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The first time Enid Sinclair ever visited the Weathervane it was on a “double date” from hell.

Bianca’s relationship with Xavier was hanging on by a thread, she thought that maybe hanging out in a group setting would help mend some of the cracks in their relationship.

It didn’t really make sense to Enid, if a relationship was in trouble shouldn’t it be a conversation between the people in said relationship?

Anyways, Enid didn’t blame Bianca, she was scared and becoming desperate. Enid was going to be there to support her no matter what happened.

Even if that meant going on a double date with her ex, one of her best friends, and her friend’s boyfriend who she really disliked.

They walked into the small coffee shop, Ajax holding the door open for the rest of them.

“Thank you” Enid smiled

“All in a gentleman’s work” He grinned

Xavier settled into a booth in the corner and Bianca slid in beside him. It was almost awkward how they sat, everything about their body language tense and awkward.

Enid and Ajax mirrored them, but it was much more natural and relaxed. They were always better as friends, supporting and loving each other in a way that they could never seem to get right when they were trying to force a relationship.

Enid’s knee knocked against his and he grinned at her.

“How is rave’n planning going?” He asked her

“Stressful” Enid laughed, burying her face in her hands on the table. “There’s so much we still need to get done and so little time to do it”

“Did I tell you that the DJ finally got back to me?” Bianca asked

“Yeah?” Enid grinned, looking back up at her.

“Yeah” Bianca nodded with a teasing smile.

“And? What did he say?” She asked, tapping her fingers on the table in excitement.

“Yes, he’s going to be there” 

“Oh my god” Enid grabbed Bianca’s hand and squeezed her gratefully “Why didn’t you tell me sooner!”

“I wanted to see your face” She smiled

“I am so excited” Enid said as she bounced in her seat

“Is he a big deal?” Ajax asked

“The biggest. He’s hoste-“ Enid stopped as a young woman began walking toward their table. She was dressed in all black and her dark hair tied in twin braids. She stopped to stand in front of their table and on her face was a look that said she couldn’t be more disinterested.

She was the most beautiful person Enid had ever seen. Her words were caught in her throat and her breath in her lungs.

“What are your orders?” The girl asked, her tone flat but her voice sounding like the sweetest honey.

“We haven’t had a chance to look at the menu yet” Bianca said kindly. The girl, Wednesday, said the name tag pinned to her dress, turned and walked away without another word. Bianca made a face, as if asking ‘can you believe that’?

Enid became painfully aware of herself. Staring at their waitress like a crazy person. She looked away quickly, grabbing her menu as a way to busy herself and not look as awkward as she felt.

Xavier didn’t have the same decency. Bianca scoffed and scooted even further away from him.

“Are you serious” She asked

“What?” Xavier asked, the first words he had said since they walked into the diner and it was to pretend as if he hadn’t been blatantly checking out their waitress while he was on a date.

“Oh my god, Xavier” Bianca scoffed, picking up her own menu, an attempt to hide just like Enid’s had been.

The silence was awkward, other customers around the room chatted and there was a sound of the coffee machines humming but everyone at this table with Enid promptly avoided speaking more. Xavier had taken his phone back out, at least he wasn’t staring anymore.

Enid had a hard time deciding what she wanted, they had so many things to choose from and Enid had always been bad at making choices. She sat the menu down and looked out the window, the sky was painted in a mural of pinks and purples and the moon was starting to peak over the horizon.

She took out her own phone to quickly snap a picture. It was beautiful, nowhere near as beautiful as the waitress. 

Enid cursed herself. She felt like she was no better than Xavier, and since when had Enid even been attracted to girls?

Her eyes caught black hair again, the waitress, Wednesday if the name tag was anything to go by, was at a small table across the diner talking to the people who sat there. The unimpressed look never left her face, and honestly she was starting to look annoyed at the old woman who was speaking to her. 

Enid looked down at the table, the wooden pattern of it suddenly incredibly interesting. 

She realized that it made sense, being attracted to girls. It made more sense than Enid even wanted to think about right now.

The realization felt kind of freeing though. It was terrifying, but a piece of herself clicked into place.

Someone cleared their throat and Enid’s gaze snapped back up, right to Wednesday’s face. She had the darkest brown eyes rimmed with black eyeliner.

“Are we good?” Ajax asked

“Yeah” Bianca said, Enid nodded her head not trusting her voice to work and Xavier hummed.

“Okay. Ready?” Ajax asked, Wednesday blinked and he took that as an answer “I’ll take an americano and an breakfast sandwich on an english muffin” 

“A cappuccino and a croissant” Bianca asked

“Another americano and a panini” Xavier said, which left it to be Enid’s turn. Wednesday hadn’t really looked at any of them, instead sort of looking into space as they spoke, but then Enid felt the girl’s eyes on her.

“Uhh” Enid smiled softly “An iced caramel latte with extra caramel and a blueberry muffin”

Wednesday didn’t respond verbally, but when Enid asked for extra caramel her eye’s crinkled slightly. That was the only sign that the girl had even been listening. She walked off again without a word, going behind the counter to probably get started on their things.

“She’s kind of scary, right?” Ajax asked with a quiet voice. 

“I think it’s rude” Bianca said, was it bad that Enid found her endearing?

“She looks like the type of person who would enjoy witnessing a murder” He said

“Or committing one” Bianca added

“I’m sure she’s nice” Xavier said, Enid couldn’t help but glare. She hated he had been the one to say it. Bianca was quiet but Enid could tell she was furious.

“What were you saying earlier, about the DJ, Enid?” Ajax asked, his attempt to change the conversation was obvious.

“He’s just really popular” Enid said “And hard to book, we asked him like forever ago”

“Two months” Bianca clarified 

“A long time to not be texted back” Enid argued, Ajax shook his head fondly.

“You’re crazy” He smiled

“I’m just really excited for this dance. It’s our first rave’n as senior’s and being in charge is so stressful. Figuring out the music and stuff took a lot off of my shoulders though, Bianca, thank you again”

“You’ve already thanked me countless times”

“Which is why I said again” Enid told her 

“Well, you’re welcome” Bianca smiled “But really it wasn’t a big deal, if you need anymore help with anything just let me know”

“Okay. Are you going shopping with Yoko, Divina, and I this weekend?” Enid grinned 

“I wouldn't miss it for anything” She nodded

“I have no idea what i’m going to wear yet” Ajax said

“A hoodie and pants that slightly match the theme?” Xavier asked, Ajax smiled and nodded.

“Like last year” He said

“And the year before that” Enid added, as she spoke Wednesday joined them again. A black tray in her hand, using the other hands to set things down.

“It’s hot” She said as she sat the muffin in front of Enid, even though she was holding it with her bare hand.

“Why are you touching it then?” Enid couldn’t help but ask.

“I’m not affected by such things” Wednesday said, her dark eyes meeting Enid’s, a spark in them that Enid hadn’t seen before. Was it mischief? Intrigue? 

Enid wanted to know. She wanted to know everything about this strange girl.

Wednesday sat the last drink down and spun the tray around in her hands to hold it at her side. She went to walk away again, Bianca didn’t let her go very far.

“Are you not even going to ask if you got the order right, if we need anything else?” She asked

“I always get it right” Wednesday said, not even turning back to face them as she kept walking. 

Bianca scoffed again, lifting her cup and blowing at the steam.

——————————

The second time Enid found herself in the Weathervane the trip was her own choice. Eugene had been discussing for a while now wanting to branch out and begin selling his honey to local businesses.

He harvested loads of it, infused it with different flavors and processed it in a way that would make it the best he was able to make. Enid wasn’t really sure how the process worked despite his explanation, but she was excited to help him in his attempt to sell it.

He had made a list of places in Jericho that might be willing to buy from him, and Enid suggested the Weathervane.

It was not an excuse to see Wednesday again.

It wasn’t.

There was no way for Enid to know if the girl was even working on the day Eugene decided to go in.

That didn’t stop her from feeling giddy when they walked in and Enid saw her sitting behind the counter with a book in her lap. Her posture was insanely proper, it had to be uncomfortable. 

Eugene walked up to her with a bounce in his step.

“Hello” Eugene smiled brightly, Wednesday’s eyes flicked up from her book and to the boy, then to Enid. Her gaze lingered almost appraisingly. Enid felt nervous and judged. “I’m a beekeeper at Nevermore academy and I am on a mission to sell some of my honey. Would you like to try a sample?”

