I should probably confess to something. I was apart of the Nightshades. The secret society group and that's where I'd snuck off to tonight. Apart from we had someone break in. Wednesday. We never let our identities show, just yet at least. "Who dares breach our inner sanctum?" Bianca asked her and there was no way Wednesday would fall for it.

"You can take the mask off, Bianca." Wednesday said and when Bianca did. We all did. Bianca turned the projector off. "Wait, I preferred you with it on." Wednesday said and I saw the look on Bi's face.

"How did you get down here?" Xavier asked her and I then looked at her.

"Did you follow me?" I asked her while crossing my arms.

"Rowan showed me. Left pocket." She said and Xavier took it out of her pocket. "I tracked the watermark to the Poe statue. Then I solved the riddle." She said to us and I looked at Bianca. How did she even solve it.

"Wait, there's a riddle? I thought we just snapped twice." Kent said and I looked at him, he was one of the dumbest sirens I'd ever met. We all shook our heads at him.

"Well, aren't you the brightest in the bunch?" Wednesday asked him and I he truly wasn't.

"The Nightshades are an elite social club. Emphasis on elite." Bianca said and I was glad to be on the elite club. But given that most of us were sirens, it was always bound to happen.

"We have roof parties, campouts, the occasional midnight, skinny-dip." Yoko answered and I smiled, they were some of the best things.

"And Yoko's an amateur mixologist." Another siren said, you could say that again.

"She makes a killer virgin mojito. It can get pretty wild." Ajax said, I was trying to forget the last time but it would never go.

"Wow. Do you guys even have a bedtime? Last I heard, the Nightshade had been disbanded." Wednesday said and they had been we revived it in a way.

"Yeah, the group kind of lost its charter 30 years ago after some normie kid died." Xavier said to her, and that wouldn't be the case now.

"But we have a lot of wealthy alumni, so Weems looks the other way as long as nobody makes any waves." Yoko said and I was glad that Weems never cared.

"Someone like Rowan?" She asked and we looked at her. We dropped him.

"Haven't him here in ages." I said to her and I then looked at Bianca.

"We booted that loser last semester. Question is, what are we gonna do with her? Only members are allowed in this library." Bianca asked and we all went silent. Thinking about what could possible happen.

"I say we invite her to pledge." Xavier said and I looked at him. We couldn't have that.

"Are you crazy?" I asked him and he looked at me. I was only being honest.

"What?" Someone got out.

"She is a legacy." Xavier said while pointing at the picture of the Addams on the wall.

"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 said and I have to agree with everything she was saying.

"Just because I beat you at your own game? Let me save you the trouble. I'm not interested in joining." She said to us and I was glad about that. We didn't need her here.

"You're seriously turning us down?" She was asked and I looked at her.

"Can you believe it?" Wednesday asked us and I couldn't n

"Untie her." Bianca said to us all and that's when she held the rope up.

"I freed myself five minutes ago." She said before taking her paper back and walking to leave. Kent stopped her and she stared at him. "Do you want a matching black eye?" She asked before moving him out the way. As she made it to the stairs she gave us all one last glance. "It's amateurs like you who give kidnapping a bad name." She said and with that she was gone. Lest to say that the meeting was much longer. The next morning would be our volunteering day. We all met up in the quad.

"All students will report for their volunteer jobs at 10:00 a.m. sharp, followed by a community lunch at 1:00. As you know, this year Outreach Day culminates in a very special event, the dedication of the new memorial statue in the town square, which will also include performances by Nevermore students. As representatives of our school, I trust you will all put your best face forward." Weems said to us and I got my slip to tell me where I was going. I was going to Pilgrim World, again.

"Yes! I got Pilgrim World. I have natural people skills and a love of performing, so it's kind of the obvi choice. What'd you two get?" Enid said to us and I looked at her.

"Pilgrim World, again. I never leave that place. I'm willing to trade for anything." I said to her and I looked at Wednesday, maybe she'd be willing to have something different.

"Uriah's Heap, whatever that is." She said to us and I would be more than willing to take it.

"It's probably best you don't." I said to her and Enid looked away.

"Ew. It's this weird, creepy antique store. You'll love it though." She said to her and I looked at her.

"Im crossing my gills that Ajax and I will be there together." I said to her and I then looked back at Ajax and smiled at him. I was hoping he was there.

