Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“Being angry with me will do nothing. Werewolf culture and rights are many things Enid. You should know how much I deflect for you. I will never be the mother you desire because the laws dictate, I cannot be.”

“Aren’t laws meant to be broken?”

“Not for a broken wolf.”

……….

Ichor

The weather was dreary the dark greys hovering over the sky like a cloud of smoke that refused to leave. Rain had been a near constant and it brought distant memories of San Franciso which had once felt like a home but now it was just a place on the map rather than a place in her heart. A version of her, a younger version would have moped at the idea that the sun had been gone for so long. But here, as she sat, knees close to her chest and head resting above them she could only admire it. The rain. It pitter-pattered against the big glass plane window. It gave her a comfort as she traces which drop of rain would fall the fastest. Her face twitched a small sad smile. Rain was soothing now because on the worst days when she had run into the woods it covered the trails of tears on her cheeks.

Another sigh.

What a time it had been then to still agonize over things she thought she could have fixed, had fought so hard to find. Acceptance from Esther, a voice from Murray or understanding from the boys. Instead, all she was offered was cruel criticism, callous disregard from the things that ailed her and judgment. She had wondered for so long how someone like she could have come from a family that made little sense to her. Fraught with years of not understanding. Ruing the blood that coursed through her veins, came from a woman so cold and a man with not a singular ounce of bravery.

Her current state made much more sense when given a long thought about it. Inevitable, really.  Enid thought to herself, a grim chuckle leaving her lips. She exhaled long and loud, classes for her didn’t begin for a while. Being a non-shifting werewolf grants her two extra hours each day to be left with nothing but herself and her thoughts. She glances over to her bed; she could have been playing her guitar but one of the strings broke and she needed to go into Jericho to replace it. Training in the rain made her body tremble even though she naturally ran hot like a furnace. The idea of possibly smelling like muggy water left her nose scrunching in distaste. Not that I could even smell it to begin with. Still.

A soft knock at her door took Enid out of her thoughts, realizing just how long she had been sitting curled up. She knew it wasn’t Yoko, the vampire had been agitated that her professor was a “dick riding idiot with no sense of manners” which had landed her a detention. Enid laughed; her best friend truly was a force to be messed with. But it didn’t mean she knew who was-

“Enid, it is Headmistress Weems. I asked Ms. Thornhill of your whereabouts and she informed me that you were here. May I come in?”

Enid felt her body untense, she had not even realized she was stiff to begin with as she pushed herself slowly off the floor. Her body protested the action from being in the same position for so long, she stretched her legs and cracked her back. Then with a quiet “You can come in” she dusted off the back of her pants, made sure to fix her blazer and tie. She didn’t want to look like a complete mess in front of the one adult in her life that had shown her respect. Satisfied the blonde finally looked up to meet the face of Weems. She couldn’t help but be bashful at the way the Headmistress arched her brow at her, a twinkle in the older woman’s eyes.

“Good afternoon, Headmistress Weems.”

Weems in all her tall sophistication took two strides into the room. Eyes gazing over to the vacant area that had been taking residence in Enid’s space since her arrival at Nevermore. “Enid, you know that such formalities with me are not needed.”

“Okay but its not easy to just forget years of formalities, either.” Enid huffed and if she rolled her eyes then so be it. “Plus, I don’t think it would be great if any other outcast caught on.”

Weems hummed slowly turning back to face Enid, eyes now taking in the colored space behind the werewolf. It had been such an adventure over the years to watch the corner of the dorm change as the girl before her did. Bright, dark, muted and loud. Now it sat somewhere in the middle, her eyes no longer overwhelmed. Comforting, is how the headmistress would call it now.

“Point in your favor. Just make sure when it’s just us you are free to call me Larissa, is that alright with you?” Enid hummed and Larissa nodded before stepping closer. “I did come here with some news for you and a slight request.”

At that Enid felt her body stiffen, there were few things that made her hesitate. News being the worst of all because it was never just news. It was always disguised as horrible truths. Requests ended up being just as bad because that would require a choice from Enid. She never had one so they ended up being veiled demands. Enid rued she was nothing more than someone to be told things, never one to be offered. With a small breath and a chance that Weems was different Enid spoke.

“Not to be rude because I know you’ve done-

“-Quite a lot in my tenure as headmistress, thank you for noticing. Anything else?”

“Riiight.” Enid drawled before sighing, shoulders sagging. “Is it really a request or just a demand?”

At this Weems softened, her own body trying to pull into itself to seem smaller, non-threating. “Relax, child. I would never ask of you something I did not whole heartedly believe you could not do. Do you trust at least in that?”

Enid thought over the years of her stay at Nevermore and for that she could not find a lie. “Yeah, yeah I can.”

“Wonderful.” Weems replied and then exhaled long, as if the weight of the world were on her broad shoulders. Perhaps, they were. “How would you feel about having a roommate?”

Enid choked on seemingly nothing, blue eyes wide. “Me?” And all pretenses of being proper, coordinated and calm promptly went out the window with her guffaw. “I- me? Larissa, wasn’t like the whole point of me being placed alone all those years ago was because I was unstable-” Enid mocked, fingers up with air quotes. “Because no one could room with me and that was only because Yoko was already roomed. It wasn’t like I purposely tried to be different…Its-“

A warm hand on her shoulder stopped anymore words from leaving her mouth, chest heaving slightly. “Enid, breathe.”

Enid did as told.

“I’m sorry.”

The hand on her shoulder squeezed softly before letting go. “No, I should be the one to apologize, I should have known better than to drop something such as that so broadly.”

There was a bit of pause both women trying to find the next set of words. It seemed that this conversation would change things as they knew it. To what extent neither would know.

“Why- no, what’s different this year? It’s after the start of the semester?” Enid asked, her earlier panic leaving her body now filled with curiosity.

Weems looked into Enid’s eyes and found such blatant honesty, something so rare within her students. “A rather long story that even I am not at liberty to divulge. What I can tell you is that I spent long moments going over every option available to me. Now as I stand, is the one solution I found. One, that hinges on your understanding.”

