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[hr][right][sub]Location: Coven Household[/sub][/right]
[right][sup]Time: 3:30PM[/sup][/right][hr]
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After the trip to the forest, Carlisle had an awful lot to process. The barrier had been damaged once more, which meant that whatever had caused this had returned to the scene after Carlisle left. Part of him wanted to cancel the party and instead do a lookout mission on the barrier. Hoping to strike gold and figure out exactly what was trying to breach the barrier. Not that it required much thinking. Clearly there was a werewolf on the loose. Whether it was just one, or perhaps an entire pack, remained to be seen. 

Then there was the curse. That was going to be the big problem. He could feel his body changing ever so slightly. Changing might not be the right not be the right word, but his body was at times starting to feel stiff. It felt almost like an odd sensation of joint pain. His legs would struggle to bend fully when he was walking, causing him to hobble slightly as he walked on occasion. Still, there was no point in trying to panic too much. By the time he had gotten back to the coven, Carlisle had managed to somewhat master his attempts at remaining calm. After seeing how the calming magic had drained Miles, Carlisle was more determined to protect his friend and ensure that he didn’t exhaust himself. Carlisle was a grown up after all, and a leader. He needed to stand on his own two feet to support the coven, not the other way round.

After dismissing everyone at the forest, Carlisle had a list of things he needed to do to get ready for the party. The biggest task was alcohol. He knew his fellow coven members were partial to a little of the sweet stuff every now and again. And by partial, Carlisle meant alot. It was hard for him to judge exactly how much he was going to need so he spent his afternoon using the coven's flatbed truck to go collect alcohol by the crate. It took him a good solid thirty to forty minutes to load the crates filled with various bottles or differing sizes and colours. He had been debating using the coven funds, more so when the bill came in at just under $750 dollars. The crate of the 12 whiskey bottles came in at a little under $200 alone. Still. He pulled out his own card and used it to pay for the drink. It was his idea after all. Not that anyone would find out. On the way back he also picked up an assortment of snacks. He was unsure what to get for a party. He never really stayed at the parties back at college long enough to gather what the 'snackage' options were. 

After he had loaded the truck with everything he needed he began to make his way back to the Coven. By the time he had finished unloading everything, it was already 3.30pm. He then began the process of silently unpacking and arranging everything. Pushed the dining table up against the wall. Given that it was nearly 20 seats wide, it required immense effort, and constantly going backwards and forward to move either corner. He could have asked for help. He was sure that someone was in the coven household. But he wanted to do this on his own. This party was his way of saying he was sorry to the coven. Sorry for what though? He wasn't quite sure himself. The past 24 hours were such a whirlwind that Carlisle hadn't really stopped to process everything. 

He started the process of unloading the drink and placing it onto the table. Everything had a place on the table. He unpacked each crate of beer and placed every can in a line to form nice and neat squares. Carlisle took the time to make sure each square was perfect and neat. The same was true of the bottles. And the mixers too. By the time he was done everything was neatly laid out and properly organised. Even when it came to the snacks, Carlisle went to somewhat extreme measures to make sure that everything was balanced. He counted each bowl to make sure there were exactly 50 chips in each one, the same with the rest of the snacks too. It was just a Carlisle thing. He preferred order. And right now his life was totally disordered. At least he could make his table organised. 

That was it though? Wasn't it? The reason Carlisle was being so anal about the placement of bottles. He had no control over his life, and therefore he was trying to exert control in whatever way he could. The silence had given him time to reflect and look back on his actions. The guilt had begun to set in. Being forced to stay calm or go into a fit of rage, was a good way to force Carlisle to look in on himself for some introspective. He had drawn up several conclusions: 

