CHAPTER THREE
Friend or Woe

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At this point, Juliana didn't want to come to this anymore because a certain person. But she made a commitment and promise and unlike someone, she didn't break those. And tonight was way overboard for her liking. The bag was taken off of the person's head to reveal Wednesday making her have to stop herself from letting out an annoyed groan. "Who dares breach out inner sanctum?" Bianca asked, trying to deepen her voice.

"You can take the mask off, Bianca." But Wednesday saw right through her. Juliana wasn't surprised she figured it out so quickly. The masks didn't do much. She lifted her mask up, and turned the light off. So, everyone else took their masks off. "Wait, I preferred you with it on." Juliana couldn't help the giggle that escaped.

When she felt Bianca looking at her, she quickly stood straight and looked away. "How did you get down here?" Xavier asked Wednesday. "Rowan showed me. Left pocket." Xavier quickly walked over to Wednesday, grabbing a paper out of her pocket. Juliana was slightly confused.

"I tracked the watermark down to the Poe statue. Then I solved the riddle." Sometimes Juliana would be annoyed by people who were so smart, Wednesday was definitely gonna be one of them. "Wait there's a riddle? I thought we just snapped twice." Kent looked around making most groan. She still didn't understand how he got into this.

It was probably because he was Divina's brother and Bianca's friend. Stupid favoritism. "Well, aren't you the brightest in the bunch?" Wednesday was obviously being sarcastic, but then again most of the things that came out of her mouth seemed like that.

"The Nightshades are an elite social club. Emphasis on elite." Bianca told Wednesday, the club was a little more than that though. "We have roof parties, campouts, the occasional midnight skinny-dip." Yoko also informed, Juliana's favorite out of the three were the roof parties. "And Yoko's amateur mixologist." Divina looked to Yoko before back to Wednesday.

"She makes a killer virgin mojito. It can get pretty wild" Ajax smiled making Juliana speak up. "Can we have another one of the roof parties? I miss Yoko's virgin mojitos." Yoko turned to the girl, giving her a look as to say it wasn't the time. Juliana mumbled a sorry and Yoko turned back to Wednesday. "Wow. Do you guys even have a bedtime?"

She was really uninterested. She didn't seem to care at all. Juliana understood, this didn't seem like Wednesday's type of thing. "Last I heard, the Nightshades had been disbanded." Well, she was right on that. She was guessing her mother told her that. "Yeah, the group kind of lost it's character thirty years ago after some normie kid died." Xavier confirmed, telling her why.

"But we have a lot of wealthy alumi. So, Weems looks the other way as long as nobody makes any waves." It was very easy to make Weems agree and let them do want they wanted with this. "Someone like Rowan?" Wednesday quickly asked. "We booted that loser last semester. Question is, what are we gonna do with her?" Bianca asked, looking around at everyone.

"Only members are allowed in this library." Everyone went quiet as they looked around at each other. Juliana didn't wanna hurt the girl. Though Bianca was right, they kinda had to do something. "I say we invite her to the pledge." Xavier suddenly said, and normally she thought he had good ideas. But this wasn't one of them. "Absolutely not!" Juliana said after most gasped. "She is a legacy."

Xavier pointed towards the painting of Wednesday's parents. He was right but still... She didn't agree with him. And it was obvious most didn't either. "After the crap she pulled in the Poe cup, there's no way in hell. We talk about not making waves? She's a tsunami." Bianca was right too! It seemed a bit to risky to have Wednesday join after most of what's happened with her.

"Just because I beat you at your own game? Let me save you the trouble. I'm not interested in joining." She wasn't surprised she said no. Like she thought earlier, it didn't seem like her thing. Plus she was glad she said no. "You're seriously turning us down?" Yoko asked, and she slightly sounded offended that she was. "Can you believe it?" She looked to Yoko, sarcasm filled in Wednesday's voice. Yoko looked to Divina, Ajax and Juliana who shrugged. "Untie her."

Bianca told Xavier, but before he could do anything Wednesday held her hand up that held the role. "I freed myself five minutes ago." Juliana let out an annoyed sigh as she rolled her eyes. She thought Wednesday was cool and was interested by her at first! But now she was kinda annoyed by her.

Wednesday got up, grabbing the paper from Xavier and tried to walk off but Kent stood in her way. "Do you want a matching black eye?" She asked, pushing the rope against hist chest and he backed up. Wednesday walked up the stairs, going to leave the room. But before she left, she turned to them. "It's amateurs like you who give kidnapping a bad name." She told them all before finally walking out.

"What the hell just happened." Juliana mumbled.

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Everyone was in the courtyard due to principal Weems announcing for them to go there. It was to do with outreach day, that's all Juliana knew. "All students will report for their volunteer jobs at 10:00 am sharp, followed by a community lunch at 1:00." She spoke up making everyone go quiet as her voice filled the courtyard. "As you know, this year outreach day culminates in a very special event, the dedication of a new memorial statue in the town square, which will also include performance by Nevermore students."

