S

I wake with a start and sit up when I feel a hand on my back."Huh? Wha—"

"It's just me, darling."

I relax at the smooth sound of Morticia's voice and blink groggily, still half asleep. "What time is it?"

"Almost ten. Did you spend the night again?"

I look around the hospital room and sigh when I realize I did.

The first time it happened, which was a week ago now, the nurses and doctors tried to make me leave after visiting hours ended, but my eyes flared gold at the thought of leaving Wednesday, which made them back off almost instantly.

"Yeah…"I admit quietly, letting my eyes roam over Wednesday's eerily still body. The cuts on her face and arms have been treated and covered by Steri-Strips, and the rest of her injuries were taken care of during surgery, which she has yet to wake up from.

The doctors said something about a coma and her body needing more time to wake up than usual because of the extent of her injuries, but I don't remember the exact details.

In fact, everything after Enid stopped me from going after Tyler is a haze. I was so frantic about what had happened that the last thing I remember after Enid saw my gold eyes was a prick in the side of my neck, and then there was just… nothing.

Turns out I was so frantic about what had happened, I had to be sedated, which got me a bit of a lecture from Morticia when I woke up in the hospital later.

She, Gomez, and Pugsley had been informed about what had happened, and the three of them rushed to the hospital while Wednesday was still in surgery.

Now, it's been exactly a week since then, and both Morticia and I are spending every possible moment we can with Wednesday.

I still have to go to class during the week, but you best believe I'm at the hospital every night and every weekend until Morticia forces me to go back to Nevermore to get some rest myself.

But how can I rest when this is all my fault?

I shouldn't have let Wednesday go alone. I should have insisted on helping her find Fester in Willow Hill. I should have—

"You're doing it again."

I'm snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of Morticia's voice and look up to find her already looking at me with a soft, almost sad look, while she pulls a copy of Macbeth from her bag.

"What?"

"You're blaming yourself for what happened," she states matter-of-factly, taking a seat in the chair by the bottom of Wednesday's bed.

"How did you—"

"A mother just knows, dear." She offers a small smile and opens the book, keeping her eyes on me for a moment longer to add, "You should know best now how much of a determined spirit Wednesday has. If she wants something, you'd best believe she'll find a way to get it or make it happen. So don't blame yourself for what happened. You couldn't have stopped her if you tried."

I swallow the tears burning in the back of my throat and avert my eyes to Wednesday's and my intertwined hands on the bed.

She's so pale. Paler than usual, but there's nothing I can do about it.

I think the sedation must have messed with my powers somehow because ever since waking up again, everything feels muted.

My reflexes, my senses, my strength… Everything is kind of off, and the worst part is that my healing power's taken a hit too.

The first thing I tried when I was allowed to see Wednesday after her surgery was to heal her, but nothing happened.

Which - and I'm not at all proud of it- actually ended in me punching a hole in the wall.

I really don't know what came over me in that moment, but I just couldn't help myself, seeing Wednesday so fragile and not being able to do anything about it.

Luckily, Morticia was there to calm me down a bit while Gomez took Pugsley out of the room to find some snacks.

"I hate seeing her like this," I whisper after some time, cutting off Morticia's gentle reading of Macbeth.

She looks up from the book and nods, offering another small smile. "I know. But she's strong, and she will wake up sooner than you know it."

I blink back tears again and lean back down again, laying my head on the bed next to Wednesday's hip, her limp but warm hand still clasped in mine.

Morticia resumes reading, and I close my eyes, listening to her and the steady beat of Wednesday's heart.

Out of breath and sweaty, I stop in front of the school's main gates and grab the cable of my headphones and pull the two buds out of my ears.

It's very early, and I couldn't sleep, so I decided to go for a run. I wanted to visit Wednesday again, but it's the middle of the week, and I have classes to attend, so I can't really leave.

I also needed to burn off some energy in an attempt to release my frustrations after Sheriff Santiago's press interview yesterday, where she revealed that Slurp and Tyler are both still on the run.

Tyler…

He almost killed Wednesday.

I almost—

Oh my God. Your eyes… T-they're gold.

I pause at the memory of Enid's voice and swallow thickly.

She knows what I am now.

She hasn't brought it up since that night, but I know that she knows. I've caught her staring at me a few times already, and I don't know what to think of it.

I know she'd never tell anyone, just like how Bianca promised she wouldn't, but she hasn't come to me yet to ask the questions I know she's dying to ask.

Probably because she wants to give me space while Wednesday is in the hospital, but, to be honest, space is the last thing I need right now.

I need my friend, but I don't want to confront her about what she saw and now knows if she's not ready yet.

Or maybe she's mad at me because I didn't tell her before?

Shit, I should have told her…

I run a hand down my face and bite the inside of my cheek.

Why didn't I tell her?

Guilt washes over me like a tidal wave, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

I should have told her. And she's been acting a little off lately. How have I not noticed it until now?

It's probably because of the upcoming full moon…

I sigh and open my eyes again.

I have to talk to her.

I take in the gray early morning sky for a moment longer, admiring the way the light fog warps around the tips of the pine forest down below in Jericho before turning and heading to my room.

I shower and put on my uniform and then head to Ophelia Hall.

It's still very early but the first students are emerging from their rooms to go to breakfast, but I know Enid cherishes every minute of sleep she can get, so I figure she's probably not left her room yet.

I'm proven right only a few minutes later when I knock on her door, and it swings open almost instantly.

"Y/N…" Enid startles when she sees me, but tries to play it off by fiddling with the collar of her uniform shirt. "You're up early."

"Yeah. Couldn't sleep, so I went for a run." I scratch the back of my neck sheepishly and wave at Thing when he emerges from his little house in the back of Enid and Wednesday's room.

He waves back and comes scuttling over, climbing onto Enid's shoulder and being the nosy little hand he is.

"So? How was it?" Enid asks, turning and leaving the door open in an unspoken invitation for me to follow her inside.

"Huh?"

"The run," she clarifies, taking a seat at her vanity to do her makeup.

"Oh. Right. It was good. Uh— Listen… I think we need to talk."

She pauses with the makeup brush halfway to her face and swallows thickly before lowering it again and turning to look at me. "I won't tell anyone about you being an Ægiryn."

She sounds almost defensive, and I feel my heart sink. "No, I know. It's not— That's not why I want to talk. I trust you. With my life. I just- I wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?" she frowns and puts the makeup brush down, burying her hands in her lap.

"Yes." I cross the room and take a seat on the little stool next to her vanity. "I should have told you about… what I am. I was just scared—Not of you telling anyone, but of it accidentally getting out, or someone hurting you to get to me."

Enid softens slightly and asks, "Who else knows? I'm guessing Wednesday knows?"

I shrug sheepishly. "Well, yeah. It's kind of impossible for me to hide something from her."

Enid chuckles sadly, and I tell her who else knows, which, to be fair, is only Bianca, Morticia, Gomez, Fester, and Thing.

"That's it?"

I nod.

She sighs and nods. "Okay."

I frown. "Okay?"

She smiles softly and picks up her makeup brush again, applying some blush. "Yeah."

I stare at her in confusion and exchange a look with Thing, who's just as confused at Enid's lack of a further reaction.

"I mean, it's kind of cool you're an Ægiry. And now it all makes sense … The way you always seemed to read my mind, how you flinch sometimes when someone drops a pencil, how you're so tuned in to Wed— Wait!"

Her eyes widen mid-thought,ght and she turns back to look at me. "Are you guys bonded?"

My jaw drops, and I feel my ears heat up. "How do you know about that?"

A smile blooms on her face. "Well, you're an Ægiryn, and you guys bond for life, right? One of my uncles told me about it one summer when I was a kid, and the pack was together for the holidays."

"I— Uh," I go to stutter a reply, but Thing, the cheeky bastard, taps, They are, it's adorable, which in turn makes Enid giggle and beam.

"Oh my God, that's so cute! Now I know why you're so attached. You know, at first it was just young love, but now—"

"Okay, okay, that's enough," I cut her off, feeling more than embarrassed.

"Sorry!" She continues beaming, looking anything but sorry, but I ignore it because the word love just struck a nerve within me.

Yes, I love Wednesday, but I haven't told her yet.

What if I never get the chance?

No. She's going to be fine. She's going to wake up soon, and then I can tell her. And I don't care what she'll say because I just need her to know. Even if she thinks it's ridiculous.

Enid, noticing my emotional shift, stops smiling and tugs on my sleeve to get my attention. "Hey, you okay?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sorry. I'm just worried about her," I half-lie.

"Yeah. Me, too. But she's going to pull through. I mean, this is Wednesday Addams we're talking about. Right?"

"Right."

For a moment, silence settles over us, and I try not to spiral about Wednesday again when I remember how I haven't checked in with her yet since I realized she's been acting a little off lately.

"You- uh- you know you can always talk to me."

Enid hesitates for a split second when she stands up and shrugs on her uniform jacket. "I know."

She avoids my eye, and I take that as an I don't want to talk about it.

Okay.

Got it.

But at least now she knows I'm here for her.

"Ready for breakfast?" she asks, almost too cheerily.

I nod and gesture for her to lead the way, signing to Thing behind her back, Do you know what's going on?

He jumps off Enid's vanity and scrambles up my leg and back until he's perched on my shoulder.

No, he taps. But we should keep an eye on her.

I agree silently and then follow Enid to breakfast.

"Y/N!"

I turn around at the sound of Ajax calling my name and frown when I see him jogging through the main gates of the school to catch up with me.

It's once again the weekend, and I was just about to take my bike to Jericho to visit Wednesday in the hospital.

"Ajax? Everything okay?"

"No, actually… It's Bianca," he says quietly as soon as he reaches me.

For a second, all thoughts of Wednesday fly out the window, and I grab him by the arm and drag him around the corner, my other hand on the handle of my bike, taking it with us.

"What is it? She's been off for a while now."

I glance around the corner to make sure no one followed us, but we're alone. It's still early, and most students or teachers are either still asleep or having breakfast in the dining hall.

"It's her mom," Ajax says, adjusting the beanie on his head to prevent any of the snakes on his head from peaking out from underneath the rim.

"Her mom?"

"Yes, she's at Nevermore, hiding from Gideon Sterling."

Gideon Sterling.

Why does that name ring a bell?

Seemingly reading the confusion on my face, Ajax adds, "He's the guy who's been on the run from the police all summer."

"Wait? The cult guy?" I ask incredulously.

"Yes. The MorningSong guy. He's Bianca's stepfather. He and her mom used to work together to run the cult, and he made her use her siren song on helpless outcasts to scam money from them."

My jaw drops. Is that why Bianca's been so tense? Because her mom's on the run from her abusive and criminal ex?

And what does Dort have to do with it? Does he know about it? Why else would she be acting so weird around him?

"I— I don't know what to say, Ajax," I confess. I'm heartbroken for Bianca, but with Wednesday's life still in the balance, I can't exactly bring myself to care too much about Bianca and her mom since both of them don't seem to be in any immediate danger.

"I just thought you should know in case you stumble across Bianca's mom up in Iago tower when you go up there to brood again."

I raise an eyebrow. "I don't brood."

"You do, but it's fine. I get it. With Wednesday in the hospital and all…" Ajax offers a soft smile that I don't return.

"Yeah… About that, I was just about to go visit her, so—"

"Oh." Ajax's eyes widen. "Of course. I won't keep you any longer."

I thank him quietly and make a mental note to check in with Bianca later before finally swinging onto my bike and heading to the hospital.

I usually catch a ride with Lurch when he takes Morticia and Gomez to see Wednesday, but I doubt they're up yet, so the bike will have to do.

The cool morning air clears my head a little, and I feel my guard slipping as I pedal through the forest.

It reminds me of how Wednesday and I took this same bike last year to go to the Gates mansion, and my heart aches at the memory.

Yes, things went very wrong that night, but at least nothing happened to her then.

A crack in the canopy of the trees makes my eyes shoot up, and I swerve just in time when a massive branch comes crashing down, landing only a few inches to my left.

What the fuck?

I stop and breathe heavily, staring at the branch.

It's as thick as my leg and five feet long.

"How the hell—"

My blood turns to ice at the sight of the charred, black end of the branch where it must have come off the tree.

No.

This can only mean—

I look around, panicking, but I'm alone.

No.

No, this can't have been him.

My mind races and I suddenly remember that it stormed last night.

Yeah. That must have been it.

Lightning must have struck the tree, and the branch didn't fall off until just now.

Yeah.

Lightning.

I swallow thickly and look around again, but I'm still alone, so I start pedaling again and keep making my way to the hospital.

‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆ ⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧

I struggle climbing the last bit of the school wall up to Ophelia Hall and wince when I finally make it up and over the top onto the small balcony outside Wednesday and Enid's room.

After what happened at the campgrounds, Slurp was taken in by the authorities and brought to Willow Hill. It was also debated whether or not the trip would be cut short that night, but everyone decided against it. It was, however, cut short the next morning, which was this morning, and we returned to Nevermore after packing up and making sure nothing was left behind.

I didn't get a chance to talk to Wednesday all day because she was sulking about losing Goody's book, and I was doing my best to avoid Dort who's seemingly lurking around every corner in the school.

After dinner alone earlier, I ran into him twice, which can't be a coincidence.

It's almost midnight now, and I know I shouldn't be doing this again, but I can't sleep after everything that's happened, and based on the rhythm of Wednesday's heartbeat, which I've been listening to from across the school, I know she's not asleep either.

I approach the spider-web-shaped window that also acts as a door to the balcony and peer inside. Wednesday and Enid are both in bed and asleep. Or at least it looks like it because I know Wednesday isn't.

Hesitating for a moment, I debate whether or not I should make my presence known by tapping on the window, but then I notice that it's been left open, and knowing Wednesday, who's usually meticulous about locking up, that is as much of an invitation as I'm gonna get since this is not the first time I'm sneaking into their room.

I push against the glass, and the window rotates, allowing me to duck inside. The warmth that caresses my night-chilled cheeks makes the knot in my chest unwind a little, and I quietly make my way across the room to Wednesday's bed.

Her back is turned to me, and she's lying perfectly still to the point where I doubt whether or not I was wrong in assuming she's awake, but then she shifts and reaches back, holding up the comforter.

I smile to myself and slip into bed behind her.

"Hi."

She grumbles something and shuffles back against me when I wrap my arm around her middle.

"You okay?" I whisper against the shell of her ear.

She exhales sharply, and for a second, I think that's the only answer I'm gonna get, but then she responds quietly, "My mother actually burned Goody's book."

Sorrow and concern squeeze my heart, and I pull her closer, tangling our fingers together over her stomach. "I'm sorry."

What else am I supposed to say?

She knew what she was getting into when she challenged Morticia to the duel, and she lost, so it was Morticia's right to actually go through with it.

I know her veiled grief and frustration aren't solely tied to the book, though. It's tied to the hope the book held of getting her abilities back. Now there's no real answer left as to how to regain them, and I don't want to imagine what it's going to do to her if she never gets them back.

Needless to say, not having her abilities also puts a dampener on our investigations and potentially saving Enid.

"Whatever happens, I'm here," I say quietly.

I don't know what I expected to happen next- maybe a half-hearted comment about not being a child in need of support- but I definitely didn't expect Wednesday's breath to hitch and for her to sniffle quietly.

I frown and shuffle closer, peering over her shoulder to see her turning her face into the pillow and hiding her tears.

The sight makes my heart clench, but I don't comment on it. It would just make her self-conscious and maybe even get me kicked out of bed.

