Wednesday hadn't expected her return to Nevermore to be so... quiet.
It is nice to get a bit of a break after the hell she went through not that long ago, but that itch to solve a mystery is slowly coming back, and soon she finds herself once again looking for something interesting to happen.
It doesn't take long though. Because as soon as February rolls around and everyone's settled into the new semester, Enid's barging into their dorm room with her teeth bared and tears in her eyes.
Enid goes straight to her bed, burying her face in her pillows, and Wednesday knows she's just waiting to be asked about what happened.
Wednesday pauses her writing and turns around in her chair with a sigh.
"What is it now, Enid?" she groans, preparing herself for the oncoming rant.
It'll last about four minutes at the longest, and all Wednesday will have to do is nod silently while Enid wears down the floorboards with her pacing. Then she'll threaten to claw her eyes out or jump off the balcony before deciding she needs to scroll on Tik Tok to calm down, and from there it takes about five more minutes for her to fall asleep.
Wednesday's used to it. Once Enid's asleep, she can get back to her writing. Of course, Enid will growl in her sleep, but Wednesday's gotten used to that too. She's not going to admit to anyone she actually enjoys it.
But this time, when Enid lifts her head up from her pillows, she looks different. The usual fire in her eyes is gone, and it sets off the alarm bells in Wednesday's head.
"Ajax broke up with me," she mutters before burying her head back down into her blankets.
Wednesday feels like she's been punched in the gut when she hears that, because she thought they had been fine. Enid wouldn't shut up about how cute he was or how funny he was and Wednesday was ready to strangle her every time she mentioned his name. And yet here they were, Valentine's Day right around the corner, and Wednesday's preparing to commit a murder.
“It was over Snapchat Wednesday! Snapchat!” Enid starts again, “Can you believe it?”
“I could if I understood the significance of Snapchat," Wednesday replies, trying to keep herself calm.
“The message disappears after a day! It’s even worse than a text!”
“How cowardly of him," Wednesday says, and she's pulling out the nail gun she's had ready since that first date months ago, making sure it's still loaded.
Enid's eyes go wide, and she's rushing over to Wednesday, grabbing her hands before she can do anything.
“Wednesday, no," she scolds, her tone stern, "I mean, I appreciate the gesture, but you don’t have to hurt him, okay?”
Wednesday glances down at Enid's hands wrapped tight around hers, and back up to see the worry on Enid's face.
Somehow, Enid is the only one that Wednesday seems to listen to. And even if she wants to throw the boy in a pit of fire ants for breaking her friend's heart, she'll respect her wishes.
“Fine. But if he does anything else to upset you, I'll be ready."
Enid nods, wiping her cheeks, and then she heads back to her bed and pulls out her phone without another word.
---
Wednesday keeps a close eye on Enid after that night. She sits next to her in class, at lunch, and is always by her side in the hallways making sure nobody dares to even look at her the wrong way. Especially Ajax, who's been sitting on the opposite side of the courtyard all week.
Enid doesn't seem too sad, but she is a lot more quiet and less talkative, and the loud, colorful pop music she usually plays has been replaced by tunes that are so slow and sad that Wednesday actually misses the old stuff.
So what if she's protective over Enid? It doesn't mean anything. She's accepted that Enid is her friend. But what she hasn't accepted is why seeing Enid so heartbroken makes her chest ache and her face grow hot.
It's such an uncomfortable feeling, one she only seems to notice around Enid. And anytime that feeling comes up, she does her best to stuff it back down inside of her before anyone notices her face growing less pale and more pink.
Luckily, on Valentine's Day, when Wednesday expects Enid to be wallowing around in a void of sadness and refusing to even leave the room, Enid's the exact opposite.
She's up before Wednesday, trying to figure out an outfit for the party in the courtyard later that night that she had sworn she wasn't attending a week ago.
It's strange. Too strange. And while Wednesday likes strange, she also wonders if Enid's been kidnapped and replaced with a look alike because it’s such a stark change to the person she’s been following around over the past week.
"Your behavior today is extremely suspicious," Wednesday comments while Enid holds up two almost identical pink coats in front of the mirror.
"What? You think just because I went through such a devastating breakup less than a week ago, I'd be sad today?"
She huffs, giving Wednesday a smirk.
"Yes, actually."
Enid shrugs, throwing one of the coats on her bed and crossing her arms.
