"Arizona, you are not a mom tonight," April reminded her as she nudged a drink across the table towards the blonde.
Blue eyes rolled as she lightly ran her finger over the rim of the glass, "I know I'm not a mom; I'm just thinking about the last time we were all at a club in the city –"
April nodded before cutting her off, "Yes, the last time we were at a club in New York, Lucy kind of became a disaster. But with her punishment and the discussion you had with all of the squad before we decided to make this trip, I really think that things are going to be okay."
She conceded, and lifted the drink that April had brought to the table for her to her lips. The sip she took was still small, as she scanned her eyes over the dance floor. Much of the squad was visible to where they were sitting, because a lot of them were dancing together. Which was sweet, and it did make her happy, because they deserved it. And in her line of vision was Lucy, who hadn't made even the semblance of a mistake since their last competition in New York, and had even been defending her to people over the whole Sadie debacle a few weeks ago.
It was with reluctance that she'd even agreed to join the party bus for a night of celebration in the city when the girls brought it up the week before. But given that it was her last semester with her team, and that, despite being the one who had to push them, she loved them, she had agreed.
Moreover, her talks with Callie, and subsequently April, had persuaded her. Callie had been the one to remind her that her teammates were other people, and she couldn't control that. And April… well, April told her when she'd initially declined this whole idea that she had to let herself learn to have fun again.
And maybe she did. Maybe that went along with this whole thing she was trying to do after everything had happened with Callie.
Even as she inclined her head toward her friend, she still hedged, "You're right. I'm not a mom, but that doesn't mean I should just get wasted."
The look April aimed at her was of sheer exasperation, "Arizona, I'm not telling you to get wasted. But I am telling you that… look. This is one of the last nights that you're going out with the squad. If we don't win nationals this year –"
She broke off when Arizona gave her a dirty look; they had the most talented team. They would win.
So her friend rolled her eyes, "Fine, right. Either way – this is your squad. And the time with them is almost up. You've spent the past couple of years being in control and always watching their backs. Tonight, stop watching out for them and let go. We agreed that I would be stone cold sober in case something happened tonight. Remember?" April asked, and sort of wiggled the bottle of water she had in front of her.
Her defense was weak, "Yes, but…" and then she trailed off, "You shouldn't have to put your celebrations on hold because of my paranoia about watching out for everyone."
"Stop. You're responsible to a fault, and that's kind of part of the reason we're friends," they shared a small smile before April continued, "And I get that. But I'm telling you to let go tonight, and have fun. Because I can be the responsible one for you." Her voice dwindled quietly before she turned to face Arizona, and asked, "Do you trust me?"
The question wasn't rhetorical, and they both knew it.
Last weekend, after Callie had left, she'd taken the first steps to mending with April, and gone to talk to her. And telling her what was happening in her life was actually easier than she had thought – probably because all of the bad stuff from last year? April had been there to see that already.
April had been upset with her – but she'd already known that. And she was upset with April, over the things she'd said when they had argued. But they moved past them, which was also easier than Arizona had thought possible.
They still weren't quite back to where they had been months and months ago. But they were on their way. And April was here, really asking if she trusted her. Brushing her hand along the short cut of her dress, she licked her lips, and when she said, "I do trust you," she was telling the truth.
April could tell, if the pleased smile on her face was anything to go by, "Good. So that means that tonight, you will drink. And have fun. And not worry."
Arizona took the words in and lifted the drink back to her lips, sipping once more. That instinctual feeling like she should be the one keeping a watchful eye and remaining sober for the night was still inside, but with some controlled breaths and reassurances from her friend, it didn't feel like it was taking over.
Which was different.
Because there was no logical argument she could make against "letting go" as April had said. She did trust her friend and if there was any one person she trusted to be as responsible as she was when it came to looking after the girls, then it was April. And above all else, she'd been actively trying to do what Callie had said before.
That if she tried to open up sometimes and not keep everything so tightly in check, then things could be better. As in, she wouldn't be driven to a break down in Callie's room and make the brunette deal with the aftermath.
And then they wouldn't have to deal with any other potential aftermaths – the kiss coming to mind.
It was in ruminating over Callie's advice that brought her the true reason of why she really wanted to try going against her instincts to constantly be in control. If she could let herself go sometimes, then she would have more control over herself when things got stressful.
