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Enid didn't know why Wednesday started disappearing from her room in the evenings. Usually the girl used to stay reading or writing at her desk. Enid used to stare at her a bit, she always had these old, dust-stained books written by classic authors. Of course, Wednesday would never read a love novel, she would never read something happy.
Enid missed Willa, but of course she wasn't going to tell her, she didn't want to scare her away with her feelings. They had begun to get on well with each other, to have a pleasant coexistence, and in the evenings they did their own things while the other was on their other side of the room. And when it got late, Wednesday would close her book and say:
“Good night, Enid.”
“Night, Willa!”
And Wednesday would give her a death stare, but she would grimace without Enid seeing her. In Wednesday's world, a grimace was the equivalent of a smile.
At least that's how it used to be.
Wednesday has been distant the last few days. Today, as Enid was lonely, she went to visit Yoko in her room. She was one of those who had a single room because she was one of the first students to enter Nevermore.
“Are you all right, Enid?” asked Yoko.
“Fuck. Does it really show that much?”
“You look like your pet died.”
“Oh no! My tamagotchi Mimi is still alive!”
“Tell me, what's wrong?”
“Well... I told you that Wednesday and I were starting to get along better. The truth is that at first I didn't know what to think of her, she was very strange, I thought she liked to be rude for the sake of it, but once you get to know her she's quite nice, she's funny. I thought we could be friends, but she's been very distant with me for a few days, I don't know if she doesn't like me or if she hates me. I don't know, it's weird. Sorry, I’m rambling.”
“Wow, it sounds like you really care about her.”
"Yeah, well, whatever. Like she cares about me."
“You could go and join her, I've seen her going to the library the last few days.”
“Really?”
And there she went. He took his notes for some random subject and her pastel highlighters. It took her a while to find her, but he found Wednesday in the darkest, most hidden corner of the library. And coincidentally, one of the few empty spots was right in front of her.
“Hi” Enid whispered to her roommate, and Wednesday's eyes widened in surprise for a few seconds, and she raised her eyebrows in greeting to the wolf woman.
Wednesday was reading Romeo and Juliet. Really? Well, they both die in the end, but she didn't expect the girl to be reading love stories.
So Enid started reading her notes from... 19th century Spanish poetry! Of course, how interesting. Enid really liked reading poetry, but not studying it.
So well, yes, Spanish poetry. The poet Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, of course. Wednesday moved her eyes slowly reading each paragraph. No matter that Romeo was dedicating the most romantic verses to Juliet, Wednesday was going to remain impassive.
“What is poetry? you ask, while fixing your blue pupil on mine.
What is poetry! And you are asking me?
Poetry...is you.”
Enid liked this poem. It was beautiful. She also thought Wednesday was pretty. She rethought why she was there right now. She had impulsively gone to study to keep her roommate company, but had it been a good idea? Of course, she missed her, but maybe Wednesday didn't want to see her. She didn't want to be annoying or intrusive. Enid was a bit screwed, she had a crush on the most distant and coldest person in all of Nervermore and perhaps the entire universe.
Suddenly, he saw Wednesday writing something on a piece of paper. She passed it to Enid.
"Stop staring at me, you're going to fail your exam and you're distracting me."
Enid blushed. She hadn't realised that he had been staring at her for a few minutes. How embarrassing! Nevertheless, she picked up a pink pen from her pencil case and replied.
"I'm sorry, I just can't concentrate. I hate studying literature.”
She handed the paper back to her.
"I can explain you the subject if you like. The poetry of Spanish romanticism is very interesting and passionate.”
Wednesday handed the paper back to her again. Enid was surprised. Wednesday was offering her help without even asking for it. Not only that, was she offering to tutor her? Enid was already blushing and it hadn't even happened yet.
"Really, Willa? Omg you're my lifesaver. I thought you'd hate love poems and only read... I don't know, books like Frankenstein.”
Enid smiled, grimaced at Wednesday and handed the page back to her. Her partner picked up her book and whispered to Enid to go to the bedroom.
And there were the two girls walking side by side. Enid didn't quite understand what was going on. Wednesday avoided her and now she was being nice to her and they were going to spend the night together studying.
She wasn't going to complain.
Wednesday went to the bathroom for a second. Meanwhile, Enid gossiped about the book she was reading. Romeo and Juliet. She opened it to the bookmark. Wednesday had underlined one sentence in particular:
"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite".
It was a charming phrase. And it surprised him, she couldn't imagine Wednesday reading it and thinking: oh, how romantic, I'm going to underline it, I wish someone would dedicate this sentence to me. Enid imagined herself reciting it to the brunette.
Bad idea, she had to stop imagining things.
Wednesday returned from the toilet.
“My desk or your desk?” Wednesday asked.
Enid didn't spend much time on the girl's side of the room, so she told her to go to her desk. It was a dark wooden desk, fairly tidy. Enid's was a bit chaotic and cluttered with post-its, pens, pencils, markers and unknown objects. Willa's desk had only a jar of ink, a pen, a pile of paper and whatever book she was reading.
“Willa, can I ask you something?”
“Proceed.”
“I’ve missed you these days, you don't even read in the room anymore. Have I done something to upset you? If I did, I didn't mean to...” Wednesday interrupted her.
“No.”
“No?”
“You haven't done anything wrong.”
“So?”
“It's like in the library, I couldn't read with you in front of me.”
“Why? I can try to make less noise if I disturb you.”
“No! It's not that. It's your presence. It's... it's distracting.”
Enid noticed Wednesday tense up. It was the first time she noticed the ravenette getting nervous. She did not expect that kind of response. She didn't know what to answer either.
“However, don't worry. I think I'll go back to reading in the room.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I guess I notice your absence too.”
That was Wednesday's way of telling her that he missed her. Enid smiled. Deep down she's very sweet. Then Enid had the idea of messing with her a bit.
“So... I distract you, huh?
“Enid, shut up or I'll bury you in the library for the rest of eternity.”
Enid shut up.
Wednesday realised that the blonde was holding her book in her hands.
“Hey, what are you doing with that? Give it back.”
Enid read it: "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.
“Indeed, it is. It is beautiful. I dedicate it to you.”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean that's a nice phrase I thought you might like to hear.”
“Oh, sure. Thanks, Willa! If you have any more nice phrases I'd love to have you read them to me.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
Enid gave her roommate a quick hug. She didn't want to crowd her with a long hug because she knows she despises physical contact, but she didn't want to go without a hug either, because what she had just told her was so sweet. But she was surprised when she saw that Wednesday hugged her back. So these days, Wednesday just didn't want to read in the room because she was distracted, not because she hated her?
“Indeed, Enid. I would like to apologize. For running off to the library and leaving you here alone.”
“For? You don't have to apologize, You are free to go...”
“I apologize for avoiding you. I was immature and selfish. It won't happen again.”
“Why do you say that? It's not selfish to want to read." Wednesday interrupted her.
“Because of this.”
Wednesday leaned over and stood on tiptoe to reach the blonde's lips. Enid put the book down on the table and rested her hands on her companion's waist. Now she understood everything.
“Oh, wow, books," Enid said, blushing.