For Enid's seventeenth birthday in the summer, the only thing she wanted to do was to go to laser tag with her best friend in the entire world, Wednesday Addams, who also happened to be Enid's gay awakening and consequential crush.
See, laser tag was a calculated decision.
Laser guns were basically real guns, which would be perfect for Wednesday. They played the game in the dark, which would be good for Wednesday's sensitivity to colour. They ran around after each other and 'killed' other players to win.
It was perfect for Wednesday, and perhaps Enid had an ulterior motive by playing to Wednesday's interests, but it really was all she wanted.
Well, maybe not the laser tag. She mostly just wanted to spend time with Wednesday and this was a guaranteed way to get her on board.
They'd made arrangements before the end of their term at Nevermore to see each other during the summer holidays. They'd gotten closer after the Hyde business near Christmas and, try as she would to deny it, Wednesday Addams actually liked having Enid Sinclair as her best friend.
Enid had been right, all those months ago. They shouldn't work, but they did, and she had never been more surprised by the curveball that was Enid Sinclair, the epitome of human sunshine, worming her way into Wednesday's cold, unbeating heart.
So, when Enid suggested laser tag during Wednesday's visit to San Diego and pulled on the puppy dog eyes when she mentioned it was all she wanted for her birthday, Wednesday agreed within only thirty seconds; a personal best for Enid.
Wednesday almost seems excited, mentioning in her letters prior to her trip that she's been studying the history of laser tag and, did Enid know that laser tag was initially introduced as a game of Star Trek Phaser in 1979?
Enid did not know that.
She wrote back asking for more facts. Wednesday's handwriting was so pretty and comforting that Enid would read the entire fifty million pages of the Game of Thrones books if Wednesday had handwritten them, even with all the blood and guts and death.
Point is, laser tag is the best idea Enid's ever had and she knows she's going to have a good birthday. It'll be the highlight of her summer, considering her mom has decided Enid finally wolfing out wasn't good enough because it was for an Addams, of all outcasts.
Enid has locked herself in her room more this summer than she ever has because, apparently, insulting Wednesday is a soft spot for Enid and she has shouted at her brothers for teasing her approximately fifty seven separate times.
Each.
She has six brothers.
She's also bad at math.
Laser tag, though? Best idea yet.
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Laser tag is the worst idea.
They can't be on the same team because there's only two of them playing, so, they had to join another group to go in, and they'd already picked teams.
Enid had wanted it to be the two of them against the others, so she could save Wednesday's life like she had the time she wolfed out. Well, that's a lie. Wednesday could save her own life. Enid just wanted to show off to her crush.
And maybe there was the hidden agenda that Wednesday would inevitably take it as her personal duty to make sure nobody hit Enid. Ever since the whole Hyde/Thornhill thing, Wednesday has grown to be quite protective of her.
Enid loves that.
She hates them being split up.
But then a second idea sparks, one that may save the day.
"Let's make this a competition," Enid says.
She has Wednesday's attention as they shrug on their guns, brown eyes burning into the side of her face.
"I'm listening," Wednesday says.
"Whoever kills each other the most wins," Enid says.
"Wins what?" Wednesday says. "I thought you only got to die once, like in real life."
"You died and came back. It's just like that," Enid says.
"I did not die-"
"Competition!" Enid says, trying, and failing, to spin her gun in her hands.
It falls towards the floor, the wire holding it onto the suit stopping it from hitting the ground. They both look at the gun and Enid scoops it up, cheeks pink.
"That was bad," Wednesday says.
"We can't all be as cool as you, Addams," Enid sticks her tongue out.
"Back to this competition," Wednesday says. "What's the prize?"
"How about the winner gets to decide when they win?" Enid says. "Within reason. You can't murder me. Or anyone else. No grievous bodily harm. Or fires. Or kidnapping. Or drowning. Or poisoning. And I am not going to wolf out and scare Pugsley for you."
"I'm out," Wednesday says.
"Scared I'm gonna beat you, Wends?" Enid grins, walking into the laser tag arena as the door opens for their game. "I bet that'll be a blow to your ego."
Wednesday studies her for a few seconds, watching how Enid grins at her, clearly baiting her into playing the stupid competition.
It's working. God, that smile and those puppy dog eyes could probably wear Wednesday down on her murder plot against Ajax if he looks at Enid with that dopey smile again.