So, I press a kiss to the back of her neck and just melt against her. At one point, my powers stir, and I'm a little confused as to why, but then my pendant warms against my chest, and I understand what's happening.

I close my eyes and stop holding back, letting my power bloom in my chest and travel down my right arm, which is slung over Wednesday.

Even with my eyes closed, I can make out the faint golden shimmer of my veins lighting up, but I don't care. Enid's still fast asleep on the other side of the room, so I'm not worried about her seeing.

I just let the tingling power flow until it reaches my hand, which is still tangled with Wednesday's.

She stirs lightly when she realizes what's going on and goes to pull her hand away, but I gently tighten my grip on it and whisper, "Wait."

She freezes, and I crack an eye open to see the glow spread through her hand too, lighting up her veins faintly. She gasps softly, and I smile against the back of her neck when she relaxes again almost instantly a moment later.

Her heart rate slows, and she squeezes my fingers wordlessly.

"Okay?"

She nods almost imperceptibly and buries her face in the pillow again.

I hum, content that I managed to make her feel better even a tiny bit, and wait for sleep to wash over me.

"Y/N."

I freeze and turn in my tracks, tightening my grip on the French toast I swiped from the breakfast buffet when I come face to face with Dort.

"Principal Dort," I acknowledge him with a tight smile.

"In a hurry, are we?" he laughs, gesturing at the French toast.

I shrug helplessly and glance around the Quad, but no one seems to be paying any attention to us. "I just have a lot of homework to catch up on," I lie.

He chuckles again, and it makes my hair stand on edge but I try not to let it show. "Well, in that case, I won't keep you any longer. I just wanted to check in and see how you've been holding up since the attack on Wednesday's mother on the camping trip. I mean, I know you and Wednesday are—"

"I'm fine," I cut him off quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a little stressed because of all the schoolwork, like I said."

"Hmm. Alright then." He studies me for a moment, and I try my best not to shrink under his gaze until he finally waves me off. "Better get to that homework then."

I nod and turn, not needing to be told twice, and leave without another word.

The homework bit was a lie. I've been getting everything done late at night when I can't sleep, but I can't exactly tell him I'm on my way to Wednesday and Enid's room to help them figure out a way to break Uncle Fester out of Willow Hill.

It turns out, the people whose obituaries Wednesday, Thing, and I found in the cabin in the woods, weren't actually cremated and buried in the graves that Wednesday visited with her grandmother, so they must all still be at Willow Hill.

Which is why Wednesday asked her uncle to get himself committed to the facility and snoop around a bit. As always, things went wrong, though, and now he's being held there without a chance of escaping, so Wednesday took it upon himself to free him.

Well, she said she'd do it herself, but Agnes, Enid, Bruno, and I all agreed to help her.

Now we just need a plan.

"Y/N. You okay?" Enid asks when I enter her and Wednesday's room.

I clear my throat and nod. "Y-yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

I cross the room to join her next to Wednesday and Agnes, looking over the blueprint of Willow Hill.

"You just look a little… pale," Enid observes, and I try my best not to let it show how much the run-in with Dort just unsettled me.

"I'm fine," I say a tad more sternly than I intended, which makes Enid frown. Agnes also glances at me, but doesn't say anything.

Wednesday keeps staring at the blueprint, lost in thought, and I take her non-reaction as an opportunity to take a bite of French toast even though I'm no longer hungry.

"Thing is already connected with Fester's contact on the inside," Wednesday explains, turning around to face us. "She knows where he's being held."

The telltale sound of Thing scuttling across the room makes me hold out my free hand while I finish chewing so he can jump up my arm and crawl up and onto my shoulder.

"Thing will lie low until I've secured Fester and make his own way out."

Thing curtsies on my shoulder and then relaxes, listening when Wednesday goes on.

"There's a vehicle inspection at the gate," she says, pointing at the blueprint.

I shove another bite of French Toast into my mouth and force myself to focus on the discussion at hand and not on the run-in with Dort.

"Agnes, I need you to distract the guard so I can get inside."

The redhead lights up at the thought of being needed and rolls back her shoulders. "I'll be in position before you arrive."

"After I rendezvous with Fester's contact—"

"Hold on, who's I. You're not doing this alone. I'm coming with you." I cut in.

Wednesday raises a challenging eyebrow. "It's easier to get around unseen alone."

I shake my head. "Nu-uh. You promised no more solo-ing. So, I'm coming with you."

She bites the inside of her cheek, and I can sense her hesitation, but ultimately, she gives in with a curt nod before going on to explain the plan. "We'll extract Fester from his cell and then go and find Lois."

"What about me? What's my part of the plan?" Enid asks, and this time I'm the one who freezes.

No. She can't be part of this. All of it is to prevent something from happening to her.

I glance at Wednesday and see her face slacken almost imperceptibly in an unsuccessful attempt at hiding her own trepidations.

Enid, horribly misreading her silence for rejection, huffs and crosses her arms defiantly. "Do you even want to be my friend anymore?"

Agnes's eyes widen in wicked delight at the drama, and I step forward before things can escalate any more with Thing still perched on my shoulder.

"Of course not, Wednesday just—"

"I don't need you to speak for me," Wednesday cuts me off, and I flinch back gently, surprised and slightly wounded by the bite in her voice.

"I- Sorry." I raise my hands and step back, biting my tongue.

Was that really necessary?

I didn't mean to overstep.

I mean, I get that she's anxious and all and her friendship with Enid is on the line since she still refuses to tell her what's going on, but still…

I just wanted to help.

Wednesday turns back to Enid. "That has never been in question…"

Enid narrows her eyes.

Wednesday adds, "You're on lookout," which only makes Enid scoff and cross her arms.

"I thought I'd be a bit more mission critical."

"You are." Wednesday deadpans, and I want to step in again and smooth over the tension a bit — it's not like Agnes is willing to do it because she seems to be enjoying the tension a little too much — but I don't want Wednesday to snap at me again, so I stay quiet.

"If we get caught, I need someone to tip off Sheriff Santiago that something is going down at Willow Hill.

Enid huffs but gives in with a miserable, "Fine. I'll see you tonight then."

Wednesday dips her chin, and that's all the permission Enid needs to leave.

Agnes lingers for a second longer, seemingly wanting to say something else, but then decides differently and leaves, too.

Wednesday turns back to study the blueprint, and I watch her back for a moment.

"So, how are we going to get to Willow Hill?" I ask.

Stealing the hearse again is not an option, and taking the bike we took to the Gates mansion last year is also not an option because it's too far of a ride.

"Ms. Capri is teaching a music class there tonight, so we'll sneak into the trunk of her car. It's going to be a tight fit, but since you're insistent on joining me, we'll have to figure it out."

She keeps studying the blueprint, and I don't know what else to say, so I shrug my shoulder to signal for Thing to get down and step back toward the door. "When are we leaving?"

"Seven. Meet me in the Quad."

I open the door. "Alright."

Wednesday doesn't turn around, and since I don't want to sound childish by bringing up how her snapping at me hurt my feelings — since there's obviously much more important stuff at hand- I leave wordlessly, deciding to go for a run before locking myself in my room for the rest of the day to read ahead in our Outcast Biology textbook.

The Quad is dark and quiet when I reach it a few minutes before seven. Dinner in the dining hall concluded half an hour ago, and since then, everyone has dispersed and gone back to their dorms to wind down for the night.

Well, everyone except people who are intent on breaking the rules like Wednesday, Enid, Agnes, and me.

I burrow deeper into the fabric of my hoodie and pull up the hood when a gust of wind makes me shiver.

I should have brought a jacket.

I check the time again, debating whether or not I should head back up to my room and get it, but then something brushes against my arm, and I look down to see it's Wednesday, dressed in track pants, a hoodie, and her new staple puffer vest.

"Let's go," she urges, and I know there's no turning back now, so I follow her across the dark Quad and out of the main entrance of the school, where all the teachers' cars are parked.

"Which one is Capri's?" I ask.

Wednesday's eyes roam over the cars until they stop on a white, vintage sports car.

"That one."

I nod and gesture for her to lead the way.

We crouch down behind the trunk, and Wednesday pulls out her lock-picking tools while I look around to make sure we're not being watched.

"Got it?"

"Does it look like it?" she snaps in frustration, and I glance over my shoulder to see her still struggling with the little lock.

Her tone once again stings, but if before wasn't the time to argue, now it's definitely not either, so I swallow the hurt and just turn back around to keep watch.

"Oh shit—" My eyes widen when Ms. Capri exits the school, her red hair unmistakable under the moonlight, but right then, I hear a click and turn to see that Wednesday has managed to open the trunk.

"Get in!" she hisses. She grabs my shoulder and shoves me, and I quickly climb into the trunk, scooting as far back as I can to make room for her when she joins me a second later.

She presses her back against my chest and shuts the trunk right before Ms. Capri sees us, and then we both hold our breath and wait for the redhead to get in the car and start the engine.

It purrs to life, and the car jolts into gear, crunching over the gravel to the main school gates until we're finally on the road and Ms. Capri turns on some music, singing along to it loud enough for Wedneday to whisper unnoticed, "Once we get to Willow Hill, they'll inspect the car, so we have to get out before they check the trunk."

I hum in understanding but say nothing else. I also keep my hands to myself, unlike what I usually do when we share a bed and she's pressed against me just like she is right now.

I think it might go unnoticed, but when Ms. Capri hits a specific high note, Wednesday turns slightly to look at me over her shoulder. "You're uncharacteristically quiet and not questioning my plan in the slightest."

I force myself not to look at her and whisper, "I'm just trying not to get us caught."

Wednesday turns a little more, so I can't not look at her in the dimly lit trunk. "Capri wouldn't even hear a bomb go off with that ear-splitting whining she calls singing."

I just shrug and close my eyes, but Wednesday reaches back and grabs my wrist, making me look at her again.

Her face is blank as always, but her eyes are searching my face, obviously knowing something is going on.

I sigh and cringe slightly when Capri hits another high note and admit, "It's just a lot. All of this, you know. Enid, Lois—"

"Why were you upset earlier?" she cuts me off, and I raise an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"Earlier… You just left, and Thing confirmed you looked rather shaken when you came to Ophelia Hall."

"It's nothing." I try to deflect, but weirdly enough, she's not having it this time.

"No. You've been off since the camping trip. What's going on?"

My pendant pulses and glows gold through the fabric of my hoodie, almost as if urging me to be honest, so I exhale softly and close my eyes, saying, "Dort is poking around, trying to figure out what kind of outcast I am."

For a second, the only sound to be heard is Ms. Capri's singing and the hum of the engine.

"What?"

I open my eyes again to find Wednesday looking at me with a crease between her eyebrows.

"I don't know what he wants, but he's acting weird, asking all kinds of questions, and I think something is going on between him and Bianca, too."

My chest constricts at the thought of Dort finding out what I am, but finally saying it out loud lifts a weight off my shoulders.

Wednesday keeps looking at me, and while her expression once again turns neutral, I feel something warm like regret and sympathy stir inside her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asks, almost too quiet for me to hear.

I chuckle mirthlessly and shake my head. "I didn't want you to worry. There's so much shit going on I—"

"It's not for you to decide what I worry about and what not," she says sternly, and despite her tone being harsh, something in me softens.

She cares.

She might not say it or show it the same way a normal person would, but she cares.

"Sorry." I apologize sheepishly.

She tightens her grip on my wrist. "We'll deal with Dort as soon as we've freed Fester and saved Enid."

I swallow the growing lump in the back of my throat and blink away the sudden sting of tears. "Okay."

She nods, determined, and then shifts back around so she's a bit more comfortable for the rest of the drive.

I pace back and forth in the empty service corridor, my heartbeat loud in my ears.

No, no, no.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

Agnes managed to distract the guards at the gate long enough for Wednesday and me to get onto the psychiatric hospital's premises, however, when we met up with Louise, Fester's contact, who's part of the kitchen staff, we ran into a problem.

As it turns out, she wasn't expecting me, and she could only sneak one of us into the maximum security facility downstairs by offering a ride in a dinner cart, so Wednesday convinced me to let her go and stay here in case there was any trouble.

I start feeling my breath coming in rapid pants, so I close my eyes, hold my breath, and focus, letting my senses reach out until my ears catch onto the familiar rhythm of Wednesday's heartbeat.

It's steady and strong, and it makes me exhale in relief.

She's okay.

I try to hear more, but because she's somewhere underground, I can't pick up on anything else, so I latch onto her heartbeat and listen to every tiny uptick or stutter.

It feels like we've been here for hours already, even though it's only been about fifteen minutes.

Approaching footsteps bring me back to the service corridor, and I open my eyes, peering around the corner for a second, only to recoil when I see two security guards heading my way.

Shit.

There's nowhere for me to hide, and I can't just run outside because Agnes is no longer distracting the guards by the main gate.

Fuck.

I peer around the corner again and curse under my breath when I see the guards are still walking my way, but then a shrill siren makes me fall to my knees and clutch my sensitive ears before blacking out.

I groan in pain and open my eyes blearily.

Sirens.

Shouting.

Heavy footsteps.

Shit. I passed out.

I sit up and touch my ringing ears, wincing when I see my fingertips covered in fresh blood.

That can't be good.

I go to wipe at my ears with my sleeves, but then it dawns on me that the sirens mean something happened, and I immediately jump back to my feet, staggering into the wall before I find balance again.

Wednesday.

How long was I out?

I try to focus on her heartbeat again, but my ears just keep ringing when I try to push my senses.

I can't hear her anymore.

My stomach drops at the realization that I'm cut off from her, and without thinking, I round the corner, not caring who sees me, and sprint in the direction I saw Wednesday disappear into with Louise.

Shit, shit, shit.

I keep running, ignoring the siren as best as I can, and surprisingly, the guards I come across don't seem to pay any attention to me when they see me.

Sure, some of them do a double-take when they realize I'm neither a patient nor a staff member, and when I hear a cackly voice come through one of their radios, saying "the zombie" has escaped, I know why.

Damn it.

Slurp is on the loose, and I have no idea where Wednesday and Fester are.

My mind also briefly darts to Tyler, who's locked up deep beneath the security tract, but then the lights above me explode from an electric overload, and I stop in my tracks, panting.

What's happening?

I try to listen for Wednesday's heartbeat again, but I hear nothing except the siren still going, so I keep running, blindly making my way through the corridors and past deranged patients, who've been freed from their cells by the electric overload, before rounding a corner and running straight into Uncle Fester.

"Oh. Hey, kid." He beams, and I stare at him incredulously.

If he's here…

"Where is Wednesday?" I ask, looking around frantically, but there's no trace of her.

"She helped free one of the patients in the basement. Did you know that Lois isn't actually a person? It's a program, and it stands for long-term outcast integration study. The people in Wednesday's obituaries were kept as living experiments."

My brain short-circuits. "W-what? Experiments? Outcast integration? I don't—" I shake my head. There's no time for this right now. "Where is Wednesday?"

Fester shrugs and gestures around. "I'm sure she's gotten out by now. Not like anyone's gonna stop her in this chaos."

I feel a spark of irritation in my stomach when one of the escaping patients bumps into me, but I try not to let it bloom.

"Damn it. Why the hell did you leave her alone?" I accuse Fester, well aware he could zap me with his electricity in a heartbeat.

"She told me to go!" he defends, good-naturedly, lifting his hands in mock surrender.

