AN: Once again I'd like to thank you for your reviews. They make me so happy!
What just happened? I can't quite comprehend it. It feels like the world has stopped turning while at the same time, the time has stopped ticking. But my heart hasn't... my heart hasn't stopped at all. My heart is pounding like crazy in my chest. And all that because of Eliza. Because of what she's just said. Eliza has practically voiced my thoughts, the thoughts I've tried to voice all day myself. I can't believe it. I can't believe she's just implied that I'm her girlfriend. It's... it's surreal.
"Umm..." is all I muster at this point.
"So, are you coming?" Eliza tugs my hand, gesturing for me to join her as she moves to turn around the corner. She's wearing the biggest smile I've ever seen, and it does everything to me. Everything inside of me is all butterflies and rainbows. Surely, it's because I've just been referred to as girlfriend. And not just anybody's girlfriend... Eliza Minnick's girlfriend.
Okay, so I need to get a grip. This is what I want. This is what I've wanted to ask Eliza. Why can't I make a coherent sentence to tell her that? I can be such a clumsy idiot sometimes.
"Arizona?" Eliza chuckles. "I need to go. Horse is birthing, remember? So, I need to know..."
"Y-yes!" I exclaim as a grin spreads across my face. I feel how my pulse is throbbing in my ear; that and Eliza's smile are making me so dizzy I can hardly function.
Eliza lets out a content sigh. "Come on then," she grins and intertwines our fingers. I let her guide me… but then I remember that I've actually got to work myself. First world's problems, I know."Eliza, I can't," I stop. Eliza looks at me bewildered. A sad, panicking look spreading across her face. "No, no, no, no. NO! That wasn't what I meant," I quickly add. "I've gotta work. That's why I can't."
Eliza exhales, relieved. "Oh, that's right. Yeah," she smiles and leans in. When her lips nearly touch my own, I can't let it go any further without being positively sure. I pull back, again Eliza looks confused.
"Eliza, I need to know... what does this mean? Am I… am I your girlfriend?" I finally voice my question. The question that's been hovering above me all day, all week actually.
"I'd like you to be," Eliza blushes, but her eyes remain locked on mine.
"I'd like that, too," I beam, finally sealing the deal. The kiss is so soft and sweet which almost makes me forget where we are, where to go and how to breathe. I know she's needed elsewhere, though. I know someone needs her attention more than I do right now. "You need to go."
"W-what?" Eliza asks, surprised by my sudden statement. "Why?"
"Horse. Birth. Remember?" I smirk.
"Oh. Yeah, that's right," realization finally kicks in. "I do, actually. See you later... girlfriend," she grins, kissing me once again.
"Go, be awesome," I tell her, hugging her. "Text me the updates, please."
"You know it," Eliza nods and then turns to leave.
I watch as Eliza... apparently my new girlfriend... turns around the corner and disappears from my sight. It doesn't matter, though. All that matters is that Eliza feels the same as I do. That she wants to commit and be in a relationship with me. All that matters is that she somehow knew what I needed to ask but couldn't, and then she just helped me like that. She helped me along the way. The most important in all of this, though... is that Eliza didn't just help me today what with voicing the question I couldn't find words to voice myself; she helps me every day just by being here, just by being her. She makes me want to be better, she makes me feel better than I've ever felt. And that... that is something I can't go without ever feeling again.
"One scoop of Oreo sensation, two scoops of honey chocolate fudge and a scoop of... a scoop of… hmmm… yeah, one scoop of that cherry liquorish thing, please," a young man tells me, his eyes fixed on the cold counter where the ice-creams are lined up. "Oh, and can I have a scoop of plain vanilla in a cup on the side?"
"Of course, you can," I smile at the costumer. "Coming right up."
"Thanks," he nods and watches as I scoop his preferred scoops into a cone, smiling when I place the last scoop at the top.
"You want whipped cream on top? Jam? We've got strawberry, raspberry and orange," I ask, my face hurting from the big grin I can't seem to shake off. I don't want to, either... but still, I'm afraid I look like a complete fool smiling like this all the time. Oh well…
"Yes, ma'am," he nods. "Strawberry, please. Not on the vanilla scoop, though."
"Gotcha," I smile... again. I wish him a good day, handing the man his cone and the cup on the side along with a couple of tissues.
"So, yeah," Amelia clears her throat after having handed her own order to a costumer, leaving the queue all taken care of. "You need to spill it, Robbins. Something's up."
