All's Fair in Love and Woe: Chapter III
A Wednesday Fanfic
Eugene hesitated with his hand posed to knock on Wednesday’s door, then let it drop. What was he doing there? He didn’t know. It had been far too easy to sneak into Ophelia Hall, but now he was practically waiting for someone to catch him because he was too scared to talk to his best friend.
And really, there was no reason for him to be scared. Well, unless she was mad at him for something. He couldn’t think of anything he had done that might offend her, but–
He groaned and let his head fall against the door, then realized his mistake as it thumped against the wood. He shot upright as the door swung open.
Wednesday’s eyes widened. “Eugene. What are you doing here?”
“I . . . I wanted to check on you. You just ran off without saying why, so I figured I should, um, I don’t know . . . come talk to you?”
Wednesday’s eyes darted around, then landed on a spot on the wall over his shoulder. “I apologize. I wasn’t able to keep our deal.”
“Huh?” Eugene was used to her changing the subject without warning, but he still felt lost.
“Our deal,” she repeated. “About forgetting what happened the other day.”
He blinked. Had she thought he meant that literally? “That’s okay. It’s not a big deal–”
“It is a big deal. I keep thinking about it, and every time I do, I feel all weird inside.”
This was . . . not how he had expected the conversation to go at all. “O–okay.”
She pursed her lips together for a moment, and he waited for her to say whatever was on her mind. Maybe that would give him time to come up with a response to . . . whatever this was.
“I’m bad at feelings,” she said finally.
His expression twisted. “Yeah, I kind of noticed.”
“But Enid . . .” a deep breath, “she thinks I have a crush. On you.”
Oh.
Her eyes darted back to him. “You’ll catch flies like that.” He hadn’t noticed his mouth had fallen open. He clapped it shut then shoved his glasses back up and shifted his backpack over his shoulder. “Oh. Um. O–okay. Are you just telling me? Or does that mean you, uh, you might want to go out somewhere sometime?”
She frowned and leaned back slightly. “Go where?”
“Uhh . . . somewhere. Anywhere. I–can think of something. I’ll, uh, do that.” She didn’t argue, so that was a good sign. “Or we could, um, hold hands . . . or something.”
“No.”
“Okay, not that then.”
She glanced away. “If we held hands, Enid would notice, and then she would be mad at me. She tends to be annoying when she’s mad, so I have to tell her first.”
Eugene grinned. “So maybe we could hold hands later?”
She folded her arms. “No promises.” She hesitated a moment, looking anywhere but at him. “I have homework.”
“Oh! Right! Me too. I’ll let you do that. I have to, uh, go do mine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She slammed the door shut as soon as the words were out of his mouth. He stared at the door for a minute, still trying to process what had just happened, then walked down the stairs and snuck back out of the hall.
Ajax was right outside, hurrying back to their dorm building, and Eugene called out to him. Ajax spun around, panicked, then put his hand over his heart and dropped his head. “Oh good, it’s just you, Eugene.”
Eugene frowned. “Who did you think it was?”
“Uhh, doesn’t matter. Did you need something?”
“Yes! You and Enid have been dating a while, so I was wondering where you guys usually go on dates.”
Ajax grinned. “You have someone you’re planning on asking out?”
Eugene grinned and shifted his backpack strap. “Uh, yeah. So do you have any ideas?”
Ajax looked up, considering. “Well, we usually just hang out in her room or mine as long as our roommates are out.”
Eugene wrinkled his nose. “That’s . . . not as helpful as you think it is.”
“Okay. Oh! How about the library?”
He knew what couples usually did in the library. “Uh, no. First date, remember?”
Ajax nodded. “Yeah, yeah. Did you consider the Weathervane?”
Eugene stared at him. Admittedly, he hadn’t mentioned Wednesday’s name, but he thought she would be the natural assumption. Apparently not.
“Uh, thanks, but I think I’ll ask someone else.”
“Sure. Good luck!” Ajax raised his hand to give him a high five. Eugene obliged him before heading to his room.
“It’s Xavier, isn’t it?”
Wednesday flinched, looking at the door that had just been flung open and her roommate’s ridiculously smug smirk. “What?”
“It’s Xavier!” Enid shut the door, then bounced over to her bed. “The guy you kissed! He’s been crushing on you for, like, ever, and Yoko says he’s been acting a little suspicious today.”
“No, I did not kiss Xavier.”
Enid stared at her for a moment, then fell back on her bed dejectedly. “How is it that, despite you having the most gossip about you circling in this school, there is absolutely nothing about anyone you might be interested in?” She sat up and crossed her arms. “You know, I’m not entirely sure you didn’t make this whole thing up to play a prank on me. I mean, if Yoko and I haven’t heard anything, there’s no one else who could possibly–”
“Eugene,” Wednesday interrupted, hoping to make her shut up.
