AN: Alright, here's the next chapter. Thanks for the reviews from last chapter. I hope you guys like this next part. Have a wonderful day!
Nearly getting flattened by a truck due to my total lack of regard for my surroundings, I hopped onto the curb and approached the wooden barrier. My heart thudded loudly in my chest, this time from anticipation instead of anger. The small bell chimed as I pulled open the door, providing a stark contrast to the silence within the little antique store. The air was cool and still, a musty smell tickling my nostrils as I adjusted to the dim light.
Near the back wall I spotted her. Again, her back was toward me as she browsed the antique knives in a glass case. I moved along a row of hand crafted clocks, vaguely grazing my hand over them as if I might be looking. My eyes never strayed from her toned body as she leaned over the display. Stopping several feet away at the book case, I silently wished for her to turn around. Would it be wrong for me to use a little angel encouragement to make her turn? Yes… Plus, I wasn't quite ready for her to notice me, observing served me well at the moment.
A short, bundled up woman came up to the object of my gaze and offered assistance in a heavy accent. Looking up, the dark-haired beauty spoke perfect Italian in a smooth, sultry voice. I could do nothing but stare in amazement. Not only was she utterly beautiful, but she spoke Italian, and her voice was silky and alluring. I began to tremble with excitement and fascination. The conversation continued between the two women, the shorter laughing at whatever the charming creature said last. Finally, the store attendant directed her attention to me, "I help you find something?"
Several seconds of hollow silence passed. Answering her question was last on my list of priorities as dark chocolate brown eyes settled on me. Twinkling eyes locked with mine, and her eyebrow arched in amusement, clearly waiting for me to answer the less noticeable woman. My mouth went dry as my brain tried to find any words to utter in response. "Uhh…" Good start. "N-no, thanks. J-just looking?" Ok, the last part came out as a question and my eyes never disconnected with the gorgeous Latina's, but that seemed to appease her enough to turn back to her original customer.
With a dazzling smirk, the woman turned back to the counter pointing to a blade and smoothly spoke to the woman. I watched as the knife was wrapped up and paid for, both women chatting amicably in words I couldn't understand. Cursing my fluent knowledge of French, Spanish, and Greek as none of them allowed me to understand this conversation, I glowered in frustration. I really wanted to be on the receiving end of that grin and voice. I selected a book at random and walked up to the counter. My steps seemed to happen in slow motion as I approached the radiant creature. I set the book next to the register as she gathered her things. She smiled at me as she turned to head out. Trying to make contact, I opened my mouth to say something, but that's when her soft scent invaded my nose. She smelled like spicy vanilla and fresh rain, it flooded my body with warmth and exhilaration. This new addition to my senses overwhelmed any chance I had of forming words. She was so close I could touch her if I just shifted my position slightly to the right. But, I probably couldn't handle anymore of her right now.
Hearing the bell announce that she had left the building, I sighed and dejectedly handed the woman some money for the book. "You know her?" Her voice was curious and almost teasing. I definitely wasn't as discreet as I had hoped. Unceremoniously grabbing the book, I smiled to the store clerk and headed out the door, ignoring her question. Not sure of my next move, and decidedly disappointed in myself for wasting the opportunity to talk to her, I glanced around, searching for a sign. A flash of raven hair disappeared into store front a few spaces down. That's good enough for me.
I quickly strode to the correct door, nearly knocking over a tall, red-headed woman. "Oh, I'm so sorry." Not even paying her enough attention to verify that she was ok, I entered without looking at the name of the store or pausing to consider what I might do once inside. Half bursting into the building, I scanned the crowded space, hoping to catch a glimpse of my obsession. Great. Obsession isn't exactly an angel quality. Sighing, I simply shook the thought from my head. One problem at a time. Right now, I need to solve the mystery of the gorgeous woman, then I can work on my angelic ones.
Unable to spy her, I let my shoulders slump in defeat. Ugh, this can't go on much longer, or I'm going to-
"You know, if you're not a little more stealthy, a girl might think that she's being stalked by a beautiful blonde woman."
