Witch Way Now? Ch. 01

Witch Way Now? Ch. 01

Two young witches are reunited after a long separation.

*This is a resubmission of this story, corrected for the punctuation errors that caused several key points to be left out of the first publishing.

Hello there. Yeah, I know, I know. I've been 'out of the game' for a long while. It was for a combination of personal reasons that I had no control over, but now I'm back to see if I can get this new series done. New ideas and concepts kept popping up and changing how I wanted the story to come out, but maybe I finally got it right.

As the title implies, this tale involves witches and witchcraft, but that's not the main focus. First and foremost, it's a love story. It involves two young witches who've known each other all of their lives, but circumstances have kept them apart for several years. This series is about their reunion and their discovery that their childhood friendship is evolving into something much deeper.

If you read any of my Gina and Tammy saga, you might remember that I don't do "Wham, bam, thank you Ma'am" stories. I like to delve into my characters, to show you the emotional sides of their lives as well as the sexual sides. That's what I plan to do in this series. Hopefully, I've gotten better during my long hiatus and can take you along the path with the two girls on their journey.

There's not much sex in the beginning while the stage is set, but don't worry - the 'dirty stuff' you expect will come along as things progress. Let me start with an apology - I've taken a ton of literary license with this story. Since the main players come from the Deep South, there's a lot of slang, cursing, and grammatical errors, but I've tried to keep it readable.

All characters are over eighteen, blah, blah, blah. The locations are real places, but everything else is the product of my admittedly weird mind. Votes and comments are welcome... just don't be a jerk about it.

Y'all got that? Okey-dokey then, I reckon we oughta mosey on along. Enjoy yerselves, y'hear?

Saturday

(Wakey-wakey, sleepyhead. Get yer ass up outta bed!) Ari groaned and rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. She hated that little voice in her head sometimes, but damnit, this time the voice was right. Today's the Big Day. After two months of planning, her best friend from her childhood will be arriving today and will be living with Ari while attending UNLV graduate school this fall. Except for a couple of brief visits when Ari flew back to Alabama, she hasn't seen Mitzi for 9 years and is looking forward to being reunited with her 'little sister from a different mister'.

Knowing she had to go grocery shopping this morning, Ari reluctantly got out of her king-sized bed and went to the bathroom for her morning toilette. After peeing and brushing the tangles out of her shoulder-length brunette hair, she slipped on her short satin robe and made her way to the kitchen for her morning caffeine fix. While waiting for the Keurig machine to spit out her coffee, Ari booted up her laptop to see what was happening in the world.

Sipping on the rejuvenating brew, Ari opened her email. After deleting the junk, two emails remained. The first was from her good friend and coworker Joyce McMenamy wishing her a good vacation next week and reminding her that she'd promised to bring Mitzi by their office for introductions. The second was from Mitzi, and Ari laughed out loud when she opened it. It had a banner across the top reading 'On My Way'. Underneath that was a black silhouette of a witch, bent over on her broomstick and whipping it with a riding crop.

Moving on to the news, Ari drank her coffee and shook her head at some of the idiocy she read about. The headlines screamed about protests here, riots there, and killings all over the place. ( Most cuz some little whiny bitches didn't get things 'their' way. Geez!) She did find a few interesting things as she read, but the sensationalism and sometimes outright lies the media was putting out soon got to be too much, so Ari just closed the laptop and ignored the BS.

Deciding against a second mug of coffee, Ari shuffled back to the bedroom to get ready for today. She hoped to get the shopping and her chores done early enough for her to take a nap before Mitzi arrived. Last night's sleep had been fitful, with angst about seeing Mitzi and sadness over losing Kathy invading her thoughts all night. Even though it had been 10 months since Kathy was senselessly killed, Ari still felt the ache and emptiness daily. After making the bed, Ari took a long shower. Vanilla-scented soap and shampoo helped soothe her jangled nerves and she felt much better when she stepped out of the shower.

A simple spell dried her skin and hair in seconds. Ari studied her body in a full-length mirror while coating herself with Sara's special lotion. ( Not bad fer a 27-year-old.) At 5'9" tall, her 34B breasts and trim, athletic frame provided fodder for the fantasies of men and women alike. She knew this and had no qualms about using her assets to her advantage!

Dressing in some running shorts and a tee shirt tight enough to keep her (braless) nipples excited, Ari applied a little eyeshadow and lip gloss. She loved wearing sexy outfits (when appropriate) and watching the reactions she got while out in public. Of course, some of the reactions were of the not-so-nice variety, but Ari had her magick for protection and wasn't too concerned.

It was a short drive to her favorite grocery store. Ari walked the aisles, filling her cart with essential and non-essential things that she knew Mitzi liked. Being early on Saturday meant the store wasn't too crowded but there were enough people to keep Ari amused. Since this suburb had a lot of retirees, most of the shoppers were older couples. Ari got a cheap thrill from the longing stares she got from the men and the hateful glares from their Mumu-clad wives.

Ending up with 5 bags full of goodies, Ari secured them in her open-top Jeep and made the short drive home. Once everything was put away, she made a quick round with a dust mop on the hardwood floors of her 3-bedroom home, checking that everything was ready for Mitzi. She could have used magick to do her chores, but the truth was Ari didn't mind housework. It might have been considered borderline OCD, but she liked seeing that everything was how she wanted it.