So, nights like these fell into that category.
The squad deserved to have fun. And maybe she deserved it, too.
So she chatted idly with April and a few of the other girls from the squad who were sitting at their table with them. There were only two of the girls sitting here, though, as many of the others were out on the dance floor.
And, as Arizona finished her third drink, and was starting to really feel like she was ready to let go for the night, she thought that she might even join them out on the dance floor sometime.
Then she felt April lean over and ask, "So, is Callie actually coming tonight?"
At the mention of Callie, she instinctively looked around, before realizing what she was doing and flushing a bit, "Uh – yeah. She is."
April nodded, "Did she confirm when you guys talked last night? I didn't hear you on the phone."
Thinking to the night before made Arizona scowl just a bit because, "No, we didn't talk last night." And at the amused, inquisitive look on April's face, Arizona tried to wipe the expression off of hers; another reason she didn't often drink was because her feelings came out and showed themselves before she could hide them, "She confirmed for sure the night before last."
April took a sip of her water before asking, "Why not last night? I thought you two talking every night was a thing?"
She thought that because when she had grilled Arizona about the nature of her relationship with Callie, that was one of the questions, "We do. Did," she corrected with a small frown, before looking down at the new drink that had been delivered to her by one of the girls on the squad, on April's instruction. "She was busy last night."
Callie told her Thursday night that she wouldn't be able to talk on Friday because she'd made plans with Mark to go out after the show. And Arizona didn't begrudge her forming these friendships with her costars, or even for choosing to miss a phone call
It wasn't that she was annoyed or anything. She had just… missed Callie. After all, it had been practically torture the week before when they hadn't had their phone calls. And she'd hoped and been grateful that after they had their talk about remaining friends that the calls were going to resume as normal.
Then again, the reason they hadn't had their calls the week before was because of herself. So Callie cancelling was definitely more than warranted.
She tried to stop this train of thought because she knew April was watching her carefully, and April was so interested in the relationship – friendship, she corrected herself – she'd formed with Callie.
"Busy doing what?" April wondered, prompting Arizona to answer with a poke to the side.
She shrugged, and took a sip of the drink in front of her, and it kind of belatedly hit her that she was starting to feel really tipsy, "Going out. To a bar or something," she muttered, trying to think of the miniscule amount of detail Callie had provided with where she'd been going with Mark.
Her friend's eyes were alight with what she could tell was excitement, as she smiled widely, "I don't know why you sound like such a sourpuss. You know she would have rather been talking to you."
Blue eyes rolled, "April, you talked to her twice. Both times for a very short period."
"So? You told me that she had feelings for you. Not that you went into a lot of detail about it, but still. And honestly, it was pretty obvious when she saw you at the cheerleading competition," April informed her.
Arizona had gotten herself to be open to answering April's questions – about what she'd been feeling the last couple of months, and how much she had turned to Callie. Relied on Callie. How strong of a friendship they had built.
She had reluctantly told her about the kiss, and her subsequent avoidance, in an effort to explain Callie's sudden presence at their competition and why it had been tense between them. And about how she'd told Callie the truth. That she really didn't think she would be good for Callie in anything beyond a friendship.
April had clearly rolled her eyes at that, but thankfully just listened and hadn't tried to argue.
"Regardless. We agreed that we are going to be friends and that's it. And that she isn't going to hold on to the fact that I…" she trailed off when words stuck in her throat. How did she finish that, because she wasn't entirely sure how to completely describe her feelings for the brunette.
Her friend didn't seem to have the same problem, and cheerfully finished for her, "The fact that you are interested in her, too!"
She narrowed her eyes in thought – yeah, that seemed simple and yet accurate.
April ignored her and continued to barrel on, "So you decided that you're just going to be friends and neither of you is going to hold on to any hope that what you have is going to turn into anything more… and that's why it took you twice as long to get ready as it would if we were going out to a party back at school?" the look on her face was innocent.
But Arizona knew better, even with the buzz she had going on, and she glared at her. It didn't help her case that she could feel herself blushing, "I did not."
She had though. So… sue her. This was the first time that she and Callie were going to see each other in a planned meeting since their actual meetups. She wanted to put her break down and the kiss and everything else behind them. So maybe she'd chosen a short, tight fitting black dress, and made sure to do her makeup in the smoky way that made her eyes pop. Big deal.
