Chapter Text
A week into her last year of high school, Enid Sinclair noticed that the house on the hill was being renovated. Calling it a house was really underselling it. It was larger than any other house in town but Enid had never actually been up close to it so maybe that was hard to say. It was always referred to as an eyesore by her mother.
“Even worse than the mess in Enid's room,” her mother would say to her father who would meekly protest against that.
The house was Victorian, completely black with tall narrow windows that watched the town. There were lots of windows actually but most of them were covered in vines and Enid imagined it was dark and spooky in there. There were definitely gargoyles atop some of its narrow towers. It had the typical mansard roof with a widow's walk that Enid had come to recognize from the few horror movies she'd willingly seen. At the base of it was a mess of overgrown trees. It was surrounded by an intimidatingly tall and sharp looking fence with chains bolted around the gate. Overall, it was foreboding, unwelcoming, and up until today she thought, abandoned.
Enid ran up this hill every single morning and it was only because of that that she noticed the flurry of activity. She slowed her run to a walk, pulling her headphones down around her neck as she stared up at the house on the hill. She was wrong upon closer inspection. They weren't renovating it. People were just moving right in. Those were certainly moving trucks. She couldn't discern much else but excitement was already bubbling in her chest.
She pulled out her phone and started texting everyone she knew.
The rumor mill began to churn the following week. Nuclear family with two teenagers. Butler. Old money. Apparently the family was odd and that was by Nevermore standards.
Nevermore, after all, was a planned community that had been specifically developed for supernatural beings or outcasts. Enid's family had moved here when she was young and she was used to it by now but anyone passing through to Jericho was often in for a shock. So, to have Nevermore's residents discussing the new family meant something.
Enid was familiar with rumors and the like. She was a well known name at Nevermore Prep High for better or worse. Shifting issues aside, she was always dressed in her favorite colors, generally sporting loud pastels or vibrant neons. She was energetic and bubbly. People took notice when she entered the room. She talked to everyone. And she didn't mind the stares. It was flattering for the most part.
Sure, her mom and some of her brothers had made her entire life a living hell by teasing her (and that was putting it nicely) about still not wolfing out yet but she'd had some nice successes anyway. She was beating her personal record for her morning runs. And she'd taken her SAT early and made everyone's scores look like a joke compared to her near perfect one. The upcoming college applications and interviews would be a cinch because she knew how to present herself and boy did she know how to sweet talk. Here she was, the only Sinclair to have been admitted into the prestigious Nevermore Prep school, on the cusp of graduating 9th overall in her grade.
So yes, she basked in the attention here because nothing at home was quite as warm.
Anyway, despite hearing many different things about them and even speculating on her blog, she herself wasn't able to get a glimpse of the family. And by the following week, Enid had resigned herself to never seeing the two teenagers that supposedly resided in the bizarre house on the hill and put them out of her mind.
Until a cool morning mid-September.
Her day began like normal. She exchanged pleasant smiles with everyone who came up to greet her in homeroom and found her seat right up front a few minutes before attendance was to be taken. She was so focused on her phone buzzing with messages from friends or blog notifications that she didn't notice someone taking the only empty desk beside her until a black backpack was dropped quite roughly onto the desk. She jumped at the noise and looked up to find a girl with dark, dark eyes.
Her black hair was tied in two immaculate braids. Her skin was tan but also pale as though the girl was actively avoiding any exposure to the sun. The heavy eyeliner seemed to emphasize that too. She was really beautiful. Full lips. A jawline that could cut glass. Multiple ear piercings. Silver studded choker around her neck. Aside from the silver, the girl's outfit was monochrome. All black with no brand names. Enid knew a thing or two about fashion and this was probably expensive stuff. Expensive she guessed because the clothes seemed timeless and tailor made for her small form. The Doc Martens Enid could spot from a mile away though.