A quick run-through of her mental checklist confirmed everything was done. She made an 'Elvis sandwich' (bread, peanut butter, sliced banana) for a quick brunch and sat on the couch in the living area. After finding a documentary narrated by Mike Rowe (God, I love his voice.), Ari laid down and was sound asleep within minutes.

"Sorry 'bout that, Miss Granger, but I had t' check. Ya gotta admit, ya sure don't look like yer 24." Mitzi giggled when the bartender handed back her ID and the rum and coke she'd ordered. She told him not to worry about it, she was used to getting carded. With her short blonde hair and innocent-looking face, she certainly didn't look like the stereotypical Nurse Ratched.

Mitzi took her drink to a quiet corner of the lounge inside the DFW airport lounge to relax before her flight to Las Vegas. Last night was restless, with anxiety about this trip and her 'plan' keeping her awake most of the night. The two-hour, turbulence-filled flight from Florence to Dallas hadn't helped and she hoped the booze would calm her uneasiness. She sighed - she still had another two-hour flight and the drive from Vegas to Henderson to endure until she could finally unwind.

The only bright spot in this crappy day was that she was going to be seeing, and living with, her best friend! Mitzi has known Ari her entire life and has always thought of her as an older sister and mentor during her childhood. Since their parents are best friends (and their moms are witches), the two girls were always together growing up, until 9 years ago when Ari moved to Nevada.

Mitzi was deep in thought while she watched the people scurrying around in the airport complex. She was worried about Ari. Although their 'talks' the last few years had been by text, email, or phone calls, the two girls have always shared each other's secrets. But Ari had withdrawn after Kathy's tragic death, not sharing any details other than Kathy had been run over by a drunk driver.

The fact that Ari considered herself bisexual (leaning towards lesbian) and had lived with Kathy for three years didn't bother Mitzi. She was upset because she unfortunately was accustomed to grief and could see Ari hadn't reached the point of acceptance yet. While she knew each person managed grief differently, one of Mitzi's missions in Nevada was to help Ari as much as she could to reach that point.

(Chill out, Granger. Ya got yer own secret problem yer hopin' Ari can help you fix. Y'know, if y'all work t'gether, maybe both problems can be fixed!)

Mitzi chuckled to herself. As usual, her inner spirit had boiled all of her worries down to a simple solution. That made her more determined than ever to ensure her 'plan' was completed. Helping Ari along the way would just add to the Grand Prize!

Seeing people starting to gather at her gate, Mitzi finished her drink and left a tip on the table. Waving goodbye to the bartender, she went out to get in the queue. Her dad had given her a bunch of his air miles, so she'd been able to get first-class tickets for her flights at an exceptional price and was among the first to board the jet.

Settling in the comfortable chair, Mitzi watched the remaining passengers load. It was a surprise when they closed the door - despite being a midday flight on a weekend, and it was going to Sin City, the jet wasn't jam-packed. She didn't have any chatty neighbors in first-class and even better, there weren't any squalling children or obnoxious passengers on board. They taxied out and joined the departure lineup.

After they took off, and when it was okay, Mitzi reclined the soft seat. She declined the offer of drinks or snacks and let the droning of the engines lull her to sleep. It wasn't until the seat belt warning chime went off and the pilot's announcement woke her two hours later that Mitzi sat up, feeling refreshed after the wonderful nap.

Once they reached the gate, she grabbed her carry-on bag and made her way to the baggage claim, picking up her single suitcase. Since she was going to be living here for a while, she'd already shipped most of her possessions and only had enough clothing to last her until the rest arrived on Monday or Tuesday. She found the rental kiosk and picked up her pre-arranged car, then stepped outside the terminal for her first sample of the Nevada weather.

The mid-May weather reminded her of Florence, except for the noticeable difference in the humidity in this desert climate. ( I think I'm gonna like it here.) She got in the rental and started it up, turning on the A/C and setting the onboard GPS to take her to Ari's house. Ari had offered to pick her up at the airport but Mitzi had decided since this was her home for the near future, she wanted to learn about the area. Plus, with the way air travel was so erratic these days, she didn't want Ari to get stuck at the terminal in case her flight was delayed.

The worst part was fighting through the horrendous airport traffic, but Mitzi soon found herself heading southeast toward Henderson. Once she reached the outskirts of Henderson, the GPS directed her to turn north, bypassing the downtown of the city. Mitzi wanted to explore her new surroundings but knew there was plenty of time for that later on. Right now, she was ready for this trip to be finished!

Not wanting to show up empty-handed, Mitzi stopped at a liquor store to pick up a bottle of Ari's favorite whiskey. After the same routine of having to show her ID to prove she was legal to buy booze, she tucked the bottle in her carry-on and continued her drive. She pulled up to the gate in the fence surrounding Ari's property, and with a huge sigh of relief, she reached out to press the intercom button at the gate.

A loud BZZZZT startled Ari. (Oh shit! She's here! I didn't mean t' sleep so long!) Jumping up from the couch, Ari ran to the control panel and hit the Reply button on the intercom "Sanders' residence." She giggled when the familiar voice replied "Hi, honey, I'm home!" Ari answered "Mitzi! Get yer ass in here, girl" and pushed the Open button for the gate.

