A/N: The next couple of chapters are going to be all flashback to explain the entire story. So even though I'm not putting it in italics, just know that it is a flashback and isn't present day. For timeline purposes, in the past, Callie and Arizona are 18 and 20 years old, in the present they are 33 and 35 respectively.

Chapter 3

It had been a week since Callie had met Arizona. Since that day, their interactions had been mostly limited to awkward hellos and short exchanges of pleasantries. If Callie was honest with herself, she had been avoiding the blonde, hoping somehow that her feelings would disappear. She knew it was ridiculous, but for some reason Callie was infatuated. Her heart sped up whenever those blue eyes locked on to hers, her head turned at the sound of that voice, and her excitement spiked whenever those blonde curls were anywhere near her. Yet, Callie couldn't seem to articulate exactly why she was so attracted to the blonde. After all, it had been one conversation, but all it had taken was that one conversation for Callie to feel alive again.

"I'm Mark." A tall dirty blonde guy held out his hand to Callie, while looking up and down her body appreciatively.

"And I'm not going to screw you."

"Was I asking you to?"

"No, but your eyes were."

"Can't a gentleman say hello to a pretty girl? Get to know her name maybe?"

"If it's a name you're fishing for Mark, my name's Callie."

"See now that wasn't so hard was it?" Mark studied Callie for a couple of seconds before continuing, "It's not nice to stare at people, even if they are as hot as blondie over there."

"I wasn't staring." Callie retorted, her gaze never leaving Arizona.

"No, I was wrong. You're drooling. And you've been doing it all week. She's probably creeped out."

Callie nodded vaguely at whatever Mark was jabbering on about. Why couldn't she admire a hot girl? Oh, that's right, not all hot girls appreciate being checked out by other girls. Not all hot girls were gay. In fact, now that Callie thought about it, why would Arizona be gay? All the hottest ones were straight. Suddenly Arizona got up from where she was sitting and began walking towards Callie and Mark. Callie quickly averted her eyes to avoid being caught gawking.

"Callie."

"Hey Arizona."

"Can we talk?" Arizona's eyes flicked over to Mark's form. "In private?"

"Yeah, sure…" Callie glanced back at Mark semi-apologetically before allowing herself to be dragged away by Arizona.

"Can you stop staring at me like that? It's flattering, yes. But what you may not realize Callie, is that you're leading me on. I'm gay and when you, a hot straight girl, start staring at me like you're undressing me constantly, it makes me want to do crazy things to you. And those feelings…well it'd be better for both of us if I just repressed them. So you need to stop. Right now. Or – "

Arizona's words were cut off when Callie stepped forward, closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to Arizona's. Callie's hands snaked around finding their resting place on Arizona's hips and Arizona began threading her fingers through Callie's hair. Then Arizona placed her hand on Callie's shoulder, pushing their lips apart again. Foreheads resting against each other's they stayed standing, bodies pressed together, until their breathing had evened out.

"What is this?" Arizona asked, her eyes looking up into Callie's deep brown ones.

"Whatever we want it to be." Callie answered softly, stroking Arizona's hair.

Arizona placed a chaste kiss on Callie's cheek, before threading her fingers through Callie's fingers.

"You know Callie, I'd like a girl to ask me on a date before she kisses me senseless." Arizona grinned a glint in her eye.

"Well then, Arizona Robbins, will you go on a date with me?" Callie laughed pulling Arizona close to her.

"I don't know, Callie, I'm pretty busy with this whole wilderness thing…"

It had been two weeks. Two incredibly blissful and wonderful weeks. After being sent off into the wilderness by their guides, the groups had begun the process of getting to know each other. Callie learned that the red-head Addison had come to escape her parents and their lies, Mark had come to 'meet chicks', the silent one Alex had come to escape the horrors of his home, and Teddy had come just as a way to have fun.

Addison and Mark provided the most entertainment with their near constant bickering and playful teasing. Mark had teased Addison for a full week about her decision to bring Prada pumps on the trip and had only stopped when Addison had discovered multiple grey patches peppering his blonde hair. Both Teddy and Alex were more reserved, keeping mostly to themselves. Still, they did not isolate themselves from the group. They were merely bystanders rather than active participants.

There was something about nature that just seemed to bring out the friendliest in people. Or maybe it was the idea that they would all be together for the next month (already nearly a month had passed) and that there was no escape. It would be quite awkward to piss off the people you had to live, sleep, and eat with 24 hours every day.

Callie felt thin arms wrap around her waist from behind and a head nestle into the shallow depression between her shoulder blades.

"Hey Callie."

"Hey yourself."

"Whatcha doing?"

"Thinking. About you." Callie could feel Arizona shifting uncomfortably behind her and heard Arizona sigh. "I don't know anything about you."

"What do you want to know about me?"

"Anything. Everything."

"I'm a marine brat, I was raised on military bases all over the world. I have had a couple of girlfriends. I don't know what love is. I study biochemisty at Stanford. My favorite food is pizza because it's delivered. I can't cook because I won't learn how. And I don't usually share information about myself, but since my girlfriend asked me to, I guess I will." There was a pregnant pause as both women processed Arizona's use of the word 'girlfriend'.

"Shit. I'm sorry. I assumed. I should never assume." Arizona had now completely disengaged herself from Callie and was moving quickly back to the campsite. She was still muttering under her breath berating herself when Callie sidled up to her.

"I like the sound of girlfriend."

"Callie…"

"No, I'm serious Arizona. I want this to be serious. I want to be your girlfriend."

"Callie, you're not obligated to say that just because I was stupid and blurted it out."

"Ari. Listen to me. I want to be a couple. I want to care about you: to be your girlfriend. I really like you."

Arizona stopped, turned to Callie and kissed her.

"I really like you too."

Callie smiled as she looped her arms around Arizona's, erm, her girlfriend's waist.

"Stop it Mark!" Addie squealed as Mark chased her around the fire trying to grab her sides and tickle her.

"Stop what Addie?" Mark retorted, mocking her.

"Ah, young love." Teddy deadpanned grinning at Arizona and Alex.

"You're just jealous Teddy." Addie laughed as she attempted to use Alex as a human shield.

Teddy turned to Arizona who was watching Callie clean dishes on the other side of the campsite.

"You really like her don't you?" Arizona nodded, continuing to stare at Callie. "What happens after you go back to civilization?"

Arizona tore her eyes from Callie's form to look at Teddy. "I don't know. We haven't talked about it. She keeps seeming like she wants to bring it up but I stop her every time."

"Why?"

"It's comfortable right now. We're doing good. We're having fun. And bringing serious stuff into a summer fling isn't really on the top of my to-do list Teddy."

"You sure that this is only a summer fling Arizona? Cause the way you talk about her? That's not how summer flings talk about each other." With that Teddy got up leaving Arizona to ponder her relationship.

Soon the moon had risen, illuminating the deep navy sky. The antics had ceased long ago and now they sat, huddled around one side of the fire watching the flames rise and flicker.

"It's nine o-clock on a Saturday…" Callie began.

"The regular crowd shuffles in…" Arizona and Teddy joined in.

"There's an old man sitting next to me…" Mark and Addison continued.

"Makin' love to his tonic and gin…" Alex finished.

Soon they were all swaying and singing together, everything from Billy Joel to Death Cab for Cutie. Their arms wrapped around each other, they sang and joked and laughed together until the fire sputtered out.

A/N2: My longest chapter yet! Reviews are greatly appreciated. Ideas for plot are also greatly appreciated (though I have a general idea where this story is going, but if there is a scene or something you want to see, feel free to suggest).

Thanks for reading!

-A.R.K.-