For Good | Hale- TO/TW [8]

38 | To Talk

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The church is alive with music and laughter. The wolf parade float stands outside as the werewolves rebuild what they lost. Their hands move furiously over paper-mâché and hats for the Mardi Gras parade; each wolf smiles and tells stories as they work.

In the corner, Stella, Teddy, and Freya pour over plastic hats. They attach wolf ears to the tops and draw toothy smirks on the brim.

The Mikaelson constantly glances over her shoulder to where Lisina and Keelin stand over streamers. They are laughing and smiling, their expressions full of happiness.

Seeing the look of longing on Freya's face, Teddy nudges her side. "Why aren't you over there?" He asks with a teasing air to his tone. "Go be with Keelin before she leaves tomorrow morning."

Freya purses her lips as Stella pauses with her hand around a fake wolf ear and glue. "She's happy over there," Freya says. "I want her to be happy."

Stella shakes her head. "Use the time you have, Freya. You ever know when it might be cut short."

Freya lets a smile slip onto her lips. "You sound like your mother."

Stella rolls her eyes as her phone rings. The young witch frowns as she digs into her back pocket for the device; when she sees the caller ID, her heart begins to beat rapidly.

Teddy straightens his back, looking over her shoulder at the phone. "You want me to take it?" He asks as she reads the name. Anger boils in his stomach as he clenches his jaw.

"No," Stella says. She takes a deep breath as she steps away from her family's worried faces. She presses the green button. "What do you want?"

"I'm sorry," Carter says. "Can we talk? Please?"

"I don't know if I really want to talk to you, Carter," Stella replies as she leans against the window frame. "You cheated on me, and now you think I'm a monster."

"You are not a monster, Stel. I just...I was surprised. And hurt. I was adjusting—"

"Cut the bullshit," Stella snaps. "What do you want?"

"To talk."

Stella lifts her eyes off the floor and stares out the window. "Teddy's here."

"Then let him beat the crap out of me. I need to apologize to you, Stella. For everything. And I won't do it over the phone."

Stella sighs as movement catches her eye. Across the street, Carter stands beneath a tattered awning, a bag in her hand. The witch meets the human's eyes.

"Fine. You can help with the hats."

Stella ends the call and gets back to the hat table. Teddy gives her a look, opening his mouth, but Stella cuts him off. "Don't kill her please."

Freya frowns as Teddy looks back at the door. Carter tentatively steps into the lively church, her bright brown eyes searching the large room for the young Hale witch. Stella refuses to look up as Carter finally approaches the table.

"You glue on the ears," Stella orders as she presses a sharpie to the brim in front of her. "One on each side."

Carter nods as she picks up a nearby hat. Teddy glares at the side of her head while Freya steps closer to Stella. The young human gulps, shrinking in on herself, trying to get away from Teddy's intense gaze. "Are you going to glare at me the entire time?" she asks as she pastes the first ear onto the hat.

Teddy does not dignify her with an answer.

"T, get some drinks," Stella says, sighing as she glances up at him. "Go to the bar, get a whole bunch of beer. It's a party, right?"

Teddy clenches his jaw. 
"And calm the hell down before you shift in public." Stella arches an eyebrow. "Wouldn't want to face the wrath of Mom and Dad, right?"

Teddy grunts as he crosses his arms. "What about her?" He tilts his head in Carter's direction. The girl subtly rolls her eyes but he growls when he sees it. She shrinks back.

"I want to hear what she has to say," Stella replies. "Now go before I burn your ass."

Teddy narrows his eyes before he turns around and walks out of the church. Stella bets that if she had super hearing, she would hear curses falling from his lips.

Stella then turns to her aunt. "Freya, do you mind...?"

Freya nods with soft eyes. "If you need anything, I'll be making paper-mâché." Freya sends a seething look towards Carter before she leaves.

For a few minutes, the girls work in silence. Before long, Stella has had enough. "What did you want to say, Carter? I'm waiting."

Carter puts down the hat and the glue as she sighs. "Thank you."

Stella pauses as she lets the pen in her hand drop. "What?" She asks.

"Thank you," Carter repeats. "Thank you for being my first friend in school. Thank you for asking me out. Thank you for loving me and for caring about me. You have done nothing to deserve what I did, and I do not deserve the good you gave me. But thank you for showing me love anyway."

Stella blinks as her throat begins to tighten. Her heart beats rapidly as her blood runs like lava under her skin. She gulps as she says, "Why did you do it?"

Tears line Carter's eyes. "I don't know."

Stella runs a hand down her face. "You don't know?" She echoes. "You don't know why you slept with Helen? You don't know why you took everything we had and broke it? You don't know why you tore my heart to shreds?"

Carter takes a shaky breath. "I never meant to hurt you—"

"Well, you did!" Stella exclaims. The sounds in the church pause as wolves look over at the two girls. Stella glances away and exhales sharply. "You really hurt me, Carter," Stella whispers. "And I don't understand why I am the only one who seems to be hurting." Carter opens her mouth but Stella puts up a hand. "I loved you, Carter. I really, really did. And you threw me away like trash. No apology will ever be good enough. At least, not now."

Carter averts her gaze. She turns away from Stella as she runs a hand through her hair. Stella goes back to work without another word.

Carter barely has enough time to throw Stella to the side as the church explodes around them.

Somehow I thought ahead and actually have content for the next update. What a concept, right?!

Hope you enjoyed!

-L