CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. who could ever leave me, darling?

Parents Weekend was the day Kennedy had been dreading since the year started. It's not that she wasn't excited to see her grandmother because she was. But there was only one thing she wanted on this day, and it was her dad.

"I'm guessing you're not excited for parents' weekend?"

Kennedy gave Presley a sarcastic stare. "You kinda have to have a parent for that."

Presley sat across from her in the quad. "Hey, you still have your grandma. That's enough, right?"

She groaned. "I know. I feel horrible for saying it but I just really want to stay in today. Mom's not coming, I already know."

"She might surprise you this year."

Kennedy scoffed. "Yeah, I think hell with freeze over that day."

Presley managed to form a grin but she didn't have anything else to say on the matter. How could she? Her parents would be there on Parent's Day. She couldn't compare their situation. She saw Xavier walking in their direction. "Maybe someone can make you feel better?"

Kennedy pinched her brows together and looked over her shoulder. She smiled when she saw Xavier.

Presley smirked. "You never told me what happened at the dance."

"I was kinda trying to soak in the moment. You know, in case it wasn't real."

The vampire scoffed. "I saw it with my own eyes, Ken. Everybody did. There were definitely sparks. Fireworks even!"

She chuckled. "I'm neither confirming nor denying anything."

"Confirm or denying what?" Asked Xavier, finally making it to the table.

"Oh, just the—"

Kennedy kicked her shin under the table and glared. "Nothing! Absolutely nothing. Right, Pres?" She said through her teeth.

Presley groaned and managed to give a thumbs up. "Right. Nothing. I'm gonna go now." She grabbed her bag and quickly left.

Kennedy looked at him again and smiled. "Hi."

Kennedy looked over her shoulder and up at Xavier, giving him a smile. "Hi."

"Hi back." Hw returned the smile and sat beside her. "How are you this morning?"

"Like I want to chew on broken glass."

He blinked. "Oh. . .  parents weekend?" He realized.

She nodded. "Yep. I know I sound stupid. I mean, my halmeoni will be here but—"

"You wish your mom would come."

She nodded again. "Exactly. My dad being here wouldn't be too bad either." He mutters the last part.

Xavier grabbed her hand that was on her lap. "I'm sorry, Ken."

Yeah, Presley wasn't wrong. She felt the sparks.  Kennedy smiled at him. "Don't be. There's nothing that we can do about it. Are you excited to see your dad?"

"You mean Mr. Thorpe, famous psychic? Sure, I guess." He responded sarcastically. "I doubt he'll show up though. He's always busy."

Xavier's dad was a tough subject for him. Mr. Thorpe was hardly ever around and yet his name was everywhere. Kennedy nudged him with her shoulder. "Maybe we can be lonely together?"

He looked at her and his mood picked up. "Yeah?"
He looked back up and smirked.  "Yeah?"

"Yeah. You can always hang with me and grandma.  You know cause for some unknown reason, she can't get enough of you."

Xavier chuckled. "Even after. . . you know?"

Kennedy grinned. "I can assure you, Xavier, she still loves you,"

"Oh, I'm sure. I'm kind of a ladies man if you haven't noticed."

His smirk made her roll her eyes. "You managed to be humble for about five minutes. I think that's a new record."

He shoved her arm and she laughed.

Kennedy stood outside the school with Presley watching the cars roll in. She grew more nervous as she searched for her grandmother's vehicle, chewing vigorously on her nails, which made Presley cringe. "Your nail biting is hurting my fangs."

She put her hand down. "Sorry. My heart feelings like it's going to explode."

"You're making yourself nervous. Stop worrying so much." She searched for her own family's car. "I hope mom and dad are decent. Last year they showed up with blood around their mouths.

Seeing a black Cadillac pull up, Kennedy'd moons brightened. "She's here!"

Nia Yeun got out of her car. Her granddaughter squeals. "Halmeoni!"

"Sonnyeo!" The woman shouted back and held open her arms.

Kennedy crashed into her and held her torso tightly. She'd been longing for this hug for so long.  She felt herself relax. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you, my girl." Said Nia and kissed the top of her hair. She cupped her face. "No trouble? No drama? Are your grades still good?"

Kennedy nodded. "Yes,  halmeoni. Everything's good."

You know, despite the monster roaming around the woods killing people.

She looked over the girl's head. "Hi, Presley."

Presley squealed and ran to hug her as well. " My second favorite woman!"

Kennedy smiled widely. "We're going to have so much fun this weekend grandma."

That's when her grandmother's face changed. "Kennedy, there's something—"

She grabbed her hands, the excitement making her not listen. "I was thinking we could go to Jericho and get coffee and then go shopping. Then watch a movie—"

"Kennedy, please—"

"Kennedy."

