I'm back! Sorry for keeping you guys waiting but real life got quite hectic there for a while, but thankfully all is back to normal! I really hope you guys like chapter, I had a lot of fun writing it. Thanks for all the support! Reviews are greatly appreciated, they help feed the muse that allows me to write! Once again, hope you enjoy!
Chapter Eight
"And that person is very happy to be here with you." I say with a dimpled smile hoping that my point comes across ever more clear.
"And I'm happy to hear that." Calliope chuckles as an endearing blush creeps up slowly across her face. "Is it just me or does it seem like we're doing things backwards?"
"Nope, it's not just you. Things do seem to be a little bit backwards in our relationship." I can't help but giggle at the weird concept that seemed to be working for us.
"It's so different. I have a feeling that you know a lot more about me then you let on. Which is a good thing but it's a bit weird for me because I don't know the same things about you. I know that you know that I grew up in Miami, that I live with Cristina, and probably lot more things. Yet I don't even know where to begin with you because I want to know everything, even the little things like what you wanted for you birthday when you were ten." She says before looking down at the table, obviously slightly embarrassed because she think she stepped over the ridiculous imaginary first date conversation line.
I move my hand from my own lap and place carefully on her knee, trying to make her see that she had nothing to be embarrassed about. "A fire engine red ten speed bike with coaster breaks just like my older brother Danny had, his was navy blue of course but I still wanted one just like his." As her eyes retreat from their glancing position of the table and her head turns to make her eyes meet mine I give her a dimpled smile, showing her that I was more than happy to comply with her desire. "There was only one time that I never wanted to be like my big brother. That was when he decided he wanted to be like the rest of the Robbins clan and–"
"Join the marines." The sheepish look that had been on her face is driven away by a wide grin. "I remember."
"You do, do you?" A smile breaks out across my face.
"It's as if someone pressed rewind. I can only remember if something along the lines of what happened is mentioned. Like earlier when I told Mark I knew who you were he made a joke about your name, asking who else you would be and started naming out other states. I remembered that when we first met you said your name was Long Island, even though it's not a state it's still a place, you were drinking Long Island Iced Teas all night, I remember that."
"That's great!" I exclaim unable to contain my excitement. "I know for a fact that neither you nor I said anything too insightful besides for little tid bits about our families and where we grew up that night at the bar. So what do you think about forgetting about it all together and start from where we left of yesterday not two weeks ago?" I say, hopeful that she'll agree and we'll get to know each other at the same pace.
She looks me straight in the eyes, I can now see that her eyes are a distinct russet color that are freckled with light green and blue flecks causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach. As she begins to speak I feel her finger intertwine with mine. "I'd love too."
As we pull into a side street I can't help but look around at all of the beautiful old homes. They didn't have things like where I came from; all of the homes were bungalows from the 1950s or had the strange architecture of the 80s in between the new modern homes. I couldn't help but be slightly disappointed as I feel Calliope's classic car slow to a stop.
"Okay, remember how I said how I'd keep the majority of the tour in the car so you wouldn't have to walk?" Calliope says hesitantly as she puts the car in park.
"Yes, and you've done an amazing job while keeping your word." I say looking over to her with a slight smirk on my face. She had brought me to see a close up view of the Space Needle, we drove through Seattle's music scene loaded with little coffee shops and bars all advertising independent musicians, and did a drive by the Seattle Waterfront and Pike's Place Market.
"Well now's the time where you need to get out of the car." She says with a smile before hoping out of the car and begins to take out my crutches from the back seat. I don't even get a chance to pop open my own door before she's there. She leans my crutches up against the car before putting her arms out to help me. "Trust me, it's worth it."
I reach out in response and take her hands, she carefully pulls me forward; as I stand up, Calliope steps closer to me so that her body is gently pressed against mine. "Trust me." She whispers softly in my ear, never once letting go of my hands. As she pulls away slightly I get the full view of her beautiful warm smile. All I can do is nod because even with the simplest actions she's left me breathless.
"You won't be needing these." Calliope's warm smile changes a little to form a slightly devilish grin as she picks up my crutches, carefully putting them back in the back seat of the car.
"And how to you suppose I'll be able to get anywhere then, huh Calliope?" I ask, curious of how she was going to pull whatever she had up her sleeve off.
"I've got it covered." She replies with a wink before turning around and bending down slightly so that she's almost at a ninety degree angle. "Come on, hop on."
"Are you serious?" I exclaim without a second thought.
"Of course I'm serious, Arizona." She chuckles. "Would I be like this is I wasn't?"
"Calliope, I'll hurt you. Come on," I say as she backs up so that she's closer to me still, "I'm heavier than I look." I truly didn't want to hurt her. I had had previous bad experiences with piggy back rides in med school and I was even lighter back then.
"And I'm stronger than I look, and I look pretty bad ass, so come on. If you don't get on then I'm going to have to cut the best part of my tour out and I'm sure you don't want that." She says her tone serious.
