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When Enid skipped up the stairs to her and Wednesday's dorm she stopped short when she heard... strings. Very dark sounding strings... typical Wednesday. She found herself smiling fondly when she continued climbing the last steps, but then frowned; was that... live?!
With excitement the werewolf burst through their door, only to come to a screeching halt at what she saw: through the contrasting light of their spider web window she could see Wednesday sitting outside on their balcony, furiously playing... a real life cello!
Enid gasped, slowly stumbling closer. Her roommate was... good. Like, really good. Not that she knew anything about classical music, but the sheer emotion and exactness in each minor note spoke for themselves.
Enid knitted her brows together. Something about that thought was weird. Then she had it: emotion! Wednesday-I'm-above-feelings-Addams was sitting there, on their balcony, playing her little black heart out on a freakin cello. She felt a smile tugging at her lips – she knew it! She skipped a few smug steps closer, all ready to jump up at her goth roomie and rub it in her face that she had emotions after all; but then something stopped her. She paused a few steps just behind the round window, clasping her hands.
The way Wednesday played, moved... there was something strangely beautiful about it. Each stroke on her cello was carried out with passion, but her head and neck stood straight, proud. Here in the moonlight, Enid found herself starring at that white neck, shining softly, half painted in black and gray, and half in the rainbow colors of her side of their room. She found herself oddly pleased at the sight, the shape of her work forming part of the artistic scene before her on Wednesday's skin. It contrasted beautifully with her black and whiteness.
Enid swallowed as she found herself unable to look away from the gleaming nape before her. It's a very beautiful neck, she thought defensively, only then realizing she was defending herself to... herself.
She cleared her throat, whipping on her feet, subconsciously in sync with Wednesday's staccato strokes. She supposed it made sense. From the first moment she saw her, Enid had realized almost jealously the amount of grace and perfectionism Wednesday Addams possessed. The poise she carried herself with, her smart, enunciated words she found herself looking up sometimes with huffs of annoyance. After all she wouldn't want her to think she was stupid on top of silly, as she surely was thinking already. With all of Wednesday's talents Enid felt inadequate enough sometimes just by herself.
She could hear that Wednesday was nearing the end of her piece, judging how the build up became more and more powerful. I wish I could see her face, she thought, and was again surprised at herself. But the way she played there had to be emotion on Wednesday's face, and Enid was strangely dying to see what that looked like. Excuse her for being curious. The temptation to slip into the balcony quickly to catch a peek was big, but then Wednesday would surely interrupt her playing and Enid realized she really enjoyed the music. Who knew dark, haunting cello was this beautiful.
Her eyes wandered, inevitably, back to Wednesday's soft looking neck; before she caught herself, looking away furiously and bl
ushing a little, then huffing at herself. There was nothing embarrassing about it; Wednesday just really had great skin, okay? Probably the lack of sunlight she subjected herself to. Right.
She jumped when Wednesday ended her piece with two lingering, sharp strides. Alright. She couldn't wait any longer. But just when she entered their balcony she decided it was probably better not to admit to Wednesday that she had been listening to her. The girl really didn't need her ego to get any bigger than it already was, and after she had dismissed her jam so arrogantly earlier she was not about to admit that she found her cello playing, like, really moving. If she was honest to an amount that had her worried a little.
***
Enid was sitting on the stairs of the great gate, watching parents and their children say their goodbyes, while she tapped her foot quicker and quicker in time with her rising anxiety. She was determined to stick to her decision to stand up this time to her parents; if only they would arrive already!
She sighed as she let her eyes drift once again over the crowd... until she stopped when they landed on a certain goth lady exiting a black limousine. Wednesday's parents!
Now having become closer with her roomie, Enid watched them with great interest. Mr Addams had stepped outside now too, barely sparing Nevermore a glance before he looked back adoringly at his wife. The sheer amount of love in his eyes was stunning to Enid; she had to smile. No wonder, she thought, looking at Mrs Addams again. The woman was grace incarnate – that was a word she had learned from her daughter. And, come to think of it, Enid could see where Wednesday had her poise and her perfect skin from, her dark elegance-
Enid cleared her throat mentally. Right, Wednesday was just clearly her mother's daughter, if she was ready to admit it or not. Then she smiled when she saw Mr Addams spin his wife into a pirouette; and her jaw dropped when the pair broke out into a spontaneous tango, just there in the Nevermore yard. She clapped her hands in excitement and stood up to get a little closer. While Mr Addams was a bit heavier, he danced easily and with a lot of swing. Enid smiled; clearly musicality also lay in the Addams family.
Just then Mrs Addams spun into her direction and their eyes met. To Enid's surprise the older woman broke out into a mystic but warm smile. “Ah, Enid Sinclair, Wednesday's roommate! How are you dear?”
And just like that Mama and Papa Addams where standing before her, all smiles. It almost freaked Enid out to see their friendly faces after living a few months with their unsmiling daughter... this part Wednesday clearly had not inherited.
“Hi, Mrs Addams... Mr Addams! I'm good, thank you.” She gave a happy wave.
