Chapter Text
"Are you serious? Like for real for real?"
Yoko Tanaka, photography major, usually Enids best friend but right now, Enids biggest critic.
"You cant judge me! You pushed back your drawing classes!"
Yoko pursed her lips and huffs through her nose.
"I suck at drawing! Why would they make me take drawing 101 when all I want to do is take EPIC PICTURES," Her arms shoot up in the air dramatically as Enid cackles.
"Exactly what I'm feeling! I get the history of fashion and shit but they want me to take a basic ass low level history class," they stop in front of their dorm room, Yoko struggles to pull her keys out of her back pocket, "Apparently it's mandatory to take it right now."
Enid only recently turned 22 and her second semester in her third year of college was already making her feel 30 with how stressful it was looking to be. Enid has been going to Nevermore University, majoring in Fashion design with a minor in marketing, knowing this was her calling ever since she was in high school and kids would pick on her for her fashion sense. She knows in general it's been hard but she's been pushing through her classes with solid As and Bs, no problem. But when it came to history... Lets just say Enid wasn't the most knowledgeable in the subject.
So, like any other smart, responsible adult... She pushed the one class to the side as much as possible... Until they made it mandatory to take it before your fourth year to be sure it wouldn't be covered by another credit if you wanted to graduate at 4 years.
Enid sighs as she plops into her desk chair, a headache already playing in the corners of her brain.
"I'm just going to go for the bare minimum and not hyper focus on it..."
"Good luck with that, I bet you drop the class, panic, then drop out of college all together after a month-" A pillow hits Yokos head and she barks out a laugh.
"You're not helping!!"
And so began Enids' journey into history. Literally.
The first obstacle began on the second day of class. Of course she needs to pick 'your favorite history period/era', pick a specific book in said era, annotate the hell out of it and create an essay explaining why the book/era is interesting. Luckily the professor gives them a month for this assignment to do outside of class, while also learning other things IN class.
Ridiculous, Enid thinks.
Wasting no time, she heads to Nevermores' library.
Then the second obstacle hits.
Though the library is big enough for students to find almost anything, it lacks specific books on... LGBT+ folk...
"If I'm going to do this stupid essay, I'm at least going to make it gay!" She turned in her chair as Yoko raised a brow at her, but nodded in agreement.
"Yeah you tell 'em girl."
So she comes to the conclusion that this is the perfect opportunity for her to head into town to check out the Jericho Public Library.
That leads to the third obstacle...
Her parents. Specifically her mother.
"I see no reason for you to be exploring the town, all you need is right there."
"Mom, the library here isn't sufficient. I need a wider range of books right now because of... A history class."
"Hm."
Enid is currently standing outside of the main dorm building, the crispy fall wind cradles her face tenderly. A nice feeling against the nervous one sitting in her stomach. Her knuckles turn white from holding her phone tightly against her ear.
She dreaded speaking to her parents, especially now. They've been nothing but controlling. She's still surprised they even let her come study at Vermont for something like fashion. Nonetheless they're funding her studies right now so she has to fake it till she makes it.
What better way to get back at your homophobic parents than steal all their money in the most convenient way possible?
"Your father and I have spoken."
Enid holds her breath.
"You may go into town to study," A grunt is heard on the other line, most likely her father, "But only to study. Remember, Enid, I have people in that university that can easily tell me where you are or where you have been. And you know the consequences."
Her mother hangs up as soon as she finishes her sentence. With a clenched jaw, Enid holds back tears as she stuffs her phone back into her pocket. She harshly kicks a pebble to let off some steam.
It's not like she cared much..
It's not like she wishes they loved her like her brothers.
It's not like she still cries about the time she came out and her mother lashed out.
It's not like she still cries about their lack of support.
It's not like she wishes her father stood up to her mom as well.
She's fine.
Enid shakes her head, adjusting her snood around her neck tighter so the chilly wind doesn't crawl down her back. Stomping forward, she decides she'll start exploring now. She heads to the bus and thinks of the one place she has ever visited in town.
The Weathervane. It's a comfy cafe that sits in a corner and she's only gone because Yoko invited her a couple of times when she worked there for around three weeks. The school offers students jobs in town and Yoko- for some reason- needed extra cash.
Probably for photo related stuff, definitely not for chaos related stuff.
Slowly the bus came to a halt and Enid thanked the driver as she stepped out.
'Wow' Enid thinks as she begins her walk towards the cafe. The town looked even nicer in the fall. With crunchy orange and yellow leaves littering the ground, the smell of pine trees mixes with the sudden smell of baked goods as she approaches the Weathervane.
