Boy Wonder

Who is Caleb James? If you say Cameron's little brother my eyes might get stuck in the back of my head while I roll them. I don't really know who Caleb James is besides a professional BAMF, but when I figure it out you'll be the first to know.

[queen-tinsley]

"Baby, you've been with me for how many years now? Drama queen is basically my middle name. You more than anyone know that." Brooklyn laughed, as she made no excuses for her flair for the dramatics. In fact, she liked to think more people should follow in her lead. Perhaps maybe then, some of their peers wouldn't be absolute bores. "Have you?" She asked him, happy to hear that he'd been enjoying his time with his new sister in law. "So that means, we'll be checking in." The blonde pointed between the two of them. "That's not too intimidating, right? I mean, yeah, we're... us but I like to think she can handle us. It's not like she isn't already family so what's she got to worry about?" Brooklyn said, with a playful roll of her eyes. "That sounds like the plan. You sure you don't want to check out the festivities? I wouldn't dare risk the ire of your adoring fans if they don't get to see that handsome face." She began, as she stepped closer to him to drape her arms around his neck.

[caleb-j]

"Some would say too long, but that's the jealous population so I'd say long enough to know better." Caleb winked, effortlessly charming as always. He nodded in the affirmative, it was time for him to flex his brother in law muscles and he was happy to have Brook be by his side because one day they would all be actual family in a few years (Cam really stole the thunder out from under him on that one, but Caleb wasn't too raw since Cameron was older). He raised an eyebrow, "I mean we could, but mentally I'm still in the back of the cruiser."

[queen-tinsley]

Brooklyn began laughing as he explained why he thought of his brother as a koala as opposed to a teddy bear as she very much saw Cameron as. "You know, I had no clue you knew so much about koalas. Not me having my very own Robert Irwin at home." She teased her boyfriend, as the sounds of the carnival were no longer as faint as they'd been just moments ago. "Uhm..." She tapped at her chin. "I don't dislike her. She's really pretty and she's always been nice to me. I really should try to get to know her more, now that I think of it." Brooklyn came to the realization that Marnie and herself had only ever really interacted at Cameron's games and even then, it was very in passing. But she was a member of the James' family now... hell, even more so than she was so she did need to get to know her. "Damn right, baby."

[caleb-j]

"One fact about Koalas and I'm the heir apparent to the crocodile hunter legacy? You, my dear are a drama queen." Caleb loved Brooklyn more than he'd ever loved someone outside of his family, but that didn't stop him from making cracks at her before and it wasn't going to stop now, "She's pretty reserved but once she's comfortable enough she's pretty cool, I've seen it here and there. I'm glad you said that because I plan on checking in when she's around. They have a place here and in New York so I don't know how much she's actually planning on being here in the next few months. She's smart as fuck, like if I were the type to be intimidated, I would be." Their destination was in sight so Caleb stopped, "So you do your victory lap and then I'll meet you back here and we go home? Is that the plan?"

[queen-tinsley]

"So crazy." She said, rolling her eyes much like he'd done before taking a hold of both his hands as she led the way back. "A koala bear? Why do you say that?" Brooklyn laughed, not quite catching the correlation between his sibling and the Australian bear. "You mean to tell me she's not already impressed?" She asked him, furrowing her eyebrows. "Her husband is a NHL player, I think she managed to pull one of the better guys around here. I mean, he's still no you but he's pretty great as well." Brooklyn said, as she leaned over to press a kiss to the edge of his lips. "You kid, but don't underestimate the power of this former Miss Strawberry. She has quite a bit of pull."

[caleb-j]

"Yeah because you think they're all cute and cuddly but really those fuckers are vicious when they want to be. So you can't be fooled by the cute." Caleb shrugged, "She better be, she married him nah I'm sure she is, he's just anxious about like everything, you know that. "What do you think of her?" Caleb asked, the beginning of his older brother's marriage took the whole family by surprise by virtue of him leaving town single and coming back married, but there wasn't a divorce or an annulment for that matter, and Caleb saw that his older brother was in love so that accounted for a lot, even though he couldn't say he saw a women like Marnie for his brother. "Oh baby, only a fool would underestimate you."

