So this chapter moves the story along a little. We've now found out that Arizona was married to a woman called Alex who now also plays in London, but Callie doesn't know that yet, the American is too busy dealing with her own feelings and with what happened with Jess.
Bonus point for those of you who spot the small line said by Arizona in this chapter which she says in an episode in season 5.
"Thanks for tonight" Arizona said as she said goodbye to Sam.
"No problem, although I don't think Miss America enjoyed herself!" Sam commented as she watched the brunette head to wait for Arizona in her car. As the game had progressed Callie had become more withdrawn and just looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there watching the game.
"Yeah my plan backfired a little, but I'm not giving up yet!" Arizona said positively
"You like her don't you?" Sam asked with a smile on her face. She had spotted Arizona looking at the brunette on more than occasion.
"Well it's fair to say I like her more than you do, but that isn't hard as you hate her!" Arizona responded, not biting at the bait.
"I don't HATE her, but anyway...that's not what I meant and you know it. I saw you checking her out during the game" Her friend responded. Shit! Arizona hadn't realised she had been so obvious. She hoped Callie hadn't seen her looking, but it was true, Arizona had deliberately sat on the other side of the room so she had a clear view of the American in that crisp white shirt which emphasises that caramel skin.
"I'm afraid I've no idea what you are talking about Sam" Arizona said seriously
"Come on Ari...it's OK...you can tell me!" Sam responded
It was years since someone had had this effect on Arizona, not since she had first met Alex. When Callie had opened her door earlier in those cat PJ's, Arizona's breath had caught and her heartbeat increased. Those shorts barely covered the Latina's round butt cheeks and the vest top was stretched tightly over the Americans breast.
"Again...I don't know what you mean."
Arizona smiled as she started walking down the path before yelling back "enjoy the weekend off. See you on Monday".
The drive back from Sam's to the training ground was in almost complete silence as both women were lost in their own thoughts.
Callie she was still feeling bad about Jess, about how she had left, ignored her calls and messages and then also for the unfair penalty that was awarded against her. Callie knew Jess very well and knew she would be hurting from the result and feel bad that she had cost her team a place in the next round, even thought everyone watching the game at Sam's had felt Alex Andersson had dived.
Meanwhile Arizona was thinking about her ex-wife who she had not seen in over a year. Her hair was longer, but those eyes were still as mesmerising as ever. She was also thinking about Callie and how to get through to the American.
As Arizona parked the car, Callie undid her seatbelt and went to open the door "umm thanks for tonight Dr Robbins" Callie said quickly before pulling the handle on the door desperate to get out of the car and be on her own.
Arizona reached out and grabbed her arm preventing the American from leaving
"Wait Callie" the blonde said as she switched off the car engine and turned to look at the brunette. As Callie turned to look back, Arizona smelt her fragrance, a mixture of sandalwood and leather and felt a strong throb between her legs. Focus, she told herself.
"I messed up tonight..."Arizona paused "I thought coming out and watching football would help, maybe make you feel a bit more motivated, especially seeing other US squad players like Jess Woods play, but it seemed to have had the opposite effect...I'm sorr..." Arizona was interrupted before she could finish.
"Jess kissed me..." Callie blurted out as much to her own surprise as Arizona's who was now listening in stunned silence.
Callie felt the tears start to form in her eyes as she said the words out loud for the first time. She didn't want to be saying this to the gorgeous blonde sitting next to her, but for some reason her mouth opened again and she continued talking
"she kissed me the other night...I went to visit her and she kissed me...and everything is so fucked up." Callie felt the tears start to fall as she buried her head in her hands and sobbed.
Arizona was not expecting that and reached over and ran her hand up and down the sobbing American's back.
"Hey...it's Ok...it's OK" Arizona said softly now realising that Callie's bad mood had had nothing to do with not being selected for the USA team. "I'm guessing that this isn't something that has happened before?" She asked carefully. She didn't want to push Callie, or make her feel like she needed to explain, but at the same time it was clear the brunette was suffering. She was going through something big here and she wanted to help if she could.
Callie turned and stared into those blue eyes which were now looking at her with such concern "Fuck!" Callie yelled "everything is such a mess...and I don't know why I'm saying all this to you...and I'm sorry...I lied to you earlier...about the US team selection...the truth is I'm so confused right now that I don't care about soccer..." Callie paused "...and I've never said that before in my life!"
Arizona sat and listened, her hand now resting on Callie's shoulder.
