Story background: Arizona and Calliope split up five years ago when she got offered a job 3000 miles away and couldn't turn it down, and with Callie not being in the position to leave with Arizona it meant that they had to part. the story is set now five years after the break up with Callie telling us how she is trying to find her way back her head chef. constantly having flashbacks remembering how they were before all this happened and how they got here so far apart from on another.
AN: I'm sorry to say guys that i'm probably not going to be able to update over the weekend... so this will have to keep you going but this is the longest chapter so far just over 2000 words. I'd like to say a huge thank you, to everyone reading and following this story. Finally thank you for all the lovely comments..
So here I am in the last place, the last place on my list. It's next door to the hotel you know one of the business type places… I know what your thinking, what happened to the other place? Well what happened was they didn't have a single pasta dish, so I didn't stay, so here I am at the last place on my list, and I still have 2 weeks left here... But there we go, I don't know why I got fed up of waiting around, at one point I was visiting 3 places a day, I want her, I want to see her again. I was waiting to be seated and I saw the waiter walk over to me, here we go... I get to see that look of sorrow in his eyes when I ask him.
Callie: Table for one please
Waiter: Right this way
I followed him, I didn't see that look because he looked down before I finished speaking, but its okay I understand, it looks sad, lonely, pathetic, like why didn't I just eat at my hotel, why didn't I invite someone with me, why did I even leave my room, but I'll be laughing when I take her in my arms and the story gets told, then it wont be sorrow in his eyes. It will be envy and joy. Joy? Hell yeah because I made my fairy tale happen, I thought for my girl!
Waiter: Here's a menu for you, if I can get you anything or you would like to hear the specials please call me over.
Sophie: Actually could I hear the specials right away please?
Stretching my neck a little to see the fiery haired mans' name off his badge unsuccessfully.
Waiter: Yes madam, we have soup of the day - tomato, pie of the day - chicken and veg, Omelette - with any filling and finally a steak melt.
Callie: No pasta dishes at all?
Waiter: There is on the menu ma'am
Callie: Thank you, I'm afraid I won't be eating here this evening.
Waiter: May I ask why?
Callie: I'm looking for my ex; she won't be here because there's no pasta special.
Waiter: How do you know?
Callie: You don't have time for the story; you have work, but thank you for taking an interest.
Waiter: Well I do have the time if you want to talk about it, I know we've only just met; you were my last table, if your not staying I'm free to go.
Callie: To be honest talking about this really would get it off my chest. But I don't even know you surely you don't want to listen to my tale. He looked at me with a sly smile and simply replied.
Waiter: Okay give me 5, and I will be right with you, if you don't mind could we go somewhere else I'd feel bad on the other staff.
Callie: Sure I'm staying next door; meet you in the bar in the lobby?
Waiter: Yeah sure, I'll see you soon
I walked away feeling a little bit silly knowing that I'm about to bear all to a stranger, but I haven't spoke to anyone about this in a long time. My family refused to let me talk about it, knowing that it will only make me sad, and I've never really been through the whole story before, I guess the ear of a stranger is just what you need sometimes, someone who wont judge, just listen and give you comfort and take your side or to you you're wrong because they aren't afraid to upset you. Maybe I needed someone with an objective view. Someone to tell me I'm crazy, or stupidly romantic. Either way I said I would talk to the man, so talk to him I will.
I walked into the lobby bar. I hadn't been in here since I got here, it's quite nice. I looked around and then someone came over to me.
Waitress: Can I get you a table?
Callie: Yeah table for one… erm no table for two please
I giggled at my little mistake as I was so used to eating alone, this man would be the first table for two I've shared in five years. God it's strange to think about it like that.
Waitress: That's fine will you be eating with us or not?
Callie: Erm, I'm not too sure, I don't know if my friend will be eating or not.
Waitress: Well how about I place you on the table just over there with the sofa's that way you are close to the bar, but will still be able to order food if that's what you chose?
Callie: Thank you that would be perfect.
Waitress: Alright then, follow me please.
She walked me over to the table
Waitress: Last food orders at midnight, I know it's late but with all of the business meetings it has to be done, the specials menu will change at 8 as we have two chef's and they each have their own, would you like me to get your drink orders or will you be getting your own tonight?
Callie: I can get my own to make it easier for you
Waitress: Okay well, if you change your mind collar me over, we are pretty quiet so it will give me something to do and when you go to the bar I will need your room number if you are having it on a tab, or your table number.
Callie: Thank you very much, and if you don't mind could I ask the time
Waitress: Its twenty past seven. Can I get your first drink?
Sophie: I'll just have a large coke please, room 1104
Waitress: Anything else
Sophie: No thanks… oh wait actually my friend just arrived… Over here... What you drinking
Waiter: A pint please
Waitress: I'll be back with your drinks
Callie: Sorry I don't even know your name...
