Chapter Text
“I know what you’re doing, Enid.” The conversation starts, giving Enid immediate pause as she makes her way upstairs. She’d just got home from try-outs, winking to Wednesday as Pugsley excelled on the field, subtly grinning when she caught Wednesday staring from the bleachers.
It had been a lovely afternoon, all in all.
Enid clears her throat, swivelling mid-step to face her mother. Esther doesn’t look angry, or upset. Her facial expression is blank, and that’s almost more worrying. “What am I doing?” She asks, tired after an eventful day.
Of course, she didn’t get much sleep last night, she thinks with a little subtle smirk. Lay half on top of her girlfriend, in her girlfriend’s bed, with said girlfriend kissing her? Ecstasy. Would do again.
They didn’t do anything more than kissing, and perhaps there were some wandering hands. A trail of fingertips across an abdomen, a squeeze of flesh that forced a soft breathy noise out of her girl. But it meant everything to Enid. And she was pretty sure it meant everything to Wednesday, by the way she’d pouted when Enid suggested getting some sleep.
Her mother eyes her smirk, sighing deeply, hands in her jacket as she leans back against the closed door. “The Addams girl, Enid.” Her mother says, shaking her head in slight disappointment.
Enid’s blood runs cold, an immediate lump in her throat. The wording should be almost comical, her mother suggesting that she’s doing the Addams girl, but Enid can’t find the humour in it right now. “What are you talking about?” She croaks out, clearing her throat once more.
Esther runs a hand down her face, letting out another huff of disdain. “I’m at my wits end with you, Enid. I thought you were better than this. I raised you to excel, to rise above the rest – not slum it with a freak like Wednesday Addams.”
There’s a sharp retort waiting on Enid’s tongue, and she has to press it to the roof of her mouth to stop it from unleashing. The jabs at her are customary, normal. The jabs at Wednesday make her eyes narrow, her fists tighten in her jacket. “You don’t know anything about her. Don’t talk about her like that.”
Esther reacts immediately, and Enid… Enid feels like she’s just stepped in it. “So it’s true. Bruno was correct.” Her mother’s voice turns sharp, back ramrod straight, lip curling. “How long has this been going on for?”
“Since October.” Enid retorts, standing tall in the face of her mother, for once. She was proud to be with Wednesday, no matter what anyone else thought.
Esther barks out a humourless laugh, pushing off the door to stride closer. “I ask you for one thing, Enid. One thing, and you can’t even do that. You’ll never be like your brother if you keep this up. Always just one step behind, always a failure.” Her tone has turned into something mean, snappy and sharp edged.
Enid flinches at the words, clenching her jaw. “Have you ever considered what I want? Maybe I don’t want to play fucking football. Maybe I don’t want to date within the pack. Maybe I want-”
“Her?” Her mother cuts her off, one hand now clenching the banister of the stairs. “You’ve had your fun with her, Enid. Half a year too much, if you ask me. Shut it down before you go too far.”
Enid closes her eyes for a moment, nails biting into her palm, teeth grinding together. She thinks of soft brown eyes, staring back at her with so much care and love. Small hands, gentle as they slide across her shoulders. Dimples, smiles, a playful raised brow. The way her lips move as she whispers her name, Enid.
“No.” she says, voice firm. Her shoulders tense, eyes shining with a defiant glint that does nothing but piss her mother off more.
Esther’s nostrils flare, staring back at Enid with a furrowed brow. “Then I’ll do it for you.”
Enid can only watch as her mother pulls out her phone, tapping for a moment before she’s holding it up to her ear. The amount of hatred in her eyes wounds Enid, forcing her shoulders to drop.
When she looks back up, Esther is almost smirking at her. “This is Esther Sinclair. Put me through to Weems, I want to discuss an immediate transfer.”
No. Panic flares in Enid’s chest instantly, eyes wide with the fear of losing her Raven. If she was transferred, her mother wouldn’t just move her a town over. No, Esther was crueller than that. She’d move her out of state. Boarding school.
This wasn’t Enid’s first rodeo with the threat itself.
Instinct and fear take over. Enid lunges for the phone, shoving it out of her mother’s hands. Esther gasps, spinning on her heel to watch her phone hurdle towards the ground, shattering on impact.
They breathe heavily for a moment, before Esther yells out in frustration, grabbing onto Enid by the lapels. “Stupid girl! This is that girls’ influence, isn’t it? This new behaviour of yours?” Her mother sighs loudly, breath hitting Enid’s face like a slap. “You’re a disappointment to me. To your team, and to this family. Get out of my sight.”
Enid swallows the hurt, stumbling up the stairs to her room. Her hands shake as she shoves clothes into a duffel, grabbing her laptop and phone charger, able to hear her mother through the cracked door.
Harsh words that make her knees shake, insults thrown that make her lower lip wobble. Esther informs her father, disappointment and hate laced through her tone.
Enid needs to go. She knows Wednesday is out with her family, Xavier and Eugene too, celebrating Pugsley’s success today. They’d had a pretty mature conversation last night in-between kisses, about how they should really spend more time with friends and family, after the whole Xavier-Ajax debacle.
She curses her previous self as she grabs her jersey, stuffing it into her duffel before sliding open her window. With no girlfriend to sprint to, she shoots a text off with trembling thumbs and starts walking in the direction of Bianca’s house.