Wednesday was quiet for a moment, closing her book and setting it on the counter before climbing off of the chair and standing at the counter in front of the two.

“Does it have any cyanide in it?” Wednesday asked, Eugene’s smile somehow grew.

“No, it doesn’t, but weirdly enough you’re not the first person to ask me that” Eugene said

“Take it as a sign” She said

“Sure, but killing my customers isn't a good business practice” Eugene told her.

“I’ll try it” Wednesday decided after a moment “Despite its already obvious flaws”

“That’s great” He grinned, he opened his case and pulled out a small plastic cup, one of many, and handed it over.

Wednesday popped the lid off with her thumb and grabbed a plastic spoon off of the counter with her other hand. Was Enid staring again? She wasn’t sure, all she could focus on was how Wednesday moved, smooth, fluid, and confident.

She tasted the honey off of the spoon and Enid was sure now, she was staring and she wasn’t able to look away.

“Is that lavender?” Wednesday asked after a moment.

“It is” Eugene nodded 

“What are your prices?” 

“You like it?” He grabbed onto Enid’s shoulder excitedly, snapping her out of the little trance.

“It is adequate” Wednesday said, her gaze flickering back to Enid, specifically where Eugene was touching her. A dark look on her pretty face, Eugene quickly let go, while Enid was dying to know what was going on in Wednesday’s mind.

“I- you know what, I'll take it. The honey is five dollars a jar”

“Eugene” Enid chastised quietly, she and some of their other friends had been trying to get him to realize that it was way too cheap for weeks now. He had put so much time and care into everything he crafted, and most of the money would still be going back into the hive.

“Enid” He replied “It’s our first sale, prices will get higher once there is more demand”

“That’s also a bad business practice” Wednesday said, Eugene and Enid both looked at her questiongly “Undercharging for your products”

“Thank you!” Enid said “I can’t seem to get it through this boy’s thick skull that if he wants to run a business he should actually try to make money”

Wednesday made a sound in the back of her throat, a hum maybe, before speaking again.

“I’ll take ten jars, for no less than twenty dollars each. If they sell well then I will come to you for more” She said, leaving no room to argue.

“That’s two-hundred dollars!” Eugene said, she leveled him with an unimpressed gaze.

“Done” Enid said, Eugene nearly snapped his neck to look at her and then back at Wednesday, nodding madly. “It’s a deal. Thank you, so much”

Enid handed over a suitcase to Eugene, he sat it on the counter and clicked it open before counting out ten mason jar’s full of honey. He closed the suitcase back up and Enid grabbed it again. Wednesday reached into the cash register and thumbed through it quickly before handing Eugene a wad of cash, two-hundred dollars exactly.

“Will that be all?” Wednesday asked in her normal monotone voice. Eugene and Enid looked at each other and then Wednesday again.

“Can I have a mango smoothie?” Eugene asked

“An iced dirty chai latte with caramel for me” Enid grinned

Wednesday turned around wordlessly and got to work. Enid watched as the girl moved around, everything about her practiced and efficient.

“Hey, uh, if you wanted I could move these, so that they’re not on the counter and in your way” Enid gestured to the jars of honey.

“It is not needed” She said

“I know, but i’m offering anyway”

“Very well, there is a shelving unit behind you” Wednesday said, Enid spun around and saw what she was referring to, wooden shelves on the wall across the room.

Enid grabbed as many jars as she could and walked them over, arranging them all so that the labels faced forward. She got them all there in two trips, and when she was finished Wednesday was sitting their drinks on the counter and Eugene was trying to pay.

“No” Enid said, bumping his shoulder with her own.

“What? I just received two hundred dollars Enid. I can afford our drinks”

“I know you can, but these are our celebratory treats for your first sale” Enid smiled, handing some cash to Wednesday out of her pink cupcake wallet.

Wednesday rustled through the cash register again and then dropped the change into Enid’s palm.

“Thank you, Wednesday, really. For everything” Enid grinned.

“You are welcome, Enid” Wednesday said, Enid felt like she had been shocked, electricity running through her veins at the sound of her name on the other girl’s pretty red lips.

Oh please don’t let her be blushing. 

She felt blood warming her face and she knew that she was blushing.

Wait.

“Wait, how do you know my name?” Enid asked, trying not to make eye contact but failing miserably, how could she not get lost in those pretty eyes.

Wednesday’s eyebrow raised, almost looking amused, as she turned around, grabbing the book she had been reading when they had first walked in. 

Enid somehow knew that it meant she wouldn’t be getting an answer.

Who was this girl?

——————————

Trip number three was a momentous occasion.

It marked the end of their dress shopping day in Jericho. Enid, Yoko, Bianca, and Divina had split into pairs upon arriving in town, Yoko and Divina refusing to show their outfits to each other.

The Weathervane was Enid’s choice of place to regather once they were all done, despite Bianca’s protests.

Enid held the door open for Yoko as they wandered in, talking excitedly about the dance that was coming up quite soon. Divina and Bianca were already seated at a table waiting for them. Yoko hung her garment bag over the back of the seat and Enid did the same before they sat in their respective chairs, Yoko beside her girlfriend and Enid beside Bianca.

“Sooo” Enid practically sang, drumming her fingers on the table. “How did it go?”

“Found my dream dress” Bianca smiled smugly, Enid leaned in a bit to bump their shoulders as she squealed excitedly.

“Oh I just can’t wait to see it!” Enid said

“It was beautiful” Divina said

“Thank you” Bianca smiled “What you picked was perfect”

“I know” She said with a laugh, Yoko reached out to tangle their hands together and Enid stuck her tongue out in disgust like a child.

Enid was going to have to put a bell on Wednesday, how did a person who persistently wore huge platform boots walk so silently. Enid caught her shadow out of the corner of her eye and she flinched in surprise.

Wednesday was giving her that look again, appraising and judging, maybe Enid shouldn’t have found it so attractive.

“Good morning, Wednesday” Enid grinned, hoping against all odds that Wednesday hadn’t seen her acting so childish a moment ago.

Wednesday smirked.

She fucking smirked.

She had definitely seen Enid make a fool of herself.

“Dreadful day, Enid” She responded

“Are you actually having a ‘dreadful day’ or is that Wednesday speak for ‘good day’?” Enid asked, Wednesday’s eyebrows raised and that was all the answer Enid needed to know that she was right.

“Well, I hope you’re having whatever kind of day you would prefer”

A small crinkle beside the girl’s eye was the only response, Enid assumed and hoped that it was something akin to a smile.

“Order” Wednesday instructed.

“An iced pumpkin spice latte, with caramel?” Enid asked, then turned to her friends, Yoko looked amused, Divina confused, and Bianca shocked. 

“A cappuccino” Bianca said anyway

“An iced mocha” Divina asked

“Make that two mocha’s” Yoko added, Wednesday left again without a word.

“What the fuck?” Yoko asked

“What the fuck?” Bianca repeated

“What? What happened?” Enid asked

“Since when are you friends with the scary Weathervane goth?” Yoko asked

“Wednesday? I wouldn’t really call us friends, we’re like barely acquaintances. She’s actually really nice though. I’d like to be friends”

“I’ve heard horror stories” Yoko said, stressing the word horror.

“What do you mean?”

“Well for one she beat Lucas’s ass”

“That was her?” Bianca asked and Yoko nodded

“Wait actually?” Enid asked

“In her defense” Divina started “ It was years ago before we were friends with him and we all know that before Enid he was pretty ignorant”

“He was just in with a bad crowd” Bianca defended

“Yeah, I'm not saying that he hasn’t changed and that he’s not my friend now. I’m saying that in the past it could have been justifiable” 

“You’re saying he deserved it” Enid said, trying not to laugh.

“You’re not even a little off put learning that she beat up one of your friends?” Bianca asked

“Well, I actually think it’s pretty badass” Enid said “Also, I remember hearing about that when it happened, I followed like half their grade on tiktok, he was with his old friends. Wednesday took on three guys and handed them their asses”

“You don’t think that’s terrifying for a normie?” Yoko asked

“It’s the coolest thing i’ve ever heard” Enid grinned

“You know, talking about a person behind their back, when they can hear you defeats the purpose of talking behind their back” Wednesday said, her black tray in her hand and her dark eyes never leaving Enid.

“Oh my god, Wednesday. I am so sorry” Enid said, blushing yet again in embarrassment.

