Author's Note 1 : Thanks for all the awesome reviews ! I already answered your questions in the comment sections and Merak , thanks for your reviews . They were all full with enthusiasm :D And please don't be really mad at me or the characters after this chapter (a little anger is normal , though) . Before reading , I just wanted to say that sometimes things take time and that's how the universe usually works . Happiness doesn't come in a blink . The one with patience will get hers . Just sit back and wait . I waited but unfortunately , I didn't get my own happy ending . But at least I tried and waited around for a while (hoping for some miracles , maybe)
p/s : I would certainly wanted the characters get their own happy ending . That's the point of writing . To replace what you really lost in real life (at least that is the thing I stand for as a fanfic author)
Enough with the rambling , here we go . Chapter 13 !
I hid my heart
So it will never have to hurt again
But if you unravel my thoughts
Stroke my scars
Wipe my tears
And promise that thing won't always be okay
You might find the key
But it's a long path , baby
Please stay with me anyway
New York
1645hrs
Arizona sat at the table not far from Callie and Michael . Forty minutes had passed and they were still in discussion . She threw her gaze at the cup in front of her . It was her third rounds of Americano already . She was feeling bored .
Callie had her back to Arizona while Michael was facing her . Arizona just watched the brunette from behind , wondering if she should prepared a big speech for her later tonight or just talked it out from her heart . Michael suddenly looked up and his eyes met with Arizona's . She took this chance to mouthed to the man 'isn't she a great writer , like I told you ?'
Michael just shook his head . Miss Robbins had been breathing down on his neck about meeting Callie . And he tolerated just because his boss asked him to as she already agreed for an exclusive interview , but only if they gave Callie another chance . And he had to admitted that Callie's work was something else ! But still , Arizona should relaxed a bit about this . And he was certainly sure that she actually didn't even need to escorted Callie here .
Callie raised her eyebrows as she turned her head around , looking at the same direction where Michael's attention really was . And there she was , Arizona Robbins . Sitting not far from them , she was staring at her phone . She looked at Michael , a little confused . Confused because Michael looked disturbed with Arizona's presence .
Arizona's eyes quickly focused on her phone when Callie turned around , pretending to be busy with her phone before she finally decided to left the restaurant . She would head back to Nate's office and penthouse as she could use some rest over there before their later night out . And she should prepared herself .
Yeah , I haven't decide what to wear later .
So tonight they would went out together , finally ! She had to admitted that just walking around the city was a good idea for both of them . Well , if Callie was going to yell at her again it was better she do it at an open place and not in a restaurant , Arizona thought . After all , she was sure as hell that she didn't want to be in the frontpage of a newspaper again .
When Arizona arrived at the lobby of Sullivan House , most of the employees already left . Lauren was the only one that was still sitting at her desk . "Aren't you supposed to be in your car , going home by now ?"
Lauren looked up , she was smiling by now . "I am about to pack my stuff ."
"Any nearest flower shop around here ?" Arizona walked forward .
Lauren was taken aback by Arizona's out of blue question . "Flowers , for ?"
"A friend ." She chose that word carefully and hoped it stopped there , didn't want to explain it any further .
"Well , do you prefer to touch and feel it before you buy or you just want to buy it online ? There is this shop where you could buy flowers online and they would deliver it to you or straight to your … friend's … house ."
"The online one . That's even better . Easier ." Arizona's eyes lit up . It wasn't like she knew how to buy flowers for women . It had been too long since the last time she bought one .
Lauren quickly typed in the website address on her computer . "So , this friend . Is she really serious with … you ?"
Arizona kept her eyes on the computer screen . Joanne preferred white roses but no one would said no to the red one , right ? She was in dilemma now . "Umm … Okay . That one looks nice . Lauren , I will take it from here . You can go home now , I will shutdown your computer after using it . Thank you ."
Lauren could sense that Arizona wasn't comfortable sharing any details regarding her private life as the blonde just ignored her question . She grabbed her handbag and before she left , she heard Arizona called her name .
"Is Nathaniel inside ?" Arizona pointed her index finger toward the wooden door.
"No , he's up in his penthouse ."
Arizona focused back on the screen . "Okay , thanks ."
1947hrs
Arizona stood in front of the door of Callie's room . She had came early , with a bouquet of red roses . Arizona was staring at those roses as she began to felt like maybe flowers were too soon for Callie .
What if she hates them ? What if she likes tulips more than roses ? Damn it , Arizona . Just leave the flowers somewhere .
Arizona tossed it into the nearby metal container before she began knocking the door . She looked at the remaining flowers that were hanging out of the container while waiting for the door to be opened .
