Angel

After spending most of the afternoon in the sun, Phoebe and Lexi ended up leaving the mansion by evening, changing into knee-length cocktail dresses taken from Lexi’s wardrobe before heading off in Peter’s Mustang, where they ended up at Angel Nightclub, a nightclub located in an old brick warehouse with ground floor of the nightclub containing several booths, bars and a dance floor with a stage usually used by live bands and DJs whilst the second floor consisted of offices and VIP rooms.

Once inside, Lexi hooked her arm through Phoebe’s as they breezed past the bouncers, heading to the dancefloor where Phoebe let the rhythm take her first, hips rolling, arms lifting, head tilting back as the bass pulsed through her like a second heartbeat. Lexi matched her move for move, their laughter swallowed by the music as bodies pressed around them.

"I need a drink!" Phoebe eventually laughed and Lexi nodded, already tugging her toward the side where the bar was.

"Shots, lots of them," Lexi ordered, flashing a grin once they finally reached the bar and the bartender slid two rows of tequila shots across the bar. Both girls immediately knocked back the first shot without breaking eye contact and Phoebe shuddered dramatically. "Still can’t handle your liquor, I see,"

"I'm a Grayson of course I can handle my liquor," Phoebe shot back, slamming the second shot glass down quickly before glancing around and noticing a familiar face. "Holy shit, is that?"

Lexi followed Phoebe’s gaze and saw a a tall eighteen-year-old man with pale, white skin, dark brown hair, striking hazel eyes and a lean, athletic-body along with a tall eighteen-year-old man with light-brown hair, crystal-blue eyes and a toned, muscular-body.

"Tommy." Lexi nodded.

"That's Tommy? He got hot," Phoebe said, causing Lexi to look over at her cousin. "I know he's our cousin, but... damn."

"I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that," Lexi muttered.

"Well, it must be cos of the hottie with him? Who's that? Friend? Gym buddy?" Phoebe curiously asked.

"That’s Caleb McNamara. Tommy’s best friend since forever." Lexi rolled her eyes. "Also, hands off, he’s trouble."

"Trouble’s my middle name, Lexi," Phoebe purred as she stepped away from one cousin to approach the other.

"Yeah right, Annabeth," Lexi muttered using Phoebe’s real middle name.

Leaving Lexi and brushing past the other partygoers, it didn’t take long or much effort for Phoebe to reach Tommy and Caleb whose eyes shot up upon seeing Phoebe with Tommy, stepping away from Caleb to give Phoebe a hug that almost lifted her off her feet.

"No fucking way," Tommy yelled over the music. "Since when are you in Redwater?"

"Since today," Phoebe admitted, flicking her gaze past him to Caleb, who was watching with amused curiosity. "Miss me?"

"Of course," Tommy grinned. "Phoebe Westwood, meet Caleb McNamara, the only guy who’s ever out-partied me. Caleb, this is my cousin Phoebe, the only person who’s ever out-troubled me."

"Out-troubled you, huh?" Caleb smirked. "That’s a tall order. I’d love to hear the stories."

"Oh, Tommy’s exaggerating," Phoebe said with a playful innocence. "I’m just a girl with a knack for finding fun. And occasionally, fun finds me."

"Fun's got a way of finding me too," Caleb chuckled.

"You here with Lexi?" Tommy asked, glancing over Phoebe’s shoulder toward the bar where Lexi was and upon realising she was caught, Lexi walked over towards them.

"Well, well," Lexi said without breaking eye contact with Tommy. "Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence."

"Let’s not get into the family drama right now," Tommy told Lexi. "Our cousin’s here and we don’t know how long for. Let’s make this night legendary."

"Fine," Lexi reluctantly agreed. "But we’re going to need some drinks,"

The next hour blurred into a haze of laughter, drinks, dancing and to Phoebe’s surprise even a little bit of flirting as she and Caleb ended up talking to each other more, something the blonde-haired teenager didn’t mind considering her cousin’s best friend was quite handsome. The relaxed atmosphere in the club even let Tommy and Lexi to forget whatever drama was brewing between them as the group settled into a booth for some more drinks.

