The mystery of the Railwood orphan

Aaryn had always been an orphan. Just a plain girl without a family. She grew up being told about what her mother said when she gave her up as a baby. Some of the older kids that were in the orphanage still remember everything about Aaryn's mother, and some had even spoken to her. They said she was very young, kind, and unfortunately dying. The caretaker had told her that her mother was once brought here too, and it was most likely that Aaryn was a Railwood.

When Aaryn was about 10 years old, she was put into a foster home with two lovely women who were looking for a child they could call their own. Two years later, they fully adopted her, and she had two amazing friends, Jake and Brea who always stayed by her side.

Though she had amazing moms and friends, she still wanted to find her parents. So, after her 15th birthday, she came to one of her adopted mothers, Elle, and told her how she truly felt. "Hey, momma."

"Hello, Ari! What can I do for you, sweetie?"

"As much as I love you and mom, I want to find any of my blood relatives and find more about myself. I was told that my family came from here, and I may be a R-"

"Railwood. I know. When your mother and I adopted you, we wanted to know about where you came from."

Suddenly, there was a crash in the hallway. Elle and Aaryn walked to the doorway to see Marina picking up a broken plate. "Sorry!" Marina said as she had accidentally cut her hand on a shard of glass. "Ouch! I-I didn't mean to seem like I was eavesdropping."

"Oh, darling! Be careful!" Elle said as she grabbed her wife's hand. "I'm really fine! Aaryn, could you be a doll, and please get the first aid kit?" With that, Aaryn gave a quick nod and ran to get the first aid kit. After returning, Aaryn was asked to get the broom. Without hesitation, she did as she was asked. But, when she got back, the door was closed and she could hear her mom talking.

"Listen Elle. I know she wants to know more about her family. I know it can bring her happiness, but at the same time, it could bring deviation if she truly finds out why she was given away. I think it's best if we keep her away from that Railwood woman."

After hearing that, Aaryn couldn't hold her rage in. "I can't believe you!" She said, barging through the door, tears forming in her eyes. "My mom was sick and dying when she gave me up! If she's still alive, I WILL find her! I will find my family!"

She then ran out of the house, down three streets, to Jake's house. As she knocked on the door, she watched for cars. She did NOT want to go home tonight. Jake answered the door and let her in right away. He saw the tears running down her face, and knew something was up. "What's wrong Ryn?" He asked wiping the tears from her cheek. "I-I can't go back home tonight. I didn't know where else to go."

"Well, you can stay here tonight kiddo, and I'll talk to your moms." Jake's mom said coming around the corner. "Jake. Why don't you take Aaryn upstairs, and get her cleaned up for dinner?" As they both went upstairs, she called Elle, and let her know about Aaryn. "Okay. Thanks for notifying us, Jane. Yeah, she can stay as long as you say she can. I'll be over to drop off her things for school tomorrow."

At school the next day, there was an announcement that there will be Valentine's day dance in two days. "At least now you have a distraction from finding information about that made-up family!" Brea told Aaryn. "Well, I guess you're sort of right, but my family is not made up! There has to be at least one Railwood left in this town, and I'm going to find her!"

"How do you know it's a her?"

"Marina said she doesn't want Aaryn to go near, and I quote, 'that Railwood woman.'" Jake jumped in, sitting next to Aaryn. "Hey Ryn, could you get two root beers from the soda machine? I'll give you the money."

"As you wish, your majesty," Aaryn said jokingly. As she took the money, she kissed the hand he held the money in and walked away with a little laugh. Though Jake did not seem as enthused as Brea and Aaryn. "Okay… that just happened," Jake said awkwardly. "Well, it was still amusing. Oh no. Here comes your girlfriend." Brea said rolling her eyes. "Hello, Jakey."

"Hi, Carrie."

"Listen Jakey. You're my date to the dance." Carrie said in a whispered tone.

"I don't want to do this anymore, Carrie. You said you'd let me go after the last 'date' you put me through."

"Oh. So you want me to tell the school that you cheated on me with your little girlfriends."

"Fine. But this is seriously the last time I do this."

"See you then!" Carrie said as she walked away. Right then, Aaryn got back to her spot and handed the sodas to Jake. "What was all that about?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing." He replied as he opened one of the sodas and handed it to Aaryn. "If I wanted one, I would have bought one."

"But, Ryn, are you really going to turn down your favorite soda?"

Aaryn sighed. As she took the soda, she smiled and rolled her eyes.

