☂︎︎
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒: 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒
written by: peachyhxlland

Your breathing became rapid and heavy as your eyes suddenly opened wide and you immediately sat up. You clenched your chest and head as you pondered a recent dream.

"Woah, hey..." Cindy was walking in when you turned to gaze at the infirmary's door. "You okay?"

You stared at your friend, panic still evident on your face. "I need to stop..."

Cindy instantly moved to stand next to you after blinking her eyes in confusion. "Stop what?"

"My medications..." You replied as you pulled your knees towards your chest, hugging them close. "I don't think they're working."

Right away, Cindy sat down next to you and cast you a worried expression. "(Y/n), you haven't told us the exact reason why you needed medications in the first place."

You shook your head and shut your eyes close. "I-I don't know either! Nightmares? Panic attacks? M-My father just told me I needed them, that I am required to have them. But maybe... they just make things worse?"

"(Y/n), you do know that stopping your medications means you'll become weak," Cindy explained. "Maybe it has physical effects on you. We can't suddenly stop your prescriptions, no matter what they are, based on a hunch for which we hardly even have solid justification."

Cindy paused for a moment. "Okay, so maybe you do in fact have proof, but even you aren't able to determine whether it is real."

You lowered your knees and put both of your arms on your lap as you sighed in defeat. "Maybe this paranoia thing is one of the effects of my medicines."

After your conversation with Cindy, the two of you left the infirmary to head toward your shared dorm. You noticed that the sun has set down and the full moon has risen. "Did my short nap take that long?" You asked in disbelief and looked at Cindy apologetically. "Sorry."

Cindy chuckled. "Hey, no worries." She reassured. "You've slept way too long before remember?"

"I missed so many classes that time, Cindy!"

"And you're lucky."

"I can make it up to you." You told Cindy. "It's the full moon and-"

Cindy grasped your shoulder as she shook her head. "It's okay, Alice. Besides, I already asked Yoko to accompany me."

When you heard a cello playing in the distance, the two of you came to a stop in the center of the Quad. You raised your head and fixed your gaze on the tower housing Ophelia Hall. Cindy's mouth sprang open in shock. "Can't believe I'm saying this but I want that cover of Paint It Black on my phone right now."

You tilted your head so that Ophelia Hall was in your line of sight. You were aware that Enid lived there, but you were also aware that she was unable to play the cello. Therefore, it was evident that Wednesday Addams was playing the cello at night because Enid has recently gained a new roommate in her room.

"You hear it too, huh?" With his hair now partially wrapped up in a bun, Xavier was standing next to you as you looked up. He was no longer dressed in his uniform, but rather in some slacks, a gray shirt underneath, and a brown jean jacket over a maroon jacket.

"It's Wednesday, isn't it?" You asked.

"Yep."

"It's beautiful." You spoke to Xavier while continuing to gaze at him before turning back to the tower. Cindy lovingly smiled as she turned to face you and Xavier and then snuck away to give you two some privacy.

"Painting late at night?" You questioned, casting a quick peek at the mural you and your friend were making.

Xavier shrugged. "It's not that late." He replied. "And I wanted to finish the mural as soon as possible."

"Or..." You suggested. "...maybe you just can't sleep."

"Alice, love, you know that if I can't sleep, I go to my art shed, right?"

When Xavier has nightmares or has trouble falling asleep, he retreats into his hidden shed in the nearby woods to paint or draw. Xavier showed you his shed after he was confident in your ability to keep your word, and you agreed not to tell anyone—not even Ajax or Cindy—about it.

"So... how are you?" Xavier asked as he turned around to resume his painting while Wednesday continued to play in the background. "I didn't get to see you when you left the infirmary."

You went after him and sat on the ground to watch him paint the skies in the background of the large raven he had already painted. "I actually just got out from there." Ignoring his first query, you gave your reply. In spite of the fact that you have been having nightmares as well, he was already under enough stress due to his dreams.

You don't want to put him under any more stress or worry.

"Sorry I wasn't there."

"It's okay, Xavi. Cindy was there anyway."