That was natural.
Because she knew that April was already feeling self satisfied, she didn't bother to defend herself anymore, and just shrugged, "I – I'm…" a defense evaded her. There wasn't one; April knew how long it took her to get ready to go out.
But April wasn't just teasing her, she was giving her a small sincere smile, "It's fine to want to look nice for the lady you like."
Her cheeks burned, "I'm not trying to impress her, April."
"I think it's kind of nice. You haven't been cute over a girl since almost two years ago, with that Jess girl. And you – never mind," April trailed off, even though Arizona was fairly certain her friend was going to point out that she'd never been in a situation like the one she was in with Callie before.
Her fingers nervously ticked out a rhythm against the glass now, "Callie is different. I'm not saying I'm trying to impress her tonight with the dress or anything. But, everything with her is just different and – and weird." She settled on, and it was the truth.
Things with Callie were muddled because she liked her and she was attracted to her, but then Callie was also a friend and a confidant. She wanted to look good for Callie and she was excited but also anxious to see Callie tonight.
April was quiet for a few moments before shooting Arizona a smile, "Besides, of course you want to look hot. It's the first time you've seen her while you're "going out" and you should look hot!"
She just hummed as she lifted the glass up to take a sip before freezing completely, "I – no. It's not the first time. The night with Lucy and the competition in the city, I ran into her. At the club we were at. But I didn't know it was Callie."
And somehow, her mind could picture exactly what Callie had looked like that night. And her smile and how Arizona had been knocked down and was convinced Callie was an angel standing above her for those few seconds.
She wasn't really one for dancing with strangers in clubs that they went to, because she was usually busy trying to keep an eye on whoever she was out with. But that night, before she'd known Callie was Callie – well. She'd felt inexplicably drawn to her. Because she'd been cute and rambling and –
Fuck.
These thoughts were not helping, at all.
April's hands were then on her shoulders, making Arizona look at her with her face still set into a frown over her thoughts, "Arizona! Are you serious? You ran into Callie before you knew that she was Callie? And – and you can seriously sit here and tell me that you don't think that something between you is happening?"
Her frown deepened and her buzzed brain tried to make sense of April's question, "Just because… that doesn't make sense. So, Callie and I coincidentally ran into each other. And yes, I thought she was hot," she flushed thinking back to it, and the way the brunette had looked. And the many times she'd been attracted to her since, before forcing the thoughts away, "But it doesn't mean anything is happening."
It didn't change any of the things that had actually happened between them that she'd already told April about. The things that weren't "fate" or anything like that; the facts.
"Look. I'm not one for spontaneity or – or throwing caution to the wind, and that's kind of partially why we've always gotten along so well," April stated, thinking over her words, and Arizona found herself hanging onto them, curious as to where she was going, "But I do believe in things. I believe that some things are meant to happen, and I know you don't think that, but with this? Come on, Arizona, you can't deny it."
Her heart felt like it was beating fast in her chest at the implication in April's words. But she still shook her head, "I can deny it, though. It's just…" her shoulders shrugged continuously, before her fingers did their nervous drumming on the edge of the table, "I don't know."
April nodded vehemently, "You don't know what to say because you know I'm right. You know I was against you and Callie talking when she first wrote to you like a stalker. And I know that's why you started keeping this whole thing from me, and – I guess I can understand that a little. But come on. Out of all of the books in the bookstore, she chose yours. And then she chose to write to you, and you wrote back. You, of all of the people I know aside from myself, would be the least likely person to write back to a stranger like that. But with her, you did! Then you meet her and you think you might like her, when you don't even know it's her. She – she gets you to open up more than me! And you told me yourself that I'm the closest friend you've ever had. That's not nothing, Arizona. That's not just something you can ignore."
By the end of her speaking, Arizona was staring at her friend, blue eyes wide, and her heart felt like it was pounding inside of her chest. Her mouth felt dry, and she had to clear her throat before managing to get out the words, "It's – there are other things –"
"Okay, other things like what happened with Tim, and how you close up on people, but newsflash, Arizona? None of that makes you unlovable. I don't know a ton about Callie firsthand, but I know that part of the reason you refuse to let yourself open up to anything romantic with her is because you don't let yourself feel like you deserve it. But you do," April stressed, eyes blazing back at her.