“Don’t apologize, if you’re going to do vicious things you should own up to them” She said as she sat their drinks down on the table.

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings” Enid said earnestly.

“I never said that my feelings were hurt, just that your methods are inefficacious” She said with that look of mischief in her eye that Enid was growing quite fond of.

“Really?” Enid asked, Wednesday nodded and went to leave again “Hey, Wednesday?”

“Yes, Enid”

“Thank you” She said, grinning up at the other girl. 

“You’re welcome” Wednesday said, a small squint in her eyes as if saying she wasn’t sure what Enid was thanking her for this time.

————————-

“Enid” Ajax laughed as the girl pulled him through Jericho.

“Ajax” She whined back.

“Do we really have to go to the Weathervane? That waitress creeps me out” He slid to a stop, Enid still holding onto his hand and turning to look at him.

“She’s not as bad as everyone thinks”

“She beat up Lucas, and two other guys all by herself”

“Oh my god” Enid said, dropping Ajax’s hand to run her own hands through her hair as she sighed “You’ve been talking to Bianca about this?”

“And Yoko, and Divina. We’ve heard more things too, like how she killed two guys”

“She what?” Enid asked

“Yeah, a few years ago before she transferred to Jericho, she killed a couple guys and got away with it because her parents are apparently really powerful people”

“You really believe that?”

“You don’t?”

“You don’t know her like I do”

“You barely know her either! We met her together”

“I’ve seen her multiple times since then, she is kind, and funny, and yeah really mysterious and weird but it makes me want to know her better. I want to figure her out”

“Enid” Ajax sighed “I’ll come with you, because I trust your judgment and because I know you’re stubborn enough to do it by yourself and I really don’t want you around murderers by yourself”

“She’s not a murderer” Enid grinned, glad she got her way as she continued pulling Ajax towards the Weathervane

It was somewhat busy when they arrived, people rushing for their sunday morning caffeine fix.

The apparent morning rush didn’t stop Wednesday from noticing Enid as she walked in. Their eyes met and Enid offered a small grin, Wednesday blinked at her and turned back to the table she had been serving. Ajax raised his eyebrows at Enid, she smiled and led him back to a booth. 

“I don’t get it” He said

“Change the topic”

“Alright” He sighed, she pulled a napkin out of the canister of them and began ripping and folding it. “Doing any better in Algebra?”

“No” She whined, leaning toward as if dramatically defeated “I try and I try but I never get it right”

“Why don’t you ask your mom?” He asked

“Foster mom” Enid corrected, meeting his eyes “I have a long list of mommy issues, all amounting to the inability to rely on parental figures when I need help and the fear of not being good enough”

“Jeez” He shook his head and Enid laughed at the obvious discomfort she caused him.

“I don’t want her to think I can’t handle it. I can and will figure it out”

“She won’t think badly of you, helping kids is literally her job, especially when it comes to you”

Enid wasn’t sure how to respond, maybe another speech about how her foster mother was busy and had already done enough for Enid. She didn’t have to get into that though, as Wednesday stood at the end of their table.

“Howdy, Wednesday” Enid smiled

“Hello Enid” Wednesday said 

“Busy day?”

“It’s always busy in the morning” 

“Are you always here alone?”

“I have a co-worker, but she attends school and refuses to wake up before nine am on weekends”

“She’s got the right idea” Ajax said, Wednesday looked at him as if just realizing he was there, and then went back to looking at Enid.

“What do you want?” Wednesday asked

“A macchiato, and a blueberry muffin please” Enid smiled 

“An americano” Ajax said, Wednesday nodded at Enid and walked away. Enid couldn’t help the smile on her face, it was always present when the other girl was.

“I don’t even know how to process that” Ajax said after a moment

“What?” Enid asked

“The way she-“

“Stop” Enid cut him off “She has really good hearing and she has heard the girls talking about her behind her back the last time we were here”

“I’m making a list in my phone” He whispered, pulling the very device out of his pocket

“A list?”

“Of all the weird shit she does”

“Why?”

“To convince you that your new friend is a psychopath” He said

“Ajax, that’s rude as fuck”

“I’ve been called worse” Wednesday said, cutting into the conversation and stepping into the space to set their drinks and Enid’s muffin down “Hot” She warned

“Wednesday” Enid said, her heart racing and preparing to apologize profusely.

“Enid, I’ve been called worse” Wednesday told her again

“Like that makes it okay?”

“It is not okay, but I don’t take offense, especially when it comes from a boy who reeks of cannabis at nine in the morning and has such a limited vocabulary as to call his friends ‘dude’ continuously. Who am I to take offense at his words, I doubt the boy even knows the definition of the term ‘psychopath’”

“Ouch” Ajax muttered and Enid shot him a sharp look.

“I’m still sorry, this is the second time in a row you’ve overheard my friends talking about you behind your back” She said

“While i’m not fond of the company you keep, I don’t hold resentment for you”

“Well, thanks” Enid laughed “Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”

“I doubt you’ll take my suggestion to get better friends”

“Your doubt is well placed, they aren’t always idiots, just the majority of the time”

“Then i’m afraid that there’s nothing you can do for me at this time” She said, turning to walk away.

“Thank you, Wednesday” Enid said

—————————-

“Wait? We’re going to the Weathervane?” Pugsley asked

“Yeah” Eugene nodded with a grin on his face “They were the first store to buy my honey, and Enid has an obsession with the waitress”

Pugsley grinned at her, something unnerving and knowing.

“I do not!” Enid argued

“This is your fifth time coming here in two weeks” Eugene said.

“What if I just really like the coffee” 

“You don’t like coffee” Pugsley said

“I like it when it’s sweet” Enid argued

“Ungodly sweet” Eugene said “It’s weird too because they have tea and smoothies”

“I do actually like it from the Weathervane” 

“Is it because the person making it is a mysterious goth girl?” Eugene asked and Enid hit him with her shoulder.

“Be quiet, stop talking.” Enid begged “Especially once we get inside, she has weirdly incredible hearing”

“Yeah, of course” Eugene said, they, unlike her other friends, would never purposefully embarrass her.

She had told Eugene about what had happened with Ajax and the girls, how she would never be bringing them back to the establishment, not around Wednesday.

“Thanks” Enid said as she pulled the diner’s door open and let her friends trail in.

Wednesday was sitting behind the counter reading again, the place seemed to be a lot less busy on weekdays. Unlike the last time, her eyes flicked up the moment they walked in. Looking at Enid for a moment, but then in front of her, at Pugsley. The boy waved with a big grin on his face and Wednesday’s gaze turned into a glare.

Enid might be going insane. What sane person would find that murderous glare so incredibly attractive? 

Eugene chose a table somewhat near the front, he and Pugsley sat while Enid stood stupidly. Staring as Wednesday looked away from Pugsley and closed her book. Enid became quite self aware again and quickly joined her friends at the table, Eugene smiled at her knowingly and she wished that she could disappear.

Was she just forever destined to make a fool of herself in front of this pretty girl?

“How has the honey been selling?” Eugene asked as Wednesday joined them at the table.

“I’ll need to purchase more of it” Wednesday said, she was standing beside Enid now and the girl looked up to find Wednesday’s eyes already on her.

“Yeah, of course” Eugene grinned 

“Twenty jars” Wednesday said and his grin grew even brighter.

“Right now?” He asked, Wednesday nodded. Eugene picked his suitcase up off of the ground and presented it dramatically.

“Good morning, Wednesday” Enid said

“Horrible morning to you, Enid” Wednesday said and the blonde girl grinned and shook her head fondly.

“Do you want me to put those jar’s on the same shelf?” 

“If you would like” Wednesday nodded “What is your order first?”

“A brown sugar latte and a blueberry muffin” Enid grinned, she scooted out of the chair and took the suitcase from Eugene. She sat all of the jars in place and while she did she was dumbfounded by the rest of the conversation that was being had by her friends.

“You’re not getting anything?” Eugene asked Pugsley, the boy looked somewhat embarrassed before he spoke again.

“I wasn’t prepared” Pugsley replied 

“What do you mean?” Eugene asked, Pugsley looked up at Wednesday.

“I don’t have antidotes on me, I didn’t know we were coming here of all places” 

“That was foolish of you, you should know by now to keep them on you at all times” Wednesday ridiculed

“So you’ve said” Pugsley scoffed “But you’re a crazy person”

“Flattery will not help you”

“Could we at least compromise? Cyanide or nightshade in my coffee?” Pugsley argued

“Your tolerance will defeat the purpose” 

“What if I just make my own coffee?”

