The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

you’re depressed.” Luke pulls open the dresser drawer and searches through his shirts, finally selecting a long-sleeved one. “Over someone who I can’t mention or else you’re going to look at me like you want to kill me.”
     
    I run my fingers through my hair. “That’s such a fucking lie.”
     
    He loops a belt through his jeans with an exaggerated eye widening. “We should just walk, right? That way, no one will have to be responsible for driving back.”
     
    “You do realize the party is three blocks down at Campus Habitat. We’d be stupid to drive.”
     
    “I thought it was at one of the apartments farther down?”
     
    I check my messages and then hold down the side button, locking the screen. “Nope, it’s only a few streets over from this one.”
     
    He grabs his jacket off the back of the computer chair. “That makes the DD situation even better.”
     
    We lock up and head outside. It’s late, the stars are out, and the lampposts gleam against the concrete. There are a group of girls in tight dresses and high heels, traveling in the same direction we are.
     
    We end up behind them and Luke’s wheels are turning as he eyes the tallest one’s ass. “I think a challenge would be lovely right about now.”
     
    “Or you could just go hit on her. That always works, too.”
     
    “Only when you’re my wing man.” He glances at me, testing my reaction. “What do you think?”
     
    I shrug, even though I don’t want to. “I can go up there with you.”
     
    He rolls his eyes. “Alright, if that’s the way you want to be.”
     
    We strut up to the girls and Luke starts making conversation with the girl he was checking out. A shorter one with blond curls, wearing a red dress, starts talking to me, but I barely hear her. I’m preoccupied by thoughts of Callie and what I’d be doing if I were actually with her.
     
    “I’d definitely not be going to a party,” I mutter to myself. “That’s for sure.”
     
    The girl that’s been chatting to me blinks confusedly. “What?”
     
    “It’s a really nice night,” I say and she laughs, but her eyebrows knit.
     
    There’s a lot of noise coming from the hot tub that’s around the side of the three-story apartment that the party is taking place at. I hold the door open for everyone to walk in.
     
    Luke is making a joke as he enters and the other two girls walk in behind him, whispering and giggling to each other. It’s annoying me to no end, and by the time I’m knocking my fist against the door, I can’t wait to get inside and ditch them.
     
    One of the members of the football team, Ben, is throwing the party. He’s a nice guy, although I don’t really know him. When he swings the door open, however, it would appear that we’re best friends.
     
    “Kayden, man.” He sticks out his hand to pound fists.
     
    I bump mine against his and arch my eyebrows. “Hey, man.”
     
    He looks over my shoulder at Luke and the girls. “You brought guests.” Grinning, he steps aside so we can come in.
     
    The apartment is much bigger than my dorm.  Music plays from the stereo and there’s a foldup table in the corner where a poker game is going on. Alcohol bottles line the counter inside the kitchen, along with cups, chips, and a bunch of other food. In between the couches a horde of people are dancing.
     
    My eyes zero in on a girl with her brown hair pulled up in a clip, wearing black jeans with a pair of lace up boots and a purple tank top. She’s talking with a guy, laughing and shaking her ass as she really gets into the music.
     
    “Callie.” No matter how many times I blink, it doesn’t seem real.
     
    “Do you want to get a drink?” The girl I walked in with coils her hair around her finger as she gazes up at me, biting her bottom lip.
     
    I shake my head and my attention returns to Callie. “Maybe in a minute.”
     
    She’s dancing with Seth, who’s really getting into the music as they shout out the lyrics with the crowd and then laugh, raising their hands in the air.
     
    “What are they doing here?” Luke wonders as he steps up beside me. “This doesn’t seem like their scene.”
     
    Seth notices us and leans forward to say something in Callie’s ear. She turns her head and looks at us. Her face lights up and she weaves around people toward me with Seth at her heels. For a second, I wonder if I’ve fallen asleep and this is all a dream because she looks really happy to see me.
     
    When she