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Enid couldn’t take it anymore. The white-hot ball of anger in her chest was too much. “You want to be alone, Wednesday? Be alone.”
With that, Enid gathered up her bags and stormed out of the room, leaving her roommate behind. The anger slowly drained out of her with each step she took and she belatedly realized halfway to Yoko’s room that in her haste to leave, she had forgotten her favorite stuffed tiger on her bed.
Sure, she had plenty of stuffed toys like it and her bag had been stuffed with a few of her other well-liked ones. But the stuffed tiger had been a gift from her older brothers when she first failed to shift. They told her that if she couldn’t be a wolf then she could be a tiger and it quickly became her favorite treasured stuffed toy. It smelled like home and Enid needed it to sleep.
With a huff, Enid dropped her bags in the hall, slowly doing a walk of shame back to her room as she tried to come up with some excuse for her quick return. She stalled as long as she could, shuffling slowly as she went over a list of possible excuses, slowly weeding them down.
She unlocked the door to their room and pushed it open, ready with a half-baked excuse for her abrupt return. “I only came back--”
The words died on the tip of her tongue when she saw her roommate. Wednesday hadn’t even looked up when Enid entered, curled into a ball and leaning against the stained glass window, right in the middle of the room. Her knees were drawn to her chest and she had half-tucked her face into her arms wound tightly around her legs.
Terrible guilt squeezed Enid’s chest as she remembered the cruel words that she had thrown around so carelessly before she had left. Some part of her had been convinced that Wednesday simply didn’t care and that their friendship had really meant nothing to her other than a means to an end.
However, the sight of her roommate who looked impossibly small and fragile told her that she was wrong. Wednesday cared more than she would ever admit. Enid remembered how she kept telling her friends to give Wednesday some space, that her roommate was shy but that she was quite charming and loyal when they warmed up to her.
Bitter guilt flooded through her at the words she had thrown into Wednesday’s face before she left. Nobody deserved to be alone.
Enid tentatively crossed the room and it was only when she was just a few feet away did Wednesday became aware of her presence with a slight jolt. Enid had anticipated the threat of bodily harm or the waving of a knife but the girl just tensed up and waited.
It took Enid a moment to realize that Wednesday was simply waiting for her to yell more. Enid sucked in a sharp breath at the realization, her chest unbearably tight with guilt. She didn’t want this. She didn’t ever want to make anyone feel bad like this. She was the one that went out of her way to make friends with everyone.
“I came back for something that I forgot…” The lie that Enid had prepared was all but forgotten in that moment. Wednesday nodded slightly and Enid slowly moved toward her bed to scoop up the stuffed toy. She held it to her chest, inhaling the scent of home.
At that moment, Enid couldn’t help but think of her mother and how she would get so exasperated at the fact that she hadn’t turned yet. Werewolves typically didn’t accept non-wolves into their pack and Enid’s mother would constantly dangle that fact over her head. Her mother would tell her to try harder, that she would end up alone if she didn’t shift soon. When Enid had cried to Yoko, her friend told her that if her family wouldn’t accept her as part of their pack then Enid could start her own.
Enid’s own mother had made her feel like an outcast, alone and unworthy. Enid hadn’t even drawn the comparison until she saw her roommate looking exactly how she looked after a fight with her mom.
Although her older brothers had always been rough with her, Enid never minded it because they did it in the way that other werewolf siblings did. They didn’t leave her out or treat her differently because she hadn’t shifted yet. After each fight with her mom, they’d set aside the wild attitudes and give her the gentleness they’d only grant her as the baby of the family.
Wednesday didn’t need Enid to be rough anymore. She didn’t need her mistakes thrown back at her. Enid never should have been rough in the first place. Enid knew that no matter how Wednesday felt, she needed the same type of gentle comfort that Enid craved after a fight with her mom.
“Why are you still here?” Wednesday questioned, her quiet voice snapping Enid back to the present.
Enid let out a sigh, slowly approaching her. Wednesday stiffened when Enid took a seat on her colorful side of the room, glancing at Wednesday out of the corner of her eye. Enid mirrored Wednesday’s pose, curling the stuffed tiger to her chest before she brought her knees up to her chin. Wednesday didn’t shuffle away nor did she produce a weapon or threaten her. That told Enid everything.
“I’m sorry,” Enid never received an apology from her mother after their fights. “I went too far.”