Enid thinks her hatred for Ajax is irrational. They ended things on a good note and are just friends, and Enid is displaying obvious signs of having a crush on somebody else. Still, he stood Enid up and Wednesday holds grudges against people, especially when people make her human sunshine roommate cry herself to sleep.
Wednesday is getting distracted, but she cannot deny that she's already thinking up what prize she can claim when she wins laser tag against Enid.
"What do you want if you win? I need all information regarding this before I agree to this contract," Wednesday says.
Enid hums, her grin victorious as she looks Wednesday up and down. She shrugs, Wednesday's eyes narrowing automatically.
As far as Wednesday is aware, from her knowledge of teenage dating culture, Enid just checked her out. And that smile is too happy over winning Wednesday's curiosity, looking awfully similar to the smile Gomez gives to Morticia when she caves into his wishes.
Wednesday isn't stupid, alright? She may struggle with emotions and teenage girls in general, especially teenage girls like Enid, but she can connect the dots well enough to know she is likely the object of Enid's desire. She's Enid's crush.
She finds the idea horrible, by her own definition. It's up there with decapitated heads, poisoning annoying teenage boys, and solving mysteries.
She'd once told Morticia she'd never fall in love or get married and have children. She's still firm on the no children thing, but she loathes to admit that the falling in love part may already be underway, and the marriage will, inevitably, follow soon after.
Wednesday is an Addams, after all. She couldn't run from that curse forever. Though, if she has to suffer from loving another person, she's glad it's Enid. Enid is literally the opposite of an Addams, by more than her bright clothing or painted nails, but with her personality, as well. Yet, she still manages to retain that ruthlessness, that loyalty to follow Wednesday anywhere, that protective instinct to wolf out when she needed to save her best friend.
Wednesday thinks nobody else could rebel against the Addams' family curse's idea of love the way Enid can. Her relatives are going to claw their eyes out when they meet her and see her pink clothes.
Wednesday thinks it'll be wonderful.
"Tell me what you want. I won't be mad," Wednesday said.
Enid stares at her for a few seconds.
"A hug," Enid says.
She's not lying, and it is her birthday.
"Agreed. I'll think about my prize. Let the games begin," Wednesday says, extending a hand into the air between them.
Enid grins, shaking her hand and sending lightning through Wednesday's palm to her heart, almost succeeding in putting a smile on Wednesday's face, too.
"Let the games begin," Enid repeats.
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They're two for two near the end of the game. Enid's surprisingly better at this than she expected to be, considering she'd never actually been to laser tag before, and her eyesight in the dark has gotten so much better since she wolfed out.
Her hearing and sense of smell have, too. She'd sniffed Wednesday out and shot her from behind just eight minutes ago.
Her first shot was another cheap shot, when Wednesday was dodging one of the other players in the arena being chased near her.
Wednesday's two shots were clean and clinical, both at the start of the game before Enid got any shots.
They have about five minutes left and Enid is panicking. She's crept through the entire arena, dodging the other players and actually growling at one as they aimed at her, and she can't see Wednesday.
Anywhere.
She's like a bat, or something. She's literally been absorbed into the darkness.
Enid's heart is going one hundred miles a minute, pounding in her ears. She knows Wednesday probably knows where she is, yet she can't smell her or see her or hear her and it's slightly unnerving to be roaming around in the dark against one of the scariest people she's ever met.
Though, it is just laser tag. Enid figures she's being dramatic. She really wants that hug, though, so she's determined to win the game.
And it's not that Wednesday hasn't been hugging her since The Hug (It has capitals because Enid is considering it a pivotal part in her gay awakening and, honestly, it's a noun at this point. It's how she and all of her friends refer to it.). Wednesday has been more affectionate since, but the last hug was three months ago and only because Enid's favourite K-Pop song was taken off Spotify and she was crying and interrupting Wednesday's writing hour.
Enid misses being close to her best friend. Everything feels okay when Wednesday hugs her. Enid thinks Wednesday's arms are the first place she's ever really felt at home.
She didn't know home could be a person until she met Wednesday.
She doesn't know Wednesday thinks the same thing.
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Wednesday has backed an unknowing Enid into a dead end in the tunnels. There's two and a half minutes left on the clock and Enid is completely unaware of Wednesday sneaking up behind her, blending in against the black walls with her clothes.
