Coming home hadn't probably felt this good since she'd found out that she was not forced to move to Sweden four years ago as it did now. Because coming home and even unlocking the door meant coming home to Arizona most days. Of course it had taken some time to adjust to the new situation, but she thought that managing it in less than two weeks was an okay amount of time. There had been some bickering but nothing that couldn't be solved with a soft kiss or dimpled smile and the decision that both needed to start their respective sports again to balance out college stress. After all, swimming and volleyball had been a part of their life since third grade and being able to get rid of some bottled up pressure, at least once or twice a week, in the water or on the court had changed their cranky mood in the best possible ways.
She had also taken on an additional Spanish class, feeling that she had lost a bit of her knowledge in the years of not speaking it. And it felt good, even if that meant coming home around 8pm one evening a week and then still having to make dinner. It was okay because she rather did that than coming home to a burnt out kitchen - or worse - a hurt Arizona. And although the blonde had tried to talk her into making that day - Thursday - the official pizza-day of apartment 502, she had not given in and Arizona had pouted for a good ten minutes and even kind of begged. But Callie had not caved.
So, now she stood in front of their apartment door with her keys jingling in her left hand and a grocery bag in the other. "Hey, baby, I'm home", she called out when she opened the door but got no response. Stepping further into the apartment, she put the groceries down on the kitchen counter and scanned the open living room, finding the TV on but muted and the blanket covered form of her girlfriend on the couch. "Huh?", she wondered. Arizona was usually not one to fall asleep on the couch and even more so not one to sleep that early. Walking over to the couch, the Latina knelt down beside the piece of furniture and stroke some blonde loose strands out of her girlfriend's face. "Hey", she whispered, brushing a light kiss on a pale cheek and let her hand ghost over the blonde's arm.
Feeling a soft touch on her skin, she slowly rose from her sleepy state. Heavy blue eyes fluttered open and she came face to face with the brunette. "You're home already?", she rasped, her voice hoarse from sleep.
"Already? It's quarter to nine", Callie replied with a soft chuckle.
Stifling a yawn, she asked, "Oh? What took you so long then?" She tried to sit up but immediately fell back into the big cushions with a groan.
"Groceries. What's wrong with you? Do you feel sick?" Feeling her girlfriend's forehead with the back of her hand she said, "You're not having a fever."
"No." Looking up into big brown orbs she weight out whether to tell Callie the truth or not, but decided to just stand her woman – so to speak. Truth was, she didn't need to think about it, she always went with the truth, eventually. That's what her parents had taught her. "Calliope?"
"You really don't look okay, sweetie. Do you need anything?"
"No", she answered and shook her head. "I craved mac and cheese earlier…", she confessed, "so I made some and ate it."
"Okay, so you're not hungry anymore? That's okay. I can just wrap up something light and easy and you can get the left overs in case you'll get hungry later." She went to get up from her knees, but Arizona took her hand and pulled her down again.
"And then I craved chocolate and ate some…", she trailed off and somehow felt the need to look away, as she continued, "and now I feel sick."
"You usually can handle mac and cheese and chocolate for dessert without getting sick, so…" She guessed there was more to the story.
"I wanted chips afterwards so I ate them too. My tummy hurts so badly, Calliope", she whined, sounding more like the little girl she was when they'd first met than the seventeen year old beautiful teenager she was.
"No surprise, baby", Callie answered with a sympathetic smile and brushed through her girlfriend's hair. Arizona had always been a sweet tooth. "You got home an hour and a half before me and ate all that? I would have exploded right after the chocolate."
"I was fine after the chocolate", the blonde pouted and held her stomach, the cramps were not nice. "It's just because you make me eat all that healthy stuff every day. Make it go away."
Pushing the blanket down and her girlfriend's top up a little, she leaned down to softly press her lips against the skin. Sending a megawatt smile the blonde's way, she asked, "Better?"
"No. Come cuddle?"
"I'm gonna make you some tea first, okay?"
"Fruit flavoured?" Blue eyes filled with hope looked up to meet her girlfriend's soulful orbs.
"Camomile."
"Euh, yikes. Can't you be the nicest girlfriend ever and give me strawberry tea instead?", she asked. She hated camomile tea. There wasn't really any kind of tea she loved, but camomile and peppermint were the worst. Whereas Callie loved the latter with a little bit of honey and freaking tongue-burning hot. "Please, Calliope?"
"Nope, sorry sweetie, I can't do that. It's not good for your stomach and I think you already had enough sugar for today." She pecked her girlfriend's lips and moved to get up.
Arizona moved with the Latina's body, trying to have their lips and hands connected for as long as possibly until Callie finally pulled away and walked over to the kitchen. "Lots and lots of cuddles with my girlfriend would make my tummy all better", the blonde grumbled before she settled back against the pillow. Picking up the remote from its place on the arm of the couch, she turned up the volume of the TV and zapped around, looking for some music. If she had to swallow down camomile tea, she at least wanted to see Callie dance around the kitchen while making it. And practically the second music filled the room, the Latina's hips started to sway. Arizona couldn't see her hips, but she saw the upper body of the brunette shaking along with her hips and it made her forget her aching abdomen and she giggled.