Stopping to check for wild hair or stray drool in the hallway mirror, Ari slipped on the flip-flops she kept by the front door and went outside. Mitzi had barely opened the car door when she saw Ari barreling down the sidewalk. As soon as she stood, Mitzi was swept up in a bear hug that squeezed the air out of her lungs. Ari exclaimed "Oh goddamn, sweetie, it's so good t' see ya again!"

Mitzi gasped "Good t' see ya too, hon, but can ya ease up on th' hug? I can't breathe." Ari laughed and relaxed her grip, setting Mitzi's 5'6" body back on the ground. "Oops, sorry. I'm just so glad yer here. It's been a long time." Mitzi grinned "Yeah, it sure has. I guess th' last time I saw ya was when ya came t' my graduation three years ago."

Still holding her shoulders, Ari gave her 'little sister' a once-over. "Yep, it was three years. I gotta say yer lookin' good, but damn, Mitzi, what th' hell happened t' yer boobs? I seem t' recall ya had some nice knockers." Mitzi blushed "Aw, that's just cuz o' this damn sports bra. I had t' mash 'em down fer my travel disguise. Didn't want a bunch o' pervs starin' at my titties on my way here." Ari snorted "Well, it damn sure worked. Ya look like yer still a teeny bopper. C'mon, let's grab yer stuff an' go inside. I 'magine ya can't wait t' free them puppies."

Mitzi giggled and popped the trunk open with her key fob. Ari grabbed her suitcase and wheeled it up the sidewalk while Mitzi followed with the carry-on bag. The view of Ari's front yard was impressive. Smooth river pebbles covered the yard, with patches of cacti and wildflowers scattered around. Two large live oak trees provided shade over the bedroom portion of the brick-construction ranch-style house. An attached two-car garage completed the picture and Mitzi thought (Yep, I'm definitely likin' this!)

Once they passed the hallway inside, Mitzi stopped and gawked. "Damn, Ari, Jean (Ari's mom) said ya had a nice place, but this is fuckin' awesome!" The open-plan living area's ceiling was 15 feet at the peak with drop-down lights and two ceiling fans. Granite tiles covered the spacious kitchen floor, with a granite top island separating the two areas.

Ari smiled proudly "Yeah, pretty nice, ain't it? When th' people listed it with our company, I came out t' check th' place an' fell in love with it. They were an older couple who'd just retired an' wanted t' get rid of it quick so they could move back east where their kids and grandkids lived. My boss bought it fer a helluva price an' I snatched it up b'fore anybody else saw it. I was able t' give a good down payment with some cash leftover from my college funds, so now I'm a homeowner. Well, me an' th' bank, at least fer 10 more years!"

After letting Mitzi look around for a minute, Ari interrupted her. "Hon, I want ya t' feel free t' explore. I already buried th' bodies so I ain't got nothin' t' hide. But now, let's get ya settled in yer room. I'm sure yer ready t' change into somethin' more comfy." Mitzi chuckled "Yeah, ya got that right." She followed Ari back to the middle bedroom, where Ari heaved the suitcase up onto the queen-sized bed. Pointing across the room, Ari said "Okay, there's a full bath over there. Ya got a dresser an' a walk-in closet, so there oughta be plenty o' room when th' rest o' yer stuff gets here. Go ahead an' get changed, an' I'll go mix us a coupla drinks."

Mitzi grinned "Thanks, Ari. It's perfect. But here, I got ya somethin'." She opened her carry-on and handed Ari the bottle of whiskey. Ari squealed "Ooh, Jack Daniels Black. Aw, ya shouldn't have, but thanks!" Holding the bottle, she hugged Mitzi's shoulder with her other arm. "Mitzi, I really can't tell ya how good it is t' have ya here. I've missed ya, an' I gotta admit, it's been awful lonely 'round here since... Kathy got killed." Mitzi smiled and wiped away the single tear that slid down Ari's cheek. "It's okay, sugar. I'm here now, so ya got an ear t' bend anytime. I ain't goin' nowhere."

In a move that shocked Mitzi, Ari leaned down and placed a sweet, gentle kiss on her lips, then quickly left, closing the door. Mitzi sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, not believing how incredibly turned on that simple kiss had made her feel. The girls had always been affectionate with each other while growing up, but their kisses had never made her feel the way she felt now. That kiss strengthened her resolve in her 'plan'. (I don't know when or how, but I'm gonna get that gal t' teach me what it's like t' make love with a woman!)

Mitzi stood and shed the simple blouse she'd worn. The sports bra was next, and Mitzi sighed when she massaged her tits, glad to be rid of that constrictive covering. Her sneakers and baggy jeans followed, and Mitzi giggled as the cool air hit her thong. She went to the bathroom, wetting a washcloth to wipe away her travel grime and cool her burning skin. Opening her suitcase, she dressed in what she hoped would entice Ari in helping to execute her 'plan'. She checked her makeup in the dresser mirror, putting a fresh gloss coating on her lips. Taking a few deep breaths, she prepared to step out into her new world.

Ari stood at the kitchen counter, mixing whiskey and Coke in two large glasses filled with ice. She had a confused look on her face. (Me an' Mitzi have always been close, but why th' hell did it make me so damn horny when I kissed her just now? Man, I can't think that way! Mitzi's like my little sister... my straight little sister. Shit, what am I gonna do?)