Her mother would know where to find her if she went to Yoko’s. Possibly know with Wednesday, and that wasn’t a risk she could take.
Plus, the den was comforting now. It’s where she met her Raven. The thought makes her hold back a sob, wiping her eyes with one hand as she sends the text.
Enid: Bianca, are you home? I need somewhere to crash, I’m so sorry to ask. Can I sleep in the den, just for tonight?
Bianca texts back almost instantly, text laced with worry and concern as she immediately agrees, telling her to come straight over. But her phone buzzes again, and she finally lets out the choked sob at the text.
Wednesday: Mi amor, I miss you so much. We are terrible decision makers, I’m cursing our previous selves.
Wednesday: [Image Attached]
Wednesday: I thought you might enjoy this though. I know how sentimental you are. I wish you were here.
The picture hits her in her chest, forcing her to stop mid stride for a moment. Wednesday’s face is half cut off, but she can still make out the fond quirk of her lips, dimple just slightly poking out of her cheek. And her eyes, God. They’re so warm, and they hold so much softness for Enid, and her heart hurts.
Xavier throws up rabbit ears behind a cheesing Eugene in the background, while Pugsley beams, sat in-between his parents. Gomez, as always, looks jovial; Pubert on his knee as he looks at his son, chest puffed out in pride. Morticia looks exactly like Wednesday, lips curled into a soft smile, a hand just grazing Wednesday’s shoulder.
They look so happy, so proud of their son. It hits Enid in her chest, then, the reality of her situation. Esther would never look at her like that.
At least, not while she was dating the girl she loved.
Wednesday could never know. She wouldn’t understand, she’d want to fix it – or perhaps skin her mother alive. The fact that Enid ponders letting her for a second says it all.
She wipes her tears once more, typing back a quick text.
Enid: Miss you too, baby! Love the photo, I’ll see you tomorrow.
It’s as good as she can write right now, too hurt to fake her normal upbeat self. Too exhausted after the whiplash; a soft afternoon with Wednesday, to falling into a trap with her mother.
You’re a disappointment to me. To your team, and to this family. That plays like a broken record in Enid’s mind as she walks. Perhaps she was a disappointment.
Bianca asks what happened when she gets there, and Enid’s at the point of numbness. She just shakes her head, croaking out a “Nothing, I just need to crash.”.
Perceptive as always, Bianca just nods, though not without hugging her before she slips into the shed. Enid doesn’t see Bianca yank out her phone as she trudges across the garden, too wrapped up in her hurt to notice.
She doesn’t bother unpacking, either. Tomorrow she’d figure out an excuse to crash at Yoko’s, or maybe Wednesday’s. This wasn’t home. Wednesday was home.
—
Wednesday was incredibly intelligent, that much was true. But more than that, she was perceptive, and she could clock a slight change in someone from a mile off.
Enid, her girlfriend, had quickly become her favourite person. So, when she received the text from Bianca, alerting her to Enid’s state, she was already on her way to pick her up. Normally, Enid would’ve texted a photo back of whatever she was doing (Wednesday would always pray she was in the gym, for a flexing photo), and she’d gush over Wednesday’s selfie skills.
Not this time. This time, her brightness was muted. Wednesday knew something was wrong just from reading the first word.
It was almost like a pull in her chest. She excused herself from the meal; her father was already paying anyway; and immediately set off in her car towards Enid’s house. Her Wolf was unhappy, and that wouldn’t stand with Wednesday.
Of course, she didn’t expect to veer off to Bianca’s house en route. That was the only surprise of the evening; she’d expected Yoko’s.
When she arrived, Bianca didn’t really say much. Just that Enid was crashing in the den, and that she looked like she’d been crying. Wednesday had to swallow the sadness at the thought of Enid suffering alone, suppressing the frown that wanted to land on her forehead.
Instead, she nodded once, and set off for the den.
It’s there that she finds Enid; jacket, phone and duffel discarded on the coffee table, shoulders shaking as she curls on the sofa. She looks… small. Her Wolf is normally tall, and loud – and Wednesday loves her for it. Small and sad doesn’t suit her.
Enid whipped around at the creak of the door, red-rimmed eyes widening at the sight of Wednesday. “Wednesday! Hey, uh, what’s up?”
Wednesday didn’t humour her. Instead, she stepped forward and opened her arms, lips tilted down in a frown of concern. Enid didn’t hesitate, immediately standing to wrap her arms around Wednesday’s waist, head buried in the crook of her neck.
The dampness that soon formed hurt Wednesday’s heart, and she could do nothing but hold her. One hand on her back, rubbing small soothing circles, the other buried in blonde, pink and blue curls.
She doesn’t know how long they stood there. But Enid pulled back with a small smile, wiping her eyes with a sniff, and she decided it didn’t matter.
Wordlessly, Wednesday took her hand, picked up her belongings with the other, and led her through the front door. Enid hugged Bianca before they left, whose eyes still held concern, but a firm look from Wednesday made her refrain from asking.
Now, in the safety of Wednesday’s bed, Enid lay in-between her legs, she dares to ask. “What happened, mi loba?”
She hears more than sees Enid swallow thickly, head buried in Wednesday’s chest, fists clenched in the back of her sweater. “Esther knows.” She whispers.
And that’s enough. Wednesday’s spine goes rigid, eyes tracing over what she can see of her girlfriend’s features. With just the lamp from Wednesday’s desk on, she can see the dark bags underneath her eyes, the tears somehow still resting on her eyelashes.
