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Natalia looked at her friends reflection in the mirror of the locker room and sighed. "Common Cal, you gotta let that case go for at least the night. Worrying about it isn't going to help anyone" Natalia said as she plopped down on the locker room bench next to the deflated blonde. Calleigh knew there was no point in being upset as it wasn't going to help anyone or anything. she took a deep breath and nodded.
"Okay, no more worrying. Let's go" Calleigh said with a smile as she stood and offered Natalia her hand. Natalia grabbed it and the two laughed as they headed out toward the exit of the locker room. "Together or separate?" Natalia asked as they reached the parking lot. Calleigh thought for a moment. She didn't particularly feel like waking up extra early to pick up Natalia to drive her to work. The two women looked at eachother and laughed as they both said "separate".
Calleigh and Natalia had been sitting at a small booth in the back corner of their favorite bar for about 30 minutes before Ryan arrived and through himself dramatically into the booth. Natalia practically spit out her drink in attempt to hold her laughter when he bumped into Calleigh causing her to choke on her drink. Ryan couldn't help but erupt with laughter as Calleigh smacked him on the arm. Calleigh and Natalia were already two long island's deep and were likely too intoxicated to currently drive. They figured they had plenty of time, and the men were taking too long so instead they finished two rounds until Ryan showed up.
"Always so aggressive" Ryan shouted with mock hurt at Calleigh who was currently wiping her mouth with a napkin from the table. Natalia's face was red from laughter as she smiled and waved towards the door. Calleigh turned to see who it was but with no surprise, it was Eric. For some odd reason she felt her heart beat faster if only for a moment. She quickly turned back to Ryan before she could let anyone potentially see her reaction. Ryan stood to shake Eric's hand in greeting even though the two had just seen each other 30 minutes ago. They were obnoxious in that way. They called it a bromance or something childish.
"What were you drinking Cal, I'll get you a new one" Ryan said with an apologetic smile. Calleigh tried to put on her best angry face with no prevail. "You know what Ryan, I would looooove a shot" Calleigh said as she placed her chin on her hand. Eric raised his eyebrows at the bold choice she had just made.
"You're gonna have to be a little more specific" Ryan said with a laugh. Natalia stood from the booth and grabbed Ryan's arm, dragging him towards the bar to get him away from Calleigh before she gave him something to complain about. Eric settled into the round booth so that Calleigh could still be on the outside. "Shots tonight huh?" Eric asked as he took a swig from Natalia's unattended drink and immediately puckered his mouth at the taste. He hated mixed drinks. Calleigh couldn't help but smile at his reaction as it spread across his face.
"Why not, I mean, I don't go in until-" Calleigh paused to look down at her hands as she silently counted. "Three?" Eric assisted. Calleigh smiled again at his assistance. For a moment she became self conscious that she was acting too intoxicated but before she could delve any further into her feeling Ryan and Natalia had arrived back at the table with what looked like many shots and two glasses of a darker alcohol.
Ryan slid next to Eric and waited for Natalia to scoot in next to him before he began distributing a shot to each member as well as handing a glass of whiskey to Eric while placing the second one in front of himself. Eric nodded as a thank you. Natalia raised a shot glass and everyone else soon followed. "To a great team, and even greater friends" She said proudly. "Cheers" Everyone said with smiles. Ryan looked at Natalia and smiled at her before taking his shot. Eric and Calleigh both saw the exchange and looked at each other with raised eyebrows as if to silently agree that they approved. Calleigh started to laugh at the fact that the both of them had the same reaction as she and Eric through back their shots. Being the clumsy and now intoxicated version of herself, she managed to let some of the burning liquid miss her mouth and dribble onto her chin. Without thinking Eric reached forward with his hand and brushed it away with his thumb. Calleigh felt her skin heat up at his touch.
Eric didn't realize that his hand had been lingering on her face until after he realized that they had been locked in on each others eyes for a little too long. Eric quickly removed his hand and looked away to see if Natalia and Ryan had noticed. Luckily the two were busy arguing about something. Eric hadn't even realized it previously because it seemed as though he was almost blacked out in the moment he had just had with his coworker.
"Eric!" Natalia almost shouted. Eric looked at her seriously as if something were wrong. Calleigh immediately began laughing as she already could tell what was to come. "Dance with me, please!" Eric froze for a moment and tried to find an excuse. "I don't dance I only dance to-" Eric started. The music faded into "Bailando" by Enrique Iglesias. It wasn't the ideal latin music but you could definitely dance to it. Natalia raised her eyebrow as the music changed. "Fine." Eric said as Natalia jumped up excitedly. Eric threw back his entire whiskey as Calleigh scooted out of the booth for him to get out. "Good luck" Calleigh whispered to him as he stood. "You owe me a dance later" He whispered back as Natalia grabbed his arm and yanked him towards the floor.
