Title: Love & Softball
Author: BrennaAimee
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG 13
Summary: Callie transfers to a new high school from one where she is a softball star. Can she prove she belongs on this new team and impress the captain in more ways than she knows.
Disclaimer: All television shows, books, movies, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work and the characters, events, and settings thereof are the properties of their respective owners. This is for entertainment purposes only, no profit is being made.

A/N: If you love Callie and Arizona and you want another place to read fics and meet great people, the Calzona Board is for you. If you want to read fics or sign up the website is calzonafans . aimoo . com just take out the spaces. We would love to have you; there is even a chat room to meet other fans. I am a mod at the site and if you have any questions feel free to ask. Hope to see you there!

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to the person that I am on the phone with while writing this chapter, Raye (a.k.a MissLovelyRaye/Bugg/Mini Me). She says hi by the way lol & for my Dougie (a.k.a iFabi) some crazy nights here lately on the Calzona Board and for her understanding of one of my characters ;) lol

|The Next Day at School|

|Callie's P.O.V|

"Cal!" I hear Mark yell from down the hall. I stop in my tracks and wait for him to catch up. He gets beside me and we walk together. "What's up?" He asks.

"Walking to class?" I answer sarcastically with a smirk on my face.

"Wait" He says as he puts his arm out to stop me. He turns me to him, puts his hands on my arms and looks me up and down. " Was that a smirk, as in an almost smile? Something in the ballpark of playful and happy?"

"Shut it Mark." I start laughing as I hit his shoulder. I turn to walk toward my class, and he catches up after standing there dumbfounded and falls into step beside me.

"What has gotten into you Torres?"

"I talked to Arizona last night, for two hours. I know this distance thing is hard, but I can do it. I love her enough to do it."

"I know you missed her, but all of this comes from just talking to her on the phone? I'm going to have to get blondie's number myself when I need a little boost." He winks.

"Go on somewhere Mark." I say as I push him and start to walk into my classroom.

"Torres" He catches my attention and I turn around to him. "It's really good seeing you happy again." He says sincerely.

The rest of the day goes amazingly. I walk with my friends to every class. I laugh and joke. Lunch goes amazingly everyone is even starting to put Jamie in the group and it isn't like I'm eating lunch at two different tables. Everyone has realized that we are just friends and Jamie isn't flirting with me anymore so that helps them accept her. Having all my friends get along makes me happier. I even call a meeting with the softball girls. Arizona wanted me to take over as captain and I'm going to do that. I ask the girls to come to the house and play a game at least once a week. Even though we aren't suppose to practice until season, but season is forever away and it is senior year, we need to win. We wont be on school grounds and it isn't practice it is friends getting together who enjoy to play softball. It really is a great day, classes were laid back and we had no homework. I can finally go home and relax.

I get home and go put my stuff up and walk back downstairs and see Aria sitting on the couch.

"Hey, you want to swim?" I ask her.

She knows why I haven't been swimming or anything like that so she gives me this odd look and cocks her head to the side and studies me before breaking a smile. "Yes!" She exclaims and a smile spreads across my face. She gives me a hug and we go to change into our bathing suits. I grab my iHome as usual and Aria grabs the towels. We put on music and sit the rest of our stuff on the chairs. We look at each other and take off running and dive into the deep end. I swim over to one of the floats we have in the pool and I get on and lay down. Aria swims over to the beach ball in the water and holds on as she floats around. After we float around for an hour Aria finally speaks up.

"Cal, I missed you."

"I missed you too Aria." I look over at her and we both smile. We never had to say much to understand each other. She is my baby sister and the best one I could ever ask for. We float, swim, and splash around for a few hours before Mama calls us in for us to eat dinner. We eat dinner and then I head upstairs to see if Arizona got a chance to email me today.

I load up my laptop and go to the internet. I pull up my email and see a lot of notifications from facebook and colleges. 'I really have to start applying to those.' I think to myself. I decide to go ahead and start. I know I want to go to UCLA, I mean playing with Lisa Fernandez as my assistant coach? Can you say dream come true. I go downstairs and get my moms credit card for the application fee when I am done. I get all the stuff I may need for the application and fill it out online. I research three more schools and fill out the applications. I take my mom her card back and finally remember what I was originally doing. I am in such a good mood I felt like being productive. I pull the tab with my email on it back up and scroll through some more. I finally see an email from Arizona from last night, well this morning, after we got off the phone. It's subject is 'Calliope'. I love it when she says my name, with anyone else it irks me, but from her, its different. It gives me the feeling of content and just by reading it I can hear her saying it and it makes me smile. I open it and read the line.

