Arizona's POV
Leah called me when she got to the Hotel everything seems to be going fine, which i am glad about but I can't help to wish i could see her this weekend. I'm now heading for dinner with Dax and his business partners.
Arriving at the Pierre i can clearly tell these people must have a lot of money, this is only one of the best hotels to stay at in New York which can't be cheap at all. I ask for Dax at the reception and the young lady behind the desk takes me through what seems like 20 different hallways before we reach the door with a sign that reads "private room".
Walking in, i'm welcomed by Dax.
"You made it, early as always" he says smiling and i smile back giving him a hug
"So what am i supposed to talk about?" i ask and he smiles
"don't worry we had the business meeting earlier this is just a complimentary dinner, they asked me to invite someone, they want to introduce their kids to me, i'm not sure why but with the amount of money these people are making me, we are meeting those damn kids" he says which makes me laugh
"It can't be that bad, how old are they?" i ask and Dax shrugs his shoulders "you didn't think about asking? we could've gotten them something" i say shaking my head
"Darling those kids parents have more money that they can spend, i promise you nothing we can give them could impress them, i bet they're all stuck up" he says making a funny face
"not all rich people are stuck ups" i say and Leah comes to my mind, she mentioned her parents having enough money but she actually doesn't act like she grew up with money, actually quite the opposite, she's nicer than anybody i've ever met before
"99% of them, at least most of the ones i work for" he says giving me a 'fake' pain face which makes me laugh again
The door opening and a couple walks in, both smiling and to my surprise they look a lot younger than I expected.
The wife is wearing a perfect blue pencil dress that makes her look sophisticated while the husband is wearing the cleanest charcoal suit, wow they are perfection in one picture, shaking Dax's hand first they both look at me and he introduces me.
"this is Arizona Robbins" i shake both of their hands, both giving me perfect polished smiles the woman introduces herself as Lenora while the man introduces himself as Robert.
Everything is going perfectly fine, Dax is like a fish in water with these people, he's talking to Robert when Lenora approaches me.
"Ms. or is it Mrs.?" she asks smiling, I can't put my finger on it but she seems familiar, something about her face is telling me that we have met before, but it's impossible they live in California.
"Ms. is fine" i say smiling back
"what do you do?" she asks handing me a glass of wine.
"i'm a professor" i say taking a sip from the perfect cooled wine that she just handed me.
"really? where do you teach?" she seems very interested and it actually makes me feel comfortable, even though she looks young she has that mom warmth.
"NYU" i say and her smile grows wider
"oh how coincidental, you might know my daughter" she says but her husband interrupts to let us know dinner is ready to be served.
we are settling at the dinner table when her phone rings.
"excuse me, they're here" she says smiling wider, excusing herself "honey, it's the same private room we always get" she says to the person on the other side of the line. Not long after she comes back.
"that was my daughter, her brother is staying with her and he can be a lot to work" she says which makes me laugh
"don't worry all brothers are like that, mine included" i say and she laughs to, Dax squeezing my hand under the table as a thank you gesture.
A knock on the door distracts us, Robert heads to open it and a young man with crunches and a casted leg walks in and right behind him the most beautiful woman i've ever seen, Leah.
She looks absolutely stunning and elegant, her dress is a lighter shade of blue than Lenora's, and it hugs her body in all the right places. The realization hitting me, Lenora and Robert are her parents.
My stomach drops and my heart stops, she's looking at her brother so it takes her longer to see me and when she does she has a questioning look in her eyes.
they both approach the table with their parents behind them Leah looking more confused by the second that passes by, i give her a small smile and she gives me one of her own but it doesn't reach her eyes, she must be super anxious to have all of us in the same room so i will try to make this as easy as i can on her.
"Hi Arizona Robbins" i say extending my arm to give her brother a hand shake
"Leonardo Johnson" her brother says giving me a weird look and looking back at his sister before he lets go of my hand, Dax is introducing himself to Leonardo when Leah approaches me and i do the exact same thing i did with her brother
"Leah Johnson" she says smiling and i smile back, and i can't help to notice how elegant she looks, around her parents and her brother she does look like money.
Leah's POV
i'm lost of words, Arizona is sitting across from me at this dinner table with my parents and her bestfriend, i'm not sure if Dax recognized me from the bar but he had a questioning look when he introduced himself, if he did i'm so glad he didn't mention it, i'm not sure if he knows about us or not, so i make a mental note to ask Arizona later.
"we were really thinking you had little kids, these are grown ups" Dax says smiling and my mother smiles back
"Oh no, Leonardo is our youngest we are done with kids, even thought he does still surprises us sometimes" she says giving Leo a knowing look which makes me smile.
"So Leah, i'm surprised you didn't know Arizona" she tells me which takes me by surprise, i take a sip of wine before continuing this conversation.
"pardon me mother? how would i?" i say watching Arizona from the corner of my eye
"she's a professor at NYU!" my mom says and Dax looks at her before looking at me again.
"Oh yeah, i didn't want to mention it before, i wasn't sure if she mind it or not" i say nonchalantly, i feel a pinch on my tight under the table and i know it's Leo, so i look his way and he has a look that says 'i got you' but i shake my head slightly signaling him to not say anything, there is no way that he recognized her voice from the phone call there is simply no way.
"so you do know each other" my dad asks and i smile
"yes she teaches Art" i say looking at her and smiling wider
"how small is the world, you are Dax's best friend and my Daugthers professor, i hope you only have good things to say about her" my dad says and Arizona blushes slightly, my dad has really no idea what great things she has to say about me, i think trying to stop myself from blushing.
"Yes all good, she's an excellent student" she says giving me a smile again.