“No, you’re right,” Wednesday quietly retorted, her gaze falling back on the door to the room. “I have been told before that I was destined to be alone.”
Enid blinked, wondering who would say such terrible things to Wednesday before realizing she had been one such person who said it. “Still, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said it.”
“Why are you still here?” Wednesday snapped at her and Enid doesn’t take any offense to her tone. She was used to Wednesday’s monotone or snappish tone.
“Because I realize that I was too hasty in my decision,” Enid confessed, leaning against the window. “Do… do you really not consider me your friend?” Wednesday hadn’t acted like a friend at all.
Wednesday took a deep breath, glaring at the door before she replied, “I tolerate your presence more than anyone else in this wretched place.”
Enid knew enough about her roommate to decipher what she really meant to say. “Then why do you do these things to me? Why do you keep lying and using me? I would have helped you if you just told me! I thought we were friends!”
Wednesday eyed her sharply and Enid fell quiet under the stare. “Do you really consider me to be someone who has had companions before?” She asked.
Enid blinked a few times, taking in the sight of Wednesday’s serious stare. “Hasn’t everyone had a friend before?” The thought didn’t even cross Enid’s mind. They were sixteen, she was pretty sure that everyone had at least one friend in their life by that age.
“You presume too much of me,” Wednesday said and Enid’s heart pounded uncomfortably in her chest. “I am simply not made to be anyone’s friend. I have tried to warn you all multiple times yet you disregard each one.”
Enid took in the sight of Wednesday, the usual murderous glare not quite as hard. After a moment, she shuffled a little closer to Wednesday. “Everyone deserves at least one good friend.”
Wednesday raised an eyebrow. “And I presume that you mean you.” She doesn’t move away from Enid.
“If… if that’s what you want,” Enid stumbled over her words, her chest clenching.
Wednesday made a small hum in acknowledgment, her gaze flickering back to the room before she spoke again. “I am going to hurt you again. You will get upset with me again.”
“Probably,” Enid admitted, her fingers brushing against the soft fabric of the stuffed tiger clutched to her chest. “But even the closest of friends have rough patches. We’ll make it through it together.”
Wednesday let out a small scoff. “You shouldn’t say things you don’t mean. It will get you killed.”
“I’m not lying!” Enid insisted, scooting just close enough that her shoulder brushed against Wednesday’s. “I have a hard time understanding you and why you act the way that you act. But I want to understand, I do. I just wish that you would be a little more honest with me. I’ll-- I’ll help you with this monster investigation but you can’t lie to me anymore!”
Wednesday’s lips pursed slightly. “I nearly got you killed tonight,” she finally said quietly before she spoke once again, back to her normal monotone voice that lacked its usual bite. “If anyone is going to kill you, it’s going to be me.”
“I know that you didn’t try to get us hurt on purpose,” Enid knew that Wednesday wouldn’t do that. She can threaten bodily harm all she wants, but Enid knew that she wouldn’t follow through on it. Principal Weems had a ‘no permanent disfiguration or death’ policy in the rules. Wednesday didn’t want to get kicked out of school, at least not anymore.
“I refuse to be the reason that some monster kills you,” Wednesday said sharply. “You may follow me no more. I will do it alone.”
Enid couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “We nearly died tonight and there were three of us! I’m not just gonna sit back and let you get yourself killed!”
“It won’t kill me,” Wednesday sounded so sure of herself.
“How do you know that?” Enid demanded, twisting to face Wednesday. “It has killed others. You’re not-- you’re not special, Wednesday!” Then, quickly realizing how it sounded, Enid tacked on, “You are a human, just like I am. We’re all a little mixed up but in the end, we are flesh and blood. It could kill you, just like it could kill me. You need a partner, someone to watch your back.”
Wednesday’s brow furrowed slightly. “It sounds like you are suggesting that that partner be you. But you also just stormed out of the room after pointing out that I only use you for my own selfish gains while hunting this monster.”
Enid let out a sigh, reaching out to grab Wednesday’s shoulder. It wasn’t until she had already grasped her shoulder that she remembered that Wednesday didn’t like to be touched but the girl didn’t yank away from her so Enid took her chances. “I got upset because you lied. It didn’t sound like you valued our lives at all. The only thing that mattered was this monster. Don’t I matter, Wednesday?”
Wednesday blinked at her as if she couldn’t believe the audacity that Enid had for asking that question. “I never said otherwise.”
