Chapter Text
Enid hadn’t meant to panic as much as she did. Trying to convince herself it was fine, that the nurse knew what she was talking about. That Wednesday would open her eyes in a few minutes with some cutting remark about Enid’s “overwrought concern.”
But the longer she stayed still, the more Enid’s thoughts spiraled. What if this wasn’t just exhaustion? What if something in those woods had followed her back?
She wrapped her arms around herself, chewing at the inside of her cheek and whispered, “Come on, Weds…
…just wake up already!
The nurse said it’s just exhaustion, but that doesn’t make sense, you don't get exhausted, you drain everyone else dry first!
And that after all what happened last night.
What if…
What if it’s something else? That thing we saw or- stop, don’t spiral.
Just…
Breathe, Enid.
She’ll wake up, make fun of me for fussing. She always does.
Please, Weds.
***
That morning, Agnes roamed down the corridors of Nevermore, pacing back and forth like a ghost who couldn’t decide where to haunt.
She had heard the rumors already, Wednesday Addams hadn’t woken up that morning, been carried off like a broken doll and everyone was buzzing about it. Enid was probably at her side right now, like always.
“Enid…” Agnes smiled, thinking about the last night, her heart starting to beat again a little faster.
Should she look for her? Join them?
Or…
No.
Give her space.
For the first time in ages someone wasn’t totally repelled of her and all that even after their rocky start. She couldn’t risk losing that.
No.
***
Enid sat by the bed longer than she meant to, her legs going numb under her and her phone battery long since dead, because even if Wednesday wasn’t saying anything it felt wrong to leave her there alone.
She had seen her friend pale and still before, usually after some brush with poison or some ill advised duel with blades, but Wednesday always came back sharp, ready with a barb that made Enid roll her eyes and laugh in spite of herself.
But this time there was no sharpness, just a slow rise and fall of breath and Enid found herself watching it like it was the only proof that Wednesday was still herself.
When Wednesday’s eyes finally opened, Enid nearly blurted out a dozen things at once, relief tangling with nerves. “OMG! Wed! Finally! You’re awake! You can’t imagine how worried I was that you… For real! I was starting to-”
But Wednesday didn’t look at her. She sat up with that strange precision she had, swung her legs off the bed and walked out of the infirmary without a word.
“Wait. Where are you going?” Enid called after her, but it got swallowed up by the white quiet of the ward. The echo came back to her like an answer and the absence of Wednesday’s voice left a small hole in her chest.
Her best friend hadn’t even looked at her.
She sighed and decided to leave, not being able to push aside the feeling of feeling slightly down.
Outside she found Agnes waiting at the steps for her, which made her instantly smile.
“Hey!” She said, as she dropped down by her side.
Actually being able to see Agnes, made her giggle a little as it almost looked a little forced, as if Agnes had to remind her own body not to disappear constantly.
“Why are you laughing?” Agnes asked with big eyes, but Enid just answered “You’re getting reckless. If you keep this up, people might actually remember you exist.”
Agnes tilted her head. “That sounds like a threat.”
“It’s a compliment.” Enid nudged her with her elbow. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard of Wednesday, is she fine?”
“She stood up and stormed away, so I guess… yes?”
Both laughed a little and after that, as they sat together and Enid filled the space with chatter the way she always did, while Agnes listened carefully, her eyes glued on Enid's lips.
“You have a big family? Back home, meals with my pack were insane. Everyone fought over their food, stealing clothes, stomping around like they owned the place. Back then I was annoyed, but now I miss it. Even the part where my brothers would hide my shoes just to watch me freak out. Is that weird?”
“No, not at all! I get that. I don’t have any siblings, so no one fights over me.” Agnes said quietly. “No one even saves me a chair.”
Enid blinked, then leaned into her shoulder. “Well, I’ll save you one. But you’ll have to stay visible, got it?”
That earned her a soft laugh. It was short, but real and it made Enid grin.
The quiet that followed wasn’t heavy or anything and Enid let herself enjoy it, until Agnes’s voice turned serious. “The wolf. From the other night. The one that attacked you…”
Enid’s claws prickled just under her skin. “True, I still have to figure out who that was…”
“Do you mean…” Agnes said. “... it was one of your friends?”