Shaking her head to clear the thoughts, she put the drinks on the coffee table in front of the couch. She sipped her drink to soothe her nerves, wondering about the strange change that had just happened. Sitting on the couch, she stared out at the backyard through the glass patio doors, focusing on nothing, trying to calm herself. When she heard the bedroom door open, she turned to look. Her eyes opened wide and she was thankful she was sitting down.

Mitzi was wearing some dark blue terrycloth shorts and a cropped, pale yellow tee shirt that barely covered her 32C boobs. Her breasts bounced when she sauntered over to the couch, erect nipples proudly jutting straight out. The tee shirt gave Ari a tantalizing view of her underboob and the tiny shorts struggled to contain her adorable butt cheeks. Ari licked her lips, praying that saliva didn't drip from her gaping mouth. She blurted "Holy shit, Batgirl! Ya was always pretty, but now that yer growed up, yer fuckin' gorgeous!"

Mitzi giggled and blushed "Aw, thanks, Ari." She sat down on the couch, trying to act oblivious to the reaction she'd received. (Success!) Her boobs gave a delightful jiggle when she plopped down on the couch. Ari handed her one of the drinks, they clinked their glasses together, and Ari toasted "Here's to us finally bein' back t'gether again". Mitzi took a large sip, grimacing as the liquor burned its way down her throat. "Oh man, I needed that. It's been a looong day."

Pulling her phone from somewhere (?) in her insanely tight shorts, Mitzi held it up. "Now b'fore we get too wasted, I promised th' folks I'd call when I got here an' tell 'em I made it okay." Ari helped her get on the Wi-Fi network then Mitzi went out on the patio, both for privacy and for a chance to check out Ari's swimming pool. Sensing Ari's eyes watching her, Mitzi made sure to put a little extra wiggle in her hips as she walked across the lawn to inspect the pool.

Ari felt a flash of heat racing from her pussy to her brain while she watched Mitzi walk around the backyard. (STOP IT, Sanders! Yeah, she's fuckin' hot, but it's Mitzi! Ya care 'bout her too much t' risk fuckin' it up by thinkin' like this. Just be cool, fool. She's yer best friend, an' ya need t' keep it that way.) Ari tried turning on the TV to distract herself, but it was too late. She'd been snagged... hook, line, and sinker were deeply embedded. All that was left was to reel her in.

Mitzi came back inside grinning broadly. "Alright, bitches, that pool is mine now!" Ari laughed and Mitzi plopped down on the couch, letting out an overly dramatic sigh. "Mom an' dad said hi, an' told me t' tell ya t' take care o' me since I'm not used t', an' I quote, 'how nasty life can be in th' big city'! Fuckers! They know I see more fucked up shit in the hospital than most people can 'magine. An' they know I can protect myself since Mom fuckin' taught me! They're actin' like I'm still a tween! God, Ari, why're they like that?"

Ari chuckled "I dunno honey. Hell, look at me. Nine years out here in th' wild West, a home an' mortgage, an' I still get that shit from my folks. I think it's some kinda disease that ya get if ya have kids!" Mitzi guffawed "Okay, that does it! No crotch goblins are comin' outta this pussy!"

The next few hours were spent getting caught up with each other's lives. Texts, emails, and phone calls were fine, but there was nothing like being face-to-face to get into the details. Laughter rang out through the house, getting louder and more boisterous as the alcohol began to affect them. If the house had a soul, it would be pleased with the happy sounds that hadn't been heard in a few months.

Around 4:30, a loud rumble from Mitzi's belly interrupted their conversation. She blushed bright pink and tittered "Oops, sorry 'bout that. Guess I'm still stuck in Central Time. What time d'ya feed th' prisoners here?" Ari laughed "Welp, I reckon now's good. I'm gettin' hungry myself. How's burgers sound? I figgered ya wouldn't feel like goin' out after travelin' all day." Mitzi grinned "Sounds perfect. How can I help?"

Ari had set some ground beef out to defrost earlier. While she prepped and cooked the meat, Mitzi got some paper plates and then got all of the other needed items - buns, chips, condiments, and other garnishes. The girls kept exchanging stories and by 5:30 they both had full bellies and a nice buzz from the booze. After cleaning up, they mixed fresh drinks and returned to the couch.

Their talks covered a lot of things about themselves that had happened in their lives since they'd last seen each other. Mitzi carefully stayed away from mentioning Ari's time with Kathy, even though she desperately wanted to hear the story. That was something only Ari could talk about, and only when she was ready. Mitzi respected her too much to try and pry until then.

Ari sensed what Mitzi was doing and she felt her heart swell with pride at having such a wonderful friend. She reached over and loosely held Mitzi's hands. Looking into Mitzi's hazel eyes, she smiled "Sweetheart, I know what yer doin' an' I 'preciate it. I swear I'm gonna tell ya 'bout Kathy, but not yet. It's a long story an' ain't too pretty in some places, but right now we're celebratin' an' I want us t' just have a good time. Just bear with me, 'kay?"

Mitzi nodded "That's cool, Ari. I know yer gonna tell me when you're ready, but 'til then, it ain't none o' my business. Whenever yer ready, just know I'll be here." Ari took a large gulp of whiskey and leaned back, letting out a large sigh. "Thanks, babe. That's one o' th' reasons yer my bestie. Not many folks can understand my warped mind like you."

