I Guess I have a Thing for Blondes
Chapter 4
Arizona pulled up to Callie's house right at 8pm. She was about to get out and knock on the door when she saw Callie open the door and walk out. She was wearing a long Burberry trench coat and Arizona couldn't help but gawk at how amazing she looked.
"You look…" They both started at the same time once Callie sat down.
"You go." Arizona said laughing.
"I was going to say, you look gorgeous." She blushed.
"And I was going to say you look amazing."
"And you haven't even seen what's under the jacket yet!" Callie said with a huge smile.
"Ooh, I can't wait!" Arizona replied stepping on the gas pedal.
"Sorry I didn't invite you in. I have a roommate that can be…a little…critical we'll say, sometimes and I didn't want to subject you to that on our first date."
"Oh. Ok, that's a relief." She laughed.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I was just about to get out and knock on your door, greet you properly, maybe see your apartment, when I saw you come rushing out. I wasn't sure if maybe you just didn't want me to see your place or what."
"No, no. I'd love for you to see my place just preferably when Christina isn't in it." She said with a laugh.
"Christina? As in Yang?" Arizona said surprised.
"Yeah. I take it you two have met."
"Not formally, but I have heard her speak to a few interns and she doesn't come across as being very warm and fuzzy to put it lightly." She laughed. "And, I heard she calls me Roller Girl?" Arizona questioned. Callie just about choked on her laughter.
"How did you know that?"
"Overheard her talking to that doctor that you were speaking to earlier at the nurses' station."
"Oh, Meredith Grey?"
"I guess." Arizona shrugged.
"Well, they're pretty much inseparable, and that's just Yang. She's really not that bad once you get to know her, but you can see now why I thought it was best that I just met you outside." Callie laughed.
"I agree." She said as she parked her Lincoln Navigator in the parking lot of a five star restaurant called Les Fleurs Et Les Etoiles.
"By the way, I meant to say this earlier but then we ended up talking about Christina, nice car!" She said with true appreciation. Arizona grinned from ear to ear as she got out and walked to Callie's side of the car to help her out.
"Thank you. It was my gift to myself when I became head of PEDS at my old hospital. I love it!" She looped her arm through Callie's as they walked into the restaurant.
"Do you have a reservation?" The snooty sounding doorman said in a thick French accent.
"Yes, we do. It's under Robbins."
"Ah, yes, I see it here. Table for two. Follow me." They followed him, arms still linked together. They were seated in a little table in the corner of the restaurant. They were close to the fireplace, but not so close that it would be uncomfortably hot. There were candles set up in the middle of the table and it was just the right amount of seclusion. Callie pulled out Arizona's chair for her before sitting down across from her. "You're waiter will be right over ladies." He then bowed slightly before walking away.
"This place is so nice Arizona! I can't believe I've never been here before. I've lived here most of my life and you've been here a week, how did you find it?"
"Haven't you heard of Google?" Arizona laughed, then reached over across the table and held Callie's hand. "Thank you for saying yes to this. I'm really glad you did." She gently ran her thumb across Callie's hand, unknowingly sending pleasant shivers throughout her body. Callie tried to keep her composure. Just keep talking, you'll be fine. She thought to herself.
"You Googled to find this place? Really?"
"Well, I realized last night after I'd asked you out, that I don't know Seattle and therefore wouldn't have a clue where to take you! And since I did the asking, I wanted to plan the date. So, I typed five star restaurants in Seattle into Google and read reviews. This place had the highest rating and the best reviews so I called and booked a reservation right away." Callie thought it was sweet that Arizona went to this much trouble to make their first date special. Before she had the chance to say anything in response, the waiter walked over to their table.
"Good evening ladies. May I get you anything to drink to start? A bottle of wine perhaps?" He was young, probably mid twenties. He looked like an Abercrombie and Fitch model.
"Yes, just one second." She looked at Callie, "Do you have a wine preference?"
"Not really. Whatever you order I'm sure I'll like." Callie smiled.
"I'll get a bottle of Folonari Valpolicella please." Arizona said without taking her eyes off of Callie for more than a second. The waiter nodded and walked away.
"I was going to say before that I think it's adorable that you took the time to Google a restaurant, find the best one and plan this whole night. Very romantic." She squeezed Arizona's hand. For the first time since they met, she saw Arizona blush. It was just a tinge of pink across her cheek bones but Callie could see it even in the subtle lighting of the candles.
"Thank you, Calliope."
"So, not that I mind, but why do you always call me Calliope?"
"I don't know, I just really like it." She shrugged her shoulders. "If you don't like it I'll stop and just call you Callie." She almost looked disappointed at the thought of that.
"It's funny, usually I hate it when people call me that. The only people who get away with it are my parents and even then it annoys me." She watched Arizona's face fall a bit. "But when you say it it's different. It sounds nice when you say it, so no, don't stop calling me Calliope." She ran her thumb in tiny circles on Arizona's hand as she was speaking. Arizona smiled.
"Okay, I won't. I'm glad you like it when I say it." At that moment, the waiter returned and poured their wine.
"Have you decided what you would like to order?" They'd barely had a chance to look at the menu but had both managed to quickly decide while he was pouring their wine.
"Yes, I would like the Sole Almondine with steamed vegetables and rice." Arizona ordered.
"I'll have the Sirloin Steak, also with steamed vegetables and rice. Medium-Well please." Callie said when it was her turn.
"Excellent, I will return with your meals." He then walked away, leaving them in peace once more.
"So, Arizona. That's a fairly original name."
