Chapter Text
Wednesday stood in the doorway, looking around the Chicago apartment. She wondered if they’d ever come back here.
“Wednesday?” Xavier called her from down the hall, where he stood waiting for the elevator.
Wednesday turned away and let the door shut behind her as she walked toward him. When she reached him, she stood on her toes to kiss him before the elevator doors opened.
Xavier held her hand as they drove through the city, watching the now-familiar streets slip past them. They boarded the Thorpe jet at O’Hare, and Wednesday watched Chicago shrink and disappear behind the clouds.
It had been an interesting summer, one that had changed her forever. In the final weeks of their break, she had been more open than she’d ever been in her life. She wasn’t going to drop her walls for anyone else, but with Xavier, she had finally learned to be vulnerable.
Xavier’s phone pinged with an email at the same time as hers vibrated. Xavier pulled his out of his pocket, and he smiled.
“They just sent the release date,” he said. “October 31st. That’s fitting.”
Wednesday gave a short laugh. “And you promise they actually wanted to publish it?” she asked for probably the fifth time in the past four weeks.
Xavier sighed. “Wednesday: Even my family doesn’t have enough clout to convince a major publishing house to print a lemon. Relax. It’s going to be great. I, however, am going to run away to live in Crackstone’s Crypt if you spend the next ten weeks stressing over it.”
“I’m not stressing,” she countered. “I’m simply trying to set reasonable expectations for my royalties.”
“Uh-huh,” he said, not believing her.
They landed in Burlington, and a driver brought Xavier’s car to the tarmac so they could drive back to Nevermore.
“You ready to go back to dorm life?” Xavier asked as he drove, his hand resting on her knee.
She shrugged. “It has pros and cons,” she said dispassionately. “Thanks to Enid and Ajax, our sleeping situation doesn’t change much between when we’re at school versus at home. Wherever home is at any given time.”
“I can’t believe this is our last year,” he said.
“I’m surprised you’re not eager to graduate and move on with life,” Wednesday replied.
“I am. But it’s also sad knowing that this year is the last time we’ll do everything here. Like our last Poe Cup and our last Dark Prom.”
Wednesday rolled her eyes at the mention of the prom. She was eager to leave that part of high school far behind them.
They drove through Jericho and then up the winding road to Nevermore’s gates. The gates opened of their own will, and Xavier drove through campus to the student lot. It was hot when they got out of the car, and cicadas chirped deafeningly in the trees. Wednesday immediately missed the cool breezes that came off Lake Michigan.
Xavier insisted on helping her take her stuff to her room. Enid was already unpacking when they arrived. Lurch had brought up Wednesday’s other trunks earlier in the day.
“Hi, guys!!” Enid exclaimed, jumping away from her trunk to wrap her arms around both Xavier and Wednesday at once.
“I am SO excited that we’re all back!” Enid continued, clapping her hands and bouncing. Her hair had grown a bit longer over the summer; the colored ends now brushed her collarbones.
“When’s the obligatory party?” Wednesday asked as she dropped her backpack onto her bed.
“Psychics are really no fun!” Enid said, pouting.
“I didn’t have a vision, Enid. I just know that it’s the beginning of a new term, and therefore, I’m getting dragged to a party,” Wednesday explained.
Enid rolled her eyes, and Xavier shrugged.
“Next weekend,” Enid confessed.
“I’m still limiting you to max one party per semester,” Wednesday warned. “Use it wisely.”
Xavier laughed. “I’ll leave you to unpack. We can catch up after all of us get settled.” He left Ophelia Hall and returned to the car to collect his bags.
Ajax hadn’t arrived at school yet, giving Xavier a chance to get organized. He arrived about an hour later as Xavier was organizing his desk.
“Dude!” Ajax yelled, and they clapped each other on the back. “Senior year! Two semesters and we’re free to conquer the world!”
“Aren’t you going to college?” Xavier asked.
“Well, yeah, but that’s part of my world domination plan,” Ajax explained.
“Right.”
Enid sat rapt on her bed as Wednesday recounted her experience working with Esther to catch the twin chessboard killers.