Enid thought maybe time slowed down or something. She wasn't sure what happened. But the teen next to her did not break eye contact. And Enid refused to break it too. If Enid hadn't had her gay panic last year, she would be having it right now. At a much more inconvenient time, she reasoned.
“Uh...,” she said intelligently.
The other girl gave no indication that she had heard Enid but she finally sat down, back ramrod straight. She then pulled out a notebook and an honest to god fountain pen. The scent of leather and lilacs wafted to Enid's nose.
Enid stared unashamedly, phone and classmates ignored entirely, until the teacher entered. Roll call began and the first thing out of the teacher's mouth was a, “We have a new student joining us today. Is Wednesday Addams here?”
The girl beside her responded with a sharp, “Present.”
Enid heard some snickers at the girl's unusual name but Wednesday either did not notice or did not care. She thought of the old nursery rhyme.
“Wednesday's child is full of woe,” she whispered aloud without meaning to. Wednesday's head turned at that and Enid clamped her mouth shut at dark eyes studying her.
Enid's cheeks colored and she almost missed responding to her own name.
The girl didn't look at her again for the duration of homeroom and she was the first one out when the bell rang.
Yoko greeted her in the hall when homeroom ended and they started walking to their next class.
“Did we have homework for AP Bio?” Yoko asked.
“Uh, yeah,” Enid replied, “Too late to copy it now though.”
“Boo,” Yoko said looking as though she were debating skipping. But Divina was in that class and Yoko wouldn't miss the opportunity to see her.
“New student is in my homeroom by the way,” Enid said.
“Oh shit. She's the one who moved into that house on the hill right?” Yoko said as they walked. “Apparently Div ran into her in town and she made some children cry at the pet shop.”
“Do you know why?” Enid asked. She could maybe picture Wednesday staring too hard at someone and causing them grief. Maybe she was capable of setting things on fire. Enid certainly felt warmer than usual when she was being stared down.
“Nope but Ajax heard a rumor that she's murdered someone.”
“Huh, I wouldn't trust anything out of Ajax's mouth,” Enid said with a snort, fondly thinking of her ex, “I mean, she didn't do anything to me but she did stare.”
Yoko lowered her shades and grinned, “Don't think she'd do anything with so many witnesses around.”
“Right. What do you suppose her powers are? She didn't smell like a Fur.”
“Well, she's an Addams.”
Enid blinked once, confused. Yoko sighed and rolled her eyes, “I'll fill ya in later. Bell's about to go.”
To Enid's absolute delight, Wednesday was in her next class too. In AP Bio, they were two students to a table and Enid had sat alone because they were an odd number. But now the table she usually sat at was also occupied by the girl dressed all in black that had captured Enid's interest in such a tiny amount of time. Probably the whole student body's really. Being new was a big deal.
Wednesday chair was dragged all the way to one end of the table, as far as possible from Enid's. No one seemed to be tripping over themselves to try to say hi to her. No, everyone else seemed to give Wednesday wide berth. Not the same kind as Enid. Not the quiet admiration and awed ogling. Wednesday Addams was, dare Enid say, feared. The murder rumors had probably spread fast. She was really going to have to talk to Ajax about that.
The other girl was carefully leafing through a book that looked like it had some scientific drawings of dissections in it. Despite that, Enid didn't hesitate as her feet carried her over to the table and she offered a hand saying, “Hey, Wednesday, right? I'm Enid Sinclair.”
Enid gave her a winning smile only for Wednesday to blink at her. Then the girl returned to her book. Enid let her hand drop, a flush rising up her neck as students nearby whispered about them. Yoko shot her a sympathetic look.
“Um...?”
“Are you going to sit down or not?” Wednesday replied. Her voice, much like her face, showed absolutely no emotion. It was quite incredible.
Enid did sit down and then felt like apologizing immediately, except Wednesday Addams snapped her book shut and then turned her eyes on her, pinning her with a stare. When the professor walked in, Enid turned to get her books out only to freeze when she heard Wednesday speak.