A few seconds later, Ari sat up and had a wicked glint in her eyes. "Y'know Mitzi, there's one other thing we ain't talked 'bout. Ya already know 'bout how sick an' depraved I am, but how 'bout you? What's goin' on in yer love life? Ya always change th' subject or clam up when I ask ya, but I wanna know. Didya leave a bunch o' broke hearts back in 'Bama? C'mon, girlfriend, give it up. Inquirin' minds wanna know!"

Mitzi took a drink and snorted derisively "Ha! Good one! Hell, hon, first I'd have t' have a love life! Mine's been more like havin' a flat tire an' no spare out in th' middle o' nowhere!" Ari burst out laughing and Mitzi grinned. The laughter died down and she continued "Now, I ain't sayin' I'm a virgin. Shit, I gave up my V card when I went t' th' U of A. Roll Tide! But my luck wasn't too good. Most o' th' guys I'd go on a date with were either jerks, assholes, or was just tryin' t' get in my pants. Then outta th' ones that I did fuck, they either didn't know what t' do with a pussy once they had it or only lasted one or two pumps. There was a few... very few, mind ya... who was damn good an' got me off. But fer th' most part, I just ended up frustrated an' had t' go home t' finish th' job myself. Man, I bet th' folks who had Duracell stock musta loved me!"

Ari had been snickering but now she cracked up. She had to hold her sides because she was laughing so hard. It took half a minute before she was finally able to gasp "Ohmygod... I... I'm sorry, hon... I ain't laughin' at ya... I'm laughin' cuz... it's so goddamn true!" It took a few more moments before Ari calmed enough to speak normally. "Oh, baby, that was right on! I ain't sure what it is, but it's like th' little brain b'tween a dude's legs hits th' off button in th' guy's big brain when it's around pussy!"

Without knowing what she'd done, Ari's next remark proved to be the 'Release The Kraken' moment for Mitzi's 'plan'. Ari looked at Mitzi and winked "Hon, I know yer straight an' all. There ain't nothin' wrong with that, but what ya just said is one o' th' reasons I started playin' in th' other pasture. Don't worry though, 'lil sis, I'm sure th' right guy's out there waitin'. Hell, maybe he lives in Nevada!"

Mitzi's skull was exploding. (Bingo! Touchdown! Home Run! Yay, team! Here's yer chance, kiddo! Sooner than ya thought, but ya better shoot yer shot!) She took a huge gulp of her drink and looked at Ari, smiling coyly. "Y'know, Ari, that's somethin' I kinda wanted t' talk t' ya 'bout. But first, I gotta tell ya a little story."

Ari felt the sudden mood shift in the room, but wasn't sure what it was. She looked over warily as Mitzi took another drink before beginning. "Okay, d'ya remember me tellin' ya 'bout my good friend Rhonda Jenkins back in Florence?" When Ari nodded, she continued "Well, Ronnie's a schoolteacher. When you an' me started plannin' my move out here, Ronnie got a job offer from somewhere in Kentucky. They flew her up there an' musta liked her a bunch cuz she got th' job."

Pausing for another sip of whiskey, Mitzi looked in Ari's chocolate-brown eyes. There was a questioning look like she didn't see where this was leading and Mitzi almost giggled. Reaching deep inside herself, Mitzi found the courage she needed to resume and finish her story, hoping the result would end up with her reaching her goal. She looked down, watching her entwined fingers nervously twiddling in her lap, and went on.

"Anyway, long story short, we got t'gether a coupla weeks ago fer a little farewell party. Ronnie was leavin' in a coupla days an' o' course, I was busy gettin' ready t' come out here. We was talkin' 'bout all th' things we'd done t'gether, an' gettin' pretty fuckin' drunk! There was a lotta huggin' an' cryin' cuz we don't know if or when we'll see each other again."

"Now here's where it gets kinda fuzzy. I can't tell ya which one o' us started it, but all of a sudden, we was kissin'. I ain't talkin' 'bout just a few little pecks, either! We was full-on, open mouth, makin' out. I think we was even tryin' t' swallow each other's tongues! I don't know how long we went at it, but that's as far as it went. We both ended up passin' out an' didn't wake up 'til th' next mornin'. Both o' us had hellacious headaches an' man, was we embarrassed! We apologized 'bout a hundred times t' each other, an' just blamed th' booze on what happened. I finally got my shit t'gether enough t' drive home an' spent th' rest o' th' day sufferin', suckin' down Gatorade an' aspirin."

Looking up again into Ari's eyes, Mitzi gave her a lopsided grin. "So there I was, layin' in bed an' barely able t' move 'cept t' drink juice or eat aspirin. Th' damn replay from th' night b'fore got stuck in a loop, playin' over an' over in my achin' head."

Another pause... another drink. "I reckon that's when I had my 'come t' Jesus' moment. Ari, I realized that kissin' Ronnie woke somethin' up in me. I realized I fuckin' LIKED IT! That was th' first time I ever kissed another girl, an' it was just so goddamn nice! I wanted t' find out more."

Ari was staring at Mitzi, her heart racing at the speed of sound. (Oh. My. God! Is this really happenin'? Is my straight little sister 'bout t' say what I think she is? Lord, help me!) Mitzi saw the bewildered look and let out a little giggle. She poked Ari's sternum with her index finger. "Here's where you come into th' picture, hon. I knew I was comin' out here, an' I knew ya liked girls. So I thought maybe I should ask ya what bein' with another girl was like. Then when ya kissed me this afternoon, well... that was th' proverbial straw an' th' camel's back thing. Ari, I gotta ask ya. Will ya teach me what it's like t' make love with a woman?"

