The Kiss
Okay, this is it. I’m going to tell her. the blonde thought, while Wednesday went to retrieve the extra set of clothes she’d brought for the werewolf.
Wednesday Friday Addams. the ravenette thought as she ducked behind a nearby tree to find the bag of clothing. A good thing she’d stored it in the forest, since the hut was burnt down. Is that the best you can do? An Addams confesses her love bravely, freely and gracefully. she shook her head. The time has come. I’m going to confess.
Enid shifted her weight from one foot to another as she fidgeted with the hem of the black hoodie. A second later, Wednesday returned with the bag and her usual stoic stare. But was that…. nervousness behind her eyes?
“Thank you.” the blonde kindly accepted the bag.
“Always a pleasure.” deadpanned Wednesday.
Enid grinned. “A pleasure, huh? Do you enjoy giving clothes to your naked roommates?” As soon as she finished the phrase, she mentally slapped herself.
“I wouldn’t describe it as a pleasure.” monotoned Wednesday with the slightest smirk.
Enid blushed. Somehow her awkward flirting worked? Ha, turn that mental slap into a high-five! she thought.
“It has become more of a habit, really.” continued Wednesday as she turned around giving Enid privacy.
“A habit?” asked the blonde as she unzipped the black hoodie.
“Yes. Fate seems to like having one of us undressed each time we encounter one another.” said Wednesday.
Enid took the set of clothing out of the bag. “Well, a habit is something you do quite often, because you like it.”
“I said habit, not hobby, Enid.” corrected the shorter girl, although the blonde could still hear the smirk in her voice.
“It could be a hobby.” suggested Enid as she slowly started to dress.
“You’re flirting with danger, Sinclair.” warned Wednesday.
“Maybe I like danger.” responded Enid and put on her pink shirt. “And I’m definitely flirting with something.”
“State your puns, Enid, or I’ll make you scream like in your most petrifying nightmares.” informed Wednesday.
“Or my wildest dreams.” suggested the blonde as she finished dressing.
Before Wednesday could answer, a strange sound disrupted their conversation. It had come from the burnt hut. Both girls turned their head towards it.
Slowly, the winds changed and gently lifted up pieces of wood from the forest encircling the shelter. With one sweep of the current and a few rays of the sinking sun, the hut rebuilt itself to its previous state. Soft moss covered its wooden walls making it seem like nothing had happened and it stood there untouched and welcoming for ages.
“Beautiful.” smiled Enid in awe.
“Yes… breathtaking.” agreed Wednesday looking at Enid.
The blonde met her gaze and blushed. The ravenette widened her eyes and swiftly looked away.
How graceful, Wednesday. scolded herself the shorter girl.
“Wednesday?” asked Enid.
“Yes?” Black eyes found blue.
“I…” Enid took a deep breath. “I have something to-” she started, but a sudden sting in her left eye interrupted her. “Ugh, fluff!”
“Enid, are you well?” asked Wednesday with furrowed eyebrows.
“Yeah, it’s just an eyelash or something.” the blonde waved her hand and rubbed her eye. At the worst possible moment! she thought.
“Here, let me see.” Wednesday approached her with concern.
Enid lowered her hand and blinked fast. Her eyes shot upwards as a reaction to the sting and her mouth was hanging slightly open. Her left eye was only half closed and turned an angry red.
“You remind me of my cousin Bruno.” monotoned the black haired girl. “He, too, had this magnificent look in his eyes. Not quite deranged, not quite peaceful. You never knew if he hid a teddy bear or an axe behind his back.”
“Wednesday.” interjected Enid as she again felt the sting in her eye.
“Yes. Pardon me, Enid. I got carried away.” admitted the ravenette. “Of course, we don’t talk about Bruno. His eyes speak for themselves.”
“Wednesday!” exclaimed Enid half-seriously, half-playfully.
“My apologies.” deadpanned Wednesday. “Your eye.” she lifted her hand to examine Enid’s eye.
“Don’t touch it. It hurts.” said Enid.
“Why would I ruin such a masterpiece?” asked the ravenette with her hand mid-air. “I only wish to restore it to its original state and beauty.”
Enid’s heart melted and a smile played on her lips.
Wednesday’s heart started beating faster. She cleared her throat. “Now, don’t move.” she instructed.
Enid felt cold, but gentle fingertips examine the area around her left eye. Wednesday’s gaze was steady.
“Here it is.” she commented flatly and carefully touched the base of Enid’s eye along the line of her lashes. “You’re lucky. It was already half out.” she held the stray eyelash between her fingers.
“Oh, thanks.” said the blonde as the sting stopped. She blinked a few times to make the uncomfortable feeling go away completely.
A second passed. Then another. But the two girls were still close.
It wasn’t an awkward silence, but an easy one. Although, it was enriched by fast heartbeats and exploring eyes.
Soft black orbs encountered blue ones, like so many times before. Ink and water. Darkness and light. Two opposites complementing one another.