She's impressed with Enid's two shots, even if Enid had played dirty. Wednesday had to rise to her level, and she had the perfect idea for how to win this game and break their 2-2 tie.
Wednesday lets her gun hang at her side, creeping through the darkness until she's standing behind Enid in the doorway of this dead end, Enid walking into the wall and faceplanting the black painted bricks with a small groan.
"Well, that was dumb," Wednesday says.
Enid spins around, her hand moving to her gun. She frowns when she squints at Wednesday through the dark.
"You're not holding your gun," Enid says.
"The trigger is malfunctioning," Wednesday lies easily, taking a step towards Enid. "We're almost done with the game, so, I see no need to get it repaired. We can play another game."
"That's sad," Enid frowns, and Wednesday knows Enid believes her.
This will be wonderful. Perhaps more wonderful than the idea of Wednesday's relatives clawing their eyes out.
Wednesday walks forward slowly, the announcer calling out the one minute mark. Enid leans against the wall behind her, a small smile on her face as Wednesday gets closer.
"Guess it's a tie, then," Enid says.
"A tie means you don't get a hug. You didn't win," Wednesday says.
Enid's smile drops.
Wednesday almost takes it back, but she's got this scripted out in her head and Enid is, unknowingly, following it exquisitely. She may have taken inspiration from Enid's many, many ramblings about her OTPs, whatever that means, but she's confident Enid will enjoy the outcome.
Wednesday really knows Enid inside and out, and she didn't have to cut her open to do it. Who knew that was possible?
"We'll play another game. Oh, I bet they have that duck shooting game in the arcade-" Enid starts.
Wednesday steps close enough that she can finally see Enid's blue eyes through the darkness. They're wide and confused, yet warm and inviting. Her face is also confused, yet there's a small smile tugging on her face at their proximity.
Enid smiles a lot. It gives Wednesday lightning in her chest. It's surprisingly enjoyable.
"Wends," Enid laughs weakly, bringing a hand up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "We've only got about thirty seconds-"
Wednesday raises a hand, pushes Enid gently against the wall. Enid's eyes flutter half shut, pupils blown when Wednesday catches a glimpse, tongue wetting her bottom lip as Wednesday's hand moves up to cup Enid's cheek.
"Tell me what you want," Wednesday says.
"Kiss me," Enid doesn't hesitate.
They have about fifteen seconds and she'll be damned if she misses this chance. Wednesday is inches from her face. They're making prolonged eye contact! Wednesday's thumb is brushing her bottom lip and she's leaning in and Enid's closing her eyes.
Wednesday kisses her, and Enid feels the lightning for the first time. She's felt butterflies, but the lightning is bright and burning and attention stealing. It's going from the tips of her hair to her toes and crushing her heart as her hands come to hold Wednesday's waist gently.
It's like coming home.
Wednesday pulls back first, her eyes searching Enid's as a soft smile spreads across her lips. She steps back.
Wednesday raises her laser gun and shoots Enid in the chest, the alarm for the end of the game going off at the same time Enid's chest piece registers the shot.
3-2.
Wednesday wins.
Enid can't even find it in her to process Wednesday kissing her and then shooting her. She can't even process Wednesday kissing her.
"You won," Enid says, throat dry and voice raspy. "You played dirty."
"You did it first," Wednesday shrugs. "I think it was rather impressive."
Enid stares at her for a few seconds.
"Did... Did you do that just to win?" Enid asks quietly.
Wednesday stares back.
"I know what I want for my prize," Wednesday says.
Enid frowns.
"What?" she mumbles.
Wednesday kisses Enid again.
Enid's lips are soft under her own, tasting like blackberries from her lipgloss. Wednesday can take her time with this kiss, no timer counting down for her to win the competition.
She cups Enid's cheeks with both hands, their bodies pressed against each other, Enid's back against the wall and her arms wrapped around Wednesday's waist to keep her close. Enid lets Wednesday deepen the kiss, a soft sigh filling the air between them that makes Wednesday's knees weak.
Wednesday can't stop kissing her. Enid's intoxicating, almost like poison. Wednesday is careful not to think of Enid like her own poison, because she's heard Enid rant about that cringey heroin line in Twilight enough to know better.
Enid pulls back from the kiss, eyes fluttering open and searching Wednesday's, faces close enough that her lips brush against Wednesday's as she opens her mouth to talk.
"You kissed me. Twice," Enid whispers.
"I did," Wednesday nods. "How observant of you."
