Archive of Our Own

Wednesday placed another picture on her pin board and stood back to stare at it.

The board was filled with evidence (possible suspects, maps, documents, notes) all connected to each other by a black thread.

All recent proofs led to an old abandoned house just outside of Jericho.

The possibility of the house being the lair where her stalker operated was high enough in her mind to make Wednesday believe she needed to go and investigate.

The only thing left was figuring out how to make it out of town.

Dr Kinbott was seven feet underground (May Satan protect her soul) and the new principal had yet to assign Wednesday a new therapist, so she didn't have an excuse to leave the school grounds.

She could have faked being on the edge of a mental breakdown and desperate for therapy and pressure the principal to find her a new one, but Wednesday didn't really want to go through the hassle of sitting for an hour in a chair and being forced to share things about herself again.

Involving the sheriff was out of the question, Wednesday was done trusting the authorities and more so, dealing with Donovan Galpin.

The school bus was used only for school trips and after the mess with Crackstone and Weems’ death the new principal decided to ban Outreach Day altogether, at least for the time being.

That meant no trips into town for the rest of the year.

Wednesday was left with the only option of stealing the principal’s car.

Problem was… Ophelia’s Hall new dorm mom, Miss Byron, was instructed to keep an eye on Wednesday at all times and report any strange or suspicious behavior.

She had been informed of every mischief Wednesday had managed to pull and she had taken her job very seriously, so much so that Wednesday was forced to feel her piercing eyes on the back of her neck everyday.

And every day Wednesday returned the look, just to let her know that she knew she was being watched.

All of that meant that she had to be extremely careful if she didn't want to end up being expelled before she solved her mystery.

She couldn't afford any mistakes.

*

Wednesday shared seats with Xavier once again for Botanics.

That day, her mind was completely elsewhere, busy planning the perfect plan to steal the principal’s car long enough to go out of town without him or Miss Byron suspecting anything.

The phone in her pocket biped loudly.

Xavier turned his face in her direction at the sound.

“Is that… your phone?” he asked, knitting his brows.

He had a sketchbook already in front of him.

He never knew what to do with his hands for too long if he wasn't drawing.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said, deflecting his question.

Since the start of the semester she had started the habit of taking her phone everywhere she went, eagerly waiting for the next text from her stalker.

She was starting to realize why everyone was obsessed with their phone.

“Wednesday…do you carry the phone I gave you in your pocket? You told me you didn't use it!” he complained.

His expression was a mixture of surprise and hurt.

“I don’t.” she said, still trying to deflect.

He pinched his lips, “Then who’s texting you? A ghost?”

The phone biped again.

Xavier arched one of his brows.

“Even if I were involved in texting a ghost it would be none of your business,” she snapped back, glancing at him with the corner of her eye.

Xavier grimaced, like he had just eaten a sour candy.

“If you didn't want me to text you you could have just said so, instead of lying to me. I always look like a fucking idiot,” he replied, inrked and turned his head back to start doodling on his sketchbook, ignoring Wednesday for the rest of the class.

Nobody knew about her stalker except Thing and Wednesday wanted to keep it that way.

The previous year, she ended up including too many people in her investigations and if Wednesday had learned something from that was that the less people knew about her business the better.

She couldn't risk taking her phone out in front of Xavier, she was too exposed.

So she didn't.

She waited until the end of the class and when she was alone she pulled the phone from her pocket.

“I have a special surprise just for you, Wednesday 🎯” said the first text.

“It will be my Christmas gift, you are gonna love it 🖤” said the second one.

Wednesday frowned.

What surprise could her stalker have in store for her? Kidnapping? Murder? Disembowelment?

She was well prepared to deal with all of them and more.

Either way, it was imperative she found a way to break into that old house as soon as possible.

The same night, Wednesday was focused on typing on her typewriter.

Having a stalker, albeit strange, was a constant fountain of inspiration for her.

Enid was with Yoko for girls night and when she asked Wednesday what the covered board was for Wednesday told her it was a collage of mutilated body parts.

“I didn't want you to faint, like last time,” she said.

Enid made a disgusted face and just skipped away for her appointment.

Thing was currently applying cream on his scars with a pink back applicator (Enid's gift).

Suddenly, Wednesday heard a knock coming from the window.

She turned around on her seat to see Xavier standing outside her balcony, he waved when they met each other's eyes.

He looked like a twig in the wind.

What was he doing there?

“Hey,” he said, when Wednesday opened the window.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, annoyed.

“Jeez, you could try to sound a little more excited to see me sometimes,” he shot back.

“What do you want, Xavier? You are cutting out my writing time,” she said.

“Can I come in?”

Wednesday moved her body to let Xavier enter the room.

“I wanted to apologize for this morning. I was rude. And you are right, it’s none of my business who you want to text or don’t want to text. I just…I just wish-” he stumbled on his words, playing with his scarf.

The sound of a sheet falling off captured both of their attention.

Thing had neglected his cream ritual in favor of pulling off the sheet from Wednesday's pin board.

The pin board stood there, exposed.

“What- what is that? Xavier said, curious, walking closer to the board to examine it.

“Nothing that concerns you,” she said, quickly, picking up the sheet from the floor.

She was already orchestrating a painful revenge on Thing in her mind.

She has a stalker, signed Thing to Xavier.

Xavier knitted his brows.

“You have a stalker?” he asked, turning to Wednesday.

“Don’t listen to Thing. He doesn't know what he says half of the time, he doesn't have a head,” she said, glaring at him.

Thing flipped her off.

Wednesday pointed finger guns at him with wide eyes.

“Wait. Is this who was texting you this morning? A freaking stalker? Wednesday, what the hell!” Xavier said, stunned.

“I’m handling it just fine. I’m very close to finding out who it is. And when I do I plan to make them pay for it. Slowly.”

Xavier looked at the board again, staring at the piece of paper pinned right at the center with an address on it.

“The old house on Melbourne Rose? Is this where you are planning to go?” he asked, still staring.

“You know it?” she asked, her interest suddenly piqued.

“It's famous around Jericho. They say it’s cursed,” Xavier answered, turning around.

“Cursed how? By a ghost?” she asked.

“Nah, they say that once you walk inside the house something happens, something… bad and when you come out your life is changed forever. Nobody has dared to go in there for I don’t know how long. They wanted to renew it, but decided against it for this reason.” he explained, putting his hands in his pockets.

“Is there actual evidence of this curse?” she asked again.

“Not that I know of,” he said, shrugging.

“So it’s basically a bunch of made up stories the people of this town are always eager to believe,” Wednesday concluded.

Xavier ignored what she said, “How do you plan on going there? You don’t have a car and both the principal and your dorm mom keep a very close eye on you. I caught Miss Byron using two different types of binoculars to check on you, it was creepy.”

“I have my ways,” she cut him off. “Now leave, I have a novel to write,” she added, already walking away from the board.

“I want to come with you,” he said, crossing his arms.

Wednesday pinned him with her eyes.

“I don’t travel well with company,” she said.

“I can give you a ride. I have my personal driver, privileges of being an elitist snob and all of that,” he argued, pointing at his chest. “I bet that it’s better than whatever plan you have come up with.”

“Why are you so adamant about this?” she asked.

Arguably, taking a ride from Xavier would have cut Wednesday a lot of wasted time, it was indeed a tempting offer, but his presence would have been more of a hindrance than anything else.

“Could be dangerous to go alone. You don’t know what's in there.” Xavier said, moving to stand in front of the board again and covering it with his body.

“There's nothing your presence could protect me from. I’m faster, stronger and more equipped than you to deal with a stalker or any kind of danger. You would be dead weight,” she argued, callous.

“Thanks, Wednesday,” he huffed, looking down at his shoes, “ can always trust you to be honest with me,” he rebutted, with sarcasm. “Still sure you could use a ride, though,” he added, with a little smirk.

Wednesday debated turning him down again.

With Xavier's ride, though, she wouldn’t have had to worry about dealing with stealing a car and all that came with it.

She relented.

“We’ll go tomorrow, after class. I’ll tell Thing to drop a sleeping pill in Miss Byron’s afternoon tea. She won’t even notice I’m gone.” she said, with a final tone.

Xavier smiled bright.

*
The next day rolled around fast.

Wednesday made sure to wait until Miss Byron was asleep on her chair in her little office before slipping away.

She had agreed to meet with Xavier just outside the school grounds and when Wednesday got there he was already waiting in the car with his personal driver.

It was an inconspicuous car and Wednesday wondered if it had been a deliberate choice on his part.

“Take us to the old house on Melbourne Rose, Patrick. Thank you,” Xavier said when Wednesday got in the car.

She glanced at the driver and then back at Xavier.

The man must have been in his early sixties and had gray hair and a mustache.

“Don’t worry, Patrick won’t say anything to anyone. I’ve known him all my life.” Xavier said, noticing Wednesday's face.

Patrick nodded in the rearview mirror.

“Why did they allow you to have a personal driver?” she asked.

“My dad requested it. He wants to make sure I’m not a danger to myself aka his reputation,” he said, sarcastic.

Wednesday said nothing.

The rest of the drive was silent.

The house on Melbourne Rose was at least 100 years old and looked every bit cursed like the stories said. The big clouds painting the sky that day helped create the illusion.

“What do you think you’ll find in there?” Xavier asked.

Patrick had parked a few meters away.

“There's a chance it might be the stalker’s lair,” Wednesday said, walking next to him.

“What if it’s a trap? What if we get kidnapped?” he asked again, concerned, checking to see if someone was following them.

He had a big coat that swaived with his steps.

“Then I’ll finally be face to face with them,” she stated, simply.

A little thrill was just what she needed.

“Oh yeah? What if they want to kill you? I just don’t think you have thought this through, Wednesday.” he said, still glancing around.

“You were the one insisting to come with me. You did this to yourself. If you get killed and I have a chance to escape I’ll leave your dead body there,” Wednesday said, taking out a flashlight from her backpack.

“Wouldn't expect anything different,” Xavier breathed.

Inside the house was pitch dark and the smell of dust and mold was very strong.

Wednesday could hear the wind wrestling outside.

She turned on the flashlight.

It was completely empty.

“Well, this is a bust!” Xavier commented, squinting his eyes because of the light.

“Let’s see if there's some secret passage somewhere,” she said.

Wednesday started pressing the walls and the floor to check if there was something hidden underneath.

Xavier followed behind, without words.

A few seconds later he stepped on a wood tile that made a cracking sound.

Wednesday immediately directed the torch on the floor.

“Hold this,” she said, giving the torch to Xavier.

She kneeled on the floor and pulled the tile off with determination. A rusty box was hidden underneath.

Wednesday opened the box while Xavier kept the light of the torch on it.

A gold old bracelet was inside.

“I don’t think this has anything to do with the stalker, Wednesday.” Xavier said, taking the bracelet off the box.

Wednesday pointed the flashlight on the plaque of the bracelet and touched it with her finger.

“There's a latin inscription on it. Coniuncti in aeternum, united forever,” Wednesday said.

Xavier frowned, “A marriage gift, maybe?”

“Let’s check for something else. Then we’ll leave,” she said, taking the bracelet from Xavier's hand and placing it in the box under the floor again.

They both checked the rest of the house and found nothing.

It was no stalker’s lair.

“It seems you were right. This was indeed a bust,” Wednesday said, disappointed when they both walked out of the house.

“At least nobody kidnapped us and we didn't get cursed or anything,” Xavier chuckled.

Patrick was waiting for them inside the car with his hands already on the steering wheel.

The moment Wednesday started walking towards the car she felt a strong pull, much like a magnetic force, drag her body backwards. She had no way to control it.

She found herself in her previous spot next to Xavier.

Xavier looked stunned.

Wednesday watched him while he tried to do the same thing she did.

This time, instead of ending up in his previous spot like Wednesday did, he got pulled even closer to where she was standing.

“What- What the fuck is going on?” he said, panicked, turning to look at her.

“Xavier, don’t move!” she screamed, when she saw Xavier trying to take a step again, “I think the more we try to get away from each other the more this force pulls us closer and closer together as a counter effect. Look,” she said and showed Xavier her wrist.

A little mark, shaped like a union symbol, was on it.

Xavier rolled up his sleeve, the same mark was on his wrist, too.

“I think we got cursed,” she concluded.

“The bracelet, the inscription!” he huffed. “United forever. We are stuck like this! Shit- SHIT!” Xavier cursed, ”How do we get out of here?” His eyes were wide.

“I think the curse wants us to keep this distance,” Wednesday said, looking at how far they were from one another.

“Wednesday, we are like…only 8 inches apart!” he said, panicked.

They were.

Wednesday wanted to commit murder more than any other day.

*

When they miraculously managed to get back to school grounds, with Patrick asking very politely if Xavier needed any help, Miss Byron was waiting for both of them at the gate.

The effect of the sleeping pill was supposed to last a couple more hours, Wednesday wasn't sure what went wrong there.

A lot of things were going wrong.

“To the principal's office, both of you. Now!” she screamed.

Her face was stern and the wrinkles by her eyes and mouth were more deep.

They were screwed.

Wednesday gave Miss Byron her most deadpan expression. She refused to die without dignity.

Xavier sighed.

“Not only you managed to escape once again, Miss Addams, but you involved Mister Thorpe, too. And now you claim you are both cursed!” Miss Byron screamed, pacing around the principal’s office.

The light of the chimney was illuminating her face, lips pressed into a thin line.

Wednesday was sitting next to Xavier on a little velvet couch.

“What were you doing at Melbourne Rose, Miss Addams? Are you two not aware of its story? Stories exist for a reason.” The principal said, interlocking his fingers.

He was an old gorgon with a black head scarf around his head and thick glasses.

“Do you want to tell me you believe in these doltish stories, too, Mr. Makris?” Wednesday challenged him.

Xavier looked at his feet.

“Clearly, given your unfortunate situation, these doltish stories, as you call them, are true, Miss Addams,” the principal remarked.

Wednesday glared at him.

“You still have to answer my question. What were you doing there?”

Mr. Makris looked at both of them, raising his brows.

Wednesday felt panic eat up her stomach.

She couldn't risk them knowing she had a stalker, not when she had done everything to protect her secret.

“We were on a date,” she blurted on instinct and immediately regretted it.

Xavier turned to look at her like he had just been hit by a whip.

“Is that true, Mr.Thorpe?” the principal stared into his eyes.

Wednesday tensed beside him.

Xavier swallowed, “Yeah…it’s true, Mr. Makris,” he said, trying to sound convincing, “I thought-I thought Wednesday would find romantic visiting a cursed house for our…first date,” he explained further.

Wednesday had to give it to him, it was a good lie.

Mr Makris took his sunglasses off his face and sighed.

“Do you realize how badly this complicates things? Are your parents aware of the nature of your…relationship?” he asked.

“They are not.” Xavier replied, licking his lips.

Wednesday kept staring in front of her.

“I’m afraid they need to be informed, considering…you are gonna be stuck in this situation until we figure out how to break the curse,” Mr. Makris said.

“What do you know about this curse?” Wednesday asked, rolling up her sleeve and showing the mark to the principal.

The principal sighed, “ It’s a pesky curse. It forces two people to be physically close to each other. Every time they try to separate, the distance they are forced to keep from each other shortens,” he explained. “However, there are no specific spells or antidotes in order to break it. The caster decides the thing that will break the curse the moment they cast the spell. Could be anything.”

