Alright, here's another update. Are you still interested in this story?
For what feels like an eternity, I am listening to Teddy going on and on about either Henry and how perfect he is – along with her fear that he is too perfect for her – or about medical school. I love my best friend, I do, really, even when she tells me about all the gross things she learns. But right now, I cannot seem to focus on any word she says. Occasionally, I nod and throw in a hum or a question, but in all honesty, my mind is far, far away. 2.589 miles away, to be exact. It's only been two days since I have left Miami with butterflies looping around in my stomach and I already can't wait for Friday to come. Because then I will be back in her arms, the place where I feel so safe and secure, so welcome, so comfortable. It's scary, to feel such a deep connection so fast, so soon. Feeling so much for her already scares the shit out of me. But for the first time in years I sense that I don't have to protect my heart with the thick, sky-high walls I usually build around it. Also, there is this nagging and frustrating nonexistent ideas about her birthday present. I have no idea what to give her. She probably has everything she wants or can buy it herself. I know that's not the point, but what do you give a person like Callie Torres that doesn't look cheap but doesn't cost a fortune either? If I could, I would give her the world.
"Hey! Did you even listen to what I just said?", Teddy asks after she kicked my shin under the table and snaps me out of my thoughts with that action. "Oh no. I know that look. It is that look. I haven't seen that look in a long time which tells me two things." A smug grin spreads over her face and her eyes glare at me. "One, Gorgeous Hotness is – presumably – still gorgeous and also still hot and two, you banged her", she elaborates her theory with a knowing smirk and my eyes almost bulge out of my head.
"TEDDY!", I exclaim, too loud to not draw all the attention towards me. Thank God we're not in a library – which had been our original plan, but we decided we were too hungry to study right away and needed something to eat first. Leaning over the table separating us, cautiously, so the fabric of my shirt won't have any contact with the empty pasta plate in front of me, I shoot her a glare as I whisper, "I do not bang, Teddy. I told you this thousands of times before. If anything, I fuck." Or I make love. "And I certainly didn't do anything similar to it this weekend. We're taking it slow."
Narrowed blue eyes and pursed lips is what she gives me after hearing my words, assuming that I am either lying or keeping something from her. It is true, partly, but it is so not what she wants to hear me say. "Okay then", she says, giving in, "but something is up and if you think you can keep her a secret from me then you're fairly mistaken, A. You know you want to tell me, so why don't you just save us the time and spill the beans already."
Once again, she is right. I do want to tell her. And I can, I finally can. It hasn't been that long, it's only been one week, but I am used to tell her everything. So not telling Teddy anything, it was hard. "Okay. I'll tell you. But you have to promise me that you cannot say a word, to anybody. Not even Henry. Okay?" My best friend nods and I lean just a little closer and she does the same, our noses almost touching. "It's her", I say and wait for the penny to drop.
"Her?", she asks and raises her eyebrow at me. "Her, who? There are too many hers in your life, A, you have to be just a little more specific." I can practically see the wheels turning in her head and she is most likely going through all the female professors or teacher's assistants I have mentioned so far and then she starts looking around, trying to figure out if any of them is at the Nancy's too. "I am sorry, but I have no idea who you mean."
"Her, Teddy", I say again and show her the screen of my cell phone where Callie's cover picture from the Latina Magazine lights up. I love that picture. I love that red dress on her and I can only hope that she will wear something red for me at some point. Red fabric on that skin, it's a sinful view. Taking my mind out of the gutter, I look at my best friend and see her staring – disbelievingly – at the picture, but no words leave her mouth. This is probably the first time ever that I see her speechless and I don't know what this means.
"You're kidding me, right?", she finally asks when the display of my phone has gone black and I simply shake my head and give her a stupid grin. "Callie Torres? Wow", is all she can say and then once again nothing for a few minutes in which she just stares at me. "So, are you a couple now, or what? Isn't that super-fast moving? You basically just met her. Are you sure you're not misinterpreting the crush you've always had on her?"
I get where she is coming from. She just wants to make sure I am happy and that whatever this is, is heading somewhere. "It's not that, Teddy, I promise. It's not a relationship, yet. It's more a declaration of liking and being attracted to each other but not only physically. You know I find her extremely hot, but it's not just that. She has a beautiful mind and soul, at least from what she's told me so far. She is an overall amazing person. And it might be stupid and risky, but I want to take that risk. Even if I get hurt in the end." And I do. Honestly, I don't think I will get hurt, but even if I do, I've tried and it has been worth it. Big time. Every single moment.
