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“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Enid asked.
“Oh, absolutely not,” Yoko replied chipperly as she adjusted her glasses. “However, since you won’t woman up and talk to your crush about your feelings, we’re resorting to questionable spell work.”
“Okay, then we should definitely stop.”
“Does that mean you’re actually going to confess? Because I am not spending the rest of term listening to you pine while moping in my room. It’s a real mood killer.”
Enid dropped her face into her hands and moaned. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place with only one viable out. “What’s the next step of the spell?”
“It’d really more of a potion,” Divina said. “Still, my aunt says it’s foolproof. Pass the henbane? We need three stalks of it.”
“Isn’t that poisonous?” Enid asked, though she dutifully passed the potted plant.
“What’s the problem? Wednesday flavors her tea with arsenic when she isn’t taking outright belts from her bottle of the stuff,” Yoko said. “I don’t think it’s possible to poison her.”
“She won’t be ingesting this,” Divina assured.
Divina dropped the stalks into the light brown roiling mess they were cooking in an electric tea kettle with the lid off. Cooktops weren’t allowed in the dorm rooms due to their innate fire hazard and, after an incident with some gorgons last year, students had been banned from the school kitchens as well. So, they were making due with what they had. Enid wasn’t sure this would work, but what did she have to lose?
“Apply it directly to her skin. The drier it gets the more effective it’ll be, but you can use it once it hits lotion consistency,” Divina explained as she dropped more ingredients into the open kettle. “This stuff will be a fine powder at maximum potency, but it takes months of desiccation to reach that state.”
“I don’t have that sort of time!”
“Which is why I mentioned it’s useable way before that point.” Divina lifted a spoonful out to examine it briefly then poured it back into the kettle. “There’s a few more ingredients to add, but then I’d say boil it until midnight, decant, and stick it into the fridge. Should be good to go by tomorrow evening.”
“Then let’s get cracking,” Yoko said, popping her knuckles.
Potion making had never been Enid’s thing. However, she was going to try her best with this one. According to Divina this potion would reveal a person’s true nature and their feelings. Enid really needed the latter half for her purposes. Wednesday never shared her true motives or feelings, preferring to throw acid or barbs over revealing any softness. Enid needed to know if the thorns hurled her way were real or false before she offered Wednesday her throat, as the Addams would not hesitate to slit it if provoked.
That was part of Wednesday’s true nature and Enid loved her for it. Wednesday wouldn’t be Wednesday if she weren’t ruthless. It was just as critical to her character as her brilliance, dedication, and steadfast pursuit of justice, though some referred to it as vengeance. Over the years Wednesday had taught Enid so many things, usually by example. While how to build barriers to ward off emotional abuse curtesy of her mother might be the most important one, at the moment understanding risk and courtesy was more pressing.
This potion would minimize risk to Enid’s emotional wellbeing by revealing Wednesday’s feelings without tipping her own hand. If she felt the same, Enid could keep Wednesday in her life long after graduation at the end of term, possibly forever. That was the ultimate reward. If she did not feel the same, the potion allowed Enid to keep her own feelings private and avoid Wednesday’s scorn, or worse, her pity. This was exactly the sort of plan Wednesday would concoct. Enid knew she would fully approve of it if it weren’t being weaponized against her. So, she had no worries about dousing her.
The hardest question was when to make her attempt. Wednesday had an uncanny knack to sense sabotage, which is what she would undoubtedly consider this to be, and thwarting it with prejudice. As her roommate Enid had more access and trust than most. She didn’t think her actions could destroy the friendship they had built over the years, but Wednesday definitely wouldn’t give her a second chance.
Enid waited until Wednesday had gone to bed. Then she waited another hour in hope that she’d actually be asleep before Enid made her move. Wednesday’s breathing had even out and her heartbeat slowed. She had to be asleep, though she wouldn’t stay that way after Enid made her move. Enid no longer registered as a threat to Wednesday’s subconscious, but intent toward her would assuredly awaken the slumbering beast.
