AN: I've had an extremely hard week and I was looking forward to writing and posting this chapter soon, but the drive I kept my writing on broke and I lost everything. I had to retype this entire chapter all over and I'm not sure it's as good as the first draft was. I tried to make it longer and if you haven't read both 7 and 8, you should. Here's this next one.
Chapter 9
Tuesday, December 31st
"I told you, it's not safe to go down there. I'm not going." Owen told me.
Owen, Teddy, Jackson and I were sitting at the kitchen table discussing our route to San Francisco. We decided to send a smaller group down and keep the rest at the mansion. There were marks and arrows on a map in front of us. Derrick had volunteered to stay with Carlos and the girls to make sure the supplies and weapons were protected. I really just wanted Owen's direction and leadership.
"Come on, Owen. You were the last one to see him and you would have the best idea of where he might be." I pleaded.
"It's too dangerous!" he fired back.
"Just Jackson and I will go then!" I stood at the table.
Miranda stormed into the room. "I JUST got that baby to go to sleep. You think you could calm your voices?" She gave us a glare.
"Yeah." I said quietly.
I passed Bailey in the door and went up to the roof for some fresh air. Meredith was sitting in Derrick's arms on one side and Carlos looked off in the distance on the other. I went and sat myself beside the adoring couple.
"Is Owen going with you?" Derrick asked.
I shook my head as a response.
"I'll go with you then."
"Derrick…" Meredith squeezed his arm tighter.
"She's right. This trip is too dangerous; I wouldn't ask you to go."
He grinned with the side of his mouth. "Let me know if you change your mind."
"Alright." I mumbled. They got up and went inside. I stared into the woods behind the house so I didn't notice Carlos walk up behind me.
"I'll go with you."
I turned around. "What?"
"I'll go with you to San Francisco." he said.
"With all due respect Mr. Torres, I wouldn't ask that of you either." I put my attention back to the woods.
"I've been there before and I'm familiar with the area. I'm also good with directions in genereal."
His explanations were true; he traveled all the time and was like a map himself.
"Sir…"
"Arizona? Do you love my daughter?"
His sudden change of subject confused me. "Of course I do, sir." I stuttered.
"I know she loves you and I can tell she picked a keeper. Your leadership and strength have shown me that you're a good person and I trust you with her." I'm not sure I needed his approval for Callie now, but I listened to what he had to say. "I trust that you'll take care of her in the future and not break her heart. I trust you."
"Thanks sir? I'm not planning to break her heart." I wasn't sure what to say.
"Call me Carlos…please."
When I looked up at him, he showed love and honesty. "Callie and Aria are going to be pissed."
"They'll be fine." He assured me.
I stood up. "Thank you sir…uh Carlos."
He nodded and went back to his position on the roof. Callie was not going to like this.
We all were gathered in the living room, sipping on what little alcohol we had left. Jackson sat down beside me and Callie holding the baby girl. We had all taken a part in caring for the baby; there wasn't a set parent figure. Aria did seem to get up at night with her the most though. All the guys learned how to change a diaper and feed her correctly. Avery had taken a liking to her as well. Seeing one of the toughest quarterbacks in Seattle high school football cuddling a baby was a heart-warming sight. He held her so gently and whispered the history of sports as a night-time story. Stephanie was drooling all over herself, but it made me think about Callie. I never thought about have kids or I thought I never really wanted them, but with her I saw it all. I could see us getting married and having our kids running around on a bright green yard. I hope a cure would be found soon so everything would go back to normal and we could start our lives together.
Avery whispered something about his championship win before talking to the group. "Guys, we haven't given her a name yet."
We all mumbled to ourselves. Our main priority was to make sure she stayed healthy, so we didn't set down and think about a name.
"I think Aria is an amazing name." Aria suggested, receiving some dirty looks.
The room remained silent, no one knowing what name to give the baby girl.
Callie spoke up. "It'll come to us. We may not know now, but one of us will look at her and…the name will come."
"So we're going to leave her without a name?" Jackson asked.
"It'll come to us." Callie repeated and took a sip of her drink. I swung my arm around her shoulder and leaned in for a kiss. It lasted longer than I thought, Callie placing her hands on my neck and bumping our noses together and kissing me harder.
"Eww." The whole room moaned.
