''Equations. Why on earth is it necessary to learn equations? When will I ever need to know how to solve equations that are this hard in real life?'' Arizona whined as she and Callie sat in Arizona's kitchen and practiced for their math test that was coming up tomorrow. It was three months since they started 9th grade and they had already had at least three test per month and the girls spent a lot of their time together studying. They had studied English, Spanish, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry and now they studied Maths again.
''I don't know. But stop whining, you're one of the best in the class when it comes to mathematics.'' Callie said and continued to do the tasks in her book.
''Thank you, Callie! But equations is an exception. It's just so, so hard.''
''Yeah, I know.'' Callie sighed.
''Can we please take a break? I can't do this anymore!'' Arizona said five minutes later.
''Arizona, we took a break'' Callie checked her watch to see what time it was ''20 minutes ago.''
''It feels like 200 minutes ago! But we should still take a break.'' Arizona answered.
''I only have two tasks left and I can do them later so I would actually love to take a break.'' Callie said.
''Yay! What do you think April and Mark are doing right now?'' Arizona asked her friend and laughed. The four of them had become very good friends the last couple of months. April didn't want to be friends with the other three in the beginning, but after just a week or so, she started to hang out with them. Mark was a very kind guy who dared to stand up for himself and his friends, he had showed that several times already. And it was obvious that Mark liked April a little more than just friends, but she didn't seem to notice. But as soon as last week April confessed to Callie and Arizona that she liked Mark too and they had spent almost every day afternoon together since last week and yesterday Mark asked April out on a date. So at this very moment they were on their first date and April didn't know anything about where they were going so she had promised the girls to update time as soon as they met tomorrow.
''I don't know. I think he's gonna go with the classic cinema date, don't you?'' Callie answered.
''I think so too. I hope they're doing something super romantic though, Mark seems like that kind of guy!'' Arizona said and looked very excited.
''Yes he does. And why are you this excited, Arizona?'' Callie said and laughed at her best friends look ''it's not like he's taking you out for a date.''
''No, but he's taking April and she's my friend and I'm very happy for her.'' Arizona said to Callie.
''Yeah, I'm happy for her too. They make a great couple.''
''They really do.'' Arizona said and she was just about to say something more when her mother interrupted them.
''Arizona, you can't do your homework in the kitchen right now I'm going to fix dinner. Callie, do you want to eat here or are you eating with your mother and sister?'' Arizona's mother said and smiled.
''I am going to eat home, but thanks for asking Mrs. Robbins!'' Callie answered with a smile.
''Okay, dinner's ready in 20 minutes.'' She said and the girls packed their books into their bags again.
''I think I have to go home now.'' Callie said when she saw that it was getting late.
''Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Usual place and time?'' Arizona said.
''Of course.''
''I'm home!'' Callie said when she opened the door to her house just a few minutes later.
''Where have you been all day? Do you expect me to do everything by myself, huh? To cook and clean and pay our bills?'' Her mother said when she saw her daughter.
Callie was scared, she hadn't seen her mother this angry in a very long time. ''I did my homework with Arizona. I told you that this morning and you were okay with it. And where's Gabriella, maybe she can help with something at home for once?''
''She has done enough already. You're so worthless, I can't believe that I couldn't raise my children better.'' Her mother said, clearly she was really drunk. ''So, so worthless.''
Callie couldn't stay there anymore, she couldn't hear those words. 'Worthless, useless, flawed, unloved, wrong.' Those were the words that were haunting her in her mind every day, and now her own mother told her that they were true. She couldn't take it anymore, she put her jacket on again and just ran away from the house. She just ran and ran and ran and cried. When she finally stopped she was in the park, she sat on her favorite bench and cried again. She cried for several minutes until she heard a familiar voice say
''Torres, are you okay?'' It was Mark.
''Yeah, I'm fine.'' Callie said and wiped her tears away with her arm.
''No, Callie, you're not. What's wrong?'' Mark said and took a step closer to the brunette.
''Everything.'' Callie answered between her sobs.
''Is it your mother?'' Mark asked. He knew about her alcohol problems, he had seen it himself when he was at Callie's place a few weeks ago. He heard a quiet 'yes' between his friend's sobs.
''What did she do?'' Mark asked and put his arms around his friend to comfort her.
''She got mad because I didn't pay the bills, clean or cook. So she told me the truth, she told me that I am worthless.'' Callie answered after a few minutes when she had calmed down.
''You're not worthless, Callie. Absolutely not.'' Mark answered. He couldn't believe that a grownup woman could call her own daughter such words.
''I am. I'm worthless, useless and I'm disgusting.'' Callie said.
''You are not. You're one of my best friends. And why would you be disgusting?''
''Because I have feelings for a girl. Because I have feelings for my best friend. Mark, I have feelings for Arizona.''
There it is, the fourth chapter of A Second Chance. I do not ship Mark/April at all in the real show, this is just because they're two of my favorite characters and I wanted them in the fic. And what did you think about Callie's big confession? Please review your thoughts and I'll update as soon as possible!