𝕊𝕥𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕 ℂ𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕 ➶

𝔽𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕪-𝕋𝕨𝕠: ℝ𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕘𝕦𝕖

What Valentina learned from her dress search with Deuce was to go to Wicked Beauty first. It was where she'd had the most luck last year, after all. Obviously, it would be hard to strike gold twice. But the real problem was that she was looking for a specific silhouette in a specific color. So really what were the chances of her finding it?

After she tried on every pink dress at the establishment, including the pink dresses she tried on last year, she started to lose hope she'd find anything to wear to the Rave'N.

That's when Morticia made a suggestion. "Why don't you try on similar dresses in different colors?"

Before Val could say anything, Gomez was quick to chime in with a, "That's a wonderful idea! The theme of this year's dance is Día de los Muertos. As much as I love you in baby pink, you'll look out of place in pastels. Try bolder colors."

The last thing she wanted to do was stand out. "How about red then? Either a true red or scarlet, though! Not crimson or maroon." Jewel tones didn't look good on her.

So, while Morticia helped her out of the last dress she'd tried on, Gomez raided the racks for bright red dresses in the styles she liked.

"What are you wearing to the dance...?" Valentina asked, the girl's nickname --Tish-- hanging off the tip of her tongue.

After all this time, she didn't feel close enough to the girl to call her by anything but her full name. Calling Gomez by his first name also felt like a stretch. Still, just imagining his kicked puppy dog expression the last time she called him Addams kept her from doing anything but.

If Tish noticed her trailing off, she was nice enough not to comment on it. Instead, she just zipped up the dress that Val had just shed like a snake skin and put it back on its hanger.

"Black, of course. A bell bottom jumpsuit, with batwing sleeves as well. It's been expertly tailored and elaborately embroidered with Chihuahuan ravens." Then, unbidden, she volunteered the information, "Gomez is wearing a jet-black traje de luces."

"What's that?"

"It's essentially a traditional bullfighter's costume. He's very excited about it. This year's theme was his idea. I put the full weight of my influence behind getting it picked... But still, his idea."

That's when it occurred to Valentina. "This will be your last Rave'N, won't it?" That must make it at least a little bit bittersweet.

The emotion behind Tish's smile was utterly indiscernible. "Yes."

"What will you do after you've graduated?"

"We're going to get married."

Val really shouldn't have been surprised, but she was. Eighteen was awfully young to get hitched! Still, she was willing to bet good money that Gomez and Morticia's romance would stand the test of time. "That's wonderful news! I wish you two all the best." She hated to admit it, but she'd be able to breathe a little easier with them gone.

Her only response was that same enigmatic smile.

Before she could pick it apart, Gomez returned, throwing an armful of dresses over the dressing room stall door. "Try these on!" Hell, just looking at the sheer number of them made her tired.

Tish must have read her exhaustion from her posture, because she was quick to suggest, "Let's weed out the ones you definitely don't like before trying any on."

Twelve dresses became six dresses, and six dresses became three dresses. Valentina could try on three dresses, no sweat! Well, in truth, she was a little sweaty. Who knew that trying on clothes could be such work?

Morticia and Gomez ooohed and ahhhed over each selection, but --naturally-- dress number three was the clear winner.

While everything she tried on was beautiful and unique in its own way, her last choice seemed particularly special.

It was satin --because of course it had to be made out of the most expensive material imaginable-- and covered in lace. "Venetian lace," the tag boasted, with a price to match its fancy wording.

What struck her was how ornate the lace was. It wasn't just generic florals. She immediately recognized the flowers as enlarged red poppies, obviously the inspiration for the color of the dress.

The style of the dress was a little unusual, at least to her. It sported a deep v-neck --so deep that she wondered if it would pass the dress code-- that dipped down just above her belly button.

But the bodice was ribbed the way that she liked, the sleeves draped elegantly off her shoulders, and the skirt was nice and full. Not too full, though. It was a delicate balance. She didn't want to look too much like a cupcake.

Attached to the dress was a chiffon petticoat in a matching shade of red, lined with satin ribbons so that every turn and spin felt heavenly.

"Do you like it?" Tish asked, hands pressed together as if in prayer. It was obvious she was trying to be impartial but this was her favorite of the bunch. Val could tell by looking in the mirror back at Gomez's ear-splitting grin that he liked it as well.

"I love it," she admitted, almost begrudgingly. "It's not what I would usually gravitate to, but I think it's gorgeous."

"Don't you think you look gorgeous in it?" Gomez asked unprompted. When she did nothing more than blink at him for the longest time, he leaned forward in his seat, clearly expecting an answer.

"I make a good mannequin," she said, and left it at that.

"You're more than a mannequin! You could be a model! I'd love to get some photos of you and Tish before the dance."

A hum. "I'm sure you would." The perfect noncommitment.

"Please? Pretty please?" He begged so prettily. Then, to add a sprinkling of guilt to the mix, "It's my and Morticia's last Rave'N..."

Valentina let out a little sigh through her nose. "Fine. So long as my hair and make-up turn out okay."

"You know we don't care about stuff like that."

"Yeah, but I do," she replied before ducking back into the changing room with Morticia to take off her last dress. She'd have to hurry if she wanted to catch the last shuttle back to Nevermore. It had gotten quite late. The time flew so fast. When Tish and Gomez tilted their heads at her like curious woodland creatures, she told them as much.

But, "Oh! You can just ride with us back to Nevermore. Gomez has a car on campus."

And, as much as she wanted to protest, it would be more convenient. So, instead, she agreed. They smiled like it was a benediction.

It was funny how easily they crossed boundaries that normal exes would have. It was sad how easily Val let them.

Gomez paid for her dress in cash. His wallet was thick as a steak with traditional paper money. She knew most kids at Nevermore were generally well-to-do, but she still found this highly unusual. What if his wallet got lost or stolen? That was a lot of dosh gone!

She --again-- said nothing, lest she reveal her mere upper middle-class background. But, not wanting to seem ungrateful, tacked on a, "Thank you, Gomez." She'd glanced briefly at the price tag on that dress and very nearly went into a sticker shock coma.

"You're welcome, valentine. I'm just happy I got to be included this time." And wasn't that just a stab to the heart?

She screwed her eyes shut tight as if in physical pain. Once the wave of anxiety had finished washing over her, she opened them again and replied, "Let's go home. I'm sure your friends will be missing you."

God only knew if Fran had even noticed her absence.