"Yeah, it is. I hated it growing up. People always teased me about it. And before you ask, no my parents didn't name me after the state." She laughed and took a sip of her wine.
"So what were you named after?"
"The USS Arizona. It's a battleship that my grandfather served on. I actually like my name now, it's an honour to be named for him."
"So is your family a big military family?"
"It is. Having pride for your country is like a religion for my father. Most of my family has served at some point. I think my dad was more upset that I didn't join up than the fact I was a lesbian." She laughed again. "What about you? What's your family like?"
"Well, we're originally from Mexico, moved here when I was 5. My father is an extremely strict Catholic and so therefore doesn't know I'm gay at this point. I figure when it's serious with someone then I'll tell him. There's no point in giving my father a heart attack right now."
"I can understand that. As long as you plan on coming out to him eventually though right?"
"Right." They chatted a bit more about their families and the crazy things they did growing up. When their food arrived, they ate in pleasant silence and every so often one of them would gently run their foot up and down the other's calf. Every time Arizona did this, Callie had to try hard not to choke on her food or let Arizona see just how much she was affecting her. Callie didn't know it, but Arizona was feeling the same way every time Callie did it to her. After they finished their meal, the waiter came and asked them if they wanted dessert.
"No thank you." Arizona replied politely. "Just the check will be fine." Callie thought for one panicked moment that she was trying to cut the night short. "I'm not trying to end our date now if that's what you're thinking." She said as if reading Callie's mind. "I just have something better in mind." She said with a wink. Callie thought that if Arizona was suggesting what she was thinking she was, she wouldn't complain, but she also was really hoping to take things slow and get to really know the blonde. After Arizona paid the bill, refusing to even let Callie contribute, they walked out arm in arm and got into Arizona's SUV. Callie held Arizona's hand as she drove and they just sat quietly. After a few minutes Callie's curiosity got the better of her.
"So, where are we going?" Arizona just smiled her fabulous smile.
"You'll see when we get there."
"That's all you're going to give me isn't it?" Callie asked impatiently.
"Patience, Calliope Torres. You'll know soon enough. We're almost there." They drove for another few minutes and ended up at a lovely beach complete with boardwalk. There was a little ice cream parlour at one end. Arizona parked right beside it. "Told you what I had planned would be better than sitting there for dessert." Callie mentally kicked herself for letting her mind stray into the gutter like that, and for even thinking Arizona would put out on the first date!
"I agree, this is so much better. " They walked into the shop together and after reviewing the flavours stepped up to the counter. "What are you getting Ari?"
"I'm gonna get one scoop chocolate chip cookie dough and one scoop of rocky road." The man behind the counter heard her and started making the cone. "What about you Calliope?"
"Hmmm…I think I'm gonna get one scoop of pralines and cream and one of chocolate chip cookie dough too."
"Nice choice!" They grabbed their ice creams and then decided to walk arm in arm along the boardwalk. "So back there." She motioned to the ice cream shop. "You called me Ari."
"Oh! I'm sorry! Do you not like being called that?"
"It's not that, it's just no-one's ever called me that before and I just kinda liked the sound of it coming from you."
"Oh. What do people usually call you?"
"Either my whole name, or Zona. Sometimes Zoni." Suddenly she stopped walking stared at Callie and started laughing.
"What?" No answer. "What?!" Callie was wondering what the hell she did that suddenly made Arizona burst out laughing like that.
"You have a glob of ice cream on your nose!" She said once she was able to contain herself a bit more.
"Oh." Callie had never felt more embarrassed. Except for when she was the LAST to know about her ex-husband George's affair with Izzy but that was an entirely different issue. Before she could attempt to wipe it off, Arizona had leaned in and gently kissed her nose, taking the ice cream with her.
"There, all clean." Arizona said quietly but didn't move away. She no longer felt like laughing. Callie felt the proximity and this time, unlike the night in the bar, she decided to do something about it. She leaned in closing the remaining gap between them and gently grazed Arizona's lips with her own. She felt her lean in a bit more and applied a bit more pressure. Arizona parted her lips slightly and Callie took the opportunity to slip her tongue into her mouth. When she did, she heard her let out the tiniest of moans and so she deepened the kiss. They kissed for a few minutes, standing in the middle of the boardwalk, ice cream cone in one hand, the other hand resting on the other's waist holding each other close, then they pulled away.
"Wow." Callie said slightly out of breath. Arizona just nodded. "I should get ice cream on my nose more often!" She said causing Arizona to fall into a fit of laughter all over again. They continued to walk along the boardwalk and talk until it was so late, or early depending on how you look at it, that the sun was starting to come up.
"I had a really fantastic time with you tonight Calliope." Arizona said as she dropped Callie off at her front door.
"Me too. I hope we can do it again sometime."
"Definitely." Arizona leaned in and gave Callie a gentle kiss before she stepped down off the step towards her car. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Ari." Callie grinned and then let herself into the apartment. Once inside the apartment she paused for a minute and leaned against the door.
"Well, someone was out late." Christina said as she wandered into the kitchen to make a coffee. She was working the early shift that day.
"Mmhmm." Was all Callie could say, still smiling.
"So, Roller Girl isn't as innocent as she looks?" Christina said with a wink.
"It wasn't like that. We talked." She paused. "And kissed, but nothing else happened."
"Are you going out with her again?"
"Yep. Anyway, I'm going to bed so I can sleep a bit before I have to go in. I'll see ya later Christina." Callie practically floated down the hall to her bedroom, stepped out of her dress and climbed in between the sheets. She smiled to herself as she drifted off into the most pleasant sleep she'd had in a very long time.
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