17 WEDNESDAY’S CHILD IS FULL OF WOE

[General POV]

A car with a long, imposing frame was driving along a country road. Inside, a girl with an air of cold detachment sat by the window. Her long black hair fell in two neat braids over her shoulders, outlining a pale face with dark, unblinking eyes. Dressed in a black dress with a white collar, she seemed as if she'd stepped out of a classic horror film. Her expression rarely changed.

Beside her were other passengers, that appeared to be her parents and brother. The older woman spoke to the girl, her voice tinged with a hint of encouragement. "I promise you, my little viper, you'll love Nevermore. You might even make some friends. It's like no other boarding school; it's a magical place."

The girl turned to her mother with a flat stare. "Why? Because it's perfect for you? I have no interest in following in your footsteps. Becoming captain of the fencing team, Queen of the Dark Prom, President of the Séance Society?"

The woman seemed unfazed by the girl's sarcasm. "Darling, we aren't the ones who got you expelled. That boy's family was about to file attempted murder charges. How would that have looked on your record?"

The girl's expression remained impassive. "Terrible. Everyone would know I failed to get the job done."

[Wednesday POV]

I should have brought more piranhas. While I was contemplating how I could have improved my plan of harming the Bully of my brother, I saw in the distance an old structure set amid dense, shadowy woods. This must be the academy my parents think is perfect for me. I still have no interest in following in their footsteps and becoming like them.

We stopped in front of the academy, and my parents led me to the principal's office. The headmistress was an elderly woman with white hair, exuding an air of dignity and majesty. I already knew I wasn't going to like her.

The principal greeted me with a forced smile. "Wednesday is certainly a unique name. Was it the day you were born?"

What a disgusting smile. "I was born on Friday the 13th," I replied.

My mother cut in, "Her name comes from a line from my favorite nursery rhyme, 'Wednesday's child is full of woe.'"

The principal continued, ignoring my sarcasm. "You've had an interesting educational journey—eight schools in five years."

"They haven't built one strong enough to hold me. I bet this place won't be any different."

The principal persisted, seemingly unbothered by my attitude. "Nevermore doesn't usually accept students mid-term, but given Wednesday's perfect grades and your family's long history with the school, we've made an exception."

My mother interrupted again, "Larissa, what about Wednesday's um…therapy sessions? The court ordered them."

The principal, now known as Larissa, replied, "The school has a relationship with a therapist in Jericho. She can meet twice a week. Let's change the subject—I've assigned you to your mother's old dorm, Ophelia Hall."

After leaving the principal's office, we headed to my new room. Once inside, I noticed it was a large space with a big window. The room was divided into two sections: one was sparse and simple, while the other was so brightly decorated it looked like a unicorn had thrown up in it.

A blonde girl stood up and greeted me. "Howdy, roomie! I'm Enid. Welcome to Ophelia Hall!" she said, reaching out to hug me. I took a step back, avoiding her embrace.

The headmistress, seeing my reaction, spoke up. "Enid, please take Wednesday to the registrar's office to get her uniform and schedule and give her a tour along the way."

As we walked, Enid began her introduction. "Nevermore was founded in 1791 to educate people like us. Outcasts, freaks, monsters, fill in your favorite marginalized group here."

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

Enid ignored my comment and kept talking. "Well anyway there are rumor's been swirling around that you killed a kid at your old school, and your parents pulled strings to get you off."

I gave her a blank look and replied, "Actually, it was two kids, but who's counting?"

Enid's eyes widened in shock at my plain statement.

Eventually, we arrived at a spacious area, and Enid announced, "Welcome to the quad."

I corrected her," It's a pentagon."

She rolled her eyes." The whole snarky Goth girl thing might have worked at normie school, but here things are different.

Let me give you a wiki on Nevermore's social scene. There are many flavors of outcasts here, but the four main cliques are Fangs, Furs, Stoners and Scales."

As we walked through the school, she pointed out different groups. "Those are the Fangs, AKA vampires. Some of them have literally been here for decades.

That bunch of knuckleheads are Furs, AKA werewolves. Like me!

The other there are scales, AKA sirens and that girl, Bianca Barclay, is the closest thing Nevermore has to royalty."

Enid went on, talking about downloading Instagram and other social media apps, boasting about her popularity. I wasn't really listening. My attention was drawn to a white-haired boy who was leaning on a table while another guy talked to him.

Enid noticed my interest and brought me over. "This is my boyfriend Perseus and his friend Xavier. Guys, this is my new roommate, Wednesday!"

Perseus stood up to greet me, and I got a better look at him. His face was chiselled to perfection and his bright purple eyes were mesmerizing, like gems. I couldn't help but think, If I killed him and embalmed his body, he would make a perfect trophy for my room. And those eyes would look great in a jar with formaldehyde.

[Perseus POV]

I was in the "quad" with Xavier, and he was going on and on about his ex-girlfriend Bianca, how she manipulated him, how she was always causing drama and so on. I get that this stuff is important, and as a friend, I should be supportive, but we've had this same conversation at least a hundred times since they broke up at the beginning of the school year.

I leaned my head on the table, thinking that as a friend, I should listen to his problems and not blast his head like a firework…But seriously, how many times could he repeat the same story?

While he was talking, I heard Enid's voice behind me. That's my girl! She was about to save me from this endless and repetitive conversation.

"This is my boyfriend Perseus and his friend Xavier. Guys, this is my new roommate, Wednesday!"

I stand up to greet them and can feel the happiness welling up inside me. I finally have the chance to meet the main protagonist of this world: Wednesday Addams!

I admire her gothic look—pale skin, dark hair, and all-black clothing—but what I like most about her in the TV series is her razor-sharp humor, often dark and always delivered with impeccable timing. She doesn't waste words, speaking only when she has something meaningful to say, which makes her words all the more impactful. That's why I like her so much; her beauty is just an added bonus.

As I look at her, I am not disappointed. She is very similar to her character in the TV series—perhaps even more stunning. But why is she giving me a look that feels like she's considering dissecting me?

************

Author Note:

I've been really busy with university—sorry about that. But don't worry, I won't be dropping the fanfiction!

I am not like a_BMO, who doesn't update his/her fanfiction "A Wizard in Wednesday." (I'm still upset about that—it's such a great fanfiction!)

It's just that I won't be uploading as frequently or consistently. :/

My advice is to add this fanfiction to your library and check back occasionally to see if I've updated it. :)