EIGHT. its not the same as it was

      Kennedy was still in shock from what happened at the Harvest Festival. She had a dump on her head that quickly turned into a bruise. She knew she couldn't tell anybody what happened to Rowan, mostly because nobody would believe her. They'd say she was crazy. Most of them already thought she was crazy.

Presley examined her head. "Jesus Christ, Ken, what happened?"

She shook her head and tried not to wince at the pain. "Nothing bad. I tripped and hit my head on the ground. It's nothing." She lied.

"Doesn't look like nothing. Does it hurt?"

"Nope." Yes. "I can barely feel it."

Prelsey stopped examining the bump. "Well, I'll keep an eye on you tonight. Make sure you don't fall into a coma."

She could barely give a smile. "Thanks, Pres."

The sadness in her voice made her frown. "What else is wrong?"

Kennedy crossed her legs on the bed. "Xavier and I got into a fight at the festival." She admitted.

"Again?" Presley emphasized. "What happened? I thought you two were okay?"

"He thinks I like Tyler."

She stifled a laugh. "Galpin? Yeah right."

"That's what I said!" Kennedy groaned and fell back on the bed, lying on her back.

Presley smirked. "So he's jealous?"

She rolled her eyes. "He has no right to be jealous. He broke up with me, remember?"

"That doesn't mean he can't be jealous."

"It doesn't actually." She almost snapped. "He broke up with me because he doesn't want to be with me. He made that very clear. I'm moving on and I can like whoever I want to like whenever I choose."

Presley blinked her eyes. "Right, yeah, you're right.  Totally right." She changed her tone.

Kennedy was on edge the whole day. Every time she tried to sleep, she saw Rowan being torn to pieces. Along with that, her head was killing her and she considered fighting the nurse for telling her she didn't have a concussion.

And on top of it all, Rowan wasn't even dead, apparently. So was she dreaming or was she actually going crazy?

With the Poe Cup tournament approaching, Kennedy promised Enid that she'd held paint their canoe. She stole Presley's sunglasses to block her eyes from the sun, the light making it her headache worse. "Ae you okay, Kenny? You look. . . dead."

Yoko scoffed. "Offensive."

"I'm okay, Enid. I just have a really bad headache." She replied. "Plus, the smell of this paint isn't helping."

"I agree. Garlic smells better than this." Presley grimaced.

"Ladies, come on! Let's work on those teeth," Enid clapped her hands. "More scowl. This kitty is taking no prisoners. If Bianca Barclay wins again this year, I will literally scratch my own eyes out!"

"I'll join you." Kennedy grumbled.

"I'd pay money to see that."

She jumped out of her skin. "Jesus, Wednesday!" She exasperated upon her arrival.

Enid smiled brightly. "Howdy, roomie! I'm so glad you decided to stay."

"I thought you wanted your single room back." Said Wednesday with a blank stare, which you could call her usual stare.

"Full disclosure, I don't like living solo and Thing gives a killer neck massage. It's a win-win." Her roommate replied with a grin. "I also practically lived with Kennedy and Presley before you came."

The girls nodded. "It's true."

"So. . . why's the change of heart?"

Kennedy and Wednesday caught each other's eye for a brief second. "I refuse to play the role of a pawn in someone else's corrupt game."

"You mean Rowan?" Asked Enid.

"I witnessed his murder, Enid."

"It's just we all saw him this morning. Very much, like, not dead. . ."

"Crazy stuff happens, Enid. We do live in freak land, remember?" Kennedy defended her.

"Which leads me to believe I've been losing my mind," Wednesday stated. Her face fell slightly. "It's not nearly as fun ad I had anticipated."

"You should hear about my life, then."

Presley shook her head. "We really don't, Kenny."

Enid turned around to face her. "Kennedy, have you talked to Xavier about Rowan, yet?" She asked.

She stopped painting. "Um, Xavier and I aren't on speaking terms right now."

She titled her head. "Again?"

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" She said with a groan.

"I thought the two of you made up?" Yoko asked,  joining the conversation.

"Yeah, well, turns out I forgot how much of an asshole he was. Go figure!"

"Watch those paint strokes, please. Yoko, come on! Flare those whiskers!" Enid ordered the vampire. "The Poe Cup droops for no one!"

"What is The Poe Cup anyway?" Wednesday asked.

"Only my entire reason for living right now." She exaggerated. "Part canoe race, part foot char, no rules. Each dorm has to pick an Edgar Allen Poe short story for inspiration. You could grab a brush?"

"Yeah, Ms. Thornhill ordered us pizza." Presley added to the conversation.

Kennedy nodded. "Wanna take another stab at being social?" She spoke with sarcasm.

Wednesday looked pleased. "I do like stabbing. The social part, not so much."

"I don't blame you."

"Besides, it'll cut into my writing time."

"No worries," said Enid with a smile. "Just as long as you're lakeside cheering for us to victory on race day!"

Kennedy pointed her paintbrush in their direction. "And helping me run from the cops when I attempted to drown Bianca in the lake."

When Wednesday walked away, Kennedy put down her paintbrush. "Hey guys, I'll be right back," she said and jogged after the small girl. "Wednesday!" She turned around and faced her. "Why didn't you tell the sheriff that I was there that night?Everybody's been giving you shit about Rowan. Why didn't you say I was there?"