I dropped my jaw in shock of my friends' response. "Oh. So Callie and I can't make out on the couch, but you can on the roof and on the kitchen counter?" I motioned to Derrick and Meredith then Jackson and Stephanie. Their faces blushed and I nodded. "That's what I thought."
Later, we all moved to the basement where the game room was. The clock on the wall showed that it was almost midnight, almost a new year. Jackson and I were playing pool with Derrick and Owen, Meredith and Stephanie were playing foosball, Jo was at an old arcade game, April was playing pinball with herself, Carlos had went to bed early, and Callie sat at the bar talking to Teddy. I easily noticed her steal glances in my direction often and I returned them.
"Damn it!" That was my only response to Owen landing the eight ball, winning another game for them.
Callie spoke up from her stool at the bar. "You let them beat you again?"
"It's not as easy as it looks." Jackson slurred, the beer and liquor getting the best of him.
"Yeah, why don't you come over here and try it yourself?" I gave her a devilish grin.
"Okay then." She hopped up, came to the table, and grabbed my stick. I took her spot at the bar.
I watched as Callie and Jackson struggled to beat Derrick and Owen. There was something about watching Callie bending over a table multiple times. It may have been the alcohol speaking, but it put dirty thoughts into my head.
"Son of a bitch!" Callie had missed her shot horribly. The other girls gathered to watch and made fun of her whining.
I made my way to the table and grabbed the cue ball, setting it back to where it was. "You're not aiming correctly. You need to take time to aim." I told her.
I put my body behind Callie's and placed my right hand behind her hand on the end of the stick, my left on top of her other hand at the top of the stick. We leaned over the table together and my chin rest above her shoulder. I began to whisper in her ear. "Now pick the ball you want to hit and where you want it to go." She nodded to the one she had missed her first try. I leaned my body closer to her until my chest met her back. "Now point the stick where you need to hit the ball." We moved the stick together. "Then slowly pull back and try not to hit it too hard." Again, our hands moved as one, as if we knew the other's thoughts. We hit the ball and it went straight into the pocket.
"I consider that cheating." Owen said.
"You would have done the same with me so hush." Teddy held onto his arm and patted his chest.
Callie turned around in my arms and smiled. I happened to see the clock at the right time. "Guys, check it out. Five…"
All the couples came together and we counted together with the clock. "Four…three…two…one. Happy New Year's!"
Everyone kissed their significant other.
"You guys are gross, you know that?" April folded her arms in the corner of the room. Jo ran up beside her and took both of the redhead's cheeks in her hands, bringing April's forehead to her lips. It left a smudge of pink lip gloss.
"Happy New Year's April." Jo said as she wiped the smudge off.
"Ew." April scrubbed at her head.
"Goodnight everyone. I'll see you in the morning time!" Jo yelled leaving the room.
Callie laid her hands on my cheeks to get my attention then let them fall on my waist. "You ready for bed?" She whispered to me.
I nodded in response. "Well, I guess we should go to bed…"
"Yeah, you need the rest for your trip." Owen mentioned.
"Thanks for covering my night shifts, Owen."
"It's nothing." He smiled and tipped his beer to me.
Callie grabbed my hand and pulled me up the stairs. We passed Aria sitting on the couch in the living room and went into the kitchen. She handed me a bottle of water from our cooler then got one for herself. I knew I should tell her about Carlos and how he announced himself as our group GPS. She would be upset which would totally kill the buzz we had going.
Out of nowhere, Callie starts dancing in front of me. I'm not sure what she's dancing to because I didn't hear any music. Her hips moved back and forth and she put her hands on my waist, trying to make me mimic her dance. I followed along and began dancing.
"Callie…what are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm dancing with you. I was thinking about all the school dances and trips to the club we're going to miss out on and I really wanted to dance with you. Plus, you're leaving in two days….I wanted to see you dance. You're not so bad."
I think she had a little too much so I continued to follow. "I wouldn't be so good without you. I'm a terrible dancer."
She began to guide me through several moves.
"We could have a…dance party tomorrow…" I was having trouble thinking because Callie started to move closer closer.
"But here, we're all alone." Her voice was low and seductive. Callie's body swirled around pressed her back against me.
I slowly stepped back and turned her to face me. "Callie, I have to tell you something."
"Then tell me." She continued to dance beside me.