And when the door finally open , Arizona's eyes was met with a beautiful sight . The dress that was showing off Callie's body curve . "You look ... hot ."
Callie rolled her eyes , she seemed not to be melted by the compliment at all .
"Are you still piss at me ?" Arizona asked .
"I am , so please work your ass , hard , trying not to make me more piss ." Callie replied nonchalantly . "But , I am hungry too . So , where are we going ?"
"What do you think about street foods or are you too prissy about that ?" Arizona asked .
"I am not prissy , Miss CEO of Sullivan Inc . One of the top fifty successful companies in the world for last year ." Callie replied sarcastically . "I am going out with a billionaire , this is so thrilling !"
Arizona just smiled , didn't feel insulted by the sarcastic comment made by Callie . One of a few things that was changing about her . She didn't feel the need to answered it back . "I've missed your smart mouth , Calliope ."
Callie was even pissed when Arizona wasn't effected at all by her snarky words . She walked forward , leaving Arizona behind . "Who the hell in this world throws away lots of sweet red roses ?" Callie said as she walked pass the metal container , shaking her head to the left and right .
Well , I am . Arizona made a mental note . So Callie thinks red roses are sweet . Hmm , there would always be next time .
Callie was sitting on the bench in the Central Park as she watched the live acoustic performance of Love Me Like You Do . The musician does have a great deep voice . She turned her head around , Arizona was still queing in front of the truck .
Was she being too harsh toward Arizona ? Callie turned her head . All of those sarcastic behaviour she put on earlier .. Maybe she shouldn't be an asshole .
Moments later , the smell of Arizona's perfume caught Callie's attention as she knew Arizona was now standing behind her . The blonde's perfume was her favourite scent for the night . "Arizona , what are you standing back there ?" Callie said without turning around .
Arizona slowly took her seat next to Callie as she handed half of the food that she just bought from the truck to the Latina . "You seem like you are enjoying yourself . I was shocked just now ."
"Shocked ?"
"For someone who doesn't want to go out with me , you doesn't seem like you are hating it . In fact , you look like you are enjoying it ." Arizona laughed .
"Oh please ! You tricked me into going out with you ." Callie replied . She was actually surprised to see Arizona laughed , it was still rare for her . "And I see , you laugh a lot nowadays ."
Arizona just smiled , showing off her dimples .
"But really , Arizona . Why are you here ?" Callie asked .
"Because you are here ." Arizona replied shortly .
"You left ." Callie reminded the blonde .
"I was stupid . I was afraid that ..." Arizona suddenly stopped .
"Go on , I am listening ."
"I took care of my feelings , Calliope . I manhandled them before it gets out of my control . I've lost too much , losing a lot of controls and I don't want to lose anything . Ever ." Arizona stood up as she watched the river . "When Joanne and Aiden died , I lost control of everything . And I lost half of myself too . Everything was slipping away from me , slowly . And I couldn't stop it . It was , very pathetic ."
"My point is , I don't give a chance to anyone and I didn't give a chance to you . Because I was afraid . So I left . That was the only easy path that I could see ." Arizona shook her head .
"It wasn't like I was going to force you into reciprocating my feeling . You rejected me , Arizona . And I understand that ." Callie stood next to Arizona , looking at her . But blue eyes was still staring deep into the river .
"I couldn't take any chance . What if we be friends and then the feeling grows ? What if with being close friends would only make your feeling go in deeper ?"
"You are scared of my feeling ? I can take care of it , Arizona . You take care of yours !" Callie said half yelled .
"No , Callie . It's not only about your feeling right now . It's about mine too ."
"What do you mean ?"
"Four months . I've missed you and your smart mouth for four months . I was building houses with my team in Malawi and all I could think about was you , what were you doing in Seattle , were you okay ?"
"Four months . Not even a one short phone call . I didn't know where you were . And I tried to believe what you said , that you never stopped thinking about me but I am sorry , I couldn't . You could at least call me ." Callie shook her head a few times .
"I did call you before I got into the plane . For a few seconds there was a ringing tone before I decided to press the red button ." Arizona turned her head , staring deep into the dark brown eyes . "I was a coward . During those short seconds , all I thought about was what if you actually answer it ? What should I say to you ? It didn't matter at that moment , because I was going to jump into that plane anyway . I would only make things complicated ."
"Are things less complicated right now , Arizona ?"
"No . And I am truly sorry ." Arizona looked down . "I am so sorry for walking away without even trying ."
"It's not enough ."
Arizona didn't say anything after that . She just kept staring into the blackness of the water .
