Best For Last
Chapter One
ELIZA'S POV
Almost there. Rolling onto my back and releasing a deep sigh, it's hard to believe that senior prom is just a few weeks away and then this will all be over. I'm going to miss some of the guys here but really, I'm only going to miss one person in particular. My best friend. Arizona. The only one to ever really have my back. The only one I can trust and the only one I'll ever want in my life. Sure, we've been best friends since forever, but that is where it ends. She may be like a sister to me, but I have to maintain the distance I've been putting between us lately. Well, more like a year if I'm being completely honest. Yeah, I'm in love with her. I thought if I avoided my feelings it would go away. She doesn't know and honestly, she doesn't even know I'm into girls…but that is irrelevant right now. It's irrelevant because we're best friends. She has never once given me anything to suggest that she is into me and I know she isn't anyway so I'm wasting my time giving her all of this headspace. Who am I kidding? She can have all of the headspace in the world from me. Closing the book I've been reading for the past hour, I climb from my bed and grab my cell from the dresser. It pinged a little while ago but I was far too comfortable to move.
A - What time are you coming over?
Sighing, I drop down on the edge of my bed and run my fingers through my hair. I want to go over and spend the afternoon with my best friend, but I know her girlfriend will be there and I don't like her. Lori is not the one for Arizona. She never will be. She is so far up her own ass that it is unbelievable and my best friend deserves more than that. I also hate seeing them together. I mean, why wouldn't I? When she has her arms around Arizona. When she kisses her. It only makes my feelings stronger and I cannot act on them. I cannot risk ruining the amazing friendship we've had for so long.
E - I'm not sure I can make it, sorry.
A - Oh, come on, Lize?
E - Why do you need me there? Lori is with you, isn't she?
A - So? She isn't my best friend. YOU are!
Smiling a little when I read the words on my screen, that happiness only lasts a few seconds. Why? Because I remember the reason why I'm smiling. I'm smiling because I'm once again imagining Arizona confessing her undying love for me. I'm smiling because I'm reading too much into this. This is why I distanced myself. Instead of believing the truth and knowing that Arizona wants me there as her best friend, I get way ahead of myself and imagine that she wants me there because she misses me instead. Sure, she probably does miss me, but not in the way I wish she would miss me.
E - What are you guys doing?
A - Pool. Snacks. Just waiting on your arrival…
Yeah, that isn't going to work for me. I don't need to sit watching my best friend and her girlfriend in their bikini's. I don't need to imagine Lori not being there and having Arizona to myself. This is wrong. All of it. Everything I've felt and everything I've been imagining over the last year or so is wrong on every level so this distance is the best thing for me. It really is. Maybe one day, Arizona will understand, but for now…this is how it should remain.
A - Stop ignoring me!
E - I'm not. I was talking to my mom.
That's a lie. Mom isn't even home right now. Arizona probably knows that since she knows me and my routine like the back of her hand, but I'm not in the mood for this right now. When I tell her I can't make it…I wish she would just go with that. I wish she wouldn't push and push.
A - Just come over, please?
E - Sure, yeah. Be there soon.
A - Ugh, I love you!
Yeah, I wish. Scoffing to myself as I climb from my bed, I pull out my favourite bikini and shove it into my backpack. Arizona only lives five minutes from me and it's been that way for near on eight years now. The moment we became friends, I knew it would be a long-term thing. She just got me. We have the same personalities and honestly, I'm not sure any of my other friends could ever replace what we have. It's just so easy going. We bounce off of each other. Sure, Amy is awesome but she comes and goes as the seasons change. Always hanging out with a different group of friends and never really sticking with one thing in particular. Arizona, though? She knows exactly what she wants. She plays soccer and yeah…one day she will play for the national team. She is regimented and she is strict with herself. Of course, she has fun like the rest of us, but her health and fitness come first and that is how it's been for a long time. Too long to even remember a different version of herself.
E - Love you, too.
