Page 46 of Betting on the Brainiac

“Excusemefor trying to help,” I say, flopping down in a chair. “I didn’t realize asking you to mix up potions in your beakers would be such a big deal.”

“Potions? Am I a witch now?” Ava asks, her voice mild.

I straighten, grinning. “That’s it! A witch. I bet Stella would know a good ritual for this, something Ruby could do that would help her feel more . . . done?”

“She loves traditions, and traditions are a form of ritual,” Sami says. “A breakup ritual isn’t a bad idea.”

Josh flips the omelet in his pan. “Stella is a witch?”

Stella lives on the other side of the pool and three doors down.

“She’s a professor of women’s studies at UT, and she did her dissertation on gender and witchcraft,” I explain. “She doesn’thave a broomstick or anything, but she’ll tell you that there’s science to back up some of the claims made by what cultures have historically called witchcraft.”

“You should ask her about it next time you see her around, Josh,” Ava tells him. “It’s pretty fascinating.”

“You also believe in witchcraft?” Josh asks this cautiously, like he’s wondering if he’s wandered into a coven that might turn on him.

“Of course not,” Ava says. “But a lot of native healing practices and herblore does have solid science backing it. Like aspirin. Native Americans discovered it. It comes in childproof bottles now, but they used to brew it from the bark of a willow tree.”

“The way Stella puts it,” Sami adds, “witchcraft is often the name that people give to things that work when they don’t understand why.”

“We should burn you as a witch,” I tell Ava.

“Because I understand science?”

“Because you have red hair, duh.”

“Facts,” Josh says, setting an omelet in front of me. “What are you contributing to this Ruby recovery plan, Madison?”

I take a bite and consider this. I could drag Ruby out for a night on the town and make her have fun against her will. But even when she’s in a good place, “going out” isn’t her first choice. However, my specialtyisbringing the party, so that’s what we’ll do.

“Sam-Sam, your birthday is Wednesday, yes?”

Sami nods. “It is.”

“Do you have a show tonight?”

“No,” she says more carefully as she realizes I have a point.

“How about we have a movie party?” I ask. “Ruby won’t do it if we propose it for no reason, but if we tell her it’s a birthday thing for you . . .”

Ava shakes her head. “She’s not going to be in the mood.”

“I know. But I think we’ve been enabling her.” I point my fork at Ava to emphasize my next point. “She needs to remember that not only is it possible to have a good day without Niles, any day is better without Niles.”

“Truth,” Sami says.

“So we can hijack your birthday for a worthy cause?” I ask.

“Do it.”

“Yes! We’ll save Stella for next weekend if Ruby isn’t showing signs of improvement. Today, we party. Oh, except I’m working at the store until 4:00, so let’s make it ‘tonight we party.’ Does that work?”

When they all agree to give it a shot, I clap my hands. “Good. Now let me eat my omelet in peace while I meditate on these party plans.”

“We should probably invite Charlie,” Ava says.

This immediately gives me another good idea. “Oooh, ask if she cares if we invite Oliver too. Hint that it was my idea, and if she thinks I’m interested in him, it might make her forget about Niles for a while.”

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