I huff — of course she'd tell him to go!— and turn without another word, figuring he's probably right and she's already made it out of this hellhole.

"Great seeing you again!" Fester calls after me, and I just keep running until I make it out of the building alongside some of the escaping patients.

Almost instantly, I'm hit by the pouring rain, and I squint, trying to make out Wednesday among the bustle, but she's nowhere to be found.

"Wednesday!"

My shout gets drowned out by the pelting rain and the patients' gleeful exclamations of being free.

"Wednesday!" I try again, but there's no reply.

I look around helplessly, feeling my chest constrict with every passing second, until the sound of breaking glass makes me whirl around.

No.

Wednesday.

My stomach plummets, and I can only watch as Wednesday flies out the window on the second floor. I can't move or scream or do anything as she falls, almost as if in slow motion, and all I can do is watch.

She falls and falls and falls, and my feet are screaming at me to move and maybe catch her, but I can't.

I can't get to her in time.

The moment she hits the ground at an awkward angle, my heart shatters like the glass strewn all around her, and I'm moving.

I think I'm crying her name, but I can't be sure. Everything is muffled, and everything except her goes blurry.

I drop to my knees in the rain beside her, choking out a, "No."

She's unconscious, and within seconds, she's as soaked as I am. There's blood streaming down her face from several little cuts the glass caused, and her bangs stick to her forehead where blood is oozing out of a deeper laceration under her hairline.

She's so beautiful, even now…

"No, no, no. Hey, open your eyes." I bend over her to shield her from the rain- my hands hovering over her face and shoulders, scared to touch her in fear of hurting her any more than she already is. "Look at me, baby. Please."

She doesn't move, and I can't help the sob that escapes me as her chest rises and falls with a weak breath.

"You can't just— You don't get to do this to me. God. Please. Wednesday, please," I let my shaking hands finally cradle her cheeks and try to unleash my powers to heal her, but nothing happens.

"Come on," I cry through gritted teeth, but again, nothing happens, and as the seconds tick by, my despair turns into anger.

Not at her, but at the situation.

Why does this keep happening? Why do we keep getting into messes like this?

I hear sirens approaching, but don't look up. "Wake up, you idiot," I plead, but Wednesday doesn't move.

I bend down and press a shaky kiss to her forehead, not caring about the blood.

And then I hear it.

That familiar roar.

It makes my blood run cold, and my head snaps up.

Standing there by the broken window is Tyler in his Hyde form.

It was him. Of course, it was him.

Blinding fury curses through me, and I sit up straighter. His eyes roam around the police cars now gathered around the building until they land on me.

And even though he doesn't have the features or expressions of a human in this form, I swear I see his lips twitch in an uncanny smile over his razor-sharp teeth.

He snarls aragin and jumps out of the window, making a run for it, and before I can stop myself, I'm on my feet as well.

He's not getting away.

I dart after him amidst the police's gunfire, my body basically screaming at me to kill him, but then, out of the corner of my eye, there's a flash of pink, and before I know it, I've been tackled to the wet pavement and snapped out of my trance.

"Y/N! Hey! Hey! Calm down— You have to…" I look up and see Enid - who looks like a wet dog in this rain - trailing off, her eyes widening as they dart back and forth between my own. "Oh my God. Your eyes… T-they're gold."

‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆ ⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧

It's dark but the forest is illuminated enough by the moon for Wednesday, Thing, and me to make our way to the Bull Pen without needing a flashlight.

Wednesday studied the map enough to know where to go, so I mainly just follow her and keep my eyes peeled for any danger.

On one hand, I'm glad we're sneaking away because I don't want to be around Dort after our weird conversation earlier. On the other hand, though, I felt a little tug of longing in my chest when we left and I saw everyone else sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmellows and singing songs.

I think the only time I felt like I belonged somewhere was before my powers manifested and Lara and her parents were my family. Now, even with the Addams', who've luckily all taken a liking to me, I feel like something is missing.

I feel a tug on my pants and pause. Thing scrambles up my body and perches on my shoulder, as always, tapping the side of my neck gently as I continue following Wednesday thorugh the underbrush.

What's troubling you?

I shake my head and keep walking. "Not now," I mumble.

Why?

I side-eye him and gesture at Wednesday's back.

Thing stills before tapping, Trouble in paradise?

I shake my head again and sigh. "No. We're fine. It's just- Ey!" Wednesday stops and turns so abruptly, I nearly walk into her. "What's—"

"Who's fine?" she asks, crossing her arms with the folded up map in hand.

I shoot Thing a glare as if to say look what you've done before turning back to Wednesday. "No one. I mean- The two of us… We're fine. Thing was just—"

"Why wouldn't we be fine?" she asks, frowning.

I go to answer but Thing beats me to it, signing, Y/N was sulking .

"I was not," I argue but even I know it's as unbelievable as it sounds. I exhale sharply and pinch the bridge of my nose, admitting quietly, "There's just a lot going on at the moment."

Wednesday tilts her head, knowing I'm not done, so I continue.

"I'm worried about Enid and you, of course," I gesture at her and offer a sad smile, "And then there's the whole thing with Pugsley and Dort and Bianca—"

"Pugsley?"

Shit.

I bite the inside of my cheek and try to wave it off nonchalantly. "Yeah, you know, he's been struggling finding friends and—"

Wednesday narrows her eyes at me. "He's always struggled finding friends."

"I-I…"

Damn it. I hate it when she looks at me like that.

"He has a pet zombie named Slurp, okay?" I blurt out, making Wednesday and Thing share a surprised look.

A pet zombie? Thing taps and I nod.

Wednesday uncrosses her arms and rolls her eyes. "I'd say I hope he eats his brains, but I fear Pugsley's obvious lack thereof would make him starve."

She turns to keep walking and I gape at her for a second before stumbling to keep up with her again. "Wait, so you're just not gonna do anything about it?" I ask, slightly scandalized.

"No. It's not my responsibility to fix his messes," she says, adding, "Besides, it sounds like he's made a friend who doesn't mind his company."

I don't know what to say to that, unsure if she's joking or not, so I just stay quiet and continue following her.

I'm glad she didn't pick up on the comment I made about Dort, but then again, a small part of me wishes she would have because I want to talk about it and be reassured I'm only imagining things.

We keep walking for another few minutes before the cabin finally comes into view. It's dark and looming and my pendandt pulses faintly, almost as if in warning, but we keep going until we're on the creaky front porch.

I wordlessly pull Wednesday's lock-picking kit from my pocket and hand it to her before turning around and making sure we're not being followed while she picks the lock.

Thing jumps off my shoulder and lands with a thud, skitting around the porch and climbing up to the window frame to peer inside the dark cabin.

I feel a gentle tug of irritation in my chest that I know is not my own, and glance over my shoulder to see Wednesday biting the inside of her cheek, struggling with the lock.

I go to offer some help even though I have no idea how to pick a lock when there's suddenly a faint click and the door swings open.

"I sometimes wonder if there's something you can't do," I mumble, which makes Wednesday glance at me with raised eyebrows.

"Are you seriously flirting with me right now?

I chuckle quietly and shake my head. "No, that was a genuine thought that's crossed my mind more than once now, but I guess if the shoe fits…" I wiggle my eyebrows playfully and manage to turn my body away a second later to avoid her hand swatting at my chest.

She mumbles something under her breath that I'm sure is some unserious threat before entering the cabin.

I follow after her, and hold the door a moment longer for Thing to come in too. It's dark and I instinctively reach for the lightswitch before Wednesday pulls out and turns on her flashlight.

Right. That's probably less conspicuous.

She shines it around the cabin and I scowl slightly at the morbid decoration all around the place that consists of antlers, old guns, framed shell casings, and hunting trophies.

Thing scuttles off, inspecting the couches around the fireplace, while Wednesday wanders around, letting the beam of the wander over everything.

I stay standing by the door, not liking this one bit.

"What are we even looking for?" I ask, watching Thing walk over a chess board and flicking the King piece off.

"I'm not sure," Wednesday admits, lost in thought as she keeps walking through the cabin.

I cross my arms and look around myself. My eyes having adjusted to the low light already, so I don't need a flashlight to see properly. However, when the beam of light travels over a cork board with pictures pinned to it, I freeze.

"Wait, go back."

I drop my arms and cross the cabin, joining Wednedsay's side in front of the board.

It's full of hunting pictures of Tyler and his dad, and the sight of their smiles makes my skin crawl since one of them is dead now and the other is in a Psych hospital for being a homocidal monster.

But that's not what caught my attention when I spotted it. No, something about the board looks off, and when Wednesday reaches forward and pulls on one of the corners I realize why.

It swings forward and I gape at all the newspaper articles and pictures pinned to the back of it.

"What the…" I frown and step closer, taking a closer look at everything over Wednesday's shoulder.

"Lois," she says, and my eyes follow the red strings attached to the newspaper clips up to bold, red letters written in marker, spelling out LOIS.

"Oh my God… What is this? Who the hell is Lois?"

Wednedsay turns with a raised eyebrow and I just shurg helplessly.

"I'm serious. What the hell is going on? The more we investigate, the less we actually know."

She softens slighlty and turns back around. "I know."

My eyes roam over all the newspaper cutouts and I realize they're all outcast obituaries, some of them dating back to fifteen years ago.

"They're all Willow Hill patients," Wednesday comments and I close my eyes briefly, knowing what that means.

The answers to who Lois is and why she's seemingly targeting outcasts is in Willow Hill.

Great. I thought I'd never have to go back there again.

Enid's life is on the line though, and if she's next on Lois' list for some reason, I'll do eveything in my power to prevent something from happening to her.

Wednesday must feel the same because the muscle in her jaw ticks in determination and Thing taps his fingers in irritation.

My head snaps up when my ears pick up on a rustling sound outside the cabin. I swallow thickly and feel my power rising within me, but as the seconds pass by, nothing happens.

It was probably just a bird.

I shake my head gently and focus back on Wednesday only to realize she's touching one of the newspaper clips, trying to use her abilities.

I hold my breath, ready to catch her in case she has a vision, but nothing happens and she drops her hand again, exhaling sharply.

I know better than to say anything about my being sure she'll regain her abilities soon because I can't possibly know that for certain, so I just stay quiet and help Wednedsay take down and collect all the newspaper clips.

No one will know it was us who took them. And it's not like Galpin or Bradbury will miss them because they're both dead.

My pendanat pulses again and I look up, seeing a wisp of a shadow on the other side of one of the windows.

"We have to go," I warn, closing my bag as soon as Wednesday's stuffed all the newspaper clips inside.

Surprisingly neither she nor Thing argue, and we wordlessly make our way back to the campside, leaving the cabin behind.

I'm so caught up in my own thoughts, going over all the new information we've gathered that I don't realize Wednesday is saying something until Thing -having found his way back on my shoulder- taps the shell of my ear.

"Hmm?"

"We're getting nowhere without my abilities," Wednesday fumes. "I have to get Goody's book of spells back."

I don't want to argue with her but I know Morticia would rather burn it than give it back.

"And how are you planning on getting it back?" I ask carefully, feeling Thing brace for the answer on my shoulder.

"Are you sure about this?" I ask quietly as I step up behind Wednesday with the white blindfold in hand.

She nods and pins the glass heart to her chest before adjusting her fencing gloves and rolling her shoulders back. "If I don't do this my mother will keep Goody's book of spells for good. At least this way I have a chance to get it back."

I sigh and reach around her, carefully putting the blindfold over her eyes and tying it together at the back of her head.

As it turns out, Wednesday's idea to get Goody's book back was to challenge her mother to a duelo-a-ciega, which I just now found out is a blindfolded fencing match where the goal is to pierce the glass heart fastened to your opponents chest.

Morticia, surprisingly, agreed and now Wednesday has to win because if she doesn't Morticia gets to burn Goody's book.

I know Wednesday is a good fencer, I've seen her fence before and the grace with which she does it is breathtaking. I know Morticia wouldn't have agreed to the duel, though, if she didn't think she could win, so she must be pretty good, too.

"Okay… Is this too tight?" I ask, adjusting the knot a little.

"No." Wednesday lifts one hand to tug on the blindfold a little. "Thank you."

It's so quiet, only I hear it and I glance across the torch-lined forest clearing to make sure Morticia is also putting on her blindfold before bending down and pressing a quick kiss to the crown of Wednesday's head.

"You're welcome. Now get that book back." I tap her hip encouragingly and step back, joining Thing, who's acting as a referee, on the side of the clearing.

It's just the four of us out here, and weren't it for the spell book that's at stake and could be the only reason we manage to save Enid, I'd be thrilled to see Wednesday going up against her mother.

The two of them get into position and I hold my breath when Thing rings his little bell, signaling the start of the duel.

Wednesday and Morticia begin circling each other, and for a split moment, I realize how similar and yet totally opposite the two of them are. They mirror each other's moves and when Wednesday goes for the first strike, Morticia dodges swiftly.

It's a back and forth that makes my chest tighten, especially when Wednesday spins away from Morticia's blade only to lunge at her a second later, missing the red glass heart on her chest by less than an inch.

"Come on…" I mumble through clenched teeth.

They keep going back and forth, apparently having found their match, but then- in a split second move after Wednesday dodges Morticia's blade by flipping out of the way- Morticia manages to pierce the glass heart on Wednesday's chest.

It only makes a small splintering noise, but it sounds like a gunshot in my ears as my heart sinks.

No.

Goody's book.

Wednesday freezes and rips off her blindfold, her eyes wide in shock and horror of the realization what she just lost.

Morticia looks almost apologetic as she lowers her sword. "I'm sorry, darling."

No. No. No.

I go to argue, maybe step in and try to talk some sense into Morticia and tell her about Wednesday's vision of Enid dying, but then Wednesday raises her sword and my heart stops.

What is she—

She flings the sword at Morticia- No, past Morticia, and my eyebrows shoot up in surprise when it flies past the older woman and right into Slurp's head, pinning the zombie against the tree behind him.

Where the fuck did he come from?

I was so focused on Wednesday, I didn't hear, see, or feel him coming.

He drops the axe he was carrying and I cross the field with Thing on my heels and pick up the axe, holding it out of reach of the still flailing zombie.

He almost… Morticia.

If Wednesday hadn't—

I whirl around to ask both Wednesday and Morticia if they're okay but stop when I see Morticia exhaling shakily and offering a grateful nod.

Wednesday returns the nod wordlessly and straightens up almost instinctively, her pride still in tact despite just having lost to her mother.

Shit. So much for Slurp being harmless.

‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆ ⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧

Not proofread yet bc I’m lazyyyy

No, no, no, no.

I hate this trip. I hate this day.

If Dort snooping around hasn't already been enough today, a group of military boy scouts showing up is just the cherry on top.

Apparently there was a mix up with the campground reservation, and now it's Nevermore against team boy scouts in a capture-the-flag kind of competition for who gets to keep the camp ground for the weekend.

Of course Dort was immediately on board with it when Wednesday suggested it, cutting off the boy scout leader in the middle of his speech about how the campground was theirs to keep.

And now, after teams have been assembled and the prize eggs have been crafted by the davinci students, they're battling it out in the woods, trying to see who can get the other's egg first and then sprint back to the campground to mount it on the firewatch tower.

I have absolutely no nerve for all of this, still shaken by Dort's obsessive questioning earlier, so I part from the onlooking crowd and walk into the forest unseen.

The further I get away from the campground, the quieter it gets, and only once even my enhanced hearing can no longer pick up on the cheering and competitive banter do I relax a little.