"No, I don't."
"Then come on, Arizona. You wear sneakers with wheels in them that are made for children. A piggy back ride is not going to hurt you any more than they have." She lets out a chuckle.
"Fine." I say with reluctance in my tone, even though I knew that getting a piggy back ride from Calliope was bound to be interesting to say the least. I push myself off the ground with my good foot and somehow manage to wrap my legs around her waist and my arms around loosely around her neck as she stands up with an amount of strength that surprises me.
"See." She chuckles, causing me to feel her shoulders shake out of laughter. "I'm not going to drop you. Can you shut the door please?" She says as she takes a step away from the car which would make shutting the door possible.
"No problem." I say, letting go with one hand to grab the car door, pushing it shut.
"You ready?" She asks as I wrap my arms around her neck once again, butterflies fluttering around in my stomach as I feel her warm skin against my own.
"Absolutely." is the only word that is able to flow freely from my mouth, as I take in the feeling of her body against my own.
"Prepare to have your breath taken away." She says before beginning to walk to the other side of the street.
As she steps off the sidewalk, looking down at her I can't help but think, "It already has been, Calliope, it already has."
"Keep your eyes shut, no peeking! Trust me you'll ruin it if you peek!" I say as my feet come in contact with the asphalt beneath them. "Promise?"
"Promise you won't drop me then!" Arizona replies instantly to my request, her voice ringing with an endearing almost childlike panic.
"Don't worry. I won't drop you, I promise." I say with a small chuckle, unable to contain myself, as I stop to ensure the surprise is not ruin.
"Okay then I'll shut my eyes, but only for you Calliope. If you have to fix another one of my limbs, then, then I'll."
"Then you'll what?" I let out another chuckle at her innocence. "Don't worry so much, just shut your eyes. I won't let anything happen to you."
"What's so special about this place we're going to?" She asks as begin to cross the street once again, quickening my pace as I go.
"You'll see when we get there. And once we get there I'm going to put you don in front of a bench so you don't have to stand, okay? But try immensely hard to not open your eyes, kay?"
"Alright, Calliope. Whatever you say."
"I like the sound of that." I say arrogantly, trying to get a rise out of her; it was impossible to deny how cute she was when she got slightly frustrated.
"You like everything I say, Calliope." She says back, whispering gently into my ear; she was playing into my game, causing me to feel all tingly as if there was a current of electricity flowing down my back, it was something like you heard from one of those cheesy romantic comedies. I'm rendering slightly speechless so the only words that fall out of my mouth are surely incomprehensible. "What was that Calliope?" She says with a slight giggle.
"Oh nothing," I let a small sigh of relief as I realize that the target spot for this leg of the tour was less than ten feet away from me, fully well knowing if I had to go much longer I'd probably breakout into my nervous rambling; and that would definitely take away from the moment. As a result I quicken my pace even more. "We're almost there okay, just give me a few more seconds and I'll put you down."
"What if I don't want you to put me down?" She says leaning towards me, somehow managing to place her lips against my neck causing my heart to pound in my chest.
I can't help but let out a deep breath as she removes her lips from my skin. "Then I would suggest that you stop doing that or otherwise I'm going to break my promise and drop you. And I don't think you'll forgive me if I let you break or sprain any other limbs or body parts." I say, my voice wavering slightly as I let out a small chuckle trying to cut the tension that could likely only be cut with a compound mitre saw.
"You do have a valid point there, Calliope." She says with a small giggle. "I'll stop, I promise. I really do not want to have to go around with my arm in a sling or breaking any parts of my hands rendering me completely incapable of helping to save the tiny humans."
"The what?" I ask as I step in front of the bench.
"The tiny humans, of course, my patients."
"Ah, the tiny humans. I've never heard them be called that before, it's quite sweet actually."
"Why thank you, I came up with it myself."
"Okay, Arizona we're at the bench now." I say as I take a step back so that she would be able to get down and sit on the bench without having to move too much. "You ready for me to put you down now?"
Arizona lets out a small sigh, "I suppose so." She says serious before she cracks into another childlike giggle. "Of course I'm ready. I was born ready." She says, quoting from 'Smokey and the Bandit'.
"Okay, ready or not." I say as I begin to bend down slightly, feeling Arizona's legs release their hold of my waist. As I feel her chest slide down the back of my leather jacket I lean back a little so that her hold around my neck doesn't choke me. "You okay to let go now?"
"Ready and set to go." She says cheerfully as she lets go of me.
I turn around to make sure she hasn't crumpled over in what I can only assume is typical Arizona fashion. I can't help but smile widely as I see her. She's got her eyes shut tightly, a curious smile written across her face.
"Here," I say as I take one of her hands and put my other one on her waist to steady here. "The bench is right behind you. So have a seat, be prepared to see the most beautiful thing you've ever seen."
