"Oh, come on, Wendy! He isn't so bad. I'm sure you two have lots in common!"
"Like what."
"I-I-I... That's what you're going to have to find out this afternoon!"
Wednesday looked less than thrilled, but that's how she always looked, so who knew what she was thinking. She didn't seem too happy with Enid's plans for her afternoon, though.
"Fantastic," she said, in her signature monotone.
"Oh, come on! It's not every day your girlfriend lets you spend time with her boyfriend, you know. You should be taking advantage of this! You could get some more dirt on him," Enid enticed.
No response from Wednesday.
"Do it for meeeeee?"
Wednesday sighed. "Fine. But if you find Ajax brutally murdered somewhere, you can't blame me," and turned on her heel and walked out of the room.
"I'll take that as a win!" Enid said cheerfully. "Remember, The Weathervane on Saturday at 2!"
⊱ ────── {⋅. ✯ .⋅} ────── ⊰
2:00 on Saturday came faster than Wednesday would've liked.
"Have fun!" Enid grinned. "I'm going to go window shopping while I wait."
Wednesday raised an eyebrow.
"Okayyyy, I might buy something. I've had my eye on this one rainbow tutu for a while now. Anyway, I'm having Ajax text me if you try and pull anything, so don't even try. Seeya, Nessie, and have fun!" she said, and flounced off.
Wednesday sighed and turned to face the doorway of The Weathervane. "Well, here goes," she muttered to herself, and walked in the door. She sat down in a booth in the back and awaited the torture that was coming. This wasn't the good kind of torture though. Not the kind that left a satisfying burn. This kind of torture put your stomach in knots and left your mind horribly blank.
After a few minutes, she saw Ajax walk through the door, and looked around for her. She made no move to give away her position. He found her though and sat down across from her.
"Hi," he said. "How are you?"
"Terrible. You?"
"I-I'm pretty good."
They sat in uncomfortable silence until a server came to take their order.
"What can I get for you two?" the server asked. Their nametag read 'Cricket'.
"Could I have a medium hot chocolate, please? Thank you," Ajax said.
"Okay, and what about you?" Cricket turned and looked at Wednesday.
"Large black coffee with 4 shots of espresso," she said.
"Ooookay then. A medium hot chocolate and a black coffee with a quad coming right up!"
"Too much positivity for a minimum wage job," Wednesday muttered after they left.
"That's a lot of caffeine," Ajax remarked.
"Keeps me on my toes and aware. Can't deal with idiots as effectively without it."
More silence as time passes, and they get their drinks.
"Soooo, what do you like to do for fun?" he asked.
"Writing. Torture. Music. The works. You?"
"Umm, I like to read? Maybe I could read some of your writing sometime?"
"Do you like thrillers?"
"No."
"Mysteries?"
"Sometimes?"
"Horror?"
"No?"
"You won't like my writing."
"Okay then..."
More silence.
"Do you have a favorite genre of music?" Ajax asked.
"12-tone serialism."
"I like folk."
Even more silence.
"I'd ask you what your favorite color is, but I think I can guess."
"And let me guess," Wednesday said. "Yours is yellow?"
Ajax nodded. "Yep."
"Enid's crazy," she declared, and got up from the table.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where are you going?"
"Away from here."
"If you do that, I'm gonna text Enid."
"What's she going to do about it?"
"Try how's she gonna feel about it. You told her you'd make an effort to get to know me, and now you're going back on your word? She's gonna be major disappointed."
Wednesday contemplated his words, and sighed. "Fine. But no more stupid icebreaker questions. And I'd rather not be stuck in this stuffy place."
"There's an old bookstore down the street. We could go check that out if you want," he suggested.
"All right."
They paid for their drinks, and headed out into the brisk autumn air toward the bookshop.
The Book Nook was a quiet and quaint place, much like the rest of Jericho, but something about it was different. Not so judgy, maybe. It didn't feel like there was something lurking around every corner. There was an old man at the front desk.
"Hello, and welcome to The Book Nook. My name's Emerson. Is there anything you're looking for in particular?" he said.
"I'd like to take a look at your horror section."
"Where are the fairytale books?"
They said at the same time. They both looked at each other.
Wednesday raised an eyebrow. "Fairytales?"
"Why did I have to be the one with a surprising taste in books," lamented Ajax.
"The fairytales are around the corner over there," Emerson pointed, "and if you'll just follow me, I'll show you where the horrors are."
After a few minutes rooting around, the two became very confused.
"I don't recognize any of these," Wednesday said.
"Me neither. They're all new to me."
Wednesday made her way over to where Ajax was, holding a book. "I thought I'd read every horror book there is, but here's one even more grotesque than I've ever seen. Wonderfully written, too."
"There are tales here I've never read, too."
"Find something that tickles your fancy?" Emerson asked, appearing out of seemingly nowhere.
"Yes, and more," Wednesday said. "Tell me, have you ever heard of an," she checked the book cover, "Ebenezer Crane?"
"Or Amethyst Wells?" Ajax chimed in.
Emerson slowly smiled. "Why yes, yes I have. I know them very well, in fact."
Wednesday and Ajax looked at each other, then back at Emerson.
"I am Ebenezer and Amethyst. In fact, I am every author in this store. Every book in here was written by me."
Ajax gazed around the room with a look of wonder on his face, while Wednesday stared at the man.
"Impossible," she said.
"Very much possible, although maybe not for someone of normal circumstances," Emerson said, and gestured at the Nevermore crest that was on Ajax's beanie.
Ajax gaped at him. "You're a- an outcast? Like us?" he whispered.
Emerson nodded.
Wednesday still stared at him, but something had changed behind here eyes. Respect, maybe? No one can ever be sure with her.
"I'll take this one, and if I find it enjoyable, I'll be back for more of Mr. Crane's work," she said. "How much will it be?"
"Not a penny. Student discount," Emerson said with a wink. "For you too, young man."
Wednesday nodded, and walked briskly out of the store.
"Thank you very much, sir," Ajax said quickly, and nearly ran out the door to catch up with Wednesday.
Emerson only smiled.
"Well that was-"
"An excellent store. I hope to frequent there," Wednesday interrupted.
"Yeah... So like- Do we like- Tell... people?"
"They'll find it if they're meant to."
"Okay."
After a bit of silence and walking, Wednesday said, "Enid was right."
"Right about what?" Ajax asked.
"She said I could get some dirt on you, and I did, Mr. Where Are The Fairytales."
Ajax groaned. "Could you please not tell the Nightshades? I'd never hear the end of it from them if they found out."
Wednesday didn't respond, but Ajax knew she wouldn't tell. She avoided dealing with the Nightshades if she could help it.
They eventually found Enid in a colorful boutique.
"Soooooo, how was it?" she asked them.
"Good. Found a book I might like," Wednesday said.
"I did, too," added Ajax.
"That's good! Now, Wednesday, will you pleaseeeee stop disliking Ajax? He's not so bad, right?" Enid said, and squished Ajax's cheeks.
"Sure. You win."
"Yay!"