-It is 5am. This idea came into my head last night, and by midnight I'd accepted I wasn't going to be able to sleep until I'd written the first chapter. This is very impulsive and definitely full of typos, apologises in advance.
-For the sake of the story, it's January, and their break lasted six-ish weeks and went over Xmas. I do not claim to have any kind of knowledge of how American school semesters work, so if this is a totally inaccurate portrayal of them, suspend your disbelief.
-I'm ignoring the stalker plotline only because it has nothing to do with the plot I plan to create for this story. So, context, pretend that scene never happened.
Otherwise, enjoy, and please let me know if you'd like this spur-of-the-moment story to go anywhere.
''Wednesday!''
Wednesday had barely managed to swing a singular foot into her dorm room before she was startled by the high-pitched squeal. She glanced up just in time to see Enid bounding across the floor, arms open and eyes wild. Wednesday backed up reflexively, stumbling awkwardly over her holdall and disturbing a sleeping Thing, who made his disgruntlement well known with a forceful poke to her back.
Enid dug her heels in and stopped just inches short of Wednesday, dropping her arms to her side. She met Wednesday's gaze and bit her lip self-consciously, giving Wednesday her very best wolf-cub eyes.
''You have two seconds.'' Wednesday relented, dropping the holdall on the floor. ''I'm counting.''
Enid shrieked in delight and threw her arms around Wednesday, damn near squeezing the life out of her. Wednesday clumsily patted her roommate on the back, noticing for the first time over Enid's shoulder the beanie-clad boy who did not live in this dorm.
''Ugh, I missed you, bestie!'' Enid hummed, rocking Wednesday slightly from side to side. ''We have so much to catch up on!''
''That's more than two seconds,'' Wednesday announced, pushing Enid away from her. She took several forceful steps into the room, staring Ajax down as Thing freed himself from her bag, and enthusiastically bounded into Enid's palm. No prizes for guessing who his favourite roomie is. ''This is not your room''
''Hi Wednesday, good to see you too, how was your Christmas?'' Ajax replied in an infuriatingly condescending tone, that Wednesday assumed was meant to be sarcasm.
''Why are you in my room?''
''Ajax was just helping me move in,'' Enid said, setting Thing down on her bed.
''Are you incapable of moving yourself- '' Wednesday stopped herself mid-sentence as her gaze landed on Enid's side of the room, and the abundance of hot pink suitcases that created a toppling tower at the foot of her bed. ''Where exactly do you plan on keeping all of that?''
''On my side, don't worry. Tape or no tape, I know the rules.'' Enid promised, and Wednesday felt the corner of her mouth twitch ever so slightly. It would have been invisible to the naked eye, but she knew Enid caught that tiny hint of a smile.
''Why him?'' Wednesday snapped her head back to Ajax. ''You could have just waited for me and Thing.''
Enid awkwardly cleared her throat.
''Ah, Wednesday…'' Enid said. She moved in large strides over to Ajax and threaded her fingers through his, holding up their attached hands with a pointed look on her face.
''Oh.'' Wednesday swallowed hard. ''You two are… official.''
''As of this morning,'' Ajax said, smiling at Enid. ''You know we kept in touch over the break and-''
''I didn't ask for the details. I'm sure I'll hear it all from Enid anyway.'' Wednesday said, swinging her back up onto her bed. ''Now, please leave. I'd like to be alone with Enid.''
''We need our bestie time,'' Enid explained.
''If you call it that again, it'll be suicide-by-jumping-off-the-balcony time.''
''Ugh, but that means I have to go back and watch Xavier obsessively arrange all his art shit in his desk drawers,'' Ajax whined, stamping his foot slightly.
Wednesday felt her stomach tighten. She straightened up, spinning on her heels, and from the corner of her eyes, she saw Thing perk up on the edges of his fingers.
''You're rooming with Xavier this year?''
''Yeah. We actually put each other down as preferences last year, but not many other people had the patience to deal with Rowan's self-important bullshit, so Xavier copped him again.''
''So, Xavier's in his room alone right now?''
''I mean, I don't keep 24/7 tabs on him, but yeah, probably.''
