☂︎︎
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟎: 𝐂𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
written by: peachyhxlland

"The first Poe Cup took place in 1897 as a way to not only honor Nevermore's most famous alumni but to celebrate those values that all outcasts share," Larissa spoke up as everyone gathered in the Quad. "Community, perseverance, and determination. And we certainly saw those values on display today."

Wednesday and Enid as well as their team were standing next to Larissa as she gave her speech. Wednesday was intensely glaring at everyone, evidently uncomfortable from all the joyous stares and wide grins she was receiving from most students and teachers.

Enid happily accepted the massive Poe Cup trophy that Larissa had just handed her. Enid raised the trophy high. "Whoo! Yeah!" She screamed, causing the crown to cheer and clap. You and Cindy clapped together, happy that Enid's efforts finally paid off.

"Congratulations to Ophelia Hall!" Larissa praised, missing Wednesday who immediately walked away. "As a former resident, I will be happy to see the cup back on the mantle after all these years."

Everyone continued chatting about the recent event after Larissa's speech and the applause. You made the decision to check on Xavier since Cindy had already left to congratulate Enid and the others. You took a break from the crowd and went to find Xavier by the fountain. You spotted Xavier looking solemnly down at the sliced cake on his plate. He was sitting next to Ajax, whose back was slumped, and who was also holding a plate of cake. The two best friends were sulking together.

You approached the two boys and stood in front of Xavier. "Hey..." You greeted. Xavier turned away from his cake and offered you the slightest smile he was capable of achieving at the time. Despite the fact that he was depressed following the loss and sabotage in Poe Cup, he still wanted to try to smile whenever he greets you.

"You look dreadful, Xavi."

"I did just lose the Poe Cup, so, yes. Of course I look dreadful."

On the side of Xavier where nobody else was seated, you took a seat next to him. "You did great, don't worry."

"We looked like fools." Xavier scoffed as he stabbed the cake with his fork. "What a coincidence because we were jokers. Fools in jester costumes."

You frowned as you cast a guilty look down at your inability to console Xavier. You were aware of his competitive nature and his dislike of defeat. "At least eat something."

Xavier shook his head. "Doesn't feel like I deserve it."

"Of course, you do!" You got hold of his fork, took a slice of cake, and held it high in front of his mouth. "Eat it."

"No."

"Eat it or I'll give this to Ajax."

Ajax was startled to hear his name brought up in the conversation, and his ears perked up at the mention of him.

Xavier stared at you before eating the cake. "There." He mumbled. "Happy?"

"You're finishing this cake, mister." While waiting for him to finish chewing, you grinned as you raised another piece. Xavier shook his head once more before grabbing the fork and pushing it in your direction. "You eat it!"

"Hey, I didn't join the Poe Cup!"

"So, who cares? Everyone else is eating and most of them didn't join."

Ajax blinked his eyes and then quietly got up after suddenly feeling like a third wheel. Not that Xavier and you would even pay attention to him leaving since you two were now lost on your own world.

Cindy walked and looked around the Quad until she saw Ajax. "Hey, AJ." She greeted. "Have you seen (Y/n)?"

Ajax stifled a laugh. "No need to worry about her. She's busy with Xavier." He and Cindy turned their attention to the fountain where you and Xavier were sitting. They watched as Xavier successfully fed you cake. "Honestly, when are those two going to date?"

Cindy chuckled. "They're so in love with each other that they're too blind to see it."

"We just need to help them see it then," Ajax smirked.

Cindy smirked back, crossing her arms. "I like the way you think, Petropolus."

The two watched as you and Xavier had a piece of cake. You abandoned the plate and Xavier followed you as you started to sprint around the Quad, ignorant to the students you both unintentionally ran into. Your squeals were heard by Cindy and Ajax as Xavier abruptly hoisted you with his arms.

Xavier's sour mood has now been changed because of you.

°•○●○•°

"(Y/n), it's so nice to see you again." Kinbott greeted you with a friendly and warm smile plastered on her face. "How are you?"

You sat down and gave her a smile. "I'm feeling better, Dr. Kinbott."

Kinbott nodded while keeping a smile on her face. When your father was pleased with your progress, you stopped going to therapy sessions that you had been attending during your first semester. And here you are again, dealing with Kinbott. You didn't hate Kinbott. Simply put, you didn't want to go to therapy because your father believes there was something wrong with you.

