bad days, good friends

Who: Kaysen and Charlotte
When: After school
Where: Kaysen's house

Charlotte still had a lot to do before the party, but most of it was quick work she could do before everybody got there. Before she went to pick up Ransom and pick out movies, she wanted to spend some time with Kaysen. She figured if anyone would be excited over Charlotte's first threatening encounter, it'd be Kaysen. Plus, she wanted to make sure she was still coming to the party. All good things. As soon as she put her books away, she headed across the street.

Kaysen was up in her room, and she saw Charlie walking across the street. By now she'd almost forgotten that it was Halloween. That there were things going on that totally didnt' stop for her breakdown or...'break' with Chance, or his mom being a killer or anything like that. But the world kept turning. People kept doing whatever they were doing. At least no one had come asking her if it was her who'd started the fire at school. She waited a few minutes, til she heard the knock on her door, and she looked back over at it. "C'min." she said, squishing the statement into one word.

...That probably wasn't a good sign. Truthfully, Charlotte had wondered about the fire, but she hadn't wanted to jump straight to it. She let herself in and looked over to Kaysen, frowning a bit. "Are you okay?"

"Nope." Kaysen said, quite simply. "Not okay. Things..." She couldn't tell Charlie the whole story. She couldn't. "Chance and I are kinda...on a...he said 'break'." she said, not one to beat around the bush so much, and right now that proved to be impossible. Her mind wouldn't allow her to skirt the issue. It was right there, in front of her and she couldn't see around for the life of her.

Crap. Charlotte blinked and moved to sit across from Kaysen. "What happened? Do you want to talk about it? I, um, can't set him on fire, but I could probably at least swing a bird pooping on him."

Kaysen shook her head. "No. I don't--I'm not mad at him, it wasn't like that, it's just...it's complicated." Kaysen said miserably, feeling awful and like she was going to burst into tears again. "I don't wanna talk about it. I...what's up with you?" she asked, trying to shift her focus onto Charlie. Maybe that would help. Maybe. God.

Charlotte had a moment of inner flailing as she tried to figure out what was best. Go with it, or make Kaysen talk? It seemed like she was carrying something pretty heavy on her shoulders. "Um. Hold on." she said, before moving to sit next to Kaysen and hug her. Kaysen tended to flail herself when she did that, but it seemed warranted at the moment. "If you change your mind and want to talk about it, we can. I could probably cancel tonight if you just wanted to watch movies and eat ice cream or something."

This time, Kaysen didn't flail, she actually hugged Charlie back and pretty tightly too. One might call it clinging. "Oh god no don't cancel, this is like, your first party and stuff, don't do that." she mumbled. "Thanks for offering, but...no, I'm...don't stop that shit just because my life went stupid." Though she did appreciate that Charlie would even say that. Offer it.

Okay, Kaysen was hugging back. Charlotte had to wonder if maybe she did have to find some animal to pester Chance. "Whatever happened... it'll be okay." Wait, wasn't that the thing people usually hated to hear when stuff went wrong? Crap.

Ha! NO, it so wouldn't be. There was no fix, there was no making this better. But she still appreciated the sentiment. "I doubt it. But...thanks anyways." she said. Kaysen sighed, and finally sat back, looking at Charlie. "So...what's been going on with you? Sorry if I've been...distracted lately." With everything. Like Chrissy's death and how it was weird for her, and oh, everyone else who died and the weirdness and oh hey--everything ever.

"It's okay... me too. Things have been weird." Charlotte said, biting her bottom lip through a frown. She leaned back, but stayed seated next to Kaysen. Well, maybe this would cheer her up. "I threatened somebody's life today, and meant it." she said, wincing a little bit. "And I swore."

Kaysen's eyes went wide. "Seriously? What happened? Are you okay?" Since something major had to have gone down to get those two things out of Charlie, and in the same day. Had the apocalypse started and she hadn't noticed or something? That was just messed up! Way messed up! ...but hey it was momentarily distracting her from her own impending doom.

