Chapter Eight
''What in the ever-loving fuck is this supposed to be?''
Bianca stood in the corner of Music Warehouse staring up at a teetering wooden instrument on the display table above her. Wednesday gave a cursory glance up from the tuba she was polishing, meticulously working out every speck and stain.
''It's an Erhu.'' She said, adding another dollop of polish to her cloth. ''An ancient Chinese instrument, believed to have originated more than three millennia ago. Traditionally, it's made from wood and wrapped in python skin, and strung with silk strings. The accompanying bow is typically made from bamboo and strung with the hair of a horse's tail.''
''Got it. Sorry I asked.'' Bianca muttered.
Wednesday finished off the tuba and tossed her cloth to the side, putting her head back and groaning. They were barely an hour into Nevermore's second-semester Outreach Day, and Wednesday was well and truly over it. Although to be fair, she was pretty much over it from the second she learned there was a second semester Outreach Day.
''All right, ladies.'' The infuriatingly chirpy owner of Music Warehouse – Doris, or Dorothy, or something, Wednesday wasn't listening when she introduced herself – emerged once again from her little cavern of a back room. ''Are we ready for our next assignment?''
Neither Bianca nor Wednesday answered her. Undeterred, Doris/Dorothy lifted a clear crate overflowing with cleaning products onto the counter.
''I would just love for you ladies to make our store window squeaky and shiny.'' She chirped. ''I don't think that window's been cleaned this month.''
Wednesday and Bianca glanced over their shoulder, towards the ceiling-to-floor front window, caked with dust at least an inch thick, and decorated with cobwebs and sticky fingerprints.
Crouching down slightly to reach Wednesday's ear, Bianca murmured ''I don't think that window's been cleaned this century''. Wednesday raised her eyebrow in agreement.
''Okay, you girls set off then, and I'll come to check on your again soon.''
The woman disappeared again, and Bianca reluctantly hauled the box of products from the counter to the front of the store. The two of them loaded up washcloths with Windex and began the gruelling process of removing the impossibly thick coat of grime from the window.
Through the tarnished glass, Wednesday could see the Jerico town market on the opposite side of the street. At the edge of the sprawling collection of colourful tents and pop-up stalls, Xavier sat at a fold-out table, surrounded by open pots of paint, three girls in pastel fairy costumes and sparkling glitter, and a terrifying number of children.
Wednesday watched as Xavier added the final touches to a little girl's face paint, cementing her transformation into a tiger. The girl made her fingers into claws and growled at Xavier, and he mimicked the action back at her, and then ruffled her hair.
The child skipped away, and Xavier dipped his brush into a glass of murky water. A hot pink fairy with miles of bleach-blonde hair wiped down the table, chatting to Xavier as she did. He said something to make her laugh, and she threw her head back over-animatedly and patted his lightly on the arm. A moment later, the baby blue fairy appeared at his side and began carefully dabbing a wet cloth against his forehead, removing the black paint that had somehow ended up on his face. When she'd finished, she playfully bopped him on the nose, and Wednesday felt her chest tighten.
''Jeez, that didn't take them long to start.'' Bianca scoffed, clearing a circle on the window as she watched the scene across the road.
''Start what?''
''Flirting with him.'' She said, rolling her eyes. ''So typical.''
''You think they're flirting with him?'' Wednesday stiffened.
''Obviously,'' Bianca said, looking at Wednesday like she was crazy. ''I know that's not really your forte, but look at them. The cutesy body language, the excuses to touch him, and don't even get me started on the way they all keep laughing. I love the guy, but Xavier is not that funny.''
Wednesday's fist slowly closed around her washcloth, creating a drizzle of Windex that ran down the glass.
''He's just one of those guys that constantly has girls all over him, you know?'' Bianca continued, adding more spray to the window. ''It drove me nuts when we were together. I mean, I'm not the jealous type, but it gets old pretty quick, you know?''
