So, I try to keep all my chapters between 2000 and 4000 words, but this one went a bit over (closer to 4,500). I just didn't want to break it up because it all really needed to be one chapter, so hopefully you guys don't mind a bit of a longer one.
Chapter Seven
The following Friday afternoon, Wednesday was draped over the crumbling plaid couch in the art shed, one of her new books open in front of her and her feet in Xavier's lap. He had an easel propped up in front of him and was painting with one hand and stroking her legs with the other. Now and then, when he reached over to swap brushes or pick up more paint, he raised her shins to his lips and gave them a soft kiss.
Wednesday turned the page in her book – Final Girls, by Riley Sager – and arrived at the plot twist. She audibly gasped, and Xavier's brush froze against his canvas.
''That's not who I suspected,'' Wednesday said aloud. She glanced up at him, peering over the pink-stained pages of the book, taking care to keep her fingers on the plain black of the cover. ''I picked the wrong guy as the killer.''
''Yeah, you kind of have a habit of that,'' Xavier smirked.
Wednesday kicked him in the side.
''So…'' Xavier started, when he'd finished laughing. He set his brush down carefully and twisted to face Wednesday, pulling her legs a little closer to him. ''It's Ajax's brother's birthday this weekend.''
''And?''
''And he's going home for the weekend. He leaves tonight. So, I'll have the room to myself if… you know, if you wanted to come over and… play board games.''
He gave her a knowing smile, which Wednesday felt herself returning, albeit faintly.
''I'll see if I'm available.'' She said, returning to her book. ''Now shush, I need to see how this plays out.''
''Hopefully not with the innocent guy going to jail.''
Wednesday kicked him in the side again.
Wednesday waited until Enid and Thing had left for their Friday night manicure session in Yoko's room – an inane ritual Enid had tried and failed to involve her in many times – before she ventured out of her dorm and over to the boys' house.
She knocked on Xavier's door, and a moment later it swung open. Xavier beamed when he saw her, in a way that made those hazel eyes shine from behind the loose blonde bangs.
''Hey.'' He said, running a hand through his hair.
''I'm not interrupting anything this time?'' Wednesday said smartly, cocking an eyebrow.
''See what happens when you give people warning you're coming over?''
''Yes, you get disappointed,'' Wednesday smirked.
Xavier chuckled and side-stepped, letting Wednesday into his room. When he'd shut the door behind her, he came to meet her in the centre of the room, anxiously stuffing his hands in the pockets of his grey sweatpants.
''You didn't bring a board game.'' He said, swallowing slightly.
''My apologies. I didn't realise you wanted this charade that I'm here to play board games to extend as far as me actually bringing a game.''
Xavier laughed again, looking at the ground. He scuffed his feet against the floor, and Wednesday took a deep breath in. They were in that all too familiar stand-off, silently daring each other to take the plunge first.
''So then, what do you want to do?'' Xavier asked, nervously rubbing his thumb across his bottom lip.
''I don't know.'' Wednesday shrugged, which was both true and not very true. ''What do you want to do?''
Xavier bit the edge of his thumb, staring Wednesday down. His gaze was making her knees feel unsteady, but she refused to be the one to break it.
''Honestly?'' Xavier asked. It was a question, and Wednesday answered it with a single, curt nod. ''I want to make you feel good.''
Wednesday's eyebrows wrinkled, somewhat confused.
''Like, how you made me feel good last week.'' He clarified, and Wednesday felt her cheeks flush. ''I haven't gotten to return the favour yet.''
Wednesday's pulse picked up, and she rubbed an open palm along her neck. Xavier watched her for a moment, and she avoided his stare, choosing instead to stare at an invisible spot on the floor.
''I mean, obviously, we don't have to,'' Xavier said, taking a tentative step towards her. ''But you're safe with me.''
Wednesday lifted her chin, finally looking up at him, and exhaled a shaky breath.
''Okay.''
''Okay?'' Xavier echoed, with what looked like pleasant surprise.
''Okay,'' Wednesday said again, with more certainty. ''I trust you, so, okay.''
''All right.'' Xavier broke into a smile. He clasped his hands together, a look of determination in his eye. ''Um, did you- ''
''Did I what?'' Wednesday cut him off, though she didn't mean to.
''Do you want some help… like, undressing?'' Xavier grabbed a handful of hair at the back of his head and tugged at it anxiously. ''Or would you rather do it yourself?''