“I would like to see you try to even step foot behind my counter” Wednesday dared, a challenge.

“What are the consequences?” Pugsley asked, an amused edge to his voice, Enid had never heard him sound like that before.

“Wait. You refuse to order something because you think she is going to try and poison you?” Eugene asked

“No, I know that she will” 

“Of course” Wednesday agreed, a blank face, as serious as she always was.

“That’s funny guys, but also pretty unnerving” Eugene said

“Is he under the impression that we’re joking?” Wednesday asked Pugsley who nodded.

“You’re not joking?” Enid asked, standing across from Wednesday.

“No, she wants me dead” Pugsley said, Wednesday didn’t argue.

“How are you not joking, you mean to say that you just have poison on you?” Enid asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

“Yes” Wednesday said

“Among many other lethal things” Pugsley said, nudging Wednesday’s arm with his own.

“Next time you will lose it” She glared at him and he smiled brightly.

“That’s what you always say, but I still have all of my limbs intact” He said as if bragging about it.

“Notice how the word ‘limbs’ does not include digits” Wednesday said

How did the waitress know about Pugsley’s missing toe?

“How- i’m just” Enid said, she was just realizing that her crush wasn’t just a little strange. “You two know each other?”

“No” Wednesday said blankly, Pugsley rolled his eyes.

“Not at all” He said, Enid knew when he said it that it was sarcasm.

God was that embarrassing, Enid sat down as she realized Eugene had told Pugsley on the way here that Enid had an ‘obsession’ with Wednesday and the two of them knew each other. They seemed to know each other well too, like old friends.

“She won’t like, poison us?” Eugene asked, a failed whisper as Wednesday raised her eyebrows. Pugsley looked at Wednesday, calculating as they made eye contact with each other.

“No” Pugsley decided as Wednesday continued to glare at him “She won’t”

“Can you be sure?” Wednesday asked

“Should we just go somewhere else?” Eugene asked

“Yes” Wednesday said 

“No” Pugsley said, rebutting her glare with a smile. “She won’t hurt you guys”

“It is a bad business practice to poison my customers” Wednesday said, parroting what Eugene had said the day they met.

“You actually just have ‘lethal things’ on you, at all times?” Enid asked, Wednesday’s eyes met hers again as the dark haired girl nodded. Enid leaned forward, her chin on her fist “Why?”

“It depends” Wednesday said

“On what?”

“The poisons for example are for entertainment, the knives are also for entertainment but for defense too”

“And you have multiple weapons and poisons?” Enid asked

“Yes” Wednesday said, hadn’t she already answered something very similar to that question.

“That’s scary” Enid said, despite smiling. That was strange right? She shouldn’t find the danger of it, if Wednesday, so endearing.

“Thank you” Wednesday said, before turning to get them their things.

——————————

Enid was not in fact poisoned by Wednesday. She wasn’t really sure what to think about the other girl, she was quiet yet strong, morbid but her eyes were full of light, and rude on the surface but always so kind to Enid.

She was a mystery, one that Enid was dying to solve.

This time she went to the Weathervane alone. It probably wasn’t a good idea considering the waitress might be a serial killer or something but Enid was a werewolf, she could more than defend herself against a normie.

Was Wednesday even a normie? That was a question she should have asked Pugsley before she had left, although he probably wouldn’t have answered her. She could never get a straight answer out of him about Wednesday, it was kind of infuriating.

She had tried, many times, but she was always met with a blank stare that seemed so familiar, that or a laugh that sounded crazy.

Enid was up to the challenge though.

She walked into the diner, her school bag in tow, immediately Wednesday caught her eye. Enid smiled brightly, dropping her bag off at a small booth and skipping up to the counter. The other worker was there today, she watched Wednesday closely and Enid couldn’t help but wonder why.

“Good afternoon, Wednesday” Enid said, ignoring the nosey girl in the red apron, Enid leaned against the counter with her hands behind her back.

“Tragic afternoon, Enid” Wednesday said, setting her book down and meeting Enid at the counter. “What can I get for you?”

“Can I get a pumpkin spice latte?” Enid asked, Wednesday turned away from her and began working on it.

“You can go sit” Wednesday said “Seems like you have something to be doing”

“Algebra homework” Enid told her with a grimace

“Why come here to do it?”

“Coffee” Enid grinned “Ambiance, background noise, aesthetic, I could go on”

“I’m sure you could” Wednesday said, Enid left to let her work in peace. She settled in the booth she had set her bag at and began pulling out her notes, papers, and calculator. 

Enid wasn’t sure how she got in AP Algebra, she was never any good at math and sitting here now she might as well be learning a foreign language without any prior knowledge or help. 

She tried a problem and checked the back of the book to confirm that she got the wrong answer, again. She scratched the first attempt out with an X and then tried again. 

“Having trouble?” Wednesday asked. Enid jumped, nearly out of her seat, Wednesday watched her with an amused look.

“Oh my god, Wednesday. Don’t scare me like that!” Enid’s heart was pounding and her face had to have been an embarrassing shade of red.

Wednesday sat the drink on the table in front of her, and a steaming blueberry muffin.

“I didn’t order that” Enid said

“I know” Wednesday told her “Eat, I’ll be back in a moment”

“Well, let me pay for it”

“Eat” Wednesday instructed before walking away. It was only a few minutes before she came back, another cup of coffee in her hand and the book she had been reading when Enid walked in. She sat on the other end of Enid’s booth and slid the homework paper toward herself. Enid caught out of the corner of her eye, the other waitress taking care of customers, while Wednesday sat with her. “You’re stopping too soon” She said quickly, taking a sip of her own coffee and taking the pencil out of Enid’s hand. 

She circled the end of the problem and scribbled down some notes. She turned the paper back toward Enid, pointing with the stolen pencil as she spoke.

“After you get this answer you are going to add it back into this equation” Wednesday instructed, Enid took the pencil back, slipping it out of Wednesday’s fingers and working out the problem the way Wednesday had explained.

“Oh” Enid smiled, looking finally at the correct answer, a thirteen. 

“You’re not completely incompetent”

“Thank you?” Enid asked, Wednesday nodded and leaned back in her seat, pulling open her book.

“Try the next problem” She instructed, Enid did as asked. She found the next answer easily.

“Fast learner” Wednesday said

“Thank you, really. I’ve been struggling with this for a few days now and the class is already moving on to something else” Enid explained and Wednesday nodded her response “Do you go to the normie school?”

“Went, I skipped a couple grades and graduated early”

“Sounds about right, you seem really smart”

“You don’t know me” Wednesday said with a hint of a smile

“I want to”

“Do your homework”

“Wednesdayyyyyy” Enid whined “Tell me about yourself, every time we see each other I have more questions”

“This game will be much more fun if you figure things out yourself”

“Game?” Enid asked “You’re giving me permission to dig into your life?”

“Yes”

“That’s- do I get any clues?”

“In time” Wednesday said, stirring the coffee around in her cup.

“Okay” Enid laughed, not really knowing what was happening, but glad that it implied Wednesday would continue being in her life. “Hey?”

“Yes, Enid?”

“Would you wanna maybe add some stakes, a bet if you will?” Enid asked, feeling bold. Wednesday hummed, watching Enid again with those questioning eyes, trying to figure the colorful girl out.

“A month, you have a month to figure out everything you can about me”

“How will we decide if I win?” Enid asked

“Three key things, I’ll write them down and put them in an envelope. At the end of the month I will give you the envelope, if you have solved at least two of the three things you win”

“I won’t even know what i’m looking for” Enid grinned

“Truely, as we get to know each other they will be hard things to miss”

“You want to get to know each other?” Enid asked, Wednesday didn't respond, only staring at Enid as if her question had the most obvious answer. Enid smirked, there was just something about this girl that made Enid want to be brave. “If I win, I get to ask you on a date”

Wednesday blinked, setting her book down and leaning forward. The corner of her eyes crinkled, a smile in them that most people wouldn’t see, Enid saw it. She grinned and reached her hand out, a handshake to seal the deal.

“We didn’t even discuss what I might get if I were to win” Wednesday said, looking down at Enid’s outstretched hand.

“What do you want?”

“I’m not sure yet” Wednesday said, “Would you mind owing me a favor?”

