Friday Addams || Xavier Thorpe

1

My twin and I sat in the backseat of our vehicle while our parents were across from us. Lurch drove with Pugsley in the passenger seat. The song "In Dreams" by Roy Orbison played on the radio. Mother and father sang along intimately together, unable to keep their hands away from each other. The birds chirped to the tune of the song as Wednesday kept her gaze locked silently onto our parents.

"Darling, how long do you intend on giving us the cold shoulder?" Mother asked as I tore my gaze away from the window to listen in on the conversation. Wednesday was upset about being sent to Nevermore where our parents met. She didn't want to be turned into our mother.

"Lurch, please remind my parents that I'm no longer speaking to them," she replied, causing Lurch to grunt in response.

"I promise you, my little vipers, you'll love Nevermore. Won't they, Tish?" Our father spoke, realizing I intended to join the ever-nearing conversation.

"Of course. It's the perfect school for them," Mother added in response to his question.

"Why? Because it was the perfect school for you? I have no interest in following in your footsteps," my twin spoke tersely. "Becoming captain of the fencing team, Queen of the Dark Prom, President of the Séance Society." She listed the many titles our mother earned during her time at Nevermore.

"I merely meant that finally, you will be among peers who understand you. Maybe you'll even make some friends."

"I hate to agree with Wednesday on this, but I don't think it will be the perfect school for us. I would rather have stayed back in the normal public schools. I had friends already," I said, bringing myself into the conversation.

"Nevermore is like no other boarding school. It's a magical place. It's where I met your mother and we fell in love." Our parents inched toward one another becoming close once more. My twin and I watched in disgust before deciding to break it up.

"You guys are making me nauseous," I started. "And not in a good way," my sister finished for me. She kept her usual cold gaze on our parents as I did my best to remove the repulsion from mine.

"Darlings, we aren't the ones who got you both expelled. The boy's family was going to file attempted murder charges. How would that have looked on your records?" While I did not blame my sister for our expulsion, our mother did have a point about the charges.

"Terrible. Everyone would know I failed to get the job done." I sighed at Wednesday's response, already knowing she would react that way.

"At least it's turning into a beautiful day." I returned to facing out the window at the gray skies. It was beginning to storm with a slight outburst of rain as we drove through the Nevermore gates. As different as I was from Wednesday, I did love storms.

We entered a large office marked with a sign claiming it to belong to Larissa Weems. I assumed it was the headmistress' office based on why we were there. Our parents sat in two chairs on both ends of the stools Wednesday and I occupied. I was next to our father whereas my twin was next to our mother. A seemingly tall woman with silvery hair and red lipstick sat smiling behind the oversized desk.

"Wednesday and Friday are certainly unique names. I'm guessing one was the day you were born?" She asked after having read our files.

"We were born on Friday the thirteenth. So, I guess that's true about my name," I responded before my sister could think of a witty comment.

"Their names come from two lines of my favourite nursery rhyme, 'Wednesday's child is full of Woe,' and 'Friday's child is loving and giving,'" my mother explained the reasoning behind our names. She was able to tell from when I was born that I was different.

"You always had a unique perspective on the world, Morticia." Principal Weems paused for a moment as our mother agreed with a hum. "Did your mother tell you we were roommates back in the day?" She asked.

"And you graduated with your sanity intact? Impressive." I was unable to stop Wednesday from speaking her mind this time. Luckily, the principal shrugged it off and continued with the meeting.

"You've certainly had a very interesting educational journey. Eight schools in five years." The principal smiled with faint curiosity as she glanced down at the papers in front of her.

"They haven't built one strong enough to hold me. I bet this place won't be any different." I squirmed in my seat, hoping Wednesday wouldn't mess this up too much. As much as I hadn't wanted to change schools, this was one of our best opportunities currently.

"What our daughter is trying to say is that she greatly appreciates the opportunity. In fact, they both do," our father spoke from beside me. He gave a reassuring smile to the woman, followed by my mother.

"Nevermore doesn't usually accept students mid-term, but given the twins' perfect grades and your family's long history with the school, I've spoken with the board and we've made an exception."

"Larissa, what about Wednesday's, um... therapy sessions? The court ordered them and Friday usually accompanies her," Our mother asked with piqued interest. Wednesday hated the therapy sessions she has had before and I wasn't expecting her to change her opinion.

"The school has a relationship with a therapist in Jericho. She can meet twice a week."

"Did you hear that, my little storm clouds? You're in excellent hands." Our father often called us a variety of nicknames. Whichever dreadful thing he could think of would be the next name he used.

"We'll see if she survives the first session," Wednesday replied in a monotone voice. She continued staring, unblinkingly, into the eyes of principal Weems. I was sure she hadn't taken her eyes away since the meeting started. I usually attended therapy sessions with Wednesday to prevent possible injury to the poor therapist that had to work with her.

"I've assigned you to your mother's old dorm. Ophelia Hall." I glanced past my twin to see our mother light up with excitement. She let out a small chuckle.

"Refresh my memory. Ophelia's the one who kills herself after being driven mad by her family, correct?" My sister came up with something to make the dorm seem more morbid as she tilted her head toward Weems. The fire crackled in the fireplace as the weather continued to storm and thunder rumbled outside.

"Should we go meet your new roommate?"

I eagerly nodded in response, wanting to leave the tense space of the office for somewhere new. My family walked out of the room and down the hall to the dorms.