Wednesday stared at him, suddenly feeling her tongue go numb. Something in her chest clenched and she felt a strange surge of heat starting in the very pit of her core.
''I'm only asking because- '' Xavier mistook her silence for confusion, or perhaps annoyance.
''No, I know why you're asking.'' Wednesday stopped him. ''I just… thank you.''
''What?'' Xavier's brows knitted.
''I don't… I appreciate that you asked that.''
His words had sparked a realisation, that spread through her like wildfire. He was right, maybe more so than he even realised – she was safe with him, and at that moment, she wasn't sure she'd ever felt quite so safe with anyone in her life.
''I'd like to undress myself, please.'' She said, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks again.
''Sure.'' Xavier nodded eagerly, dissolving any concern she had that he'd be offended. ''Did you want me to… I can- ''
''Could you, not look? Just while I'm undressing.''
''Yeah, of course, I'll just…''
Somewhat awkwardly, Xavier turned around to stare at the opposite wall.
Wednesday removed her blazer and folded it neatly on the floor, acutely aware that she was stalling. She took a moment to compose herself, rolling her shoulders back and shaking her hands out before she began unbuttoning her blouse.
She fumbled with her bra clip, and it took her unsteady hands three tries before she was able to get it off. She kicked off her shoes, rolled off her socks and shimmied out of her school skirt, leaving her in nothing but her sensible black underwear. With one final breath in, she dragged them down her legs, leaving her completely bare.
''Okay.'' She said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. ''You can look.''
Xavier turned around at a speed that almost made Wednesday want to laugh. She watched as his eyes went wide and doughy, and she fought every fibre in her body that desperately wanted to throw her arms around herself and cover-up, settling instead for clenching and unclenching her fists at her side.
''Holy shit,'' Xavier muttered, pressing a hand to his forehead. He exhaled heavily and then seemed to forget altogether that he needed to breathe in again. ''You're… oh my god.''
''Naked?'' Wednesday suggested. Xavier laughed but didn't move his dilated pupils one inch away from her body.
''I was gonna say gorgeous, but yeah, that too.''
''Okay, what now?''
Xavier smiled, and when he extended a hand to Wednesday, she couldn't help but notice the slight tremble at the end of his fingers. It reminded her that he was just as nervous as she was, which strangely calmed her significantly.
She let him lead her to his bed, where she laid down on her back, braids sprawled out on his pillow. Xavier paused at the foot of the bed to pull his shirt over his head and discard it before he joined Wednesday, hovering just over the top of her.
His lips came down on hers, and their bodies slowly melted together. Xavier kept himself half-propped on his elbows, careful not to crush Wednesday under his weight, but allowing her to feel just enough of it to get the full sensation of his body on her.
She parted her lips, letting him in a little more. They stayed like that for a few more minutes, kissing passionately but tenderly. Wednesday's hands had found their way into his hair, and Xavier kept one hand by the pillow, while the other was very modestly running the length of her side.
''Wednesday…'' Xavier pulled away just enough to whisper her name, and then immediately went back in to start kissing along her jawline. He came up again, though barely, and pressed his nose to hers. ''Can I…''
He lifted himself off her, enough for her to actually feel the loss, which forced her to pay attention. His eyes had dropped below her face and were now fixated on her chest. When he looked back up at her, he gave her a sheepish, lopsided smile.
''This time I am staring at your tits.''
Wednesday bit back a laugh, pursing her lips together in her signature almost smile.
''Can I…'' He started again. He glanced between her eyes and her breasts and timidly lifted his hand from her side. Wednesday got the hint and gave him something of a nod, paired with a hum of agreement.
Xavier's fingers grace the outskirts of her breasts. He took his time, letting his fingers trace the curve where they met her ribcage, and Wednesday let her eyes close as her body relaxed against the pillow. His feather-light touch was nice, and soothing in a way. Not necessarily erotic, but pleasant. Then his hands found her nipples, and the sensation changed entirely.
Wednesday's stomach clamped and she gasped sharply. Xavier paused, studying her face as if trying to accurately gaze her reaction. He squeezed her nipples between the tips of his fingers experimentally, and her insides bubbled.
''How does that feel?'' Xavier asked, seeming to have given up on guessing from her face.
''Strange,'' Wednesday replied honestly. ''I'm not sure.''
''That's okay, I can work with strange.''