Telling her could wait until tomorrow. I wasn't going to pass the opportunity to have an amazing night with my girlfriend. "Forget it."She didn't seem to care at the moment.
I finally lost my patience and pushed Callie back until we bumped into the counter. My hands slid down her legs and once I reached the bottom of her thighs, I lifted her up on the counter then scooted her close to me. She folded her legs around my lower back and pulled me in for a kiss. Hands began to roam and I couldn't take the tension. I pulled her off the counter without breaking our kiss and moved us into the living room and up the stairs, exchanging loving words.
"You guys are gross." Aria said from the couch.
"Mm, we know." We murmured together.
When we reached our room, I opened and closed the door, never letting Callie out of my hands. I continued to move us blindly towards the bed until the back of Callie's legs hit the bed and she laid back, my body hovering over her. She removed her shirt and pulled me down and her hands cupped my ass and brought us as close as we could get. Our lips met for second then I left to kiss her exposed shoulder. I didn't want to stop, but this was going too fast and I didn't want it to be like this so I pulled myself away and fell on my back.
Callie sat up on her side. "Was it…did I do something wrong?" she stuttered.
"No. It's just…" I was scared that I was being too insecure.
"Too much?" she asked.
"I guess. I love you and I would love to have that experience with you, but it's too soon. I'm leaving and I don't want this to be a spare of the moment thing before I go." I kept my eyes set on the ceiling.
"I love you too. We'll just get under our warm blankets and cuddle up?" Her voice was soft and she didn't seem disappointed. Maybe she was on the same page.
"Really?" I observed her face and watched it evolve into a toothy grin that lit up the dark room.
"Yeah. You're right, we shouldn't move this too fast. You are leaving, but I faith that you'll come back safely. I hope." I could tell she was starting to get worried.
"Come on." I pulled back the covers and slid inside. Callie followed, and turned so I could lay my arm around her waist.
"Oh, I think my shirt went in the floor." She sat up and tried to look over the bed.
"There's no need for that." I pulled her into me and rested my chin on her shoulder then dragged my fingers down her bare stomach.
So much was on my mind which made it hard for me to fall asleep. I heard Callie's snoring start followed by the rising and falling of her chest. Thoughts about her dominated my mind and took me into slumber.
Wednesday, January 1st
I could smell the stove working its magic which meant my lady was also working her magic. The kitchen was alive with frying chicken and vegetables. Callie had found a few packs of chicken that were still good and decide to fix a meal for us. She used a lot of supplies, but it was always worth it. Teddy had fixed the neighbor's garden in their back yard and it became a main source of food. Carrots start to become boring after a while; I don't see how rabbits do it.
Callie was at the stove stirring something and dancing to the happy melodies in her head. I walked up behind her quietly and placed the tips of my fingers under the hem of her shirt. I flattened my palms on her sides and tugged until she gave in and fell into my arms.
"Hey sweetness." She said without turning around.
"Sweetness? I am far from sweet. That's just…really?" I scrunched my nose.
Finally, she gave her attention to me. "Yeah, it wasn't the best nickname." Callie rested her arms on my shoulders and came in for a kiss.
"How's everything coming in here?" I looked around at the dishes she was still preparing.
She went back to stirring and cutting. "It's good. Well…I hope it is."
"With you cooking, I'm sure it will be." Things got silent for a moment, the sizzling of the chicken being the only noise. I figured there was no better time to tell her that Carlos was going with us. "Callie?"
"Yes sweetness?" She giggled to herself.
"I need to tell you something." She picked up on the seriousness of my voice.
"Okay." Her eyes met mine.
"We only have one day left together and I don't want you to get upset about this."
"Is it going to make me upset?" Her stare made me nervous.
"Yes, I would think it is upsetting, but just listen."
"Okay." My girlfriend crossed her arms and leaned beside the stove.
"Your father is going with us. Since Owen didn't want to go, your dad said he would."
She didn't say anything.
"He's been there before and he has a great sense of direction. We could really use him."
She nodded her head slowly then went back to cooking.
"Calliope…"
She continued to ignore me.
"You said you wouldn't get upset."
"My girlfriend and now my dad are going a trip to a town filled with diseased people who eat and kill other people, and you don't want me to get upset? Of course I'm going to be upset….and scared and…nervous."