Callie continued "I'm sorry...you're just trying to be nice to me, you, Sam and Becky are all trying to help me and I'm...god you must think of me as such an idiot!" Callie continued as she shook her head as more tears started falling.
"Soooo do you have feelings for Jess?" Arizona asked unsure of the brunette's response.
"I care about her... a lot...and we've become close, really close...but I've never been with a woman before and I think it's made me, you know question myself...question my feelings...and I owe Jess an explanation...but I just don't know what to say myself!"
Arizona listened and tried to read between the lines.
"Listen Callie...I know it might not feel like it right now...but it is going to be OK...You'll be OK...trust me!" Arizona said in a reassuring voice.
Callie wiped her tear stained face with the back of her hand and realised the mascara she she applied earlier was now half way down her face. All of a sudden she felt so embarrassed at her outpouring of emotions, this wasn't her plan at all
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have said any of this to you...please can we just forget this ever happened...I'll umm see you in the gym on Monday" Callie mumbled quickly as she opened the car door.
Arizona found herself grabbing the brunette's arm again to stop her from leaving. Before she fully thought through the consequences, the words were out
"As your physio I probably shouldn't be saying this...but I could really do with a drink right now...don't suppose you fancy joining me? I think I have a bottle of wine stashed somewhere." The blonde said hopefully
Callie looked over at the brit who was smiling softly and nodded slowly "god I would love a drink." She said with a small smile
"Great. Mum's the word OK?" Arizona replied smiling back
"Mum's the what?" Callie asked all confused as she tried to pull herself together.
Arizona let out a little laugh "sorry, I meant this is our secret OK? We don't have training for two days so technically it's OK, but it's not something I should be encouraging."
"Understood...Dr Robbins" Callie replied
"It's OK for you to call me Arizona." The blonde said softly. "You go back to yours and I'll be along shortly, I'm just going to head to the physio apartment and dig out the wine."
Callie smiled to herself as she opened the car door, she felt like the blonde was letting down her guard a little. As much as felt embarrassed, it did feel like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulder by telling someone else what had happened.
Arizona found the bottle of wine and turned to leave the apartment and rejoin Callie. Just as she was about to leave she stopped and hesitated. What WAS she doing?
Grabbing her phone Arizona called Sam.
"OK...you were right..." Arizona said as soon as her friend picked up with so much as a hi "I can't explain it, but I like her Sam...shit...What do I do?"
"Ok well the sensible part of me says nothing. You know the rules Robbins!" Sam reminded her friend that there was a clear rule about no relationships with the players. Arizona knew that, she had always maintained a level of professionalism at work, had always left her personal life and feelings at home, but there was something about Calliope Torres that had intrigued the blonde so much that she was seriously considering breaking that rule!
Sam continued "I know she's hot Ari, but don't do anything stupid." Sam responded pleased that her friend had admitted to liking Torres.
"Buuuuuut..." Arizona smiled as her friend added "the fuck it side of me is saying you only live once, SOOO if you do end up doing something stupid...make sure you don't get caught!"
"Shit!" Arizona said down the phone "Why has this happened to me? She has literally just broken down and told me she kissed a girl for the first time just the other day. She's beyond newborn Sam...she's premature!" Arizona commented on Callie's lack of experience with women.
"So you think she's definitely into women?" Sam asked
"I don't know, but I think it's maybe a new discovery, or maybe she's just reaching the point where she is looking to act on feelings she has had for ages. God do you remember how scary it all was?" Arizona paused as she thought back to her own coming out experience.
She couldn't even be sure of Callie liked girls as she thought back through their interactions since the striker had arrived in London. She had definitely caught the American checking her out that night on the changing room and thought she had picked up a vibe that she was interested, but maybe she was wrong.
Sam could tell her friend was torn "Listen if it's just a shag you want then definitely don't go there OK!"
Arizona paused and thought of Callie, of how attracted to her she had found herself feeling, how interested she was in her as a person. She had many of the qualities Arizona liked, and the physio had been spending a lot of her free time in the evenings in bed watching interviews of Callie on her laptop.
"OK...so I definitely think it's more than sex..." Arizona admitted
"then go for it Ari. It doesn't matter how experienced she is or isn't at the end of the day does it? We all had to have a first kiss at some point!" Sam encouraged her friend.
So should she go for it? I've started the next chapter so I know where I'm going, but I'd love to know what you think Arizona should do here.
Thank you for sticking with this, there is definitely going to be more Arizona/Callie interaction from now on.
