Beneath the surface || Wenclair

Chapter 2: instincts and indecisions

Enid's heart raced, her mind spinning as she stood in the courtyard, surrounded by students enjoying the sunny afternoon. Wednesday is my mate. The thought echoed in her mind like a drum, growing louder and more chaotic. She felt lightheaded, her breath quickening as the realization settled in—something she had never anticipated.

"Oh, crap," she muttered, scrambling away from the gathering crowd. She was suddenly acutely aware of the space around her, her surroundings closing in as she glanced back toward the building where Wednesday remained focused on her writing, oblivious to the turmoil inside Enid.

In a frantic burst of energy, Enid blurted out, "I need to—uh, get some air!" Without waiting for a response, she dashed toward the nearest exit, her heart pounding louder than her footsteps on the ground.

"Enid!" she heard Wednesday call after her, confusion evident in her voice. But Enid didn't stop. She bolted down the path, nearly colliding with a group of students, her thoughts racing faster than her legs. What do I do? Panic bubbled inside her as she made her way to find Yoko Tanaka, her other best friend.

"Yoko! Where are you?" Enid thought, scanning the courtyard filled with students catching up after summer break. She spotted Yoko across the way, her dark sunglasses perched on her nose and an umbrella in hand, casting a little shade over herself.

"Yoko!" Enid yelled, waving her arms as she rushed over. The world around her faded into a blur as she navigated through the crowd, her thoughts still tangled in confusion.

"What's wrong, Enid?" Yoko asked, her voice playful as Enid reached her. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm losing it!" Enid exclaimed, her voice a pitch higher than usual. "It's Wednesday! She's my mate, and I—I can't—"

Yoko's laughter rang out, cutting through Enid's panic. "Wait, what? You? The last person to realize you and Wednesday are meant for each other? This is rich!"

"Not funny!" Enid shot back, though a nervous smile crept onto her face despite herself. "I'm serious, Yoko! I didn't know she was my soulmate! I've spent years thinking she's straight—she dated Tyler and Ajax, for crying out loud!"

Yoko tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "You didn't think she was ever interested in you?"

Enid threw her hands up in frustration. "Of course not! I just figured I'd settle for being her best friend! Now I'm freaking out because if she finds out, what if she rejects me? I can't let her know how I feel!"

"Why not?" Yoko pressed, her brow raising. "If she's your mate, that should matter more than anything else."

"I know, I know!" Enid said, her hands fidgeting. "But what if I mess it up? What if she finds out and freaks out? I mean, come on, she has no feelings, right? She's Wednesday Addams!"

"Sure no feelings" Yoko giggled slightly, "unless it has to do with you."

Enid was not amused by the comment, for years she has crushed in Wednesday and given up.

"Good luck hiding it, Enid," Yoko continued, her tone softening. "Once your instincts kick in, it's going to be a whole lot harder to keep that from her."

Enid groaned, pressing her palms against her temples. She had not thought about this aspect of her werewolf self till now, "I can't mess this up! I've spent years building this friendship, and now I feel like I'm on the edge of ruining everything!"

With that thought, a new wave of dread washed over her. If she told Wednesday how she felt, there was a good chance that Wednesday would reject her outright. Enid's heart sank at the thought. The rejection of a mate was not just emotional—it brought with it the worst physical pain imaginable. Werewolves could feel their hearts shatter, leaving them never quite the same afterward. She couldn't bear the thought of going through that pain, especially when it involved Wednesday.

I have to protect my friendship, she reminded herself, clinging to the idea that living as friends, even while hiding her feelings, was better than losing Wednesday altogether. The risk of rejection loomed over her like a storm cloud. What would her mother say if she found out? Enid had already felt the pressure to find a "proper" mate, and if she couldn't appease her mother, she would be married off by the end of the school year—likely to someone who would never understand her connection with Wednesday.

"I'm going for a walk to clear my head," Enid finally decided, shaking off her thoughts as she turned away from Yoko and walked toward the school entrance.

As Enid meandered around the school grounds, she focused on her surroundings—the vibrant flowers, the whisper of the wind through the trees, the laughter of her classmates—anything to distract her from the whirlwind of emotions inside. After a while, she began to calm down, her mind settling as she breathed in the fresh air.

But as the sun began to set, the shadows lengthening around her, her thoughts shifted back to her mother. What will she say? Enid thought, anxiety creeping in once more. I can't let her know I found my mate because my mate is a woman. If I don't tell her, she'll just find someone to marry me off to and I'll never see Wednesday again!

The pressure of her mother's expectations loomed over her like a dark cloud. Enid remembered the countless conversations where her mother had pushed her hurry and try to find a mate, specially since she was considered damaged goods after the whole Crackstone incident, always emphasizing the importance of being a "proper werewolf female." The weight of those words felt heavier than ever now.

As she walked, the night sky deepened into a dark indigo, the stars twinkling above like distant promises. Enid stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath. I can't let this happen, she thought, the internal conflict raging inside her. I have to protect my friendship with Wednesday, even if it means hiding how I feel and finding a way around her mother.

Eventually, she made her way back to their dorm. As she stepped inside, she found Wednesday at her writing desk, typing away on her typewriter, her hair still down. The sight brought a flutter to Enid's heart, but she quickly reminded herself of the weight of her situation.

Wednesday spoke not looking up from her work. "Are you okay? You ran off."

Enid hesitated, the remnants of panic still lingering. "I—uh, I just needed some air. You know how it gets," she replied, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice.

"Right," Wednesday said, her tone flat. "So, you're fine?"

"I mean, fine isn't exactly the word," Enid said, realizing her snappy tone. "I just—uh, I'm good now. Really."

Wednesday's gaze finally shifted to Enid, her expression keenly observant, as if she were trying to figure out what was really going on. Enid felt the heat rise in her cheeks, and she quickly averted her gaze.

"Anyway, I'm fine," Enid stammered, sinking onto her bed and reaching for her headphones. She put them on, drowning out her thoughts with music, but they only morphed into images of her mother's judgmental gaze.

I can't tell her. I can't. The words replayed in her mind like a mantra. She envisioned her mother's reaction, the disappointment etched on her face, the disapproval that would follow. Enid would have to find a way to stop that from happening, perhaps Yoko would be able to help her come up with some ideas.

As she lay there, enveloped in the sound of her music, the scraping sound of Wednesday's chair moving drew Enid out of her bubble. Wednesday stood up and announced, "Enid, I will be going to Jericho for coffee with Xavier. Do not wait up for me."

Enid's heart dropped at the mention of Xavier. "Oh, right," she replied, trying to keep her tone casual even as her instincts surged within her, the fierce need of Wednesday only belonging to her rising to the surface.

Wednesday glanced over her shoulder, her gaze narrowing slightly, as if she were trying to gauge Enid's reaction. "You're okay with that?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Enid shot back defensively, then immediately regretted it as Wednesday raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "I mean... it's fine. Whatever," she added quickly, attempting to play it off.

Wednesday stared at her for a moment longer, her expression unreadable, before she turned to open the door and leave. The click echoed in the room, and Enid pressed her headphones tighter against her ears, feeling the weight of her emotions swell once more. She knew this was going to be a long and complicated road, and she was terrified of the journey ahead.