“You said you got cursed touching a bracelet?” he added.

“Yes. I believe the magic was in the bracelet. We failed to retrieve it, though.” Wednesday said.

“Doesn't matter. The magic that was infused in there is on you, it was just a vehicle. It's just a bracelet like any other now and we don’t know what were the intentions of the person who casted the spell.”

“Does that mean that we are stuck like this for lord knows how long?” Xavier asked.

Wednesday pressed her hands on her skirt.

If he weren't for him they wouldn't be in this situation.

“What are we gonna do with…with school?” Xavier asked again.

The principal sighed again, “That's why we need to inform your parents. I’m afraid one of you needs to move rooms,” he said. “And given the new nature of your relationship we need their complete awareness of the situation and their explicit consent, too.” he said.

Wednesday never wished to be swallowed by the floor more.

“I’m not gonna end up pregnant, if this is what you are implying, Mr. Makris.”

Xavier choked on his saliva.

*

“Wednesday, where the hell have you been??? I’ve been worried sick!!!” Enid screamed, rushing to her side.

She looked surprised when she saw Wednesday walking with Xavier followed by two janitors taking Enid's bed and placing it next to Wednesday's to make a king size bed.

“Hey, that’s my bed!” she screamed to the janitors, “Wednesday, what is going on?” she asked again.

Xavier had the nerve to look mortified.

Wednesday stared at Enid like she was dead inside.

“Xavier is moving here for the time being,” she said shortly.

Enid stood there with her mouth hanging open.

The first night was a struggle.

Thing decided to go stay with Enid in Yoko's room, because he had “no intention of rooming with a filthy boy.”

Initially Wednesday refused to even go to the bathroom, knowing she had been trained to hold it for 10 hours.

She was forced to reconsider when she had to stand next to Xavier, back turned, while he emptied his bladder.

“Done. You can turn around now. Are you sure you don’t wanna go?” Xavier asked.

Wednesday could hear the noise of his zipper closing.

She really needed to go, too.

“Turn.” she said, eventually.

They changed into their pajamas clumsily, trying to pretend they weren't so close to each other.

Wednesday refused to sleep next to Xavier, though, insisting on wanting to sleep on the floor, merely a couple of inches from the bed.

Xavier couldn't convince her no matter what, he gave up at some point and fell asleep.

She spent the night staring at the ceiling and watching Xavier breath.

“My parents cannot know about my stalker. We’ll keep this charade up once they are here, too.” Wednesday said the next morning.

She felt weird having Xavier around her space and her room like that.

In her nightgown, and her messy braids nonetheless.

Enid's stuff was all still there, but she was planning to move it in Yoko's room and free space for Xavier later in the day.

An unicorn was staring at Wednesday creepily across the room.

“You can stop glaring at me like this is all my fault, you know.” he said, putting his books in his backpack, Wednesday just a few inches away from him.

He looked way more at ease than she was.

“It is your fault. If you hadn't insisted on coming with me we wouldn't in this situation,” she berated him.

“You were planning to go there anyway!” he screamed, bent down.

His hoodie rose up and showed the skin of his hips, Wednesday couldn't help but notice.

“But I wouldn't be stuck with you now!” she retorted.

“And who came up with the lie that we are dating? Cause that wasn't me!” Xavier turned around to face her.

“That was damage control!” she said.

“Oh yeah?” he said, moving even closer in her space, bare feet, "And what are we gonna do in front of your parents today?”

“Nothing. I’m not the type to engage in displays of affection, they know that. Don’t even try to use pet names of any kind, I’m warning you!”

Xavier huffed, his posture was slouched.

He seemed already defeated.

That afternoon Wednesday was once again in the principal’s office with Xavier. This time her parents were there, too.

They were sitting in two big chairs while Wednesday was with Xavier on the couch.

Morticia’s eyes were gleaming under the light of the fire, she was staring at Xavier with curiosity.

“It’s a new thing. We wanted to keep it to ourselves for a little bit,” Xavier said, looking down. “Right, my goddess of death?” he added, after a few beats looking at Wednesday.

His mouth was shaped in a smirk.

Of course Xavier would take the opportunity to mock her in front of her parents!

Wednesday wanted to wipe the smirk off his face with her knife, but she was powerless at that moment.

“We wanted to wait to make things official, mother,” Wednesday said, like she was spitting acid.

“I assure Mrs. Addams that we will do everything we can to break the curse as fast as possible and Miss Byron will keep an eye on them constantly,” Mr. Makris intervinied.

“The situation with this curse is…unfortunate. But we pride ourselves for being a very open minded family. We have no problem with our daughter sharing a room and other things with a boy. Right, Gomez?” Morticia said, turning to him.

“Absolutely, Tish. Mr Makris, we have every faith in Satan that things will resolve themselves very soon and in the meantime we think this could be a learning experience for our little viper,” Gomez shrugged.

Morticia nodded with an approving smile.

Wednesday glared at them with the corner of her eyes.

Of course her parents would rejoice in the situation!

“Mister Thorpe, I haven't heard from your father. We tried to reach him,” the principal said, turning to Xavier.

That day his headband was green.

“He sent me a text. He’s busy with work, but he says he understands the situation,” Xavier said, taking his phone from his jacket and showing the text to the principal.

The man read the text and nodded.

“Well, I guess everything is settled, then!” Mr. Makris said, looking at all of them.

Wednesday guessed he was right.

Everything was indeed settled.

Especially her demise.

Once they were out of the office, Morticia stopped them.

Gomez was already walking out of the building.

Xavier tried to ignore the conversation to give them some sort of privacy.

“Darling, you don’t how happy I am for you!” she said, excited, taking her handkerchief from her bras and wiping a few tears off her face.

A bright, wicked smile was adorning her face.

Xavier swallowed, looking at the chandelier.

Wednesday made sure to avoid her eyes.

“Don’t cry, mother. It's a shameful thing. If you really want to cry of happiness, cry when I’m ten feet underground,” she commented.

She felt hyper aware of Xavier standing right next to her, even when he was doing nothing.

“I’ll be sure to send you my special birth control potion,” Morticia whispered in her ear.

Wednesday's face was of pure horror and by the way Xavier's was flushed she was pretty sure he must have heard what her mother had told her.

“Oh please, dear. Don’t look at me like that! I’m not naive enough to think you won't be engaging in certain activities with your beloved. Especially in your situation now!” she winked at Xavier.

Was there an end to the constant humiliation she was being subjected to?

*

“I can’t believe you are cursed! And now whenever I want to talk to you, Xavier will be there, too!” Enid said, pointing at him.

Xavier mumbled something to himself.

“Trust me, Enid. The temptation to put a bullet to my head is very strong, you don’t need to remind me how bad it is every second now.”

Enid was packing her things with a sad expression on her face.

“Yoko is making space for all my nail polish, that’s so kind of her!” she said, putting her nail polishes in a beauty bag. “Still, I’m gonna miss you and this room so much, bestie!”

Enid forced her into a hug before walking out of the room with all of her stuff.

Wednesday was gonna miss her creepy unicorn.

*

DECEMBER 1TH.

The news of Wednesday and Xavier’s curse spread like fire in a forest.

The next day every student was whispering to each other when they saw Wednesday walking down the hallway next to Xavier.

Wednesday glared at all of them.

A student stared at them so much that Wednesday turned around and pinned him with her eyes into a corner.

“Do you want to end up in a ditch?” she threatened him.

The student ran to his class.

“ I mostly follow advanced classes,” she said, when she watched the student run away.

“Of course, you do,” he huffed. “There's no way I can keep up with your classes, Wednesday.”

“You’ll have to. I’m not taking classes a 4 year old could take,” she replied.

“You know, Wednesday. I’m already sick of this. I have already lied more than I usually do, lost my room, lost my privileges. It wouldn't kill you if you made some compromises, too,” Xavier spat back, frustrated.

“You put us into this situation, I’m not making any more compromises than I already am,” she said, stopping in the hallway.

“It was all good and fine when you took my ride, right?” he remarked, stopping too.

He was standing there, clicking his tongue.

Wednesday had spent all morning cataloging his quirks.

“My reputation with my family is already ruined, I’m not gonna let you ruin my education, too, Xavier,” she said, daring him to say anything.

Xavier gripped his backpack and on instinct tried to turn around and leave, due to frustration. Wednesday reached his arm.

“What are you doing? You can’t walk away. You know how this works. It’ll only make things worse.”

Xavier cursed and stayed by her side.

That evening Xavier was sitting next to Wednesday while she was writing.

“Are you gonna insist on sleeping on the floor tonight, too?” he asked.

Wednesday stopped typing on her typewriter.

“We’ll take turns. Tonight is your turn,” she said.

Xavier sighed, “Wednesday, I’m not sleeping on the floor! We’ll need to share the shower, too. We definitely can sleep next to each other!”

His sketchbook lay on his legs.

“I’d rather be skinned alive than take a shower with you,” she said, changing the paper on her typewriter.

“Well, I need to take a shower and unless you want us to be literally glued to each other next time you need to come with me!” he said, exasperated.

“Fine. You take a shower, I stand right outside. I take a shower, you stand outside.” she said, stubborn.

“Or we could take a shower at the same time!” he said, opening his arms in frustration.

“I'm not standing naked next to you,” she replied, not looking at him.

“Jesus, Wednesday! I won’t even look at you, okay? We are not going to survive this if we complicate things even further!”

“You are the one who’s not gonna survive, cause I’m gonna cut your head off your body and hang it from the window!” she threatened him.

Eventually Wednesday relented.

She ordered Xavier to keep his eyes closed when she took her clothes off.

Xavier was already naked, Wednesday refused to even glance at him.

Very soon they managed to get in the shower, and giving their backs to each other they started washing themselves.

Wednesday could feel Xavier's heat beside her.

She tried to wash herself as quickly as possible.

“Can you- can you pass me the shampoo?” Xavier asked.

Wednesday instantly turned around, Xavier had his eyes closed and his arm was already extended ready to grab the bottle.

His hair was wet and ringlets of water were striking his face.

Wednesday grabbed the shampoo and handed it to him.

Watching him like this created a weird sensation in Wednesday's stomach.

“Thanks,” he replied.

Xavier washed his hair and sooner than later they both got out of the shower.

Xavier really kept his promise to not look at Wednesday.

Every time Wednesday's eyes would fall inevitably on him he would be focused on what he was doing or had his eyes closed.

Wednesday re braided her hair while Xavier blow dried his.

Being so close to someone all the time was hard, being this close to someone like Xavier, with all their history, was harder.

“I’ll take the left side of the bed,” she said, eventually.

Xavier nodded.

*
DECEMBER 2TH.

“I hope you like my surprise so far, Wednesday 😘”

Her phone biped the next morning.

Somehow, with everything going in shambles in her life, Wednesday hadn't thought about her stalker.

Xavier was still asleep, he looked peaceful.

During the night she made sure to keep as much distance as possible from him.

She envied how he didn't seem bothered by things like that.

Why didn't his skin crawl to the thought of sleeping next to someone?

Why didn't he feel like burning to the thought of sleeping next to Wednesday?

She only slept a couple of hours, tossing and turning.

When she saw the text she sat up on the bed.

It had been a trap all along, all of it and she had been naive enough to fall for it.

But why?

And how?

How did the stalker know Xavier was gonna be with her?

And what was the purpose?

Did the stalker want to drive Wednesday to the edge of insanity?

“Xavier, wake up!” she said.

Xavier grunted in his sleep.

“I said wake up!” she said, shaking his body.

“Wednesday, what the hell??? Is every morning gonna be like this now?” he croaked.

“The stalker did this to us. It's all a trap. Read.”

Xavier put a hand to his face and took the phone from Wednesday's hand.

He frowned.

“But…why? What’s the point?” he said looking up, still sleepy.

“We need to figure out how to break the curse as soon as possible. I refuse to be a pawn in someone else’s game. This is bigger than I thought, Xavier.”

*

“Xavier, could you put your headphones on? I need to tell Wednesday something personal,” Enid asked.

Thing was resting on her shoulder.

They were sitting in the quad, all three of them.

Wednesday had spotted students still whispering to each other when they passed through their table with their plates.

Xavier sighed and put his headphones on.

Music started blasting from them.

“So…how is it going?” she asked, with a smirk.

Wednesday glared at her.

“Enid. Don’t tell me this is the private matter you were referring to,” she said.

“Of course it is! How else are we gonna gossip about this?”

Thing agreed with his fingers.

Enid stared at her like she was missing brain cells.

“There's nothing to gossip about, Enid,” she cut her off.

“But did you take a shower together? Does he snore? Is true what they say about his- ”

Wednesday turned to look at Xavier.

“Xavier, you can take off your headphones.”

Enid grunted, exasperated.

“I don’t know how you take these classes. I tried to follow the lesson, but what is this?” he said, looking at Wednesday’s notes.

They were perfectly written.

Wednesday had dragged Xavier to the nightshade library to do research on the curse.

“Nice. You are not even listening to me!” Xavier huffed, when Wednesday didn't bother to answer.

“I’m trying to find a way to break this curse, Xavier. You should help instead of staring at your math homework. The teachers know the situation, they will be lenient with you,” she said, flipping the page of a book on dark magic.

It was the second book she was consulting in the hopes of finding something remotely similar to their curse. So far, her research was pretty fruitless.

“Fine!” Xavier said, leaning on the table, “What do you think you are gonna find in these books, Wednesday? The principal is already on it. I doubt we are gonna find something useful here!”

Wednesday glared at him.

“You should pray day and night that someone finds a way to break this curse since your life is the one on the line here, Xavier. And yet here you are focusing on Math. How very brave of you,” she said, sarcastic.

Xavier threw Wednesday's notebook on the table.

“You can’t leave,” she reminded him.

“I know!” he screamed.

“I’m surprised you haven't killed him yet,” commented Bianca when she saw them coming out of the library.

“You can start writing your eulogy, it’s gonna happen soon,” Wednesday said.

Bianca giggled.

“I’m right here, you know!” Xavier spat back.

“Unfortunately.”

“How many times do you wash your hair?” Xavier asked her when they were in the room.

The janitors were fast in putting Xavier's things on Enid's side of the room.

Xavier didn't have as many things as Wednesday used to think, aside from his art supplies, but they definitely added personality to the room.

“Twice a week. Why?” she asked.

“Just wondering…you know. For practicality.” he said, vague.

Xavier was doodling while Wednesday was writing.

“ When I finish writing I want to play the Cello,” she said.

“Okay, I don't mind. I want to go back to archery starting next week,” he said, smudging his drawing with his finger.

“I’m at the hive with Eugene on Tuesdays,” she said, focused on typing the right words.

“Yeah and since I exist, too and I’m stuck with you we’ll take turns. One Tuesday each,” he said.

“Fine.” Wednesday conceded, annoyed.

Xavier sighed.

DECEMBER 3TH.

“We need to go back to that house,” she said, sharpening her pocket knife, crossed legged on the floor.

“No.” Xavier said, not looking up from his phone.

“This isn’t a question, Xavier,” she said, pointing her knife in his direction.

“Wednesday.” he said, finally looking at her. “What if we get double cursed or something?”

“We left the bracelet there. Maybe if we destroy it, the curse will break,” she explained, still working on the knife.

