𝕊𝕥𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕 ℂ𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕 ➶

𝔼𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟: 𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕖 ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕤

The gorgon was true to his word. Valentina didn't see how much money he used to bribe the normie behind the counter... But the kid couldn't be making more than minimum wage, so a large tip and the chance to close the coffee shop up early must be pretty tempting.

After the barista placed all the chairs up on their respective tables and started playing a dusty old CD of Elvis' number one hits he found stashed away in the backroom, Deuce bowed and held out a hand to her with a, "May I have this dance?"

"I only know the one," she admitted. It was the quickstep that Gomez taught her the day she moved into Morticia's dorm room. She tried not to think about that too hard, though. Instead, she just took his hand and slid out of the booth.

He chuckled. "Well I know zero, zilch, nada. You're going to have to teach me."

She heaved a put-upon sigh as she placed her free hand on his shoulder. Still, she appreciated the opportunity to be the teacher rather than the student for a change. "Okay, so the pattern is slow, quick, quick, slow..."

Deuce took longer to learn the steps than she did, and he stepped on her toes a number of times. She laughed it off every time, regardless of how badly it hurt. She didn't want him to feel bad. It wasn't like he was doing it intentionally.

Regardless, Valentina was having a good time. So much so that she completely lost track of time.... By the time she thought to check the clock hanging on the wall behind the till, it was almost one in the morning.

Her eyes bugged out of her skull and her mouth fell open as the realization dawned on her that they were out well past curfew, would get back to campus at two AM if they left right this instant.

"Deuce," she said in a sudden panic. But when she turned her attention back to her dance partner, he was much closer than he had been before and closing the remaining distance between them fast.

Cradling the nap of her neck in one broad hand, he leaned in and kissed her right on her open mouth.

It wasn't anything like she expected her first kiss to be... It was much, much worse, nothing like what she imagined kissing Deuce would be.

His lips were so chapped that they were almost scaly, rubbing over her own like coarse sandpaper. She shuddered in disgust as he took advantage of her mouth hanging open to fill it with his massive tongue. It was like a particularly dexterous slug: slimy and a touch cooler than hers. Unpleasantly so.

Once her brain did a full systems restart, Valentina ripped herself from his grasp so suddenly that she stumbled backwards, almost falling on her butt. "What do you think you're doing?!" She demanded.

He had the gall to look confused, if slightly amused. "What does it look like?" He asked in turn.

"You kissed me!" Her tone was shrill and piercing as the discordant chord of a violin. "Me! The girlfriend of your so-called 'buddy.'" So much for loyalty.

"Nuh-uh! The ex-girlfriend of my best buddy."

"I haven't broken up with him yet!"

"You're going to, though. You've had the hots for me since day one. Why else would you throw away Gomez Addams and Morticia Frump than for the chance to get with me?"

If Valentina hadn't already cried her eyes out this evening, she probably would have started tearing up again. This presumptuous piece of... "Newsflash, jerk: the whole world doesn't revolve around you!" She gave him her most venomous glare before declaring, "I'm ready to head back to campus."

Deuce's smirk abruptly fell. "Who are you calling a jerk? Are you forgetting everything I've done for you?"

So, all this time he was nice to her, all he thought about was getting under her skirt? Wow, a real gentleman. "I didn't realize your kindness came with strings attached."

"Welcome to the real world, baby! No one does something for nothing," he hissed. Then, "Thanks a lot for wasting my time."

She bit the inside of her cheek rather than let a, "You're welcome," slip out. "Take me home. Now."

He scowled at her for the longest time, but eventually answered, "Fine. Wait here while I go get the car."

She crossed her arms before nodding curtly. It would be a long walk to the car, and her feet already ached from being shoved into little kitten heels all night.

They left The Weathervane together but separated as soon as the door swung shut behind them. Deuce turned the corner and disappeared down a side street in the direction of his parking place while Valentina sat on the curb.

Main Street was now empty and dead silent except for the humming of the street lights. They were the only ones still out. All the other Nevermore students had undoubtedly returned to the academy.

She was eager to forget about tonight and snuggle up in her warm bed with Strawberry Milk Baphomet. Fingers crossed that Gomez was sleeping in his own bed tonight, or Morticia's at the very least. Surely they were already asleep, and she'd hate to disturb them.

So she waited... And waited... And waited.

"Where is he? What's taking him so long?" She muttered, simply thinking aloud. It was a long walk for someone in heels, but a short one for those in loafers.

The doors to the Weathervane locked behind them so there was no going back in to check the time. She was stuck out in the cold, with nothing but knee-high stockings and a tulle petticoat to keep her warm. It wasn't long before she was shivering in her puffed sleeves.

Eventually, she decided enough was enough. If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. Luckily, they parked right outside Wicked Beauty, so she knew where to head. Plus, his car would probably be the only one left on the street.

Only it wasn't. Because it wasn't there.

Valentina stared incredulously where she could have sworn Deuce had parked his little red convertible. Maybe... Maybe she just narrowly missed him on his drive to The Weathervane?

So, feet throbbing, she walked back to the coffee shop, expecting to find him idling by the curbside.

No luck. He wasn't there.

She thought perhaps he got lost... So she waited longer. Waited until her fingers and toes were numb with the cold, and her teeth were chattering. Waited until there was no denying it any longer.

Deuce had left her here.