#( ft. callum flynn )

[cali-cabrera]

Location: Marineland Starter for: @papaflynn

There were very few aspects of her job that Cali didn't like. Sure, she could do without smelling like fish every second she was in her wetsuit, but as she watched her favourite bottlenose dolphin, Mystic, whizz past her, it more than made up for it. "Okay Avie, you ready?" Blowing on her whistle, Cali smiled around the metal as the dolphin immediately made a beeline for them. Reaching behind her and into the bucket of fish, Cali tossed one to Mystic before handing the other to the little girl. "Just toss it in when she opens her mouth and then you can rub her nose."

As much as Cali selfishly loved being with the animals, watching the children she considered family enjoy the perks of her job just made her heart feel that bit warmer. As Avie fed the dolphin, Cali glanced over at Callum, nodding towards the pool of water. "I don't let just anyone come and feed my favourite dolphin, you better get over here before she gets bored of me."

[kira-aminu]

Location: Luther's Starter for: @papaflynn

It was the next logical step to heal. If she was truly going to close the door on the heartbreak over her long deceased relationship, she had to at least try and move on. When she had discussed it with her therapist, it had seemed easy. All she had to do was go to dinner with somebody, something she did regularly anyway but now that the word 'date' had been tagged onto it, she couldn't quite stop her palms from getting clammy.

She'd walked to Luther's from the shop and as she stood outside, she quickly wiped her hands together to try and rid them of the evidence of her nerves. "You can do this." With a few more deep breaths, she opened the door and looked around, only having vague memories of the picture her friend had showed her before she'd set the blind date up. It only took her a few seconds to find someone that looked somewhat familiar and before she could second guess herself, she walked over to him. "Callum?"

[lia-lozano]

"You say that, but the word chips came out of your mouth extremely easily." Rolling her eyes a little, Lia shook her head although she quickly stopped as it began to swim a little. "What the hell is a chipper? That's not even a word." She had tried chips from a chip shop when she had taken her parents to London for a trip they had always wanted to do, but she hadn't been amazed by them. "Fries should be crispy, they seemed soggy to me."

Nodding, Lia placed a hand over her mouth as she tried to stop the tears from flowing. She wanted to thank him for the crisps, but instead, she could only manage a little squeak. Brushing the tears from her cheeks again, Lia tried to take a deep breath that was only filled with shakes. "Understatement of the century." Her voice was quiet as her mind flashed with the messages she had found on her ex-boyfriend's phone. "Luckily for most people, my bar is now so low it should be easy. Don't sleep with my boyfriend, and you're better than some of them."

Callum scrunched his face in offense at the mere suggestion that he was Americanised. He had simply been repeating back to her the word she used. "Not a chance, you yank! I'll be saying crisps until I'm cold in the grave," he joked. "Chips should come from the chipper and be covered in salt and vinegar!" Oh, how he missed a chip shop. That sweet curry in the tiny pot on the side was something only the Irish did, and it was glorious. It was moments like this he knew he needed a trip back home soon.

Callum was a little panicked as she continued to cry, so he answered with a slight shake in his voice. "Uh—it's just a bacon-type flavour, really." He listened. That's all he could offer right now. When she finished, Callum nodded, "I know." Life could be like that sometimes, and as much as he hated that she was feeling like this and that someone had made her feel that way, he understood. He had been there. "You need better friends," he offered with a gentle laugh, but there was truth in his words. "Thankfully, you're back now, and you have me."

[niaxbailey]

drunk

☎️ ADOPTED FAM. EMERGENCY CONTACT ☀️ 🥰😎 IRISH FOLK DANCER 💃🕺 CAL.