Wednesday presses a firm kiss to her temple, holding her lips there as Enid begins to croak out the story. She pulls back when Enid recalls the transfer, brow furrowed. “She would take you out of Nevermore?”
Enid chuckles, but there’s no humour in it. “Weds, she’d take me out of Jericho.” Sensing Wednesday immediately tense, she pushes herself up, shaking her head as she finally looks at her. Her eyes are so tired, and oh-so-sad, and Wednesday hates the wet feeling in her eyes. “It’s fine. I’ll handle it.”
She can only shake her head, pressing another kiss to her Wolf’s forehead. “You shouldn’t have to.” She murmurs, lips grazing Enid’s skin.
The guilt creeps in, then, as they lie there. Enid drifts off soon after, emotionally exhausted and finally satiated with her girl. Wednesday doesn’t sleep a wink.
This is her fault. Enid’s suffering, Esther’s fury – it’s all her fault.
If only she was stronger, and she could’ve kept up their secret. If only she wasn’t weak, and she’d never have started this whole thing in the first place. She could never bring herself to regret Enid, no. But she regrets giving Enid a chance to fall in love with her.
Perhaps if she were more normal… if she joined band, or if she was one of those prancing cheerleaders. Maybe if she wasn’t such an outcast, this wouldn’t be a problem.
Yet, she’d still be an Addams.
She slips out from underneath Enid at around 4am, brushing the hair from Enid’s eyes before creeping out of her own room. Gomez had an early surgery that morning, she knew, and she finds him sipping coffee in their kitchen.
He startles when he sees her, a wide grin forming. “Mi tormenta, you scared me! What do I owe the pleasure at such an early hour?”
Wednesday pours her own coffee, sliding into the seat across from her father, black hoodie wrapped tightly around her chilly frame. “I want to ask something, about one of your surgeries. From years ago. But I don’t want you to ask any questions back, just… humour me, father.”
Gomez furrows his brows, but nods, nonetheless. “Ask away, my little stormcloud. I won’t utter a word, other than the truth.”
Wednesday takes a sip, the scalding liquid burning her tongue, something else to focus on while she discovers the truth. “You once worked on a woman, when I was younger. She had been in a car accident, and she died on your table. Sinclair was her last name. Do you remember?”
Gomez freezes, a croissant halfway to his lips. He wipes away the flakes of pastry from his fingers before sighing, fingers smoothing down his moustache. “Yes, mi tormenta, I remember. Why do you ask?”
“Was it your fault?” She dares to ask, following up when her father immediately frowns. “I can’t imagine it was. Just… please. What happened?”
Enid had never told her the specifics, just that there was an accident, and a surgery, and she died. She had to know why Esther despised them.
Gomez hums, eyes distant as he recalls the memory. “No, it wasn’t. There was nothing that could be done, I’m afraid. Her injuries were far too severe, and with the limited technology we had then… no. Perhaps today, it would be a different story. But alas, mi hija, it was a haunting event.”
He eyes her with concern as she takes in the information, eyes dropping to her mug. “Were you the one to inform the family?” She murmurs, almost picturing it. Esther, a little Enid hanging off her arm, taking in the news of her sister passing away.
“Yes, mi Cuervo, I was. I’m assuming this has something to do with your loba?” He asks, tearing his croissant in half. He slides one half across to Wednesday, taking a small bite out of the other.
Wednesday nods, fiddling with the pastry as she thinks. “Her mother… is not happy with me. She detests the fact that I am an Addams, and despises the fact that-” She drops the pastry, fingers still greasy and flaky. “She despises the fact that I am me.”
Gomez doesn’t reach out and touch her, knowing that isn’t something she’d find comfort in. But his eyes hold his sorrow, and his lips downturn. “Mi tormenta…”
But, Wednesday was never good at sharing her feelings. So, she swallows the hurt, sliding the pastry back over before standing, arms wrapped tight around her ribs. “That was all I needed. Thank-you, father. Have a dreadful day.”
Before he can utter another word, she darts from the room, feet light as she ascends the stairs back to her room. Enid grumbles when she gets back in bed, tugging her so her back is flush with Enid’s front. “Missed you.” She mumbles, pressing a kiss just below Wednesday’s ear. “You okay?”
Wednesday hums, fingers trailing across Enid’s skin, arms wrapped tightly around her waist. “Fine, mi amor. Go back to sleep.”
Enid’s already halfway there, the command making her nod as she slips back off into slumber. Wednesday still can’t find it in herself to sleep, mind still reeling from new information.
This wasn’t something that could be resolved. This was 15 years’ worth of harboured hatred, over something that could never be fixed. It wasn’t Gomez’ fault, but like the harbinger of death, both his face & last name would forever be tainted in Esther’s mind. This would never work.
They would never work. Not without Enid suffering. That isn’t something Wednesday is willing to negotiate.
—
Things just declined from there onward.
“The team would like to offer our congratulations to our new members! We’ve got Nicholson replacing Taylor as our left-tackle, and Ottinger is starting as our replacement running back. Benched, but still a part of our Wolf Pack, are Addams and Jackson.” Esther speaks into a mic at the next rally, nodding as the crowd claps and cheers.