Enid froze for a second, and then, to Wednesday’s horror, her face crumpled. “You told Eugene and not me? I mean, I know you guys are good friends, but I’m your roommate! We’re supposed to have girl talk and stuff!”
Wednesday recoiled. “When have we ever done that?” Enid didn’t answer, but she sniffled, sounding suspiciously like she was about to start crying.
Wednesday sighed. “No, I didn’t tell Eugene about you. It was Eugene. I . . . might have kissed him.”
Enid’s mouth formed a small “o”, and she gave several slow blinks. “You–you kissed Eugene?”
Wednesday crossed her arms, reminding herself that it was necessary to get this out of the way. “Yes.”
Enid’s eyes narrowed. “So why are you suddenly telling me this? I thought you weren’t going to tell me cause it was ‘a mistake’.”
Wednesday glanced away. “I might have been wrong. Also he asked me on a date.”
“He did?” Enid shrieked, shooting to her feet. Wednesday clamped her hands over her ears. “So? Did you say yes?”
“No.”
Enid winced sympathetically. “You told him no?”
“I didn’t do that either.”
“What?” Enid’s eyes widened so large they looked like they might fall out of her skull. “You didn’t give him an answer? Wednesday! You can’t just leave a guy hanging like that! He’s probably totally freaking out right now!”
Wednesday frowned. “He didn’t look like he was freaking out.”
Enid shook her head and threw up her hands. “I don’t know why I bother.”
“Good morning, ladies. Mind if I sit here?” Eugene asked the next morning at breakfast. He directed the question to both Enid and Wednesday, but he was only looking at the latter.
Enid grinned. “Of course we don’t mind, right, Wednesday? We love having you join us.” Wednesday chose to stab awkwardly at her food instead of looking at either of them.
“So I take it you guys talked last night?” he asked as he slid into the seat beside her.
“Yes we did!” Enid chirped. She had been entirely too cheerful all morning.
“Cool.” Eugene slid the food around his own plate, and Wednesday could feel him itching to say something.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Um, I was just wondering if that meant you had an answer to my question last night?”
Wednesday froze. Was Enid right? Was he worried because she hadn’t actually said she would go out with him?
He fidgeted with his scarf. “About, um, you know . . .” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Holding your hand?”
Oh.
She kept her eyes fixed firmly on her plate, but dropped her hand and found his under the table. As soon as her hand brushed his, he perked up, and his fingers slid between hers.
Eating that way was . . . awkward, but there was no way she was going to admit that. Addams’s never showed weakness.
Finally, she finished breakfast and stood up, dropping his hand. “I should go to class.”
Eugene glanced at his watch. “Oh, yeah, I should head to math.”
Enid hopped up and wrapped her arm around Wednesday’s shoulders. “Well, we’re heading to the conservatory now. See you later!” Enid tried to lead her down the hall, but Wednesday shrugged out of her grip.
“You two are adorable, by the way.” Enid stepped in front of her and grinned. “And you’re blushing!"
Wednesday attempted to side-step her, but Enid skipped back. “I am not!”
“Yes you are! Why can’t you just admit it?” Enid clasped her hands behind her back and continued skipping backwards.
“Enid–”
“Nope! I’m not going to give this up until you admit you like–oof!”
Xavier turned around as she bumped into him. “Enid, what are you doing?”
Wednesday stepped past both of them. “I tried to warn you.”
“Sorry, I was teasing Wednesday and wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
“Yeah, teasing her about liking someone. I heard.” Xavier fell into step beside them. “So? Who is it?”
Enid lifted her chin primly. “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Yeah, that’s why you were talking about it so loudly in the middle of the hallway.”
Wednesdays sped up. Maybe she could get far enough ahead not to hear them.
“If you want to know, you should really ask her yourself,” Enid said.
Xavier perked up, a small grin flashing across his face. “Should I?”
Wednesday spun around on her heel and glared at them both. “No, you shouldn’t, because it’s none of your business.”
He stopped, frowning slightly, like he couldn’t imagine why her crush on her possibly maybe boyfriend wouldn’t have to do with him.
Wednesday grabbed Enid’s arm and dragged her on to class before Enid could spread her secrets any further.
It took a couple days for Wednesday to realize that nothing really had changed between her and Eugene . . . and perhaps that wasn’t a good thing.
When the other girls in her hall started dating, their significant other became the sole object of their affection and attention, and while Wednesday had no interest in exchanging saliva or centering her whole life around her altering relationship, she was beginning to wonder if her current practice of attending class and helping with the hive like nothing had happened was incorrect as well.
Eugene had promised to come up with a plan for a date, but considering the rather . . . limited options both on campus and in Jericho, it was hardly a surprise that he was having trouble. And since he was also the one to ask to hold her hand the couple times they had done so, she supposed that left the ball in her court to make the next move.