[queen-tinsley]

"No, ours." Brooklyn furrowed her eyebrows in his direction. "I do believe you happen to be Calvin James' son, correct? And I do think that comes with it's own set of responsibilities, no? Like, making sure no cats end up in trees and making sure all the seniors here have your arm when crossing the street." She said, teasingly but she had to admit that she found his family's reputation in their town to be quite adorable. It was certainly a lot more admirable than that of hers. "Already? We quite literally just got him back." Brooklyn said, with a small pout. You wouldn't believe it given the vast difference in their personalities and interests, but she genuinely enjoyed Cameron's presence. He was like a big teddy bear. "Playoffs literally ended in June, that's not okay."

[caleb-j]

"Yeah, I just so happen to be, crazy huh?" Caleb rolled his eyes, "You treat him like he's a teddy bear but he's more like a koala, don't let the dad energy fool you." He nodded, "I know, and he'll hell bent on getting to the playoffs again this year. I think he wants to impress wifey because what else does he have left to prove?" Caleb got it though, wanting to be the best he could be. Caleb had the same drive only it didn't apply to sports. "But if you wanted to write a strongly worded email to the president of the NHL I think the former queen of the strawberry social just might move he needle, Brooklyn."

[bigassbowlingballhead]

[queen-tinsley]

"It really isn't," Brooklyn grinned against his lips, peppering a couple of more kisses over his features. "I suppose that's something we can figure out," She let him know, as her lips traveled towards his ear. "how about, right after the winners walk?" The blonde suggested, before taking his earlobe between his lips. "I mean, you're already out dressing about every guy here, so the hair only makes it so that they can't even catch up." She let Caleb know, grabbing his hand so that he'd be able to hold her phone's screen up to her so she could quickly fix herself up. "I'm going, I am." Brooklyn began to climb out of the car. "Come on, let's go do our civic duty." She held her hand out towards him.

[caleb-j]

"How about it. I guess I can wait a little bit longer" He told her while enjoying the feeling of her lips against his ear. Afterwards, he held the phone still, knowing the routine, and couldn't resist giving himself a look before he locked her phone and handed it back over to the blond. "Your civic duty." He clarified while he locked the car's door then took her hand, "Oh put Cam's going away dinner on your calendar for the end of the month, NHL season starts soon so we're not gonna see him much outside of the rink for a while soon."

[queen-tinsley]

It was in those small moments that Brooklyn found herself, falling all that much more deeper for the man's whose lap she currently straddled. He cared for her so much. And that was the least you could ask from your partner, but she had never once felt anything other than that from Caleb. If you asked her, she'd truly won. Her boyfriend was not only a complete babe, but he was also as cunning as she was. And he loved her so much, she couldn't help but lean forward and press another lasting kiss to his lips. Miss Strawberry be damned. She was perfectly happy with where she found herself, even if it was starting to get a bit steamy. That early August heat was nothing to play with. "Okay, okay. Enough." She said, as she pulled away from him. More as a reminder for herself than anything else. "The Charlotte Tilsbury, huh? It is pretty makeout proof, but the Dior was such a pretty shade. It happens to look pretty great on you, maybe I'll give it to you after tonight." Brooklyn teased, wiping at the end of his lips where he'd been rocking a good bit of it. "Perfectly tussled if you ask me. How do you look even hotter now? How is that possible?" She asked, laughing lightly.

[caleb-j]

"Enough? No it's never enough." He tugged her back playfully but let go knowing she was probably right, knowing but not caring. "Oh yeah, do you think it'll look good everywhere on me? We may have to conduct an experiment. Luckily, tousled is fine for this thing so that works for me. I'm a fine wine, Brook, you know that." He grinned, tapped her ass, then leaned over enough to open the door of the cruiser, you should probably get out before I change my mind."

[queen-tinsley]

"How's my lipstick?" Brooklyn asked her boyfriend as she laughed into the crook of his neck, knowing that she probably shouldn't have been making out with him at the moment. As a former Miss Strawberry, Brooklyn knew she would soon have to hit the stage for the former winners walk— but she'd found herself in the company of Caleb. And if you knew anything about the two of them, they could rarely keep their hands off of each other. That's how they'd found themselves in the back seat of his father's cruiser at the time being. "Please tell me it's somewhat manageable." ( @caleb-j )

[caleb-j]

