Summary: A/U: At age 17, Arizona feels lost, humiliated, and alone. Everything she once believed in slowly died, just like the soul within her. Trying to figure out how to cope in such an unfair universe, she encounters a gorgeous brunette that just may bring back a gleam of sand in it.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. All belong to the talented Shonda Rhimes.
The Sweetest Sand
Chapter II: If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all
A day later after her encounter with the beautiful Latina, Arizona found herself spending her Saturday trying to block out the noise caused by her parents yelling at each other and concentrated on the book she borrowed from the library, The Unspoken Pain of Abortion. Arizona was looking at her options considering she now had a fetus growing inside of her although it scared the complete shit out of her. But it was hard to do when all she could hear was her parents debating with anotherscreaming match.
Arizona closed her eyes tight trying to transcend into a universe where not everything was falling into pieces. Somewhere where she could read mystery books and truly enjoy it; anywhere different from where she found herself at the moment.
Upon hearing her father yell that he was tired of her mother's shit once again and the slam of the front door, her mother screaming back saying that if he left, he better not come back, Arizona knew it was time to put her book away and wait for it.
Not even five minutes later, her mother stormed into the room and took a seat by her desk.
"What's going on?" asked Arizona neutrally, already knowing what would be said.
This fucking asshole, she knew her mother would say.
"This fucking asshole!" her mother all but yelled.
Nailed it.
"You mean dad?" Arizona bit her lip trying not to roll her eyes at the story she knew was to come.
Do you know what he did, would come next from her mother's mouth.
"Your father is a fucking ungrateful asshole!" her mother responded, "Do you know what he did?" her mother, also known as Barbara, said in a rush.
"Um, no? What happened?" the younger blonde tried to seem interested.
"He sees I'm trying to rest and yet he insists on waking me up to ask if I want something from the market! I'm trying to fucking rest, does it look like I want something from the market?!" Barbara yells exasperated, "Does he not see how tired I am and how stressed I am with work, the house, and your condition?" Barbara says in a rush, "It's like he wants to bring up my blood pressure so I can fucking die already! I swear, Arizona, I am going to have a fucking heart attack if things keep up like this! I'm exhausted! Do you hear me? I am fed up with all this shit!" the older blonde says, now standing up.
Arizona could definitely hear her in that aspect, she was tired too.
"Mom, try to take a breath, you're right! He's being a butthole and trying to take over the little time you have to rest. It's messed up." Arizona tried to say seriously. Truthfully, she didn't agree with her mother. She thought her father was just being kind enough to ask in case her mother really needed something from the market. But, she also knew better than to go against her mother's words, it was always better to just agree with whatever she said - at least most of the time.
"Ah, sweetie. You're like my little therapist." her mother said with a slight smile, "I don't need negative energy like your father, right?"
"Nope, mom. You're all independent." the younger blonde said trying to smile.
"Yeah, you're right. I am independent and strong! I don't need him. We don't need him, right?" Barbara said while getting up ready to leave her daughter's room.
Arizona simply smiled.
"You'll see, sweetheart, I'll change the locks tomorrow and he won't bother us anymore" her mother said with the door almost completely closed.
"You always say that." whispered Arizona, without noticing it slip out.
"What did you say?" her mother opened the door once again, furrowing her brows.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Nothing! Nothing, I was just thinking about a song and started humming to it." Arizona tried to cover her slip.
"A song? So you were thinking about a song while I was talking to you?!" her mother said raising her tone, "Unbelievable!"
"No! Mom, I was listening to you. I just happened to remember a song I head earlier today when you were leaving my room." Arizona said in a rush trying to explain to her mother.
"Bullshit! You weren't listening! No wonder you smiled like an idiot!" her mother said now yelling on her way out the door.
"No! Mom, I- I'm sorry!" Arizona said, now her shoulders slump.
Damn it, she knew better. She knew better than to let little comments slip out; she always got in trouble for it. How could she let it slip out?
"You're just like you're father!" Barbara yelled, slamming the door.
Arizona closed her eyes trying to ease the tension out her body.
When Arizona opened her eyes again, she also heard her father's footsteps entering the house.
She sighed.
Here we go again.
"Where have you been? Leaving in the middle of a discussion! That's the example you're setting for daughter, huh?!" Arizona heard her mom's voice from the distance.
She closed her eyes again waiting for the front door to be shut once again and for her mother to intrude her room again.
Only now she knew better. She would only answer her mother with quick answers, yes, no, and the occasional nod - it was simpler that way.
Besides, her mother always told her: "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all."
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter! I just want you all to get an idea of some of the struggles Arizona is going through.
Arizona's parents won't stop bickering and she is practically her mother's personal therapist, yet she is not able to really give her input. Barbara seems to have some emotional problems, causing her to lie to herself and making Arizona lie also. … How will Arizona deal with all of this on her plate?