Chapter Text
“The world has gone to shit. can't even play anything good” I mutter as I sit there in my high school's announcement room, scrolling through my intense playlist of music, half of which I have been banned from playing at the dance because it's “too inappropriate for the student body”. I used to be able to play what I wanted when i was djing the school events, but the principal became such a hardass when he started going to joseph seed’s sermons. My mom goes to them too, but I refuse. I'm not the church crowd. I have to curate a playlist of appropriate songs for the senior dance, which is hard as hell because nobody my age listens to appropriate music anymore and the last thing I want to be seen as is a churchy freak who isnt cool. I glance up at the clock, its almost noon, meaning i get to go do the afternoon anouncements
“Good afternoon student body, its me Wren here. This afternoons news is coming in hot” i state, reading off the stupid script the principal wanted me to read “to our senior students, today is the last day to purchase your tickets to the dance, the Dj is yours truly. Our hot lunch for the day is pizza, so get some while its still hot. In other news, the volleyball game tonight is being moved to the outside arena. Which in my opinion is better anyways. This was wren with your afternoon news”
I turn my mic off and lean back in my chair. God, the rest of the day is going to be long.
“Hey Penny” one of my friends says, sliding in next to me in the science lab, a shit eatting grin on his face. That always means he is going to do something horrifically stupid, dangerous or wreckless. If I'm lucky, maybe all three. “I thought i told you to quit calling me that” i state, glancing up at him from my textbook. “And whatever your planning i dont want to know. Plausible deniablity.” i state, flipping the page of the book. “Ugh, your no fun pen” he scoffs, pouting “i was just gonna ask if you wanted to come to one of Father Josephs sermons. My sister is going, so is my whole family” he shrugs. My face contorts, since when did he play with the church crowd. “Since fucking when?” i ask, absolutely dumbfounded. “Since like, a week ago. He is actually pretty cool. So are Brother Jacob and Brother John. they are like super magnitizing” he states, sounding as if he is in absolute awe. “Gross” i scoff, scooting a little bit away from him on the bench “i have to plan the playlist for the dance anyways” i state “so like super busy man”. If i could express my disinterest any harder i would. “Oh” he states, sounding kind of disappointed “i just thought you might like it, they need someone with your kind of stage presence, i thought..” his voice trails off when he notices my complete disinterest combined withthe teacher coming in. “maybe later” he mutters.
My walk home is uneventful. My headphones are on as I listen to my music, silently plotting how im going to survive another family dinner without my mom and my older brother trying to get me and my dad to go to church with them after dinner. I fumble with my keys in my pocket as i walk up to the front door. Im always the first home, and i like ti that way. Mom has some stupid bible study and andrew has his weird training camp thing he goes to, dads at work, he always is. I usually get the house to myself until they all get back, which is hightime for me to do a talking section on my radio station. Dad taught me young how to manipulate radiowaves, and i guess i just got good at it, and that spun the web that eventually became my alter ego, Widow. A jaded person who got to speak her mind. Which was nice, because i dont seem to be able to do much of that in this house anymore.
“So anyways, listeners” i sigh, about ten minutes into my ramblings, i have at least another fifteen minutes. I dont even know if anyone is out there, actually listening to me, but i dont care. This is cheaper then therapy anyways. “Can someone please tell me what the deal with these seeds are?” i ask, leaning into my radio that stays hidden under my bed unless im broadcasting. “Like why everyone thinks they are such a big deal? In my opinion they are just run of the mill religious folk that normies seem to idolize. Its so stupid!” i laugh “god, why do we, as a society, idolize people like that. People who preach that Holier then thou bullshit, its so fucking stupid. Anyways, im gonna play a song for you before i leave you to the music. Its Called GRRRLS by Aviva. Great song in my opinion, and definitely how i feel about some people and some fads. This is widow, signing out. Stay safe, stay sharp” i scoff, turning my mic off and firing up the song before hiding my equipment under my bed, under the loose floorboard.
“Penelope” my mothers voice calls out from downstairs, she is home early. “Coming” i shout back, shutting my laptop and moving towards the stairs to the main floor. My parents let me have the basement room for my bedroom, they didnt question it at the time, but mom seems more and more antsy at me socializing and being a “good girl”. “Can you help me with dinner dear? we have a few extra guests coming tonight” she asks, when i finally meet her in the kitchen. “Yeah, sure mom” I state, moving to set the table. “How many?” i ask, going to grab plates. The woman is already halfway done dinner, and she has been home for barely half an hour. “five” she states, looking over at me with that eerie smile that usually means i wont like whoever she has invited over, likely another boy and his family she is trying to set me up with. “Kay, mom” i huff, pulling that extending middle part of the table out so our mediocre kitchen table can actually seat nine. Soon Andrew returns home, all sweaty and gross in typical teenage boy fashion. He gives our mom a kiss on the cheek, glancing over at me with a weird expression before going upstairs to his room without a word. What a fucking weirdo. The table is set with plaes, utensils and cups when dad gets home. He tousles my hair, still smelling like car oil. “Eww dad” I groan, ducking my head “you smell”. The old man goes upstairs, to change before dinner chuckling to himself.
The doorbell rings after about half an hour. Mom is still cooking, and dad is watching the football game with andrew while i sit on the floor, reading through my script for the schools musical. “I’ll get it” andrew states, getting up from the couch and moving to the front door. My head cranes around the couch to see who mom invited over. I can hear talking, that soothing male voice that makes my blood boil whenever my principal makes us listen to the mans sermons. Joseph fucking seed. What the fuck.