Secret Little Love Song

Outside Those Closed Doors

 Sitting on the bus to the harvest festival that weekend was the worst torture Wednesday has ever endured. Next to her, Enid seems to bounce in excitement in her overly bright outfit. Not only does it blind Wednesday's eyes, it makes Wednesday feel like she's being choked in the sweetest of ways. She hated the feeling.

The magnetism was so strong it wrenched Wednesday's guts out of place. If only Wednesday could lean a little closer, but it would be too obvious with the prattle that was escaping Enid's mouth as she conversed with Yoko. Normally, Wednesday wouldn't mind if Enid was talking, if it was to her. Except this time, it got the cursed vampire's eyes on Enid the entire ride.

Wednesday's fingers twitched, itching to reach out to Enid's. Then, as she realized what she was about to do in front of the vampire, she huffed a nearly silent breath and turned her head to look out the grimy bus window.

She doesn't dare to look away until the bus grinds to a halt next to the festival, which was so brightly lit it blocked out the darkness of the night. Such a travesty.

Not wanting to follow the crowd, Wednesday waits as the students all file off the bus, until finally she hears. "Wi- Wednesday?" Willa. The nickname that she had once rejected echoes in her head, completing the rest of the name that Enid doesn't dare utter in public. Not even when it was just them and the bus driver left on the bus.

All too aware that the bus driver was grumpily staring them down in the mirror at the front of the bus, Wednesday simply gets up, brushing gently past Enid as she stalks off the bus. In her head the only thing that echoes is Willa, Willa, Willa. Wednesday wills her shrunken heart not to react.

Footsteps crunch behind her and Wednesday keeps walking, letting her feet lead because all her head can do is run circles around Enid. It's when she sees the tired looking boy with curly hair up ahead that she grinds to a halt.

Next to her, footsteps gently stop as well. Even if Wednesday couldn't see Enid out of the corner of her eye, she could feel Enid's heavy presence. It always weighed on Wednesday in the most baffling and torturous ways.

"Are you sure you can trust that normie?" Enid finally says, distaste obvious in her voice. Wednesday can just imagine her nose wrinkling.

"I trust that I can handle myself."

As they turn to each other, Wednesday has to wonder how Enid could possibly smile even in such situations. Her bright burning fire never dimmed. "Well. Good luck and safe travels!" Enid opened her arms again, and Wednesday was so tempted to lean in. With a herculean effort, Wednesday steps back instead. "Still not a hugger. Got it", Enid says before whipping around and leaving.

At the moment, Wednesday has to wonder how Enid feels. Did the lack of affection choke her as sweetly as it did Wednesday? Did it absolutely kill her to step away the way it did for Wednesday not to give in to her instincts and say something. Anything. Honestly, Wednesday didn't understand why she felt the need to reassure Enid. They'd had a clear cut conversation about this and Enid had agreed to the plan. So why did this feel so wrong?

Or maybe it just felt wrong because Weems was decidedly staring her down. This was going to take quite the show to throw Weems off her and Enid's trail. Walking over to the booth, Wednesday keeps an eye on Weems as she carelessly throws the darts. They all land on target.

Wednesday is almost relieved when Xavier drops onto his elbows against the booth next to her. Key word, almost. "Jeez you get any better at this, you'll be taking home a whole pack."

It worked perfectly for Wednesday's plan, but horribly for Wednesday's disgust levels. Hoping to drop a hint she replied, "Pandas don't travel in packs. They prefer solitude." It was true, for the exception of Enid. Despite needing a few pawns in her plan, Wednesday was fairly certain she could execute it without having to get too close to anyone else physically or emotionally.