That whole week Callie and Arizona tried to have lunch together whenever they could
if their schedules matched up. They hadn't gotten the chance to go out for
drinks again, but they said they would soon. They were growing very fond of
each other in such a short amount of time, and either one couldn't have been
more grateful for the new friendship.
Callie had just finished one of her surgeries, and decided to text Arizona to
see if she was free. Hey, what's your schedule like today?
Arizona felt a buzzing in her pocket and her face lit up as Calliope's name
appeared on the screen. She quickly texted back. Just kicked surgery ass! What's
up? Arizona knew that Callie was done with her surgery, or should be. She
had checked the schedule that very morning just to make sure she would be done
around the same time as her. It wasn't weird. It was normal for friends to do
that.
Me too! Pizza is calling out to me…
Arizona chuckled at Callie's choice of words. Hmm…interesting dilemma, considering the cafeteria never sells the
cheesy goodness.
Would be, but I just happened to order a large, and I shouldn't eat the entire
thing by myself.
Arizona smirked, knowing where this was going. If
you're implying what I think you are…I like the plain stuff. I'd be happy to
join you.
Oh…awkward. I said I shouldn't eat it by myself, but I was going to…I guess you
could join if you really want.
Arizona scoffed as she read Callie's message and was about to respond when
she received another one. Just kidding ;)
Arizona laughed, enjoying the flirting. Banter. It was innocent banter. You're mean.
Maybe. But I'm the one with the pizza, so you have to come see me for…what was
it? That cheesy goodness?
Now you're mocking me! I'm not that hungry anymore.
Ha-ha, get your cute butt over here before I actually do finish it.
Arizona grinned at the excitement of eating with Callie, again. K I'll meet you in the cafeteria in 5 (:
Actually, could you meet me in the on-call room on the 4th floor, I
don't feel like moving haha
Arizona decided to tread through dangerous waters, because the opportunity
was too good to pass up. Whoa, Calliope, you know I'm not that kind of girl…
Callie felt her cheeks turn bright red as she realized the implication
behind Arizona's words. She shook it off, telling herself she was just
embarrassed at the mess up. Shutup. The
pizza will be gone in 2 seconds.
Wait I'm coming!
…apparently you are that kind of girl.
Arizona barked with laughter and felt her own face flush crimson red. Okay…that was good.
Obviously.
Arizona burst into the on-call room a minute later with a huge grin. "Evil
human being, you are," Arizona said plopping on the bed beside Callie.
"Okay, yoda, you started it," Callie chuckled and offered the pizza box to
Arizona. They were sitting with their backs against the wall and their feet
dangling off the bed.
"So, how did your surgery go?" Arizona asked taking a bite of her pizza.
"Rocked it, too," Callie said with a shrug.
"Of course," Arizona said smiling, "So, how's Owen?"
"Doing really well. He's been going to his therapy sessions willingly, which is
a start."
"And how are you and Owen?" Arizona asked with hesitation.
Callie chuckled, "If you mean, having sex, then no, we're still not. We're not
emotionally all there either."
"I'm sorry," Arizona said with a hint of guilty relief.
"Don't' be. Things will get better," Callie said with a nod, "And what about
you, miss I-don't-do-relationships?"
Arizona playfully hit her arm, "I never said that, I just said I haven't had
one in a long time!"
Callie snorted and said, "Okay, well anyone on the horizon?"
Arizona shook her head and mumbled, "No," but the blush that filled her cheeks
said otherwise.
"There is totally someone!" Callie all put squealed, "Come on, who is it? Is it
that guy from last week, the one you had sex with like right before we hung
out?" Callie didn't know why, but when she asked this she felt a tightening in
her stomach.
Arizona didn't know why she hadn't told Callie she was gay. Maybe because she
didn't want to freak her new friend out, or maybe because it just hadn't come
up. She didn't want it to change their relationship. Or maybe if she told
Callie she'd figure out her secret crush. Arizona chuckled lightly and said,
"No, Callie, not the one from that night. There's nobody."
"Come on, I can tell, there has to be somebody," said Callie prodding her.
"Nobody that's interested in me…" Arizona trailed off.
"Oh, and how do you know that? Have you asked?"
"No…I'm not this person's type. I don't have to ask."
"Oh, come on that's bullshit, you'll never know until you try, Arizona. Anyone
would be lucky to have you, you're a catch!" Callie threw up her hands as if it
were the most obvious thing in the world.
Arizona swallowed and twiddled with her pizza before she quietly asked, "You
think so?" She hated how vulnerable she could be around Callie.
Callie laughed in disbelief. She couldn't believe she had to tell this woman
how wonderful she was, but she would. "Obviously…Arizona you're smart, funny,
adorable, sweet, bubbly, beautiful…all those wonderful things. You're
spectacular. You have to know this."
Arizona shrugged with a smile as she felt her heart soar at Callie's kind
words, "Sometimes, but it helps to hear it every once in a while." She grinned
at Callie who chuckled.