Enid could audibly whine at the dejected look on Pugsley’s face, if she wasn’t so goddamn irritated by her mother. Her and Wednesday were both waiting to hear back from Harvard, having applied together a few weeks back. They needed a new running back urgently, and Pugsley would make a great QB when she left.
Esther was just tormenting her by benching him.
And seriously, Eugene couldn’t run to save his life. In-fact, looking at him now, he looks horrified at the mere thought. This was all to punish Enid for dating Wednesday, nothing more.
“As a final note.” Her mother starts, gaining the crowds attention once more. “To prepare for our upcoming game next week, facing off against the Burlington Bears, training will now be daily, running from 5 to 9 on weekdays, and 11 to 4 on weekends. Thank you!”
The team groans around her as Enid gapes at her mother, watching as Esther raises a defiant brow. Here are the consequences, the brow says, and Enid scowls in response.
Enid hadn’t been home in a week, switching between crashing at Wednesday’s, Yoko’s and Bianca’s. She still saw her mother at training, and in the halls, but they hadn’t spoken much.
Her mother had stopped her, once, a firm hand on her arm as she tried to leave the locker room. “I won’t pull you. But I’ll make your final year hell until you break it off with that girl.”
Enid had swallowed, squaring her shoulders. “Bring it on.” That being said, she didn’t expect this level of cruelty. This was no longer affecting just her – this was affecting her girlfriend’s brother, her family.
All because of Enid.
She wipes a hand down her face, standing and turning to look for said girlfriend in the crowd. Wednesday was already at Pugsley’s side, such sympathy in her eyes as she spoke quiet words. Xavier throws up a half wave at Enid, and she weakly waves back, turning when there’s a tap on her shoulder.
“You’re coming this Friday, right? Pack party, but B said short and spooky is of course welcome too.” Yoko asks, tapping away on her phone.
Enid inhales, ready to decline, when Bruno slings an arm around her shoulder. “Yeah, Enid. Bring short and spooky so we can get to know her.”
She stiffens immediately, shrugging off his arm. “Uh, I really don’t think that’s her-”
“Why not? Are you ashamed of her?” He challenges, eyes narrowed. Yoko looks between the two, phone still loosely held in her hands, pinging away.
Enid glares. “No. We’ll be there.” She intentionally knocks her shoulder into Bruno as she passes, eyes softening as she walks towards Wednesday and Pugsley. “Hey, Pugs… how you feeling?”
Pugsley shrugs, eyes on the ground. “At least I have a number, right? 23, for if… I ever get off the bench, I guess.”
Wednesday doesn’t take her eyes off of him as he trudges away, sighing through her nose sharply. “He thinks he isn’t good enough.” She murmurs close to Enid, shaking her head slightly.
That hits Enid in her chest. She knew what that felt like, thanks Esther. And now, once again, she’s making someone else feel like that. Her girlfriend’s brother. Because of her.
“It’s my fault.” She mutters, eyes tracing Wednesday’s jaw as she abruptly turns to face her. “She’s just punishing him to get to me. I – I think – it’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
Wednesday frowns, placing two fingers underneath Enid’s chin so she can look at her properly. When their eyes meet, blue eyes full of guilt, brown eyes full of warmth, Wednesday leans in to kiss her.
With everyone around, students still milling about after the rally, half the pack and most notably her mother watching. Enid lets herself fall into it, hands sliding up to frame Wednesday’s jaw, letting the horrible feelings inside of her fade away at her girl’s touch.
Wednesday pulls back, but doesn’t stray far, hands still loosely holding Enid’s cuffs. “It’s not your fault.” She murmurs, pressing another kiss to her lips. “You have done nothing wrong. It’s – you aren’t the one to blame.”
The way she says it makes Enid pause. So self-depreciating, such a tone Enid’s never heard before. “Whose fault is it, if not mine?” Because now she has to know what Wednesday is thinking. What bad, incorrect thought is her girlfriend thinking? Is she thinking it’s her fault?
Enid fears that more than anything.
But Wednesday shakes her head, giving her a final peck before pulling away. “I know it’s not yours. Now come, Xavier has been gesturing for us for the last 10 minutes.”
She follows after her Raven, but the frown remains. Even after Wednesday agrees to the party, even after they’ve separated for last period. Wednesday thought it was her fault, that much is clear.
The thought keeps nagging at her throughout the remainder of the week, but she doesn’t dare to bring it up again. They settle into a relative peace, dancing around the subject.
Pugsley switches from being upset to being excited about the party within a few hours. Divina is excited to discuss a new true crime podcast she’s found with Wednesday. Xavier can’t wait to play spin the bottle with Ajax, spinning the bottle just so it lands on him.
But Enid can’t find it in herself to be happy, or excited, even as she walks up the steps to Bianca’s place, Wednesday’s hand in her own.
Something was wrong. Something was off. “Are you ready?” She asks instead of the dozen burning questions, slipping an arm around Wednesday’s waist.
Wednesday raises a shoulder, raising a hand to push open the door. “Ready for sweaty teenagers, loud music, and the stench of tequila? Never. Let’s go.”
Enid grins at her antics, leading them into the house. It’s smaller than the Halloween party, that’s for sure. Pack parties always were smaller, but tonight it’s… different. She frowns as she approaches Yoko at the kitchen island, accepting a cup of whatever concoction she’s made. “Where is everyone?”
Yoko glances at Wednesday before settling her eyes on Enid, shrugging. “I think most people were busy.”