Mr Addams leaned forward. “Say dear child; how is our little tormenta?”
Enid didn't speak Spanish, but that one she understood and it made her laugh. “Good, I think! She took a little to warm up but I think she's not hating me anymore... I mean I got her to join my team on the Poe Cup and we won together! But oh, I'm sure she told you that-” Enid faltered when Mr Addams clutched his his chest and Mrs Addams threw her hands to her cheeks in pride.
“... oh. She hasn't told you?!”
Mrs Addams shook her head, and wow, it was really unfair how elegant the Addams women made even a little gesture like that look. “Wednesday has not responded much to our crystal ball calls. But I'm profoundly thankful you got her to join the Poe cup... I myself have won it several times.”
“Several?! Wow, you must have been just as ev-, I mean ambitious as Wednesday.” Both parents seemed not to mind her almost use of 'evil' at all – in fact they looked even prouder. Mr Addams put a big hand on her shoulder.
“Our daughter has a great deal of my beautiful Tish in her... I hope one day she can say that with pride.” He smiled with a new emotion down at Enid. “I'm sure it is not the easiest thing, living with Wednesday... but she speaks of you with a great deal of respect.”
Enid's mouth dropped open at that. “What! Shut u- I mean, really?! She talked about me?”
“Two whole sentences,” Mrs Addams nodded with clear respect.
At Enid's faltering, Mr Addams laughed. “For Wednesday, that means she might as well have written a letter about you, niña!”
At that Enid blushed. “Wow. I... I'm glad she thinks so, I wasn't really sure.”
Mrs Addams laughed at that and put her hand on Enid's other shoulder. The young werewolf felt herself swell with pride, both with the unexpected praise by Wednesday and that of her parents. Then Mr Addams suddenly threw his hands up. “Oh, dios, before I forget-”
He hurried back to their car, where a Frankenstein-looking man stood, handing him a large black box. Mr Addams took it and carried it over to her.
“Our little death trap's birthday is coming up, on Friday the 13th... we were hoping you could keep our present for her safe and give it to her on her special day... would you?”
Enid blinked, even more surprised, but her smile widened. “Oh... of course! That's so cool of you Mr and Mrs A. I will make sure she won't find it until her birthday! Thanks for letting me know, I'm sure Wednesday would never have brought it up!”
She took the heavy box eagerly and Mr Addams put his hands together in her direction like in prayer – Enid had to laugh; maybe Wednesday's constant restraint was a rebellion to her over-emotional father.. but she loved him already. Then Mrs Addams looked up and quickly stepped before Enid.
“There comes our Wednesday... quick, dear, hide the present.”
In lack of options Enid quickly put the box down and kicked it back to Frankenstein, who stopped it with his foot like a soccer player and gave her a grave nod, before stepping in front of it and effectively hiding it from view. Enid gave him the thumbs-up and then turned back to the Addamses... but they quickly bade her to walk to their daughter. So she nodded at them and hopped over to Wednesday, determined not to slide at all that she had ever spoken to her parents... not to mention that they had trusted her with safeguarding their present and that they had mentioned she respected Enid... but inwardly she beamed.
***
“Oh... Enid, this is.. far to unique to wear to something like class. I suggest we wait for a more special occasion.”
Enid lightened up a little again. Not only did Wednesday like the snood, she wanted to honor it with something special!
And then, Wednesday... smiled?!
“Like a funeral,” she said with dark enthusiasm and Enid's smiled fell again.
“Oh.” She sighed, burrowing her hands in her pink snood. It was okay, she had to remember for Wednesday this meant she liked it a lot. She smiled again, having decided it had been a compliment from Wednesday. “Oh, we're gonna look perfect together when we wear them!” She danced a little around herself with renewed enthusiasm, just thinking of it. And that made her remember something. “Oh, by the way, it's totally cute how in love your parents still are... I never saw old couples like that.”
Wednesday turned her eyes to the sky in suffering. “I apologize you had to witness my parents' over-affectionate behavior.”
“Don't be silly, it's sweet! I even saw them dance and they were good! I see you got your music talents from them!”
“I'd hardly say that-”
“...but of course Wednesday Addams would never dance like that, right-”
Wednesday blinked. Enid stilled when she looked at her, almost... offended?
“You saw me dance at the Rav'n.”
Enid's eyes lit up at the memory and she squealed. “Of course, and you were amazing! But I meant you would probably never dance with someone else, right? Like tango, like your parents?”
Wednesday crossed her arms. “I'll have you know I'm perfectly proficient in tango argentino.”
Enid froze and almost tore her snood off in surprise, her eyes growing to plates.
“No way! You know how to tango?!”
“Yes. I'll admit my parents were the ones insisting I learned, but I grew to appreciate the musical challenges of tango. It requires impeccable musicality and the ability to change rhythm and to improvise at all times.”
Enid held on to her snood for dear life in her sheer excitement. “Tango! You!”
Defiance flashed in Wednesday's dark eyes. She turned around swiftly and walked to her record collection. With assurance she chose a dark crimson one and put it on her old gramophone.
