"Just hear me out before you run away

'Cause I can't take this pain

I hate you, don't leave me"

Chapter 18

"didn't you like the dinner?" Eliza asks in concern. I have started liking her caring attitude. It's been a while that anyone has cared me in a romantic way.

"I am good, just little tired."

"So, what do you want for desert?" Then Eliza asks Arizona and her TA, "you guys order whatever you want to have. They have the best Turkish delight…you may want to try." Then she turns back to me, "do you like Turkish delight?"

"I like them. In Canada, most of us like them, I would like to taste them." I try to encourage Eliza. She does not deserve to be trashed down after this wonderful dinner she has offered me.

"Sure." Once the waiter serves the order, I dig in the sweet dish. This is great.

"Umm… this is so delicious."

"I knew that you would like that." She says satisfactorily. "

"After like ages, I am having something, which reminds me home."

"Have some more."

"Arizona, you should try them…" I take a spoonful of delight to feed her forgetting our dispute minutes back, but instantly I realize what a mistake I have done. Now there is no way back. And here Arizona takes that spoon in her mouth popping both her dimples locking eyes with me. I can sense the other TA and Eliza are observing us. Arizona has grabbed my hand which one is holding the spoon. She slowly leaves my hand and I awkwardly look back to Eliza.

Eliza amusingly is looking at me, but changes the topic suddenly, "the conference I was talking about earlier, it is the biggest conference that takes place in every two years and fortunately this time this is in Italy. Next weekend."

"I know about the conference, but this already too late for registration, isn't it?"

"One of our faculty has backed off from the conference due to personal reasons. So, there is an empty registration, which I think we can trade off, if you are interested to go."

"Hmm… I think I should go... this would be good if I can attend one before I leave."

"When are you done with the classes?"

"By next week. After that I will be here for two weeks more, but I do not have any official obligations, once I submit the grades."

"That's perfect. You do not have to worry about the grades. Ms. Robbins would do the rest. So, should I talk about you to the conference committee?"

"Yes, of course." I say happily.

"Good." Saying this Eliza softly presses my hand with hers.

"I guess, it's pretty late." I pull out my hands slowly from Eliza's.

"Yes…" Eliza calls waiter to pay the bill.

By this time, I slightly peek at Arizona. She is stamping her knees looking down at the table- she is upset. I cannot help but notice how few strands of blond hair are covering one side of her face. Right now, I wish I could tuck them back to her ears. Only God knows how did I fall for this hard nut!

"Callie, let's go." I almost jump out of my day dream on Eliza's call.

"Yeah…let me call a cab."

"I will drop you home." Arizona quickly grabs her car key and my purse and starts walking to the exit.

"Ms. Robbin, you may leave her purse, because I live just one block away from Callie's apartment. So, I can drop her and I need to discuss few other stuffs too with her." Eliza says in her professor voice. I can sense that she is very irritated now.

"Eliza, that's okay. I can go with Arizona." I am little scared now as making Eliza angry will not be good for Arizona's career at this place.

"If you don't want to go…"

"no! I just don't want to give any trouble to you." I say softly.

"Then come with me." Eliza offers her hand. As I slowly take Eliza's hand, Arizona comes back to us, "your purse." As I am about to pass Arizona, she comments in low voice that only I can hear, "you can finish the business with her what I started last night." I just give a shot to her- I cannot believe that she just has made that nasty comment about me.

The car ride has been quiet, as Arizona's last comment is sill reeling in my head. How could she say so!

"Callie, is there anything wrong with Arizona?" Eliza suddenly asks.

"I am sorry. She is just a kid."

"But, I can see there is more than her being kid. See, I am not judging anything. You two are adults."

"Nothing serious Eliza." I say tiredly.

"Can we have some ice cream?" she suddenly changes the topic.

"Okay." I too need some fresh air.

Coming back to my apartment, I find Arizona standing in front of my door.

"Arizona?"

"So, you started in the car?"

"what?"

"I am here since last 20 minutes… I guess, you had a great ride!" Arizona asks folding her both hands.

"That is none of your business…and yes…I had a great ride." I start looking for my keys in my purse.

"Now wanna taste something little young?" Arizona almost jumps on me and before I know, her lips crash on mine. No one has ever kissed me like this- this rough with this much passion. With all my remaining strength, I push her from me and out of reflex I give her a slap.

"You know what? You do not deserve me." I push her a little more while my eyes burst into uncontrollable tears. For this girl, I spent 4 restless years.

"Why? Didn't you like it now? Last time, you melted in the same kiss." Arizona asks in the extreme sarcastic flat tone, "Eliza was that good? Hah?" Arizona leans back on the other side of the wall. I notice her red cheek due to the slap. Probably, I will never forgive myself for slapping her.

"You are a coward. You are nothing but a coward. You do not have the guts also to accept your own feelings. You are afraid of losing. And yes, I ignored your age before. But, I know now that you are nothing but a typical youth craving for some attention from me." I finish breathlessly.

"Go, jump into your Eliza's arms- she is not typical youth like me." Arizona says in a stone-cold voice making me looking at her. Her eyes remind me of nothing but emptiness.

"…Arizona for God's sake, say it once what do want? If not to me, say it to yourself. You will destroy all your relationships. If Neesha makes you happy, just be with her. I cannot be your punching bag- I now realize how incompatible we are for each other."

"Incompatible?"

"Please go away." I somehow say her, "I didn't want to have these memories… I fell for a teenage girl years back. That was a mistake. But, at least I didn't hate her…but you… you are not the one… " Saying this I unlock the door and go inside leaving Arizona standing on my porch.