Enid had to be fast. Rolling over in bed she pulled the potion out of her nightstand. She sat up and put her feet on the ground before silently unscrewing the mason jar. In a rush Enid bounded over to Wednesday’s bedside. Holding the jar aloft she paused. The potion had to make skin contact. Wednesday favored long-sleeved nightgowns that wouldn’t look out of place in a Regency romance, not that Enid would ever tell her that, which made finding bare skin in the dark a challenge. She’d rather not dump the stuff on her face.
“What are you doing, Sinclair?”
Enid yelped and flailed, dropping the jar in the process. A moment later Enid was flat on the floor with a knife across her throat. Wednesday’s familiar weight was settled on top of her. Now that they were in front of the window there was enough moonlight for Enid to see the distinctly unamused expression on Wednesday’s face. The severity was somewhat softened by copious goo speckling her face. So, mission success?
“Must I repeat the question?” Wednesday asked.
“What question?” Enid mumbled. The knife wasn’t pressed tightly, but excessive movement would result in cuts.
“What were you doing?”
“I… thought you had a pimple?” Enid began. Her only saving grace was that half her statements sounded like questions. “Thought I’d apply some acne cream.”
“I have never had a pimple in my life.”
“Yeah right,” Enid snorted. What kind of teenager never had a pimple?
“It is shameful to admit. Acne scars were one of the few joys of puberty I had looked forward to, but alas I inherited my mother’s skin. If Pugsley develops massive back scars from acne like Father did I shall simply have to skin him.”
“Is that so?” Enid refrained from asking where Wednesday planned to place her brother throw rug.
“Scars are magnificent, Enid. They are the only part of Father’s looks that Uncle Fester covets. I regret having yet to develop any substantial ones of my own,” Wednesday said. She stowed her knife then lightly brushed her fingertips over Enid’s cheek scar. “Your own improved your looks.”
“Excuse you, I was super cute before!”
“And now you’re dangerous, which is inherently better,” Wednesday insisted, touching Enid’s forehead scar. She was still on top of her. “They show you fought something terrible, something powerful, and you triumphed! They show that Enid Sinclair is not to be trifled with instead of a frightened marshmallow.”
“I liked being a marshmallow.”
Wednesday rolled her eyes and climbed off Enid. She immediately missed the other girl’s warmth. Grabbing the sleeve of her bathrobe Wednesday wiped the potion off her face and neck.
“Touch any pimple of mine again and I’ll skin you as well,” Wednesday promised.
“Fine, I won’t bother trying to help you again,” Enid snapped.
Wednesday slipped back into her own bed and settled down without another word. Enid couldn’t believe it. She had dosed Wednesday without detection. She hadn’t really thought that possible. Sure, Wednesday wiped a lot of it off, but it sat on her face for a while first and she hadn’t changed her nightgown, so anything that had soaked in was still against her skin. By tomorrow morning Enid thought she could get Wednesday’s true feelings.
That thought was almost enough to keep her awake. Instead, the post adrenaline crash from Wednesday’s knife at her throat knocked Enid out pretty quick. She didn’t wake until her alarm clock blared on in the morning. That in itself was strange. Wednesday always woke her up before her alarm specifically so that she didn’t have to listen to it. Enid set it more out of habit than actual need. Hearing it now could only mean something had happened to Wednesday.
What if it was the potion? Wednesday could handle any poison, but what if she had had an allergic reaction or there had been an unintended side effect? That thought jolted Enid out of bed. She didn’t see her roommate anywhere, but there was a large lump in the center of her bed. As Enid approached it, she hoped that wasn’t Wednesday curled up in a ball of pain under the covers.
“Hey Wednesday, are you okay?” Enid asked. The lump twitched. She grabbed the edge of the covers. “I’m just trying to check on you; please don’t stab me.”
