Chapter 1: How was your break?

                                    

                                          
Monday, January 7th, 2023
7:53AM
Wednesday's POV:
The break was tolerable. I spent most of my time improving different skills, intellectual and physical. There were too many close calls last semester and that can't happen again. 
I was going to keep in touch with Enid over break, but Pugsley broke my phone, and I wasn't bothered enough to fix it. For a while, I was pleased without having the obligation to keep in contact. However, when I realized how much time I actually spent with her at Nevermore, that quickly changed. So, I wrote her a letter, sent it to her via pigeon, and never heard back. For a second, it crossed my mind that maybe she never learned how to write a proper letter, but her formality in writing wouldn't have stopped her from responding if she had read mine.
I open up the door to our dorm room. It's still the same as we left it. The sunlight shines brightly through the window as I carry one bag at a time over to my empty bed. I can hear people chatting and roaming around in the hallway outside. Every time I hear someone walk by; I find myself reluctantly looking over to the entrance. 
A few minutes later, I hear the door open. I pause my unpacking and turn around. Then, I'm greeted by Enid, smiling as she always is. She tosses her bags off to the side and runs over to me with her arms out. I don't like hugs or touch in general, but with her, it doesn't feel like someone is invading my personal space, strangely enough, it feels like she's supposed to be there. 
"Howdy roomie!" She says excitedly, pulling me into strong embrace. When I don't hug her back, she quickly let's go and looks at me with expression of realization. "Wait, sorry I forgot that you don't like hugs."
"Not necessarily." I say in return, visibly contemplating the statement. Her expression changes to a more confused one as I stand here.
"You do like hugs, since when?" She asks, back to her normal smirk.
"Like is a strong word." 
"Mhmm. So, I'm assuming I can't hug you...?" She asks, unsure of herself. I take a moment before fully responding. 
"I wouldn't say that."
"Wednesday, I'm really going to need a clear answer here." She says, slightly laughing to herself. I take this time to look at her, to see how she's changed in the time we've been apart. To start, her scars are less noticeable. Must be that accelerated healing, you can only truly see them if you knew what you were looking for. In addition, the pink and blue tips of her hair are brighter. She most likely redyed them over the break. I know she likes to do that the second they start to dull. 
She just looks...happier. I wonder what changed over break. 
"Uh, Wednesday?" She asks. I snap out of my thoughts and focus back in on reality. 
"Hm?"
"About the hugging?" Enid reminds me. I nod my head in acknowledgment. I'm not sure how to verbally express my opinions on her hugs, not yet. So, I simply take a small step towards her. She looks at me with another confused expression. I sigh and take a bigger step. I watch as a wide smile forms on her face before she pulls me into another hug. "Yesss, just tell me if you change your mind!"
I stand still as her head rests on my shoulder, her hands wrapping around my upper back. I can't help but notice my body feels slightly less tense. Just slightly...
"I certainly will." 
-
8:31AM
I step back from my bed and look at my half of the room in awe. So put together, so muted, so eerie...it's horrific. I hold back a smirk. I walk over to my desk and gently pull out my chair, looking forward to documenting the pride I have for my room.