Enid slowly pulled her hand away, some part of her chest unclenching at the words. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I know you don’t like to be touched.” Enid twisted to face forward again, her shoulder once again brushing against Wednesday’s. “I’m sorry for losing my cool with you.”
“Nothing you said was untrue,” Wednesday commented and the bitter guilt returned.
“Just let me apologize, Wednesday,” Enid replied and Wednesday was quiet. “You don’t get many apologies, do you?”
“Who would apologize to me?” Wednesday inquired and Enid realized just how lonely her roommate must have been.
“I would,” Enid said and Wednesday ducked her head down. Enid leaned a little closer to Wednesday, bumping their shoulders together gently. “Do you think we can try to be friends again?”
“I suppose,” Wednesday replied nonchalantly but Enid doesn’t miss the way she subtly leaned into her.
“Friends?” Enid held her pinky out. Wednesday stared at it and Enid realized that she had to explain the concept of a pinky promise. Tentatively, Wednesday reached out and stiffly held her pinky for Enid to hook hers around.
Wednesday’s hand was cool and Enid had the urge to clasp it between hers to try and warm it back up. She refrained simply because she knew the action wouldn’t be well received.
“Best friends?” Enid decided to tease a little, expecting Wednesday to jerk her hand away with a disgusted glare.
“I cannot promise to be a good friend,” Wednesday said, her pinky finger slowly moving to curl around Enid’s. “But… I suppose I will try.”
Enid couldn’t stop the smile stretching across her face or the way her heart sped up in her chest. “That’s all I want, bestie.”
There came the grimace that Enid knew and loved. “Do you have to call me that?”
Enid’s grin only grew. “I insist.”
Wednesday let out a hum. “Then you must inform Yoko of this new development. I am at the top now.”
Enid nearly forgot about her storming off to Yoko’s in the first place. Her friend was bound to be looking for her and discovered her abandoned bags by now. “Oh shit--” Enid moved to stand when a hand grabbed her wrist.
“Where are you going?” Wednesday demanded. “We just hooked fingers, you cannot leave.”
“Yoko’s waiting for me--” Enid started to explain but Wednesday yanked her back down to the ground next to her. Enid stumbled, ending up much closer to Wednesday than before. Wednesday does not let go of her wrist, not even when Enid settled down.
“Then she will have to find you,” Wednesday leaves no room for any arguments and Enid isn’t in the mood to start one.
“Hey, uh, Wednesday?” Enid tentatively spoke up. Wednesday glanced up at her, raising an eyebrow. “You’re still kinda grabbing my wrist?” Enid pointed out. Wednesday looked down as if she hadn’t realized she still had a firm grip on Enid’s wrist. She jerked her hand away, settling it back onto her own knee. Enid missed the touch almost immediately.
She stared at the hand for a few moments before she tried to sneakily reach out and set her hand on top of Wednesday’s.
“What are you doing?” Wednesday arched an eyebrow in confusion.
“Uh…” Enid’s mind went empty at the stare, her heart beating fast in her chest. “Best friends hold hands sometimes," she blurted out.
Wednesday doesn’t refute the statement. “If I must,” she said and doesn’t yank her hand away from under Enid’s.
The night slowly crawls on and Enid starts to get exhausted after the emotional day that she’s had. But she knows that as soon as she pulls away from Wednesday that she probably won’t get another chance to be this close and she really liked being close to Wednesday.
Enid hesitantly slowly started to lean her weight onto Wednesday, wondering if she could just take a small nap right there while she waited for Yoko to burst in and yell at her for never showing up. Wednesday never shoved her off, merely stiffening up when Enid’s head falls to rest on her shoulder.
Neither of them say a word and Enid slowly allowed her eyes to close, the scent of her stuffed tiger easing her mind.
Just before Enid fell asleep, she felt something rest against her head and the hand she was resting on moved to be on top.
“I’m sorry, Enid,” Wednesday whispered quietly and Enid realized that the weight against her head was Wednesday’s own head. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I will protect you.”
Enid fell asleep leaning against Wednesday, her stuffed tiger tucked against her chest. She falls asleep feeling warm and safe and happy.
And if later on Yoko points out the fact that she and Enid are best friends and don’t hold hands, then nobody but Enid knows. Wednesday does, however, take great delight in letting Yoko know she had been dethroned as Enid’s number one.