Chapter Text
Wednesday Addams was an enigma.
All through her first few weeks of freshman year, she was all people seemed to talk to Enid about. A strange student, a girl who deserved to be called an outcast among outcasts, a possible serial killer. She was said to be cruel, conniving, and ruthless. Even though she was a sophomore, people treated her like a ghost legend.
Enid wasn't really worried, but it wasn’t like she was going to ignore gossip like that. She could enjoy the tea from a safe distance as a freshman, content to hear the terrifying ways the legend would terrorize their school.
It honestly brought her a little comfort, hearing the stories of Wednesday. Even though she was strange and had no friends, Wednesday didn’t seem to care. After only a few weeks of school, Enid was already desperate to fit in and find love like everyone else.
Wednesday, from what it seemed in the stories, didn’t care for any validation, really, a stark contrast to Enid.
Which is why Enid was in shock as Wednesday Addams stood in front of her.
It had started off as an act of kindness.
“Ugh, Weems says I need to join a club,” Enid groaned, her form a shapeless jelly on the chair.
“You still haven’t found one?” her friend Yoko asked over her sunglasses. “Don’t we need an extracurricular chosen by Monday? Just join something random.”
“I don’t wanna join some snobby club like chess or fencing. I wanna at least feel like I’m doing something.”
“How about helping the bees?” The two girls looked up to find a teacher who had been passing by—a tall man with tortoise shell glasses and a neat brown suit covered in bird patterns. “I’m usually too busy to help out, but the Nevermore Hummers has notably lost many of its students after graduation. In fact, only two students remain.”
Enid looked over to her friend for an opinion. Yoko shrugged.
“Sounds better than the snobby stuff.”
Enid turned back to the tall teacher, giving a smile and a “Maybe.” It was enough for him.
“Great. My room’s just down the hall if you decide to join.”
Enid and Yoko watched as he walked away, his long, lanky legs creating clicks that echoed down the hallway.
They sat in silence on the little bench in the Nevermore hallway.
“Do you actually want to, or are you just trying to be nice and not hurt his feelings?” Yoko finally asked, breaking the silence.
“I think I do?” Enid put a finger to her chin. “I mean, only two other members, sounds like it could be close-knit; maybe we’ll even be besties!”
“Or you could be stung to death by bees.”
“Ugh,” Enid grimaced, a chill running down her spine. Bees were definitely cuter than most insects, so that helped, but it didn’t help that Enid had her fair share of stings when she was a kid. She remembered one time when her brothers had bothered a nest of bees and brought them to sting only Enid. A painful fate just because she ate the last of the jam. “Maybe you’re right. But what other club am I gonna join?”
“Eh. Your life, your death.”
Enid was lost. Yes, her sense of direction was worse than a baby’s, but it wasn’t her fault the freshman orientation tour had barely shown anything! And the only thing Slenderman told her was to “look for a decrepit little shack” behind the school. How was she supposed to find that? And what did decrepit mean?
Instead, somehow, Enid had stumbled upon a little clearing. She could hear two voices, and even this far away, she could taste the tension in the air.
“Aren’t you worried?” Enid poked her head above the little bush she was hiding in.
That voice had come from a tall, spindly boy with long hair that hid his face. Next to him was a dark-haired girl, much shorter but much more intimidating, even with the braids that framed her face. They were both students of the academy, although the girl’s uniform looked as if it were run through a camera from whatever time period black and white photography originated.
“Worried? I only stir that emotion in others.”
“I’m just saying, if you would just accept, you probably wouldn’t be lonely. You have like, no friends, except for that Eugene kid.”
“I do not need friends; Eugene is an exception. Love is worthless and a sign of weakness in the heart.” The boy scoffed at this, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“You think I’m weak for liking you?”
“Yes, Xavier, that is exactly what I’m saying.”
“Well, have fun being a loveless loser. I’m sick of you raising my hopes like this.” He started to storm off, thankfully opposite Enid's direction.
“I never raised your hopes!” Wednesday yelled at him. “It was all you!” But he was gone, disappearing into the forest.
Enid squinted into the darkness where he had gone, but there was no sign of him, as though he’d become the shadows of the trees around them.
“Are you playing the part of a helpless animal, or are you lost?”
Enid jumped, coming face-to-face with the dark-haired girl.
Well, not exactly—the girl was a little bit below her gaze, and with a quick glance down, Enid noticed that her black platform Converse were mostly the cause. But that wasn’t important.
What was important was that Enid was staring at her like a deer in the headlights.
“Are you stupid?” the girl frowned, snapping Enid out of her thoughts.
“Sorry, sorry!” Enid shook her head slightly. “Yeah, I was walking and came over here like two seconds ago, I’m lost, haha…”
“Lost and lying. You were eavesdropping; I could sense you in the bush listening. You gasped very loudly when Xavier re-confessed that he liked me.”