“That sounds horrible all around!” Enid concluded. “Ugh, I’m glad people like you are into it because I could never.”
Wednesday shrugged. “It’s fun.”
“Right. Oh! Xavier told me your book is getting published! I’m so glad that something is finally coming from all the incessant banging you’ve subjected me to for two years!” Enid said, changing the topic.
Wednesday’s phone vibrated. It was a selfie from Ben of him and Bartley by the river. Wednesday smiled. They’d finally made their relationship official in the last weeks of Wednesday’s stay in Chicago. Xavier even talked her into a double date with the couple. She still wasn’t convinced Hanson was going to cut it in the homicide unit, but at least he was doing better than when she’d arrived.
Another text came through while she was looking at the photo. It was from Eugene.
E: <<You here?>>
W: <<Yes.>>
E: <<Meet down at the hives in 10?>>
W: <<Sure.>>
“I’m going down to meet Eugene,” Wednesday said, sticking her phone in her back pocket. “Let me know when you guys are going to dinner.”
“Sounds good!” Enid said, briefly looking up from her phone.
Wednesday headed out into the warm late afternoon and walked down to the Hummers shed. She pushed the door open and found Eugene inside tidying up for the new term.
“Hey,” Wednesday said, making Eugene jump and push his glasses back into place on his nose.
He had been crouched down, rifling through a crate. When he stood up, Wednesday started.
He laughed awkwardly and ran a hand through his curly hair. “I grew a bit over the summer,” he said, in a voice that was an octave deeper than last term.
“That’s an understatement,” Wednesday said, looking up at him. He’d been an inch or two taller than her last semester. Now she was chest-level with him.
He shrugged. “I guess my moms were right; I am a late bloomer.”
“You grew like a weed, not a flower,” Wednesday replied.
It was a bit jarring. He was almost the same height as Xavier now. His face had lost quite a bit of its baby fat, and she could see that he had angular cheekbones that would only grow more pronounced over the next few years. Wednesday was annoyed. It was bad enough being shorter than Xavier and Ajax. Even Enid had at least an inch on her. Now Eugene had joined the taller-than-Wednesday crowd.
“Can you help me with these jars?” Eugene asked, gesturing to the table covered in mason jars for their future honey stockpile. Wednesday agreed and started setting them on one of the lower shelves. Eugene stocked the shelf above her, clearly oblivious to the magnitude of the drastic physical change he’d undergone.
After about half an hour of restocking, Wednesday’s phone buzzed. She pulled it from her pocket to see Enid texted her about heading to dinner.
“C’mon,” she said to Eugene, dusting off her pants. “Dinner.”
He set the last two jars on the highest shelf and wiped his hands on his pants. As they left, he locked the shed behind them, and they made their way across campus to the dining hall.
Xavier saw Wednesday as she came over a slight hill, but he couldn’t tell who was with her. Enid was talking to Divina about something when she noticed Divina’s jaw drop.
“Dibs,” Divina said, and Enid whipped around to see what she was looking at.
Wednesday approached them, Eugene at her side.
“Eugene?” Enid stammered.
“Hey, Enid,” Eugene replied, looking at his now quite large shoes.
Wednesday appeared totally unfazed by her Hummers companion’s transformation. She looked around at her gawking friends.
“Are we going in or not?” she asked.
When they sat down to eat, Wednesday watched as Divina suddenly expressed a deep interest in what Eugene had been up to over the summer. Enid’s face was still a mask of total shock. Ajax looked irritated.
“I don’t get it,” Wednesday said between bites. “So he grew a few inches. Why is everyone freaking out?”
Xavier raised an eyebrow, and Ajax looked at Xavier.
“At least you know your girl only has eyes for you,” Ajax said, sounding irritated. Wednesday glared at him for using the word “girl.” Xavier chuckled.
Bianca walked in a few minutes later and joined them.
“Eugene?” she said, in the same tone as Enid had. Wednesday rolled her eyes. What was wrong with all of them?
She looked at Xavier.
What is going on? she asked telepathically.