Xavier pressed his lips to hers again and kissed her affectionately. For a while his hands danced across her stomach, working up to what they both knew was coming next.
''Is it okay if…'' Xavier whispered, coming up for air. He dared to glance down between them. ''Can I… go lower?''
Wednesday swallowed hard and nodded.
''Tell me if you want to stop, okay?''
''Okay.''
Xavier slid a single hand down between their bodies, keeping his eyes on hers the entire time. When his fingers reached in between her legs, they gasped simultaneously, and Xavier's face scrunched up.
''Holy fuck.'' He murmured under his breath. He sighed heavily, slowly opening his eyes again. ''Oh, shit.''
''What?'' Wednesday said. It was honestly a shock that she could even hear Xavier over the sound of her heartbeat.
''You're um…'' Xavier's face was glowing, and Wednesday wondered if it was adrenaline or embarrassment. ''You're really wet. I wasn't expecting you to be that wet already.''
If Wednesday's face hadn't been on fire before, it was then. She turned her head to the side, unable to look Xavier in the eye, and bought a hand up to shield herself.
''Oh no, no, fuck.'' Xavier shook his head hard, causing his fringe to fall into his eyes. Using his free hand, he pried Wednesday's away from her face and cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. ''No, no, that's not… Wednesday, it's really fucking hot. Please don't be embarrassed. It's a good thing, I promise.''
''Oh.''
Xavier readjusted, propping himself up further so that he could better see what he was doing. With a single finger, he pressed up against the most sensitive part of her. She sighed, throwing her head back against the pillow, and grabbing onto a fistful of blonde hair to keep herself centred. He traced slow, gentle circles on her, with a touch that felt too loving and sweet to be creating the kind of shockwaves it was sending through her body.
''Your legs are trembling.'' Xavier sounded like he may have been enjoying this even more than she was. ''Does that feel good?''
Words had completely and utterly abandoned Wednesday. With a tongue that was as good as useless, all she could do was nod.
''Wednesday, can I finger you?''
''Mhm hmm.''
''Yeah?"'
''Yes.'' She managed to spit the word out, getting the sense that Xavier wasn't going to continue without verbal consent. And she needed him to continue.
Xavier leaned in and placed a delicate kiss on Wednesday's neck, and at the same time, pushed his middle finger inside of her. He trailed kisses down her neckline as he slowly began to move, dragging his finger along her walls. When he bent his knuckle and made something that felt like a ''come here'' motion, Wednesday cried out.
As it turned out, Xavier's gift for reading Wednesday wasn't exclusive to her thoughts and facial expressions. She began to twitch, making something that sounded like a whine, and he responded before she even knew what she was asking for. He sped his ministrations up, using his free hand to hold her cheek, letting his lips find hers once more.
Lost in sensation, Wednesday fumbled blindly, feeling an unexplainable urge to touch him. Only vaguely aware of what she was doing, she ran an open palm along the inside of his thigh, bunching the soft fabric of his sweatpants up in her fist. When Xavier flicked his wrist and hit something deep inside her, she let out a gasp and dropped the material. When she tried to grab again, instead of finding his thigh, her hand instead brushed up against his erection. The action didn't fully process in her brain until she heard Xavier grunt, and in a movement that seemed completely involuntary, jerked his hips against her hand.
Wednesday retracted her hand, and almost immediately, Xavier caught it and put it back. Leaning down to her ear, he whispered ''leave your hand there, sweetheart. It feels good.''
Wednesday let out a guttural moan, as Xavier's finger twisted within her. Wednesday's core tightened, and she felt herself building, teetering towards something unfamiliar, but somehow instantly recognisable.
''Xavier.'' She panted, using the hand that wasn't still fondling him to grab onto his wrist. ''I think I'm going to come.''
Xavier kissed her, hard, flicking his finger against her walls. He moved his other hand down and ran his fingers over that very special spot, keeping his touch gentle but firm. The combination was the best kind of lethal, and Wednesday fell apart.
She quivered and cried out, her body vibrating against Xavier. He held her as she came down, her breath coming in hot and heavy gasps against his forehead. When he finally removed his fingers from her, she was wrecked with aftershock, nothing but a quaking mess of jelly limbs and a foggy brain.
As the effects of her first orgasm finally began to wear off, she became acutely aware of the fact that she was completely naked, and Xavier was almost fully dressed. She rolled partially onto her side – a feat made difficult by the fact that she hadn't yet regained total control of her body – and shielded her breasts from view with her arms.