''Stay here.'' Wednesday rolled her shoulders back and began a steady march out of the room. ''I need to talk to Xavier.''
She heard the unmistakable pitter on the wooden floors behind her and froze, looking back over her shoulder.
''You too, Thing. I refuse to have this conversation in the presence of one of the two biggest gossips I know. Stay here and help Enid rearrange her nail polish collection.''
With that Wednesday strode into the hallway, choosing to ignore the hushed voice of Ajax telling Enid that if it was anyone other than Wednesday, he'd put good money on her going to Xavier's room to bang.
Just as Ajax had predicted, Xavier was in fact carefully sorting coloured pencils and sticks of charcoal into a series of desk drawers, with a level of precision and focus that Wednesday had to admit she admired. His dorm door was wide open, and she was able to move inside the room and hover for several moments without being noticed.
''Jesus shit!'' Xavier cursed, looking up and dropping a black crayon in surprise. The crayon clambered to the floor and rolled, leaving flaking dark crumbs in its wake. ''You scared the shit out of me.''
''I can see that,'' Wednesday replied flatly. ''I assure you, that was not my intention.''
''You know, to avoid that, most people knock.''
''The door was open.''
''You can still knock on an open door.''
''That's entirely illogical. The very purpose of a door is to separate one room from another. Knocking is a social courtesy meant to garner permission to remove that barrier. If one has elected to leave their door open, thus not enforcing the barrier in the first place-''
''Hi Wednesday, welcome to my dorm.'' Xavier cut off her rambling, giving her a lopsided smile. ''What can I help you with?''
Wednesday hesitated for a moment, then closed the door herself. She felt Xavier watching her curiously, and it only heightened the anxiety already flooding her system. She needed this conversation over and done with so she could stop feeling so ridiculous.
''I wanted to apologise,'' Wednesday said, taking a deep breath in as she spoke.
Xavier's lips tightened, though whether it was with surprise or disapproval, Wednesday couldn't tell.
''Apologise?'' He repeated, almost like he didn't understand the word.
''I considered doing it while we were conversing during the break, but it didn't feel like the appropriate thing to put into a text message.''
Xavier had gotten his text from Wednesday after all – although, to be fair, he'd had to text her first. He'd reached out to her about a week after the school had broken up, and they'd spent the remainder of the break engaging in one of Wednesday's least favourite pastimes – small talk. He'd text her in the morning asking about her plans for the day, and in the evening to ask how the day had gone. Wednesday found it tedious and futile, but for some reason that she couldn't quite grasp, she kept texting back.
''Apologise for what?'' Xavier said, bending down to collect the salvageable pieces of crayon from his floor.
''For framing you. For accusing you in the first place. Everything you said about me in your jail cell was true. Everything you said in the Nightshades library was true as well. About how I don't know who my real friends are. I'm not really good at the friend thing.''
''Wednesday, we don't need to rehash this. It's water under the bridge.''
Wednesday studied him, as though if she stared him down hard enough, she'd be able to see into his brain. Wednesday didn't just hold on to grudges – she cherished them, nurtured them, and kept them alive with consistent seething and rage. How anyone could be so willing to forgive and forget being framed for a string of violent murders puzzled her. And she didn't like puzzles she couldn't solve.
''Wednesday, you saved my life,'' Xavier said, as though he could hear her thoughts. The very idea terrified her. ''We're good.''
''You saved mine.'' Wednesday reminded him. ''Technically, I was just returning the favour, which means you still have a strike against me.''
''I didn't have to take an arrow through my shoulder blade to save you. Besides, friendship isn't about keeping a running tally, Wednesday. It hurt that you didn't trust me and that you didn't believe me, but you were only trying to do what you thought was right. You've got a better heart than you give yourself credit for. So, we're good. Seriously.''
Wednesday nervously flicked her finger against her thigh, thinking, processing.
''So, we're friends?'' She said finally.
''As long as you can stand being associated with an elitist snob.'' Xavier gave her a knowing smirk.
''You make me nervous.'' Wednesday blurted out.