Enid swallowed, the weight of the words leaving her chest heavier than a second ago. But the sarcasm out her mouth was light. “Oh, pft. Yeah, the failed werewolf is the solution, totally.

At this Larrisa merely raised a brow, Enid certainly had a way with her words. “Yes, actually. This roommate will be many things but condemning another outcast for things beyond their control? Never. I would swear my life on it.”

“Is that why you chose me?” Enid asked.

Because that’s what it boiled down to, Enid wasn’t a werewolf. She was a non-shifter, a blight in the werewolf community. A disgrace to anything supernatural, a poor girl destined to be nothing more than a disappointment. At least, that was the only thing drilled into her head. A broken girl more “normie” than outcast. Enid always scoffed at that what normie had razor sharp claws, body temperature that rivaled a personal inferno and strength that would put any human to shame. None, duh.

Weems made sure to look directly into the eyes of the young were-wolf, her words resolute. “Enid, the reason I chose you is because I believe you to be the best person available. The only person whom I trust. Far braver than most deem themselves within these dark halls.”

Enid inhaled; the words spoken had no option but to sink into her heart. Larissa meant them and that meant everything to Enid. But there was still the question. “Okay but that doesn’t really explain why.”

“Before I speak any further, I need to know Enid. Would you be alright sharing this space?”

At this Enid let a wry smile take over her face. “I know you asking is a formality. I know I don’t really have a choice.”

“Perhaps, but you deserve at least the forethought of being told.”

“It’s kind of like whatever you know?” Enid replied, hands finding solace in the pockets of her pants. “I spent a long time trying to be a lot of things and I just don’t have the energy to be anything else. Whether they see me as a broken wolf or a person, that’s on them.” She turned her head to the window. “I’m more than that.”

“I’m glad.” Weems replied, voice soft. “Now, the real request I have for you.”

Enid looked back to her headmistress. “Yeah?”

“I ask of you to be patient.”

Enid waited for there to be more but there was none, her face screwed up in confusion. She had expected a lot things but none of them even came close to this. Patience? Enid considered herself to be on the side of impatient. But she was calm when Esther berated her, still as a tree when Murray didn’t defend her. She was passive when she was tormented by the very boys that should have protected her. She held in her anger when werewolves at the school jeered at her, whispered “normie” as she passed the halls. Her claws would dig into her palms, drawing blood almost every single time. So much so that now in the center of both hands, held four crescent moons.

“I can do that.” Enid replied, strong in her words and her belief.

Weems smiled then, a genuine one. “Thank you, it means a lot to me. And quite frankly, I should be thanking you much more. The safety you are providing? It is of no small feat.” The headmistress added on, finally making her way back to the door.

Enid furrowed her brows. “The safety for them?” When the headmistress laughed, long and loud it caught Enid wholly off-guard. She had never heard such disbelief come from the stoic woman before her. It would be engrained in Enid’s memory forever.

“Oh, absolutely not. The safety for the rest of the student body, dear girl.” Weems casually replied, pulling the knob of the door open and taking half a step outside. Enid blanched. “The very thing that makes you is what will protect you here. And perhaps maybe more.”

“Larissa.” Enid wheezed out.

Weems got to moving quickly, words nearly just thrown over her shoulder. “Have a great rest of your day, Ms. Enid. Your roommate arrives end of this week, please do make sure to take any belongings away from the other side of the room.”

“Wait, you just can’t- headmistress Weems!” Enid followed the tall woman as she quickly retreated beyond the door, by the time Enid rushed out the Weems was at the bottom of the stairs. “What is her name?!”

At this Larissa stopped, entire body turning to face Enid once more. Eyes roving all over the young girl, searching for something that Enid could never place. A moment, then two, then three passed before Weems replied.

“Wednesday Addams.”

In one blink the Headmistress was gone.

And in two breaths Enid felt like she had somehow got played.

….

She knew she should be paying more attention in class but it was hard to when she knew the second wave of the storm was about to come. She may not be a shifting werewolf but it seemed she still had to deal with all the negative effects that came with being one. Which meant when bad weather was rolling in Enid could feel it under her skin hours before anything happened. A constant pressure only growing as clouds crept in and temperatures dropped. If anxiety could be a tangible thing, she would say this was it.

So, the little “oh” that leaves her lips when she feels a cool hand squeeze her thigh shouldn’t surprise her but it does. “Enid, I love you but if you don’t stop bouncing your leg, I am never going to get these notes done.”

Enid can feel her face screw up in apology. “Was it that bad?”

Her eyes fall to the notebook that Yoko slides across their desk, its worn on the corners and the white pages are crimped on the edges. She can see some of them have wrinkled from mishaps between them when the giggles were more important than the vials of liquid in their hands. The black has faded in spots were textbooks lay against them and she smiles when she sees “E&Y” etched into the left corner. Enid reaches her hand out to flip to the latest entry and sure enough Yoko’s usual incredible penmanship looks like a rattled mess. Her usual fine T’s are haphazard and some of the R’s manage to look like S’s somehow.

“Did I move the table?” Enid whispers.

“You mean creating a small earthquake?” Yoko replies, eyebrow arched. “Why do you think my hand is on your thigh right now, hm?”

Not letting the chance go by Enid lets out her wink. “Because I’m just that irresistible?”

Yoko scoffs at that squeezing her thigh hard before leaning back into her chair. “Even if I did want to sit on those oh so thick hands and nice long fingers, my fangs are set on someone else.”

“Yoko!”

“Enid? Is there something the matter?”

The blonde can feel her face absolutely burn bright red as she sinks back into her seat trying to make herself as small as possible. She doesn’t know which is currently worse. The fact that Yoko continues to tease her or the fact that now the whole class is staring after her outburst. Clearing her throat more than needed Enid finally finds her voice, even if it was raspy.

“N-No, Ms. Thornhill. Sorry to disrupt.”

The red-headed professor stares at the young wolf and her vampire counterpart for a few seconds before nodding. “If you are sure, please be mindful next time.”

