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Wednesday hated Christmas. The whole Christmas season. If it were up to her, she’d lock herself away in her room until New Years Day. That’s normally what she did expect this year Enid had other plans. Somehow Enid had convinced her to participate in this year’s secret Santa. It was awful, horrible, an absolute nightmare – until she realized whose name she had drawn. Xavier Thorpe.
Enid squealed in delight when Wednesday read his name off the scrap of paper she picked from the bowl. “OMG you can use this as an excuse to tell him how you really feel!” she cheered.
“And how do I really feel?” Wednesday folded the scrap of paper and tossed it in the trash can next to her desk.
“That you love him and want to spend the rest of eternity playing with his long flowing hair,” Enid said. “Duh!”
Wednesday pinched the bridge of her nose. “Enid, I’ve already explained that just because I prefer his company over most does not mean I like him as more than a companion,” she said. “And I do not want to play with his long flowing hair.”
“Lies. Everyone wants to play with Xavier’s hair. The fact that you even noticed he has long flowing hair proves that you want to play with it too.” Enid set the bowl down and followed Wednesday to her side of the room. “So what are you going to get him? New paints, new cologne, a new archery set? Ooh! I know! You should write him a love poem!”
“Since I know you won’t stop pestering me about Xavier, I’ll pick a different name.”
“No don’t!”
But Wednesday was too quick. She snatched the bowl and picked a different name. Her eyes narrowed. “Enid.” Her voice was as cold as the icicles hanging outside their window. “If I were to open every single folded scrap of paper in this bowl, will all of them have Xavier’s name on it?”
Enid at least had the decency to look apologetic. “Guilty,” she said. Wednesday tossed the bowl back on Enid’s bed in a huff and stomped into her closet to grab her winter coat. “Don’t be mad! I didn’t want to chance it so I made sure you both got each other’s names.”
“Why are you so determined to make Xavier and I buy a gift for each other?”
“Because I’m tired of watching you two make puppy dog eyes at each other and then never do anything about it. Ajax is supposed to have this talk with Xavier too. You should use this as an opportunity to confess your feelings and finally do something about it.”
“You’re almost as bad as my mother,” Wednesday grumbled. She slipped on her coat and stepped into her snow boots.
“Where are you going?”
“Out.”
“Will you at least think about what I said?” Enid begged. “It would be embarrassing for Xavier if he got you something really sweet and confessed his feelings just for you to not get him anything and brush him off.”
“I’ll think about it.” She opened the door and was halfway out when she added, “But sweet isn’t in my nature so we’ll see what I can do.”
***
Wednesday thought about what Enid said and reluctantly decided to get Xavier a nicer gift than she normally would. Something from the heart, or as close to the heart as Wednesday could get.
She agreed to meet Xavier in his shed the night before everyone would leave for Christmas break. Earlier in the day, she felt confident about her gift. Now, standing in front of his shed, she wasn’t so sure.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked once before letting herself in. Xavier looked up from the painting he was outlining and smiled. “Hey right on time,” he said. He quickly put everything away and pulled out a stool for her to sit on. “Ready to exchange our not-so-secret Santa gifts?”
“Enid is a pink haired menace,” Wednesday said.
Xavier laughed and handed her what looked like a jewelry box with a tiny black bow on top. She carefully lifted the lid and was pleasantly surprised to find that inside the box was a gold necklace with two ravens hanging from the chain.
“I don’t know why, but I always think of you when I see ravens,” he said. “If you don’t like it, I can return it and get you something else.”
“I do like it,” she said. She lightly touched the ravens with her finger. “It’s…sweet without being too nauseating.”
“Wow, that’s a pretty good compliment coming from you,” he said.
She took the necklace out of the jewelry box and let the ravens dangle in front of her face. If she weren’t fearful of spending the entire night listening to Enid gush over the gift, she would put it on right now.
“Actually Wens, I do know why I associate you with ravens,” he said. She watched as his Addams apple bobbed in his throat nervously. “You’re dark and beautiful like a raven, but also because ravens mate for life. I like you, Wednesday. A lot. And I think I’ll always like you.”
She put the necklace back in its box and set it aside. He held his breath as he watched her carefully, afraid that she was going to either bolt or kill him. She reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope.
“Is it money?” he asked. He brought it up to his ear and shook it.
“As if you need more of that.”
“Singing Christmas card?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Anthrax?”
“Not tonight.”
“I’m out of ideas.”
“Then why don’t you open it and find out,” she said.
Xavier used his pocketknife to open the envelope and gingerly took out a folded piece of paper. His eyebrows scrunched as he read it. “Wednesday, what is this?”
“A train ticket to come visit me during the winter break,” she said.
He let the hand holding the train ticket fall to his side. A wide smile lit up his entire face. “You want me to come visit you? Does that mean?”
“Yes, Xavier. It means I also feel romantic affection for you as well,” she said sounding annoyed. Feelings were still difficult for her, but Xavier didn’t seem to mind. “If I see you doing a victory dance, I will take the ticket back and burn it.”
“Of course.” His smile only grew wider. “I’ll do it after you leave.”