"I think that title's already been taken, Calliope." She grins, her eyes still squinted shut.
Before I know it I'm unable to control myself; my lips are on hers and the hand that was intertwined with hers has let go and has found its way up the her delicate blonde curls. The sensation of her lips against mine causes a frenzy to begin. I can't help but run my tongue over her bottom lip; the taste of her strawberry lip balm becomes undeniable, causing me to beg for entrance. As she complies the intoxicating smell of grapefruit and mint enters my mind just as it did that morning three weeks ago. And there it was; the reason I couldn't do this.
I pull away from her slightly to try and stop but she moves with me, almost as if we're one person. I remove my hand from her hair and place it on her other hip, pushing myself away from her as carefully as possible as I do.
She looks up at me; her pristine blue eyes wide open in what I could only describe as a mixture of fear, confusion, and shock. But she doesn't speak; she simply continues to look at me expectantly as if she's waiting for me to say something.
"I'm sorry, I can't do this." I run my fingers back through my hair in slight frustration.
"What, what do you mean Calliope? I'm confused." Her big blue eyes never leave my face as she speaks, it's clear to me now that she's not one to back away from neither a confrontation nor a challenge. "Do you not want to do this, or just not want to do this with me?" I can see the hurt in her eyes that now appear to be watering.
I also realize that to her I must sound crazy or at least upset. "No, don't. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I whisper softly into her ear before placing a small chaste kiss on her temple. Pulling back I brush away the few strands of her striking blonde hair out of her face, tucking them back behind her ear. "I didn't mean it like that, no, I did but,"
"Calliope!" She stops my rambling before it's practically even begun.
"I'm sorry." I say, the words just falling out of my mouth almost as it was a reflex.
"Stop saying sorry." Her voice is wavering slightly, just as it did that day when I first seen her at work. "Just tell me what is going on in that brain of yours and what is making you say you're sorry so much."
I take a deep breath, fully well knowing I would need it; I never was good with words. "I just can't do this with you right now." I say emphasizing my last two words, her eyes never leaving my face. "Because if I do it's extremely probable that I'm not going to be able to stop myself from wanting more, from wanting to take you back to my apartment and have my way with you. And I don't want to do that."
The slight look of relief that was spreading across her face as I spoke has disappeared with the last breath of my sentence. She is clearly still confused, and possibly hurt, from my statement. So I continue on with my explanation though I'm not quite sure whose sake it's for; hers or mine.
"Because you deserve more than that. I know that it feels like we're doing everything backwards, and that was okay, until now. I want to do things right for once in my life, I want to do things right," I cup her cheek, wiping away the short tear track that has begun to slide down her face, "with you."
Arizona's eyes are wide in an emotion I could only call pleasant surprise. Before I know it I feel her arms wrap themselves gently but tightly around my neck, her face buried in my hair. As I wrap my arms around her waist, out of the corner of my eye I notice how blonde her hair actually is against my own raven locks. Looking closer I notice that a small grin is spread on her face, her eyes focused on my neck. When I look at her now I can't help but smile, the innocence of her action is entirely endearing.
We stand there in silence for I'm not sure how long, it felt like it could've been hours but in reality was likely only a few minutes, until Arizona finally breaks it. "Thank you."
"For what?" I ask, slowly beginning to rub my hand up and down her back at an attempt to keep the mood comfortable and light.
"For respecting me enough to stop." She replies her voice soft like a small child who's scared.
"You don't have to thank me for that. I don't want you to ever feel like you felt those first few weeks again, I don't want you to think that I just want to take you home and be gone in the morning. I want something real with you, so I want to wait and get this right. I want to know you, I want to know what's going on in that beautiful mind of yours and what makes you you." I reply my own voice not much louder than hers had been.
"The same applies to you, Calliope."
"Are you ready to see the reason why we came here, 'cause I think that this conversation could go on forever and I really want you to see this." I say with a small chuckle.
"Ready." She says cheerfully.
"Okay, close your eyes."
As she pulls away I can see that her eyes are shut tight causing her nose to wrinkle. I take her hands and step back. "Can you step forward?" I ask, unsure if she was going to be able to.
"I'm sure that a step or two won't hurt." She giggles, never opening her eyes. She begins to put one foot in front of the other; I can see her wince slightly as she puts pressure on her ankle. "Is that good?" She asks as she stops merely an inch in front of me.
"Perfect." I say, a smile crossing my face out of my control. I let go of her hands and walk around so that I'm right behind her, wrapping my arms firmly around her waist. "Open your eyes, Arizona."
I can tell that she's opened her eyes as I hear a gasp of awe. "Calliope, it's beautiful!"
The view from Kerry Park was beautiful, there was no denying it. The view of the Space Needle and the city of Seattle all light up in the night was positively breathtaking; there was even an amazing view of Elliott Bay. But there was something less than a foot away that was even more beautiful.
"No Arizona," I whisper into her ear, "you are."