When she finally spun around, tears were coming down her cheeks. I stepped up and cupped her face, rubbing the tears away with the end of my thumbs. "I know you're scared, so am I. You have to have faith in me and my group like you said. I've made a route so our trip only takes two days. Two days, Callie."
Her tears stopped, but I can tell she was still scared. "Did you ask him to go or…"
"He came to me. After he heard Owen wasn't going, he came to me."
"What did he say?" she sniffled.
"He started off with giving his blessing? Told me you picked a keeper." I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. "Which is totally right. He went on to say he's been down there before and new his way around. I told him I wouldn't ask that of him, but he insisted."
She stood in my arms, motionless. Finally she spoke in almost a whisper. "I love you. And I love my dad."
"I love you. We'll do our best to protect each other." I kissed her forehead and she engulfed me in a tight hug.
Avery walked in suddenly. Callie and I stepped apart so she could go back to cooking and I picked at a magnet on the fridge.
"It smells fantastic in here." He announced. "Doesn't it smell good in here? Yes, it does. Yes." His voice began to goo. I gave him a weird look and noticed that he was holding the baby. "I think she needs to be changed." He held her out.
"You know how to change a diaper, Avery. That's your responsibility." Callie spoke from the sink area.
"Dude…come on." He looked to me.
"No way, Avery." I smiled and walked out of the kitchen.
Dinner was a bit on the awkward side. I think everyone picked up on the mood and fell into a depression. Tomorrow morning, Jackson, Stephanie, Carlos, and I would be leaving to find my brother. It was amazing to think my friends would risk their lives at the possibility to save my family. I was extremely grateful.
No one was talking except for Avery who attempted at a joke, but no one laughed. To make things even worse, he raised his bottle of soda. "Let's have a toast."
"Really babe?" Stephanie asked.
"Yeah. I know there's not a lot to toast for, but we're alive. Let's toast to still being alive." I felt bad because I knew he was trying to lighten the moment up.
"You're right. It's something to be thankful for." I raised my soda. Everyone nodded with small smiles and raised their bottles.
"And to being badass zombie killers." He added.
"To staying alive and being badass zombie killers." I repeated.
Our bottles met in the middle and we cheered together. "Being alive…badass zombie killers." It was a mumbled mess, but it was great.
"And I would like to thank Owen and Teddy for letting us into their place." Callie announced.
"It's was nothing. Plus, I'd like to think we make a pretty good group." He said sincerely and smiled.
"We do, don't we?" Callie grinned and held my hand under the table.
After dinner, we gathered in the living room and held a dance party. We had found an old record player in the attic and hooked it up. It almost killed our generator, but we didn't care. As I watched some of the others dance, it was safe to say that I wasn't the worst in the room. Hours past as we all took turns, switching partners and acting foolish. The record ended and we all sat on the couch together. Callie put one arm around my shoulder and the other in my lap. Everyone had a good time and none of us wanted to think about group members leaving tomorrow.
I was the first to speak up. "I hate to say this because it's been great with you guys, but I have to get up early and I need my sleep."
"Have a good night, Robbins." Owen tipped his cup to me. "And Torres." he included.
"Goodnight everybody." Callie said as we made our way up the stairs.
Once we were lying in bed, I made sure Callie was comfortable. Her head lay on my shoulder and her arm under my shirt and around my side to where her finger tips played with the bottom of my bra.
"You ever think about how long we would have been together if this never happened?" Callie mumbled against my chest.
"What?" I wasn't sure I understood.
"I've heard about your history at school. You dated like…three different girls in two months and they were all way better looking than me." She sounded so insecure.
"Callie. First, you are WAY more attractive than they'll ever be, inside and out. You are SO much better than any girl I've ever been with. Half of those girls didn't even know what they wanted. Our relationship isn't like that. I want you, and I want to be with you as long as you'll have me. Okay?"
She nodded and continued to slide her fingers across my stomach. I lifted her head so our faces could meet. Callie leaned down and kissed me. Soon, she was asleep and my mind was wondering again.
In the morning, I would leave my girlfriend and a group of my closest friends to find my brother who was hopefully alive. I needed to have faith in the situation; I had to believe he was alive.
I originally wanted to name the baby in this chapter, but realized I had no idea what it should be. Tell me your suggestions or ideas for the baby's name in the reviews. This chapter was difficult for me to write so I would like to know what you thought about it. Thanks.