It's uncharacteristically warm today and the few sun rays managing to seep through the canopy above my head paint a pretty picture of shadown and light on the mossy ground.

It also smells like warm dirt and pine needles, and I take a deep breath relishing in it for a moment.

I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

Not regarding Wednesday or the investigation, but regarding Dort. His questioning didn't only evoke a long-forgotten sense of dread in me, but has re-awakened a question I've been pondering over ever since I found out what I am.

Are there any other Ægiryns out there?

It sounds almost impossible for there not to be any, but how come I haven't heard of them then?

Yes, they're probably hiding, too, but shouldn't I be able to feel them or sense them in a way

I mean, I can sense Wednesday, and a tiny part of her is Ægiryn.

What if I can only sense her because we're bonded though?

I have so many questions, and despite being surrounded by outcasts I feel more alone than ever.

It also stings a little that Wednesday never once considered me for the outcast team, but then again, I did avoid her earlier after my interaction with Dort and I'm sure she knows it would be too risky to put my abilities on display anyway.

I feel tears sting at my eyes and immediately shut my eyes, trying to get rid of the growing ache in my chest but it doesn't work.

It's all just too much.

Too much.

Too much.

Too much.

I open my eyes again and look down to see my hands trembling and my veins glowing gold.

Oh no.

I spin around, panicking, hoping no one is around, but luckily I'm still alone.

My chest continues tightening and my hearbeat pounds in my ears.

I have no idea what's happening, but it feels like I'm about to burst.

My pendant vibrates against my collarbone and pulses gold, and I clutch at it, trying to make it stop.

It seems to only worsen it though because as soon as I touch it, it gets so hot I let go of it with a surprised yelp, staring at my hand.

No.

No.

No.

Sweat beads my forehead and I feel a drop of it running down the side of my neck, my breath coming in short pants.

"I… Please," I gasp to no one in particular.

Please what?

Make it stop.

By this point, my hands are trembling so much, they look blurry and my heartbeat is so lout in my ears, it's almost deafening.

So I do the only thing I can think of doing, which is run.

I run without holding back, trying to escape anything and everything.

The trees pass me in a blur and I barely even feel the branches whipping agains my face when I pass through the underbush.

You're an Ægiryn.

… Last of your kind…

…Don't tell anyone…

Weems' words haunt me and I remember that the last time we saw each other before Thornhill killed her we'd gotten into a fight.

Ægiryn.

Ægiryn.

Ægiryn.

Lara…

The thought of my sister makes me sob mid run.

Yes, I spent the summer with her and I'm glad we're reunited, but we were forced to be apart for so long, I sometimes feel like I don't recognize her anymore.

She's all grown up now, and I hate that I missed most of it.

I keep running until the ground beneath me suddenly disappears and my stomach swoops as I fall.

I cry out and thrash around, disoriented, only to be enveloped by ice cold water a split second later.

It takes my breath away and shocks some sense into me as I kick up until my head breaks the surface and I look around, panting.

"Fuck."

I literally just fell off a small cliff and landed in a river.

Despite the weather being nice, the water is appropriately cold for this time of the year and I shiver immediately.

It's like my entire system has been rebooted though because I can't focus on anything other than just getting out of the water anymore.

There's no thoughts of Dort, Wednesday, Enid, Slurp, or Bianca left.

I wipe some water out of my eyes and slowly begin swimming toward the rocky shore, pulling myself out shakily as soon as I reach it.

I'm completely drenched so the first thing I do is take off my jacket, shirt, and pants and wring them out as best as I can.

I guess one of the perks of being a kid with what others might say are weird interests - aka an unhealthy obsession with outdoor survival tips and strategies- is that I know to do that before re-dressing to prevent losing too much body heat.

Yes, as soon as I put on my clothes again, they're not dry the way they were before, but they're also not drenched anymore and leeching out my body heat.

As I button up my shirt again, though, I pause, staring at my arm in fascination.

It's literally steaming and the longer I watch, the more the water droplets on my skin evaporate.

I frown and touch my arm, but it doesn't feel hot to my own touch.

"What the…" I touch my arm again, but, again, nothing.

Huh.

I continue re-dressing slowly, still shivering, before looking around to figure out how to get back to the campground.

I must have run pretty far because I can't hear any of the earlier commotion. The only sound I hear is the river water lapping at the shore and the birds chirping in the trees.

I sigh, and shove my hands into my damp pockets.

I don't know what just happened. I've never freaked out like that and I've never felt so out of control, either.

It's probably just stress…

I look up and map the position of the sun in the sky, orienting myself before turning and heading back to where I know the campground is.

I don't know what the outcome of the outcast vs. boyscout competition will be, but at this point I don't even care any more.

Whether we win or not, the chances of Wednesday and me sucessfully sneaking off to the Bull Pen are pretty low because her parents are around. Also, it seems like Dort has set his sights on me, so I have to be careful what I do so as to not raise suscpicions.

"Y/N! Where were you? We won! Wednesday— Wait, what happened to you? You look like a wet dog," Enid observes as she pounces over the second I emerge from the tree line.

I snort half-heartedly and keep walking, brushing past her. "Gee, thanks, Enid."

"Wait, no I didn't mean it like that- I'm sorry."

I pause and turn back, offering her a tight-lipped smile. "It's fine. I just slipped and fell into a creek in the forest. Nothing to worry about. And, hey, I'm glad you won."

I go to leave again, just wanting to take a shower and get into some dry clothes but Enid catches up with me and plants herself in my way. "Wait. What were you doing alone in the forest?"

I shrug and avert my eyes. "Just clearing my head."

Enid shifts and when I look up I see the frown on her face that matches the sudden worry radiating off her. "Are you alright?"

Am I alright? I don't even know anymore.

Dort is acting weird, and so is Bianca. Wednesday and I are investigating another murder linked to a one-eyed crow, Enid is prophesied to die, and I still can't seem to manage to get my powers under control.

Water literally just evaporated off my skin. And I keep bleeding every time Wednesday nicks me with her dagger.

"I don't know, Enid," I admit. Exhaustion washes over me and I blink rapidly to get rid of the tears burning in my eyes.

"Hey…" She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug despite my still wet clothes. "You can talk to me, you know that, right?"

I nod wordlessly and hug her back. She's warm and cozy, and even though she's done a few things over the last couple of weeks that I don't necessarily agree with, she's still my best friend.

Seemingly sensing I don't know how to articulate my feelings yet, she holds me tighter for a moment before pulling back, looking at me with sparkling eyes. "It's a shame you missed the competition. Wednesday was on fire."

Curiosity sparks in my chest, but I'm too tired for it to take hold so I just smile softly, for real this time, and say, "I bet she was."

Enid smirks knowingly and then adds, a little more seriously, "Also, Ajax and I talked, and it's over."

Glad for the topic change, I raise an eyebrow and supress another shiver when an evening breeze rushes through the campsite. "And you're okay?"

She nods. "I am. And he is, too."

I doubt he is completely fine with it because he did like Enid a lot, but if Enid says he seemed okay, then I guess I'll just have to take her word for it.

"Okay. Good. I'm glad you guys figured it out."

Another breeze blows past us, and this time, I can't help but tremble a little and Enid notices.

"You should probably go shower and change into some dry clothes."

I want to make a joke about her sounding like a mom, but I just can't find it in myself so, instead, I smile weakly and let her hug me one last time before heading to my tent.

I go through my stuff and grab my toiletries and fresh clothes, only to drop both at the sound of the tent flap behind me being yanked aside.

I spin around, feeling a rush of power course through me. "Wha—"

I freeze when I realize it's Wednesday and ball my hands into fists. "Wednesday… You scared me," I breathe.

I don't know why I didn't hear or sense her coming. Maybe I strained my powers too much? It's what happened last year too when Thornhill used my healing ability and Wednesday's blood to ressurect Crackstone.

Wednesday's entire posture goes rigid and her eyes narrow. "What's wrong with you? And why do you look like you've just been waterboarded?"

I shake my head and bend down to pick my stuff up again. "Nothing. You just caught me off guard. And I fell into a river in the forest."

I feel surprise course through her for a split second, but it vanishes almost as quickly as it appeared. "What river?"

I sigh and look up to find her frowning at me. "Just some river, I don't know." She looks like she's about to protest my nonexisten elaboration, so I add, "Enid told me you won against the wanna-be military boyscouts."

Wednesday's face is impassive, as always, but a muscle in her jaw twitches, showing her inner conflict of whether or not to take the bait and change the subject.

Much to my relief, she does and exhales, some of the tension leaving her body as her attentive eyes stay on me. "Did you expect anything else?"

That actually makes me smile a little, and I dare to step closer, taking in her team Nevermore outfit for the first time, which consists of a long-sleeved white shirt, a black t-shirt on top with a white Nevermore crest on her chest, and black athletic slacks.

"No, of course not," I say lowly, stepping even closer and tugging on the bottom of her shirt. "I like this look on you."

She raises an eyebrow and lifts her chin defiantly. "What? Brainless school spirit?"

I shake my head and raise my hand to touch her chin fondly. "No, you looking all athletic."

"I am athletic," she deadpans, not pulling away from my touch.

I melt and nod softly. "I know. I'm just saying…It's different from what you usually wear and I like it."

I'm sure anyone else would miss the faint dusting of pink that seeps into her cheeks, but I'm not anyone else. I also hear her heart stumble a little and feel the way her emotional walls falter.

"Don't get used to it," she whispers, still defiant before reaching up and pulling me down by the back of my neck for a quick peck.

It fills me with warmth I don't even think the shower I'm looking for will provide, but I pull back right as she goes to deepen it because I don't want to get her all wet.

"I'm proud of you," I admit quietly against her lips, not sure how she'll receive it.

A stuttered breath hits my cheek and I notice her swallowing thickly and kissing me again, this time a little more roughly, before stepping back. Her usually sharp eyes are softened, dancing between mine, and for a moment I swear she's about to say something, but then she doesn't.

All she says is, "Go shower. My parents are on such a high from Nevermore's win, they won't notice when we sneak off to the Bull Pen for a little bit."

Right. The Bull Pen.

I kind of forgot that was the whole reason we came along.

"I—" I hesitate because I know her parents aren't the only ones keeping an eye out for us- Dort…— but then I hear him calling for a celebration across the camp ground and decide he's not going to be a threat tonight. "Alright. I'll meet you behind the fire-watch tower in fifteen minutes."

She nods and leaves, the tent flap swaying in her wake.

I stay in place a moment longer, looking after her before going to shower. I don't know what it is about her, but the weight from before has been lifted off my chest and I feel like I can breathe properly again.

‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆ ⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧

Not proofread yet.

I breathe heavily and chase Wednesday's lips when she pulls back from our kiss only to wince a second later when she nicks my finger with her dagger.

Blood.

I groan in furstration and fall back onto my bed, throwing my arms over my eyes. "This isn't working."

Wednesday sighs and I hear her drop the dagger on the covers next to me. Her hands graze my knees from where she's standing between them at the bottom of the bed and I keep my eyes closed, swallowing the bitter taste of defeat.

"Yes, it is. You just have to keep your guard up."

I drop my arms off my eyes again and glare at her. "I don't even know what my guard is. I can't feel anything slipping before I get vulnerable."

She bristles at my tone so I sit up again and hold onto her hips before she can step away, adding, "I know you're just trying to help. I'm sorry. Let's try again."

Her irritation vanishes as quickly as it came and she raises a challenging eyebrow. "You just want to kiss me again, don't you?"

Heat creeps up my neck and even though that really wasn't the reason why I want to try again, I can't deny that I do want to kiss her again. "Maybe."

She rolls her eyes and I swear I can make out a faint smile on her lips right as she bends down again to press her lips against mine.

I get lost in the sensation, digging my fingers into her hips but before it can deepen too much she pulls back again, this time completely, and takes a seat next to me.

As usual, her posture is immaculate and her face is unreadable when she looks at me again, but I hear how her heart is beating just a bit faster than normally and her lips are slightly swollen from our kiss.

She also doesn't brush me off when I lean over to peck her shoulder and rest a hand on her thigh, my thumb moving back and forth an absent minded way.

"I mean it. Thank you for trying to help," I say quietly.

She doesn't answer but her expression softens the tiniest bit before she looks away as a different thought crosses her mind.

"What is it?"

She huffs. "I tried to steal back Goody's book of spells to regain my abilities after Thing blabbed and allowed my mother to take it, but she caught me."

I frown. "Isn't there any other way to get them back? Have you looked in the library yet? Maybe there are some other books—"

"Do you honestly think I haven't done that yet," she snaps which makes me draw back.

Seemingly alarmed by the look on my face, she swallows thickly and says, "All the psychic books Thing could get his grubby little fingers on are about controlling the ability. None mention losing abilities or regaining them."

I study her for a moment.

This isn't like her.

Yes, she obsesses over things but not to this extent.

"You're scared your powers are gone for good, aren't you?" I ask gently which makes her scoff and level a dirty look at me.

"Of course not. One doesn't just lose their powers."

I raise an eyebrow and when she looks away, that's all the answer I need.

"You're probably just exhausted," I comfort her gently, careful not to sound too pitying. "And if it's not just that, we'll figure it out."

I see a muscle in her jaw twitch as she keeps looking away but then she grazes her pinky over my hand on her thigh.

We sit in silence for a moment before I press another quick kiss to her shoulder which prompts her to look at me again.

"I think I have a new lead in the Galpin case."

I sit up straighter, surprised, and tilt my head in interest. "Really?"

She nods and shifts to pull something out of her uniform jacket.

It's a picture and I frown when she hands it to me.

It's old and has a yellow tint to it, depicting a simple cabin in the woods.

"Where did you get this?"

"Agnes took a bunch of stuff from Galpin's before the cops did a sweep of the house."

I scoff. "Of course she did. Don't you think she's getting a little ahead of herself. I mean she's only fourteen and—"

"Yes. Her lack of boundaries is infuriating and her fawning devotion is irksome, but it does have its perks having her around."

"I guess."

She pulls out something else and my eyes widen when I realize it's Galpin's phone.

Wednesday unlocks it - somehow having gotten her hands on the passcode- and pulls up the last saved voicemail from some guy named Carl Bradbury.

I glance at her and she quickly explains that he's the friend Galpin told her about that had been killed by the crows.

Then she taps the screen again to play the voice mail.

"They're on to me. If I don't make it, the evidence is safe in the Bullpen."

My eyes snap up. "Who is they? And what evidence? What could they have possibly been investigating that got them killed? And what does Enid have to do with all this?"

Wednesday shuts the phone off again and turns the picture in my hands. "I don't know yet. But look."

I look down and my eyes widen.

Scrawled over the back of the picture in neat letters is

"The Bullpen"

2015

Pine Crest

"Wait." I look back up only to be met with Wednesday's sparkling eyes.

Pine Crest.

That's a nature reserve outside of Jericho and it's fairly close to Camp Jericho, the town's official camping grounds where Dort has planned the field trip.

By the look of thinly veiled excitement on her face, I can tell Wednesday knows I've connected the dots and what she's planning on doing.

And because I told her we're in this together and I'd rather she tell me about her plans than just run off and do everything herself again, I just sigh and hand her back the picture.

"I never pegged you as a camper."

Her lips actually twitch in amusement as she slips the picture back into her pocket.

"What's not the love? Fishing with granades? Setting traps? Hunting at night?"

I know I should be used to her antics by now, but the way she says hunting at night sends a shiver down my spine.

