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“All I remember is disappointment. The boy I asked turned me down for another girl.”
But not just any girl. For Larissa, Morticia was so much more to her. Had things gone her way that night, she might not be here, standing and telling Marilyn Thornhill about this. She had missed her chance to be with the woman she once loved. All those years ago…
It should have been simple.
Morticia Frump was such an intelligent, elegant, and poised woman. Just her face was illuminated by a glowing beauty that never failed to make her heart race. Being her roommate was a challenge enough, having her intoxicating presence so close by. They’d spend many nights together, talking, spilling secrets and gossip about Nevermore Academy students, giggling over the silliest things, and helping each other with school assignments. Morticia was that bright spot in Larissa’s life each day.
This was why she burned with the desire to take her to the dance. It was coming up fast and she would conjure the courage to ask her roommate, dearest friend, and crush to go with her. Everything was going accordingly.
That evening, she knocked on the door twice. Larissa then stepped in and searched for her. Much to her delight, she was sitting crossed-legged on her bed, painting her beautiful nails. As soon as Larissa laid on hers, her eyes sparkled with unbridled joy.
“Oh! Larissa! I am in need of your opinion!” She shifted on her bed and flashed her fingernails at her. “So, what color should I go with? Black or dark red? I'm more partial to the black, as you know, but I think I could rock red, don't you?”
Sitting down next to her, Larissa smiled softly at her. “I think the red would be appealing. I rarely see you wear it.”
Her friend beamed at her with gratitude. “All right, then red it shall be!”
“Morticia? I have something I want to ask you.”
Having her mind half-distracted from painting her nails, Morticia hummed a somber and somewhat melodious tune. She was consumed with the dance and how she had yet to find someone. How frustrating it was for her. It was less than a week away and not a single person had asked her.
Clearing her throat awkwardly, Larissa went to open her mouth until Mortica jumped up from her bed with sudden concern. She paced madly around their room. “Who’s going to ask me to the dance? I'm stressing out right now! No one has asked me! Like, how can I go without somebody?”
Seeing her apparent distress, Larissa rose to her feet and immediately went over to calm her down. “Hey, don't worry about that. Must I list off all of your achievements? You're the most likable girl here, darling. Who wouldn't want to ask you?"
Moved by her friend's words and unending support, she adored her. “Aw, you really think so? You're sweet. I will keep on hoping. Besides, it’s four days away. That gives people plenty of time, am I right?” She nudged her elbow playfully and shined that gorgeous smile of hers. A smile that Larissa Weems wished she would reserve only for her.
“Plenty of time,” she muttered under her breath. She was running out of time and needed to act quickly if she were to capture this raven’s heart.
“Hm? What was that?”
“Uh, I was merely agreeing with you. Plenty of time, yes.”
Tossing her a devilish smirk, Morticia wrapped her arms around her tall friend’s waist. Her long nails slowly crawled up the length of her forearms, sending waves of pure pleasure down Larissa’s spine. “What are you thinking about? I see that intense look in your eyes.”
She frowned at her like a scolded child. “I'm not intense.”
Winking at her, Morticia turned on her heel and headed back to her bed, plopping down on her mattress with contentment. “Mhm, of course you aren't. Now, tell me what you wanted to ask?”
Her heart fluttered as she stared at her blankly. She lost her courage. Her words got stuck in her throat and she had to swallow them ruefully. Larissa was determined to try again tomorrow. “Nothing. That red nail polish really does flatter you.” Becoming shy, she hurried out of the room and closed the door behind her. Morticia's face twisted in bewilderment as she watched her go. Her friend’s strange behaviors were, at times, unexplainable.
The following night, Larissa finally got her gumption. It was tonight or never. From behind her back, she held a Black Dahlia flower, hoping that it would delight her. Returning to her room for the second time, she didn't even get the chance to open the door before Morticia swung it open with excitement. A bright smile danced on her lips, which were covered in a dark shade of lipstick.
“Larissa! You wouldn't believe what happened to me!”
Mirroring her merriment, she indulged her. “Let me guess? You found the perfect dress for the dance?”
“I already got that. Gomez Addams asked me to the Raven dance!” Letting out a squeal, she twirled and danced dreamily with refined gracefulness.
Absolutely devastated, Larissa’s shoulders dropped as she did her best to mask her pain with faux surprise. She could barely conceal her disappointment. It was too late. “Oh, really? He asked you, did he?”
“Yess!” she grinned widely, throwing her arms up and then dragging her inside the room. “He is so handsome! He's a debonair gentleman and so well-versed in all types of combat. You should see him. I never thought he’d notice me! He just came up to me with a posy and just bedazzled me with his charm. I think his very presence took my breath away. Yes, I know what you're going to say, it's excessive, but that's how I felt!”
Glancing down at the floorboard while feeling devoid of hope, Larissa clenched her dazzling white teeth subtly. “That's wonderful. I'm happy for you.” It couldn’t be further from the truth. A surge of mixed emotions hit her like a billow. She was irate at Gomez. Jealous. She was angry at herself for not asking in time.
Taking Larissa’s hands in hers, she nearly bounced up and down with elation. “You must come, too! But first, we must find someone for you, my dear girl.”
“I'm quite fine,” she insisted, pulling her hands away. “I’ll be glad to accompany you and watch you dance together.” What a way to make herself suffer. She felt she deserved this for not speaking up sooner. If only her best friend knew how much she cared about her. How much she loved her.
Noting how she withdrew her hands, Morticia tried not to dwell on it too much. “You're the best. We’re going to have a fabulous night of fun together, trust me.”
With a tight-lipped smile, she nodded curtly. “I have no doubt about it.” Dismissing herself, she departed so her friend wouldn't catch how her eyes were beginning to shimmer with tears of sorrow.
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, Larissa wiped her finger under one eyelid and crushed the flower in her fist. It crumpled like her heart. She would never know of her true feelings for her.
Back in the present moment, Principal Weems lost focus, centering her thoughts on what could've been. “Morticia Frump, in fact.”
Shooting her a quizzical look, Marilyn readjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose. “Wednesday’s mother?”
Growing distant, Larissa had a faraway and depressed expression as she retreated into her vault of beautiful memories with Morticia Frump. Now, Addams. There wasn't a chance in hell she’d tell Marilyn the truth that she had been the one who had missed her golden opportunity to pursue her heart. It was far easier for her to fabricate a sob story and pin the blame on Gomez for why they couldn't be together.
Had Morticia and her worked out, she entertained the question if she'd even be the principal of Nevermore Academy. How much would her life have changed had they fallen in love? If she had been the one who had taken her to the Raven dance instead of Gomez that night. As foolish as she felt for thinking like this, she couldn't help but experience the same pang of regret and heartbreak all these years later. She was reminded of her heart’s cry.
And now she had Morticia Addam’s daughter to watch over. Wednesday. That highly peculiar, clever, and cynical girl, who intrigued and challenged her to no end. She was so unlike her mother. The antithesis of her, really. What could she say? The girl was a true puzzle, but she was a student, and it was her duty to ensure she was safe. As long as she was around, she’d look after Wednesday as if she were her daughter. As the principal of this school, she would protect her.
Watching Wednesday take to the floor and mesmerize everyone with her unique, spellbinding movements to the music, Weems genuinely cheered her on from a distance. She had missed her chance with Morticia. If fate had it that someone special entered Wednesday’s life, she hoped she would not repeat her mistake and miss her chance to be with them.