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Lilith

"There's a Harvest festival this weekend." Wednesday begins. "Tyler is willing to drive us to the nearest station."

I hesitate, "Are you sure about this Nessie?"

Wednesday glares at me and I hold my hands up in mock surrender. It's Friday night movie night with the Sirens and there is no way in the seven kingdoms that I'm getting an early night just so Wednesday can attempt to escape. Especially when Divina has made her famous triple chocolate brownies to go with the very cliched sushi night of fish but that is the price you pay for dining with Sirens.

"Of course I'm sure. He will hold up his end or I'll hunt him." Wednesday is all bark and no bite. She'll threaten all she likes but I don't think she's really capable of cousin harm. I shudder at the thought, fighting off the image of Leon's burned face. "What classes do you have today- and are you busy after school? I want to scout our Nevermore in case we need a backup escape plan."

"I'm in classes all day." I answer honestly while thinking through my next lie. "And I've been invited to a social event this evening."

"Did you decline?" Wednesday's eyes narrow but she already knows the answer if her eye roll is any indication. "Why do you always accept? I know you crave people-time more than me but this is ridiculous. Can you cancel?"

"No she cannot." Bianca chirps as she sidles up to me, shooting my sister a forced bright smile. "She's all mine from here on out so move along, Polaroid."

"If you are referring to black and white photographs than perhaps you should-"

"Yeah, yeah, I don't care." Bianca huffs with an eye roll before smoothly linking her arm through mine and leading us away down the corridors. "Is she always this argumentative?"

"You have no idea." I grin.

We barely make it to class on time though history has always been a bore. Surprisingly, Bianca is rather good at the subject with a vast range of a knowledge in her arsenal to keep the teacher from catching us unaware with questions.

"So Kent has chosen the movie night theme." Bianca huffs and I smile at her irritation. "As you can guess, the theme is dystopian romances."

"He really does want to just live a simpler life." I comment as I copy down the notes.

"Simpler life? I don't see how surviving without electricity, or in a zombie apocalypse or- what was that last one we watch? The one with the large creatures that were actually quite nice and animal based? Oh who cares, he needs to get a grip."

"And your true crime nights aren't a problem." I comment, laughing when she swats at my arm. "Ow!"

"Oh hush. You love my true crime nights."

"Only because I'm planning how to get away with your murder."

We work in silence for a while, occasionally sharing a glance when the professor goes on one of his endless rants. He's known for them, they can be amusing but quite frankly, after last night's dream I'm too tired to care.

"Are we going to talk about it?" Bianca murmurs, not looking up from her page.

"Talk about what." I tense, she knows. How does she always know?

"Whatever has you on edge this morning." I can feel her narrowed eyes on me. "Is it Wednesday? I overheard her plot to leave. Are you wanting to join her or feeling guilty about wanting to stay?"

I remain silent but Bianca has always been persistent.

"Fine. Is it Xavier? You two seemed pretty close at the coffee shop. The murders? The ones you didn't commit and won't get blamed for."

"If you must know," I grind out with a huff, feeling my flames flicker along with my irritation as my control barely holds on. "I had a dream last night that-"

"A sexy dream? With Xavier?" Bia demands with a grin and I glare at her.

"It was about Sebastian." She scrunches up her face in disgust.

"I don't want to hear about your sebastian sex dreams."

I gape at her, "but you were happy to hear about my Xavier sex dream?"

She rolls her eyes. "Because you would be making progress in admitting your feelings for- wait so it was a sex dream about-"

"No, no. jeez it wasn't" I shudder but a blush rises to my cheeks. "It wasn't a fun dream."

Sadness flickers across Bia's eyes but she makes an effort to hide it. "Well that sucks, it would have been much more fun as a sex dream."

We're silent for a moment and I can practically hear Bianca cursing herself for being so insensitive.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She finally murmurs and I sigh.

"Not today." I whisper.

"Okay." She nodded and was left in silence for a moment. "Love and monsters! That's what Kent was forcing us to watch with the-"

"Cute little monster creatures and Dylan O'brien." I share a grin with her and everything goes back to normal.

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"Has anyone seen my phone?"

"Ow! Your elbow is digging into my rib!"

"Get your leg off me-"

"Where the hell is the popcorn!"

"I've got your phone-"

"Which movie are we-"

"CAN EVERYONE SHUT UP FOR LIKE 5 SECONDS!!" Bianca exclaims and I snigger, only to quickly clap a hand over my mouth when she glares at me.

"Thank you. Now, popcorn is with the rest of the food on the shelf edge, this water pool is big enough for all of you, - Kent no splashing the blankets for the Legs - now is everyone happy for me to start the movie?"

I grin at the mumbled yeses from my place on the rock pool edge. Bianca and I had dragged over a bunch of large pillows and blankets so I could sit next to the Sirens as they laid in the pool.

I say Sirens but Ajax, Yoko and a few Siren first years I don't know are dotted around. Yoko and Ajax are next to me on the rock pool edge while the first years lurk further away in a different rock pool over that still has a good view of the hung up white cloth acting as out movie screen for the mini projector. Best birthday present I ever bought Bia.

"Sorry I'm late."

I freeze at that voice, slowly glaring at Bianca for not warning me but it's not like I shouldn't have expected Xavier to turn up to an unofficial Nightshade meeting.

"Hey." He murmurs to me as he settles down on the blanket to my left.

"Hi." I whisper back, fighting back a blush as I can't help but recall Bianca's queries of a 'Xavier themed sex dream'. I really don't want that imagery in my head right now. "I didn't know you were coming to this."

I scrunch my eyes shut for a moment as I refuse to look at him. Stupid, stupid thing to say. Why couldn't I have said something normal or nicer, or just something that had a little more effort put into it so I don't sound so lame.

"Don't sound so disappointed, Sweetheart." He smirks and I roll my eyes. Right, the love abale sarcastic idiot is back. "We both know you would have missed me."

True, but he doesn't need to know that.

"What I'm missing is peace and quiet." I comment and then wince at how unfriend;y I'm being. Why in the name of all that is great have I suddenly decided to become awkward. Why? "Sorry- that's rude of me-"

I break off at the sound of his chuckles. "Relax, Little flame. I enjoy our little arguments. You'll get your confidence back soon enough and then you'll see."

"I-" Igape at him. How dare he-

"Don't give me that look, you've been off all day. Where's my usual teasing Drake. Hmmm?" He looks at me expectantly and I huff, folding my arms as I try to think of the words.

"She's having a vacation... so budge over and let me snuggle." It's a risk but the stress of Wednesday being herself and trying to escape, combined with mum's little tests, the dream and then Xavier being weird is too much and I just need my friend back.

He sighs but opens his arms for me to curl up against him and fluff out the blankets over our laps.

"Please don't add any more blankets." Xavier murmurs. "You run like a furnace and I'm already overheating."

I snort but oblige him, relishing in the comfort he brings when he wraps his arms around me in a loose hug. The movie plays in the background but I don't particularly care. It's more entertaining to watch the three sirens before us shout and complain to the tv in their usual way. This is what a pack should feel like.

I close my eyes for a moment, taking in Xavier's scent as we listen to our friends bicker over the sound of the romance-zombie film. It's loud and chaotic but the laughter ringing through the room has a smile on my face all night. 

A/N: Are there any cute family bonding moments you would like to see?