'Never forget what we had. - Arizona'

Had, did she just say had, as in past tense, no more? No, she can't mean that. Maybe she just mean what we had while she was here, that way we will know what to expect when we see each other again. That has to be what she means, but we still have that feeling for each other, that still doesn't make sense. I know she doesn't mean it is through. We were on the phone for hours last night. I'm so happy because I know I can do this, and then, what does this mean? I have to email her back.

'Arizona,

What do you mean what we had? You mean what we have. I love you with everything that I have in me, every fiber of my being, and I know that the distance sucks, but I'm good with this because distance makes the heart grow fonder. I really hope you mean had as in when we are in the same town and now it is just a little different because we are not. That has to be what you mean. Ok, write me back and let me know what's up. I love you baby.

xoxo - Callie'

I send the email and exit out of my browser. I close the computer and sit it to the side. I immediately grab my remote and turn on the tv and the dvd player to watch a movie. I lay down and my phone starts vibrating. I look at it and see a text. I open it up and it's from Mark.

'Did u talk 2 Blondie 2 night? We need to keep happy Cal, she is much more fun ;) love u. Good night'

I close my phone and don't text him back. Today was a good day. Now I will know what a good day leads up to . . . an awful night. Of course when everything is going good something tears it down. I roll over on my side and wrap my arms around my pillow. I think of last night, talking to her on the phone. I go through the whole conversation. Did I do something to make her want to leave? Did I say something? She can't be leaving, she loves me, but what if she doesn't? Ok, no Callie, you can't think like that. I tell myself. I pull my pillow tighter. I don't want to think about this. I don't want that to be what she meant. I hope that this isn't one of those times she takes three days to email me back. I toss and turn for a few hours with my mind wondering to a million different scenarios about that email and about Arizona.

|The Next Day|

|Arizona's P.O.V|

Last night my dreams were filled with nightmares. Dreams of bad things happing to Callie filled my head. I hated every minute of it. I would cry and I would wake up, I would cry and wake up again, and this pattern continued until I heard my alarm go off and I jumped up. I got ready and came to school and here I am sitting in my third class of the day and I can't concentrate all I can do is think of my dreams. I want to know that she is ok because the last dream I had felt so realistic. The bell rings and brings me out of my daze.

"Arizona" My teacher says and I turn to face her.

"Yes Ma'am" I say as I gather my stuff and walk to her desk as everyone else walks out.

"Are you ok?" She asks sincerely.

"Yes Ma'am" I answer and avoid her curious gaze.

"I was just asking because you were zoned out all through class, and I would hate to believe that's what kind of student you are when I have seen your transcripts and previous records."

"I'm sorry, I have just had a lot on my mind. I can assure you it won't happen again."

"It's ok, thank you" She says and I turn to walk off. "Arizona, if you ever need anyone to talk to feel free to come to me." She offers and I turn around to see her smiling at me. I flash a dimpled smile to her and walk out of the class, keeping a perky appearance up. I hear someone call my name from down the hall and I turn around to find where it was coming from. My eyes finally land on Layla, the captain of the softball team and she is walking my way.

"Hey Layla, what's up?" I ask as we fall into step and walk down the hall.

"Nothing, I was just going to ask you if you were available Sunday afternoon?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Ok, well me and a few of the softball girls from school and some people in the community are getting together and playing against some girls from the town over. I figure this will be as good of a chance as any to see you in action." She says as she light-heartedly bumps into me and winks. I laugh with her and she walks into her class room and I continue walking until I get to mine. The rest of the day goes pretty smooth. I try to invest myself in school and not worry about anything else. I'll deal with the other at home. This perky thing is working out pretty well for me. I meet plenty new people as the day goes on and make new acquaintances. I guess when you seem happier you look more approachable. I end up eating lunch with Layla and some of the softball girls. We discuss Sunday and I learn about all of the girls. After lunch I go through my day and continue to invest myself in each class, losing myself in school work is helping keep my mind off it all. After school I go home and before I help my parents with stuff I decide to check my facebook and email. I check Callie's wall and see Mark left a post saying it was good to have his Callie back. Then two replies from Addison and Jamie agreeing with him in one way or another. I click on her display pic because it was added yesterday and I don't have it. I stare at it for a while and start to tear up, but I don't let myself cry. "I love you Calliope" I say as I click back onto her profile and see she just updated her status from her phone. 'Thinking about some things' I click off facebook and I go check my email. I look through all the unread and see one from Callie.

'Arizona,

What do you mean what we had? You mean what we have.' "I knew this was coming." I think to myself as I read the lines.

I love you with everything that I have in me, every fiber of my being,' "I love you too Calliope more than you will ever realize, because I have to be this person."