Rolling my eyes when I realize I shouldn't have even said that, I pull my backpack up onto my shoulder and slip on my Havaianas. I'm already dressed for the pool since I knew this was the plan for the day, but maybe I'll just hang out in the background. Grabbing my book, I head out of my bedroom and take the stairs slowly. The longer it takes to get to Arizona, the less time I will have to spend watching her and Lori in love and whatever else I'm not. Sure, they're breaking up every five minutes, but they've had a good thing going lately. Lori has been trying harder and as far as I know, she hasn't cheated on Arizona in a while. I fully expect it to happen again sometime in the near future since she doesn't seem to be able to keep her hands to herself, but she is who Arizona chose and I have to accept that. It doesn't matter how many times I tell my best friend that she deserves better, she loves Lori and there is nothing I can do about it.
Heading out, I lock up behind me and take a right instead of a left. Heading right will give me a few extra minutes to myself but honestly, I'm not sure a few minutes will ever be enough. I'm about to spend the day with my best friend in nothing but a bikini and that is enough to tip me over the edge. Her athletic body is something I struggle to keep my eyes off most of the time and I know today isn't going to be any different. Maybe I'll hang out for a few hours and then leave. Make up some kind of excuse for not staying late into the evening. See how it goes, Eliza.
See how it goes…
I've been at the Robbin's household for a little over an hour and so far, I feel okay. Arizona and Lori are hanging out in the pool together and I'm avoiding them by relaxing on my stomach, my music in my ears. The weather is gorgeous today but that only means I'll have to spend the next few weeks looking at my best friends tanned and toned body. I honestly don't know why I do this to myself. I don't know why I put myself through this when I could be at home and relaxing alone. I hate being alone, but it's become a common theme in my life lately. All my own doing, yes…but it's just easier that way. I mean, the amount of times I've had to stop myself from kissing Arizona over the past few months is ridiculous. When we're alone, she is all I see. The work and the exam prep just disappears and I find myself drawn to her completely. She isn't the same, though. She doesn't sit that little bit closer to me like I do to grab her scent. She doesn't look at me the way I know I look at her. She doesn't even notice me in any other capacity but that's okay. Once Lori came back into her life, it helped me to cope with all of this a little better. I would never try anything with my best friend knowing that she is in a relationship. I'm just not that kind of person. I respect everyone, regardless of how I actually feel about them.
"HEY! MINNICK!" Water splashing my back, it shocks me out of my thoughts and I sit up on my elbows to find Lori at the edge of the pool, eying me.
"What's up?" I tug my music from my ears.
"You don't have to hide away…" She smirks. "The lesbians won't pounce on you…"
"I, uh…" Furrowing my brow, I drop my aviators over my eyes and turn my body, facing Arizona's girlfriend fully. "That isn't how I feel." I shake my head.
"I mean, you've got a great ass…"
"Uh, yeah I don't think Arizona would appreciate you saying that." I scoff. "I'm fine here…you guys do your own thing." I'm not offended by what Lori has just said, but this is one of the reasons why I don't like her. She doesn't think before she speaks. Sure, she's just playing with me, but her girlfriend and my best friend is right beside her.
"You coming in, Lize?" Arizona gives me a sad smile. "Come hang out with us?"
"I'm okay here." Arizona gives me a nod and swims away. Thankfully, my eyes are covered by my sunglasses right now. The sun beating down on her gorgeous strong back is enough to turn anyone on. Settling back down on my lounger, I release a slight sigh and close my eyes. I can hear Lori whispering something to Arizona but I'm not here for her games. If she wants me out of here, she only has to say. I'm here because my best friend asked me over but if I'm in the way, I can really head home. It's no problem.
"Eliza?" Lori calls my name again and I sit up. "You ever go on that date with Jared?"
"Um, no." I shake my head. "Why?"
"Just…curious." She shrugs. "You have a date to prom yet?"
"Also no." I shrug. "I don't know if I'm even going yet…"
"Uh, you are." Arizona deadpans. "I'll drag you there kicking and screaming if I have to."