"it's because you are a great professor" i say and my brother steps in
"i think we should toast to how small the world is, don't you agree sister?" he says reaching up his full glass and i give him a look that says 'i would kill you if you say anything'.
Dinner is served and we all get to eating, i catch Arizona watching me more than once which gives me stomach butterflies but at the same time I can't help to wish this could just be a normal dinner and my parents knew about us.
Arizona's POV
This has to be the most awkward dinner i've ever been to, it seems like Leonardo knows something because he keeps making Leah's blood pressure raise, we are in the middle of dessert when the Johnsons head out of the room to answer an important call and now it's just us.
Dax sitting next to me with a blank face, i know he remembers Leah and how they met, i'm about to say something to him when Leonardo talks.
"So Arizona, nice to meet you" he says with a smirk on his face and i look at Leah staring at him like she's going to kill him
"Leo stop" she says but he continues
"You called her before, when we were in the car and i picked up her phone" he explains and Dax cuts in
"What, did you two continued seeing each other?" he asks me
"continued? Now i want to know how does he know but i didn't sister" Leah rolls her eyes and i give her a 'im so sorry' smile
"We will talk about it at home just stop already" she says and he gives her a comforting smile
"i would never tell them anything you know i was just joking" he says taking a sip out of his glass which makes me like him, he really is just getting on Leah's nerves.
"I'm sorry" i tell Leah
"it's not your fault none of us knew" she says giving me a reasuring smile "we can talk later too, yeah?" i nod and she smiles again, the door opening again and her parents walk in.
"Mom, i was thinking on inviting everyone to the bar i work at, the atmosphere is great, what do you say?" Leah says as soon as her parents settle down in their respective chairs.
"Oh let's go sister" Leo says reaching for his crunches but his father stops him.
"we have to leave sooner than expected" he says with an authoritarian tone that demands respect because his son didn't say anything after that.
"but don't let that ruin your night, we would love to go to but we have to fly back home an unexpected emergency came up, i apologize" he says getting up shaking Dax hand first and mine second "it was a pleasure meeting you Arizona" he says giving me handshake i notice Leah looking at us out of the corner of my eye and she's smiling.
"You are staying here, your sister can take them to the place she works, but you will stay here Leonardo" his mom tells him and he nods, even i know he's just agreeing with her.
The Johnsons say their Goodbyes taking Leo out of the room with them leaving just Dax, Leah and I here.
"you're kidding me right, she's your student" he whispers next to my ear.
"i didn't initially meet her at school" i say and he gives me questioning look
"can we do this another time, i'll tell you everything" i say and he gives me a smile.
"i am so sorry i didn't know" i try to explain to Leah while she's approaching us but to my surprise she kisses me, it's a soft and reassuring kiss.
"i know you didn't know, it took one look at you to know you were as confused as me" she says grabbing my hand
"Thank you for not saying anything" she says to Dax and he smiles
"she's my bestfriend i would never, your brother in the other hand..." he starts saying but it's cut off by the door opening, Leah lets go of my hand.
"what about me" Leo says approaching us and as soon as he gets to us Leah speaks
"you can't say anything not even to James" she says and he nods
"relax sister, i wasn't going to, he can't keep a secret to save his life, i told him about the accident and he folded as soon as mom started yelling, weak boy" he says which makes all of us laugh "so are we going to the bar or not?" he says.
"they're not going to serve you anything Leo, you're 17" Leah says
"I'm almost 18" he says
"what if we go to my house instead?" Dax asks and i look at Leah.
"can i drink there?" Leo ask and Dax nods "then let's go"
The valet brings my car and i try to give him a tip but he doesn't take it
"my parents tip the service already" Leah says next to me, keeping her safe distance in case anyone that knows her parents is around.
"go with her, i'll have Jackson take me" Leo tells her but i have a better plan.
"no you go with her, we leave her car and take mine to Dax's" i say and they both agree.
We get to Leah's apartment, Leonardo getting in my car while his sister parks hers.
"so Arizona" he says in a more serious tone
"yes?" i say turning around to face him.
"i can trust you to keep her safe while she's here alone right?" he asks, not a hint of doubt in his face, the funny kid is not there he is actually being serious he even looks older with the serious face on.
"yes you can, i would never let anything happen to her" i say in a reasuring tone and he nods
"that's all i need to know, she seems happier than she was back home" he says smiling "i'm guessing that's thanks to you, and i appreciate that, just take care of her yeah?, I don't like that she's alone here but this is her decision and we all have to respect it" he says and a hint of sadness appears in his eyes, he misses his sister.
"i will try to get her to visit you guys soon" i say and he smiles
Leah coming into the car she looks at me and back at her brother "what were you guys talking about?"
"Arizona here was about to tell me how you possibly got a whole professor to get in your pants" he says nonchantly which makes me blush and Leah almost spits out the drink she was taking a sip out of.
"no she wasn't" she says blushing even more than me
"so she has gotten into your pants, LEAH JOHNSON" he says faking a tone of shock
"we are not talking about any of that, get out of my buisness Leo, I'm still older than you" she says laughing
"and definitely getting laid more than I am" I can't help but laugh, the interaction between these two is unmatchable, they are like the same person but in different genders, and Leo is not afraid to make her uncomfortable or anyone around him, i like him. He's all fun and games but he cares about his sister more than she knows.
i drive away and Leah grabs a hold of my hand.
"oh you got game sister" Leo says laying in the back of my car, clearly the wine getting to his head a little.
"do I?" she asks turning around "sit down you child" she says when she realizes he's laying down
"You're just like mom I swear" he says getting up and taking a look at me before he looks at his sister "yeah she's good looking"
"I know" Leah says squeezing my hand and giving me a soft smile.
"thank you" i say smiling at him through the back rear mirror and he's smiling too.