Ah. So it’s about Wednesday. Enid nods, turning to kiss her girl’s temple. “Div wanted to speak to you about that podcast you’ve been listening to. I’ll catch up with you in a bit?”
Wednesday frowns, but nods regardless, accepting a cup from Yoko before stalking towards a waving Divina. The second she’s gone, Enid rounds on Yoko, hands planted on the island.
“Spill. Where is everyone really?” She demands, quiet so nobody hears, but loud enough for Yoko to pick up.
Yoko sighs, slipping a pair of shades over her eyes. “They didn’t want to come.” Enid frowns, a question on her tongue that Yoko immediately answers. “Bruno politely informed them that Wednesday and Xavier would be here. It’s… not for everyone, I guess.”
Fury builds steadily, and Enid feels her eye twitch. “What are you talking about? There’s like half the team here, Yoko.”
She nods, eyeing Enid with sympathy beneath her sunglasses. “Yeah. The half that are already friends with their own art nerds, or whatever. Take a look around.”
True to Yoko’s word, as Enid scans the room, she realises that half these people certainly aren’t Pack. They’re art geeks, science nerds – the type of people Enid wouldn’t usually socialise with, purely based on student hierarchy.
It warms her heart a little, eyes snagging on Wednesday in a heartbeat. The quirk of her lips as Divina howls with laughter, Bianca and one of the other cheerleaders grinning beside them. Wednesday doesn’t look out of place. She looks like she belongs.
“It’s not a bad thing.” Yoko says, voice soft as she throws an arm around Enid’s shoulders. “Look how happy your girl is. She’s even smiling! Kind of. In her own way.”
Enid laughs, nodding. “You’re right, it’s not a bad thing. It’s just… different.” She shrugs, taking a sip.
And she meant it. The pack accepting Wednesday was something she’d been worried about. Screw those that didn’t, Enid was just happy she was here with her – and thankful for the half that stayed.
Before long, Ajax turns the music down slightly, clearly inebriated. “Right, I call it! Time for games, everyone get in a circle with a fresh drink.”
Enid crosses the room to Wednesday, passing her a full cup. “Come on, no driving tonight. Fancy a round of never have I ever?”
Wednesday hums, letting Enid pull her up with her free hand. “I could be persuaded.”
Enid kisses her, then, freely. She can feel Wednesday smile against her, and it just makes her want to kiss her more. “Persuaded?” She murmurs against her lips, feeling Wednesday nod.
It’s not too small of a circle, and it holds all the usual culprits – Yoko and Divina, Ajax and Xavier, Bianca and a few of the other cheerleaders. And unfortunately, Enid realises as she sits, Bruno. She tugs Wednesday down to sit criss-crossed next to her, their sides entirely pressed together.
“Bianca, start us off with a round of never have I ever.” Ajax raises his cup, his free arm around Xavier.
Bianca hums, narrowing her eyes at Yoko with a grin. “Alright. Never have I ever… slept with someone in my friend’s den.”
Yoko chokes on her sip, shades sliding down her nose. “How did you know about that?!”
As they bicker, Enid eyes Wednesday, noting how she’s fiddling with her cup. “Are you alright?” She leans in to query, not so convinced by the nod Wednesday gives anymore.
She gives her knee a squeeze instead, turning back to the game. “Never have I ever made-out with someone at my job.”
Bianca groans as she takes sip, eyes widening as Wednesday follows suit. “Short and spooky! Tell me you didn’t let the cats see.” She giggles, watching as the tips of Wednesday’s ears turn red.
“No cats were subjected to it, I promise.” She quips, gaining laughs around the circle as Enid kisses her temple.
Bruno clears his throat, then, something evident in his eyes. “I’ve got a good one. Never have I ever stolen anyone’s girlfriend.” When nobody drinks, he raises his cup, a brow arched. “Uh, Addams. Did you not hear me? Drink up.”
Wednesday eyes him carefully, shoulders tense where they press against Enid. “I wasn’t aware Enid was in a relationship when we met. Enid?” She turns to her, a brow raised, but the trust is there. Wednesday knows Bruno is just fucking with her.
Enid shrugs a shoulder, slipping an arm around Wednesday’s shoulders. “Neither did I, babe.” She says coolly, watching as Bruno scowls as he sips.
“Alright. Let me re-word it. Never have I ever pretended to be something I’m not.” He retorts, raising his glass once more towards the two. “Drink.”
Enid scowls at him, taking a deliberate sip. “I’ve pretended to be interested in what you have to say since you moved here.” That gains a few tense laughs, but her eyes flick to Wednesday’s profile as she takes a sip.
That makes Bruno grin. Not a friendly grin. A grin like he knew he was right, like he’s just found an angle. “One more, just for fun. Never have I ever ruined someone’s life.” He takes a deliberate swig, wiping his mouth. “Oops. Drink up again, Addams.”
Wednesday takes a small sip, eyes counting the fibres in the carpet, body entirely rigid. Enid frowns, pulling her in a little closer. “Why did you drink? What is he talking about?”
“Nothing.” Wednesday murmurs back, scooting left to put a little distance between them. Enid’s chest clenches at that, turning to glare at Bruno.
“Alright, no more from you.” Yoko beats her to it, shaking her head with a scowl. “Let’s do something else. Spin the bottle, anyone?” She offers, quickly glancing at a raging Enid.
