Because of Her
Chapter 2
So, I guess you guys do really want to know what happens with my story, I don't blame you, it's quite entertaining… well that is, if reading about the hardships and the pain of another person entertains you that much.
Anyway, what I am about to tell you is a very personal story, so before judging it, I only ask you to remember that this can happen to any of you, after all, Love is blind ... or so I've heard.
I should start from the beginning, except that this story is so tangled that I wouldn't know which one is it, I guess the night I saw her for the very first time is designated as the beginning and only because I knew from that moment that she had me hooked up with just a glance, pretty cheesy, is it not? Well, it'll get worse.
That first night I saw her, she was not alone, I could tell she was in the company of three other people, I could only notice this once our gaze became too intense, so I turned my eyes away from hers. She continued her entertaining conversation with those that I can only assume were her friends.
At that time, I didn't know what to do, I remember thinking about whether it would be appropriate to approach her and talk to her or send her a drink of whatever she was taking at the time or just sit there and do nothing, either way, I never thought that someone like her would give me the time of day.
"Are you going to stare at her all night or what?" I remember my friend's voice near me. I looked almost confused, as if trying to disguise the unmistakable. She had noticed too, Hell! the whole bar noticed, as far as I was concerned.
I pretended not to understand her question in hopes she will just drop it but Jo Wilson is not known to let go a bone when she has it, isn't she? "Don't give me that look, Arizona. I may not be a lesbian but those looks that you were giving back and forth with the brunette over there could light this whole place and burn it to its ground in a matter of minutes." She said as she took another shot of tequila.
I looked at her almost bewildered. "You exaggerate way too much." I said taking a sip of my own white wine. "She is a beautiful woman, but nothing more, can't I appreciate beautiful women now?" I asked almost defensively.
Jo laughed heartily, as if what I had just said was a very good joke to her. "Of course, you can, Robbins, just try not to drool all over the place while you're at it." She said mockingly.
I rolled my eyes at her exaggerated words one more time. "Shut up!" Was the only thing I could answer. I honestly think that I was afraid that she was right.
Jo laughed a little more at my expense, before speaking once more. My eyes never leaving the figure of that woman a few steps away from me. "So? You didn't answer my question, will you just look at her all night or will you go over there and talk to her?" She asked and once again I didn't have an answer to give her. Jo must have read my silence because the next words that came out of her mouth took me by surprise. "Wait a minute! Are you afraid to go talk to her?" When I didn't answer back, she continued. "Uunbelievable! The infamous Arizona Robbins, known for attracting women like a magnet, is afraid to talk to a pretty woman in a bar, are you kidding me? Who are you and what did you do with my sluty friend?" Jo continued and when once again I kept silent, probably because she was right and I didn't know what to respond. "Oh, come on! What's the worst that can happen, that she rejects you?" My friend laughed as if it was the funniest thing she's said in a long time, well spoiler alert, she's not that funny.
"Jo, just shut your mouth. I'm not scared, I'm not afraid to talk to a woman, I've never been, not even when I was a teenager, I'm sure like hell I'm not going to start now that I'm in my thirties." I said all that in one breath ... Yep, I was definitely scared.
Jo gave me a knowing smile, "Then, why don't you go over there and play some of your magic with those blue eyes and dimples in your cheeks, you've said it before, nobody can resist the Robbins' charm." She said in an almost flirtatious tone.
I took a few seconds before answering, "She is with her friends, I can't just go and interrupt her conversation, that's not polite." I said weakly.
I remember the look that Jo gave me that night, it was like: Are you really giving me that excuse? "That's the lamest excuse you could ever made up. I, my friend, have seen you do worse things, like kissing the girl in front of her date, so don't come to me with that." Jo told me almost disappointed and then said, "I bet you can't go there and invite her a drink because I know you're just a chicken, you feel intimidated by such a woman, you just have to admit it, there's nothing wrong with saying you're afraid to approach her and be rejected in the instant." She gave me a look out of the corner of her eye. I knew she just wanted a reaction from me and it worked ... damn it, did it work.
As today I realize that if I hadn't fallen into Jo Wilson's game, I wouldn't be in the predicament in which I find myself now.
"You know what?" I got up from the seat I was in, took my last sip of wine and looked my friend straight in the eyes, "I'm gonna do it, just to prove you're wrong."
Jo smiled broadly raising her eyebrow, "And because she's that hot," she said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, that too," I said mumbling to myself, I slowly walked away from the table I shared with my annoying friend and made my way to the woman in question.
I remember feeling the beating of my heart in my throat and my sweaty hands, like the first time I asked a girl out while I was in high school. My body warmed up and I knew that my cheeks were on fire, I could feel it, the nervousness in my whole body. I remember feeling like a fool because she was definitely not the first woman I approached in a bar, Jo was right, I was like a magnet when it came to women and this woman with only one look put me out of my zone and way out of my game.
