Summary : ' Life experiences mold humans into fascinating beings, each and every one of them unique in the making … Yet small changes make big differences, lead to different outcomes … But even then, they'd still find their way to each other '
A/U: First story, second chapter…here it comes…
I hope you'll enjoy reading this one as much as I enjoyed writing it…while I was supposed to be studying really… and that the unusual start and its follow ups won't put you off too much ;" !
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, or sentences or anything seen elsewhere. Those belong to their creators.
ChapterTwo
'I'm losing my freaking mind '
She pounded her pillow for the millionth time, trying to get comfortable. It still didn't work. Huffing, she got up, went to get a glass of water, 'or whatever the hell I can find'. She raided the fridge and yet she still couldn't find anything interesting enough to munch on. Sometimes Jose, their chef was too good at his job, and with that reminder she knew nothing could be done. Her parents weren't even a possibility for her to get help from, especially at three in the morning. She bit her lower lip uncertainly.
'Dare I ? ' Her stomach churned and she knew she had no choice.
The house was dark, the moonlight providing some illumination as she walked familiar passageways. She stopped outside her final "door" destination and listened. Complete utter silence.
It was a cool evening and she was barefoot in cotton pajama bottoms and a tank. She shivered a little, sorry now she hadn't taken the time to grab a wrap or at least put on a pair of shoes. She knocked softly, scowling when the sound echoed. This is insane. Her resolve strengthened. She turned the door knob and pushed the door open. It was pitch black.
'What am I doing ? '
-"Roberto ? " She called out, her voice so low she wasn't sure she'd said anything out loud.
'Louder, stupid… '
"Roberto ?" She heard some rustling and then he appeared in front of her.
-"Is there a problem Calliope ?" He rasped out sleepy, chocolate eyes scanning her body for any injury.
-"No, no I- just-… you know I get stomach ache when I'm stressed out and-" She rambled, she felt stupid and childish.
Strong hands grabbed her by her shoulders and guided her to the queen sized bed in the room. A click signaled that the door was closed. Turning a bedside lamp on, Roberto sat in front of her, took her hands in his bigger ones gently, his eyes meeting hers as the room now brightened with a yellowish glow.
She felt a blush creep up her cheeks. One minute she was standing on the hallway, two seconds later she was sitting on his mattress, sheets in disarray, with her hands clasped in her school girl's crush with his face barely inches away from hers. A face etched with such concern she felt a stab of guilt in the pit of her stomach.
Throughout her early childhood, this man was the one she went to when she was hungry, hurt or had any problem…everything. He took such care of her in a house where her parents were barely present and where the staff was always renewed, but Roberto wasn't. He'd always been there, managing everything, a special kind of butler…One hell of a butler… and now, in her awkward socially inept teenage life she developed a crush the size of the Himalaya on him. Late thirties, born from a Cuban mother and an American father, Roberto had drawn the 'good' short stick and inherited all their good genes with his flawless features. He was tall with wavy brown hair, a strong jaw and soulful chocolate eyes.
'And shirtless at the moment,'
-"You don't seem to be physically injured, so tell me … what's bothering my favorite girl ?" He squeezed her hand and smiled warmly at her. She blushed at his words, Smooth talker too, but as quickly as she registered his question she frowned.
-"I'm tired Roberto, why are my parents never here when they're supposed to ? I mean yeah they're working, but…. We're so-…lonely" She briefly stopped her rant, eyes wide " I…not lonely because you're here obviously but, it's only you and…" She was babbling, her words making no sense but she couldn't seem to stop herself. She'd always lost control of her mouth when frustrated or anxious and now she just felt stupid and needy.
-"Go on !" He nudged her, an encouraging look on his face, "Keep going." And going on she did.
-"Aria… She told me something last night " She hesitantly drew closer to him, unconsciously asking for comfort he didn't hesitate to give as he brought one of his hands around her.
-"She told me that… She didn't care if mom and dad were home or not and that she didn't need them because they might as well not be her parents," Her eyes stung, her little sister was sad and lonely and she could do nothing to help ease her suffering.
-Shh, let it out" His tight embrace was it, Callie broke down in sobs.
-"She is young…" Roberto's voice was gentle, calm and confident, a confidence she was in desperate need of, " and so are you Calliope, things will look up, your parents are working so much for you so you could have this kind of life, okay ? They may not show it well but they love you both very much… don't you ever question that" he looked down at her, and she met his gaze, glaring at him.
-"They're never here, Aria is right, parents are supposed to care for you no matter what, they're supposed to teach you and help you through life! When are they going to realize that all of this," She gestured to the lavishly decorated room," Isn't what truly matters ?" Callie's voice broke once again at the end of her speech and she found herself between strong arms, yet again.
-"You see ? They did teach you something,"
-"What ?" She mumbled into his shoulder.
-"They taught you one of the most important lessons you could ever learn from life, money doesn't make happiness." He smiled, "And you know what would take your mind off from this ?" She looked at him then. His rumpled hair, his eyes… his-
-"Calliope ? "
-"Yeah?" She answered, her voice small, his words halting her hazy teenage thoughts, 'and hormones'. He stared at her for a moment then a smile curved his lips. He rose from bed and walked over to his closet, quickly shrugging into a black V-neck sweater. He gestured to his bed.
-"Get in. I'll be back in a minute" The young Latina blinked confused by the whole ordeal.
-"What ? Where are you going?" He raised his eyebrow at her hesitant voice.
-"I have a craving" he smirked.
-"Oh my god, this is so good." She gave a loud moan and squeezed her eyes shut, savoring the sweet treat… a gigantic tub of vanilla ice cream.
'Her favorite'
-"I can see that" He sounded amused, "Are you going to tell me about your other problem now, I recall a complaint about stomach ache."
She shoveled another spoonful into her mouth.
-"A test, nothing else really…"
-"Yeah ? You sure?" he asked unconvinced, his eyes boring into hers. She never really could keep something to herself, she had no filter, especially with this man.
-"It's this guy from chemistry, there's this party and he invited me to it and…"
-"You're afraid to go …" He ventured.
-"Yes," She nodded, eyes on the ground.
-"Then you shouldn't, or better yet, let yourself feel everything, not just your fear but everything. Love unconditionally Calliope, there's nothing better than a person who owns her emotions," She smiled at him, Roberto was her favorite person. He shoved her playfully out of his bed.
-"Now go back to sleep sweetheart, I'm tired and unlike you I didn't stuff myself with sugar to cope with the fatigue."
That night, Calliope Iphigenia Torres slept soundlessly in her bed, thoughts about her fear of rejection and frustration at her parent's absence, miles away from her. Roberto had elevated her feelings but at the same time, unknowingly, helped turn her into the kind of person that wore their heart on their sleeves. The very next day, she would despite her fear present herself at that famous party she'd dreaded for weeks and where she would find out that her 'chemistry date' had stood her up, thus marking the beginning of what she would much later on in her life come to refer to as " The cursed Torres love life ".
A/N: First story, second chapter done! I am having so much fun writing out past memories, small meaningful moments in Arizona's and Callie's life. Things don't seem much different at the moment and for now that's okay .I'll try posting the next one as quickly as I can… I make no promises : 3 !