Chapter 7 – The Longest Walk of Shame
10AM, ten fucking AM in the morning and WHY are neither of my roommates answer my phone calls? What the hell did I do last night and did I actually just blow any imaginary chance I had with that beautiful Latina – Callie? God, Robbins, you're going back to your old ways and you haven't even been single for, well, 24 hours I guess. Why isn't ANYONE answering their phones? Great, now I have to find a cab at 10AM on a Saturday morning. G-R-E-A-T.
A disheveled blonde began walking towards the main street she faintly remembers Meredith taking them too. She was about to do the longest walk of shame of her life.
Her hair was in a high bun, her chest was covered in bites and hickies from the previous night. She was wearing a pair of red and black basketball shorts that were two times to big and a cream colored camisole that didn't match at all. To top it all off, she was carrying her uniform under her arm, and still wearing white clad dress shoes. Arizona was truly a sight for sore eyes.
But she held her head high, her unrelenting sense of pride always forced her to keep her head high. Fuck it, might as well be happy I had sex last night. I'll wear it like a badge of honor.
Thankfully, she reached the main street where there was a cabbie reading the paper in his car. Thank goodness someone is looking out for me.
She hopped in and the cab began to take her home.
A sense of relief washed over Arizona as she enter her apartment building. All she wanted to do was shower and go to bed. Before she could even turn the key in her door knob, the door flew open.
"GOOOOOOOOD MORNING DOCTOR BLONDIE!" Andrew was dancing in front of the door dressed in his nurse's scrubs.
She pushed through him into their apartment. "Hi. Thanks for answering your phone and leaving me for the buzzards. Thanks Andrew."
"Calm down Blondie, I tried calling back but your phone was dead. I was getting ready for work – all hands on deck today. Guess everyone banged out for Labor Day weekend. Rookies."
"Great Andrew". Her head was throbbing she could care less about the hospital at this point even though she desperately wanted to get back in the OR. It was her only escape from reality. The chief demanded she take seven days off to clear her head. Which would mean she'd be back cutting on Tuesday. Not soon enough.
"Fuck Arizona, what the HELL happened to your back?" Andrew began peaking at the injuries. "I mean, wow." He was smirking from ear to ear. "So, good night I take it?"
"Great, fan-fucking-tastic Andrew." She plopped onto their couch and turned on the TV. "Can you please get me some Excedrin and water? Pleaaseeee?" She was rubbing her temples trying rub out her headache and the vision of Callie storming away from her.
"Here, take four and eat a doughnut you wild lesbian lover you." He handed his friend the pills, water and doughnuts. "Now, can you explain yourself missy?" He was waving his finger in her face and talking like her mother, "You didn't come home, you left with a mistress in distress, and you are covered in love bites. I want the juicy details"
"Andrew, please. You, just want me to 'officially' dump Joanne so you don't have to go and rent a suit for our wedding." She took a bite of the doughnut, "But, the sex was incredible. She was an absolute animal, just gunning for me. I pinned her up against the door of her room and had my way. However, she was very straight though."
"The straight ones are the most fun though Zona! No messy commitments, feelings, or anything. But why do you look like someone just kicked your dog?" He sat next to Arizona, put an arm around her. "You haven't spoken to any of us about what's going on except for the fact that you're now my newest and sexiest roommate – don't let Teddy know that though. Seriously, are you okay sweetie?" He was looking dead into her eyes.
Truthfully, Arizona was broken inside. She refused to show any sorrow over Timmy's passing because that's what soldiers do, that's what she did as a doctor every day when patients died. That's what was going to make her an excellent combat surgeon in Iraq in one year.
Her soon to be marriage was now kaput. All of her personal belongings and clothes were located in a new apartment. She left Joanne in one fellow swoop. Nothing has been exchanged between the pair since she discovered her fiancée's infidelity.
And now, NOW, she broke another woman – an absolutely stunning woman. She couldn't help but feel a pinch of guilt cloud her for her actions with Meredith, her roommate.
"Andrew, I don't want to talk now. I'm okay, it's just I need to process a lot and I haven't had the chance to do so." That was a fact, she occupied herself as best she could. "I really just want to take a long shower and get some sleep."
He hugged his roommate and pulled back looking back into her cerulean pools, "I know Zona, but I'm here if you need me. Ok?" She nodded at him and smiled. "Good, now please take a shower, you smell like sex and regret and that sent does not come out of fabric so easily."
"Thanks Andrew"
After a long hot shower Arizona laid down in bed to finally catch some shut eye. Her body ached from sleeping on a floor and her head still hurt.
Why did I drink SOO much last night?
"Zona, can I come in quick?"
A shy looking Teddy peaked into the room.
"Course Teds, have a seat." She sat up in her bed to give Teddy some space. "What's up?"