At the dismissal Enid all but collapses into her chair head lolling to the side, heavy breath expelling from her lungs. She absolutely ignores the low chuckle from next to her lest she find a way to chase her best friend with garlic. Ever since her earlier encounter with Headmistress Weems, her energy had been swaying. She found as the day rolled on, she felt more restless. Her eyes had progressively gotten more sensitive, her claws would pop out even if she didn’t want them to and she could tell that her body was running even hotter than usual. She felt uneasy and the weather certainly didn’t help in aiding any of these feelings.

“Koinu, you literally look ready to be strung out. You, okay?” Yoko asked so very quiet purposely knowing only Enid could hear it.

Unfortunately, that was the million-dollar question Enid kept asking herself day in and day out since her arrival at Nevermore. It pained her to think that maybe there was never a time that she was fully okay. The memories of being a child free of judgement and full of unconditional love was nothing more than a distant memory. To be a teenager met with understanding and hope was dashed away in the middle of her second year at nevermore. But it had already been set towards the end of her first year, so the surprise was void but the disappointment was very much real. The hurt from all of it is what stayed.

Enid bit her lip a nervous habit she picked up on when she was young and never let go. “I don’t know, something happened with Weems earlier today.”

At that Yoko sat up vampirically quick, Enid only catching a glimpse of it because her eyes were already so sensitive. “We’re skipping fencing and talking about this right after class but we stop by the weathervane first and grab some grub.”

“You don’t even eat.” Enid grumbles and her stomach follows suit at the thought of food.

“No but I drink and you eat enough for the two of us and then some.” The vampire responds, leaning her chair in close to her best friend. “My treat, okay? Sa sete kudasai, let me help.”

Enid closes her eyes, guilt creeping in. It wasn’t intentional when she downplayed her feelings, it was a habit she was learning to break. Something that she had gotten so much better at with Yoko. It was nearly impossible for the first year for the vampire to keep track of Enid. It was only when the blonde had disappeared for nearly a whole day did her best friend finally put her fangs down. “Enid if you make my dead heart painfully run like that ever again, I will personally bleed you dry.” Enid smiles at the memory and leans her head against Yoko.

“Hai, but you’re ordering that Tyler guy still gives me bad vibes.”

Yoko scoffs “He’s just a normie but alright.”

Enid lets her mind wander again she can’t help shake the feeling that has been bombarding her all day. Her entire body feels uncomfortable and her mind feels absolutely scattered. She didn’t even register all the furs she had passed now that her mind recalls. It was something that she usually dreaded, the encounters always draining. Enid breathed in, she seemed to be doing that a lot today and tried to let herself settle. It was just another day, just a normal day.

But Enid was far from feeling normal.

…..

She had no idea where Yoko had gone after class the vampire had nearly ran out of her seat leaving the blonde to catch a “I’ll meet you out front!” She packed up her notebook, textbooks and pen into her bag slinging it over her shoulder. The weight a comforting feel at least that was until she was shoved hard into the desk. Her hip meeting the right corner harshly her face wincing at the sharp intrusion. Enid tracked the sound of rushed footsteps and of course the culprits were always the same. Furs.

“Enid, dear. You alright?”

At the sound of her teacher’s voice Enid glanced up. Ms. Thornhill was smiling gently at her; a flower Enid had never seen before clutched in her red mittened hand. Enid gave her a small smile back as she walked up to her desk. She could smell the fresh earth, wet dirt and a few chemicals as she met her teachers’ eyes.

“Great, yeah. Is this what we’re going to learn for next class?” Enid murmured watching as her teacher planted the flower into a pot. “That one we haven’t seen before.”

Thornhill hummed, focus entirely on the plant. “This is more of a personal project for me, your class is the last one I have. So, I have time to really use my green thumb.”

Enid watched her teacher the smile she had on her face was one she had never seen before. It was filled with utter glee. “Oh, well then I guess I’ll catch you next class?”

At this Thornhill startled, her gaze finally meeting Enid’s and she chuckled. “I’m sorry, forgive me.” The red head shook her mittens free of dirt and pulled them off. She placed them down before tilting her head to the wolf. “I actually wanted to ask you, if Headmistress Weems had talked to you about your new living arrangement?”

Enid nodded before realizing she needed to voice her agreement. “Yeah-yes, she did.”

“How are you feeling about it?”

Enid pursed her lips together looking down towards her shoes, hands finding themselves inside her pockets. It wasn’t often teachers went out of their way to check on her and Thornhill always had. Even if she was the dorm mother and it was part of her job, it felt more than just a routine checkup. It was another adult in her corner outside of Weems.

“I mean, its whatever you know?”

Thornhill smirked. “Enlighten me.”

“Its just-“ Enid sighed, hands flaying up in exasperation. “Weems asked me that same thing and I just- what can I say? No? I don’t want to? That’s not going to happen. I’m nervous about it because I know why I don’t have a roommate.” Enid bit her bottom lip. “She could hate me too just like so many others and I would have to suck it up because there’s nowhere else to go.”

“Oh, Honey.” Thornhill sighed, before rounding her desk and putting her hands on Enid’s shoulders giving a small reassuring squeeze. “You know you can come to me for anything, okay? In fact, I want you to. I don’t ever want you to feel like you can’t tell me things. Especially if you are uncomfortable in the one space you have, alright?”

“Okay.” Enid mummed.

“What are you still doing here?!”

Enid jumped head flicking to the doorway of the classroom where Yoko stood, shoulder against the doorframe. “Ms. Tanaka! Enid was just heading towards you now. My fault for keeping her. Go on now girls, stay safe.”

Enid blinked, feeling small hands on back pushing her forward and next thing she knew there was a cold hand in hers pulling her along outside into the corridors. Enid huffed in exasperation, her free hand grabbing the handle of her bag to steady it with how fast they were going. “You could have like been patient, jeez.”

“Uh, yeah no. I was able to leave, catch Divina, flirt with her thank you very much and walk her to practice! I was patient!” Yoko exclaimed, her grip not leaving the wolf once. “Plus, I want to beat the storm, I would rather not smell like wet bat.”