"Hunting? You mean animals, right?"

She gets to her feet and in the dryest tone possible responds with, "Well no. Unless you consider Pugsley a little rat, which I wouldn't fault you for. He really needs to get waterboarded again soon."

I chuckle nervously because I know she doesn't really mean it -right?- and get to my feet too, following her to the door. It's already pretty late and while I would like her to stay I know we shouldn't make a habit of it unless we want to get caught eventually.

"You love Pugsley," I correct her with a chuckle which makes her scowl a little.

"Love is a very strong word."

I step closer and dip my head for a quick peck, whispering, "That wasn't a no."

She rolls her eyes and jabs me in the chest none-too-gently. "Careful."

I just smile and give her another kiss before opening the door and letting her leave.

"Attention!"

I sigh when Dort stops playing his trumpet and eye him with mild annoyance. He's standing on the rock Nevermore's werewolf statue is mounted on in the middle of the quad, and just called everyone to attention by playing that old-timey trumpet of his.

Don't get me wrong, so far he seems to be doing a good job as a principal -bringing back old Nevermore traditions and what not- but something about his over-the-top energy just rubs me the wrong way.

Bianca, who's standing next to me, also tenses slightly when his eyes roam over the gathering crowd, and I make a note to keep an eye on her a little. Something is going on with her and I have no idea what it is.

"It's time to heed the call to adventure!" Dort exclaims.

The crowd cheers and whoops and I cross my arms. I am not looking forward to this camping trip. Not just because I'm not a big fan of camping in general, but because of Wednesday's plan to sneak off to go and find the "evidence" at the "Bull Pen".

Who knows what will happen when we're out there.

And then there's the whole thing with Pugsley and Slurp, whom Pugsley has decided to just take with us.

I tried to talk him out of it but he said Slurp couldn't be left alone because he'd starve which made me glare at him and ask, "to death?".

Dort continues to drone on about outcast pride, and I try my best to listen but at some point, I just zone out again.

My eyes roam over the sea of students gathered around, briefly wondering where Wednesday is until I catch a glimpse of her on the other side of the quad where she's studying a map of the campground.

She's probably figuring out the best way to get to the Bull Pen…

Feeling eyes on her, she looks up and I nod in her direction, a gesture she returns before going back to studying the map while I take in her rather unusual outfit.

It's all black, of course, and while I'm used to her black boots and loose tailored slacks, I've never seen her in a black puffer vest before, much less a glossy black puffer vest.

It looks good, there's no denying it, and while it is a bit unusual for her, I like it a lot and it makes me wish we didn't have uniforms so I could see her express herself a bit more with her clothes.

Dort finally finishes his speech and people start filing out of the quad to get on the school buses that have already pulled up outside the school.

I go to join Wednesday, seeing her talking to Dort for some reason, but then my eyes land on Enid and Ajax.

Oh no.

They're standing by the food truck on the far side of the quad, and it looks like Ajax has Enid somewhat cornered.

My ears pick up on him noting how Enid has a lot of bags and how he knows how indecisive she can be - which is definitely a dig since he's not blind and has seen Enid sidle up with Bruno over the last couple of days- but before I get the chance to make my way over to them Ms. Capri intervenes.

Ajax excuses himself, looking like a kicked puppy and I have half a mind to go and comfort him, but I have too much to deal with already and it's not like we're best friends anyway, so I don't.

I'm Enid's friend, first and foremost, and I don't want to insert myself into her business.

"Y/N, you coming?"

My head snaps around to find Yoko and Davina beckoning me over.

I hesitate, glancing back at Enid and Ms. Capri, but they seem to be in a serious discussion, so I join Yoko and Davina, making another mental note to not only follow up with Bianca but also Enid.

"You good?" Yoko asks.

I nod and tug on the straps of my backpack. "Yup."

She eyes me over the rim of her sunglasses, obviously not buying it, but drops it while Davina starts rambling about her archery practice.

We board one of the buses and head to the back, avoiding the excited younger students up front who've already resorted to folding and throwing paper planes or shooting each other with rubber bands.

I take a seat by the window, blocking the space next to me with my bag for Wednesday while Davina and Yoko plop down on the bench on the other side.

I don't like this.

Not the field trip itself, per se, but my pendant hasn't stopped vibrating ever so faintly, giving me an ominous feeling.

I mean, what could go wrong? A bunch of outcast students in the wilderness with a principal who seems to encourage any rebellious activities as long as they're passed off as outcast pride.

Oh, and let's not forget the literal zombie Pugsley has decided to bring along, the social awkwardness surrounding Enid, Ajax, and Bruno, the weird tension between Bianca and Dort, or the fact that Wednesday and I are literally in the middle of a murder investigation. Again.

I'd say I don't know how I keep ending up in these situations, but the answer is obviously a certain stubborn raven-haired girl whom I've hopelessly fallen in love with.

Damn, Y/N. You're so whipped.

I sigh and put on the noise-cancelling headphones Wednesday got me for Christmas and put them on.

Everything goes quiet immediately and for a moment all I feel is relief. That is until my thoughts start to creep in again and I fall down a spiral about everything that could go wrong on this trip, so I take out my phone and put on some music instead of just sitting in silence.

I look out of the window and watch the other students continue filing onto the busses, a tiny smile tugging at my lips when I spot Wednesday among the last of them.

She notices she's being watched and looks up to find me already looking at her. Her expression doesn't change, and neither does her posture, but she immediately makes a beeline for the bus I'm on.

She's so set in her tracks, other students and teachers actually part to let her through and when she gets on the bus, the paperplanes and rubber bands stop flying until she's passed through. Then, all the mayhem continues.

I take my bag off the bench next to me so she can sit down, offering her a small smile and a soft, "Hey."

She says something, but it goes over my head because of my headphones, so I take them off and say, "Come again?"

She frowns, realizing I turned on the noise-cancellation. "I understand your need to drown out this hellscape one would call a school bus, but I've never actually seen you wear the headphones in public before."

Her dark eyes dart between mine, assessing every micro expression on my face, and I know I can't lie to her - about anything, neither my feelings, nor Enid or Bianca or Pugsley or Slurp- so I just say, "I'm just having a moment, but I'm fine."

Her lips purse slightly, and under other circumstances I'd be touched by the care concealed in her eyes, but I really don't want to talk about it at the moment so I make sure no one is watching before quickly tucking a piece of her bangs behind her ear and mumbling, "I promise, I'm okay."

She bites the inside of her cheek and exhales slowly, nodding.

"So," I say, angling my body to face her directly and draping my arm over the bench behind her, careful not to cross the PDA line too much since we're in public. "What were you saying before?"

She huffs and crosses her arms. "That Dort is a nuisance I could gladly live without."

I chuckle. "Why? Did he say something?"

"Nothing of importance," she deadpans and after that we sit in comfortable silence as the busses start and we move out.

I thought things couldn't get worse, but apparently they can.

On top of literally everything else I already have to worry about, Wednesday's parents' have decided to chaperone for the trip.

Now, usually I wouldn't mind because I actually like them, but Wednesday and I are trying to sneak off to Galpin's cabin at some point during the weekend and Morticia and Gomez being here makes it a lot more difficult because they know Wednesday and that there has to be a reason why she decided to come in the first place.

Also, Wednesday and Morticia aren't on good terms at the moment because Morticia won't return Goody's book of spells to Wednesday, who claims to have a right to it.

The moment we got off the bus and Wednesday saw her mother the air almost literally went ice cold, so I quickly excused myself, not wanting to get caught up in any crossfire between them, and went to help Enid set up her tent.

Now I'm struggling to assemble my own tent while Wednesday works on hers a couple feet away, seemingly not struggling at all while I wrestle with the various poles and hooks of mine, trying to make it stand upright without it collapsing in on itself the way it has done over a dozen times in the last few minutes.

When Wednesday initially set her things down next to me, quietly fuming because of the obvious argument she'd had with her mother, I went to help her, but she was in such a foul mood I immediately backed off again when she said through gritted teeth, "I am not some damsel in distress, so if you so much as dare to help in an attempt to be chivalrous I will chop your hand off."

I didn't take it personally, of course, because I know her mood has nothing to do with me, but I did back up and let her do her own thing, which I must admit might have been for the best because I'm starting to think putting up a tent is not one of my otherwise many talents.

Wednesday manages to finish setting up her tent and enters it with her bags, while I continue struggling, almost breaking one of the poles in frustration when my tent collapses yet again.

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" I curse, only to flinch a second later when Dort appears next to me. "I- shit- sorry, I mean, not shit, but you know—"

Dort laughs soflty and cuts me off with a dismissive wave. "Don't worry. It's okay. I get it. Tents, huh?"

Surprised my cursing didn't land me in detention, I straighten up a little and watch him bend down to pick up one of the tent flaps to rearrange the poles. "I- Yeah… That stupid thing seems to have a vendetta against me."

Dort laughs again, and it almost sounds like a bark, making me flinch at the volume. "I think so, too, I've been watching you struggle with this for the last twenty minutes now."

He looks over his shoulder to shoot me what I think is supposed to be a well-meaning smirk, but it only ends up creeping me out.

My pendant also pulses once and I swallow thickly, not liking the hyper-happy energy radiating off him.

I try my best not to let the irritation show on my face though and force a little laugh. "Yeah, not my best moment."

He laughs again and actually manages to get my tent to stand, securing it with the hooks and everything before turning around and wiping imaginary dirt off his hands.

"There you go. All done."

Embarrased I didn't manage to do it myself, I smile sheepishly and rub the back of my neck. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He claps me on the shoulder and I flinch. He either doesn't notice it or ignores it because he wipes a pine needle of my sleeve before stepping back again, beaming. "It's Y/N, right?"

I look around, hoping someone might be able to notice how uncomfortable this situation is and maybe jump to my rescue, but the spot Wednesday and I chose is a little secluded from the main camp ground.

"I- Yes, sir," I respond stiffly, making him laugh again.

"Sir? Who are you calling sir? I'm not that old. Do I look that old?"

I shift on my feet, not liking the way his excitement suffocated my powers. It's almost as though he's somehow projecting it onto me, but that's not possible. I've never heard of a power like that before and I already know he's a pyrokinetic.

"I- No. I guess not, sorry."

He shrugs good-naturedly and waves me off. "Don't apologize, I'm just pulling your leg. "

I force another smile and glance past him in the hopes of seeing Wednesday coming out of her tent, but she stays inside, probably not paying any attention to us out here and I instinctively take a step back.

"So tell me," he goes on without missing a beat, "What kind of outcast might you be? I've heard there's something special about you, but no one really seems to be able to put a finger on it."

I freeze and meet his piercing blue eyes, not liking the curiosity shining in them one bit.

No one's ever asked what I am like this. Ever. I guess people know I'm powerful because Weems gave me my own room and Wednesday and I managed to take down Crackstone, Thornhill, and Tyler, but I thought there was an unspoken rule among outcasts to just mind your own business.

"Uh…"

He watches me with growing curiosity that borders on obsession, and I take another step back, clearing my throat.

That seems to snap him out of it because he flashes me another too quick smile and says, "Are you a mind reader? Because if you are, I promise I won't tell."

A mind reader? Is that even a thing?

I guess sensing emotions can be a form of mind reading, so I just swallow thickly and mumble, "In a way, yeah."

Everything in me is screaming at me to turn around and leave, and not entertain him the way I am, but that would just look weird and isn't there this thing where when you're obviously hiding something people are even more adamant on finding out about it?

He straightens up, obviously not having expected that, and eyes me intently, his smile fading for a split second before it snaps back into place like a mask. "Well, well, well. Isn't that something…"

I don't say anything and don't even bother faking another smile. "I guess."

"Huh." He holds my gaze for a moment longer before finally stepping back and gesturing at my tent. "Alright then, I guess you're all set for now."

It takes everything in me to stay polite when I say, "Mmhmm. Thanks again."

"You're welcome. I meant it when I said outcasts stick together." He pumps his fist half heartedly and laughs again but this time it sounds a little strained.

I hum in acknowledgement again and watch him until he steps back awkwardly, turning around and walking away.

What the hell was that?

If I didn't like him before, I definitely don't like him now.

Something is up with him and it's unsettling that I can't pinpoint what it is.

Does it have something to do with Bianca? Is that why she's so weird around him?

I stare after him, not liking the fact that he's obviously snooping around about what I am.

Then, movement from the corner of my eye catches my attention though and my eyes land on Wednesday exiting her tent.

She's still annoyed, but it's simmered down since she threatened to cut off my hand, and she actually pauses when she sees me standing perfectly still staring straight ahead at seemingly nothing.

"Have you been possessed?" she asks with a raised eyebrow.

Normally I'd joke and play along, but I'm still shaken by what just happened with Dort, so I just shake my head and say no before crawling into my tent, making it clear I don't want to talk.

‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆ ⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧

I manage to sneak out of Ophelia Hall before Enid wakes up - because Thing pokes my cheek in warning until I wake up - only to stop in my tracks when I hear a familiar voice hissing my name as I cross the courtyard.

"Pugsley?"

The boy steps out from behind a colum and waves me over, his eyes darting around in mild alarm.

I look around with a frown, too, even though we're alone, and approach him.

"What's up? Why are you up so early?" I ask, noting he's wearing his uniform.

"I-I need your help," he says quietly, making me raise an eyebrow.

So he's not gonna comment on my pajamas? Ok.

I hug myself to ward off the chill of the morning and pull up my shoulders. "Okay?"

He bites the inside of his cheek, hesitating. "I-It's probably best if I just show you."

Huh?

"Should I get Wedn-"

"No!"

I flinch in surprise and gawk at him.

"I mean- No, please, don't. If she finds out she's gonna-"

"Kill you?" I suggest and he nods.

I sigh and check my watch. There's a lot of time before breakfast or class, and if he's coming to me for help - of all people- who am I to say no?

After all, I did promise him I'd be there for him if he ever needed something.

"Okay, fine. Show me. But it better not be a dead body or something because I don't have the mental bandwith to deal with something like that right now."

I already have to deal with Enid's impending doom and a stalker, murder crow that seems to be connected to it.

Pugsley cringes and mutters something that sounds a lot like it's not exactly dead, which makes me pause and say what but he just shrugs me off and begs me to follow him.

I regret not asking if I can go to my room first and change when we leave the school and head toward the outskirts of the grounds where I remember Eugene's bee shack being because the wind is biting cold and my pajama's aren't exactly made for this kind of weather.

The sky is just turning pink and the last few leaves on the trees rustle in the breeze in the otherwise quiet morning.

"If there's a bee emergency, I think you should be showing Eugene, not me," I tell Pugsley as the bee shack comes into view and it's obvious we're heading toward it.

He glances over his shoulder. "It's not a bee emergency."

I let out an exasperated huff because I'm cold and over him being so cryptic, but then I step into the bee shack with him and what I see makes my blood run cold and my stomach drop.

Chained to the beam in the corner is what I can only describe as a corpse, only it seems to be undead and it looks up when it hears us enter.

It's face has slothed off due to years of decay, leaving behind a a grotesque visage with stringy wiry hair. There's also a gaping hole in the side of it's skull but I don't dare to look at it any close because the sight of a maggot crawling out of it makes me want to barf.

I ball my hand into a fist and press it to my lips in an attempt to keep the nausea at bay. "Pugsley- I don't- What is- How- I told you no dead bodies!"

