Chapter Text
It was a cold night out. Wednesday could feel the tip of her nose reddening by the second. She would have kept walking if not for her eyes landing on a light. No, not a light. A bright smile that could be perceived as one.
There, a few feet away from her, a beautiful blonde woman was smiling at someone standing in front of her. A glass window was separating Wednesday and that light.
Wednesday looked up and read : Sunny Beans. A coffee shop.
She stepped in.
Wednesday was not used to break her habits. She planned her days the same way every time. It brought her comfort. So going into that coffee shop today was not something normal for her. She was supposed to head to Nevermore University to meet Eugene, not to head inside an unknown coffee shop. And yet, here she was.
She was greeted by a woman with dark hair and sunglasses. Odd accessories to wear inside on a dark evening.
Wednesday did not greet her back. Her focus landed on the blonde once more. She was attending a table, wearing a pink apron. It should have disgusted Wednesday, instead it only added to the warm feeling inside of her. An odd reaction from her body.
"Uhm hello ?", Wednesday looked away from the blonde. The dark haired woman greeted once more, like a question. She was probably wondering what Wednesday was doing ogling the blonde employee.
She stepped to the counter. "A quad over ice", she simply stated.
The woman looked at her with surprise, at least that what Wednesday interpreted from her lifted eyebrows. "That's an interesting drink choice at 8pm but alright. Can I have a name ?"
"Wednesday."
"Are you for real ?", the woman responded, a light laugh punctuating her question.
Wednesday just looked at her. This seemed to shut the laughing off. The sunglass-wearing woman cleared her throat, "it will be ready in a few minutes". Her voice was smaller now. Wednesday liked that. She paid and stepped back.
When she looked back to the table that the blonde was attending to, only disappointment was awaiting her. She was gone. Wednesday looked around the coffee shop but no blonde was in sight. For the first time in her life, she pined for brightness.
It did not come back.
"Quad over ice for Wednesday", came a few minutes after the blonde disappearance. Wednesday took the drink, looked around once more. She waited a few seconds by the door. From someone else’s point of view it could have been perceived as hesitation. But for Wednesday it was more of an assessment of her environment.
"Did you come in for the coffee or the service?", this came from behind her. It was the dark haired woman. She was looking at her with a trace of poorly concealed amusement.
"The service is lacking", it was a simple response, but for some reason Wednesday was glad to not have to leave the shop this fast. Was the blonde going to come back ?
"Ah well it's always hard to please rude customers". Wednesday did not know where the sunglass-wearing woman's bravery came from. She seemed to have been scared of her after the question about her name, but perhaps the hesitation that she thought she saw in Wednesday lifted that fear of her. Wednesday did not like that. She did not do familiarities with human beings.
She took a sip of her coffee. "Pleasantries come from a place of hypocrisy".
"Damn, you are a weird one", the woman responded, smiling. Wednesday really did not like the way the woman was comfortable enough to talk back.
"Yoko, I already told you not to be rude to customers !". The voice was light even if it held disapproval. It came from behind the counter. It belonged to the blonde woman. She was shutting a door closed. Probably the break room access.
"Come on, you know it's not rudeness if it comes from a place of truth", Yoko responded.
The blonde ignored her and looked directly at Wednesday. Her heart skipped a beat. "I am so sorry, it won't happen again. Can I offer you anything to make up for the poor service ?". The blonde smiled. That bright light came back, as well as an unknown source of warmth in Wednesday guts.
"I bet she would prefer your number", this time it was Yoko that talked. Though it came in a whisper near the blonde ear. Wednesday still heard it. The blonde looked at her with an unreadable look on her face. The blush on her ears and cheeks were not as unreadable.
Wednesday took a few steps closer to the counter. She looked at the blonde once more and asked her "What is your name ?". It was direct and probably an odd question, but Wednesday really needed to know. To be able to name the brightness warming her up.
The blonde looked surprised. The blush not leaving her features. "I'm Enid", she spoke slowly, as if trying to assess the situation, to understand where the question came from.
Wednesday focused on the name.
Enid.
It was beautiful.
She sought to lookup the meaning of it once she got home.
A beeping sound came from deep inside her satchel, reminding Wednesday of her busy schedule. "I will take you up on your offer another time, Enid", the name felt like honey on her tongue, sweet and warm. She retrieved to the door, not opening it yet. "Have a good evening", she looked directly into Enid's eyes, a sea of kindness lying there.