NIA: heeeeeeeey NIA: i miss ur face NIA: hw've you been? NIA: i'm srry i havent reached out recently NIA: its so easy for me sometimes NIA: not like bc ur not msisable just like NIA: idk... I forget to reach out and just keep going. ykwim?? NIA: but i do msis you. I just forget to ahve a social life sometimes

[emilmoreno]

@papaflynn Location: Firefly Brewery. "Alright, I know I seem chill but... I'm going to be honest, for trivia night - I'm competitive." Emil warned, offering his friend a far too broad grin. "We don't have to win, but we do have to do better than..." his voice trailed off, and then the man gestured across the brewery toward another table. "Them." A fresh, barely touched beer sat in front of him at their table. "I know that sounds petty, but this is my revenge tour... okay? I showed up and joined a random group last time, and I have to salvage my honor." A low, husky chuckle betrayed the man and simmered in his chest. His gaze skirted back across their own table to settle on Callum. "That one rule out of the way," he continued "-What's been going on with you? It's been too long. I stuck my head in the sand a bit." Also known as, once again, having buried himself in work and overtime hours.

[mcrcosantos]

starter for: @tomashernandcz @levibecker & @papaflynn location: at one of the drink tents at the briar ridge summer music fest

"Dame mas gasolina!" As Marco belted out- more like shouted out- the last line of Daddy Yankee's anthem, it was hard to understand how the guys had gotten to this moment. What had started off as a drink or two at Golden Hour, had quickly escalated into pregaming, and before he knew it, Marco, Tomas, and Levi had found a random dude with a portable karaoke machine and had commandeered a corner of one of the drink tents and somehow Marco had ended up with the microphone first. And he was just buzzed enough to have given every everything he had to his little performance. Finishing off with a slightly sloppy bow to his captivated audience (aka Levi and Tomas and the guy whose karaoke machine they held hostage), Marco gave grin. "Alright, who's next?"

[alarakcplan]

starter for: @papaflynn location: briar ridge summer music festival

It had been a week. Coming back to Briar Ridge full time, running into all of the familiar faces - some of which she had actually run from when she left town - had taken a lot out of Alara. She wouldn't let it show of course, feigning aloofness was her go to M.O. after all, but that didn't mean she didn't mind letting loose and unwinding at the end of the week with a few good drinks - maybe more - especially when she had such a good excuse like the music festival.

She was waiting on Bowie to arrive, but had gotten to the festival a little bit earlier, on purpose, to get a couple drinks in by the time her best friend arrived. The brunette was already two drinks down, mingling through the throng of bodies in her black vest and matching cowboy boots, when she spotted a familiar mop of hair across the crowded dance floor. Internally, Alara froze. Yet another person who was bound to ask, 'Where the hell have you been?!' Externally, she tugged her long hair out of her face and over her head before turning her attention back to her drink.

A half hour later, she'd lost sight of Callum and was making her way to the bathrooms, not a care in the world anymore, when she turned the corner around one of the snack tents and accidentally bumped into someone. Eyes flitting to meet the gaze of who she'd bumped into, ready to fire off a comment along the lines of she knew she was hot but if they wanted to touch her so bad all they had to do was ask, when she realized it was Callum himself. Her comment died on her lips. "Kahretsin!" damn it! The curse slipped out before she could stop it and she quickly plastered on a tight lipped smile. "I wondered if that was you." she said, covering her ass, acting as if nothing had happened, she hadn't ghosted him and the rest of the town for eight years.

[marcoscntos]

starter for: @emilmoreno & @papaflynn location: emil's house

"Vamos, niña!" Come on, little girl! Marco called over his shoulder towards his niece. Was the grown man possibly more excited about their 'play date' than his niece was? As he waited impatiently for Gabi to get out of the car, it seemed to suggest he was. Not that Gabi wasn't super excited to hang out with Isa and Avie. She loved their get togethers and hanging out with the other girls. Marco just needed a little testosterone in his life these days with everything he had going on in his life. "Calm down, Tío." Gabi admonished as she hopped out of the car. "They're not going to start without us." Marco chuckled as he shut the car door for the six year old, "Yes, ma'am." he replied, fully admonished. Reaching down, he grabbed her hand as they headed up towards Emil's front door. Picking Gabi up, he held her towards the doorbell so that she could press the button as they waited for the door to be opened.