"Why?" Enid asks.
Wednesday stares at her for a few seconds.
"You picked laser tag so I would feel more inclined to spend your birthday with you. You played to my interests, even though today is about you. All you wanted when you won was a hug," Wednesday says.
Enid nods slowly.
"Didn't think you'd figure that out until you got home."
"I figured it out the moment you suggested it. You hate guns."
"Fair. Still doesn't explain why you kissed me," Enid points out.
"I told my mother when I arrived at Nevermore that I would never fall in love. I'd never succumb to the Addams curse," Wednesday says.
Enid knows this. They've discussed it during Easter break when Enid visited Wednesday for a few days and saw how lovey-dovey Morticia and Gomez were. Wednesday explained the Addams curse, and Enid had been all too intrigued to learn.
"Do you remember the night of our argument?" Wednesday asks.
"When I temporarily moved in with Yoko, yeah," Enid mumbles.
"That was the first time in my life that I did not want to be alone. I always want to be alone, but I would much rather be alone with you. And when you wolfed out to save my life, you bled for me, and you hugged me," Wednesday says.
"You hugged me back," Enid says.
"That was when I discovered that home could be a person," Wednesday says, voice softer than Enid has ever heard it. "I fell victim to the curse against my family. I fell in love with you and I continue to fall into love with you every single day. The lightning I feel when you smile or touch me makes me enjoy the madness I've dreaded my entire life."
Enid doesn't speak. She can't get her voice to work over the tears filling in her eyes.
"You are my curse," Wednesday says softly. "You are my madness. You are my love. I kissed you because I have been wanting to kiss you for too long, and today was the best chance to give you one of those OTP first kiss things you ramble about."
A tear slides down Enid's cheek.
Wednesday really does know her inside and out. Enid isn't going to shut up about how adorable their first kiss was. She's going to scream it at her mother when she asks how her birthday was, tell her she's head over heels for an Addams and she's finally found somebody who sees her for everything she is, cringey teenage girl moments and all, and doesn't think she's not worth the effort.
She's going to tell her mother she's found her mate, found her home, and she doesn't care if she has to become a lone wolf because lone wolves and ravens go great together and Enid wants to be alone with Wednesday.
Wednesday wipes Enid's tear away, and Enid forces herself to swallow down the tears so she can talk.
"The Hug," Enid says.
"You capitalised the H in Hug?" Wednesday asks.
"The Hug is when I realised I like girls. A girl. Love a girl. You. I love you," Enid manages to get out.
It's nowhere near as romantic as Wednesday's declaration. It's messy and stuttered and so, so Enid that it makes Wednesday laugh.
Enid's knees go weak. She's glad she's got the wall to support her.
"You kissed me because you're in love with me," Enid breaths. "Best birthday ever."
"Uh, hey, ladies," the laser tag employee's voice comes over the loudspeaker. "Happy birthday, blondie, and, uh, congrats on the, uh, love thing. Really cool. I love the dark goth and human sunshine trope. Also, extremely thoughtful first kiss moment. Go dark goth! But, uh, anyway, the next game is about to start, so, if you guys could, uh, get out, that would be, uh, totally cool."
Enid can't help but laugh as Wednesday takes her hand and leads her out of the arena. They take off their guns and chest pieces, leaving the changing room and stepping out into the arcade.
Wednesday looks at Enid, holding her hand out with the corners of her lips upturned.
"Come along. I have a birthday present for you waiting at your house," Wednesday says.
"How did it get there?" Enid asks, taking Wednesday's hand and intertwining their fingers, the skip in her step extremely noticeable.
"I had Pugsley break in and put it there with Thing's assistance. They were quite excited to do that for you," Wednesday says.
"You had your brother and Thing break into my house?" Enid says.
"Yes," Wednesday nods.
"That's... That's really sweet," Enid smiles. "What is it?"
"Wait and see, cara mia," Wednesday says, leading her towards the exit.
"Wends?" Enid says.
"Yes?" Wednesday says.
"I love you," Enid whispers, cheeks flushing as she says it for the first time in the light.
Wednesday's face turns soft, her eyes moving to meet Enid's as a real smile spreads across her lips, her thumb brushing across the back of Enid's hand.
"I love you, Enid," Wednesday says.
It's official.
Laser tag is the best idea Enid Sinclair has ever had in her entire life.
She's a genius.