Chapter Text
Snow fell in thick flakes from the darkened sky, settling a layer of deep snow throughout the state of New Jersey: the sky a deep shade of gray despite the young hour of the day.
In the playground of Echo Reels Elementary School, Wednesday Addams had taken her opportunity to escape outside for recess, under the sheltered canopy of the surrounding trees.
The rest of the school was hauled up inside for recess, hiding away from the murmurings of a storm approaching the state: it was a pity, really, that they would close the school if it got any worse.
A windy chill ripped through the air, biting at Wednesday's cheeks and skewing Wednesday's bangs where she sat. She let out an annoyed huff, her breath visible in the air in front of her before turning the page of her book.
She hadn't expected anyone to bother her, even if, for some reason, another one of her peers had also decided to escape outside. Most kids in the school gave her a wide berth, refusing to come near her; the Addams Family were well known as the 'strange' family who lived in the haunted place up on the hill, and with her withering stare and unusual appearance, she didn't do much to discourage their apprehension.
Wednesday basked in that fact.
So, when a shadow suddenly loomed over where she sat, she was surprised to say the least. Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet the cause of her disturbance, meeting a truly abominable sight.
A blonde girl, bundled up in so many layers of color that Wednesday was sure she could class it as an assault was standing in front of her, grinning down at her with a toothy grin. The sight made her nauseous.
Enid Sinclair.
Wednesday knew of the girl. The youngest child of the Sinclair family - a family of werewolves that lived in the area. She also knew the girl was too loud for her own good, her happiness radiating everywhere she was like an ill-contained virus.
Wednesday was sure that she was having an aneurysm just looking at the girl.
"Howdy!" Wednesday offered the girl a glare, unsure why she was talking to her. She had very obviously been playing in the snow, pink jacket covered in dark patches where the snow had melted on to it, cheeks rosy pink from the bite of the coldness.
Unfortunately, Enid didn't seem to be going anywhere.
The girl bounced on her heels in front of her, sapphire eyes boring into Wednesday as she held out her hand. “I’m Enid!”
"I know." Wednesday deliberated for a second before reluctantly moving her hand from its hold on her book, shaking the blonde girl’s hand, surprised to be met with such a firm grip from the girl.
If her father had taught her anything, it was to always use the correct etiquette when someone introduced themselves. “Wednesday.” She offered.
The girl laughed, the very sound grating on the edge of Wednesday’s eardrum. “That’s a strange name. Like that weird poem!”
Wednesday furrowed her brow at that, eyes widening inquisitively at the girl in front of her. “Yes. That is where my mother got it. It is her favorite nursery rhyme.”
“That’s so cool!” Enid grinned wider, Wednesday able to see that she was missing one of her front teeth, the gap somehow making the girl look even sunnier. “Can I sit here?”
Wednesday stilled at the request, never having been approached in such a manner.
"Why?"
Enid shrugged. "'Cause."
Slowly, Wednesday nodded, Enid taking the place next to her with no elegance, plopping herself straight onto the mud. Snowflakes stubbornly stuck to the girls knitted pink and white hat, the snow still falling heavily outside the shelter of the trees.
“Watcha reading?”
“Falkner.”
Blonde brows furrowed in thought. “I’ve never heard of that.”
“It was published in the 1830s.”
“Woah. That’s like really old.” Dark eyes regarded the child next to her, watching as Enid turned back to look at the snow, a permanent smile on her face.
Wednesday couldn't help but roll her eyes. “Should you not be inside with the others?”
The girl looked back over to the school before meeting Wednesday's eyes again. “It’s boring in there. I wanna be out here building snowmen.”
"Alone?" She raised an eyebrow.
Enid sighed, toying with her gloves, “None of the others like to play with me. ‘Ts because they think ‘m weird.”
Wednesday looked at her in confusion, her book in her lap long since forgotten. Enid had so easily approached her, started up a conversation. She hadn’t been deterred by Wednesday's sharp glares or unapproachable demeanor. It was a strange concept to think that the girl in front of her had no friends, seeming so happy despite it all.
“Hey! You could be my friend.”
Wednesday's gaze hardened. "No."
"Why?" Enid frowned.
“I do not make friends. Nor do I want to.”
“That’s silly.” Enid was grinning at her again, that same toothy smile. “Let’s be friends! Just me and you.”
Wednesday slammed her book shut. "Absolutely not."
She tensed her jaw as she stood, ignoring the bite of the snow against her cheeks as she begun to walk back over to the school.
"Wait!" Enid called from behind her.
Wednesday stilled, snowflakes catching on the ends of her braids.
When she turned around to face Enid, her smile had vanished off her face, replaced by a desperate frown. The desperation threw Wednesday off track. She couldn't understand why Enid wanted to be friends with her so much.
"Please."
Wednesday's jaw ticked.
She wanted to go back to reading her book in peace, content to remain alone but Enid was looking at her with so much hope that Wednesday found herself agreeing. “Okay.”
Enid squealed next to her, Wednesday wincing at the sound as she watched Enid bounce up up and down on the spot, practically vibrating in excitement. She held a gloved hand out to the brunette, eyes shining in excitement. “Build a snowman with me?”
Wednesday stared at her for a second, hesitantly allowing the girl to take her hand and lead her over to the sandpit. She had no idea what she had gotten herself into, but she just knew that the girl in front of her was going to cause her immense amount of trouble.