[marcoscntos]

@emilmoreno @papaflynn

“i had the sweetest dream last night, bro”

“bro every second i spend with you is a sweet dream”

“bro”

[niaxbailey]

@papaflynn event - summer music festival. Nia's loud laugh was distinguishable in the thick crowd, a far too broad grin plastered into place as she side-eyed Callum. "Okay, okay - you've almost got it!" She encouraged, "Step left, lock. Step, scuff right..." she called out as she moved, her eyes on her friend and not her own fluid steps. The rush of music and drifting chatter from the surrounding crowd made for a busy background, but she was in her own little bubble trying to teach Callum a line dance. Her unabashed laugh was a constant throughout the process. "Into a box step," Nia reminded and did a heel-toe step and turned. A look was instantly thrown over her shoulder towards him, measuring his progress. Amusement colored her features, and even if her 'student' wasn't exactly starring in a Briar Ridge Footloose anytime soon Nia was definitely enjoying herself. It was difficult not to when there was so much energy in the air around them.

[emilmoreno]

happy

EMIL: hey man EMIL: I just wanted to thank you again EMIL: I really appreciate your support EMIL: knowing people are willing to get involved, and would help support me is crazy but I appreciate it EMIL: it means a lot.

[valentincflores]

"Oh for sure!" she agreed with a chuckle. "When people are screaming loud enough to block out all other noise for someone like me," she paused to point to her cochlear implant, "then they officially loose the right to be annoyed at me nosying. It's basically my business now." It was hard for her to juggle multiple noises with her implant. In fact, having too much noise pollution around her often gave her severe headaches. So when there was a loud noise around her, Val did her best to just focus on that one noise, instead of straining herself to try and interpret different sources. She could already feel a headache building now that she was trying to listen and maintain the conversation with Cal over the noise of the screaming couple.

At Callum's explanation for where his daughter was, Val couldn't help the smile coming to her lips, "I hate to say it, but she's growing up on you, Cal." She nudged her friend lightly. She knew full well - well, almost full well - the pain of watching your kid growing up right before you. Billie was like her own daughter in a lot of ways, and Val couldn't believe she was already six whole years old! She let out a sigh at his question. "My love life is dryer than the sahara desert and I'm not exaggerating." she answered with a shake of her head. "How about yours?" Waggling her eyesbrows at him, she added, "Please tell me it's more exciting than mine so I can live vicariously through you!"

Callum grinned as she continued to narrate the lives of the random couple. However, that soon slipped to a frowny pout when she teased him. "I'm a simple man, Val. Nothing grand about me," Callum fired back with a faint smirk. "Besides, I think the hottest man on the planet could have streaked past you and you would have been too busy nosying about some couple to notice," he quickly added with a playful knock of the foot against hers. The two had a light friendship and Callum found he spent most of his time with her smiling. He needed that. "No, she's with friends. That kid keeps ditching me, you know. I might be getting a complex," he joked but there was some truth to his words. Aoibheann was growing up and it was hard. "Anyways, why are you so invested in other people's love lives. Yours too boring?"

[lia-lozano]

There was a part of Lia that felt like it had been unlocked being in Callum's presence again. So many of the people in her life had only known her since she'd signed her record contract or been in her previous relationship. Her family and her friends from home had known every stage of her except the Nashville stage. Even Sahra didn't know that version of her well as she'd been making her own mark on New York City. Callum, however, had known that girl very well and it was a particular side of her that she hadn't even realised she'd missed. The carefree, just out of home girl who was ready to take on the world.

Nodding, Lia felt a wave of relief that he wasn't mad at her for not reaching out. It might be something she regretted, especially now knowing what he had been through, but at least it wasn't something he was going to hold against her. "Okay, thank you. I just wanted you to know that the fame hadn't gone to my head and I was being a diva out in Hollywood. But looking back, my head was up in the clouds a bit, hence why I've come back to the roots. But I am glad you're doing okay, Cal."

