|| 4 || Secrets

PUGSLEY POV

(Last School Year)

We had just headed out of what I think was the worst therapy session ever, and all I wanted was to see my sister. School without her was... different it was harder, without anyone having my back and letting me out the locker. But of course, when I did finally get to see her, she was indifferent.

I sat on a bench near the Weathervane, as I see that same girl whos been following Wednesday around the whole day, walking out of the cafe and sitting next to me. I don't know what her deal was, but she was eyeing me up and down, as I was playing with a spider I had found earlier.

I thought maybe she wanted to play with it too, so I put it closer to her face "Do you want to hold him?"

Her brows furrowed in disgust "No, thanks."

Rude. But okay, I guess not everyone likes spiders.

I felt like explaining, even though it wasn't necessary "It was alone, so I decided to take it with me. I thought maybe he was left alone too."

Like me, poor spider. The girl had seemed to look less grumpy and more sad.

"You shouldn't have taken him, he could fend on his own" her arms crossed as she turned away from me

I didn't know who she was, but I felt the need to tell her something and defend my buddy legs (the spider)

"Well I wanted him to know that someone still cares about him, even if he could fend on his own." I argued

"bugs have feelings too, but some are better eaten."

She looked at me like I was the weirdest person alive, but I was too fixated on whether legs deserved to be eaten or not.

PRESENT 

Do you guys remember that dead kid?

Yeah, well... funny story.

I went to the Skull Tree during the Founders' Pyre—don't ask why, it's complicated and also none of your business. Anyway, something in the woods jumped out at me, I screamed (but, like, manly screamed), and my electrokinetic powers went off.

Long story short

the dead kid's alive again.

I spent all night trying to hide him from the students and the staff, and eventually, found that the best hiding place was Eugene's bee shed.

His name is Slurp by the way.

I spent all night babysitting him so that he doesn't escape. In the morning I tried my absolute best to sneak out but ultimately got caught.

"What are you doing in there?" she asks, her arms crossing and raising an eyebrow

"Hi, Evie..." I tried to sound chill. Totally failed.

"Why are you acting so weird?"

I sighed. "I know we're not technically friends, but can you keep a secret?"

She thinks about it, then finally says, "Fine."

As we inch toward the shed, I whisper, "Don't panic."

"Just show me."

So I open the door.

"OH. MY. GOD." Her eyes go huge. "We need to tell Eugene."

"NO." I begged.

"Well, if we don't, he's going to die of a heart attack when he sees this. Or worse, get eaten by this monster."

"He's not a monster," I snap.

"Well, he's definitely not a pet, is he?"

"He won't bite. Promise."

"Sorry, but I've watched way too many zombie movies to believe you."

I mutter under my breath, "Knew it was wrong to trust you."

"I heard that."

I sigh. "Just... keep it a secret, please."

She looks doubtful, then checks her watch. "Eugene is going to come in the shed to feed his bees in..." she squints at the time "T-minus 20 seconds."

Cue me panicking. "What are we gonna do!?"

She just shrugs. "I'm keeping your secret, but I didn't promise to help."

I give her a 'are you always this selfish?' look.

She rolls her eyes but finally mutters, "Fine, but just know I'm very bad at lying."

Perfect.

We push the door open, and of course, Eugene is right there.

"What are you guys doing in the Hummers' Shed?"

Evie blurts, "Uh... I was taking care of your bees."

Eugene squints. "Taking care of my bees?"

"Yeah," I jump in, because I actually thought it sounded convincing.

"Okay... you guys are really bad liars." He shoves past us. "I swear, if one of my bees is missing, I'm telling Wedn—"

Then he freezes, Slurp lunging at him

"Down, boy!" I yell, zapping Slurp as he stumbles back.

Eugene's practically wheezing, and Evie shoves his inhaler at him. "Breathe in. Breathe out."

"What... is... THAT?"

I grin. "Only the coolest thing ever!"

Evie scoffs. "It's a zombie."

I ignore her. "Now we have a pet and a best friend!"

"He's not a pet—"

"Watch this, it gets better." I pull back Slurp's shirt to show his mechanical heart. "Remember Ajax's story? The dead kid who built himself a heart?"

Evie narrows her eyes. "Wait. That kid buried in the Skull Tree?"

Eugene stares, wide-eyed but fascinated. "It really is him... He's like us."

"Exactly. Which is why we should keep him here forever."

"That's...not safe," Eugene warns.

"Nor sanitary," Evie adds.

Eugene frowns. "We need to tell someone before he eats us."

"That's what I was saying!" Evie jumps in, glaring at me.

I roll my eyes. "Relax. He's got no brain, so he's not eating anybody. ...He is kinda hungry, though."

Eugene looks around. "Honey! Nature's perfect food—antioxidant, antibacterial, low glycemic index?"

I have no clue what he's talking about, but sure. We feed Slurp the honey and for a sec I thought he actually liked it...

then he immediately pukes it all back up at us. Plus... some other chunks I really don't want to identify.

Evie shrieks, "I told you he prefers brains!" and storms out.

Eugene stood there in disgust while I was in full awe.

We eventually sneak back to Caliban Hall to change. Honestly, it would've been hilarious to walk around smelling like zombie puke all day and watch people gag. But apparently, that's not "dress code." Whatever.

Eugene pulls out a jar of bloodsuckers from his cages.

"What are those for?" I ask.

He grins. "For the guy who broke Ajax's heart... and stole Enid from him."

I laugh, petty revenge? Addams-approved.

We track Ajax down in the quad, where he's sulking while Enid hangs out with Bruno.

"You know the best medicine for a broken heart?" Eugene lifts the jar. "Prank Day revenge, courtesy of my Sumatran tiger fleas."

He unleashes them, and Bruno starts flailing and screaming like a little kid.

Ajax laughs, finally smiling again. "Hey, thanks, guys." He fist-bumps us.

"Oh, and happy Prank Day!" He stones us with his snakes—totally worth it.

AWESOME.

A/N: I made Pugsley more sassy and not to mention unintentionally funny HAHAHHAHA, Also THANK YOU SM FOR 1K READSS I appreciate it a lot guyss, and don't forget to vote after each chapter because it helps me a lott.

Excuse some of my grammar errors, and that this chapter might be shorter because I kinda rushed it, but I still hoped you guys like it, comment if you want more Pugsley POV's :>>

Also its quarterly Exams here at my school rn and I don't think I will be able to post for a bit, but Ill try my best to write if I have any free time not revising for my exams, dont worry I will update you guyss! thank you again shhshshshs and wish me luck for my examss, Luv ya'll!