Was the strawberry social his style? Well...it wasn't not his style completely as Caleb had never considered himself a 'small town vibes' type of person, but he was always one to rise to a challenge, and dressing in theme while not looking like a clown every year was certainly that, and he managed to rise to the occasion every year, this one being no exception. Besides that, Caleb had a soft spot for the festival because it was where his parents had their first date and he was a romantic at the end of the day as all James men had been afflicted with being (and secretly his sister too, but that part was more an unspoken rule than anything). Still, as a Rosewood man, the strawberry social was old hat so he needed ways to entertain himself and for the past 20 minutes that had been found via the back of his dad's car, hand underneath Brooklyn's skirt and his lips everywhere else. They parted, Caleb panting only slightly but with a blissful grin on his face, "What? Oh uh c'mere, let me get a good look. " With natural gentleness, Caleb tilted Brooklyn's head to examine, "It's fine for now, might need a bit of a touch up before you head back out. I think the brand you used before stayed on a little bit better for what it's worth. How's my hair?"

[queen-tinsley]

Brooklyn found herself catching his stolen glances in her direction, finding it to be quite charming that even now... he still couldn't get enough of her. They were well into their relationship at this point and yet, she still very much felt the same way she'd felt about him since it clicked. Since she stopped denying what the universe was so clearly telling her. That Caleb James was the love of her life. "Ugh, how cliche. The blonde socialite marries into money, I think not. I refuse to have my life be summed up in such words." She told him, laughing lightly. "Oh..." She said, biting down on her lower lip as she had assumed he'd wanted them to be on opposite ends of the table. "Well, what's healthy competition between lovers? I happen to think that was very much what brought us together way back when." Brooklyn scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You're going to mop the floor with me? I see you're riding some sort of sex high, right now. There's no way you're beating me." Brooklyn got up, taking a swig from the red solo cup they'd brought up with them. "Prepare to lose."

[caleb-j]

Caleb chuckled, "Your mind Brookie. I'll tell you what, since you're so opposed I won't mind being the blonde socialite who marries into money." That part was kind of inevitable considering they were going to get married, they were both socialites, and they both were blondes but who was he to point out the obvious post orgasms, he was sure that eventually she'd come back to her senses. "Pssh, there was no competition, you were out matched, and so you will be again tonight, sweetheart." Caleb grinned at Brooklyn then, even his smug smile almost as charming as his genuine one. Caleb was just as good as being Brooklyn's advisary as he was being her partner and the transition was seamless as always, "I'm just drawing a very obvious conclusion. But since you're so confident, let's make it interesting. Name your terms of wager."

[queen-tinsley]

Caleb's words brought Brooklyn back to their current surroundings, everything else having literally gone out of the window— thanks in part to his talents. As she caught her breath, the beat of what she knew to be a Nicki Minaj song came to focus. As did the voices of all the strangers that were currently making a mess of her family home. But just as the worries of what was happening outside of the bathroom they'd found themselves holed up in came to mind, Caleb's lips met hers and that was enough to make her forget all about what was happening that night. None of that was her problem. "I would love to," Brooklyn mumbled against his lips, pressing another quick kiss to his cheek. She couldn't control what was happening around them, but she could control what was happening then and there. And she just wanted to have a good time with her partner. "I think after tonight, I don't think any of us will be inheriting anything anytime soon." She said with a small laugh. "Let's go, I do have to maintain my kicking your ass at beer pong reign. I don't know why you even try at this point."

[caleb-j]

After their kiss, Caleb took his time primping himself in the mirror making himself look presentable once again, stealing glances at Brooklyn all the while, heavily considering going for another round if not for the fact that in their fervor they'd gone for the nearest bathroom rather than finding an unoccupied bedroom. "Well, there's always my family's inheritance, we'll be fine, I'm sure." He joked, then looked at her, done with his hair, "You see Brook, that's the difference between you and I - I was talking about being partners and you want to be my competition? I'll grab Jimi and mop the floor with you and whoever you choose to partner up with and not even feel bad about it if that's how you want to play it."

[caleb-j]

"I trust that you're feeling much more relaxed now." Caleb said while he rose up from his knees where he'd spent the better part of the last 20 minutes between her legs. With his thumb, he wiped at his lower lip with a satisfied expression on his face before he made the quick ascent to her lips to kiss her tenderly. It was the first party Caleb had been able to attend in a while and he was intent on enjoying the night and having Brooklyn do the same. "Do you want to go downstairs and play beer pong. It's set up on that 17th century Greek dining table that I was hoping you'd inherit one day. Don't think I really care about inheriting it after the night's over, but with you as my partner at least I know we'll own it."

