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Today was the day, the day Pugsley and Eugene were going to tell the first person about their relationship.
It really seemed like a no brainer tell Wednesday first. She was the reason Eugene agreed to be Pugsley’s roommate, and probably why they even met at all.
Currently they were making their way to her dorm. They knew Enid wasn’t there, having been invited to the mall but declining under the assumption of getting Wednesday alone long enough to reveal their relationship.
Eugene’s nervousness was plainly out on display the whole time they were walking to her dorm. Pugsley found it adorable, he was acting like he was on his way to a personal execution.
He was fidgeting with a loose strand on the hem of his shirt, his eyes darting all around like he was trying to remember every single detail of his last moments.
While Pugsley did enjoy it, he also didn’t want Eugene fleeing the moment they see Wednesdays door. So he took the hand that was fidgeting, and intertwined their fingers in one smooth movement.
Eugene’s gaze shifted from the hallway to Pugsley and then their joint hands. “You don’t have to be nervous,” Pugsley said trying to settle Eugene’s worries.
“I know…” Eugene replied softly cheeks turning a soft pink.
Their relationship was still pretty new to both of them. Nothing really has changed, they still act like they did before. Well other then their intentional touches, or rather Pugsley’s, he couldn’t help it though, physical touch was his love language, whether it was receiving it or giving it he didn’t care.
“Plus, if she doesn’t approve, then we get to be waterboarded together,” Pugsley said in a tone that could be serious or joking. “It would be so romantic,” Pugsley gushed giving Eugene one of his usual grins.
“Sure it would,” Eugene playfully rolled his eyes, “nothing says romance like psychological trauma.”
They both chuckled at that. Eugene’s nerves seemed to settle, yet Pugsley kept their hands together.
Not long after they were stood in front of Wednesdays dorm. Pugsley wasted no time knocking on it, at the same time Eugene had let go of his had, most likely out of embarrassment of Wednesday possibly seeing.
Then they waited for Wednesday to open the door. After about 10 seconds of staring at the unopened door Pugsley knocked again, louder this time.
“Wednesday?” He said voice loud enough for anyone that could be in there to hear. There was no response again, so Pugsley decided to try and open the door.
Surprisingly the dorm was unlocked, unsurprisingly there was no Wednesday in there. Pugsley stepped inside just a little and looked from side to side to confirm there was no one in the dorm. Just as the taller boy was going to look back and ask the shorter one what they should do a disembodied hand crawled out from a chest.
“Hey thing, do you know where Wednesday is?” Pugsley asked and received a bunch of intricate motions from the hand.
When thing was done Pugsley smiled and gave thing a ‘thank you’ before turning away and leaving the dorm. “Thing said she’s in the library gathering details for another case.” Pugsley stated to Eugene silently asking if they should find her at the library or give up. Eugene understood the silent question and nodded, making his way towards the library, they said they would tell her today and they were going to.
“What do you think Wednesdays new case is about?” Eugene questioned, not feeling like walking in silence again.
“I’m not sure, she doesn’t really tell me about them,” Pugsley said shrugging like he didn’t care.
“I don’t think she tells anyone about them,” Eugene stated.
They eventually made it to the library, going inside and asking the librarian if they’ve seen her. They left just as quickly as they went in, after being told she had just left for the garden.
“I feel like we’re going to be chasing her all day,” Eugene said activity on the way to the garden to find her.
“Well Wednesday does love a good chase,” Pugsley replied.
“With the rate we’re going I wouldn’t call this a ‘good’ chase.” Eugene countered sighing at the amount of circles they were going in. “More like… past-tense stalking,” he added a concentrated look on his face.
“That sounds like the least fun way to stalk someone,” Pugsley said with a face of disgust.
“It probably is,” Eugene deadpanned as they finally arrived at the garden. Yet again, Wednesday was no where to be found, and this time there was no one there to give them a clue as to where she could have gone this time.
Pugsley sighed before asking, “another day?”
“Man, I don’t know if my nerves can take another day!” Eugene complained slightly annoyed that they could find Wednesday.
They both walked defeatedly back to their dorm room. Neither of them said anything, to tired from the wild goose chase they had today.
Before they could get to their dorm, a figure emerged from basically thin air.
“Wednesday!” Eugene yelped, flinching so hard he was surprised he didn’t fall over.
“Eugene,” she said in her monotone voice. “I have heard you both were searching for me.”
“Uh- y-yeah we were,” Eugene stammered while her eyes threw daggers at him.
“I don’t have all day,” she stated urging Eugene to tell her what they wanted.
Before Eugene could say another word Pugsley interrupts him. “Me and Eugene are dating,” he blurts out.
