A/N: Hey guys, a new chapter is here, yay! :) I hope I can get more reviews- I love hearing your thoughts/feelings on my story. I know some of you didn't want a lot of drama because these two characters get enough of it in Grey's, However, this story is not Grey's and I believe there should be drama because Callie is going through something huge and Arizona is around. Not everything will be easy or breezy. you know? I hope you all like this chapter and please let me know what you think!

Thanks to Illdrownwiththisship for beta'ing. :)
ps: Happy 4th month wedding anniversary, Britt!

Chapter 4

"Calliope!" Kristal squealed out, laughter filling the kitchen. My eyes take in the scene before me: Kristal, Travis, Chase, Arizona and I sitting around the table our empty plates of food piled up high in the middle. It felt so good to laugh and feel like a normal teenager for once. Chase slams his fist on the table as he bends down in a fit of chuckles, Kris holding her stomach trying desperately to get them all to stop laughing just for a second so she can catch her breath. I look over at Arizona; her blond hair is pulled up into a messy bun as she giggles, her blue eyes sparkling in the kitchen light with excitement and laughter. Her eyes catch mine and I quickly look away feeling my cheeks turn warm and my heart flutter.

"Calliope?" I hear her speak, my name never sounded as good as when she says it. I slowly look up and she smiles this bright gorgeous smile. The giggles and light laughter fade away slowly into nothing but a faint hum as I stare at Arizona and her smile. Her lips a mere shade of pink, her cheeks are a rosy red probably from laughing so much and her dimples stand out like two cute little dots that just make me want to kiss them all the time—wait, what? My thoughts turn into blackness as I realized my staring has gotten the attention of not only Arizona but my siblings as well. Kristal clears her throat and Chase chuckles. My eyes land on a dirty dish, embarrassment washing over me. What feels like awkward silence feels the room.

"Thank you for the food, Arizona. We should go get ready for bed or do some homework," Kristal stated standing from the table followed by the boys. I glanced at them before turning my eyes back on the table avoiding Arizona's stare which is burning a hole in my forehead.
"I'll clean up," I whisper and give Chase a kiss and hug, reminding myself to talk more to him later or tomorrow about today.
'"I'll help!" I hear Arizona reply quickly as she stands from the table and then wishes goodnight to the others. I sigh and stand up grabbing the plates and cups. Before I know it we are alone, standing around the dishwasher as we begin to load the dirty dishes.

"Callie," I hear Arizona say. I swallow hard and clear my throat, I stand up straight and look at her.

"Yeah?" I ask as I wipe my hands down my jean covered thigh. Feeling my heart race I internally curse myself for having such a reaction to this—stranger.

"It's okay. I'm totally hot and I'm insanely flattered," her self-centered comment made me chuckle a bit; I let out a deep breath. "Don't feel embarrass or uncomfortable. I had a great time tonight and I don't want it to be weird now that we are alone."

"It's not weird," I lied stepping away and gathering more dirty dishes and putting them into the dishwasher. I noticed I was unintentionally trying to avoid her and I forced myself to stop and turn towards her. "okay, I guess it is a little weird and it's not even about me staring at you and your smile and dimples and well—everything. It's because I don't know you well and you're in my house and my kids like you and we are doing this project together and I don't even understand it and—" I was suddenly stopped by a hand in my face, again.

"Calliope, please, breathe." Arizona whispered stepping closer to me and putting both hands on my shoulders. My eyes flickered to my left and right and I took a huge breath and let it out slowly, closing my eyes and willing myself to just calm down. I've never felt so nervous before.

"I'm sorry. " I heard her say as her hands leave my body, my shoulders still feeling the weight of her hands on me, lingering.

"For? I ask adding a soap pouch to the dishwasher and turning it on and walking to the stools along the counter and sitting down. I feel Arizona follow suit, our elbows and thighs touch briefly.

"We don't know each other and I kind of just invited myself to eat with you and your family and I get that it's too much for you. I just want to—other than get a good grade for this project—I want to also get to know you and yes the two kind of go hand in hand but I honestly like you and I never met someone in your situation—"
"In my situation?" I ask again, feeling a tad offended. She turns her head to me, her eyes looking down at the table, she sighs and begins again.

"Being alone in all this, you know, being a parent to your siblings, which by the way you called your kids earlier. Being responsible for missing your classes and missing out on things everyone your age should be doing. What a unique situation you're in—that's all I'm staying" Arizona struggles to get out, I get the sense she's grasping for some common ground between us, however, there isn't any.

