CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
cruelty wins in the movies

      Kennedy sat in Dr. Kinbott's office. "How are you doing, Miss Eden?" The woman asked.

She smiled brightly. "I've been doing really good."

Dr.  Kinbott smiled and motioned to her. "You're like a completely new person!"

Kennedy laughed. "Yeah, um. . . things have been so much better lately."

"Well, I'm so glad." She wrote down in her notebook.  "What new things have been going on?" She gasped.  "Are you and Mr. Thorpe back together?"

An uncontrollable blush took over Kennedy's face and she giggled, making the woman smile. "We are,  actually. I feel like my life's done a complete 180."

"I'm very happy for you, Kennedy," Dr.  Kinbott said genuinely. "Are you still having bad days? How are your thoughts?"

Kennedy crossed one of her legs over the other.  "Um. . . I do have bad moments sometimes. Mayor Walker's funeral was a pretty hard for me."

"Because of your father?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I don't know. . . I just started thinking about him. But I talked to Lukas after and he kinda helped me. I think I helped him, too."

Dr. Kinbott smiled. "That's wonderful. That was a very kind thing to do."

"It's kinda nice having someone that gets it."

"It is." She nodded. She wrote a couple things down in her notes. "I think whatever you're doing is helping you a lot. It's so nice to see that smile on your face again. Do you remember when we first started seeing each other?"

When Kennedy first started seeing Dr. Kinbott, it was like a dark cloud was constantly hanging over her head. Her life was colorless. She woke up every morning not wanting to get out of bed. She didn't care about life. Dr. Kinbott tried everything to get the girl to speak in their sessions but nothing worked. Slowly, and very slowly, Kennedy started to open up. Dr. Kinbott got to know more about her and was able to help her through her trauma. Now, it was like she was seeing a whole new person and it was beautiful.

Kennedy nodded at her question. "I was a mess. Sometimes I think I'm still a mess. I'm just able to control it better."

Kinbott smiled. "Rome wasn't built in a day."

She smiled back. "Thank you for all your help, Dr.  Kinbott. You. . . You've been really, really helpful."

Dr. Kinbott grinned widely. "That's what I'm here for."

Kennedy wondered how such a good day could turn so dark so fast. She had been asking herself that question her entire life. Her mother would make even the best days a total hell. She was finally starting to see the light again and now she felt like it was crashing. She sat between Wednesday and Weems at the general hospital, waiting to hear news about Dr. Kinbott.

She had just left to get coffee. So she was confused when Wednesday and Weems came looking for her. The Hyde attacked her. They found Kinbott's body in her office. She chewed on her finger nails and she felt sick. Dr. Kinbott helped her a lot and now she may be gone. Kennedy didn't know how to handle it.

Sheriff Galpin came into the lobby. Kennedy immediately stood up and walked over to him. Weems and Wednesday followed behind. He took off his hat. "She's gone. Dr. Kinbott's dead."

Kennedy's heart dropped to her stomach and she let out a cry, her eyes filling with tears. Principal Weems immediately pulled her into a hug.

"This ends now." Wednesday declared.

She took off but Kennedy stood there, shaking. "I was there. I had just left. M-Maybe I could've helped—"

"Don't say that, Miss Eden. It is not your fault." Said Weems.

"If you would have been there, you would have died too, Kennedy." Said Galpin. "Thank god you weren't."

Kennedy's lip quivered and she let out another cry.  Weems led her to the nearby chair and she says down,  crying into her hands.

"I just feel guilty. She was there all alone."

"Don't do that to yourself, Ken. There's nothing you could've done," Xavier said into the phone, Kennedy on the other line.

"That's what Weems said. I was just there. How the hell could it have happened that quick?"

He was walking in the woods to his studio when Kennedy called him. The new of Kinbott's death circled around quickly and Kennedy was a wreck. "I'm just happy nothing happened to you. I'd lose my damn mind."

