Page 42 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

There were more challenges to come, but I knew we eventually would give up and sit somewhere to rest. The scavenger hunt always started like that, going strong at first and then the groups went home one by one.

Turned out, bragging rights wasn’t enough of a prize.

Relaxed, we walked up the hill. There was a park where Statham University usually held outside events. Today, we knew the other teams were gathering for a couple of drinks between challenges. It was the same every year, another reason teams forgot to keep playing the scavenger hunt.

Pretty Shining Peopleby George Ezra poured from the speakers as we went up to find a massive group partying. Beers were all around, and it didn’t take long for us to drink as well. We met other groups and shared our horrible stories of carol singing. The trees were illuminated with fairy lights, a bonfire right to the side as people danced and talked.

“Oh, it’s a good one,” Aisha said to the side.

“What’s a good one?” Jason sipped his beer.

“The next challenge.” She paused dramatically. “Kiss your best friend.”

It wasn’t an unheard of challenge. A kiss challenge always made the list.

“That’s an easy one.” Maddie rolled her eyes. “Come on, Aisha, let’s smooch, girl. Who’s going to take the picture?”

I was fishing the phone from my pocket when Jason said, “I can kiss Nick too.”

Nick scoffed. “No you can’t.”

“It would give us extra points.” He weirdly insisted.

“Would it?” I asked from my position behind the camera. “Where is that in the rule book? If same sex kiss will give extra points, just let the girls do it.”

“He’s right.” Aisha agreed. “You just want to kiss Nick.”

“I just think it will give us extra points. And since it’s obvious, I have to win…”

“Since when do we have to win?” Maddie wanted to know.

“Since Catalina.” He replied quickly, making us all roll our eyes.

“AmIyour best friend?” asked Nick, concerned.

Jason was exasperated. “Who the fuck else??”

“I don’t know? King?” Nick looked troubled that Jason saw through his grumpy mood enough to consider him a best friend.

Jay waved him off. “King is Maddie’s…”

And they all stopped. All stopped to look at Maddie and then me. Maddie let a hiccup out and I shook my head. “Just let Maddie and Ai…”

But Aisha was tsking. “I think it’s a great idea. People would lose their minds.”

“People who?” I wanted to know.

“People.” She lifted a shoulder. “Come on, everyone talks about you two. You are about to break Statham.”

“I don’t think…” I couldn’t think of a reason to refuse. Maddie and I were best friends, the same way that any combination would work in our group. Still, the need to come up with an excuse was strong. “We don’t need to break Statham.” I argued weakly.

“Yes, we do!” Jason was reinvigorated. “If King and Maddie kiss, we win.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “No one cares about winning but you. And you still haven’t…”

“Let’s just do it, Z.” Maddie rubbed her temple and stepped closer to me.

“This is silly.” My throat closed up.

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