Charlotte made a bit of a face as she tried to figure out what to say. She'd been trying to figure out all day just how much to tell Kaysen, because it was never an option that she wouldn't mention it at all. Charlotte had already proven that she was spectacularly bad at keeping secrets from Kaysen - and really, didn't want to. "One of my friends was biten by a werewolf." she finally said. "They're going to be okay, and they've got a good support system. But Kavin found out and made this person feel very threatened, and very scared. So I told them I would handle Kavin. And since he's already proven that talking things out doesn't really work with him..." She winced a bit and shrugged. No, she was not proud of what she had done. But that didn't mean she'd do it differently, either.

"I know things about Kavin that I haven't told anyone, things that could possibly get him killed, or run out of town, or God knows what. And I told him that if he bothered them again, I was going to ruin him. I was very, very angry." Charlotte finished.

Kaysen was listening, and trying to keep up with it all. She knew a werewolf now? Was it like the wolf that had been like, hanging around when they'd been at the mine? Wait he was just bitten or something. Did that mean he was gonna run aruond and bite other people? Or not? She didn't think Charlie would be defending someone if she thought they were gonna do something like that. "I um." she started. "Why did Kavin threaten your friend?" she asked. Since that seemed important.

What an awesome question. "...He says he was trying to help." she said. "But Kavin is spectacularly bad at thinking about things before saying them, or how what he says actually affects people. He made my friend feel like they were a monster and Kavin would kill them himself if he had to."

Kaysen kind of got the feeling she was missing a chunk of the story. So, in typical Kaysen-fashion, she just came out with it. "What aren't you telling me?" she asked. "You know I'm not going to tell anyone. Who've I got to tell?" Then she winced. "...and I'm like...two people down of anyone even close anyways right now." she added. She was down to two. At one time, she'd gloriously had like, four. But nope. It was Isaac and Charlie now. That was it.

Charlotte gave a grim little smile, and had been half expecting Kaysen to call her on it. "Kavin's a hunter." she said. "He hunts down vampires and werewolves and kills them. He told me he only hunts the evil ones that terrorize and stuff, but... he did not mention that to my werewolf friend when he showed up on their door and said 'I know your secret, I usually kill your kind, so listen to me to stay alive'."

Kaysen opened her mouth, blinked, then shut it again. Then she opened it up to speak. "Is he retarded?" she asked first. "Um, if someone showed up on my doorstep and told me that they knew what i was and that they usually kill my type off, they'd be on fire so fast their shadow would be burned onto my front walk." she said. Which she in no way could actually do. But it was how she felt right then and there.

"I believe he might be, yes." Charlotte agreed to the initial question. "Socially, at least. And this is coming from someone who talks to animals. And he should know better. Newborn werewolves can shift if greatly angered or scared. So I was quite angry. And I felt the need to do something to make sure he backs. Off."

"Well if you need anything to be on fire, you just let me know." Kaysen said. She sighed, shaking her head. "He's a hunter? He doesn't know about...I mean...and...that's just..." she tried for coherency, but it didn't work out for her too well. "That's messed up." she decided. "I mean, how can you tell evil ones from not evil ones? Like, aren't werewolves only werewolves like, once a month? I mean i get with the vamps who hit town, that was pretty obvious, and even I tried to do my part there. And like, help and stuff, but I dunno. I guess I just...wouldn't be tellin people I know 'hey! I kill people like you!'"

"I don't know how he knows who to... target." Charlotte said, wincing at the thought. "Research, I guess. Like those vamps, definitely. I didn't really ask too many questions about his process as I was attempting to dump him in that conversation. And I didn't even mind that as much as I did the drug thing! But no, he should not have said that. And if he tries anything again, I'm sure all the weres living on the pack lands would love to know where a werewolf killer is."

"Do you know how to talk to them?" Kaysen asked. "Like, get in touch and stuff?" Charlie was way better connected than Kaysen was. Or, that's what it seemed like, and really, Kaysen had no reason to believe otherwise. Charlie had much better social skills and wasn't, say, a social pariah.

Charlotte nodded slightly. "Sort of. Rather, I know someone who does." she answered. Ransom's siblings and dad were parts of packs, and they lived on the pack lands. They'd be able to point her in the right direction. "The sick thing is I know other stuff I could do. A four-step plan and two hours of my life could run him out of town. I really, really hope he believed me and doesn't make me find out if I have the guts to go through with any of it."