Looking down at Pudding as she sniffed Callum's hand and relaxed into the petting, Lia raised her eyebrows. "She probably loves you more than me now, listen to that purring." Rubbing her thumb over the fur just above Pudding's eyes, Lia looked back to her friend with a laugh. "Oh come on, I know you well enough to know that you cried. If I cried when I got my cat, you definitely cried when your daughter was born." Looking back at him, Lia felt her mask drop for the first time and as she nodded, she bit down on the inside of her cheek to stop herself from welling up. He had been nice to her the entire time he had been there, but something about that sentence just got to her. "Do you know? I kind of assume everyone saw it, but.. do you know what happened?"

Callum knew little about what had happened to her in the last eight years other than stardom and what he saw online. However, something within him could tell that all had not been hunky dory. They formed a friendship in their formative years, and you learned things about people that way. Small details others ignored, like the crinkle of a nose that told you deep down they were not happy but forcing that smile for you.

"You didn't owe me anything," he assured her. "That's her fault and her cross to bear," he added with a shrug, noticeably refusing to use Hayley's name. "I don't want you feeling bad about that, you hear me? I never once thought anything but happiness for you when I saw how well you were doing." Callum paused for a moment, eyeing her curiously. "Truly, I mean it." And he did. Callum did need friends back then, but he also would never hold it against anyone who had their own shit going on. If Avie's mother couldn't show up, he sure as hell didn't expect others. Besides, he was sure that there was a lot she had to deal with, and where were her Nashville friends? If anything, most were probably trying to use her.

A soft smile spread on his lips at the sight of her pet cat. Callum watched the small furball curled into Lia, a warmth spreading over him. He slowly walked over to them, squatted down to the cat's level, and ruffled its fur. "Hi pudding, how you doing?" Callum glanced up at Lia and grinned, "How did you know I cried when Avie was born?" He laughed and cooed at the cat before adding, "This is your kid. You don't have to be kidding." Callum smiled at Lia and locked eyes with her, hoping she saw the affection that radiated in his. He had truly missed her, but that's not why he was glad of her return. Callum could sense something in her and wanted to try to help. "I'm sure pudding gives brilliant cuddles, but if you ever need me, you know I'm here now, right? Anytime."

[lia-lozano]

Nodding, Lia's smile grew as he posed and she couldn't help the small giggle that sounded. "Oh, there's your new facebook profile picture, if only I had my camera on you." Taking another sip from her glass, Lia rolled her eyes a little at the thought of the mothers he was talking about. It might not have been the same thing, but she could remember the ones that had fawned over her ex, so she had some idea. "But you have such pinchable cheeks, Flynn, it's almost rude not to do it."

Frowning a little, she reached out with her foot to gently tap his shin. "You wouldn't ruin anything, we both know we used to kill it at country karaoke back in Nashville, I don't see why this would be any different." She felt the flutter in her stomach from the butterflies that had decided to go into swarm at impending performance and with a hand now pressed against her dress over her belly button, she tried to find a way to settle them down. "Well, that's a deal I can take. If you can also promise a really large glass of white wine or a spicy margarita will be in your hand waiting for me when I'm done, that would also make up for declining my stage invite." Winking at him to show she was joking, she quickly finished off her glass of champagne before placing it on an empty table. "Any requests before I go up there? And no, I will not sing Dolly Parton, the Queen can not be mimicked tonight."

"This type of a suit?" Callum was comfortable with Lia, so would show sides to her he wouldn't show others. That's why he felt it would be appropriate to give her a little pose in his suit. To prove it was not work-appropriate. "Don't," he mumbled. "I already get attention from them, and it's never the mums my age but older ones who like to pinch my cheek," he shared with a shiver.

It was strange how so much time could pass between two people but yet nothing felt different. In fact, Lia brought out that younger Callum from back in Nashville. That's probably why he could behave so childish with her but not with others. She had seen him make a fool of himself many times, and never once had she judged. Callum smirked she she tried to play down her fame. Not many would be as humble in her position, but that's probably why the two could still connect the way they did. He wasn't so sure someone with the ego of a big star would have much time for a guy like him.