“I’m so sorry!” Enid clasped her hands together, bowing her head. “I was looking for the beekeeping club. I was looking for it, really, but then I came here and I heard your voices, and I was listening for a bit, I’m sorry!”
“Hm,” the girl nodded, Enid taking it as her acceptance of an apology. “The beekeeping club meets on the other end of the school.”
“Oh.”They stood there.
In silence.
Standing still.
The girl seemed to be studying her, but Enid kept her eyes elsewhere, lest she admire the girl’s pretty face too closely. Enid’s hands started to awkwardly fiddle behind her back. She was sweating from anxiety, and it would’ve probably been visible if the gentle autumn air wasn’t blowing right about now. The other girl sighed, extending a hand.
“So are you coming or not?”
She stared at the girl’s outstretched hand, at the smooth black nail polish. Her hand looked so smooth. It looked nice to hold.
Enid wiped her hand on her pants and took the hand, biting back a comment at the cold contact.
It was nice to hold.
The girl pulled her along as they walked around the edge of the school, her movements straight and proper. As they walked, Enid looked around at the other clubs.
“Why do you know where the beekeeping club is?”
“I’m a part of it.”
“Woah, really? Then why were you on the other side of the school?”
“Eugene can wait. And I wanted to finally get rid of Xavier,” the girl sighed as they continued walking. “He has been trying to court me for months, and yet he still holds out hope I will ‘come to the right side’ eventually.”
“The right side?”
“He believes that my lack of romantic attraction is a phase that only his charisma could change.” Enid laughed, imagining Xavier wooing the stoic girl currently holding her hand. “I do not yearn for the bond of another in that way.”
“Wait, really? ‘Cause I’ve always been embarrassed about that, but I’ve also never—”
“Wednesday! Is this the girl Mr. Cobblepot said would come help out?”
Wait, Wednesday?
Like Addams, Wednesday?
Enid let the soft hand in hers pull away, taken aback. She had been eavesdropping on Wednesday Addams? And she joined the club that Wednesday Addams was a part of? And she had been holding hands with the Wednesday Addams?
And Wednesday Addams wasn’t a mean, ugly, cackling witch but a short, pretty girl with the softest hands on Earth?
That couldn’t fall in love either?
“Um, hello?” Enid hopped off her brain train headed straight to mind mush. In front of her was a shorter boy with messy black hair, hand outstretched as the girl had.
As Wednesday had, Enid corrected herself.
She took his hand, much sweatier, still soft, but not in the way Wednesday’s was. No, more like a kid that hadn’t “gotten a chance to howl yet”, as her mother would say. Her mother used that one a lot on her.
“I do not believe she would assist in anything at all,” Wednesday said to who Enid assumed was Eugene, arms crossed and turned away from her.
Okay, maybe the mean part about Wednesday Addams was right.
“Any hands would be nice, Wednesday. Be nice.” Eugene hit Wednesday’s shoulder playfully. She side-eyed him, but he stayed alive and intact.
Wednesday had friends. Well, one, according to that conversation she had with that Xavier guy.
“I’m happy to help in any way I can!” Enid smiled widely, hands held behind her to hide the fact that, maybe, Yoko was right.
Enid might get stung to death, though, by the bees or Wednesday, she didn’t know.
“Enid, if the bees scare you this much, you don’t have to help out.”
“It’s fine, Eugene, really!” Enid moved to wipe the sweat from her forehead from the suffocating, hot beekeeper’s suit, but was stopped by said suit. She gave up, shaking her head and letting the little air that came through satiate her heat stroke. “Helping you and Wednesday overrides my fear.”
“Did you just need a club to join?”
Eugene was surprisingly perceptive.
“Yeah,” Enid admitted, ashamed she must have been obvious. “But I promise I won’t slack off!”
“You just lifted three months’ worth of supplies for us in minutes. You’ve done plenty.”
“Well, not really…” Enid laughed, setting down the last of the boxes.
The large pile of crates that had been crowding the shack had been crowding Eugene and Wednesday for weeks, but Enid had lifted it easily with her werewolf strength within minutes. She hadn’t even realized she’d moved so much. Eugene sighed as he set down a jar of honey on the pile.
“I have no idea where Wednesday went, but I need her to help me deal with the bees.” Enid would offer to help herself, but would she really?
The answer was no.
“I think she said something about heading to a storage room in the school? I can go get her, I’ll probably find her eventually.”
And so Enid was walking the halls, looking for some random boring room, looking for Wednesday Addams .
That was losing its novelty, honestly.
Enid strolled down the empty hallway, looking for any sign of storage. All she found were dark classrooms, long left empty. Most of the clubs were long done by now, and the only reason the Hummers were still out was the missing paperwork Wednesday was grabbing. The moving of the mess was just Enid and Eugene filling an awkward silence.
“Wednesday…” a muffled voice wafted to Enid’s ears. Oh god, she really hoped that it wasn’t what she thought was happening.