She laid back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She had wondered if the fumes from Enid’s nail polish could get her high enough to come up with a good idea, but so far that didn’t seem to be the case.
“Enid?” She turned her head to look at her roommate.
“Hmm?” Enid didn’t bother to look up, too focused on the edges of her nail and keeping the pink paint from dripping onto her sheets.
Wednesday sat up and slid her feet over the side of the bed. “I’m afraid I’ve been derelict in my responsibilities as a potential romantic partner.”
Now Enid turned, eyebrows scrunching together as she tilted her head to the side. “You . . .what?”
“What are things dating couples do to show they are in a relationship?”
“Oh!” Enid put the brush back in her nail polish bottle an sat up straighter, crossing her legs as she turned to face Wednesday. “Well, going on dates, obviously, but that’s a little tricky here.”
Wednesday nodded. She knew that much.
“But studying together is a good option, or giving gifts–” Enid broke off as Wednesday held up a hand.
She remembered the chocolate-covered strawberries Eugene bought her while staying over, and all the other little trinkets and notes he’d given her leading up to that. Clearly he liked giving gifts, so he likely appreciated receiving them as well.
“What sorts of gifts?” she asked slowly.
“All sorts, but traditionally, candy, flowers, and jewelry are the most common.” Enid grinned and scooted closer to the edge of the bed. “You want to get something for Eugene, don’t you? I think you should get him flowers. People don’t get boys flowers enough cause they think it’s “girly” or something, but that’s stupid. Everyone deserves flowers.”
Wednesday disagreed. Most flowers were boring, and she didn’t think they made a good gift for anyone.
But . . . Eugene had enjoyed her mother’s garden. Maybe Enid was right.
And so Wednesday found herself standing outside Eugene’s door, clutching a bouquet of trimmed rose stems tied with a black ribbon.
Eugene opened his door and leaned out, though he kept his hand on the knob. “Sorry, I’m a little–Wednesday?” His hand fell and he let the door drift open a little further. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I have something for you.”
He grinned. “You do?” She shoved the bouquet towards him and averted her eyes. “Oh, thank you!” He took it from her and she dared to look back at him. She had been dubious about Enid’s suggestion, but he actually seemed pleased.
“It’ll definitely be a conversation starter. I just need–” he glanced around his room. “I always have empty jars, if I can just find one . . .” He dug through the clutter on his desk, then his dresser before finding one. He stuck the bouquet inside and held it up proudly. “Ta da!”
“It was Enid’s idea,” Wednesday blurted out.
Eugene’s eyebrows drew together and he tilted his head. “Enid suggested you give me thorny rose stems?”
He didn’t actually think she had come up with it on her own, did he? “She suggested I get you flowers.”
His confusion cleared for some reason she didn’t understand. It was the same thing, wasn’t it? Unless Enid had meant the actual flower part with its disgustingly bright colors, but she wouldn’t have–
The eye-watering rainbow that was Enid’s side of the room filled her mind. Of course that was what she meant.
“Give them back,” Wednesday said, holding out her hand. “I’ll fix it.”
Eugene frowned. “Fix what?”
“The flowers. I’ll get the right flowers this time.”
“No, no, I like these.”
She tried to grab the jar, but he snatched it up and hid it behind his back. “You’ll like the other ones better,” she insisted.
“I doubt that.” She reached around him, and he raised his hand as far as he could.
She huffed. “I’m taller than you, especially in these shoes. That’s not going to–” He took a couple steps back, keeping it just out of reach, so she changed tactics and hooked her foot around his leg to knock him off balance and pinned his free arm behind him.
“Ow! That’s not fair!”
“Is everything oka–what is going on?”
Both heads shot up to find Xavier staring at them, alarmed, from the hallway. Wednesday let go of Eugene, and he straightened up, rubbing his shoulder.
“Eugene won’t give me back the flowers.” Wednesday was aware she sounded like a petulant child, but she didn’t much care at the moment.
Xavier’s eyes skimmed over both of them, then hesitated over the bouquet in its jar. They flicked back to Wednesday. “What flowers?”
Her heart sank. So it wasn’t just Enid and Eugene.
“I’m an idiot,” she muttered as she pushed past Xavier and headed out towards the courtyard.
“Wait!” Eugene called, then lowered his voice. “Hold these a second. I don’t entirely trust her not to double back and steal them–Wednesday!”
She didn’t get far before he caught up with her and grabbed her shoulder. “Please, I like them, really. They’re not exactly normal, but since when have you ever cared about that?”
Wednesday turned around and crossed her arms. “I may not like normal, but you do.”
He shrugged. “Sometimes. Sometimes I like different. Both are nice.” He grinned mischievously. “Maybe if you ever get me flowers again, you can get me some with petals.”
She frowned. “Who said this is ever happening again?”
His smile didn’t falter. “It was just a suggestion.”
Next chapter coming soon!