Once again, Aaryn was staying the night at Jake's. Jane had rented a horror film for them to watch before bed, so after dinner, they went upstairs to the tv room to watch the movie. In the middle of it, Aaryn had fallen asleep on Jake's shoulder. "Only you could fall asleep watching a horror movie." He softly chuckled, as he softly brushed his thumb over her cheek and kissed her forehead. "If only Carrie wasn't around, then I might have a chance with you."

When the morning came, Aaryn woke up to find herself in Jake's arms. "Um… okay. Uh… Jake. It's time to get up." She struggled to get out of his grasp. "Dude! I'm stuck. Come on! Jake. Wake up!" When she looked at him, she saw him smiling. "Give it up, dude. I know you're awake. I can see you smiling."

"Alright! Alright! You caught me! Now, come on! Let's get some breakfast!" He said laughing, as he grabbed Aaryn's hand, and ran downstairs, where he then gave her a piggyback ride to the kitchen. "Jake! Aaryn! You're going to be late for school! Thank goodness you're already dressed!" Jane said as she gave Jake our book bags, and shoved a piece of toast in our mouths. "Now go!" Jake had run all the way to school with Aaryn on his back. It wasn't like the school was very far though, it was only a street away.

Once again at lunch, the three friends found each other and ate together, but something was off for Aaryn. Everything she ate tasted weird, but she saw Brea and Jake eating the same thing as normal. "Hey… is it just me, or does today's lunch taste weird?" Aaryn asked.

"Just you." They both replied. "It tastes the same as it did yesterday and the day before that," Brea added. Just then a strange wave of nausea went through Aaryn, as she ran to the closest bathroom. "Did she just-"

Brea started. "Just run into the men's room? Yeah. Yeah, she did."

"Should you-"

"Yeah. I'm going."

With that, he ran into the bathroom to find Aaryn. "Ryn? You good?"

"Nice job dude!" Some random guy said as he walked out. Aaryn had come out of the stall wiping her mouth. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You ran so quick into the men's bathroom."

"I had an upset stomach, but I'm fine now, and just need to get out of here."

As they walked out, so many people were staring. "Here, let's go get some ice cream," Jake said, noticing how uncomfortable Aaryn was feeling. "Y-yeah, I think I see Brea over there already too." As they walked over, people weren't just staring, they were whispering too. Aaryn went to sit with Brea as Jake went to get ice cream. "So. How ya feelin'?" Brea asked, with a smirk.

"You too? I'm fine! Really!" Aaryn replied.

"So, what's the real deal between you and Jake, huh?"

"What do you mean, Brea?"

"Are you two finally together, or what? Spill it!"

"Woah! No! We're just friends…"

"But you like him, right?"

"Only since 6th grade, but-"

"Nah uh. No buts! It's clear that you two are made for each other! You need need to ask him to the dance, like now!"

Brea got up from her seat, walked over to Aaryn. She then grabbed Aaryn by the shoulders and flipped her around in the direction of Jake. "Go get him Ryn. I'll be rooting for you all the way!" Aaryn started to sheepishly walk towards Jake. "Hey, Jake… I know this is sudden and random, but would you maybe… wanna… go to the-" Aaryn had been cut off by Carrie walking up to Jake saying "Hey baby! Ready for the dance tomorrow?" With that, Aaryn felt her heart drop. "Oh… never mind." She said as she ran past Jake and Carrie. Brea stopped her a second to ask what was wrong, but Aaryn responded "I-I just need some fresh air that's all." And continued to run outside. "Jake! What the hell is going on?!" Carrie yelled. "Are you cheating on me with that little cry baby?"

Jake had enough of this. "You know what, Carrie? You and I were never together in the first place! I'm not going to the dance with you. And go ahead and tell anyone whatever you want. I'm done!" With that, he started running after Aaryn, and Brea followed while flipping the bird to Carrie and sticking her tongue out.

The two followed Aaryn into the woods by the school when Aaryn had to stop and catch her breath. "Oh no," Aaryn said as she felt a ball forming in her throat. She then hunched over a log she had stopped by, and let out whatever else she had in her stomach. When Jake and Brea had gotten there, Brea started to gag as Jake held back Aaryn's hair. "Oh Brea, please. It's not that bad." Jake said as he helped Aaryn back up. "You know how I am when it comes down to someone puking! It totally grosses me out!" Brea responded, crossing her arms.

All of a sudden, these bees that looked as if they were tiny, yellow men with hard hats, antennas, and bee wings appeared out of nowhere. "Hey!" One of them said sounding as if he had just sucked a balloon of helium. "Who puked on our hive?!"

"Um… it was an accident. We're truly sorry." Brea said though she was completely weirded out by the whole situation.