“Sinclair.”
“Yes?” she asked in a strangled whisper.
“I hate your sweater. It has too many colors,” was all she said flatly before facing front.
Enid nearly tipped her chair over but recovered in time to avoid face planting. Rude. This person was definitely capable of making someone cry, Enid decided. She glanced down at her sweater discreetly. This was one of her favorites! It was so comfy! Indignant, she was determined to not let Wednesday have the last word.
“Well, I hate yours. All black is boring and a goth cliche,” she shot back.
To her surprise, Wednesday's lips twitched just a tiny bit as amusement flickered across her eyes.
Enid turned away and stewed in silence, trying to pay attention as the teacher went over the basics and then began handing out microscope slides to everyone for an exercise due at the end of the period.
Unfortunately, she would now have to share the microscope so Enid placed it in the middle. Wednesday made no movement, simply staring forward, so Enid fiddled with the slides. She was just about to start focusing when Wednesday suddenly spoke,
“You're taking forever, step aside.”
The other girl had stood up and appeared by her shoulder silently but Enid stayed where she was.
“It's fine, I've got it,” the blonde said.
“Obviously, you don't.”
“Well you're distracting me so just butt out, babycakes-,”
“Watch it, Sinclair.”
“Or what?” Enid scoffed despite the shiver the dark tone sent down her spine. She and Wednesday reached for the same slide and their fingers brushed.
Immediately the dark haired girl's head snapped back and the classroom erupted in gasps and shouts. Enid held back a scream and grabbed the other girl before she could fall over. The teacher rushed over but Enid was already guiding Wednesday back to her seat as carefully as she could. She held Wednesday's hand and rubbed her thumb across the back of it in what was hopefully a soothing gesture.
A minute or so passed before Wednesday shuddered and seemed to come back to herself. Her eyes were focused on a spot far away, skin even paler than it was usually. Enid tried to block Wednesday from the rest of the class as the teacher tried to shush everyone.
“Are you okay? You had a vision, right?” she asked softly. Wednesday's gaze snapped to hers and Enid recoiled at the absolute rage that was directed at her.
“Let. Go,” the girl said through gritted teeth. Enid did. Wednesday grabbed her backpack before stalking out, even as the teacher called after her.
Enid sat back down, heart thumping.
Bianca Barclay greeted Enid when the blonde arrived at her locker. They had been side by side since Freshman year and Enid was happy to see another friendly face after the morning she had had so far.
“It could've been worse. Coming from Wednesday I mean,” Bianca said after Enid filled her in.
Enid made a face and fiddled with her lock, “I don't know. She looked like she was gonna knock me over the head with the microscope.”
“Hm. Wonder what she saw.”
“I don't care. I didn't appreciate her insulting my sweater either,” Enid grumbled even though yes, she absolutely wanted to know. She began to switch out whatever books she would need for Calc. “How's she gonna make friends here when she's such a sourpuss?”
At that, Bianca laughed, “Listen pup, I know Wednesday Addams because our families are old friends. Sort of. She doesn't do friends. Also if she wanted to kill you, you'd already be missing.”
The Siren closed her locker and then pointed with her chin right across the hall where, among the row of perfectly normal lockers, there was one that was completely black.
“Guess who that belongs to,” Bianca said.
“Huh, strange,” Enid said, “Wednesday?”
And then, like they had summoned her by saying her name three times, the goth appeared from around the corner and unlocked the door. Enid nearly fainted then and there at the sight of what was inside.
Enid carefully curated what her locker would be decorated with every year and yes, over the first month of school, she would show up a few minutes prior to the start of homeroom just to tape her pictures of kpop stars and werewolf celebrities to the inside or outside of her locker until it felt right.
Taped to Wednesday's locker door were graphic pictures of crime scenes and a wanted poster in a language she couldn't identify for the dark-haired girl herself. And Enid wasn't sure if it was real or not. Also, there was a taxidermied squirrel inside.