There was no response from the lump. Enid took that as permission. She ripped off the covers revealing a mass of black. As the mass unfurled, Enid realized that she had found a goose instead of a girl. Pitch black save for a bright red beak the bird hissed at her and spread its wings, sending a volley of feathers into the air. The gleam of violence in the bird’s eye was familiar though. Enid had made a major mistake.
“Oh no… no, no, no,” Enid moaned, running her hands down her face. She took a deep breath. “Okay, I promise I’m going to fix this.”
Lunging Enid flung her arms around the goose tightly cradling her body against her chest like a football to pin the wings. Effectively captured, Enid moved onto step two of her plan: get help. She sprinted out of the room, goose neck trailing behind her.
“Yoko, Divina, help!” Enid shouted as she burst into the former’s dorm room, goose still in hand. “That potion turned Wednesday into a goose!”
“Pretty sure that’s a swan,” Yoko snarked, slurping a blood pouch like a Capri Sun. She hadn’t even twitched when Enid burst into the room. At least Divina had sat up in bed. “The neck’s too long and geese don’t come in all black.”
“This wasn’t what I was expecting by true nature,” Divina admitted. “Are you sure that’s Wednesday?”
“How could it not be? She left the swan’s head free to strike and she hasn’t bitten Enid yet,” Yoko said. The swan hissed at the vampire. Yoko cackled. “Ya see? Only Addams has that much pent-up aggression, but won’t harm our powder-pup.”
Divina conceded the point.
“But what are we going to do?” Enid demanded. She glanced at Wednesday, who was still glaring down their friends. “We can’t leave her a bird!”
“We absolutely can.”
“Enid, I hate to admit it, but Yoko’s right,” Divina said. She firmly elbowed Yoko before gloating could commence. “You used a fresh potion with minimal effectiveness. While we could make an antidote, it wouldn’t be ready before the effects of the potion wore off on their own. Not sure we can even source all the ingredients in that time frame.”
“And what is that time frame?” Enid asked, calming down. All the potion ingredients had been easily sourced on campus. They had made it in an afternoon. Surely the antidote would be just as fast.
“End of the weekend?” Divina hazarded, shrugging. “Not sure how much you dried the potion before application.”
“It’s Friday! We have class in less than two hours!” Enid shrieked, accidentally dropping Wednesday. She landed on her feet then shot Enid a dirty look. “What am I going to do with Wednesday the swan?”
“You’ll just have to wing it,” Yoko joked. That earned her several pecks. Though Yoko’s laughter didn’t turn to screams until Wednesday pierced the blood packet. Everyone ended up covered in blood splatter before Enid extracted her roommate.
“I know the teasing upset you, but you can’t go around biting people, Wednesday,” Enid admonished as they made their way to their room. “Look, why don’t you stay cooped up in here and I’ll let everyone know you’re sick.”
Wednesday hissed in disapproval.
“Oh, come on, you skip class all the time while human! Doing it feathered shouldn’t be a problem.”
Wednesday hissed again, curving her neck into an S. While Enid didn’t understand her words, she caught the gist. Wednesday always felt like it was her duty to cause problems on purpose.
“No, don’t give me any beak,” Enid said, waggling a finger at Wednesday. The swan nipped at it, but missed by inches. Clearly, she was reminding Enid that she was dangerous, even if she didn’t intend to do her harm. “You hate class. You find the coursework dull, our teachers mediocre at best, and classmates insipid. Normally you’d maim for the chance to skip class.”
Wednesday honked.
“Yes, I know you’d maim for the sake of maiming. Look, if you park your tailfeathers in here for the day I promise to take you to the lake and won’t say a word if you want to chase our friends. Deal?”
Wednesday hissed. However, she then settled on top of a pillow and began preening. Maybe that was agreement? Enid wasn’t about to question if it meant she could change and head out without Wednesday throwing a hissy hit.
Of course, the swan fiasco meant Enid was running late. The dining hall was closing just as she arrived, leaving Enid only enough time to grab a carton of yogurt before she had to rush to class. Usually, she tucked into a full course meal to start her day and avoid a growling tummy. Still, she understood that sometimes sacrifices had to be made.