I chuckle as I wipe the counter and then the coffee machine, some hot chocolate having splashed a bit. I know I need to tell her, and frankly I want to as well, but this is so much more fun.
"Arizona!" Amelia whines, turning me around by a hand on my shoulder. Her face is hilarious... almost like she feels left out because I haven't defined to her, why I'm in such a good mood. "Speak, woman! You were all like I need a minute to think, and then you were gone like an hour. And then you came back looking like you've been eating freaking rainbows. And don't tell me Dirty Z had you rolling around in the hay, because that would just be gross and frankly, it would be mean... because I can't have sex when I'm supposed to be working, so it wouldn't be fair," Amelia exclaims annoyed. I know she isn't, though. I know that's just how she gets when she's on a roll and when she's being left out. She really, really wants to know everything. And she usually does. Especially where I'm concerned. So I can imagine how this must sting.
Deciding that I've tortured my best friend enough for today, I shake my head and laugh. "Can you please stop referring to my girlfriend as Dirty Z."
"Y-your what?" Amelia exclaims wide-eyed. Her facial expression softens, a smile creeping onto her mouth. "You did it? You actually did it?"
"I did," I nod, the grin reaching my ears. "Or... maybe not as the book defines it. Eliza did the hard part, I suppose. But then I asked," I inform my best friend who's sporting a very amused and pleased look. "Ugh, how come I sound like a crazy teenager?" I whine, throwing a hand to my face. "So embarrassing!"
"Yeah, it really is," Amelia scoffs. "I'm happy for you, though."
Wiping my hands in a towel, I smile. "Thank you. I am too, you know... happy."
"And you deserve it."
"I do, don't I?"
"You do," she agrees, nudging my shoulder with her own as she replaces some strawberries atop the strawberry cheesecake flavoured ice-cream. "Just, promise me you won't have inappropriate work sex all the time, okay?"
"I can't promise you anything," I play, throwing both hands in the air when Amelia gives me a sideway glare. "Sorry, Shepherd, I can't."
"Promise me you won't be covered in shit, okay? Can't have you driving costumers away. We need their money!" Amelia states, a crooked smile on her face, though I kind of know that she means every single word she's just uttered. Respectfully, of course, and friendly.
"How gross do you think we are?" I furrow my brow.
"Gross!" she deadpans.
We look at each other and then burst into a raw roll of laughter. It makes my stomach ache, but it doesn't matter. Whatever hurts right now is caused solely because of Eliza and the incredible feelings she's making me feel. I'll take this kind of ache and hurt any day as long as Eliza's the reason.
A family approaches our shop, so we go into professional mode, straightening our backs and plastering on our best saleswoman's smiles. As the little boy contemplates what flavour to choose, Amelia discreetly speaks through her teeth. "Just take a bath before the party tomorrow."
"Jeez, Amelia," I exclaim frustrated, shocked to why she keeps on and on and on about the first time she talked to Eliza. The entire family snaps their heads and looks at us. "Hi!" I say cheerfully. They smile and go back to the choosing. Amelia just sniggers next to me as I shake my head.
"How's the toffee mint, is it very… mint-y?" the mother asks.
"You wanna taste?" Amelia offers kindly.
I take a small green spoon and stick it into the ice-cream, scooping a small chunk up on the spoon. When I reach the taste sample to the woman, she accepts it and takes the spoon into her mouth. I watch as the ice-cream does its work perfectly. I watch as the woman's taste buds allow her to enjoy the sensation the ice-cream is creating. It's clear as daylight, really... the woman's facial expression giving her away. She loves it. This is why I came into this business. This is why I chose to drop out of med school and pursue my own dream... the dream of being in charge of my own business, the dream of starting something from scratch and be proud of how it develops and evolves. It's been my dream since forever... but now I'm not only getting to have that dream come true. Now I've got Eliza. Now I've got a beautiful, intelligent and funny girlfriend as well. My dreams are coming true... dreams that I didn't even knew that I had. And it feels amazing.
I put a hand on my girlfriend's thigh, trying to ease her nerves a bit. "Eliza... breathe," I lace my voice with kindness and reassurance. "They'll love you."
"It's easy for you to say," she sighs, snaking her hand in between her thigh and my own hand, lacing our fingers and squeezing, tight. "They are your friends."
"Where's all that confident of yours gone?" I chuckle as I drive us closer to Owen and Amelia's house.
"I think, I think I used it all up on inviting you to see that horse birth yesterday," she scoffs which makes me smirk. "Which you declined, by the way," she adds.
