CHAPTER 2

"You can consider her as your sister." Your sister.

My…what?

She was still wearing that shocked expression when her mother addressed her, visibly worried. "Callie… Are you ok?"

She hardly heard her, as a big confusion was overwhelming her. She just couldn't believe it.

"Callie?" her mother said again.

"Uh? Yeah, sorry. Ummh… Arizona, would you excuse us for a minute? I need to talk to my mother."

"Sure, you go" said Arizona, and her voice trembled a little.

Once alone with her mother, Callie began her rant: "Why didn't you tell me before?!" she almost yelled. She didn't mean to be so harsh actually, but right then… It just felt like the right way to express the feelings she was experiencing.

"I've tried so many times, I just couldn't find the right way to bring it up…" Lucia confessed.

"Oh, really? What about: Hey Cal, John has a daughter?!" the brunette cried.

"Cal, I know it must upset you- " " Upset me?" interrupted Callie, wide-eyed " To say that it upsets me is an understatement at least! I don't – I don't even know what to think, you're telling me that we're going to start a brand new family, out of nowhere? You think that's even possible?"

"Callie, honey, calm down. I am so sorry for not telling you before, but listen to me, ok?" Callie sighed, refusing to believe that this was happening to her.

Lucia tried to make her reasonable: "Since the divorce with your father we've been through a hell, you helped me so much and I'm so grateful to you, I'm sure I couldn't have made it without you being there every single moment to get me out from the pit I was digging myself in. But then I met John, and he made me believe in love again. I had forgotten what it's like to love someone, and it's the most amazing feeling ever. I don't want to forget that ever again, and I don't want to impose things on you, but I really think it could be a good thing to us, to restart a new family. Even Aria's away around the world and I'm sure she would feel more relaxed knowing that we're not alone. I love you, and I love John, and maybe we could try to make it work, little by little?"

Well, what could she say now? Callie felt a little at fault after hearing this, it made her heart break to be reminded of those horrible events. She thought back of the divorce, the fights, her mother's tears that lingered on her face after drinking herself to sleep. There were times she came to hate her father, and now here she was yelling at her because she was finally trying to be happy. I'm such an hypocrite.

She was so upset because this particular girl was to become her sister, and honestly she wasn't sure whether she would have the same reaction with another girl, and felt like she was denying happiness to her mother just because of a 5 minutes crush.

Callie tried to express it in words that excludedthe main reason – a.k.a. the sexiness of her sister- and thus started: "Listen, I wish you would have told me earlier. It's just…huge. I get it, though… you love us both, and after all you've been through you need to restart a family. Believe me, I get that. Just…could you - since it's been just the two of us for so long now –accord me a little trust and treat me like a mature person? Facing with me, confiding in me, rather than bailing and avoid talking? I'm fine with this situation, as long as it makes you happy" she said, wiping away some tears of frustration.

Lucia hugged Callie, thinking she was the luckiest person in the world to have a daughter like her.

Then Callie added: "Arizona seems great and I'm sure John is too, I'm actually looking forward to meet him. But even if I'm okay with this, I still need some time, to process things you know."

"Of course, honey, of course." Lucia hugged her even tighter.

Callie, however, had no idea how she would survive this. Yes, she may have agreed with the whole sister thing, but she still couldn't get over the fact that her "sister" was beyond hot. She had to find a way, and soon. Because during those brief moments when they'd talked before, she had felt something, something she'd never experienced in her life. Sweet, nostalgic, intense, passionate. And they only shared a few looks and words.

Callie let go of the embrace, and kissed her mother on the cheek: " Hey, maybe we should go to Arizona, we just left her standing there, okay?"

"Yeah ok. Look, I'm going to the toilet, actually. You go and see you later. Love you"

"Love you too mum" and she made to walk.

"Oh, Callie?"

"Mh?"

"Thank you" her mother said.

Callie just smiled and nodded, then made her way to where she had left Arizona. What should I say to her? Was she even hitting on me when she addressed me?Or did she know who I was? God, this sure is awkward.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, someone was having the same thoughts. Arizona didn't have the least idea that that girl could be Callie, so she was very surprised when she heard her name. "She's funny, and beautiful…" Lucia had said. Right, Lucia, have you looked at her? The word "beautiful" just doesn't suit her enough, you could have added that she's a total hottie.