"Ah- yes good evening to you too !", the blush was now deeper on her face and ears. Red was always a color Wednesday enjoyed.
As she closed the door behind her, Wednesday heard Yoko laughter and probably what must have been a teasing remark made at Enid's expense.
She walked on her original path, now slightly behind schedule. She was never late, but she thought that if it were to happen because she got distracted by brightness, then it was definitely worth it.
She arrived at her originally planned destination a few minutes after leaving Sunny Beans.
The main entrance of the Literature and Art wing of Nevermore was looming over her. It was beaten down with time but still holds charm, at least in Wednesday's definition of it.
Eugene was waiting by the stairs, on his phone. He did not notice Wednesday until her feet were in his line of vision.
“Hey !”, as joyful as ever, noted Wednesday, “How are you ?,” Eugene asked.
“Good evening Eugene, I’m surviving, now let’s move on, we have a schedule to respect”, she simply responded, ignoring the growing frown on Eugene's face.
“Is that a coffee cup in your hand ? Is that why you are a few minutes late ?”, surprise was lacing his voice.
“Yes and no, I’m never late”, she did not want to talk about the coffee, nor the shop and even less the bright blonde inside of it.
“But you are, 2 minutes late”, he smiled at her like he finally caught her slacking, after trying to for years.
“It barely counts”, she said while climbing the stairs to get inside the building. Eugene was walking beside her.
“It does when it’s me who is late for a few minutes. You always say that your time is precious and that disrespecting it is a death wish”, he responded, opening the door for Wednesday.
The raven haired woman did not answer. She simply headed to their destination : the library. Where Wednesday was supposed to help Eugene study for his upcoming exam on the perception of insects through literature.
But unfortunately for Wednesday, Eugene never dropped anything, and he knew his friend too well to know that she will never actually act on her daily death threats.
“I thought that you never drink coffee that wasn’t made by you ? The last time I ask you to go grab one with me you said-“
Wednesday did not let him finish his sentence “must you quote everything I say ?”
“Well yes, in your own opinion, you are the only source relevant to quote”, he laughed. She did say that once. And she still thought it was true. But right now, it really wasn’t playing in her favor for peace.
They sat down on one of the corner desks.
“Drop it if you still want my help to study”, blackmailing seemed to be the only thing left for Wednesday to do.
“Aw man, are you really going to let me struggle alone ?”, he made his best kicked puppy face. Wednesday didn’t have many weaknesses, but this was one of them. She truly liked Eugene as a person, he was kind and patient with her, even when she was rude and near impossible to be near. And even though she did like hurting people on a daily basis, Eugene was not one of them.
“Behave and it won’t happen”, she simply stated, softening her voice just enough for him to know she will actually not let him struggle alone.
“Okay okay, but can I ask just one question ? And I stop, I promise”, he grinned at her.
“Just one”, she feared the worst.
“Which coffee shop was it ?”
The question surprised Wednesday, even though she did not let her face betray her. She expected something a bit more intrusive.
“Sunny Beans.”
Eugene brows frowned. “Isn't it far away compared to the Weathervane ?”
“Eugene”, Wednesday simply warned.
“Sorry sorry, I know I said one question. I won’t ask more, so let’s circle back to insects !”
Eugene was now talking animatedly about insects, his favorite subject.
Wednesday was glad to have a friend like him, who respected her boundaries. And she knew she had a lot of them.
Wednesday came back to the coffee shop two days later, on a Friday evening.
Before she went in, she checked to see who was standing at the register. It was Enid. A bright smile in place, in a conversation with another woman behind the counter, who was not Yoko.
She stepped in and was immediately greeted by a cheerful "Hello". Wednesday noticed the moment Enid realized who entered the coffee shop, thanks to the slight blush growing on the tip of her ears. Her blonde hair was in a half ponytail tonight. Wednesday though it suited her.
"Good evening Enid", Wednesday would never admit that she waited eagerly for the past two days to say the blonde name once more.
"What can I get you ?", the smile was still in place on her soft features.
"A quad over ice", Wednesday simply responded.
