Tales of Aradia The Last Witch Volume by L.A. Jones

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