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Growing up, Wednesday had set some rules for herself. One of them was, 'Never associate yourself with pathetic losers.' The list of people who fell into the category of Pathetic Losers in Wednesday's belief grew as long as the world's population minus one person: herself.
She had friends, of course. No, no, not friends as in plural form but friend. A friend. Nero, her beloved scorpion. But that was before a bunch of pathetic losers murdered him in cold blood. Usually, Wednesday found murders to be very aesthetically pleasing. It certainly wasn't so aesthetically pleasing when the victim would then turn to be the first ever thing that made Wednesday shed her tears. The first and ever time she ever cried.
And Wednesday learned something that day; crying wouldn't change anything. There was nothing she could do. Her only friend was dead, and she thought... she thought maybe being alone had always been her destiny.
She was fine with that. Not with Nero's death but with being alone. she didn't exactly have a choice, but the fact she never was bothered by solitude was something she counted as a blessing. (For someone who was a huge fan of curses.)
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Funerals were Wednesday's favorite since she was three. She was ten years old when her mother, Morticia Addams, told her they would all take a little family vacation to a graveyard in the weekend.
"How exciting," Wednesday said, face stern. "Who died?"
"It's your grandmother's best friend, sweetheart." Morticia said.
"Grandmother shouldn't have made friends with anything death can touch. It's not so fun when the one death claimed is someone you're emotionally attached to. Anyway, the good thing is that I got to attend a funeral. I expect this to be a fun activity for our family, mother."
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It was boring, the funeral. No one cried. Wednesday had expected a good show of people weeping and heavy raindrops. But she'd take the gloomy sky and the cold temperature. At least it was her favorite kind of weather.
"Hi," someone from behind her said. Wednesday didn't respond at first. Usually, people didn't come and say hi to her. They normally just turned around and walked the other way when they saw her, which was how Wednesday preferred it.
"Umm, hello?" came the same voice from behind her.
Wednesday would've signed, or rolled her eyes, if emotions were something she displayed. She slowly turned around, a smile missing from her face.
He was a boy. A bit taller than her, but Wednesday figured they were the same age. His eyes were blue and his hair was blonde. A plain normal boy with a boring smile that reminded her of a golden retriever puppy. Wednesday continued looking at him, waiting for him to say the reason behind his deciding to bother her.
"I'm Xavier. Xavier Thorpe,"
Wednesday continued giving him what normal people would consider a cold stare.
"And... you are?" Xavier raised his brows when Wednesday's silence continued.
"Wednesday Addams," she said, still trying to figure out what Xavier wanted from her.
"Nice to meet you, Wednesday," Xavier said.
Wednesday shifted her gaze from Xavier's face to his hand reaching out for her to shake. She didn't do handshakes. Wednesday didn't do anything that involved physical contact, to be precise, much less with a stranger.
Xavier mouthed a quiet 'okay' before he retracted his hand.
"The lady," Wednesday said, nodded towards the casket, "who was she to you?"
"Oh, that's... that's my godmother, actually."
Wednesday nodded slowly this time. She figured normal people would say, 'my deepest condolences' or 'I'm sorry for your loss' but Wednesday had a different perspective of death than most people did. If she were to speak her mind though, she'd probably be asked to leave the ceremony. And Wednesday really liked funerals. So she opted for silence.
"Hey, you know, I was thinking..." Xavier trailed off, "I was thinking maybe we could do something fun,"
"Define fun."
Xavier seemed to be a little caught off guard, seemed to be calculating his answer. Then he shrugged, "You know, something less boring. How about hide and seek?"
The look on Wednesday's face stayed the same. She used to play hide and seek with her brother when they were younger; it always ended in Pugsley locked in the family's casket in the basement for at lease eight hours. She had no interest in playing hide and seek, or in engaging in any activity with Xavier though. But perhaps she could get Xavier to leave her alone this way.
"Deal. You hide and I'll seek," Wednesday said with voice that left no room for argument.
"Oh," Xavier blinked. He looked a little surprised by how... determined Wednesday suddenly was. "Okay. Cool. Then I will..."
"Go and hide and make sure you can never be found after I'm done counting to one hundred."
"Oh..."
"Go!" Wednesday didn't really raise her voice, but it made Xavier jump anyway.
He looked confused for a few more seconds, before he went, "Oh," then he started jogging away.
