[color=8882be][center][H2] Jazrina Enters the Party [/H2] [/center] [/color]
[center][img]https://tinypic.host/images/2023/04/07/Jaz-Party.png[/img][/center]

Jazrina had driven home and had no sooner parked beside the house when the front door opened. Her mother stepped out onto the wide covered front porch and walked down the steps towards her car. Jazrina’s mother was always a calm, reassuring presence in her life. She smiled as she climbed out of her car and went to greet her mother with a hug. [color=8882be] “Hi Mom! It is so good to be home.” [/color] She closed her eyes as her arms wrapped around her shorter but athletically fit mother. Her mother’s long salt and pepper hair pulled back into a single braid. She smelled faintly of the lavender scented lotion her mother preferred. Lavendar always reminded her of her mother. Jazrina got her height from her father. Her mother returned her hug and held her for a moment before releasing her. [color=f6989d]“How was your drive in from Seattle?”[/color] 

Jazrina sighed in frustration as she shared that morning’s experiences with her mother. [color=8882be] “There was a huge multiple car pile up just outside of Seattle. It put me 2 hours behind schedule. I was late to the meeting. I drove straight there. They had already left by the time I got there. The only person left told me that there is a party tonight at the Coven House.” [/color] She shook her head and stepped to the rear of her SUV. [color=8882be] “I need to unload my car and unpack. I need to find something to wear tonight.” [/color] She pulled her suitcases from the rear of the SUV as her mother grabbed her two suitcases and began pulling towards the house. [color=f6989d]“I will take these in so you can grab more of your things.”[/color] Jazrina smiled as she reached for the first stack of boxes. [color=8882be] “Thanks mom.” [/color]

It took her a few trips before she got everything unloaded. She had sold all her furniture, dishes, pots and pans, and anything else she wouldn’t need while staying with her parents. She had bought used stuff from a thrift store to save money while she was in college. Some of the stuff had been shared stuff with roommates. The most important things were her clothes and computer bag. That would allow her to work remotely and still be able to take care of herself. Jaz had just finished unpacking her clothes when she heard her mother calling her to join her in the kitchen. 

She went downstairs and into the kitchen off the living room. Her mother was sitting in the small round kitchen table with a beautiful German Shepard puppy at her feet. The puppy was about 4 months old and was a soft grey color with a black saddle that went up his neck and over the top of his muzzle. He had warm brown eyes and a tail wagging hard enough to power a small appliance. His small body tense with excitement. [color=8882be] “I see you are training a new dog. What’s his name?” [/color] Her mother chuckled [color=f6989d]“What is her name. She is named Daisy.”[/color] Jazrina rolled her eyes at her mother. It was not like she could see the dogs genitals from where she was standing. [color=8882be] “What are you training her for?” [/color] Her mother motioned that she should join her at the table. Jaz finally noticed her mother had made her some herbal tea and oatmeal cookies. They were her favorite. [color=8882be] “Thanks mom.” [/color] She could use a pick me up. It had been a long morning so far. Her mother sipped her tea. 

Jaz did her part by ignoring the puppy and not trying to greet it till her mother introduced her. She knew the drill. The puppy was in the socialization stage of its training where it was learning manners. [color=f6989d]“Daisy is being trained in scent work.”[/color] Jaz knew her mother rarely disclosed all she was training a dog to do. Discretion and confidentiality were part of what she was known for. Scent work could mean finding dead bodies, hidden explosives or drugs, or the change in scent when a person’s blood sugar was too high. [color=8882be] “You didn’t have to make me cookies.” [/color]  She grinned as she grabbed one of the thick, soft cookies full of raisins and nuts. [color=8882be] “But I appreciate that you did!” [/color]  She bit into the cookie without reservation. She knew there would be no judgement from her mother. She had a nice visit with her mother. She found out that her father was off to South America again looking for copper this time. She spent a good hour catching up with her mother. She discussed her business plans with her mother. Her mother shared more about what was going on around town with her.

