#wrs

The greenhouse was buzzing, in a literal sense. Being surrounded by hormone-filled teenagers meant being surrounded by all of their over-exaggerated emotions. All of which buzzed like static in Isadora’s head. There was the nervousness, the boredom, the happiness, and everything in between that pushed Isadora’s own emotions so far to the side that it got hard to even know what she was truly feeling at any given moment.

She was already feeling the beginnings of a migraine when Enid plopped herself down onto the seat to Isadora’s left.

The buzzing grew slightly weaker as the warmth, excitement, and jittery curiosity emanating from the blonde took over in her head.

Enid grinned at Isadora, the kind of smile that spoke of years of closeness that hadn’t happened yet.

“Okay, so,” she whispered while tugging her gloves on, “this time we can do it. We just have to follow the directions word for word. No accidents, explosions, or” she glanced at Wednesday, who sat to Isadora’s right “unauthorized experiments.”

Without any outward reaction, Wednesday slid her notebook open, but Isadora could feel it. Under that flat state that was usually her base stare was a small spike of amusement.

“Your request has been noted, and will be ignored. I fully intend to conduct my own experiment. If they didn’t want us to entertain ourselves, they should have given us more… stimulating tasks.”

Isadora froze, staring at her. “Wednesday…”

There was another flicker of emotion from her. A sharp, cold curiosity that Isadora had gotten used to being directed at her. It was something she had never felt before, and it never failed to make her chest tighten.

Enid’s claws clicked against the table as they extended. “No. Nuh-uh. Isadora is not your lab rat, Wednesday. Do you even remember what the dean said? One more experimental mishap with Isadora and we’d all be cleaning toilets till the end of the semester.”

Wednesday still didn’t look up from her notes, but when something strange slipped from her, Isadora noticed that she was glancing at Enid from beneath her bangs. “Perhaps you should improve your scrubbing technique then.”

Isadora’s brain was filled with a hot flare of exasperation, tainted with a simmering jealousy. Wednesday’s focus remained on her notes.

Isadora sighed, tugging on her own gloves. “Can we just… not cause any trouble today?”

Wednesday and Enid exchanged a glance, their exasperation and amusement crashing together in her head.

Enid shot Isadora a smile. She could still feel her frustration, but now there was also a slight satisfaction. “See? Isa agrees with me. For once can we just… do this normally?”

Wednesday finally looked up. “Normalcy is a word used by cowards too frightened to be interesting.”

From her pocket she pulled out a vial of something green, watching as the light shimmered through it. Isadora noticed that there were darker specks of something swimming in the green. Even as she looked at the vial, Isadora felt that same cold and sharp curiosity aimed at herself. Enid, even without the empath power, appeared to know Wednesday too well.

“Wednesday, don’t you dare.” She let out a low growl.

“I’m not daring anything. Some things are just inevitable.”

The beginnings of the migraine that Enid’s presence had stopped returned to Isadora as Enid’s anxious protectiveness and Wednesday’s relentless fascination clashed in her head and made her feel like she was drowning in both.

Enid huffed, leaning in closer to Isadora. Her warmth bled into Isadora almost like a ray of sunshine trying to push the tension that had settled in her shoulders away. “Just ignore her, Isa. Today we’re going to follow the instructions, get this potion totally right, and ace this thing.”

Isadora nodded at Enid, but when she glanced at Wednesday, the other girl was already scribbling something along the margins of her notebook.

The green vial still glinted menacingly in the corner of Isadora’s vision.

By the time the lunch bell rang, Isadora’s headache had simmered back down to a dull ache that was much more manageable than the migraine it had become by the end of class. She sat between Wednesday and Enid once more, unsuccessfully trying to ignore the green vial still peeking from Wednesday’s pocket. Its presence had become almost reassuring for both herself and Enid, working as a visible reminder that she was not in danger quite yet.

Enid kept glancing at it in a much less inconspicuous way and muttering toward Isadora. “See? She hasn’t even touched it since class. It’s totally fine, probably just Wednesday’s version of a prank.”