'and I know that the distance sucks, but I'm good with this because distance makes the heart grow fonder. I really hope you mean had as in when we are in the same town and now it is just a little different because we are not. That has to be what you mean. Ok, write me back and let me know what's up. I love you baby.

xoxo - Callie' I finish reading her email and I want to break down. I want to cry. I want to take it all back and tell her she was right. I want to tell her that I mean just because we are in different states, but I can't do it. I can't go back on the decision I made. I won't go back on it, because I am a good man in a storm and no matter how this makes me feel, I have to be strong for her . . . for both of us. In the end this is what is best for her and for us. She deserves more than I can give her right now, and she can find that in someone else, but only if she is willing to give them a chance. This way she will be open to do that. I know she loves me, but if she hates me she will move on. I wont write back, I wont contact her, and I can't give in because she deserves better. 'This is it, I'm letting her be free.' I think to myself as I shut my computer down and head downstairs to my parents, putting up my perky façade.

|Callie's P.O.V|

It has been five days, five very long days without an email from Arizona. I'm not going to lie, I'm starting to lose hope. I have convinced myself that what I thought she could have meant wasn't it. I look over at the clock and check my email for the fifth time today. I don't know why I think checking it this much will magically make her email me back. It's 2 p.m and the softball girls are probably going to be here in an hour. I shut my computer down and go to change out of my pjs and into some basketball shorts and a wife beater. I gather up my softball equipment and go downstairs to wait on people to arrive. After about twenty minutes Mark comes over. He is going to help with practice. I go to lay on the couch and he puts my legs across his lap so he can sit on the other end.

"Cal, what's up?" He asks as a commercial came on.

"Umm, laying here watching tv the same thing you're doing?" I reply sarcastically.

"Not what I meant." He deadpans.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, a few days ago you were glowing and happy and you were Callie again, and today you are happy, but it's not the same. You are hiding something, I see it in your eyes. I am your best friend and as much as you try to hide things, you can't."

"Mark, please. . . " I try to say as I sit up.

"Cal, you need someone to talk to and since you got here it has always been me. So, talk to me."

My eyes start to water up and I want to cry, but I wont. I'm done showing this weakness. I know I'm going to just keep myself in denial about this for as long as I can and I know that isn't healthy, but it is what I want to do.

"Callie" Mark says and pulls me in when he sees my watery eyes. I fall against him and clutch his grey tee shirt tightly as I cry silently against his chest. "This is about AZ isn't it?"

"Mark . . . I . . . I think" I try to say between sobs, but I can't get it out. I just cling tighter to him.

"Calm down. Breathe, just breathe Cal, then try again." He says running his fingers through my hair and bringing me closer to him in a tight embrace. I try to slow down my breathing, but I keep gasping as I try to do so because the sobs just want to come out. I try to calm myself down and it's working partially, but my body keeps jerking every once in a while. When I finally stop Mark continues to rock me, keeping a steady motion to soothe me. Finally he says, "Try again, slowly"

I inhale deeply and feel a lump in my throat, the burning sensation that is associated with crying makes itself present, and I try to swallow the feeling. I open my mouth to answer him, but no words come out. I sit up and take a deep breath ignoring the burning. I exhale deeply and inhale again.

"I . . . I think Arizona broke up with me." I finally manage to sputter out rather quickly with out really managing to enunciate my words.

"Wait, did you just say you THINK AZ broke up with you?" I look at him in his eyes and simply nod because it's all I can do. "Why do you 'think' that?" He questions emphasizing the word think.

"Because of the email she sent me, and she has yet to write me back in like five days, and I saw she had been online."

"What did the email say?" He asked. I took my phone out and went to my email and showed it to him.

"Babe, I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. I want to say that wasn't what she meant, but I love you too much to lie to you. You are my person and I'm not going to do that."

"Mark?" I said as I leaned into him again.

"Yes?"

"Thank you, you know, for not playing it off. Thank you for being honest."

"Anytime, you know I am here for you no matter what happens."

"Thanks" I say as I wrap my arms around him and squeeze. He does the same and places a kiss on top of my head. We pull away and then I hear the door bell ring. Raye is standing at my door with Jamie and two other girls and I see two other cars pulling up. It's time to get this practice into action. I pull Raye in for a hug and then Jamie. I pick her up, twirl her around, and sit her back down. She looks into my eyes and grabs my arm and takes me toward the dining room.

"Are you ok?" She asks and I open my mouth to answer, but she stops me. "Don't tell me a lie either."

I start to nod my head, but end up shaking it. "Ok then, no . . . no I'm not."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Can't say that I do."

"Want to hit softballs?"

"That sounds much better than talking." I admit and she wraps her arm around my shoulders comforting me as we walk to get everyone and take them out back.