The Dumb-Nut Club //// Eugene x Pugsley

1: A Problem

Eugene Ottinger was extremely bitter.

Of course, he wasn't usually like this. Some would even argue that he was the opposite. But that was usually, not always. And not always, happened to be now.

He was bitter because he had folded under peer pressure. He'd made a deal that would change the course of his entire year. Maybe even his entire life. The sheer weight of the choice that he'd made was only just sinking in, and it hit him like a ton of bricks.

Because the truth was that he had a problem. A big one.

And his name is Pugsley Addams.

Eugene had expected Pugsley to be weird. No, he knew he would be weird. But the issue was that he thought that he would be Wednesday weird. He wasn't prepared for the species of weirdness that Pugsley was.

"I need a favor," Wednesday says squarely, standing so that she's nearly pinning Eugene to the wall of the Hummer's Shed.

"Uhh, sure?" Eugene says with uncertainty. He didn't even know what the Wednesday Addams could need help with.

"My brother is transferring to Nevermore next year," She explains, "And I need you to look out for him."

"Pugsley?" Eugene asks, visibly relaxing.

"The one and only."

"Why not," Eugene says with a small smile. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Pugsley had always been friendless. The only people who ever willingly spent time with him were his family. But they are the people who are forced to do such things.

He'd always envied Wednesday, the way that popularity seemed to follow her wherever she went when she didn't even want it. It always seemed that the people who want the least attention get the most.

Whereas Pugsley wanted attention, but didn't get it the same way that Wednesday did.

He'd hoped that maybe Eugene would be different. He'd heard good things about him from Wednesday. Hearing things at all about someone from Wednesday was high praise, and Eugene had surpassed even that.

Pugsley figured that if Eugene could make friends with the weirdo Wednesday, that maybe he could make friends with the weirdo that he himself was.

But the world doesn't run on maybe. At least, not most times.

Maybe Pugsley will get lucky.

Pugsley hadn't been doing well academically at Nevermore. Well, he'd never done well academically anywhere, but Nevermore was the only place that cared so much.

"In summary, I hope that you'll consider tutoring him," Principal Weems says sweetly. Eugene squints his eyes.

"What if I don't want to?" He bites, annoyed already. "And why should I?" Weems sighs.

"I want you to remember the situation that you were in last year," Weems says, "Remember how you felt. I know you don't like him, but would you really want to wish that feeling on him?"

Eugene bites his tongue, not responding.

"Just..." Weems says, "He doesn't have any friends."

"I wonder why."

"You are extremely difficult."

"I am Wednesday's friend after all."

Weem's lips tighten, then she relaxes, returning back to her computer screen. "Your first session will be on Wednesday." She says with a smile. "And close the door on your way out, why don't you?"