Cruising down the highway with her top down in her antique convertible, her long brunette hair blowing in the wind, Callie Torres finally felt free. This was the eighth day she was living by the words of one of her favorite authors, Lewis Carroll, "if you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there." And that is exactly where she was headed, everywhere and nowhere. In the back of her mind she knew she was running, but she spent the last week burying that thought deep in her mind. This was the first day that she finally felt alive.
At this point in her drive, she could no longer drive east without driving into the Ocean. She had made it coast to coast in eight days and was finally ready to spend more than a few hours in one spot, well that, and she had to decide if she wanted to drive north or south next. It was getting closer to sunset so she decided to drive straight to the beach. Parking her car at the entrance of an overgrown path that ultimately led to the sand, Callie stepped out of the driver's side and breathed in warm air that was flavored with a hint of salt from the ocean 100 yards away. Leaving her shoes behind, she briskly walked down the path, stopping when warm water glided over her bronze toes. Feeling her feet sink into the sand, she finally felt at peace.
She had no idea where she had ended up. There was no need for a GPS and as far as she could tell, the last state she crossed into was North Carolina, a state that she had yet to visit. The beach was empty and the small town she passed almost felt deserted. Perfect she thought to herself with a wide grin plastered from ear to ear. An escape like this was exactly what she was looking for. Hearing a dog bark she glanced down the beach around the small bend of the shore. She couldn't yet see the dog, but she knew it was about to appear around the bend any minute. Without hesitation the dog came running towards her, apparently so excited that he jumped up and knocked Callie to the ground, licking her face like they were old friends.
"Hey boy, what's your name" she laughed. She loved dogs and she was certainly welcoming the kisses. After all, this was the most intimate contact she had in a long time.
"I am so sorry! Charlie get over here" Callie heard a stern but soft voice yell after the dog. Looking up, she watched as a petite blonde woman came running towards them as the dog retreated towards his owner. Callie's immediately lost track of any thoughts in her head as her eyes were met with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. She felt breath hitched as she stared at the woman. She was miraculously stunning. Her hair was golden like the sun and her beach outfit showed her long legs that went on for miles. She was snapped out of her daydream when she saw an arm stretched out to help her up from the sand. "I am really sorry. He normally doesn't go running off like that" the blonde said.
Taking the blonde's hand, Callie felt a rush of heat rising through her chest and landing on her cheeks at the feel of soft skin under the palm of her hand. She suddenly felt nervous, yet excited at the same time. What is with you Callie snap out of it she thought to herself. Gaining some composure back she smiled at the blonde "it's okay. Really. I certainly wasn't expecting it but your dog seems nice" she said as she reached back down to pet Charlie. Seeing the flustered blonde woman standing in front of her she noticed that her smile was still stretched across her face. The warmth in her chest and cheeks didn't go away.
"You're bleeding" the blonde said grabbing Callie's arm for a second time. As if the first time they touched didn't send heat pulsing through the brunette, the second touch sent her over the edge. Callie wasn't sure she could take much more being in this close proximity with the beautiful blonde.
"It's fine. Really" she looked down watching crimson liquid ooze out of a long gash on her arm. It was certainly not in her plan to get hurt during her adventures into the wild, but the scrape didn't look too bad.
Hearing the dog whine, she heard the blonde speak down at the dog "Damnit Charlie. What has gotten into you?" Seeing blue eyes meet hers once again, the blonde continued to apologize. "I am really, really sorry. Why don't we head over to my car so that I can clean it off and stich you up if you need it?" she asked. Callie tilted her head in confusion. "Oh, right. You don't know. I am not some crazy person that has suture kits in her car for fun" she laughed "I am a doctor and I have supplies that I keep with me just in case. Well not really an adult doctor, but a pediatric surgeon, but I could still stich your arm up if you would like? I didn't even think to myself that you didn't know that about me because, well, let's face it, everyone in this town knows everyone and I just thought…"
The blonde was rambling. With every word that came out of the blonde's mouth, Callie felt herself being pulled in more and more, but hearing the word doctor, Callie immediately froze. Stiffing at the realization that Callie was developing feelings for the blonde on sight, she pulled her arm back from the blonde's grasp and stepped backwards. "I…I will be fine. You have a nice dog. It was nice meeting you" Callie said as she turned back towards her car, leaving the blonde standing there staring.
