Because of Her | a wenclair story.

part 11; blunders and woes.

There was silence and Enid loosened her grip on my arm until the cold returned and the warmth she radiated was no longer there. The breeze became harsher, tormenting me for the words that had just left my mouth and I let them. If you had asked me then why I responded the way I did, I couldn't answer. I was trying to figure that out myself. 

"Well then if that's not a date," Xavier spoke, but before that he cleared his throat. Even he, I assumed, guessed the tension that replaced the flowers in the atmosphere. "Wanna join?" In his raised arm was a beer bottle, an invitation. Before I could answer, Enid spoke. 

"Actually, I think I've to go, yeah. . ." She turned to me, and I forced myself to return her regard. "I'll see you back at the dorm." It was the way her jaw was clenched and her rapid blinks that made up for any emotions her expressionless face hid, it was the barely audible quiver of her voice. 

"Uh," my heart ached, what have I done? "Maybe you could stay?"

"Can't, very busy. See you soon." 

The air suddenly sharpened, stabbing my already chilled skin a million little times and my heart weighed more than I did as I watched her force a smile for Xavier and Bianca before she turned to leave without sparing me another glance. 

I only realized I was frozen in the spot she left me at, watching her leave, when Xavier called out. "Wednesday, come here." So, I did. 

"Did we just watch you fuck up?" Bianca chuckled light-heartedly as I walked to them, the leaves crunching under my feet. They sat on a rather long log behind a smaller one. I claimed that one for myself, plopping down with the weight of my words. When I looked at them again, I knew: they were, in fact, on a date, too. I had intruded. 

"I panicked," I sighed and took the bottle Xavier offered once I sat. "I didn't know what to say. . ." 

"So you two are together?" 

I took a swig of the drink, the liquid burned my throat as it raced through and it tasted awful but better than the words I had spewed earlier, so I kept on drinking till I was sure I could answer Bianca's question.

"I, I guess? I don't know, I haven't been this way with anyone before. . .What exactly is 'being together'? Being the way we are right now?" 

"No," Xavier chuckled, and the two shared a look. "No, no, it's like, is she your girlfriend?" 

Another silence loaded the air and Bianca took a sip of her own drink, squinting at the bitter taste. 

"Well," I hadn't heard anyone call her that after Thing. My girlfriend, Enid. We are together, or we were before I fumbled. "Yes, I suppose. Yes, she is." 

"Woah," the exclaim was almost in union, "damn, I owe Yoko so much money." Bianca sipped her drink again, smiling against it. 

"Did you guys bet on me and—"

"Then why did you just say that wasn't a date?" Xavier chuckled and he reached over to playfully flick my forehead, "little dumbass, she looked really upset." 

"She's with Yoko right now," Bianca's phone lit her face in the night that seemed to darken after Enid left. She turned the phone to me to display a string of texts she had received from Yoko. 

-bitch bitch bitch 

-guess what

-you owe me so much money

-i won

-enid's here, won't give you any details because the poor girl's a sobbing mess but wednesday and her, they're a thiinggg

-wait nvm now she's saying she's confused if it even is

-bitch i've to go, i still won tho. better have the money ready

"You really fucked up," Bianca returned her phone to her lap and I released the quiver of the breath that pierced my throat. I sure did. Had I really made her cry when I swore to myself I wouldn't? My chest contracted to suffocate my heart and airway, and every breath I took after was a chore. 

"Fuck," I breathed and I was all too aware of the quiver of my voice. "That was so fucking dumb, what should I do?" Another swig and the bottle was empty, the burn of the drink was no comfort but the way it traveled through me to fog my mind numbed the embarrassment and ache I felt. "That was so dumb, one word could've changed everything." 

"Look, just," Xavier took the bottle from my hand, his movement concise and careful. I covered my face with my hands, resting against them. "Just, apologize to her, okay? Explain you just panicked even if that was the dumbest shit I've ever witnessed, but considering you're, well. . .Wednesday Addams, it makes sense."

"She'll need time but she'll understand," Bianca added. "No more of this 'I don't love or need no one' act." 

I shifted and buried my chin in my palms, I watched the two through disheveled hair. They shared the same, supportive smiles. "It'll be okay," Bianca said. 

"Or not in which case, we'll be here."

"We will be here but it will be okay, don't discourage her, Xavier." 

"I'm not but, she is Wednesday Addams, so." His tone was light-hearted and I was glad he tried to brighten the atmosphere when it seemed too dark already. 

"Shut up," said both I and Bianca, she chuckled.

"She can be Wednesday Addams with a soft spot for Enid Sinclair, it works perfectly."