I hear myself speak without realizing, too wrapped up in my own head. "Unique situation? Is this really how you want to call me and my family?" I see her once sparkling eyes go wide as she automatically moves a little out of my personal space. "My parents died Arizona." The calmness of my voice even gives me goose bumps. She tries to interrupt but I keep going, "They died and I became the parent, not because I wanted to or that someone made me, it was because I wanted us to stay together, I didn't want the state to take Chase and Travis or have Kristal spend her hardest teen years with complete strangers. I wanted to protect them and man up and be the woman my parents knew one day I'd become so in my reality they are my kids, in my reality I can't be a teenager anymore, not the way I long to be, in my reality their lives are much more important than mine and if that means I miss school or fail than that's what I will deal with. They are my priority simple as that. And I'm not doing this alone, I have them, yes I took the role of parent but we all are going through the exact same thing: Grieving." I felt myself huff in frustration. Feeling the ache in my chest and feeling the most alone I've felt since their funeral. Our eyes meet and her blue eyes shine with unleashed tears and I blink breaking eye contact and sliding off the stool. I turn towards the sink my back facing the blond.

"Callie, I didn't mean.." Her voice is laced with guilt.
"I think you should go." My voice breaks a sniffle fills the silent room.

I feel her try to protest, her eyes burning my back. Without another word I hear the movements of papers and keys. Her footsteps fading in the distance, a door opens and shuts. My sobs begin before I could stop myself, I quickly walk to the couch and lay down grabbing the throw on the back of the couch and cuddling up with it, smelling the faint smell of my mother's perfume, my vision goes blurry so I close my eyes and wipe my tears on the blanket. In the back of my mind I knew her intension was not to hurt me or offend me, however, her words stung- my constant absences at school or the fact that my teenage life ended three months ago and she was right- completely right about being alone in this, yes, I have my siblings but I am alone in being a teen parent. I don't know how to be one or if I'm really doing a good job. My body shaking with uncontrollable sobs I tried desperately to clear my mind, for her eyes and smile and look of sadness to disappear. I shut my eye tightly, slightly rocking myself, willing sleep to take over even for an hour.

"Callie!" Her scream woke me up. My eyes hurt and I felt the dries tears on my cheeks. I sat up, my ears ringing. The room was a dim gray lighting and I felt a breeze pass me. I stood up off the couch and followed the breeze to the front door. The sound of rain pouring outside was all I heard.

"Callie, sweetie!" Her voice was louder and I started to jog towards it.
"MOM!" I yelled, wanting to see her more than anything.
"Calliope!" Her scream was muffled by the rain, echoing in my ears,
I stopped jogging and stood still, The truck was under the tree and in the front seats were my parents. "Mom! Dad!" I screamed, they turned towards me then back around towards the back seat where I suddenly appeared. I always ended here, My heart began to race I was in the truck again. knowing in a few minutes what was about to happen my words came out rushed, "Please, please listen to me." I said crying, their faces were so beautiful. I could save them- Her smile; so gorgeous. "We have to get out of here!" I said frustrated knowing that my pleading wasn't going to work! The tree- hearing the familiar sound of the crack as the tree split into two. "Please, please get out of the car!" I shouted. I never had been so aware of every sensation around me. I felt fear creep up my spine. My parents just sat staring at me, smiling. "Calliope...baby, don't be afraid to let her in, she is coming-" I heard my mom say and my focus was on her completely. "Deb, please!" my dad interrupted.
"Wait! She is here?" I screamed wanting them to listen to me instead of arguing at a time like this, at a time like- "The tree!" I shouted once again, the cracking seeming louder than ever before, the wind seemed faster and the rain felt colder. "Mom and dad please you have to move! NOW! Go, go get—"

"OUT!" I woke up suddenly, gulping for some air as my chest heaved. I felt sick and weak and I felt my body tremble. It was the dream again- but different. I closed my eyes, the feeling of vomit in my throat I jumped off the couch almost tripping on my blanket struggling to get my feet untangled. I ran as fast as I could towards the guest bathroom. Falling to my knees I began to dry heave into the toilet, trying to catch my breath. The cold toilet seat felt good against my hot skin. I closed my eyes, remembering the exact words my beautiful mother had said to me. I gasped. "She's here." I mumbled feeling my body relax and calm. I sighed deeply. Taking a few minutes to sit and relax, I then lifted myself off the floor and onto shaky legs. I slowly walked towards the kitchen, opening a bottled of water and taking a long sip of the ice chilly liquid, feeling the cold coat my throat, I moan in pleasure. Closing the bottle I walked towards the stairs, stopping at the picture frame on the end table, glancing at it for a second then shaking my head, walking away not wanting to think about anything anymore. The feeling of pure exhausting taking over, I continued to walk towards my bedroom. Not even bothering to turn on the light I climbed into bed and the last thing I thought of before sleep took over was my parents, my kids and Arizona's blue sparkling eyes.