In The Sky

Sam Winchester

Three's Company: GN! Reader

TW: This contains the mention of past rape and abuse. it doesn't go into detail and is not explicit but please read responsibly

Cordell Walker

Ride A Cowboy: Female Reader*

Ride A Cowboy: Male Reader*

CW: Mentioned age-gap, barn sex, unprotected sex

Aemond Targaryen

I Found Love (Where It Wasn't Supposed To Be)*

1 2 3 Epilogue

Uncle/Niece relationship (its the Targaryen's... what do you expect), secret relationship, minor character injury, attempted SA, on page beatings both of reader and of another character (not super graphic, but it happens), miscarriage, non graphic childbirth

The Dragon and The Wolf: Aemond/Stark!Reader

Your day goes as usual. That is, until a letter arrives for you while you and Aemond get ready for bed. A letter that divulges shocking news. And, later in the evening, the unthinkable happens.

Osferth

How The Dove Flies: Female Reader

The story of you and Osferth

Ateez

13 Days of Monstober Masterlist

12 Days of Smutmas Masterlist

The Mechanic (Yungi)

The Bracelet (JongSang)

The Laundromat (SeongJoong)

The Bar (WooSan)

Loki

You're Always My Husband: Gender neutral reader

When Loki is taken by the Avengers you follow Thor to Earth, needing to see him with your own eyes.

This Is My Idea: Requested

How exactly did Reader and Loki meet?

Clark Kent (Superman)

The 4 Times you 'Saved' Clark Kent and The One Time he Saved You

Isaac Night

An Endless Night

One Dance

Tyler Galpin

My Tyler

Forbidden Fruit- One Two Three Four Five Six Seven

It’s another hour or so when Enid stomps into her and Wednesday’s dorm. You were initially waiting to ambush Wednesday whenever she got back, but Enid would have to do. 

“Enid? What happened?” The other wolf startles, evidently having not seen you sitting in the large window. 

“Gosh! You can’t do that to people!” Enid whines, clutching her chest. 

“Where is Wednesday?” 

“Why?” Enid’s reply came quickly. “Not that I know anything.” The excuse comes quicker. 

You stand from the window, slowly creeping towards her. “Enid… what do you know? What is happening? Who’s the Hyde?” 

“Hyde? What Hyde?” You can hear Enid’s heart beating out of her chest as she avoids looking in your eyes. “I don’t know anything about a Hyde.” 

“Enid-“ 

“Wednesday thinks that it’s Galpin.” A voice calls from the doorway. You look past Enid, who takes the chance to retreat to her side of the room and out of the conversation. Bianca stands in the entryway with her arms crossed. “She called on the Nightshades and convinced us to tie him up in a shed.” 

“What!?” You exclaim at the time Enid hisses the siren's name. 

“She should know, Enid. It was your girlfriend that decided to bring out torture techniques.” Bianca rolls her eyes before leveling her icy stare back in you. “We all left and came back here as soon as we realized what she was gonna do. We had Principal Weems call the cops, they should be at the station by now. If you were to leave and check on Galpin… I wouldn’t tell. I might even cover for you.” 

“Thank you, Bianca..” You say, genuinely shocked. You had never been close with the siren so her act of kindness still felt a little too good to be true, but you’d take what you could get. 

Bianca shrugs, moving out of the doorway. “Call it my one good deed.” 

“What does it feel like?” Tyler asks, taking small, tentative steps towards Wednesday. 

She glowers at him, her body language reading like that of a cornered animal. “What does what feel like?”

“To lose.” Tyler answers, his tone mocking and brows furrowing in masked concern. As Wednesday stares back at him blankly, it occurs to Tyler that this is probably the first time he has ever seen the girl truly taken off guard. The first time she’s probably ever been truly surprised. 

“You know,” Tyler continues, stepping closer and closer to Wednesday. “At first, I’d wake up naked, covered in blood, no idea what had happened. But over time, I started to remember… everything. The sound of their screams, the panic in their eyes, and a fear so primal I could taste it.” He inhales shakily, phantom screams ringing in his ears and the faint taste of copper on his tongue, “And it was delicious.” 

Wednesday steps back, trying to leave. But before her foot can flatten on the ground, Tyler grabs her and pulls her in for what anyone that looked at the pair would assume is a hug. “You have no idea what’s coming.” He whispers against the side of her head. 

“Neither do you.” Wednesday retorts, confusing Tyler. He releases his hold on Wednesday and cocks his head, prepared to ask her what she means, when he hears it. The subtle gasp from behind him. 

Tyler turns to look over his shoulder, and there you stand.

Your hand covers your mouth, but it’s too late. He’s already heard you, already seen you. Your eyes are wide with shock and something else, something close to fear. 

Tyler steps towards you rapidly and you step back just as quick, turning and running out of the doors you had entered from. Distantly, over the ringing in your ears, you hear Tyler calling for you. 

You manage to get to the edge of the parking lot before he catches up to you, stopping you with a hand around your arm. Your chest heaves rapidly, your vision blurring at the edges, and your skin burns beneath his hand, a sign of the impending anxiety attack you can feel building in your veins. 

“Let me go.” You command, despite the tremor in your voice, and try to pull your arm away but his grip stays strongly latched. 

“Not until you hear me out.” he all but begs. 

“Let me go!” You yell, still struggling to pull your arm free. Your voice is shrill, even to your own ears, making you cringe internally. 

“No!” Tyler yells back, his grip turning painful. 

You stop struggling, the fear you felt morphing into rage. “Did you ever even like me?” You snarl. The question is harsh and deep down you know that. Tyler’s eyes widen, his head jerking like he’s been slapped. His grip remains on your arm.

Tyler shakes his head, you cut him off before he can speak.

“You lied to me!” Your eyes were wide and wild as they bore into Tyler’s. His own were shiny with unshed tears. Liar, liar, liar. “I told you things… things no one else knows. I confided in you. I trusted you!” 

Tyler says your name softly, like he’s speaking to a cornered animal. 

“Fuck!” You yell. “Tyler, I loved you.” You feel Tyler’s grip loosen and take the opportunity to pull your arm free, shoving Tyler back as you do. 

“Please, just-just let me explain. It’s not-“ 

“No!” You say, more command than yell. “You don’t get to explain. You don’t get to lie to me again.” You shove him again, pushing him further and further. “I don’t want to see you again, don’t want to speak to you, nothing.”

“Wh-what are you saying?” 

“I’m saying we’re done. Goodbye Tyler.” You leave, finding Principal Weems before her and Wednesday can leave so you can catch a ride back, punishment be damned for breaking curfew. 

You stand just outside the door to Weems’ office as she speaks to Wednesday. Their muffled argument slowly gets louder and louder. You try not to let your curiosity get the better of you, but alas, you’re no match and so you slowly open the door enough for you to peer through. 

“Tyler is the Hyde! He confessed it to me himself!” Wednesday yells at Principal Weems. 

“I wish I could believe you.” Weems’ voice is calm with thinly concealed anger and contempt. The two of them stare at each other in silence for a moment, each waiting for the other to move first. 

“Principal Weems, if I could…” You speak up, pushing the door open fully and walking into the room. “I-I didn’t mean to eavesdrop… but Wednesday is telling the truth. I heard Tyler confess.” 

Principal Weems heaves a great sigh and massages the bridge of her nose in exasperation. “That’s… I need more proof than the words of two people, one of whom has caused countless problems, and the other who walked away from a, seemingly, very emotionally charged conversation with Mr. Galpin.” 

“Tyler’s mom was an outcast!” Wednesday adds, speaking quickly like she had nearly forgotten the most important part. “She was a student here, you must remember her. She was a Hyde!” 

“Yes, Francois. She was a lovely woman,” Weems says dismissively, her irritation growing by the second. “I didn’t ask what she identified as!”  

“Then give me more time!” Wednesday reasons, “I can prove it!” 

“Your time has run out, Wednesday. You will return to your room and pack your bags. In the morning, you will be taken to the train station and you will board a train and go home.” Weems' tone is final and clear, arguing will bring further consequences. 

The next morning you knock on Wednesday and Enid’s dorm room door before entering the room. The second you step inside, the door falling shut behind you, you instantly feel out of place. Like you’ve walked in on a private moment.

If you did know them as well as you did, you would have assumed that they were hugging but stepped away as you opened the door. But, since you did know them, it’s more likely that they were just standing very close together and looking at each other, Enid with her large puppy-dog eyes and Wednesday with less loathing than normal. 

“I feel like I’m interrupting something,” You indicate behind you with your thumb, “I can go.” 

“No, It’s fine”

“You can stay!” Enid and Wednesday respond at the same time, Enid using the sleeves of her school jacket to wipe at her eyes and Wednesday turning back towards her suitcase, continuing to pack.

“Okay,” You say, drawing out the Oh sound at the beginning skeptically as you glance between the two girls. “I just wanted to say goodbye… and sorry for how things turned out.”

“The only thing I am sorry for is leaving while Tyler walks free.” Wednesday says.She doesn’t bother to turn around, just continues to stuff her belongings into the suitcase. 

“Well, if he tries anything, we have a school full of vampires, werewolves, and gorgons.” You reply easily, even if the thought of fighting Tyler makes your heart feel ten times heavier. 

“Ready and waiting,” Enid adds on confidently. “We got this Wednesday.”

Something in Wednesday seems to settle at that, her shoulders not as tense and her brows not as furrowed. 

“On a brighter note,” Enid says, “Eugene’s moms texted me this morning. He’s awake!”

“Maybe Weems will let you stop in and say goodbye?” You suggest with a slight shrug to your shoulders. 

Furious knocking comes from your door, the wood shaking against the hinges and your head snaps up from where you had been hunched over your desk so fast your neck cracks from the sudden movement. You groan, stretching your arms over your head, and stand. 

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” You say hurriedly, sighing in exasperation. Beyond the door is Enid, Ajax, and, most surprisingly, Thing. “What-“ 

“Wednesday’s been taken!” Enid all but screeches. “Weems is dead, Thornhill killed her. She’s Tyler’s master! She’s planning to bring Crackstone back to kill the outcasts! We have to move.” She is speaking so fast it takes your brain a few seconds to catch up. 

“Wh- Edin! Wait!” It’s useless, she’s already taking off down the hall with Ajax not far behind. You rush after her, taking note of your fellow classmates all calmly making their way down the stairs. Sirens linger in the halls and in the main room by the exit to the courtyard, each talking to any student that looks even slightly unsure. And every one of those students seem to relax as the siren's words hit their ears, siren song, you think belatedly. Noticing the lack of a pendant on any of the sirens closest to you. 

In all the chaos, you lose sight of Enid and Ajax, instead finding Bianca in the hall as she directs students on where to go.  

“Bianca!” You call, getting her attention, “How can I help?” Before she can answer, the sound of frantic screaming cuts through the hall around you. You share a brief look of concern with her before you both take off towards a balcony that overlooks the quad. 

Down below, students run for cover behind pillars and under benches as a man dressed like a pilgrim yells at Thornhill. Joseph Crackstone. 