"What's so funny over there?", Callie asked once she'd switched on the kettle. Opening one of the wall cupboards to get the camomile tea. Even she had to get up on her toes because they hid the 'disgusting' tea in the farthest corner of the top shelf.
"You're just too cute when you're surrounded by music. Always dancing and shaking to the rhythm."
Wriggling her hips some more to the beat and hearing the blonde's laughter fill the room immediately, she thought about her dinner, while making her way into their bedroom to change into a pair of sweats. She wasn't that hungry and with Arizona not eating anyways, she wasn't even in the mood of cooking anymore. "Do you mind if I skip dinner? I know I said I'd make something so you could have the left overs, but I really don't want to make something right now", she said when she came back into the living room, rocking the sweats and hoody style like she always did when she was about to cuddle with Arizona.
"You have to eat something", the blonde reminded her, imitating her mother's voice the way she practiced it over all those years. She even raised her index-finger.
"I know. But I think a banana will do it for tonight."
"You sure? You're not falling back into not eating because you think that you're something you're definitely not?", Arizona asked a little worried. She would probably never forget the time when Callie had felt ugly and fat. Because the brunette had pushed her away and hid herself from her because she thought that Arizona would think that she was not as stunning as she had been with seven pounds less on her body.
Turning around and finding blue eyes, she gave Arizona a smile. "Don't worry. I am just not that hungry."
"And you're sure about that?" the blonde dug deeper, wanting to find the underlying issue – if there was one – before it could get out of hand.
Sighing and knowing why Arizona was so persistent on this, she nodded while filling a cup with hot water and letting the tea bag slide in, she once again turned around. "Yes, baby, I am sure, I promise."
"You would tell me if there was another reason, right?" Her stomach or any other part of her body could ache and cramp as much as it pleased, she would always be more concerned about Callie, whether it was about eating or a fractured limp or whatsoever. Not that she thought Callie would ever have eating disorders, she just didn't want her girlfriend to feel anything else than the miraculous breathtaking woman that she was.
"I would. Now scoot to the edge", she ordered and put the cup down on the coffee table.
"Do you want me to fall on the ground?"
"Nope. Just scoot over a little, okay?"
"Kay", the blonde said and moved so she was lying on the edge.
Seconds later, the Latina climbed over her and settled on her side behind her girlfriend. Pulling her closer to her, she wrapped the light blanket around their pressed bodies and nuzzled her nose into the blonde's neck. Once she was happy with the blanket and the pillow in her back, her left hand slipped beneath Arizona's pair of sweats and she began to caress the soft skin under the fabric with her fingers. It was out of pure habit. Something she'd started years ago and had not let go when she'd found out that Arizona liked the little fondling on her leg. More than once it had indicated a night of – in the beginning – hot make out sessions and later on in their relationship more heated touching. But even if it didn't, just the small gesture and the realization of being connected in a soft intimate way was enough. "Drink your tea", she reminded the blonde.
"But it's hot."
"Mhmm, that's how most people drink their tea, honey."
"But it's camomile", she whined again. "Do I really have to?"
"Yes", Callie whispered and then looked over to the TV. "What are you watching?"
"It's Rizzoli & Isles night on TNT, do you mind?", she asked, turning her head as best as she could in hope of being kissed.
"No."
"Can we still talk, though? You could tell me about your day?", she offered, hesitatingly reaching out for the cup on the table.
"You know my day, baby. You were with me for the most of it."
"Still, tell me, please?"
"Why?", Callie wondered. Because Arizona had in fact been with her the whole day, from the moment they woke up till they parted before Spanish class.
"Just... just because."
The yawn that spilled over the blonde's pink lips told Callie the real reason. Arizona always slept off her pains and sick feelings, and it worked even better when she was listening to the Latina's voice – at least, that's what Arizona had told Callie on countless occasions. "Okay", she smiled and kissed the shell of her girlfriend's ear before she started. "So, I woke up next to a very very beautiful but also very very snoring blonde."
"HEY!", Arizona protested immediately. "I do not snore, Calliope."
"No you don't", Callie answered with a laugh. "But your reaction was still funny."
Furrowing her brows, she stared at the TV-screen. "It's not nice. I am sick and you're being mean to me."
"You're not sick, honey. You've just eaten way too much and you should drink your tea to make it all better." Waiting for Arizona to take at least one sip of the hot liquid, she laughed when her girlfriend made a face to show her disliking. "If I wouldn't know any better, I'd say you're pregnant."