“The principal said it’s just a harmless bracelet now, they would have retrieved it themselves if they thought it could have broken the curse!” he argued.

“What if he’s wrong? He even admitted to having no idea how to break the curse. It's worth a try.”

“Let’s say I agree to go-” Xavier started saying.

“It’s not like you have a choice -”

“Let’s say I agree,” he repeated, “How do we go back there? Everyone’s eyes are on us right now.”

“ Don’t worry about that. I’ll think of something.”

“Wednesday, I’m tired, I want to go to sleep. Can you do this tomorrow? It's midnight!” Xavier complained.

“Then sleep. I put a chair behind me for you. I’m learning to be more considerate,” she said.

She was putting more sheets on her pin board.

“This is what you call being considerate? If you were, we would both be asleep right now!” he said.

“How do people survive marriage? It's a mystery I’ll never solve,” she commented, focused on pinning another sheet.

Xavier laughed behind her, sitting on the chair.

“Many don’t. And the ones that do, they do because they establish their own boundaries and spaces and are willing to make compromises and sacrifices,” he explained, bouncing his leg.

Wednesday turned.

“You seem pretty knowledgeable about this stuff,” she said.

“I’m flattered you associate our relationship with marriage now. From murder to marriage in 4 days, I’ve really moved up the scale here. I’m down for taking your last name,” he said, sarcastically.

Wednesday scowled at him.

“Why don’t you care about this? A stalker trapped us into this and you don’t even care about finding a solution.”

His attitude frustrated her to no end.

And his ever frowning face, too.

“I’m spending all my energy trying not to kill you,” he joked.

“Xavier. Did you just threaten me?” she crossed her arms.

“Oh, so you are the only one who can do it? You have been throwing death threats at me since this started!”

Wednesday moved closer, her legs touched the chair’s legs.

“You wouldn't try to kill me,” she argued.

“Oh yeah? How sure are you about it?” he said, leaning on his elbows.

“You would end up dead before you had the chance to make a move,” she said.

“Kinky,” he smirked.

His eyes looked very green under the light of the lamp.

“I’ll show you kinky if you don’t shut up, Xavier.”

Xavier laughed, “Please do.”

DECEMBER 4TH.

On day five, students started to whisper to each other again. Wednesday thought she had shut them up for good.

She spotted Enid running towards them in a frenzy before going to class.

“Wednesday! There's a very weird rumor going around the school. I mean, there's no way you haven't told me, right? It must be bullshit!” Enid looked like she was gonna give herself a panic attack.

“I don't know what you are talking about, Enid,” Wednesday answered.

She was already tired that morning.

Xavier exhausted her to no end and he kept pushing and pushing his luck.

That morning he complained Wednesday took too long to brush her teeth and he was in a bad mood because he had to skip his morning run.

Wednesday was one second away from sticking his toothbrush down his throat.

“Some heard principal Makris say that…that you and Xavier are dating! That you went to that old house on Melbourne Rose on a date!!!” she whispered, looking around to check if anyone was listening to her.

Wednesday heard Xavier curse.

“Enid. It's-” a lie, she tried to say but suddenly stopped.

Wednesday spotted Miss Byron walk down the hallway, watching her like a hawk.

She was pretty sure she was reading her lips.

“It's…a new development,” she settled for, to her dismay.

Xavier tried to suppress a laugh.

“YOU AND XAVIER ARE TOGETHER AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?” she screamed.

Every student in the hallway turned around to stare at them.

Miss Byron faked indifference.

For a second everything stood still and Enid fainted.

“Xavier, would you mind helping Enid?”

Enid spent the rest of the morning in the infirmary.

*

“Wednesday, you just ruined my reputation! I can never hope to be who I was before this! My gossip queen status has fallen!” Enid complained at lunch.

She was still a bit pale.

Her plate with meat and potatoes was barely touched.

“You are being dramatic for no reason. Tell her, Xavier.”

Xavier took a bite of his roasted potatoes and threw her a defeated look.

“Like Wednesday said…it’s new and now we are trying to navigate this curse,too, it’s just…it’s hard,” he tried to explain.

“Yeah, I bet it's very hard, Xavier.” Enid said.

Xavier choked on his food and started coughing.

Wednesday glared at him.

“I should reclaim my best friend card for this Wednesday,” she said, leaning on the table.
“I’m so upset I can't even be excited. You ruined my emotional balance, too now! Merry Christmas to me!” she said, throwing her arms in the air.

Xavier was still flushed for her comment.

“Xavier, I need every possible detail about this. How did this happen? Did you court her? How-”

Wednesday kicked Xavier's leg under the table.

“Why- why don’t you ask Wednesday about all of this?” Xavier replied, strained.

“We are having a fight. I’m not talking to her!” Enid said, crossing her arms and slouching on the chair.

“You decided we are fighting, actually,” Wednesday shot back, stabbing a piece of meat.

“Xavier, ignore her. Tell me everything. I need to write an article for my blog with exclusive news. It's the only way I can salvage my reputation,” she said with wide eyes.

Wednesday cut a piece of meat with her knife making sure to stare at Xavier right in his eyes.

Xavier swallowed his potatoes.

“I’ve been giving Wednesday…drawing lessons,” he said, eventually.

Wednesday gripped her fork.

“Is it a metaphor?” Enid asked, frowning.

“No! She sucks at art, she needed help,” he blurted, blushing.

Wednesday kicked him again really hard.

He winced in pain.

“You want some exclusive news, Enid? I’ll give it to you. He begged me to take me on a date, and kneeled in front of me,” she lied, staring at Enid.

“After I managed to seduce her with my art and teaching skills,” he remarked, challenging her with his eyes.

“You wish!” she spat back.

“Ugh, stop you two! You are insufferable! I’ll make up something myself, it’s better than whatever this is!”

Enid stood up from the table and left, her food still untouched.

*
“Once the curse is broken, we’ll tell everyone we are not together anymore. This is already bigger than I ever intended to be!” she said at her desk.

“You could tell Enid the truth, you know?” he said, changing the strings of his left shoe.

“She would faint a second time,” she replied.

Xavier laughed.

“What are you writing?” he asked, changing the subject.

“My novel.”

“What is it about?”

Wednesday stopped typing.

“A girl different from everyone else. Viper de la Muerte. She likes to solve crimes,” she said.

“I wonder who the inspiration behind this Viper is,” Xavier chuckled. His fingers were already busy changing the strings of his right shoe.

“Viper is her own character,” she argued, defensive, turning to look at Xavier.

“Chill. I wasn't mocking you, Wednesday. I draw inspiration from real life, too. As you already know very well,” he mumbled the last part of the sentence.

That made Wednesday pause.

“Why did you find me inspiring?” she asked bluntly.

Xavier stayed silent, the strings of both of his shoes were changed.

A few beats went by.

“I…I don’t know. You are fascinating, I guess. The way you see or do things is,” he shrugged, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Wednesday knew she was born peculiar and as an Addams she was proud of it and branded it like a weapon.

The way Xavier saw her through his art, though, felt like watching someone she didn't know from the outside.

“That time Thing uncovered your painting you said that when you heard me playing you felt it was the only time you got to see the real me. What did you mean by that?” she asked, suddenly too curious to care about the consequences.

“You remember that?” Xavier asked with wide eyes.

“Why are you surprised? Should I not remember conversations?”

Xavier huffed, “I thought I either embarrassed you and you blocked everything I said in that moment or that you just didn't care enough to listen,” he confessed.

“You still haven't answered my question,” she pressed.

“I don’t know, Wednesday. I feel like…I feel like when you play, everything you try to conceal comes out. You let yourself be vulnerable. In that moment, I felt connected to you. I guess that's what I meant,” Xavier tried to explain.

I felt connected to you, too, when I saw your painting, she thought for a split second.

She said nothing.

DECEMBER 5TH.

On day seven of being cursed Wednesday wanted to perform torture on both Xavier and herself.

“Do you want half of the apple pie?” he asked.

“Why?”

Wednesday swore she could feel several eyes on her, but she could have also started to lose her mind.

“I- what do you mean why? You don’t have any. When I went to take my slice they were pretty much all gone. We can share if you like,” he said.

“I don’t eat apple pie. We are sharing too much already, the only thing left is food and we officially turn into one being. I simply refuse to subject myself to that destiny,” she replied, irritated.

“Suit yourself!” he shrugged.

Wednesday still felt people were staring at her, but when she turned to look everyone was just minding their business.

It was Tuesday and that meant joining Xavier at the archery club.

A lot more students had joined since the previous year, thanks to the heroic gestures of one tortured artist, leading the school to safety.

Wednesday thought it was all ridiculous.

She had been the one taking an arrow for Xavier and she had been the one to save the school.

Wednesday was forced to stand next to him when Xavier shot his first arrow.

He did not hit the bullseye, but a couple students clapped.

“Is this what you find impressive? No wonder this club has no hopes of ever taking part in any kind of competition,” she commented.

Silence fell.

Xavier ducked his head then turned around, “Don’t worry, guys. This is how she flirts,” he said, trying to sound as smug as possible and then threw her a panicked look.

Apparently that was not how a girlfriend was supposed to behave.

Wednesday didn't know the first thing about being a girlfriend.

“I like to keep him on his toes,” she said, hoping to salvage the situation.

A few people behind them whistled.

Xavier beamed at her.

“What song is this?” Xavier asked, the same night, right after Wednesday stopped playing.

They were on the balcony, even though it was very cold.

The light of the moon surrounded them.

“An original piece,” she replied, still revisiting the notes in her mind.

“You wrote that?” he asked, stunned.

“I did, yes.”

“Wow. It's…very good.”

“Despair is an incredible fount of inspiration,” she said, still in position.

Xavier laughed and lied on the cold floor, shivers ran through all of his body.

“You know, Addams? I think this experience is proving me right once again,” he said, staring at the moon.

He looked soft.

Wednesday didn't like when Xavier looked soft.

“About what?” she asked eventually.

“We could be great friends if you accepted me in your circle,” he replied, lost in thought.

“I have no idea how you came to this conclusion.”

Xavier chuckled like he knew a secret she didn't.

DECEMBER 6TH

“We are going back to Melbourne Rose tomorrow,” Wednesday said, putting the jacket of her uniform on.

“Have you figured out how to elude Miss Byron, the principal and every person in this institute?”

Xavier was still getting dressed and everyday she found it harder and harder to not stare at him while he did.

His long bones covered by milky, sickly skin were interesting to observe.

“Yes. We’ll go during classes. I’ll ask Enid to cause a scene in exchange for some juicy details on our pretend relationship. Everyone will be distracted enough not to notice our absence,” she explained.

“I don’t think it will be that simple and I think it's a waste of time, in any case, but it's not like you are gonna change your mind,” Xavier commented, putting on his shirt.

“I see you are learning. There's hope for you, yet,” she said, looking at him.

Xavier huffed.

“... and in exchange I will tell you anything you want to know about Xavier's and I relationship,” she said, sitting in the quad with her tray.

Enid sat down, too.

Next to her, Ajax rolled his eyes.

“Hypothetically…I could spread a few rumors that could potentially put the whole school into panic mode, I’m not quite sure I can distract Miss Byron from looking for you long enough, though.” she pouted.

“I have every faith in you, Enid. If someone can do it, it’s you.”

Xavier rolled his eyes, too.

Enid smiled so big Wednesday thought she had broken her.

“This is the sweetest thing you have EVER said to me, Wens!” she squealed.

“I don’t wanna be here for the gossip part. Sucks to be you, man!” Ajax said and got up from the table.

Xavier rolled his eyes, again.

“So…” Enid squealed again, clapping her hands. “I have so many questions!!!”

“I’m ready to answer them,” she said.

Xavier took a sip of water.

“Is he a good kisser?” she asked, wicked. “Oh, maybe you don’t wanna hear that, Xavier,” Enid said, suddenly remembering his presence.

Xavier snorted, “Excuse me! I’m an excellent kisser. I asked her. She told me.” he said pointing at Wednesday.

Wednesday dug her nails on Xavier's legs under the table.

Xavier flinched.

Enid gasped and started squealing again.

Wednesday had only ever had one kiss in her life, she really had no experience in kissing and what made a kiss a good kiss or someone good at kissing.

She couldn't really deny what Xavier said, she didn't know how.

“He is a good kisser, yes.” she replied, defeated.

She felt like she had just vomited a frog.

Xavier smirked, satisfied.

“Do you guys spoon?” she asked again.

Wednesday didn't know what spooning was.

Xavier tensed next to her.

“We don’t.”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess that tracks,” Enid said, disappointed.

“How many questions do you have exactly? We don’t have all day, Enid.”

Enid pouted, “I’ve just started!” Wednesday glared at her, “Fine. I’ll let you go if you promise to answer some of my questions everyday,” she conceded.

Wednesday hated it, she didn't want to know what other questions Enid had for her.

“Deal,” she replied, instead.

“Excellent kisser, really?” Wednesday said out of the blue.

It was late and they were walking to their dorm in silence.

No student was staring at them weirdly and Miss Byron wasn't stalking her for once.

“I am! You would know if we actually kissed!” he said, a bit flushed.

Wednesday said nothing to that.

Xavier glanced at her, studying her face, “Was Tyler a good kisser?”

Wednesday stopped walking altogether.

“What does Tyler have to do with this now?” she asked.

“Just curious, that’s all,” he said, making a face.

“I wouldn't know. It was my first kiss and it only lasted a few seconds before I had my vision,” she decided to confess.

“Oh.” he said, surprised. “Well, that sucks as a first kiss!”

“Why?” she asked.

“First kisses are supposed to be special,” he argued, not looking at her.

“That's a stupid idea reinforced by the patriarchy for purity reasons,” she said.

“Ouch. I take it to mean kissing Tyler wasn't anything memorable,” he smirked.

Wednesday didn't hate kissing Tyler and in fact, she had felt foreign feelings she hadn't before.

She didn't exactly enjoy what came after, that's for sure.

She hated when Xavier made assumptions about her.

“And how did you come up with this conclusion? It was fine.”

“Fine?” he repeated, smug. “You wouldn't be talking about it like that if you really liked it. When you kiss someone you really like…it’s indeed special.”

“Why?”

“Cause it’s just is! You feel butterflies in your stomach and it’s just…it just feels good. It's intimate.” he shrugged, trying to explain.

“People don’t have butterflies in their stomach and if I had butterflies in mine I would kill them,” she remarked.

Xavier smiled.

Wednesday never cared about her lack of experience in the romantic field, but she hated feeling at a disadvantage.

“What is spooning?” she asked, when they were both in bed, only light in the room coming from the window.

Until now Wednesday had managed to not cross Xavier's space during the night.

Xavier snorted.

“It’s when you hug in bed, kinda,” he said, looking at her.

“My parents are disgusting, but I’ve never caught them spooning,” she commented, returning the look.

He chuckled.

“I seriously don’t want to know what you caught them doing!” he smiled, showing his dimples, “Maybe they like their own space in bed, who’s to say!”

“Do you like it?” she asked, curious.

“Spooning? Yeah, it’s nice.”

“Did you and Bianca spoon?” she asked again. She didn't understand her sudden curiosity about the topic and especially Xavier's relationship with Bianca, but Wednesday had never been the one to shy away from asking questions.