Beside her, Bianca snorted and then covered it up with a cough.
Wednesday turned at the noise and made eye contact with them.
Enid first wondered why the hell the hall had gotten so quiet around them. Then she wondered why her heart was pounding so loudly in her chest.
Wednesday Addams slammed her locker door shut. She looked at Bianca first and gave a single nod. Then she looked at Enid and took a few steps forward, eyes locked on hers, jaw clenched. Enid took a step back until her back hit her locker. She couldn't breathe with the way Wednesday was staring her down. Wednesday moved again until she was close enough that Enid could raise an arm and push her back if she wanted to.
If she could.
They stared at each other, frozen.
Wednesday had freckles across her nose.
“Cute,” Enid whispered and then went rigid, covering her mouth. Wednesday seemed surprised at that too, eyes widening just slightly.
Then the bell rang and Enid sagged against her locker as students began to hurry about. Wednesday blinked at her and walked off, footsteps completely silent.
“Great, we're late,” Bianca sighed as she tugged Enid, “Hopefully they're lax on a Monday. Or they give passes for being a gay disaster.”
“Uh huh,” Enid croaked as she allowed herself to be dragged in the opposite direction of Wednesday.
After getting briefly chewed out by their teacher, Enid and Bianca retreated to the very back of the classroom, taking the only pair of desks available.
“She doesn't talk much. Unless it's to correct you or insult you,” Bianca whispered, “She's gotten kicked out of every school she's been to for getting violent. But usually, she keeps to herself. She doesn't even have a cell phone-,”
“What?! Wait, what?!” Enid couldn't help whisper-shouting. At an indignant glare from the teacher, the blonde sank into her seat and covered her face, groaning slightly.
Bianca flashed her a look of sympathy.
“No phone. No social media. Nothing.”
“Oh.” The idea was bonkers to her. Enid's own social media was something she managed quite proudly by herself.
“And she's best described as a raven. Do you know what that means? When it comes to seers?” Bianca asked.
“Uh, no. There's only like one more in our year, right?” Enid muttered. “Haven't really talked to him.”
“Right, well, ravens tend to see more negative things.”
Enid paled at that. So what had Wednesday seen about her future? And what did it have to do with Wednesday herself?
As distracting as calculus was, she couldn't help but think of how Wednesday had looked at her. So she hated Enid's guts. That was fine. And she had spooked her a bit in the hall. Okay. Well. Enid was a tough cookie. She could handle herself. They had probably just gotten off on the wrong foot.
Enid did not see Wednesday again until English, the very last class she had. So they shared at least two classes together. As soon as she entered, she was shocked to find Wednesday seated in the desk next to Xavier Thorpe, resident eboy. And there was only one desk open now too. Great. Enid tried to quell the irrational sense of fear and/or excitement that rose within her and moved to sit directly behind Wednesday.
Wednesdays dark eyes flickered up to meet hers as she walked past and Enid swore she saw dark lips curl into a grimace.
“Yo, Enid,” Xavier said, nodding to her.
“Hey, Xavier. Hi again, Wednesday.”
Wednesday said nothing and unlike Xavier, who had twisted in his seat to face her, she didn't move a muscle.
“You two met?” Xavier asked, raising a brow.
“We have homeroom and bio together,” Enid replied. She couldn't help staring at the back of Wednesday's head, wondering what she was thinking about. And why the hell was Xavier willingly sitting next to her? Did they know each other too?
“Enid?” Xavier asked, concerned.
“Wh-what?” she asked, snapping out of her stupor.
Xavier furrowed his brow, “I asked how your weekend went.”
“Good. Saw Yoko. Did lots of running.”
“Nice. Still not joining the track and field team?”
“Nope,” she said, “Never interested me and now it's our last year, you know? Besides, I just like to run for myself.”
Xavier nodded, “That's cool. Like Wednesday's writing.”