Then there was silence, save for Eugene’s nervous chuckle. Wednesdays eyes dart from one boy to the next like she was trying to analyze them.
“Not only is this information useless, but it has also, already come to my attention.” She stated after an excruciating amount of silence.
“Wait, how did you know?” Pugsley questioned, confused on how she found out so fast.
“A sickeningly nauseating love letter found its way to me,” she said like that answered his question.
“Huh?” Pugsley tilted his head to show the confusion he was feeling. But Eugene was not feeling the same thing, because he remembered a letter he had spent way too long making. It couldn’t be the same one right?
Wednesday then reached into her pocket and took out a neatly folded piece of paper. Without another word she held it out to Pugsley to jog his memory.
Eugene felt heat creep up his cheeks, he could have snatched the paper away, maybe ripped it up and bury it along with him. His body refused to do any of those things though, so all he could do was helplessly watch as Pugsley read the same note he had made for the boy not that long ago.
Pugsley seemed to recognize it after skimming over a few lines. Unlike Eugene, his face seemed to be content and a soft smile appeared on his face.
He brought the letter to his chest and looked back at Wednesday. “So you accept us?” He questioned hopefully.
“Your relationship means nothing to me,” she deadpanned walking away from the two.
Eugene wore a confused look on his face, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose. Pugsley had a giddy grin on his face, his demeanor completely changed from their interaction with Wednesday.
“Uhm does that mean she does?” He asks turning towards Pugsley, lifting up his glasses with his finger.
“Are you serious? She so happy for us!” Pugsley smile was bright, Eugene practically melted at the sight.
“That’s good, it’s almost worth having her read that letter.” He sighed still embarrassed about it. “We should burn it.”
“I do love a good arson crime, but I think I’ll keep it,” Pugsley said folding the paper back up.
“Hey! That’s my letter, I get to decide what to do with it,” Eugene argued reaching for the piece of paper.
Pugsley back up immediately, not letting Eugene get the letter. “It’s addressed to me! So it’s MY letter,” he countered back bringing the letter behind him to protect it.
Eugene didn’t say anything to that, just tried to get the letter away from Pugsley with the taller boy dodging and slipping away from the shorter one.
Before Eugene could react Pugsley took off in the direction of their dorm. The bee boy chased after him “Pugsley! Give it back!” He shouted barely dodging a confused Ajax.
After a not very long run both boys made it to their dorm. Eugene was out of breath pulling out his inhaler and taking a few puffs as soon as he was inside the dorm. Pugsley had stopped in the middle of their dorm breathing slightly heavy but not as effected from the chase as Eugene.
Pugsley giggled at the sight of Eugene’s current state. He put the paper in his pants pocket and walked over to Eugene so he was in front of the boy.
“Can I pleaseeee keep it?” Pugsley pleaded voice whiny, then he pulled the face Eugene couldn’t say no to.
Eugene felt heat spread to his cheeks at the sight and groaned, “why do you want to keep it?” He asked grumpily but genuinely confused.
Pugsleys pleading face disappeared turning into a fond smile. “You’re the first person that put this much effort into apologizing to me.” He said truthfully looking away shyly. “I’d like to keep it,” he finished.
Eugene sighed cheeks red, “of course you would say something like that.” There was a smile tugging at his lips.
Pugsley took Eugene’s response as a sign that he was giving up trying to destroy the letter. He smiled and wrapped his arms around the shorter boy, “thank you genie” he said planting a kiss on the boys forehead. “And you should be happy I’m the one that’s keeping it.”
Eugene returned the hug a content smile on his face. “Why should I be happy about that?”
”Because if Wednesday kept it, she would have used it as blackmail,” he chuckled.
Eugene groaned at just the thought of that happening.
“Also” Pugsley started elongating the last part, “if you still want to commit arson I’ll gladly help” he said a sinister grin on his face.
Eugene broke the embrace, “I think I’d rather be waterboarded by Wednesday.” He deadpanned giving Pugsley his typical judging face that the taller boy had come to adore.
“I can arrange that,” Pugsley responded, laughing after seeing Eugene’s face turn more annoyed. The shorter boy walked away to check on some of the insects in their dorm.
Pugsley made his way over to his bed near the nightstand. He took the letter out and placed it temporarily in the drawer, already having plans of framing it.
The letter may have been something Eugene did in desperation, but to Pugsley it was way more than just an apology letter. It was the start of their actual friendship, without the constant doubt of if Eugene really wanted to hang out with him.
No pressure from Wednesday.
No weight of guilt.
Just them, and only them.
Pugsley wanted to be buried with that letter.