Crackstone, as if sensing your presence, snaps his head up to look at you and Bianca. “I will expunge you abominations from this Earth!” He roars and slams his staff to the ground. Flames explode from the tree in the center of the quad, and you and Bianca duck behind the stone railing to avoid them. Heat creeps uncomfortably against your back as the flames get a little too close for comfort, but luckily, they don’t get close enough to harm you. 

Whether it be the shock of nearly catching fire, or the moon finally reaching its peak in the sky, you start to feel the familiar creak in your bones as they shift and elongate. Fur covers skin, claws replace fingers and a muzzle replaces your nose and mouth. 

You stand and shake your head, steadying yourself. Bianca meets your eyes, fearful. You huff at her, just a quick puff of air through your nose before turning back to peer over the balcony. Down below, Wednesday stands before Crackstone with a sword pointed at the man. They circle each other, exchanging words you can only hear as mumbles from where you stand. Movement by the entrance catches your attention. Thornhill steps into the quad with a pistol raised and aimed towards Wednesday, whose back is turned and hasn’t noticed the threat. 

You jump from the balcony, landing with a loud thump between Thornhill and Wednesday. Your eyes lock onto your former teacher as she levels the gun on you. Your lips pull back in a snarl as a low growl rumbles from your throat. 

“Crakstone will kill the rest of the outcasts,” She says, “But I will kill you.” Thornhill takes a step closer and you snap your jaws at her in warning. Behind you, you can hear Wednesday and Crackstone fighting, sword hitting staff. 

“You know…” Thornhill continues walking, taking slow careful steps as the two of you begin to circle each other. “The sad thing is that Tyler did like you.” She taunts. “You weren’t a part of the plan… originally… but then you weasled your way into his heart.” She speaks with something close to pity lacing her voice. 

Your eyes widen for just a second. A small, imperceptible reaction on the outside. On the inside, your heart thundered from adrenaline and the knowledge that Tyler’s feelings might not have been fake.Your mind battles with itself. You can’t trust anything Thornhill says, not really, but part of you reasons that she would have no reason to lie if she was planning to kill you anyways.

You're startled from your thoughts as Crackstone screams from behind you. You turn your head just in time to spot what was left of Crackstone dissolves into nothing, the sword in his chest dropping to the ground with a clang. 

Unfortunately, that moment of distraction was enough for Thornhill to fire a bullet right through your shoulder. You roar out in pain and whip back around to face her just as she braces to fire another shot. 

The sound of buzzing intensifies as, slowly, bees start to swarm Thornhill. She panics, frantically swatting at the insects before dropping to the ground as they pile on top of her. 

“That’s what you get for messing with Nevermore, bitch.” Eugene says, standing next to Wednesday. “Hummers stick together, right?” 

Wednesday smirks at Eugene, nodding ever so slightly before turning to Thornhill. “I’ll finish this.” She says. And then, turning her head to you, “Tyler was in the woods just south of Crackstone’s Crypt last I saw him. I’ll give you a head start to find him before I send the cops. As a thank you.” 

You bow your head in thanks before running towards the Crypt. Your shoulder is on fire and every step feels like the muscles in your arm are being ripped apart but you keep running. You can’t afford to stop, not now, not until you find him. 

The further into the woods you get the louder the sounds of a fight get. Trees splintering, roars and growls and teeth snapping all echo around you. And then you see it.

Just ahead is Tyler and another wolf locked in a fight. You don’t recognize the wolf immediately, but as the moon light catches parts of their multi-colored hair, the realization hits you like a truck. 

Enid.

The other wolf is Enid. And she’s losing. Tyler has her pinned against a large rock by her throat and is inches away from biting into it and killing when she barely manages to kick him away.  

You move towards them as fast as you can while they continue to scratch at each other. As you finally close the distance, Tyler has Enid pinned again. His arm is raised as he gears up to deliver a final blow. Just as his arm swings down, you get between them, taking the blow for Enid. 

Tyler’s claws land squarely over your left eye, and you howl in pain. 

Tyler stumbles back, stunned by your sudden appearance. His bones crack loudly as he shifts back to human, laying unconscious in the grass. Enid stands and rights herself, nuzzling against your right side to check on you. You're panting heavily from the combined pain of your eye and shoulder, practically frozen in place. But as Enid redirects her attention to Tyler once again, you manage a small growl and push against her. Silently telling her to back off. 

To her credit, she growls at his unconscious form once more before turning back to you. She nods her head at you and then behind you, back the way you came. Asking you to go with her. You shake your head, motioning for her to leave first. Begrudgingly, she does. Slowly walking away at first, checking over her shoulder occasionally, but the further she got the quicker her steps became. Until, eventually, she was running back to the school. 

You limp toward Tyler, nudging his arm with your nose. You whine, from pain or from heartache you’re not sure. 

Leaves crunch to your right and you angle yourself over Tyler’s body protectively, already snarling at whatever or whoever is nearing. 

“Tyler?” The sheriff’s voice calls. His flashlight lands on you and the sudden brightness burns your right eye. “Son!” Sheriff Galpin holsters the flashlight and all but sprints to where you stand over Tyler, though his skids to a stop in front of you. He eyes you wearily, “You do this?” 

You whine, shaking your head and moving to lower your body next to Tyler's rather than standing over him. You nudge Tyler’s arm once more. 

The sheriff dips down to pick Tyler up. As he stands, you follow. And when he begins the trek back to the main road, you hobble next to him. Keeping your front leg pulled up to prevent any added pain to what you already feel. 

You sit in the back of an ambulance, now human, with a blanket wrapped tightly around your naked body. The paramedics examined your shoulder and eye. The bullet went through your shoulder and, luckily, didn’t hit anything major thanks to the different anatomy of your wolf form. You would likely make a full recovery with some rest and a lot of physical therapy. Your eye however wasn’t as lucky. The scars were deep and long, starting just above your left eyebrow and ending an inch or so above your lip. Even with the limited equipment, the paramedics were doubtful you’d ever have sight out of that eye again. 

So now, with your arm in a sling and an eyepatch and gauze over the left side of your face, you sat and waited for sheriff Galpin to finish up so he could take you back to Nevermore. 

You stare blankly as they place a chained, and still unconscious, Tyler into the back of a cop car. The red and blue lights are bright in the dark gloom of the night. 

“Alright kid,” Sheriff Galpin says, getting your attention. “Let’s getcha back to the school.” 

“What’s gonna happen to him?” You ask weakly, the adrenaline crash hitting you hard. 

The sheriff sighs, deep and heavy. “Tell ya the truth… I don’t know. They’re transferring him to Willow Hill for holding and observation. But outside that, no idea.” 

You hum, nodding stiffly. The two of you watch as the car holding Tyler pulls away. The future was a funny thing. And while you might not know where it’ll go or what it’ll bring, something deep in the pits of your soul screams. You’ll see Tyler again. You’re not sure when or how. But you know that you will. You’re certain of it. As certain as the sky is blue and grass is green. 

This isn’t over yet.

Cross Posted on AO3

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The rest of the funeral goes by quickly. The crowd slowly disperses, business owners returning to their shops, Jericho teens heading home, Nevermore students filing back onto the buses that drove them in. Only Mayor Walker’s family and close friends remain when you give Tyler’s hand one final squeeze before letting it go and turning to leave before Weems could spot you. But you barely make it a step before Tyler’s hand is closing around yours again. You turn back to face him and find him looking around the small crowd that’s left. 

“Tyler, wh-“ He shushes you and quickly pulls you off to the side of the crowd and into an alley. Which you belatedly realize is the same alley where you first kissed him on Outreach day. 

“Let me take you out tonight.. on a real date.” Tyler rushes out once he’s, seemingly, determined no one was listening or looking. 

You blink rapidly, the question catching you slightly off guard. “Wha- there’s a curfew and Nevermore is essentially on lockdown right now.. there’s no way I’d be able to get off campus. Especially after Wednesday's birthday adventure.” 

“You won’t have to leave campus. Meet me at Crackstones crypt. 9 pm.” 

“Tyler, I-“ any excuse you might’ve had completely evaporates at the hopeful look in Tyler’s eyes. “I’ll be there.” 

He smiles and this time it’s the smile you’ve always loved, the one that drew you to him in the first place. Wide and full of teeth and warm like the sun. He plants a chaste kiss on your cheek, muttering a soft, “See you tonight,” before he’s leaving the alley and leaving you smiling fondly at his back.

“Wednesday?” You call into the dorm room as you peek around the door. 

“What do you want?” Wednesday answers. She’s facing away from the door and fiddling with something at her desk–a book from what little you can see as you walk into the room. 

“I just wanted to check in on you… Enid told me about the fight.” You say gently, or as gently as possible anyways. There really was no good way to bring the topic of a lovers quarrel up in conversation. Especially when one of the lovers is Wednesday Addams. 

“It wasn’t a fight,” Wednesday snaps back in a rare show of emotion. “And I don't need to be checked on.” 

You raise your hands in surrender, “Okay.” You catch a glimpse of the, now confirmed, book she was looking at when you entered the dorm. It was splayed open, the pages containing illustrations of the creature that had been terrorizing Jericho and the school. Scribbled notes gave information on the creature, a Hyde. 

You step around Wednesday and she lets you, even moving out of your way slightly. Your fingers trace the drawing of the Hyde's face as she watches you with an uncomfortable intensity. “Where did you get this?” You ask finally. 

“Nightshades library, though I was nearly intercepted by Xavier.” She pauses and studies you for a moment longer, “I suspect he is the Hyde.”  

“Still? Just because of his paintings? Wednesday, I know it’s weird but that’s how Xavier's visions manifest.” 

“True, the paintings on their own aren’t enough proof for reasonable suspicion. But there’s more.” Wednesday starts. She clasps her hands behind her back and paces around the room as she explains. “Were it not for the fact that he has shown up in the same location seconds after the monster attacks. Starting with the Harvest Festival and most recently at the Gates mansion. That paired with the highly detailed and accurate drawings of the monster, despite climbing to have never seen it. He even drew where it lived. And when Eugene went to investigate, he was nearly killed, likely so that he wouldn’t tell anyone what he had seen.” 

“Well, when you put it that way… it does all seem very…convenient.” You say. “What are you going to do then? About Xavier?” 

“I need to figure out who his master is first. So for now I will keep observing him.” 

You nod slowly in understanding, your own mind running through various thoughts and theories. 

The sound of the door creaking open draws both yours and Wednesday’s attention. You watch as Enid slips into the room and carefully closes the door, wincing as it creaks again. She turns and freezes in place as she spots you and Wednesday looking at her. Wednesday had her hands still clasped behind her back, her expression neutral but bordering on bored. You were just confused. 

“I forgot my silver moon nail polish… Yoko’s hosting a mani-peti party for her crew.” Enid explains sheepishly, it’s possibly the most timid you’ve seen the other wolf. “Mind if I grab it?” 

“This is the third time in 24 hours that you’ve forgotten something.” Wednesday remarks. Enid’s cheeks turn a shade darker than the blush already on them. 

“So… h-how is everything going?” Enid asks as she rummages through her bedside drawer. 

“Solitude suits me. With no annoying distractions I am almost finished with my novel.” Wednesday crosses her arms in front of her chest. 

“Was I the annoying distraction?” Enid abandons looking for the nail polish, turning to face Wednesday. 