Enid's smile grew, if it was even possible. "I never made one before, it's the first time someone ordered one". Unlike Yoko's comment, this one had no judgment, it was a simple statement. "It will be ready in a few minutes". Wednesday noted that Enid did not ask for her name. Did she ask Yoko about it two days ago ? Wednesday hoped she did.
She stepped back after paying, watching Enid make her drink. The blonde was focused, biting her lower lip in concentration. It was a cute sight.
Wait, Wednesday did not find things cute, so why in hell had this thought just crossed her mind ? And why did she not find it repulsive at all, but quite the opposite ? Wednesday was at a loss. She did not like people. She did not like pink, cute or bright things. And yet, here she was, craving to see more of it. What an odd revelation.
She decided to put that thought away, for a later examination. For now she will just enjoy the moment, the sunny smile and the warm eyes.
"Quad over ice for Wednesday", Enid called. So she did ask Yoko about her name. A small smirk grew on Wednesday's face, only for a millisecond.
She stepped to the counter to take her coffee away, she was stopped by Enid who was still holding the drink. Wednesday locked eyes with her. "My offer still stands, for the free food", she said with an easy smile on.
"What can you offer ?", Wednesday did not like sugary things, but maybe just this once she could cave in.
"I don't really see you as the sweet tooth type", Wednesday cocked an eyebrow up, Enid's smile was still on, "but maybe something with dark chocolate ? Like a chocolate fondant pudding, full black". Wednesday scanned the glass counter but couldn't see any chocolate pudding in it. Probably seeing where Wednesday was looking, Enid added "it's in the back. It’s supposed to be for tomorrow’s bash but Divina won't be mad if I take one out now", she flashed Wednesday her teeth, a conspiracy look on her face. Wednesday felt her guts being rearranged. She liked the feeling.
"Very well then", Wednesday simply answered.
Enid went through the back door to retrieve the chocolate treat. Wednesday looked around the coffee shop. A couple was seated at the far end, deep in conversation. The woman who was talking to Enid when she came in was in another booth, on her phone. She guessed it was probably Divina.
Just like two nights ago, the coffee shop was calm, so was the outside of it. It was standing in a small alley near the main street leading to Nevermore University. It probably received less visitors than the coffee shop in the main street, closer to the University, the Weathervane.
Wednesday always walked past Sunny Beans to get to work, avoiding the main street and its crowded sidewalks, but before last wednesday, she never stepped in. She was very peculiar about her coffee taste. Not liking to drink something made by someone else. But like her friend Eugene keeps telling her, change can be good. Maybe, just maybe, she could make a change to her coffee habit.
Enid came back with a plate and the chocolate fondant pudding. "Do you want to eat in or out ?", Wednesday noted the small hopeful look the blonde gave her.
Unfortunately, Wednesday was on a schedule "Out", she answered.
Enid's smile dipped a fraction but came back as fast as it dropped. "Alright, I will bag it for you then". She did and handed the coffee and the bag to Wednesday.
A few bit of time passed when neither of them moved. Then Wednesday took her order, brushing slightly Enid fingers. They were warm.
"Thank you Enid, have a good night", Wednesday said, heading for the door.
"You too Wednesday", answered Enid, still a bright smile illuminating her features.
Once out of the coffee shop, Wednesday decided to ignore the warm feeling surrounding her finger, like a light touch that was still lingering.
She walked in the direction of the University, sipping on her coffee.
It wasn't until tuesday that Wednesday managed to have enough time to go back to Sunny Beans.
Unfortunately for her, when she stepped in, she wasn't greeted by a cute blonde but by an annoying black haired woman.
"Hello there grim reaper", she smiled like she was about to burst into a fit of laughter.
Wednesday scanned the shop, no one was in. No blonde in sight.
Yoko noticed, "Enid is off today", she smirked.
Wednesday stepped to the counter, "A quad over ice".
"Damn, not even a hello ? I bet you are nicer to Enid", her smirk didn't leave her face. Wednesday did not like it at all.
Before she could step back, Yoko continued "Just for your information, Enid works the evening shift on mondays, wednesdays and fridays", she even dared to end the sentence with a wink.
Wednesday said nothing back and just waited for her coffee. Once it was in her hand, she left the shop without looking back, hearing a cheerful "Goodbye Gloomy" from behind her.
It was decided, Wednesday will take her coffee here three times a week. It will merely be a coincidence that those days aligned with Enid's schedule.