And for once, Arizona didn't have a response waiting on the tip of her tongue. Her mock-trial famous rejoinders were momentarily lost on her – she blamed the alcohol, even though she knew it was also because April honestly stunned her.
If she wasn't still inwardly reeling, she might have been amused at the way April seemed to realize the words she'd just snapped out, her eyes widening, "I didn't – I didn't mean to snap about Tim."
And truthfully? For the first time in the last year, she hadn't flinched at just the mention of his name, because she'd been so focused on everything else that April had been talking about.
So she shook her head, even though her hand did tremble a little as she reached for her drink, "No, it's – okay."
It wasn't entirely okay; the one year anniversary was coming up in just over a week – happening over their spring break – and as it became more imminent, she'd felt it weighing on her more than usual.
But she definitely didn't want to focus on it tonight.
April opened her mouth to say something again, but then her eyes widened at something beyond Arizona's shoulder. And when Arizona turned to see where she was looking, she felt like she might just swallow her tongue.
She'd never seen Callie look like this. She had seen Callie in various states of casual day clothes, she'd seen her on stage, in all kinds of pajamas. But she had never seen her wearing a skin tight red dress, and heels that made her already ridiculously long legs seem impossibly longer; it was…
Unconsciously, she licked her lips. Why had she thought inviting Callie would be a bad idea?
Then those dark eyes that seemed to sparkle with their own set of nerves met her own as she made her way over, and Arizona felt her throat go dry. That bright smile worked it's way over Callie's mouth, and the blonde seemed to feel more drunk now, because her head kind of spun.
Right. This was why inviting Callie was a bad idea. Especially with April's words still freshly echoing in her mind.
Even though her mind was kind of, well, spinning, she could feel her mouth pull into an answering smile, "You came," and her words came out breathier than she ever would have intended.
Four drinks could sneak up on her like that, she supposed.
Callie blushed, and Arizona didn't know if it was because the tone of her voice or not, but it was there as she came to stand next to the table, "I – yeah, I told you I was. We were," she corrected, glancing behind her where Addison and Cristina had come to a stop, "Sorry we're late. But I didn't want to come right from the play, so Addison and I had to get ready."
Arizona found herself nodding at the "getting ready" part, looking Callie up and down again in a way that she was positive would never be able to be considered friendly, "You – you look great."
It was entirely possible for Callie's cheeks to darken in a deeper blush, "Thanks, I –"
"Yeah, this is adorable and all, but I kind of want to put my shit down somewhere so I can get to the bar," Cristina piped up, and for the first time, Arizona actually looked away from Callie to see her friends behind her.
Callie's roommate indeed didn't look particularly engrossed in anything happening between them. And really didn't seem interested at all in hanging out with Callie, based on what Arizona knew about her. But Callie had said the other night that Cristina had agreed to coming out with them because her best friend Meredith had plans, and her boyfriend had gone home for a visit, leaving her with nothing else to do.
She wasn't at all surprised to see Addison looking eagerly over Callie's shoulder, shooting her with a grin that didn't look bored at all. Arizona remembered the first and only time she'd met the redhead – and Addison had been particularly enthused upon meeting her, so she guessed this excited smile was to be expected.
It was very hard not to let her gaze fall back on the brunette in question, and she instead nodded toward Callie's friends, "It's nice to see you."
When she finally did look back at Callie, the brunette was smiling at April, "It's nice to meet you, again, April. This is my roommate, Cristina," she pointed over her shoulder at the bored brunette, then to the opposite side, "And this is my friend and costar, Addison. Guys, this is Arizona's best friend, April."
Cristina just lifted her eyebrows at April's eager smile, before rolling her eyes and stepping around Callie to shove her jacket toward Arizona, so she could put it on the small pile of jackets they had at their booth from the other girls, "Yeah, great meeting you and all. I'm going to get drunk."
Which left them with one. And Addison had no trouble whatsoever sliding into the booth opposite Arizona, and next to April. As the two shared eye contact and greetings, Arizona decided that the two of them together was unsettling.
But then Callie was edging her way into the booth to sit next to her, in the only available seat left. As soon as they bumped each other lightly, Arizona felt herself shiver, and then she practically scrambled to give Callie enough space to sit down without forcing them to touch and giving those tingles.