I whirled around at the sound of a seductive and surprisingly familiar voice. The very woman I had been looking for leaned casually against a pillar just to the side of the door. Her arms folded lightly across her chest, pushing her breasts up, and her right foot hooked loosely around her left ankle. Not bothering to answer right away, I took the moment to fully take in her body and attire. Her loose curls cascaded down her bare shoulders and tickled just above her breasts. She wore a tight, black tank top with faded, figure hugging jeans, and black, leather biker boots. And, last, but certainly not least, an insanely sexy smirk adorned her plump, rosy lips. Basically, she was everything attractive and hard core about the human world. I could feel my body immediately begin to respond to her presence, shamelessly drawn in without apology or excuse.
Finally swallowing the excess fluid in my mouth and clearing my throat, I took a shaky breath and grinned back, "Would that girl mind?" Whoa, that was surprisingly smooth for how I'm feeling…and, flirty? I don't think I meant to flirt with her.
The woman quirked an eyebrow, seemingly shocked by my retort, as well. She let a wide grin slide over her mouth, "Not at all," She cocked her head and mocked contemplation, "Well, unless you're a vegetarian…I'm not into that."
Unable to stop myself, I chuckled heartily, "I'm not…but, I'm also not stalking you. I just happen to need things from the same stores you do…for a project." Eh, sure, that might work.
She pushed herself gracefully from the wall, "Oh, really?"
I nodded confidently, "Yep, I needed this book," I gestured to the unknown and nearly forgotten book in my sweaty palm, "And, a…" I looked around, actually seeing for the first time what store I was currently in. Recognizing it as a cluttered hardware store, I finished, "A hatchet." A hatchet? Ok…that's mildly believable.
The woman giggled as she craned her neck to see the title of my book, "Alright, I know what kind of project the book might be used for, but I think I'll leave the hatchet part of it a mystery." Her eyebrow arched again, clearly in a challenge.
Curious to what book I was actually holding, I dropped my eyes to the cover, "Pocket Kama Sutra: A New Guide to the Ancient Art of Love". Whoops. I really should have read the title first. Drooping my head slightly before looking up and grinning sheepishly, I answered, "Uh, is it more embarrassing to admit I was following you, or that I have a plan that involves Kama Sutra and a small axe?"
"Umm, I'm not sure…But, I kinda like the version where you're so focused on me that you have little to no clue of what you're doing. If that helps." She grinned again, just about causing me to literally swoon, but I held it together. Barely.
Nodding, I grinned back, "It does. We'll just go with that, then." I flushed as I caught her sweep her eyes down my body, then a light blush spread across her cheeks when she flicked her eyes back to mine. It had been over seventy years since I flirted with someone, and even then, since two women being together wasn't exactly permissible, the flirting was very subtle and usually didn't lead anywhere. This, though, this was blatant sexual banter. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that I was interested, and I was almost certain that she felt the same.
But, then again, that was a whole new and virtually insurmountable problem. As an angel, romantic interest was not an option. Many faucets of humanness are disabled and transformed into more appropriate traits and energy when a person becomes an angel. If we were to simply be humans that helped other humans and no changes were made to our being, we would be influenced by human needs and emotions and likely fail in our overall mission. Therefore, things like anger, lust, romantic love, jealousy, hunger, thirst, and greed are removed from our personal existence. For us to do our job, these types of influences cannot exist for us. For me to feel what I'm feeling for this woman, indicates that my opportunities to return to the OverWorld are dwindling, and very soon, I would have to make some very tough choices.
Clearing her throat, seeming to have noticed that I briefly ventured from the my immediate company, she held out her hand, "Since you've put in the effort to stalk me, the least I can do is give you my name. I'm Callie. Callie Torres."
I gulped nervously at the thought of finally getting to touch her. My breath quickened as my hand inched forward, "I'm Ari-" Whoa! The second my hand slid into hers, sparks shot from my fingers to my palm and exploded up my arm until my entire body felt the voltage created by the skin to skin contact. I can honestly say that I have never, in either life time, experienced a sensation even comparable to this one. It easily stopped all other function I might be capable of. Gradually fighting through the fog that overtook my brain, I realized that I stopped mid-name, "Uh… I mean, A-Ariz-zona…uh…Rob-bins." Oh, yeah. That was smooth. It didn't help that it took me a second to remember what my last name had been when I was alive.
