A date.
An actual date with Callie.
The first actual, official date that they would ever go on. And she had less than 5 hours to plan it, in a city which, although she had lived in it for the past ten years, she had never actually been on a proper date in, let alone organised one. Sure, she'd been on "dates", which were essentially a necessary inconvenience that she had to endure on the basis that they would lead to sex, but none of them ever involved feelings. None of them mattered until now.
Taking a deep breath to try and prevent the overwhelming sense of panic, Arizona tried to rationalise her thoughts. Clearly, she needed help, and she needed someone who wouldn't ask any awkward questions, and could just be practical at a time where the blonde couldn't even think straight. Picking up her phone, she scrolled through her contacts until she found the number that she was looking for.
"Yang" she said purposefully, before her friend had even barely had a chance to pick up the phone "I need your help"
"You're lucky you caught me Robbins, I'm scrubbing in for a CABG in five minutes. What do you need?"
Immediately Arizona knew she had made the right call. Christina Yang was her longest standing friend in what she referred to as her "post-Newport" life. They'd met studying medicine at Johns Hopkins, and despite the fact that their personalities could be described as polar opposites, they had somehow bonded. Both fiercely competitive, they had applied for and been accepted into internships at New York – Presbyterian after they graduated, and had since become well respected residents who were clearly earmarked as future heads of their respective departments. Christina's biggest hurdle was that she was committed to cardio, and that meant she continued to work under Arizona's other close friend, Maggie Pierce, who was the youngest head of cardiothoracic surgery that New York – Presbyterian had ever seen, and who also showed no intention of leaving anytime soon.
But beyond her skills as a doctor, the blonde valued Christina for her innate ability to just tell things as they were, and her complete lack of tolerance for small talk. If she had called anyone else, they would have immediately wanted to talk about how she was, the fact that she was back in New York, and a million other things that Arizona really didn't have time for now. But not Christina. Arizona had said she needed help, and Christina didn't question that any further.
"I need a suggestion for a date location that doesn't require more than…" the blonde checked her watch "let's say four hours notice. And it needs to be different. Cool even"
"Cool?" the sceptism in Christina's voice was evident.
"I can do cool, Yang"
"Sure you can. We can save that debate for another time as this request is clearly urgent. You want cool, you need to head for the East Village. I know a great Chinese restaurant slash bar over there…"
As Christina spoke, the blonde began to change her mind. If, and she hoped beyond hope it would, everything went well with Callie, the topic of their first date would surely be one that would be brought up from time to time. And having to ultimately admit that somebody else suggested the location of said first date was not going to be something that she would ever live down.
"You're awesome Yang, thank you" Arizona interrupted "hope the CABG goes well, talk to you later"
"Sure" Christina replied, clearly somewhat bemused but not willing to push it "see you around, Robbins"
Hanging up the phone, the blonde ran her hand through her hair. She felt like Christina had given her enough of an idea that she could run with without her being caught out later as being totally unoriginal. The East Village it was. A quick google reassured her that bars she had frequented a couple of years ago were still going strong. Pausing for a second, she considered everything she knew about Callie, and what the brunette had said about what she wanted to do in New York. All of a sudden, a plan seemed to fall into place.
And now, despite her earlier panic, Arizona had four hours to choose the perfect outfit.
It was amazing how quickly four hours could pass. The blonde's bedroom floor could currently pass for that of a teenager, given that she was fairly sure that it was now covered by more than fifty percent of her wardrobe. She'd had a glass of wine to calm her nerves, and then a second for…well, for good luck, she told herself. But it was finally 7:45pm, and she'd ultimately settled on a little black dress that she'd bought months previously and just never had an excuse to wear. It was skin tight and ended mid-thigh, with a bardot neckline, and even if she said so herself, she looked irresistible. Which of course, was her aim for the night.
With a final application of lipstick, she grabbed her purse and headed out of her apartment, walking the couple of blocks to the hotel that Callie was staying at in record time. Realising she was 5 minutes early, she looked around for somewhere to sit, when she felt someone approach her from behind.
