TWENTY. I can still see it all in my mind

When Parent's Weekend was over, Kennedy dreaded having to say goodbye to her grandmother. They did as much as they could together before it was time for all of the families to go home. She stood with her at her vehicle and hugged her rightly. "I don't want you to go,"

"Aww, you'll see more soon, Kenny. I promise," Nia assured and rubbed her back. "Promise that you'll call me if anything happens? Especially with the monster running around. I need my sonnyeo back in one piece,"

Kennedy smiled. "I promise."

The woman pulled away and cupped her face. "So, are you and Xavier going to be okay, again?"

She rolled her eyes. "How many more times are you going to ask me thag?"

"Until you give me an answer. Because you deserve a good boy and Xavier's a good boy."

"I know he is. . ." I just don't know if I'm ready yet, halmeoni. Not after what happened." She told her sadly.

Nia rubbed her thumbs against her cheeks. "You'll know, honey. Trust me."

With a final I love you, Kennedy watched her grandmother drive off with a heavy heart.

Xavier came and stood by her side. "She leave so soon?"

She sighed. "Yeah. She told me to tell you bye. She also said to not cut your hair."

Xavier laughed. "I wasn't planning on it. It's a chick magnet."

Kennedy scoffed pushed his face away from hers.  "Yeah, that's it." She started walking back to school.

He quickly followed her. "Hey, um. . . Are you doing okay? You know, about your mom?" He nervously asked.

"Not really, but, I'll get over it. Like I always do."

Xavier frowned. "You shouldn't have to get over it, Ken. She's your mom. You have every right to be upset."

Kennedy nodded. "Thanks for that, but I already know, Xavier. I've been through this before." She smiled at him. "But thank you for helping me. You've really made things easier."

His blue eyes went soft. "Really?"

She nodded again. "You always make things better."

Xavier smiled to himself.

That night Kennedy and Presley sat in their room and she watched in disgust as the vampire sucked another whole pint of blood from a bag. "Presley, I love you, but watching this is making me queasy."

Presley wiped the blood from her mouth. "Sorry Ken. Mom and dad gave me a whole months supply. Said they collected it on their trip to Colorado. Said they found a lot of bears."

Kennedy shuddered.

Wednesday and Enid walked into their room. "Are you guys busy?" Asked Wednesday.

"I'm not," Kennedy shook her head. She pointed at the Presley, who was still drinking her blood. "She might be a little."

"Well stop what you're doing and come with us."

Presley pulled the bag away from her mouth. "It's midnight."

"Someone slid a note underneath our door," Enid explained and handed Kennedy the note.

If you want answers, meet me inside Crackstone's Crypt, midnight was written in magazine letters. Kennedy furrowed her brows. "Who uses magazine letters?"

"Let's find out, shall we?" Wednesday said rhetorically. She looked over at Presley. "Are you coming or is drowning yourself in bear's blood more important."

Presley titled her head. "How do you know it's bear's blood."

"Experience."

The roommates slowly looked at each other.

The four girls snuck out of school and made their way into the forest. "Is it the smartest thing to be out here when there a monster running around?" Presley asked suspiciously.

"You drain people's blood to survive and yet your afraid of a monster?" Wednesday questioned.

"I'm a teenage girl. I have my fears!"

They reached Crackstone's crypt and they heard the sound of leaves crunching. Enid gasped and her claws came out in fear.

"You insisted on coming alone. I was fine on my own."

"We get that you can take care of yourself, Addams.  Doesn't mean we're going to let you do it alone." Kennedy and she shrugged.

Wednesday didn't respond. She shined her light on the door and saw that it was already opened. "Seems like our wannabe deep throat is already here."

Enid grimaced when she breathed in a horrible smell.  "Ew. What died?"

"Smells like childhood. Come on."

"Second thoughts. Why don't I just stay out here?" She backed out.

Presley quickly nodded. "I second that!"

Kennedy rolled her eyes and followed Wednesday into the crypt. She shivered when a breeze blew by and the leaves covering the floor moved. There was another sharp sound of movement.

"Enid?" Wednesday called out.

"Pres?" Said Kennedy. She looked around them but saw nothing but darkness. She tapped Wednesday on the arm. "Hey, I'm gonna go check over here."

She gave a small nod. She went her own way and Wednesday continued to look around. She shined her flashlight around the crypt when she suddenly heard a cough. "Whoever you see, show yourself. Try anything and you'll lose limbs." She threatened.

Suddenly, the Nightshades plus Kennedy popped out from behind the crypt. "Surprise!" They all shouted together.

