His Raven | Wednesday + Xavier

Chapter V

       Xavier went to his room and put on an outfit he wouldn't mind getting paint on, put all of his stuff away now that he wasn't hungover and close to death. Then he made his way to the cafe for some lunch. Enid and Ajax were in town, like almost everyone else so it was basically empty.

 He wondered if Wednesday has eaten today. Once he finished that he walked to the art class and grabbed a bucket of white paint and two paint brushes.

Next, he went to a janitors closet and grabbed some cleaning bristles and other essentials.

He was contented to know he was able to get some time with Wednesday, seeing before he always attempted but never really succeeded in getting the opportunity to actually spend time with her.

He walked towards the courtyard to find the perfect wall for it. It was empty, thankfully.
He proudly looked at the ravens he painted last semester.

His favorite thing about it was the fact that not another soul there knew the meaning behind it. So much more than just a raven.

He looked on the ground beneath him where last semester Wednesday took an arrow for him. It was that moment he realized she genuinely cared for him. He remembered the shock and fear that numbed his body seeing her step out in front of him and violently fall to the ground. The look in her eyes when he rushed to her and held her head in his hand before he obeyed her wishes and got everybody out of here.

He started looking at the bare walls when something took him off guard.
Abruptly, a loud stringed instrument started consuming the air and every ear in range. He glanced up to where she played and listened.

It was noticeably different than the Paint It Black cover she always did last year. This one sounded familiar also though, more classical. More emotion. He put his phone up to detect the song.

'The Swan'

Ah, that's why. It was a classical song he heard a lot growing up because it was in his favorite movie when he was younger.
He wondered if she was associating it with Ms. Weems.

I don't know how someone so compassionate can believably act so heartless he thought looking at the wall directly across the Raven mural.

Perfect.

Wednesday finished playing so Xavier texted her.

'Come on Bach, I'm in the courtyard.'

He chuckled at his own joke and started setting up the paint.

    "If you are going to joke about me being a famous cellist than at least don't make it insulting. Bach is only famous for his most popular song Cello Suite No.1, Prelude.
Pablo Casals was at least synonymous with his instrument."

Xavier took sight of the short raven haired in front of him, looking offended as ever with her arms crossed. He couldn't help but chuckle.

"My bad, Pablo Casa- whatever."

She ignored his mockery and considered the wall he picked. "Do you approve, your highness?"

"It will suffice."

He scoffed. This girl is unbelievable.

"Alright so, I was thinking today, we could just cleanse and do the base coatings so we can start the actual work another day."

Wednesday nodded, walked over to the cleaning supplies and grabbed a squirt bottle and bristle scrubber. She made her way over to the wall and closely inspected it, up close you could see the stuff growing on it, old spiderwebs, little bits of food like someone was having a food fight as some point.

Despicable.

"Are you going to make any use of those hands of yours?" She questioned him who was just behind her dazing.

He chuckled and opened his mouth to say something inappropriate but she would probably smack him for saying it aloud so instead he grabbed the same supplies and stood beside her, getting the places harder for her to reach.

   
     A few minutes later, she glanced up at him noticed his face change as he became more focused. Oddly, concentration looked immensely good on him. subconsciously, she stared at him, up and down his tall frame. She felt her lower body burn. Once she realized what was happening she went back to her scrubbing.

"You good?" Xavier peered down at her.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" She barked defensively. 

He glanced at her hands; she was cleaning the wall rough enough to break every bristle off.

"Nothing,"

She rolled her eyes and had the urge to get as far away from him as possible.

"Oh, by the way. I'm sorry about the time you uh, walked into my shed- unannounced might I add and uh.. seen the painting."

Wednesday shook her head. "Xavier, you have nothing to apologize."
"Despite the fact it came as a shocker... I didn't hate it."

He looked at her, taken back. "So, you're saying you liked it?"

She looked up into his eyes and then his lips, then back to his eyes. Oh my god. I hate him.
She wanted to tell him that she's never been more amazed in her entire life than that moment. How that was the moment she realized how much he truly did care for her. How the reason for her running was not out of rejection towards him but she felt the same and she's scared.

But instead, "I will admit, I was impressed."

She saw a hint of a smile in the corner of her eye.

"And besides," She looked down. "If anyone should apologize, it should be me, to you."

Without a second thought, Xavier lifted her head with two fingers underneath her chin.

With no anger, no hesitation, no grudge smudged words-
"You're forgiven."

They looked in each other's eyes and her breathing started getting heavy, that is exactly what her father always tells her mother whenever she apologizes for something. Same tone.

She broke the silence, his hand fell back to his side, disappointed.

"I should go,"

He nodded, annoyed with himself.

"I should get something to eat before lunch is over."

"Of course," He nodded.

This is exactly why she can't allow herself to feel anything for him. The similarities between her mother and father and her and Xavier was already way to unbearable.

She will not grow up to be like her mother.

__________________________________________________________

"Unhappy darling?" 

"Oh yes,

yes, completely."