chapter vii.

three years later

𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘, 𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘 didn't live up to that vow. She was disappointed that she couldn't keep her own promise, but everyone knows that Wednesday wouldn't adapt for anyone.

Not even her own family.

That's how she ended up stuck in the car with her mother and father, who were crooning soulfully to each other as she watched them in disgust.

Teenagers are known for their brooding nature, however Wednesday never needed this transition.

She still sported her inky jersey dress paired with her long plaits and forever blank expression.

Why her mother felt as if she had become more independently nasty was lost to her, the only new thing from her point of view was the blunt bangs that cut across her furrowed eyebrows.

"Darling, how long to do intend to give us the cold shoulder." Morticia's husky voice sulked as her eyebrows twitched, wrinkling her forehead. Wednesday narrowed her eyes at her mother before turning around to the front of the car.

"Lurch, please remind my parents that I'm no longer speaking to them." Spite laced her words and Lurch groaned in acknowledgement.

Gomez noticed how the corners of his wife's lips twisted down in disappointment. "I promise you my little viper," He leaned in to Wednesday, teeth bearing a mischievous yet consoling grin. "You will love Nevermore. Won't she, Tish?"

"Of course she will, it's the perfect school for her." She breathed in response. Wednesday wrinkled her noise at this foul statement.

"Why, because it was the perfect school for you?" Her dulled voice wasn't capable of a spit, but they still shot arrows through her mother's heart. "I have no interest in following your footsteps."

"I merely meant that finally you would be among peers who understand you." Morticia's pale face tilted into a small, hopeful smirk. "Maybe you'll even make some friends..."

"Nevermore is like no other school." Gomez turned wistfully to the elegant woman. "It's a magical place. It's where I met your mother,"

The two shared a reminiscent gaze. "And we fell in love..."

"You two are making me nauseous." Wednesday managed to stop her parents from closing the gap between them. They turned to her with a sigh.

"And not in a good way." She added, unimpressed.

"We aren't the ones who got you expelled." Her mother said firmly. "That boys family was going to file attempted murder charges."

"How would've that looked on your record?"

Wednesday looked down with the smallest amount of shame she could possibly muster. "Terrible. Everyone would know I failed to get the job done."

She had made quite a splash at Nancy Reagan High, yet her bite wasn't big enough to feel satisfied in her expulsion. The creak of Nevermore's gates rang in her ears, knowing it was the signal of nothing more than the beginning of a new institution's torture.

Only this time, there was a lot more waiting for her on the inside.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 had been your period of ultimate construction. You had crafted, polished and improved the perfect identity, every aspect of yourself was perfectly curated to fit around the Laurencia name.

You had been established as an elite. The Laurencia's were above all. You'd never had that power before, because you never knew of its purpose.

Living in the world of consistent status had taught you the truth of the real world: that the taller you stood on top of everyone, the easier everything would come to you.

That was your new philosophy.

The stone floors echoed your shoes as you clung to Jo's arm.

Entering the quadrangle was now a part of your daily routine. Letting people see you and talk to you kept your large reputation in perfect check.

"Well if it isn't my favourite sisters."

"Hello Bianca." You simpered at your long time frenemy.

You got along well, sharing the fact you were both ultimately without fault, yet you still remember the first ruthless competitions you had as freshman.

The Barclay girl stood up from her spot by the fountain, walking towards the pair of you.

"You better watch your back this year Bianca, I hear there's someone new on the scene." Jo greeted the siren with a sly chuckle.

"Lovely to see you too." Bianca's icy eyes warmed with sarcasm. "Where did you happen to hear about that, Jolene?"

You tittered at Bianca's use of Jo's full name, and your sister's eyes rolled in exasperation.

"Oh I just know she got it word for word from that girl Enid's blog."

It was now Biancas turn to scoff in amusement.

"Yeah well, of course she would assume everyone wants to overtake me. She jumps to conclusions quicker than anyone."

Nothing keeps quiet around Nevermore, everyone's business got caught in the wind one way or another.

"Aww come on BB, she's not that bad." You teased, pushed her shoulder. "They first time she wrote about us was probably the only time I've ever enjoyed reading."

𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘 oblivious to who was sitting mere feet above you in Principal Weems' office. Wednesday was also blithely unaware of the fact that you had once sat in the chair she now perched on.

"The school has a relationship with a therapist in Jericho." Morticias former roommate spoke with pursed lips. "She can meet twice a week."

"Did you hear that my little stormcloud?"

Wednesday sighed internally. Of course she had, she wasn't stupid. However she wish she hadn't.

She didn't need any more obstacles getting in her way out of Nevermore, particularly a therapist to fill in for her mother during the only time away from her.

