The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

the Wizard of Oz as he backs toward the curtain entrance of the ride.
     
    I step in first, since I’ve been on such a roll lately.  “Who’s the Wicked Witch?”
     
    “I think I’ll let him explain it to you.” Luke looks at Kayden before ducking through the curtain into the entrance of the ride.
     
    I glance over my shoulder at Kayden. “What’s he talking about?”
     
    Kayden shrugs as he closes the gate. “Luke’s excited that Daisy and I broke up.”
     
    “Oh.” I try not to smile and finally have to bite down on my bottom lip, hard. “I’m sorry.”
     
    “Don’t be sorry.” He reaches his arm over my shoulder and draws back the curtain for me. “It really isn’t that big of a deal.”
     
    It seems like it should be. They’ve been dating forever, but he appears really content.
     
    I lower my head and step into the ride, holding my breath as the curtains brush against the top of my hair. It’s nearly pitch black and the sounds of screams and soft music envelop around me.
     
    “Where are you?” I hiss with my hands out in front of me, my elbows locked. “Hello?”
     
    A lighter flickers and then Luke’s face appears above the flame. “There we go.”
     
    Seth strolls up next to me, just a shadow in the dark, and thrums his fingers together in front of him. “Oh, are we going to do a séance?”
     
    Luke looks at Seth like he’s nuts as Kayden moves up on the other side of me. I’m very aware of his nearness and the smell of his cologne. It makes me nervous, yet excited at the endless possibilities.
     
    “So, what’s the ingenious plan?” Kayden asks, his breath flowing across the back of my head. “Are we going to trash the place?”
     
    “We’re going to—” The lighter falls from Luke’s hand and darkness takes over. “Ah, fuck! That’s hot.”
     
    Seconds tick by and then Seth turns on the screen of his cell phone, which casts a blue glow over our faces. Luke nods as he picks up his lighter and drops it into the pocket of the hoodie, taking out his own cell phone to use for a light. He dips his hand into his other pocket and draws out a bottle filled with a golden liquid.
     
    “Tequila? Where the hell did you get that?” Kayden’s fingers brush the lower section of my back, and I stifle a gasp clawing at my throat.
     
    “I bought it off one of the Carnies.” He unscrews the cap and sniffs the inside of the bottle, pulling a thoughtful face. “Alright, who’s ready to get this party started?’
     
    Seth’s gaze skims over the three of us. “What kind of party are we talking about? Because honestly, I was trying to work something back at the ticket booth, but got a little distracted by the bear.”
     
    “Really,” I ask excitedly and he nods with pressing eyes.
     
    I want to hug him, but I’ll save it for later when he can give me the details.  Seth hasn’t dated anyone since Braiden and I hope he’s ready to finally move on.
     
    Luke takes a swig from the bottle and his shoulders twitch as he swallows it. “I want to do a challenge.”
     
    “No challenges tonight,” Kayden grimaces, but there’s a hint of amusement in his voice. “We have practice early in the morning and challenges always end in pain.”
     
    My head snaps toward him. “Pain?”
     
    “Good God,” Seth says with a dramatic sigh. “Please explain what this challenge thing is.”
     
    “It’s a long story.” Kayden waves us off with his hand and faces Luke. “Just know that you don’t want to do it.”
     
    “You’re just pissed off because you lost last time,” Luke says in a taunting tone. “Besides, I bet Callie would totally be into it. She seems tough for a tiny girl.”
     
    “Hey,” I start to protest as Luke takes another mouthful. “I’m not that tiny.”
     
    Kayden pinches my side and I flinch. “Actually, you are really tiny, but it’s cute.”
     
    I cross my arms over my chest and inhale quietly, uncertain how to respond.
     
    “Relax, Callie,” Kayden says, looking a little remorseful. “Now, if you want to do the challenge we can, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
     
    I’ve never been much of a curious person. I just did what I had to and stuck to myself, at least since my twelfth birthday, but curiosity sparkles inside me.
     
    “I am kind of curious to see what your challenges are,” I say and Kayden seems extremely pleased, the corners of his lips quirking as he struggles not to smile, even though he’d just been