Two days later, she found herself still in the small down of Beaufort, North Carolina, population just over 4,000 people. She had expected to just pass through the town, but the peacefulness of the beach and the quietness of the town enticed her to stay a little while longer. She was staying in a small beachfront cottage she found on one of those online rental sites that was absolutely perfect and no neighbors in sight and within walking distance to the town center. She had decided this was where she wanted to stay for a while before continuing on her drive.
That evening, she decided to go to the local grocery store to stock up on food and wine. The store was empty, just like pretty much everything else in town and when she got to the checkout counter, she rang the bell to summon the store clerk. Looking through her purse she heard a familiar voice from behind her. "I don't have my dog with me this time to maul you" the blonde from the beach said as she stepped around the counter.
Callie was dumbfounded, completely shocked that a pediatric surgeon would be working at the town grocery store. "What…"
Choosing to ignore the stunned look on the brunette's face, the blonde continued "Are you just passing through or are you staying here for a while?"
Callie was once again lost in the stunning blue eyes that were locked into her brown orbs. "I'm not sure yet" she managed to squeak out breaking eye contact to continue to search through her purse for money.
"Your arm looks like it's healing well. You didn't have to go see Dr. Anthony to get stitches, I would have done them at my car" the blonde said reaching for the brunette's arm, only to have her pull back.
"I didn't" Callie said sharply. Quickly changing the subject "How much do I owe you?" she asked.
"Ummm that I will be $47.68."
Callie pulled her debit card out of her wallet and handed it to the blonde.
"Oh. I'm sorry. We are cash only" she heard the blonde say.
Looking down into her wallet, she only had two $20 bills. "Shit. Okay, is there an ATM around?"
"Well there is one at the bank, but it is only open between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. I'm sorry."
"No its fine. I didn't think. I'll put back the wine and the box of cereal."
"Just, pay me tomorrow" she heard the blonde reply. "I mean, I trust you won't skip town and not pay me $7.68" she laughed.
Callie's heart was melting with every second she was standing in front of the blonde. She had never felt this way before about a complete stranger. Knowing that she had to come back to see the blonde tomorrow made her pulse race and her heart pound in her chest. Shaking the thought out of her head and keeping calm, she simply nodded and replied "tomorrow."
Grabbing the brown paper bag full of groceries, she thanked the blonde and made her way out into the warm night's air. Hearing the ding of the door to the store opening behind her she also heard the blonde yell out "Calliope" stopping her dead in her tracks. She hated when people called her that, but hearing it come from the blonde sent a slight shiver up her spine and sent her thoughts into overdrive.
"You forgot your debit card" she said running up towards brunette. Turning around to face her, she was met once again with beautiful blue eyes and an outstretched hand with a small orange plastic hard in her grasp. "Here you go" she said.
Callie reached up and briefly brushed her finger along the blonde's hand when she took back her debit card, confirming the feelings that were growing inside her for the blonde. Clearing her throat she whispered "thank you. Not like it can do me much good tonight though" she laughed which triggered the blonde to laugh with her.
"Yeah unfortunately being in a small town doesn't have the infrastructure to support credit cards in every location, although we are getting better. Before you know it, we will have a credit card machine at Joe's bar. Then things will really get wild around here" she said sarcastically, her smile growing wide exposing her dimples on her face.
Callie picked up the blonde's tone and couldn't help but laugh. Dimples. The blonde had dimples. Were they there the other day at the beach? Callie thought to herself. Not only was the blonde breathtaking, but she had dimples. Callie's weakness. Shaking her head to snap back into reality, she smiled back at the blonde. "Thank you. I better be getting back before it gets too dark to see" she said turning around.
"Arizona."
Callie turned around to look at the blonde.
"My name is Arizona" the blonde said sheepishly.
Callie smiled, "It's nice to meet you, Arizona" she said as she turned and walked down the street, thinking about the blonde the entire way.