The two of them continue to bicker, slowly closing the distance between each other until they stand toe to toe in the center of the room. You back out of the room quietly, really not wanting to be involved in their lover’s quarrel.

At 9 pm exactly you arrive at Crackstone’s crypt.

Tyler is already there, leaning against the wall as he waits for you. He’s looking at his phone but quickly lifts his head and shoves the electronic into his pocket when he hears your footsteps. The smile he gives you is so large you think it must be painful. 

“I was beginning to worry that you wouldn’t show.” He says, kissing your cheek. 

“I literally got here at 9 on the dot.” You chuckle. 

Tyler shrugs, “You know what they say, early is on time and on time is late.” 

“Yeah, okay.” You poke your tongue out at him, smiling at the laugh it gets in response. “So, why Crackstone’s crypt?” 

“You’ll see. But first you’ll have to close your eyes.” Tyler holds out a rose in one hand and a blindfold in the other. 

You take the flower but hesitate at the blindfold. “Really?” Tyler nods and you release a puff of air through your nostrils as you grab the blindfold from him. 

He laughs quietly and walks you up the few steps to the entrance, whispering “Watch you step. Okay, put on the blindfold and wait here.” 

You do as you’re told. 

The crypt doors open, creaking loudly in the mostly quiet forest surrounding you. You startle slightly as one of Tyler's hands lands on your lower back and he mumbles an apology. He leads you forward slowly, his other hand grasping your arm to help steady you. You only know your inside when the breeze suddenly stops and the ground beneath your feet turns solid instead of the soft dirt you had just been standing on. 

“Okay,” Tyler’s voice is closer to your ear than you thought. It sends a spark up your spine. You feel his hands untie the blindfold and the fabric falls down your nose before being removed completely. “Open your eyes.” You can hear the excitement in Tyler’s voice. 

The crypt is illuminated by rows and rows of fairy lights strung up against the walls and around the center most coffin. A couple blankets were laid out on the floor with various pillows and two popcorn buckets. Small candles scatter the ground around the blankets and the coffin. Finally, a small projector was set up behind the blankets and hooked up to an antique looking stereo. 

“Wow,” you whisper, amazed. You turn to look at Tyler and find him already looking at you, his expression soft and eyes full of love. “Tyler.. this is… wow.” 

“You like it?” He asks, stepping up so that he’s standing next to you rather than behind you. 

You laugh breathlessly, “Like it? Ty, I love it..”

“Great, cause this took a surprising amount of work.” He says with pretend seriousness before ultimately cracking and breaking into a chuckle as you roll your eyes dramatically. 

“So I see a projector..” you start, walking out of the entryway of the crypt and running your hand over said electronic. “But where exactly do you plan on projecting it?” You ask teasingly, a smirk playing on your lips. 

“Oh ye of little faith,” Tyler puts a hand over his heart, feigning injury. “Your lack of belief wounds me.” Tyler pulls at a string just off to the side of the doorway and a white sheet unravels. Tyler makes a ta da gesture. 

“Oh, I’m sure it does.” You snark, all the while laughing and making yourself comfortable on the blankets. “What are we gonna watch?” 

“It’s a classic, I’m sure you’ll love it.” Tyler situates himself neck to you, passing you a bucket of popcorn. He clicks a few buttons on the projector and the white sheet comes to life with the title screen of Dirty Dancing. 

You turn to Tyler, excitement thrumming underneath your skin, a wide smile plastered onto your face, “Dirty Dancing! How did you know I love this movie?”

“Lucky guess?” Tyler shrugs, his smile mirroring yours. “I mean, it’s only the greatest romance of its time.”

You quickly place a kiss against his lips, “You’re too good to me.” 

“I know. I’m a catch.” Tyler jokes, shrugging, and leaning over to steal another quick kiss. 

“Okay okay okay! Press play!” You demand. 

“God… I wish I could dance like that.” You say dreamily, the last scene of the movie finishing up and the credits starting to roll. 

“Why can’t you?” Tyler asks. When you look at him there’s a hint of mischief behind his smile. 

“Two reasons, I don’t know how, and I don’t have Patrick Swayze teaching me.” 

Tyler laughs, his head falling back as if you’ve said the funniest thing, before abruptly standing. “Come on.” He holds his hands out for you to take and when you do he pulls you to your feet. 

“What are you doing?” You ask, watching him quickly rewind the movie to the beginning of the final dance. 

“I’m gonna dance with you!” He announces, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. 

“What?!” 

“I know I’m no Swayze, but come on.. it’ll be fun.” 

You laugh, shaking your head in disbelief, but still take his hands and let him guide you through a slightly more chaotic version of the dance. It started off well enough, just a few toes accidentally getting smushed. Then he tried to spin you and on the spin back you tripped over your feet and fell against his chest. 

Though the rest of the dance followed much the same in terms of gracefulness, you still had a blast. Your cheeks hurt from smiling for so long and your stomach hurts from laughing. 

“That was amazing.” You say breathlessly as the song ends. You are standing chest to chest with Tyler, the both of you out of breath. You're smiling from ear to ear and he’s looking at you like you hung the stars. 

“Yeah, it was.” He whispers, his hands coming up to cup your jaw. His thumbs rub against your skin, leaving a trail of electricity in their wake. Your eyes flick from his eyes, down to his mouth, and up again as you chew your bottom lip between your teeth. 

Tyler traces your bottom lip with his thumb, tugging it out from between your teeth. He watches your eyes carefully as he leans in closer, looking for any hint of hesitation from you before his lips connect with yours. 

And while this isn’t your first kiss with Tyler, the electricity that zaps up your spine and through every bone in your body is. The kiss is gentle and slow and romantic and when Tyler pulls away you find yourself chasing after him subconsciously. 

Tyler rests his forehead against yours, his eyes closed as he whispers, “I love you.” 

Your world freezes. 

I love you.

Tyler had said he loves you. 

“You don’t have to say it back. But I wa-“ 

“I love you too.” Your voice is quiet, soft, when you say it. As if speaking too loud will shatter the illusion that surrounds you. 

“You… you do? You're not just saying it because I said it, right?” Tyler’s hands are shaking against your skin where they still cradle your face like something delicate. 

You smile, small and warm and full of love and then tip your head up and recapture Tyler’s lips in another kiss. 

“I do.” You respond, and the smile and sigh of relief you get in response is something you could spend your whole life hearing and seeing and you would still never get enough of it. 

Tyler walks you back to the edge of the trees, hand clasped in yours the whole way. It was a quiet walk with shared shy glances and giddy chuckles. 

You shiver, wrapping your arms around yourself. “I didn’t think it would get this cold tonight.” You joke.

Tyler shrugs off his jacket and drapes it over your shoulders. “Here.. I have a hoodie on anyway.” 

You blush, your cheeks heating up and you thank him and push your arms through the sleeves. “Thank you.” 

“Of course.” Tyler smiles, reclaiming your hand in his. 

As the trees grew more and more sparse you could see flashing lights in the distance. Red and blue lights. 

“Why are the cops here?” You think out loud. You’re too far away to hear or clearly see anything but you can see that the cars are surrounding the old greenhouse that Xavier had turned into his art studio. 

“I’m not sure…” Tyler answers.

“You should head back home..” You suggest. “I’ll let you know when I get to my room.” 

He nods his agreement and places a quick kiss on your lips. “I’ll look forward to the update.”

You make a small detour on your way back to your own dorm room, stopping at Wednesday’s room instead. 

“What do you mean Xavier was arrested?” You question. “I can’t imagine that the police would arrest someone based on the speculation of a 16 year old.”

“It was more than just speculation. He predicted Kinbott's death mere hours before it happened, even made a painting as proof. And he had Rowan’s inhaler, Eugene’s glasses, Kinbott’s necklace, and the stalker photos he had taken of me. And let’s not forget the knife he left in Thing.” Wednesday rattles off the facts. 

“Wait! Kinbott’s dead? Thing was stabbed! Is he okay?” You ask. 

“He is fine. Just recovering at the moment. He knows better than to die on my watch. And yes, Kinbott was killed by the Hyde this afternoon.” Wednesday’s jaw ticks at the mention of Thing.

You hesitate for a second, unsure if you and Wednesday were close enough friends for this, before ultimately deciding to place your hand on her shoulder. “I can’t even imagine what you must have felt… I’m sorry that Thing was brought into this.”

Wednesday rolls her eyes and clicks her tongue. “He’s fine.” She bites out. “If anything he’s just milking this for attention.” 

She swats your hand off her shoulder, but the second her hand touches you she goes rigid and falls to the floor. Not unlike what happened during her surprise party and, if this is the same, that means Wednesday got a vision. 

You watch as Wednesday convulses on the floor, you want to look away, to not just stare at her but for some reason you can’t. You guess it’s not unlike a car crash. And it doesn’t help that you have no idea what to do for her, if there is anything you can do for her. Your very limited knowledge on outcasts that have visions says that you should just leave her be until it’s done. 

So that’s what you do. 

And after a few, agonizingly long minutes, Wednesday rejoins the present. She stands, abruptly, and if you didn’t know any better you’d think her expression was one of fear. 

“Xavier isn’t the Hyde.”

Cross Posted on AO3

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You stare down at your phone, hidden beneath your desk so the professor doesn’t see it. Your heart grows heavy in your chest, its weight sitting on your lungs, making it feel impossible to breathe. Your lips part slightly to bring as much air into your lungs as possible. It still isn’t enough. Your vision blurs at the edges as everything around you amplifies. Every sound, every smell, every sight, ten times more pronounced than normal. 

You’re already so far into your own mind, spiraling so quickly that the anxiety almost can’t keep up, that you don’t hear the professor calling your name. Not until they slam a text book on the desk in front of you. 

Your reaction is visceral as your body responds out of pure instinct. You reel back, standing from your chair so suddenly that it falls back and thuds loudly against the tile floor. Before you register it, you’re rushing out of the room with a barely understandable excuse. 

Your subconscious controls your legs, leading to the closest bathroom and into the farthest stall from the door. Locking yourself in the space around you still feels too open. You squeeze yourself into the corner and against the wall. 

Your hands tremble around your phone as you try to unlock it. Your fingers not cooperating makes it take twice as long as normal but finally you punch in your security code correctly. 

You open Tyler’s contact, then close it. You open your text messages with him, fail at trying to send a coherent message, and close that as well. You open his contact again, staring at the photo you have set for it. It’s a screen shot from one of your FaceTime chats. Tyler isn’t looking at the screen but his smile is still clear as day in the photo as he laughs at something on his laptop. 

You take a stuttering breath that doesn’t do much to ease the anxiety running rampant through your veins, and hit call. It rings three times before Tyler answers. 

“Hey, calling early today huh? Miss me that much?” Tyler teases on the other end of the phone, you can hear the smirk in his voice. 

Words die on your tongue when you try to speak, the only sound you manage to produce is small, quiet, gasping breaths. 

Tyler says your name, “You there?” 

“T-Ty.” You finally manage to get a word out. It’s broken and strained as you fight to hold back a sob. 

“What’s wrong?” Tyler’s response is immediate, worry lacing his voice. “Are you okay?” 

“I-“ You let out a choked sob involuntarily. “I d-don’t… I-I-I.. I can’t..” 