"Well, maybe I am...", she trailed off, "or do I have to remind you how... uhm... last week, you know..." She wasn't usually that shy when it came to talking about sex, especially when it was talking about sex with Calliope. But somehow she could not form her thoughts into words about this certain night last week. Callie had made her come so hard and twice within mere minutes. They both had known that it was possible, but they hadn't made the experience until that night. And just the thought about it was enough to make her horny again. Only today, her horniness was overshadowed by her aching stomach.
"Baby, I am not that good to get you pregnant", the brunette snorted. And oddly, she was very okay with it because just the imagination of having a kid right now was a little frightening – very frightening actually.
"Well, maybe you are", Arizona winked and snuggled deeper into the body behind her. "So, you were saying?"
Looking at her girlfriend with confusion evident in her eyes for a moment, her brain finally caught on to what Arizona was referring to and she said, "Oh, right. I woke up next to the most beautiful, stunning, outstanding young woman walking on earth. Her soft breath was tickling my neck, but I didn't move so I wouldn't wake her. You have to know, she's really bubbly and perky when she's awake, but when she's asleep, she looks so peaceful. Like, like nothing in the world could ever bother her."
Humming and turning around so she could hide her face in the crook of the brunette's neck, Arizona let her hand slide under Callie's shirt to feel more skin on skin contact, while the Latina's hand just moved with the blonde and rested softly on her right thigh now.
"But still, she woke up when the alarm went off. She must have had a good dream though, 'cause the minute she opened her amazing, shining blue eyes, she smiled at me. And her smile, let me tell you, it's super. Magical. It can light up even my crankiest days. I think you know who I'm talking about, don't you?" Getting no response but hearing the even breathing of her girlfriend, Callie knew she was back to sleep. She chuckled lightly and slipped her hand out from under the blanket to turn down the volume of the TV a few notches and moved her fingers under the blonde's top afterwards to gently stroke her lower back – and to prevent her from falling of the couch in her sleep.
Turning her eyes to the screen and the two running women, she smiled. Arizona could not stand any scary movies and even the thrilling ones were on a thin line for the blonde. But she loved this crime show, though she would never admit that there were moments she had to close her eyes and wait for the scene to be over. Arizona was just adorably cute. "You're still drinking some tea when you wake up", she whispered into the sleeping girl's ear and then eased deeper into the cushions to relax and just hold her girlfriend.
xxx
When Arizona woke up later, she was safely wrapped up in the arms of her girlfriend and a blanket was keeping them warm. She blinked a couple of times to make out her surroundings, her lashes fluttering against the Latina's neck as she did so. There were voices in the background, so she concluded that they must still be in the living room. Her mouth still tasted like camomile and she immediately felt the urge to rush to the bathroom and brush her teeth and tongue – to scrub off that disgusting taste no matter how.
"You're awake", Callie said with a smile. She'd been watching TV the whole time, getting completely engrossed into the show while holding Arizona, stroking her back or brushing through her blonde hair. "Slept well?"
"Mhmm", the blonde hummed. "How long?"
"A little over an hour. You feeling better now?" Carefully shifting so she could look into the mesmerizing orbs of her girlfriend, she nudged her nose when they were eye to eye.
Waiting a moment or two to see if the cramps would show up again, she nodded when they didn't. "Yeah", she smiled, "napping always works for me."
"I know it does. And I envy you for that, you know?"
"We can't all be a Robbins, Calliope. If you were a Robbins, you'd be the same. Remember the time when Timmy slept almost 24 hours in a row? He felt so sick before, but when he woke up, it was as if he'd never been sick."
"Yes, of course I remember. Gosh, that's so long ago. He was in first grade then, that seems like a lifetime ago."
"Mhmm", she nodded. "Loooooong time ago. Before we know it, he's turning sixteen, gets a girl pregnant and then married." Her laughter filled the room as the image of her parents' faces crossed her mind. Her father, beet red with anger and her mom stunned to the moon and back and most likely speechless for the first time in her life.
"You know your father would probably send him to a boarding military school, right?", the Latina laughed along. "And from then on, he would never be seen again."
Clearing her throat, Arizona looked deep into the soulful brown orbs before her. "As funny as it sounds, I hope it will never be reality. He's my baby brother and I would rather see him stay little for another ten years."
"You can't stop the time, baby."
"I know", she sighed. "But he was so cute when he was born. And he was still cute when he was little and just began to talk. He tried to say grandma but all that came out was a mumbled 'gwrams'. I want that back. Or at least the younger Timmy that was all excited about starting with soccer and disappointed when we were not there to watch him."
"You miss him, hmm?"
"Yes", Arizona agreed. "I didn't think it would be so hard not to have him around all the time. He was annoying at some points. And we fought. We yelled. I had to throw him out of my room because he was snooping around and reading my diary. Not that the diary of my younger self was that interesting, but... anyways. Yes, I do miss him."
"He could visit us."
"Yeah, right", she snorted.