"Well, how's it feel being dirty 30?" She was glowing, smiling wildly, she just had sex.
"Same as yesterday, and nice sex smile Teds." She laughed and looked down at her hands.
"Hey listen, Drew gave me the run down on your venture last night – so hush up yourself sex smile. But, I have been summoned to you for other reasons."
"Other reasons, Ted? I'm not up for talking if that's what you're looking for." Arizona shook her head and continued to look down, fidgeting her hands now. "I just don't.."
"No, it's not talking. It's actually something you'll enjoy really."
Teddy placed her hands over Arizona's, forcing the blonde to look up at her.
"Okay, Teddy you have my attention. What are you planning now party master?"
"Hey, that was rude. And I'm not. This was someone who you know very well and they asked me to extend an invitation. A dinner from an old dear friend."
"Dinner? Old friend? If this is Joanne trying to plot some magical 'win back blondie' scheme she can spend her money on an STD test instead."
"HA, you think I'd let that fool talk to me, no. She's not even worth speaking about. It's someone we both know and care for very much. It was a surprise to me when they contacted so I am more than happy to extend the surprise dinner invitation. Anyways, do you want to go?"
Arizona thought about it and she tried to read Teddy for any signals as to who this 'dear friend' could be. But nothing except for post-sex bliss was plastered on her face.
Hmm, dinner, an old dear friend, and free food. I guess I should eat, and get out of this apartment.
"Fine, what time and where?"
"I will let you know! I have to call and confirm with them. Once I have the details they will be passed along."
Arizona smiled and nodded "Okay, sounds good."
Teddy jumped off the queen size mattress and strutted her way to the door, "Hey Teds,"
"Yes Arizona?"
"Thank you for last night, for everything really. I know I've been super distant and weird and rude and mean and everything but a good friend to you recently. I'm sorry. I just, need.."
"You need to process. Don't apologize. Andrew and I will be here when you need us most and well still be here when you don't need us at all. You've done the same for us and will always do the same."
Teddy came back and wrapped Arizona up in a hug. It was reassuring and comforting that everything would be okay.
"So, I have to get ready for work tonight, but I'll text you the details, okay?"
The blonde simply nodded and laid back in bed. "Thank you Teddy, love you."
"Love you too Arizona, now get some rest for your dinner tonight."
The alarm on her phone was screaming in her face – Time to wake up Robbins.
She scrolled to see several text messages, the most important from Teddy,
"Dinner 2000, Off the Boat, reservation is under your name" – T
"Thanx T, hope this is worth it ;)" – A
She shut her phone and walked to the closet. It was 6:30 in the evening so she had about an hour to get ready. Off the Boat was a niche, Italian restaurant hidden in the North End. It had at most, 20 seats and was a very casual homey place. By far, some of the best Italian food Boston had to offer.
Let's see, Off the Boat, there's only one person who's ever taken our friends there and it's merely impossible that they're here. Clothes, clothes, uh yes! This needs to be ironed and these jeans, and hmm, these flats! Perfect!
Clothes were spread about the bed as she made the final touches to her dinner outfit. Who in the world could this be?
The outfit was simple, dark skinny jeans, a fitted white linen button with the sleeves rolled up and nude flats. She let her long blonde curls bounce off of her back. A pair of dog tags was safely tucked into her bossism, and her standard military wrist watch was retired for something a bit more feminine, a white ceramic Movado.
She ventured into the evening and arrived 15 minutes early. Their table was already set, out of sight in the back of the restaurant with a bottle of white wine chilling. Arizona's heart began to race as her anticipation built. Who is this person going to be?
Time ticked by, as did the 8o'clock seating time. Am I really going to be stood up? I am being stood up. Awesome. Before any more negative thoughts plagued her, she saw her secret dinner date approaching the table. There's no fucking way it's her. No way.
She inhaled and didn't exhale. She thought she was looking at a ghost. Her head was dizzy and it wasn't from the wine. She couldn't stand and couldn't talk, her jaw just hung open. Time stopped, and she couldn't hear a thing in the normally busy atmosphere.
There is no fucking way she is here. None. Nope. Arizona's mouth hung open and her throat grew dry. How? Why? What?
Every clack of a well-manicured oxford grow louder in the restaurant as time continued to stand still. They headed for the table in the corner and found a seat across an absolutely flustered blonde. Arizona finally exhaled.
"G?"
It was a question, because Arizona thought she was hallucinating. It couldn't be her. It's an impostor, I must be dreaming, this isn't real.
A long arm reached over the table and grabbed her glass of wine. In one gulp the glass was empty. A sultry look met Arizona's eyes and dead panned,
"Good to see ya Battleship"
Thanks for reading :)
