their musical rehearsal had been canceled while they were all standing outside the little studio they’d booked. the director never showed up, and there was no way to get inside the building without the keys, so after waiting around for a while, they all decided to just go out instead. they tossed their bags into the car and headed to the closest bar. the music was loud, people were already dancing and drinking, and there was even karaoke — honestly, it was the perfect backup plan. after ordering a round of margaritas, the girls claimed a little spot near the edge of the dance floor, close enough to a table so they could switch between sitting and dancing whenever they wanted. kylee had just started relaxing when she felt someone standing way too close behind her. she turned slightly, already annoyed. “go away, i don’t need you this close,” she told the man flatly. he either didn’t care or didn’t understand because instead of backing off, his hand landed on the small of her waist, trying to guide her into dancing with him. before she could shove him off herself, someone stepped in. she blinked, startled, as the blond moved between them and shoved the guy back hard enough to make him stumble. for a second, kylee just stood there, caught between wanting the stranger to stop and being weirdly relieved someone had stepped in at all. “i think he got the message,” she said quickly, her brows knitting with concern as her hand instinctively reached for the blond’s broad shoulder. she didn’t trust men like that to walk away quietly, and she definitely didn’t want this turning into something worse. “don’t get into a fight,” she said, voice lower now, trying to pull his attention back to her.
Cali didn’t hesitate for even a second, stepping straight between Kylee and the guy like it was instinct, shoulder driving forward as he shoved him back hard enough to make him stumble a step. “Yeah, nah,” Cali snapped, voice sharp and loud over the music. “The girls asked you to get away from them. That’s not up for any negotiation.” The second it landed, though, he already lifted both hands up, palms out in exaggerated surrender like he could feel things tipping the wrong way. “Alright, alright,” he muttered, backing it off just enough to show he wasn’t trying to escalate anything, but still staying planted between them. At Kylee’s voice behind him saying she thought the guy got the message, Cali huffed a quiet breath through his nose, glancing over his shoulder briefly as she reached for him. “Yeah,” he said flatly, eyes flicking back toward the man, “he better have.” Then her lower tone cut in, and he turned his head toward her properly, brows lifting. Cali lifted his hands again, but this time it was more relaxed, like he was already letting it go. “No fighting, I got it,” he said, voice still a bit rough but calmer now, eyes flicking briefly back to make sure the guy was actually backing off. Then his attention came straight back to her, the edge softening as he looked her over properly. “What about you though, are you okay?” he added, tone dropping slightly, less sharp now and more genuinely concerned. His jaw tightened for a second as he glanced past her again. “Some fucking guys here just don’t get the picture.”