"No, really, I mean it. He could visit us during breaks. Sure, we're flying over for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but he could come over for a few days during winter break. It would be nice to have him here." Truth was, she missed him too. He was like a brother for her too. She'd lost her older sister but immediately fell in love with the little boy the moment Daniel Robbins had put him into her arms. "I'm sure he'd love to get away for a few days too."
"You sure about that?"
A broad smile spread over the brunette's face, showing her perfectly white teeth. "Yeah."
"I love you", the blonde gushed and pressed her lips against the Latina's. Pulling her closer with a hand in her neck, she let her fingers play with the beautiful dark tresses and pushed her pelvis into her girlfriend's body. Instead of deepening the kiss though, Callie pulled away, earning a puzzled look from Arizona. "What's wrong?"
"You're not feeling good."
"I feel perfectly fine, Calliope. Sleeping in your arms made me all better."
"I'm sure wasn't the tea", she teased. "You barely drank from it."
"It couldn't make me better in the first place. It's yikes. The only thing that's worse than camomile tea is ginger... eeew." She pressed her lips tightly together. "I told you, cuddling would be enough. And now, now I want more than just cuddling", she added with wiggling eyebrows. "You up for it?" Slender pale fingers danced along the brunette's neck as she asked her question, her voice sultry and thick with want for her girlfriend.
Swallowing down the lump before it could form in her throat, Callie's eyes locked on Arizona's and the look in those pools of a darker shaded blue was enough for her to know that the blonde was indeed okay. Taking advantage of her position with her back against the couch, she shifted once again and then pushed herself up on her hands, Arizona instantly landing under her. "Oh, looks like I'm up for it", she teased and leaned in only to pull back before pink lips could get a grasp of hers. "
"Hey, don't be a tease", Arizona protested and pouted her lips. She didn't wait for the Latina to move though, instead she flung her arms around her girlfriend's neck and pulled her down. Their lips crashed together in a hungry kiss and within a minute, tongues were dueling, dancing, circling each other. Passion was rushing through their veins. The fire ignited the moment their bodies were pressed against each other's.
"We-"
"Don't talk", the blonde demanded, not even bothering to open her eyes, instead she just cupped the brunette's cheeks to hold her in place.
"But we-", Callie tried again only to be silenced with yet another fierce kiss. She didn't know how Arizona managed it, but she was almost every time the one in control, whether she was on top or under the Latina.
"No talking. Kissing", she said again, her lips never really living Callie's long enough for the brunette to say a whole sentence. Even when she was talking, their lips were still touching. She thought her girlfriend was once again trying to stop her and she didn't want to stop.
And Callie sensed it because they were in the same boat here. She wasn't going to stop them either. All she was trying to suggest was to move this to the bedroom, but the couch would work just fine. Trying to get the upper hand, she pushed her hips down to meet the blonde's center and instantly, Arizona's body rose from its spot. She took the moment of a slightly startled Arizona to grab both of the blonde's hands and pin them down above her girlfriend's head. With the new gained freedom because Arizona couldn't hold her head in place, she moved her kisses over her jaw line and down the blonde's neck. Grazing the soft skin with her teeth, nipping at it, sucking it in between her lips, she then soothed the reddened flesh with her tongue and open mouth kisses.
Arizona's feet were kicking of the blanket, but neither of them cared. She was too succumbed in the ministrations on her neck and her body was too much on fire to notice the missing of the added warmth. "Calliope", she moaned. Her breath was ragged, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest and Callie didn't seem to stop. She tried to free her hands, but it was useless. Callie was stronger than she was, thanks to the years of smashing ball after ball.
Feeling the blonde's need and tries, she tightened her grip around the delicate wrists wanting Arizona to know who was on top tonight. Her girlfriend's scent did something to her body, though. She was barely able to stop the groans from spilling over plump lips when she kissed her way down to a hidden collarbone. "Off", she rasped, pulling Arizona into a sitting position and tugging at the fabric of the sweatshirt, knowing that the other girl would get the hint and lift her arms. And when Arizona did just that, it took Callie only a few seconds to rid her of the long sleeved shirt and bra.
She put her hands behind her back for support and arched her back to push her upper body forward to meet all of Callie's touches. When tan hands cupped both her breasts and fingers started to play with her pebbled nipples, she released another – louder – moan. Her head fell back and all she could do was wait and take everything Callie would give her, whether it was soft or urging.
The pale skin felt too good beneath her touch, she could hardly keep it together. The heavy breaths and sounds that left Arizona's mouth sent her libido into overdrive. She was sure there were days where she could make Arizona climax just by playing with her breasts. But then again, there were also days, she was almost over the edge just by watching Arizona squirming beneath her.
Another moan of her name filled the room and Callie knew she had to make the next moves. Crashing their lips again, not as hungry and forceful as before, she slowly pushed the blonde back down on the couch. Once that happened, she let her mouth wander down her girlfriend's upper body, caressing every inch she could find with her tongue or her lips. Her hands followed, lightly tracing the underside of her Arizona's breasts with her thumbs as she went further down.
