Ethan arrived to pick them up dressed in a black suit.
It was sharply tailored, understated, and unmistakably deliberate.
White was the expected choice for Raven. Almost everyone wore it. Ethan hadn't even considered it. White washed him out, made him look theatrical—like a parody of the event itself. Black, on the other hand, suited him.
He knocked on the door and waited.
A second later, the door opened.
Wednesday stood in the doorway.
She was wearing the black frilled dress he'd bought—the same one from Uriah's Heap. The dark fabric fell perfectly into place, sharp and deliberate, like it had always belonged to her.
For a brief moment, Ethan forgot to speak.
Wednesday's eyes flicked over him, just as critical, just as unreadable.
"Wow, you look…" Ethan began, the words catching before he could stop them. In that dress, Wednesday was—beautiful, unmistakably so, in a way that unsettled him.
"Unrecognizable?" Wednesday supplied coolly. "Ridiculous?"
"A classic example of female objectification for the male gaze?"
"None of the above," Ethan said. "You look beautiful. You'd be even more dangerous if you smiled."
Enid popped up behind her and looped her arm through Wednesday's.
"Okay, what about me?" Enid asked brightly. "How do I look?"
Ethan didn't hesitate—he gave a firm thumbs-up. "You look amazing."
Enid beamed.
Ethan glanced between them, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I must've done something incredibly virtuous in a past life to end up escorting two beautiful girls tonight."
Wednesday turned her head just enough to look at him. "Flattery won't save you."
He smiled. "Worth trying."
Enid squeezed Wednesday's arm. "Come on. Let's go before the music gets louder."
At the entrance to Rave'N, Ethan arrived with Wednesday and Enid—one on each side, both holding onto his arms as if this arrangement were the most natural thing in the world.
Principal Weems stood by the doors, welcoming students with her usual composed authority.
She looked up—and paused.
In all her years at Nevermore, she had never seen this. Not Wednesday Addams. Not like this. Certainly not arriving with a boy, and definitely not with two dates.
Still, her expression smoothed out instantly.
"Good evening," Weems said, her tone perfectly measured as they approached. Her eyes flicked briefly to Wednesday, then to Enid, then to Ethan. "I trust you'll… enjoy Rave'N."
Wednesday inclined her head slightly. "That seems unlikely."
Enid smiled brightly. "We'll try!"
Ethan gave a polite nod. "We intend to."
Weems held their gaze for a second longer, as if committing the sight to memory. "Do remember," she added, "Rave'N is about community. Participation. Letting go."
Wednesday's lips twitched. "I'll keep that in mind."
They passed her and entered the hall, the music swelling around them.
Weems watched them go, her brow creasing just slightly.
She had encouraged Ethan to enjoy campus life.
She just hadn't anticipated this.
How, exactly, had Ethan managed to convince both girls to agree to this arrangement—together? Enid's enthusiasm she could understand. But Wednesday Addams?
That defied every precedent.
As they stepped into Rave'N, the reaction was immediate.
Heads turned. Conversations stalled. A few students openly stared.
A boy arriving with two dates was rare enough. That both of them were beautiful was enough to make some boys jealous.
The contrast in their clothes only made it worse—Ethan in black, Wednesday in an even darker black, Enid bright and radiant between them. Together, they were impossible to ignore, their presence alone drawing every gaze in the room.
Whispers rippled.
"Is that—?" "Is Wednesday actually—" "With him?" "And Enid too?"
Enid squeezed Ethan's arm, eyes wide. "Okay, wow. People are staring."
"They usually do when something unnatural occurs," Wednesday replied calmly.
Ethan glanced around, unfazed. "Relax. They'll get bored."
They didn't.
Across the room, Xavier stood near the edge of the dance floor, watching them enter. His smile faded almost instantly.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.
Ajax followed his line of sight. "Is Wednesday… with him?"
Xavier didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on Wednesday, irritation simmering just beneath the surface.
He had meant to ask her to Rave'N—had come close more than once—but the certainty of rejection had stopped him every time. Now, seeing her like this, the regret settled with uncomfortable weight.
Bianca noticed the look immediately and let out a quiet sigh. His date stood right beside him, yet his attention was elsewhere. If this was how the night began, Rave'N was already drifting toward disaster.
Meanwhile, the trio moved further inside. The music thumped, lights flashed, and the room buzzed with energy that Wednesday had no intention of matching.
"This place smells like artificial happiness," she said.
Enid laughed. "It's a dance, Wednesday."
"Yes," Wednesday replied. "That's the problem."