"Aww, babe, I didn't dismiss you, though."
I watch from the corner of my eye as Eliza snaps her head in my direction, caused by the term of endearment I just used. I know she accidentally used same term yesterday, so I thought it appropriate and okay to echo just now. When I give my girlfriend a sideway smile, she relaxes back into the seat and squeezes our hands, running her fingers over my knuckles.
"That makes me happy," she states quietly more to herself than to me, I believe.
My eyes concentrate on the road before us while my heart is about to explode due to the happiness Eliza keeps creating inside of me. "You make me happy," I say, the affection evident in my voice as I remove my hand when I have to turn the car. Parking at the curb right outside Owen and Amelia's place, I shut off the engine and unbuckles my seatbelt.
Eliza mirrors my action and shifts in her seat, face and upper body facing me. "I need to kiss you," she tells me, grinning. Her hair's cascading down her shoulders, a small lock pulled back and twisted at her left ear by a bobby pin. She's wearing soft make-up. Her lip gloss makes her lips look extra attractive and glistening, pulling at my every heartstring. She's just so amazingly beautiful.I don't reply. I just lean in, pulling her face closer to me by a finger under her chin. Our eyes are locked the entire time as we wear similar affectionately smiles. "Kiss me."
Eliza smirks, her one hand coming to rest at my thigh. We brush our lips softly together, the feeling causing butterflies and love poems to run through my every vein. When we part, Eliza's eyes open just a second later than mine. God, how can anyone be so beautiful? And how can anyone be this lucky as I am right now?"You ready?" I smile.
"Yup, yeah. I can do this. I'm-"
"Awesome!" I cut in. "You're my girlfriend, after all."
"You seem to have found your confidence," Eliza rolls her eyes playfully.
"You're with me... that makes me feel pretty damn confident!" I say truthfully. Because that's exactly how I feel. I feel so utterly and profoundly happy and confident by the fact that Eliza Minnick is now my girlfriend. That she wants to be my girlfriend and have me as her girlfriend as well. That is really something that spikes my confidence.
"You're cute, you know that, right?" Eliza chuckles, pecking my lips. The taste of her vanilla lip gloss making every ounce of my body vibrate… again.Licking my lips, I shrug playfully, keeping my eyes on her. "Come on. Just stay with me and you'll be fine."
"I'm sure, I will," she smiles, and then we climb out of the car, strolling up the path to the big house.
As I knock the wooden door, I feel Eliza's hand tug mine. Turning my head and catching her eyes, she's suddenly looking embarrassed. "What's wrong?" I ask, confusion and concern in my voice.
"Last time I had a proper conversation with Amelia, I had... elephant faeces on my face," she screws up her face. I try not to show my amusement at her memory. I really try. The look on her face tells me I'm not succeeding, though. "Arizona..." she drags my name. "It isn't funny. It's embarrassing."
"It's not, babe," I smile, trying to reassure her. Judging by the look on my girlfriend's face, I'm not doing a good job.
"But it is."
"Eliza, just… calm down. She's probably forgotten all about it," I lie, pulling her closer by our joined hands. I know, she knows I'm lying, and that's why it's okay. She's knows I'm only trying to make her feel better by the situation.
"Yeah. And I break bones for a living," Eliza speaks through clenched teeth. She's hilarious when being so... so... so I don't know what it is she is right now, I just know she's adorable.
"Again… calm down. Amelia is awesome. Owen's sweet. And you're amazing. It'll be fun."
As Eliza's about to make a rebuke, the door flies open, revealing the face of my very best friend. She looks happy, a glass of sparkling water in her hand. "There you are," she exclaims. "Finally," her attention turns to my girlfriend who's currently worming her way a bit behind my back. "You look so much better with a blush on your face," Amelia jokes, a crooked smile on her face.
I shoot my best friend a serious glare, shaking my head slightly. How is it that she's got no filter? Why do I keep this one around when all she's ever done is chasing every girl I've dated away? Why is it I always want to introduce my love interests to this woman? It's quite simple, actually. She's the one person I can count on to be honest, completely honest. She's the one who's always got my back. For better and for worse. She calls me out on my bullshit while giving me the amount of love I need as well. She's Amelia, she's my best friend. I just hope she won't push Eliza away, not now... because I need her in my life; that's come to my realization. I need Eliza, and I need Amelia as well. So, I'm crossing my fingers; hoping that Amelia will approve and that Eliza doesn't scare easily.
AN2: Thank you for reading. You know what to do, do it!