She found a room labeled “STORAGE” (where the heck was that earlier?) and moved to stand beside the slightly ajar door. Eavesdropping again would be fine, right?
“Do not approach me, Thorpe. I’ve already told you I am not interested.”
Enid let out a sigh of relief. Wednesday wasn’t on her way to makeout town; she was actually trying to avoid that. Walking in on the girl during a moment like that…thin hands running through greasy hair, lips parted as they closed in on Xavier’s…
Enid erased the visual from her mind. Gross.
Her attention snapped back to the present at the sound of shuffling. Trying to be as subtle as possible, Enid inched the door forward. Wednesday was backed up against the bookshelf as the Xavier boy was stalking forward, a look in his eye that made goosebumps push their way up Enid’s arms.
“Just because you know me does not make me fear pulling my knives out on you, Xavier!”
She did not remember the thought entering her mind, but Enid was already shoving open the door, arm out for Wednesday.
“Stop!”
Both of their heads focused on her, their movements paused.
“Enid?”
“What does this have to do with you?” Xavier scowled as he straightened his back, towering over Enid. “Me and Wednesday are fine. Don’t interrupt.”
“She’s not interested in you! Leave her alone!”
“No, she wants this, right Wednesday?” They looked over to Wednesday, who was still pushed up against the bookshelf. She brushed off her jacket and came to Enid’s side.
“I’ve told you I do not care for love. Enid is correct—please leave me alone.” Wednesday wrapped around Enid’s arm, hand gripping the pink felt of her jacket. Xavier’s eyes darted between the two, at their linked arms and Enid’s face. He searched for something between them, but whatever it was, it wasn’t there.
“Fine.” Xavier left, slamming the heavy door behind him. Wednesday let go of Enid’s arm, head lowered.
“I have been making you and Eugene wait—” Wednesday got out as Enid tackled her, embracing her in a bear hug.
“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Enid sobbed. If Enid hadn’t found her any sooner, who knows if she would’ve even been able to hug the dark-haired girl. “That Xavier guy is so creepy!”
Wednesday pushed her away, eyes wide.
“Do not touch me.”
“But you held my hand when we met.” Wednesday glowered at her.
“Just help me find the paperwork.”
Nodding, Enid turned to the shelves of binders. They were labeled with boring stuff that had to do with the school. Enid felt like her eyes were going to glue shut from boredom. She wanted to know more about Wednesday. At one moment, she seemed to hate her, and the next, she was clinging to her. That was far more interesting than tax returns.
“Enid.” She turned to Wednesday, seeing that she was still searching for the form they needed. “Thank you.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, Wends.” She watched Wednesday’s eye twitch at the nickname, stifling a giggle. “But I did want to ask you about something.” Wednesday lifted a pamphlet.
“Found. Let us reconvene with Eugene.”
Enid lifted her head to take in the details of the quiet hallway, the ornate black decorations lining the walls feeling very Wednesday-esque.
“Wednesday?”
“Hm?”
“What was it that you were saying to Xavier today and the other day? About love?” Wednesday stopped in her tracks, Enid nearly bumping into her.
“I do not wish to hear your opinion on how necessary love is.”
“Actually, I was wondering because I can’t fall in love…” Enid nudged Wednesday’s arm, pulling on her sleeve. “C’mon, let’s walk and talk, Eugene’s waiting.”
“You are right,” Wednesday sputtered, no resistance in her voice as she let Enid drag them to the outside of the school. “Eugene must be worried about me. I hate when he sees me as weak.”
“I don’t think that’s seeing you as weak,” Enid smiled. “I think it just means he cares about you. It’s sweet.”
“Sweet.” Enid laughed as she heard Wednesday gag behind her. She let the grip on her sleeve loosen, squeezing when Wednesday’s hand took place. “You are just like me then. I do not wish for romantic love as so many have.”
“Must suck for everyone then. You’re so pretty.” The hand in hers tightened. “I always thought I was weird for not being able to fall in love. I wanted it so badly; I even kissed some guy just ‘cause he bought me dinner one time!” Wednesday sped up her pace to walk side by side with Enid, hands still intertwined. “I guess it’s nice to know someone else feels that way.”
“Maybe not.” Now it was Enid who stopped to look at Wednesday in shock. There was a pink dusting the girl’s cheeks, the slow setting of the sun illuminating her freckles. “I think I could succumb to love.”
“What’re you saying, Wends?”
“You’re sure that you could never love someone? Take advantage of their friendship?” Wednesday had Enid’s hand clasped in hers, raising it to nearly break their eye contact.
“Um, I’m pretty sure.” Enid watched as something took place in the glowing browns of Wednesday’s irises, the sunset giving her eyes a golden depth she had never seen in anyone else. Her lips were parted slightly, a look that would spell adoration on anyone else’s face settling on Wednesday’s. “I thought you said you felt the same way, Wednesday?”
“Enid, I think I could fall in love with you.”