As she enters the shop she's engulfed in the sweet smell of coffee and pastries, leading her straight to the counter.
"Enid!"
Her head snaps towards the voice, a bubbly feeling erupting in her chest as she sees familiar faces of a couple of close friends.
"OH EM GEE! Howdy everyone!" Enid jumps out of the order line and beelines towards the booth where her friends are sitting. She waves enthusiastically to her three friends, Divina, her twin Kent, and Ajax.
"Didn't think we'd ever see you up here again," Divina spoke, being the initial person to call out to her. She politely waves at an employee signaling that they wanted to order something.
"Augh I know. I successfully convinced my parents to let me explore the town this semester," Enid pulls off her snood and sets it down on the cushioned seat, Divina scooting over to let Enid sit.
"How'd you get your parents to agree to that?" Ajax hummed into the coffee mug he was holding up to his lips.
"Told them I needed to study at Jericho's Library for my history class," Enid pouts as Ajax snorts out a laugh, "C'mon I'm not that bad!"
"Ah yes, Yoko was telling me about your class, poor puppy," Divina smiles sympathetically, pinching Kent across the table on the arm for also giggling slightly.
"I got it guys, trust-"
"Hey, what would you like to order," the server spoke tiredly, a pen and notepad in his hands. Enid recognized him as a fellow classmate in her current marketing class.
"Oh! I'll take a large caramel-vanilla Frappuccino with an extra pump of strawberry syrup please," Enid smiles as the servers' eyelid slightly twitches before he nods and walks away to make the drink.
"God, that drink sounds like it has enough sugar to get a bear through winter," Kent smirks and Enid playfully glares at him with a smile on her own lips.
"Well if it can then hopefully it can get me through this dumb ass history class."
She spent her afternoon chatting with her friends about life then about school and finally about silly crushes and love just as Yoko pulled up to join them.
"Nah your standards are just too high, baby cakes," Yoko speaks to Enid through her second red velvet cake slice, "No offence Ajax."
Ajax laughs and waves it off, "It's been years! On the contrary, I'm rooting for you Enid, c'mon It's been ages since you've even gone on a date."
"Honestly guys I don't know... My parents would send me into space if they found out I was focusing on anything other than school," Enid slurps the remnants of her drink, moving the straw around as if she did it enough the drink would magically refill.
Her and Ajax did date when they were in their first year of college which was one of the ways she solidified that she was gay (*cough* other reasons include discovering Shego from Kim Possible and Moonbyul from Mamamoo throughout her childhood *cough*).
She thought if she was into boys, it would be a boy as kind and funny as Ajax Petropolus.
The first time they kissed was when they knew they were better off as friends. Enid enthusiastically helped Ajax get a boyfriend that same year.
"I wouldn't be opposed if I make a connection with someone but..." Enid paused, pursing her lips, "I think I'm okay."
Yoko and Divina share a look as they all nod along in silent support for their suddenly lonely looking friend.
Next thing they know the sun is setting and people slowly start to leave the cafe. Friends included.
"Let's head back then," Yoko nudged Enid lazily with the back of her hand and got up from the chair she pulled up to the booth they've been lounging at, "Unless you wanna check out that library right now?"
Enid hums, looking down at her locked phone screen.
7:26 pm
"Nah, I'm kinda sleepy honestly."
And so they ventured back to the dorm rooms together.
Enid goes to sleep that night filled with anxiety...
Two weeks have passed and Enid has been going to the library twice a week, Mondays and Fridays. Enid decides that this is a good schedule, allowing her to focus on school but also get a chance to explore the town any other day without her parents knowing she isn't at the library. Enid also thinks it's a good idea to not get a library card to check out the books she needs so she can stay at the library and read in the moment of adventure.
So she plans to become a regular at the Weathervane and the library. A loiterer if you will.
She even picked out the book she is going to make her essay about. AND is almost half way done reading it.
What great progress.
On her third Monday visiting the library, she finds herself searching the shelves for said book. Only to go through the same shelf not twice but three times. The book nowhere in sight.
Huffing out a tired sigh, she thinks it's finally time to visit the front desk, no matter how much she's been avoiding it because she feels shy about the whole library card plan.
So here she is; going to the front desk to ask if they had another copy or if someone checked it out already, to get any sort of info honestly. But once she gets to the front desk, no one is in sight, completely abandoned. She gently dings the little bell on the desk.
A "Ring only if no one is present" sign sits under it.