Enid slid into her seat ready for a boring day where she actually had to pay attention. To that end she opened a notebook and tossed a handful of pens on top of it. Then she ripped open her yogurt to begin eating. Enid tuned out her surroundings in favor of food until Mr. Fitts called their class to order. That was unfortunate; she had meant to catch him ahead of time, but she’d just mention Wednesday was sick during attendance.
When Mr. Fitts reached ‘Addams’ there was a trumpeting honk from right beside Enid. This startled her badly enough she fell to the floor. Mr. Fitts looked up from his attendance sheet to stare, as the rest of the class was also doing.
“She’s sick,” Enid said, vaguely waving a hand at the swan in the seat beside hers. Why the word ‘absent’ did not come to mind she didn’t know. She had totally just implied to the entire class that Wednesday was a swan, which was true, but they didn’t need to know that.
“Please return to your seat, Miss Sinclair,” Mr. Fitts said, raising an eyebrow. Otherwise, he did not comment on their current circumstance. Once roll ended, he began class.
Wednesday was surprisingly well behaved in class. Enid still didn’t know how she had gotten out of their locked room—she suspected Thing played a hand in that and he’d make himself scarce to avoid Enid’s displeasure—but Wednesday stayed glued to her side. This was most clear in Wednesday’s choice to abandon her actual schedule in favor of shadowing Enid in all of her classes. Avian chaos was minimal that morning with Wednesday refraining from more than poaching nick-nacks off neighboring desks and nipping anyone who got within neck range. Yoko’s bite was the initial warning to the class, while Ajax seemed unable to learn this vital lesson. That in turn taught Enid she could move faster than a swan strike if she were ready for it.
By the time lunch arrived Enid needed a break. Wednesday waddled into the lunch queue allowing Enid to trail along behind her. All of the lunch staff and most of the students stared at her, but Wednesday paid them no mind. She went straight for the bread, fluttered onto the table, and began eating. When a custodian approached to shoo Wednesday away, she hissed and flapped her wings threateningly. This caused more of an uproar, as the flapping sent feathers flying into food, effectively ruining a number of dishes. Understandably, this upset the staff and they rushed to apprehend her. Wednesday bit several lunch ladies, toppled the bread roll mountain she had claimed, and then flew out of the lunch room.
Enid groaned. She grabbed one of the pre-packaged PB&J sandwiches and shouted to charge it all to the Addams account before giving chase. Wednesday would be held responsible for her mess.
She finally found Wednesday by the lake under a willow tree. Enid knew enough about cygnets that the lake had always been her initial destination. Sussing out where exactly Wednesday went took a while. She thought Wednesday would be out swanning about on the center of the lake instead of hiding along the shoreline. Perhaps she didn’t want to tangle with the sirens. Not that Enid would voice that opinion. If she did, Wednesday would drive and pick a fight with the first siren she found.
Enid collapsed against the tree trunk. Sighing she unwrapped her sandwich as she watched Wednesday pick along the weeds for something. At least, she was pretty sure that was Wednesday; black swans weren’t native to Vermont and she wasn’t about to entertain the thought that she had lost her crush after turning her into a swan.
The plastic crinkling caught Wednesday’s attention long enough for her to watch Enid take her first several bites. Then she bent down and nabbed a frog, swallowing its body immediately, though the legs flailed a bit before following suit. The sight nearly put Enid off her lunch. However, she was too hungry not to keep eating even if she felt slightly nauseous.
She didn’t know if it was better or worse when Wednesday waddled over and gently set a live frog on Enid’s knee. It was gross and there was a living amphibian on her bare skin and she was trying not to freak out, but Wednesday was also providing her with what she clearly considered to be a viable lunch. She was pretty sure Wednesday was trying to be nice to her? The frog leaped off her knee and Wednesday snapped it out of the air mid hop. So that frog certainly croaked.