@queen-tinsley

[caleb-j]

queen-tinsley​:

Brooklyn found herself smiling as he spoke, noting how much he sounded like someone who was bound to be the head of his family’s empire one day. “Fine, we are one hundred percent going.” She said with a overdramatic sigh, pouting her lips up to the high heavens if only to entertain him. “It is most definitely me keeping you alive. Have you seen the dating pool out here? If I lose you, who’s am I going to be stuck with?” She teased, feeling very much like they’d made a small trip to their early beginnings where she stubbornly refused to just admit that well, she loved him. “Excuse you, I can very be nice. You’d definitely know.” She told him. “I am not really sad, I just know we’ll be going back to the circus that is the holiday circuit.” Brooklyn happily took his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. “By all means, keep it up because I’ll be getting you back when you least expect it.” She told him, before the conversation turned to that of his birth mother. “Wow… that’s definitely major news.” So that explained the extra eagerness towards their arrival back home. “Just so we’re on the same page, do you find her arrival to be genuinely cool or is this a cool that’s meant to keep the peace?” 

**

The trajectory of Caleb James from a kid who knew what kind of guy he wanted to be and faked it until he made it to the man he wanted to be and even more had a lot to do with the woman beside him not only seeing the vision, but believing he was that man, and regarding him as such for better and for worse; in short, Caleb didn't really know who he would be without Brooklyn and wasn't interested in finding out. He grinned at the bratty antics from her that he loved so much, and leaned over to kiss her for what was intended to be quickly, but lasted a little longer." He chuckled, "You know, I can't say that I have. But obviously it would someone far less superior than myself."  He made a so/so motion with his hand in response to how nice she could or couldn't be just to be a brat, then grinned again because she wasn't saying something he didn't already know, "Yeah, but we're in the long stretch and after new years eve, we get our lives back."

At any point in time it would be so easy to just not antagonize Brooklyn, but it was nowhere near as fun, "And then I'll come back at you 10 times harder, babe. Good luck with that." It was major news, and something that only really came into fruition a week or so prior, but Caleb was happy for it all the same. "Genuinely cool. Amelia's like...a distant aunt or something, but she's never no been available if any of us ever wanted to know something. She, mom, and dad are tight. I mean you'd have to be to carry 2 kids for them, right? Plus how can I not be cool with seeing someone who had a hand in putting this perfect composition of DNA together?" He grinned, motioning to himself with his free hand, "You're obviously a huge, lifelong fan of her work."  

[caleb-j]

queen-tinsley​:

“It was worth a shot.” Brooklyn said with a sigh, as she closed her eyes to enjoy the warm against her skin. Might as well take in all that paradise had to offer before they had to return to reality. “You call bullshit? And why is that?” She asked, a small smirk working at her lips before turning to face him. And what a sight it was. Now, her boyfriend was already sight to behold– add a bit of glow that could only come from a well deserved vacation and it was a shocker she could keep her hands to herself. “He would try, he would. I’d never let him, of course, but he would.” Brooklyn nodded in agreement. “Okay, I’d miss out on the Rosewood of it, just a tad but also, I’m with you and quite frankly, that’s more than enough for me.” She said. This, what they were building, this was the foundation for their family. “And it’s Brooklyn, James.”

**

"You miss 100% of the shots that you don't make, so I don't even blame you. Never known you to not take a shot, don't see why you would start now, but yeah we are 100% going home." Caleb just smiled softly while Brook, always enjoying letting her be a bit of a brat, he couldn't say why but it was true. "More than my dad being former law enforcement, I think it's you keeping me alive." It was only a matter of time before she conceded with what he was saying because there was no doubt in his mind that he was right. "Aww babe, you're being nice to me. I guess you're really sad to be going." Caleb reached his hand out to take Brooklyn's and squeezed, "Yeah, of course it is, Brookie. Anyway you're going to be meeting my birth mother. This is the first Christmas she's going to be spending with us since I was like 5. It's gonna be cool." 