Pugsley smiles sheepishly and gestures at the corpse who's started snappig its teeth at me. "Technically, Slurp is not dead so-"

"You gave that thing a name?" I exclaim, stepping back when Slurp starts pulling on his chains, his rotting eye's set on me like I'm his next meal.

"Well, yeah." Pugsley's eyes shine with glee and for a moment it reminds me a lot of Wednesday when she told me all about catching and scalping her favorite serial killer.

I soften a little and put my fist down again, warily glancing back and forth between Eugene and Slurp.

"Okay, so apart from the obvious-" I glare at him slightly- "what's the problem? Where did you even find…him?"

"Well, he's the boy from under the skull tree. I went out there the night of the bonfire and accidentaly reanimated him."

I pinch the bridge of my nose and shake my head. That boy is supposed to be a myth, but apparently everything around here that is supposed to be a myth is real. Including me, but that's beside the point.

"Ok, and?"

"Well, you know about that field trip next week, right?"

Oh no, absolutely not. I already know what he's trying to ask and it's absolutely not happening.

"I am NOT looking after your pet zombie for you." I shoot him a look that screams I'm questioning his sanity.

"But-"

"Besides," I cut him off. "I'm not staying behind. I'm going on the trip, too."

He frowns and I try not to flinch when Slurp bares his teeth in my direction again. "But- I just thought… Wednesday isn't going, so I thought you wouldn't either."

I pause.

She's not coming? I guess I should have known. It's kind of a silly tradition and Mroticia and Gomez will be parent chaperones, so of course Wednesday wouldn't want to go.

"I- You know what, I don't know if I'll go yet, but my answer stays the same. This-" I gesture at slurp- "is crazy. We should tell someone. We don't have to tell Dort but-"

"No, please don't."

I inhale sharply, ready to talk some sense into Pugsley, but then I notice his wide, almost grief stricken eyes.

"Please, don't," he repeats quieter, averting his eyes. "Slurp is my friend."

"Pugsley-"

"No. He is. He might as well be my only friend. I thought- I thought Nevermore was going to be different, but ever since coming here, I've felt lonlier than ever. Eugene hates me, Wednesday won't even look at me and-"

Without thinking I pull him into a hug. "Okay. Okay. I won't tell anyone. For now, at least. I'll figure something out, okay?"

I step back and dip my chin to look at him. Despite shooting up over the summer, he's still a little shorter than me.

He nods and smiles sadly and I pat him on the shoulder. "Thank you."

A shiver runs through me, reminding me I'm still in my pajamas. "We should head back before anyone else wakes up."

Pugsley nods and leads the way back to the school. I throw one last glance at Slurp and try to ignore the way my powers surge ominously when we make eye contact before I pull the shack's wooden door shut behind me and following Pugsley.

What has he gotten himself into?

"I kissed Bruno."

I drop my pencil and Enid who's anxiously watching me for a reaction. We're in the middle of art class and because Wednesday has a free period, I'm sitting next to Enid, who, until now, was quietly sketchin in her notebook.

"I-Huh? Enid!" I hiss, making sure no one listens to us, which they're not because they're all listening to music and chatting in small groups while drawing or forming clay sculptures.

"I know, I know. Ajax-"

"No." I cut her off firmly and turn in my seat to face her directly. "I told you- I told you to just end things with Ajax if you don't feel the same way about him any more but going behind his back and cheating on him? That's just…" I sigh and trail off, picking up my pen again. "I love you Enid, but that's just a dick move."

She shrinks in her seat, guilt flooding through her, and wrings her hands together in her lap. "I know… I just- I'm sorry."

I frown. "Why are you apologizing to me?"

"Well- You're mad at me, aren't you?" she says quietly, her blue eyes wide and scared.

I shake my head and bite back my frustration before tilting my head and offering her a soft look. "I'm not mad at you. I mean, at the end of the day it's none of my business who you kiss or don't kiss. You're a good person, Enid, and I know everyone makes mistakes, but this is just something I didn't expect from you."

She averts her eyes in shame and I wonder if I was a little too harsh when I hear her sniffle softly.

"Hey." I touch her knee. "Enid."

She shakes her head and keeps her eyes on the floor. "No, you're right. I messed up. I-"

I gently tug on her arm and pull her to her feet. "No. Come on."

"Where are we-"

"Professor Miller, I'm taking Enid to the nurse, okay? She's having some stomach issues."

Our art teacher looks up from behind his desk -his oversized glasses magnifying his eyes comically- and nods nonchalantly before turning back to his own work.

"Y/N." Enid tries to protest but I just pull her out of class with me and lead her into an empty classroom down the hall.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," I start before she can say anything else. "I mean it. You're a good person, and it's not too late to make things right. It's just- This school year just started and I'm already caught up in Wednesday's murder mystery escapades and Pugsley-" I cut myself off when I remember I'm not supposed to tell anyone about Slurp- "is just being Pugsley, I guess. I'm sorry, okay? For being so harsh. You can always come and talk to me, you hear me?"

Enid's tear filled eyes dart back and forth between mine for a second before she surges forward and throws her arms around me in a bone crushing hug.

It makes my powers act up because the proximity intensifies the way I pick up on the storm of emotion raging on inside of her, but I hug her back nonetheless.

I get the sense that there's something else brewing underneath her guilt about Bruno and Ajax, but I've pushed her enough today, so I don't comment on it and just hold her until she pulls back, wiping her cheeks with a sheepish smile.

I smile back and squeeze her elbow reassuringly, turning to head back to class but stop when she lets out a breathless little laugh, saying, "You know, you and Wednesday weren't as slick as you thought the other night."

I freeze and feel my pendant pulse once, mirroring my surprise. "W-what?"

Enid smirks, almost giving me whiplash with how quickly her emotions change, and pokes my chest teasingly. "I know you snuck in and slept in her bed with her. I saw you when I went to the bathroom right before you snuck out again."

I feel like my brain short ciruits for a moment and simply stare at Enid for a solid hearbeat before she bursts out laughing, smacking my shoulder. "Relax. I don't mind. It was actually super cute. I've never seen Wednesday so-"

"Domestic?" I offer, still cringing with the knowledge that we've been found out.

"No. At peace." Enid's smirk softens into a smile. "Even though she definitely keeps a dagger under her pillow and would slit anyone's throat if they dared to come too close."

I can't help but choke out a laugh and agree quietly. "Yeah…"

A comfortable silence settles over us for a moment before she asks something that makes my heart stutter.

"Do you love her?"

My pendant pulses in answer even though I stay quiet for a heartbeat longer. "I mean, it's not like- I haven't really- I-"

"It's okay, you don't have to explain yourself ." Enid jumps in and I exhale sharply, swallowing thickly. "Should we get back to classe?"

I nod wordlessly and follow her back out of the empty classroom, my mind running wild with what she just asked.

Do I love Wednesday?

I think I do. I mean, I literally died for her and she's literally bonded to me, but then again, I wouldn't dare say it out loud.

Yet.

Because if I actually say it, it makes it real, and if Wednesday doesn't feel the same way—

No.

I can't think like that.

I love her. I know I do. And that's enough for me.

‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆ ⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧

I know this is a bit of a filler guys but it’s important before we get to the field trip.

Also, I’m exhausted right now which is why I’m not writing 4-6k word chapters

That's why we practice…

Easier said than done. It's been two days now and Wednesday and I have taken every opportunity we could find to practice. It's the only useful thing to do with our time besides attending class since the stalker's been quiet, Morticia won't give back Goody's book of spells, and there's been no more clues regarding Galpin's murder or the mysterious crow that seems to be connected to everything.

Every time Wednesday's close to me and touches my cheek or kisses me, I feel my insides melt. And then she nicks me with the dagger and I bleed.

I have no idea what my guard is, much less how to keep it up, which has been frustrating to say the least.

Wednesday is pretty adamant about my getting it, though, so she's making me practice over and over again.

The only thing that takes the sting out of my repeated failure is the fact that Wednesday's touchier than usual and I'm getting a lot more kisses.

I skip up the stairs, intent on going to Ophelia Hall to check on Wednesday and Enid since both of them didn't show up to dinner only to run into Bianca of all people when I round the corner.

"Sorry, my bad." I apologize with a soft smile.

"It's okay."

I'm about to move past her without another word when I feel overwhelming tension radiating off her. She just came out of Dort's office, so something must have happened between them. I don't want to pry too much, but checking in won't hurt so I ask, "You good?"

Her eyes widen slightly before she averts her gaze, chuckling miserably. "You know, I'm surprised I didn't figure it out sooner."

I raise an eyebrow. "Figure what out?"

"That you're an Ægiryn." She looks up and smiles sadly. "I always thought you were just good with people, even if you kept to yourself most of the time. But you can literally read minds, so —" "I can't read minds," I cut her off quietly, making sure no one's around who could have overheard her.

"Minds, emotions, intentions… It's all the same," she says, lowering her voice too.

I let out an amused breath and nudge her gently. "Not really, but anyway. What's going on? Are you okay? What were you doing in Dort's office?"

She promised not tell anyone what I am, and I still trust her, but it caught me off guard that she brought it up again unprompted.

"Yeah… Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a talk since he's appointed me the student liaison of the school's fundraising committee." Her smile turns bitter, and I know there's something she's not telling me, but I don't want to push any further than I already have, so I drop it.

"Oh, okay. Sounds like a big deal…"

She hums in agreement and I don't know what else to say so I just say, "Well, if you need any help come find me."

"Thanks, Y/N." She presses her lips into a thin line and squeezes my elbow in thanks before brushing past me.

I watch her go until she rounds a corner and make a mental note to check on her a little more often from now on before continuing my trek to Ophelia Hall.

When I get to Wednesday and Enid's room though, it's empty and I get the sinking feeling that something happened.

I pull out my phone and call Enid, but the call immediately goes to voicemail.

"What the…?"

I look around for any sign of where they could be, but there's nothing.

I frown and close my eyes, using my last resort in an attempt to locate them… Wednesday's heartbeat.

It's across the school and at first it's steady but then, out of nowhere, it jumps and my eyes fly open.

Something is going on.

Without thinking, I dart back out of the room and follow the heartbeat all the way to the destroyed clocktower on the other side of the school.

I hear shouting which sounds a lot like Enid and freeze for a second before deciding to take the stairs instead of the rusty old elevator.

I take them two at a time without breaking a sweat, only to freeze when I reach the top and take in the scene unfolding in front of me.

Lying on the metal-grate floor on one of the tower's walkways are Enid and Bruno, chained to each other, back to back. Suspended above them are a bunch of gleaming swords and knifes which are attached to a metal platform that is slowly but surely being lowered. There's almost less than a foot left between them and the piercing blades and I panic.

"Enid?!" I hurry onto the walkway and grab a hold of the edge of the platform, but it's too heavy for me to hold up all the way.

Enid's panicked eyes snap to me and Bruno, whose back is facing me, strains his neck to also look at me.

"Y/N!"

I grit my teeth at the wobble in Enid's voice and fail to bite back a sarcastic retort when Bruno whimpers, "Do something!"

"Are you blind? I'm trying!" I look around, panicking. "Where is Wednesday?"

Before either of the werewolves can answer, I hear the familiar tap of Thing's fingers and look down, spotting him and Wednesday through the holes in the metal grate on the level below.

They're surrounded by a bunch of books and Wednesday's scanning over all the titles, seemingly calm but her racing heart and palpable panic tell a different story.

There's also a typewriter on a small table between the stacks of books and I frown.

"What the fuck is going on? Why aren't you jamming the mechanism?" I shout.

The platform keeps lowering despite my grip on it and I groan in frustration. I can see the cogwheels connected to the platform's chains turning, but I'm too far away to jam them and I can't risk letting go of the platform even though I can't really hold it.

What is this? How did they get into this situation? Was this the stalker's doing?

"Wednesday!" I roar when she doesn't answer me regarding the mechanism.

She keeps looking at the book titles, and that's when I realize she's not doing it just for fun. She's trying to solve some kind of riddle, which I'm guessing is the key to stopping this whole thing.

"Enid, what's —" I pause and my hand shoots out abruptly when I sense something right next to me.

My fingers close around what feels like fabric and I look to my right, stunned when I don't actually see what I'm holding for a good few seconds before Agnes, the red-headed freshman who idolizes Wednesday, appears with wide eyes.

And then it clicks. She's the stalker. She's also a vanisher, which explains how she managed to evade Wednesday all this time.

"You," I seethe, holding onto her collar with one hand while keeping a hold on the slipping platform with my other. "What are you doing? Make it stop!"

I order, but she's frozen in shock and delight. The former being my fault and the latter being due to the tense situation since she seems to be einjoying it.

Wednesday's eyes flicker up for a moment, and I feel the surprise hit her, but then she refocuses on the books and a moment later she types something onto the typerwriter which actually makes the whole mechanism screech to a halt right as the tip of the longest blade grazes the lapel of Enid's uniform jacket.

Everyone except Agnes lets out a sigh of relief and I only hesitantly let go of the platform when it starts rising again.

I whirl around and glare at Agnes. "What the actual—" "Fuck!" Enid cuts in, breathlessly fighting against the chains.

Bruno tries to shrug them off, but it doesn't work, so I shove Agnes aside and help them get free.

Wednesday and Thing join us as I help Enid to her feet, letting Bruno get up himself, and then we all turn to Agnes who looks like she doesn't know whether to be smug or scared.

"Happy prank day, Wednesday," she says and I roll my eyes.

"I can't believe my crazed stalker is an invisible thirteen-year-old," Wednesday drawls in disbelief, stepping in front of me to face Agnes properly.

"We haven't been properly introduced," Agnes says, regaining some confidence and clasping her hands together in front of her. "My name is Agnes DeMille, your number one superfan."

Enid, Bruno and I stare at Agnes in a mix of fury and disbelief and while I can't see Wednesday's face I hear her exhale in exasperation. I also reach out with my powers to feel her anxiety and worry fading and turning into annoyance.

"You don't seriously expect me to believe you pulled off this elaborate prank on your own," she challenges which only makes the redhead to smile smugly.

"Of course not. I had a little help from some Davincis. After I blackmailed them with some inriminating Snapchat pics- Perks of being invisble. I knew that if I came up with the most twisted game, I'd get your attention.I hope it's lived up to your standards."

I cross my arms and glare at her. The audacity… And all in the name of what? Impressing Wednesday?

I stay quiet since this is clearly something Wednesday is capable of handling herself, but Enid scoffs and marches past us, bumping into Agnes on the way to the old elevator.

"You're such a psycho, you know that, right?"

Bruno, seemingly not knowing what to say, grimances and follows Enid.

I glance at the back of Wednesday's head, waiting for her to chastise Agnes for the stunt she just pulled, but she doesn't. Instead she says, "You almost burned my novel at the Founder's Pyre."

"That was just the appetizer. This was the main course." She gestures around with an almost manic look on her face and this time I can't help but scoff myself.

"Okay, that's enough. You sound like a James Bond villain." I draw myself up to my full height and level a withering glare at her. "If you ever pull something like that again…"

I trail off, figuring an open-ended threat will probably be more effective. But Agnes doesn't even look at me. She's still looking at Wednesday with wide, hopeful eyes.

Thing tugs on my pants and I give him a curt nod before he scrambles up my body to perch on my shoulder.

He's surprisingly calm considering the situation, which makes me take a steadying breath myself.

Agnes, despite being the stalker, is fairly harmless, and she has nothing to do with Galpin or Enid's prophecized death.

