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“You know, they say that the best revenge is living well.” Enid finally blurted out something.
Wednesday had walked into their shared room half an hour earlier, her eyes blazing with unbridled fury. Like every other day, the dark-haired girl had ignored the presence of anyone in the possession of two or more hands. Unlike yesterday or the day before yesterday, choppy, uneven breaths settled in each entrance to the wolf’s sensitive ears, sliding deeper and deeper inside until she felt her own breathing coming out in matching strides.
Enid looked as Wednesday rolled a blackboard to stand in the middle of the space, facing her side of the room. In an almost murderous calm, she picked up a white chalk and wrote on the middle of the board ‘AJAX’, circling the word with a nearly perfect shaped circle.
Stepping back and examining the board, her small frame tensed, and her fists clenched by her side, as if the mere spelling of his name elicited such a violent physical response in her body.
For the next thirty minutes, Wednesday had slaved over the board, creating quite a detailed mind map of ways to harm the gorgon.
The blonde chose to stay silent through concerning additions such as a ‘KNOWN ALLERGIES’ branch splitting into ‘COTTAGE CHEESE’ and ‘BEES’ or a ‘PHYSICAL SHORTCOMINGS’ branch with ‘BAD LEFT LEG’, ‘HAT DEPENDENCY’ and ‘FOUL SMELLING BREATH’ as leaves.
But, when the sentence ‘FRAME HIM FOR XAVIER’S MURDER’ appeared on the board in a neat handwriting, Enid felt compelled to intervene.
Slowly, the black-haired girl turned to look at her roommate with a blank expression Enid had recognized from other instances when Wednesday was practicing her creative outlets.
“Who are they?” Wednesday asked, placing down the chalk, and taking a step towards Enid.
“You know,” Enid said in a perplexed tone, rising from her bed. “The people who don’t have a ‘how to destroy 101’ boards in their room.”
“I don’t believe said people’s ideologies line up with my own.” Wednesday said with narrowed eyes, crossing her arms across her chest.
“I don’t disagree.” Enid said with a role of her eyes. “I am just saying that whatever Ajax did, you being… your version of grounded and happy can also have agonizing effects on him.” The Lycan said casually, knowing that an over-the-top display of emotions can very well sentence Ajax to an early grave.
“Ergo, I should find the thing that causes him joy, seize it, and make it wholly mine.” Wednesday pondered in a less irritated fashion, her left hand coming to rest on her chin, stroking it lightly with her thumb and index finger.
“That’s not even a little bit close to what I’ve said.” Enid said with wide eyes, rubbing her brow in frustration.
“No, it’s better. I should stop shying away from psychological torture.” Wednesday said, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards for a split second. She walked back to the board and drew a straight white line connecting the ‘AJAX’ circle to a new one, being obscured by the shorter girl’s body.
When she finished writing she took a step back, revealing to Enid the latest of her morbid ideas – ‘STEAL ENID’.
“What?” The blonde stared wide-eyed at the board, rereading those two words and wondering where she had gone so wrong.
“It makes perfect sense Enid.” Wednesday turned to lock eyes with her. “Men are more prone to color blindness and thus the intolerable man-child could more easily have become infatuated with you.” The black-haired girl reasoned.
Opening her mouth and closing it a moment later, not knowing what to approach first, the wolf took a deep breath and let a little chuckle escape her lips at the absurdity of the situation. “It’s not written on the board.”
“Indeed. I have yet to confirm it.” She nodded. “Color-blindness is just one theory.”
“One problem.” Enid said, tapping her index finger to her nose and waggling her eyebrows.
“Please.” Wednesday gestured for Enid to speak, looking at her intently.
The blonde glanced up at the ceiling, inhaling through her nose and exhaling out of her mouth, trying to calm her racing mind.
“Okay.” She said, looking back at her roommate, shooting a dazzling smile her way. “First, what did Ajax do? Second, I’m not his to steal! We kissed exactly one time so that could be a stick in the wheels of your genius plan.” When Wednesday opened her mouth, as if to say something, Enid lifted her index finger in the direction of the possible interruption and continued. “Third, I’m a queen anyone would be lucky to have, whether or not they can see pink.” She concluded, and when Wednesday didn’t immediately respond, she added, “the last one wasn’t a problem per se, I just think it was important to set the record straight.”
Looking at Wednesday, Enid saw an unfamiliar expression cladding the delicate features she had come to know so well. Wednesday complexion, albeit still dead-like, was dewier. Her eyes darted around Enid’s face. After what? The wolf wasn’t sure.
“Well.” Wednesday tilted her head forward. “Kudos on your counting abilities, first and foremost. Three is indeed rather close to one.”
“Shut up.” Enid giggled, rolling her eyes.
“Furthermore, I believe I owe you an… apology.” The black-haired girl said, her jaw clenched. “I certainly acknowledge your many positive traits; they hadn’t eluded me in the slightest. I was simply trying to say, that the colorful everything can perhaps create antagonism in the people around you, causing a delay in their understanding of your vast worth. A problem that a color blind individual wouldn't have to face.”
“Let’s call it an apology, why not?” Enid laughed. “Apology accepted.”
“I assume this also answers your second problem.” Wednesday said, her eyes sparkling. “Losing you before he even had you. Or how your people would say, ‘it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all’.”
“You quote my people damn accurately.” Enid said with a teasing smile. “There’s just one problem.”
“Yes, if you’ll let me explain-“
“No, it’s about my involvement in this little project. I know we’ve taken it for granted in our hypothetical discussion, but we’re talking about a guy I like.” Enid whispered, smiling awkwardly at Wednesday.
“On which side are you on?”
“On which side are you? I’ve been trying to get with him for over a year now.” Enid said, irritation laced in her voice.
“I understand that.”
“Do you Wednesday? Because it feels like we’re one bee in cottage cheese away from having no sides to choose between.” Enid said in a single breath, a small smile tugging at her lips.
A similar upward curve of the lips graced the other girl’s face, but years of practice had allowed her to school her mouth into her signature pout in mere seconds. “Using both is definitely an overkill. I am pleased to see the positive effect I have on you.”
The blonde laughed, smiling at her roommate. “If I have to choose…” She whispered, looking at Wednesday’s feet. “I would choose your side.” Enid said in a decisive tone. “But you need a really good reason!”
“In other words, you’re on the side of logic and if we happen to coincide, then… success?” Wednesday wondered with a raise of her eyebrow.
“Sure.” Enid shrugged, not particularly longing to unpack her Wednesday black box right there and then. “So, what started this whole quest for revenge?” The blonde asked with a smile, trying to contemplate the ways with which he had crossed the other girl.
“He… Well, he… he asked me for advice on how to progress this thing between you two.” Wednesday whispered, looking above Enid’s shoulder at the mountain of stuffed animals on her bed.
Laughing again, Enid asked, “okay, I know social interactions are not-“ Upon seeing the, for no better description available yet, nervous look on Wednesday’s face, the werewolf stopped short. “Oh.” Enid said, wide-eyed. She could feel the familiar pressure rising in her chest. The blonde looked at Wednesday, wondering how any person can make a romantic gesture out of a ‘murder board’. “Hi.” She said, waiting for Wednesday to lock eyes with her, to see her beaming smile. “In that case I would suggest going with my initial idea.”
“Yeah?” Wednesday’s lips curved upwards for an instant. “Perhaps I can attempt the whole living well gimmick.”