"Wow" came the husky voice from behind her "forget the Empire State Building, I think all eyes are gonna be on this landmark tonight"
Laughing, the blonde turned round "I'm gonna take that as a compliment, and not a literal size comparison"
"I think that's probably self-evident" Callie pointed out.
"You're early" was all that Arizona could think to say, unable to wipe the smile off her face at the sight of the brunette in leather pants and a low cut red blouse.
"So are you"
"I…apparently I walk fast when I'm nervous…or excited…or a bit of both"
"You're nervous?" the brunette frowned.
"A little" Arizona admitted "I mean, it's you…and me, and…this date is like twelve years overdue, so I…"
"You feel like somehow you have to try and cram twelve years worth of dates into one night?" Callie suggested.
"Yeah" the blonde creased her forehead, realising that that was exactly what she had been telling herself "I guess that's what I've been building this up as"
"Ok" the brunette stared into her eyes, lightly resting her hands on Arizona's shoulders "I want you to forget all that. This is just two people, going on a regular date. And plus, you have the added bonus of already knowing that your date is really, really interested in you. So please, don't be nervous"
The blonde smiled shyly "You always did know exactly what to say to calm me down"
"Good" Callie smiled, leaning in to place a soft kiss on the blonde's cheek "you look beautiful, by the way"
"Thank you" Arizona returned the smile "and you look…incredible"
"We're so the hottest couple in New York tonight" the brunette winked.
"I think you might just be right"
"So…where is this gorgeous woman taking me then?"
"Well…" the blonde started nervously "you know when we landed last night, you said you wanted to ride the subway. So I figured we'd start with that, and I'd take you to one of my favourite street food places"
A wide smile spread over Callie's face "That sounds perfect"
"You sure? Saying it out loud I feel like it sounded totally lame"
"Are you kidding? Ari, I would love to…ride…with you"
Arizona shook her head, laughing to conceal the underlying wave of arousal that the brunette's words had caused "You're incorrigible"
"Are you complaining?" the brunette raised an eyebrow.
"Definitely not"
Callie offered the blonde an arm, which she willingly linked hers through, before the two women walked together towards the subway entrance. Arizona could feel the brunette getting giddy beside her as they paid for their tickets and headed down to the platform. She was tempted to poke a little fun at her child-like enthusiasm, but then stopped for a moment to remember when she had first moved to the city. When she thought about it, she had been almost as excited as Callie, and so instead she chose to just let the brunette enjoy the moment.
Once they'd boarded the train, they managed to find seats and sat in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes, both just taking in their surroundings.
"Is it everything you thought it would be?" Arizona whispered.
The brunette tilted her head from side to side, sucking in her cheeks as if in deep thought before whispering back her reply "The air con could be a little better"
The blonde chuckled "Next time I'll bring a fan"
"Oh yeah?" Callie smirked "You gonna sit there and fan me like an Emperor?"
"I think you'll find the word is Empress"
"I'll answer to either"
They were distracted from their conversation by a loud cough from the seats across from them. Both women looked up and narrowed their eyes at the older man sitting opposite. Sensing that Arizona was about to react, the brunette placed a hand on her thigh, attempting to calm her down.
"I'm sorry" the man said "I didn't mean to disturb you like that"
"Sure" the blonde smiled disingenuously.
"I was just thinking to myself how lovely it is to see two young people so happily in love, that's all"
"Oh" Arizona's face softened and she blushed.
"You remind me of me and my husband in our early years" the man continued "the way that your faces just light up when you look at each other"
"That's so kind of you to say" Callie smiled at him warmly "and where's your husband tonight?"
"He passed away six months ago" the man said sadly "today would have been his birthday"
"Oh my god" the blonde said softly "I'm so sorry"
"It's ok" he smiled "today is a cause for celebration. I'm heading into the city to meet some of our old friends, and reminisce about the good times"
"That's wonderful" the brunette told him with a wide smile "I bet you raised some hell back in the day"
The man chuckled "That we did ma'am, that we did. Charlie, my husband, he was always quite the troublemaker. I preferred to stay in the background and let him do his thing most of the time, but when I needed to make a scene, believe me I did"
"That I can totally believe" Arizona grinned.