“As long as it’s nothing gross, or murderous” Enid said

“Well that takes all of the fun out of it” Wednesday complained, but shook Enid’s hand anyway.

“You’re getting your fun anyway, making me do all of the dirty work instead of just telling me about yourself”

“Touche, but if you win, you’ll be the one getting a date out of it. Doesn’t that seem like a fair trade?”

“I said I would get to ask you on a date, not that you would have to accept” Enid said

“You want the opportunity to ask me on a date, not the date itself?”

“Exactly” Enid nodded

“You didn’t need the opportunity” Wednesday tilted her head slightly, teasing.

“Well, this way over the course of the month you’ll get to know me and potentially decide you want to be with me”

“You didn’t need the opportunity” Wednesday repeated

“If I asked you now, you would say yes?”

“Now, no, we have a bet going. Five minutes ago, I would have” Wednesday explained like it was the most simple thing.

“You- what?” Enid asked, Wednesday had a look of amusement on her face, enjoying the turmoil she was causing “Wednesday, you would say yes?”

“No, I have a lot riding on this bet”

“Wednesday! You don’t even know what you want yet!”

“Enid, I must get back to work”

“Oh my god”

“I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor”

“You’re infuriating!”

“Thank you” Wednesday nodded as she climbed out of the booth and took her things with her.

“This conversation isn’t over!”

“No, it will resume once the month is up”

Chapter Text

Wednesday was having a bad day, Parker had called and explained that she was running late, and while Wednesday knew her reasoning was valid, she still hated to have her own schedule askew. Not to mention she had dinner to attend to later with her parents, mandatory her father had said.

As if they didn’t dine together at least once every week.

The elderly lady across the store raised her hand to ask Wednesday over. The girl sighed and filled the mug of coffee before walking over to the table.

Okay, so Wednesday’s day wasn’t all that bad, she had definitely experienced worse. It was definitely lacking something though, maybe she had just woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

“We’re ready to order” The woman said, they were regulars, they knew not to wait for Wednesday to respond. “We’ll take two breakfast croissant’s”

The same thing they ordered every single time.

Wednesday was turning back to the counter when the bell above the door rang, she paid it no mind. She got back to the counter and began heating up the breakfast sandwiches she had prepared earlier that morning. What caught her attention was the sound of an irregular footstep, skipping.

Enid.

Wednesday looked up from her work to see the colorful girl leaning against the counter. Her sky blue sweater made her eyes appear brighter, her pink overalls uneven in a way that would annoy Wednesday. That should annoy Wednesday. 

Enid though, on Enid it looked so endearing.

The girls, slightly sharper than human, teeth poked out of her bright smile.

“Howdy, Wednesday” 

Oh. Was that what her day had been lacking? Or had Enid just easily fixed it? 

It didn’t really matter all that much.

“Hello, Enid” Wednesday said “What can I get for you?”

“Your time?” She asked

“You currently have it” Wednesday said, the small oven beeped and she pulled the croissants out of it “I’m going to go deliver these, find a place to sit and i’ll accompany you in a moment”

“Okay” Enid nodded, her smile growing impossibly warmer, had she really thought Wednesday would deny her? Didn’t she know she was incapable?

Enid skipped off to the same booth she had made a home at the last time she visited Wednesday at work, setting her pink book bag on the table as Wednesday delivered the breakfast to the elderly woman and her husband who was nearly just as silent as Wednesday herself, most days, days when Enid wasn’t around.

“Thank you dear” The woman spoke, Wednesday nodded and went to make herself and Enid some drinks. A quad over ice for herself and butterscotch latte for Enid, with a warmed up blueberry muffin.

“Wednesday” Enid smiled as she approached and sat the treats on the table next to her. “Thank you, what is it?”

“Try it, I’m sure you’ll adore it”

“I’m allergic to chocolate” Enid told Wednesday as she slid in the opposite side of the booth.

“I know” Wednesday replied, causing the other girl to raise an eyebrow. “You’re a werewolf, i’ve never known one who can consume chocolate without a plethora of problems”

Enid took a sip of the drink and her winter blue eyes lit up with stars. Being around this woman was always bringing out Wednesday's inner poet.

“Oh em gee” Enid nodded “This is everything”

“I had a feeling” Wednesday told her “You have a fondness for everything that is overly sweet, tooth rotting even, I think I can see the fun in that”

Enid shook her head, even more fondness for the girl across from her.

“Wednesday?”

“Hmm?”

“Can I ask how you know that I’m a wolf? Or, how you knew my name before I ever introduced myself to you?”

“You can ask, but I don’t promise that I will answer” Wednesday told her playfully.

“You’re such a mystery” Enid sighed, leaning back in her seat and bopping Wednesday’s shoe with her own under the table. She had realized weeks ago that Wednesday wasn’t one for physical contact, she hoped that this was okay, she figured if it wasn’t Wednesday would pull away or tell her to stop.

“Figure me out” Wednesday told her, kicking Enid’s own foot lightly.

“I’ve been trying” Enid laughed in exasperation “I keep hitting walls, all or most of the rumors about you seem untrue or at least warped to fit other people’s point of view”

“How do you figure that?”

“Well” Enid shifted in her seat again, leaning over the table to rest on her crossed arms. “I’ve been tracing the rumors back to their sources to get the truest stories because you know how the rumor mill goes. The ones about you murdering an entire team of swimmers at one of your old schools, for example, that is very obviously not true”

“Why not?”

“You’re not that person, Wednesday. You’re the girl who brings me mystery latte’s and warm muffins, you’re the girl who helps me with algebra homework. Sure you’re quiet sometimes and you enjoy the darker things in life, you carry weapons and murderous substances on you for fun, but the Wednesday I know catches spiders in little plastic dip cups and lets them outside. You would never hurt anyone, I think, unless they really deserved it”

Wednesday watched Enid for a moment. This woman was so good at reading her, at surprising her, at seeing her for what she was. Nobody had ever seen the best in her before. People heard things about Wednesday, even just saw Wednesday, and ran the opposite direction. 

Here is this girl, the embodiment of sunshine, a rainbow of color, and the only person who sees Wednesday for who she is. It was unnerving. 

Wednesday would help her out, a bit.

“Do you want the truth?” She asked Enid.

“Of course”

“I despised the idea of going to Jericho public school, the people on the outskirts of Nevermore had a reputation for being bigoted and cruel to anyone who might be different. I could handle myself, but I didn’t want the hassle. So I went to schools in other districts. One specifically was hell, but especially for my brother who had followed along with me. The swim team jocks had been bullying him for months, I had been telling him to stand up for himself just as long. One day they tied him up with rope, called him a pig, shoved an apple into his mouth, and shoved him into a locker.”

“Oh, what the hell” Enid gasped 

“I found him like that, the entirety of the school ignoring that their popular kids had been abusing a twelve year old and had left him in a locker. I pulled him out and was on a revenge path, he wanted me to let it go but I couldn’t. I dropped bags of piranha into the pool the boys were swiming in, two were mildly maimed, one lost a testical” 

“Yeah, well maybe it was for the best, someone like that shouldn’t be allowed to reproduce” Enid said and she could see a hint of a smile in the darker girl’s eyes.

“I said something similar to my parents when it happened” She explained.

“You ended up at Jericho’s high school anyway, didn’t you?” Enid asked.

“I did, nobody but them or Nevermore would take me, I chose the least horrible of the two”

“You’re an outcast?” Enid asked, Wednesday stared at her in a way that explained she wasn’t going to answer the question. “Okay, fine, why was Nevermore a worse option?”

“My parents alma mater, I felt as if going there would be suffocating”

“Mine too, well my foster mom at least. I didn’t even meet her though until I started at Nevermore so I didn’t have anything yet to look up to”

“And now that you do?”

“I don’t know” Enid shrugged “She got me out of a really bad situation, she saved my life and I don’t mean that in just a metaphorical way, but I actually would have died if she hadn’t stepped in. She is so understanding and kind and loving, it’s hard because I was never used to receiving that from a parental figure if it wasn’t for manipulative reasons. I’m still adjusting, despite it being nearly a year now since she gained custody over me and nearly four years since we’ve known each other. She’s even trying to legally adopt me now. I owe her everything”

“But?” Wednesday asked

“Being the headmaster’s daughter is exhausting” She smiled sheepishly “It was like a switch flipped, all the other students began excluding me scared that I would tell on them or something. That’s not even to mention the pressure in my classes, my professors always expecting me to have the best grades and even sometimes being less lenient on me than others because they think I have an advantage”

“Suffocating” Wednesday offered her statement from earlier, and empathy. She felt guilty too, she needed to tell Enid about the Nightshades, she just wasn’t sure how.

