"She's cheating on you, you know," Callie declared as she stepped back into Arizona's bedroom, her voice firm and unwavering.
"What the hell, Callie? You can't just sneak up on someone like that! I could have a heart attack!" Arizona snapped, springing off the bed where she had been seated, desperately trying to sniff away her tears. Startled, she hadn't anticipated Callie's return. The last thing she wanted was to break down in front of her. She was not some pathetic mess; this wasn't who she was. Yet here she was again, letting Callie draw out the worst in her.
"Amelia is—" Callie began, but Arizona interrupted her.
"Stay the hell out of my business and away from her," Arizona shot back, stepping away from the bed and moving closer to Callie with an almost defiant stance.
"So you don't care that she's cheating on you?" Callie asked, bewildered. This wasn't anything like the Arizona she knew; the woman who valued love and loyalty above all else. The Arizona she knew would never stand for someone she loved straying.
Arizona's chest heaved with frustration and hurt. "It's not like that! It's not that simple, Callie!" she exclaimed, her composure fraying.
"Then tell me how it is!" Callie urged, stepping closer until they were mere inches apart. "Tell me how you can just ignore it! How can you let this happen?"
For a moment, they stood there, the air thick with unspoken feelings, betrayal, desperation, love. Arizona's defenses faltered, and in that instant, realization hit her.
Callie was fighting for her? It was a surprising revelation that left Arizona utterly at a loss for words. This wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want Callie getting in trouble because of her. "Wait, what... that's why you picked a fight with Amy? Arizona asked, her voice in disbelief. "You can't just do things like that, Callie! You're not an animal; you could go to jail for this! And you know how much I hate violence!"
Shit, Callie thought, cursing Arizona's beliefs against violence. How could she have forgotten? This was exactly why Arizona was so upset with her.
"I'm sorry, Ari. When I saw her at the bar with that… that slut," Callie admitted, anger simmering just beneath the surface. "I lost it. I can't let her hurt you like that. I know how much you love her, and she's disrespecting you. I could kill her, I swear to God, if I ever catch her again."
"Do not!" Arizona shot back, her expression serious. "Callie, promise me you won't pull this crap again. Do not mess with Amy." She shook her head frantically, bewildered by how quickly things had spiraled. How had she fallen for this chaotic person all those years ago? And yet, part of her acknowledged the attraction lay in the very messiness that made Callie who she was—impulsive, intense, passionate, and undeniably hot.
"No," Callie replied, shaking her head defiantly. "I can't stand by and watch you get hurt. Not again."
Their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills. "Promise, Callie, promise me right now," Arizona demanded, desperation lacing her voice.
"Okay, but she had better steer clear of me," Callie replied, crossing her arms, defiance evident in her gaze.
"That's not a promise! It's a threat for fuck's sake!" Arizona retorted, her patience fraying. She didn't want Callie throwing punches at Amy; Amy was a good person who didn't deserve any of this. And she certainly didn't want Callie hurting anyone, period.
"Alright, alright, I promise. But why the hell would you want to stay with her? To marry her?" Callie pressed, shaking her head as if trying to make sense of the very notion.
"Who said anything about marrying anyone?" Arizona shot back, shocked. Callie caught the hint of disbelief in her eyes, and she knew immediately that Arizona was wondering how she knew.
"I saw you two yesterday. I was here, Arizona. This isn't you. You don't settle. You deserve better, someone completely yours who will be true," Callie said, stepping even closer, closing the inches of space between them and invading Arizona's personal space.
'Like who? You?' Arizona thought, a bitter laugh threatening to escape. Instead, confusion and hurt washed over her. 'Do you even care, Callie? Is that why you turned me down? Because I deserve better?' Those unsaid words bubbled just beneath her skin, ready to explode, but every syllable vanished the moment Callie reached out and gently touched her face.
"Let me help you, Arizona," Callie said, her voice low and intimate, so close that Arizona could hardly breathe.
"How?" Arizona managed, her pulse quickening at the nearness.
"Use me," Callie suggested, and Arizona's eyes widened in shock. "Use me to make her jealous. Do the same thing she's doing to you."
"Why?" Arizona asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it. Common sense seemed to abandon her as she struggled to maintain her resolve amid Callie's intense gaze and proximity.
"Because I want you, Arizona," Callie replied, locking eyes with Arizona's beautiful blue depths, a plea shimmering in her gaze.
Arizona instantly diverted her eyes, anger heating her cheeks as she blurted the first thing that came to mind. "Bullshit."
"Please," Callie begged, her voice thick with urgency.
Arizona could hardly process what was happening, it was happening too fast. The resolve in Callie's eyes and words twisted something inside her, igniting a longing she had long buried and killed. It was insane, this was insane, her love life was already complicated and here was Callie, offering something that felt both dangerous and exhilarating.
"Callie…" Arizona started, her voice a mere whisper as she battled her own conflicting emotions.
"Just think about it, okay" Callie whispered back, her face only inches away, the warmth radiating between them palpable.
"What's changed? You can't just go from pushing me away to doing a complete 180 and wanting me all of a sudden," Arizona exclaimed, her voice a mix of arousal, confusion and frustration as she pushed and poked at Callie's chest, emphasizing her point. But Callie didn't budge; instead, she wrapped her arms tightly around Arizona, holding her close and drawing soothing circles on her back, trying to calm the storm brewing inside her.
Arizona gave in and willingly let herself be held, part of her resolve failing, as her breaths began to steady, the weight of their words hanging between them, thick and heavy. Callie leaned in, planting soft kisses along Arizona's jaw, hairline, and anywhere along her face that she could access without letting go Arizona.