"So," Phoebe asked. "What’s the move after this? Or are we just gonna let Caleb drink us all under the table?"

"Please," Caleb snorted, slamming back another shot. "Like you could keep up."

"I'll have you know I basically run the London club scene." Phoebe pointed out. "Well, me and Mia Khan. But mostly me."

"There’s a warehouse party not too far from here," Caleb murmured. "Private invite. Shitty booze but better music."

"Sounds like my kind of fun." Phoebe smirked.

"Warehouse party it is!" Tommy excitedly said whilst Lexi shook her head in disbelief.

Leaving Angel Nightclub, the four of them spilled onto the neon-lit sidewalk in a tangle of laughter as they headed toward the parking lot with Tommy stumbled ahead with Lexi, as they spoke when out of nowhere, a man in a black hoodie stepped out of a car just as they walked past.

"McNamara," The man called out and Caleb barely had time to turn before the first punch connected with his jaw, dropping him to the floor just as Phoebe gasped. The man then took a step back just as Tommy lunged forward, but the man was quick and he drove a fist into Tommy’s gut, sending him to the ground as well. "Compliments from Xander, he says next time it won't just be a warning," The man growled, before getting back in his car and driving off into the distance.

Phoebe dropped to her knees beside Caleb, her fingers hovering over the angry bruise already blooming across his jaw. "I'm fine," Caleb gasped.

“Bullshit you’re fine,” Phoebe muttered as Lexi helped Tommy back to his feet. "We better go back inside. I'm sure my Dad's got a first aid kit in there," Phoebe said, helping Caleb up. "Then you can tell me what the fuck that was about."

Turning around and heading back into Angel, the music of the nightclub continued as the club's patrons all oblivious to what had just happened outside, allowing a brief distraction as the four headed upstairs, past the V.I.P. rooms and into the empty office.

"Doesn't look like Jason or Lily are here tonight," Lexi said, referencing Peter's partners in the nightclub as she pushed Tommy onto the couch, grabbing a first aid kit from the shelf while Phoebe guided Caleb to sit on the edge of her father's desk.

Phoebe grabbed and uncapped the anti-septic, and then pressed a cotton pad to Caleb's split lip, causing him to wince.

"Hold still," Phoebe murmured, as she stepped closer, closing the gap between them. "You're worse than my Dad,"

"Your dad gets punched often?" Caleb asked.

"He's in that kind of line of work. Not that he doesn't deserve it. But we're not talking about my daddy issues right now." Phoebe dabbed at Caleb's lip with more **** than necessary, smirking when he winced. "Start talking, McNamara. Who's Xander?"

"Xander McCraven," Caleb muttered. "Owns a strip-club owner with a chip on his shoulder the size of Redwater."

"And why does this Xander have a vendetta against you, exactly?" Phoebe asked.

"Because," Caleb paused, looking at Phoebe and shook his head before admitting. "I slept with his girlfriend."

"You slept with a strip club owner’s girlfriend," Phoebe repeated in disbelief.

"In my defence, I didn't know they were dating. She was like half his age." Caleb tried to defend himself. "Then I found out. Then he found out. Then he and his guys jumped me outside but Tommy…" Caleb glanced at the couch where Tommy was groaning into an ice pack Lexi held. "Being the best friend, nah scratch that, brother he is, backed me up and we beat the shit out of them instead. They didn't like that. From what I hear, Xander and your Dad have some serious issues. Guess, he didn't like another Grayson getting involved. It's been back and forth with us since."

"Of course it is," Phoebe said, shaking her head. "And now Xander’s sending goons after you in alleyways like some third-rate mobster."

"Third-rate mobster’s pushing it," Caleb said. "More like a guy with too much ego and not enough brains.” Caleb smirked. "But hey, if I’d known getting punched by one of his goons would land me here with you, a beautiful woman playing nurse, I’d have pissed him off sooner."

"That line’s almost as pathetic as your face right now," Phoebe smiled as she looked up into his blue eyes.

"Doesn't mean, it isn't working," Caleb smirked.