"Wednesday, don't worry about your cello. I'll have it brought to the town square this afternoon." Weems said before I walked over to Bianca. She saw me.

"Are you ready to preform there?" She asked me and I looked at her, I had no choice really.

"I guess so, I'll have my best siren tone ready." I said to her with a smile and she smiled back at me. But I knew what she was thinking.

"But don't actually use your siren voice, those normies hate us already." She said to me as we got in the minibus.

"I wouldn't dream of using it if the world depended on it." I said to her before we all sat in different places. We arrived in Jericho I never hated it more. We all took seats on the bleachers.

"All right. Everyone take a seat. We have a special announcement." Weems said before their was an eruption of applause.

"Welcome, welcome, Nevermore Academy. 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!" Some guy said before laughing. I didn't see the joke though.

"Okay, everyone. We'll see you back here at one o'clock for lunch. Enjoy!" Weems said and we all stood up to leave. And I walked off.

"Y/n. Switch volunteer assignments." Wednesday said and I would be more than happy to.

"What? Are you sure. Uriah's Heap would be so much better." I said to her and she looked how she usually did.

"It's an emergency. I need to check out Pilgrim World." She said to me and I'm glad she did. Because I never wanted to go there again.

"Wednesday this seems like a very fair trade. Going to that trash heap with all the weird crap that gets sold there. I'd rather spend a day there." I said to her while and my skip out to her. She had something to add to that.

"And because Ajax is volunteering there. Thing sneaked a peek at his assignment. So, you'll be in for a good day." She said me as she handed me hers.

"I will enjoy my day throughly. You are the best." I said as I went into Uriah's Heap. I then didn't see Ajax. At yet at least. Once he walked in I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Y/n, it's nice to see that I'm here with you." He said to me with a smile, we then looked at everything in the store.

"I'm glad as well, this place is giving me the creeps." I said to him silently. We then looked at a shelf with dead things on which were in clothing.

"I'm pretty sure it's dead. See the tire treads across its tail?" Ajax said as he pointed at a mouse, it was still creepy.

"Local artist scooped that fella up right here on route 22." We were told by the store holder. I looked back at her.

"So your telling me, someone willingly pulls over and collects this pieces of roadkill off the road and then turns them into weird dolls?" I asked her and she looked at me.

"Can't keep them on the shelves. Got a whole section dedicated to these beauties. Squirrels, skunks, snakes, and my personal fave...family of ferrets at a clambake. Too cute. You two want to make yourself useful? I reckon they could use a good brush with a Tangle Teezer. It freshens up the fur." She said to us while showing us the brushes. This was way worse than Pilgrim World. I never should've swapped.

"Can't we do that after, like, a...an extended coffee break. Isn't that right, Ajax?" I asked before looking right at him.

"Uh, yeah. We'll hit the Weathervane. Want us to pick you up something?" Ajax asked her and I was hoping that that would work.

"No need to pay for that overpriced hipster swill. I'm brewing chaga. It's my own blend. Mushroom tea. I foraged the little buggers myself. Better get teasing. You're in for a treat." She said to us and we took the brushes.

"In my whole time at Nevermore. This was something I never dreamed of doing." I said to him and he looked at me.

"Teasing roadkill fur or teasing roadkill fur with me?" He asked me and I looked at him. Both.

"Both, I never thought I'd actually be here and with you." I said to him and he looked at me with a smile.

"I didn't think I'd be here with you, I definitely thought they'd send you back to Pilgrim World again." He said to me and I looked at him with a smile before we both looked away I saw a gentleman walk in.

"Anything your interested with?" I asked him and he looked at me before he walked away. I then went back to Ajax and saw two roadkills dressed up in wedding attire. "Now that is sending shivers down my spine." I said while looking at the rat and the squirrel. It was hideous.

"I don't know. You think squirrels and rats could ever work out? I mean, they're two totally different species." Ajax said to me and I looked at him, like Sirens and Stoners are. Two species but they could work maybe.

"Possibly. Totally even. Why couldn't they? They're both rodents so they have a lot in common. A lot of people are scared of them, so it would be just the two of us...I mean them...against the world as a duo." I said and he let out a small chuckle.