Reaching out and grabbing one of the Latina's hands, Arizona gave it a strong squeeze, signaling that she wanted, needed more.
Callie sat back up on her heels and loosened the chord of her girlfriend's sweats before she pulled them down, the blonde helping in rising her hips. The pants joined the other pieces of clothing on the floor while Callie stared at the body before her. She wondered if she was ever going to get tired of this and she didn't even wonder for the first time. Arizona was breathtakingly stunning. Her body was pure perfection to the Latina and she felt her heart missing a beat when she tugged the blonde's panties down and off her legs before she got rid of her own clothes, leaving her bare except for her panties.
She knelt between her girlfriend's slightly parted legs and inhaled deeply, the scent of Arizona's arousal making her own lust skyrocketing. Placing her hands on each side of the blonde's hips, she let her thumbs rub the skin in soft circles before moving into the middle and then downwards, her goal clearly evident. She spread Arizona's legs and let her left hand move over her thigh while she settled between the legs, her upper body making contact with the blonde's. Both moaned as their nipples brushed against each other's and the mouths met again. Her tongue sweeping over a pink bottom lip, asking for a deeper kiss while her finger softly trailed through slick folds.
"Ugh", Arizona groaned when the finger was gone too soon. "Calliope."
"What do you want?"
"You."
Smiling, she asked again. "What do you want?"
"Y-y-your tongue... mouth", she stammered. She was beyond turned on. With Callie's touches and kisses altering between soft and hungry, she was putty in the Latina's hands. The whispered 'okay' from the brunette barely reached her ears, but she felt the body atop of her moving and the anticipation inside her grew even more.
The first swipe of her tongue over the blonde's center was almost enough for Callie to jump over the edge. The second swipe made her think that she could easily die happy this way. But the third ignited the fire again and she lapped up enough of her girlfriend's juice, yet she still yearned for more, so she let the muscle slide through her folds before settling on the blonde's clit, circling it in a slow pace.
Arizona's hands reached out, trying to get a hold of anything to keep her ground. She found the pillow beneath and her nails immediately dug into the material. She wanted to buck her hips against her girlfriend's face, but Callie held them down. She wanted to scream because it felt so amazing, but all the words died in her throat. It wasn't until she felt full lips close around the bundle of nerves between her legs, that a very clear yelp left her mouth. "FUCK!"
Smiling against the blonde's center, Callie sucked at the wet nub, her tongue playing with it as well and her hands trying her best to keep Arizona's hips from jerking off the couch – and that alone was a task in itself. But she needed to hold her there so she could still her hunger for her girlfriend. She could feel the blonde's wetness running down her throat and it was the best taste in the world. Nothing could compare to it, nothing stood a chance. Yet, she needed more. She needed to feel her come around her fingers, so she slid her hand down and eased a digit inside.
"OH!" Her back arched off the couch, her head was already spinning in pleasure and Callie just made it better and better with every passing second.
With her mouth still busy on the blonde's clit, the brunette thrust her finger in and out, slowly at first, but she was soon sure that Arizona could take more. She added a second finger and heard a weak whimper from above, so she stopped for a second and looked up. Seeing that her girlfriend's face showed no signs of pain, she pushed deeper and deeper until she was inside her, knuckle deep and then she stopped to give Arizona time to adjust, her mouth still working its magic, though.
"CAL-", she pressed out. The doubled sensation of being filled and her clit being played with was almost too much. Yet, she wanted to feel all of it and thrust her body against Callie's to tell Latina that she was okay, that it was good, needed.
Starting with slow, shallow thrusts, the brunette kept her eyes locked on Arizona's face. She loved the sight of her girlfriend's tight shut eyes and parted lips that let out more and more moans of pure bliss. When she sucked a little harder and pushed deeper into the blonde, blue eyes snapped open and Arizona's back rose off the couch again.
Their eyes met and blue locked on brown when Callie's mouth wrapped around her clit more tightly and her fingers began to push faster. "F-F-F-Fuck." She needed four tries to say the word between her panting and moaning. She was close and wanted to warn her girlfriend, but her brain had turned into mush and she couldn't form a whole sentence, or even another word. With one hand behind her back again to support her upper body and one playing with her own breast, her hips bucked wildly against the Latina's face and with every buck she got closer to her breaking point. "LOVE!", she yelled when the brunette's teeth grazed the nub. There was no way she could hold back her orgasm now. "Fuck. Fuck! FUUUUUCK!" A few more deep thrusts and sucks from that God-given mouth and she released against her girlfriend's chin. Her torso falling back into the cushions as wave after wave of pleasure crashed through her whole body. She shook with tremors until she went limp. Her eyes too heavy to stay open, she could only feel the Latina's soft kisses on her thighs, abdomen and chest as she crawled up her body to lay down beside her.
