15, i saw him

Ari had been ordered back to Nevermore to rest, but of course, she hated the idea of being "fragile." Gia practically had to drag her up the stairs to their dorm, rolling her eyes the whole time while balancing Ari's overnight bag.

The moment they got inside, Ari collapsed onto her bed dramatically. "Finally. I swear if one more nurse tried to feed me disgusting hospital gelatin, I would've bitten them."

Gia flopped onto her own bed, laughing. "Honestly, you looked like you were two seconds away from throwing it at someone."

"I was." Ari grinned, turning her head toward her best friend. "Guess who was gonna be my first victim."

Gia smirked. "Please. You'd never waste good gelatin on me."

The girls burst into laughter, the tension of the hospital fading into the cozy glow of their dorm. Ari leaned back against her pillows, finally letting her guard down. "You know... I'm really glad you were there. Even if you yelled at everyone like a crazy person. Enid told me anything from word to word. And then Liam showed me a video, turns out he was recording the whole time. Accidentally."

Gia sat up, mock-offended. "Excuse me, I gave the speech of the century. Pretty sure I deserve an award for it."

"'Especially you, Pugsley!'" Ari mimicked in a dramatic voice, throwing her arm over her forehead like a tragic actress.

Gia grabbed a pillow and launched it at her. "Oh shut up, you know I was right."

They both dissolved into giggles again until Ari's smile softened. "Seriously though, Gia... thanks. For defending me. Even if it was harsh."

Gia's eyes softened, her usual sass fading into something real. "Of course. You're my girl, Ari. Always."

"Always," Ari echoed, reaching across the space between their beds for a quick hand squeeze.

Then Gia grinned wickedly. "Sooo... you heard Pugsley basically lose his mind when I outed your little crush?"

Ari's face went red instantly. "Oh my god, Gia, don't start."

Gia leaned over, eyes sparkling with mischief. "He was so confused. 'Wait, she likes me?' Like hello? Boy's been hit in the head too many times."

Ari buried her face in her pillow, groaning. "You're the worst."

"And yet you love me." Gia winked.

Ari peeked out from under her pillow with a small laugh. "Unfortunately I love you. More than anyone."

—————

The laughter eventually faded into a comfortable quiet, Ari curled against her pillows while Gia fiddled with one of her sketchbooks at the foot of her bed. The room was dim, the moonlight slipping through the tall windows.

"Hey," Ari said suddenly, her voice softer, almost hesitant. "When I was at the hospital... I saw these dead roses. But one of the nurses threw them away before I could really look. Do you know who sent them?"

Gia glanced up from her sketchbook, blinking. "Yeah, I do."

Ari tilted her head, curious. "Well? Who was it?"

Gia hesitated for half a beat before answering. "They were from Pugsley's mom."

Ari blinked, surprised. "Morticia?"

"Mmhm." Gia closed her sketchbook and leaned back against her headboard. "She brought them when you were still out cold. They weren't just any roses either, she clipped them herself from her greenhouse. Dead, of course, because, you know... Addams family tradition."

Ari stared at the ceiling, her lips parting in quiet awe. "Wow. She doesn't even really know me that well..."

Gia smirked faintly. "She knows you're important to Pugsley. That's enough for her."

Ari went quiet, her cheeks warming slightly as her thoughts drifted. She turned her face into the pillow to hide her smile, but Gia caught it anyway.

"You're blushing," Gia teased.

"Am not," Ari muttered into the pillow.

"Oh, you so are." Gia grinned wickedly. "First the boy, now his mom is sending you family-approved flowers. Girl, you might as well start practicing your Addams family death-glare."

Ari groaned, throwing a pillow at her. "Shut up, Gia."

Gia just laughed, catching the pillow and tossing it back. "I'm just saying... they don't send roses for just anyone."

There was a sudden knock on the dorm door. Both girls froze mid-pillow fight, exchanging a look.

Gia smirked knowingly. "Speaking of Addams family..."

Ari sat up straighter, her heart doing an unhelpful little leap. "Shut up," she hissed, quickly smoothing her hair.

Gia snorted, then hopped off the bed and opened the door.

Pugsley stood there, looking awkward as ever. His shirt was still a little wrinkled from days at the hospital, and his dark circles hadn't completely faded. In his hands, he held something small and wrapped in brown paper.

"Uh... hey," he said, shifting his weight. His eyes flicked to Ari, then back down. "Can I...uh—come in?"

Gia leaned against the doorframe, smirking. "Depends. Is that a bribe?" She gestured at the package in his hands.

Pugsley scowled faintly. "It's... for Ari."

Gia's grin widened. "Then yes. You may enter." She stepped aside dramatically.

Pugsley rolled his eyes but walked in, his gaze locking on Ari as if she were the only one in the room. "I, uh... brought you something."

Ari blinked, confused, as he carefully handed her the package. She unwrapped it slowly to reveal... a pressed black rose, perfectly preserved in a glass frame.

Her breath caught. "Pugsley..."

"I thought... since my mom's roses didn't make it," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You should still have one. She actually helped me put it together."

Ari traced the glass with her fingertip, her chest tightening. "It's beautiful."

Gia, meanwhile, looked between them like she was watching her favorite soap opera play out. "Okay, this is officially too cute. I'm gonna go... do literally anything else." She grabbed her blanket dramatically and headed for the bathroom. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Ari and Pugsley in a silence that felt heavier than the hospital room ever had.

Ari smiled softly, hugging the framed rose to her chest. "Thank you. Really. You didn't have to—"

"I wanted to," Pugsley interrupted quickly, his voice rougher than he meant it to be. He swallowed, his eyes darting away before slowly meeting hers again. "I... I just didn't want you to forget that someone was always waiting for you to wake up."

Ari set the framed rose carefully on her nightstand, her fingers lingering on the glass. She took a breath, then looked at Pugsley, her expression shifting from soft to serious.

"When I was in Willow Hill..." she began quietly.

Pugsley straightened, his brows pulling together.

"I saw Slurp." Her voice was low, almost guilty. "He was locked up there. And because of me, Wednesday and your uncle Fester, he escaped."

Pugsley blinked, confusion flashing across his face before it melted into something else.

"You saw him?" His tone was almost... excited. "That means he's okay! They didn't hurt him!"

Ari blinked at him, startled by the spark of excitement in his voice. "...Pugsley, he was in chains. He was Locked away like some wild animal. That's not okay."

"I know but at least he's free."

"Yeah, at least he is."

——————

A/N

Guys I have missed you

I still haven't watched Wednesday new part but I am starting, so have fun with this meanwhile