Callie's POV

"Are you not having a good time?" A disappointed Arizona comes to find me. We're all here, at her house celebrating her birthday. To answer her question, I am having a good time. A great time even. I only wanted to recharge my batteries for a bit before having to mingle with more of her family members. I was introduced as a friend, and it could all be in my head but I got some stares. Stares that scream, 'What's really going on here?' And so yeah, here I am, in the guest room taking a break from all piercing blue eyes.

"No, I am," I reassure her. As she gets closer and sits on the bed, I add, "I only needed a minute."

"It's been more than a minute, no? I've been looking all over for you." I didn't even think she'd notice.

When someone says a minute, it's never just a minute. "Oh yeah, my bad? I thought you'd be busy enough with talking to everyone."

"Yesh I was busy but of course I noticed you weren't in the room." Arizona gets up to come even closer to me. She swings her legs over mine so that mine is in the middle of hers. Her hands were now placed on my shoulders. "Are you sure you're good?"

"Yeah. I don't know. There's like an elephant in the room I guess. Like with your family."

"What do you mean? A dimple pops into her forehead.

I feel like we just talked about this and I kinda don't want to bring it up again. But I mean, she asked. "Like maybe they know we aren't just friends, but you introduced me as your friend so."

She drops her weight onto my lap. "About that, I was going to wait till later to ask. Umm since we're here though."

I nod to tell her to go on. There's obviously more to be said.

And she does, "Will you be my girlfriend?" Honestly, I only hear the ending of that sentence. "Girlfriend." It's echoing in my head. It's the only word I heard for sure. My brain must have filled in the first part as it makes sense.

My hands go up defensively. Defensive hands paired with the words, "Look, you don't have to ask me just because of what I said. It's okay."

"Are you saying no?" This does feel like she's asking out of pity, or annoyance. After all, I'm always the one to bring up the subject.

"Hi, I'm not saying no, I'm saying you don't have to ask just because of what I said."

"Callie Torres." She pauses. Remember the blue eyes I was trying to avoid in her living room. It's like she channeled them all, like the power of greyish-blue eyes is attempting to compel me. When she asks again it's more forceful, clearer, "Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes." It's unfair how easy that was.

"Awesome. Now give me a second." She all but jumps off of me and leaves the room. I'm to breathe, for real. And everything is starting to set in. I have a girlfriend now? Arizona is my fucking girlfriend? Arizona is my girlfriend! I don't want to do too much, jinx anything but I'm happy that I get to have this moment. Kinda thought, we'd never get there for a minute there. After what has been a while couple of months...Arizona is my fucking girlfriend!

Noticing that I still have the room to myself, I take the chance to text Addy because what the hell?

CT: So I may now have a girlfriend or whatever.

AM: Does Arizona know?

CT: I hope she does, she's the one that asked me to be her girlfriend.

AM: Man you two finally got your head out of your asses. 'Bout time, happy for you.

CT: Not every relationship can be Addek.

AM: Okayyyy Calzona.

CT: Eww, plus, maybe it's too soon for all that.

AM: Maybe not.

I'll have to get back to texting Addie later as Arizona has come back into the room. I hope she talks first.

She begins, "So obviously it's my birthday, so my mom wanted to get me something. I couldn't really think of what I wanted at first, I told everyone not to get me anything, mom included, yet she insisted. She took me to the mall and I saw this." She presents a box to me. "It might be cheesy, still, I had to leave with it." She hands off the box to me.

I open it as she says, "You don't have to wear it now, or ever really. I was actually going to give it to you sometime later, but then I thought, why wait? Everything has been delayed long enough, right? Plus there's a reason I thought to get it now."

This is so sweet. Just to think of her own birthday, she's even thinking of me. She's so sweet. While this is a complete surprise, this is really nice. "No, I really like it!" I don't think i's cheesy or corny. I'd definitely- I'll be definitely wearing this." My gaze shifts between her and the initial pendant necklace in the box.

"I'm so glad you like it because you're special to me. I think you should have a reminder of how special. I'm so happy that we have made it to this stage of things." This is almost too cute. She didn't want anything, now I'm regretting following the instruction.

Taking in the necklace in the box. I kinda wish I got you something too. It's literally YOUR birthday."

"No, I told you-"

"That you didn't want anything."

"Yeah, I mean you guys gave me a party. Lied to me! But still, you gave me a party. That's more than enough." Yes, I lied. However, it was for the best cause. Also, Ms. Robbins was clear in her instructions that under no circumstances does Arizona find out about the party. I'm not saying I'm scared of her, but I'm also not not saying that.

My girlfriend places the necklace on the small table next to the bed. You know, there might be a gift that I should have asked for." Arizona closes what little distance there is between us. "A gift that I do still do want." Oh, I could take a guess as to what that is.

She continues, "But I think it'll have to wait. I can't just ditch my own party." Oh but I think you could. I get it though.

"No, you're right. Besides people might soon start looking for you."

"Imagine someone walking in on us." Let's not even do that.

"No thanks."

"Agreed."

She asks if I'd like to wear the necklace now. And of course, I do. She places it around my neck.

Soon after we're back outside, Ms. Robbins starts off the toasts.

"To my the most important person in my life and a pretty important person in all our lives, Arizona. I had the pleasure of watching you become this beautiful human being over the years. And no I don't just mean physically but we're also aware of that too," the room engages in short laughter.

"You're so giving and caring to everyone around you. God, you're so smart too and challenging in the ways that I hoped you'd be. You remind me so much of your father, but also have unique ways about yourself. Allow me to speak for the both of us when I say, we're so proud of you honey. Happy eighteenth." We all raise our glasses to the radiant blonde next to me. Some filled with champagne and some topped with sparkling cider.

The toasts continue with Arizona's aunt next. Her grandmother chimes in. Mark even said something. Yeah, I couldn't deny her this moment. I'm happy that I lied about this party. Watching my girl wearing a smile this whole time sure is worth it.

As the crowd does down, there's only a handful of people left to clean up. It has already been decided that I'm staying over so I'm not really in a rush. As the house gets cleaner, even more people start to leave. In a while, it's just me and Arizona. Her mom too had to leave as she has to start another night shift.

When I feel like everything is really done I go to join Arizona in her room. She's in bed on her phone. She finally has the chance to reply to everyone's birthday messages and posts.

She calls me over, "Look at what your mom sent!" It's an animated video with mom singing at the end.

I apologize on my mother's behalf, "I'm sorry she's like this."

"What? No, I liked it! Besides just wait until it's your own birthday. Barbara will show you what corny is."

"What she said tonight wasn't though. It was kinda beautiful."

"Yeah, it was." She puts her phone down. The only light in the room is now the small lamp on her nightstand. Facing each other feels natural. Arizona's right hand is now free, and freely roaming up and down my side. I can feel her breath on my face as we lean in closer. Our lips touch and she's pushing into me.