Finally, I was one step away from her, her back was directed at me, so she couldn't see my panicked face, I took a deep breath and then...
"Hey!" I remember that my voice was almost trembling, I cleared my throat, but my mouth dried again when her face was so close to mine when she turned to see me. She gave me a smile, but this time it was not malicious, more than anything, she was just kind and gentle. "Can I sit here?" I tried to regain my composure by pointing to the high chair next to her at the bar.
"Of course, you can." I remember she had an accent, I knew that because of her features she was Latina, so she probably still struggled with the language. "How's it going?" She asked trying to make light conversation.
I smiled stupidly, "Well actually, I'm here celebrating my new position at work, so I was wondering if you wanted to celebrate with me, maybe?" I remember feeling relaxed when she smiled at my words, I don't think that was the best pick up line in my book, but hey! The girl smiled, so I consider myself well served. "Can I buy you a drink?" The music in the bar wasn't too loud but I leaned towards her and immediately I could feel the scent of her perfume, sweet, but somehow naughty just the same.
I remember thinking, 'This woman exudes sensuality from the pores of her skin'
She smiled again sweetly before answering, "That doesn't seem fair, if we're here to celebrate you, it's only fair that I invite you a drink, what do you say?" She asked raising her eyebrow and smiling sideways. What do I say? Seriously, she asked me what do I say? I'll say Hell yeah!
"Well, I say that I would like that very much, although I feel somewhat sorry to take you away from your friends, it seems that you were in an entertaining conversation." Actually, I was not sorry, I wanted her attention only on me and I got it, so I felt that I had won… Boy was I wrong.
She laughed exquisitely, her laughter was melodious, "Oh don't worry about them, they usually forget that I'm there, so it's ok?" She said as she turned her whole body towards me to be right in front of me.
I just looked at her intensely before answering, "I find it hard to believe, no one can just forget you're there, it's not possible." I said with confidence and I remember how she looked down smiling. To this day I swear I saw her blush slightly, she has always denied it, but I know what I saw.
"Then, let's celebrate! What are you taking?" She asked trying not to be the center of attention anymore. Today I know it was just another strategy of conquest on her part, to make you feel like you are more important than anything else ... I wish I had realized it back then.
"White wine, please." I said immediately, "It's my celebratory drink." I added a little more.
The beautiful woman, whose names we hadn't yet exchanged, nodded before answering, "Normally people prefer champagne to celebrate." She called the bartender and ordered a glass of white wine.
"Well, I'm not like everyone else," I replied sardonically, she laughed with pleasure at my response, saying something in Spanish that I couldn't understand. I ignored this and asked, "I couldn't help but notice that you only ordered a glass of white wine, is there anything wrong with that?" I asked with simple curiosity.
"Oh there's nothing wrong with it, it's just that I don't drink alcohol." She said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, she had to have noticed my facial expression because she quickly added, "That's exactly the face I get every time say that I don't drink alcohol, I just don't like the taste, you know?" She didn't feel the need to explain more and I liked that.
"Yeah, it's alright as long as we celebrate together, I don't mind if you do it with a glass of lemonade." I said and she just laughed at my antics. "Sorry, I never asked, what's your name?" I asked casually, a smile playing in my lips, which she easily returned.
"My name is Callie, pleasure to meet you." She responded by extending her hand, which I received without hesitation.
"The pleasure is all mine, Callie, my name is Arizona." I answered confidently not letting go her hand.
She smiled, that smug full of sassiness smile back to her face, leaned even closer than we already were, I remember feeling her breath on my lips, but I didn't dare to take away my eyes from her deep brown eyes as I felt myself read as the simplest open book that ever existed.
"I know who you are, Arizona Robbins."
And just like that, I knew that my life would never be the same after that encounter, but that is a story for another day.
For those who are wondering if this is a Calzona story, the answer is YES, only that it's an unconventional story and some of you readers may not going to like it too much, so from this moment on, I tell you that if at any time you disagree with the story I'm telling you can simply stop reading it and not spread hatred and bad energies about what I write and for the faithful readers of my stories I only ask for your patience and to keep it together during the process, so we together can discover how this story ends. Please and thank you!
Someone said in a comment that I don't finish my stories, I think the only story that is unfinished is Love in the Time of the Cholera and that's because I've been in the worst writer's block in history with that particular story, I know what I want and how I want it to happen, but the words just don't flow just me, but believe me I'm going to finish it, when? I don't know but I plan to do it.
Needless to remind you that English is not my first language and therefore I apologize for the many grammatical errors that you surely will find in this story from now on.
Have a great week!