"Well, I told myself that I wouldn't. Today I'm going to be happy and celebrate. I can't move on if I'm stuck in the past."
Enid gives her a wink, and then goes back to her mirror. Wednesday's glad she doesn't see how that wink has her gripping hard on to the edges of her chair so she doesn't fall.
---
They go about the rest of their day as normal, Wednesday doing her best to bury those feelings deep down inside of her and locking them away tightly. Enid's like her old self, smiling so bright at everyone it's blinding as she skips through the halls. She asks every person they see if they're going tonight and what they're going to wear and who they're going with and if they can take pictures together.
Wednesday just rolls her eyes at it all. Being in love feels like it would be a curse. To be tied down to one person for your whole life, to have to share every moment with someone else and have to keep them in mind when doing anything? It sounded like a kind of torture even she wouldn't like.
Wednesday can't dwell too hard on it. It's not like she's going to be in love with anyone soon, or ever.
She just focuses on her novel while Enid gets ready, blasting her pop music out loud as she dances with Thing, trying to ignore how sappy the lyrics are.
"Wednesday, are you sure you don't want to come?" Enid asks for the hundredth time in her sing-song voice that Wednesday tries so hard to not give in to.
Wednesday keeps her eyes on her typewriter and shakes her head.
"No. As I said, I'd rather work on my novel."
"Please? Even just for a little bit?"
Wednesday stops typing and turns around with a glare.
"The only thing notable about today is that it's the day that Captain Cook was killed by the native Hawaiians. Other than that, everything else is utterly despicable."
Enid scoffs. "Alright. But I'm not bringing you back any of those heart shaped-cookies Yoko was talking about."
Enid smoothes down her coat and heads out, turning back to glance at Wednesday one last time before shutting the door.
Wednesday wonders if she had been too harsh. She glances over at Thing, who seems to be silently judging her.
"Go keep an eye on her," she says, and Thing gives her a thumbs up before scurrying away.
Wednesday goes back to typing, finally relaxed that she has her own music playing instead of Enid's overly-romantic pop. She's finding a groove when she hears a knock at the door.
It couldn't be Enid, she has a key. Thing knows how to pick the lock. And all of their staff are working down at the party.
Wednesday hesitates for a moment, wondering who it could be and wondering why they've decided to interrupt her writing time. But she figures she could use a break, so she stands up and opens the door.
“Hey Wednesday, is, uh, Enid here?” Ajax says, so nervous his lip is trembling.
“The absolute nerve you have showing up here today,” Wednesday retorts, arms crossed so she doesn't do anything to him for Enid's sake.
“Sorry, look, I just wanted to see if you could give her this?” He holds out a box that Wednesday snatches away from him.
“Chocolate? She’s a werewolf you imbecile. Chocolate is deadly to her.”
“Oh. Uh, my bad," Ajax winces, "Could you just tell her I stopped by?”
“Yes," Wednesday replies, "I can tell her you tried to poison her.”
Wednesday goes to shut the door before he can keep talking.
“Wait, Wednesday-“
The door slams shut, and Wednesday tosses the chocolates into the trash.
---
Enid comes home a bit after (with Thing not far behind), and thankfully, she's got a smile on her face again.
"I presume you enjoyed yourself?" Wednesday says, raising an eyebrow. Enid nods back at her happily.
"It was so much fun," she chimes, "But it would have been better if you came though."
"What makes you say that?" Wednesday questions, surprised at how Enid's tone seems to drop as soon as she says it.
"Because you're my friend, duh. I like hanging out with you."
Enid grins, and suddenly Wednesday's got that ache in her chest again when she sees how genuine the smile on Enid’s face is. Enid doesn't seem to notice though, instead sniffing the air and skipping over to dig in the trash can.
"Where did this come from?" she asks, holding up the chocolates.
“That was from Ajax," Wednesday explains with a frown, "He said it was for you.”
Enid's eyes light up.
“Aww, how sweet of him!” she giggles, her cheeks turning red as she reads the box.
Wednesday's confused. Didn't Enid just spend the last week sulking over him? And now she's blushing at a box of chocolates that she can't even eat?
“I had to remind him that chocolate can kill werewolves,” Wednesday clears her throat, Enid pacing over to her.
