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“Enid, repeat what you said. Did you just say you’ll be inviting everyone to our room?”
Wednesday had been a perfectly respectful roommate, keeping to her half of the room, doing her own things and minding her own business. Enid’s the one who’s been actively polluting the environment with her rainbow vomit of stuffed animals, and now she dare suggest what she thinks she’s suggesting.
“Actually, I’ve already invited everyone,” Enid flashed her a megawatt smile. Past tense; invited.
Wednesday’s lips were pressed together, her hands tightened into knuckles.
“Why the hell did you do that for?”
“Well,” Enid clasped her hands, “Yoko, Divina and I were just talking, and we were saying we should throw a little get-together. Obviously, I’m not a part of the Nightshade Society, so technically it won’t be right for us to hold it there. So, I suggested my room!”
“You mean, our room,” Wednesday glared at her.
“Yeah, but Wednesday, listen! Ajax is going to come!”
Wednesday rolled her eyes. “Is there nothing else on your mind?”
“Of course there is!” Enid looked mildly offended. “What should I wear?”
Come Friday night was the day of Enid’s unimpressive get-together. Over the whole of the past week, Enid had been cleaning the room, waxing her legs and basically going down the checklist of things to do based on societal pressure in order to win over male attention. If Enid didn’t have her earphones in half the time while she was doing these things, she’d have at least heard Wednesday muttering how pathetic this was about twenty times.
It wasn’t that Wednesday wanted to stay either. She would have loved to leave the campus, get as far away from this charade as possible, if she was not under strict instruction by Weems to stay put. Although she wouldn’t rule out the possibility of her hiding out somewhere else in campus.
“So, let’s go over everything again,” Enid said to her, “There’s 10 of us, including Bianca, Xavier and Kent. Oh, and Thing of course!” Thing gave her the girl a thumbs up, for not having left him out.
“10? Who’s the last person?” Wednesday asked.
Before Enid could answer, there came a rap on the door. She squealed and half-hopped across the room to open it. Wednesday had expected someone from the group, but she was surprised by who it was.
“Tyler,” she swallowed.
Tyler was at the door, in his usual flannel, jacket and jeans. His eyes perked up when he saw her and he smiled.
“Hey Wednesday.”
Enid couldn’t help her eyes darting between the two, a cheeky expression on her face. “Well, Tyler, I’m so happy you could make it! And thanks for bringing us iced coffees and cupcakes!” She was already happily taking over the bags of food he was carrying.
“Sure. Oh, the Quad inside is for Wednesday.”
“Duh! That is…very, very thoughtful of you, to remember everything Wednesday likes.”
It was as plain as day, what Enid was trying to do. From the side of her vision, she could also see Enid giggling as she high-fived Thing while unpacking the cupcakes, so she guessed Thing had a hand in this too, literally.
Before Tyler showed up, Wednesday had already planned to hole herself up in the library. She had even packed her bag and stationery, ready to go before the rest of the crowd showed up.
“Nice space,” Tyler had taken a step towards her, smiling stupidly. “It’s very you.” The last time they attended the Rave’N together, he had only stood at her doorstep and never really seen the inside of her dorm before.
“Thank you,” Wednesday found herself replying, if only to be polite.
Enid came up to them. “So are you still gonna go Wednesday?”
“Go where?” Tyler asked. He had no idea of her plans to bail, of course.
Wednesday pondered for a few seconds, before replying. “Nowhere. I’m staying. Make sure my things aren’t touched.”
Enid smiled triumphantly as she walked back to her side of the room. She knows Wednesday must be glaring a hole into her back right now, but she was too happy to mind.
After some time, the rest of the gang showed up one by one. Enid was the most excitable host in the history of hosts, offering everyone snacks and drinks. Even Thing made himself useful, helping to serve Tyler’s cupcakes. The only person that didn’t seem thrilled was Xavier, when he showed up with Ajax and found Wednesday and Tyler sitting at the edge of her bed, talking.
“Hey, what’s he doing here?” he asked Enid, whose eyes were completely fixated on Ajax.
“Oh, uh, Tyler? I invited him. Help yourself to the coffee and cupcakes, Tyler made them. Want some, Ajax?” Enid had already completely dismissed Xavier by then, holding up both items in front of Ajax with a bright smile.
The group ate, drank and talked for the first half of the evening, some of them playing the Uno that Enid had also prepared. Wednesday had decidedly sat this one out, choosing to watch and not participate. After several rounds, Bianca openly declared that she was bored and wanted a change of game.
“Come on, we should have something juicier. I’m going to fall asleep at this rate.”
“Wait!” Enid stuck her hand out in the air, “How about we play my favourite, the classic…7 minutes in heaven?”
“What’s that?” Wednesday questioned.
“You…never played it before?” Yoko asked.
Wednesday shook her head. “Is there a version for hell? I believe I’d be more comfortable there.”
Enid continued, “Well, basically, we sit in a circle and spin a bottle. Whoever are the two people it lands on, they’ll have to go into a closet where they’ll be stuck together for 7 minutes.”