Suddenly she's hit with what she can only call a 'fanfic moment' as time feels like it slows down... A woman steps out of the backroom dressed in a Black sweater vest, a white button up under, the collar neat but the sleeves rolled up and messy, along with a long black skirt almost covering her black doc martins...
Her beautiful tan skin almost glows in the dark library lighting, her raven black hair was neat and done in two long braids that sat comfortably on her shoulders and past her collarbone...
Dusted on her cheeks was a million freckles. Her eyes... Sharp and bored, lazily they scan Enids face and then her lips went from a flat line to almost an aggressive scowl.
Finally her voice knocked Enid back to the real world and she inhales sharply.
"Can I help you?" She did not sound happy.
A beat passed until Enid realized she was full on staring and the raven haired girls brow furrows.
Finally Enid is able to speak.
"Yes I actually no- Im- I mean I just-" her hands shoot up to the counter to stop herself from rambling. She clears her throat, trying to compose herself, "I was hoping you could help me find a book?"
Her thumb jerks over her shoulder and a tight small smile spreads on her lips, hoping to ease the tension that's starting to pool in the air.
The librarian nods and hums, Enid takes it as a signal to continue.
"It's called 'Immodest Acts', I can't recall the author but it's about a-" a pause, thinking if saying 'lesbian' was too much of a coincidence at the moment before continuing, "A nun in Renaissance Italy."
The librarians eyebrow twitch slightly before she begins to move. Enid expects her to come around the counter so she can lead her to the book even though she just came from that direction, knowing it isn't there. Instead her mouth hangs open as the girl disappears into the room she initially came from.
Enid's first thought was; did I scare her?
Then; What the fuck? HOW RUDE??
She was about to hit the little bell again when the girl emerged from the room once again, a familiar book in her hand. Enid quickly pulls her hand away from the bell and clenches tight fists by her side.
"Fortunately for you I finished reading it earlier this morning. Here."
Her thoughts instantly snapped to how one; this book is about a lesbian lady. And two; how this angsty looking hot lady was holding it and read it already.
"O-Oh! Thank you!" Enids' voice was an octave higher than normal and she may have spoken too loudly. A bright red flush overtakes her face as she quickly took the book the -cute- librarian was still holding out towards her over the small counter.
"Shh," She raised a single finger to her lips as she hushed Enid and of course her eyes darted to the tanned hand. A hefty silver ring wrapped around her index and another thinner ring on her pinkie. Enid swallows the lump in her throat and jerks out a single nod before turning and darting away towards the back tables for studying.
Enid has never felt such an electric feeling. A feeling she's currently trying to get rid of and push away as she sits back down on the hard wooden chair. Rethinking her purpose of coming to the library, Enid can only open the book to the page she was at.
'Focus on history.'
'Your parents will get mad at you if you don't.'
'Maybe possibly flirt- chat with the librarian while you're coming here...'
'It wouldn't hurt to make a new friend right?'
______________
Friday slapped Enid in the face. Time was going by a little too fast for her liking.
She currently sat at her usual table. The end of a plain old black pen, that has been her partner in crime ever since she started coming to the library, sat in between her teeth loosely. An almost empty paper sits in front of her, an essay just waiting to be written and completed in the next week and a half.
She had nothing.
She throws her head back in a silent dramatic scream and goes limp against the uncomfortable wooden chair she's been sitting at for the past two hours. Rethinking her life decisions that lead her to be shit at history and essays, she adjusts herself on the chair and stares down at the paper.
Suddenly she sees her. In the corner of her eye.
Jet black hair. The silver rings. The black button up and rolled up sleeves. The black slacks accompanied by the usual doc martins.
She was putting some books back on a shelf a couple rows down from the table Enid was sitting at and had a perfect view of.
Enid looks down at herself thinking she definitely didn't look presentable right now... She was wearing a yellow pollo shirt with all the buttons undone and a white long sleeve underneath. The problem was that she lazily put on her ugly worn out purple sweatpants this morning hoping to just get through the day.
She looked like Wario for fucks sake.
Enid quickly melts into the seat, hoping that the cute librarian didn't look nor come her way. But of course the gods are always looking after her and the girl begins to move her cart filled to the brim with different books. TOWARDS HER.
For a split second those tired eyes look up from the cart and lock with Enid's, squinting a little before harshly looking away towards the new shelf she stopped in front of.
'Okay... Awkward...'
'Is this really my chance?'
Enid quietly gets up from the hard wooden chair- THUMP- and curses under her breath as her knee collides with the even harder wooden table. She's forced to sit back down as an endless stream of curse words want to erupt from her throat, instead coming out as quiet small whimpers. Tears prickle at her eyes and she shuts them tightly as she clutches her knee in both hands, sinking into the seat.