Stunned... shocked... gobsmacked... no adjectives were strong enough to describe what Ari felt. She sat there in silence, studying Mitzi's face, seeing the look of intense desire in her eyes. Ari took one of Mitzi's hands, rubbing the back with her thumb, stalling while she tried to process this turn of events. She was finally able to sputter "Mitzi, I... I don't know what t' say. Ya just dropped a bomb on me, an' totally scrambled my brain! I never expected you would even think about bein' with a girl. When I kissed ya, I don't know what came over me after I did that. But baby, I gotta admit it turned me on! That's why I skedaddled out so quick. Then when I saw ya struttin' 'round th' backyard, shakin' yer cute ass, I damn near came right where I was sittin'!"

Taking a drink and a deep breath, Ari smiled warmly. "So I guess my answer t' what ya asked is yeah, I'd love t' show ya what it's like. But my question fer you is, are you sure? Bein' with another woman is completely different than bein' with a man. I know I like it, but ya also gotta think what it means t' you. Can ya take it if yer friends think yer disgustin' an' toss ya aside like trash? Are ya ready t' be called a dyke, a lezzy, an' all kinds o' names from th' assholes that don't understand? Once ya open this door, ya might not be able t' close it again an' walk away!"

Mitzi's response was to take both of their glasses and put them on the table. She straddled Ari, resting her butt on Ari's thighs. Her arms clasped around the back of Ari's neck and she touched their foreheads together. She whispered "Ari, I ain't done nothin' but think 'bout it fer two weeks. I know what yer sayin' an' I understand. But I also remember somethin' ya told me a long time ago. Ya said if my heart really wants somethin', my spirit would find a way t' make it work. Sweetheart, my heart really, really wants this. Open that goddamn door!"

When Mitzi's lips tentatively touched hers, Ari's doubts about being with her best friend started to crumble. Her uncertainty shattered when the kiss grew deeper as Mitzi released the yearning that had been burning inside her for the last two weeks. Ari wrapped her arms around Mitzi's waist, pulling her tighter, trying to return the emotions she felt flowing into her.

Time stopped. Everything around them ceased to exist. The entire universe at this moment consisted of the two young women, their mouths pressed hard together. They were sharing and combining their arousal until it became an aura that surrounded them. Sounds of lips smacking together, heavy breathing, and soft moans filled the air and bounced off the high ceiling.

Mitzi finally had to break the kiss. She pulled her head back a few inches and stared into Ari's brown eyes. A huge grin split her face and she exclaimed "Wow!" Ari's grin matched hers "Yeah, wow!" They both giggled and kissed again. The urgency they'd felt was transformed into exploration. Instead of one passionate kiss, now they were sharing short kisses that lingered for a few seconds before seeking a new position. The tip of Ari's tongue snaked into Mitzi's open mouth, meeting its counterpart, and engaging in a joyful joust. Their hands roamed wherever they could reach, touching, caressing, and learning about each other's bodies.

It was Ari who hit the pause button on this second round of making out. She chuckled "Hey, babydoll, we're actin' like two kids in th' backseat on a country road. We oughta take this t' th' bedroom where it's a lot comfier." Mitzi nodded her agreement and slid off of Ari's lap. Once she was standing, she reached down to help Ari stand, sneaking in a quick kiss along the way. They drained the last of their drinks and Ari went over to lock the patio door and turn out the lights. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, figuring they'd need it later, and they walked hand-in-hand back to Ari's bedroom, stopping to get Mitzi's toiletries bag from the guest room.

Ari told Mitzi to brush her teeth and take care of any toilet needs "cuz we're gonna be busy fer a little while". While Mitzi was in the bathroom, Ari folded the duvet, putting it out of the way on top of the chest of drawers, then turned down the top sheet and light blanket on the bed. Since nightfall was quickly approaching, she set a holder with a jasmine-scented candle on the dresser so that the candlelight would reflect in the mirror to illuminate the room.

They switched places when Mitzi came out, and she sat nervously on the edge of the bed while she waited. She glanced around the large bedroom, but the butterflies flitting in her stomach didn't allow her to appreciate the feminine décor or the tasteful pictures of women together hanging on the walls. (Holy crap, I'm really gonna do this! It's been my fantasy fer two weeks, but now I'm scared! What if I don't like fuckin another girl? I don't wanna screw up my friendship with Ari in case I don't like it. Shit! C'mon, Granger, get ahold o' yerself.)

Ari mercifully came out of the bathroom and Mitzi could focus on her instead of letting her self-doubts beat her up. Seeing Mitzi's anxious expression made Ari smile as she had a flashback to her first lesbian experience eight years ago. She knew she had to act slowly until Mitzi relaxed a little, but she had a feeling that Mitzi was going to find girl-on-girl sex to be far better than any male could provide.

Walking over to the dresser, Ari lit the candle and turned out the overhead light. The flickering candlelight gave the room a romantic glow in the gathering darkness and the erotic jasmine scent began filling the air. Ari sat down on the bed and put her arm around Mitzi with a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. She turned Mitzi's face towards her and gave her a quick kiss. "Honey, I know yer nervous. That's okay. Hell, I was tremblin' th' first time I was with a girl! It's hard, but try t' push that aside an' enjoy yerself. I promise I ain't gonna do nothin' weird t' ya." She winked "At least, not yet!"