As much as Isadora wanted to believe that, she knew better than to underestimate Wednesday like that. And from the random spikes of nervousness she got from Enid whenever Wednesday got her hands anywhere near the vial, the wolf knew it too. It didn’t help that Wednesday, even as she calmly unfolded her napkin with the same blank expression she always had, kept sending waves of that same curiosity.

Enid, talkative even without the nervous energy of the expectation of an imminent threat, managed to talk all the way through the first half of lunch, not leaving a moment of silence unfilled. Isadora half-listened, absorbing Enid’s warmth to keep the static buzz of the cafeteria at bay, and Wednesday would sometimes glance at her and flare with the slight annoyance mixed with affection that Isadora was so used to feeling from the two best friends.

Then she picked up her water. Specifically chosen so that any greenness would be easily visible.

One sip was all it took. It tasted sweet at first but left a bitter aftertaste in the back of her tongue. She froze, and Wednesday’s gaze flicked toward her, curiosity spiking and satisfaction emerging. The glance was barely noticeable before she turned back toward her own plate.

Enid, noticing Isa frozen in place, leaned toward her. “Isa? You alright?”

At the same time there was a curious, “Isa?” from Wednesday that lacked the urgency found in Enid.

Isadora tried to nod and assuage Enid’s worry. However, the glass fell from her hands as they seemed to lose all strength, and opening her mouth just resulted in it staying that way with no sound coming out.

There was a different kind of buzzing in her head, one that, instead of making her feel like her brain was so full of other people’s emotions that her skull was about to burst, left her feeling empty. A prickling feeling started at her throat and rapidly moved toward the rest of her body. Her hands seemed to have regained some strength as she clutched them shut and her nails bit into her palms as strange pressure started at her chest.

Wednesday’s voice didn’t even register in her head. “Fascinating, the reaction time is much faster than anticipated.”

Enid’s chair screeched and then thudded on the ground as she shot up. “Oh my god, Wednesday, what did you do?”

She reached for Isadora as she faltered in her seat, looking toward Wednesday, not knowing if she wanted to scold her or seek reassurance, but before either of them could do anything, Isadora’s body began to change. Her clothes were becoming larger on her frame by the second. Everything around her seemed to be growing as well. Then suddenly the world around her exploded in sound and smell as the world was left in darkness and she disappeared under her clothes.

Gasps rippled through their table.

Where Isadora had previously been, there was now just a pile of clothes. Enid hyperventilated and Wednesday observed. The pile moved, and from under the uniform jacket a small mewl was heard right before a tiny head covered in red fur emerged.

Isadora blinked her large green eyes up at them, tail stuck under the heavy clothes, trying to flick.

Enid scooped her up, holding her close to her chest while Isadora struggled in the hold. “OMG, she is so cute.” She cooed at the kitten. “Wednesday, what did you do?!” she growled at the raven. “Oh, I’m going to take too many pictures of you,” she said as Isadora doubled her struggles. “How are you going to fix this?” She turned toward Wednesday again as Isadora finally stopped struggling, already exhausted. Choosing instead to glare at Wednesday. Which would have been far more intimidating if she wasn’t a still slightly trembling, adorable kitten.

She mewed, pitiful and furious all at once.

Slowly but surely everyone around them started to take notice of what had happened. Gasps gave way to laughter which in turn gave way to phones being pulled out and pointed toward the new kitten, with some even being so forward as to try and get her attention with a “here kitty kitty,” or worse, the occasional “pspsps.”

Enid’s protective instinct had kicked in and she clutched the tiny kitten even closer to her chest, only lessening her grip a bit once Isadora let out a disgruntled mew. “Back off, guys.” She snapped toward the gawkers, her claws coming out. “This isn’t show and tell.”

The whispers only grew louder.

Wednesday stood slowly. Her gaze swept over the crowd and she coaxed the kitten from Enid’s hands. Isadora’s frame slumped in relief from being away from the claws that had nearly taken one of her eyes.