“It has to be! After all it was a young wolf, our age...“ Enid shrugged her shoulders. “And whoever it was, also attends Nevermore.”
“M-Maybe I can help you…?”
“hehe, that’s super sweet, but no, it’s easier for me to talk to them.” Enid answered, her mood now a lot better already, thanks to Agnes. “But you know what you can do?”
“What?”
“You can join me this afternoon at dinner. I heard they serve roadkill today!”
“S-Sure…”
“That was a joke.” Enid laughed. “Not the part where we have a date tho, so…” She winked as she jumped up, Agnes blushing slightly. “See you then!”
***
They’ll laugh. They always laugh.
Or worse, they will just ignore me, keep talking like I’m not even sitting there. That’s the part that burns, when I try and try and it’s like I don’t exist. But Enid told me to stay visible.
And she said it like she meant it. She really wants me there. Nobody’s ever said that before. What if she’s the only reason I can stand being seen at all. What if she changes her mind once she sees me at the table, fumbling every word, not funny, not smooth, just me. No… I can do this. I will sit there, I will talk, I will stay visible. Even if it’s just for her.
Part of Agnes wanted to disappear, to keep to the shadows the way she knew best. But another part, the unguarded part Enid kept dragging out of her, whispered that maybe she could do something different this time. Maybe she could walk into that noisy dining hall, sit down and actually be seen.
It wasn’t for the others. She didn’t care if the Furs rolled their eyes or muttered when she tried to talk. It was for Enid. Because Enid had asked her to try, to stop vanishing and Agnes wasn’t about to waste the one person who had ever said that to her.
She drew in a shaky breath, forced her shoulders back, before heading for the hall. “Stay visible. Just for her.”
***
The dining hall was as noisy as it always was at the end of the day, as Enid sat down on her usual spot with the Furs, who were already laughing at some dumb joke Jordana was making.
“You really missed out on our pizza party in the wolf out cages last night Enid!” Nathalie said. “Bruno inhaled eleven pepperoni pizzas and then had the worst stomach ache ever afterwards.”
“Oh, please don’t remind me.” He laughed, as Enid realized:
-True! They were all locked up, so none of them could have attacked me and Agnes…-
“Sounds… fun.” Enid said, while her gaze switched over to the door several times, checking if she would really come.
“Looking for someone?” Bruno finally asked, as he followed her eyes.
But Enid didn’t answer, as in that moment she noticed Agnes at the edge of the room, actually visible, tray in hand, scanning the tables like she was trying to work up the nerve.
Enid caught her eye, waving and soon Agnes walked straight over and sat down at the end of the Furs’ bench.
“Hi.” Agnes said, setting her tray down carefully. “I… I made it.”
The table went still for a beat. Then Bruno raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you eat here?”
“I always eat.” Agnes said. “Just not… here.”
Nathalie snorted. “You mean where people can see you?”
A few of the girls laughed, but Agnes just gave a small, awkward smile, as if she could laugh along.
“Enid told me that you all share one of the biggest dorms on campus. I guess that’s a good thing?” She tried again, forcing her voice brighter.
“Who even allowed you to speak…?” Bruno asked, his tone flat enough to draw another ripple of laughter.
Agnes’s smile faltered, as all color vanished from her face.
And Enid...
Part of her wanted to jump in, to say something, but the fact it were her so called friends who said such things… blew her mind blank. And the most she hated that split second of hesitation, the way it froze her.
But the last straw was as Bruno said “Some things are invisible for a reason.” and the Furs laughed again. Without saying another word, Agnes pushed back from the bench and stood up, leaving her tray behind as she hurried out of the hall.
Enid’s chair scraped against the floor as she shot up. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She snapped, glaring at her friends.
Bruno blinked at her. “Relax, Enid. We were just joking.”
“That wasn’t a joke.” Enid’s voice shook, louder than she meant. “She was trying, okay? And you all turn into total assholes just because she doesn’t fit in your little clique. I’m done with you all!”
The table went quiet. Jordana muttered. “Since when do you care about her?”
“Since I realized she deserves better than this.” Enid said and the words came out fast, before she could pull them back.
The silence that followed felt heavier than anything Bruno had said, as Enid turned on her heels and followed Agnes. The whole mall had fallen silent by now, their eyes glued on Enid, until she was out of sight.