Tales of Aradia The Last Witch Volume (11 page)

"So what’s the deal?" Rhonda asked Aradia, who calmly
replied, "What do you mean?"

The two traded off houses for homework parties.
Tonight they were at Rhonda’s place working on their Latin
translations. They cut the work in half, Rhonda translating the
first bit, Aradia the second, then they each intentionally added a
mistake or two to the other’s portion to make it look like they had
both done the whole exercise.

"C'mon Aradia. You’ve been acting all emo and
depressed for a while.”

“I’m neither emo nor depressed at the moment.”

“I know, that’s what’s weird! You being a little
mopy, whatever. Bad days. I get that. But for weeks, then a sudden
one eighty? What’s going on?”

Aradia looked at Rhonda’s eyes filled with concern
and worry.

She sighed. "Well, it's a bunch of things. I just
found out my entire biological family is dead. They were murdered,
a long time ago. Dax was leading me on, but not really. I still
don’t really know where I stand with Roy. Actually I haven’t even
talked to him in a while, I was so shut down over the whole bio fam
thing. And... Well I guess that’s it. That’s what is bothering
me."

"Your biological family?" Rhonda asked, looking
confused. "But what about your parents?"

"I’m adopted," Aradia replied.

"Oh," said Rhonda. “I didn’t know.”

An awkward atmosphere started to descend upon the
room, but Aradia was used to this kind of reaction. “Of course you
didn’t. I didn’t tell you.”

"But," Rhonda said cautiously. "You seem so
normal."

Aradia burst out laughing.
It’s funny how wrong
people can be about things
, she thought ironically.

"That’s oh for two, then," said Aradia, "because I’m
definitely not normal. But let me tell you something about being
adopted. It has given me one heck of an advantage over kids who
live with their birth parents."

"What advantage?" asked Rhonda, cocking her head,
extremely curious.

"I know for a fact that my parents love me. If they
didn’t, they would have given me up years ago, or they wouldn’t
have fought to get me in the first place. I might not be their
birth kid, yet here I am with them still."

Rhonda smiled at Aradia's speech. Aradia just grinned
in return.

“So, the other part,” Rhonda asked tentatively,
“about the murders? What happened.”

Aradia thought for a moment. According to Mr. Dayton,
she could spill the beans to a few humans without violating the
hidden law.
It would be nice, not having to lie all the
time,
Aradia thought.
No. Rhonda has a right to live her
life her way. If I told her the truth… the possibility of her life
going back to normal would be basically nonexistent.

“Earth to Aradia!” Rhonda called. “You got all far
away on me.”

“Oh, sorry,” Aradia said, realizing she needed to
respond. “I don’t know, really. All I can be sure about is that
they’re long gone. I’m the last of my… birth family.”

“If you just found this out, why are you acting all
happy again? Shouldn’t you be even more depressed?”

“Nice, Rhonda,” Aradia replied.

Rhonda blushed. “That was insensitive. I’m sorry. I’m
not wrong though! What gives?”

Aradia chewed on it for a moment, then replied, “I
guess I just decided that although I was saddened by the truth, I
shouldn’t let it consume my life. It’s hard and terrible,
considering the circumstances, but what choice do I have?”

“None, nope, none at all,” Rhonda said.

Aradia's laugh was brittle. “I found out a couple
weeks ago, about my old family. I guess it’s been hanging over my
head. Yesterday I got confirmation.”

“Some government records or something like that?”
Rhonda asked.

“Something like that,” Aradia confirmed. “I guess
it’s just like this. No sorrow I feel for my relatives will bring
them back. I used to be pissed, you know? That these people had
given me away. If they hadn’t, though, I wouldn’t have had all the
happy memories I do now. In fact, I’d probably be dead with them.
Still, for the longest time, I would have given anything to have a
chance to yell at them, tell them I hated them. Now I’d give
anything for them to be alive and okay, even if I never saw them,
just so I wouldn’t be alone in the world.”

“You know,” Rhonda said, “you might be alone in the
world, but you’re not alone in this room. Want some ice cream?”

“No shit Sherlock,” Aradia replied cheerfully.

They raced to the kitchen where Rhonda pulled out a
tub of Neapolitan and two spoons. Rhonda sampled from all three
flavors. Aradia annihilated the strawberry section.

Suddenly, Rhonda's face turned serious.

