Eventually the two of them stopped in front of the administration office.
Large wooden doors stood at the end of the hallway, dark stained-glass windows framing either side.
A brass plate beside the entrance read:
Nevermore Academy Administration.
Enid pulled out her phone while they waited, glancing over at Oliver.
“So what’s your social media? Instagram? Snapchat? TikTok?”
Oliver looked at her like she’d just asked for his blood type.
“I hate social media.”
Enid blinked.
“…Huh?”
“It looks exhausting.”
“What kind of teenager hates social media?”
“The mentally stable kind.”
She stared at him for a few seconds, visibly processing that.
“That’s honestly the weirdest thing you’ve said so far,” Enid admitted while staring at him in disbelief.
Oliver shrugged lightly before leaning against the nearby wall.
“I mean, social media is full of toxic people anyway. Everybody constantly posts their lives online for strangers they don’t even know.” His expression became slightly more uncomfortable the longer he talked about it.
“I seriously don’t understand how people are okay with that.”
Enid looked personally attacked by the statement considering her entire personality practically revolved around colorful online posts and matching aesthetic feeds.
“You’re making social media sound evil.”
“I’m saying people online are weird.”
Enid crossed her arms.
“Weird how?”
Oliver looked at her for a moment before answering in a completely serious tone.
“Imagine posting a random photo online, then somewhere out there some creepy guy saves it, prints it out, tapes it across his bedroom wall, and stares at it every night with an unhealthy obsession.”
Enid’s smile slowly disappeared.
“…Okay, that was horrifyingly specific.”
“I’m just saying those people exist.”
“That’s not a normal first example people use!” Enid complained.
“Most people would say something like cyberbullying or privacy issues.”
Oliver looked completely unbothered.
“Those are expected already.”
Enid stared at him for several seconds before slowly putting her phone away.
“You know, talking to you feels weirdly educational and concerning at the same time,” Enid admitted while staring at him with visible suspicion.
Oliver shrugged lightly before looking back at her.
“That sounds accurate. But seriously, if you want a long and peaceful life, stay away from getting too addicted to social media. Using it normally is fine, but some people get completely consumed by it.”
Enid gasped dramatically.
“You are literally attacking my entire lifestyle right now.”
“I’m trying to save you.”
“From Instagram?”
“From becoming emotionally dependent on random strangers liking your photos.”
Enid opened her mouth to respond before stopping halfway.
Annoyingly enough, the way he said it sounded less judgmental and more genuinely sincere.
Oliver gave a small nod afterward like he had finished delivering important life advice.
“And thank you.”
A faint smile appeared on his face as he said it before casually pushing open the administration office door and walking inside without another thought.
Enid froze briefly in the hallway.
The smile hit harder than it should have.
For a moment, her brain completely failed to process anything except the fact that the new guy was unfairly attractive when he smiled naturally.
By the time she recovered, Oliver had already disappeared into the office.
Enid quietly covered part of her face with one hand.
“…Okay, wow.”
***
The office door opened and Oliver stepped inside.
Larissa Weems looked up from her desk the moment he entered.
Her eyes moved over him briefly — the black hair with silver streaks, the expression that gave nothing away.
“Mr. Lopez,” Weems said, setting her papers aside.
“I was expecting you.”
Oliver crossed the room and took the seat across from her.
Up close she carried the same composed, quietly evaluating presence he remembered from the show.
Even sitting behind her desk she gave the impression she was assessing everyone in the room simultaneously.
“I hope the trip wasn’t too unpleasant,” she said.
“It was fine. Though your school might actually be larger than some small towns.”
A faint smile.
“Nevermore tends to have that effect.”
She opened a folder and glanced through it.
“Before classes begin, a few things you should understand.” Her tone shifted slightly.
“Students are expected to remain within designated areas after curfew. Unauthorized access to restricted sections is prohibited.”
Oliver noted how specific those warnings were.
Which almost certainly meant students ignored them constantly.
“Violence between students is discouraged unless properly supervised during academy activities.” A brief pause, then in a distinctly tired voice: “That rule exists for very obvious reasons.”
Given the student population, Oliver was mildly impressed the building still had all its walls.
“You’ll receive your class schedule later today.” Weems slid several papers across the desk.
“For now I assume your main priority is getting settled.”
“That would help.”
She glanced at another document.
“You’ve been assigned to Caliban Hall.”
“You’ll find it quieter than some of the other residences,” Larissa Weems added calmly.
Oliver almost laughed.
That peace was absolutely temporary.
The moment Wednesday Addams arrived at Nevermore, whatever remaining stability this academy currently possessed would probably collapse within a week.
“Maybe,” Oliver replied instead.
Then another thought suddenly crossed his mind.
“Actually, Principal Weems, I wanted to ask something.” He hesitated briefly before continuing.
“Did I already pay this year’s tuition?”
Honestly, he was still confused about the financial situation of this body.
After searching through the apartment over the past two days, he had only found around a thousand dollars in cash along with basic personal documents.
If Nevermore tuition worked like normal private schools, there was no way that amount would be enough.
Weems looked mildly confused by the question.
“You already paid the full amount several weeks ago,” she answered.
“Don’t you remember?”
“Oh. Right.” He gave a faint awkward smile afterward.
“Sorry, the recent excitement has left me a little distracted.”
Weems studied him quietly for a moment before nodding.
“That is understandable. Adjusting to Nevermore can be overwhelming for some students.”
If only she knew how much of an understatement that actually was.