Enid winced and clenched her teeth together as she watched the footage of "Wednesday" flailing about on the ground screaming as her skin broke out in hives, nasty red sores appearing on her face and forearms as she screeched in panic and terror; a ring of students standing around her watching as they gave her a wide berth.
The video ended as Wednesday sat deathly still after rewatching the clip for the third time. Her eyes flashed with anger, but she otherwise gave no sign of reaction, her body language and facial expression perfectly neutral. "This evidence of what appears to be me having a psychotic break of some sort has spread over social media. There's not a student at Nevermore that hasn't seen it by now, not to mention another hundred thousand people," Wednesday said flatly. "I will attend to the sources of the leak shortly, but before then we must settle this matter once and for all," she said, her tone matter of fact, but her eyes flashing with anger and irritation.
Enid shuffled about nervously. "I'm sorry?" she offered weakly. "How was I to know you actually are allergic to colour?"
Wednesday's brow furrowed slightly in the approximation of a frown. "You have been told this before. You are well aware. The fact you refused to believe it is on you. That was your error."
Enid glanced at the laptop where the image of her in Wednesday's body was frozen on the screen, screaming in shock and disbelief. "Eerrr...I guess," she admitted, not really being able to offer up much more.
"The damage has been done and can't be reversed. The best we can hope for now is to minimise its future impact by erasing it from social media and discouraging any discourse around the....incident, among the student body," Wednesday said. "I trust my reputation will ensure that most will be willing to forget it happened, or preferably pretend it didn't to begin with. That is only a minor concern, my primary interest now is why?" she asked. "You went out of your way to attempt to make me look like a fool and embarrass me while in my body. A significant breach of trust and a grievous abuse of the unfortunate circumstances we were in. I demand to know why," Wednesday insisted, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
Enid swallowed. "Uh, well I stumbled across your manuscript for your novel and I read your character profiles and found the one for the character based on me where it said she is feeble of body and mind. I was mad at the idea that that's what you think of me so I decided to get revenge," she explained.
Wednesday gave a snort of exasperation. "The character is loosely based upon you. It is not a reflection of how I perceive you. I told you last night that your quiet strength is your greatest attribute. I was serious."
Enid nodded and looked sheepish. "I know that now, but at the time I thought...." she trailed off.
"You thought I saw you as weak. Your assumption is incorrect. I do not associate with weak people," Wednesday said. "I crafted a character in my novel that is inspired by you, just like one is inspired by my mother and the main character Viper a figure of self-inspiration. That's what writers do, they often take inspiration from real people and events around them," she explained, with a hint of annoyance. "Once again your emotional impulsivity has caused unnecessary and avoidable problems. Just when I begin contemplating to consider that you may have a point; that your sentimentality has its uses; you go and prove me correct, yet again," Wednesday continued.
Enid whimpered. "I'm sorry."
Wednesday exhaled, turning her attention to the window. "You remind me of Xavier,"she said off handedly.
Enid gasped in shock. "Hey! That's uncalled for!" she protested in annoyance.
Wednesday didn't resume eye contact. "Perhaps," she allowed. "But the fact remains your impulsive emotional state is a cause for conflict. Much like Xavier's handling of my open and honest rejection of his advances. Kindness and honesty were repaid with resentment, and a refusal to accept I wasn't interested. He seemed to believe saving me from the gargoyle gave him a certain entitlement. If that was his motivation I wish he had let it hit me; it would have been far less tedious," she said softly, thinking out loud as she looked out the window.
"What really happened there anyway?" Enid asked, curious and glad Wednesday's attention was distracted from her stuff up, however temporarily.
"Nothing happened, that's precisely the point. Xavier believed his delusions and misguided sense of entitlement would dictate my actions," she looked back at Enid. "He was wrong," she paused and thought for a moment. "It's like some people want my life to be some angst ridden portrayal of teenage melodrama," she added softly with a look of disdain. Then her eyes suddenly burned back into Enid's with intense focus. "The incident has occured and it has been dealt with in this regard to my satisfaction. Tomorrow I will approach the antagonists who uploaded it to the internet and make them remove it," Wednesday explained with a curt nod.
Enid nodded in return. "But like, what if they refuse to take it down? Then what will you do?" she asked, a look of concern on her face as she considered the fact they might not co-operate.
Wednesday looked at her and blinked intentionally as if processing the fact Enid had just sprouted a second head. "Then I am going to do something to them that will make them regret not doing as I say. I pray for their sake they do and this all blows over and is soon forgotten," she said, then added icily. "......and yours."
The End.