“Okay. It’s okay.” You hear Tyler hum to himself in thought. “Give me a second, okay?” 

You can hear Tyler walking, jogging really, and then the sound of a car unlocking, the door opening and closing. He says something to himself, but it’s faint, like he’s holding the phone away from himself. Seconds later your phone buzzes in your hand. You pull it away from your ear and Tyler’s photo fills the screen with a FaceTime request. Your finger hovers over the ‘accept’ button, hesitating for a moment before pressing it. 

Tyler’s face fills the screen, his brow furrowed in concern. “What happened?” 

Your mouth moves, forming words that never make it out. You shake your head, more gasping sobs slipping out. 

“I need you to breathe..” Tyler says. “Look at me, follow what I do.” 

You look at the screen. Tyler raises his hand as he breathes in deeply through his nose, holding it for a moment. And then lowers his hand as he blows out the air through pursed lips. He repeats the motion and you follow along with him. Your breathing is stuttered at first, unable to stop the few sobs that cause your lungs to stutter. As you continue the motions, following Tyler’s lead, your breathing slowly evens out and the nerves in your body settle. 

“There you go…” Tyler says. “Feel any better?” 

You nod silently, still taking deep breaths. Your mind still races with thoughts, but your body doesn’t feel like it’s in fight or flight anymore. Your vision isn’t blurred at the edges, and sounds aren’t as amplified now. Your hands are more steady even if they still shake. 

“I need words.” Tyler urges you. 

“I-I’m better..” 

“What happened?” Tyler’s voice drips with concern and it nearly sends you over the edge again. 

“This weekend… it’s, uh-“ you suck in another deep breath. “It’s Parents Weekend.. normally my dad and siblings come up but this year it’s my mom and dad. I just… she doesn’t normally get involved with me while I’m here… it’s the only time I don’t have her hovering over me making sure I’m little miss perfect.” 

“Right…” Tyler adds, nodding as he listens. 

“It was just short notice and I guess it took me by surprise.” 

“Is there anything I can do? Any way I can make this easier? I’m pretty experienced in not great parents you know.” Tyler jokes and you chuckle. “There she is… there’s that smile.” 

You smile a little wider at that, your cheeks warming. The smile drops not long after as you sigh. “No. There’s nothing you could really do.. I just have to grin and bear it.” 

“Well… if you need me I’m always here for you. Okay?” You nod and use your sleeve to wipe a stray tear off of your cheek. “How about I take you to dinner on Monday? As a celebration for making it through the weekend?” 

“That sounds… really nice actually.” You sigh, relaxing against the wall. 

“Then it’s a date.” Tyler says, his playful smirk turning into a full blown smile. 

It’s at that time, that a group of girls walk into the bathroom, laughing and chatting amongst themselves. You curse under your breath and mutter, “I have to go. See you Monday?”

“See you Monday.” Tyler repeats, waving into the camera as you disconnect the call. You untuck yourself from the wall as quietly as possible and stand, flushing the toilet for good measure and to sell the act before exiting the stall, washing your hands, and leaving the bathroom to head to your dorm. 

Part of you knows you should go back and speak to your professor, explain what happened and apologize for disrupting the class. But, frankly, you feel as if you’ve been hit by a train and just want to lay down. You’d deal with the repercussions later.

You spend the next two days preparing for your mothers arrival at Nevermore. All of your clothes are tidy and put away, all of them ironed or steamed to remove wrinkles. Your side of the shared dorm is the cleanest it’s ever been. Any photos you might have had pinned to the wall that included male classmates were taken down and hidden safely between your mattress and the bedframe.

 Enid paints your nails Friday evening. A dusty shade of pink that isn’t your favorite color but will hopefully satisfy your mothers need for you to be seen as dainty. Saturday morning you sit on the floor in front of her bed as she curls your hair and pins part of it back while you do your makeup. Aiming for a subtle “no makeup” look, you brush a neutral color with a slight shimmer over your eyelid, curl and apply mascara to your lashes, dust your cheeks with a very small amount of blush, and rub some chapstick over your lips. 

“You think this is good?” You ask Enid, fidgeting with a loose strand of hair until Enid takes it from you and tucks it back into place. 

“I think you look very nice. I’m sure it’ll be okay, right? It’s your mom. Not a pageant judge.” She smiles reassuringly and pats your shoulder. “And besides, it’s not like you're meeting Tyler’s dad.” 

“Still nervous about meeting the Addams?” You chuckle. It really is an absurd situation, Enid and Wednesday. Borderline arch nemeses a month ago, now best friends and quite possibly something a little more.

 “Duh!” Enid says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “How could I not be! What if they don’t like me?”

“You managed to win Wednesday over,” You reason. “And, I might be wrong, but I’m pretty sure she was going to be the hardest to impress. The fact that you did impress her means the rest will probably default to liking you.” 

Enid flops back onto her bed with an overly dramatic sigh. “I don’t want them to default like me!” She whines, “I want them to actually like me.. it doesn’t count if it’s not genuine.” 

“You’ll be fine, Enid.” You pat her calf in support before standing and brushing out the wrinkles in your school uniform. “Let’s go. Best not keep the parents waiting.” 

With a groan, Enid rolls off of her bed and stands. She links her arm with yours and the two of you are off to face your respective challenges for the weekend.

Your parents stand in the corner of the quad, near Enid’s family. Your dad is chatting with hers, likely just shoptalk, while both your moms seemingly try their best to ignore the other. You mom scans her surroundings, her classic scowl painted onto her face. 

You take a deep steadying breath, pat Enid’s arm where it’s still looped through yours, and whisper, “Good luck.” 

You unhook your arms as Enid heads over to her family, her normal excitement in her steps as she all but skips over to greet them. You, on the other hand, are rooted in place. Your dad smiles in greeting at Enid and, by the looks of it, wraps up his conversation with her dad. Your mom glowers disapprovingly at Enid’s interaction with her mom, you’re too far away to hear any of what was said between the mother and daughter but you can hazard a guess. 

Frozen in place, you debate slipping away to your dorm and pretending to be sick. You’re seconds away from actually going through with the idea when your phone buzzes in your pocket. You fish it out and unlock it, Tyler has texted you. 

Good luck this weekend! 

A gif of an animated animal giving a thumbs up pops through a second later, followed closely by. 

And remember, I’m here if you need me. 

You smile, sending back a quick thank you and tucking your phone safely back into your pocket. Steeling yourself, you finally walk over to your parents. 

You dad notices you first, smiling wide and waving. He pulls you into a hug the second you’re within arms reach. 

“Hey pup.” He whispers against your head. “How you doing?” 

“I’ll be better when I can breathe again, dad.” You wheeze, patting his back. He laughs and releases the vice grip he has on you. “But I’m actually really good.” 

You turn, facing your mom. “Hi mom.”

She considers you, not saying anything for a few agonizing seconds. “Your hair is… decent.”

Of all the responses, her code for “I would have done something different but this is acceptable” is a welcomed surprise. 

“Your makeup could use some work though.” That’s more along the lines of what you expected. 

You took your parents on a tour of the school grounds. It was more for your mom since your dad had come to previous Parents Weekends. To your surprise, your mom didn’t make many quips about the school. You had expected and even prepared for her to make constant comments, especially when you showed her your dorm. But instead she kept quiet just looking and silently judging. 

The longer she remained quiet the more your guard slowly dropped and the more you relaxed. 

It was all a trick. 

At lunch, while you and your parents are sitting off to the side of the quad, your mom starts asking questions. 

“So, have you met many of the other shifters?” She has her elbows propped up on the table, her hands folded neatly with her head resting on them. 

“Mom, please-“ 

“No.” She stops you, “the condition for you coming here was that you had to look for options. You wanted a say in this, remember?” 

You sigh, your shoulders dropping. You absentmindedly start picking at your nails, peeling the color off. “Yes… I remember. Just.. Can we talk about this later?” 

“Talk about what later?” Enid asks, plopping her tray of food down next to yours and taking a seat. 

“Ms. Sinclair.” Your mom turns her attention completely towards Enid and your heart sinks. “Tell me, has anyone caught my pup's eye? Any boy she fancies?” She flashes a warm smile, one reserved for when she charms someone into getting her way. 

The use of pup in reference to you makes your stomach churn. Your mother only uses that nickname when she’s faking a genuine interest in you or your life. All a part of the picture perfect family she has constructed for the public’s perception. She wasn’t always like this, faking that she cared. Some of the earliest memories you have with her are good ones, and you look back on them fondly, but that changed after the night of your first shift. Ever since that night she’s acted the part of a perfect mother when in public, but once behind closed doors it’s as if she can’t wait to be rid of you. Of the burden you brought by killing another shifter, even if it was an accident. 

“Oh!” Enid smiles, falling into the trap your mother has set unknowingly.

Behind you, Enid’s brothers loudly scarf down their lunch while their mom lectures them about table manners. Now it makes sense as to why Enid and her father joined your table.

“Well… there is one boy.” Enid smirks at you conspiratorially. 

“Enid-“ You start to warn. 

“Oh really? Please dear, tell me more.” Your mother grabs Enid’s hands. “My cruel daughter won’t tell me anything.” Crocodile tears threaten to fall down your moms cheek. But, of course, they never do. It would ruin her perfectly applied makeup. 

“His name is Tyler. He works at the coffee shop in town.” Enid supplies, thankfully leaving out that he’s not a shifter. Or even an outcast. 

“They allow outcasts to hold jobs in town? That’s new.” 

Enid laughs as if she’d just heard the funniest joke. “Tyler isn’t an outcast. He’s the sheriff’s son.” 

Your mothers perfectly trimmed brows shoot up to her hairline. “Not an outcast?” She glares at you quickly out of the corner of her eye. 

“Yeah. But he’s like, totally in love with her. You can see it in his eyes.” Enid finally looks at you, her wide smile faltering at your solemn expression. 

“Thank you for the information dear,” your mother pats Enid’s hands before pulling hers away. “We have a lot to discuss now, don’t we, pup?” There’s a thinly veiled threat hidden in her use of the nickname. 

You wrack your brain for an excuse, maybe you could still use the sickness card? Claim it was something you ate. 

“Parents!” Principal Weems announces from the metaphorical front of the quad. “Now that you’ve caught up with your children and seen the school grounds, a few of the clubs have arranged some performances for your entertainment.” 

Great. More time to think of an escape plan. And also more time that you have to sit feeling your mothers eyes bore a hole into the back of your head.

Surprisingly, you had successfully made it through the rest of the afternoon and dinner dodging your mothers questions. 

Unfortunately, she managed to corner you as you were heading back to your dorm for the night. 

“A normie?” She asks, though her rough tone indicates it’s less of a question and more of a statement. One she strongly disagrees with. 

“I can explain.” Your own voice is timid and shaky and you hate that she has this much of an affect on you. 

“It better be a good explanation. Because I was very clear with the rules when we sent you here.” You nod, keeping your head downcast and your eyes on the ground. “Well? Explain!” 

“It was an accident. I didn’t mean to start liking him.. I didn’t even intend to meet him. It-it just…happened.” You lift your gaze, eyes hopeful. “ He's really sweet and he’s good to me. And I think if you just meet him you’ll see that.” 