1. He had been a terrible friend to Lilith. 
2. He had been a let down to Miles. 

Both hurt. Each stung the male in a little bit of a different flavour, but he would be lying to himself if he didn't agree that the first one hurt an awful lot more. After returning to Tanner, Lilith was the lifeline that kept Carlisle afloat in the single most depressive episode he had ever faced. He owed the woman a huge debt. The two years they had hung together had been a blast, enjoying each other's company. The most recent summer however had been like a dream for Carlisle. They had grown closer as friends, surpassing the broship of Carlisle and Miles. But Carlisle had to be honest. Upon reflection, he hasn't exactly been the best person to get along with. He had on multiple occasions breached her trust and went up against her word. In Carlisle's mind he was just doing it to help her. But that wasn't exactly the point was it? It was the fact she had told him not to do things, and he broke it. Carlisle had been so laser focused on trying to be helpful, he had abused the trust of the person he adored the most. 

That hurt. A small frown flickered onto the edges of Carlisle's mouth. How had he been so stupid? Well it was simple really. Carlisle had been Carlisle. And then he had the stupid idea to try and profess his love for her, while he was being admonished for once again breaking her trust. What exactly did she see in Carlisle? Because he couldn't see it, and he was Carlisle! The frown turned to a sigh. He had been an idiot. How could he expect people to like him when he was so insufferable? 

And that brought him to the subject of Miles. The guy had spent all morning pumping his magical energy into trying to protect him, and for what? Cause once again Carlisle hadn't really been the bestest of friends. While Miles had tried to hide it from Carlisle, he had heard some of the shit others had put Miles through for hanging with Carlisle. Zach being usually the most vocal. Carlisle was never invited to those college parties; he was always the plus one. And Miles over the years had gotten into plenty of fights defending Carlisle from bullies or people who didn't want him there. And what did Carlisle give in return? Nothing. If anything he was worse. He berated Miles for bringing girls back to the dorm in college, and spent his waking moments of college babysitting and mothering Miles. After everything he had put Miles through, the least he could have done was sit out in the corridor and let him have his fun without bitching about it. Carlisle never even stood up for Miles. There was a queue of people demanding that Carlisle leave Miles due to who he was. His parents were the most vocal. They viewed Miles as the street urchin from around the corner. And the sole reason the Aston family built the gated community they lived in. But never once did he say anything to defend him. Sure he continued to be friends with Miles, but he never said anything good about him. And yet there he was today, using him once more to protect himself. 

The sudden feelings of guilt were beginning to overwhelm Carlisle. By this point he had finished arranging the whiskey bottles in a nice set of 4 x 3. First the sniffle came, and then the whimper. Tears began to rush to the corners of his eyes as they threatened to overflow and trigger a full on wave of sadness. He was suddenly snapped out of it by a loud *crunch* coming from his side. Turning his head to investigate he saw Hayden staring back at him, slowly biting down on a crisp she had taken from one of the bowls. 

[color=FFA500]"You back from orbit yet spaceman?"[/color] Hayden chimed as she finished off the chip. Carlisle meanwhile had fully snapped back, wiping his eyes quickly while moving his head away to disguise what had just been happening. 

[color=FFA500]"You were out of it. You looked like you were about to lose control and go on a crying rampage.”[/color] Carlisle would recompose himself, pulling on his shirt to help straighten his neck.

[color=00FFFF]”Yeah well. I am in control. Though I would appreciate it if we kept this between ourselves.”[/color] Carlisle muttered with a low breath, taking a chip from one of the bags and then placing it in the bowl that Hayden had taken it from.

[color=FFA500]”Don’t worry ‘bout it. I won’t tell anyone. I owe you one since you let me join the Coven.”[/color] Carlisle would begin the process of grabbing the chairs and stacking on the opposite side of the room. Hayden decided to help as well, grabbing a second chair.

[color=00FFFF]”Well I couldn't exactly leave anyone out in the cold could i? Even if they are in tow of Kolby ”[/color] Placing the chair down, Carlisle sighed. Damn. He hadn’t even processed the return of Kolby. That was yet another part of his life he wanted to forget.

[color=FFA500]”I was going to ask before. What exactly is your issue with Kolby? I appreciate he can be a dick at times, but he means well’[/color] Hayden asked, walking over to her second chair, keeping a close eye on Carlise’s response.