Ajax shrugs. “Literally half of us are dating, but sure. Spin the bottle is better than that shit.” He gestures to Bruno, who holds up his hands in lieu of a response. Enid catches Xavier’s eyes across the circle, tilting her head towards Wednesday, who still has her eyes on the ground.
Xavier frowns, shaking his head lightly. Not here. Enid nods in response, taking another anxious swig of her drink. One of the cheerleaders finds a bottle, setting it in the middle of the circle. “Let’s make this fun. 7 minutes in heaven style?” She offers, and the girl grins at the responding hoots. “Addams, you go first.”
Enid catches Wednesday jerking her head up in surprise, but the cheerleader isn’t even looking at her. She’s looking at Pugsley.
He nods, a little rosy cheeked from the alcohol, crawling to give it a spin. The rosy turns into crimson as it lands on one of the younger cheerleaders, who shrugs before standing. “Alright, come on.”
Wednesday doesn’t hoot as he stumbles along, eyes tracing his every move. Trying to ease the tension, Enid chuckles, scooting closer to her. “He’s about to have his first make-out at a party. He’ll be buzzing.”
Her Raven hums, small quirk to her lips. “Perhaps this will cheer him up.”
That just reminds Enid of everything going on with her mother, and – couldn’t they just have one night? One, perfect night, where they weren’t both thinking about everything going on? She sighs, nodding. “Yeah. I’m sure it will.”
A wide-eyed Pugsley shuffles back in 7 minutes later, still holding hands with the cheerleader, who grins in response. “Dude! We kissed!” He whispers to Eugene, who beams in response, a little tipsy himself.
Wednesday lets herself smile at the sight, and Enid thinks she’s never looked more beautiful. She even wore her hair down, for the party.
On and on the game goes – Ajax follows Bianca, assuring Xavier they just had a nice chat about a new movie releasing soon. Bruno spins for Divina, who groans dramatically as she stands, storming out of the closet after just 2 minutes. “I can’t take it anymore. I’d rather take the punishment.” Yoko cackles as she hands her a full cup, watching as she downs the entire thing.
And then, as luck would have it, Enid spins. Of course it lands on Wednesday, like fate tethering them together. She smirks as she stands, holding a hand out for her girl. “7 minutes, locked in a closet with me?”
Wednesday grins – a real grin, dimple and all – as she holds her hand out to Enid. “Lead the way, mi loba.”
Lead the way Enid does. When they get in the closet, practically chest to chest, she settles her hands on Wednesday’s hips. “Hi, Wens.”
Wednesday smiles again, and Enid feels her heart swell with just a little more love, if that was even possible. “Hello, Enid.”
Enid hooks her thumbs in Wednesday’s skirt, pulling her closer so they’re flush. “Do you wanna talk about what happened out there? With Bruno?”
Wednesday seems to dampen at this question, and she almost regrets asking. “No. Just… kiss me instead?”
Though she loved kissing Wednesday, she wanted to know what was going on more. The thought of Wednesday being upset and hiding it hurts something deep in her chest, and so she shakes her head a little. “Are you sure? I don’t – that wasn’t cool, what happened, and-”
“Enid.” Wednesday murmurs, eyes half lidded as she looks up at Enid, who promptly forgets how to breathe. “Kiss me.”
Enid doesn’t hesitate, then. Not with Wednesday looking at her like that.
She forgets her burning need to discuss the cracks in their relationship, repairing them by just being with her girl instead. As she presses her lips against Wednesday’s, tasting apple and the underlying vodka, she backs them against the closet wall.
Kisses quickly turn into something frantic, spurred on by the alcohol and how good it feels, wandering hands finding warm homes. Wednesday slides one hand into Enid’s hair, the other clutched onto a firm shoulder under her shirt, while Enid’s wander a little further.
Wednesday gasps as a warm palm slips up the back of her skirt, gripping onto the back of her thigh. She raises her leg on instinct, feeling Enid’s other hand, thumb still tucked in her skirt. “Is this okay?” Enid breathes, breaking to kiss across Wednesday’s jaw.
She nods rapidly; ankle hooked around the back of Enid’s thigh. “Yes.” She’s able to choke out, feeling more than hearing Enid hum as her lips move against her neck. Right as Enid starts to suck, she slips a firm knee between Wednesday’s legs, entirely focused on making Wednesday feel good.
It wasn’t sex, no. But 7 minutes passed pretty goddamn quickly making out like that, and Yoko yanking the door open is entirely abrupt. She laughs loudly, one hand clutching the doorframe, the other holding her stomach. “Oh, man. B! You’re gonna have to disinfect this cupboard! It’s been 15 minutes, goddamn.”
They hear the responding groan from the living room, foreheads still pressed together as they breathe heavily against one another. “Good 15 minutes?” Enid breathes, lowering Wednesday’s leg, but keeping her hand on her hip.
Wednesday’s smile is everything. Wednesday’s smile is better than making out, grinding in some cupboard at a party. “Yes.” She responds once more, lips red like she’s just been kissed stupid.
Enid fixes Wednesday’s bangs fondly, pressing a kiss to her temple before lacing their fingers together. “Let me get you another drink, go sit.” She says, pressing a kiss to the back of Wednesday’s hand, before they part.
She fixes her hair quickly, a half grin still formed, mind still on her Raven as she pours. Until Bruno walks in, and she audibly groans. “You’re still here?”
