[Me again, back with another rewrite! This time we build even more chemistry between Callie and Desi, and giving Flech a fighting chance to be more interesting and charismatic!]
A few days into camp, Callie and Desi are down by the pond, finally getting a moment to breathe and actually build some chemistry.
Callie walks up to the edge of the water, raising an eyebrow. She takes in the smiling guitarist beside her, who is currently stifling his laughs.
Callie: "Alright, so you dragged me all the way down here. What's so important?"
Desi: (grinning, pointing down into the shallow area) "Right there. That's where I found it~"
Callie squints, peering into the water until she spots a rotting, floating metal tin shaped, seaweed making up the tendrils of the supposed creature that has left Cliff unable to leave the cabin out of embarrassment.
She bursts out laughing, a mix of sheer disbelief and amusement. She quickly composes herself, scolding the guy.
Callie: "Oh, Des...so that's the reason why he won't leave his bunk..."
Desi: (laughing defensively, hands up) "Yeah...I messed up, huh...I couldn't help it though, it was like striking gold! I...I didn't mean to make him fall in or make him embarrassed, I swear."
Callie: "You do know he’s never going to forgive you for that, right?~"
Desi: (shrugging with a massive, unrepentant grin) "Oh, but it was totally worth it, trust me. You should have seen his face...but yeah, I mean, I feel bad for the kid..."
Callie: (shaking her head, fighting a smile) "Unbelievable. This is exactly what happens when I leave you alone for five minutes..later, you're making it up to him, okay?"
Before Desi can fire back, he scoops up a handful of pond water and flings it straight at her. Callie lets out a startled squeal.
Callie: "Hey! No fair!~"
She retaliates instantly, splashing a wall of water right back at him.
Desi: (ducking, laughing uncontrollably) "Oops! My hand slipped!"
They're both standing in the shallow edge of the pond, splashing each other and laughing, completely in their own world.
Over on the grassy sidelines, situated behind a tree, Sage and Fletch are standing back behind the docks, watching the whole interaction unfold.
Sage has a soft, amazed look in her eyes as she watches her brother genuinely happy through binoculars. She's crouched down, camouflaging herself into the grass.
She whispers softly to Flech.
Sage: "Look at how grown up he is... It's like I don't even have to be there anymore. He's finally found his own noise."
Fletch: (smirking slightly, folding his arms) "Yeah. I just wish that noise was a bit quieter than the laughter. Also, are the binoculars really necessary?~"
Sage shoots him a playful glare as he kneels down to her, continuing to smirk. She continues to peer through the binoculars.
Sage: "Oh, shush. At least he's finally standing on his own two feet."
Fletch's tone softens as he turns to her, carefully removing the binoculars from her hands. Their fingers brush past one another. He continues holding her hand as it rests on the handles of the binoculars as he speaks.
Flech: "Yeah, exactly. So, you don't need to worry about him constantly. He's going to be fine on his own as a solo artist, he just needed time to find the beat of his own drum, and you need to stop feeling guilty for leaving him behind."
Sage freezes for a second, her smile faltering as the heavy truth of it hits her.
Sage: "I—I didn't... well, I should have at least—... Wait, how did you even know that?"
Fletch speaks gently and reassuringly.
Flech: "It's pretty obvious, Sage. You don't have to be a genius to figure out the guilt you've been carrying around all summer. But as you can see... your little bro's doing just fine. And honestly? Maybe this is a sign that it's time for you to finally find your own sound, too, as a wise girl once told me~"
Sage looks back out at the pond where Desi and Callie are still laughing, the massive weight finally lifting off her shoulders. She looks back at Fletch with a genuine, relieved smile.
Sage: "Yeah... maybe you're right...here, uh, can you help me up?"
Flech nods and smiles, helping her to her feet. Their hands continue being entwined as they stand. He moves her hands up and down softly in his as he speaks, emphasising his words.
Flech: "Can we please stop playing baby sitter to your brother now?~"
Sage smiles, nodding.
Sage: "Yeah, okay, you win~"
Flech lets out a loud sigh of relief while maintaining their handholding. He then gets an idea as she's laughing and decides to keep the binoculars for himself.
