It was a rainy day in Jericho. The sky hung low and heavy, the clouds dark enough that the streetlights had already flickered on. Their yellow glow washed over the empty sidewalks, glistening against the puddles forming in the cracks of the pavement.

Tyler leaned against the brick wall outside the Weathervane Café, his damp apron still tied around his waist. The evening rush was over, the chatter inside fading to a dull hum, and the rain had driven most people home. Drops slid from his hair onto the collar of his hoodie, but he didn’t move, staring at the wet street with an unreadable expression. He gets inside starting his work shift.

The bell above the café door jingled faintly, and he glanced up. Wednesday Addams stepped inside first, her black umbrella dripping across the floor as she closed it. She looked around the cozy café with that sharp, disinterested stare that made the room seem colder despite the smell of coffee.

You followed her in, brushing rain off your shoulders. The warmth of the café instantly softened the chill that clung to your skin, and your eyes caught on the boy by the counter.

“Sheriff’s kid,” Wednesday muttered, more to herself than to you, but loud enough for him to hear. Her tone was clipped, almost like an accusation.

Tyler straightened, offering a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah. That’s me. Tyler.” His voice was steady, casual, but there was a hint of something beneath it, like he was already trying to prove he wasn’t just the label Wednesday had slapped on him.

His gaze flicked from her to you, pausing just a moment longer before he spoke again. “You two new in town, or just ducking the storm?”