Waiter: Owen
Callie: Calliope, but PLEASE call me Callie.
Waitress: There you go, just call me over if you want some food
Callie: Thanks, yeah I will do
Owen: So come on then tell me this story
Callie: Okay but do you know what you've let yourself in for
Owen: Hit me with it Callie
He said as he pulled off his jacket and lent into the sofa taking a sip of his drink. I told him how we met, about her job, the last meal, the party, her promotion to chef, then to head chef, everything, I had been talking to him for a good half hour and I was getting to the part he wanted to hear the most, how I knew she would have her pasta dish on the menu wherever she worked.
- FLASHBACK -
Callie: Hey baby, I'm home
Arizona: In here Callie
She shouted from the kitchen so I made my way into there to see the sides filled with bowls, dishes and anything else you could think of that you cook with, she had it out, the kitchen was a state to say the least
Callie: Wow... What's happened in here
Arizona: I'm cooking... well I'm baking
She said taking her hands out of the bowl that she was creating the mix for bread in, flour and margarine all over her hands as she looked at me, flower on her face and smiled like a child, I couldn't help but giggle.
Callie: You look so cute.
She got back to what she was doing and I dumped my back and coat. I walked myself behind her placing my hands around her waist and kissing her cheek then leaning my chin on her shoulder.
Arizona: Good day beautiful
Callie: It just got a lot better
She turned her head to kiss me, I obliged and then she turned her attention back to the bowl
Callie: What you making bread for baby?
Arizona: I've been told that they want me to leave a signature dish at there place because they don't want me to leave, I'm the best head chef they ever had. So I'm doing homemade bread and that special soup you like.
Callie: Sounds good, never gunna give up that pasta ayy?
Arizona: Well no, I'll always consider that mine and yours
Callie: But everyone eats it
Arizona: Yeah but it's still ours. It was the first thing I ever cooked you and it was YOU who told me to put it up for the menu so its you who got me where I am. So it will always be ours and I'll take it with me wherever I go.
Callie: What about the new place, are they going to let you put it on the special there?
Arizona: Ahh well I wanted to tell you, you remember Marco, well, where ever he goes he puts it in his contract that one of his dishes has to be on the special board and that only he can make it because he refuses to give up the ingredients.
Callie: So you're going to do that with your new place?
Arizona: No... well yeah… but I'll do it wherever I end up working, I don't know it's just nice to think that it's my dish and that no one else can cook it and that if I have it on the specials list then people will come to eat where I work if they enjoy it enough
She turned her head and pecked my cheek once more.
Callie: I'd go round every restaurant in the world to find that pasta.. It's yummy.
I pecked her lightly and slapped her bum as I walked away to get a drink catching her watching me walk away.
Callie: Knead your bread
Arizona: What as well as you
Callie: You cutie
- FLASHBACK OVER -
Owen: Oh okay that explains that
Waitress: More drinks?
Callie: Large white wine please, stick it on my room
Owen: No you don't I'll get these... So that's a large white wine, a pint and one for you.…
He paused waiting for her name
Waitress: Cristina
Owen: And one for yourself please Christina
Christina: I really can't
Owen: Don't give me that I work next door doing just this, take the drink have it when you get off
He winked at her and handed her $100 bill
Callie: A charmer then ay
She came back quickly
Owen & Callie: Thank you
Christina: Can I get you anything else?
Owen: Actually after all this talk of food I'm starving, what about you Cal?
Callie: I could eat
Cristina: What will you be having
Owen: Well I think we will both have the chefs special please, the pasta dish
Callie: That's all I've eaten since I got here
Owen: One more wont hurt then
Callie: True
Cristina: Is that everything?
Owen: Yes thanks
Cristina: On the room?
Callie: Yes
Owen: No
He said handing Cristina more money
Callie: Hey, I'll get that
Owen: Come on Callie your telling me your life story the least I can do is buy you a late dinner.
Callie: Okay okay, but before I leave I want to return the favour okay.
Owen: I think I can allow that… so where were we
Callie: She just told me about the special..
Owen: So do you want to carry on, how did she end up here, why are you here now, and how did it end?
Callie: Well there's a fair bit more to that story some of it simple some of it not so simple,
Owen: You gunna tell me then.
Callie: Just going to freshen up, so do me a favour get her number before I get back, or both of your eyes will pop out of your head.
I giggled giving him a playful slap on the arm while passing him to go to the bathroom. He giggled too as I made my way across the lobby.
I'm glad it's not a meal for one tonight.
Stopped me thinking about the fact that, that was the last restaurant on my list.
Damn!