Wednesday watched until he was out of her sight. She didn't start counting though, because someone finally, finally started weeping. Wednesday's attention turned to the crying not too far away from her.
She didn't think about Xavier again.
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Xavier was growing more and more anxious as minutes went by. Go and hide and make sure you can never be found, Wednesday had said exactly that. And Xavier knew how hide and seek worked, but he was starting to think maybe he shouldn't have taken Wednesday's words too literally.
Maybe he shouldn't even have approached her to begin with. He just... saw her standing alone. Or, Xavier didn't see Wednesday talk to anybody ever since she arrived at the funeral. She didn't look sad. She looked like the perfect combination of danger, darkness and mystery. And something about her attracted Xavier, made him walk up towards her. Something about Wednesday made him gather up his courage to go and say hi. Like moths attracted to fire; they wouldn't know what they were in for until they were burning in flames. Maybe that was what Xavier was right now; a moth.
He sighed and shook his head. "Am I just being plain stupid?" Xavier asked the corpse of his godmother, whose lifeless body was so thoroughly squeezed to the side just so Xavier could fit his own body inside the casket with her.
Of course, his godmother didn't answer him. Xavier sighed. It'd been... a while. He wasn't sure how long, but he was starting to get impatient waiting for Wednesday to yank open the casket, and for them both to get scolded at by the adults for such... an inappropriate stunt. (Though for some reason Xavier expected Wednesday's parents might find this whole thing amusing.)
She wasn't coming. Xavier guessed perhaps he should've known this. Maybe if she actually tried looking for him. But Wednesday probably already forgot about him anyway.
Congratulations, you've just made a fool of yourself. Xavier rolled his eyes, shaking his head.
He started pushing the lid open. The thing was heavy, and Xavier learned something new; getting in was a lot easier than getting out.
He tried again. Only that it wouldn't budge.
The lid wouldn't budge.
And Xavier knew the casket was scheduled to head to the crematorium soon.
Oh no...
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Wednesday spent the next thirty minute discussing with Thing about the wonder of death. Thing had asked her about that boy — Xavier — and Wednesday had said he was just that; a boy. Where he was now or what he was doing was none of her business.
She stood next to Pugsley when the casket was being headed towards the crematorium. There were two people crying. Wednesday would've loved the chamber to be filled with the sound of mourners weeping, but two was better than none. She still wished they sobbed a little louder though. The list of music type Wednesday liked better than Mozart was short, but people's crying was one of them.
Then Wednesday heard something else.
"Did you hear that?" She turned to Pugsley.
"Yeah, they're mourning," Pugsley said.
"No, not the crying. Shhh," Wednesday closed her eyes and paid close attention. Beyond the weeping, there was another sound... a muffled scream.
It came from inside the casket.
Wednesday didn't think. She pushed Pugsley and another three people aside. Her hand slammed on the big red stop button before anybody could stop her.
The casket came to an abrupt halt just an inch before the conveyor belt could take it to its final destination. The heat of the burning flames inside the crematory could only kiss the box, still wasn't enough to give it a scar.
Wednesday stood over the closed coffin. Ignoring the questions and the confusion around her, she — much to every guest's horror — yanked the lid open harshly.
"Oh," Wednesday said, a small-to-average degree of disappointment spread across her face.
It wasn't Xavier's godmother cheating death like how Wednesday had hoped when she heard the muffled screams. It was just Xavier crying in the damn casket with his still-very-much dead godmother.
What a shame. Wednesday thought, this is quite disappointing.
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Xavier had thought, 'This is it. This is how I die,' when he felt the casket start moving. He could slowly begin to feel the heat growing stronger as seconds went by. He did scream, though it looked like no one heard him.
Until it all stopped. The casket jerked once and then it stopped moving.
Xavier might've thought it meant he was dead — a death quicker than he'd expected — hadn't it been for the heat he could still feel. He didn't know much about death. Certainly, he'd never had a first hand experience with what happened after life, but he still thought he shouldn't be able to still feel that heat.
The casket's lid was suddenly, with no warning, yanked open. Xavier had to close his eyes for a few seconds; his eyes had been in the dark for long enough that it needed time to adjust to the light.
Then he opened his eyes again, and her face was the first thing he saw.
Wednesday looked the same as how Xavier met her half an hour ago. Except she didn't. She'd literally just saved his life, and Xavier thought; he thought, 'Holy shit, she's so beautiful. How come I didn't see it before?'
