The ancient art of party preparations.

Yes, really.

While it may seem strange to some, partying is just another normal human social gathering.

When did it start?

Who knows?

But it is one of the things that has remained as a fundamental part of the human lifestyle for, perhaps all of humanity's time on Earth.

And as for preparations, one of course finds themselves bringing their better apparel rather than just normal clothing.

In this case, while Rose prepared a recipe she'd found on the internet, Tiffany, Ken and Luke mentally prepped themselves for anything. After all, anything could happen.

About the party makers? They have the distinct privilege and perhaps burden that is ensuring that all the people in the room had as much fun and felt at as much ease as possoble.

This requires an intense amount of focus, intellect and attention to detail that most normal people lack. As a result, only well trained and or talented people ever find themselves given this task.

Maximillian Hunter was, unfortunately, not one of these people.

And so....

Max: Moooooom!

Julianne: Yes, dear?

Max: How do I set a table?

Young Maximillian Hunter found himself stuck trying to figure out how the forks and spoons would be sorted.

As he'd just remembered from some T.V show, there was a certain order to the kinds of forks and spoons to be used.

Table spoon. Tea spoon. Who even knows the difference?

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Before this day, Max would simply grab whatever spoon seemed best. Besides, what did the name even matter if the only difference was size?

His mother came downstairs, hearkening to her son's distress.

She found him nervously fumbling with cutlery.

Julianne: (thinking: Ah... my baby boy.) Is something wrong, Max?

Max: Yeah.... so....

He showed her the spoons.

Max: Which spoon goes where?

Julianne: (sighs) Max, your friends are still teenagers. I seriously doubt the fact that they'd know any better about that than you.

Max: Oh.... right. Then.... maybe I could....

It was obvious to his mother.

He'd never had friends over. Not for a very long time. And so.... he was nervous. Self conscious even.

She walked up to her son.

He immediately super sped dashed to clean the place up with the broom.

Julianne sighed once more.

Max: I could clean this place up.

Julianne: Max....

Max: It's ok mom. I know using super speed to sweep the house just makes it dustier. But its ok. I'll just....

Julianne: Max.

That voice. That motherly voice that every child knows. It's the kind that tells a child to stop immediately. And it worked the same way with Max.

He kept quiet.

Did he even have a choice?

It's an instinct. An instinct children have to their parents and or caretakers.

Max: Yes... mom

The mother walked over her to her son and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Julianne: Don't worry about it. Really.

It didn't need to be said. What had happened in the past needed not be mentioned.

She said it as simply as she could and he still got the message. Simply put, that was the bond between the mother and son.

More words were not necessary. She understood how worried and lonely he was, and he knew that she knew that.

That was all.

Max: Alright, mom.

He somewhat botheredly walked up to his room.

Julianne: They'll be here by 7pm. So you best be ready by then.

Max: Ok.

Julianne: And Max...

He turned to her.

Max: Yes, mom?

Julianne: You'll be just fine. Don't worry about it. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you too.

Somehow, those words made max feel a bit more at ease.

Max: (slightly smiling) Yeah...

In a sense, he was probably just panicking. After all, they'd been there before. So what was he worried about?

He laxedly plavced his hands behind his back. Maybe he was worried for nothing.

The teenager returned to his room.

How long would they be there? How hard would they train? How hard would they fight each other?

What would his mother think of him after she saw him fight? Who knows?

But, reverting to a mindset more in touch with his own personality, he simply cast caution to the winds and decided to stick to look to the future.