The Crime of Being Different

New Student

Today was Wednesday's first day in Nevermore Academy. She never wanted to be here in the first place, however, her mother kept pushing her to enroll here, just like she did back when she was Wednesday's age. Wednesday resented that. Ever since she was little, she had a complicated relationship with her mother, Morticia. And the last thing she wanted is to follow her steps.

"Are you excited, Wednesday?" Morticia asked her as she sat opposite her daughter.

"Thrilled," Wednesday answered sarcastically.

Wednesday maintained eye contact with her mother, but her eyes looked deadly as she stared at her. Contrastingly, Morticia's somber eyes looked back at her understandingly.

"Your mother is glad that you finally decided to attend our old school," Gomez stated through his subtle foreign accent. "I'm glad, too."

"It's not like I had a choice, Father. I got expelled from my prior school, and no other school was interested in taking me in because of my 'rebelled' history."

Gomez sulked as he listened. Morticia lifted her chin and coughed quietly, as to clear her throat.

"Then you'll know you won't be judged there, Wednesday." Morticia said, trying to give her a better impression of Nevermore. "You will fit in just fine."

"In a school full of outcasts, who wouldn't?"

And just then, the car stopped in front of the school entrance. Wednesday looked out of the window and saw a woman standing by the front door, accompanied by a blonde student right beside her.

"Thank you for driving us here, Lurch." Morticia uttered while she lifted her head to see him. Lurch incoherently mumbled as a response.

As Gomez stepped out of the vehicle, it slightly wobbled by the release of tension caused by his feet.

"Darling," Gomez referred to Morticia as he extended his hand out expectantly.

Morticia sharply chuckled as she placed her hand over his, which Gomez gripped lightly, and he carefully helped her get out of the car. Grimacing, Wednesday looked at her parents as she witnessed their affection once more. She has experienced this ever since she was young, and she has hated it ever since.

Gomez offered his hand to Wednesday but, unlike her mother, she refused.

The family approached the front door, seeing the two people awaiting them, while Lurch awkwardly went behind the vehicle to grab Wednesday's belongings. Wednesday turned to look at Lurch -- who walked towards them while his uncoordinated arms swung beside him -- and he looked back at her.

"Welcome!" The woman exclaimed as she outstretched her arms to greet them. "You must be Wednesday; we're so glad to have you."

Wednesday firmly nodded as she struggled to find the words to properly respond.

"I'm Ms Thornhill, your botanical science teacher. And here, right beside me, is Enid Sinclair." Her left hand swayed in the blonde's direction. "She is one of our top students here at Nevermore!"

Wednesday slightly raised her brows, unimpressed.

"Well, you might have some competition, Enid. Wednesday here is a very intelligent young woman," Morticia said as she elegantly gestured her head towards her daughter.

"She gets her brains from her mother," Gomez added.

"Both literally and metaphorically," Wednesday muttered monotonously as she coldly stared at Enid.

Enid mirrored the gesture, however her gaze wasn't as intimidating, as her eyes were round like a full moon at the highest point of the night sky. Something about Enid's vying demeanor instigated Wednesday; she always appreciated competition.