I focus on calming my still pounding heart only for my attention to snap back to Agnes when she pulls out Glapin's phone after clarifying she had nothing to do with his death and that she only ever wanted to be Wednesday's friend.

"I took this as a souvenir," she says, handing it to Wednesday who snatches it out of her hand. "I already scrolled thorugh all his texts and emails."

Wednesday eyes the phone for a second before eyeing Agnes suspiciously. "So if you didn't kill him, who did?"

Agnes shrugs and she tilts her head hopefully, admiration shining in her eyes. "I don't know, but I can help you find out."

Absolutely not.

I go to step forward but Thing tugs on my collar in silent warning to let Wednesday handle it.

I scowl but don't do anything, letting a heavy silence fall over us before Wednesday pockets the phone and wordlessly walks past her to join Enid and Bruno in the waiting elevator.

I follow her, not taking my eyes off of Agnes in case she decides she's not done impressing Wednesday yet, and squeeze in behind Wednesday, grazing my hand over her lower back where neither Bruno and Enid nor Agnes can see.

She leans into it almost imperceptably and that's enough to let me know she's fine before Agnes approaches the elevator too with a tentative smile.

"Got room for one more?" she asks and this time I don't stop myself from acting.

I huff and reach over Wednesday's shoulder to slide the old, metal grate door shut right in front of her face.

"Wannabes take the stairs," Enid spits and I agree with a quiet grunt

The elevator screeches to life and we descend with Agnes watching us with a dejected look that almost makes me pity her.

What the hell just happened?

It's late, but after what happened with Agnes earlier, I can't sleep so I sneak out of my room and make my way through the deserted school until I get to the moonlit courtyard.

It's pretty cold, the last warmth of the summer slowly but surely vanishing and making room for the chill of fall, making me shudder as I make my way across the courtyard unseen.

There's a howl in the distance and I freeze for a split second, focusing on any other sounds nearby, but my ears don't pick up anything else, so I refocus on the massive brick wall in front of me.

I reach up until I find a good hold and then start climbing.

Admittedly, it's not the safest way to get to Ophelia Hall, but I didn't want to risk running into any teachers after curfew. I also don't mind the fresh air and the little bit of effort it takes to climb the wall to their balcony.

My breaths are steady, even as I keep climbing, and I make it to the top in no time, dusting my hands off on my sweatpants as soon as I make it over the balustrade.

Wednesday's and Enid's room is dark, but as soon as I approach the round, spider-web window, a small light turns on and I can't help but smile softly when I see Wednesday sitting up in bed with a frown.

She looks around and at first her eyes sweep over me, uncomprehending, but then they snap back to me, shining with surprise.

She glances at Enid who's still asleep on her side of the room, and then swings her legs out of bed before padding to the window without making a sound and opening it for me.

Her hair is still in it's braids, but it's sleep mussed, and I'm surprised to see that while she stuck to her long, black silk pajama bottoms, she's wearing one of my plain gray shirts as a top instead of the matching silk button up.

It's a little oversized on her, but it looks great and makes my stomach flutter pleasantly.

"What are you doing?" she hisses, pulling me inside with her.

The room is warm and peacful and smells like a mix between Enid's bubblegum shampoo - that she swears is great for her hair and coat - and Wednesday's cedarwood bodywash.

"Sorry, I couldn't sleep," I confess, giving Thing a small wave when he sleepily peeks out of his little house on Enid's side of the room.

He wiggles his finger back in greeting before retreating again.

"So you decided to scale the school walls for fun?" she deadpans and even though the surprise on her face has been replaced by her mask of nonchalance, I can sense the slight worry swirling around inside her chest.

I shake my head and reach out to fix her messy bangs a little. "No. I just wanted to see after what happened earlier you without risking detention."

She glares at me and grabs my wrist, putting an end to my ministrations. "So you'd rather risk falling to your death instead?"

I just shrug even though I know the fall wouldn't have killed me, which makes her soften visibly.

She sighs and rolls her eyes, muttering under her breath, "How romantic…"

I grin and let her pull me toward her bed, making sure to keep quiet so as to not wake Enid who's still snoring softly.

She climbs back into bed and sits back agains the headboard, crossing her legs, while I take a seat on the edge, pulling one of my legs up to sit on my ankle.

The low light of her bedside lamp casts shadows across her face, making her look tired and I can't help but tug on the fabric of her pants to get her attention.

"Are you okay?" I ask quietly which makes her frown.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

I sigh and rest my hand on her calf. "Well, you know, because of that little stunt Agnes pulled earlier."

She scoffs and looks at her folded hands in her lap "I've been buried alive before, which was quite enjoyable, might I add... It would be an insult to even attempt to compare what Agnes did to that."

I shuffle closer and dip my head to catch her eye. "Maybe, but she endangered Enid, not you. That's different."

Dark eyes meet mine and I know I hit a nerve because she looks away again a second later, one of her hands reaching up to touch the ring on the necklace around her neck.

It's the Stillmark I gifted her for Christmas- the one Crackstone stole from that Ægyrin boy all those centuries ago.

"I know you're worried about her because of your vision. I am, too," I whisper. "But I will do everything in my power to protect her- And you, of course. I promise. Nothing will happen to you two."

She looks up again with her guards fully down and I turn my hand on her calf over when I feel her pinky brush against my knuckles so she can slip her fingers between mine.

"It's immoral to make a promise you can't keep," she says, her voice cracking in an uncharacteristic way and her worried eyes flickering to Enid's side of the room.

I smile softly and run my thumb over hers. "It's a good thing you don't care about morals then."

Her eyes snap back to mine but despite looking like she wants to refute my point, she drops it because she knows I'm right.

I mean, she does care about morals, just not the ones society tells her to care about.

She's also finally gotten it through that thick skull of hers that we're in this together and that I'm with her no matter what.

Silence settles over us and I continue to hold her hand, enjoying the soft contact after everything that happened earlier because while I was worried about Enid - and Bruno, but only because Enid seems to have taken a liking to him - I was also sick to my stomach worrying about her.

After all, she wasn't in her room when I went looking for her and I thought something had happened to her before I tracked her down by her frantic heartbeat.

Enid lets out a sleepy hum and I freeze when she shuffles around. She doesn't wake up, but it makes me check the time on my phone and I realize I've already stayed longer than I'd planned.

"I should probably get back to my own room," I mumble, moving to get up but Wednesday stops me by tugging on my hand.

"I'd rather push you off the balcony myself than watch you climb back down in the dark."

I raise an eyebrow. "So, what do you want me to do? If I leave through the door I'll get caught by a teacher."

She shakes her head and lets go of my hand to get under the comforter again. "No. They only patrol the hallways until two in the morning. After that they go to bed as well."

"It's still three hours until then though," I argue quietly.

What does she expect me to do? Just hang around?

I'm tired and I actually do want to go to bed myself. After everything that happened today—

My eyes go wide when Wednesday lifts the comforter and says, "Well, what are you waiting for?"

She wants me to sleep in the same bed as her?

I swallow thickly, trying not to think about all the serious consequences this couls have.

It's not like we'd be doing anything inappropriate, and it wouldn't be the first time we're sharing a bed, but Enid is right there and if a teacher catches us…

I must have wordlessly stared at Wednesday for a couple of seconds too long because she sighs and shoots me a pointed look. "I'm starting to wish I had just pushed you off the balcony."

I exhale sharply, half amused, half annoyed, and decide to just go with it. Consequences be damned.

Wednesday isn't one who insists on closeness unless she's actually shaken, even if she'd never admit it, so I slip into bed behind her and wrap my arm around her once she's leaned forward to turn off the light.

She's a bit stiff for a few moments, but then she settles back against me and even holds onto my forearm that is slung around her.

"You have to be gone before Enid wakes up tomorrow," she warns which makes me smile against the back of her neck.

"I will be. Don't worry. Now go back to sleep."

She kicks my shin non-too-gently and says, "Don't tell me what to do."

I supress a chuckle and hold her tighter, pressing a light kiss to the soft skin right behind her ear. "Sorry. It won't happen again."

She grumbles something that sounds a lot like "It better not", but she's already half asleep and I draw circles onto her ribs with my thumb until I drift off myself.

‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆ ⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧

I'm sorry it took me so long to update this story, guys, but as I've mentioned before, life is pretty chaotic at the moment.

I hope you still enjoyed it though. <3

"You got it?"

Mike grunts and tightens his grip on the crate I just handed him. "Yeah, I've got it."

I smirk at the strain in his voice and turn back to the truck, grabbing the next crate myself before following him into the restaurant kitchen through the back entrance.

It's raining today and while it's a nice break from the heat for once, it's not exactly nice to get soaked every time Mike and I have to step outside to unload the fresh, delivered produce.

I shudder when I step into the huge walk-in freezer, the rain drops on my skin turning cold almost immediatley, and start stacking the carrots in my crate into a plastic bin.

Mike is kneeling next to me, stacking away the lettuce.

There's a comfortable silence between us since it's still early, but I can't shake the thought that's been gnawing at me all night, which eventually leads me to break said silence.

"Do you know what it means to be separated?" I ask, not daring to look at him.

He hums noncomittally and keeps stacking the lettuce. "You mean as opposed to being divorced?"

"Yeah."

He thinks for a moment and gets to his feet once all the lettuce has been put away. "I think it means you're divorced without being actually divorced, you know? Like, on paper you're still together, but you don't act like it anymore. Why are you asking?"

I shrug, hoping my cheeks aren't as red as they feel. "Dunno. Just wondering, I guess."

Mike's eyes narrow. "Just wondering, you say… Alright then."

I roll my eyes and smack his shoulder when he brushes past me on his way out of the fridge.

I know he knows I'm not just wondering, but at least he hasn't connected the dots all the way yet.

Peyton and Cane… They were always the IT couple. Even before I left to go travel and cook all around the world, they were the talk of the town and I remember their wedding being one of Havenport's biggest events in years even though I didn't attend it personally.

I didn't know either of them personally back then. But I did know about the Buckley's and their family businesses. The fishhouse, the restaurant,and of course, their side business, if you can call drug smuggling that.

As far as I know, they're no longer involved in the latter, but when I started last year some strange things happened, so I can't be sure.

The sheriff died in an accident in his garage at home, a DEA agent that was investigaing the Buckley's overdosed in his motel room, and both Bree and her son Diller ended up in the hospital with gunshot wounds at one point.

If I'm honest, I don't want to know whether they're still doing it, because if it goes to shit, I'd be an accesory to the crime if I knew…

Does Peyton know about it? Is that why she and Cane are separated? Because she found out and doesn't want to be involved?

There are so many unanswered questions I'm not sure I even want the answer to, so I shake my head and follow Mike outside again to help him finish unloading the truck.

I exhale sharply as soon as I've paddled past the break and sit up on my board. The other surfers in the line-up nod at me and I offer some smiles to the ones I know a bit better.

One of them being Bree's son Diller.

"Hey. Long time no see. Don't you have school?" I ask, paddling up to him and nudging him gently.

He smiles and splashes me with a bit of water. "On a Saturday?"

I cringe. "Right. Sorry. Are you gonna be at the fishhouse later?"

Since Bree's and Cane's dad, Harlan, gave him a job at their fishhouse last year he's been excited to work there after school and on some weekends and we've run into each other a lot since then, and, on occasion, have gone surfing together after I found out he liked to do it, too.

"No, but mom asked me to help out at the restaurant tonight since one of the waiters is sick," he explains, moving up in the lineup when a few surfers catch waves in a passing set.

"Is Bree going to be there, too?" I ask, frowning.

It's known that she and her ex-husband aren't on the best of terms and much to my knowledge she and Dillard are only allowed to see each other under court supervision.

He nods, smiling softly. "Yeah. The court finally granted shared custody again."

"Oh. That's— That's great!" I exclaim, surprised. "Are you happy about it?"

The surfer in front of us eyes the approaching wave of the next set and paddles into position for a smooth take-off.

"I mean, I'll be eighteen soon anyway, but yeah. I'm glad." He watches the surfer catch the wave and I flick some water at him.

"That's good."

He splashes me back and then paddles into position for the next wave.

I stay back and watch him catch it, whooping when he does, and then paddle into position myself for the one after his.

I catch it and ride it until it closes out and paddle back out with Dillard who waited for me.

We spend some time catching up before I check my watch and curse under my breath when I realize what time it is.

"Shit… I have to get going," I say, getting off my board after riding the whitewater to shore on my stomach.

"Already?" Dillard asks, getting to his feet in the ankle-deep water as well and picking up his board.

I nod. "Yeah. Sorry. I have to help prep at the restaurant."

"Ugh, sometimes I forget you're an adult with responsibilities."

I laugh and pick up my own board, taking the leash off my ankle one-handed as we wade out of the water. "Don't you worry, you'll get there soon, too."

"Soon? I still have seven years to go until I'm your age, I think I'm good for now."

I set my board down on the sand and wrap the leash around the fins, glaring at him playfully. "Are you calling me old?"

He smirks and does the same with his own board and leash. "If the shoe fits…"

I roll my eyes. "Unbelievable."

He chuckles and I kick some sand at him before unzipping my wetsuit and pulling it down to my hips.

"I'll see you later?" I ask picking my board up again.

"Yeah. See ya later."

I offer one last smile and jog up the beach. It's almost half past two and I'm supposed to be at the restaurant at three, so I quickly strip out of my wetsuit when I get to my car, throw on a dry robe, and shove my board into the trunk before speeding home.

I shower, eat some leftover chicken pasta, and make myself some coffee for the road before heading out and driving to the restaurant.

The rest of the kitchen staff is already there when I finally get there, and I apologize to Bree when I pass her on the way in and head to my station to help prepping.

It's been three days now since Peyton told me she and Cane were separated, and I still can't get over it.

I just thought you should know.

But why though? Does she… like me? No, that can't be it, can it?

No.

Not a chance.

Peyton is, well, Peyton. She's six years older than me. Not to mention she's a mother and a Buckley, even though she and Cane are separated.

No.

Nu-uh.

She can't like me. She just can't.

But then again, I've caught her staring at me before. Whether that was in the kitchen while I was showing Savannah how to do something or during closing time when she was sitting at the bar and I was helping Shawn, put up chairs.

I wince when I realize I've been so lost in thought that I cut myself.

Shit.

I shake my head to get rid of the swirling thoughts about Peyton and her potential feelings for me - emphasis on potential - and head to the back of the kitchen and into the office where the Buckley's keep their first aid kit.

I clean and bandage my finger before putting on gloves and heading back to the kitchen.

I can't keep doing this.

And by this I mean obsess over something that may or may not even be something.

I have to talk to Peyton.

She's not here at the moment, though, and I have to get back to work if I don't want to lose my job, so I guess it will just have to wait.

For now, at least.

Okay.

There's no turning back now.

I'm really doing this.

I get out of my car and relish in the feeling of the cool night breeze on my face.

It's Monday night, the sun set a few minutes ago, and I just got off work. The Buckleys' restaurant only serves a late lunch on Mondays, so we closed the kitchen earlier than usual.

I asked Bree about Peyton and Cane on the down low, and while she was surprised I knew about the separation, she didn't ask questions and even told me where Peyton was living, which is where I am right now, parked outside the small harbor-side house.

It's a stylish, new-england style home with white wooden slates as and a wrap-around porch.

The lights downstairs are off, but Peyton's BMW is parked in the driveway and upstairs, behind closed curtains, I can make out a soft light.

I look around, nervous someone might see me of all people here, but the small resiendtial street is deserted and quiet.