“That sounds more like a recipe for claustrophobia than heaven.”
“They’ll have to make out.”
Wednesday paused. “I wish to sit this one out.”
“C’mon Wednesday,” Bianca half smiles, “Afraid of a little dark closet?”
Wednesday resists the urge to stab Bianca with her cello bow, which truthfully isn’t far. She takes a deep breath in and nods. “Fine.”
The group sits in a circle, and Enid manages to produce a glass bottle, which she previously used to store her colourful origami stars. Sliding into the circle nervously, she places it carefully in the middle.
“So, who’ll like to spin first?”
Seeing that no one was fighting to jump in, Bianca decides to go first. She made sure to get a good grip on the bottle, giving it a good spin. The bottle spins dramatically, then begins to slow, finally stopping with its neck pointed towards Ajax. Enid had to stop herself from screaming out loud.
“Okay, Ajax. Your turn to spin,” Bianca said.
Ajax half-smirked, looking totally chill about it. His spin didn’t have the power like Bianca’s, and it only turned two rounds before stopping in between Enid and Wednesday, who were seated side by side. It was only very slightly closer to pointing at Wednesday.
Wednesday quickly scoots a little to her left, so it seemed like the bottle was closer to Enid’s side after all, and almost immediately, Enid’s evidently crestfallen face lifts up. Bianca also catches the hint, saying, “Well, looks like it’s you and Enid.”
“Okay,” Ajax shrugs coolly. “Shall we?”
“Yes!” Enid jumps up excitedly, smoothing her tweed skirt. Before she goes off, she turns around to mouth thank you to Wednesday. Thing also appears with a stopwatch in his hand, ready to be the time keeper.
7 minutes pass and when Thing knocked on the closet door, signaling their time is over, the couple emerges. It was obvious what had gone on behind closed doors. Ajax’s lips had Enid’s pink lipstick smeared all over, and Enid had a glazed over, blissful look in her eyes. They earned a couple of excited whistles and claps from the group.
“Alright, glad you two got some action,” Yoko piped up, “Enid, it’s your turn to spin next.”
Enid nodded, still wearing that silly smile on her face. When she spins this time, it lands on Wednesday.
Enid leans towards Wednesday to whisper in her ear, “Don’t worry roomie, I’ve got this.”
Wednesday stared at her questionably. Yoko piped up, “Hey, what are you two whispering about?”
“Oh, nothing,” Enid waves a hand. “Just saying that Thing would like a chance to spin the bottle too.”
Thing scuttles forward happily, as though he’s expecting himself to participate. He takes one look at everyone, before giving it a strong spin. The bottle turns several rounds, finally landing on Tyler. The moment it did, Enid clasped her hands together loudly.
“Well, Wednesday and Tyler. You know the drill, 7 minutes in the closet.”
Tyler and Wednesday exchange looks with one another. Tyler gets up half-apprehensively, as Wednesday contemplates for a second before shooting up herself. They walk towards Wednesday’s closet, where before entering, Tyler asked if she’s okay with this.
“I don’t shy away from challenges, if that’s what you wanna know.”
“Not exactly…” Tyler rubbed the back of his neck with a hand, before getting into the small space after her. They stand facing each other, with Tyler staring into the eyes of the more petite girl, as the stream of light gets thinner and thinner with the closing of the door. Thing then raps on the door twice to signal the start of their time.
There is only a thin line of light that seeps through the tiny gap between the doors. The inside smells of black cherry and musk, and before all this, Wednesday herself had not ever cared about the inside of her closet. Suddenly, standing with Tyler in this space, she realises just how small it is, from how close they were standing.
A few seconds pass, before Tyler opens his mouth to speak. “You okay, Wednesday?”
“Fine,” she replies, “Are we now supposed to kiss?” All she hears is Tyler chuckle.
“We don’t have to. We could just…talk.”
“Isn’t that a violation of the rules?”
“There’s no point doing it if someone feels uncomfortable.”
Wednesday ponders in silence for a few seconds. “Have you played this game before?”
“Yeah.” Tyler answered sheepishly, “The last time was when I was in junior high. I didn’t like this girl that way, but we did kiss.”
Wednesday felt something from that piece of information. “I see. Was it…satisfactory?” Somehow, deep down, she hoped it was a no.
“What, the kiss? Honestly…it was her first kiss and she had braces, so it wasn’t really her fault, but I kinda got a little cut from it.”
“So it wasn’t good.”
“Yeah, but I couldn’t say that. I just told our friends it was okay.”
“I wouldn’t be able to lie about it if it was bad,” Wednesday says matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, but she’s a girl,” Tyler shrugs, “Wouldn’t be nice if others heard that.”
Wednesday blinked up at him, although he probably isn’t able to see it. It was admirable, what Tyler did for this other girl, as much as Wednesday had already made up her mind that she doesn’t like this person.
“Anyway,” Tyler decidedly continued, “You did a nice thing for Enid back there too.”