“Uhm…yeah, sometimes,” he said, unsure.

Even in the semi dark of the room Wednesday could see Xavier was uncomfortable.

She dropped the argument.

DECEMBER 7TH

Enid kept her promise of creating chaos right before classes started.

Every student was hanging out in the quad screaming over each other.

“This is not how you are supposed to handle a situation like that!” a gorgon said.

“People are rightfully panicking. Four students have already been hit and we don’t know where this infection comes from!” a siren remarked.

“Who's talking with the principal? Why isn’t he here? Is this how he wants to run this school?” a vampire argued.

Wednesday caught Miss Byron's eyes and waited long enough to blend in the crowd with Xavier and slip away to Melbourne Rose with Xavier's car.

Xavier asked Patrick to leave his car as far away as possible from the school grounds.

“My boy, are you sure you want to go back there? I don’t think it is wise,” Patrick said when they met with him to take the car.

“I'm sure, Patrick. Thank you. If something happens I’ll just say you were sick and you knew nothing about this, okay? Take the day off, yeah?”

Patrick nodded, concerned.

“I’ve been trained since I was five to be a deadly weapon against my enemies. Xavier is safe.”

Xavier turned to her, surprised.

Patrick nodded with a smile this time around.

“I can’t believe Enid actually pulled that off!” Xavier giggled.

“She is a dormant bomb, she just needs the right motivation to be activated,” she said.

Xavier turned around to look at Wednesday while driving.

“I hope we can make it back in time before they notice,” he said, worried.

“We will. Just drive.”

They made it to Melbourne Rose in twenty minutes and they immediately went to retrieve the bracelet.

It was still in the box as they left it.

“Let’s take it and go. We can’t waste time. We’ll try destroying it once we are back in my room,” she said.

And so they did.

When they got back the whole school was still in a frenzy.

Xavier parked his car in the woods near Eugene’s hive.

“Have you seen Miss Addams and Mr. Thorpe, Miss Sinclair? I have been looking for them everywhere.”

Wednesday saw Enid trailing behind Miss Byron in the hallway.

“Maybe they are in their room?” Enid said, trying to come up with a good lie.

“Fuck,” Xavier cursed.

They were hiding behind a pillar.

“Trust me? I have an idea,” he added.

Wednesday raised one of her brows.

“ Mess up your braids and your bangs a little bit and unbutton four buttons of your blouse,” he whispered, in a rush.

Miss Byron was walking in their direction, with Enid trying to slow her down by yapping about the infection.

“Why?”

“Just do it, Wednesday!” he urged her, messing up his hair, opening his hoodie and loosening up his tie.

Wednesday glared at him, but did as he asked.

“Okay, now I’m gonna do something you probably won’t like. I don't have time to explain!” he said and grabbed her face in his hands and pinned her against the pillar with his body.

Right at that moment Miss Byron walked past them.

Xavier immediately turned to look at her, having the nerve to blush.

Miss Byron stared at them up and down.

Enid behind her gasped.

“I’ve been looking for you, Miss Addams, Mr. Thorpe. I see you have been…occupied. May I remind you this is a school and not a recreational park?” she said with a stern tone and walked away.

“OMG!” she screamed, “I never imagined I’d live long enough to catch you making out with someone, Wednesday!”

Wednesday felt herself tense against Xavier's body.

“ I need to write this on my blog!” she announced and skipped away.

“See?” Xavier said, smirking, finally pulling away from her.

Wednesday hated that she clearly felt the absence.

“I should kill you after this!” she threatened him.

“But you won’t! I saved us both from being in trouble!” he said, showing his dimples.

Wednesday also hated that he was right.

Classes were canceled for the rest of the day.

The principal was looking into what had happened and everyone was instructed to stay in their dorms until further notice.

Wednesday took the bracelet out of the box and placed it on her desk.

She first hit it with a small hummer a few times and broke it in half.

She checked her wrist. The mark was still there.

Xavier, just behind her, checked his, too.

“Let’s try melting it, now,” she said.

She wore gloves, goggles and a face mask and placed the bracelet on a crucible taken from one of her suitcases.

“Jeez, you have all kinds of stuff. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am!” Xavier commented.

“You should step away as much as you can for this part, Xavier.”

Xavier did.

She then took a melting gun from the same suitcase and started burning the bracelet.

After the bracelet was nothing but liquid gold she checked her wrist again.

The mark was still there.

“Well, that’s another bust, guess the principal was right!” Xavier said.

“It was worth a try, we don’t have many options here!” she said, taking her gloves and goggles off.

“Can I paint you? Would you…would you mind posing for me?” Xavier asked her that evening. “We could go to my shed,” he added.

“You want to paint me.”

“ I told you. We have talked about this. You make a great subject,” Xavier said.

“I have other things to do,” she cut him off.

Posing for him felt like something intimate and she didn't like the idea of giving away control.

“Okay,” he murmured, with disappointment in his voice.

Why did that bother her?

Silence fell.

“Can I read?” she asked.

Xavier frowned.

“Can I read while you paint me?”

Xavier smiled, “Sure! I don’t need you to keep a pose or anything. You can do what you like.”

“Let’s go after dinner, then.” she agreed.

Wednesday didn't like how his mood was starting to affect her mood.

Xavier showed his dimples.

“I haven't been here in a week and I already feel like it’s been an eternity,” Xavier said when they opened the door to his shed.

“It's different from the last time I’ve been here,” she commented, looking around.

It was still chaotic, but his obsessive paintings of the hyde were replaced by other paintings of various nature and the walls were painted a pastel blue.

The lamp was replaced with one bigger and with a stronger light.

The stool was new and shiny and the cans of colors were organized in a much more clean way.

“I’m trying to renovate it. It’s a slow and tedious process, but I think it's turning out great,” he said with a satisfied smile.

“You can sit here and do whatever. I won’t bother you, I’m just gonna stare at you sometimes, okay? For reference.”

“Okay,” she replied, sitting on the stool and opening the book she brought with her.

Wednesday tried to stay focused on her book as much as possible, but she felt Xavier's eyes on her from time to time and they made it difficult to really focus.

They were so intense her skin was prickling.

She wanted to check what he was doing.

What part of her face and body was he drawing?

After half an hour like this she closed the book.

“How much longer do you need?” she asked.

It was already too much for her.

“We can stop whenever you want. This painting is not gonna be done in just a few hours. I’ll come back to it another time, no problem.” Xavier dropped the brush in the cup.

Wednesday jumped off the stool and finally stared at the painting.

It was still a sketch, but it was undoubtedly her.

A close up of her face with her eyes focused on a book.

“You said you didn't need me to pose,” she remarked.

“Yeah, well…I took inspiration,” he said, awkward.

Xavier had even painted her freckles.

She couldn't look at this any longer.

“You like it so far?” he asked, unsure.

“I’ll judge when it’s finished,” she replied, clipped.

She hated how much she liked it.

DECEMBER 8TH

By the ten days mark Wednesday was getting used to having Xavier around all the time.

It still felt weird, like having a third arm or third leg, but she was starting to not mind it just as much and she was even learning how to use it to her advantage.

Changing clothes or taking showers together felt less and less like something she was forced into and more like something she may like to do.

She liked Xavier’s shampoo (that she stole for her hair) and the way his wet hair fell around his face.

She liked that he respected her boundaries so much that when they took a shower he always made a point to leave as much space as he could for her to move and to always turn his back to her so that she wouldn't feel like he might be watching her.

She did, sometimes. Watch him. Mainly for anatomical curiosity and never for more than a few seconds at a time.

She liked when he wore his hoodie to bed and it would always show his hips when he moved a little too much and she liked that even growing up among the richest he didn't care about looking a little bit messy.

She was never like that.

Wednesday enjoyed listening to the sound of his charcoal while she was writing.

It created a different rhythm in her brain than her typewriter.

She liked that even now, after everything that had happened between them, she was able to see the power she still had over him.

The way he would relent cause she insisted and be still so upfront about his obsession for her.

Wednesday would have found it pathetic and weak, if only she wasn't growing fond of it.

She wanted Xavier to be obsessed with her.

Of course all these considerations were kept in a very hidden part of her brain and she still acted like she couldn't stand to be close to him a second longer.

Enid really published a post on her blog about them in the end.

Detailing the new status of their relationship, their curse and the making out episode against the pillars of the school.

Wednesday knew everyone was reading it that day, cause Xavier was reading it, too.

“The two love birds were caught by Miss Byron while they were heavily making out against a pillar.
It seems like our ghotic savior likes to eat more than girl scouts for breakfast, but you didn't hear this from me!” Xavier read her a paragraph.

“I think Enid needs to be reminded that I could eat her for breakfast, too!”

Xavier laughed.

Wednesday caught one siren making kissy faces in her direction and giggling.

Wednesday pulled her pocket knife from her thigh.

The knife shined very bright under the light.

The siren put her hands up in sign of defeat and walked away fast.

“I think every student in this school needs to be reminded that I could make their life a living hell,” she said, putting her knife back in place.

Xavier seemed very interested in the action.

Was he into knives too?

“Oh, come on. It's not that bad! I don’t know if you have noticed, but lots of people would die to have my attention, I’m hot shit,” he said looking smug.

“Yeah, cause your father is Vincent Thorpe, not because you are, as you say, hot shit,” she argued.

Xavier looked hurt by her comment.

“Hey, now. My father may be famous, but people here like me for me, you know?” he said, difensive.

“Have you asked them?” she asked, ready to win the argument.

“I don't need to ask them, Wednesday! I just know they like me by the way they act around me!” he shot back, frustrated.

“And how do you know it’s genuine?” she asked again.

“Whatever. You can believe what you wanna believe, I don't care. You wanna believe people like me because of my dickheaded father? Be my guest!” he said and put his headphones on.

They spent the rest of the school day like this.
When they weren't following a lesson Xavier would put his headphones on and completely ignore Wednesday.

And Wednesday would have loved to tell herself that she didn't care that Xavier was mad at her or that his indifference didn't hurt her.

She did and it did.

Being the masochist that she was, at first she had enjoyed the sting of his indifference and his anger, but that quickly changed as the day went on.

At lunch they had pecan pie for dessert and this time Xavier didn't ask her if she wanted some of it.

She didn't even like pecan pie, but she liked that Xavier cared enough to ask her even though she always refused.

When they went back to their dorm Xavier just decided to sit on the floor with his music on.

“Are you really this mad over a comment that I made?” she decided to ask, already over his attitude.

Xavier sighed and stopped the music, “Yes, Wednesday. I’m really that mad.”

“Why? What does it matter to you if I think people are just using you for your name? You should appreciate the honesty.”

Wednesday believed in honesty as much as she believed in revenge, it was that simple.

Xavier sighed again, “The point isn't that you think people are using me for my name. The point is that you can’t even fathom people actually liking me! Not everyone is you, Wednesday! I get it, you don’t like me very much, but other people do!” he vented.

“Now you are just putting words in my mouth,” she said, irritated.

He snorted, “Sure. Let’s put it like that.”

“You can’t deny some people like to butter up to you because of your status. You are blind if you don't see it,” she argued again.

Xavier huffed, “Okay.”

He was playing with the zipper of his hoodie, almost studying it.

“I would have killed you already if I didn't consider you worthy of my company, Xavier.”

That confession burned something in her.

Xavier looked at her, stunned.

“Wednesday-”

“Don’t talk. It's my reading time, ” she said, picking up a book from her backpack and sitting on the floor next to him.

Xavier smiled softly at her.

“I’m sorry.” he said, in bed, when all the lights were turned off.

“About what?” she asked.

“I was mean today. I know a lot of people want my friendship for my name. I’m insecure about that, I get prickly,” he confessed.

“I owe you an apology, too. Feelings are not my strong suit and I’m not used to people wanting to put up with me. Your determination to be my friend is… unnerving. I don’t know what to do with that.”

Xavier stayed silent for a while, the only sound the clock on the wall ticking.

Wednesday knew he wasn't asleep from the way he breathed.

She had categorized three types of breath so far during the week.

“You don’t have to do anything,” he said, eventually.

“What?”

“You said you don’t know what to do with me wanting to be your friend. You don’t have to do anything. Just accept it,” he said.

DECEMBER 9TH

Her mother called her on her crystal ball and she debated declining it.

The call came when she was fixing her English notes and Xavier had fallen asleep with his head on her desk.

When he heard the ring he immediately sat up on the chair.

“Is your crystal ball ringing or I’m just imagining it?” he asked, still drowsy.

“It's my mother,” she said, picking up.

“Your mother calls you on that thing? Wow.”

“Hello, mother,” she said when her mother appeared on the screen.

“Darling! How are things going?” Morticia looked as pale as ever.

“Terribly,” Wednesday answered with a deadpan expression.

“Oh, I’m happy to hear that! And where's Xavier? Is he okay?”

Wednesday warned Xavier to stay where he was and not show his face even though he wanted to say hi.

“Just fine, mother,” Wednesday said, trying to cut off the conversation.

“Can I say hi to him?” Morticia insisted.

Xavier smirked and leaned his head enough to show himself on screen.

“Hello, Mrs. Addams!” He waved at Morticia.

“Xavier, sweetheart! No need to be so formal, darling. Call me Morticia, we are practically family now!” she said.

Xavier blushed.

“How are things going with the curse?” her mother asked him.

“Uhm…they are still trying to find a way to break it. Nothing has changed,” Xavier replied.

“Well, at least you have an excuse to spend more time together, no?” Morticia said with a wicked smile.

“Goodbye, mother.”

Wednesday had her hand ready to close the call.

“Wait! I called for a reason, Wednesday! Don’t be so rude to your mother!” her hand was on her chest for dramatic effect.

“What is it?”

“I wanted to officially invite Xavier for Christmas. Xavier, sweetheart, regardless of the curse, we would very much love to have you with us for the Christmas holidays! Unless you and Wednesday have already planned to spend it with your family?”

Xavier looked down, embarrassed.

“No, we- we have made no plans yet,” he said looking up, “Thank you for the invite, Morticia.”

“Goodbye, mother.”

Wednesday closed the call before her mother could say anything else.

“Why did you accept?” she asked, irritated.

“What was I supposed to do, Wednesday? They think we are dating and there's a real chance the curse is not gonna be broken before the Christmas holidays and that means we are stuck together even then. And unless you want to spend Christmas in a mansion with my family’s butler, having dinner with your family is the only solution here,” he argued, all traces of embarrassment gone from his face.

“Where's your father?”

“He’s always working on Christmas. I think he’s planning to throw a winter soirée this year when he’s back home. Patrick mentioned it,” he said.

Xavier did not look happy about it.

“A winter soirée?”

“A fancy name for a ball with a lot of influential people throwing money at him. Last time he threw one I was a kid and I spent my time in a scratchy outfit hidden under a table eating profiteroles,” he said in a tone that was half annoyed and half fond.

“Sounds like pure torture.”

Xavier smiled, “It is!”

“Are you going to attend this time?” she asked.

“Father will definitely guilt me into going, yes. There will be articles in the newspapers about it and it wouldn’t be good for his image if his only son doesn't attend,” he explained.

A fancy party with insufferable rich people and no way to escape?

Sadism.

“Wicked,” she said with a glint in her eyes.

Xavier laughed, squinting his eyes.

Wednesday had never cared to be funny, but she liked knowing Xavier appreciated her humor.