"You're in excellent hands." As if.

"We'll see if she survives the first session." Wednesday makes no promises.

"Shall we go meet your new roommate?" Weems cut through the tension with a voice she hoped was welcoming and warm.

Wednesday could see it as almost taunting.

𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐃 pulled Wednesday around eagerly, talking her new roommates ear off.

"Nevermore was founded in 1991 for people like us!" Enid skipped down the stairs into the dimly lit registration office, while Wednesday trudged beside her.

"Freaks. Outcasts. Monsters. Fill in your favourite marginalised group here."

"You can save the sanitized sales pitch. I don't plan on staying here long."

Wednesday glared daggers at the picture of her mother that hung on the wall. She was wearing her fencing uniform and smiling broadly at her, assuming the girl would one day want to do the same.

Enid had come to know the girl well, even in the past few minutes. Expression wasn't her strongest suit, nevertheless, Wednesday had revealed a pretty decent summary of her character to the werewolf, who hung onto her every word.

"This was my parents doing. It's all a part of their plan." This sparked Enid's interest, leaning in with excitement, wanting to be in on any secret Wednesday was willing to share.

"What plan!?"

"To turn me into one of them."

Enid sucked her teeth. Her fault for asking.

"Well perhaps you could clear something up." She dragged Wednesday towards the quadrangle, nearing closer to the fresh air that invaded the thick atmosphere.

"Rumours are going around that you killed a kid at your old school and that your parents pulled strings to get you out." Her mouth stretched into a comical grimace.

"Actually it was two, but who's counting?"

Then her face dropped in slight terror.

"Welcome to the Quad!" Enid presented the open grounds with her arms outstretched.

"It's a pentagon." Wednesday rebutted, caused Enid to turn to her.

"The snarky goth girl thing may have worked at your old school, but here, things are different." A tilt of Enid's head encouraged Wednesday to follow as she began walking.

"There are many flavours of outcasts here, but the main four are Fangs, Furs, Stoners and Scales."

Enid's presence near the Furs elicited a chorus of howls resounding from their benches. She grinned and waved. "It can get pretty loud when they wolf out at full moon, so I suggest you purchase some noise cancelling headphones."

Wednesday eyes locked onto the fountain. Bianca was dipping her hand into the freezing water, melding it around her scaley fingers.

"I'm assuming Scales are Sirens?" Enid smiled at Wednesday's engagement.

"You catch on quick" A pastel coloured claw plucked out the shining star of the crowd.

"And that girl, Bianca Barclay, is the closest thing Nevermore has to royalty. Although her crowns been slipping lately!"

Wednesday could vaguely catch on to Enid spilling out all the dirt of Bianca and a boy named Xavier like she was a document of information.

She couldn't care much for gossip anyways, but it was harder to concentrate when her eyes travelled a little over the the left of the Queen Bee.

Where you sat.

Of course, Wednesday couldn't be sure.

She had the blade-sharp memory of a camera, yet your face only held a smidge of familiarity. A single ounce of what was left of the Chippewa girl lingered in your eyes.

Enid's info-dump halted when her eyes snagged onto Wednesday's line of vision. She knew instantly who Wednesday was looking at.

"And that..." Enid sighed in marvel. "...is the perfect Y/N Laurencia."

Your first name struck a chord in Wednesday's brain. It unlocked the long lost images of your head pushing hers out of the way, neck craning to read her book and casting shadows with her flashlight.

Yet the last name fell flat and dull.

She had never heard of it. She was so close to remembering who you were, but any images that might've resembled you dissolved on your mysterious figure.

Enid, however, didn't catch on to this revelation.

"She's flawless. The fiercest. Literally so effortless. She's a Laurencia, so that makes her the top of the food chain. It also means she's drawn with Bianca."

A terribly recognisable sense crept over your shoulders and sent shivers down your back. It was the feeling that rattled your bones the first day at Chippewa Camp, all those years ago.

One thing never changed about you. Your knack for instinct.

"You can read all about on my blog. It's the biggest source for all Nevermore gossip. Back in freshman year, I was the first to ever write about the Barclay v. Laurencia feuds." The blonde continued to babble.

Wednesday saw you shuffle slightly across the fountain to turn your head.

Your face came into view, suddenly throwing her back 3 summers ago.

"Oh my god, she's looking over here!" Enid was bursting with an unbelievable amount of admiration as you directed your gaze to were the pair stood.

Wednesday could see you properly now. She'd recognise that face anywhere.

You caught a glimpse of the black plaits, the pale and hollow cheeks. You'd recognise that face anywhere.

"You're joking."

(un-edited chapter)