"What're the four steps?" Kaysen asked, terribly curious, because god, that just sounded...well. Okay. She was a bitch. Kind of exciting. Even if it never happened, just kinda hearing about it was interesting. And she felt kinda bad for it, but whatever. Maybe it was because she was removed from the situation. She didn't know who Charlie's werewolf buddy was--and wasn't asking--and she didn't really know Kavin, and had only ever taken out petty vengence on him. So...it was almost just like hearing the plot of a tv show or something. But still.

Charlotte blinked, and studied Kaysen for a moment. "...You! You are a horrible influence. Next time I swear I'm just blaming the fire elemental." she said, before smirking faintly to show that she was kidding. "God." she muttered, covering her face with her hand before leaning against her knees. "First I would tell my step-father, the cop, that Kavin told me he was a hunter, and possibly his recent business trips should be cross-referenced with missing persons reports in the areas he's traveled to. What he kills may be vampires or werewolves, but a lot of them probably have 'human' lives or jobs or something. Then I would tell the packs on the packlands that there was an admitted hunter and werewolf killer living here in Marquette. Then I would go to Nevermore, ask for the owner, and tell them that a hunter was blabbing about what he was, drawing attention to himself, threatening newly turned weres, and generally attracing a lot of unwanted attention to Marquette. Finally, I'd tackle things on the school front, just in case all else failed. Odds are good he's armed most of the time, I'd leave a note for a teacher that I saw him in class with a knife. Then I would possibly pass fliers around school with incriminating information, though that seems laughable compared to anything else." Charlotte thought about this for a minute and groaned. "Kaysen, I think I might be the anti-christ."

Well...that was actually a damn good plan. Kaysen was left blinking. "Wow, that...that would actulally work." she said, impressed. "And you're not the anti-christ. You're just...way better at this than anyone would've thought. Go you." she said, thinking pissing off Charlie was not the way to go in life.

"I've read too many books is what this is. My last guidance counselor was right." Charlotte replied. "My mom would tell me it's an earth thing. Volcanoes of anger and all that. If I told my mom I threatened my ex-boyfriend, which I'd rather not. God, I hope Kavin actually believed me. I don't think he did. He was dead set on throwing pity parties."

"Well, if he keeps it up, then just...I dunno. Do it. Cuz seriously now...I mean if nothign else, dude needs to learn not to run around threatening people, or playin superiority games or whatever. With the 'I keel you!' bullshit." Kaysen said bluntly. "I mean, honestly, that shit'll get him killed too, won't it?" she asked.

"Yes. Yes, it absolutely will." Charlotte agreed. "If he had threatened my friend just a little more, and they had shifted? One of them would have died. And if it had been Kavin, then my friend would have probably kept killing." Reminding herself of that gave her a bit of comfort, but not much. She didn't like what she had resorted to, and she never would, but she was not willing to take it back. "So... yeah. That was my day."

"...so we've both had sucky days." Kaysen concluded. "But hey, you've got your party. I dunno if I'm gonna show, I think I'd...y'know. Bring everyone down, and people hate me anyways. It wouldn't be the best mix in the world." she admitted. She didn't want to cause Charlie more grief, and she was fairly sure that would do it. Even if it was just that she had to listen to people making snide remarks when Kaysen left the room. It would bother her.

"None of the people I invited would be mean to you, and if they did, I'd kick them out." Charlotte felt the need to point out. "That said, I understand if you don't want to go. You're exempt. But if you change your mind and don't want to be alone... there will be horror movies and junk food. And if anyone gets on your nerves... we'll be carving pumpkins, so you'll have a knife!" That seemed like it might help.

"Yeah but kicking people out would suck." Kaysen said. "Not really party type of atmosphere, having to boot people." she continued. "Who's even going?" And how the hell do you know if they'd be mean to me or not? she wanted to know, but didn't say outright. "And you totally don't want me to have something I can inflict stabbity death on people with..."

That was actually another awesome question, and one Charlotte wasn't entirely sure on herself - though she had a decent enough idea. "Ransom. Gabe might make an appearance, but he'd leave you alone. Two of Ransom's friends, Jessilyn and Drea. This new girl, Lily, from my gym class. I invited Nate, but he's Kavin's best friend, so... not expecting him to show. Alexis, another new girl I met in the library when the shadows attacked. Claire, maybe. I was gonna invite your brother and his girlfriend, but I didn't know if that would be weird. And Thom... I haven't talked to him since before... you know, Chrissy." she said, cringing a bit.

