The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

jumps in between us. I question if she was thinking back to that night that she saved me or if she’s the kind of girl that just wants to save everyone.
     
    I want to comfort her so I do something I shouldn’t. I put an arm around her shoulder and her muscles constrict so tightly that I worry she’s going to crumble to the ground.  It’s different from the cliff because there are no excuses, yet she lets me hold her like that until we get into the club, then she quickly steps away as the music and smoke engulf us.
     
    “It’s so loud in here,” she remarks, as she gapes at the people dancing in the middle of the room, writhing their hips, and pressing their sweaty bodies together. Neon lights flash across their horny faces and it’s practically like watching porn. 
     
    It’s a little much even for Luke and me, but we still go search the room for a vacant table, pushing our way through the mob of people. Seth and Luke instantly light up once we’re settled in a corner booth.
     
    “I’ll go get the drinks,” Luke says sliding toward the end of the seat. “Since I’m the only one with an ID, unless you have yours on you.”
     
    “I told you my dad found it while we were packing up my stuff.” I pick up the menu that’s in the middle of the table. “He cut it up.”
     
    From across the table, Callie peers up at me. I flip open my menu to avoid her penetrating gaze. “What do we want to order? Should we get an appetizer or something?”
     
    “I have to use the little girl’s room,” Seth announces and Callie giggles at him. “Come with me Callie.”
     
    She takes his hand and follows him without even questioning. It leaves me scratching my head. She trusts him so much and everyone else so little. For a brief moment, I picture what it would be like for someone like her to trust me, but I have too many twisted secrets locked away inside me for that to ever happen.
     
     
     
     
     
    Callie
     
    “Holy Jesus.” Once we’re inside the restroom, Seth whirls around and places his hands on his hips. “That was ridiculously sexy.”
     
    I turn on the faucet and place my hands underneath the warm water. “What was?”
     
    He walks up beside me, capturing my gaze as he clears his throat accusingly. “The way he stepped up to save us.”
     
    I shut off the water and wave my hand in front of the paper towel device. “It was very nice of him.”
     
    “Callie Lawrence, you let him put his arm around you,” he states. “It was more than nice for you. God, I’m so jealous.”
     
    I grab a paper towel and run it along my hands. “He made me feel safe for a minute,” I admit, tossing the towel into the trashcan.
     
     “And that’s a big step for you,” he says.
     
    I nod my head an excessive amount of times. “I know it is.”
     
    His lips spread to a massive grin. “Should we go out and have some fun?”
     
    One of the stall doors swings open and a fortyish-year-old woman walks out tucking her shirt into her jeans.  Her heavy lined eyes land on Seth. “This is the women’s restroom.” She points a finger at the door. “Can’t you read?”
     
    “Can’t you see that everyone in this club is about twenty years younger than you?” Seth retorts, turning to the mirror. With his pinkie, he messes with his bangs. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to have some fun.”
     
    He grabs my arm and I offer the woman an apologetic smile before stumbling over my own feet as I hurry to keep up with Seth. He bangs his hand against the door and shoves it open, moving us to the outside. The smoke and noise instantly shatter around me as his fingers leave my arm.
     
    “Can you believe her,” he says, patting his pocket for his cigarettes. “What a bitch!”
     
    I don’t argue with him. He has a thing with being treated as an equal.  “I think you left your cigarettes at the table,” I tell him.
     
    We wind our way around the dance floor where an erotic song is playing. People have their hands all over each other, skin to skin, and watching it gives me a headache.
     
    At the table, there are four shot glasses filled with clear liquid. Alongside each shot is a taller cup full of a brownish liquid with a lemon slice floating on the top.
     
    “I didn’t know what everyone wanted to drink,” Luke explains as Seth lifts the shot to eyelevel and peers through the distorted glass. “So I just ordered vodka shots and Long Island Iced Teas. So we have intense and