''Oh.'' Xavier sat up quickly and pushed the hair that was matted to his forehead back and off his face. ''Do you, uh… do you want some privacy while you get dressed?''
Wednesday couldn't respond right away. It was partially because her tongue was yet to become functional again, and partially because, even if she could form words, she wouldn't be able to find the right ones.
She couldn't express the strange shift that had occurred, where somewhere along the line, the depth at which Xavier knew her had ceased to be unnerving. Instead, it was actually comforting. He understood her, in a way she wasn't sure anyone had ever really understood her. More than understood her, he cared about her. No one else had ever shown so much respect and consideration for her needs, or for the way her mind worked. And she wanted to tell him, she did, because she had a feeling he didn't even know what he was doing, or why it mattered so much.
But she couldn't and so instead, she just said ''can I wear your shirt again?''
Xavier broke into a cheesy grin, and Wednesday let him have it. He pulled himself off the bed, but when he stepped over his previously discarded shirt on the floor, Wednesday realised he was going to get her a clean one. She grabbed his wrist, stopping him.
''The one from the floor.'' She clarified, nodding towards it. ''That you were wearing.''
Xavier picked the shirt off the ground, looking slightly confused.
''When you gave me your shirt in the art shed, it smelled like you. Because you'd just been wearing it. I want one that smells like you again.''
The look of pure happiness on Xavier's face was heart-melting, whether Wednesday would ever admit so out loud or not (she wouldn't). Xavier handed her the shirt and let her shimmy into it, before climbing back into bed, helping her slip under the covers with him.
In a move that surprised them both, Wednesday cuddled up to Xavier first. She hooked one of her legs over his waist, wanting to pull him in closer, and she heard him groan under his breath when she rocked up against his erection.
''Did you… uh….'' Wednesday lifted the cover a little and gave a pointed glance down between them. ''Do you want me to take care of that?''
''Yes please,'' Xavier whispered, letting his eyes flutter closed.
Wednesday was a lot more confident this time around. She propped herself up and spat on her hand, as Xavier wiggled his sweatpants down just enough to free himself. Wednesday reached between them and wrapped her fist around him, relishing in the way he moaned in response and rolled his eyes back towards his head.
Wednesday picked up the pace a little, and in a sudden surge of brazenness, ran her thumb up and over the tip. The reaction was extremely satisfying, as Xavier whined, and pumped himself further into her hand.
''Wednesday.'' He hissed, eyes screwed shut. He gestured vaguely without looking, over her head towards the bedside table. ''Can you…. uh, tissues?''
Wednesday grabbed a handful of tissues from the box on the table and passed them to Xavier. A few seconds later, Xavier cried out, jerking against her, and finished into the wad of tissues. He bunched them up and tossed them on the floor as a problem to deal with later, and Wednesday refrained from the remark she would normally make about how unsanitary that was.
Xavier readjusted his sweatpants and pulled Wednesday into him. For a moment they stayed like that, listening contently to the sound of each other's laboured breathing, as they both found their composure.
''You called me sweetheart.'' Wednesday broke their quiet.
''What?''
''When you were touching me. You said, 'leave your hand there sweetheart'.''
Wednesday felt him tense against her. She glanced up through her lashes, watching the panic cross his face.
''I'm sorry, I just- ''
''I liked it.''
Xavier's eyebrows shot up.
''Wait, seriously?''
''You are never, ever to call me that in public. Ever.''
''Got it,'' Xavier said, grinning. ''Not in public.''
Xavier ran a finger down one of her braids and followed the line all the way to her left shoulder blade. Wednesday flinched when he grazed over the scar, feeling the harsh line and taught skin.
''Does it hurt?'' He asked, studying it curiously.
''No. It did, for a while, but it doesn't anymore.''
''Were you scared?''
Wednesday shuffled, rolling onto her back. She felt Xavier start to pull away, and she caught his hand in hers to keep him close.
''No.'' She said honestly, watching as the fan on the ceiling spun in slow, methodical circles. ''I don't know why. The adrenaline, maybe. Or maybe I was just all out of fear for that night.''
''You were scared earlier in the night?''
''I was.'' It was a brutal admission, but somehow, one Wednesday felt okay making in this space, where it was just her and Xavier. ''After Laurel attacked me. There was a moment there when I really thought I was going to die. She'd left me on the floor in the crypt, and not a single person knew where I was. When I looked down, all I could see was blood. There was so much of it that my blazer didn't even look white anymore. And I couldn't get to my feet. I was so tired, it felt like my eyelids weighed a hundred pounds, and I knew I was bleeding out. I really thought it was over.''
