Time Cursed

  * * *

  Arlana, Karyn, and Luke were having a great day at the Boardwalk. They had met up with Luke in the morning, had breakfast, and then gone on several rides. They decided to take a break from the rides and they bought some popcorn, funnel cake, and sodas. Arlana spotted a picnic table to rest at while they ate. Luke was trying to catch the popcorn in his mouth but kept missing. Arlana laughed at his attempts and was then assaulted by an oncoming flow of popcorn.

  “Hey cut that out! You are wasting a lot of food there with that aim.” Arlana said half talking half laughing.

  “It doesn't seem my aim’s too bad now,” Luke snickered as he continued to pelt popcorn into Arlana's hair.

  “Hey, she's right, I'm hungry. Stop throwing my snack away!” Karyn grabbed the popcorn out of Luke's hands and started stuffing her mouth with it.

  Arlana picked some of the popcorn off the table and started throwing it at Luke.

  Luke put his hands up in the air, “I surrender! I come in peace. Here, let me get some of that popcorn out of your hair before it gets tangled up in your curls.”

  Arlana ceased fire. Luke stood up and moved to her side of the table. He sat down beside Arlana and gently picked the popcorn out of her hair.

  “Wow, maybe you don't have bad aim, I didn't realize there was that much on me.”

  “I'm sorry; it was fun for the moment though wasn't it?”

  “Fun for you,” Arlana harrumphed.

  “Your hair is so soft,” Luke said as he finished, he smoothed his hand down her hair one more time and then walked back to sit by Karyn.

  Karyn had just been sitting there staring at them. She was very quiet, which was out of character for her.

  “Is everything ok Karyn?” Arlana reached over and put her hand on her friend’s hand.

  “Oh, yeah. It's nothing. I um, I was just thinking how lucky we are that we haven't run into Derek today.”

  “Let me tell you guys, it was horrible sharing a room with him. First off, I can't stand the guy. Second, after what he did to Aria, it was pure torture! He kept telling me that what happened with Jillian was a mistake that she came on to him. And by the way Aria, he wants me to put in a good word for him to you.”

  “And what was your response to that Luke?” Karyn asked.

  “Well when he first started talking I just tried to ignore him, but when he said that I just burst out laughing. The nerve of the guy! I couldn't believe he would say that, especially to me.”

  “Well, even if it was some kind of mistake,” Arlana rolled her eyes, “I don't think I would still be with him anyways, even if nothing had happened.”

  “Really, why is that?” Luke asked leaning in closer to Arlana.

  “There was just nothing there, between us. I think he just wanted to date me because of the way I look or something, which seems totally weird to me. There was no depth to our relationship, when we kissed there was no spark, not like I had imagined my first kiss with someone to be.”

  Luke's eyes widened with surprise and Karyn flinched a little taking in Luke's response. Arlana was confused by their reactions to what she was saying.

  “Let's find some more rides to go on, I don't want to talk about Derek anymore if it's ok with you two.”

  “Of course, I'm sorry Aria, let's go have some fun!” Luke grabbed Aria's hand in his and squeezed it.

  Karyn held out her hand to Luke, “What about me?”

  He smiled at her, “Of course.”

  They walked off together holding hands. “What ride do you want to go on next?” Arlana asked.

  “I was actually thinking maybe we could all go get matching tattoos,” Karyn said with enthusiasm.

  “No!” Arlana and Luke responded in unison with equal enthusiasm. Karyn laughed.