“That was a kind gesture, Wednesday. I think,” Enid said, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. Wednesday suddenly crowded into her space nipping at her fingers. “What are you—oh!”
Wednesday had settled down on her lap.
“Okay then” Enid said, trying to process. She took another bite of her sandwich. Maybe two frogs and a copious amount of bread made a suitable swan snack. Wednesday wasn’t in attack mode, which was all that really mattered.
Sitting there with a warm swan in her lap Enid could have fallen asleep, as Wednesday let her lightly pet her feathers. Some of the loose ones even came out. Considering how many feathers Wednesday had lost that day Enid vaguely wondered if Wednesday’s hygiene was secretly terrible or if it was just part of the transformation. Did swans molt?
The bell signaling the end of lunch roused Enid from her stupor. She headed back to class knowing full well that a feathered fury followed her. All the carbs must have left Wednesday drowsy, as she didn’t return to form until gym. There during Enid’s werewolf activities and acrobatics Wednesday managed to chase two other wolves to the top of the climbing ropes while Coach Vlad shouted. This was notable primarily because the climbing ropes had been securely stored along ceiling beams when Wednesday began her terror campaign. Enid was secretly proud of her friend; for once Wednesday hadn’t instigated the situation, though she had certainly escalated it.
After class Wednesday played in the lake while Enid studied on the shore. She enjoyed looking up to see the black form fliting about demoralizing ducks and confounding Canada geese. If she also bullied a few sirens when they surfaced… well, Enid was too busy trying to decipher her pre-calc homework to notice.
They skipped the dining hall for dinner. Enid couldn’t bear to face the staff again today after Wednesday’s earlier performance. Wednesday didn’t seem to mind after spending all afternoon snacking on lake things.
At least Enid had snacks stashed in her drawers to make something of a meal. Two bags of beef jerky, a fruit leather (strawberry), and a two pack of Zebra Cakes wasn’t the healthiest of meals, but she could roll with it for a single night. Finding the unopened bag of Airheads that Wednesday had thrust into her hands insisting they were ‘fitting’ while dodging Valentine chocolates aimed at her left Enid in tears. A sharp beak was no substitute for Wednesday’s sharper wit. Even if they had spent the day together, she really missed her roommate.
“Oh Wednesday, I hope you return to form tomorrow,” Enid said as they readied for bed. The swan ignored her. “I miss you.”
Enid did not comment on the feathered body nestled among her stuffed animals when she turned the lights off. If Wednesday thought she was camouflaged enough to show her soft side, who was Enid to argue?
Saturday was the same, but worse because Wednesday was still a swan. Sure, they didn’t have class, but Wednesday was formally barred from the dining hall. They ended up walking into town and getting cinnamon rolls from the Weathervane for breakfast. Enid enjoyed the walk. Less fun was Wednesday getting them both banned. The clerk still gave them their baked goods, which kept this excursion from being a total waste.
They went back to Nevermore after that. A black swan strolling about town was too tempting a target for normie bullies. Yoko tried to cheer Enid up while Divina played with Wednesday. However, Wednesday was as beastly as Enid’s mood, so neither of their friends’ efforts garnered much success. Enid was grateful they ferried lunch and dinner out to her while she suffered alongside Wednesday’s ban.
“Cheer up, Enid. I’m sure things will go back to normal tomorrow,” Divina assured her as they parted ways for the night.
“And if they don’t, well, don’t the Addamses have a pond?” Yoko said.
“They have a lake monster,” Enid said thoughtfully, recalling some of Wednesday’s childhood stories, “so I presume they have a lake.”
“That’ll be even better for bird brain,” Yoko insisted brightly. She narrowly dodged a snapping beak. “My point is everything is going to be okay. Addams has witches in her family and they’ll be able to turn her back if this doesn’t wear off. In the meantime she can chill on the family lake and do battle with the lake monster. Sounds like a dream scenario for her honestly!”
Enid had to admit Yoko made some good points.
