The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

us.
     
    Seth pops up from the rock, stretching his arm in the air with the flashlight in his hand. “I got it.”
     
    “Maybe you should come down,” I advise. “I’m worried you’re going to fall.”
     
    “Only after you tag the rock.” He flips on the flashlight and the glow illuminates across the writing behind him. “Now come on.”
     
    I trek up to the rock, roll up the sleeves on Kayden’s shirt, and place my hands onto the nearest ridge. Tilting my chin, I look up at the top as I bend my knee and brace it on a lower rock. Bouncing up and down on my toes, I prepare to climb up, but I hear someone move up behind me.
     
    “Let me help you,” Kayden whispers in my ear, and for the first time in my life I actually shiver from the nearness of a guy.
     
    “Okay.” Since I’ve never been drunk before, I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol relaxing me or what, but even when he places his hands onto my hips, I’m okay. In fact, I’m more than okay.
     
    With the guidance of his hands, I stretch my body out and reach up to the next ledge. The rock is rough like sandpaper against my palms as I drag myself up and Kayden’s hands slide down my back as he pushes me higher. Swinging my leg up, he gives me one last shove by cupping my butt, before pulling away.
     
    My eyes widen as I roll on top of the ledge and stare up at the sky. The spots on my skin where he touched me tingle and a shiver courses through my body.
     
    Seth appears above me, the silver bolts of lightning reflecting in his eyes. “Are you okay?”
     
    I flip over onto my stomach and use my hands to push myself to my feet. “I’m okay. No scrapes or cuts.”
     
    He beams the flashlight below his chin. It illuminates his face and causes his eyes to look like coals. “I wasn’t talking about the climb. I was talking about the fact that he just grabbed your ass.”
     
    “You saw that?”
     
    “Of course I saw that. He basically just groped you.”
     
    I place my hands on my hips and pace the length of the narrow cliff, kicking up dirt with the bottom of my sneakers. “I’m okay. Really. In fact, I feel more than okay.”
     
    “I think that might be the alcohol talking.” Seth holds out the spray can.
     
    “You think?” I take it from him and shake it.
     
    He nods guiltily. “I think just a little bit. I just hope you don’t have an oh my God moment when you wake up tomorrow morning.”
     
    “I’ll be okay. This is the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.” Walking toward the rock, I consider what to write. I read along the vague words of wisdom others have written and the declarations of love.
     
    “Jesus, it’s high up here,” Luke declares as he hoists himself over the edge. He gets to his feet and peers over the cliff, popping his knuckles.  “I’m not a fan of heights.”
     
    “Me neither,” I tell him as Kayden ascends over the top, dragging himself up with his arms, and then he lies on his stomach. Panting, he rolls onto his back. “Yeah, I remember,” he says, turning his head toward me and grinning.
     
    I target the nozzle at a bare spot on the rock. As I press down on the top, I pretend I’m an artist tracing the most beautiful painting, the lines blending together to put everything into meaning. When I’m finished, I step back, breathing in the air, which is potent with paint fumes.
     
    Kayden moves up next to me and drapes his arm around my shoulder. “ In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one .” He looks at me. “I’m impressed.”
     
    I hand him the paint can and his fingers graze my knuckles. “I actually wrote that a while ago.” I lower my voice and lean in. “Right after that night at the pool house.”
     
    His expression plummets as his hand drops from my shoulder. He tosses Luke the can. “We should get going or the cab driver will leave our sorry asses and there’s no way I’m walking back.”
     
    My mood sinks as I realize that what I said upset him. As I watch him climb down, I feel my happy night drift away to the sky and the lightning.
     
    ***
     
    When we return back to the dorms, Kayden leaves without saying good-bye. It hurts inside and confuses me to no end.
     
    “What happened between you two?” Seth asks as I swipe my card and open the door to my residence hall.
     
    I shrug as I step inside. “I think it’s because I brought up the pool house. I don’t even