Wednesday dropped her cloth on the ground and marched towards the front door.
''Where are you going?'' Bianca called out after her.
''I'm taking a break.''
''What? You can't just- ''
Wednesday didn't hear the rest of Bianca's protest because she was already out the door. She'd made it halfway across the street when Xavier noticed her. He tapped the blue fairy, who was on her knees and twisting a balloon animal for a little boy, and said something to her before leaving his post and jogging towards Wednesday.
''Hey.'' He beamed at her from a few paces away. As he closed the gap, he seemed to notice her face was a set just a little more intensely than her usual deadpan expression, and he frowned. ''Are you okay?''
''I suggest you tell your fairies to stop touching you, because if you don't, I will, and I assure you I will not be as nice about it.''
Xavier glanced over his shoulder. All three fairies were watching them intently, all but ignoring the handful of children they were supposed to be entertaining. When he turned back to face Wednesday, there was an amused glint in his eye.
''Are you jealous?'' He said, folding his arms with a smirk.
''I will not dignify that question with a response.''
''You're jealous.'' Xavier's grin widened. He was enjoying this.
Wednesday scowled up at him, giving him her very best I'm not playing look. Still smiling stupidly, Xavier leant in, placing his lips right up against Wednesday's ear.
''I promise you; nobody touches me the way that you do.''
''That's wise,'' Wednesday whispered back, raising to the balls of her feet to meet him. ''Because they'd lose fingers if they did.''
Xavier laughed and shook his head at her.
''You wanna know something?'' He said, running his tongue across his teeth. ''You're really fucking hot when you're mad.''
''When it's not directed at you, I presume?'' Wednesday raised her eyebrow.
''Obviously. Then it's terrifying.''
''Good.''
Xavier used both hands to sweep Wednesday's bangs away from her eyes, looking at her in a way that momentarily made her forget all about tutu-clad balloon artists in craft-store glitter. He bent down and planted a kiss on the crown of her head, and she felt her body tense up. Xavier must have felt it too because he pulled back rather abruptly.
''Sorry, I know you're not really big on PDA.''
Wednesday looked past Xavier, back to his face-painting station. The fairies were still watching them, though they now had gratifyingly sour facial expressions. She looked back up at him and gave him and gave him a lopsided smirk.
''I'll allow it this time.''
Xavier chuckled, well and truly reading between the lines.
''Take your lunch at 12, okay? I'll meet you in Weathervane.'' He said.
Wednesday nodded, and the two made their way back to their respective posts. When Wednesday crossed back through the Music Warehouse door, Bianca was waiting for her, still standing at the window, though no longer bothering to clean it. Her arms were crossed in front of her, and she was staring at Wednesday with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
''What was that?''
Wednesday froze, as it suddenly occurred to her that Bianca would have witnessed that entire interaction from the window.
''Don't tell me Xavier and I upset you,'' she said, rolling her shoulders back defensively. ''I thought you had a boyfriend.''
''First of all, I have a guy I'm banging,'' Bianca said, and Wednesday rolled her eyes. ''And second of all, I'm not upset, I'm just surprised. Is it serious?''
''I have no experience or understanding of what constitutes a serious or unserious relationship,'' Wednesday said, picking her cloth back up. ''Xavier is my boyfriend. That's all I know. Why does that surprise you?''
''I've just never seen you guys, like, touch. You're always standing a foot or so apart. You don't even hold hands.''
''Unlike an alarming number of my peers, I don't feel the need to be all over a person just because I'm in a relationship with them,'' Wednesday said through gritted teeth. ''Xavier and I choose to keep the physical aspect of our relationship private. Do you have a problem with that?''
''Jesus, no.'' Bianca shook her head and scoffed. ''It was just an observation, that's all. No need to get snappy.''
Wednesday picked up the pace, scrubbing at a stain on the window with more intensity. After a moment, Bianca sighed and put her cloth down.
''Look, I wasn't trying to get to you before when I said the girls were flirting with him. I really didn't know you guys were dating.''