After a couple of minutes of pure agonizing pain. She finally opens her eyes and blinks away the tears, her eyes scanning around the area to make sure no one saw or heard her distress. Thankfully no one was in sight... Including the gorgeous librarian...
A sigh escapes her as she leans back into her seat. With her opportunity gone, Enid decides this is a good stopping point so she begins to pack up her stuff, a pain-filled pout on her lips.
______________
Wednesday didn't expect to find comfort in this god forsaken school. And she was right. Class after class of professors telling her things she already knows. There was only two things that were keeping her from booking the next flight home and looking for a different school to continue her studies in journalism and communications. Maybe even an online school at that point. But Wednesday knew her parents pulled some strings to get her into this school in the first place. So came her first reason; She promised them that she would push through and come back home with a degree in hand and a publisher for her series of books under her boot.
And an Addams always keep their promises.
Besides her promise, the other thing keeping her sane is the job she's currently balancing with school.
An assistant at Jericho's Public Library.
She didn't want to admit it but the library felt like home.
More than the school did.
Hell more than her apartment two blocks away did.
One of the good things about the damn school was the program that helped her get the job.
"You sure you wouldn't prefer joining me down at The Hive?" Eugene, one of Wednesdays few close friends, spoke softly as to not agitate Wednesday by asking again.
"I appreciate the offer once again, Eugene," Wednesday snapped her eyes up from a book she was currently skimming through as her name was called from the front desk, she stood as she continued, "I enjoy spending time with you and your bees but I would not like to take up space at your job if I am not fully invested in it."
Eugene smiles, his braces gleam under the florescent lights in the dinky classroom turned office they were currently in. Eugene gleefully encouraged her to apply for this program after he noticed she was becoming restless in and out of class. Wednesday agreed once she found out she could possibly join the sheriff of the town in investigating crime scenes.
Unfortunately, the job wasn't available at the time but they did offer her a position at the Public library. One she accepted after they told her there was a chance to make connections with authors that visited the library constantly to do book signings or readings. Eugene was practically bouncing in his seat as she returned and he swore she came out of the room looking happy.
Nonsense.
She has been working at the library since the end of her first year at the school. Now starting her third year, she felt truly connected to the place. Not only has she definitely made a couple of good acquaintances in the writing scene, she also has come to appreciate a far larger range of genres when it came down to reading in her free time.
She was completely fine in expanding her taste in books but recently she's been feeling herself slip away from her normal self. Dread seeped in the pit of her stomach as she entered the library one chilly morning. She was starting her shift in the afternoon but she decided to pop in earlier to get some reading done. It was two weeks into the new school semester and she only now has started to have free time on her hands.
As she approached the employees only room behind the main desk to drop off her satchel, she searched through files in her mind. Trying to recall what book she wanted to finish this morning. Her mind tried to convince her that she should finish that criminology book she picked up a week ago but the dread returns in her stomach as she remembers why its been a full week yet she still hasn't finished said book.
Its only because she's been infected. Infected with a god awful want... the want to read romance novels...
Wednesday has never been a fan of love. She's only ever dated once and she wouldn't even count it as dating because they kissed once and he betrayed her trust not even a week later. She didn't want to end up like her love-struck parents too, she always dreaded the idea of falling for someone so hard that you would die for them. That you would need to rely on them for important aspects of your life. That you would need to constantly feel the need to be close to them and protect them with your own life.
She didn't need anyone like that.
She only needed herself. That was enough...
Nonetheless the want still led her to search through a couple of cliche books from a random shelf labeled 'Romance Part 1'. She could barely make it through the beginning of Twilight before she gave up and practically slammed the book back into the shelf. She ventured further into romance, passing some of William Shakespeare's books, determined to come back if she didn't find anything else.
Eventually she ended up in a section of history related fiction books. Carefully she pulled out a small sized book. The words 'Immodest Acts' printed in bold black on the spine.
She decided even though this book wasn't necessarily romance fiction, she felt as though she would enjoy these kinds of books when it was in a way relevant to her own feelings.
History? A lesbian?
'Hm.'
She spent that morning finishing the little over 200 page book. Eager to finish up so she could find another book to get rid of this itch in her fingers and brain that kept leading her back to the stupid romance section of the library.
After she flipped through the final few pages, she set the book aside on a small wooden table in the little employees only room she was currently in. She needed to clock in and get her name tag from the front desk.
'Ding!'