Everyone else thinks the same thing.

"I've heard you climbing up the roof in Nevermore," Kinbott spoke as if it were the most shocking thing she had ever heard.

"I was helping a bird to fly." You answered.

"And what about climbing a tall tree just a few weeks ago?"

"I gave food to some squirrels." You answered once more. "I don't want them to starve."

"How about dunking your head on the lake? That was a month ago, yes?"

"I didn't do it on purpose. Jason and his friends pushed me and slammed head first in the water."

Kinbott was surprised by how casual you sounded. It felt as though you had to deal with it every single day. "Jason... has he always tormented you?"

You nodded and began playing with your fingers. "He called me names and tried to push me into my limits."

"And how did that make you feel?"

Your head slightly twitched to the side from the question. "Well..." You gulped. "I didn't care. I didn't want to care. All those times he harassed and teased me, I'm just thinking that he needed validation and a good impression from his friends and from everyone. So, I let him."

"But he pushed you into your limits recently, right?"

You forced yourself to take a deep breath while attempting to keep Kinbott in your line of sight. "He broke something he shouldn't have." You replied. "It wasn't his to be meddled with."

"Did you feel angry?"

"Of course, I did!" You exclaimed before realizing you just raised your voice. "Sorry..." You mumbled apologetically. "It meant so much to me and he just... tore it like it was nothing. That stuffed toy was the only companion I have whenever my father is out of the country. But..."

Kinbott raised her eyebrow. "But?"

"I did feel regret..." You admitted. "I was angry but I never wanted to hurt him. I blacked out from the second Mr. Rabbit was torn... apart. And I woke up when Xavier pulled me away."

Kinbott glanced at the clipboard that was resting on her lap after nodding in understanding. "So, you grew a big emotional attachment to your stuffed rabbit, to fill the hole inside you that your father never got to do."

As Kinbott continued to stare at you, your jaw clenched, forcing you to look away. "Dr. Kinbott, you already know that my father and I drifted apart after my mother's death."

"But we never discussed anything about your mother, yeah?"

While clutching onto your school skirt with both hands, you shook your head. "I don't remember anything about my mother."

"What do you know about her?"

"I just know she died in some fatal accident. My father has never spoken about her since her death and half of my childhood memories are gone."

"Do you think that your mother's accident was the cause of your loss of memory?" Kinbott asked gently, not instantly so it wouldn't surprise you too much.

Your eyes blinked from her question. "I'm sorry?"

"A child may forget a gruesome occurrence they witnessed as a child because of their trauma. Unintentionally erasing that memory is something that happens to certain kids, and they occasionally replace it with another, more manageable incident." Kinbott explained. "The youngster who believes he lost his dog is one example. However, the truth was that he had actually lost his best friend, and the experience had been so traumatic that it had caused him to rewrite his memories so that he now believed his deceased best friend to be his deceased dog, which never existed.  That's because the truth was simply too dreadful for him to bear."

"To protect himself..." You whispered, your back laying on the chair behind you as you took the time to assemble the information in your thoughts.

"It might be possible that you wanted to protect yourself so you rewrote or erased your own memory of your mother's death, but also forgetting the other events of your life that took place in your childhood."

"Why would I forget the other events that are part of my childhood?"

Kinbott shrugged. "You were young, and it's really challenging to go back and alter or erase something from your mind. You must have done it unintentionally since you most likely couldn't manage it."

While you were in deep thought, you pressed your lips together to form a thin line as you stared at her.

You left the building after the session to search for Larissa's car because she was the one who drove you to Jericho. A recognizable young man was walking in the direction of the building you had just left as you turned to check around. In an attempt to identify you, the young man stared at you with slightly narrowed eyes. "Have we met before?"

You turned your head to look at the boy with curly hair. It took you a moment to realize who he was after you wondered. "You're that normie kid with Wednesday at the Harvest Festival."

The boy smiled. "Ah, I saw you too. That's why you're familiar." He stretched out his hand for you to shake. "I'm Tyler, by the way."

Your eyebrows raised and gently shook Tyler's hand. "I'm (Y/n)."

-•-°-•-°-☆

I'm baaaack