Wednesday's eyes flickered up and down quickly.  "You've been here longer than me. You have a reputation to uphold. We wouldn't want to be ruined,  would we?"

Kennedy slowly grew a smile. "You wanted to protect me?"

"I wouldn't use that word."

She chuckled. "Y'know,  I know you think acting like a stone cold, crazy bitch will keep people alway from you but you're not as bad as you think you are. You're different from everyone here and that's not a bad thing. Hell, other than Presley and Enid, I actually kind of like you."

Wednesday didn't know whether to feel flattered or uncomfortable. Kennedy leaned forward. "The being social offer still stands, by the way. Don't worry through, I get it. I don't like many people here either."

She walked back to the group and left Wednesday stunned. She didn't know if it was a good stunned or bad stunned.

Kennedy learned how to shoot a bow and arrow because of Xavier. It was one of the extracurriculars Nevermore offered. The first time she attempted to shoot, she almost took off his head. She didn't pick up a bow for a while after that. But that didn't mean she didn't like to watch.

Xavier stood at the archery stand practicing shooting by himself. Kennedy stood and watched him, contemplating on talking to him or not. She didn't want it be like this. She truly did want to be friends with him again but what gave him the right to treat her the way he was? They broke up a year ago.

But she couldn't deny how much she missed being around him. Even if she knew it wasn't the same as it was.

Xavier shot the arrow and it landed a perfect bullseye. "You always were a good shot." He looked over his shoulder and saw her standing there. "Um. . ." he started to say and looked at the target again. "Yeah,  you know, practice always makes perfect."

She laughed. "What the hell went wrong with me then?"

He cracked a smile. "You not paying attention." He answered.

"I payed plenty of attention. You're just a terrible teacher."

Xavier's jaw dropped. "Oh really?" He looked between her and the target. "Okay, Miss Eden, show me what you got." He held the bow out to her.

Kennedy hummed. "I shall, Mr. Thorpe." She mocked him and snatched the bow and arrow. She took his spot in front of the target. She lined her vision with the arrow and took a few seconds, then released. It landed in the middle. "HA!"

Xavier rolled his eyes. "Not bad." He pinched his fingers together. "Could've inched a little more to the right."

She shoved the bow into his chest. "Oh, shut the hell up."

He stumbled back and laughed at her reaction. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and stared at the target. By her body language, it was easy to tell that she was feeling awkward. Xavier took a step forward. "Hey, Ken. I'm, uh. . . I'm sorry—"

She shook her head. "Xavier, don't—"

"No, please listen," he quickly interrupted her. "I'm sorry. I know you don't believe me but I am. I didn't meant to act that way the other day. I was just. . . there's not excuse. I'm sorry. I miss being your friend. I really, really do."

They stared at each other when he was finished. Kennedy felt evasive. Her eyes scanned him and they frowned at the way his face fell in regret. This wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to move on and be friends, not continue with their petty arguments.

He was sorry. She knew he was but she was too blinded by anger to understand that. "It's okay, Xavier. Water under the bridge, right? We can just pretend it never happened."

Oh, how that stung. He frowned again but he didn't push it any farther.

When it went quiet, Kennedy cleared her throat. "I'm sorry about Rowan." She changed the subject.

Xavier shrugged. "Nothing I can do about, I guess.
It sucks though. We were friends. Crazy about that stupid rumor that Wednesday spread."

"You don't know what she saw, Xavier. You weren't there." She stated, getting slightly defensive.

"What, are you two besties now?" He said with a cheeky smile.

She rolled her eyes. "I mean, no, but she's not that bad. She's actually pretty cool."

"She attempted murder."

"Rightfully so. You know how many people I wish I could kill here?"

He raised one of his brows. "Me?"

She cracked a smile. "Here and there. But come on, Xavier, you've never judged anybody before. Don't start now."

Kennedy was always great at keeping Xavier in check. It made him grin. "You're right. I'm sorry."

She grabbed another bow and they continued practicing.

He asked the question that had been on his mind. "So,  you're not seeing Tyler Galpin?"

Again, Kennedy rolled her eyes. "No, Xavier. I'm not seeing Tyler. I'm not seeing anyone." She clarified.

He hid his smile. "Good, Tyler's the last person you should be seeing. Wednesday, too."

"I think Wednesday and I can decide that for ourselves." She affirmed and shot another arrow into the target.

"I know you can. I'm just saying. You deserve better,"  he claimed, looking at the side of her face. The cold air brought a red tint to her cheeks.   

"Trust me, I know." She noted, emphasizing a little more than she intended.

Xavier took the hint. He didn't bring it up again. Instead, he conjured up another grin. "Ready for The Poe Cup?"

She sent him a smirk. "You mean am I ready to kick your ass? Why yes, I am." She teased.

He laughted out loud. "What the hell do you mean?  You suck at canoeing."

"I do not!" She gasped. "I just have weak arms.  Besides, we have Wednesday now."

"And you think that'll help you win?" He challenged.

She looked him with a sly look in her eye. "As long as I beat Bianca, I don't care." She looked away and continued to shoot the arrows. 

Xavier's eyes lingered on her for while longer. Luckily for him, Kennedy didn't notice.