Enid scrunched her nose up. “Is that really what you smell like?”

Yoko stopped all together, turning on Enid to face her. An evil grin on her face. “You mean what I smell like wet?”

“Ugh, no!” Enid groaned, pulling her hand out of Yoko’s grasp and shoving the vampire away. “That’s not what I meant and you know it!”

They tumbled together in their haste to get the bus that was already waiting their laughter uncontained. When Yoko cackled Enid could not help but follow. Yoko reserved that laugh for those she truly was close with. Of course, that number was just one and it was Enid. The other version that everyone got was when she was threating bodily harm. Villian laugh. Enid thought to herself fondly.

There were a lot of events in Enid’s life that were unfair, wrong, and downright painful. Losing her family was the hardest one to get through. Realizing that she had also lost the only pack she ever had, sent her into a second world of hurt. Coming to understand that she was left by herself because she couldn’t shift? Then had hit the limit of time available to her, it cut her in two. The anger of being put aside ate her alive and the grief, the amount she had to let go of nearly killed her. She had been so full of love.

Outcasts were supposed to stick together.

It sucked that most saw her as something more in-between. Not an outcast, not a normie.

Something, somehow, less than.

Enid thought they could all kinda go to hell for that. She was still pretty damn awesome.

Which was why when Yoko laughed like that Enid was reminded that there was someone who didn’t care. Who didn’t pay attention to the rumors, whispers and stigmas. Who didn’t stare until it was uncomfortable. Who didn’t side step her on the way to class. Who didn’t chuckle as if there was a joke she didn’t catch. Childish. Enid never let it to get to her when she had to deal with worse at home without any hope of solace.

Coming to a school where she could walk away from it just made it another day. Something she could eventually roll off her shoulders or channel any frustration into the maybe one too many activities she had under her belt. Even if it made her the target. She wasn’t about to shy away from being Enid because others couldn’t find the space to understand her. Her struggles internally were her own but she would be damned if she let anyone ever think they could ever pull her down from where her worth was.

Yoko was one of the good events in Enid’s life, great, amazing, fantastic. Even if the start of their friendship was one that was highly unconventional. But Enid was always thankful because she knew that when left alone for too long, when the too many thoughts creeped in. The boxes of heavy feelings that took space where she has been trying to fill with better boxes instead. Love rather than grief, worth rather than loathe, pride rather than guilt. Why she couldn’t sit still for very long needing something to occupy her mind, her rings, her pen or unfortunately for her the bottom of her lip. Poor abused thing really. Chapstick was her second-best friend.

Her vampire had taken all of that in stride never blinking an eye even if she didn’t have to, supernatural being and all. Yoko talked about her adventures, dalliances and mistakes when Enid got too quiet making sure to be highly emotive for every instance. Yoko took her hands and painted them for her because “you are going to give me a migraine if you don’t stop.” Yoko held her close for hours on end silent with her when she knew Enid just needed company. Or Yoko just wanted a personal heater because Vermont was cold and vampires couldn’t produce heat. Yoko taught her how to navigate all her emotions, how to channel them into hobbies, how to overcome them rather than survive them.

Because when it was still, when she was still Enid Sinclair and their friendship had just started to blossom during her first year at Nevermore. When she still had her blog, was in the center of almost everything and everyone was still rooting for her to shift. When she had people saying hello to her in the halls, sitting next to her in class and passing notes of gossip. It was Yoko that the outcasts had steered clear from, Yoko that the whispers were about. Yoko that people warned to Enid about, to not get too close, to not trust, to not let her guard down.

It was the first time Enid didn’t like the attention, didn’t like the notes and didn’t like the entries that she received for her to deem post-able on her blog. It had made the Vampire distance herself fully from Enid and the wolf had been hurt then. She tried so many times to catch her friend but her efforts were in vain. It had made her angry something that simmered and festered for a long time. Yoko was just as much an outcast as any other. No one should have the right to outcast an outcast. It was cruel and Enid hated it.

Eventually, when the outcasts kept warning her Enid reached her limit. She had been passive in her dealings not knowing what to think but knew that Yoko was not the gossip everyone tried so hard for her to believe. She knew her friend and their bond. Enid doubled down on her instinct, that gut feeling of right and stuck with it. She wouldn’t allow herself to be dragged from the one person who had helped her. Even if that made her a pariah on some level, she refused every time to fall into the hands of pressure. She had dealt with it all her life what was some more at school.

Until she had received a post to her blog on a late Friday night, it was the best timing for impressions. All outcasts were free for the weekend, phones in hand and most places closed. The post would sail over into the weekend giving it the chance to spread from outcast to outcast. Eventually it would all but explode the coming Monday where everyone would gossip about it. It would carry into the middle of week easily just for it to repeat the coming weekend.

This post had killed a part of Enid’s heart.

It was the highest form of invasion of privacy and Enid had wished she knew what she had read before it was too late. Page after page, photos, files everything. Enid had firsthand knowledge of everything that was Yoko Tanaka. Tears had burned her eyes when she got to the actual post itself and read every single part. It made her gut swell with pain and her jaw trembled from sadness she had no idea what to do with. All she could think of was the fact someone had thought she would see this and would have the audacity to post it.

She had emptied her stomach into her trashcan then.

Enid had to settle herself for an hour after all the information she had no right to have. She showered, the water hot and steam clearing her nose of the mucus that had gathered. She got dressed in her favorite baggy hoodie, thick sweatpants and grippy socks. A reminder of comfort while she did something fully uncomfortable. She had sat down back in her chair and found the entry, stomach rolling again. She printed every single thing out, made sure to clip it, pack it into a folder and then a manila envelope.

Made sure to lock it into her drawer.

Once she felt satisfied Enid had opened her blog and scrolled through all her posts, cringing a bit at herself. She had purposely used bad grammar, a way for her peers to feel as though she wasn’t smart enough to piece parts together. She had found out quickly that people tend to share more when they thought she couldn’t keep up. In reality the blog had been something she had done for fun not really thinking it would blow up to the proportions it did.

