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Lilith

"Friends my arse." Bianca hisses as she drags me through the festival while the flashing lights burn at my oversensitive sense. It really sucks to have enhanced sight, smell and hearing at times. Every piece of music playing here is so hard to block out like I normally would and Bianca's sunglasses are doing little to help with my discomfort. "I went to get more popcorn and saw the two of you cuddling together under the blankets."

"Friends don't snuggle like that." she hisses with a wide smile.

"Well these ones do." I smirk back just to toy with her. I mean, yeah, I'm harbouring a small crush on Xavier, yes it's so obvious that he knows and yes we are most likely going to see where it takes us. But are we going to tell Bianca that? Noooo, not in a million years until it stops being so funny to see her worked up about our happiness. "Besides, I saw the way you were eyeing up those female actresses. If we're talking about me and Xavier, we're also talking about your apparent gay awakening and who-"

"Alright, alright. Fine. No Xavier talk." Bianca huffs as she drags me towards a candy floss stand. "But seriously, things between you two are progressing right?"

"And was it Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean that did-"

"Oh for the love of god." Bianca huffs and shoves a handful of cotton candy in my mouth to shut me up. We freeze. I continue to stare at her wide eyes as I slowly munch on the sugary goodness. Sniggers break out around us and Bianca quickly follows while I roll my eyes but join us.

"What the hell was that?" She demands and I shrug at her through my giggles. "You tell me, you're the one who shoved Candy Floss in my mouth."

"Lilith." I turn to where Wednesday stands. "We need to go."

She doesn't give me time to answer and seconds later I'm being dragged into the crowd to where Enid is staring at Tyler and his father.

"Are you sure you can trust this Normie?" Enid worries and frowns at her in confusion. When did she get brought into the loop?

"I trust that I can handle myself." Wednesday monotonously replies and I wince at her tone. I should probably tell Wednesday that I don't want to leave. That I want to actually enjoy this cliche festival with my friends.

"I don't want you talking to them and I want you home by twelve." At least enhanced hearing is good for one thing. Funny that the sheriff is being the most reasonable parent ever and yet Tyler looks at him like he just created the greatest sin. Home by 12, most parents would say 10 or earlier even, the boy should be thanking whatever god he prays to. "1" or commit suicide. "12.30" and I take it back. Bad parenting right there, never cave that easily.

"Well, good luck and safe travels." Enid bubbles as she reaches forward to hug Wednesday only to have my sister pull back in alarm. I roll my eyes. We've barely been here a few days and Enid expects her to have improved on the no touching rule already? "Still not a hugger. Got it."

I roll my eyes but I find myself forcing down a protective snarl. The only person allowed to question or comment on my sister is me. But Enid has already walked off with a quick wave in my direction before I can so much as bare a canine at her.

Weems is staring at you and Wednesday. One of the flamed torches at a carnival stand whispers and I jump in surprise having forgotten that I smuggled out a fire-sprite to keep me company.

Come back and hide in the jar I brought. I command, opening my bag enough to allow the creature to sneakily slink back into the glass jar I smuggled her out with.

I thought you wanted me to keep a look out for you and Wednesday.

And then I saw a flaming knife thrower and decided I wanted my little sprite safe and sound where she wouldn't be torn apart by metal.

I follow Wednesday along through the games, trying to find the right words to explain that leaving here isn't something I want. But I support her in whatever she chooses whether that be to stay or go. We sidled up to a darts stall and quickly pulled out a few American dollars I had exchanged from Drachma.

The darts are light and smooth in my hands, fairly sharp points considering their for a stall game. I picture Gomez's lessons to Pugsley on darts that I gatecrashed, correcting my stance and hold until I'm happy and then firing away,

There's something very satisfying about watching balloon after balloon pop in response to my throws. Maybe I should try out one of those rage rooms.

"Damn, Little flame. You get any better at this and you're going to have your own little panda army." I jerk slightly at the sound of Xavier's voice, the move starling enough that I miss the final balloon. I turn to my friend-boyfriend-flirtationship in irritation of having lost my would-be perfect score.

"Are you following me?" Wednesday demands. "And Panda's don't travel in groups or packs, they prefer solitude."

Xavier frowns down at my sister but then turns back to stand, placing down his own money and collecting darts in return. I nervously swallow, looking between my sister and Xavier as I see the confused interest dawning in his eyes. Why do they always seem more interested in my sister than me? She treats people like shit and gets all the attention while I play nice and make friends and get no one.

"Alright, obvious hint to leave you the fuck alone taken." Xavier states as he continues to throw darts with a perfect score despite the way his signature grey trench coat weighs him down. I really love that coat. "But I wasn't following you- I'm deducing Lilith's sister."

"We've already been introduced."

"Whatever." Xav rolls his eyes and I glare at him for being mean to my sister. "You'll have to excuse me while I question dear lilith here about where she slinked off to."

He arches a brow at me as he pops the last balloon. "The others want to head to the photo booth so you're going to have to hurry up this weirdly uncomfortable family moment."

"I'm waiting for someone." I smile politely at Xavier, giving him a little glare for treating my sister poorly.

"Oh yeah." He smirks and the playfulness in his eyes has me blushing. "Who's the lucky guy... or girl?"

"What does it matter to you?" Wednesday asks from behind me and I see Xavier's jaw tick in irritation. I can't help but reach up to smooth out the muscle and he smiles down at me, holding my hand so he can press a gentle kiss onto the inside of my wrist.

"Didn't mean to interrupt." Tyler states awkwardly and Xavier gives me a questioning look as he straightens up, hand dropping from my wrist so he can lace his fingers through mine.

"You're not." Wednesday states as she eyes Xavier and I. Great, now she's going to have questions. I cut in for her so she can't say anything else. "Xavier and I were just going. It was nice to see you Tyler."

Xavier is tugging me away in seconds and I roll my eyes at his dramatic petty move but continue to use my hearing to listen in on my sister's conversation with Tyler.

"This is going to be trickier than I thought. Dad hit me with a curfew. We need to go if I'm going to make it back in time." Tyler states, so that's why he was pushing the curfew. How far away is this train station?

"Lil-"

"Hush, Huga. I'm eavesdropping." I wave off Xavier and ignore his eye roll as he smirks down at me.

"I've got some dead weight I need to lose first." Wednesday states and I dread to think what she's going to do to distract Weems. Something suitably embarrassing or ridiculous I can imagine.

"Are you done yet?" Xavier demands and I swat at his arm.

"See that sad lonely woman there?" Wednesday states and I close my eyes with a wince. I need to help her work on her people skills, this is not the way to stay 'under the radar' and 'not draw attention' . You can't say memorable things if you're trying to slip away unnoticed. "She needs this pathetic validation more than I do."

"How in the hell is a panda bear pathetic validation." I wonder aloud and Xavier snort and I turn back to him surprise.

"Oh do I have your attention now?" He arches a brow and I blush and nod. "Good, because I got you some apparently pathetic validation."

I gape at the little plush panda. "You won me a bear."

"Well yeah, it's like carnival tradition-"

I leap forward, wrapping him in the tightest hug I can muster before pulling back and taking the panda from his arms.

"I take it you like it?" He states nervously and I stare down at the little token of his affection in glee. No one has ever got me anything, let alone won me something at a carnival. "I know its a bit overused and cliched but-"

"I love it." I state with a grin and something about Xavier's smile feels different this time.

A/N: If Wednesday were to have a relationship further down the line would you like it to be with...

Tyler

Enid

Bianca