“Enough! I am not entertaining this. No child of mine will date a normie.” She spits it out like the word alone will burn her. 

“But mom… I…I really like him. Please.” You plead.

“You’ll have to get over it. Tomorrow we are going into town and you will march up to him and break things off. Then you will pack your bags and we will transfer you to a school closer to home.” She turns and starts walking away.

“What? No, mom you can’t-“ Your mom spins on her heel abruptly. The palm of her hand strikes your cheek and jerks your head to the side. Your hand cradles the stinging skin as you look at her, eyes wide and tears forming in the waterline. 

“This situation is of your own doing.” She sneers. “Now go back to your dorm. I will see you in the morning.” 

You watch silently as she leaves, before numbly walking towards your dorm. As you stand at the entrance to your building, you can’t bring yourself to go in. Instead turning and cutting through the woods until you reach the road and continuing for the 25 minute walk into Jericho.

It’s well past the Weathervane’s closing time when you arrive on its doorstep. And, as luck would have it, Tyler was on the closing shift. He hasn’t noticed you yet as he sweeps around chairs before flipping them up onto the tables. And so, with a trembling hand, you push at the door, slightly surprised to find it unlocked. 

“We’re closed.” Tyler’s disinterested voice calls. He doesn’t bother looking up from his task. 

“Then lock the doors.” You respond. No hint of teasing that would normally be found in your voice when making such a comment. This gets Tyler to turn around, halting his sweeping. 

“It’s not Monday yet. Is it?” He jokes, the small smile on his face dropping as he takes a good look at you. Tyler sets the broom against a nearby table and crosses the distance to you. His hands rest against your arms, he feels warm and safe. “What’s wrong?” 

Your breath catches in your throat, stopping any words from getting out like a plug. Only a faint whimper gets past your lips and then suddenly, you are enveloped by Tyler. He has both arms tightly secured around you. One hand guides your head to rest against his shoulder and strokes your hair soothingly. Your arms circle his waist. Not right away, it takes a moment for your body to catch up with your mind. But now you’re gripping the back of his shirt so tightly that your fingers hurt. 

“It’s okay,” He whispers, pressing a kiss to your temple. You find yourself nodding against Tyler. Distantly, you realize that Tyler is gently rocking you as he continues whispering against your ear. 

When you finally pull away, there is a wet spot on Tyler’s shirt. You hadn’t even known you were crying. You sniffle, wiping old tears from your face. “Sorry… about your shirt.” 

“It’s okay… you wanna talk about it?” 

“Not really.. not right now anyways.” You say softly. 

Tyler nods and leads you over to a booth. “Wait here while I finish closing up? I’m almost done, okay?” You nod tiredly, scooting to the far side of the seat to rest your back against the wall as you lean against the backrest of the seat. 

Tyler makes quick work of sweeping the rest of the shop, and wrapping up the rest of his tasks in the back while you doze off. 

One second you’re watching Tyler wipe down the front counter, and the next you're being gently nudged awake. 

“Come on, sleepy head.” Tyler says quietly.

You take a deep breath and stretch your arms before sliding out of the booth. The two of you leave the coffee shop, Tyler locking the door behind him, and head to his car. He holds the passenger door open for you to get in before he gets in the driver's seat.

“Want me to take you back to Nevermore?” Tyler asks, a hint of concern in his voice. 

You shrug your shoulders, sighing. “Not really… but I don’t know where else to go.” 

“Well…” Tyler thinks for a moment. “My dad is patrolling all night.. you could stay at my place and I’ll take you back in the morning? If you’re comfortable with that?” 

“That… yeah. I’m okay with that.”

The drive to Tyler’s house wasn’t long, but it was quiet. Not uncomfortably so, just neither you or Tyler having anything to say. Tyler kept one hand on the wheel and the other clasped in yours, a silent reminder that he was there for you. His thumb rubbed soothingly against the back of your hand. You smiled absentmindedly at the display as you watched houses and buildings go by. 

He pulls into the driveway, the front porch light is on but no lights show through the windows. You both make quick work of getting inside and shutting the door, the nighttime chill in Jericho is nothing to joke about. 

“I’ll go grab something for you to change into.” Tyler says, motioning towards the stairs behind him. You smile and nod and he pecks your cheek before running up the stairs, taking them two at a time. 

While waiting, you decide to look around. Just inside the entrance, there’s a thin hallway table with photos both on the tabletop and hanging on the wall above it. Most are of just Tyler or of Tyler and his dad with the occasional photo of a dog. A few photos have a woman you assume is Tyler’s mom. He’s never mentioned her when the two of you would talk, only ever talking about his dad. 

“I hope these fit.” Tyler calls as he returns.

“Is this your mom?” You ask, pointing at one of the photos but otherwise turning to face him. 

“Uh, yeah.. that’s her.” His mood shift is palpable. The easy grin he had when he first reached the bottom of the stairs now replaced with a solemn frown. 

“I’m sorry… if I crossed a line.” You start, “I didn’t-“ 

“It’s okay. She died a few years ago.. but I hadn’t really seen her for the ten years prior. It’s a, uh… long story.” He explains. 

“Got it.. still, it couldn’t have been easy.” 

Tyler chuckles wryly, “it wasn’t.. it’s actually what, uh, what led to what happened last year… with Xavier.” His jaw clenches and she shakes his head as if clearing away the memory. “I’d really rather not dive into that right now..”

“Of course..” You smile softly and take the clothes from him. “I’ll go change… bathroom?” 

“Down the hall, only door on the left.”

The clothes are baggy on you, the shirt mostly, since the pants had a drawstring you were able to tighten them enough to not worry about accidentally flashing Tyler with your underwear. You step out of the bathroom and follow the sound of the TV until you find the living room. 

Tyler is sitting on one end of the couch, now changed out of his work clothes. You walk around the side of the couch and sit on the middle cushion, crossing your legs under you. 

“What are we watching?” You ask, furrowing your brows as you try to remember if you’ve seen what’s on the screen before. 

“It’s just some dumb reality show.. only thing on that’s not the news or a late night talk show.” Tyler explains. “That okay?” 

“Fine with me.” 

The two of you watch the next two episodes that air of the show, but about halfway through the third episode your eyes grow heavier and heavier. You can’t stop the loud yawn from happening, not that you really tried. 

“Come here,” Tyler says softly, placing a pillow against his lap and patting it. You shift, laying down with your knees pulled up slightly and your head propped on the pillow. Tyler pulls a blanket off the back of the couch and covers you with it, his hand settling over your shoulder, rubbing soothingly up and down your arm. 

Not long after that your eyes close as you blink and don’t reopen. Your breathing levels out and the tension from your body fades away as sleep takes over.

Tag List: @zillahvathek @lavaflow1012

For the next week any moment that you weren’t in class you spent in Wednesday and Enid’s dorm. You poured over all of the information Wednesday had managed to find on the beast, trying to find any indication as to why you had managed to look it in the eyes and live to tell the tale. 

“I don’t know Wednesday… I just don’t think it’s Xavier.” You lay the small packet of paper you had been reading down on the floor in front of you. “Do I think it’s weird that he had a bunch of drawings of the creature? Yes. But I don’t think that automatically makes him suspect number one.” 

“Why not? It makes perfect sense. His dreams, as he calls them, are his black outs as the beast. His drawings are nothing more than memories filtering through the blind spots of his subconscious.” Wednesday rebuttals. 

“Or maybe the drawings are simply just his visions manifesting. I’m not blind to the very weird coincidence and timing of this, don’t get me wrong, but Xavier has always been like this.” 

Wednesday stays quiet, her eyes boring back into yours in a way that used to unsettle you, now you know that she’s simply lost in thought. 

“Oh M Gosh!! Yoko, that dress is stunning on you!” Enid squeals on the other side of the fitting room door. With the Rave’N just a few nights away, you and a small group of girls were in a dress shop in Jericho hunting for the perfect dress. You and Yoko were the final two that haven’t found their dress. And by the sound of it, Yoko had just found hers. 

You stare at your reflection in the mirror, assessing the dress you had on. The last one you had grabbed. 

This dress is simple. High neck line that covers your collar bones without choking you. The main part of the bodice is made of a sheer, lace material with a neutral toned fabric underneath it and a solid piece of white fabric that wraps around your waist. The sleeves are long, made from the same fabric as the bodice, and reaches down to your knuckles. They’re laced tight, from shoulder to hand, in a fashion that leaves your arm still exposed to the air and are connected to the bodice of the dress in a similar lace-up design. The skirt is made out of a flowy, light weight, pleated white fabric that ombrés into an icy blue towards the bottom. It’s long, and pools around your bare feet, but with some heels it’ll be the perfect length. 

It’s the first dress that you’ve tried on that you actually liked. It wasn’t scratchy or too warm. It covered enough skin that you didn’t need to worry about keeping covered while dancing. And it wasn’t saturated in sparkles and patterns. 

With one final deep breath to steady yourself, you push the fitting room door open and step out for the group to see. 

“What do you think?” You ask the group, doing a slow turn. When you face them again, Enid has both of her hands covering her face and is uncharacteristically quiet. It sends a wave of nausea through you. “It doesn’t look good does it?” 

“You look so pretty!” Enid finally says, a sort of awestruck wonder taking over her expression. 

“Really?” 

“Of course!!” Enid reassures you. “It’s like the dress was made for you!” 

With everyone’s dresses purchased, Enid and a few others decided to head to the Weathervane for some early afternoon coffee. You asked to tag along and Enid excitedly wrapped an arm around your shoulders. 

Now, you sit on the outside of a booth kind of listening to Enid and the others while waiting for the line of customers to die down so you could talk to Tyler. You hadn’t seen or talked to him since your kiss on outreach day and you’d be lying if you said you hadn’t missed him. And by the glances and barely there smiles he kept giving you, you’re pretty sure the feeling is mutual. 

After thirty grueling minutes, the line finally ended and the last drink was handed to its rightful owner. You waited a few extra minutes, giving Tyler and the other barista a chance to clean up and to breathe. 

“Hey.” Tyler greets you with a warm smile as you walk up to the counter. 

“Hi.” You smile back. “I, uh… I have a question for you.” 

He leans against the counter, resting on his forearms, and raises an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?” 

“There’s this dance… in a few days. I was um.. I was wondering if you wanted to go with me? I know it’s kinda short notice so if you already have plans I ge-“ 

Tyler cuts off your rambling by saying your name and he reaches out to grab one of your hands. “I would love to.” The sound of the bell dinging above the door accompanied by a small group of people entering the cafe cuts the conversation short. Tyler clicks his tongue before grabbing a napkin from a nearby stack behind the counter. He jots down a number before handing it over to you. “This is my cell number, shoot me a text with all the information?” 

“I will.” You promise him, saying a quick goodbye and walking back to the table, Enid and the others all giving you knowing smirks. 

“So,” Enid starts, drawing out the vowel. 

“Shush.” You jokingly shove her shoulder as you sit back down and she laughs. 

“Sit still.” Enid chastises you again for the bouncing of your knee as she tries to “perfect” your makeup.

“I can’t help it..” you whine, “are you almost done?” 

“Almost…” Enid draws out the word, “and… Done!” 

She steps back and lets you look at your reflection in the mirror in front of you. You have to admit, she did a good job. 