"That was a strong one, huh?", Callie asked, her fingers playing with a still hard nipple.
Gulping and trying to say something, she settled for nodding when her mouth didn't seem to work.
"I love when you get like this", Callie smiled. "I love when we get like this. All hot and sweaty." Brushing a few strands of blonde hair out of Arizona's face, she grinned at the satisfied smile on her girlfriend's lips. "I love you, period." She kissed the girl with everything she had, knowing that Arizona could taste herself on her lips and both moaned into the kiss.
Parting only when air became a necessity, Arizona replied, "I love you, too." Then she closed her eyes, snuggled deeper into the brunette's body and was – for the millionth time – thankful, that they had no class on Friday until 4pm and they finally christened their couch. In her books, college life was turtely awesome.
xxx
Startled by the knocking on the apartment door, Arizona let the pen in her hand fall onto the coffee table and got up from her spot on the floor. Callie might have had the intention that she'd actually use the spare room with the desks to study, but every time when Callie was not around, the blonde found her notes and books sprawled out on the coffee table and the TV running in the background. She hadn't been able to focus on biology anyway. "Geez, patience much?", she hollered when she heard the person knocking on the door again. Checking the time, she noticed that it was already past 9.30 and it made her wonder why her girlfriend wasn't home yet. She didn't even think that Callie could be on the other side of the door, simply because the brunette never forgot her keys.
"Open the door, Robbins", came from the other side.
Complying and opening the door, she was met by her friend. It wasn't really new that Addison showed up unannounced, but on a Thursday night and that late, was also something that didn't happen every week. "Hey Ads. What are you doing here this late?" It had happened slowly but over the months it had become clear that while they were a perfect group of really close friends, she always turned to Addie – and vice versa – when she needed someone other to talk to than her girlfriend. Luckily, Callie and Teddy were the same so no one was left out.
"Is Callie at home?" When she got a 'no' in response she continued, "I need somebody to talk to and since you are my best friend, you're the one I need", the redhead replied and walked past Arizona who closed the door quietly. Flopping down on the couch, she threw her arm dramatically over her eyes and groaned. "Please tell me you are not freaking out about your final thesis again."
Arizona just laughed. The finals at the end of the first semester were probably the worst she's ever been through. She couldn't sleep properly and if she did, she'd fallen asleep over books and notes. She had been cranky and snappy. And it hadn't really been any better with the next finals. This year though, she was surprisingly very relaxed – at least about the college situation – because something entirely different seemed to be eating her up from the inside. "I am not. I mean, I kinda know the deal by now, we're at the end of our third year, so I thought I take a break from stressing me and everybody else out this time and just double it up for the big deal next year."
Blinking out from under her arm, Addison shot the blonde a death glare. "I really hope for your sake that you are either kidding me or that you decide not to be my friend during finals next year." She didn't meant it though. Nothing about college or finals made her nervous, like, ever. And not even Arizona would change that.
She sat down beside her best friend and studied her face. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Want? Oh, want is the wrong term here. Need. That's the right one. I need to talk", the redhead clarified.
"Okay then, what is it that you need to talk about?"
"I kissed Teddy."
Her first reaction was shock, but then it dawned on her that Addison was potentially messing with her. "You think, you're funny, right Ads? Do you really think I'd fall for this a third time?", she asked with a quirking eyebrow. The first time, Teddy and Addie had made up this story after she and Callie had gotten back from Seattle after Christmas in their freshman year. Needless to say, both had been shocked. But eventually, Teddy had caved and admitted that they had just been curious about their reaction. The second time, Teddy had shown up at their door in tears, saying that Addison had stopped talking to her after they were forced to kiss during a game of truth or dare. And Arizona had felt guilty because it was her dare – her revenge for them messing with their kissing story. Five minutes later though, Addison had also showed up, laughing and the blonde had been mad at both of them for a whole week. Both incidents had happened over two years ago, though.
"Believe me, I wish I was messing with you again", Addison answered, let her arm fall to the side and looked at her friend. She gave her a weak smile and then stared at the ceiling.
"Oh my God! You're telling the truth!", Arizona squealed. "How was it?"
"Uhm...friendship-ruining?", the redhead guessed. "How are we supposed to stay friends? Friends don't kiss out of the blue. I'm not even into girls. Teddy is not into girls, and believe, me, I know. I saw her with Henry and I saw more than I actually wanted to see", she huffed and shook her head in disgust at the memory of walking in on Teddy and Henry in their shower.
"Don't act like that, Addie. It's not like Teddy did not see you bumping uglies with Mark Sloan. I think you two are more than just quits. And besides that, I kissed my best friend seven years ago...", she trailed off. She still remembered their first kiss as if it had happened just yesterday. The counting to three only to be interrupted by her brother and trying again a few weeks later. And now their anniversary was three days away and with Callie being distant for weeks now, she was unsure if there still was an anniversary to be celebrated. At first she thought it was because of the finals. The Latina didn't freak out like she did. She kept it all inside and more often than not was too caught up in her own thoughts. But the finals were done now and the only thing left to do was their last thesis paper, but they had four weeks for that.