“If you don’t turn back tomorrow, we’ll call your family,” Enid promised as she tucked Wednesday into bed. Wednesday honked sleepily, but Enid couldn’t decipher her meaning. Hopefully Wednesday could explain herself tomorrow.
Enid awoke to a swan and spent another day with a swan. By the time the sun set she was in despair. Neither Divina or Yoko had any solid advice beyond what Yoko offered yesterday and even Bianca was at a loss for words. She could not understand how her weak potion retained such a solid lock on Wednesday’s form. It hadn’t even had any of the traditional staying properties expected in potion making.
“I guess we’ll have to contact your family,” Enid sighed in defeat. She turned to Wednesday’s side of the room feeling apprehensive. “I know you hate me going through your things, but where’s your crystal ball, Wednesday?”
Wednesday ignored the question. So, Enid started digging through her things looking for the box protecting the crystal ball. It didn’t take her very long to find—the box was on the larger side and Wednesday kept her things neat—eventually retrieving it out from under the bed. She pulled the crystal ball out of its velvet encrusted enclosure and set it on a pillow to keep it from rolling away. Now she just had to figure out how to use it. Wednesday joined her on the floor.
“Okay, a quick google search suggests I just have to touch the crystal and think really hard about who I’m trying to contact?” Enid read off her phone. “If they have a crystal too it should respond? I guess we’ll try Morticia then. I know she has one.”
Just before Enid’s fingers could touch the crystal ball Wednesday snatched it. Enid yelped as Wednesday twisted away and turned toward the window. She scrambled to her feet giving chase as the swan pushed her way through the cracked window. Enid had just crawled through when Wednesday stuck her neck through the balcony railing and dropped the crystal ball.
“No!” Enid shouted, hitting the railing just in time to see the ball shatter on the pavement below. She glared at Wednesday. “What the heck? That was so not cool!”
Wednesday preened ignoring Enid’s ire. Huffing Enid stomped back into their room and flounced on the bed. She could hear swan toes clicking on the wooden floor so Enid knew she wasn’t alone, even if she didn’t look at her. She heard more creaking and thought that Wednesday exited through the door, but then she felt a light weight hit her bed. A red beak swung through her field of vision. Enid sighed again and scratched the bottom of her beak.
“Wednesday, I haven’t said this to you before and I’m not entirely sure you understand me right now, but I love you. I want you to live your best life, ideally with me, but I get you might not feel the same way. I know your best isn’t stuck as a swan and I can’t fix this, the potion shouldn’t have done any of this, which is why I tried calling your mom,” Enid said. She cupped Wednesday’s feathered face. “I know you don’t want them to know your struggles, but you need to swallow your pride and let them help. Please Wednesday, if you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me.”
“Back off bird, she’s not your Leda,” Wednesday’s voice cut through the room. It was as cold and as threatening as Enid had ever heard it.
The swan jerked out of Enid’s grip, swung around and hissed. Enid sat up and stared. Wednesday stood in the doorway of their room glaring daggers. But not at her, no, Wednesday’s laser focus was on the swan as she hissed back. The swan flapped its wings and charged Wednesday, who stopped it in its tracks with a swift beak grab.
“Malfeasance, you know you are expected to return to your aviary after delivering a message. I suggest you leave now before I dust off Granny Frump’s recipe for braised swan leg,” Wednesday continued. “While common parlance says not to shoot the messenger, there is nothing against making you into Sunday dinner.”
All the fight went out of the swan. Wednesday stared for a moment longer before nodding and releasing the bird. She herded it out the window onto the balcony.
“Tell Aunt Ophelia not to summon me again unless there is an actual emergency,” Wednesday ordered, crossing her arms. The swan, Malfeasance, bowed then took flight. Wednesday twisted around to look at Enid. Pointedly.
“So, you haven’t been a swan since Friday,” Enid began when the silence stretched unbearably.