Your eyelids have a light blue shadow painted over them with a light shimmer that catches the light of the mirror. Your cheekbones are accentuated with a lightly tinted highlighter and a hint of blush. And to finish, a rose tinted lip balm and a thin layer of gloss. 

Paired with the dress and your hair, which had been curled and partially pulled back, you had to admit that you looked nice. 

Enid comes up behind you, resting her chin on your shoulder. “You look wonderful.”

“You helped.” 

“Yeah, but I had a great canvas.” She smiles at you through the mirror. “I have to go, Wednesday will be waiting for me.” 

“I’m still not completely sure how you convinced her to go to the dance with you.. or to the dance at all.” You absentmindedly fuss with the sleeve of your dress. 

“Honestly, I don’t think I even fully know how I did it.. see you down there!”

As she leaves and you're left alone in Enid and Wednesday’s dorm, your mind starts to drift. Chewing the inside of your bottom lip, you grab your phone off of Enid’s bed and open the chat between you and Tyler. The most recent message is from him, letting you know that he was heading your way. 

That was sent thirty minutes ago. He should have been here by now. Did Tyler change his mind?

As you start to pace the room, thinking of the worst possible scenarios, a few snaps in quick succession get your attention. 

You scan the room, finding Thing perched on Wednesday’s desk. “Hi Thing.” He signs something back to you, but you’re not quite able to make it out completely. “I’m sorry.. I don’t completely understand all of that..” 

He taps his index finger against the desk, as if in thought, before finally pointing at you and then gives you a thumbs up. 

“Oh! Are you asking if I’m okay?” You receive what you interpret as confirmation. “I’m okay, Thing.. just a little in my head is all.” 

Your phone chimes with an incoming text and you take a deep breath before checking it. 

It’s from Tyler

Hey, I’m down at the main entrance. 

“Gotta go, bye Thing!” You call as you exit the dorm, waving to Thing without actually looking at him.

Down at the base of the stairs is Tyler.

He hasn’t noticed you yet, as he looks at all the team photos lined up in a display case. Each step down you take feels heavier as you approach him. And then he sees your reflection in the glass and turns around. 

“Wow.” Is all Tyler says as you walk down the final steps. “You look beautiful.” 

“You’re not too bad looking yourself.” You respond. 

“I mean it..” He says and when you look into his eyes they are filled with an almost overwhelming amount of sincerity as he looks back at you. “I know I’m a little late, but I almost forgot the corsage and I had to turn around to get it. I hope you’ll forgive me.” 

He sheepishly produces a small box with a light blue corsage from his jacket, opening it he takes out the small floral arrangement and holds it out for you to slip your hand through. 

“It’s beautiful.” You whisper, admiring the flowers. “You’re forgiven this time.” You can’t help but tease. 

Tyler chuckles as he holds his elbow out, “Shall we?” 

You loop your arm through his and enter into the ballroom. A giant Yeti statue made of synthetic ice stands menacingly behind the DJ booth. Spotlights circle the dance floor and fog machines give the room an otherworldly feeling. Tables are arranged on the outskirts of the room, all of them covered with a white table cloth with small ice sculptures in the center each. 

“So glad you could make it!” Ms. Thornhill greets you as you and Tyler discuss what table to sit at.

“Ms. Thornhill,” you greet her back, “the decorations are amazing!” 

“Thank you dear, but it wasn’t all me.” She smiles, chuckling bashfully as she looks between you and Tyler. 

“Oh, this is-“ 

“Tyler Galpin.” Thornhill cuts you off, extending her hand to shake Tyler’s. 

“Uh, yeah.. Double-cap, no foam, two pumps of sugar-free vanilla.” Tyler supplies. 

Ms. Thornhill smiles, chuckling in a way that doesn’t seem genuine. “It’s a small town, hard to keep secrets!” 

“I’m gonna go grab a drink. Do you want one?” You ask Tyler, partly because you’re thirsty but mostly because you wanted out of this conversation. It wasn’t anything against Ms. Thornhill, but something about her seemed off to you. Her smiles were never fully genuine, always slightly forced.  And her laughs sounded fake more often than not.

“I’ll go with you.” Tyler’s hand found the small of your back and warmth blossomed underneath his touch. 

You and Tyler must have danced for hours, laughing and talking in between the songs. When your lungs couldn’t take it anymore, and your shoes started to dig into the backs of your heels, you call it quits. 

You sit outside the ballroom waiting for Tyler and rubbing your sore feet.

“He’s not a good guy.” You look up at Xavier, who is standing over you. 

“What are you talking about?” 

“Last year, on outreach day. It wasn’t an accident that destroyed my mural, it was Tyler and buddies. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they assaulted me in an alley afterward.” Xavier explains. 

“And you felt the need to tell me this because?” You ask. 

“I’m just looking out for you.” He raises his hands defensively. 

“I didn’t ask you to look out for me. And that isn't my experience with him.” You snap, a little too harshly. “People can change Xavier. I understand where you’re coming from and why you would be mad at him, but it isn’t your place to tell me who not to hang out with.” 

Xavier’s expression darkens and you can see his jaw tense. You know he wants to say more but as Tyler approaches, he decides against it, rolling his eyes and leaving. 

“What was that about?” Tyler asks, sitting next to you. 

“He was warning me about you.” 

“Ah… so you heard? About what I did last year.” He asks. His face drops and he recoils slightly as if in physical pain when you nod your head. “And that means you probably don’t want to hang around me anymore, right?” 

“Tyler-“ 

He cuts you off, “I could give you a million excuses.. try to tell you that it wasn’t as bad as it sounds.. but it’d all be a lie. But the truth is that I realized I don’t want to be that kind of person. The bitter townie that’s pissed at the hand he's been dealt and takes it out on everyone else. I know what I did was terrible.. but I’m not a terrible person.” 

“Tyler, I know.” You reach a hand out and lay it over his where they sit tightly clasped in his lap. “I’m not one to judge over one past mistake.” 

“Really?” He asks, quiet and tentative. 

“I’m a firm believer that the past is the past. It’s what you do in the present and future that matters. Besides, I would be a hypocrite to judge you.” You admit hesitantly. 

“Why do you say that? You’re the sweetest person I’ve met in a while.” Tyler’s thumb rubs the top of hand absentmindedly. 

“You know… I don’t think I’ve ever told you what kind of outcast I am..” Tyler raises an eyebrow and tilts his head, a silent question and urge to continue. “I’m a werewolf.” 

“I’m failing to see how that makes you a hypocrite for judging my past?” He jokes. 

“It doesn’t.. but the first time I shifted does.” You pause, taking in a shuddering breath at the memory of that night. It’s one you try not to think about too often. 

“Hey,” Tyler gets your attention, pulling one of his hands out from under yours so he can place it over top, sandwiching your hand between his. “You don’t have to tell me if it’s too much.” 

You nod, “I know. But I want to… it’s just a little… difficult. I shifted earlier than most.. I was nine, I was supposed to be in bed but I couldn’t sleep and went to the kitchen to get a glass of milk. The closer I got though, I could hear my parents arguing about me. My mom was mad that my dad kept getting in the way of her trying to secure my future as she put it. She wanted to set me up with a boy two years older, he was of good stock in her opinion.” 

Your nose crinkles in disgust at the thought. “I might have been young, but unfortunately I understood what she meant because it wasn’t the first time. I burst into the kitchen practically begging her not to because I was already getting picked on at school because of it. She wasn’t hearing any of it. If anything it just made her angrier. She started to yell at me instead and when I tried to talk, to plead with her one last time, she smacked me so hard my ears started ringing.”

Your voice cracks slightly as your throat tightens. “I, um…I tried to leave but she grabbed my arm and her claws dug into me. I actually still have the scars from them. I can’t remember a time I was ever that scared… but it was the shock of it, I think, that caused the shift to happen. When I came to the next morning, I was covered in blood. A neighbor had tried to help my parents get me subdued. I don’t remember exactly what happened, most of it is foggy, but I do know that they didn’t let me see the body. From that point on I've been terrified of shifting. I shut down completely. My dad ended up putting me in therapy and the therapist put me on medication to help.”

“What about the boy?”

“Oh, his family backed out the second news spread.” You chuckle dryly. “We had to move actually. My dad said it was for a fresh start but part of me always knew that it was because my mom couldn’t marry me off to anyone now that I was essentially a murderer.”

Tyler’s mouth opens and closes several times before giving up on words all together and pulls you into a hug. You hesitate for a moment before your arms wrap around him and you bury your face in his neck. 

“I’m sorry you went through that…” He finally says. 

“It’s okay.” You smile weakly.. “I’ve learned how to exist with it..” 

Cross Posted on AO3

Your day at the Weathervane started out rocky. The tension between Xavier, the only other outcast assigned to the small coffee shop, and Tyler was suffocatingly thick. You spent the morning cleaning tables and washing dishes while the two of them tried not to kill each other. Or more accurately, Tyler tried not to be killed by Xavier while also showing him how to make drinks.

After a quick lunch break, it was now your turn behind the counter and in the back making drinks. Which, by your definition, was going great. And by great, you really meant that you were dropping cups left and right, burning your hands with hot milk and espresso, and nearly spilling said hot liquid on several customers.

“Woah!” Tyler jumps back, nearly avoiding you running into him as you abruptly turn around, full cup in hand. “Okay… hand me that.” He speaks softly as he carefully removes the cup from your grip and sets it down on the counter.

“Sorry.. I’m not very good at this, am I?” You scratch behind your head.

“We all start somewhere.. just try to slow down when making the drinks. The customer can wait.” He smiles at you and the insistent ringing in your ears lessons just a little. “How about you make a frappe? We’ll do a basic one, caramel.”

You nod and swallow down the lump of anxiety still trying to escape. Following Tyler’s instructions, you grab a small cup and pump the appropriate amount of base in the bottom before adding the whole milk. Next you dump it into the blender and add ice and caramel. You put the blender into the machine and are about to hit the button to turn it on when Tyler stops you.

“The lid.” He reminds you gently. You nod and do as instructed.

Once the machine is done and the drink is blended together, you grab it and attempt to pour it into the cup. You manage to get some of the drink into the cup, but most of it ends up spilling onto the counter.

“Shit.” You hiss out, hastily grabbing a handful of paper towels to clean up the mess. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Tyler reassures you as he helps to clean up the mess. With the blender freshly rinsed out, he has you try again. Though this time, he stops you before you can try to pour it into the cup.

Tyler steps up behind you and closes his hand overtop of yours on the handle of the blender. He’s standing so close to you that you can practically hear his heart beating in his chest. He dips his head a little, so that when he next speaks, his lips lightly brush against the top of your ear. “When you go to pour a blended drink into the cup, try doing it this way.. that way it doesn’t all fall out at once.”

With his hand holding yours and the blender’s handle, he shakes the blender in quick small movements while tilting it slowly over the cup. Once all of the drink is transferred into the cup Tyler sets the blender down, but he doesn’t step away.

His hand remains on top of yours, his front not quite pressed fully against your back. Your eyes stare at where your hands are both still holding the blender before you crane your neck to look up at him over your shoulder. When your eyes meet his, he’s already looking at you with his lips stretched in a calm smile. You swallow the anxiety down again.