She should have known better.

Enid didn’t feel a single ounce of regret as she typed her last post with proper grammar this time. Afterall the reason she got into Nevermore was because she had been awarded the academic scholarship. The more she wrote the more she felt like she was reclaiming a part of herself, something she felt she didn’t need to hide anymore. Her sadness, guilt and anger slowly turned to pride. She found it fitting that her blog would end in defending someone.

Defending Yoko.

Enid wouldn’t be able to picture it or put it into words, too harsh on herself to. Enid at her core was a being of action and in the moments that followed those actions would be her defining trait. One that would not and could not be changed, nudged or coerced. Invisible to her but clear to anyone who chose to see her. Her unflinching loyalty was the great sword she hauled everywhere and would weaponize for those she chose to protect.

“If you have made it this far into the post without skipping maybe there is hope for you yet. I am not proud of the journey of this blog. When thinking of it now, I know I was the creator but the words of the outcasts fueled it. I will leave my last words in those of one my favorite poets, I sincerely wish that the words sink further than just on this screen. 

A word is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

I say it just

Begins to live

That day.

-Emily Dickison.”

Enid had published the post and without taking any more time logged out, closed the page and never looked back. Good riddance. She had slumped into her chair and exhaled deeply for the first time in what felt like hours. Perhaps it had been with the way her back had ached but she refused to check the time and let herself sink into her thoughts. She knew she had done the right thing but her anxiousness started to creep in. Her fingers started playing with the ring on her thumb.

So lost in thought she hadn’t heard the balcony.

“Only you would use a sapphic poet as your final words, gotta give you that one.”

Enid had jumped out of her chair eyes instantly on the vampire standing in the center of her room. Her body felt frozen in place, eyes wide, mouth hung open a bit. She had spent so long trying to reach out, trying to help, trying to be there for Yoko. A now she was here. Enid couldn’t find her words and instead shook herself out of her frozen state. Her body nearly hurling towards the drawer with shaky hands and latching on to the envelope. The blonde swallowed before turning back and taking a few steps forward to her friend. She tried to speak but her voice was hoarse, she swallowed the dry lump in her throat and tried again.

“I-I tried so hard to find you but you, god, I swear you were always out of my reach. I wanted to let you know, you know?” Enid had started to the feel burn behind her eyes again. “That I believed you and not, not all these horrible things everyone kept saying. I got so hurt that you didn’t give me the chance and then I got angry because who had the right to say any of that about you.” Finally, Enid had the courage to meet Yoko’s eyes and she was stunned to see red teary eyes back at her.

“Did you read it? All of it?”

Enid furrowed her brows “Yes, how did you know there was anything-

“You’re not afraid?”

“What would I even have to be afraid of?” Enid scoffed and she didn’t glimpse the small smile Yoko let through. “Obviously, the person in front of me is who I know now and that’s what matters. I’m just sad because you went through so much and I’m angry because someone invaded your privacy, I-I did too by reading it.”

“You didn’t.” Yoko replied eventually, reaching out to grab the envelope before unceremoniously tearing it to pieces before Enid and to Enid’s shock with a small flick of her wrist Yoko set it aflame. “I trust you can keep that last bit secret too.”

“Of course.” Enid murmured in awe.

“I sent it to you Enid.”

Enid took a step back, confusion written all over face. “You? But-where, why?”

“Coming back to Nevermore was one thing, meeting you? Like we did?  I didn’t plan for that. I usually always think ahead, I have to. But you were this ball of literal tie-dye and I couldn’t place you, you just stayed.” Yoko laughed but it was pained. “And I had no idea what to do but I basked in it because you saw just Yoko and nothing before. But of course, it all came up and by that time, fuck Enid, I couldn’t-I didn’t want to see your eyes change on me.” The vampire stepped closer, almost hesitant waiting for Enid to run but it was Enid, Enid never ran. “So, I got pissed because fuck this school and the rumor mill. Took the biggest chance in my life.”

“You could have just talked to me!” Enid interjected and before she knew it, she closed the distance and took Yoko into a tight hug. “I would have listened.”

Yoko latched on; voice muffled but clear to Enid. “I took a chance on you. I told myself if you post it, I could never trust you. But my story? It would be for all to see because if they were going to talk shit then at least it should be right.” Enid felt Yoko grip her tighter. “If you didn’t post it but kept your distance, then I could mourn a friend lost-

“Ridicul-

“Enid, let me finish.”

“Fine.”

“I would mourn the loss but I-“ Yoko pulled away to an arms distance to look at Enid and finally, cried because the crystal blue eyes didn’t change. Enid didn’t change on her. “But I didn’t think you would call out the entire Nevermore student body AND defend me. I don’t get to have many things in my life Enid but I’m pretty sure you’re the best friend I’ve ever had now and I really don’t want to lose you.”

Enid rolled her eyes; tear tracks down her cheeks. “You are so very dramatic; you know this right?” Yoko laughed and it was thick, heavy, a cackle. Enid squeezed her shoulders to grab her eyesight again. “I’m not going anywhere, alright? You’re my best friend too.”

Enid’s mind came rushing to the present the singular sound of fingers snapping in front her. Her vision was blurry slowly coming back into focus. It took her a few more moments to gather herself. She blinked to kill some of the fuzziness at the corner of her eyesight before finally turning to the sound and facing Yoko who looked all but ready to fight someone in her stead or take her to the hospital. Both.

“God! Finally, where the hell did you go? I’ve been trying to get to you since we got on the bus!” Yoko exclaimed worry evident in her voice. “Did I rattle your head too much when I dragged you?”

Enid smiled slow; eyes bright with appreciation. “I’m really happy you’re my best friend, you know that right?”

Yoko cringed. “Gross, stop. Your being mushy. This is our stop, let’s go c’mon.”

“I’m not being mushy.” Enid grumbled.