That was when Callie broke the silence . "So you .. You were afraid because things might get complicated ? Meaning .. Back then you thought that there was a possibility that you might grow a feeling for .. me ?"
Arizona sighed . "I wasn't sure before this but when we were in Baltimore , I found myself comfortable being around you which was really odd . I feel like I could talk to you about everything . You wouldn't judge me , you wouldn't try to fix me like what everyone else been trying . Everything that is happening right now is so … new to me . And yes , that thought was going on around my head . But my feelings were in a lot of mixture back then . I was happy with the possibility of me and you becoming more than friends but I was afraid too , Calliope . I didn't want things to get out of control ."
"Arizona , look at me ." Callie slowly said . "Are you still afraid of your own feelings ?"
Arizona smiled and without hesitation she answered . "No , I am not anymore .. but maybe a little bit ."
"Arizona .."
"Callie .."
Their name clashed together as both women were trying to talk at the same time . Callie smiled , which was making Arizona smiled too . "You go first ."
Arizona nervously cleared her throat . "I am not good at this , Calliope . Relationships and hearts . I've been running away but now , I want to see what we could have . Together . So , I am asking you for another chance ."
Callie's red lips felt dry . "I … I don't know what to say . You are .. changing . A lot ."
"I hope it's a good change ."
"It is , indeed ." Callie quickly answered . Arizona finally talked about her feelings and now asking for another chance to start their relationship over . Wasn't that what she wanted ? Arizona was asking for another chance , why should her thinking about it so hard ? "Let's try again ."
Arizona smiled grew bigger . For the first time after five years , she was happy and really smiling .
Callie was walking next to Arizona . They had been walking around the city for almost two hours now . A pale cold hand was caressing her warm bronzed hand as they both walked hand by hand . Ehh , since when they had been holding each other hands ? Callie didn't notice when . Under the dim street light , Callie found herself staring at Arizona's face .
Her gaze started at Arizona's eyebrows before it landed on her beautiful sparkling eyes . Her eyes , it was still looking so empty sometimes .
"What are you doing , huh ?" Arizona suddenly spoke , making Callie slightly jumped .
"No .. nothing ." Callie stuttered . "It's just that .. You are awesome . But .. you look like you have lost some weight ."
Arizona quickly looked at herself when Callie said that . "I guess , you made me lost weight . I couldn't eat knowing someone was probably mad at me in Seattle while I was away to Malawi . I really missed you ."
Callie made a gesture like she wanted to vomit when she heard those words coming out from Arizona's pink lips . But deep down in her heart , she knew that she was really happy when Arizona expressed her feelings . The blonde was no longer having trouble to talked about her feelings , out loud .
Arizona was grinning from ear to ear . "Oh , I totally forgot . I've been meaning to ask you , how was it going with the meeting ? Did you already sign any deal ?"
"There is no deal . My book hasn't finish . It is stil in progress ." Callie replied . She didn't sound like she was disappointed at all .
Arizona's facial expression was pricelessly shocked . "So , you went to New York with your unfinished work for what exactly ?"
"I just wanted to see the audience , you know ? Because I have been writing this story for almost two years now and I am not sure anymore if I should continue with it . I guess , I just want to see if I should keep writing ." Callie said . "But he did offer me an in progress publishing deal . The one that you submit your work chapter by chapter ."
"And what did you say ?"
"I said no . Because I know well on how it would ends up . By the end of the chapter , my work wouldn't be my work . They will force me to write what they want , not what I want . And I would rather keep my manuscript , feeding rats with it than having someone telling me what to do or how it should ends ."
Arizona rubbed her temple . Even though Callie said no but she still had to go to that interview with NST magazine tomorrow . She made a promise already .
Both of them stopped right in front of the hotel main entrance , that hotel where Callie were staying .
"I wonder why are you staying at here instead of at your father's hotel ?" Arizona raised her eyebrows .
Callie rubbed her head . "Well , I don't really like to stay there because all of the workers there know me . If they saw me , they would surely phoned my family right away . And then my family would call me , asks me what am I doing in New York ."
"Then ? What's wrong with them informing your family ?"
"My family is different . They could be nosey ."
"Nosey ? Like my mother ?" Arizona asked . "I don't really know much about your family ."
"No , not like your mother . Gosh , your family is everything that I wish my family could be . Your family and mine were totally different ." Callie laughed . "My father loves me and even without the trust fund , I know he loves me . But everytime I go to my family residence in Miami , he would never stop asking me when will I take over his business and that sometimes drives me mad . But I still love him , though . And he's the only one in my family that accepts me for who I am ."
Arizona was looking at Callie , confused . "Accepts you for who you are ?"
