Enid's POV
I swat off my alarm, the morning light spilling in through the circular window like a quiet blessing. For the first time in a month, I'm up on time. I stretch, limbs extending with a satisfying pull, shaking off the stiffness of sleep.
Peeling off my clothes without a care, I head into the bathroom. Early mornings usually mean one thing: I have the room to myself. No Wednesday in sight. That equals freedom.
After a long, steamy shower, I towel off and start getting dressed. I throw on my uniform, but today-today I want to feel hot. So I choose one of the skirts Ajax bought me at the mall. It's short, flirty, black with pastel pink detailing. It hugs my hips perfectly. I feel powerful.
It's only 7:05 a.m.-plenty of time for makeup. I go light and cute with the look, but not without my signature black eyeliner. Always.
Once I'm done, I text Yoko.
"Yokiiii, wanna have breakfast?"
Her reply was instant.
"How r u awake lmao"
I foolishly giggle at the screen. Then typed:
"Idk feels like a great day"
"Omw!" She replied.
Minutes later, Yoko meets me and we head to a little bar near the academy.
After receiving our orders, Yoko speaks up.
"So... did the psycho help?" Yoko asks with her mouth full of a croissant oozing chocolate cream.
"Yeah," I grin, biting into my berry cheesecake. "I think I'm actually gonna get an A. Like... for real."
She raises an eyebrow. "And Ajax? Have you two talked?"
"Yeah. He came to my dorm last night. But I told him to leave." I drop my gaze to the floor.
"Why?" Yoko sounds genuinely confused.
"Nothing happened," I say, biting my lip. "I just... didn't feel like it. And when Wednesday came in and saw us, she didn't say a word-just grabbed something and left. I don't know why, but I suddenly felt uncomfortable. Everything's been weird lately."
Yoko's looking at me now with a slow, smug smile.
"What?" I laugh nervously. While begin walking back to the school.
"I so know what's going on here..." she says, breezing into class.
"Wait-what?!" I follow, giggling but secretly bewildered.
"I'll tell you later. Test now. Focus." She points to her seat. I take mine.
The classroom fills. Ajax walks in. He spots me, flashes a wink and a smile. I smile back, but something's off-he's limping.
My smile fades. I watch him carefully as he sits, avoiding my eyes. The test papers hit our desks.
Something happened.
Wednesday's POV:
As Petropolus limped past my desk, trying to mask the pain etched into his features, I let the corner of my mouth twitch ever so slightly. He thinks I don't notice? That I wouldn't remember how he stumbled the moment he entered the room? That his injury wasn't from last night? The bruise forming beneath the bandage, no doubt, was my work. Yet when I turned, seeing Enid watching him with worry-real worry-I felt something twist low in my stomach. Something unpleasant. Something that made me clench my jaw and avert my eyes.