"Xavier!" His mother's voice came from behind Wednesday, then she too appeared in his line of vision a second later. Then his father with the look of disappointment, Xavier had long gone accustomed to, on his face. Then his aunt. And the cousins Xavier could hardly stand. Then more people started gathering around him. Then...
Then Wednesday was gone. Xavier, still hadn't even gotten himself out of the casket, looked around. Wednesday was nowhere to be seen. He wanted to call after her, but people were circling around the casket — around him, then the atmosphere was filled with overlapped talking. And Xavier couldn't find Wednesday anywhere.
She came and she went like a shadow of a ghost. A beautiful phantom. Deadly but... worthy.
Xavier heard his father scold him. But what exactly the old man said, Xavier wouldn't know. His mind was on Wednesday, although he had no idea where she might be.
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Six years went by. Xavier didn't think about Wednesday as much as he used to when he was ten years old. She was still very much presence in his memory, and he was certain she'd continue to be alive and presence in his memory until the day he took his last breath. Quite dramatic, Xavier knew that, but he doubted, romantic feelings asides, anybody could really ever forget someone who saved their life. No matter how young they were.
It'd been six years since Xavier saw Wednesday at the funeral. The day he first met her was also the day he last met her.
He didn't think he'd ever see her again. At first the thought gave him a type of nagging ache somewhere in his heart, but then he grew up and he thought he was... moving on? He couldn't stay in love with a girl he had a crush on when he was ten forever.
He'd met another girl when he was fifteen — Bianca — they dated for roughly a year. It didn't work out. Xavier realized; for some reason he couldn't trust Bianca the way he trusted Wednesday. Which was crazy, considering how little he knew Wednesday, except that she was a perfect combination of danger and darkness and mystery, and she saved his life.
He could lie to himself that Wednesday had nothing to do with his decision of calling it quits with Bianca. Surely, the girl of his dream when he was ten couldn't have anything to do with this. Or so Xavier kept telling himself.
He didn't even know if Wednesday was alive. There wasn't really a reason for Xavier to think she was somehow dead. But he'd never heard from her again, ever since the funeral. If she was still in this country at all, how she was doing, Xavier had absolute no idea.
She only appeared in his dream every once in a while now.
Until he saw her again in Nevermore.
She was... real. She'd grown, but at the same time she barely changed at all.
She was real and she was here.
When Xavier saw Wednesday again for the first time in six years, he physically couldn't take his eyes off of her. It was like he was hypnotized.
Wednesday was here and suddenly all the feelings he'd held for her when they were ten all came flooding back in, nearly knocked Xavier off his balance.
Wednesday saw him. Their eyes met for a short moment, however there was no sign of recognition on her face.
She didn't remember him.
Of course, it's been six years. You're just a boy she met at a funeral. Still it did hurt. At least a little.
It felt... weird, seeing Bianca and her in the same hall together. Watching Bianca beat her at fencing match was somehow even more strange. If Xavier were to be honest, none of this felt real. Everything had been so surreal ever since the second Wednesday waltzed in here.
At least the only person who was overwhelmed was Xavier.
Wednesday didn't even remember him.
At first Xavier thought about approaching, catching up with her. But she didn't remember him, and Xavier wouldn't know what to say. Hey, remember me? You saved my life six years ago, maybe that'd make a good conversation starter, but... Xavier wouldn't know.
For some reason he only watched from afar, keeping his distance.
She was as beautiful as how remembered it.
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Xavier told himself he would keep his distance. He didn't 'didn't think twice' when he jumped in the way and pushed Wednesday away to safety, when the gargoyle sculpture fell down from the building. Because to say Xavier 'didn't think twice' when he returned the favor and saved Wednesday's life would imply Xavier did think before he acted. He didn't. That was the case. He didn't think, because if he stopped and thought anything at all, it might all be too late.
So he wasn't thinking about this being him returning the favor.
He didn't think anything at all when he saw the gargoyle started to move from the balcony, and Wednesday was walking in the rain. His legs already started moving before his brain could process what the hell he was doing.
Before Xavier knew what he was doing, both him and Wednesday were on the muddy floor, under the moonlight, with the shattered sculpture only a few feet away from them. Any second too late, and it would've been either Wednesday's or Xavier's own skull crashed like a watermelon hit with a wrecking ball.
"Wednesday," Xavier said, looking at her.
She wouldn't respond to him.