“Suffocating” Enid nodded. “But that is enough talking about sad stuff!”

“Aren’t we supposed to be getting to know each other?” Wednesday asked with a raise of her eyebrow.

“Yes, but trauma and mommy issues should be saved for the fourth date” Enid teased

“Oh, I didn’t realize dating etiquette was so specific, we are way ahead of schedule”

“It’s all good” Enid grinned, taking a sip of her coffee that had somewhat melted while she hadn’t been paying attention to it. “And besides, my grades have been getting a lot better since i’ve gained a pretty tutor”

——————————

“It’s a cube of concrete, she wants me to write an essay about a cube of concrete” Enid groaned, pushing her laptop towards Wednesday. A powerpoint open, with the very cube captured in a photograph.

“Die, Tony Smith, 1962” Wednesday said, looking over the laptop and into Enid’s eyes.

“You recognize that thing?” Enid asked, sitting up from her position slouched over the table.

“It was very controversial when it was created, hated by artists and critics alike”

“I mean, yeah, it’s just a cube”

“You’re right, the work itself is a cube, one of steal by the way, but what makes it a famous artwork is the context”

“Tell me about it?” Enid asked with a soft smile.

“For your essay?” Wednesday asked “I truly think if that’s the case you would benefit more from your own research and conclusions”

“Kind of for the essay, but also because I like the way you explain things. I learn more when you’re the one teaching me, I like listening and learning about the things that you think are important” Enid explained, ripping her straw wrapper into pieces and folding those small pieces into paper hearts, always needing to keep her hands busy, especially when admitting something like that.

“I refuse to be your teacher, I already have a meaningless dead end job, I do not need another” 

“Wednesday” Enid smiled and shook her head fondly.

“Yes, well to properly understand the minimalism movement you have to understand what came before it”

“Jackson Pollock?” Enid asked

“Yes, among others. Artists like Picasso, Van Gogh, artists who came before them even. Michelangelo, and Titian. Art was about expression, about emotion, movement, meaning, separation of art and artist, making art look like it wasn’t man made, making art look alive. Minimalist artists wanted to get rid of that, everything that made art complicated and full of emotion. It was impersonal, sharp edged and without uniform. The point of it wasn’t to be understood but to exist, it was deliberately uninteresting and it changed the definition of what art is” Wednesday explained, her voice flat like usual, her expression neutral except for a hint of a smile that seemed to always be present when Enid was.

Enid watched her speak, completely engulfed in her voice and explanation.

“Why won’t you go out with me?” Enid asked after a moment of just watching Wednesday.

“Enid?” Wednesday asked, her eyebrow raising the smallest bit.

“I don’t even know how to put into words how much I like you, Wednesday. I love listening to you explain things, I love listening to you, I love learning about you, I love talking to you, I love watching you and being with you. I want to take you on dates where I can learn more about you, I want to hold your hand and show you how much you mean to me”

It was Wednesday’s turn to stare, Enid had never seen her speechless. That was nice to hear, really nice. Wednesday was so used to not being heard. Everywhere she went, nobody ever understood her the way she wanted to be understood. In groups of friends when she was younger, the other children were never interested in anything she was, she would try to explain her interest only to be met with blank stares. She never fit in, always on the outside, always socially awkward. So she just stopped, stopped talking, stopped trying to be understood. Enid though, Enid saw her, effortlessly.

“Oh my god, I’m sorry if that’s too mu-“

“Don’t apologize” Wednesday interrupted “I don’t wish you to be sorry, I truly just didn’t realize you felt so deeply about me already. I’m not sure why, but I assumed your attraction was superficial”

“Do you think i’m superficial?” Enid asked, not sure if she really wanted to know the answer.

“The opposite” She said “You feel deeply, you love with everything that you have.”

“Then?”

“I’m not used to being seen, especially in the way that you see me. It’s taking some adjustment”

“Okay” Enid nodded “Take all the time you need, I'm not going anywhere” She smiled and relaxed into her seat as if to strengthen her point.

“Yes, I see that” Wednesday teased

“We should visit an art museum”

“You don’t like art, you’re taking an art history class because you thought it would be easy but in actuality you despise it. You hate art classes because you think that art shouldn’t have rules or guidelines” Wednesday explained and with each word she spoke the warmth in Enid’s heart grew. Wednesday wasn’t the only person in this friendship who wasn’t used to being seen.

“I like you” Enid told her “I like your voice, I could listen to you talk for the rest of my life. I would wither away with a smile on my face as long as you kept talking”

“I’ll take you to a museum” Wednesday concluded “When it is my turn to take you on a date, although your turn will be the one to come first”

“So you’re saying that there will be a second date?”

“I thought we had already agreed upon this? We will wither away together, you with a smile on your face”

—————————-

“So, why do you work here anyways?” Enid asked, tapping her pastel painted nails against the wooden table.

“Hmm?” Wednesday asked, putting her book down, a paper heart that Enid had folded between its pages as a bookmark.

“You said the other day that you work a meaningless dead end job, if you hate it so much why do you spend the majority of your time here?”

“When my family first moved to Jericho I was having a bit of a standoff with my parents, I didn’t want to move here in the first place and my parents were attempting to force me to go to Nevermore. On a particularly difficult night I needed space from them and they thought that maybe if I saw the small town I would learn to accept it for what it is. I found the Weathervane, the woman working at the time was elderly and kind, she tried to figure out what was wrong with me and when she realized that she wasn’t going to get an answer she stopped pushing and let me be. Eventually the store became a place where I felt solitude in a way that I needed, and the woman became an ally. When I was sixteen she offered me a job, she learned quickly that I work in my own ways, but that the store is safe in my hands so she had since trusted me to run it”

“Do you enjoy it?”

“I don’t dislike it. I enjoy the normalcy of it, the routine, the sense of purpose it gives me, and the break it gives me from writing my novel”

“You write?”

“I have four novels published”

“You- Wednesday? You are a published author?”

“Yes, I don’t understand why this is surprising”

“I just, you are so accomplished. You graduated highschool at sixteen, you have four published books and a full time job”

“I know what I want and I get it”

“I definitely see that” Enid laughed, sipping her coffee. 

“What about you?”

“Hmm?”

“What have you accomplished, what do you want to accomplish?”

“Ah, I am student body president, I have high honor roll, and I participate in a handful of extracurriculars”

“I knew that” Wednesday told her

“You knew?”

“I know a lot about you, everything that is on paper and then some” Wednesday explained, Enid somewhat already knew that Wednesday knew a creepy amount about her. This was strange though, good thing for Enid, she had no sense of self-preservation.

“Then what do you want to know, what do you not already know?”

“What isn’t on paper, something that you are proud of that I wouldn’t be able to find”

“I don’t know what you can and can’t find”

“Try it anyway”

“I recently applied to 4 different colleges” Enid said, Wednesday watched her aptly, encouraging her to keep going “Brown, Columbia, Berkeley, and Vermont state. I mostly just applied to the first two because I could, thought it couldn’t hurt anything”

“What happened?”

“I got into all four” Enid grinned, her sharp teeth shining in the weathervane’s golden light.

“Congratulations, Enid. You deserve it, you deserve all of the goodness that might come to you and then more”

“Does that include you?”

“Flirt” Wednesday said, fighting away the warmth she felt in her face. She was so proud of this girl, she cared so much. 

She couldn’t go on like this.

——————————

Wednesday Addams was very young when her family packed up and left their ancestral home to move to Jericho Vermont. 

Her mother's friend Larissa had fallen ill with a parasite around the same time Wednesday’s beloved scorpion had been killed.

It was the worst moment of young Wednesday’s life, and Larissa was terrified to be raising a child on her own.

So Morticia and Gomez decided that a move would be beneficial for everyone.  

A change of scenery for their daughter and a helping hand for their old friend.

They settled down in a haunted vintage house on the outskirts of Jericho. It took some remodeling and a lot of black paint but eventually it became good enough for the Addamses to consider it home.

Which is how Wednesday got here, waiting in the shadows of Ophelia hall for a colorful girl to leave her vampire friend’s room. 