''What? Why?'' Xavier cocked his head.
''I thought it was because you couldn't be trusted. But now I know that you can, and I still feel nervous around you. But not in a bad way. I kind of want to throw up all of my shoes when I see you, but I like that feeling.''
Xavier stared at her for a long time, opening and closing his mouth.
''I have no idea how to respond to that.''
''I assume it's because my feelings for you are not platonic.'' Wednesday continued. ''However, I understand that we are friends, and I'll respect those boundaries.''
Xavier's jaw unlatched, and for a moment, it looked as though he'd forgotten how to breathe in.
''Are you… you're saying that, are you saying that you like me?'' He stammered.
''I have to go now.'' Wednesday declared, strutting back into the hall.
''No, no no no no no, Wednesday!'' Xavier called out. He jogged to chase her, but by the time he made it to his door she was halfway back to her room, and he knew better than to follow her.
''Omg, omg, I wanna see pictures!'' Enid squealed, leaning so far over the quad table she may as well have climbed on top of it. ''Is he cute? How cute?''
''Very cute.'' Bianca sing-songed, clearly lapping up the attention. ''I'm sure I have a picture. You know what, let me just pull up his Instagram.''
Wednesday ran her hands over the smooth concrete of the tabletop, wondering how hard she'd need to smack her head against it before she died.
She'd been stuck in this ridiculous exchange of social gossip for fifteen minutes now. She was seated at the table next to Bianca, across from Enid and Yoko, and surrounded by three other sirens whose names she didn't know and didn't care about. Enid and her sickening co-dependency wouldn't let Wednesday more than five feet out of her sight, which meant that as long as Enid insisted on engaging in this ritual, Wednesday couldn't leave either.
''So this is your new boyfriend?'' Yoko questioned, leaning on Enid's shoulder to look at Bianca's phone.
''I don't know if that's what we're calling it just yet,'' Bianca said. ''But girls, when I tell you, he is the best I've ever had. I didn't even know some of the things he did were possible.''
''You're talking about sexual intercourse?'' Wednesday looked up from the table, suddenly slightly more interested in the conversation.
''I am. And well overdue too.'' Bianca said coyly. ''It's been way too long since I got laid, I tell you what.''
Wednesday felt a rush of nausea overcome her. The feeling of wanting to throw up her breakfast had returned with a vengeance, but this time, it was highly unpleasant. She stood and paraded away from the table without announcing her departure, and by the time Enid court her, she was on the other side of the courtyard.
''Hey, hey!'' Enid wailed, grabbing Wednesday's arm. ''You can't abandon me! We said we were gonna spend the whole day together.''
''No, you said that.'' Wednesday hissed. ''I just didn't contest it because you've worn my resistance down to an embarrassingly low level and I'm reluctant to hurt your feelings. I'm going to the library. You're welcome to come, but I refuse to listen to that insufferable dribble for a moment longer.''
Enid's face softened.
''Is this because Bianca was talking about sex?'' She said in a hushed tone. ''Look, it's not a big deal, I'm still a virgin too.''
''Virginity is a social construct designed specifically to manipulate and shame women and upheld by misogyny and the patriarchy. When I have sex for the first time is of no concern to me, I don't feel the need to judge myself against pathetic social milestones.''
''Okay, so what are you freaking out about?''
Wednesday swallowed hard, trying to stop her body from vibrating. She couldn't tell Enid what exactly had upset her, because it was contrite and pitiful, and she refused to admit such weakness to anybody.
''I'm not freaking out about anything.'' She lied. ''The conversation is meaningless and mind-numbing, and I won't endure it for another second. I'm going to the library. Are you coming or not?''
Wednesday could tell from the look on Enid's face that she didn't believe her, but, wisely, she didn't push it. She looped her arm through Wednesday and allowed herself to be pulled back inside. As they re-entered the main building, they almost collided head-on with Xavier.
''Hey- '' His eyes lit up when he realised who was blocking his bath.
''Move.'' Wednesday snapped, untethering herself from Enid so that she could get away fast her.
''Uh….'' Xavier stammered. Wednesday heard Enid apologise on her behalf and then sprint to catch up with her again, but she didn't look back.