Xavier looked around to look for your best friend. "Speaking of Cindy, where is she?"

You also looked around and frowned. "She must be out already. She's wolfing out, remember?"

Before resuming his work, Xavier nodded in agreement. Wednesday's cello playing soon came to an end, and the werewolves' howls that had been enveloping the area in the background quickly replaced it. You saw Xavier carry on painting while you watched him and the wall.

After a few minutes, Xavier started to notice how the light from the full moon was illuminating your features even though you were facing away from it. For future references in his sketchbook, he reminded himself to keep the moment in mind.

"Can't wait for the Harvest Festival this weekend." You blurted out as you began toying around Xavier's art materials. "I want a bunny plushie."

Xavier cracked a smile. "Won't Mr. Rabbit be jealous if you get a new toy?" He questioned in reference to the plush bunny you keep in your bedroom. He was aware of how dearly you treasured your stuffed animals, particularly Mr. Rabbit.

You shook your head as you innocently gazed up at him. "Maybe not. Maybe he'll love it. I want him to have a new friend."

"You have a lot of stuffies."

"And I take care of each one of them." You said proudly as you held your head high.

"You don't even remember who gave you Mr. Rabbit."

"It doesn't matter." You frowned as you played with the hem of your skirt. "And you already know I forgot half of my childhood..."

You immediately stood up and snatched Xavier's paintbrush. "I wanna do it." You murmured before making a long stroke to create a second raven on his mural.

Xavier smiled while slipping his hands into his pockets. 'If only you knew...' He said in his thoughts, reminiscing about the past.

"Happy birthday, Alice!"

"Thank you for the rabbit, Xavi!"

Xavier found it upsetting that you had forgotten half of your childhood, especially since the majority of those memories had you and him as best friends when you were younger. When you moved to Nevermore, at first, he was confused as to why you didn't recognize him. As soon as the two of you were again close and you told him everything, he quickly came to understand.

Making new memories with you wasn't an issue for him. He was more than happy to have the opportunity to create new memories with you.

"You okay?" You asked out of nowhere.

Xavier blinked his eyes, a little startled that he thought you had caught him looking directly at you. "Yeah, why'd you ask?"

"Rowan threw you against the wall using his telekinesis, Xavier." You reminded, still focusing on the mural. "It was a few days ago, but I know that must've hurt."

"I'm okay now, don't worry." He reassured.

With the exception of you, Xavier never disclosed to anyone the fight he had with Rowan. The other day, you asked him about it after noticing that he was in pain. Xavier was forced to reveal all the details of what transpired.

"What if..." Xavier held your hand, which he noticed his hair tie was wrapped around your wrist, and set the brush down. "We rest, hm?"

"But... I took a long nap a while ago."

"That was different." Xavier urged. "Now, come on. You're still in your uniform." You were holding the brush, but he snatched it from you and put it in his art supply bag. As he led you to your dorm room, he took the bag and put his arm around your shoulders.

You observed that Xavier had developed a routine of accompanying you to your dorm to make sure you were secure. Xavier didn't mind walking back and forth between your dorms despite how far apart they were.

When you arrived at your dorm, you spun around and grinned broadly as you turned to face Xavier. "Thanks." You said.

"For what?" He asked.

"For everything."

Xavier chuckled. "You thank me too much, Alice."

You shook your head and opened the door open. "You deserve it anyway." As you walked through the doorway of your dorm, you leaned against it. "You're one of my favorite persons, Xavi."

Xavier bit his inner cheek to suppress the urge to continue smiling so widely. His heart was beating quickly and loudly, which didn't help. "You're one of my favorite persons too, Alice."

The two of you stared at each other for a moment until Xavier teasingly pushed your head inside your room. "Now, go. Sleep."

You giggled and nodded. You waved at him and closed the door. You smiled ear to ear as you leaned against the door. Xavier stood for a while on your doorstep, biting his lip in an effort to suppress a smile.

He failed miserably.

-•-°-•-°-☆

I'm making the fencing lesson scene and the therapy session scene (with the cello scene ofc) into one day. Because why the hell not? My book, my rules :<