Mitzi giggled and could feel some of her apprehension melt away. Ari kept speaking in a calming voice. "Now, babe, I'm gonna tell ya th' secret t' makin' love with a woman." She leaned in close to Mitzi's ear and whispered "There ain't no secret." Mitzi's wide-eyed look made her chuckle and she said "Y'see, sweetie, ya already know what t' do. Ya know what it takes fer you t' get off, so all ya gotta do is use that with yer partner. If it works, great. If it don't... oh well, move on t' th' next thing. Gals ain't like guys. Ya ain't gotta stroke their egos, lie about how big their dicks are, or fake an orgasm. Understand?"

A sheepish smile crept over Mitzi "Uh, yeah, I think so." Ari shifted over about two feet and smirked "Good. All right, class, school is in session! Yer first lesson in Lesbian 101 is 'bout t' begin. Listen up, cuz there's gonna be a test later." Mitzi laughed and gave a little salute "Yes ma'am!" More of her jitters peeled away. (Okay, I can do this.)

Ari was happy that she was getting Mitzi to relax. Junie, the girl who had first seduced her, used humor, too, and that made it so wonderful. (Not to mention havin' a snootful!) Deciding to stay with that tactic, Ari continued "So, class, there's a few rules t' go over b'fore startin'. Number one, don't be afraid t' try somethin'. Experimentin' can tell ya a lot 'bout yer partner. Number two, talk t' each other, an' listen t' yer partner's body. Every twitch, shiver, an' giggle will let ya know if what yer doin' is workin'. Number three, makin' love ain't gotta be serious. It ain't theology, philosophy, or a funeral! Laugh... tickle... enjoy each other! Th' main thing is have fun! Okay. That's all th' rules I can make up... err, I mean remember at th' moment. I'll make sure t' tell y'all if I recall any more. Any questions?"

Mitzi shook her head No. She smirked "Uh, Miss Teacher Ma'am, yer talkin' 'bout havin' fun, but ya ain't gonna make me pregnant, are ya?" Ari laughed "Naw, Miss Granger." She stuck her tongue out, wiggling it. "This 'lil worm don't squirt swimmers!"

Ari scooted over and gently kissed Mitzi. Stroking her cheek, she said "All kiddin' aside, honey, I'm glad t' see ya ain't feelin' so antsy now. And yeah, havin' fun's what it's all about. Now, since yer th' rookie an' I'm th' old ho, I reckon it's up t' me t' get this show started. Feel free t' join in at any time!"

Pulling Mitzi into an embrace, Ari kicked off the makeout session with a deep, passionate kiss. The young lovers held each other tightly, and their tongues reunited in exploring each other's mouths. They gently bit each other's upper and lower lips, tugging slightly before releasing their captive and searching for another target. Their lips moved to the sensitive skin of their ears and necks as they traded back and forth with kisses and flicks of their tongues.

Mitzi's hands rubbed up and down Ari's back over the cloth of her tee shirt while Ari caressed the bare skin under Mitzi's crop top. They broke apart long enough to remove each other's shirts, tossing the garments on the floor. Lust flooded their senses when they saw each other's naked breasts for the first time as adults. Feral expressions were on their faces as they squeezed and groped the soft orbs, tweaking the nipples to pebble-hardness. They hugged fiercely, mashing the mounds together, and kissed each other hungrily.

Judging from Mitzi's quick, heavy breaths and slightly trembling body, Ari knew she was already on the edge. (Wow! Déjà vu all over again.) She pulled her face back a few inches and smiled "Mitzi, I can sense yer sittin' on a rocket. When yer makin' love, ya usually wanna have a lot o' foreplay but yer body is demandin' relief right now! So I'm gonna light that rocket's fuse an' blast ya so high that NASA's gonna want yer autograph. We can do th' foreplay stuff later but now, I want ya t' lay flat on th' bed an' prepare fer liftoff!"

Mitzi giggled but she knew Ari was right. She was wound up tight. Lying on the soft mattress, she looked up at Ari, who was kneeling beside her. In a voice of desperation, she pleaded "Take me, Ari. Fuck me now!"

Ari wasted no time. She hooked Mitzi's tight shorts and damp thong with her forefingers, pulling them down and off in a single swift movement, tossing them in the pile on the floor. Admiring the treasure she'd uncovered, she murmured "Oh God, baby, yer so beautiful. I can't wait t' ravage ya. But first things first." She lay down and quickly removed her shorts and thong, adding them to the pile. Rolling over on top of Mitzi, she ground their groins and boobs together and crushed her lips against Mitzi's.

When both girls had turned eighteen and graduated from 'baby witches' to adults, one of their first acts of 'now permitted' magick was to zap away all of their body hair. Not having to shave or worry about sweat odors was great, and they loved the feeling of smooth panties against their bare skin. Plus, it looked so goddamned sexy! The feeling they had now, with the naked flesh pressed together, sent their arousal levels soaring. During the buildup, Ari used her feet to pry Mitzi's legs open in preparation for the final stage.