Writing? Wednesday was a writer? She could maybe see it. Wednesday occupying the dark corner of a coffee shop, typing furiously on her laptop. Would she join the school paper with Enid?
“Shut it, Thorpe, or I'll slice the man bun right off,” Wednesday said in her even voice. Enid noticed she had tensed just a tiny amount.
Xavier rolled his eyes, “You'll get in trouble. Surprised you haven't already considering how many classes you skipped today,” he snorted.
Oh. Enid raised a brow. Had the vision been that bad?
Class started offering a weak reprieve to all the conflicting thoughts she had about the teen in front of her. When the bell rang, signaling freedom, Enid packed her things slowly, stalling. For what, she wasn't sure. It just felt like a pretty anti-climatic ending to a day that had been fairly stressful.
Unlike in homeroom, Wednesday didn't leave immediately. She stood up, shouldered her bag, and whipped around to stare down at Enid.
“Let's go,” she said. Enid blinked up at her in confusion.
“Whoa, hey, you said you'd stop by the art club room!” Xavier said, protesting.
“Plans have changed,” Wednesday said, gaze unwavering, “Sinclair, let's go.”
Xavier gave Enid a shocked look that she was pretty sure she was returning. She tried to compose herself best as she could. What was happening? Wednesday Addams, the subject of every rumor circling around school today, was demanding to spend time with her?
Wait, was this a kidnapping?
“Let's go. I will not say it again,” Wednesday said impatiently and Enid felt something in her was compelled to follow.
'She's going to change my life, isn't she?' she thought vaguely as she got to her feet.
At the very least, maybe she could get an answer about the vision?
In the hall, she watched in awe as students seemed to part for Wednesday, owing no doubt to the murderous vibe she was giving off, and they made it to their lockers quickly. Enid was burning with so much curiosity that she kept her eyes on Wednesday even as she packed her things, convinced the girl would disappear like a ghost.
They met in the middle when they were ready and Wednesday nodded in the direction of the exit that led to the parking lot. Enid wordlessly followed as though she were under some sort of trance. The murderous vibe seemed to have been quelled. Rather, Wednesday now looked almost pensive and subdued.
Once outside, the goth pulled a key fob from her pocket and began to press all the buttons on it, almost experimentally. Hey, wait, did Wednesday know how to drive already?
“Uh, Wednesday? What are you doing?” End asked nervously as some faculty were beginning to exit.
“Getting us a ride, obviously,” Wednesday replied and then seemed to locate the corresponding vehicle to the key fob in her hands. She unlocked the doors to a really nice, black sedan, got inside, and started the engine.
“Get in,” she said.
“Wa-wait! I don't want to be an accomplice to a c-,”
“We'll be fine, Sinclair,” Wednesday replied so sure of herself that Enid gaped. And then, because she was drawn to Wednesday like a moth to a flame, she opened the passenger door and hopped in.
Wednesday hit the gas as soon as her butt hit the seat. Flailing, Enid, buckled herself in and clutched her backpack to herself as Wednesday somewhat erratically guided the car out of the parking lot.
“I have not driven since I was eight,” Wednesday confessed as though that was a greater sin than whatever they were doing.
“Uh, okay. I've never driven before. Like ever.”
“That's unfortunate. And do not worry, this is the Principal's car, not min-,”
“OH MY GOD!”
“Sinclair, lower the pitch of your whining,” Wednesday said, wincing at the noise. They said nothing more to each other as Enid covered her eyes and began to pray to anything that would listen to her. This was totally a crime. She was totally gonna get grounded and shipped off to jail. Or if the cops didn't deal with her, her mother would totally send her to San Fran to those camps she always mentioned.
“We're here,” Wednesday said after a while. Enid peered out through her fingers to see that they were at the cemetery on the edge of Jericho. Enid felt her hackles raise.
“Oh, you're really gonna kill me, huh?”
“Nonsense, Sinclair, you would already be dead if that were the case. I just have to be sure of something. And this was the most peaceful place I could think of.”