Really, Wednesday? Are you really that oblivious? He replied.
Apparently. The kid grew a few inches, and everyone’s freaking out!
Xavier laughed quietly. It’s good to know I don’t have competition.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wednesday said out loud.
Ajax looked at them quizzically.
It means your little friend just became one of the hottest ticket items on campus. And everyone but you has noticed, Xavier explained.
Eugene??? Really? But…he’s…Eugene! Wednesday said, giving him a confused look.
Xavier leaned over and kissed her forehead. I love you so much!
Wednesday still looked confused, but she shrugged and turned her attention back to her dinner.
They left the dining hall about an hour later. Divina hung back to walk to the dorms with Eugene. Wednesday overheard her ask Eugene if he wanted to go with them to Lucas’s party the following weekend.
“Where’s Kent?” Wednesday asked Bianca as they walked toward the dorms.
“With Yoko, I expect,” Bianca said.
“What?” Wednesday asked. “What the hell happened while we were in Chicago?” she added under her breath.
Xavier laughed and squeezed her hand. Wednesday felt like she was trapped in a romantic movie and desperately wanted out. Fortunately, classes started tomorrow, so hopefully, everyone would get busy and stop thinking about each other.
Xavier headed to Elowen’s tower first thing in the morning. He didn’t have to take formal classes this year, having dedicated himself entirely to Elowen’s tutelage. Elowen greeted him warmly, and they immediately discussed everything Xavier had read and learned over the summer.
Wednesday was studying with Esther in forensics and anatomy and Dame Crowley for witchcraft. Dame Crowley was the premier witch at Nevermore and, like Elowen, only took on the most talented students. Wednesday hadn’t originally planned on studying witchcraft so intensely during her senior year, but Esther had convinced her to diversify her studies.
What was ideal about Wednesday and Xavier’s paths is that they didn’t have formal schedules outside of their intensive work with their mentors. This gave them much more freedom than their classmates, though they both had to manage more work than others, too. The first week of school flew by, with Wednesday and Xavier diving into work with their mentors.
Dame Crowley had spent the first week of school assessing the strength and breadth of Wednesday’s powers. She had pushed the boundaries of Wednesday’s abilities day after day with a series of increasingly difficult tasks. By Friday afternoon, Wednesday was utterly spent, but Dame Crowley was satisfied with the direction she chose for her pupil. Wednesday was clearly most proficient in death magic, and the wise witch was going to train her as a necromancer.
Wednesday headed to the shed Friday afternoon, and collapsed on the futon. She quickly fell asleep, exhausted from the week’s endeavors. The creak of the door’s hinges woke Wednesday a few hours later. She sat up, blinking and rubbing her eyes as Xavier entered the shed.
“Were you taking a nap?” he asked, surprised.
“Not intentionally,” Wednesday replied, stretching and fixing her uniform.
“Well? What’s the verdict?” he asked, dropping his backpack on the floor and sitting down on the futon beside her.
“Necromancy.”
“I thought they banned students from studying that here. Too many grave robbings or turning themselves into liches. Like your mom’s BFF.” He laughed at his own joke.
Wednesday scowled at him. “They did. But certain teachers can overrule those rules if they make a persuasive case to the principal and the board.”
“Speaking of,” she continued, looking at her phone, “I need to head over to the principal’s office for that exact reason in fifteen minutes. I’m glad you came back when you did.”
“I’ll come with you,” Xavier offered. “I want to be the first to know what kind of argument Dame Crowley came up with to allow you, of all people, to study forbidden magic. Seems like a terrible idea to me.” He smiled, amused with himself.
Wednesday ignored him and shouldered her backpack. They crossed campus in the late afternoon heat and entered the cool stone administration building. Dame Crowley was waiting for Wednesday outside the principal’s office. She nodded at Xavier, who sat down on the bench to wait outside.
“Before we go in, there’s something you should know…” she started to say as Wednesday pushed open the double doors. She strode inside before her mentor could finish her sentence.
“Hello, Wednesday,” said the familiar voice of Principal Weems.