Kennedy froze. Presley gasped. She closed her eyes and didn't turn around, the voice making her heart almost stop.

The frown on Nia's face deepened. "was going to tell you before we came."

"Kennedy."

Feeling like she was going to pass out, Kennedy slowly turned around and tears uncontrollably filled her eyes. "Hi, mom."

"Nevermore was created as a safe haven for our children to learn and to grow, no matter who or what they are," Principal Weems announced into the microphone.  The students and parents and alumni gathered in the quad.

Kennedy felt completely numb as she stood between her mom and grandmother. She had her arms wrapped around herself as to protect herself from the both of them. She couldn't look at her mom. It felt like it'd been years since the last time they talked. Not one call, or text, or email.

"I realize most of you have heard about the unfortunate incident involving one of our students. But I'm happy to report that Eugene is on the mend and is expected to make a full recovery,"

Everybody clapped at the good news. From across the quad, Kennedy caught Xavier's eye and he looked between her and her mother. She only shook her head, saying she'd tell him later.

"So let's focus on the positive and make this parents' weekend out very best yet." Principal Weems finished.

After another round of applause, the students and parents scattered around to talk amongst themselves. Nia smiled at the girls in hopes of relieving the awkwardness. "This weekend's going to be so much fun."

Dara Eden smiled at her daughter. For a second,  Kennedy almost thought she could see the light back in her eyes. The frown she was wearing stayed permanent on her face along with the arms that were around her waist. Looking over her mom's shoulder, she spotted Wednesday and Enid talking to each other by the fountain. "I have to go talk to someone real quick."

Not waiting to a response, Kennedy quickly walked away in the directions of her friends.

Enid smiled at her. "Kenny, is your grandma here?"

"Yeah. And, uh. . . my mom's here."

Her face fell. "No."

"Your mom's here?" Said Wednesday.

Kennedy nodded again. "Yeah, and now I'm freaking out and don't know what to do."

"Maybe she's here to make things right?" Enid suggested,  trying to lighten the mood.

"Trust me, E. She's not."

"I'll happily take her off your hands." Wednesday insisted while looking in the other direction.

Kennedy saw the Addams family in their all black attire. Her eyes widened. "That's your family?"

"Unfortunately."

"Respectfully, Wednesday, your mom is hot."

Enid giggled and Wednesday daggers at her. "I will end you."

"I'm practically begging you to." Kennedy dramatized.

"I knew I should've worn my plaque mask."

"Would you look at my family? Talk about toxic pack mentality." Said Enid.

They looked behind them to see her family wolfed out and climbing on the picnic table. "I give my mom 30 seconds before her judge-y claws come out."

Kennedy sighed. "Maybe we should skip this weekend and hang out ourselves."

"That's very tempting." Wednesday blankly stated.

Enid sighed as well. "Let's get this over with."

Kennedy held what was left of her self esteem inside her and walked back to her mom and grandma. They were talking amongst themselves until they saw her approaching. Dara didn't waste any time. "Kennedy, honey, I've missed you so much."

She cupped her face and Kennedy froze. Staring into her mother's eyes was like looking into a mirror. She and her mom were basically twins. Though she was part Korean from her father, she was nearly the spitting image of her mother.

But that was before. Now Kennedy didn't recognize the woman in front of her.

"Why are you here, mom?" She whispered.

Dara's face fell along with her hands. "Your grandmother called me and we talked for a very long time. I miss you so much, sweetheart." Her eyes began to water. "I want to prove to you that I'm sorry."

Kennedy was so young when her mom started to spiral. But she was old enough to understand why. Her father was the love of her mom's life. And losing someone you love can make you go crazy. But then Dara started to hurt her and Kennedy didn't understand why until she did. That it's because she reminded her so much of her late husband.

Kennedy was just a kid having to pick up her mom's messed. Wipe her tears when she cried. Clean the glass when she threw her liquor bottles at the wall. She didn't realize until it was too late that while she was picking up her mother's messes, she was breaking herself.

She blamed her mother for why she wasn't able to properly express her emotions. She blamed her mom for the constant tears and fighting. She blamed her for the way she treated Xavier because she loved him and it was her mom's fault that she was so insecure. Or maybe it wasn't completely her fault and she was just screwed up. But blaming her mom would be easier to admit than to admit she was just fucked in the head.

But Kennedy was just a girl and standing in front of her mother, a part of her still desired the love that she once showed. To hold her again without being hurt. Perhaps she was stupid or naive or both. She looked to her grandmother who was listening closely. And then she looked at her mom again. Slowly, she smiled.