The tingles were definitely not good feelings to be having when she was tipsy and Callie was looking unreasonably sexy.
And it seemed the brunette was feeling the same way, as she settled at the table, and looked shyly down at her hands in front of her. Arizona downed her drink – perhaps not the best idea, but whatever. Tonight she was supposed to be letting go. Right?
Did that count with Callie? Or with just the squad? She wasn't really sure.
Then Callie turned to look at her, and dark eyes seemed to nail Arizona down as Callie's low voice floated over her skin, "I was going to say before that you look really good, too."
She felt her stomach flip flop in the way that Callie seemed to bring out in her, and she tentatively smiled before teasing, "You've barely seen me. I'm sitting down."
And it did the trick of making Callie chuckle, "I've seen enough. Besides, you always look good."
There it was. The small blush on those cheeks and the regular every day Callie tone of voice. The same way she would tell her she looked good on skype. She liked that, she decided. That Callie would see her like this, all… dressed up for the club and yet she looked at her the same way she looked at her when they would skype, and Callie saw her just about ready to fall asleep.
Addison clearing her throat called both of their attention across the table, and the redhead flicked her eyes to the left. Where one of the girls on the squad was standing, smiling down on Callie. Her name was Jamie, and she was a sophomore.
She had gorgeous, flawless dark skin, and pushed herself extremely hard on the team, proving her place there easily. And she was currently looking down at Callie with a charming smile on her face, which Arizona didn't find charming at all.
Actually, it was even worse, because she kind of did. And damn it, since when was Jamie interested in women, anyway?
She did not like the way her stomach twisted at all, and it only was getting more painful when the younger woman spoke, "I saw you as soon as you came in. I was surprised that you were coming over to my table, though. I'm Jamie." She offered her hand to Callie, who took it hesitantly.
"Callie," she offered, and it earned a pretty smile from Arizona's teammate, "I – I'm Arizona's friend. She invited me here."
It was all Arizona could do to offer a smile in Jamie's direction when she asked, "So, captain, do you mind if I steal your friend for a dance?"
Did Arizona mind if she stole Callie for a dance? She – no. Callie could dance with whoever she wanted. If she so happened to be interested in talented, pretty cheerleaders, then maybe Jamie was just who she would want to dance with.
Damn it. That did seem to be Callie's type.
Before she realized it, she hadn't actually answered out loud, and then all eyes – April and Addison's amused ones, and Callie and Jamie's questioning ones – were on her. And she managed to ground out, "I – no. Callie's a grown woman. She can dance with whomever she wants to."
Callie slowly nodded, and Arizona didn't know if she was imagining things, because she thought that the brunette looked reluctant to get up. But she still sent Jamie one of her gorgeous smiles, "I'd love to."
Arizona would love to say that her eyes didn't track them out to the floor. She'd love to say that she wasn't frowning. She'd love to say that when she thought about it, she didn't still feel Callie's lips pressing against her own. She'd love to say that she wasn't thinking about it and feeling that feeling right now.
However, as much as she would love to say any of those things, she knew it wasn't true. What she did know was true, was that if she was sober, she might be feeling the same things, but they definitely wouldn't be so damn obvious.
Her ability to compartmentalize was astounding when sober. When inebriated? Not so much. Which was why she couldn't stop watching the way Callie danced with Jamie.
And for that matter, Callie danced sinfully. Had she known that before? Arizona was positive that she would remember that.
The clearing of a throat was what made her take her eyes away, and she could feel herself blush despite the unwanted feeling of jealousy in the pit of her stomach as she met both Addison and April's questioning looks.
"I –" words failed her, but it didn't matter because, "Oh whatever. You both know."
While April merely grinned at her, one of Addison's perfect – how did she get such perfect – eyebrows lifted at her, "You should ask her to dance. She'd like it."
Of course Arizona knew Callie would like it. Because Callie had kissed her and then had made no secret that she liked Arizona as more than a friend. And that had only been a week ago, and feelings didn't disappear like that. Arizona knew that.
She knew that Callie would prefer if her hands were on those hips out on the dance floor instead of Jamie's. Arizona would prefer it, too. But the reality was, "I can't."
Especially because Arizona had told Callie not to hold on to romantic hopes for them. She certainly had no right whatsoever to be jealous in any way. She definitely had no right to go out there and ask Callie to dance with her because of that jealousy.