Then, something changed in Wednesday’s gaze. They locked eyes. And Enid felt heat shoot up her cheeks. Before she could stop herself, she blurted: “I’m sorry for… that eyelash thing.” she chuckled. “It was kinda… embarrassing.”
As Enid talked, Wednesday’s focus dropped to her moving lips.
“It’s only natural.” said the ravenette.
The blonde’s heartbeat quickened and her gaze fell on Wednesday’s lips.
“Is it natural to have this intense feeling…” started Enid. “This sting.”
“This urge.” emphasized Wednesday.
“Yes.” Enid licked her lips. “I mean, in your eye.” she waved her hand oh-so-casually. “And you just want-”
“Relief?” concluded Wednesday. “It can happen to anyone.”
“But you can’t do it on your own.” noted Enid. “I mean, it’s not the same.”
“Of course. You need another pair of eyes…” suggested Wednesday.
“Another set of hands…” continued Enid.
“Someone to touch…” ended Wednesday. “To aid the feeling of relief.”
Enid’s heart hammered against her chest. “What were we talking about, again?” she asked slowly.
“Something natural.” responded Wednesday as their eyes met again.
What was breathing, again? Enid’s brain short circuited. Then, she opened her mouth to speak.
She said “Wednesday” the same moment Wednesday said “Enid”.
“You first.” laughed the blonde softly.
“No, after you, Enid.” insisted the shorter girl.
“It’s okay.” reassured her Enid.
Behind Wednesday’s eyes, a mental battle raged on. Enid could tell from the slight joining of her eyebrows and her thinking stare that lingered a bit more than usual.
“I…” started the ravenette. “Do you-” she changed her mind. “Do you want to… make a wish?” she closed her eyes disappointed in herself.
“Oh?” Enid’s heart sank a little. “Yeah, uhm…” she scratched her neck.
Wednesday glanced at her and held the eyelash between her index finger and thumb.
And Enid did nothing, but pour her whole heart into that wish.
She sighed. “I think we should get back to… Nevermore.”
“Already?” asked Wednesday a little too fast. “But the full moon hasn’t risen up yet.”
“Yeah, I know. But I feel a little more comfortable now, since-” started the blonde.
“A werewolf transforms mandatorily and randomly only once during the end of the day of the full moon.” recited Wednesday. “That’s the most critical phase. From then on, it is up to the werewolf to decide if and when he or she will transform again for the same night, until the sun rises. Of course.” she muttered. “How could I forget?”
“It’s fine Wednesday.” reassured her Enid with a little smile. “I know you loved werewolves as a child.” she commented honestly and took the path back to Nevermore.
What if I loved one now? thought Wednesday as she followed Enid.
--- --- --- --- ---
The way back was swift and spent in silence. The night started to fall. Enid was tired and didn’t plan to transform again for that night.
A thousand thoughts swirled inside her head and another million emotions danced in her heart. She was so absorbed in them that she didn’t even realize they arrived at the Nevermore gates.
She smiled. That was the place where she and Wednesday fist hugged two months ago. When their walls started to break down, even though they were never quite destroyed, not quite overcome. When she realized that Wednesday was her “what if”. Her favorite “what if”. Her favorite ongoing story. Her favorite almost.
But why did it have to be “almost” and not “finally”?
“I was haunted that day.” said Enid feeling a sudden wave of bravery. Or stupidity. Or another strong emotion she couldn’t exactly pinpoint.
Wednesday’s stoic expression became puzzled.
Enid took a hesitant step towards the shorter girl. “The night we hugged, you had this look in your eyes.” she explained taking another step. She took a deep breath. “You had a kiss in your eyes and I guess I had one, too.”
Wednesday’s eyes widened, but she didn’t step back.
“And that kiss… haunted me night and day.” confessed the blonde. Her heart was racing like never before. She was mere inches apart from the ravenette. “I don’t know if that’s too fast or too sudden, but what I’m trying to say is…” she caught the ravenette’s gaze. “I love you Wednesday Adda-”
Blissful. Electric. Possessing. That’s what Wednesday’s kiss was as she collided her lips with hers. Enid let out a surprised sound and deepened the kiss. Fire met blaze, but the inferno needed oxygen to grow. They parted for air.
“The lightning never waits for the thunder’s permission to appear.” expressed Wednesday as she caught her breath. “It flashes and stuns the world. It isn’t too fast. Nor too sudden.” she slowly cupped Enid’s scarred cheek with her hand. Her eyes were soft. Now that their walls were destroyed, she felt an urge to speak freely and unfiltered. “You possessed my love that night, too.” confessed Wednesday. “But alas, it seems that only the ghost of a kiss reached you, while all the rest was left unspoken. Allow me to take that phantom away by saying…” she carefully reached up standing on her tiptoes. “I love you too, Enid Sinclair.” and she kissed Enid.
The blonde’s back clashed with the bars of Nevermore’s gates. But she didn’t care. This was better than any fantasy.