Your mouth opens and closes around words and sounds that just can’t make it out before you finally manage a dumbfounded, “Hi.”

His smile wides, creasing the corners of his eyes. You can feel his chuckle before you hear it. “Hello.”

His eyes flick down to your lips before meeting your gaze again. He removes his hand from around yours in favor of cupping your jaw as you twist to face him. He starts to lean down, slowly bringing his face closer to yours, giving you time to back away. You close your eyes and wait for his lips to meet yours, but they never do.

The sound of the bell sitting on the front counter breaks the moment. And all too soon, Tyler is pulling away and giving you one last look of apology before he walks out of the back.

You take a few controlled breaths and busy yourself with cleaning up the test drink and rinsing out the blender and lid.

Curiosity gets the better of you eventually and you poke your head out of the back. You see Tyler and Wednesday huddled over a table looking at something. They’re standing fairly close together and, while you can’t hear what they are saying, the way she looks at him and the way he looks back at her. The banter they share, the way he watches her as she leaves. It has your heart shattering inside your chest.

Had it all been a lie? Or some figment of your imagination? You thought you had shared a moment earlier, or even in the woods after the Poe Cup. You must have been wrong. He liked Wednesday. Not you.

For the rest of the day you kept your head down and avoided Tyler as much as possible. You answered his questions with one word answers and convinced Xavier to take over drink making while you cleaned the tables.

You planned to avoid Tyler for the rest of the day and then you’d be scott free. All you had to do was make it through the statue unveiling and then you would go back to Nevermore and ride out the blue moon in the lupin cages with the rest of the wolves.

And then the statue exploded into flames and everyone panicked accordingly.

In that chaos someone grabs your elbow and pulls you away, leading you into an alley between two buildings. When you manage to gather yourself you look up and meet Tyler’s eyes.

“Tyler? What ar-“

“Did I do something wrong?” He cut you off. “I thought things were okay.. I-I thought I was reading the signs right..”

“The signs?” You repeat, completely confused.

“Yes! The signs.. sure I might not have been very blunt about it but I thought we were on the same page. We shared a moment earlier, or I thought we did.”

Suddenly, his rambling made sense. “We did share a moment… but it can’t happen. This, whatever it is.. it needs to stop.”

“Why?”

“Because you like Wednesday. And I will not compete for someone to like me, Tyler.” You try to leave, to walk away, but Tyler’s fingers wrap around your wrist.

“I don’t like Wednesday!” He exclaims, eyes wide in shock.

“Really?” You ask, entirely unconvinced. “Cause when she came into the Weathervane earlier you seemed awfully interested in her.”

“She asked for directions. That’s all, I promise.” Tyler explains and, sensing that you still don’t believe him, continues. “I didn’t walk fifteen minutes through the woods to watch her play in a tournament for her school. I did that and risked breaking my curfew to see you play.”

You silently consider him for a moment. Looking into his eyes as if they can show you the truth like a Magic 8 Ball. When you step forward suddenly he steps back, asking. “What are you doing?”

“Will you just stand still?” You ask before tentatively pulling him down to kiss you.

When you pull away he looks lost in thought for a moment before taking a step towards you.

“What are you doing?” You mirror his previous question.

And he mirrors your answer. “Will you just stand still?”

He pulls you to him by your waist and kisses you again. Your arms wrap around his neck as he hugs you against him. Warmth blankets your body and the ringing you had long since grown used to dissipates, leaving you with nothing but Tyler and silence.

When the need for air becomes too strong and you’re forced to pull away your hands remain resting on his shoulders and his arms stay wrapped around you. You smile at him and he smiles back and the world seems perfect.

And then the bus driver honks the horn to remind students that it’s time to go.

“Damnit.” You curse under your breath, grumbling incoherently as Tyler chuckles.

Whoever was in charge of locking all the lupin cages made a mistake. When another student started to wolf out before their cage had been secured, the teacher in charge had rushed over to do just that. Subsequently leaving yours loosely latched. 

Would it have been any previous full moon, one where you still had your medicine on board, it wouldn’t have been a problem. You probably would have just shifted and then fallen asleep. 

But no. Dr. Kinbott had decided to mess with your prescription and now you had nothing to help control the beast inside you. You had nothing to help clear the fog that covered all rational thought and nothing to help regulate the violent wave of battling emotions. 

So now you’re sprinting through the woods surrounding Jericho, completely wolfed out, for no particular reason other than possibly outrunning your problems, which never works. Trees splinter as you barge past them, not caring enough to weave around them. The sound of a scream in the distance draws your attention and you change direction, heading towards where it came from. 

You come across the old meeting house ruins. There’s light from a small fire that barely illuminates the space and food wrappers that still smell relatively fresh. Gurgling comes from your left where the homeless man that had been resting here lays, completely torn to shreds and missing an arm. You watch the last moments of life leave his eyes. 

A twig snaps behind you, too close for comfort. You spin around just in time for something large to collide with your body, knocking you into one of the decrepit pillars of the building. You right yourself, shaking your head to clear the confusion. Snarling, you bare your teeth to the creature before you. 

It stands roughly the same height as you, but where you have fur it has sickly grey skin. Its disproportionate body hunches over, resting on large clawed hands. It stares back at you with big wide open eyes before roaring at you and running away. 

You watch it retreat with an unnerving feeling that you couldn’t shake. You recognize its eyes from somewhere. Or someone. But you just can’t place who.

Cross Posted on AO3

“Welcome to the quad!” Enid sweeps her arms out as the three of you walk out into the large courtyard housed in the center of the school. 

“It’s a pentagon.” Wednesday corrects, her gaze more of a glare as she observes the students milling about. Enid glances over her shoulder at you and furrows her brows while using her eyes to indicate Wednesday. You shrug your shoulders and try to reassure her with a smile. 

“The whole snarky goth girl thing might have worked at your other schools, but things are different here.” Enid quips back.

“Enid.” You whisper in warning as much as shock. She looks back at you again and mouths a ‘what?’. You stare back, unimpressed and she visibly sighs, her shoulders raising and dropping dramatically as she huffs. “Why don’t we give you a quick run down on the social scene here at Nevermore?” 

Wednesday, for the first time since leaving the dorm room, turns to acknowledge your presence behind her. She considers you for less than a second before turning around and following Enid as she starts to walk along the outskirts of the quad. “I’m not interested in taking part in tribal adolescent clichés.” 

“Then use it to fill your obviously bottomless pit of disdain.” Enid responds before you can, jumping right into her practiced speech on the four main groups. “While Nevermore has many types of outcasts and students, there are four main cliques: Fangs, Furs, Stoners and Scales.” She holds up one finger for each group. Glancing to her left, Enid points out the first group. “Those are the Fangs, AKA vampires. Some of them have literally been here for decades.”

“That rowdy group are the Furs, AKA werewolves. Like Enid and I.” You cut in, pointing out a nearby table with a group of students roughhousing with each other. As if on cue, one starts to howl, followed shortly by the rest. 

“Full moons can get pretty loud around here, that’s when the Furs, like, wolf out…” Enid explains.

“I would consider getting some noise-cancelling headphones.” You finish for her. The sound of a bell ringing temporarily stops the three of you and you glance down at your phone, checking the time. “Shit,” You hiss, “I gotta go. I’m gonna be late for my next class. Still on for tonight Enid?” You ask, already stepping away. 

“You bet!” She smiles, waving as you turn to start jogging so that you can make it to class in time. As you leave the quad, you faintly hear Ajax start rambling to Enid about her new roommate.

 “What do you mean you don’t have my refills?” You ask the nurse. Panic slowly creeps into your stomach, starting to wrap itself around your heart like a snake squeezing the life out of a mouse. 

“I’m sorry, but Dr. Kinbott hasn’t sent any more refills over.” The nurse types away on her keyboard and obnoxiously clicks her mouse a few too many times. Just when you’re about to jump over the counter and chuck the damn thing out the nearest window, she speaks again, clicking her tongue. “It looks like she left a note in your file…” Her eyes scan through the text, “Dr. Kinbott has put a hold on your medication until you set up another session with her. It looks like she wants to reevaluate your dosage amount?” 

You groan, rubbing a hand down your face. “Fine… Thank you.” 

You push away from the counter, intending to walk back to your dorm and scream into your pillow before calling Dr. Kinbott. Instead you run into and nearly knock over Wednesday. “Sorry, didn’t see you.” 

“What’s happened to you?” Wednesday asks. “You look tortured and not in a good way.” 

“Is there a good wa- you know what, nevermind..” You pause, taking a deep breath. “It’s just a problem getting some of my medicine. Nothing big.” A blatant lie. It was just a big deal, it was a huge deal. The medicine helped keep you calm. And with a full moon coming up, not having the medicine in your system could be detrimental. Not to mention missing too many doses means horrible withdrawals. You’ve only gone through that once, when you first started taking them and thought you knew better than the doctor. Intense vomiting, body aches and chills, and the worst nightmares of your life preceded to wreck your body and mind for the following week until it was all out of your system. And that was after only being on the medicine for four weeks. You did not want to know what would happen now that you had been taking it regularly for several years. 

“Hmm.” Wednesday considers you for a long moment. Her black eyes boring into the depths of your soul, it makes you a little uncomfortable and you shift back and forth on your feet. “You’re lying. But I don't care enough to press further.” Was all she said before promptly turning on her heel and walking away, leaving you dumbfounded. 

You sit in the back of Principal Weems’ car outside of Dr. Kinbott’s office watching the people around you go about their day while waiting for Wednesday to finish her hour-long session with the therapist. 

You, somehow, managed to convince Weems to let you tag along so that you could talk to Kinbott about your medication. You didn’t have enough to make it until the appointment you had scheduled and the full moon was eerily close, you could feel it. The tell-tale tingling under your skin, your emotions running a little more rampant than normal, your claws popping out at random moments of strong emotion. It would only get worse as the full moon got closer and if you ran out of medicine before that, there's no telling how you’d act. You haven’t gone through a full moon without the medication since your very first transformation. And that was years ago. 

The longer you’re sitting in the backseat, the more restless you become. Your knee bounces subconsciously and you start picking at the nail polish Enid had just redone last night. When the car starts to feel like it’s closing in on you, you lean forward. “Principal Weems?” 

“Yes dear?” 

“Is it alright if I take a walk while we wait?” You ask, voice trailing off as you watch a pedestrian yell at a car for not stopping. 

Principal Weems is silent for a moment as she looks between the clock and the front door of Kinbott’s office. “I suppose it would be alright.. but why don’t you just walk down to the Weathervane cafe? That way I know where you’re at should something happen, hm?” 

A smile lit up your face, “Okay! I’ll be back before Wednesday’s appointment ends.”

As the door to the Weathervane clicks shut behind you the smell of smoking machinery and burnt coffee hits your nose. Behind the counter the barista is trying desperately to fix the steaming espresso machine. You approach the counter, unintentionally scaring the barista. 

“Holy crap!” He exclaimed, physical startling and stepping back slightly. “Do you make a habit of scaring the hell out of people?”

”Sorry… bad timing with the smoke.” You prop your hands on the counter and lift up onto the tips of your toes, peering into the machine. “What happened?” 