That would be selfish of her. And she was trying not to be selfish, here.
But, damn, she also couldn't just sit here because then she knew she would just keep watching them dance, and it was going to make her head spin even more and her stomach feel worse. So she slapped her hands on the table and sent her patented head cheerleader glare towards the pair of redheads across from her, "I'm not going to dance with Callie. I'm just going to dance. And you two? Stay out of trouble."
She made her way out to the dance floor, where a group of her girls were dancing, and as soon as they saw her, they let out squeals. Which, admittedly, did make her smile. And yeah, it was kind of easy to lose herself in the music and just dance with them because it had been a really, really long time since she'd let herself go like this.
So she spun with them, and she felt the lightness that came with actively trying to let go and with being tipsy. And before she knew it, she found herself danced to the other edge of her teammates, and on that side was where Callie was dancing.
Brown eyes that were kind of beaming along with the smile Callie sent her made her spine tingle just a little bit. And without really thinking what she was doing, she stepped closer and asked over the music, "Where'd Jamie go?"
Callie looked confused for a moment, before she nodded, "She kind of migrated back into the group. I'm – I'm not really interested. In her."
The inference was clear, and it made Arizona flush, even as she kept dancing. But she was careful to keep dancing in the limitations of "the group" and not to step out and across the line of dancing "with Callie."
But then Callie stepped closer to her and that line blurred, as her voice dipped and asked into Arizona's ear, "Do you want to dance? As… friends," she clarified.
Though that tone sounded probably like the least friendly thing Arizona could think of, and she hesitated, despite her body telling her to dance with the gorgeous woman in front of her. In the back of her alcohol-hazed mind, there was still the voice telling her that probably wasn't a good idea. And she wasn't entirely certain how to maintain complete control over her inebriated self when she would have Callie's body pressed against her.
She managed to choke out, "It might not be a good idea."
The sad expression that took over Callie's face was gone in nearly an instant and taken over by a small smile, "Arizona, friends can dance. It doesn't have to be anything weird."
It probably wouldn't help the weirdness that had been between them, though, the rational part of her brain told her, even as she smiled back at Callie, and she tilted her head, her words coming out slowly, "I mean, you are my friend and we don't really get to see each other in person often…"
Callie's grin sharpened, and she leaned in. Arizona could feel Callie's breath wash over her ear, and her breath hitched inaudibly because of the music, "Besides, the last time we were at a club, you did promise me a dance."
When she drew back enough that their eyes could meet, she could see the teasing glint in Callie's. Their last meeting in a club was a reminder to her of her conversation with April and of the fact that they both knew she was attracted to Callie.
But she couldn't say no, not now, "I do always keep my word." Her throat felt dry, and she looked over Callie in her dress – friends. "One dance."
The brunette nodded eagerly, which made Arizona smile despite trying not to. And she was debating how to go about this as the beat started to change into a pulsing bass – of course. But her debate was long forgotten when Callie inched forward and that way her body moved that Arizona thought was sinful when she'd just been watching?
It really was deliciously sinful to feel it. That voice – the stern, controlling Arizona voice, was in the back of her mind telling her that this was a bad idea. But it was easily overpowered by liquor and the press of the warm, soft curves against her.
She didn't know if it was another one of those signs that April was talking about, but her hips found a natural rhythm to grind against with Callie's, and – so not the way she would ever dance with a friend, she thought, as she bit back a groan when one of Callie's legs worked between hers.
The taller woman made sure she wasn't pressing against Arizona, but it was… it was enough. And Arizona's hands wanted to reflexively go to Callie's hips. And her waist. And… well, everywhere.
But she made sure to keep them off of the brunette. It would take this entire thing to a new level that they shouldn't be going to right now, she was sure.
Callie didn't have the same qualms, it seemed, when she felt soft, questioning hands come to her hips. When she tipped her head back, she could see the flush that was on Callie's cheeks, and she knew it wasn't just because of the heat and the activity, because she was sure hers looked the same way.
Her body felt like the tingles had taken the next step and her skin kind of felt like it was burning in a really good way. It – she'd never felt it from just dancing. The way she'd never felt so much like when Callie had kissed her.
