Even on the best of days, Arizona's Library Management class was tough to endure. Professor Stark was boring, long-winded, and terribly uninspiring. Arizona chewed on her pen and let her mind drift to strawberry smoothies, and a certain Latina barista who made them. She wondered if Callie would be in the café when class ended in about an hour.
Arizona found herself sneakily trying to pack away her things as the minutes ticked on and the lecture almost at an end. She was the first student out of the door, awkwardly trying to stuff papers into her notebook while simultaneously cramming it all into her bag. She crossed the courtyard to the library and waved at a group of students from her Library Science class gathered at the balcony as she hurried to the café. She smoothed her hair absently as she loitered outside, just out of view of the counter. She's gotten here so quickly that she'd beaten the post-class rush. But the hordes of students would be arriving any second now.
"You're early today."
Arizona almost yelped and dropped her backpack as Callie appeared from behind her, dressed casually in dark wash jeans, silky purple blouse with a slouchy neckline, and black ballet flats. Her outfit was completed by a badass looking black leather jacket, her purse slung casually on one shoulder. Her dark hair was held back by two bobby pins, one at each temple, while the rest flowed past her shoulders, down her back. Today, she wore a pair of silver teardrop-shaped earrings. Her lipstick of choice was bright red, as usual. She looked positively delicious. Hmm, she keeps tabs on what time I come here for my smoothie fix too.
"You scared me."
Callie's only reply was a devilish grin.
"Yeah, I just finished my Management class. Looks like I beat the onslaught."
"Yep, I usually take my afternoon break right before the 4pm rush, but I just got here today. What kind of management are you studying? Are you a business major?" Callie held the door open for Arizona as they walked together into the café.
"No, I'm doing Library Science."
"Oh, are you a graduate student? That's a master's program, right?"
Arizona nodded as she followed Callie up to the counter. "That's right. Finally got the guts to quit my job and go back to school. I just started this semester. New career time."
"Wow, that takes a whole lot of guts. You must tell me about your previous life sometime."
Arizona adjusted the shoulder strap of her backpack as Callie moved behind the counter and tapped a girl on her back. "Lexie, please give Arizona here a number seven – Strawberry Sensation – with chia seeds. I'm going round back to change." Callie whispered something in Lexie's ear; the barista with dirty blonde hair called Lexie nodding at Arizona and smiling. "Coming right up."
Callie winked as she moved to the back of the counter where there was a wooden swing door labelled 'Staff Only.'
"I'll see you around, Arizona."
Arizona waved Callie goodbye with one hand as the other held out a five dollar bill to the barista at the cash register.
"The boss lady says to put it on her tab," said Lexie, waving away her money.
Arizona was taken aback and tried to refuse, but Lexie was adamant.
Arizona waited by the pickup counter for her smoothie, feeling a little guilty about getting another free drink, but also pretty excited. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered crazily as she contemplated the situation. What did these free smoothies mean?
To her disappointment, Callie didn't reappear from behind the 'Staff Only' door while she was still there. Arizona couldn't exactly be hanging around, so she left.
That night, while she was making her dinner of mac and cheese - Kraft's, out of a box, obviously; Arizona wasn't much of a cook – she called Tim.
"So then she gave me another free smoothie. That's the second one, Tim!"
"No, I don't know what it means."
"How is it you're slow picking up the cues from this one? She's obviously into you, duh!" Tim retorted, to the sounds screaming, then crying, in the background.
"Uh, is this a bad time? Should I just text you later?"
"Yeah, I think Liam just hit Hannah with his Superman toy. I'm going to have to go check on her. But come on, seriously. She's trying to win your affection, Z! She remembers your order, even your booster! And she wants to hear about your past life and your boring degree."
"My degree is not boring!" Arizona yelled back, hoping to be heard over the din of her niece's screams.
"Ok I have to quieten Hannah down before she screams herself hoarse again like last time. This conversation isn't over, though. I'll call you later."
Ten minutes later, as Arizona read her assignments over her boxed gourmet meal, her phone dinged.
Tim: I think you should throw yourself at her. Make passionate love to her on the counter of the café. The chocolate syrup and whipped cream are already there.
Arizona cringed. Tim could be such a pig.
But the mental image he'd conjured up was… distracting.
Interesting.
Arizona: You're not helping. I'm asking for advice.
*ding*
Tim: You don't need advice. You've got game. You just need to figure out if this is a chance you're willing to take.
Arizona: What if I'm reading the signs wrong?
*ding*
Tim: If you called it wrong, then you just can't show your face around there for a while and have to go get your smoothie fix elsewhere. If you called it right, well you could have free smoothies for the rest of your life! And so much more ;)
Arizona rolled her eyes. Pig though he may be, Tim had a point. One free smoothie Callie claims she accidentally made could have been just her lucky day. But twice?
Arizona: I don't want to be the creepy customer she writes a post on Facebook about me hitting on her, you know?
*ding*
Tim: Take it slow, sis. Go when it's not so busy and see if you can catch her for a short chat. Talk about non-creepy stuff. See if she sends you more signals.
*ding*
Tim: You know this stuff.
She paused. She did. She had game.
*ding*
Tim: By the way, since she works in a café, maybe she knows how to cook so you won't starve to death.
Arizona: Hey, I can cook! As long as it comes out of a box, or a jar.
Arizona: You're such an ass. But thanks T-man. Bye.
She threw down her phone in a huff.
She had no problems getting girls in the past.
But what was it about Callie that made her so nervous and making her feel so off her game?
One thing was certain though – Arizona knew that she wanted to get to know the woman better.
Arizona took her time leaving class the next day. She had a question to ask the professor about her next assignment, and she had to wait for the rest of the class to leave. For once, she didn't mind the professor's long-windedness. She'd let him ramble on, and hopefully by the time she got to the café, the 4pm rush would have subsided. Then she'd casually saunter up to the counter and impress Callie with her smooth talk and overall sex appeal. She'd even put on one of her favourite shirts that day – a deep blue long-sleeved shirt which made her eyes pop, dark skinny jeans, and black booties (she'd undo another button on her walk to the café). And she'd put on some light make up this morning.
Arizona waited as long as she could before heading to the door, but then she realised to her dismay that it was pouring with rain outside. The normally bright sky was overcast with big, grey clouds today, and rain was pouring in sheets. People were running between buildings, holding their bags overhead while their clothes got soaked and clung to their skin. A clap of thunder reverberated through the halls. Even though the library steps were only about fifty yards from where she stood, there was no way she was going to make it there without getting drenched. The rain wasn't going to do her curls any favours either. She'd actually made an effort today.
It was now or never. If she waited any longer she would encounter another big rush close to 5pm, and she wouldn't get to talk to Callie at all. Also, Arizona was willing to bet that as a result of the cold downpour, many students would be making a beeline to the café for a warm beverage.
She felt clumsy, ungraceful and completely uncoordinated as she darted across the courtyard with her bag banging against her side and the rain falling down hard around her. Arizona ducked between the pillars and paused to catch her breath on the front steps of the library. Her shoes squelched, her damp shirt clung to her limply, and the legs of her jeans were wet and muddied. Also, these boots weren't meant for running. She didn't dare think what her hair must look like. She shook her hands to get the excess water off them, and she went inside, dripping, just like everybody else. Those lucky enough to have umbrellas shook them vigorously outside and stamped their feet before moving deeper into the library.
She headed up the stairs towards the café. It was mercifully quiet. Callie was refilling sugar packets and napkins. She looked up when she heard the door open. She smiled a genuine, welcoming smile when she saw Arizona.
Arizona felt a fluttering in her chest. Callie looks happy to see me!