She wouldn't open her eyes.
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The nurse said she'd be fine. She didn't have a concussion, so there was no real concerning here.
"What you did was brave," said the nurse. Xavier only gave her a forced, wry smile.
He personally wouldn't call it bravery, because what he wouldn't tell anyone was that he was so scared — so fucking terrified — when there was a real possibility of him having to watch Wednesday die in front of him out there. The thoughts of losing her, when she was never even his, terrified him. That was why Xavier did what he did, saving her life, because he was too scared to lose her.
He was told by the same nurse that he didn't have to stay. He did anyway.
Because there was no way Xavier would walk away and leave Wednesday alone after what just happened.
It didn't take too long for Wednesday to wake up. If Xavier had been nervous when Wednesday was out cold, he was even more nervous now that Wednesday opened her eyes and was looking at him.
"Welcome back," Xavier said. He was smiling, but deep down he was hoping he wasn't coming off as awkward.
Wednesday immediately moved to sitting up then. Xavier told her to take it easy, but clearly she didn't take his advice, seeing as she was already sitting straight with her gaze glued to his face.
"Nurse said you don't have a concussion, but you probably have a nasty bump, huh?"
"The last thing I remember I was walking outside, feeling a mixture of rage, pity and self-disgust. I never felt that way before."
"Yeah, losing to Bianca has that effect on people, I think." Xavier mentally told himself not to shrug.
"Then I looked up and saw that gargoyle coming down and I thought, at least I'll have an imaginative death," Wednesday paused for a short while, like she was trying to recall what happened. "Then you tackled me out of the way. Why?"
Xavier shrugged eventually. "Call it instinct," he said.
"So you were guided by latent chivalry, the tool of the patriarchy to extract my undying gratitude?"
Ugh, Xavier thought, she hasn't changed at all. "Most people just say thank you," he said the latter aloud.
"I didn't want to be rescued,"
"So I should've just let that thing smash you to mush?"
"I would have rather saved myself,"
"Good to see you haven't change," maybe Xavier didn't mean to say that. But it slipped past his tongue before he could stop himself. Wednesday's face was as stoic as always, but there was something flashing across her eyes; a deep curiosity. Perhaps he got her attention, after all. Xavier decided to continue then, "If it makes you feel any better, let's just say I return the favor."
She looked to be in thoughts. Yes, he'd got her attention, reaching the point of no return. Now helping Wednesday gain back her memory of him seemed to be the only choice. "Xavier Thorpe," he said, "you probably don't remember me," I know you don't.
"Last time we met, I was about two feet shorter, 40 pounds heavier," Xavier went on.
"What happened?" Wednesday asked.
"Puberty, I guess," Xavier sighed.
"I meant what happened the last time we met,"
"Oh... uh..." Xavier's eyes found his own lap. "It was my godmother's funeral. Apparently she was friend with your grandmother, and they spent their twenties together in Europe swindling the rich and notorious. I don't know, but we were ten and we were bored, decided to play hide and seek. I had the inspired idea to hide in her casket," Xavier looked at Wednesday again. He was watching more and more sign of recognition blossom in her eyes as he talked. It made him feel a sense of warmth wash over his heart, he didn't understand why though. "I got stuck as it was headed to the crematorium," he added.
"I'd heard muffled screams," Wednesday said. There was actually an emotion on her face now; like she'd just finally solved a puzzle.
Xavier nodded. A soft smile on his face.
"I just figured your godmother had somehow cheated death and was trying to claw her way out,"
So you weren't actually trying to save me, Xavier didn't say that aloud. It wouldn't matter, would it? It still didn't change the fact she did save his life six years ago. "Either way, you hit that big red stop button and saved me from being flame-broiled. So... now we're even."
Now Wednesday was the one not taking her eyes off of him. Xavier wished he could read her mind, what was going on in that head of hers. What she thought of him.
But most importantly, he found himself addicted to the way Wednesday looked at him.
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After the gargoyle incident that day, Xavier hadn't stopped thinking about Wednesday ever since. Not even for one minute. She'd waltzed her way right back inside his head and taken resident there. And it felt like she'd never left his mind in the first place.
He wanted to ask if she thought it was a coincidence or a destiny; the fact their lives crossed paths again after so long.
At midnight, Xavier kept that question to himself as he listened to Wednesday playing her cello on the balcony of her room.
Maybe he'd get his answer one day.