By the time Wednesday arrived at her last class of the day, Potion Making III, she was emotionally spent. The queasiness in her stomach refused to subside, and her mind was going a million miles an hour. As the students filed into the room with a grating amount of enthusiasm and bustled to take their seats, Wednesday was stuck with the gut-wrenching realisation that only a handful of seats remained.
Including one next to Xavier.
He'd clearly been saving the spot for her, and he waved her over while removing his backpack from the empty chair. Wednesday swallowed the bile in her throat and walked straight past him, setting her sights on Enid and Ajax, making lovesick eyes at one another and laughing over something that Wednesday was sure wasn't actually that funny.
''Ajax, move.'' She demanded, dumping her bag on the table in front of him. ''Enid is my best friend, and if I've learned anything from those awful rom-coms and teen movies she forces me to suffer through, it's that the best friend always outranks the boyfriend. So, you have to move.''
Ajax glanced between the two girls, but Wednesday could already tell she'd won. She wouldn't say that she was manipulating Enid exactly, but she did know that openly admitting Enid was her best friend, a label she used very sparingly, pulled strings for her.
''She's not wrong.'' Enid shrugged apologetically, already gathering up Ajax's things for him. ''Besties do have priority; I don't make the rules. Go sit with Xavier, I'll see you after class.''
Ajax shuffled out of his chair, and Wednesday dropped herself into it. For the duration of the class, she kept her head down, pretending not to see Xavier in her peripheral vision looking right at her.
''Wednesday, what the hell is going on?''
Xavier had her cornered, and she hated it. He stood between her and the stairwell leading up to her dorm. There was a wall directly behind her, and a dead end to the right of her. If she tried to go left, he'd just block her again. She felt her skin prickle, her fight-or-flight instincts bubbling to life.
''What's your problem?'' She tried to keep her voice steady. ''That I didn't sit with you in class?''
''What's my problem?'' Xavier blinked harshly. ''You forced Ajax to move instead of sitting with me, and you blew me off in the quad early, all of this just hours after you burst into my room and told me you had feelings for me. You can't just drop bombshells like that on people and then treat them like they murdered your puppy.''
''I would never own a puppy. They're far too high maintenance and require more coddling than Thing.''
Xavier stared at her blankly.
''That's not… whatever.''
He turned to leave, and Wednesday felt her chest tighten.
''Wait!'' She said before she could think better of it. ''I'm sorry.''
''Yeah, you already said that.''
''No, not about… I mean, yeah, about the monster thing, but I mean I'm sorry for the way I'm acting. The truth is, I'm upset about something, and I'm embarrassed that I'm upset about it because it's pathetic.''
''What does that have to do with me?''
Wednesday looked up through her lashes and felt her face flush. A look of realisation crossed his face.
''You're embarrassed about your crush on me?''
''It's not a crush.'' Wednesday glared. ''I mean… don't call it that, we're not five. And no, I'm not embarrassed by my attraction to you. I just… I don't want to talk about it, because it's stupid.''
''Look, I know feelings aren't really your strong suit,'' Xavier said, taking a tentative step towards her. ''The thing about them, is they're not always rational. Sometimes we can be upset by things that seem trivial. That doesn't mean we're not upset by them, or that you have to be embarrassed about it.''
''You're not my therapist. The last time I checked, she was mauled to death.''
''No, I'm not.'' Xavier gave a half-laugh. ''But I am your friend. Or… whatever. And if something's bothering you, I think you should tell me about it. Especially if it concerns me.''
Wednesday forced herself to peel her eyes from the ground. The second she met Xavier's gaze, she knew that had been a mistake. All of her resolve melted away, and she realised she wanted the comfort this boy was offering. Which pretty much made her want to set herself on fire.
''Fine.'' She said, swallowing down her stomach acid, along with her pride. ''But not here. Can we talk somewhere more private?''
Again, this was one of those stories that popped into my head out of nowhere, but somehow I already have like six chapters mentally mapped out? So please let me know if you're at all interested in seeing more, I'll continue if there's enough interest.