"Is she even gay?", Teddy asks me, and admittedly, it is a valid question. Because so far, nobody knows what attracts Callie Torres – aside from herself and maybe possible past lovers and hopefully her family. But from the kisses and touching I experienced with her, she's definitely into ladies.
Smiling from ear to ear, I reply, "God, Teddy, you have no idea how she kissed me. And how that felt and what..." Trailing off before my cheeks can flush pink, I decide that she doesn't need to know about everything that we've done – even if it was only heated kissing and the most innocent touching an adult could imagine. But just the thought of those kisses gets me all riled up. "I don't know if she is gay. Maybe she is bi, but she's definitely not straight."
Teddy leans back in her chair and watches me for a moment. If I wouldn't be used to her eyes studying me like this, I would find her pretty much creepy. "Okay", she says eventually, "I just want you to be happy, A. And if she makes you happy, then that's good for you. But, if she hurts you, I will – celebrity or not – kick her ass and defend my best friend's honor."
"I really don't think that's necessary, Teds", I say with a chuckle, "but thank you." Checking the time, I sigh audibly and try to suppress the groan that wants to escape my throat. I really don't want to study. But my dad and I have a deal, and if I keep my end of the bargain, he has to keep his too. So studying it is. "We should get going. A large mocha latte on me?"
"As if I would say no to this", she winks at me and starts grabbing her belongings when she shouts after me, "Hey, A?"
I was already on the way to order our drinks when I hear her voice and turn around, "Yeah?"
"Whatever this is and wherever it leads to, I am happy for you. And when you get married, I better be your maid of honor or I might have to find a new best friend", she says, only partly joking. I smile at her and nod before heading to the counter and giving my order to one of the baristas.
Marriage, I think to myself. It sounds so far away and it's not something I have thought about before. Maybe because I am only 23, people usually don't get married at this age anymore. But who knows. Anything is possible. Even having a relationship with Callie Torres. My mind takes me back to my first departure from LA. The moment she kissed my cheeks, everything inside me tingled. It's not comparable to her kissing me, definitely not, but just the light touch of her lips against my skin is enough to make me grin goofily. It is unquestionably a memorable moment. Maybe I do have something I can give her for her birthday.
"Hey mom", I greet my mother as I enter the kitchen after getting home. It's just after nine and I know my parents already had dinner without me and that is perfectly fine. I would never expect them to wait for me, just as they don't expect me to be home for dinner at seven every evening. I try to make it home in time at least once a week, though. Would it be nice to have dinner with them more often? Of course. But I rather use the hours after classes to get everything done in a library or on campus – especially since my dad and I made that deal. And also because now that I am done, I can look forward to Callie calling me any minute now and I don't have to stress over homework or cut the call short because of it. "What's for dinner?"
"I made casserole and there's a slice of chocolate-chip cake in the fridge for dessert", she answers and keeps emptying the dishwasher. I help her with the plates and bowls that my dad usually puts in one of the top shelves of the cupboards. She can reach the shelve if she stands on her tiptoes, but I am just a tad bit taller than my mother, so it's a little easier for me. And I don't mind helping her. Tim and I, we always helped as much as we could, even more so when my father was deployed and away for months. "How's your day been?" That's a typical question for my mother. When she knows something is up – and she most definitely knows that I am hiding something – she tries to make people comfortable with small talk before asking what she wants to know.
"It's been good. I got a 90 on the exam I did last week and the group work was graded with an 89 for the presentation and a 95 for the written work, so that's an average of 92, no reason to complain." Particularly because the solution for the case was my idea, but I don't want to brag in front of my mother, simply to avoid any more discussions about me becoming a lawyer. When the last plate is put away, I close the cupboard just as my mom does the same with the dishwasher. "How's your day been?"
"Oh, same old, honey, same old", she says with a smile, obviously proud of her smart daughter. "So... do you have any plans for this weekend?", she asks, as nonchalantly as she possibly can and leans against the kitchen counter. "Any fancy trips planned?"
Just when I am about to answer, my phone buzzes in the back pocket of my pants, making me jump a bit from the vibration. "I gotta take this, we'll talk tomorrow, okay?", I excuse myself and bolt upstairs and into my room. "Hi", I sigh into the phone, just slightly out of breath from the spontaneous sprint I just did and flop down on my bed.
"Hi yourself", she answers and I can hear her smiling through the phone. It makes me giddy all over again and that feeling combined with all the posters of her on my wall makes me zone out for a moment. "I hope I am not interrupting anything?"