Bruno doesn’t respond, leaning his palms on the counter. “Did you fuck her?” He dares to ask, and Enid drops the bottle, hearing it audibly clatter somewhere near her.
She gapes at him in disbelief. “In what world is that your business?”
He shakes his head, dead serious. “Did you?”
Enid raises her chin defiantly, squaring her shoulders. “And what if I did?”
Bruno sighs deeply, downing his drink before crumpling the can, tossing this on the counter. “Remember what your mother said. Shut it down before you lose everything, I reckon Esther would still take you back in if you-”
“Shut your mouth.” She warns, shoving past him with a harsh shoulder to exit. But then she has to catch herself from storming straight into someone, eyes darting to the sloshing drink before they flick up.
Wednesday.
There’s no way she didn’t hear that entire conversation. By the hurt written across her face, Enid knows she’s right. “Baby…” She starts, watching as Wednesday shrinks.
Her shoulders curl inward, arms wrapped tight around her ribs. She breaks eye contact, and Enid feels her heart beat out of her chest at the pain of seeing Wednesday upset. “I’m taking Eugene home, he is far too drunk.” She murmurs, eyes still on her shoes. “Goodnight, Enid.”
Enid. Not mi amor, or mi loba. Enid.
“Wens, wait.” She protests, abandoning the drink in favour of following Wednesday. She places a hand on her shoulder, spinning her around to face her. “Hey. Wait wait wait. Talk to me?” Enid pleads, heart plummeting when Wednesday still doesn’t meet her eyes.
Eugene stumbles past them, a giggling Pugsley and an exasperated Xavier following closely. “Food!” Eugene cheers, letting himself be led out of the front door.
Wednesday side-eyes them, nodding when Xavier holds up his keys. She turns back to Enid after a moment, and… those brown eyes aren’t warm, anymore. They’re hurt, and they hold something that Enid is too upset to decipher. “I need to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Enid lets her go, then. She whispers a “Bye, Wens.” and swears she sees Wednesday’s shoulders shake at the name as the door creaks closed.
Bruno is gone when she storms back into the kitchen, aiming to take out the hurt on him for ruining a good night once again, for hurting her Raven.
Yoko tries to ask, but she just shakes her head, bidding everyone a goodnight as she trudges to Bianca’s den, at least thankful that she was supposed to be staying the night here anyway.
Wednesday doesn’t text her goodnight. Enid doesn’t text her either, worried she’s not giving her enough space. But it nags at her throughout the night, stopping her from sleeping.
So, she calls. Just once. Thumbnail between her teeth, a painful crease between her brows.
No answer.
Wednesday always picks up. Something cold washes over Enid as she gets Wednesday’s voicemail, letting her phone clatter to the coffee table in favour of holding her head in her hands.
She plays everything over in her head that night. Her argument with Esther, Pugsley at the rally, Bruno at the party. The look on Wednesday’s face.
Guilt, Enid recognises as she sobers from the alcohol and the hurt. Wednesday did think this was all her fault.
Enid had to reassure her. Tomorrow, she’d reassure her of everything.
—
Wednesday knew what she had to do. After a weekend of avoiding Enid and her phone, as much as it pained her to do so, she’d come to a decision. She even skipped volunteering, knowing Enid would search the shelter for her after a dozen missed texts and calls.
It isn’t what she wants. She’s pretty sure it won’t be what Enid wants, either. But it’s what’s best for Enid, and that’s all that matters. Wednesday thinks of herself like a poison, or perhaps a 15th century plague – infecting everything she gets her hands on.
She didn’t want to taint Enid more than she’d already done, irreparably so.
Enid could come back from this. Wednesday knows people still want her girlfriend; she’s heard as much herself.
“Look, I’m just saying. If she ditched that weird girl, she’d be a 10/10”
“If she wasn’t with the outcast, I’d for sure tap that”
“Why would someone as hot as her stoop for a freak like that girl?”
“She must have given it up for her. That’s the only reason Sinclair would entertain a loser like that”
Wednesday was used to rumours, sly remarks made as she passed their peers. It had been the norm, both pre and post rally.
The new ones sting. The new ones cut through her armour, wearing her down until she begins to believe what they’re saying. Why was Enid with her? She could have anyone she wanted. Anyone at all.
Yet, uprooting her entire life, she chose Wednesday.
She had to put a stop to it. Enid was sacrificing far too much, for nothing – for Wednesday.
So, with a heavy heart, after almost 3 days of radio silence, she pushes open the locker room door. “- and I just really fucking miss her, Yoko. I even tried their house, you know? Pugs said she wasn’t home, but her car was still in their driveway.” She hears Enid as she enters, pausing in the doorway.
Yoko sighs, standing. “She’ll come back. I think Bruno just rocked her, a bit. Give her some time.” As she turns, she makes eye contact with Wednesday, a grin forming immediately. “Or, maybe just let her come to you.”
Wednesday doesn’t grin back. In-fact, the hope she sees in Enid’s eyes as she meets them makes her swallow a lump in her throat. Yoko slips past her, wiggling her eyebrows.
Enid’s eyes have dark circles underneath them, lips a little cracked, eyes red-rimmed. Just another reminder that Wednesday has taken too much from her.
It steels her resolve, and she straightens her spine. “We need to talk.”
Enid nods, hope still in those blue eyes. “I agree, baby. I’ve been trying to find you all weekend. Where were you today?”