Callie smiled widely, not freeing my hand, "Arizona? I like that."
"Thank you." I let out a relieved sigh as she let my hand slip out of hers and seemed to be politely ignoring my obvious fluster. No sooner had the sigh finished, I began to crave her touch all over again. How in the world did humans deal with this mess of emotions and hormones? It's been too long for me.
A moment of silence passed between us as we stared contently at each other, each seeming to drink in as much as possible of the other. The moment was broken by the shrill sound of a phone. Callie jumped, then smiled guiltily as she pulled a phone out of her back pocket. Looking briefly at the screen, she squinted her eyes then quieted the phone, putting it back in her pocket. "I'm sorry, Arizona, but I have to go."
Without thinking, I let my face fall into a disappointed frown, "Oh, ok." I wasn't really sure how to proceed, I didn't want to let her just walk away.
Callie chuckled, and solved my unvoiced dilemma, "Why don't you give me your cell number and I'll give you a call." Her smile was bright and charming.
I swallowed nervously, "I, uh, don't have a cell phone and I'm staying with a friend, so I don't have a home phone number, either." I sighed, this was where the whole fallen angel thing could get unnecessarily more complicated.
"Wow, a stone age girl, got it. Then, how about this…" She stretched over the counter of the store and grabbed a Sharpie, her shirt riding up just an inch with the effort, causing me to inwardly groan at the exposed flesh. Reaching over with a smirk, she lightly grasped my hand. I gasped at the contact that was no less intense than the first time. This time however, I noticed a slight tremble in her hand and her faintly labored breathing that let me know that the feeling was not one sided. She uncapped the marker and delicately wrote her number on the palm of my hand. The sensation of the moist tip tickling my sensitive palm drove my excitement to a new level as her warm hand held mine. "There, now you have to call me to see me again. You should be good at chasing me by now." I blushed at her teasing remark.
My blue eyes met her brown and the world appeared to stop again, I could clearly see countless emotions spinning in her dark depths and I was certain that mine displayed the same. "Bye, Callie." I managed to mutter when the intensity became unbearable.
She smiled softly, "Bye, Arizona…I had better get a phone call soon, or I may just have to stalk you." She turned toward the door, then tossed over her shoulder, "Oh, and don't forget your hatchet." Just to further derail me, she threw in a sultry wink and walked out the door.
I stood there, stunned, for several minutes. What just happened? What did I do? I cannot get involved with her. This is ridiculous. She's a human, I'm an angel. Not only am I not allowed to get involved, but we could never work. How is an angel and human supposed to be together? I shook my head violently, desperately trying to shake out the effects she elicited from my body and soul. Maybe I should talk to Teddy…No, that would only lead to endless scolding and lectures. I can't remember ever caring about something the way I've cared about her in the miniscule time I've known her. I could return to Earth and become human again. Then, I could be with her. But, could I give up being an angel for her? And, what if nothing happened with Callie and I? Then, I would be left on Earth with no powers to help and no person to be with. Plus, there's my future destiny as an angel. What would happen to all the people I was supposed to help if I gave up on my fight to be one again? I knew what the right decision would have to be. I told myself when I began to follow her that I just needed to find out who she was, then I would move on with my mission. And, just because a small taste of her left me wanting her ten times more, that wouldn't change what I needed to do. Cringing, and slightly whimpering at my reluctant decision, I moved my left hand over the numbers on my right. Then, I stepped slowly out of the store, into the bright sunlight. Glancing one last time at my now clean palm, I sucked in a breath and trudged down the crowded Seattle sidewalk.
AN: Ok, so I cannot for the life of me make a decision on a certain aspect of this story. I need to ask someone (like a temp beta) for advice. It will be very spoilerish for the story, so this person has to not care about knowing a big plot point. I don't need a permanent beta for editing or anything (although, I could probably use one), just someone to lay out this problem and get a well thought out answer. If you're interested shoot me a PM and I'll pick one or two people to help me out. For anyone reading, thank you so much for your support and time, if you feel like leaving a review, please do, if not, then please don't.