“Okay, what the hell. Why are you putting up pictures of the nightshades members on your pin board?” Xavier asked, annoyed.

“Xavier, think about it. Why has the stalker involved you in this?” she said, looking at him.

“I don't know? Cause they are crazy, maybe?” he shrugged.

“Or because it's someone who knows both of us! Hence, the nightshades!” she pointed at the pictures on the board.

“Wait-” he said, looking closer, “is this why you insisted on going to the nightshade library again this morning? Did you take those from the yearbook while I was trying to understand math homework?”

“That's irrelevant,” she replied.

“And why is Kent’s picture there? He didn't even know snapping twice was a riddle, how can he be a freaking stalker?” Xavier stared at his picture in disbelief.

“Kent is there for connections, he might be involved in this without knowing it. The real suspect right now is Yoko.” she explained circling her face with a black market.

“Yoko? Wednesday, that’s insane! Why would she want to stalk you, it doesn't make sense!” he argued, looking at her like she had lost a few marbles.

“I still need to figure out the motive, but she perfectly fits the profile,” she insisted.

She was very close to Enid, maybe that was how she gained a lot of information about Wednesday.

She had already lived a long life and that meant she had far more connections that Wednesday could ever imagine and much more time to waste.

And like any vampire she was resourceful and secretive about her past.

“Is this how you came up with the idea that I was the hyde?” he asked, bitterly.

“Why are you bringing this up? We talked about this. I made a mistake,” she said, irritated.

“And how do you know you are not making one, too now? It's very funny watching you accuse people who have done nothing to you of crimes,” he said, sarcastically.

“ It's called making hypotheses, Xavier,” she corrected him.

“Are you gonna put her in jail, too?” he asked, with a mocking tone.

“Stop projecting your issues into this, Xavier!”

“I don't have issues. I’m just standing up for Yoko here.”

He crossed his arms.

“If you don’t have issues why are you being so defensive, then?” She challenged him.

“Okay, fine. Yes, I guess I have issues,” he made quote marks. “Sorry I’m bitter that you didn't believe me and threw me in jail!” Xavier said with a petulant tone.

Silence fell.

They stared at each other for a few seconds and then Xavier sighed.

“Can you continue this tomorrow? I want to sleep. Please.”

Wednesday put a sheet over the board.

“Xavier?”

“What?”

“I’m sorry about what happened last year. I realize I’ve never told you I was. Probably because I’m ashamed I let myself be fooled like that. I should have believed you, I should have trusted you more and I didn't. I can’t change the past,” she confessed.

Her words hang in the air.

The small distance between them seemed shorter and longer at the same time.

“I’m sorry, too. I thought I was over it, to be honest. I mean you took a fucking arrow for me, who does that?” he said, turning his body to face her.

“I did that, yes.”

She had her eyes on the ceiling.

“Wednesday?”

“What?”

“Do you have a scar?” he asked, timid.

“I do, yes,” she said, turning to face him, too.

It ached sometimes.

“Can I see it one day?”

The question seemed to imply so much more.

Secrets Wednesday had yet to unveil.

“Fine.”

Xavier smiled in the dark.

DECEMBER 10TH

On day twelve of the curse things shifted.

For some reason when Wednesday woke up she found Xavier plastered on her body.

He was lying on his side and his arms were around her hips, trapping her.

And what was even worse was that his crotch area was attached to her butt and Wednesday could feel that Xavier was aroused.

She had no idea how they ended up in this position and how long they had been sleeping like that.

Rationally, Wednesday knew that waking up with an erection was a completely normal physiological response for boys. Still, she felt heat rising in her cheeks.

They were too close, it was all too much.

She had never been that close to someone before.

Wednesday decided she wanted to avoid the entire uncomfortable conversation and she tried to detangle herself from his hold without waking him up.

Xavier instantly gripped her hips tighter and grunted on her neck.

Wednesday was five seconds away from flaying him alive and combusting in flames.

Before she could do that, Xavier opened his eyes. Wednesday felt him frown, disoriented. A second later he pulled away from her body like he had been burned.

His cheeks turned red.

“Fuck-fuck!” he cursed, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he kept repeating refusing to meet her eyes. His eyes fell on the bulge of his pants.

He blushed even harder and met her eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Wednesday. I- I don't know what happened. I- I didn't mean to. I-”

The smaller side of Wednesday wanted to make Xavier feel even worse, just to have a little revenge on him but the bigger one wanted to forget that the whole incident ever happened.

“Xavier. Don’t be dramatic. It's a physiological response and a sign of good health,” she decided to say.

Wednesday could see Xavier's brain stutter.

“If you attach your body to mine again, though, you lose an arm next time!”

Xavier's cheeks were even more flushed, “I’m sorry, it won't happen again.”

“Good.”

The argument was dropped.

“Can we talk about it?” Xavier asked her later in the day.

Apparently it wasn't dropped.

“What’s there to talk about?” she asked, hating how her voice came out.

“I-.” Xavier's brain seemed to stop working.

“Xavier.”

Xavier blushed.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“You have already said that.”

“I just- God! I can't believe I'm about to say what I’m about to say,” he said, taking a deep breath.

“You are gonna give yourself a panic attack like this, Xavier.”

“I hate to think I made you uncomfortable, with the spooning and the- you know,” his eyes dropped on his crotch. “But I haven't been- you know. Not since- not since the curse. And I get needy when I’m horny. That's probably why I ended up harpooning myself to you,” he tried to explain.

Wednesday felt herself flush, but she squashed it with all of her will power.

“Okay. Do you feel better now? Can we move on?” she asked.

“Yeah- sure,” he said, shaking his head.

“Xavier?” she called him.

“Yeah?”

It was late and they were lying on the bed.

Xavier was scrolling on his phone and she had a book in her lap she just couldn't focus on.

“How many times do you masturbate?” she asked, bluntly.

Xavier made a strangled noise.

“Wednesday what the fuck!” He looked at her with crazy eyes.

“You insisted you wanted to talk about it,” she remarked.

“What- I’ve already explained myself!”

“I have questions now.”

She had many questions.

In fact, Wednesday was sure she wouldn't have been able to sleep if she didn't get the answer to those questions.

“Am I dreaming? Is this a nightmare?” he said, with sarcasm.

“Will you answer my questions?” she pressed.

“Why- why do you want to know something like that?” Xavier looked vulnerable.

“Call it curiosity.”

Xavier huffed. “I’m gonna regret this, but fine. Shoot.”

“I’ve already asked my first question. How many times do you masturbate?”

“I don't know! Two/ three times a day, sometimes less, sometimes more. A lot, anyway.”

“You said you get needy.”

“Yeah…” Xavier avoided her eyes.

“Were you needy when you were with Bianca? Did you masturbate less or more?” She was studying his face and the movements of his body.

“Jesus, Wednesday! I don't want to talk about my ex with you!” He put a hand on his neck.

“Why not?”

“Cause these things don’t only involve me, but her as well.”

“Fine. Be like that. Don’t tell me,” she said, looking away.

Xavier snorted, “You can’t possibly be offended by this, Addams! Ask me something else.”

“Do you want to masturbate now?”

“Wednesday.” He said it in a pleading tone.

“What? You said you haven't since the curse. It's been twelve days. For someone who claims to masturbate a lot this must be torture,” she pointed out.

“It's not like I can do something about it! We are stuck with each other for now and we are not together so…”

“If you…” she stopped to find the right words. "If you need to I can buy earplugs and you can’t pretend I’m not there and you can get some release.”

“No.” Xavier's tone was firm.

“No? I would be okay with that, if you are,” she said.

She actually wasn't sure about that, but Xavier didn't need to know.

“No, Wednesday. I’m not doing that. I couldn't pretend you are not mere inches away from me…I can’t.” he said, almost defeated.

“Okay.”

“Can I ask you something now? You don’t have to answer if you are not comfortable with it,” he said.

“Ask.”

“Don’t you- you know?” his cheeks flushed.

“Masturbate? Have needs?” Wednesday said, clinical.

“Yeah…that.”

“I don’t particularly enjoy indulging in these activities. I did a few times, but I just didn't find it very…fulfilling. That's why I was curious about you,” she confessed, looking at him.

“Oh. Okay.” Xavier mumbled.

“Everyone is pretty much obsessed with sex and self pleasure and I’ve never had the chance to ask someone about their experiences,” she explained further.

She didn't know why she felt the need to justify herself.

“That's okay. Everyone is different, Wednesday.”

They fell asleep afterwards.

Xavier's words burning in her brain.

DECEMBER 11TH

“Walls have ears, Wednesday. I know all about your theories, they are so funny 🤭”

“The stalker is mocking me now. I’ve never thought I would fall like this in life. It's humiliating,” she said, checking her phone.

Her whole existence felt like a joke.

“It's not like if you stare at the text more times it will tell you what you want to know.”

Xavier looked up from his book.

“I might have fallen, but my instincts still work perfectly fine and I still can kill you before you have the time to take another breath,” Wednesday said, glaring.

Xavier scoffed, “Can you help me with this when you are done threatening my life?”

He pointed at the book.

“Are you still stuck on Botany? I’m surprised you haven't failed the class yet.”

“I can’t memorize this for the life of me! I’m not even sure I get what it means!” Xavier scratched his head.

Wednesday relented.

“Show me where you are struggling,” she said.

“We should sneak out.” Xavier said, once they were out of the library.

“To do what?”

“Something. Anything! Let’s do something fun!” he smiled.

“I'll pass.” Wednesday replied.

“What do you like to do? Actually, no, don’t answer that,” he rolled his eyes.

“I like funerals.”

“Of course you do. Hey, isn’t that crazy that we met at one?” Xavier was looking at her all giddy.

“You were annoying. You still are.”

“And yet you saved my life. Back then and now too!” He pointed out, smiling.

“I regret it.”

“Oh, com’on! I can never win with you, can I?” he huffed.

DECEMBER 12TH

“I can’t believe you guys are together now,” Eugene said.

They were all bundled up in bee suits and Eugene was explaining to Xavier what he needed to do.

“I’m surprised too,” Xavier replied, following Eugene’s instructions.

“Wednesday told me she didn't like you last year,” Eugene said, guiding Xavier's hands.

Wednesday glared at Eugene.

Xavier arched one of his brows, curious, “Did she now?”

Eugene completely ignored Wednesday’s reaction and kept going, “Yeah. I was complaining about not being invited to the RaveN and she told me she was going with you. Not because she liked you, but because she had ulterior motives.”

“I’m right here, Eugene,” Wednesday reminded him.

She was scraping the honeycomb off the frame into a bucket.

“I know all about her ulterior motives,” Xavier said, jokingly.

“I thought it was weird at the time. Then she told me she wasn't going with you anymore and when I see her next she’s with-”

“I’m right here, Eugene.” Wednesday repeated, scraping the honeycomb with more vigor.

“How did you change her mind?” Eugene kept ignoring Wednesday.

Xavier looked embarrassed, “ I- I don’t know?”

“How can’t you not know? I was really hoping for advice, man!” he said, discouraged.

“Yeah? Why?” Xavier asked, genuine.

“I’ve been trying to convince Enid we are made for each other for a long time now! I made all this honey for her!” he pointed at several jars of honey behind him.

“Ah.”

Xavier turned to look at Wednesday who looked even more pissed off than before.

“You are not gonna tell her are you?” Eugene said, scared of having revealed too much.

“Never. Secret’s safe with me.”

Eugene nodded.

“Listen, Eugene…want my advice? You don’t need Enid to notice you. I don’t think she will, you know? She seems pretty taken by Ajax,” Xavier said, trying to be honest with him.

“I know my feelings for her seem pretty hopeless, okay? But things can change!” Eugene stopped what he was doing.

Xavier looked conflicted.

“Eugene,” he sighed, “One day, you are gonna find a girl who likes you for who you are and you won’t need to do anything to make her like you, she just will.”

“Easy for you to say! I don't think I can forget about her, I like her so much. I can’t imagine ever liking someone else the way I like her,” Eugene confessed.

“Yeah, well…you won’t if you keep holding to your feelings for her. Sometimes some things are meant to be let go,” Xavier said, pressing his lips.

Eugene smiled sadly.

“I like you, Xavier! I’m happy Wednesday changed her mind about you!” he concluded.

Xavier smiled sadly, too.

“I’ve been trying to tell Eugene to let go of his crush on Enid for over a year now. Never got through him. You did today,” she said, impressed.

They were walking to their dorm, already having said goodbye to Eugene.

Xavier smiled, “Nah, I don’t think I did. I said some bullshit, too.”

“Like what?”

“The whole bit about someday finding someone who likes you for who you really are? Bullshit. I mean, you might. But nobody wants to hear that when they are already crushing on someone. And they definitely don’t want to hear that they need to let go of their feelings…” he shrugged.

“He reminds me of my brother.”

“Eugene?”

“Yeah. He’s…soft.”

Xavier smiled, “and you feel the need to protect him. I get it. You are very protective over the people you care about. I like that about you.”

You are soft, too, Wednesday wanted to add.

“Ugh. I hate that I need to wash my hair so often, it gets greasy so fast!” Xavier was looking at himself in the bathroom mirror.

“Braid it. It will help keep it clean for longer,” Wednesday said, drying her face with a towel.

“I don’t know how to do that,” he pouted.

“Sit. I’ll show you.”

They got out of the bathroom and Xavier sat on the bed.

Wednesday ended up braiding Xavier's hair into triple braids.

When he looked at himself in the mirror Xavier's smile was blinding.

DECEMBER 13TH

“Xavier.”

“Xavier! Wake up!” she repeated, louder.

“What- what’s happening?” Xavier opened his eyes and looked up at her.

“You were having a nightmare. Talking in your sleep,” she said.

“Oh. Yeah. What was I saying?” he asked.

“Just repeating stop over and over again. What were you dreaming about?”

Wednesday could see Xavier staring at the ceiling in the dark.

“Tyler. In my dreams…he comes back to haunt me. To haunt everyone,” he confessed, small.

“Is he a Hyde in your dreams?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes I don't see him, but I can feel his presence. Do you…do you think he can escape prison?” his voice trembled a little.

“Probably. He’s very strong. He has killed before, It's not a stretch to think he could escape and come back. Does he talk to you in your dreams?”

Wednesday didn't like to see Xavier this shaken.

His eyes were teary.

“Kinda. It's always the same thing. It's like I can hear his thoughts and his main one is that he wants to come back here. I’m scared, Wednesday. Last time I had dreams this vivid Dr Kinbott died,” he said.

“If he does, we'll be ready.”

“Do you miss him?” he asked on instinct.

“Why would I?”

“I mean, you liked him. You kissed him, even. You would probably be dating now if he weren't a murderous psychopath.”

“He manipulated me. I thought he was some awkward normie kid who could help me in my investigation and he was using me all along.”

The truth wasn't always pleasant to bear and in this case it felt like claws scratching her chest.

“Yeah, that must suck. Still, don’t you miss what you could have had together?” Xavier asked, studying her face.

“I don't know where you got the notion that I was ever gonna date him. I don’t date. I don't plan on dating. Ever.” Wednesday answered, cold.

Xavier's eyes darkened.

“That tracks, I guess.”

Wednesday found herself tangled to Xavier's body again.

This time, though, she was the one plastered on his chest.