He heard her sniffle. "She helped me through so much,  Zay.0

"I know, baby. I'm sorry," Xavier said sadly. He reached the studio. "I have to get something from the studio but when I get back, I'll come find you, okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

He smiled. "I love you." He hung up and walked into the dark studio. When he turned on the light, Wednesday was sat in the corner of the room. Xavier scoffed. "Okay, you know what? You need to stay out of my space."

"You need to take your own advice," Wednesday responded darkly and stabbed the knife she was holding into the stool. "You left that in my room. Actually, you left it in Thing. How long have you been seeing Kinbott?"

A million questions collided in Xavier's head. "Have you. . .?" He began to ask but stopped himself. "What am I saying? Of course you have. You've been spying on me, right? And how would I have even had time to trash your room, huh? I was with Kennedy."

She didn't respond and only glared at him.

He took the knife out of the stool. "Cause I'm the villain in your fantasy." He caressed the knife in his hands. "My father thinks that my mental health is a pr problem that he needs to manage. You can ask Ken, she'll tell you all about it. Or not because she actually respects my privacy. He wanted to keep his troubled son out of the tabloids. I wasn't in your room. I was with my girlfriend. Believe me or don't believe me, I don't care."

Wednesday walked past him and Xavier closed his eyes. She eyed the canvas of Kennedy before moving to stand by another one that was covered. "Your painting's been improving. I enjoy this one in particular."

She ripped down the sheet to reveal a painting of Dr. Kinbott's face with slash marks over it. "Feels like you really lived it. What do you think Kennedy would say if she saw it?" She basically threatened.

"Kennedy knows my situation. I don't have to hide anything from her," he stated, getting defensive. He threw his arms up by his side. "What do you want?"

"I'm asking the questions." She declared. Wednesday turned around and picked up an object that was on his messy desk. "What is Rowan's inhaler doing in your shed?"

Xavier's face fell.

She picked up something else. "Or Eugene's glasses?"

Now he was confused. "Whoa, whoa—"

"Or these stalker images you took of me?"

"No, no, I—"

"Don't forget your latest addition," Wednesday interrupted him. She dumped a cup of crayons onto the table and lifted up an object. "Kinbott's necklace."

"No, no, somebody planted that that stuff!" He almost shouted and felt himself start to sweat.

Suddenly, Sheriff Galpin bursted into the studio holding his gun. "FREEZE!"

Xavier instantly froze and raised his hands. He didn't even realize he was still holding the knife.

"Drop the knife. Down on your knees!"

Another officer came in through the back door holding his gun. Xavier's heart beat increased and a scared expression plastered on his face. In that moment, all he wanted was Kennedy.

"Cuff him." The sheriff ordered.

"What—"

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. . ."

As the sheriff read him his right, Xavier stared at Wednesday in betrayal. She had no guilt or remorse in her face. She was almost proud.

"Appreciate the help, Addams."

He shook his head. "You! You framed me! I'm being set up!" The officer started dragging him again by the arms. He glared deeply at her. "You don't deserve her friendship. You hear me? You don't deserve Kennedy's friendship! I should've let Rowan kill you."

When they took him away, Wednesday stared at him as he went. She felt no guilt or wrongfulness, but a small part of her couldn't help but know that Kennedy was going to be angry. Maybe he was right but she didn't care.

Kennedy had calmed down just a bit after her conversation with Xavier. She was curled into a fetal position on her bed and holding the stuffed unicorn that Enid gifted her.

"I'm really sorry, Kenny. I know how much she meant to you." Said Presley from her side of the room.

"I just can't believe how quick it was, y'know? I mean, what if I was still there? Would it have gotten me, too?"

Presley shook her head. "No way. It's like you said,  nothing can take you down easily. Besides, I'll kill that fucking monster before it gets to you."

Kennedy smiled. "Thanks, Pres."

"Always, Ken."

Enid came running into their room in a frenzy. The two girls sat up immediately. "Enid, what's wrong?"

"Kennedy, it's Xavier. He's been arrested!"

Then, in that moment, Kennedy's dark world just got a little bit darker.