"If you'll excuse me ladies" the man started to get up "we're just about at my stop. But I hope you have a wonderful evening"
"You too" the brunette replied genuinely.
Arizona squinted to see the signs of the station that they were pulling into, realising that it was Christopher St Station.
"Wait a minute!" she called to the man as he made his way towards the doors "Do you mean your husband made trouble at…"
"Yes" the man smiled proudly "we both did"
As the man stepped off the train, Callie tugged on the blonde's arm and looked at her in confusion "What are you going on about?"
"This station" Arizona explained "it's the station for the Stonewall Inn"
"Oh!" the brunette's eyes widened "So he and his husband were part of the riots?"
"It seems so"
"Wow. That's pretty damn cool"
"Yeah. I mean, I've lived here for years and I've never met anyone who was there. You've been here like five minutes…" the blonde winked.
"Clearly, I'm a magnet for the troublemakers"
Arizona shook her head, her eyes twinkling "It takes one to know one, or so they say"
"The very cheek!" the brunette replied, pretending to take offence.
"You've always been a rebel, you know that"
"True" Callie nodded "I never saw you complaining though"
"No way" the blonde grinned "rebels are sexy"
The brunette laughed "I'm glad you think so"
"I totally do"
Their eyes met, and all hint of humour seemed to disappear in an instant. Arizona bit her lip, the heat in the brunette's eyes sending shivers down her spine. She had to look away, something vaguely in the back of her mind telling her it wouldn't be appropriate to jump Callie in the middle of a subway car. Instead they both seemed to deliberately avoid each other's gaze for a few minute, trying to keep their hormones under control.
"So, do I get to know where we're going?" the brunette asked huskily.
"Yes!" Arizona turned back to her, her voice overenthusiastically high pitched "Just one more stop and we'll be at Times Square"
A wide smile spread across the brunette's face "Times Square?"
"Yeah. Mainly because it's where they do the best empanadas in the city, but I also figured you'd want to see it"
"Hell yeah I do. Also, empanadas, you sure do know the way to a Latina girls' heart. They best be good though…they have my abuela's to live up to"
"Oh god" the blonde's face sank.
"I'm kidding" Callie laughed "I'm sure I'll love it"
"Ok good, because I'm not sure if we can be…friends…if you don't like Nuchas"
"I guess it's a good job I don't want to be your friend then, isn't it?"
The blonde stared at her, open mouthed, unsure how to respond. Hearing the muffled announcement that they were approaching the next stop, she jumped to her feet.
"Saved by the bell!" she announced gleefully "Welcome to Times Square Calliope"
The immediate tension between them faded immediately as they disembarked the subway, and the atmosphere remained light as Arizona directed them to her favourite empanada stall. Even Callie had to admit that the food was pretty great, and could already imagine how quickly her waistline was going to expand with the amount of food choices that were on offer in New York.
"So…" the blonde wiped the corners of her mouth as she finished her last bite of food.
Callie raised an eyebrow curiously "I'm guessing there's a part two to this date?"
"No" Arizona replied, deadpan "that's it. Why, was this not enough?"
The brunette shook her head "Nice try Robbins"
"Ok fine" the blonde relented with a smile "but actually, I've been kinda rethinking the second part"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, so I was gonna take you to a bar that I went to a couple of times when I first moved here, over in what some people might call the more hipster part of town, but…"
"Hang on a minute, you? Hipster?"
"Alright, save the sarcasm" Arizona swatted her arm jokingly "but seriously, meeting that guy on the subway, it kind of got me thinking about what we've had to go through to get to where we are, but then what some incredible people went through before us, and so I was thinking maybe we could go to Stonewall instead?"
The brunette smiled back at her, the depth of the feelings that she had for the blonde growing by the second "I think that sounds perfect"