Wednesday shakes her head, clenching her jaw. “That doesn’t matter. I had to finish something before I saw you.”
Her Wolf nods slowly, a slight crease in-between her brows forming as she smiles. “Okay… do you wanna go first, or should I?”
If Wednesday doesn’t say it now, she thinks she’ll be sick. “I believe we should end this. Us.” She forces herself to say, but the words feel wrong, foreign in her mouth, tasting sour and razor sharp.
The hope fizzles out in Enid’s eyes, her face falling. “What?” She croaks, taking a step closer.
Wednesday shakes her head, flicking her eyes down to the bundle in her arms, unable to watch Enid’s face crumble in pain any longer. Enid follows her eye-line, eyes widening like she’s just noticed that Wednesday’s holding something.
A purple and black jersey, folded ever so neatly, white letters and the number 2 harsh against her watery eyes. “I received my letters today.” She says, having already formed a plan. “I got into both schools. I’ll be going to Oxford, and there’s an early writing program that I’ve enrolled for. I leave next Friday.”
The plan spiralled over the weekend. Whether she got into the program or not didn’t matter – Wednesday’s grades were more than good enough for her to test out early, and she planned to discuss it with Weems the following week.
It has the opposite effect she’d hoped. Enid strides forwards as she breathes out a sigh of relief, cupping her jaw with both palms, the jersey crushed between them. “That’s okay, that doesn’t mean we have to break up. We – we can do long distance, right? Until I’m done with the year, and I can come join you?” She pleads, eyes searching Wednesday’s.
Steeling herself, Wednesday takes a step back, placing the jersey on the bench. “No. We cannot, Enid.”
Enid furrows her brow, tears now freely falling down her cheeks. Wednesday has to fight the urge to thumb them away. “Why? We – we can do this, Wens. Nothing has to change. I still-” She cuts herself off with a sharp inhale, moving to cup Wednesday’s jaw once more, pressing their foreheads together. “I still love you. I love you, Wens. We can make this work. Don’t do this.”
The guilt chokes her, curling around her throat and squeezing. She was just causing more pain, to Enid.
All she wanted was to hear Enid say she loved her, and to say it back. Not like this.
“Too much has happened.” She declares, forcing herself to keep looking at Enid as she cries. She deserved this. This was her fault. “First your mother, and Pugsley. And your friends, Enid – and Bruno – too much has happened.”
Enid sobs then, shaking her head. “I don’t care. We can fix it, we can make it work, baby.” She kisses her softly, and Wednesday can’t help the way she falls into it. “It’s just me and you. Just us, Wens. That’s all that matters.”
Enough.
“I don’t want to be with you anymore.” She forces herself to say, the lie tasting like ash on her tongue. “I can’t do this.”
Wednesday ignores the tears collecting on her eyelashes, ignores the fact that one slips free when Enid crashes their lips together, crying into her mouth. “Please don’t do this. You don’t mean that.” She cries, shaking her head. “We – I can fix it. Whatever I did wrong, I’ll fix it.” She kisses Wednesday again, lip wobbling against her own, fingers shaking as she cups Wednesday’s jaw.
Enid would never listen, if Wednesday told her the real reason. Wednesday pulls back slightly, looking into wet blue eyes, forcing herself. “I don’t love you. I don’t want you anymore, Enid.” She croaks out, clearing her throat.
Enid steps back, then, hurt flashing across those muted blues. “You don’t want me anymore?” Her voice is small. She looks as hurt as Wednesday has ever seen her, and she knows that this is irreparable.
She can’t come back from this.
Wednesday swallows, eyes fluttering shut at the sharp pain in her chest. She opens them once more, and Enid… Enid is still looking at her like this is all some big joke. Like Wednesday is going to smile, a smile just reserved for her, and tell her this is a prank.
Tell her she loves her back, and she’s sorry.
“No.” She murmurs, shaking her head. “I don’t.”
Then, and only then, does Enid truly crumble. It’s the final nail in the coffin for Wednesday, watching her girlfriend – ex-girlfriend, she thinks with a pang of hurt – sink to the bench, head clutched in her hands, shoulders shaking as her body is wracked with sobs.
Enid looks up at her, eyes barely sparking with the warmth they always held for Wednesday. “Is this really what you want?” She chokes out, eyes and voice pleading with Wednesday.
Stay. Don’t leave me.
But Wednesday nods, ignoring yet another treacherous tear slipping free. And Enid… something fizzles out, then. She wipes her eyes, jaw visibly clenched, even if her lower lip still wobbles. She breaks eye contact first, staring down at the ground.
“Okay, Wens.” She croaks, nodding as she blinks through her never-ending tears. “I understand.”
Wednesday forces herself to watch, backing away towards the door slowly. “Goodbye, Enid.” She murmurs, wiping her fingers underneath her eyes with one hand while the other pulls the door open.
It was done. Enid would be fine; she would get her life back in order. Wednesday could deal with the emptiness in her chest for as long as it took.
She knew it would hurt. She didn’t expect it to hurt that much. But it was the right thing to do, she knows that much. Enid was better off without her. Even if it didn’t look that way. Even if leaving Enid, watching her tears drip onto the linoleum, was the hardest thing Wednesday has ever had to do.
Nobody has to know that Wednesday hides in a bathroom stall rather than attending 4th period, muffling her sobs into her sweater that still smells like Enid.