"Well 'sorry' ain't gonna cut it. Get 'em boys!" The bee said as the whole hive started chasing the three friends. As they were running, there was a sudden burst of what felt like a magical barrier had just been passed through. The three saw a huge house on a small field and knocked on the door. Quickly, a man had grabbed them and brought them inside. "Who are you, and what are you doing in my-" a random elderly woman started. "Nikko? I-is that you?" The woman asked as she reached out, and stroked Aaryn's cheeks. "No no… that can't be right." Said the man who had brought the three in the house. "If this child was Nikko, she would be much older, mother. She'd at least be 30."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but my name is Aaryn."

"Aaryn?!" They both said at the same time. The man and older woman looked at each other, then back at Aaryn, and once again to each other in complete astonishment. "Do… you two know her?" Brea piped in. "O-of course!" The woman said. "I'm Bailey Railwood, and you, child, must be my grandchild."

"Yay! Ryn finally found family!" Jake said, wrapping his arms around Aaryn from behind, and resting his chin on her shoulder. "Yeah! Not that this isn't great, but… what about those terrifyingly strange bees out there?" Brea said as she pointed out the window to the whole swarm of bees who started to head for the house. "Oh, don't worry dear. They'll die instantly as soon as they touch the house. My son, Percy, here pulled the barrier against the house." Bailey said as she pointed to the man.

"Mother. I think you should talk to Aaryn about the whole…" Percy then moved his hands in a way that looked as if he were rolling an invisible ball between them. "Yes, yes. Very well. Come with me, children. There is much to tell you. Indulge me in a walk." She chuckled as she walked towards the back door. The three follow her in complete confusion.

"You're with child, aren't you dear?" Bailey said, glancing at Aaryn.

"No… how could I be?" Aaryn replied.

"Have you ever kissed someone?"

"Only on the cheek…" Aaryn said as she looked at her friends. "Were you ever kissed by this person?"

"N-" Aaryn was cut off before she could even answer.

"Yes! Actually…" Jake said.

"When was this?" Brea and Aaryn said at the same time. Brea had a huge smile as she nudged Aaryn's arm.

"It doesn't matter when." Bailey continued. "Because of our family curse, you both will be parents soon."

"It was just a kiss on her forehead when she fell asleep!" Jake said, with cheeks redder than a tomato.

"Jake… that doesn't help…" Brea said as she laughed and walked faster to catch up to Aaryn. "There is a problem though…" Bailey said as she stopped walking entirely. "That unborn child will cause chaos until the day she is born." Bailey pointed to Aaryn's stomach with a worried look.

All of a sudden, there was a big crash. When they looked in the direction of the crash, there was smoke coming from the top of the trees. "The Wilbur house!" Percy yelled as he picked Bailey up, and bolted past the three of them as if he wanted them to follow.

When the three caught up to the house, a child was yelling for help from her upstairs window. "I have to go save her!" Brea yelled as she ran into the burning house. "No!" Aaryn yelled as Jake pulled her back. "Let me go! We have to save her!"

"She'll be fine!" Jake exclaimed as he struggled to hold Aaryn back. Everything faded to black in Aaryn's mind. She then stopped struggling to be free and stood straight up. As Jake released her, she started walking towards the burning house. "I will NOT let this child bring destruction upon others!" Aaryn started muttering what sounded like an incantation that proceeded to get louder and clearer until the flames stopped entirely. When the flames were gone, Aaryn collapsed to the ground and Jake ran towards her. As Jake helped her up, Brea emerged from the house with the little girl completely unharmed in any way. One of the children came up to Aaryn and said "you are a witch like the old lady down the street."

Before Aaryn could respond, Bailey walked up and gently placed her hand on the child's shoulder. "We are so much more than that, little one." Bailey smiled at the child then glanced over to Jake and Aaryn with a different smile. One that sent warmth through to the soul.

For the next couple of months, the three had contacted their parents and told them what was going on, though Brea's parents were the only ones to deny the request for her stay at the Railwood manor. Aaryn's moms were against it at first, but came to join them in living and getting to know the Railwoods. They all also helped rebuild the house that had caught on fire, and Aaryn learned not only to control but use her powers.

"Jake?" Aaryn asked as the two walked together in a grass field. "Yeah?" Jake replied.

"Why didn't you ever tell me you liked me?"

"Well... Two things. One, I actually did, but you were asleep when I told you. And two, I was going to ask you out before all the craziness happened."

At that time, he placed his hand on Aaryn's cheek and kissed her. She blushed so hard it caused the grass to glow enchanting colors.

"Man!" Jake continued. "Our child is going to have an amazing mom!"

They both laughed as they started walking back to the manor.