"No! God, no. Not at all", I say quickly. "I just got home and I had to jump up the stairs so my mother won't get the chance to eavesdrop on what I say and- never mind. I'm just glad you called and that I can talk to you." It's the one thing I constantly look forward to, every day, which is new to me. I have never been that person who needed to talk to her girlfriend every day, or needed to see her every day of the week. But with Callie, I feel like I cannot spend enough time with her. Every weekend is too short, every phone call should last the whole night. Everything is just different with her. God, get a grip, Robbins. "How are you?"
"Aside from the annoying fact that it's only Tuesday and that I miss a certain person and that I cannot wait for it to be Friday? Perfect. But really, only if you don't put all of that aside, specifically the fact that I miss you", she confesses and it feels as if my heart is doing somersaults in my chest. "Are you still there?"
My mind must have drifted away again. Oops. "Yeah, I'm still here. I'm just... really?", I ask, sounding way too desperate for my own liking and slap my hand against my forehead just a little bit too hard and it makes me hiss in pain. Great, Arizona. Keep making a fool of you.
"Yeah, really", she assures and there it is again, she's smiling and it's clearly detectable in her voice. "You should get used to it, Arizona." Her smile has turned into soft giggles and I can't help but giggle along with her. "I've sent you the flight details through mail and George will pick you up. Sadly, I have a meeting with my agent that I can't push back or reschedule, I hope you don't mind?"
"Of course not. I told you, work is work and it's important. I'll be thankful for every second I get to spend with you", I answer honestly. I believe her when she says that she will make time, so she should stop worrying. But I guess it's because it is so new. Yes, there is attraction, yes, there is a connection, there's chemistry. But we're still getting to know each other. I smile at the thought and keep staring at the pictures of her on my wall. She can never ever see this room, not the way it's decorated at the moment at least, or she might say that I am a stalker or something and run. "So, what exactly are the plans for your birthday?"
"My friends booked a secluded area in one of Los Angeles' best clubs for Saturday night, celebrating into my birthday on Sunday." No need to tell me when her birthday is... "So I thought we could have a quiet dinner Friday night, enjoy a relaxing Saturday by the pool until we have to get ready. I mean, it will take me a while. After all, I've got a date to impress", she says and I can literally hear that she's shooting me a wink through the phone.
"And what do you want to do on Sunday, your birthday." The imagination of her in a bikini has instantly turned my brain to mush and I need a distraction. And hearing her talk is just enough of a distraction.
"Oh", she chuckles again, this time though, it has a nervous sound to it. "I usually don't celebrate my birthday. At least not that big, aside from the party my best friends throw for me every year. It's just a day like every other. However, I do take the day of every year and try to relax as much as possible."
That weekend looks better and better, I think to myself. Callie in a bikini, Callie all dolled up and a relaxing Sunday, maybe just the two of us. "So, how fancy is that club? Do I need a Vera Wang dress or-"
"No", she cuts me off. "Don't worry about that. Just wear whatever you're comfortable with. I don't want you to pretend to be someone you're not." It's a simple statement, yet it's so meaningful. "Arizona, I like you because you are the way you are. You looked amazing in that deep blue polo shirt you wore when we first met. I'm sure you can pull of a dress too, but really, don't hide who you are, not from me and not from my friends. They are just people, okay?"
"Okay", I say, barely above a whisper. Without knowing it, she took away a big junk of fear I had about meeting her people. I don't know if they are celebrities or not and if they are, I just cannot imagine they are as down to earth as Callie is. "You'll be on my side, right?"
"All evening, you'll get sick of me", she reassures me and I smile widely. I don't think I will ever get sick of her. We talk some more about her day and mine, I try not to complain too much about law school. At some point, I reheat my dinner, letting her talk as much as possible because my parents are in the living room and they could hear me talking in the kitchen. She actually rants a lot about her new movie project. Of course, she can't share any details, but it looks like she's about to get a big leading role which is definitely awesome. She deserves it. She's an amazing actress.
Before I know it, it's closer to midnight than I prefer and I have to get ready for bed. I don't want to stop talking to her, it's already an addiction and when we hang up, I keep sitting on my bed for a moment, just replaying all the things she said. Then I grab my phone and send a quick message to Teddy, telling her that she and I need to go shopping for a new bikini and maybe, just maybe, a dress, if I find one. She will look spectacular and I will try to knock her off her feet.
So, will Arizona succeed? Knocking Callie off her feet is a deficult task, but I think Arizona has the power to do just that, right?