The only sound is the water in the harbor lapping at the docks and the palm trees rustling in the occasional wind.

I clear my throat softly and clench my hands anxiously, heading up the porch steps to ring the doorbell before my nerves can get the best of me.

I wait and scratch the back of my neck in anticipation until the door suddenly swings open, revealing a surprised looking Peyton.

She's in a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt, something I've never seen her wear, and her face is make-up free and her hair is in a low ponytail.

"Y/N?" she says, crossing her arms over her chest unsurely.

Shit.

I shouldn't have come.

I debate turning around and leaving without a word, but I know it would be super rude and strange, and it wouldn't give me the answers I've been searching for for five days now, so I clear my throat softly and stand a little straighter.

"H-hi, I'm sorry I just showed up like this, but I— Is this a bad time?" I ask suddenly, realizing I could have caught her at a bad time.

She shakes her head. "No, not at all. Are you okay? Would you like to come in?" she asks, her whole demeanor softening.

I swallow thickly and nod, stepping past her when she opens the door wider.

I take off my shoes by the door and let her lead me into the kitchen where she turns on a small light and turns to me with a small, disarming smile. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Uh— No, thank you." I look around the kitchen and living room, taking in the cozy space. "Nice place."

"Thanks. It belongs to an old friend, but she's lettin' me live here while she's abroad," she explains, setting out a glass of wine and pouring herself some from an expensive-looking bottle.

I hum in acknowledgement and turn back to look at her, finding her already eyeing me curiously.

"So… Why are you—"

"Why did you tell me you and Cane are separated?" I blurt out, cutting her off mid sentence.

She stills and sets her wine glass down after taking a deliberately long sip. "I don't… I just— I told you, I just thought you should know."

My breath hitches and I try my best to ignore the way my heart flips, almost as if it knows something I don't. "But why?"

My voice is barely above a whisper, but the house is quiet so I know Peyton can hear me.

She clears her throat softly and rounds the kitchen island. "Well…"

I hold my breath as she closes the distance between us with small, deliberate steps. "If you haven't noticed it until now, I like you."

No.

That can't be.

She would never—

"You caught my eye the moment you started at the restaurant. You're smart and capable, and so good with Savannah."

I choke back my surprise and freeze when she stops right in front of me, her soft brown eyes searching my face for some kind of reaction.

"I-I don't know what to say, " I admit quietly, my voice breaking.

Seemingly emboldened by the fact that I'm not straight-up rejecting her advances, Peyton lifts her hands and cups my jaw gently. "Then don't say anything."

Her touch makes my skin tingle and I melt into it, letting out a shaky breath.

She watches me carefully and gets on her tiptoes before leaning in, giving me every chance to pull back, but I don't.

Her lips connect with mine and I feel my throat constrict with emotion.

Peyton is kissing me.

Me.

She's sharp, gorgeous, and wealthy, and she could have literally anyone in this town, but she's kissing me.

She moves her lips against mine tentatively, and I hesitate for a moment, still surprised, but then it's like something clicks, and I kiss her back, putting my hands on her hips and pulling her closer.

Seemingly liking my sudden confidence, she digs her fingers into the back of my neck and deepens the kiss.

It makes my head spin and it's like my brain can't decide what to focus on - the feel of her tongue brushing against mine, the taste of wine on her lips, or the way her warm body presses against mine.

She also smells so good, it's almost intoxicating and when she pulls back a moment later I chase her lips with mine, not letting her get away without one last peck that makes her chuckle softly.

"You like kissing me?" she teases and I'm so far gone all I can do is nod dumbly, which makes her grin and lean in for another, slow kiss.

I hum against her lips and loosen my grip on her when she eventually pulls back again, looking more content than smug as opposed to before.

"I-"

She hushes me and presses a finger against my lips, her other hand moving from the back of my neck to come and rest on my chest right above my pounding heart.

"Don't say anything. Just… Go home, get some rest, and then call me, okay?"

I swallow thickly and force myself to look up from her lips. "Okay."

She tilts her head and touches my chin fondly. "Okay. See you tomorrow."

She leads me to the door and I feel like I'm in a trance when she gives me one last peck before ushering me out.

I stand on the porch for what feels like an eternity, touching my lips and replaying what just happened.

Peyton likes me.

Peyton kissed me.

I shake my head and can't help but grin when I eventually get into my car again and drive away.

‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆ ⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧˚⋆⋅‧

I'm not sure if there's gonna be a next part. Do you guys want one? I feel like this could work as just a two-parter but idk.

I feel a bead of sweat drip down my nose as I run, but I don't bother wiping it off as I keep running, glancing at my watch to see how much longer my current interval is.

Twenty-three more seconds.

I can do that.

I focus on the music and sprint past a group of elderly ladies chatting on the side of the sidewalk.

The water in the harbor to my right reflects the early morning sun. Yacht crews hose down polished hulls and vacuum pristine decks, dressed in matching, monochrome uniforms.

I keep running and glance at my watch again, seeing that I have eight more seconds left.

The countdown of the pedestrian crossing a dozen feet away makes me speed up even more since I don't want to cut my interval short and wait for the light to turn green again.

Just as I'm crossing the street though, music blasting in my ears and the taste of victory from almost completing the interval already in my mouth, a black blur to my right makes my eyes widen, but by the time I realize what's happening, it's already too late.

The car brakes, but not fast enough, and I go skidding over the hood of it, landing on the pavement on the other side, aching and panting.

"Ah, fuck!" I groan and pause my music.

My ribs hurt and every time I try to take a breath it feels like I'm getting stabbed and I have a pretty bad road rash on both my palms and knees.

Because it's so early, there's barely anyone around, and even those people that are around simply glance at me and move on when they realize I'm just a little banged up and not seriously injured.

"Shit, shit, shit. Are you okay?" I look up when driver jumps out of the car, ready to rip them a new one only to pause when I realize who it is.

"Mrs. Buckley?"

The brunette rounds the hood of her BMW and gapes when her eyes land on me. "Y/N?"

I cringe and get back to my feet, limping a little and trying not to show how much the road rash hurts. "The one and only…"

Peyton reaches for my elbow, almost as if to help me up, but then decides better of it and takes a step back.

"Shit. I-I'm so sorry. I didn't see you. Savannah is late for school and I—" She cuts herself off and sighs. "A-are you hurt? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"

Despite the pain cursing through me, I chuckle softly and shake my head. "No, it's fine."

"Are you sure?"

I offer a small smile and nod, trying not to stare too much since she looks exceptionally good again today. Her dark brown hair falls over her shoulders in soft waves, her make up on point, as always, and the white designer tweed jacket with black lapels and golden buttons matches her skirt and black heels.

Damn, why does she have to look so good? Cane Buckley is one lucky bastard.

"I'm fine. I promise. I'm parked around the corner anyway," I explain, wincing when I shift and my ribs hurt again.

I quickly mask it with a smile when I see Savannah though, waving at me through the windshield from the backseat of the car.

"I can't just—"

"Yes, you can," I cut her off gently. "I'm okay. I swear. But you have to get Savannah to school."

At the mention of her daughter her eyes widen and she checks her watch for the time. "Fuck. You're right. I- Uh- How can I make this up to you?"

"You don't have to—"

"Yes, I do." This time she cuts me off, and the southern drawl in her voice makes me straighten up instinctively.

I exhale softly . "I'll think about it, okay?"

She narrows her eyes slightly before remembering the time and relenting. "Fine… Will you be at the restaurant tonight?"

"Yeah."

"Alright then. I'll see you later?"

I nod. "If you come to the restaurant, yeah."

"Okay." She looks me over one last time, obviously torn about just leaving me before rounding the hood of the car again. "See you later. Call me if you need anything. And I mean anything. Okay? A doctor, a cab—"

"I got it. See you, Mrs. Buckley." I snort and take a step back so I'm back on the sidewalk instead of in the middle of the road. "

Her nose wrinkles and she points an accusing finger at me. "I told you, it's just Peyton."

I laugh and immediately regret it when my ribs sting again. "Duly noted, Mrs. Buckley."

Exasperated, she shoots me a dirty look before getting into the car again.

I just smile and wave at Savannah again as they drive off.

"Damn, Y/N. What the hell happened to you?" I look up from dinner prep and roll my eyes playfully when I see Bree walking into the kitchen, holding a bunch of menus.

"Peyton happened to me," I say which makes her eyes widen as I go back to filleting fish.

"What the fuck?"

The other chefs eye us with amusement but stay out of it as Bree sets down the menus and joins my side, poking my bruised cheek.

"Hey!" I slap her hand away and set the knife down.

"Don't hey me. What the fuck do you mean Peyton happened," she asks, folding her arms over her chest and leaning against the counter.

I sigh. "She may or may not have hit me with her car this morning."

Silence.

Then…

"She did what? Oh my God, Y/N! Why aren't you in the hospital?"

"Because I'm fine, Bree. It was an accident. Calm down."

Bree looks at me as if I've gone crazy and then slaps my shoulder. "Calm down? Are you kidding me? You got hit by a car and still showed up to work!"

"Because I'm fine," I repeat, giving her a pointed look. "Just a little banged up. And I like work, you know that. Your mom pays well, and I'll be damned if I take a vacation day just because of some bruises. If I take a day off it's to lay on the beach and do nothing."

Bree frowns but doesn't keep pushing. Insteady she asks what exactly happened and when I tell her she actually laughs.

"I bet she feels horrible. Holy shit, that poor woman. Do my parents know? Does Cane?"

I shrug and pick up the knife again to keep working as I talk. "I don't know, but I don't think so. Unless Peyton told them."

She hums in acknowledgement and laughs again. "Well, your secret's safe with me as long as you don't collapse mid shift tonight from a spontaneous brain bleed."

I huff in amusement and nudge her with my hip. "Ha, ha. Very funny."

She smirks and picks up her menus again. "I know. I'm hilarious."

"Totally," I deadpan which makes her glare playfully before going back to work herself.

I keep filleting fish until there's none left. Then I move on to help with the veggie prep before heading outside right before dinner service starts.

I've been in Havenport for a little over a year now, and despite liking it here and liking the restaurant, I know the Buckley's are having financial issues, the whole town knows it even though no one talks about it, so I've been looking for a new job in my free time— just in case.

The fishery just isn't doing well enough, and hasn't for a while, and the restaurant isn't enough to keep them afloat.

I must also admit that while I like Bree, I know there's some tension between her and Cane and their parents because of Bree's addiction and losing custody of her son Diller, and I don't know how much longer I can keep choosing sides.

Because, like I said, I like Bree, but her mom is technically my boss and she does ask me about how Bree's doing every now and then and it makes me feel like some kind of spy.

Oh, and of course there's also the issue with Peyton.

She's Cane's wife and Bree's sister in law, and while I've managed to keep my little crush under control for the past year since meeting her, it's been getting harder to stay unaffected when she's around.

She's confident, smart, independent and her smile… God, her smile.

Damn it, Y/N. Snap out of it.

Every time she and Cane dine at the restaurant and Savannah tags along, the eight-year old wanders into the kitchen just to watch me work and chat about her day at school.

I have no idea why she's taken a liking to me but ever since the Buckley's hosted a kids cooking class one afternoon, she's been coming back to me and since her grandparents literally own the place they don't mind when she's in the kitchen with me as long as she stays out of the way and doesn't get hurt.

I help finish prepping and get a late lunch from the food truck down the road before rushing back to the restaurant just in time for the dinner service.

Tickets come flying in and in a maatter of minutes, we're swamped.

I'm in the middle of preparing an entrée when one of the servers, Mike, pokes his head around the corner and says my name.

"Yeah?" I barely look up, focusing on plating.

"I know the truffle pasta was taken off the menu a few weeks ago, but someone is asking for it anyway."

I frown. "Well, tell them it's not available. I'm busy. I don't have time for special treatment."

Mike clears his throat and when I look up he's smiling sheepishly, his short blond hair messier than usual.

"What?"

"It's Belle's granddaughter," he says.

I pause and straighten up. "Savannah?"

He nods. "Yeah. I think that's her name."

I bite the inside of my cheek and glance at all the tickets I still have to get through. "I… Alright. I'll make it."

Mike beams. "Thanks for taking one for the team." I scoff half-heartedly and wave him off. "Yeah, yeah. Be sure to thank me again when we get our bonuses."

He laughs and grabs the entrée I just plated. "Will do!"

I roll my eyes and get back to work.

It takes a few minutes before I can actually get to Savannah's pasta. It's fairly easy to make, but I still have to take care of the entrée orders, so as soon as I send it out with Mike I take a breath and a sip of water before focusing on my actual task at hand again.

The dinner rush is finally coming to an end. All the main courses have gone out and now it's the pastry chefs' turn to churn out dessert.

I wipe down my station and put away all the ingredients I didn't use. Then I excuse myself and head out the back to get some fresh air.

My shift is still not over because I'm on kitchen clean-up duty tonight, but I can take a break for now because it's not time to start cleaning yet.

I lean against the wall outside, staring at all the boats in the dark harbor while sipping from my water bottle.

"Thank you."

My eyes snap up when someone rounds the corner and I instantly straighten up when I realize it's Peyton with a half-asleep Savannah in her arms. "Excuse me?"

"I know you made the truffle pasta for Savannah," she says, stepping closer with a small smile.

I feel my heart flutter and avert my eyes bashfully. "It was nothing, Mrs. Buckley."

"No, it wasn't. So, thank you. And for the love of God, please just call me Peyton. We've known each other for over a year now."

I look up again, noticing her eyes soften at the sight of the bruise on my cheek from this morning. "I… I just don't want to cross any lines," I admit for the first time.

"What lines?" she asks, shifting Savannah in her arms when she buries her face in her neck.

"Well, you know—" I gesture around awkwardly. "All of this is your family's…"

"No, it's Cane's parents'," she argues with a frown.

"Yeah, and you're his wife. Your last name is literally on the building."

She sighs and shakes her head carefully. "Fair point. I'm not your boss though, and I'm afraid if you keep callin' me Mrs. Buckley I'm going to start takin' it personally."

She raises her eyebrows in challenge until I finally give in with a sharp, amused exhale. "Fine. Peyton it is then."

She smiles that dazzling smile of hers. "Thank you. How are you feelin'?"

"A little sore, but I'll survive." I return her smile and before she can try to apologize again I jut out my chin at Savannah and say, "She's out cold, isn't she?"

Peyton's smile softens and she glances down at her daughter. "Yeah. She fell asleep half-way through dessert."

I laugh quietly and take another sip of my water. "Happens to the best of us."

"Yeah…"

A comfortable silence settles over us, but I don't let it last too long in case it turns awkward.

"I'm no parenting expert, but I fear if you don't get her home and to bed soon soon she'll permanently fuse to you."

Peyton chuckles and pats Savannah's back soothingly. "I think you might be right."

I smirk. "Oh, I know I'm right."

That makes her raise an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by my boldness. "Well, in that case, have a good night, Y/N."

I offer a tired smile and a little wave. "Good night, Peyton. Get home safe."

She thanks me quietly and turns to leave, only to stop and turn back, looking unsure.

"You okay?" I ask.

Her lips part for a moment, but nothing comes out.

"Peyton?"

"You know Cane and I are separated, right?"

My jaw drops.

"W-what?"

Since when? Why? And why is she telling me? Weren't they just having dinner together as a family?

She tilts her head slightly and an unreadable, almost melancholic look crosses her face. "I just thought you should know."

She turns and leaves, leaving me dazed and confused.