Xavier had another nightmare during the night.

Wednesday had tried waking him up again, with no results.

She tried calling him and shaking his body and Xavier was still actively dreaming.

Mumbling in his sleep, sweating.

She didn't know what to do.

She checked his pulse and noticed it was very high.

She needed to at least calm him down if she couldn't wake him.

Wednesday knew hugs were said to release stress even if she didn't like to engage in them.

She decided to lay her head on his chest and put a tentative arm around it.

Xavier started to calm down almost immediately.

She decided to wait until he stopped shaking to pull away.

She must have fallen asleep before she could.

“This time isn’t on me. You are the one plastered on my body.”

She could feel him smiling.

Wednesday sat up immediately.

She tried very hard to resist the urge to blush.

Xavier smirked.

“Well, good morning!” he said.

“Don’t gloat. I did this for your health,” she tried to defend herself.

Xavier frowned.

“My health?”

“Yes. You had another nightmare last night after the last one. I couldn't wake you up, you were shaking and your heartbeat was going crazy. Scientific studies show hugs help reduce stress so that's what I did,” she explained, clinically.

She didn't mention how good she had slept and how she liked to feel Xavier's chest rising up and down.

She still had dignity somewhere in this mess of events.

“Oh,” Xavier said, disappointed. “Well…thanks, I guess.”

They stopped talking about it and Xavier didn't ask her anything else.

When a package came for her, Wednesday initially thought it was a package from her stalker.

She opened it meticulously.

Xavier stared at the package, anxiously.

A note was inside.

“Here’s the birth control potion I promised you, darling, make good use of it. Further instructions are in the box.

Your mother.”

Wednesday immediately stashed the package under her bed.

Xavier pretended he didn't read the note, too.

DECEMBER 14TH-DECEMBER 22TH

The weeks before Christmas happened in a blur.

After the nightmare’s incident Wednesday became even more aware of how she and Xavier had gotten close to each other.

She was embarrassed to realize she liked Xavier's touch on her.

Every night they fell asleep, her mind tried to come up with an excuse to end up tangled up with him in the morning.

She wanted to count how many times he breathed one more time.

For good measure.

It was shameful.

She killed these thoughts every time, but the shame of having them in the first place never really went away.

Xavier started to braid his hair just like she taught him, too.

The new hairstyle ended up being an epic success at school.

Students would stop them in class or in the hallway to compliment it.

Telling Xavier how well the braids suited him.

Xavier had a smug expression every time.

“Wednesday braids it for me,” he replied, proud.

Wednesday would have killed him if it wasn't for the fact that some days she really braid it herself and enjoyed it so much more than braiding her own hair.

She ignored the fact that braiding his hair felt more intimate each time.

When Bianca saw it for the first time, she chuckled.

“Of course she has infected you, too. What’s next? Black hair? Funeral clothes? Black uniform?” she said, in a mocking tone.

“What is it to you? Black would only elevate his style, I would be doing him a favor,” Wednesday said.

If there was one to infect the other it was Xavier.

He was like a festering wound on her side of her body.

“Hear that, Xavier? She doesn't like you blonde,” Bianca snickered.

“Quit it, Bianca. I’m wearing braids cause I like them, nothing more.” Xavier said with a stern look.

Wednesday didn't need Xavier to come to her defense, she could have crushed Bianca with her hand, if she wanted to, but it felt weirdly nice to see Xavier taking her side.

Wednesday knew Xavier had taken her side many times before, but it never had that effect on her before now.

Wednesday started to accept when Xavier offered her half of his cake at lunch.

She wouldn't even cut it, she would just straight up eat it from his plate with a deadpan face.

Xavier never dared to comment on it, but Wednesday knew he was secretly pleased about it from the glint in his eyes.

They would go to Xavier's shad and Xavier would paint her for hours.

Wednesday got used to feeling Xavier's eyes on her and she spent the hours reading while Xavier did his work.

One time they got poured in while they were getting back to their dorm from the shad.

Since they were without umbrellas Xavier insisted on standing in the rain and soaking it in for a little while.

They ended up looking like two wet pigeons, but watching Xavier under a dark rainy sky made Wednesday feel like she felt when she saw rotten flesh for the first time.

Wednesday insisted on breaking into Yoko's room to investigate.

“I don’t want to be part of this, Wednesday,” he complained.

“That's too bad, cause we are stuck with each other and I’m going.”

Wednesday convinced Enid she needed to go Christmas shopping with Yoko and when they both were out, they sneaked into their room.

“I don’t want to be here,” he complained again.

“Close your eyes, then.”

“What are we looking for anyway?” Xavier looked around the room.

“Evidence.”

Wednesday searched up the room and found nothing suspicious.

Yoko had piles and piles of useless stuff.

Wednesday found the skeleton of a deer in her closet.

Xavier was just behind her, scoffing.

“See? I told you, she’s not your stalker, she just likes to collect dead animals. We can get out of here, now.”

“Just because there's nothing here doesn't mean she’s not the stalker, Xavier!”

“Wednesday. I know you don’t want to involve anyone, but I think it's time you go to the sheriff with this,” Xavier said, seriously.

“The chance of me going to the police is as high as you developing any kind of survival skill. Zero.”

“Jesus, Wednesday! This person, whoever it is, got us cursed and we still haven't been able to figure out how to break it. Who knows what they’ll do next!”

Xavier accidentally stepped on a Santa Claus plushie on his rant.

The notes of Carols of the Bells started coming out of the plushie.

Xavier looked impressed.

“What the- I don’t know if I find it funny or creepy to be honest,” he said.

Wednesday ignored the plushie.

“ And you think the sheriff can help me? All he ever did was obstruct my investigation and complain I was in his way. I’m surprised you want him involved considering he was the one to arrest you, ” she argued.

“What choice do we have here? I don’t like this more than you do, Wednesday, but we are at a dead end. And I know that you don’t care, but I’m genuinely scared the stalker is gonna try to kill you at some point.”

Xavier stepped on the plushie again.

Carol of the bells started playing again.

Xavier cursed.

“Can we go now, please?”

After that night Wednesday took off the pictures of the nightshades off her pin board.

Xavier was right, she was at a dead end, whether she liked it or not.

Wednesday started to help Xavier with his homework more frequently.

The way Xavier listened to her made Wednesday want to shame him.

Why are you looking at me like that, she wanted to ask.

You should know all this stuff already, she wanted to say.

She fought the urge to make him feel bad about himself.

Truth was, the only reason she wanted to shame him was because she liked his enraptured eyes a little bit too much.

A part of her wanted to see how much she could push his boundaries, how much he would do for her if she decided to.

Would he help her dig up a corpse if she said she wanted to?

Would he use his own blood to paint if she told him she liked it?

Would he help her escape if she committed a murder?

Would he stand there naked just for her to study him?

She wanted to make him feel ashamed because she felt ashamed of herself.

One morning Eugene stopped them before class.

“Good morning, Wednesday! Good morning, Xavier! I have something for you, Xavier,” he announced.

Eugene took out from his bag a big jar of honey.

“Last time you mentioned you liked creamed honey. I brought you a jar.”

Xavier looked stunned, “For me?”

“Yeah? I just said it. I give all my friends honey. We are friends now.”

Xavier smiled brightly, “Thank you, Eugene. This is the nicest gift someone has ever given me. Can’t wait to try it!”

“You are welcome, my mom does say I give very good presents. See you at the club!”

“You like creamed honey.” Wednesday said once Eugene was gone.

“Uhm, yeah. My mom loved creamed honey and when I was little she used to put it everywhere. I think that’s why I grew up having such a sweet tooth,” he said.

The principal called them to his office again.

He had called an expert on curse breaking from Romania.

A bald guy named Victor.

Victor made them drink a questionable potion from the same tiny bottle.

Wednesday glared at him, suspicious.

Xavier had drunk already, they were all waiting for her.

She had no choice so she took a sip too.

Then they stood with their wrists out while he placed a crystal pendant between them and recitated a few words in Latin with his eyes closed.

The man opened his eyes expecting to see their marks gone.

The marks were still there, much to everyone’s dismay.

Wednesday had been particularly mad about it; not only was the curse still active, but they had cut into her writing time.

“I apologize. It seems like the magic of this curse is too ancient for me to break like this.” Victor said, with a strong accent.

“What is your advice then, Mr. Dorobantu?” The principal asked.

“I’m going to contact a friend of mine. He specializes in curses like this one. However, right now he’s in Transilvania dealing with a vampire disease. I’m afraid you will need to wait until after Christmas break to schedule a meeting with him,” he said.

Wednesday was fuming by that point.

“Isn’t it ironic how this school is founded into giving outcasts a safe place to live and yet does not have the resources to break a simple curse?” Wednesday said, provocative.

“Mrs. Addams, I get this is a very inconvenient situation to be in, but I assure you we are doing everything we can as fast as we can. And may I remind you that you put yourself into this debacle?”

“May we go now?” she asked.

The principal excused them.

Enid insisted on throwing a party at the lake a few days before Christmas break.

Half of the school was invited.

Wednesday had been guilted into being there by both Enid and Xavier.

It was snowing and she stood there next to Xavier in her black outfit and boots contemplating the recent event of her life.

An annoying Christmas song was filling the air.

The sirens were jumping into the water and having stupid competitions with each other.

Wednesday spotted Bianca fighting with Kent over some joke he made.

Enid had her arm around Ajax and was chit chatting with Davina.

“What are you thinking about?” Xavier asked her.

“The catastrophic events of this year,” Wednesday said.

Xavier chuckled.

“Yeah, I guess catastrophic might be the right word for it. Getting cursed was not on my Christmas list for sure,” Xavier said.

“I’ve never made a Christmas list,” Wednesday confessed.

“Figures. Mine only included new art supplies, a new coat and stuffing myself with profiteroles on Christmas day.”

That made Wednesday pause.

“I can tell mother to tell Lurch to make profiteroles for Christmas,” she said.

Xavier smiled in a way Wednesday had never seen before.

“What now?” Wednesday said again.

“I thought you hated the idea of having me there for Christmas. Now you want to ask your mother to make profiteroles specifically for me?”

“It's just desert. Lurch will be making a lot of food already.”

Xavier smirked.

“Fine, put it like that. I think it's sweet you would do something like that for me.”

“Call me sweet again and you are not making it to Christmas,” she threatened him.

Xavier looked softly at her.

“But can I count on those profiteroles though? I’ve been dying to eat them for months! I dream of them, they have legs and they run away from me when I try to eat them!” he said.

Wednesday scowled at him.

DECEMBER 23TH

On the first day of winter break, Wednesday and Xavier packed their things, retrieved Thing from Yoko's room, said their goodbyes to Enid and Ajax and just like that they were on the road to Wednesday’s house.

The drive was filled with Xavier chit chatting with Thing.

They were both insufferable.

“And what did you do?” Xavier asked Thing.

I convinced her to watch Legally Blonde again, Thing signed.

Xavier laughed.

“This month was rough for you too, eh?”

Thing tapped his fingers in agreement.

“Can I have a moment of quiet or do I have to leave you two stranded in the middle of the road?”

You would never, Thing signed.

“Wanna try?” Wednesday said.

Thing jumped on Xavier's shoulder for protection.

“Xavier is not gonna protect you from your fate, Thing!”

The rest of the journey was quiet.

When Wednesday stepped out of the car her mother was already out of the door and ready to greet them.

“You are here, finally! I’m so excited I couldn't sleep last night. My baby is back at home after months with her boyfriend. Isn't that just wonderful?”

Thing behind them gagged.

Morticia placed two fake kisses on Wednesday's cheeks and hugged Xavier.

“Let’s go back inside! Xavier, do you like tea? I’ve made some,” Morticia said with a cordial smile.

“I would love a cup of tea,” Xavier answered.

I know you two are faking it, Thing signed when he was sure nobody was looking at them.

“Did you tell anyone?” Wednesday asked.

No, Thing signed.

“You better keep it that way if you don't want to spend Christmas under piles of snow.”

*

“Thank you,” Xavier said when Lurch served him tea.

He took his with a lot of sugar.

Pugsley was sitting with them, too.

He stared at Xavier like he was seeing a human for the first time.

“Pugsley, close your mouth,” Wednesday said.

Xavier seemed embarrassed.

“Hey, Pugsley. I hear you are a big fan of my dad?”

Pugsley opened his mouth even more then closed it.

“His show is my favorite of all time! I can’t believe you are in my house right now, especially after my sister got you arrested,” he said.

“Pugsley, close your mouth,” Wednesday repeated.

“Pugsley, come now! Your sister and Xavier are together now, it’s all in the past. Besides, a little crime makes everything more romantic,” Morticia said with a smile.

Xavier looked like he wanted to disappear on the floor.

“The principal called me the other day. He told me they are trying to reach an expert to attempt breaking the curse after winter break,” Morticia said.

“The last one failed,” Wednesday commented, taking a sip of her tea.

When she was done she placed the cup on the soucer and stared at her mother.

“Oh, Wednesday don’t make that face, these things take time! Uncle Fester and Abuela are gonna be here tomorrow, but don't worry! They have already been informed about your curse and Lurch has already set up a double bed in your room. You’ll see, it’ll be just like at Nevermore!”

“Uncle Fester? The one you were meeting at the library?” Xavier asked, suddenly intrigued.

“Yes, that’s him,” Wednesday said.

She wondered what Uncle Fester would say about Xavier.

The last time, he was very sure there was tension between them.

At the time Wednesday didn't understand what he meant.

She did now.

She felt tension every time she looked at Xavier.

Every time they argued over everything.

Every time she would braid his hair.

Every time he would smile softly at her.

She felt it even now, drinking tea.

“You are gonna love Fester, Xavier, don’t worry!” Morticia assured him.

“Wanna have a drink with me, my boy?” Gomez asked much later in the day.

“I would love to,” Xavier said.

Wednesday glanced at them.

Xavier had no stomach to survive a drink with her father.

She couldn't interviene, though.

She knew her father was testing Xavier and intervening would have made her appear soft.

Wednesday couldn't let that happen.

Gomez brought a bottle to the table.

“Something on your mind, darling?” Morticia asked.

“Just fine, mother,” she replied, still glancing at Xavier.

Her mother had a wicked expression on her lips.

Wednesday watched while Xavier took a sip of his drink and became red and puffy.

Wednesday knew Xavier well enough to know that he tried very hard to act like everything was fine.

“Oh, wow. Strong- strong stuff!” Xavier said, strangled.

“It is, my boy!” Gomez said, with a smile.

Suddenly the glass fell from Xavier's hand on the floor and he fainted in front of her.

Wednesday stared at him.

“How much poison did you put in the glass?” she asked her father.

“Don’t worry my little Viper, he took it like a champ, you saw! His body just isn't used to it. Nothing practice can’t fix,” Gomez winked.

“Lurch, take Xavier to my room.” Wednesday ordered.

Lurch nodded, took Xavier in his arms and went upstairs.

Wednesday trailed behind him.

“Sweetheart?” Gomez stopped her.

Lurch stopped, too.

Wednesday turned around.

“I really like him, darling. You chose well.”

Wednesday didn't bother to answer.

The lie was starting to hurt.

Up to her room Wednesday sat next to Xavier.

Xavier lied on the bed, white as a sheet.

Wednesday opened his mouth with her hand and poured a potion into his throat.

