The Aftermath {A Wenclair Story}

Roomie

••

Enid pulled back from Wednesday, a bright smile on her face, eyes lit with excitement. Wednesday felt her shoulders drop the slightest in relief, her chest loosening at the sight of her roommate.

Her first real friend. The relief she felt didn't last long as her chest constricted as that long night came back to her again. Breath being stolen from her lungs, long claws of her first kiss ready to rip her open.

To this day Wednesday wondered if any of it was real. Her and Tyler. It still hurt to think of him, the pained look in his eyes as he told her she didn't know what was coming.

He was right.

She glanced at Enid's face, the almost fully healed scars on the side of her head. Relief and pride filled her chest when she met the wolf's eyes and knew immediately it was Enid. She had finally wolfed out, and it was for her. For Wednesday. How did a girl so detached from caring meet someone who cared so much?

"I am so, so, so happy that you decided to come back Wednesday. I don't know, after last semester, I wasn't sure if I would ever see you again." Sadness tinted Enid's words as Wednesday went to her bed, setting her bag down on her black covers. It tipped over and out crawled Thing, which earned an enthusiastic squeal from the wolf girl. "Oh my gosh, Thing!"

Well, those sounds of joy weren't exactly what Wednesday had missed. She could think of much more intriguing ways to have her eardrums explode.

"There's nothing that could scare me away enough to drop out. Though I am a bit surprised that you decided to return. Why?" Enid let Thing drop from her hands as she turned to Wednesday with a hop. "I guess I could say the same." The two stared at each other, no words being said, but the meaning was clear to both. They came back for something. Someone.

A cheery ding came from Enid's pocket and she pulled out her phone, the smile on her face dipping at the corners as she read the message. "Who is it?"

"Ajax." There was something different about the way she said his name, the once romantical swoon that lit up her whole presence now seemed dimmer. "Did you break up?"

"No..." She said nothing else and placed her phone on the desk without answering his message. Strange. "Did something happen?" Enid's eyes darted at Thing, who lifted his thumb in a shrug, then at the large window in the middle of the wall. "Oh, we should get to the courtyard. Heard they're hosting a welcome-back party. Don't wanna miss the snacks!"

Avoiding the question. Wednesday looked accusingly at Enid, knowing something was bothering the girl. What was it? And why wouldn't she tell her?

Before Wednesday could confront her again she dashed out the door, colorful hair bouncing as she skipped down the hallway. She turned and raised a hand to Thing. "What? Don't you think she's acting weird?" He scooted forwards on the bed and tapped his fingers rapidly. "No, I don't think I'm pestering. I hardly got to ask any questions."

More movements. "I am not repeating myself. I am simply curious." Thing fell back on the bed, giving up and laying there in defeat. Wednesday spun on her heel and walked out the door after Enid, letting is slam behind her.

••

As night fell Enid and Wednesday prepared for bed, a strange tension between them that apparently only appeared to Enid. Wednesday was stoic as ever, wiping down her typewriter and closing the lid before turning the lamp off on her side of the room.

Enid, sitting in her bed, watched as Wednesday slid under the covers and turned her back to the room. Her lip jutted out in a pout as she turned her own lamp off and snuggled under her comforter. "Goodnight. Sweet dreams."

"Horrible nightmares I prefer." Enid rolled her eyes in the dark as she knew that would be the only response she was getting back from Wednesday.

On her side table, Wednesdays phone buzzed and lit up with a notification. Though she never checked them, this time she reached over and flipped it up, staring at the screen and the small notification of a message from an unknown number.

A picture was attached, and she clicked it to reveal herself and her family standing outside of Nevermore. The picture seemed to be taken hidden somewhere above. A text was sent just under it.

Welcome back. (:

Her stalker strikes again.