Birthright

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

     The traditional birthday dance with my "chosen" was coming up soon, and I needed some help. Tia, Alorah, and I took a break from the relative quiet and were sitting at the kitchen table. There is another tradition, this one among teenage girls, called gossiping about our private love lives. I could tell by that quizzical look on Tia's face that she was just itching to ask the one question I was hoping no one would ask. Here it comes. It's almost here.

       "Who are you going to dance with, Elizabeth?" she asked. There it is.

       "That's why I need help from my friends," I told her.

       "What do you have in mind?" Tia asked.

       "Okay, I know this sounds like a bad Brady Bunch cliché, but I'm thinking that Alorah could start with one, and I'll start with the other and then we could switch. That way, I can dance with both, and Alorah gets her first dance," I asked.

       "How did you know I haven't had a first dance?" Alorah wondered aloud.

       "A little birdie told me," I said slyly.

       "Elizabeth, you don't have to do this," Alorah said.

       "Yes, I do. You're the other part of this equation," I informed her.

       "Equation?" Alorah asked with a perplexed look on her face. "I don't see myself as a part of any mathematical relationship problem."

       "Well, help me out please?" I pleaded. I really didn't have time to explain how she fits in to our boy-girl-boy-girl scenario, but if she knew how much Jaren was thinking of her during lunch today, she would know she is a part of our little drama, like it or not.

       "Okay," Alorah said timidly, "I'll do what I can."

       I can hear how nervous she is, and I'm sure Tia is picking up on it too. I thought that maybe a quick distraction might help her relax.

       "What did you get for your birthday?" I asked Tia.

       "A lot of stuff for Michael and me and the house, the hope chest that I love that my dad made for me-you already saw that. Then of course, there's my pretty car. Michael gave me this necklace that's around my neck right now. It has never been off my neck since the day he gave it to me."

       "Michael has good taste," I told her. "The necklace is beautiful." And I'm not just saying that to be nice. It really is gorgeous. I want one.

       "I see you have something from Josh," Tia said.

       "Yes." I hold out my hand just so I can hear Tia's and Alorah's oohs and ahs at my ring.        I'm feeling normal again, having my friends over, inspiring envy in each other by showing off jewelry. I'm sure I will be wearing my ring longer than Tia will her necklace.