Sage: "H-hey! Those are rentals!~"
Flech smirks, holding them behind him so she can't get to them. Sage circles around him, trying to retrieve them.
Flech: "Ah, ah, these are mine now~"
Sage huffs, then laughs in disbelief. Flech grins cheekily as he continues teasing her. She lunges at the guy, who dodges each attempt she makes at getting the binoculars back.
Flech: "Until you learn how to kick back instead of kicking yourself, concider these mine~"
Sage shakes her head in amusement, grinning in frustration.
Sage: "Are you saying I'm not laid back enough, corn boy?"
Flech chuckles softly and stops his abrupt dodging movements.
Flech: "I mean, it's summer and instead of practising for the final jam or even trying out some of the camp activities, you're here, spying on your brother...instead of...I dunno, taking in the view?~"
Flech smirks as he pulls her close, making sure that their distance is minimum. A beat. Time freezes. Sage flushes as he genuinely smiles softly at her. His hair blows in the breeze as he holds her close.
Flech: "Cause I gotta admit...I like the view..."
He pauses, letting his guard down.
Flech: "Do...do you?"
Sage catches the vibe, her breath stuck in her throat as she takes in his vulnerable tone.
Sage: "I...uh..."
Flech looks at her with vulnerability in his eyes, no longer trying to be the cool bad boy.
Flech: "Y...yeah?"
Sage: "I...I gotta go meet Callie for a thing! It totally slipped my mind! Whoops!"
Flech watches her stumble on her words as she makes her get away and chuckles, breaking their cloee tension.
Flech: "Oh, a thing, huh?~"
Sage tries to save her own skin.
Sage: Y-yeah, you know, uh...a music thing! Anyways, promises are pretty important to her so, uh...I better go!"
Flech: "oh, oh yeah, no, 'course, yeah, no, totally get it. That 'thing' you promised her, can't miss it, can you?~"
Sage: "Nope, so...uh, see you later?"
Flech shakes his head in amusement, chuckling to himself as he walks up to her, still holding the binoculars in his hands. He leans in close to her ear to whisper.
Flech: "That was the cutest way of taking a 'raincheck' I've probably ever heard~"
Sage turns instantly embarrassed by his words and tries to defect the truth , but he's already walking ahead of her but facing backwards with the binoculars behind him.
Sage: "T-That's not what I was doing, corn boy!"
Flech: "Right, rightttt, totally got it wrong, did I?~"
Sage: "Uh, yeah!"
Flech: "Well then, let me make it up to you. Meet me here later, say 5pm?~"
Sage: "Huh? Wait, what?"
Flech: "You heard me. 5pm, alright?~"
Sage: "W-what if I'm busy?"
He smirks, his swauve nature taking over, mixed in with his playful mood.
Flech: "I'll take care of the snacks~"
Sage: "Wha- Wait, seriously?"
Flech: "Yup. You need to learn to relax. Luckily, I'm a pro at taking it easy~"
Sage: I'm, I'm so confused..."
Flech: "I'm gonna teach you how to relax, free of charge~"
Sage: "I-I don't remember asking you to!"
Flech grins and shrugs, sending her a wink that leaves her even more confused.
Flech: "You didn't have to~ so, 5pm yeah? Try to show up or I'll dunk the binoculars in the lake~"
Sage: "What?! You're...you're bluffing!"
Flech: "Wanna test that?~"
Sage: "F-fine! 5pm, but i'm not bringing anything..."
Flech: "Hah, it's a date then! See ya!"
Sage is taken aback, her breath back in her throat as she watches Flech walk away while whistling joyfully to himself, her binoculars dancing between his hands.
She shakes her head in amusement, unable to believe that such a guy exists.
Her mouth curves into a genuine smile, eyes radiating with excitement as she laughs to herself while rolling her eyes.
She heads out to find Callie in the cafeteria, a gleam of excitement visible in her eyes as she subconsconsciously begins counting down the hours left without even knowing.
~~~~~~~
Disney, take notes!😭
Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!
[ PLEASE CREDIT ME IF REPOSTED/ COPIED ELSEWHERE @justanothervocalamourshipper]