“Peaceful?” Enid squeaked.
“Out,” Wednesday said, getting out of the car. She left the keys in and the engine running.
Enid weighed her options. She could probably overpower Wednesday if she needed to. Though she was scary she was still classified as 'smol'. Plus, she had the perks of some werewolf strength even if she couldn't shift.
Nodding to herself, she grabbed her things and followed the shorter teen. They walked among rows and rows of headstones before coming to a stop in front of the dry fountain depicting angels and cherubs in the center of the cemetery.
Wednesday looked peeved at the structure and Enid wondered if that was another point to her 'Wednesday was probably some kind of demon' argument.
Wednesday tossed her backpack down and then sat down on the edge of the fountain with her legs crossed, looking expectantly at Enid.
Enid placed her bag down and sat a good distance away.
“So, why are we here?” she asked.
“I told you. This is a peaceful place and I need to concentrate if I am going to do this.” Wednesday spoke no louder than she had to and Enid was admittedly, hooked to her every word.
“Do what?”
“Do not be alarmed at what I am about to do,” Wednesday said.
“Do what?!” Enid repeated as Wednesday reached a hand out.
“Don't panic, Sinclair,” Wednesday said impatiently, “Just give me your hand.”
Enid gave her a look even as she tentatively reached back out, “Oh c'mon! How can you say that and then not expect me to-,”
Their fingers touched. For just a brief moment, Enid saw something that might have been fear in Wednesday's eyes. Wednesday's head snapped back and they broke contact.
Enid gasped as a ripple of something flooded her. Her vision and hearing sharpened. She could see the fine cracks in the statues right beside them. Everything was too loud, overwhelming even. And her claws and teeth extended slightly involuntarily.
“What's happening?!” she cried out but Wednesday couldn't hear her. Enid doubled over for a second and then scrambled to Wednesday's side, her head pounding and all of her senses normal again. The blonde was focused only on the frozen girl next to her. Not sure what to do, she simply cradled Wednesday loosely in her arms as she had that morning, wondering if she would fall over once the vision had passed.
Okay, okay, now what? She had seen a few kids in her previous school have moments like this but it was never as violent as the way Wednesday's head had snapped back and the way she'd gone rigid. Was it a raven thing?
It took a few moments for Wednesday to return to normal. She was stiff in general so it was hard to tell but her eyes cleared up and she grumbled to herself before standing.
“Enid Sinclair,” she said as though testing out Enid's full name.
“Uh, yes?” Enid peered up at her.
Wednesday was worrying at her bottom lip, one fist tight at her side. Her other hand came up to comb back her bangs and then pressed at her temple as though nursing a headache. She was clearly displeased.
“I - Nevermind.”
What.
“Huh!?” Enid said, standing up and brushing herself off, annoyance flooding her veins. “No. No, no, no. What the hell is going on?”
“I had a vision.”
“Yeah, no duh,” she said throwing her hands up.
“I do not know what to make of it,” Wednesday said, as though carefully selecting each word. She was avoiding looking at Enid. And Enid wanted to simply run off and pretend she had never met Wednesday Addams in her life.
But then what the hell had happened when they had touched?
She huffed, “You probably don't have the answer but why did my... senses go wild when you touched me?”
Wednesday merely stared, “I don't know.”
Her shoulders seem to droop. It was the first real break from her rigid posture that Enid had seen all day.
“I suppose I really can't kill you now,” Wednesday muttered to herself.
Enid scoffed and let her nails extend then, “I'd love to see you try.”
Wednesday stared in interest at the deadly claws, “A werewolf. Of course.”
Then, silence. Awkward and foreign.
Enid was done. She straightened up and shouldered her bag.
“I'm walking home,” she said and walked past Wednesday who didn't move an inch. When she reached the gate of the cemetery, she turned just once.
Just out of curiosity.
Sure enough, Wednesday was watching her go.