"Wow. That was...deep. You know, by the way. I totally dug the way you controlled the water around our boat at Poe Cup. It was pretty badass." He said to me and I only subtly did that. I didn't even think anyone noticed.

"Thanks. I didn't think you noticed. You're not mad you lost are you?" I asked him, if he was I would feel bad. Just a little bit.

"I was just doing a solid for Xavier. I mean, he's my boy, but he's super competitive." Ajax said to me and I never would be expected to see Xavier as competitive.

"He doesn't seem like the kind." I said to him and Ajax looked at me.

"Bro's got a darker side most people don't see. I think it's because his dad is...well, you know, famous. All that pressure." He said and I looked at him, I could get that.

"I can't imagine the pressure. I kinda get it though. Also I think this is one of the longest conversations with had so far." I said to him and he gave me a glance.

"Gorgons are taught not to engage. You know, I don't want to accidentally stone someone." He said to me and I knew that he was always thinking about that.

"I'm not afraid of you stoning me. It would only be a temporary thing." I said to him while putting a hand on him. I was being truthful.

"Really? You mean that?" He asked me and I gave him a nod.

"One hundred percent. Which leads me to the next thing, I was thinking of heading to the place behind the greenhouse tonight. I've heard it's going to be a blue moon. And they're like once every 23 years or something like that. I want the best view possible of it and it should be good from there." I said to him and I was hoping he'd get the hint and to come with me.

"Cool. Hey, have fun. By the way you know that's where a lot of kids go to hook up, right? I mean, it could get awkward." He said to me and I looked at him. He wasn't getting it.

"Ajax! I've been trying to send you signals all morning by trying to flirt and hinting and trying to be cute in a way, which is hard for me to do, especially while trying to brush some roadkills just so that you would ask me on a date." I said to him and he looked at me, he finally got it.

"Oh! Oh! That's what you were doing. I thought that you were just nervous about later and that's why you brushing that opossum's tail for so long. Hey, so you want to meet up behind the greenhouse tonight?" He asked me and I looked at him with a smile on my face.

"Yes. Yes, I really do." I said to him with a big smile.

"Ajax, can you help me move the badger dentist to the front window?" The store owner asked and he went off.

"I can't believe that it's finally happening." I said to myself with a smile, I then started doing my job again. When we'd finished up it started to rain. Finally my gills could breath. I was sad when it all cleared up. Soon we'd be at the celebration.

"Thank you. It is my honor to celebrate our town's history SND Jericho's noble forefather, Joseph Crackstone. Now, he believed that with a happy heart and an open ear, there was nothing our town couldn't achieve. So together as one, our community and our friends at Nevermore Academy, we've built our monument to celebrate his memory. Now, may the spirit of Joseph Crackstone be memorialized for eternity." The same guy from earlier said and Fleetwood Mac started to play. With Wednesday playing cello. It didn't seem right. It wasn't long until I saw a fuse leading to the statue. It then was ignited and everyone ran. Wednesday started playing a different song. Nevermore kids would go never be trusted again. That night I was getting ready to meet Ajax.

"Do I look okay? I want to at least be casual but after what happened I don't think he can see me the same." I said to them and they looked at me.

"You look more than casual, which is a good thing." Enid said to me and Wednesday looked at me.

"You look like a nightmare and if you don't go you'll be late." Wednesday said to me and I looked at her, I'll take that as a compliment.

"But I'm still bummed about today. I didn't get to sing for the ceremony. Wish me luck." I said to them as I picked up a jacket to wear.

"If he breaks your heart, I'll nail gun his." Wednesday said and I smiled at that before I left our room. Who knew if he was waiting there already or not. When I got there he wasn't there, I checked my phone. It was definitely the time we agreed on and he wasn't there. I gave it a bit longer and he still wasn't there. Wasn't this all just one big plan? To lead me on to just leave me. I let out a siren scream before I realized nothing I would do would make him come here. I then went back to the dorm upset.

"How was it?" Enid asked me and I shook my head at her.

"He didn't show, he never came." I said to her and she hugged me as I cried. I didn't even want to hear his excuses.

"I'll nail gun his heart don't worry." Wednesday said to me and that was surprisingly comforting to hear.

"I'll ice him out with you. Don't worry." Enid said to me and I was glad about that. But still after such a good day, how could he leave me like this.