"Yeah, well... not everybody can have a love like that. Teddy and I are different. We're... hell, I don't know what we are but whatever it was, I ruined it."
"Why don't you tell me what exactly happened?", the blonde offered. Distraction was good, because it would prevent her from glancing at the clock every thirty seconds.
"We were watching a movie and Teddy fell asleep on my shoulder."
"Okay, not the first time that happened", she laughed. The other blonde could barely make it through a whole movie, always falling asleep in the middle of it instead.
"Yeah", Addie smiled too.
"Please tell me you did not try to kiss her while she was asleep. That's not nice, Red."
"Thanks for having so much faith in me, Arizona. And no, I did not kiss her while she was asleep. There was... you know Teddy, she falls asleep and wakes up when the ending credits start to show. It's like she has a body clock for that or something. And then she gets that pout on her lips because she missed the movie. And somehow... today... there was this moment. A moment. She looked at me and she was so close. All I needed to do was move an inch or two and we would kiss and so I did just that."
"Okay...?"
"No. Not okay!", Addie exclaimed. "I kissed Teddy!"
"Did she kiss you back?", Arizona asked cautiously. "Or did she push you away?"
"No. She... she kissed me back. We... kissed. But then she froze and before she could say anything, I was up and left and came here." She waited for a moment before she said anew, "She froze."
"Amazing kisses can have the effect", the blonde smiled. "Not that I would know anything about your kisses, but maybe she wasn't shocked about the kisser but about how good the kiss was? Maybe you are overreacting and making it worse by being here and not at your dorm room talking about it."
"What's there to talk about?", the redhead huffed.
"A lot", she said and patted her friend's knee to comfort her. "Did you like the kiss? Do you like Teddy? Do you like her more than just like her?"
"She's my roommate", was the first answer. "She's beautiful, a blind person would see it. She's funny and smart. And she does not snore." The last sentence came out with a hearty laugh. "The kiss was gentle and slow, her lips so soft against mine." She looked once again over to the blonde and saw a not so subtle smirk spreading out on pink lips. "What?"
"You sound like you're doing an analysis. Stop looking at it from the outside and start thinking about what you felt or feel", she ordered, understanding that Addison was most likely freaking out about what happened. But she also knew that freaking out would get them nowhere. "Look, when Callie and I kissed for the first time, we counted to three and we were just curious. When we kissed again, I kinda jumped at her because she gave me the – at the time – the best Christmas present. And then it happened again and again and I was confused but I also liked it a lot. I got all tingly and bouncy and even more happy. Kissing Callie has always been amazing, at every stage of our relationship. So, what did you feel when you kissed Teddy?"
"That her lips are really soft?", the redhead tried again. "I don't know! It was good. It wasn't like kissing Mark or any other guy. I can't say that it was better. It was just different."
"Okay, that's a start. Now about your feelings for Teds." When her friend didn't answer she looked at her with piercing blue eyes. "Are there any feelings for her?"
"No. Yes. I don't know, Arizona. It's just a big mess in my head right now. Teddy is gorgeous. Teddy is great. Teddy gets me and I get her. But, what if I am misreading it. Or worse, what if I am not but she does not feel the same and then everything's going to be awkward for all four of us?", she asked. It could ruin everything. "I've never been into a girl. All the crushes I had were on guys. No girls, not even a celebrity girl crush..."
"Well, maybe you're not into girls. Maybe you're just into Teddy, because as you said, you get each other, you clicked right from the start."
"Oh, and now, after almost three years my stupid brain is playing with me? I don't think so", Addison brushed it off. "Shouldn't that have happened sooner?"
"Not necessarily", she answered.
"Hey, why isn't Callie home yet?", Addison asked and changed the topic, obviously not wanting to talk about it any longer. That was just typical for the redhead but Arizona was used to it and knew that she would come to her again if she was ready to talk.
"I don't know. We got home and she practically grabbed her bag and was outta here again, telling me she didn't know when she'd be home."
"Is she doing extra hours on the court?", Addie wondered. "Practice is over since 8.45 and it's almost ten."
"I..."
"What's wrong? You two fighting?"
"No. She's just..." How was she supposed to say this? Talking about it would only make it real and she didn't want her fear to be real. "She's different."
"Different?"
"She was barely at home over the past weeks, always saying that she's meeting up with her study group for Spanish to help them or that she's on the court to get rid of the stress or that she will lock herself up in the library, but..."
"But? Arizona talk to me. I see that something is bothering you."
"Addison, I think there is something... wrong", she confessed and lowered her head.
"Wrong is not very explicit, Arizona."