They looked around the room for a minute before Arizona asked, "Why did you
want to meet in here today?"
Callie shrugged, "The cafeteria is always crowded, and I didn't really feel
like dealing with people today. It get's exhausting trying to keep up the
ready-made image people hold of me."
"Ohh, so not to have your way with me like most people do in on-call rooms?"
Arizona joked. But even as she said it she cursed herself for letting it get to
that.
Callie choked on her pizza and chuckled as she tried to knock the mental image
out of her mind. She tried to stay on topic after she took a sip of water and
said, "No, goofball. You should be so lucky."
Arizona couldn't argue there. And now she was really cursing herself for
starting this. She looked down and let her curls hang loosely over the side of
her face to keep Callie from seeing. She quickly changed the subject. "I'm
having the last piece of pizza!" She called out and dove for the box.
Callie tried to snatch it before Arizona could reach, but to no avail. "What?!
No fair, you so had more than me!"
"Nuh-uh" Arizona said, realizing the immaturity in her voice.
"Oh, that's it," Callie said, lunging for Arizona. Arizona squealed as Callie
pinned her to the bed, trying to grab the pizza from her hands while Arizona took
a bite. Callie resorted to tickling Arizona, while Arizona resorted to flailing
and lightly hitting Callie. The pizza ended up flying across the room. Their
laughter slowly died down, and it was then Callie realized she had Arizona's
hands pinned above her head, their faces a mere inch apart. Both smiles faded
as breaths intermingled. Callie's hair cascaded around Arizona and both of
their breathing became more shallow. Arizona's eyes were wide with fear,
anticipation, and desire.
God, her eyes are so blue. Her skin, I didn't realize how soft it was. What are
you doing Callie, this is a girl, you're married, and she's just your close
friend. You're just lonely, obviously.
Even as these thoughts ran through
Callie's head, she didn't move from her position. She didn't want to. And felt
as though she physically couldn't.
Arizona was in a similar position, gazing up into those chocolate brown orbs
before her. She's so beautiful. She's
always beautiful. What the hell is happening? She could easily move away too,
but she's not. God, I just want to kiss her. Arizona didn't move either, as
they sat contently staring at each other. The only sound that could be heard
were the light breaths as their chests rose and fell together. Neither wanted
to move. Neither wanted to ruin whatever this was. Neither wanted this moment
to end for fear of what was to follow. Time seemed to stand still, and the
world around them didn't exist. Except it did. And they were in a hospital, and
Callie was married, and supposedly straight, and they couldn't do this. Arizona
felt like she had to break the silence, even though she didn't want to. She was
fairly certain Callie didn't want her to either.
She swallowed, feeling like she needed water, and whispered, "What are you
doing?" She didn't think she had the courage to ask such a bold and direct
question. But with Callie, all things she would normally do seemed to get
thrown out the window. Callie was her drug; she couldn't get enough of her, and
she didn't even have her; she was addicting, her high, and that gave her
courage equivalent to that of a drunk person.
Callie's eyes scanned Arizona's face, taking in every inch of her creamy skin,
golden hair, pink lips, all of her. She too swallowed before answering in a
raspy voice, "I don't know. Just…looking at you." It was an honest answer.
Arizona didn't have a response, but if Callie kept lying on her the way she
was, she was going to kiss her unintentionally. They were already so close,
really only one of them would have to tilt their heads and their lips would
meet. How did they get this close? Neither remembered it happening, but they
were drawn to each other, like magnets. Neither tilted their heads though,
because neither of them wanted to move. They felt if they moved, it would break
whatever was happening. So they sat. Staring at each other, and it wasn't
awkward. It felt real. It felt right. The sound of Callie's pager beeping was the
only saving grace, otherwise they might have never moved. Callie jumped off
Arizona, both immediately missing the contact. Callie looked at her pager,
mumbled "911" and left the room without another word.
Arizona grabbed a pillow and smushed her head into it with a groan. Stupid. Stupid. What have I done? What the
hell was that? It was then she realized she was talking out loud, because
Callie had quietly entered back into the room and coughed purposefully. Arizona
slowly moved the pillow away from her stray curls and stared at Callie with
wide eyes. Callie chuckled a little at the sight, then sobered up again trying
to find the words, "It wasn't a 911. And I just…I don't know…"
"I know," Arizona interrupted.
"I have a lot going on right now." Now it sounded like an excuse.
"I know."
"Sorry if I freaked you out."
Arizona smiled slightly and said, "No freaking out over here, Calliope."
Callie nodded her head saying, "Good, that's good." Although she was freaking
out a little bit. For what, she wasn't completely sure. "So we're good?" She
had to make sure.
Arizona nodded and said quietly, "We're good."
Callie sighed with relief and said, "Okay, good." She backed out of the room
slowly and shut the door behind her, feeling more disappointment about leaving
Arizona than she should.