Enid stepped foot off the bus and glanced up at the sky, the clouds were getting darker she could hear thunder in the distance. The incoming second storm was going to be a bad one and the unsettling feeling she had forgotten about came slithering back in. Shuddering, Enid walked forward and upon noticing shook her head in amusement. Yoko stood impatiently holding the door to the weathervane open. For being a Vampire who had lived over 100 years now there was not a second of patience within her. Skipping forward, she was just rounding the corner inside when a shoulder bumped into hers, Yoko steadying her before she could trip.

“Oh shit, sorry-Hey, Enid!”

Righting herself, Enid smiled wide. “Ajax! What are you doing here? When did you get here?” Enid paused; eyes blown. “Oh my god, did I forget?”

The gorgon laughed, shoving his hands into his pockets a nervous habit Enid had long picked up on. Maybe that was where she got it herself. “Naw, you didn’t, I’m here early. My family back in Greece actually kinda listened for once. I took your advice, stood up for myself, spoke my truth.” A snake under his beanie slithered out before tucking back in. “Éniothe kalá, xéreis?”

Enid beamed. “Déchomai.”

“Ohkay, you Greek tragedy love birds!” Yoko hollered standing between them, pointing a finger at Ajax. “You aren’t allowed to speak Greek!” Then pointed to Enid. “You aren’t allowed to respond!”

“That’s so unfair.”

“Yoko we’ve had this debate!”

“Nope!” The vampire denied, shaking her head. “This trio feels a lot less like a trio when you two speak all secret. I want to know the deets too! Greek is shit to learn, why are x’s and z’s next to each other.”

Ajax rolled his eyes. “I don’t get dramatic-

“-I’m not dramatic.” Yoko grumbled.

“I don’t get dramatic,” Ajax emphasized again before a wagging a finger between them both, “when you two speak full on Japanese around me.”

Enid laughed. “Okay, no. That’s totes your fault you didn’t learn and never tried to.”

“Watashi jishin ga anata ni ishi o nagerubekidesu.” Yoko smirked and even though her sunglasses hid her eyes Enid knew they were bright in mischief.

“I swear Yoko, I will hold back on the spare AB blood packs I have in my room for you.”

The vampire gasped. “You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

Ajax and Enid laughed when Yoko sighed dramatically and walked off to get in line for their coffee’s. The blonde took the chance to look over the gorgon she hadn’t seen in months. He seemed lighter, somehow, the curl of his shoulders gone. There was just the barest hint of stubble on his face and the dark circles under his eyes gone. His beanie was no longer dark but a bright highlight orange something Enid would have worn a few years back. She could understand the “you burn my eyes” from Yoko just a little better now. And if she was right, under the roll of the beanie, she could just make out a hidden joint. She shook her head to herself. Stoners.

“I missed you.” Ajax said quietly, shrugging his shoulders. “You really are a ball of sunshine like I thought I’d get tired of it but I didn’t.”

Enid tilted her head to the side. “I am so not taking offense to the last part because you were sweet at the start.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatev’s.” He looked at Enid, smile on his face. “I did though, I didn’t get to skate much back home.” He pointed to his longboard towards the entrance of the weathervane. “You wanna hang sometime with some of us and get ride time in again?”

“Hell yes!” Enid replied, bouncing on her feet in excitement. “I haven’t since you left!”

“Awesome, I’ll catch you in class then yeah?”

Enid nodded smile ever present on her face as she watched him walk away, even his gait seemed more confident. Her eyes popped open a bit when she realized in all her excitement and chatting, she missed one Xavier Thorpe quietly leaning outside the doors. He was broody that much hadn’t changed in all the years but he seemed darker all the same.

He was leaning against the brick, foot pressed up against it a cigarette between his thumb and forefinger. Her eyes trailed Ajax and her smile faded, as the gorgon all but happily shoved the artist. Nothing but joy on his face. Xavier sighed before smiling and flicking the cigarette away. It was then he looked towards Enid and the look he had on his face wasn’t hostile but wasn’t friendly either. Okay, weird. She did a short wave to him and got a subtle nod in return.

She turned around and rushed to the line where Yoko was before she promptly remembered who was at the counter and comically did a U-turn to one of the booths. She didn’t know what it was about Tyler but she could feel her entire body go on full alert whenever she was around him. It was set on a livewire and it didn’t make any sense because Tyler wasn’t an active Hyde. If something was going to happen with him it would have already happened. It made her feel guilty on some level most times because she knew she shouldn’t cast someone out. There was just something. Until that something was nothing, she would keep her distance.

“Caramel ribbon crunch Frappuccino with one extra pump caramel and one extra shot espresso.” Yoko stated placing Enid’s drink on the table. “And two double bacon, cheddar, avocado, spinach, tomato, light on the mayo paninis, for the lady.”

Enid rushed out a small thank you and made grabby hands for the paninis, eagerly taking a large bite out of the first one. Even if she couldn’t shift her appetite was still large. The mini-fridge, three crates and shelf in her room filled with food to make in her dorm was a testament to that. Not waiting to take a breather she took another huge chunk out of her panini. Glaring at Yoko when the vampire smirked at her whispering “you sure can eat out.” Glaring while chewing she watched as the vampire took her hidden flask out to pour into her drink. Before she knew it, she was already half-way through her second one before she stopped, wiping her hand on her napkin.

Yoko arched a brow up, sipping her coffee. “Done?”

“Not yet but I know you have questions to ask.” Enid replied, reaching for her drink, taking a sip. “I don’t know much though, just so you know.”

“Before all that, I just want to say how painfully gay you are.” Yoko hummed to herself. “Can’t believe Ajax was even a thing at one point.”

Enid did a long-suffering sigh; this was one thing Yoko would never let her live down. “It was one date, we didn’t even kiss!”

“You still went on a date. With Ajax.”

Enid scrunched her nose up. “Yeah- I, okay. But I got a really great friend out of it.”

“And I got my lesbian best friend!”

“I was already your best friend.” Enid deadpanned.

“Not the point, anyway. Spill, Koinu, the way I saw you in class today was not normal.”