Wednesday felt her eyebrow twitch at the sudden little noise, looking around to see if the other two assistants heard it. But of course not. One with earbuds in and the other too deep in a hefty looking book to even look up.
The librarian on shift today was also nowhere to be seen so far this morning. Of course she had to go out there, she was going anyway, might as well get rid of this possibly annoying person who needed assistance.
She suddenly snapped back to her earlier train of thoughts about love. Why she didn't feel like she needed anyone else. Possibly because she knew she might not be able to give the love most required. Possibly because she might be afraid of the idea of love in general.
No. Impossible. An Addams doesn't feel fear. At least not this Addams.
But as she stepped out of the backroom, rolling up her sleeves to alleviate a bit of the warmth she began to feel as she made eye contract with the person who was waiting at the counter, she thought maybe she was a little afraid.
The whole interaction left Wednesday feeling light but at the same time a panicked feeling struck her in the back of the head.
So what if she suddenly couldn't stop thinking about a certain blonde with pink and blue highlights. Who wore a horrid pink sweater that looked like it would make Wednesday break out in hives if she just glared at it too long. Who had been reading the book she just finished and found quite interesting.
Wednesday tried her best to push the girl out of her head for the remainder of her afternoon. Ending up just shoving her to the back drawer of her brain. Maybe if she slammed the drawer hard enough, the door would get stuck and she wouldn't have to think about the girl with stunning porcelain skin and the most bewitching blue eyes she's ever seen.
"-you okay?" Agnes leaned close to her, tilting her head slowly to one side.
Wednesday swallowed a small lump that was forming in her throat before nodding, coming out of her thoughts.
"I'm fine," she felt her palms begin to sweat. She hoped Agnes wouldn't notice or a least ignore it. She only met Agnes this year but Wednesday considered her as another close friend, she was a freshman, barely in her third semester, but she was a prodigy when it came to her studies.
"You just seem a little distracted," her wide eyes pierced Wednesdays tired brown ones.
"Worry not, I've just been... Tired."
It wasn't necessarily a lie but it wasn't the full truth either. Wednesday couldn't tell anyone that she's suddenly been infatuated by a walking piece of cotton candy here at the library. Its been two days since she saw the girl and she caught herself twice looking around for dyed blond hair.
"Alright... I do hope you try to adjust your sleeping schedule. I know you're very passionate about your book but it shouldn't mess with your sleep," Agnes puts down the book she was currently holding into the book cart and gives it a gentle nudge so she could crouch down to put another book into the shelf they've been organizing, "You'll regret it."
Wednesday hummed in acknowledgement and took a small stack of books off the cart, walking a little further down the row to put a set of 'A Game of Thrones' books into their spot.
Agnes also works for the library but she only recently joined, working only one or two days depending if they needed her. She didn't need the job but she seemed to enjoy Wednesdays presence enough to 'hang out' outside of class. Wednesday would usually prefer library time to be her quiet time but she didn't mind Agnes chatting with her during their shifts together. If she was going to talk to anyone here, she was glad it was someone nearly as intelligent as herself.
Friday rolled around faster than she realized and she once again found herself back in the library. With only one librarian on duty today, she was once again in charge of moving about the library to put books back where they belonged. The book trolly was one of the few things in this place that she despised. Getting stuck in corners or in places where the carpet was dented, pushing it around made her feel stupid with how big it was and occasionally she would be caught in awkward situations where she had to block an aisle and people would stare. As if starring would make her move faster or retreat out of the aisle.
People had no patience these days.
It drove her insane. Nonetheless, this was way better than having to work at the front desk, having to actually communicate with people way more there.
Fridays was usually a little more empty here at the library. People would rather go to a bar, or hang out with friends for lunch or dinner, than to come to the library. It was one of Wednesdays favorite days because of it.
As she approached her next shelf stop, for a split second she let her eyes flicker up from the cart and lock with enchanting blue ones. She squinted a little, thinking her mind was playing tricks on her, before harshly looking away towards the new shelf she stopped in front of.
Not now...
Not now when Wednesday thought she finally got her out of her head. She didn't want to keep thinking of this blue eyed goddess. She didn't want to admit that she's never seen such an alluring person before.
Not even when she dated that simpleton boy in high school did she feel like this.
-THUMP-
Her head snapped up in the direction of the girl that was now sitting back in her chair, eyes screwed shut, her knee clenched in-between her hands. The want to rush over and ask if she was okay felt like it was going to eat her alive.
So she did what any other logical human would.
Push the cart the other direction as quickly as possible to retreat out of sight.