As she looked back up at her, she saw the same questing, wanting look on Callie's face now that she did right before the kiss. But unlike the morning of the kiss, she wasn't feeling petrified. She was feeling like she wanted it.
That thought itself was disconcerting but not enough to stop the hands from touching her hips or to break away from the leg grinding between hers. Her head was spinning, and now it was more because of Callie than the alcohol in her system, she was well aware of that.
And then when the beat broke out into something new, which made cheers break out from the people around them, Arizona felt dazed, like she'd been broken out of a haze. Callie looked much the same way, and in an instant that Arizona both was grateful for and hated, Callie's hands dropped away and her leg was gone.
Her voice was huskier than Arizona had ever heard it and her tongue flicked out to lick over full lips in a move that blue eyes followed hungrily, "I should – I have to go back to the table and get some water."
Arizona just nodded, because if she spoke, she was pretty sure that it would come out that she was kind of more turned on by this one dance than she'd been during any time she'd had actual sex.
Which – maybe she and Callie weren't exactly normal friends and maybe they never would be, but she was sure that was definitely something she shouldn't say to someone that she'd out right told nothing was going to happen between them.
Things were confusing enough already, and she didn't have to make it even worse.
But she did have to really resist the urge to grab Callie's hand as they weaved their way back through the crowd towards the table. She liked holding Callie's hand. It was kind of something they did.
Or something they did before everything got weird. She wasn't sure it was something they could do now. And, she frowned, she kind of missed it.
All of her swirling thoughts about Callie and their relationship dissipated into suspicion when they got back to the table and saw the positively devilish expressions on April and Addison's face. She knew it wasn't a good idea to leave them here by themselves.
It appeared she wasn't the only one who noticed, though, as Callie stopped short and dark eyes darted between their best friends, "What is going on with you two?"
April primly cleared her throat and crossed her hands on top of the table in a manner that suggested what she was going to say was innocuous. Arizona knew better, though, "Well, Callie, I was just telling your delightful friend here about Arizona's dilemma."
Callie's expression quickly turned into one of concern, and god, Arizona didn't know how she just cared like that, "Your dilemma?"
But she shook her head, because what? Addison didn't make them wait, though, "Her dilemma, yeah. April was telling me that the week after this upcoming one is UPenn's spring break. And Arizona here doesn't have anywhere to go."
Oh no. No, no. Now Arizona's chest felt that uncomfortable heavy feeling, and she narrowed her eyes as April nodded and continued for Addison, "Yeah, she can't stay at the sorority house and she can't go home. We were just talking about it yesterday."
They had just been talking about it yesterday, but it had been something that Arizona had been talking about to April in confidence, and she set her jaw, "April…"
But it was too late, because Addison took over again, and Arizona dimly wondered if they planned this, "And I thought about what a damn shame it is that there are people who haven't had a proper stay here, in the city. So we had the idea that Arizona could stay with you, Callie."
Dark eyes were wide, staring at her friend. And Arizona couldn't quite decipher the emotion in them. Shock, confusion, and just why, were her best guesses. This was ridiculous. It wasn't like Callie was going to agree, because Callie was –
Then those eyes turned to look at her, and seemed oddly sympathetic, "You… really don't have anywhere to go?" and the other question of why didn't you tell me? Was clearly there, too. But it would be impossible to tell her about the whole spring break dilemma without telling her everything. Which, she was finding, she might be ready to do, but over the phone really wasn't how she wanted to talk about it, if she ever really did want to talk about it.
Arizona's eyes closed tightly, and she swallowed hard. It was… difficult to explain, but apparently Callie took that for a yes.
Because then she was saying, her voice quiet and hesitant, "Then, well, you know you can stay with me. Here. Not here in the club. Um obviously," she added with a blush, "But in my apartment."
Before she could say anything – because now it was getting difficult. It made no sense to Arizona why her throat felt tight with tears, and she knew it did have something to do with the alcohol. It did make her feel more in touch with her emotions, after all. But it was because she didn't know how she'd found someone like Callie. Who just cared about her like this. Without asking questions or wanting anything back.
It was a whole mix of things, she thought, that made her feel so strange right now. Their oddly charged dance, her confusing feelings, April's speech earlier… Callie being the person that she could open up to; Callie being Callie, really.
She didn't even really fully grasp that she was nodding, before April grinned at her, "It's settled then!"
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