Aradia noticed and asked, "what’s wrong?"

"Well," Rhonda began, "it seems like the biological
family thing is pretty much resolved. That still leaves the Dax and
Roy thing."

Aradia's face fell, and she slammed her forehead onto
the table.

“It’s rough,” Rhonda said in a deadpan tone, “having
two of the cutest guys in school vying for your affections. I’m
sure glad it’s not me.”

“I know,” Aradia grumbled, face still pressed against
the table's surface.

“Okay,” Rhonda said, “since this is so hard for you,
I’m going to help. Lay it all out, pros and cons of each.”

“Well. Con, Dax lied to me.”

“Trust is important,” Rhonda replied.

“So important! But other than that, it’s like... mmm.
He gets me. And I like his view of the world.”

“Sure,” Rhonda replied. “He’s got your heart, but not
your head. What about Roy?”

“Pro, Roy and I get along almost as well as you and
I,” Aradia replied. “I feel so comfortable with him, and he’s
really hot.”

“Okay then. Where’s the problem?”

“I don’t know if I really have romantic feelings for
him, or if it’s just physical attraction.”

“He’s the safe choice, then. You can talk yourself
into it, but it doesn’t feel quite right.”

"So what should I do?"

Rhonda shrugged. “I’d go with Roy.”

“Really?” Aradia replied. “I felt like you were
steering me towards Dax.”

Rhonda shrugged again. “Roy seems a lot more solid
than Dax. Dax is all cocky one minute, then creepy and broody the
next. Neither of them’s really my type.”

Aradia began a reply when Rhonda held up a hand to
silence her arguments. “I’m not you, though, and this is your
problem. A good problem, relative to most problems. There’s really
only one thing you can do.”

“What's that?” Aradia asked, eager for a possible
resolution.

“Go out with both of them.”

Aradia's mouth dropped open at Rhonda's
suggestion.

Rhonda held up both her hands and continued by
saying, "Just hear me out. Don’t play them. Just, get to know each
of them better. Go on separate dates with them, get to know them
individually, and then when you feel ready you can make your
decision."

Aradia opened her mouth to protest, but then shut it
without speaking after taking in Rhonda's words.

"I’d have to tell Dax and Roy about this, you know,"
Aradia ventured cautiously

"Those two seem pretty oblivious. I bet you could get
away with it on the sly for a while."

“Rhonda!”

“Fine, fine,” Rhonda said. “Be honest. Whatevs.”

"Be serious!" Aradia insisted. “This is a big deal
for me. Don't you think they might be uncomfortable with this
plan?"

"Maybe at first," Rhonda acknowledged. “That’s kind
of like a test, though. This is for you. It’s you being honest and
trying to be happy. If one of them has a problem with that, then
he’s not the right guy for you. Problem solved.”

“That’s not bad,” Aradia admitted.

“And who knows!” Rhonda sped up, getting excited by
her brilliant proposal. “They actually might like the competition.
All guys like competition, right? Politics, sports, cars, girls.
They always like an opportunity to outdo each other."

Aradia just gaped at Rhonda.

Finally, she asked, "Rhonda, this is a really good
idea. How do you know so much about guys?"

Rhonda shrugged and said, "I watch a lot of TV."

“I’m not sure how comfortable I am with this idea,
Rai-Rai.”

“If it’s unacceptable, I understand,” Aradia said.
Roy seemed relieved, until Aradia continued, “I’ve already talked
to Dax, though, and he’s willing to give it a try. If you’re not, I
hope we can still be friends.”

Roy sputtered defensively, “I didn’t say I couldn’t
give it a try!”

Aradia didn’t show it, but she found his reaction
very amusing.

“Good! So, ground rules. First, if you find someone
else you want to date, go for it. I won’t be jealous. Well, maybe I
will. But it’s only fair that you can date other people, and I’ll
try not to act jealous. Second, you two will trade off dates with
me. If either of you can’t make a date, or have to cancel, you just
lose that date. Third, don’t sabotage each other! I know how you
two can be.”

“Is that all?” Roy asked sarcastically.

“Probably not,” Aradia replied, either not noticing
or not acknowledging the sarcasm. “But it’s all for now. You’re
good with this?”

“I don’t have a lot of options,” he grumbled.