Juliana let out a groan at the last part. She hated outreach day, she knew why it was needed but still... it got annoying at times. Though everyone else seem excited about the performances. Maybe Juliana could get out of doing one. "As representatives of our school, I trust you will all put your best face forward." Maybe she couldn't get out of it.

When Juliana was handed a card, she quickly looked down and read it.

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"Welcome, welcome Nevemore academy." The mayor walked closer to the students who sat on bleachers. "Now, on behalf of the entire Jericho community, we are so, so pleased to have you all here today. Your generosity and hard work are truly.. outreachous!" He laughed and Juliana titled her head as principal Weems walked to stand next to him.

"Okay, everyone. We'll see you back here at one o'clock for lunch. Enjoy!" Juliana rolled her eyes as she got up and walked away.

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She absolutely hated Pilgrim world. As soon as she walked in next to Wednesday and saw Bianca, but before she could, Eugene said something. "Hey, Juliana and Wednesday! Want to grab a Hummers group photo?" Juliana shook her head when she figured Bianca would be there. Though Wednesday just stayed quiet.

"Guess not." She frowned slightly when hearing the disappointment in the boys voice. Eugene was a nice kid, when she was still in his club, they talked more. But then Juliana gave up on that and left and they grew apart because she focused more on Bianca.

Juliana opened her mouth, going to say something but quickly stopped when a woman walked over. "Good morrow, my young Nevermore kin." Wow, she was really committing to her role. It freaked Juliana out just a bit. "I am Mistress Arlene. A real oc. Original colonist." Yeah, because that was something to be proud about.

"Now prithee, put your cell phones on vibrate and make haste." Juliana's phone was turned off, she didn't have to do that. "For you are about to travel back in time to the year of our Lord 1625, to Jericho's first Pilgrim settlement." The woman turned and walked over which make everyone follow. This job never failed to creep Juliana out.

They didn't walk very far before Arlene stopped and turned to them. It was out of nowhere and kind of made Juliana jump back. Bianca quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her from following. Her hand lingered on juliana's arm making th girl look to her, a small frown there and Bianca quickly let go. "Behold, the meeting house." Juliana heard the woman speak again making her look back to her.

As much as she didn't care for this, she couldn't stare at Bianca the whole time. She felt Bianca's hand brush past hers like she was gonna hold it which made her move away slightly. "Inside is a collection of artifacts related to Jericho's most beloved and pious founder, Joseph Crackstone. And beyond is our privy, Americas first gender-netural restroom." Juliana was getting sick of her voice.

Luckily, Wednesday said something. "I have a query." Wednesday announced, stepping forward. "Pray, be quick, child." She told Wednesday, making Juliana look towards her. "In the meeting house, which of Joseph Crackstone's artifacts are on display?" She didn't know why Wednesday would want to know that.

"It is truly a treasure trove, including original farm tools, tableware, even gne Crackstone family chamber pot." It sounded boring, Juliana thought if they were gonna do something like this they would at least add cool stuff. "Sounds fascinating. I volunteer to work in there." Wednesday was definitely up to something, but Juliana didn't know what.

And she didn't think she wanted to know. She'd rather not get in trouble with Wednesday and have her parents be called. She didn't want to deal with them. "Pray, no. That exhibition is being renovated." Amber told Wednesday making her stop as she turned. "Today, thou will all be working at the beating heart of Pilgrim world."  She told them all and leaded were they would work.

It didn't take that long. "Ye older fudgery?" Eugene repeated the name as they stared up at the sign. "More like ye older diabetes in a box." Juliana let out a quiet giggle at what Wednesday said and Yoko gave her a look making her frown. "Volunteers, prick up thine ears." She let out a groan when seeing what they had to wear. She didn't wanna wear that one bit.

It was ugly and probably didn't match well... "Fudge is the lifebloof of our humble community. And samples equal sales, so grab a uniform and a box and make our forefathers proud." Juliana put on the fakest smile ever as she nodded and grabbed an outfit and box.

"Are these for nuzzling tourists?" Juliana ignored Wednesday and walked off. She looked back when she heard footsteps to see Yoko. "Bet you wish you could just spell yourself out of this. Or... however you'd do it." She just hummed.

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It was time for the preformances and luckily Juliana gotten out of it. She really didn't know how, but she was glad she did. "It is my honor to celebrate our towns history and Jericho's noble forefather, Joseph Crackstone." He turned to the statue that had been built and pointed towards it before going back to the crowd. "Now, he believef that with a happy heart and an open ear, there was nothing our town couldn't archive. So together as one, our community and our friends at Nevermore academy, we've built a moment to celebrate his memory."

They weren't exactly friends. Most of the kids in town was either afraid of Nevermore students or was just assholes to them. "Now, may the spirit of Joseph Crackstone be memorialized for eternity!" Once the mayor had finished, that band started playing 'Don't Stop' by Fleetwood Mac as Wednesday played it on her Cello.

Juliana faked a smile, watching as how when the Mayor hit the button watter came out to the fountain. In all honesty, this was just tiring her. All the sudden, Julian saw a giant spark which she realized was s far. It was leading to the statue. In took a moment before it blew up making many scream and run off.

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authors notes—
i fear juliana is just a hater 😭😭