This Is Halloween (Open to all adults)

Sean and Josh had discussed the Halloween party at Stefan Spencer’s house at great length. The factors in favor of attendance included the fact that it was a Halloween party, costumes were encouraged, alcohol would be provided, and several of their friends were also attending. The factors against attendance included their previous interaction with Stefan and the fact that Sean hadn’t found a moment to discuss it with the other man, since he had yet to catch him sober.

The factors in favor of attendance had reigned supreme.

Thus, the two men had donned their Victorian costumes, complete with hats and, in Sean’s case, also a pair of prop spectacles. Then they had made cookies for the party, Sean had selected a bottle of wine and a bottle of scotch, and they had bundled everything up to drive over to Stefan’s house.

It was the telepath’s hope that they wouldn’t have a repeat of a few weeks ago. That would spare everyone the discomfort, as well as sparing his partner the jealousy.

Upon reaching the house, he found that they weren’t the only ones about to make an entrance. The telepath smiled at James and Chase, and then at Haven, who had mentioned she was attending.

“Happy Halloween!” He said, lifting the unopened bottle of scotch in toast, as they waited to be granted entrance.

Stefan started grinning the moment Greg walked in the door. Not just because of the other man's costume (already his head was filling with chicken jokes), but also because he hadn't seen Greg much since their first meeting at the bar. Stefan had been interested in him then, and he still was. Even if he had a little something going on the side at the moment, that didn't mean he couldn't get closer to this man as well.

"Perfection," Stefan said as he showed Greg where he could put the things he'd brought. Of course, any fine looking man who walked into his house carrying beer and munchies was nothing less than perfect.

And then the other guest started to arrive. Stefan couldn't recall personally inviting most of them, but he wasn't about to turn anyone away. The more the merrier had always been a philosophy that he took to heart. So with a glass of scotch in hand, he welcomed them all. Showing them were to put their beer, or wine, or whatever while Sebastian trailed at his heels.

"Make yourselves comfortable," he told the Campbells, trying hard to keep himself from making jokes about balls or playing doctor. He was still sober enough for that at the moment. "And have a few drinks while you're at it."

When a woman he couldn't recall walked in, he wondered for a moment how she'd been invited. Hopefully he hadn't spent the previous night at the bar hitting on her too hard. Or maybe it was a good sign that she had come even if he had done so. "Help yourself to a drink," he said, gesturing towards the table where there was already a plethora of options.

He was happy to see that Sean and Josh had decided to come. Although he couldn't remember everything that had happened the night he had rode home with Josh, he got the feeling that things hadn't gone exactly to plan. "My favorite," he said when he saw what Sean was toasting with. "How'd you know?" He gave the other man a wink before turning back to find Greg.

"Miss me much?" he asked, pouring himself another scotch.

“Thank you.” She said to Stefan’s offer to a drink. She was about to introduce herself, assuming he must be the host but he turned away without giving her a chance. So she turned her attention to the cat who was trailing his master. Haven is a sucker for animals of all kinds, and cats in bow ties are too cute to resist. But, being cautious, not knowing if the cat was friendly, she just kneeled down and cooed over the animal, keeping her hands and face a safe distance away.

Haven noticed a woman walk in, fairly young compared to the others in the room. She wasn’t sure where she had seen this woman before but was almost positive it was at Hammel. Though she wasn’t an English teacher. Haven had made it her determination to memorize all the English teachers at Hammel, either by face or name.

She stood and held out her hand to the woman. “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Haven. I like your costume.”