped her cheek, using his thumb to caress it. “Goodnight, Wednesday. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodbye,” she nodded.
Just as Tyler was getting back into the car, the front seat this time, his dad lowered the window to yell out,
“Where’s my thank you, Addams?”
She turned around. “As I said, I would thank you if I found your driving satisfactory. As it so happens, I did not.”
With that, she made her way back up to Nevermore.
Dad leaned back in his seat, shaking his head. “I don't know what you see in that girl, Ty."
Tyler didn’t even bother trying to hide his broad grin or his laughter.