She retreated to her room where she went through the clothing she had just unpacked. She went to her closet and began to flick through her dresses. She didn’t want to dress school marmish but she didn’t want to look slutty either. Well let’s face it, Jaz didn’t own anything slutty. That was simply not her. She stopped on a dress she rarely wore. The dress was made of a white stretchy fabric. It was a cold shoulder bodycon dress that hugged her curves. The dress had long sleeves and fell to mid-calf on her. She smiled it was perfect for tonight, classy, and sexy. It took her no time at all to find a set a silver sandals to wear with the dress. The shoes would pair nicely with her white and silver clutch purse. She would add a nice large silver ring set with a moonstone cabochon. Jazrina hung the dress on the back of her closet door for later. She put the shoes and purse on her desk. She had changed into some yoga pants and a t-shirt. She did some stretching and light yoga to relieve all the tension from the long drive and day. She decided to take a nap before tonight. She yawned and stretched. She had been up since 5 am. She took a shower and dried her hair before crawling into bed for a nap. 

Jazrina let her mind wander as she got ready for the party. Jazrina was excited but nervous. She had hyped herself to be reunited with the coven members this morning to arrive late and miss almost everyone. She didn’t even really get to meet the new person. She didn’t introduce herself when she told her that Carlisle had already left. She assumed it was a new coven member. It was not someone she had met before who told her that Carlisle had taken most of the members out to look at something. The spells set on the coven house would only allow someone with magical potential inside. Since she was inside the house, Jaz could only assume she had been invited in. She smiled as she remembered running into Cait. At least Cait had remembered her fondly and seemed genuinely happy to see her. Jaz styled her hair in soft waves and put on tasteful makeup. She dabbed on a few drops of a homemade perfume of essential oils on her wrists and neck. She fastened the straps on her sandals. She transferred her keys, drivers license, debit card, some cash, and a lipstick to her clutch. She nodded satisfied that she looked good. She wanted to make a good impression. 

As Jaz got downstairs, she spotted her mother sitting on the sofa watching something on the television. Her mother's eyes lit up with her smile. [color=f6989d]"You look lovely darling."[/color] Her mother wiggled her eyebrows at her as she told her [color=f6989d]"Maybe you will meet a nice young man that catches your fancy!"[/color] Jazrina blushed and laughed and shook her head at her mother's antics. She rolled her eyes laughing as she told her mother. [color=8882be] “I’m going to the party at the coven house. Don’t wait up okay?” Her mother just smiled and nodded. Daisy was curled up at her feet asleep. Jaz smiled at her mother with a confident wave as she moved toward the door. [color=8882be] “Wish me luck!” [/color] She heard her mother call out [color=f6989d]“Luck!”[/color] just as she went through the front door. She smiled as she closed the front door. It was really good to be home. She had missed her mother. She used the handrail going down the steps. She could wear heels but they were still not the best of friends. She climbed in her car and off she went. She arrived a short time later at the coven house. The driveway was already filling up. Jazrina parked where she could get out later even if it meant a longer walk to the house. 

Jazrina walked into the coven house. She smiled and nodded her head in polite greeting to a few members who nodded her way. She kept the smile on her face even as she wondered if she was a tad overdressed. She tried to keep a pleasant neutral expression on her face. She made her way over to the table of snacks and drinks and blinked. She shook her head a little. Nope she wasn’t imagining it. She felt like she was at a frat party with better booze and lets not forget everyone in the house was a witch or warlock. Yeah this wasn’t a recipe for disaster at all. She knew most of the younger generation of witches and warlocks were younger than her. This was probably their kind of scene. She outgrew this kind of party a while ago. She looked down the rows of beer bottles and hard liquor. She sighed and poured herself a glass of cranberry juice over ice with a splash of Sprite and vodka. She might need the hard stuff tonight. She made her way over to one of the chairs and sat down. She tucked one foot behind the other with her knees together sitting slightly sideways. She sipped her drink and began people watching.