Callum's brows lifted in fear at her last words. "No no... you don't need me ruining your performance," he laughed. "I'll leave that all to you." He sipped his champagne, too, a sudden rush of blood overcoming him just from the mere thought of performing for this crowd. "I'll be front and centre cheering you on, though. So, in a way, it's like I'm up there. If that helps?" Callum wasn't sure if she was truly nervous and didn't want to say anything to make it worse, but maybe an offer of a friend to focus on might make things easier.

[wyatt-brady]

"They were good, weren't they? You didn't do so bad yourself though." Reaching over, Wyatt gently squeezed his forearm. "But I do promise to try and not rub the win in your face too much. But if we see Ford, I will have to buy him a very big drink." Although the nap had made her late to meeting Callum, she did owe the extra pep in her step to the late afternoon sleep and she knew it was going to be a good night.

Her lips curved into a little smile as she watched his gaze drop down to her legs and as he looked back to her face, she simply raised her eyebrows a little. "Lucky you. I am definitely not in a beer kind of mood, but seeing as I haven't done Sambuca since I was in college.." Reaching for one of the shots, Wyatt raised the glass towards Callum before downing the shot quickly. "And that's why I haven't done this since college." Clearing her throat, Wyatt shook her head to try and shake the taste away, pushing the empty glass across the table. "Mhm, that's the one."

Blowing out a breath, Wyatt settled back in the booth. "Did you have fun today anyway? It was fun out there."

The Irishman was well-acquainted with the perils of a cozy bed and the temptation to close one's eyes. Throughout his twenties, he had seized any opportunity for a quick nap, often drained from the challenges of single parenthood. Thankfully, she had shown up despite the brief nap. He couldn't be certain he would have been as dependable.

"Don't worry, I'm thankful I've had a few drinks ahead of you. It might soften the blow of those one-liners you've been throwing," Callum teased, alluding to their earlier banter. She had bested him both on and off the field, so a beer would help him relax a bit.

Her movement captured his attention, and for a moment, his blue eyes wandered to her thighs before quickly returning to meet her gaze. "Double fisting," he remarked with a faint grin, the double entendre meant. "A cold beer to nurse and Sambuca shots to hurt myself with." He reached for one of the small shots in the centre of the table and downed it in a single swift motion. "Yours was a mai tai, right? Hawaiian, to be precise," he inquired, his voice slightly raspy from the alcohol.

[marcoscntos]

Marco shook his head in disbelief. "Where the fuck did the time go?" He let out a breath as he tried to process that. He remembered when Cal had shown up at the restaurant Marco was cooking at. Cal had been a new dad and somewhat of a new Briar Ridge transplant. In a lot of ways Marco had seen a lot of what he had, at the time, hoped to see in his own little brother in Callum. And it had been easy to befriend the Irishman. Even easier to help out where he could with Aoibheann. He was grateful it seemed Callum at least was doing a good job of being a dad.

He was brought back to the present by Cal's hand on his shoulder, a grin coming to his lips at the younger man's insistence that they could keep up with the 'best of them.' "I dunno about that, bro, I'm not as young as I used to be." he replied, chagrin evident in his tone. But he reached forwards and picked up his shot and knocked it back like Cal had done, wincing slightly as the liquid burned the back of his throat. "Remind me again, why we do this?" But in the next moment he knocked back his second shot, clearly not heeding his own words.

Callum smiled, "Eight, man... hard to fucking believe." It felt like yesterday he was holding the tiny bundle or baby fat and black tufts in his arms, feeling a love like no other. Now she was eight, the same black hair, but the cute baby fat disappeared with each passing year. His baby girl was growing up. The time had been passing differently for his friend, a thought that made Callum sad, wishing that Marco hadn't lost so much.

It seemed the two had lost themselves in the past for a moment, and Callum reached out to grab Marco's shoulder, comforting but also to bring them both back to the moment. "Don't worry, we come from good stock -" he laughed, "we can keep up with the best of them, chara." He chucked another shot back as if to prove his point, but the water in his eyes let him down. "Jesus!" Callum choked, before laughing. "A night of shots sounds worse than your five years, mate."