Enid stifles a laugh. “Wednesday, that’s a myth.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, silly," Enid snickers, "I thought you were a werewolf expert?"
She looks at the box again, still giggling. "Although I do prefer dark chocolate."
Wednesday squints back at Enid, brow furrowed. She's never been so embarrassed, with Enid smirking back at her like she's an idiot.
“But hey, it is nice of you to look out for me,” Enid’s hand brushes across Wednesday’s arm, “I appreciate it.”
Enid laughs again, and she opens the box up and starts stuffing her face with chocolate.
Wednesday just hides her embarrassment and goes back to finishing up the last chapter of her novel until she hears Enid gagging.
“Oh no- Wednesday-“
She turns to see Enid fall to the floor, dropping her box of chocolates everywhere as she clutches at her stomach.
“Enid? Enid what’s wrong?”
Wednesday's at her side in an instant, eyes wide as she grabs Enid's shoulders.
Enid shudders for a second, and then her eyes shut, and she's not moving.
Wednesday doesn't know what to do. She's frozen in place, face hotter than ever when Enid's eyes shoot open.
“Ha! I totally got you!" she points up at Wednesday with the biggest shit-eating grin, "I’ve never seen you look so terrified!”
Wednesday quickly blinks away tears and stands up, arms crossed tight.
“You did a terrible job of faking your death by allergic reaction. It was hardly believable.”
Enid props herself up on her elbows, proud that she's gotten the Wednesday Addams to prove she’s capable of emotions.
“That’s not what your face said,” she says smugly, "You thought I was dead!"
“I have better things to do than be the joke of your stupid pranks,” Wednesday retorts, storming back to her desk.
"Whatever. You totally fell for it."
Enid gets up and dusts herself off, skipping to the bathroom, grin as bright as ever.
---
There's a lot on Wednesday's mind the following week.
Not just the fact that Enid didn't seem mad about getting chocolates from the boy who broke her heart, but the fact that Wednesday felt the world stop when Enid had jokingly died.
It's a rude awakening. That the ache in her chest means she likes Enid, and not just as a friend, but something more. She knows this has been brewing inside her for a while, ever since that hug in the forest in the dead of night, but she had never wanted to admit it to herself until now.
It doesn't help that Enid's sappy romantic music is back and louder than ever. Wednesday hates that she finds herself listening to the lyrics and actually relating to them.
There's a song about falling for your best friend. Another about a girl who is like sunshine. Or the one about someone willing to die for the person they love. She seems to have one for each emotion Wednesday is feeling, which is way too many.
Of course, she wonders why Enid's been listening to this music lately, because even before it was never this bad. Usually there are songs about powerful, independent women or breaking up with people, not wanting to be so in love you’re blinded by it.
Wednesday wonders if her and Ajax are talking again, because it's the only thing that makes sense.
The thought makes Wednesday's blood boil. Not just because she's jealous, but because Enid deserves better than someone who breaks up with people on an app where the messages don't even stick around to remind you of the stupid things you've said.
So after the fifth Taylor Swift song of the night, Wednesday decides that she's had enough.
"Can you turn that despicable music off?" Wednesday says so sharply that Enid feels like she's been cut by the tone.
"But I thought you said Taylor was the most bearable out of all of my music," she whines, not bothering to shut the music off.
"While she is, I've noticed all of your songs recently have lyrics that are driving me absolutely insane."
"Since when do you pay attention to my song lyrics?" Enid says, and that gets her to stop the music and stand up, intrigued.
"Since they've become overly sappy and invaded my brain like an unwelcome parasite."
Wednesday stands up too, ending up just a few feet from Enid, holding her breath.
"There's nothing wrong with listening to sappy songs!" Enid retorts.
"There is no reason to be listening to such romantic music when you're not even in a relationship. Unless there's something you want to tell me."
Enid's scowl drops and she tilts her head.
"What?"
"Are you back with Ajax?" Wednesday asks, although she seems more worried than upset, and it makes Enid stutter.
"What? No. I broke up with him!"
Enid throws her hands up in defense, looking offended, and that's when Wednesday's glare breaks.
"I thought he broke up with you," she raises an eyebrow, "Over that stupid app."
Enid's caught in the lie like a fly in a spider's web, and she's shaking her head, trying to explain herself.
"Right. Yeah. I, um, actually broke up with him. I didn't want to waste his time."
"Waste his time?"