“Well.. uh… I don’t know exactly,” the barista admits, his hand scratching the back of his neck. “It just decided to start having a seizure and it doesn’t help that the instructions are in Italian.” 

“Hmm.. it looks like it’s just a valve issue..” You look up at the barista through the ever growing cloud of steam, and gesture to the screwdriver sitting on the counter. “Mind if I-”

“By all means.” The barista motions for you to come around the counter next to him and hands you the screwdriver. You make quick work of fixing the machine as the barista looks on in what you can only describe as wonder. 

With a final hiss, the steam finally dissipates and you close the top of the espresso machine. You turn to hand the screwdriver back to the barista and, for the first time, get a clear view of him. He’s tall, not obnoxiously so but you still have to tilt your head slightly to meet his eyes. Which are a deep shade of green, you note. His hair is light brown and soft curls fall over his forehead. Blinking a little too rapidly when you realize that he had been staring at you while you more or less checked him out, you thrust the screwdriver into his hand while muttering a soft, “Uh.. here.” 

He smiles, eyes taking in your face, which you can feel heating up. “Thanks… How’d you know how to do that?” 

“Do what?” You ask dumbly. 

“Fix that ancient hunk of metal.” The barista elaborates, nodding his head towards the espresso machine. 

“Oh!” You smile bashfully, “My dad likes to fix up old things… I picked up a few things while helping him.” 

“That’s…” He pauses, trying to find his words and you readied for an insult, “really cool. I wish my dad had some cool useful hobby like that.” 

“It’s nothing really..” You walk back around the other side of the counter. 

“Well, regardless. Not many Nevermore kids are willing to get their hands dirty. None that I've met anyways.” 

“How did-” 

“Uniform.” He cut you off, motioning to the purple and black ensemble you were wearing. 

God, why was this guy able to make you forget the simplest things? 

“I’m Tyler, by the way.” He was smiling at you again, dimples on full display. You introduced yourself in return and when he repeated your name, your heart beat so loud you thought for a second that maybe he would hear it too. 

“Let me make you a drink? On the house for fixing the espresso machine.” 

“Sure,” You answer, probably way too quickly. “Thanks.” 

You give Tyler your order and while waiting for him to finish making it, the bell dings above the door. You glance back at it before promptly doing a double take as Wednesday Addams walks straight up to the counter and barks out her order. 

“Wednesday? What are you doing?” You glance at the clock hanging on the far wall, she still had roughly half an hour left in her appointment.

“I have more important things to be doing than discussing my inner thoughts and motives.” She replies simply before turning her focus back to Tyler. “I need a taxi.”

“Jericho doesn’t have any taxis. I would try Uber.” He glances between you and Wednesday. 

“I don’t have a phone. I refuse to be a slave to technology. What about trains?” 

“Uh, closest station is a thirty minute drive away in Burlington.Where are you going anyway?” Tyler hands your drink to you and it feels cold in comparison to the smile he gives you. 

“That’s on a need-to-know basis.” Wednesday might not show emotions on her face that clearly, but the slight, insistent, tapping of her foot gives away that she’s growing impatient.

“Right… Well, I’m off in an hour. How about I drive you there. Call it my good deed for the day.” Tyler offers.

Wednesday digs in her bag, pulling out a folded twenty dollar bill, “I’ll sweeten the pot.” 

Tyler huffs out a laugh, “Wow, a whole twenty dollars… tempting, but no.” 

“I’ll double it.” Wednesday offers, pulling out a second twenty.

“Listen, Wednesday… one small fact about me, I can’t be bought. So either wait or find someone else to take you.” Wednesday looks Tyler up and down before huffing. 

She finds a booth near the front door and sits, her back to you and Tyler. 

Not long after, a group of three boys dressed like pilgrims enter the coffee shop and immediately start to pick on Wednesday. You watch in mild shock as she holds her own in a fight against the three of them after Tyler tried to intervene. And, as fate would have it, that’s more or less the exact moment that Principal Weems and Dr. Kinbott enter the coffee shop. The car ride back to Nevermore is awkward to say the least. You sit in the back seat, staring out the window with no extra medicine to be had. In the front, Weems scolds Wednesday for sneaking out of her therapy appointment and for getting on the sheriff's radar all in her first day.

The fair had been fun at first. You and Enid went around to the different rides and tried to win stupid prizes at totally not rigged games. But then Ajax walked by and Enid followed, leaving you completely alone. 

You wandered around for a while before settling down at a bench with some deliciously greasy fair-food, content to just people watch until it was time to leave. 

That was the plan anyways, until the three boys from the cafe decided that you had looked at them funny. Now, you were running through crowded walkways trying to lose them. 

You look back over your shoulder, frantically scanning the crowd for their faces as you continue to run. Unfortunately for you, while you were so busy looking behind yourself, you failed to notice the person in front of you. 

Hands grab your arms and you panic, trying to rip your arms away from who you assume is one of the boys. 

“Easy.. it’s just me.” It takes a moment but you calm down and stop struggling as Tyler’s warm voice filters through the anxiety in your brain. “What’s got you so paranoid?” 

You open your mouth to respond when one of the boys calls out for you from somewhere nearby. You eyes, wide and wild with an approaching panic attack, lock on to Tyler’s. “I need to hide.” 

“Right… okay,” Tyler’s grip on your arms tightens ever so slightly as he begins to scan the area as well. “Over here, come on.” 

He leads you behind the funhouse and crowds you against the wall just before the three boys run past. His head is turned as he watches to be sure that none of them circle back. His arms on either side of you, one against the wall and the other rests gently against your waist. This close you can smell his cologne, the wooden spicy scent filling your nose as you subconsciously take in a deep breath. 

“Alright, I think they’re gone.” Tyler whispers, turning his head back to look at you. The both of you stand there, practically chest to chest, for a moment before he seems to snap out of whatever thought was running through his mind and he steps back, clearing his throat. “You okay?” 

You nod, the action coming to you easier than words. 

“You sure? You’re trembling.” Tyler prods, his eyebrows pulled together in concern. 

“Mhmm, just the adrenaline…I’m okay now..” That was a lie, your heart rate was still so fast it was painful and your claws are digging into legs so hard you can already feel a trail of blood. 

“Then why are you crying?” His voice is soft and envelopes you like a blanket. 

“I am?” You reach a shaking hand up to your cheek and sure enough, it’s wet. “Oh..” 

His hand twitches at his side like he can’t decide if he wants to reach out for you or not. And then he does, his hand reaches up to swipe away some of the tears from your cheek when his phone dings in his pocket, stopping his hand in midair. 

Tyler fishes the phone out and checks it, “It’s my dad.. I have to go..” He sighs heavily, “You sure you’re okay?” 

You’re already nodding your head before he finishes the question. “I’m good.” 

You smile, unconvincingly, at Tyler and slowly he backs away and leaves. You spend the rest of the night loitering around Principal Weems and if she takes note of that, she doesn’t say anything.

The next day, Enid sends you into town for supplies for the Poe Cup. 

“We need black paint—water proof, fake fur, head bands, foam, and face paint.” She had rattled off at lightning speed. With your brain still reeling with the events of last night, it took you a minute to comprehend all that she was saying. 

“Hello~” Enid snapped her fingers in front of your face, calling your name. “Did you hear me? Cause I really need to be sure that you know what to get because I will not lose to Bianca again.” 

“I heard you. Black paint, fake fur, head bands, foam and face paint.” You recite the list back to her. 

“Water proof. Water proof black paint.” 

“I got it, Enid, stop worrying.” 

So now, an hour and a half later you’re stumbling out of the craft store with more water proof paint than you personally think is necessary and multiple bags of supplies. While trying not to drop any of the bags you’re holding, you don’t notice the small step down from the sidewalk and trip. 

Before you can even react, someone has their hands on your shoulders and is helping to steady you. 

“You really should pay more attention to your surroundings,” a familiar voice teases. “This is what, the second time you’ve bumped into me in the last twelve hours?” 

“Tyler!” You cringe internally at the volume of your voice. Clearing your throat, you try again. “Sorry… Enid has me running errands. We were low on supplies.” 

“Supplies for what? I’m struggling to see how,” he uses a finger to pull open one of the bags, “faux fur, head bands, and black paint have in common.”

”It’s for a tournament the school hosts every year. It’s called the Poe Cup.” You explain and when Tyler still looks at you like you’re speaking in tongues, you elaborate. “The paint is for a canoe,everything else is for the team costumes we’re wearing. This year Enid was in charge of the theme and so we’re black cats.” 

“And when does this Poe Cup happen?” Tyler asks as he takes the paint from where it was precariously pinned under your arm. 

“What are you doing?”

”I’m helping you carry the supplies.” Tyler says simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He nods for you to lead the way. “Now answer my question… When is the Poe Cup?”

”It’s tomorrow afternoon. I think it starts at two.” The two of you walk through town until you return to the shuttle that brought you to Jericho. Tyler opens the trunk for you and lets you place your bags down before setting the paint down. 

“Hopefully I can sneak away for a bit to watch you win.” He smiles down at you. 

“I think it’s a school only event…” You respond.

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” Tyler winks at you and leans down so his lips are next to your ear. a fire lights across your cheeks and butterflies swarm in your stomach. “See you tomorrow.” He whispers.

Tyler turns and walks away, leaving you standing in front of the open trunk. 

Your team won the Poe Cup.

Bianca Barclay lost. 

You stare out at the crowd of other students from the podium where you and the rest of The Black Cats stand as Principal Weems gives her yearly speech before handing the trophy to the winners. Your eyes skim over the crowd. Most of the other students are happy, even those on the other losing teams. A few, namely Bianca and her team, are less than pleased. But you chock that up to the constant jeering coming from Enid where she stands next to you. 

Principal Weems hands Enid the trophy and she passes it to Wednesday. As Wednesday holds it, Enid gives her victory speech that she’s been practicing every night for the past month since they announced the date for the tournament. Your eyes wander over to the side of the podium and into the nearby forest line. And there, standing just past the first row of trees, is Tyler. 

As soon as Enid finishes her speech, you excuse yourself and walk off the podium like you’re going back to your dorm. But as soon as you know no one can see you, you change course and head into the forest line where Tyler stands waiting, a large smile on his face. 

“Now I get the faux fur.” Tyler comments, reaching up and flicking one of the fake cat ears sitting on top of your head. 

“It’s stupid, I know…” You shrug, kicking at loose rocks and dirt beneath you. 

“I don’t think it’s stupid.” Tyler says.

“You don’t?” 

He shakes his head, smirking. “Nope.. in fact, I think it’s pretty cute.” 

You stare up at him, that familiar fire igniting under your skin. Your mouth opens and closes as your brain short circuits. 

Tyler chuckles, “Adorable.” 

You blink a few times, attempting to clear the fog from your brain. “What?” 

“Nothing… just thought the makeup was cute…” 

“Oh…” You look down at the ground where you’ve made a tiny divot in the dirt. 

“I should probably get back.. but congrats on the win. It was well deserved.” Tyler shoves his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “See you around?” 

“Yeah.. see you.” You wave as he turns and leaves. You stand there alone for an unknown amount of time, only heading back to your dorm once the first signs of the sun setting start to show.