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"Oof-" Hecate grunted as she suddenly stumbled backwards after colliding with a back. Today was outreach day and they had to grab leaflets to tell them where they were going in the town of Jericho for the day.
"Sorry." A boy who sounded familiar to Hecate apologised as he turned and extended his hand to her, going to help her to her feet again.
"It's alright." She huffed, standing on her own before she properly got a look at who she had bumped into. "Oh, Ajax." She said with a small friendly smile, trying to be polite. She didn't have much against the Gorgon boy, however, her first proper interaction with him wasn't necessarily a good one.
"Oh, hi, Hecate." He greeted back, rubbing the back of his neck as he wondered what to do next.
"Bye, Ajax." Having enough of the awkwardness that surrounded the pair, Hecate weaved herself in and out of the crowd, trying to find her sister or Xavier as quick as possible. "Wed-" Just as the golden blonde was about to reach out and touch her sister's shoulder, a clap resonated throughout the air.
"All students will report for their volunteer jobs at ten a.m sharp, followed by a community lunch at one." The platinum blonde then grinned at all the students, her rosy plump lips giving off a sketchy vibe in some way. "As you know, this year Outreach Day culminates in a very special event...the dedication of a new memorial statue in the town square, which will also include performanced by Nevermore students."
"Hey." Xavier whispered, slowly and gently wrapping his arm around Hecate's waist, knowing she'd jump out of her skin at the unexpectedness of his greeting. Like he determined, the girl did jump in her skin but when she turned to him, her smile seemed to glow as bright as the sun.
"Hello, Xavi." She leaned into his embrace slightly, her head resting against his arm as she intently listened to Weems speak.
"As representatives of our school, i trust you will all put your best face forward."
"Hello again, Hecate." Ajax suddenly said and Hecate slowly lifted her head before tilting it to the side to see around Xavier. Her eye-sight came into contact with the Gorgon once more, where she slightly huffed.
"Hello again, Ajax." She responded, ignoring the jealous look Xavier had going on his face at that moment.
"So...are you guys like a thing or what?" The beanie wearing boy questioned as he looked at the two who stood rather close to one another.
"Yeah, so what?" Xavier sharply questioned, looking Ajax up and down slightly. When Hecate giggled, he looked at her with a quirked brow.
"You know, he has a thing for Enid."
"Wha-how-"
"Just trust me. I can see it in your eyes, Aj." Just then the Coach approached them with leaflets in hand. Hecate politely said 'thank you' as she took one from the pile, grimacing a little as she feared where she'd have to go.
"Oh, my god, i got the Weathervane." Xavier groaned and Hecate sighed a little. She hadn't looked at hers yet. "What'd you get, sweetheart?" He asked, turning his attention to her. However, as he saw her slightly fearful look, he smiled faintly. "You alright, Catie?"
"Yeah, i just...don't really wanna look." The golden haired girl chuckled slightly and Xavier couldn't help but smile at her. Whether it was because he was infatuated with her or because he wanted to assure her, he didn't know.
"Want me to look for you?"
"Yes, please." She said in a quiet tone as she gave him her leaflet.
"Huh, you got Pilgrim World."
"Oh...fun." She winced, slightly disappointed she wasn't with Xavier for Outreach Day. However, as she glanced around at the students - some with happy faces and some with not-so happy faces - she sighed. She could deal without seeing Xavier for a few hours, right? Surely.
"Ah, Hecate." Weems said as she approached her. The girl frowned at Xavier and Ajax before slowly turning on her heel to face the Principle. "Don't worry about your flute."
"I'm sorry?" Hecate questioned, hoping she heard wrong. "I don't think i need my flute to work at Pilgrim World."
"I'm having it brought to the town square this afternoon, along with your sister's cello." Weems said with a pointed look which made Hecate even more so confused.
"But...that doesn't explain why i need it, Principle Weems." Hecate looked at Xavier with a slightly fearful look in her eyes before looking back at the woman in front of her.
"I caught yours and Wednesday's rooftop serenade the other night....impressive. I volunteered you and your sister to accompany the Jericho High School marching band at the ceremony." The principle then raised her brows, a smile not leaving her face. "I'm sure it won't be too challenging to play an uplifting Fleetwood Mac melody."
"As long as you promise to give me something in return, then fine. I don't know...money would be nice..." Hecate trailed off, running her thumb across her jaw as she looked off to the side slightly, indicating she'd wish to get paid in order to do something like that without agreeing originally.
"I'm sure we can sort something out."
~~
The shuttle bus arrived at Jericho and Xavier nudged Hecate awake gently after she had practically passed out on his shoulder.
"Wakey, wakey." He teased, making the girl groan. "I don't get how you could be on a bus for less than a minute before you're out cold." He commented, waiting for the girl to stand before he got out of his seat. He followed behind, his hand still clutched with hers as they exited the shuttle bus. "Wait, look." Xavier dragged his girlfriend towards a wall he remembered painting so well. "It's gone."
"What's gone?" Hecate asked softly, resting a comforting hand against Xavier's arm.
"Why are you staring at a blank wall?" Wednesday suddenly asked and Hecate jumped in her skin slightly before giving her a slight shrug.
"It wasn't blank last Outreach Day." Xavier answered, and Hecate made an 'o' shape with her mouth. He didn't look at Wednesday once, only glancing at Hecate a couple times when it felt like the girl wasn't there.
He didn't want her to leave.
"Are you still stewing because we rejected your invitation?"
"We?" Hecate mumbled as she furrowed her brows. She, technically, never disagreed. Never verbally, anyway.
"I don't know, i did go out on a limb for you both."