"She's... the upper drawer of her nightstand is locked. She always has some aspirins in there and when I couldn't find some in the bathroom and my head was killing me, I wanted to check the drawer and it was locked. Why would she lock it?"
"I don't know", Addie replied. "Maybe she's hiding a birthday present in there? It's what, seven weeks away?"
"It could also be a phone number What if she's seeing someone?"
"Arizona, you don't really think that, do you?" Rubbing her hand along the blonde's arm, Addison tried to come up with something else. "Callie loves you. Maybe she really was stressed and you two just cope differently with it. Or does she feel uncomfortable with herself again?"
Arizona thought about it for a moment. Had she just missed the signs? "No, I don't think so. She's not physically distant. I tried to ask her what's wrong, but instead of getting answers she jumped me and... yeah", she trailed off with a blush. She hadn't gotten much sleep that night. And also the night after and the night after that, because Callie was using sex to distract her.
"So you're basically still screwing like rabbits", Addison winked and the blonde's cheeks turned even redder.
"The night she told me she was in the library, her library ID was on the kitchen counter", the other girl said. "Why would she lie to me about anything else than another woman... or man. And why now? It's only three days to go and we'd have our seventh anniversary. Who else our age can say that?" The answer was: no one. Or at least, no one they knew.
"Arizona, calm down", Addison tried to pull her in for a hug when she noticed the tears, but Arizona pushed herself away from the redhead.
"She's my everything, Addie. I can't even breathe without her. She can't love anyone else."
"We don't know that, Arizona. Maybe she's just... okay, I really don't have an explanation for that, but I know Callie. She's your Calliope, your brainy who loves you just as fiercely as you love her. Remember what you told me when we were still in school and she was acting strange? She is the most honest and loyal person walking on earth. You two are made for each other. Have some faith in your relationship. You survived your teenage years and moving in together. She-"
Hearing the jingling of the keys in the hallway, Arizona looked at her friend and silently pleaded her to stop talking while she wiped the tears away and turned her back to the door so Callie would not see the streaks on her cheeks the minute she walked in. "No word, please."
"Hey honey, I'm home. Sorry it took longer. Sarah and I were talking to the coach about the team and I completely lost track of time." It was only then that she looked up and saw Addison sitting on their couch. "Oh, hey Addie. I didn't know you were coming over."
"Oh, I just dropped by to say hi", she smiled. "I'm almost heading out anyways. See ya tomorrow for lunch before Dr. Elmer announces the topics for our final thesis?" Standing up, she squeezed the blonde's hand slightly, hoping that she would at least comfort her friend a little bit.
"Yeah, sure. Say, around two? We don't really have to be there before 3.30."
"Yep, sounds great." And with that, she was out of the door, hoping that she was right and Arizona was beyond wrong.
Inside, Callie put her sports bag down by the couch and walked around to peck her girlfriend's cheek. Noticing the puffy red and still watery eyes, she asked, "You okay?"
"Yeah", the blonde rasped. "Just a mild break down over finals. You know me", she lied and mustered Callie. She didn't look like she had been practicing at all. She looked freshly showered. "You showered at the gym?"
"Yeah. After talking to Coach Kaspen, I thought I'd quickly jump into the shower. And then I went over to the Italian restaurant you love so much and made reservations for Sunday", she grinned. "Didn't want to go there all sweaty and smelly."
"You usually don't shower at the gym, Calliope", Arizona said. Her girlfriend hated showering anywhere else than at home and almost always came home and showered here, sometimes even dragged her along.
"Well, I did today. I won't die from it", she laughed. "Could Addie help you with your breakdown?"
"Yeah... you know what? I'll clean this up and then I think I'll go to bed. I'm having a headache and I think we don't have any aspirins left." Again, she lied and it didn't feel good. She felt horrible, actually. But the insecurity felt even worse. Maybe Callie would unlock the drawer for her. But what if she didn't like what was in there?
"Oh, I bought new ones yesterday. They are in the bathroom", the Latina replied and walked over to the fridge to get herself some cool water.
Watching her girlfriend, Arizona opted to ask her again what was wrong, but it wouldn't change anything. Callie wouldn't tell her. "Thanks", she said while piling up her notes. "Will you come with me?"
Turning around, she saw the distress in the blonde's eyes. It was not about the breakdown, if there had been one. It was not about college. It was about her and their relationship and she knew it. Three more days to go, she thought to herself. "Sure", she said with a smile. "Arizona?", she called out for her girlfriend when the blonde was about to slip into the spare room. "I love you, you know that, right?"
"Yeah... 'course I do, Calliope. I love you too." Closing the door behind her, she let herself fall against it. Callie's behavior was so confusing. She was distant, yet she told her she loves her. She was keeping a secret, maybe even an affair? Yet she came home every night. "I just want the truth", she whispered to herself and put her notes down on the desk with the butterfly-covered frame on it, behind the glass the slowly fading out picture the brunette had made when she was six.