"Mhmm," she looks away and at the floor, too afraid to look at Wednesday, "Because I like someone else."
It's like a hammer shattering glass when Wednesday hears those words leave Enid's mouth. She's too caught off guard to even think about who it could be though, because she just feels betrayed by the fact that Enid didn't tell her.
"Why did you feel the need to lie to me about this?"
Enid’s words are stuck in her throat. She takes a deep breath, eyes flicking to the ground before she looks back up at Wednesday.
"Because. You figure things out too easily,” she says slowly, taking another breath, "You'd figure out I liked you."
Wednesday feels like she's jumped out of a plane without a parachute. It doesn't sound real, hearing Enid likes her back, and it feels like she's just playing another prank on her.
The ache in her chest grows so strong that she can't think straight, and the only thing she can think of that will make it stop is to leave.
"I have to go."
Enid steps in front of her, face red and eyes watering.
"Wednesday-"
She brushes past Enid, slamming the door and heading straight out into the dark.
---
Wednesday walks. She keeps walking in the rain under the half lit moon until she hits Jericho, which is empty save for the twenty-four hour convenience store on the corner being the only thing lit up.
As she walks past, she sees the sale signs in the window for Valentine's Day candy.
Love is stupid, she thinks to herself. Love is making her vulnerable, love has her feeling weak, love has her wandering around in the cold in the middle of the night looking like a complete fool when she told herself she'd never let herself ever feel this way for anyone.
She had done such a good job of avoiding the curse that comes with love and any other emotion all together, but then Enid had to come along and tear down her walls like a wrecking ball.
She likes Enid. And Enid likes her back. She shouldn't be upset right now. She's just afraid.
But Wednesday knows she isn't supposed to be afraid of anything. And she isn’t going to let some silly human emotion ruin her life. She’s going to embrace it, because Enid deserves someone that’s going to love her with everything they’ve got.
She glances in the store window. And while Wednesday isn’t one to believe in coincidences, sitting up front is a box of chocolates.
---
When she slowly opens the door of their dorm room, the first thing Wednesday sees is a figure hunched down in front of their window.
Wednesday's mind flashes back to that night when that was her, trying to hold back tears as Enid's words echoed over and over in her head telling her to be alone.
Her steps are light, but she knows Enid knows it's her. But Enid doesn't move, still sniffling with her legs pulled up to her chest and her face hidden in her arms.
Wednesday just slides down next to her, their shoulders brushing quick enough to light Wednesday up like the Fourth of July. She searches for words, and it feels like ages before she figures out what to say to Enid.
"Do you remember that night when we went to the Gates house?" she asks quietly, and Enid stays silent for a moment.
"When you almost got us killed?" Enid finally mutters, head still buried in her arms. Wednesday sighs, still feeling guilty about it, and how angry Enid had been that night.
"After our argument, I sat in front of this window hoping you'd come back. That's when I realized being alone wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it would be."
"It was you who made me realize that. That when you meet the right person, being alone can be quite painful. I realize why it hurts so much.”
Enid lifts her head up, cheeks stained with tears, the icy blue eyes of her sparkling in the faint moonlight as she stares at Wednesday.
"What I'm trying to say is that I like you too, Enid."
Enid’s brow furrows, and for a moment Wednesday is afraid of how Enid’s going to react.
"Really?" Enid sniffles, "You mean it?"
"You should know I always say things with intent," Wednesday replies, a tiny smile curling at the edge of her lips.
She tosses the box of chocolates into Enid’s lap.
"And I wouldn't have gotten you these if I didn't mean it."
Enid finally smiles, taking the box gingerly and examining it.
"Dark chocolate. My favorite. Thanks, Wednesday."
She clutches it close to her chest and lays her head on Wednesday's shoulder. She fits like a missing puzzle piece, the ache in Wednesday’s chest no longer feeling uncomfortable, but welcoming.
They sit there for a while, Enid tucked into Wednesday's side even though she's much taller than her and Wednesday’s soaking wet, Wednesday feeling the rise and fall of Enid's chest against her own while the rain patters against the window above them.
"So does this mean you'll see Taylor Swift with me?" Enid whispers after a moment, wrapping one of her arms around Wednesday's.
"Don't push it, Enid."
Enid snickers, burying herself closer into Wednesday's side.
"Right. One song at a time."