“Look, Roy, I’m uncomfortable too, but I don’t want
to jump into anything too quickly, especially right now, and
especially a relationship. Besides, even if I did just dump Dax and
date you exclusively, you know I’d be wondering what could have
been with him. That would be unfair to all three of us.”

“I guess I appreciate your honesty,” Roy admitted, “I
don’t like it, but I understand why you came up with this
plan.”

Aradia shrugged. “It’s Rhonda’s plan, actually."

“Hmph. So who gets the first date?”

“I proposed arm wrestling,” Dax said, appearing
suddenly behind Roy, “but Aradia was afraid I’d break your
arm.”

Roy growled softly. Aradia rolled her eyes at both of
them and corrected Dax, “Actually I said I was afraid you’d break
each others’ arms.”

“Really?” Dax said with a sly grin. “I must have
forgotten. You know me and my memory.”

“I’m not surprised you said arm wrestling,” Roy
challenged, “being too much a coward for a real fight.”

“Please,” Dax replied. “We both know how that would
end.”

“Boys!” Aradia silenced them. “Coin toss. Roy, you
can call it in the air. Nobody uses any powers or anything.”

“Wise for Roy to call it,” Dax commented, “werewolves
not really having any special powers in their human form.”

“You really want to push me?” Roy asked, puffing his
chest out.

“Am I wrong? Or might you sniff out whether it would
land heads or tails?”

“Dax!” Aradia chided, no longer finding their
competition amusing. “I expected more from you.”

“You’re right,” he replied. “Roy, I’m sorry. That was
immature and juvenile. May the best man win.”

Roy glanced at Dax’s outstretched hand, then at
Aradia, then back at the hand.

“It’s okay,” Aradia sighed. “You two are both kind of
sexist. It’s obnoxious. Just shake his hand and call the coin.”

They shook. It looked to Aradia that both might be
squeezing a little harder than necessary, though she wasn’t
positive.

When the coin was at its zenith, Roy called, “Tails!”
All three backed away and let the coin drop to the ground. It
flipped, rolled, and finally fell, showing face up: tails.

“Yes!” Roy celebrated.

He grinned smugly at Dax, but Dax just shrugged
nonchalantly, turned to Aradia, and said, "Until our next
date."

He winked at her then left as smoothly and stealthily
as he’d arrived.

Roy, after choking back an urge to throttle Dax,
suggested, “I know exactly what we should do for the date! My
family is having a cookout this Saturday. You should spend the
afternoon with us.”

“That sounds great,” Aradia replied, though
internally she was a bit nervous. She’d been expecting something
easier, like going to a movie or putt-putt.

“Good,” Roy said happily.

“So…” Aradia said after a pause, “what time should I
come by?”

“Oh!” Roy realized. “No, I’ll pick you up. If that
sounds good? At, um, two.”

“Two it is,” Aradia replied, smiling. “I’ll be
ready.”

It took Aradia approximately two days to assemble the
perfect outfit. To be more accurate, it took Rhonda and Liza two
days to assemble the perfect outfit; Aradia probably would have had
it done in fifteen minutes.

“Oooh, this is perfect!” Rhonda said, pulling out a
pair of sparkling jean shorts from the depths of Aradia’s
closet.

“I honestly don’t know why I even have those,” Aradia
replied. “In fact, I think they’re yours. Why can’t I just wear a
t-shirt and jeans? I’ll wear my t-shirt with music notes on it. Roy
will love it. It’s just meeting Roy's family, we’re not going to a
club.”

Around that time was when Rhonda enlisted Aradia's
mother to help. “Oh, my Rai Red Rose,” Liza said, “you should dress
up a
little.
Wouldn’t you want Roy to take it seriously if
he were meeting your family?”

“He’s met you,” Aradia quipped, “and didn’t dress up
for it.”

Liza bonked Aradia, lightly, on the nose with the
slipper she happened to be holding.

At first Rhonda was pleased, feeling as if she’d won,
but when Liza immediately vetoed anything even slightly
provocative, Rhonda gave up and sulked in the corner. Aradia added
a bit of make-up (less than her friend wanted, more than her mom
did), and when she felt she was ready, she plopped down in the den
to wait for Roy.

Around two thirty, Roy showed up.

After calling, "Later, love you," to her folks,
Aradia took off with him.

The first thing Aradia noticed was that his red F150
had been recently washed. Very recently. It was still wet under the
wiper blades and door handles.