"You could invite Isaac and his woman, and Thom." Kaysen said. She didn't know if they'd want to go, but she didn't think it'd be weird. "How do you know none of those people would be mean to me?" Kaysen asked. "Charlie...maybe you don't get it. You and I don't really hang out at school a bunch or anything, but people are fucking dicks. And whether they're nice to you or not? Doesn't change that they can still be assholes to me. Like Gabe? Whatever, that's just...bullshit, and if you want to spend your time with him whatever. You do that. But don't even just tell me that people would be fine. Especially when I've got absolutely no reason to think they would be."

Charlotte nodded, and made a mental note to text Isaac and Thom. It'd be horribly last minute, but... better than nothing at all? She frowned a bit as Kaysen went on, but listened to what she said. "I'd hang out at school more if you wanted to." she offered. "As for the rest... I know because I won't let them. If anyone tries then they're gone, and I want nothing to do with them. You're my best friend."

There was the other part of it that Kaysen hadn't really wanted to say, but found herself in a position where she was going to have to. "I don't want to be around a bunch of people who are just putting on a smile so they don't piss you off. I don't need fake acceptance, Charlie. I don't need people like...just biting their tongues on catty comments, or looking away to hide their disgusted looks. So I just..." she trailed off there, hoping she didn't have to explain more than that. She wasn't making Charlie choose. There wasn't any air of 'it's them or me' bullshit because whatever, that was stupid. She just was very well aware of the fact that worlds like hers and the one Charlie was kind of already part of didn't mix.

Charlotte could understand that. She didn't like the situation, and it made her feel a bit like a kid who wanted to yell for everyone to just get along, but it wasn't Kaysen's fault. She frowned and picked at her sleeve as she thought about it. "I don't know how they all feel about you. Ransom's never had a bad word to say, but he's a bit of an outcast himself. Lily and Alexis are possibly too new to know much about you. But I don't know about the rest. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry." Kaysen said, shrugging one shoulder. "I'll just...skip. And you'll have a better party. No tension. It'll be fine." she insisted. And she did feel left out and she did feel kind of upset, but it was better this way. Because she meant what she said. Plus, she knew that the second Charlie left the room she'd be right back to trying not to burst into tears over Chance again. So really, tonight? Not her best night ever or anything.

Charlotte looked up at Kaysen and frowned again. "If you want to skip, that's okay, but don't say it like that. I won't have a better time without you. If I'm going to watch people get slaughtered and massacre pumpkins and eat cupcakes decorated like graves, really, you're the best possible candidate for that. And I mean that in the most loving way possible." she said, cracking a small smile. "And for the record, if anyone I know ever did say a bad word about you, I'd be done with them on the spot. Maybe I'll even threaten them. I'm getting good at it."

That got a bit of a smile out of Kaysen, and she initiated a hug this time. It was short, but there. "Thanks, Charlie." she said. "But just...think of me there in spirit. And if you light candles for the pumpkins." she added, with a little half smile. "But I'll bet you need to get running to get everything prepared n shit, right?" Not that she knew what went into preparing for a party.

Charlotte appreciated the hug, especially knowing Kaysen didn't usually do stuff like that. "Of course." she agreed. "And if you change your mind... you're welcome to join us. With the knives. If you don't... I'll bring pumpkins over later and you can blow them up or something." she added, with another small smile. "All I really have to do is rent movies. I'm thinking slasher flicks. That's more unrealistic and fun than ghosts, vampires, and werewolves. In this town, at least."

"True. Well, have fun anyways." Kaysen said, meaning it. "I'll talk to you tomorrow or somethin, kay?" she suggested. She still didn't know how good of company she'd be at that point, but whatever. She wasn't going to like...hide. Or hide more, she certainly had hid today.

Charlotte nodded, and after giving Kaysen one last, quick hug, tentatively stood up. "I'll save you junk food." she offered. She hated the idea of leaving. Whatever was going on with Kaysen and Chance sounded bad, and she hated the idea of Kaysen sitting here alone all night. She wasn't at all sure she was doing the right thing in leaving, but she was growing more accustomed to those murky waters.