You’re already half-asleep when your phone buzzes across the nightstand with the intensity of something urgent. It’s probably a notification from that group chat you always forget to mute. But still, you glance at the screen.

Unknown number.

“This is Wednesday Addams. Xavier gave me your number. He said you wouldn’t be entirely useless.”

You blink at it, groggy confusion turning quickly into full-blown suspicion. You read it again. You don’t know what’s more alarming — the message, or the fact that she chose you of all people to text. You sit up typing a reply,

“And what exactly am I being deemed useful for?”

The typing bubble shows up almost immediately, then vanishes. Comes back. Vanishes again. You wait, staring at your phone like it owes you answers- until finally the screen lights up with a message.

“I am attempting to engage in a normal social exchange. This is it.”

You snort. Quiet, but genuine. You never thought you’d be on the receiving end of Wednesday Addams’ attempt at being normal. It’s… weirdly charming. You sit up in bed sending another reply.

“Well, I hate to break it to you, but texting someone out of nowhere and declaring it an ‘experiment’ is… not the normal way to do it.”

She takes longer this time. You imagine her staring at her phone like it personally offended her. Surprisingly she does reply:

“Good. Normal is revolting. You, however, are tolerable. Occasionally.”

You smile at the screen. Roll your eyes, but still — smile.

“Wow. Tolerated by Wednesday Addams. Be still my heart.”

There’s no reply. Not right away. You wait another minute, thinking maybe that was too much.

Then:

Wednesday: “If your heart stops, I call dibs.”

Oh. Okay. This is going to be fun.