"It's really not my thing." I stand. "I'm just going to hang out inside for a while…" Grabbing my shorts, I slip them over my legs and take my book in my hand, my cell phone too. "I can feel a headache coming on…" That headache is called Lori. Disappearing from the poolside, I make my way inside Arizona's home and head for the huge open plan living room. Dropping down onto the leather couch, I glance out of the massive sliding doors to find Arizona pinned against the pool wall, Lori's hands all over her. Why the hell are you here, Minnick?
Suddenly sitting out of view when Arizona climbs from the pool, I clear my throat and open my book up. She is probably coming in here to ask me back outside but I'm okay away from it all. I have the weight of the world on my mind right now and indoors is the best place for me. Indoors and away from everything Arizona Robbins.
"You okay?" She suddenly appears, water dripping from her body.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I give her a fake smile. "Just figured you guys could use some time alone."
"Don't take what she said to heart, Lize." Arizona finally wraps her towel around her and my heart rate starts returning to normal. "You know how she can be…"
"Oh, I'm not offended." I wave off my best friends apology. "I am going to head home soon, though."
"Please don't." She gives me that pleading look. "Stay a while longer."
"I really have stuff to be doing." I sigh. "Amy wants me to hang out with her so we can finish up our art project."
"So, you will hang out with Amy but not with me?" Arizona scoffs. "Have I done something to piss you off?"
"What? No." I shake my head. You could never piss me off, Arizona. "You haven't done anything. You're great."
"Sure." She shrugs. "So, when will I see you again?"
"You have a game in two days, right?" I raise an eyebrow. "Have I ever missed your game?"
"No." She smiles. "No, you haven't."
"So, you will see me then…if not before." I stand. "You seem a lot happier this time around." I throw my thumb over my shoulder and motion towards her girlfriend who is sitting at the edge of the pool.
"Yeah, I am." Arizona shifts uncomfortably and it tells me something isn't quite right. "She's great…"
"Sure, yeah." I nod. "Whatever makes you happy…"
"It would make me happy if you stayed a little longer…" She's deflecting…
"You know I'd love to but I should really get going." Pulling Arizona into a hug, her arms wrap around my waist and her towel is the only thing preventing her almost naked body from pressing against my own. Time to leave, Eliza. Time to leave. "Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, okay?"
"Can I call you later?" She pulls back, those blue eyes shining. "Tonight?"
"You know you can." I give her a full smile. "Just…do your thing here and I'll talk to you whenever you are free, okay?"
"Sure." She furrows her brow. "Something is going on with you and I don't like it, Lize."
"Why does something have to be 'going on' with me?"
"Because you would never say that to me." She scoffs. "You would tell me that you are my best friend and our night calls have always been our thing."
"And then I saw how happy you are with Lori and I know I have to take a step back." I give her a sad smile. "We are moving on, Arizona. You have a girlfriend and your soccer. University, too…I'm about to head off away from home and start University life away from you…"
"So, what are you saying?" She asks, incredulously.
"I'm saying that I'm happy for you and it's time to take a step back." I breathe out. "You don't need me in your life 24/7 now that you and Lori are good again. You don't need me there on the end of the phone while you cry about her. You have her. She's here."
"But you're my best friend, Eliza." She furrows her brow.
"And I always will be," I say with certainty. "We are beginning to have separate lives now, though."
"Right, yeah…" She clears her throat. "So, I guess I'll just see you at the game then." Disappearing from in front of me, my heart feels heavy but this is the right thing to do. I don't ever want to lose Arizona as my best friend, but I fear the longer I hang out with her like this with the way I'm feeling…the more likely I am to jeopardise our friendship. It's inevitable and I cannot and will not mess this up. She means too much to me to lose her completely. She means far too much. Grabbing my backpack, I pull my tee from it and cover my upper body. Pulling my bag up onto my shoulder, I head for the front door and glance back to find Arizona sitting on the edge of her sun lounger, her head in her hands. She probably hates me now for what I've just said but it could've been much worse. The more she pushes me for answers, the more likely I am to tell her how I truly feel and that cannot happen.
It just…it can't.
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