The Crime of Being Different

20191009

"Do you have any plans this weekend?" Enid asked Wednesday as they both stood in the hallway at Ophelia Hall, outside their dorms.

"I don't usually plan events," Wednesday answered, standing in front of her locked door. "Things happen and I go with it."

"Huh, that tracks."

"What about you, Sinclair?"

"I'm actually hanging out with Ajax at Jericho later, we're just walking around town." Enid leaned on the wall next to the door to her own dorm. "Wanna come?"

Wednesday lowered her head, her eyes trailed over to Enid's face. "I wouldn't want to interrupt your date."

The blonde scoffed, rolling her eyes at the girl. "Yoko will be there, too. I know you guys are close, so."

"Close is an overstatement," Wednesday said. "I have only spoken to her a few times."

"Well, are you coming or not?" Enid asked, hope brushed over her expression.

The dark-haired girl shook her head. "I would rather spend my weekend alone. I have to catch up on my novel, and I've already been too overwhelmed with unwanted company all week."

Enid felt unfazed by Wednesday's blatant hostility, she became placid to it after five days of constant aversion. "Ah, you really hate us, don't you?"

"I wouldn't say 'hate'. Especially you." Wednesday's eyes briefly fluttered as she looked up to see her blonde acquaintance.

Weirdly enough, their awkward small talk shifted to a brief, genuine moment of pure friendship. A mutual agreement to stay silent as they longingly stared at each other was put into place; they stayed comforted by the unawkward silence of each other's presence.

"I should go," Enid said in an almost whisper, projecting the gentleness of this moment. She moved next to Wednesday and leaned closer to her. "My first class is on the opposite side of campus."

"Okay, I'll see you later," Wednesday replied.

"Yeah." Enid lingered for -- what seemed -- too long next to Wednesday, seemingly stalling just to keep looking at her.

But then, finally, Enid walked away. Wednesday looked at her as she walked through the hall, there was an essence of glee in the way she walked. The blonde girl turned her head for a quick second to take a glimpse of Wednesday's face before she turned around the corner; she smiled as she caught Wednesday's gaze. The dark-haired girl reciprocated the smile, but Enid had already left her field of view.

Later that day, just before the last class of the week, Wednesday walked down the science corridor among other students who she didn't recognise. Then, a familiar face approached her from their locker.

"Hey, Wednesday," Yoko said, making Wednesday stop in her tracks.

"Yoko," Wednesday muttered. "Hello." They both moved to the side, letting the other students walk pass.

"I was thinking about what you told me yesterday, and I think you're right." Yoko's expression was unreadable behind her black-stained glasses. Her tone, monotonous, was as serious-sounding as ever. "Maybe I should move to Enid's dorm, I do need company in these tough times." Then Wednesday suddenly remembered what she talked about with Yoko.

Yesterday, Wednesday went up to Yoko during lunch to persuade her into moving into Enid's dorm, as Thornhill advised. She truly didn't want to have a roommate; that's what she said from the start. However, she felt a slight feeling of guilt as she listened to Yoko talk about her breakup with Divina. Wednesday was selfish, there was no doubt, but she never realised this, nevertheless felt remorse because of it.