Chapter 1: Last Call (Caleb’s POV)

The Static reeks tonight, spilled beer, damp wood, the usual. Rain’s slamming down on the roof, this steady thump-thump that’s kinda syncing up with the hum coming off my soundboard. It’s way past closing, like two-something, and I’m slouched over the controls, messing with tomorrow’s mix for the band. My fingers are sliding faders up, down, chasing that perfect bass kick that’s just out of reach. Place is dead now—well, almost. Just me, Ryan, and a couple of sad sacks nursing their drinks like they’re afraid to let go. The air’s thick with that stale bar smell, mixed with something sour I can’t place, maybe regret, if that’s got a scent.

I sneak a look over my shoulder. Ryan’s back there behind the bar, counting cash from the register. His hands are dragging, like he’s not in a rush to finish. The pile’s pathetic, way too thin. Another shitty night. His big shoulders are kinda drooping, but he’s not saying it out loud. Doesn’t need to, I can read him like I read these sound levels. That busted neon sign outside’s buzzing away, throwing red and blue flashes across his face. Been broken forever, but I kinda like its glitchy charm, you know? Makes the place feel alive, even when it’s dying.

“Still calling this a rustic joint?” I toss out, keeping it easy. One headphone’s slipped off, dangling around my neck like a noose. My voice bounces off the empty stools, sounds louder than I meant it to.

Ryan glances up, smirks a little. “Rustic’s being nice. More like a dump with some attitude.”

I let out a quick, rough laugh. “Attitude’s why I’m still here.” That, and him. But I keep that part locked up tonight, the air’s already thick enough. Been a long shift, feet aching from standing too long, head fuzzy from the noise. Still wouldn’t trade it.

He shakes his head, goes back to counting. His dark hair’s a mess, falling into his eyes. I stare too long, catch myself, and swing back to the soundboard. The mix is almost there, gritty, loud, the way The Static deserves. My foot’s tapping to the beat, and I’m half-lost in it. Been at this for hours, tweaking knobs like it’s gonna save us. Maybe it will. Doubt it, though.

Rain’s picking up, drowning out the last guy muttering at the bar. Think his name’s Hank, regular dude, gray beard, always in flannel. He’s hunched over, talking to his empty glass like it’s got answers. Finally, he knocks back the last of his beer, slaps a wadded-up five on the counter, and shuffles for the door. “Night, boys,” he grumbles, voice like gravel, boots scuffing the sticky floor.

“Night,” Ryan calls, not even looking.

I give a nod, but Hank’s already out. Door bangs shut, and now it’s just us. The bar feels huge when it’s empty, like it’s waiting for something, holding its breath. I yank the headphones off, let ’em clatter on the table, and stretch. My back cracks, ouch, too many hours hunched over this damn thing. My neck’s stiff too, and I roll it, hearing pops like gunfire.

Ryan’s done with the cash. Shoves it into that metal box, locks it with a sharp click. Then he ambles over, hands stuffed in his pockets, stopping just close enough I can feel the warmth off him. “You still screwing around with that?” he says, nodding at the soundboard.

“Almost,” I mutter. “Gotta nail it for tomorrow.”

He snorts. “You always say that crap.”

“‘Cause it’s true.” I flash a grin, spin my chair to face him. His eyes catch that neon glow, dark and steady, and my chest does that stupid flip it always does when he’s right there. Been like this for months, this dumb tug in my ribs.

We don’t say anything for a beat, just stare. Rain’s a freaking wall of noise outside, locking us in. Then he steps closer, and I’m up on my feet before my brain catches up. My hands grab his waist, tugging him in. His lips hit mine fast, rough, like he’s been holding it in all night. I kiss back, tasting beer and salt, and it’s over way too quick. He pulls back, breathing hard, a tiny smile tugging at his mouth. My heart’s hammering like I just ran a mile.

“Missed that,” I mumble, voice low, scratchy from the late hour.

“Yeah,” he says. “Me too.”

I’m about to go in again when his phone buzzes on the bar. Loud, jarring, slicing through the quiet. He freezes, and my gut twists. That sound? Never good news this late. He lets go, steps back, snatches the phone. His thumb hovers over it, like he’s debating just ignoring it. Then he picks up.

“Yeah?” His tone’s flat, walled-off.

I can’t hear the other end, but I don’t need to. Ryan’s face says it all, jaw tight, eyes narrowing. He turns, takes a step away, free hand scrubbing the back of his neck. “End of the week? That’s not what we...” He cuts off, listens. “No, I get it. I’ll figure it out.”

Call’s over quick. He doesn’t hang up so much as jab the screen dead. Phone clatters on the bar, and he glares at it like it’s gonna bite. I step closer, heart thumping. “Who was that?”

He doesn’t answer right away, just keeps staring. Then, “Loan guy. Wants the full fifty grand by Friday.”

My mouth dries up. “Fifty grand? That’s...”

“Everything,” he says, voice scraped raw. “Missed too many payments. He’s done waiting.”

I swallow hard. The Static’s been leaking cash for months, dead nights, busted pipes, that stupid sign we can’t fix. Roof’s probably next, with this rain. But fifty grand by Friday? That’s a kick in the teeth. “What if we don’t?”

Ryan looks at me, eyes dark as hell. “We lose it. The bar. All of it.”

The words just sit there, heavy as the rain pounding outside. I move in, slap a hand on his shoulder. It’s solid, warm, real under my fingers. “We’ll figure it out,” I say, sounding way surer than I feel. But I mean it. We have to. Been through worse, right? Maybe not this bad, but still.

He nods once, short and sharp, but stays quiet. His hand grabs mine for a sec, squeezes, then lets go. He turns to the bar, yanks a stack of papers from underneath, loan stuff, probably. Spreads ’em out, pages crinkling, and stares at the numbers like he can bully ’em into changing.

I don’t budge. My hand stays on his back, just resting there, feeling his breaths go in and out. Neon flickers outside, red, blue, red, throwing shadows all over the floor. Rain keeps hammering, nonstop, and the weight of everything just settles between us. Quiet. Heavy. Real as hell.