“One photograph,” she said, tone low enough to make them have to put in some effort to hear her. “And your phones will be the last thing you touch.”

The people nearest to them scrambled to hide their phones and the whispers lowered to a silence.

“Dorm. Now.” Enid ordered and, with her claws hidden once more, didn’t wait for Wednesday’s approval before taking Isadora back from Wednesday’s slightly reluctant arms. Isadora’s own claws had to be pulled from Wednesday’s arm. She bolted to the doors, ignoring every curious stare.

Wednesday followed, just like Enid thought she would, at her own unhurried pace. The students who crossed her path cleared the way for her to pass through.

By the time they both made it to the room, Isadora could feel Enid’s heart beating extremely fast against her chest. She set her tiny red-furred friend on her bed, messing with a few blankets and pillows to make a little nest. “Okay, there, all safe and cozy.” She gave the kitten a little scratch on the chin as she looked up at her, and all of a sudden a little engine sound started coming from the kitten. “O M G. You’re purring, that is so cute!”

The noise stopped immediately as the kitten shook her head and ran her paw along her own nose. Her tail flicked and she let out an indignant mewl.

“Don’t mewl at me like that,” Enid scolded, “it’s not my fault you like my scritches.”

Wednesday locked the door behind them. “Remarkable results,” she murmured, moving closer to Enid’s rainbow-vomit bed. “The form is consistent with Felis catus. Both eye and hair pigmentation seem to have stayed the same though.” She ran her hand over the kitten’s head. “Fascinating.”

Enid let out a short screech that had Isadora shoving her small head into the walls of her nest. “What do you mean fascinating? Is she stuck like this?” Her eyes widened in realization. “Weds, is this permanent?”

Weds? Isadora thought. That’s new.

Wednesday eyed Isadora when Enid called her by the nickname she was only supposed to use when they were alone. Which, to be fair to the blonde, was usually when they were in their dorm. As she had already somewhat expected, Enid’s slip didn’t bother her as much as it would have if it had happened in front of anyone else.

“If it is, then she will require a collar. Perhaps a scratching post. Definitely a litter box. She’ll have to stay here, or I won’t be able to properly monitor the results of my experiment.”

Enid gasped and Isadora hissed, nickname slip forgotten.

Enid picked Isadora up and turned them both away from Wednesday. “Don’t worry, Isa. We’ll fix this.”

The kitten squirmed in her arms again but didn’t have that much energy this time around. Her exhaustion pulled at her and her eyes grew heavy. Enid adjusted her hold and Isadora curled into her shoulder, glaring weakly at Wednesday as her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

Wednesday’s eyes met hers until the last second, and just before she succumbed to her exhaustion, for just a fraction of a moment, Isadora not only felt the satisfaction coming from Wednesday but was also able to catch a glimpse of it in her eyes.

The room grew silent, the only sound coming from the soft breaths of the sleeping kitten. Enid stroked the kitten’s fur with trembling fingers, a soft purr rising from Isadora once more. “You went too far this time, Weds,” she whispered, careful not to wake the kitten.

Wednesday stood at the edge of the colorful bed, her arms folded behind her back. “I beg to differ. The results far exceeded my expectations. I did anticipate the shift to occur much later, though. A private transformation would have allowed for a more detailed observation.”

Enid glared at her, claws extending slightly. The kitten’s purr only deepened once she started being scratched with the tips. Enid turned back toward Wednesday. “She’s not an experiment! It’s Isa, Weds.”

Wednesday tilted her head, silently studying Enid before stepping closer. “You care for her more than you admit.”

Enid’s lips twitched, her cheeks flushing pink. “And you don’t?”

A shadow of what might have been a smile flickered across Wednesday’s lips, the kind that had been reserved only for Enid, until Isadora came into their lives and also saw it, right before the first ‘experiment.’ “When did I say that?”

Enid swallowed hard, holding Isadora a little closer. “If she ever finds out…”