Xavier started to cough immediately.

“What- what happened?” he croaked, confused.

“Father put poison in your drink. It's a family tradition. Your body is not used to it so you fainted. You are gonna puke a few times tonight, I reckon,” she explained.

“Poison? Shit. I don't know whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

“He was testing you. To see if you were worthy of being by my side,” she said.

Xavier chuckled weakly then got all serious.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“For what?”

“I failed the test. I’m sorry if you feel…humiliated,” he said, avoiding her eyes.

“You didn't.”

He looked at her again.

“What?”

“You didn't fail the test, Xavier. Father was very impressed,” she said.

“But I fainted!” Xavier argued, incredulous.

“Cause your body is just not used to it. Ideally, you would need to consume poison little by little everyday, to become immune to it,” she explained, clinically.

Maybe Wednesday needed to start adding poison to his drinks.

“Was he really impressed?” he asked again.

“Unfortunately.”

Xavier smiled, pleased.

“I know this is…fake, but I’m glad I passed the test anyway,” he confessed.

“You should sleep. In a few hours you are gonna wake up sweating and puking.”

And he did.

Xavier puked all through the night.

Wednesday had a bucket for him.

“Shit! This is not how I thought I would be spending my Christmas holidays,” he croaked.

“You need to toughen up if you want to survive here, Xavier.”

DECEMBER 24TH

On Christmas Eve, after Xavier started to feel better, they took a shower and had breakfast with their family.

He then insisted on taking a walk outside.

Wednesday wanted to spend her time writing, but she figured after what her father put Xavier through she owned him one.

“How far is the city? Can we walk there?”

“Lurch can take us with the car. There's nothing really interesting there, though.”

“Are there shops?” he asked.

“I said there's nothing interesting there, not that it’s a ghost town,” Wednesday answered.

“ I need to buy something, I don't need it to be interesting,” Xavier said.

“Fine.”

When Lurch dropped them off, it really looked like a ghost town, regardless.

Only a few people were out on the streets and they all stared at Wednesday like she had the plague or something.

“Damn, is it always like this here for you?” Xavier asked.

“Yes, ignore them. Let’s just go.”

Suddenly a whistle broke the air.

“My, my, my. What do we have here? Is the freak back home for Christmas?”

Xavier turned around, frowning.

A guy in a white beanie was looking at Wednesday with a smirk.

“You are not even gonna turn around, freak?” The boy said again.

Wednesday turned around.

“I don’t engage with braindead people. Let’s go, Xavier!” she said, firmly.

“And who is that? Your pet?” The boy snickered.

“And who are you?” Xavier asked, with a stern tone.

“ Listen, man. I’m just saying. I don’t know what she has on you, but you better run. Two years ago she threw piranhas in our school’s pool and my friend lost a testicle.”

“I heard the story,” Xavier replied.

“Yeah, I’m telling you it’s all true, man. You should stay away from this freak,” the boy pointed at Wednesday.

“Do you want to lose a testicle, too?” Wednesday asked.

Xavier scoffed at him, “Do you know she killed a pilgrim zombie last year? I asked her to be my girlfriend after that. I have a type.”

The boy looked caught off guard.

“Freaks, both of you!” he said and walked away, glaring at them.

“Sorry. That was the first comeback I thought of,” he tried to justify himself.

“Shops are open for a few more hours, we need to hurry.”

“This is what you wanted to buy? A bottle of champagne?” Wednesday asked.

“Well, yeah. I’m a guest and I didn't have the time to bring anything. I’m sure your mother will appreciate it,” he said, all smiles.

“Once this is all over, I’ll have to tell them we have broken up.”

Wednesday dreaded telling her mother.

Xavier swallowed.

“And? I like to think I’ll leave a good impression at least.”

Once they got home, Grandma Addams and Uncle Fester were already there.

“My little poison! How good is it to see you! You look a day away from death as usual!”

“Hello, Grandma.” Wednesday said.

Grandma Addams was a lady with long white hair and a long black dress.

“Is this your beau?” Grandma asked.

“He is, Grandma.” Wednesday replied.

“I’m Xavier, it’s very nice to meet you, mam.”

“What a handsome young man you have become! Last time I saw you was at your Godmother's funeral,” Grandma pinched his cheek.

“Thank you,” Xavier blushed.

“When your mother told me you were bringing a boy home for Christmas I just couldn't believe it! It all makes sense now, who could resist this sickly complexion?” Grandma pinched his other cheek.

“That's enough, Grandma!” Wednesday admonished her.

Grandma winked at Xavier.

“Xavier, have you ever had your tarots read?” she asked, then.

“No, can’t say that I have,” he said.

“Marvelous! I brought my tarots with me today. I’ll do a reading for you, later.”

She walked away fixing her posture.

Uncle Fester was fighting with Thing once again.

“It's you! The boy Wednesday was stalking at Nevermore!” Uncle Fester said.

Both Morticia and Grandma Addams turned to look at Wednesday.

Wednesday glared at them.

“Oh my! How did I not realize you were courting him already! It all makes sense, all that tension!” lighting came out of his hands.

Xavier ended up being electrocuted by Uncle Fester three times.

He did not complain once, though.

Wednesday knew that he was really trying to tough it up despite his weak disposition.

That Xavier was seeking the approval of her family.

She should have found it pitiful, really.

Her stomach made a weird turn.

*

They had a big dinner and Grandma Addams liked to tease Xavier with the most inconvenient questions she could think of.

Xavier, albeit a bit embarrassed, laughed a lot and looked just right among them.

At midnight they opened Xavier's bottle of champagne and toasted to new scary beginnings.

After that, Wednesday excused herself from the table followed by Xavier.

“Do you want to sleep? Cause I was thinking…I really want to make a snow angel,” Xavier said.

“I don’t do snow angels,” Wednesday answered.

Xavier smiled, “You can stand there and glare at me.”

“Alright.”

And so they went outside in the snow and Xavier threw himself on the ground and started moving his arms and legs up and down, up and down.

“Are you satisfied now?”

The whole thing was ridiculous.

Wednesday hoped nobody was watching them from the window.

“Very much so. This is the best Christmas Eve I’ve ever had since my mom died. I bet tomorrow is gonna be even better.”

Wednesday stared at him.

Xavier looked like a kid.

She lied next to him in the snow.

“I’m not making a snow angel,” she clarified.

“Okay,” he said.

“Wednesday?”

“I don’t have space left for other requests, I’m warning you.”

“Thank you. I know this month has been…different, difficult but…I’m glad I have this opportunity to be close to you. I like being your friend very much.”

Wednesday said nothing, but Xavier smiled at her.

DECEMBER 25TH

“Merry Christmas, Wednesday!” Xavier said the moment he woke up.

He looked like a chicken.

They were still in bed.

“wait- I have something for you,” he added before Wednesday could speak.

He pulled a painting from under the bed.

It was the painting he had been working on for weeks.

“It's not really a present, but I would love for you to keep it,” he said.

“I didn't know we were doing presents,” she took the painting from his hands.

It was even more impressive now that it was finished.

Xavier smiled, “Not a present, just something I would love for you to have. If you like, that is.”

“Thank you, Xavier. Merry Christmas to you, too.”

“You are very welcome,” he said, proud of himself.

“If I had known you were fond of these…trivialities, I would have bought you something, too,” she commented.

“Oh yeah? Well, there's always next year if you really want to give me a present,” he winked.

Wednesday hated it that he didn't even look disappointed.

They had another big dinner for Christmas.

Grandma Addams kept shoving food on his plate.

He really didn't know how to say no to her.

It felt rude.

Wednesday watched him struggle to not feel sick at some point.

“Abuela, I want Xavier to still have his sickly complexion. Stop putting food on his plate.”

Xavier looked stunned.

“You are right, my little poison. His cheeks are getting too rosy, it’s no good.”

“Thank you,” he whispered.

When Lurch brought a plate full of profiteroles his eyes went wide.

“You really asked him!” He said, stunned.

“You know I never joke, Xavier.”

Wednesday watched him eat profiteroles with a blissful expression on his face.

When Xavier turned to her his eyes were dark.

“They were the best profiteroles I have ever had, Wednesday! Thank you.”

His body next to hers felt like burning fire.

“Oh, would you look at that! A mistletoe!” Grandma said, with a wicked smile.

Wednesday raised her head to see a mistletoe hanging on the door.

Xavier immediately tensed.

“Well, you have to kiss your beau, now, my little poison. It's the rules!” Grandma said.

“I’m not comfortable with displays of affection, Abuela, you know that,” she argued.

“It's just a little kiss. Xavier, darling, tell her!” Grandma winked at him.

“Uhm, you know how Wednesday is, Grandma. I don’t want her to be uncomfortable,” he said, awkward.

Morticia put a hand on her chest and looked perfectly frozen.

“Here, my love. Drink. We can’t have you crying on Christmas Day,” Gomez said, giving Morticia a glass of wine.

Morticia took a sip, “I apologize. Sometimes it’s hard to control my emotions.”

Xavier frowned, “Did- did I say something wrong?”

“Oh, no dear. We are just so happy Wednesday has found someone like you!” Gomez said.

“Enough with this spectacle, we are leaving!” she said, irritated.

Xavier followed her.

“When are they gonna stop being embarrassing? I don’t know how many Christmas dinners I have left in me,” Wednesday said in the hallway.

Xavier chuckled.

“Com'on. They mean well.”

“As if the mistletoe carefully hanging on the door wasn't planned!” she argued.

Xavier shrugged, “Okay, I get it. Your Grandma is wicked, but she wanted to see her granddaughter share a kiss with her boyfriend. They don’t know we are faking it.”

“Stop making excuses for them, Xavier. I’m never gonna be that person and they know it,” she stopped walking.

“I guess…”

“Why do you look disappointed?” she asked.

Xavier looked panicked.

“I don’t!” He blurted.

“You do!” Wednesday insisted.

“I don’t! I’m not disappointed!” he said again.

Realization dawned on her.

“You wanted to kiss me. That's why you are on Grandma’s side,” she concluded looking at him.

“You have no idea what you are talking about, Addams,” he said, strangled.

“Xavier.”

Wednesday was only a couple inches away from his face.

Xavier’s back was on the wall.

He swallowed.

“Admit it!” Wednesday insisted, mean.

Xavier seemed to struggle with himself and then sighed, defeated.

“Fine, yeah. I wanted to kiss you. Does that really come as a surprise?” he asked, staring at her.

Wednesday forgot everything for a second.

Xavier's lips suddenly looked like something she couldn't deprive herself any longer.

She grabbed Xavier's face with both hands, raised on her tiptoes and put her lips on his.

She pulled away mere seconds later, realizing her mistake.

Xavier stared at her, stunned.

Before she could pull away completely he tugged at her braid and placed his hand on the back of her head and kissed her.

Everything stopped for Wednesday.

She could only focus on Xavier's delicious lips and the way he was holding her and the way she wanted more and more of him, until she was sick.

So that’s what Xavier meant when he was talking about kisses!

Wednesday bit his lips making Xavier moan.

They kept kissing for what seemed hours, until they stopped gasping for air.

Wednesday was already mad she had to stop kissing Xavier.

“Holy shit!” Xavier croaked.

Wednesday didn't know what to say to excuse her behavior.

“This is my Christmas gift for you,” she tried to say, as unfazed as she could manage.

Xavier frowned.

“You want me to believe you kissed me as a gift?” he crossed his arms.

“I did, yes,” she said.

He huffed, “Okay, Wednesday. Have it your way, I guess.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked.

“That we both know you kissed me because you wanted to and not for whatever lie you are coming up with to save face,” he said, challenging her with his eyes.

“You wanted to kiss me under the mistletoe. You said that!” she argued, stubborn.

“Cause you forced me to! And I was never gonna act on it anyway! I would have never asked you for a kiss, Wednesday. This was all you. Admit it!” Xavier pointed a finger at her chest.

“You are sleeping on the floor tonight!”

“Jesus, Wednesday. What’s so bad about admitting you wanted to kiss me, too!” he said, frustrated.

“Fine. What if I did, then?”

She pinned him with her eyes.

Xavier grabbed her face and kissed her again.

She melted into him.

Wednesday hated that she loved kissing Xavier so much.

Xavier pulled away.

She already wanted more.

“Maybe… maybe If you want to kiss me and I want to kiss you, maybe we can just…kiss each other,” he argued.

“I have no need for romance, Xavier. You know that.”

Wednesday fixed her shirt.

Xavier snorted, “You made that crystal clear, yeah. We could still…kiss each other, sometimes. If we want to. Doesn't have to be anything more than it is. Just a little bit of kissing.”

His words didn't sound convincing.

“I wasn't aware people did that,” Wednesday said.

“Uh…well, who’s to say we can’t.”

“How would that work?” she asked.

“I told you, it’s pretty simple. We kiss when we want to, we don’t when we don’t want to,” he said, trying to sound casual.

“Can we kiss multiple times in a day?”

Xavier frowned, “Yeah, sure.”

Wednesday kissed him again.

“Xavier.”

They were changing into their pajamas.

“What?”

Xavier was taking off his pants.

“Xavier, the mark is gone,” Wednesday said, checking her wrist.

“WHAT.”

DECEMBER 26TH- DECEMBER 31

It was the next morning and they were still up in Wednesday's room.

“A kiss. That's what was needed to break the curse. A kiss.”

Wednesday kept glaring at her wrist like it offended her.

“Well, it makes sense. Kisses are famous for breaking curses. Maybe the stalker thought it would be funny,” he said.

“I don’t know, I think we just don’t have all the pieces, Xavier. They are playing the long game, I just don’t know what it is yet.”

“That makes it more terrifying, Wednesday!”

“We need to pretend we are still cursed when we are with my parents. I don’t want to explain to them…whatever this is. Once we go back to Nevermore we’ll tell them the curse is broken and we broke up,” she said, pretending she was unfazed by the situation.

“It feels weird,” Xavier commented.

“What does?”

“That now I can just…cross the room without you. Take- take a shower alone, stuff like that,” he said.

“I thought you would be excited about it. You can finally masturbate.”

Wednesday thought about Xavier masturbating a lot.

“You are unbelievable!”

The next days were spent in complete emotional chaos.

Wednesday barely knew how she felt besides knowing that 1. She was mad about not being able to watch Xavier while he changed clothes and 2. She wanted to kiss him all the time.

It was like a need.

Soon they would be back at Nevermore and Xavier would go back to his room.

Taking with him his shampoo and his charcoal and his annoying quirks.

Wednesday hated that she didn't want Xavier to leave.

She hated that she wished to be cursed once again, just to be unbearably close to him again.

“Can I kiss you good morning?” he asked.

“Okay,” she said.

When Xavier kissed her, sweet and soft, Wednesday felt like an incubus. She wanted to take everything from him until the last breath he would have on her lips.

She pulled away before she could.

But her hunger wasn't easily controlled, so right after they had lunch with her family Wednesday stopped Xavier by his arm in the hallway.

“What?” he asked.

Wednesday said nothing and just kissed him.

They ended up making out on her bed.

Her hands were all over his hair and she pulled a strand.

“You are gonna kill me like this, Addams,” he moaned.

“That's my plan,” she said and kissed him again.

It went like this.

Wednesday kissed him when he came out of the shower.

Xavier kissed her after doing a doodle of her on his sketchbook.