[color=00FFFF]”Honestly?”[/color] Carlisle let out a softer sigh [color=00FFFF]”Look, It is silly. Honest. When we were in senior year, we got into a fight. Things got aggressive fast, and Kolby kinda wiped the floor with me. Sent me right to the ER. Stayed there for nearly a week with the damage. While everyone else would have let it go… I didn’t. I have kinda used it to fuel my hatred for him”[/color]

[color=FFA500]”Damn, so geeky can hold a grudge. I get it. I can’t complain, I have been that petty too. But dude, maybe you need to let go. You will probably find that Kolby has even forgotten about the whole thing.”[/color] Hayden tossed the next chair up against the wall.

[color=00FFFF]”I know that’s true. I really should stop being so petty. Turns out actually that by having to stay calm, it's helping me see a bit more clearly.”[/color] Carlisle quoted as he walked back over to the otherside of the room. [color=00FFFF]"I guess I was furious at myself for losing you know. I mean Kolby was fierce, but my parents had always pressed me into thinking I was always destined to win. And well. Kolby was the first guy to show me that wasn't the case."[/color] 

[color=FFA500]"Well it sounds like you are pretty sore over it. If it bugs you that much, next time Kolby comes back, take him out into the garden and have round two. If you win that time, respect. If not, ya tried. Either way you can bury the hatchet and move on with your life"[/color] As much as Carlisle didn't want to admit it, Hayden did speak some sense. In a really twisted kind of way.

[color=00FFFF]"Thanks for the advice, but after already having my nose shattered for one day, I really don't want to have it rearranged again"[/color] Carlisle could only let out a chuckle at the situation he had found himself in now. This was certainly not what he had planned for the first day officially in charge. 

[color=FFA500]"Yeah that was pretty savage. What was up with that? Like you got beef with Serena too?"[/color] This was a more loaded question this time. Hayden knew she was looking for a particular answer.

[color=00FFFF]"Well again. That was a mistake. I don't hate Serena. We grew up together. As part of three families we were always together at functions and training. I have nothing against her. She is a powerful witch. Stopping her takes some serious work. More so if she gets in your head. She can cause you to act against your own survival instinct, and it's horrifying in a twisted way."[/color] Well that certainly wasn't the reaction that Hayden was after. She furrowed her brow lightly as Carlisle continued. [color=00FFFF]"In a way, I feel threatened by her. The coven leadership is between Me, Serena and Lilith. And Serena is certainly a dangerous threat. Plus she is extremely good at getting people to side with her. When she is in a bad mood, you wanna stay away. Her fire powers can well. Burn. Harshly"[/color] It seemed that for Hayden there wasn't an awful lot she could push. Carlisle seemed well aware of his limitations and the strengths of Serena. She had secretly hoped to hire him in a scheme to piss the girl off, but he didn't seem to be screaming 'Revenge'

[color=FFA500]"Fair. Fair. I am just used to solving my problems head on. Mano el Mano you know. Someone has a problem with me, they can come speak to me and we can settle it."[/color] While this philosophy was certainly true for Hayden, what she neglected to tell anyone was that it was that mentality that forced her to flee New York. 

[color=00FFFF]" Please try your best not to start fights with the Coven members. We aren't exactly the most tight night bunch in the first place. And well. I don't want to be the one in charge when the coven falls apart. We might be dysfunctional, but if anyone in this coven was threatened. Even me… I hope so. Then the rest of the Coven would rise up to protect them."[/color] 

[color=FFA500]"ight, don't worry, I won't start anything. Now go be a good boy and arrange all the party flowers in the right order. I'm out"[/color] Carlisle let out a bit of a huff. Hayden sure was a bit of an enigma. He couldn't quite work out what her intentions were. Or if any of them were good. Still. She was part of the witches family, so he would look after her. With the table now set, Carlisle just had to set up the sound system and things were ready to go. Although he did have to go get changed into some more comfortable clothes. 
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