"That's not fair-" after the reassuring look and gently squeeze of the arm Xavier gave her, Hecate closed her mouth and would wait for him to finish speaking.
"Oh, please. Hecate's just cannon fodder in whatever cold war you're waging with Bianca." Wednesday said before she looked at her sister and Xavier. "And she's also whatever you have going on between you both." She added, indicating about the two now dating. "Anyway, i have more pressing issues on my mind."
"Like what?"
"Tracking down the monster that killed your roommate." Wednesday replied, causing Hecate to roll her eyes. She won't get involved in this conversation. She was too confused as to what was what with the situation to properly contribute.
"Oh my god." Xavier mumbled as he un-crossed his arm and instead wrapped it around Hecate's shoulder. Immediately he felt a soft hand grab the one of his that draped over her shoulder. "For the last time, Rowan was expelled. Everyone saw him leave."
"Have you spoken to him since?" Wednesday retorted, glancing at her sister who looked bored with the conversation.
"I texted him a few times, but i never heard back. I just figured he wanted Nevermore in his rearview mirror." Hecate could practically feel the sadness washing off of him, so she rubbed soothing circles into the back of his hand with her thumb.
"Or he's dead."
"Right, let's just...skip this, shall we?" Hecate asked, not wanting her boyfriend and sister to argue. But her voice wasn't heard as Xavier began walking away.
"I don't know why you care so much." The boy snapped at Wednesday. "It's not like you knew the guy."
"I'm not sure why you care so little." Was how Wednesday responded, and Hecate wanted to groan. She took Xavier's arm away from her shoulder and walked a little ahead of the two, but still staying within hearing distance. "People can try and dismiss me and make a million other excuses, but i'm not gonna stop." Wednesday was quick to pull the purple book from her black bag.
"Oh, great." Xavier scoffed as he realised what was in her hands. "I guess you can add 'thief' to your resume." The two - and Hecate- came to a stop as Wednesday flicked through the pages of the book. "I don't know what the big deal is about an old Nightshade's journal anyways."
"You didn't seem surprised when i showed you this last night." Wednesday said to the boy as she showed Xavier the two pages of her, Hecate and a pilgrim. "You've seen it before, haven't you?"
"Yeah." Xavier agreed, glancing to Hecate with a worried glance. The girl looked sad as her head was downturned to the floor, staring at her white trainers. "A couple days before the Harvest Fesitval. It was open on Rowan's desk. So i just assumed he stole it after we kicked him out of the Nightshades. Then i confronted him about it and he kind of went ballistic on me."
"He threw you against the wall with his telekinesis." Wednesday accused and Hecate snapped her head up, staring worriedly at Xavier. How come he didn't tell her?
"Yeah." Xavier responded with a frown. "How did you know that?"
"Lucky guess." Wednesday said, dismissing it.
"You know, it's weird that you and my girlfriend are in this." The green eyed boy said as he tapped the page, glancing at both sister's. "This journal is like, what, thirty years old? And what the hell is Crackstone doing in that picture with you both?"
"You know who that is?" Both girls questioned in sync, which did freak Xavier out slightly.
"Yeah, it's Joseph Crackstone. He's, like, Jericho's founding father. He's kind of a big deal around here." He then glanced up at some banners that were getting hung up before he chuckled and pointed to it. "Here, look. That's him."
~~
"Tey-Tey." Wednesday coldly said - as usual - as she walked beside her sister, the two girls walking into Pilgrim World together. "We need to find out more about Crackstone, got it?"
"But aren't we meant to do our jobs?"
"Do you want to find out why we're in the picture?" Wednesday rhetorically asked and Hecate nodded, the two walking forwards in further silence.
"Oh, god." Hecate groaned as she saw Bianca and Yoko doing awful faiced whilst pretending to be woman whilst they get their pictures taken.
"Hey, Wednesday," a boy called Eugene greeted the dark haired Addams girl with a smile. "Want to grab a Hummers group photo?" When he received no response but a cold look, he looked down in slight sadness. "Guess not."
"I will." Hecate said, feeling slightly bad for the boy. He seemed like a sweet kid. However, before anything could progress, a woman with ginger hair walked out in front of those volunteering at Pilgrim World.
"Good morrow, my young Nevermore kin." She greeted, and Wednesday and Hecate shared a look. "I am Mistress Arlene. A real OC." When Eugene laughed slightly, she lowered her smile. "Original colonist. Now prithee, put your cell phones on vibrate and make haste, for you are about to travel back in time to the year of our Lord. Sixteen-twenty-five...to Jericho's first pilgrim settlement." She turned with a fake smile and began walking away.
"Wow, she sounds so dull." Hecate mumbled as she and Wednesday followed after the crowd.
"Yonder." The woman said sharply before turning to the Nevermore students. "Behold, the meeting house. Inside is a collection of artifacts related to Jericho's most beloves and pious founder, Joseph Crackstone." She then turned and pointed at the other building. "And beyond is our privy, America's first gender-neutral restroom."
"I haveth a query." Wednesday said as she stepped forwards, gaining the attention of "Mistress Arlene".
"Pray, be quick, child."
"In the meeting house, which of Joseph Crackstone's artifacts are on display?"
"It is truly a treasure trove," the woman began, "including original farm tools, tableware, even the Crackstone family chamber pot."
"Sounds fascinating." Wednesday said quickly. "I volunteer to work in there."
"Pray, no. That exhibit is being renovated." The woman quirked both brows at the dark haired Addams girl. "Today, thou will all be working at the beating heart of Pilgrim World."
~~
a/n
hey, how was chapter nineteen? please comment and vote xoxo
> thank you to everyone that wished me good luck on the previous chapter, i need it xx