“No,” Wednesday agreed. If they were younger, she would have left it at that. Instead, she continued, “I was urgently called home by one of Aunt Ophelia’s messenger swans. That would be Malfeasance, the black swan you have been entertaining under the misapprehension that she was me. Why did you think I was a swan?”
Enid licked her lips. There was literally nothing she could say to make this less embarrassing.
“Enid.”
“I thought the potion I put on you Thursday night to reveal your true feelings had accidentally turned you into a swan because it had a secondary effect of revealing true nature?” Enid blurted out, voice squeaking by the end.
“It wouldn’t have changed my form. An Addams is always her true nature.”
“We thought it’d wear off by now, but since it hadn’t, I was going to call your mom for help.”
“You lied to me and manipulated me for your own ends while dosing me with a mild poison.”
“I wouldn’t put it like that!” Enid balked, horrified by her actions cast in this light.
“No, it is commendable, using the resources you had at hand. I will remember this for the future, Sinclair,” Wednesday said, drawing closer. Enid was beginning to feel a little trapped. “Did you obtain all the answers you sought?”
“No,” Enid admitted.
“Fortune favors the bold. Did you ever consider asking?”
“There’s no way you would have answered!” Enid protested.
“No? When was the last time I denied you anything, Enid? Anything serious or that mattered?”
“I didn’t think you would take this seriously.”
“If this is important enough for you to resort to deception and deceit, then it must be serious.” Wednesday raised an eyebrow. “Ask.”
Enid shut her eyes and gulped. “What do you think of me? I mean, really think of me?”
“When we first met, I thought you were a shallow vapid creature only interested in the plastic colorful lifestyle of society’s worst parasites.”
Enid flinched at the words. Wednesday’s hands caught her own and she gently ran her thumbs over Enid’s painted nails.
“What I did not initially understand was that your coloration was aposematism nor that your interest in social dynamics was your way of protecting yourself dating back to before you had any other means while subject to the whims of others.” Wednesday cleared her throat. “Enid Sinclair, you are a loyal gregarious deadly wolf. I would never suggest you to be fearless, as you tremble at the silliest things, but you are courageous and stand up for what you believe in even against the greatest of threats.”
“What’s that?” Enid asked, mind immediately jumping to Tyler before montaging through the other dangers Wednesday had subjected her to over the years.
“Me.”
“Oh.”
“I will threaten you and I will fight you, but I will never find you wanting. You have earned my respect and admiration, Enid. There is no one I would rather have at my side or watching my back.”
“That’s fantastic, Wednesday, really, but are you, like, into me?” Enid asked, licking her lips. She was genuinely touched by Wednesday’s sincerity, it was like something out of an Austen novel, but still didn’t actually answer her question.
“I rather consider these topics one and the same,” Wednesday scowled. “Yes Enid, I would consent to be your paramour. If you so wished.”
“OMG, Wednesday Addams is my girlfriend!” Enid squealed, flinging her arms around Wednesday. She felt the trapped girl sigh heavily before returning the embrace. Then, entirely of her own volition, Wednesday buried her face in Enid’s neck and sniffed. This was the best night of her life.
“You stink of swan,” Wednesday grumbled, pushing her away. “Go bathe. The whole place reeks of that foul bird.”
“Okay. Can we cuddle after?” Enid asked, smiling hopefully. Wednesday didn’t seem to notice as she was already stripping her own bed.
“Only if there’s space that hasn’t been contaminated by Malfeasance. Honestly, how did you ever mistake me for that swan?”
“Well, she was aggressive and vicious to everyone but me. She very clearly liked me and even defended my honor,” Enid said, realizing just how obvious Wednesday’s affections had been. “Even the teachers thought you were that swan. You’re never going to live down this avian infamy.”
“Touché,” was all Wednesday could manage.
Enid smugly collected her shower things and headed to the bathroom. Wednesday would cleanse her side of the room while Enid was in the tub and then they’d cuddle. Maybe watch a movie. Enid thought it was high time she showed Wednesday The Birds. Best night ever.