Enid looked down at her panini and stuffed the rest into her mouth. If Yoko’s amused face was anything to go by, she knew that the vampire knew that she was trying to buy time. It was a small mistake in hindsight because the bread of the panini was drying the inside of her mouth and even if she looked like chipmunk, she was not going to spit her food out. She reached for her drink again taking a large sip and swallowed her food down. She winced it really was a big chunk.

Sighing Enid shrugged. “I’m getting a roommate.”

“Nani?” Yoko furrowed her brows leaning forward. “Why?”

“I’m not sure, Weems didn’t tell me. She seemed on edge? Hesitant?” Enid tried recalling the entire encounter. It was out of place for sure. It was Enid who usually went to the headmistress not the other way around. “But she wasn’t hesitant for me.”

“What do you mean?” Enid pursed her lips, hands in the air as if to say she didn’t know. “Okay, that doesn’t give me much. Try again.”

“She asked me to be patient.”

Yoko snorted; Enid glared.

“Anyway, I can be. Thank you very much.” Enid said, tapping her hand on the table between them. “She also said that I would be providing safety for the outcasts.”

Yoko shook her head. “Safety? For what? Who? The roommate?”

“From Her.”

Yoko leaned back almost dazed before she took off her sunglasses and stared hard at Enid. “Her? Enid, what is hers name?”

Enid didn’t see that look much on Yoko’s face it was one of fierce protectiveness almost bordering on violence. She had not seen this particular version of it since sophomore year when a handful of furs were giving Enid too much trouble. Yoko had not taken lightly to them at all and if no one outright came close to Enid after that then no one was going to say anything either. That was the power of one Heiress Tanaka and she made it known.

Don’t fuck with Enid.

“Wednesday Addams.” Enid replied quietly.

In the span of a second Enid was very aware of the fact that Yoko was no longer across from her but in front of her. It had to have been extremely fast because usually Enid could catch it especially with her eyes being so sensitive. Enid had to shift so her back was to the wall of the booth, body titled and knee bent on the cushion to see Yoko properly. The vampire all but scooched forward even more, eyes trailing all over Enid. The wolf didn’t mind her personal space being invaded by Yoko but this was bit more than she had planned for.

“You are one-hundred percent sure?” Enid glared at that and Yoko sighed. “I didn’t ask it because I thought you were stupid okay. It’s just, you know my family, my father. We are powerful, we have money and we have influence, blah blah blah.”

“I know that, Yoko but you know that I don’t-“

“You don’t judge people by their last names because that’s not what makes them, I know. Shitte iru.” Yoko rushed, helplessly shrugging. “But in this case? An Addams last name is what makes them. Fuck, it’s what they’re known for.”

“Yoko, we are not gossiping about a girl I don’t even know!” Enid hissed, eyes a cold sapphire.

“It’s not gossiping, it’s the truth!” Yoko hissed back, finally leaning back. “Power, influence and money, the Addams are built on it. You can trace their ancestry to the start, modern day outcast royalty.”

Enid pushed at Yoko trying to garner space between them trying to figure out how any of this information was going to help her in the long run. She went to a highly sought after private prestigious school, where the few of the few outcasts got in. Most of the population is based off alumni and the phrase “I’m a legacy student” paraded around daily.

It was exhausting.

She was around power, money and influence all the damn time. It was the way their uniforms were designer, their classrooms always state of the art, mess hall set with the highest quality foods. Some of the best outcast professors around the world teach at Nevermore. Weems herself was world renowned for some of her literature. Managing to be previous alumni and her headmistress!

Never mind the fact the school itself was set on acres upon acres of land free to them to use as they saw fit. Each facility pristine, the grounds always clean and halls without even an ounce of dust. Not to mention the sheer size of Enid’s dorm room, albeit she was alone but she knew most public colleges were only a quarter of the size. The fact there were halls named after each donor that contributed. One in particular being Tanaka Hall and the fields where Thornhill worked being named Thorpe’s Garden. The school itself was an insurmountable Victorian castle and was maintained by some of the best in the business. All of it would be comical if it wasn’t so down right gorgeous to begin with.

Nevermore did power and influence well.

“Yoko, it doesn’t really matter to me. Like, you do remember I come from literally nothing right?” Enid said not unkindly. “And that’s not a dig on you, don’t give me that look. I’m just trying to have you remember it doesn’t factor in for me. Whoever Wednesday is, is just Wednesday.”

Enid watched as the vampire slumped the silence between them quiet but not tense. Enid didn’t back down from her thoughts. The Addams name meant little to her she knew from her time during the blog days the name was familiar but she never searched into it. Addams was to Thorpe to Tanaka. Everyone prided on the prestige of a last name. Enid thought it was ridiculous to her now.

“Alright, okay. I hear you.” Yoko relented and grabbed Enid’s hand, squeezing it. “But she’s going to be powerful. I know you can’t smell scents like the rest of us but the lines I told you about won’t lie, even if you can’t sense them.”

Enid squeezed back, smirk on her face. “Good thing I can’t smell things like wet bat, huh.”

“God, you suck!

“I don’t.”

“Enid!”

Enid giggled taking Yoko into her giggles with her the seriousness of the conversation dwindling into next to nothing. Enid had survived a lot of things in life and none of it had taken her down yet. She was in her last year at Nevermore, she was better than before and she wasn’t going to let any rumors get to her. It made her nervous but she had been through worse and right in front of her was the person who always had her back. Not counting Ajax who came right after Yoko.

“Yoko, do you believe in me?” Enid asked quietly, staring at the vampire.

“With a whole stake to my heart.” Yoko replied instantly, putting her sunglasses back on, fangs on display. “Or something like that.”

Enid laughed. “Or something like that.”

------

The trek back to her dorm room was the part of going out that Enid hated the most. Ophelia Hall was the furthest from the rest and to make it worse, Enid’s dorm was the furthest in Ophelia Hall. Set all the way in back, up a flight of stairs into a tower. The biggest upside was that it had the best view, the balcony giving her many moments to herself and the moon. The big circular window giving her early morning sunrays and beautiful sunsets. The downside was that the window had poor insulation reminding her should get the pieces out to lessen the chill. The incoming winter would be brutal without them.