Calleigh felt her heart pick up again as chills ran down her spine. She quickly pushed her way into Ryan's side of the both as he offered her another shot. The two of them nodded and took their shots quickly. "She's a lot to handle" Calleigh offered as she watched the two of them dance. She smiled as she watched Eric try to keep up with her laid back salsa. It was new to see Eric dance and he was actually… really good.
"I know, but it's worth it right?" Ryan asked. He and Calleigh had the best friendship a person could ever even attempt to match. They didn't need to tell each other things for the other to know. Just like how they both knew of their feelings for the other team members. Both feeling drunk at this point their conversation just flowed. Calleigh turned to him and smiled while she nodded. Ryan smiled back.
"I'm sorry for leaving you at the crime scene" Calleigh said as she sipped on the watered down remains of her old drink. Ryan huffed as he looked at her seriously. "Get up" he said with a straight face. The song finally slowed down to something by Ed Sheeran that was calm and slow. Calleigh felt a pang of sadness in her heart but she stood and waited for whatever Ryan was going to say. He stood and grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him to the floor. "Common Duquense" He said with a smile. Calleigh smiled back as the two danced together as if they were at a prom.
"You'd call me a good friend right?" Ryan asked. Calleigh nodded and rolled her eyes. "Then I don't want to hear any apologies for something that you know you did for the right reasons. Because I, as your good friend, understand" Ryan explained. "Deal" Calleigh replied. The two began to laugh at how ridiculous the current situation was. Until Eric came up and patted Ryan on the shoulder. Ryan backed away and let Eric step in as he backed away and wrapped an arm around Natalia's waist. Eric placed a hand on the small of Calleigh's back and used his other hand to hold hers. He was so strong that she didn't even have to think about the steps.
"I told you, you owed me a dance" Eric said as he looked down at Calleigh who already had a blush on her face. "And a dance you got" Calleigh said with a small voice. Eric couldn't help but smile at her. There was nothing left to say. He hadn't been this close to her for this long ever. Calleigh felt his hand move higher on her back pulling her closer. Her mind was spinning and the room might have been too and all she knew is that her usual self knew so much better than to ever even let herself get into this situation but at this point she didn't care. She leaned in and planted her lips on his. Quickly she pulled away as she had finally realized what she had done when she saw the shocked look on Eric's face. She felt embarrassment and shame and a million other emotions engulf her body and it was too much for her to handle. She turned around quickly and snatched her keys off the table and ran out of the bar.
Little did she know that Eric was quick behind her. She reached her Hummer and fumbled to get the door unlocked. She could hear Eric calling her name but could not bare to deal with the humiliation and confrontation right now. She finally got the key into the lock and turned it just before Eric grabbed both of her arms and spun her around until her back was against the door of the car and she had no other option but to face him.
"You can't drive! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Eric exclaimed. He was angry and upset. Calleigh couldn't even find the words to defend herself. "I can't be here I just need to go" She finally forced out as she tried push passed Eric which, given his size didn't work.
"Calleigh". She kept fighting until Eric grabbed her face. "querida hey, stop" Calleigh finally stopped fighting and looked at him. "Why would you leave like that, what's wrong?" He asked. There was so much care in his voice. Calleigh could not function enough to have this conversation, let alone handle the fact that he just called her querida. He only ever did that when she was too upset or to bring her back. "I just made a fool of myself and I don't really want to explain it Eric please" Calleigh pleaded with him. Eric gave off a small smile that Calleigh didn't understand.
"Calleigh, if you think you embarrassed yourself then I think I'm about to embarrass myself too" He said as he lightened the grip on her. Calleigh felt herself grow more confused as she tried to process what he was trying to say. Before she could think any longer he lifted her chin his his hand and captured her lips in a way that she couldn't even explain. He pulled a few inches away with their foreheads still touching. "Okay?" Eric said softly. Calleigh smiled and pulled him closer by his belt loops to kiss him again. Finally they pulled apart. Eric pushed the lose hair behind her ear and used her keys to open the Hummer door. "I'll drive you home, come on" He said with a smile. Calleigh nodded with a blush and got into her own passenger seat with a smile that she would remember for the rest of the night, until tomorrow came….
OKAY GUYS I LOVED THIS CHAPTER! What happens that night? What happened to Natalia and Ryan? Will they get any further in the case tomorrow? Stay tuned!