They found every excuse to kiss.

Wednesday had no idea how to stop wanting to kiss Xavier.

She was grateful her mother didn't comment on her need to always glance at him or the way she would find ridiculous excuses to touch his hand.

They were gonna lock her up in an asylum very soon.

“Shit,” Xavier said the day before New Year’s Eve.

He was looking at his phone.

“What?”

“My father just texted me his invitation for his winter soirée. He is planning it for January 4th.”

“You mentioned it a few weeks ago,” she said.

“Yeah…listen, Wednesday,” he paused. “I know - I know we are not cursed anymore and you are not obligated to come with me, but he has invited you, too and…I don't really want to tell him you couldn't come or that we broke up. Would you- would come with me, please? I wouldn't ask-”

“Okay,” Wednesday said, cutting Xavier's speech off.

“Okay? Just like that?” he was surprised.

“As much as it pains me to say the whole dating thing was my idea and this winter soirée seems like a PR nightmare. Plus, I’m curious to be face to face with the famous Vincent Thorpe,” she said.

Xavier kissed her.

Xavier insisted it was tradition so they kissed on New Year's Eve right at the stroke of midnight.

JANUARY 3TH

They left Wednesday’s house a day before the winter soirée.

Thing told them he was gonna meet them at Nevermore once the break was over.

Her parents said goodbye to Xavier like he was a lost son they never met.

Her mother hugged Xavier tight and whispered in his ear “ You are always welcome here, Xavier.”

Her father gave him a pack on the back and a tiny bottle of poison.

“So next time you come here you are ready, yeah?” he winked.

Wednesday rolled her eyes.

Apparently Xavier had managed to conquer their black hearts.

And mine, too, she thought for a split second and hated herself for it.

Lurch drove them.

The journey was quiet and Wednesday spent that time staring out of the window.

Xavier fell asleep at some point.

It felt like the end of something.

Xavier's house was more like a castle on a hill.

“You live here?” she asked, getting out of the car.

“Nah. This is just the place my dad likes to host parties in. I live in a house half an hour from here. It's still big, but it’s not a castle,” he said, following her.

They walked to the gate with their luggages.

“Well, are you ready to meet my dad and other dickheads?” he asked, before the doors opened.

“I have a dagger in my left pocket,” she said.

Xavier chuckled.

A lady in a maid uniform opened the front door.

“Xavier. So good to see you, again. Did you have a nice Christmas?” she asked, hugging him.

“I did, thank you Elena. How are your kids?”

“Oh, they are fine. They grow up more and more everyday,” Elena said with a proud smile.

Then she noticed Wednesday.

“Oh, I apologize. I didn't know you were bringing someone, Xavier. I’m Elena, m’am,” she said, bowing.

“I’m Wednesday.”

Elena looked surprised.

“Elena, please make sure to take Wednesday's stuff up to my room. Thank you,” Xavier said.

“Of course!” she said, taking her coat and her luggage from her hands.

Elena started to walk away, but then stopped, turned her head and mimed something to Xavier that made him blush.

“What did she say?” Wednesday asked when Elena left.

“Nothing, it’s stupid!” He avoided looking at her.

“I would like to know anyway,” she insisted.

Xavier sighed.

“She knows about you. I told her about last year,” he confesses.

“You told her I put you in jail.”

“Yeah…that too,” his cheeks were pink.

“So what did she say now?”

“That you are very beautiful,” he said, avoiding her eyes.

“Well, that’s a first,” she said.

“What, nobody has ever called you beautiful before? I don't believe that,” Xavier said, shaking his head.

“People don’t like me very much, you know that. They don’t like to engage with me and I don’t like to engage with them.”

“Well, for the record. She's right. You are,” he said, still avoiding her eyes.

JANUARY 4TH

Xavier's father arrived at the castle the day after.

Vincent Thorpe was a man with blonde gelled hair and a big beard.

Elena informed both of them that Vincent was waiting for them in the parlor to drink some tea.

“Son. Glad you could make it.” he said, standing up from the couch, when he saw them walking in.

“You must be Xavier's girlfriend.” he added when he landed eyes on Wednesday.

“I’m Wednesday, Wednesday Addams.” she replied.

“An Addams! This explains your fashion style! I remember your mother, you look just like her,” he said with an annoying smile.

“Please sit down, let's have tea!” Vincent gestured to the couch across the one he was sitting on.

Wednesday and Xavier sat down.

“When will the guests start to arrive?” Xavier asked, taking a sip of his tea.

“The soirée starts at 7 p.m. I hope you brought your best tuxedo with you, Xavier. There will be a lot of important people and photographers. I want you to be on your best behavior and wear clothes that don’t look like you have been left stranded on a island.” Vincent’s voice was severe.

Xavier lowered his head.

“I brought the tuxedo you bought me last year, dad,” he simply said.

“Good.” Vincent replied.

Wednesday observed the whole exchange.

“I’m afraid the dress I brought with me is not appropriate enough for this occasion, Mr. Thorpe. Will it hinder your reputation, too or is it just your son that you like to criticize?” she said, sarcastically.

Xavier’s eyes widened.

“Miss Addams, I have a few dresses you could borrow for tonight, if you like,” he said cordial. “I beg you to stay in your place, though. This doesn't concern you.”

Vincent stared at her dead in the eyes.

“I never stay in my place, Mr. Thorpe, I find the notion archaic,” she said, placing the teacup on the coffee table. “Xavier, would you mind showing me where's the library?”

Wednesday stood up from the couch and Xavier followed her.

“You don’t have to do that. Stand up for me, I mean. I can handle my father,” he said, when they were out of earshot.

The castle was huge and they were aimlessly walking through the infinite rooms.

“If you always agree with what he says he’ll never respect you,” Wednesday pointed out.

“Talking to him it’s like talking to a wall. I’ve given up.”

“If I were you I would show up at the soirée in my ugliest suit,” she said with a light smirk.

Xavier chuckled.

“As much as I would like to, I can’t do that, Wednesday. There’ll be journalists, too. Ready to write a pretty article about me. I don’t want to end up in the papers for causing a scene,” he said, putting his hands in his pockets.

“If you think that's what’s best for you, fine,” she said.

It wasn't her battle to fight.

“It is. Were you serious when you said you didn't think your dress would be appropriate for tonight?” he asked.

“I brought the dress I wore to the RaveN. Would that be suitable enough?”

“Yeah, sure. If you want, though, we can make a stop in town and you can buy a new dress.”

“I wouldn't know what to do with another dress. The one I have is enough.”

“Okay,” Xavier said, sounding disappointed.

“Unless you are suggesting I need to buy a new dress, after all.” Wednesday remarked, picking up on his tone.

“No! I- It's stupid,” Xavier said. “You are gonna think I’m an idiot.”

“Tell me,” she insisted.

“I love the dress you wore to the RaveN. It suits you perfectly. I can’t help being bitter when I think about what happened that night, though,” he explained, embarrassed.

“It's just a dress,” she pointed out.

“Yeah, I know. That's why I said it was stupid, Wednesday,” he huffed, annoyed.

Wednesday gave in.

“Hypothetically, we could make a quick stop in town, I have nothing better to do here. I can’t guarantee I will buy anything, though,” she warned him.

Xavier beamed at her.

“Can I buy it for you?” Xavier asked.

Wednesday had weirdly found a dress she liked enough to try it on.

It was a black velvet gown with long sleeves.

“This was not the deal,” she said, checking herself in the mirror.

Xavier was staring at her with something akin to wonder.

“Who cares. You are doing me the favor of being here with me tonight. Buying you this dress is the least I can do.”

“You are stubborn,” she rebutted.

“You are, too.”

Silence fell.

“So…can I?” he asked again.

Xavier ended up buying the dress.

By 7 pm they were both ready.

Xavier wore a well tailored black suit and he left his hair loose on his shoulders.

Wednesday wore her new dress and she gathered her hair in a simple bun.

Xavier's father had decided to host the soirée in the third ball room of the castle.

When they walked in there were already some guests there and a few photographers.

“Mr.Thorpe, you look stunning tonight. Can you pose for a few pictures?”

“With pleasure,” Xavier said.

The photographers took a few pictures of him.

“Is that your date, Mr. Thorpe? Can we take pictures of you two together?” they asked.

“Try and take a picture of me and you lose an eye,” Wednesday said.

After half an hour of Xavier saying hi to the guests and presenting Wednesday as his girlfriend, Vincent Thorpe clinked his glass with a spoon.

“May I have your attention, please?” he said, with a microphone in hand.

“Thank you to everyone for being here. This is a very special night and I’m glad you all could make it,” he added, then.

Everyone clapped.

“I would like to call on stage my dear friend Felicia-”

Wednesday was already starting to tune out his speech.

“Want to get out of here?” Xavier whispered.

“I thought you were supposed to attend every second of this event,” she said.

“My father is making a speech and calling people on stage. That's gonna take a while. I wanna show you the garden. We’ll be back before he notices,” he said with a smile.

“Lead the way, then.”

“What do you think?” Xavier asked when they reached the garden.

It was a beautiful garden of red roses.

“My mother would love this. She loves roses,” Wednesday commented.

“My mother loved roses, too. She insisted on building this garden back when she was alive,” he said with a sad smile on his face.

Music started playing.

“I think my father’s speech is over. We have to go back, but first. May I have this dance with you, Miss Addams?” he said, offering Wednesday his hand.

“I like to dance solo,” she said, just to keep him on his toes.

“You can make an exception, just this once.”

“Alright,” she agreed.

Wednesday took Xavier's hand.

They danced and danced and to Wednesday it felt like time had stopped. There was only Xavier, slow dancing with her in a rose garden.

Her heart explodes in her chest.

And then they stopped.

It was time to go.

They ran back inside.

“Xavier! There you are! I’ve been looking for you forever,” Vincent said when he spotted them in the room.

“Yeah, sorry. I was showing the garden to Wednesday. We lost track of time,” Xavier said.

“There are journalists that want to talk to you and you were out there frolicking with your girlfriend!” Vincent scolded him.

“It’s a party, dad!” Xavier screamed.

A few people turned around.

“Lower your damn voice!” Vincent whispered right into Xavier's face.

He pulled Xavier by his jacket’s sleeve to a corner of the room.

Wednesday was watching the whole exchange.

“This is not just a party, it’s pubblicity and you know that! When are you gonna stop embarrassing me, Xavier? Isn't what I give you enough? Is it really such a sacrifice for you to be a good son for one FREAKING night!” Vincent had mean eyes.

Xavier huffed, “I’m pretty sure nobody noticed we were gone! You are making a huge deal out of nothing.”

“Don’t raise your tone with me, Xavier. You should be grateful to be here after the stunt you pulled last year!”

Wednesday couldn't stand to watch anymore, she had to interviene.

“Xavier is twice the man you will ever be, Mr. Thorpe. A father who doesn't appreciate his son is not even worthy of being called a father,” she said, stepping in. “You want publicity, Mr. Thorpe? I can help you with that.”

Wednesday pulled a grenade from her pocket dress.

She threw it in the center of the room, among people.

Glasses and plates started exploding.

The huge tower of profiteroles fell down making the whipped cream hit the guests.

Everyone started screaming.

The photographers were all taking pictures of the mess.

“Let’s get out of here,” Wednesday said, grabbing Xavier by the hand.

Soon both Wednesday and Xavier were running all through the castle and out into the garden again.

They stared at each other out of breath.

“God, you are insane!”

Wednesday was about to say something, but Xavier didn't give her the time to reply and kissed her.

They ran into Xavier's room in the chaos and packed all of their stuff.

They decided to head to Nevermore early.

JANUARY 6TH

Xavier moved all his things back to his dorm.

There was no trace of him left in Wednesday's room.

Wednesday hated it.

Telling the principal the curse was broken was easy.

The principal was so glad to be done with them that he didn't ask many questions.

Miss Byron looked at them suspiciously.

It was the last day of Christmas break.

Wednesday wanted to rip the bandage off right away.

She didn't want to do this, but she had to.

They couldn't keep this up, whatever it was and Wednesday needed to get over her obsession with Xavier.

Realistically, she knew Xavier had some feelings for her.

He had them before.

But Wednesday wasn't the dating type.

She wouldn't have known how to be in a relationship with Xavier.

“We’ll tell everyone we have broken up tomorrow,” she announced.

“Okay.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

“Can we…can we still kiss each other sometimes?”

“It's best if things go back to what they were before, Xavier.”

“I don’t want things to go back to the way they were before, Wednesday! You didn't even want to talk to me!” he screamed, frustrated.

“I talked to you plenty.”

“No you didn't! You didn't even want to text me!”

“I don’t text anyone,” she rebutted.

Xavier huffed.

“Wednesday, can I be honest with you?”

“Why? Have you been lying to me?”

“Just- just listen!”

Wednesday nodded.

“This past month…has been everything I’ve ever wanted and more. I mean, the curse was annoying but getting to spend time with you? Everyday? Pretending to be your boyfriend? I loved it. I loved every second of it. I was on cloud nine everyday even when I didn't show it.”

“Xavier-”

“No, please. Let me finish this. I will never have the courage again. I thought- I thought I had no chance with you, but then you fell asleep on me and you made your mother make profiteroles and stole my shampoo and started kissing me and defended me against my father! I mean, this has to mean something right? You wouldn't do that just for anyone. I was thinking - what if…what if we date for real? I know you don’t want any commitments, but we work well together, yeah? We could give this a real shot.”

“Are you done?”

“No, Wednesday, I’m not done. I’m trying to make a love confession here, just let me have this at least!”

Wednesday crossed her arms.

“I’m crazy about you. Like… it’s embarrassing how crazy I am about you. I become stupid. I can’t help it. Remember when I told you you just needed to accept my friendship? Now I’m asking you to accept my love. If you want.”

“Is the speech over now?”

Xavier huffed, “yeah, now it is.”

“Xavier, I’m not good for you.”

He frowned, “That's not true!”

“It is and you know it. I don’t know how to be a girlfriend, Xavier!” Wednesday argued.

“I don’t need you to know!” he screamed, exasperated. “You think people know how to be in a relationship? They don’t, Wednesday. They figure it out together, we can, too!”

Wednesday stayed silent.

Xavier grabbed her hands, “Wednesday, please. If you feel even one percent of what I feel for you, please, please give us a chance. It's all I’m asking,” he said with pleading eyes.

Wednesday pulled her hands away from Xavier and turned around.

Xavier closed his eyes, defeated.

When he opened them Wednesday was in front of him with a mistletoe in her hand.

“I stole it from home,” she said.

He frowned, “Okay?”

“You said you wanted to kiss me under the mistletoe on Christmas. We never did. I thought I could hang this on my door. I need your help, though. I’m not that tall.”

Xavier beamed at her.

He took the mistletoe from Wednesday's hands and placed it on her door.

Wednesday stood right under it.

She pulled Xavier from his collar and kissed him.

“So…just to be clear on this. We are officially dating now, right?”

“We have been dating for over a month, Xavier. Don’t you read Enid's blog?”

Xavier laughed and pulled her in a new kiss.

Later that day a new text from her stalker came.

“I hope you liked my present, Wednesday! Giving you a boyfriend was no easy fit 🎅 By the way…we are gonna meet real soon, I know the suspense is killing you 😉”

FIN.