[caleb-j]

queen-tinsley​:

“Do we have to go back,” Brooklyn asked her significant other, as she looked out at their surroundings. No, they weren’t currently in Rosewood– their careers having allowed them reprieve from the single digit temperatures back home. No rather, they were enjoying the warmth and culture of the gorgeous, Rio De Janerio. “and I know, I know. The answer is yes, the holidays aren’t complete without us.” A statement that rang true with both their families– her father and mother already gushing about how they couldn’t wait to see her. “But I wouldn’t mind just staying here.” ( @caleb-j​ )

*

"We both know the answer to that." Caleb told her, eyes still closed and shades off. It was a good call, getting in a vacay with a different climate before the craziness of Christmas, both of them coming from family centric tribes, they were in for a lot of face to face time with a lot of people, "I call bullshit." He said while he turned on his side in his beach chair to get a good look at Brooklyn, "Even if your dad wouldn't murder me if I was the reason you missed Christmas, you'd be going out of your mind. You talk a big game though, McKibbon. I might have believed you if I didn’t know you so well, Brookie."

[caleb-j]

queen-tinsley​:

Brooklyn tilted her head as Caleb spoke, trying her hardest to keep a straight laced look on her face. Was Caleb currently nervous? The sight being one that she didn’t get to see very often. But the more he spoke, the harder she found it to keep the smile at bay. “Caleb, I don’t need you to propose to me to know you care about me.” She said, soft laughter spilling from her lips. “We’re literally in our early twenties, I think I can survive a couple of more years without a ring on my finger.” Brooklyn playfully rolled her eyes, patting at her boyfriend’s chest. “Plus, it gives you a couple of years to get me that ring.” By that ring, she was referring to the ring that’d be the envy of everyone she knew. “Uh huh.” Brooklyn scoffed joking, as she might have been proud of her Chadwell roots but she certainly wasn’t going to argue about what family was more influential. Especially when she knew it was hers. “That is true, it is.” Brooklyn nodded, tapping at her boyfriend’s chin. “You know, maybe this is a crazy idea but maybe we could just be happy for Cam? He’s married. That’s insane.”

**

It wasn’t often that Caleb had gotten visibly nervous, but Brooklyn had been the reason a lot of times since his freshman year of high school that he got out of character (and even before that if he was being honest with himself). They were far beyond the push and pull of Caleb being Brooklyn’s dirty secret passed up by her in high school and he knew that, but there was something in the back of his mind that always wondered a little if she’d be in love with him forever. “It was going to be a long engagement regardless, and don’t laugh.” He rolled his eyes as he rested his hands on her waist, “Happy for him...and we’re there now? Just mature and supportive people?” He let out a fake labored sigh, “I am happy for him. He knows that, but he also knows to watch his back.” 

[caleb-j]

queen-tinsley​:

“It sounded like the point to me.” Brooklyn let him know. She might have been playing it cool at the moment, but hearing that Caleb had that in the works for their near future meant the world to her. He was truly her person and those small reminders that they were in this together, even after all these years was everything to her. “Well, if the plan was to charm me to such an extent, I think that would quickly overshadow a shotgun Vegas wedding.” She leveled with her boyfriend. “I can only imagine what a culture shock it is to go from a family full of musicians to well, your family.” 

**

“Well you know what I mean, right? Obviously it means the world to me, not a thing I’m taking lightly I mean...wait it’s alright that I was right? We’re still on the same page about how we’re feeling about each other - we’re still it for one another?” He was a little nervous now, unable to gauge where her head was at. “Of course we can.” He shrugged, “Yeah, I mean it’s different, but also the mayor is one of our in laws now. I’d say our family could start giving yours a run for their money, but they’re going to be combining so no real use in fighting, right?” 

[caleb-j]

queen-tinsley​:

Brooklyn had been reapplying her lipgloss when her boyfriend spoke up, her attention shifting over to him. “Wait, does this mean you were thinking of proposing to me this year?” Brooklyn said with a soft aw, reaching over to pinch at his cheek playfully. “That’s so cute, Caleb.” She closed her compact with a loud clack, as Caleb brought up revenge. Now, that was something she knew a thing or two about. “Well, we can’t go the public humiliation route as nothing  phases your brother.” Brooklyn said with a twist of her lips, as she thought of ways she could get back at Cameron. “And as much as I want to recommend trouble in paradise, I don’t dislike your brother enough to cause a rift between the newlyweds, no matter how ridiculous I find the entire situation to be.” 

**

Caleb shot Brook a lame look, “That wasn’t the point but yes...and it would have been more than cute, you would have been charmed in a way that you have never been in your life. And now that’s postponed until...well until I don’t know when now. “Yeah, despite the insanity I actually kind of like her for Cam, I almost feel sorry for her.”