And sure enough, soon a skratchy recording of a tango filled their dorm. Then Wednesday turned on her axis and proceeded to directly march towards Enid.
Enid dropped her hands off her snood and instinctively took a step backwards... but before she knew it, Wednesday had taken her right hand and pulled her close to her, her other hand softly gripping Enid's waist.
Enid alost wheezed. They had never been this close before. In fact they had never touched like this before. Wednesday's hand was cold, but her skin felt just as soft as it looked and her breath on her face was warm. Enid had noticed the faint smell of dying roses around her before, but now it engulfed her.. it smelled really good. But before she could process any oft that, Wednesday pulled her even closer with a jolt and Enid's hand instinctively landed on her shoulder. A male voice on the record began to sing in Spanish.
Por una cabeza, de un noble potrillo
Que justo en la raya, afloja al llegar...
Wednesday stared directly into her eyes and began to sway them to the beat.
“Tango looks deceptively easy at first glance because the base step is a simple joined walk, forward and backward,” Wednesday explained, confidently pressing forward. Without thinking, Enid stepped back in sync. “Wednesday, I- I don't know how to-”
“You don't have to. A good leader can make you follow.”
A shot of warmth went through Enid at that. Okay, wow, that was ho-
“I respond to the changes in melody and tempo... and you respond to my lead,” Wednesday said in a low voice, marching them four steps backward, then changing direction and moving forward. Enid found she was right... her body just seemed to go where Wednesday's hands lead her. Then Wednesday stopped and moved back in a curve, and Enid found herself circling her. A corner of Wednesday's mouth went up and she led her in circles to the music. Enid's eyes slipped down to her red lips. They looked so full... from up close. She hadn't really noticed how full before.
“Ida y vuelta,” Wednesday said in a low voice, “Tango is a constant pull.”
The music moved up.
Que al jurar sonriendo el amor que está mintiendo
Quema en una hoguera
Todo mi querer
Enid was aware her cheeks started to glow. It felt exhilarating, moving exactly right to the passionate music, and yet she was simply being guided by Wednesday's sure, soft hands. Wednesday nodded. “... which both partners can break... at their will.”
She pushed a food in Enid's way and the werewolf thought she would trip but just before that happened, Wednesday's hand on her waist jerked her up and around - and Enid found herself with her back pressed to Wednesday, having stepped elegantly above her foot.
Enid had never felt elegant before.
For a brief moment she was just drowning in sensations, the music, Wednesday's chest pressed into her back, just the sensation of being fully in her hands...
then Wednesday gently let go of her and stepped back, walking over to her gramophone.
Enid stumbled forward, catching herself on her bed stand. That's when she got face to, um, palm with Thing, who had apparently watched the whole dance. He looked surprised, but then proceeded to enthusiastically clap against the mattress.
Wednesday turned the music off and turned to her with an arched eyebrow.
“I hope I have dispelled your doubts.”
Enid quickly stood up again, hugging her arms to herself. She felt cold now, out of Wednesday's embrace, and everything in her spinning head was still music and roses.
“Um, I, wow. Yeah, of course. I got your... point.”
Wednesday nodded, her eyes satisfied. She then proceeded to pick up her backpack, acting like she hadn't just turned Enid's world upside down. “You'll have to excuse me, I promised to meet Eugene to check on Hive 9.” She swiftly walked to the door, Enid staring after her, her arms still tightly wrapped around herself. Then, just when her hand touched the handle, Wednesday stopped.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “For the... snood.”
For a brief moment she looked over her shoulder with the weight of... something in her gaze. Her dark eyes looked more alive than Enid had ever seen them.
But then the moment was over and Wednesday walked out of their dorm, the door falling closed behind her.
Enid remained where she was for a good minute, just blinking rapidly and finding herself lamenting how the smell of roses was fading.
She felt Thing jumping on her, climbing up until he sat on her shoulder, which he gripped comfortingly.
“I'm okay. I just didn't know that Wednesday could... well, she never even touched me before Thing!”
Thing tapped something excitedly and Enid's eyes widened – she quickly gathered him in her hands and held him before her face. “What?! I'm the first person she ever danced with that wasn't her teacher or her cousins?!”
Thing gave his equivalent of a nod.
Enid wheezed again and laughed, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
Wednesday Addams had just tangoed with her. And it had felt really, really... nice.
She gently put Thing down on her bed and nervously kneaded her hair. It had felt really nice. Really good, actually. And this warmth she felt in her cheeks and in her chest, it was almost like-
Enid abruptly made a half turn. “No. Nope. I'm just worked up by the, the tango, and the Spanish and everything-”
Thing asked her if she was okay in tap.
“Yeah, I'm okay. I guess I'm just surprised she... accepted my gift, you know?”
Thing tapped approvingly that he was surprised too and Enid nodded, giving him a shaky smile.
It felt like she had been given a gift by Wednesday in return... and that was something Enid decided she wasn't ready to ponder more... yet.