''It's fine. I don't care.''
Wednesday looked over at the antique clock by the left wall. It was almost 11.45, which was close enough to midday as far as she was concerned.
''I'm going on lunch.'' She announced, discarding her cloth on the floor. ''I'll see you later.''
''What?'' Bianca cried. ''You can't just keep walking out when you-''
Once again, Wednesday missed the end of the sentence, because she was already out the door.
At exactly 12 pm, Xavier walked through the doors of Weathervane. Wednesday was tucked into her usual booth, sipping on her coffee, and staring absently out the window.
''Whatcha got there?'' Xavier hummed, leaning on her table.
''Quad.'' Wednesday held up her mug. Xavier gave her a confused look. ''It's four shots of espresso, black.''
''Yeah, that checks out.'' He snickered. ''Where's your lunch?''
''I'm drinking it.''
''Uh uh, no,'' Xavier said. He made a move to slide the cup away from Wednesday but seemed to think better of it when he saw the look she was giving him. ''Four shots of espresso and no food is not lunch.''
''News to me.''
''I'm sure it is. What do you want?''
Wednesday sighed, and the corners of her mouth turned upwards.
''If you really aren't going to leave it alone, I'll have a BLT. But you're buying it.''
''I was planning to, anyway.''
Xavier headed towards the counter, and Wednesday drained the last mouthful of her coffee. A few minutes later, Xavier returned to the table with two sandwiches and another mug. He set one sandwich down in front of Wednesday and slid into the seat opposite her.
''Bianca was surprised that we're dating,'' Wednesday said, once he'd settled in.
Xavier nodded and took a hearty bite of his sandwich. Wednesday waited, drumming her fingers against the tabletop, for him to swallow his food and respond.
''Bianca and I have that in common.''
Wednesday rolled her eyes and picked a single piece of lettuce out of her own sandwich.
''What?'' Xavier said after a moment when he realised she was still staring at him blankly from across the table.
''Does it bother you that I'm not, like… touchy-feely?''
Xavier chewed on his sandwich, looking deep in thought. He carefully set it down and cleared his throat, giving Wednesday a very serious look.
''I have some distinct memories of you in my bed that would argue you can be very touchy-feely when you want to be.''
Wednesday kicked him under the table, hard.
''Ow!'' Xavier exclaimed, but he was laughing.
''You know what I mean!'' She hissed. ''Like, in public. When people are around.''
He shrugged and popped the pickle from his sandwich into his mouth.
''Look, I'm not going to lie to you, it'd be nice, to be able to like, hold your hand, or even kiss you around other people, but I get it. I know intimacy is kind of tricky for you, and if you'd prefer that it all happened behind closed doors, I can live with that.''
Wednesday sat on his words for a moment, circling the rim of her empty mug with her pointer finger.
''It's not, it's not even really the intimacy part of it.'' She said, trying to figure out how to put it into words. ''It's just… I don't like public affection because it gives people the wrong idea. Before you, no one had ever touched me as much as Enid does. Generally, I hate being touched. But I have a bond with Enid, one that I've never really experienced with anyone else, so it doesn't bother me when she holds my arm or even hugs me every now and then. The problem is that when she does it in public…''
''Other people think they can do it as well?''
''Exactly,'' Wednesday sighed, relieved that Xavier understood her point. ''As someone who has a genuine dislike for most physical contact, it's just easier to enforce those boundaries with everyone than hold different rules for different people.''
''I get that, I do.'' Xavier nodded. ''But, just as food for thought, most people are pretty understanding that you touch your significant other in a way you don't intend to touch other people or want them to touch you.''
Wednesday blinked a few times. It made sense, and yet the concept still sat just a little uneasily with her.
''I'm working on it.'' She said eventually.
''I know.'' He said, smiling at her warmly. He nodded once towards her sandwich, almost entirely untouched. ''Now, eat your food.''
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