"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you.  Happy Birthday,  dear Wednesday.  Happy Birthday to you!" Everyone sang and Enid and Presley came in with a birthday cake.

Wednesday looked distraught. She shined her flashlight at Kennedy. "Traitor." She sneered.

She shrugged and smirked. "It was worth it."

She turned around and pointed her light at Thing,  how was wearing a small party hat. "I should've known you were behind this. What part of 'no party under the penalty of death' do you not understand?"

Presley's eyes grew wide at the statement.

"I thought make cake design was pretty inspired,"  Xavier boasted and looked down at the grim reaper topper on Wednesday's cake.

"The pink balloon was my little touch," Enid added.  "Why don't you make a wish?"

They waited for Wednesday to make her next move but she seemed to focus on something else. She pointed the flash light to the drifting on the wall. "Wait,  it's Latin."

"Okay, getting a little off track," Kennedy muttered.

"Fire will rain. . . when I rise."

"Kay, that's not really wish. . ." Said Enid.

Wednesday ignored them. "The first part of that was burned into nevermore's lawn. It can't be a coincidence."

"Wait, we're never eating that cake, are we?" Ajax asked.

Kennedy raised her hand. "I will!" She dropped her hand when she saw the look on Enid's face.

Kennedy searched for Wednesday the next morning with her birthday present in her hands. Presley and Enid thought it would be a bad idea to get her anything, thinking she would try to kill her, but Kennedy knew they were wrong. She just had to get something Wednesday liked and she had the perfect idea.

She saw her standing by the lawn that had been burned. "What do you think it means?"

"I had a vision in the crypt," Wednesday answered,  keeping her eyes on the lawn. "I saw Goody again. She said that Crackstone was coming."

"Coming? Like back alive? How is that possible?"

"Anything's possible, Kennedy. She told me that to stop Crackstone I have to seek an old mansion."

"What old mansion?"

"She didn't tell me that part. She speaks in riddles."

Kennedy hummed. "You have an interesting family."

Wednesday finally looked at her. "So do you."

She scoffed. "Tell me something I don't know."

"Your mother is very greedy."

"Try living with her. Best times of my life." She attempted to joke.

Wednesday didn't respond and she looked back at the lawn with crossed arms. 

Kennedy held out the box covered with black wrapping paper. "Maybe this will be enough to pull you out of the black hole you live in?" She suggested.

Wednesday looked between her and the gift. Slowly, she took it from her hands, and then stopped, not knowing what to do. She'd never gotten a present from someone before. Kennedy urged her to open it. She tore through the wrapping paper and revealed a forensic science kit.

Kennedy smiled widely. "I figured it'd be helpful with your case. Y'know, collected DNA evidence, look for finger prints, hair tests, and papers to write down the information."

Wednesday stared at the kit for a minute and then she blinked. "I. . . I don't know what to say."

"Hmmm, a Thank you Kennedy for being the greatest friend in the world might suffice." She teased again.

She glared. "Don't push it. But. . . thanks."

Kennedy smiled again. lNo problem, Addams. I would say Happy Birthday but I don't want to be another victim."

Wednesday didn't respond.

Hearing footsteps, Kennedy looked over to see Xavier making his way over to them. "Hey guys," he greeted.

She only gave him a dark look and walked away with the gift. He chuckled. "She still thinks I'm the monster?"

Kennedy shook her head. "She's just trying to figure out who hurt Eugene."

"Yeah, and I'm her #1 suspect,"

She titled her head. "Well, she did find all those monster drawings in your studio."

He frowned slightly. "She told you about that?"

"And you have those scratches on your neck. And your back's been hurting."

Xavier furrowed his brows. "What are you implying?"

Kennedy quickly shook her head. "I'm not implying anything. I'm just concerned that you've been going through some things and not telling me."

He grew a smirk. "Concerned? You're concerned about me?" He teased.

She rolled her eyes. "Of course I am, stupid. We're. . ." She paused. He raised an eyebrow. "Friends." It came out more as a question than a statement. She shook her head again. "Anyway, do you want to talk about it?"

Xavier put his hands in his pockets and shifted on his fee. "I'm not sure if you want to hear it." He implied.

Kennedy narrowed her eyes at him. When he realized that she wasn't going to back down, he sighed. "Okay. Come to the studio later and I'll tell you everything."

Her eyes softened. "Okay." She almost whispered.

He smiled at her, showing his smile lines, and walked away. Her eyes lingered on his back.