"Well , I am bisexual . My mother and my sister , both are having a hard time accepting that fact . Even though I came out like .. fifteen years ago ." Callie automatically rolled her eyes when she thought about her mother . Even her own secretary is gay ! "Okay , let's not talk about them . The less you know about them , the better . My family isn't that interesting . So how did you know that I am staying here ? This hotel ?"
Arizona kept her mouth shut but she was giggling .
"Arizona , don't tell me that you used your P.I on me again ?" Callie put both of her hands on the chest .
"Well , I had to . Besides , that was the first time after five months I used him to found out information about you ."
Callie narrowed her eyebrows .
"I swear ! The last time I used his service on you was before we went to Baltimore ." Arizona threw her right hand up , mimicking the way a person taking an oath .
"Like I am gonna believe you ." Callie dramatically rolled her eyes . "And how did you know about my middle name ?"
"I knew that since Baltimore too . Iphigenia ." Arizona smiled . "I love that name ."
"Well , I hate it . Please don't use it too often on me ." Callie move aside as a group of people walked pass them . She was waiting for Arizona to say her goodbye before she went inside .
"Calliope ? I like you too ." Arizona suddenly spoke .
Callie raised her eyebrows , pretending not to understand . "What ?"
"You told me before that you like me . And I am saying that I like you too ."
"That was before . Can't you see that right now I really hate you ?" Callie replied playfully . "Let me tell you something , Arizona . You are going to try like hell to make me like you again ."
"Is that a challenge ? 'Cause I am ready for it . Bring it on ." Arizona was getting more excited as she moved forward . "You know what ?"
"What ?" Callie uncomfortably took a few steps back but Arizona just kept walking toward her .
"You make me feel like there's more out there . You give me hope when I feel like there's none ." Arizona pulled Callie into her embrace . She had to stand on tiptoe to made the hug possible as Callie was wearing her heels tonight .
And Callie slowly melted into the hug . The cold weather and even with her jacket , it was still freezing cold . And Arizona's body felt so good against her .
"Calliope ?"
"Mhmmm ." Callie hissed . "What ?"
"Promise me not to wear a very high heels around me , okay ? You are torturing my feet ." Arizona was smiling into the hug . Her jaw was hurting due to amount of excessive smile she gave to Callie tonight .
Callie broke the hug but her hands stayed lingering around Arizona's waist underneath the trench coat . She had to move her head down a little as her eyes was met with a beautiful sight of Arizona's face and her sweet dimpled smile .
Without they both realized it , Arizona had slowly leaned in for a kiss . It started as a closed mouth kiss before Callie felt her lip was gently rubbed by Arizona's tongue .
Blue eyes wrapped her hands around Callie's hair as she leaned in more and more . Arizona deepened the kiss as both of them got themselves lost in the kiss by the busy street in front of the hotel . Both had their eyes closed , just simply savoring the kiss .
Arizona was the first one that broke the kiss . Confusion was all over her face . Her voice was deep and rough as she apologized . "I am … sorry ."
"Arizona ." Callie opened her eyes , slowly . She was looking at the blue eyes , puzzled . "What are you apologizing for ?"
Arizona shook her head , couldn't believe it that she just kissed Callie out of nowhere . It wasn't what she intended to do tonight . Arizona began to removed Callie's hands that were resting on her waist as she free herself from the hug , never looking at Callie in the eyes again .
"Arizona ?" Callie was surprised to see the sudden change of mood from the blonde . "Please , look at me ."
"I will call you . Goodnight ." Arizona said in a low voice .
"This is all too fucking soon , Robbins ." Arizona muttered under her breath . She glanced at Callie for one last time before she turned around and left , leaving Callie aghast alone by the street .
That's it ! Don't be mad with this update .
Author's Note 2 : So , yesterday I wrote down another story about Calzona and I managed to get a chapter , probably a prologue ready (I got this idea a few days ago) . That story is kind of my 'not so sure' project as it has some crazyness in its storyline (it starts with Callie asking Arizona to marry her out of nowhere and then there's a huge age differences between them) . So I am kind of putting it on hold because even myself not sure about how the readers gonna feel about it . Plus , maybe some of the readers will feel that two Calzona stories are just too much for me to handle … right ? What do you guys think ? I donno , I may act impulsive and put it down few days or weeks after this if I am really feeling it ! Who knows .
Akways be kind to everyone , guys . And Happy Chinese New Year ! (If there are any Chinese people reading this story , hope you guys have a great holiday) Goodnight ~
It's been raining nonstop since this morning and I can't stop myself from thinking about you , huuu huuuu ._.
Wednesday
January 25th 2017
0240hrs