She was still recovering from the shock that the recent discover had brought to her. She couldn't believe that she would become her "sister". When she'd seen her her heart almost stopped beating, literally. Arizona didn't know why, but there was something about her that left her paralysed. That perfect smile, her deep, dark eyes. She had approached her hoping to get to know her better, and when they had shaken hands, she'd felt a strong connection between them, an incredible connection. But now? Now they would be tagged as sisters, share a family, and have to respect some obvious boundaries. Until that moment she'd been thrilled to meet Lucia's daughter, and now? She really couldn't believe it turned out like this.

…

"Oh, she's not here anymore" thought Callie. She looked around the room in search of Arizona, but it was so crowded she couldn't see farther than her nose. The music faded away as an old man started to speak, inviting all to come closer to the stage. "Maybe it's better this way". So she could have a little time to process things.

Callie decided on taking another drink to keep her company and made her way through the crowd. After a few pushes and jabs she finally reached the table where the barman began to smile at her, just in time to see blonde hair swaying. Callie gulped and began to sweat cold. After all she'd been searching for her, but right then she started panicking. Ok, just turn around and go away.

She was about to disperse herself when someone called her: "Hey Callie!". Callie stopped in her tracks, as a familiar voice had just addressed her. No escape this time, ahhh. She sighed before turning around: "Hey" she said and got back to the table.

There stood Arizona sipping on a cold tea: "So… Are you ok? I mean with your mother, you seemed a little pissed off there. I can totally understand you, though."

"Oh that… Well we came to a compromise, I guess. What about you…? That was a lot for you too, huh? What a mess." Callie said smiling simpathetically. She thought they shared the same situation after all, so she guessed how she was feeling. No, wait a moment, we are not sharing the same situation! Just because I'm a creep and develop crushes after 5 mins it doesn't mean that she's too. She's probably not even interested in women, or most likely she may not be interested in me. Why would she, anyway? I'm her sister. Callie groaned internally. She's not the creep, I'm the creep.

"Well, when they first told me I was surprised and a little upset, but then I had time to adjust to the new reality and now I'm really ok with it".

"Good for you, then." Her eyes wondered over Arizona a little longer than necessary, taking in the beauty she radiated from head to toe: She really is stunning.

Some moments later, though, while secretly pleading that this was a dream she would soon wake up from, the combination of "first told me" and "time to adjust" struck her, as a realization was growing wider in her: "Wait, what did you just say? When did they first tell you?"

"They-" "Callie! Lucia told me I would find you with my daughter."

Callie turned around to see an excited man approaching her. He was a fine man about the age of 45, with short golden hair, who looked a lot like Arizona. He must be John. "Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Callie" she shook hands with him. "Gosh, how do they say? Better later than ever, huh? I'm John. Well, Daniel actually, that's my first name, but your mother calls me by my second name which is John. It's a real pleasure to finally meet you". He was as perky as his daughter, Callie thought, but looked more severe and authoritary.

"We heard a lot of you from your mother" he said with a proud smirk.

Callie widened her eyes from the embarassment, but didn't miss the plural: "We?"

"Me and Arizona" he gestured towards the blonde. "Of course…" She knew about me. Oh, she KNEW. Callie realized the possible meaning of that: She probably already knew my physical features, or even saw me in a photo, and she just approached me to meet her sister. That thought made her feel a little sad and disappointed, but thinking about it, it was probably for the best. This way the situation would be less risky, and she'd be the only one to have difficulty by just standing next to her sister. God I'm gonna hate this word. Callie looked at Arizona to tell her they would continue the interrupted conversation some other day, and she seemed to understand. Sure, she could have talked to her mother, but the last thing she wanted was another fight.

"How about we go and look for Lucia together?" John invited.

"Sure, let's go."

The rest of the night was spent very pleasantly, if Callie had to admit, while getting to know one another better. John was really fun and did seem a great guy, and also Arizona was so cute and perky, and funny. And well, beautiful. By the end of the night Callie had learned a few things about her: she was damn good at roller-blading, she had a strong passion for a very unusual animal, turkeys maybe? And she wanted to become a doctor, just like Callie. Eventually they said their goodbyes to one another and made to leave the gala towards the faint breeze that blowed outside. Callie had just turned her back and was still near to them when she heard her name being called:

"Oh and Callie?"

The brunette turned to look at Arizona: " It seems like we will spend more time together from now on, I'm looking forward to that" she said wide-smiling. Callie smiled back and honestly said: "Me too".