Yoko had plans she needed to attend too soon, which meant she would be rushing Enid out anytime now. Not wanting the wolf to know the secrets being kept from her.

No, that’s where Wednesday would come in.

The door cracked open and she heard the girls talking, goodbyes and such, before Enid walked out. Skipped is more of a correct term, bouncing as she went. A sickening and sunny thing, Wednesday couldn’t get enough of it, she was learning that she would never have enough of anything Enid did.

She creeped out of the shadow as the girl skipped past, and when Enid caught sight of her she flinched back while her colorful claws made themselves known.

“Enid” Wednesday said as a greeting, watching those sharp and dangerous claws, horrible things, wonderful.

“Oh my god” Enid sighed, relaxing and letting her claws go away “Wednesday, what are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you” Wednesday said as if it explained everything.

“How did you even get in” Enid asked, looking around to make sure that they were alone “Visitors aren’t allowed in dorm halls, unless they are the family of a student in the dorm”

“Enid, I’ve been wandering these halls, this campus since I was ten years old. I know all of its secrets”

“You’ve been? What? Why?” Enid asked

“That’s for you to find out, isn’t it?” Wednesday smiled, walking away and knowing Enid would follow.

“You’re infuriating” Enid sighed, matching pace beside her.

“Flirting isn’t going to get you that date any sooner” She said, turning down the hallway and out of ophelia hall, checking the next corridor to make sure nobody was near.

“Oh my god” Enid blushed and looked away as if Wednesday hadn’t already seen it, as if it wasn’t one of the most beautiful things Wednesday had ever seen.

They wandered into a dead-end hallway, with a statue of Edger Allen Poe at the end. It was a dusty old thing, the raven on his arm turning gray with a thick layer of it. Wednesday turned to look at Enid, who had confusion written all over her face.

“Do you know anything of the nightshades?” Wednesday asked

“The poisonous plant?” Enid asked “I know a little bit, probably not nearly as much as you do”

“Not the plant, the secret society”

“Nevermore has a secret society?” Enid asked, her eyes alight with excitement, she turned away and began inspecting the statue, walking closer and looking all around it.

“Enid, wait” Wednesday said, and the other girl turned to look at her again. Wednesday has somewhat rehearsed this, she knew what she had to say but it was still hard for her to say it. She didn’t want to hurt Enid, she never wanted to see the girl hurt, which was why it was best Wednesday told her as soon as possible. “Enid, I don’t want you to get your hopes up, your not knowing about the nightshades means that the people in your life have neglected to tell you about it. I know you think that I hate your friends, that you’ll think I’m biased about this, but I want you to know that I’ve had my reasons, and I don’t want you to think that i’m doing this to hurt you”

Enid wasn’t sure what to think, or say. She stared blindly at Wednesday, processing. She sat down at the edge of the statue’s platform. She had never seen Wednesday look like that, was she scared? Scared to upset Enid?

What was going on? She was really just confused. Wednesday watched her, something in her eyes Enid couldn’t read.

“Okay, explain to me what is going on” Enid told her

“The nightshades was a group founded in the 1600’s to protect outcasts against harm that might come for them from normal people. The society since then has evolved into a large network of outcasts protecting and supporting one another, then it devolved again. Into a place used for incessant parties and underage drinking. Some members are legacy members, children of the past society members, but others are adopted into the group for their potential” Wednesday spouted off like an encyclopedia of knowledge, if it wasn’t for the bad feeling in Enid’s stomach she would really be enjoying hearing Wednesday speak, the way she spoke.

“So you’re telling me this because some of my friends are a part of this group?” Enid asked.

“All” Wednesday corrected “All members of the current group of nightshades are people you consider to be friends, or at least acquaintances”

“Oh” Enid said, this was crazy right? Wednesday didn’t even go to nevermore and she somehow knew a huge secret about its history that not even Enid herself knew. She had known Wednesday for just over a month now, so why was Enid so inclined to believe everything that she said? “Who?” she asked, looking up to meet Wednesday's pretty brown eyes.

“Barclay is the current leader, along with her are Thorpe, Petropolis, Tanaka, and the Watson siblings” Wednesday explained and Enid stayed silent. She stared into Wednesday’s eyes, her soul, trying to read her, and Wednesday let herself be read. She needed Enid to know that she didn’t do this with malice or contempt.

“They’ve been lying to me, for years?” Enid asked after a moment, she already knew the answer, but Wednesday nodded and Enid’s eyes filled with tears.

“I don’t tell you this to cause you harm”

“Then why are you telling me?” Enid asked, her frustration obvious but her demeanor still kind towards Wednesday. Wednesday sat beside Enid at the base of the Poe statue, not touching her but close enough that she easily could, she knew she would get there some day.

“I’m not yet sure how we would define the relationship between us, friends? I am not used to having friends, I have one and my feelings for her are incredibly different then my feelings for you. That’s besides the point though, no matter what we are, you are the best person I have ever known. You don’t deserve betrayal from those who you care about, and as I hope I am starting to be one of those people, I absolutely refuse to follow the trend. You deserve better, you deserve the truth, and if nobody else is going to give it to you I will”

“I appreciate that” Enid said softly, Wednesday nodded and waited, emotions like this were so new for her, she would let Enid lead from here. The pastel girl sniffled, her tears had broke free while Wednesday spoke, she wiped her cheeks with the arm of her fuzzy pink sweater. “Okay” She said, taking a deep breath, stealing her resolve. “Why did you lead me here?”

“This statue leads to the Nightshade’s hideout” Wednesday explained

“You want to confront them?” Enid asked

“I want revenge, although I will let you handle this the way you see fit”

“No, revenge is- it sounds so so good. Is that smart though? I’m angry and maybe I shouldn’t act yet”

“I will support whatever it is you choose, but you are allowed to be angry, and I am most definitely the wrong person to ask because I find great joy in the suffering of others, but I believe whatever response you might have is well founded”

“Revenge then?” Enid asked, a hint of a smile on her sad face.

——————————

The day after the incident with the Nightshades Enid did not visit the Weathervane. It was alright. It wasn’t like Enid visited Wednesday at work every single day. It wasn’t as if she said she would visit. 

Wednesday though, she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn’t decipher.

The next day Enid didn’t visit again.

Enid has school, multiple clubs to attend to, family members to spend time with, Wednesday knew that the strange feeling she was having was irrational.

On the third day, Parker snapped.

“Oh my god” The girl all but yelled, knowing that yelling at Wednesday would have her out of a job and a limb or two.

“What?” Wednesday asked, seething, Parker should be able to tell better than most not to bother her today. She was feeling particularly irritable.

“Go see her” Parker instructed 

“What?” The shorter girl asked again

“If you are so worried about Enid, go see her”

“If she wanted to see me she knows where to find me”

“Something has you on edge, I’m not sure what happened, if you two fought or something, but you should trust your gut. When have you ever not trusted yourself?”

“I’m working” Wednesday explained 

“I’ll cover for you” Parker countered

“The establishment will burn to the ground if I were to let that happen”

“Hey” Parker said “You have left me in charge before”

“For a few minutes at a time”

“Dude, just go”

She went, it wasn’t that hard of a fight considering other ones they had been in, considering that Wednesday was really quite worried about her colorful wolf.

“Will you please go the fuck away!” Enid yelled as she swung the door open. Her eyes met Wednesdays, and the door swung back shut. She squealed and there was a loud crashing sound before the door opened back up, Enid’s hair had been swept back and a obviously fake smile was plastered to her face. “I’m so sorry, Wednesday, I wasn’t expecting it to be you”

“I’m pleased” Wednesday said somewhat awkwardly.

“But, uh, what are you doing here?”

“You haven’t visited the Weathervane in a few days, and I realize that saturday was emotionally taxing”

“You were worried about me?” Enid asked, the smile on her face wavering.

Wednesday couldn’t respond, she refused to lie or to admit the truth.

“I would invite you in, but the place is a bit of a mess” Enid explained

“That’s alright, I will help you clean”

“Uh, what?”

“If that is alright with you, I mean, I realize I may be overstepping, but I am better at communicating feelings when I have a task”

“I’ve realized” Enid said sweetly, “Come on in” she stepped aside and allowed Wednesday entry into her room. It was large, and colorful but also somewhat empty. Lacking the life she would have thought Enid’s place would be full of. “You really don’t have to help pick up” Enid told her

“I’m aware, but I am choosing too help”

“Thanks” Enid said, the place wasn’t really much of a mess, she had surely never seen Pugsley’s room in Nevermore or the Addams home, he was a mess everywhere he went.