On the bus ride back, Enid had pestered Yoko about Divina until her best friend finally gave in with excited whispers. How Divina laughed at her jokes, how Divina looked at her “Like really looks at me Enid!” How the Siren is skilled on the competitive swimming team and when Enid had mentioned that sounded like cheating Yoko was quick to say it was specifically for Sirens. Enid had just hummed along giddy with joy at her best friends own happiness. It looked good on her.

Enid stopped at the bottom of her stairs head slowly tilting up as she pouted at the thought of climbing them. Groaning the blonde took one step at a time the anxiety, nervousness and out of body feeling she kept having making themselves more known than ever before. She detested the feeling hoping that by tomorrow she would be able to shake herself out of it. She figured part of it had to do with the incoming bad storm, Yoko and Enid had just avoided the start of it. Enid knows her night is going to be filled with howling winds and rain hitting her window.

Making it to the top Enid opens the large wooden door to her room. Before she could even take a full step into it, she knew immediately she was in danger. Her room which was once always cased in some sort of soft light was absolutely pitch dark. She didn’t have any more time to ponder when she heard something sailing towards her and in the last second tilted her head out of the way. It hit with a soft thunk behind her and when she looked a throwing knife was embedded in the wall.

Eyes wide in panic Enid went to move when two more came flying her way she had to duck the first one and to her dismay throw herself forward into the room. She winced as her forearms hit the wood below her taking the brunt of the fall. Her eyes were trying to adjust to the darkness around her but the sensitivity of them made it hard. The faint light from the stairs illuminating her entrance was helping but that was gone too as the door slammed shut. Enid felt her claws pop out with the room now encased in nothing but black. Enid’s heart beat wildly in her chest instantly and pushed herself up quickly.

No sooner did she stand she heard metal swinging to her left and with nothing but muscle memory Enid dodged it. Only to tumble backward when her foot got caught, getting frustrated Enid growled. She closed her eyes for a split second adjusting her breathing, claws close to her body as she tried to hear for any movement. She heard the miniscule intake of breath, nearly missing it. But the sound aided her in being able to place it in the room. She knew she had the space needed not wasting her moment Enid charged towards her door where she knew the light switch to be. Behind her another knife made its way for her and this time it caught the tip of her ear, a lock of her hair falling to the ground in its cut.

But her hand had made it to the light switch. A cost she was willing to take.

Blinking rapidly at the sudden change in light Enid turned to try and make sense of what the hell was happening. Her body felt wired, trembling with adrenaline and the uneasy feeling had dissipated only to be fueled by absolute confusion.

“Perhaps this would be a viable lesson in not leaving the door unattended to.”

Enid’s vision returned to her but it still felt like she wasn’t quite seeing correctly. There in front of her stood a girl who looked absolutely unphased. Enid slowly trailed her eyes trying to find an ounce of anything on this girl. She was perfect in her posture, back straight and shoulders forward. While Enid could feel her chest moving with her breaths the girl before her was still. Even the charcoal black hair upon her head was in place not a bang out of place or braids disheveled. Enid would have thought she was fighting a ghost, the pale skin on the girl before her would have been fitting.

Her arms were crossed against her chest, nails painted impeccably, a glossed black. Her clothing which Enid had to admit looked comfy a black leather jacket, black jeans that held close to her legs, a thick cabled sweater under what seemed to be a button down. What kept her attention for longer than a second were the shoes upon her feet. They were thick, chunky and looked to weigh a good amount. It baffled Enid because with shoes like that she should have been able to hear them but the fight in the dark had been silent except for herself and the minuscule breath Enid had only just barely caught. Enid trailed her view back up and she was taken back by the dark eyes vibrant in the night storm before her. It had finally begun its downpour.

Enid shook her head hand coming up to the ear the was knicked. “So attempted murder is just your pastime?!”

Unflinching, the girl responded. “If I am to be forcibly moved into a space with someone then I would like to know what I am going to deal with… for now.” At this the girl took one singular, prominent step forward. “Clearly you lack self-preservation skills who leaves a door unlocked?”

Enid’s frown was deepening with each second only half the words registering in her mind. “Put up with? Forcibly? For now?” She mumbled to herself before indignation crawled up her throat, eyes fierce. “So, because I don’t leave my door locked gives you the right to break in?”

“Hardly considered breaking in if the door is, as I repeat, unlocked.”

Enid squinted her eyes close taking a second sweep over the girl and noticing drops of rain shining on her jacket. She looked past her to the window noticing it was ajar. She arched her brow. “Which is something you found out after climbing the balcony huh.”

A twitch of a black brow. “Well, the imbecilic wolf who occupies this room has no regard for defensive measures.”

Enid felt the anger boiling and regardless of her safety she took two strides forward, right in front of this intruding girl. “You want to explain why you just tried to take me out?”

“You are mistaken, I didn’t try. If I had wanted to oust you I would have as soon as you opened the door.” A tilt of her chin upward, pride. “Dead by the frame if I’m being precise. I simply just let you live.”

Enid glared leaning forward. “Who are you?”

Enid’s mistake in getting closer is what allowed her firsthand view of the girl before her. Though her skin was still a deathly pale, she had freckles across her nose and upper cheeks. Her brows and lashes were thick, immaculate. Not a blemish in place anywhere while her lips were full painted in dark purple matte. Enid had to remind herself to look up again and she could only describe a fire come to light in the dark glinting eyes before her. A smirk overtook her face, it was menacing.

“Wednesday Addams, unpleasurable to meet you.”

With a hand still to her knicked ear, eyes wide in recognition, heart pattering in uneven beats Enid stood frozen. The girl before her who had not even blinked once was to be her roommate. How unfortunate that Enid was too stunned by the ambush to put it together herself. How fortunate she was to be skilled enough to avoid the knives. Does that mean I passed?

Wednesday Addams was absolutely dangerous.

And Enid couldn’t help notice the minuscule frown that overtook her roommates face and oh, maybe she should have listened a bit more to Yoko. The absolute staggering stare that Wednesday was now imparting to her stole her breath.

She was dangerously beautiful.