When Wednesday looked back up, Xavier's eyes had glossed over, shiny with unshed tears.
''I'm sorry.'' He whispered, and when he blinked, a single tear trailed down his cheeks. Wednesday used the pad of her thumb to wipe it away. ''I'm sorry you were so scared.''
''It doesn't matter now, it's over,'' Wednesday said, though honestly, she didn't know how true that was.
Xavier leant forward to kiss her, and she kissed him back, hoping he understood the things she wanted to tell him but couldn't. When he pulled away, he traced the arc of her lips with his finger.
''What happened that night?'' He asked, pressing his head back into the pillow. ''Before I showed up? What did they actually do to you?''
Wednesday reached for one of her pigtails and pulled it, hard. She dropped her gaze and fisted the duvet, giving her head a subtle shake.
''I don't want to talk about it.''
''Okay.'' Xavier said. He reached for the hand that still had a death grip on her braid, and carefully took her fingers away from it.
They fell back into content quiet, listening to the white noise of the dorm room.
''I'm so glad you're here,'' Xavier said finally, kissing the part of Wednesday's scalp that sat right under his chin.
''Me too.'' She said, and they both knew they weren't just talking about her survival.
Wednesday blinked in the darkness, disorientated by her surroundings. She frowned, wondering why the door in her dorm room had changed position and where Enid was, before she became aware of the boy pressed up against her and remembered all at once that she was in Xavier's room. Wednesday's eyes landed on the bedside clock, flashing in the dark.
3 am.
Wednesday's heart leapt into her throat. She threw the cover off her and slammed her feet against the ground, unintentionally smacking Xavier in the face as she did.
Xavier groaned and stirred in his sleep. Wednesday tugged his shirt over her head and began scrambling to find her own clothes. Xavier sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking as confused as Wednesday had felt a moment earlier.
''What's going on?''
''We fell asleep.'' Wednesday huffed, jumping into her underwear. ''It's 3 am. Enid's gonna be losing her mind.''
Xavier fumbled for his phone, and when the blue light lit up his face, Wednesday saw his eyes go wide.
''Oh, shit.'' He muttered.
''What?''
''I have like fifty missed calls from Enid.'' He rubbed his forehead anxiously. ''And a ton of texts. She's asking if I know where you are.''
''Shit.'' Wednesday cursed, tugging her blouse on over her bra. She zipped up her skirt and grabbed her blazer and her shoes, heading for the door. ''All right, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow.''
Wednesday ran barefoot out of the dorm house and across the quad, completely unfazed by whether the house father saw her. By the time she'd made it back to her own dorm, she was thoroughly out of breath.
The light was on in her room, which was not a good sign. She threw the door open to find Enid pacing anxiously back and forth, her phone clutched in both hands. Her head shot up when she heard the door, and Wednesday realised she was close to tears.
''It is 3 am!'' Enid screamed, which Wednesday was well and truly prepared for. She calmly shut the door behind her and prepped herself for the lecture she knew was coming. ''What demon monster house were you out breaking into this time? Thing and I have been beside ourselves! We were thirty minutes away from calling Marigold!''
Marigold was Ophelia Hall's new dorm mother, a student teacher, and a right bitch. Wednesday glanced past Enid to Thing standing defensively on her bedside table, impatiently tapping his fingers, also waiting for an explanation.
''I'm sorry,'' Wednesday said, and genuinely, she was. There were very few people whose feelings she genuinely cared about, but Enid was one of them, and she hated upsetting her. ''I'm fine, I wasn't out doing anything crazy. I was just with Xavier.''
''What?'' Enid cried. ''What could you have possibly been doing with Xavier that took half the goddam night?''
The corner of Wednesday's mouth twisted up.
''Playing board games.''
So my Christmas holidays are coming to an end and I start a new job on Monday. I'll do my absolute best to keep with the frequent updates, mostly because writing this story is a good time out from the rest of life as a twenty-something, and as someone who's building a professional writing career, it's a good way to do the thing I love in a very low stakes environment just because I love it But if there are a few extra days between updates, don't think I've forgotten about it, I just may not have quite as much time on my hands.
Anyway, can't wait to read your comments!