“I’m not interested in kissing Ajax anyway. Besides, Enid would bawl her eyes out or wolf out and try to kill me in my sleep, or both. I’ll welcome the latter attempt, but if it’s the former I’ll prefer to not engage.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re not kissing Ajax either.”
Wednesday stopped short at Tyler’s comment. Suddenly, there was a shift in the air and she becomes acutely aware of how close he was. Their fingers brush against each other, but neither pulled away. She had always been fine hanging out with Tyler. He was comfortable to be with, to talk to. But they’d never been in such a confined space together, alone.
When she agreed to play this stupid game, she was ready to ignore the rules. But now she found herself reconsidering her plans.
She took a small step forward. They were so close now she could almost hear the heartbeat thumping in his chest. She could feel the warmth that radiated from his close proximity, hear the sound of his breathing and the way his eyes were fixated on her, even if he isn’t saying anything. From the strip of dull light that seeped through the gap, she caught sight of his parted lips and the want in his eyes.
In the dark, somehow, his lips still managed to find hers. He kissed her apprehensively at first, pressing only a small kiss on her lips, assessing her comfort level. It made her close her eyes instinctively, inhaling sharply without even meaning to.
When Wednesday kissed him back, it automatically does something to him. Tyler immediately brings a hand up to cradle the side of her face, running a thumb across her cheek, and deepening the kiss.
Wednesday may not have kissed many boys, but there was something addictive about the way Tyler was kissing her. He wasn’t too shy or too aggressive; he went with her pace, taking care to not overdo it. It was only when Wednesday probed at his mouth for entrance did he give in, gently touching her tongue with his, and then more assertively. It sent a light tremor along her nerves, evoking a want that she had never known she was capable of.
Tyler tasted mildly of coffee and something sweeter, his lips soft and his kisses now demanding. He had brought his other hand to wrap around her waist, pulling her in. Wednesday is acutely aware of the position they’re in now. They weren’t just kissing.
They were making out.
Tyler breaks the kiss for a moment, letting his lips ghost her chin, then pressing kisses down her jawline and to her neck. Wednesday was practically arching her body involuntarily now, her breath hitched in her throat, yet thoroughly enjoying the sensation that Tyler is bringing her. When he sucks harshly on the skin of her neck, she lets out a small gasp.
With bated breath, he tears himself away from what he was doing, “I’ve been thinking about this for a while now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your lips. How much I want to kiss you.”
Wednesday thought about replying the same. How she’d been observing him. Running her eyes across his skin. Memorising every mark, every vein.
She puts her hands on both sides of his face and drags his lips towards her, slotting her mouth over his again in yet another heated kiss. She doesn’t care if she ends up devouring him whole. There was no denying the magnetic pull they had between them, that had been growing ever since they first met at the Weathervane.
As they kiss desperately, tongues tussling and fighting for dominance, they’re suddenly bathed in light as the doors were flung open suddenly. Wednesday nearly pushes Tyler away, but he still has his arms wrapped around her waist and was cradling her neck. His eyes were wide with shock and she also feels like an insect in a trap, caught in a compromising position. They both quickly let go of each other and straighten themselves.
“Oh. Em. Gee.”
Enid’s face was getting redder by the second, having been the one to witness it up close due to her opening of the closet doors. Judging by the silence from the rest of the room, one can also only deduce it stemmed from their actions. If Wednesday hadn’t known better, you’d think they were caught doing something way worse than kissing.
“Close your mouth, Enid,” Wednesday returns to her deadpan expression, promptly stepping out of the closet. Enid’s mouth was so wide she could swallow about a dozen giant flies.
“Excuse me- what?” Enid says as she struggles to compose herself. “Oh my god, I knew it!”
“I’m done with this game,” Wednesday declares. Grabbing her jacket from the end of her bed, Wednesday exits the room without so much as a backwards glance.
She only returns 2 hours later at midnight. Everyone had left by then, leaving only Enid and Thing in the room.
“I almost thought you were gone for good.”
“If only death’s cold embrace would come that much sooner.”
“Why’d you leave?” Enid questioned. Her eyes looked slightly hurt, but Wednesday could care less.
“I’ve played your stupid game and I’m entitled to leave. Now,” Wednesday moves to turn the lights off. “Go to sleep.”
Wednesday flings the covers over herself, her back facing Enid. After a pause, Enid spoke again.
“Everyone saw how you guys kissed. If you like Tyler, you should tell him.”
Wednesday was exasperated. “I don’t like him.”
“You are terrible at admitting your feelings.”
As always, Wednesday doesn’t seek Tyler out until a few days later, when he’s almost sure by then she’s ghosted him yet again. She simply slips into her usual booth at the Weathervane mysteriously, until he catches sight of her and breaks into a relieved smile. Her brain puts in the effort to remind her that she isn’t catching feelings, that she doesn’t like him that way.
Although if she had to pick someone to spend 7 minutes in heaven with, she’d still gladly pick him.