Raising on her elbows, Ari stared into Mitzi's hazel eyes and grinned. "Hang on, baby. Commencing countdown. Five." She leaned down to give Mitzi a wet, sloppy kiss. "Four." Mitzi's neck and shoulders were blanketed with kisses. "Three." With a promise that "I shall return", both nipples were lightly nibbled and kissed. "Two." Ari flicked her tongue in and around Mitzi's belly button. "One." Mitzi's inner thighs and the bare flesh around her glistening slit were slathered with kisses. "Ignition and we have liftoff!"

Ari's mouth clamped over the entire pussy and her tongue plunged into the steaming folds, sliding rapidly up and down, in and out, probing and pulling the tasty nectar into her waiting gullet. Ari savored every drop of the precious honey she was dragging out of Mitzi's inner sanctum. Every girl she'd been with (not that many, actually) had tasted similar but was unique. Mitzi's flavor ranked among the tastiest she'd ever consumed and she wanted to fill her tummy with the delicious fluids.

Mitzi had been moaning and squirming underneath Ari during the countdown. When Ari's tongue first penetrated her, she shrieked "Oh SHIT!" as a massive wave of pleasure spread through her body. Her hips bucked and her pelvic muscles tried to grab and hold the invader still, but her slippery walls failed to stop the prowler's assault. The tempest brewing in her core sent urgent messages to expect devastation soon.

Out of the few men who'd eaten her pussy when she had sex with them, not one could compare to Ari's skilled mouth and tongue. Where the men had been clumsy and brutish, Ari was gentle and insistent with her prodding. Mitzi had never secreted much during sex before, but now it felt like Ari was sucking out a veritable river of liquids from her snatch. Her body was being reduced to a quivering blob of jelly, gasping for breath with unintelligible sounds coming from her mouth.

Ari was carefully watching Mitzi as she feasted. From the thrashing of her head, the strange language she uttered, and the heaving of her belly, Ari knew Mitzi was close to cumming. Her efforts increased - Ari stretched her tongue to its limits, poking deep into Mitzi's cavern. She brought her hand up to furiously rub over Mitzi's clit, urging the climax to release.

A loud "FFUUUUCCCKK" reverberated in the room when Mitzi's orgasm reared its head and roared when it was freed. Her body jerked violently and tears of ecstasy squeezed out from her tightly closed eyes. If a seismograph had been nearby, it would have registered high on the moment magnitude scale. The tiny trickle of Mitzi's discharge seemed to get sweeter and larger, coating Ari's mouth and exploding on her taste buds as she happily drank.

When the massive waves of rhapsody began to slow down, Mitzi opened her eyes halfway and looked down. Ari was between her legs, grinning. Her expression was one like she'd turned the tables and was the canary that ate the (pussy) cat. With one last slurp of the juicy labia, Ari slid up along Mitzi's sweat-drenched torso, reaching her face and kissing her, giving her a sample of her taste.

Ari smiled "Darlin, I gotta say, ya got a mighty tasty pussy. So, whatcha think? Did ya like yer introduction t' the Dark Side?" Mitzi was afraid to try and talk, so she just raised her two thumbs weakly and closed her eyes again, enjoying the afterglow. Ari laughed "Thought so." She patted Mitzi's stomach "Now you just stay here, sweetie. I'm gonna get up an' get us some water. I 'magine yer 'bout dried up after I gobbled up all yer yumminess." Mitzi managed a "Mmmm" and relaxed. (Yeah, like I can even fuckin' move!)

Rolling off of her 'victim', Ari got out of bed and walked to the dresser where she'd left the bottle of water. When she turned back around, she stopped. Mitzi was passed out cold! She was lying on the bed, breathing deeply with a smile curling the corners of her mouth. After taking several gulps of water, Ari walked to the bed and gently placed the sheet and blanket over Mitzi, figuring she might get chilled as the sweat dried on her. (Poor kid. Left her familiar home, flew 1700 miles through 2 time zones, an' found her way t' a strange, new place. Then she got drunk an' wanted me t' show her my perverted ways! I guess I oughta be ashamed o' myself. She did ask fer it, though, so...)

Ari chuckled and went to blow out the candle. The dim glow from the streetlight on the main road gave her enough light to find her way back to the bed. She climbed into bed beside Mitzi, slowly rolling her onto her side, and snuggled up behind her in the spoon position. Adjusting the sheet and blanket to cover them both, Ari draped her arm over Mitzi's waist.

Pressed against Mitzi's damp back, Ari inhaled the faint remnants of her shampoo (strawberry?) and the aroma of their sexual escapades. Since she'd had such a long nap this morning/afternoon, sleep took a while to start coming to Ari. It gave her time to contemplate this amazing day.

As most witches do, Ari believed that when a person dies, they only move to the next plane of existence. She wondered if Kathy's spirit, or soul, or whatever it's called, had anything to do with Mitzi coming back into her life. What she did know was that Mitzi had just helped her get closer to healing and that she'd always be grateful to her friend for showing her she could be happy again. She'll never forget Kathy but Mitzi had shown her there was room in her heart to begin having fun again.

Lightly kissing the back of Mitzi's head, Ari whispered "Sleep tight, my dear, and thank ya." Ari's hand was resting on one of Mitzi's breasts, and the steady beating of her heart, along with her soft but adorable breathing, eventually pulled Ari down into the realm of dreams. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was thinking (What now?...).