Wednesday almost immediately went to work and Enid just stood awkwardly, watching the girl she had a massive crush on make disturbed faces at the plushies as she picked them up off of the floor. 

“Talk” Wednesday instructed after a moment, Enid shook her head with a bit of a smile. She was realizing just how blunt the other girl could be, she was realizing just how endearing it really was. Enid finally began helping her, she went for her dirty clothes that were scattered on the floor, having Wednesday see them was embarrassing enough without also forcing the girl to clean them up.

“I’ve just been in a bit of a slump” Enid shrugged, a slump was really quite the understatement, she had gone into a complete depression. She lived completely in her bed, she barely went to any of her classes, she had stopped going to any of the clubs she had once participated in. 

Did it matter though? Nearly all of her friends had betrayed her, they had been lying to her for years.

After the Nightshades had all been punished due to Enid and Wednesday’s revenge, Yoko had put together the pieces of the puzzle that had been left for them.

Wednesday and Enid had made a file of evidence against each Nightshade, Wednesday had it started beforehand and Enid completely fueled the fire. She told Wednesday their deepest darkest secrets, edited out the things that might have landed them with suspensions, against all of Wednesday's complaints, and she created a slideshow that they connected to the projector of the nightshade library.

They locked the door of the library, shut off the lights, and ruined friendships and once spotless records. Wednesday left a copy, with evidence, on the principal’s desk, with a note of where to find them all.

Weems had let them out of the basement and punished them accordingly for everything in the file, detentions and the rest of the semester’s worth of community service.

Yoko realized not much later, that many of the things had been things only Enid had known.

She stormed upstairs and gave the girl an earful, Enid sat on her bed watching as the other girl blew up. She didn’t give Yoko the response she had been looking for, it made her even angrier. Enid though, was just so done trying. 

She spent her entire life trying to prove her worth to her mother and family. She changed who she was over and over again trying to fit into the mold made for her, it never worked, the mold kept changing. 

Nevermore was her safe place. She found a home there, friends who loved her.

Now it felt like that never really existed.

When yelling, Yoko had told Enid that the reason she had never been invited to join the nightshades was because she couldn’t keep her mouth shut, that she couldn’t keep a secret for her life and that going to Weems with their misdeeds was only proof of that.

Enid’s heart broke all over again.

What had once been her safe place was tainted. The people who had once been her family never loving her back in the way she had loved them. 

It hurt. 

It really fucking hurt.

So yeah, Enid had fallen apart.

“Enid” Wednesday said, she was standing in front of Enid now, her voice was soft and so were her hands as they wiped away the tears Enid hadn’t realized were streaming down her face.

“Sorry, I'm sorry. I have had a rough couple of days” Enid said, she backed away from Wednesday’s touch and rubbed at her face, this was so embarrassing.

“Don’t be sorry” Wednesday told her, she didn’t want Enid to feel like her emotions were a burden, but she had never felt that for someone before, she didn’t know how to say it.

“I just- everything is falling apart. All of my friends hate me, they never really cared about me in the first place? I don’t know, Yoko told me, yelled at me, that the reason they never told me about the Nightshades is because I couldn’t be trusted to keep the secret because I am well known as a gossip. How does that explain all of the other secrets she told me? The secrets Bianca, Ajax, and Divina told me? I don’t think she was being honest, I think they excluded me because I’m not a real wolf” Enid sat on her bed, her vision blurry with tears and her voice unsteady.

“What do you mean, not a real wolf?” Wednesday asked, following Enid and standing beside her, looking down at her. She looked pretty from this angle, she looked pretty from all angles.

“This is all I’ve got” Enid said, her claws coming free from her hand. “I’ve never transformed, I’ve been excluded from every club and pack possible. I’ve lost my family and I apparently never have had any friends”

“To no fault of your own” Wednesday said, her voice hard. “You have been dealt a horrible hand, people who are unable to appreciate you for the wonderful person that you are”

“I don’t think that. I don’t think i’m all that great of a person. What good is a werewolf who can’t wolf out, a girl who is an outcast among outcasts?”

“I am related to a few wolves, i’ve heard of many who didn’t transform until later in life. It does not make you lesser, it absolutely does not mean that you should be treated as such”

Enid was quiet, staring at her hands, her colorful claws.

“You’ve actually heard of wolves who have been my age and haven’t turned? You’re not making something up to make me feel better?”

“Enid, I have told you before and I will tell you again, I absolutely refuse to lie to you”

“You’re very set on that, huh?” Enid asked

“I have watched many of the people in your life lie to and hurt you, I am determined to never be one of those people”

“The wolf you heard of who didn’t shift until later in life, how old were they?”

“My great great aunt embolus, she was nearly thirty when she heard the calling of the moon”

“And she wasn’t considered a lone wolf?” Enid asked, Wednesday scoffed.

“That is an outdated and barbaric practice that should be reserved for the worst criminals, there is no room for it in my families pack”

“That is really nice to hear” Enid said, she pulled her pastel pink pillow into her lap and patted the seat beside her, Wednesday sat awkwardly, her back as straight as a board. “Also kind of scary, what if it takes me even longer than that?”

“Then it takes you longer” Wednesday said as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“I won’t ever fit in, I’m almost eighteen, Wednesday, and there hasn’t been a day in my life where I have felt like I belonged”

“That is because you haven’t” 

“Wednesday!”

“I don’t mean that in a bad way” She said, turning to look at the other girl, their knees pressing together as she twisted her body. “You have not belonged, among a pack of horrid wolves who were self-centered, cruel, and vicious, you would never fit in that world, you could never be any of those things. Then here at Nevermore, surrounded by teenagers who are once again self-centered, arrogant, and idiotic. Of course you have not fit in”

“You really think that of me, you really think that I am that good? That out of all the people who dislike me, a large amount of people by the way, that every single one of them are the ones in the wrong?”

“I feel like that is an impossible question, I don’t doubt that you might have made mistakes in the past, but I know that in your soul you are a good person. I know that even at your worst, I still would have been fond of you”

“You’re fond of me” Enid smiled, leaning forward to bump her knees against Wednesday’s.

“I thought I have made that quite clear, yes” 

“Thank you, Wednesday. For being here, for not lying”

“Anything for you” Wednesday said, Enid truly knew that she meant it.

———————-

So, when Enid Sinclair walked into the weathervane she really hadn’t been expecting what was about to happen. 

The minute the door opened she heard a very familiar little voice, followed up by a small body crashing into her legs.

“Enid!” The little boy exclaimed, now trying to find purchase on her sweater in efforts to climb up her body and into her arms.

“Hey, Leo” Enid said as she switched her tote bag to her other arm and pulled the small boy up to sit on her hip, she didn’t see their mom anywhere. “Where did you come from baby?”

“Playing with Wednesday and Pubert!” He told her, very excited to see her despite having just seen her that morning.

“Wednesday?” Enid asked, finally registering what the girl was doing, sitting on the diner’s floor on top of a colorful race track rug. Pubert Addams was sitting next to her and smiling up at Enid.

“Hello, Enid” Wednesday said, not even looking up from the toy car. Was that a miniature hearse? Enid walked over to join them sitting on the small carpet. 

“I didn’t know you knew my brother” Enid said, it was strange to say considering that the child was all of five years old. 

“Yes” Wednesday answered, and that was all.

“Why, exactly, do you have my brother?”

“Babysitting” The woman up at the counter said, Parker if Enid remembered correctly.

“I was really only supposed to be watching Pubert, but he and your Leo are going through a codependent phase” Wednesday explained, she finally looked up and met Enid’s eyes. Oh. Thick black eyeliner perfectly suited Wednesday’s dark brown eyes.

“And you are babysitting Pubert, why?”

“His parents are busy with meetings at Nevermore” Wednesday explained, Parker up at the counter cackling.

“I am very confused” Enid stated, she was a bit interrupted by Pubert’s climbing into Wednesday’s arms. She held him easily, like it was practiced, like she had been holding him all of his life. Pubert buried his little face into Wednesday’s shoulder and promptly fell asleep. He went to her like she was the person he was the most comfortable with. The tough little Addams toddler wasn’t even like that with his mother.

Pieces started clicking into place.