But Arizona felt disoriented, her mind racing as she wrestled with the rapid shifts in their dynamics. Just as she thought she couldn't process any more, Callie's lips captured hers with a raw intensity that set her heart racing, the kiss was hard, hungry, demanding.
Arizona gasped in surprise as her body instinctively responded, her lips moving against Callie's as emotions surged within her, yearning, confusion, anger, desire. It felt dizzying, intoxicating, but another part of her fought to regain control. With a surge of willpower, she pushed Callie away, breaking the kiss and creating a small distance between them.
"What the hell, Callie?" Arizona exclaimed, her voice filled with utter shock. The moment she tried to move, regret washed over her; her body was betraying her in ways she had never anticipated. The arousal coursing through her was only rivaled by the confusion swirling in her mind.
In a desperate attempt to find some sort of control, Arizona shifted uncomfortably, only to feel the wetness pooling between her legs, igniting both embarrassment and desire. She instinctively pressed her leg closer together, Callie's gaze was unwavering, tracking her every movement like a hawk, eyes roamed over Arizona's body, landing on her breasts, the silk blouse she wore not doing much to hide her hard nipples peeking through. The heat of Callie's gaze sent a shiver down Arizona's spine.
Arizona felt vulnerable under Callie's scrutiny, her heart racing in response to feelings she didn't know how to process. "Stop looking at me like that," she snapped, but her voice lacked conviction.
Callie's gaze returned to Arizona's beautiful eyes, filled with longing, and something more primal. Arizona was turned her away in shame and was about to walk away, she felt Callie's hands wrap around her thighs, grounding her in the moment. The sensation shot through her, making her breath hitch.
She turned her head and looked down, a mix of fear and yearning flooding her senses. There was Callie, on her knees, looking up at her with an intensity that was raw and electrifying. Desire danced in Callie's eyes, a look that said Arizona was everything she wanted. For a moment, the world around them faded away, and it was just them, wrapped in a tempest of emotions that tugged at both their hearts and bodies.
"Callie…" Arizona's voice was barely a whisper, caught between a plea and an invitation, unsure of what she truly wanted.
"Let me take care of this. Let me take care of you," Callie whispered, her hand slowly hiking up Arizona's thigh, eyes locked with Arizona's. It was a simple touch, yet it sent a jolt through Arizona, making her heart ache in ways she couldn't fully articulate. She felt a wave of despair wash over her, mourning something already lost.
"For whatever reason you might have, curiosity, revenge, spite, to humiliate me, any reason, just please let me do this for you. Even if it's just this once. Please, Arizona." Callie's voice was pulling at Arizona's defenses, but Arizona remembered the pain from before all too well, she was not going to fall victim to this again.
Slowly, Arizona unwound Callie's arms from around her thigh, feeling a loss as the warmth of their connection slip away. Before she could lose her resolve, she stepped out of the bedroom, leaving Callie on her knees, vulnerable.
Callie stared at the door, the ache of rejection gnawed at her, the humiliation of begging, of being left in this position was overwhelming, but the most terrifying part was the fact that Arizona was running straight into Amelia's arms. In moments like this, Callie felt like she was losing a part of herself; the nights where she felt she couldn't breathe echoed in her mind, the memories of college, where only Arizona's blanket had kept her going, until that blanket no longer smelled like her.
In the chilling silence of the room, Callie was crashing without Arizona, her chest heavy with longing. Despite everything, she couldn't shake the desire to feel close to her again, like muscle memory, her body knew what she needed, she shed her clothes, took a quick shower and crawled beneath Arizona's sheets, seeking solace in the remnants of where Arizona lingered, her senses overwhelmed with Arizona's scent. Maybe if she just stayed here, she could hold on to the feeling of proximity, even if it was a comfort that was fleeting.
Laying her head on the pillow, Callie stared at the wall, the weight of rejection pressing down on her. She had laid everything on the table, but Arizona had turned her down. It hurt more than she could express, and though she wanted to weep, she couldn't find the strength for tears. There seemed to be no point; after all, tears wouldn't change Arizona's mind, and more painfully, Arizona wasn't even there to see them.
As she turned in bed, something caught her eye, a picture of Arizona and Amelia on the bedside table. An involuntary tear slipped down her cheek. She quickly averted her gaze, turning the picture face down. When Callie had reconnected with Arizona, she was already in a relationship with Amelia. She feigned happiness, pretending everything was okay and she was happy for them, but inside, she was slowly unraveling. Often, she found herself reaching for alcohol before and after every encounter with them, drowning her pain. As sleep began to pull her under, her last thought was of Arizona.
Meanwhile, Arizona struggled to breathe, feeling faint and desperate need to escape, she needed to go for a walk, and a drink, anything, anywhere but here. She ran downstairs, planning to step outside for some fresh air when her phone buzzed, a reminder about her meeting, an unwelcome reality check. She was a lousy drunk anyways and it was already one in the morning. How had the time slipped away so quickly? Returning to her bedroom was out of the question; Callie was there. So, she opted for the guest room instead.
Entering the guest room, Arizona felt a wave of washed over her. Shit, she thought, Callie had been here too often; the room still smelled like her. "Why the hell would Callie do this to me?" Arizona muttered to herself. She had convinced herself that she was coping, finding ways to move on from Callie. Maybe saying yes to Amelia would have made a difference; perhaps then she wouldn't be trapped in this turmoil. She had wanted Callie for years, still did, apparently but something felt fundamentally wrong about how Callie was offering herself to her. Could she really use Callie in such a way? And what would that mean for both of them?
The mere thought of Callie being in the other room stirred a deeper chaos within her. Yet, beneath it all, a clear desire was evident, overpowering her confusion. She lifted her skirt and discarded her panties. Crawling onto the bed on all fours, Callie's lingering scent enveloped her senses. Instinctively, she leaned closer to the pillow, inhaling that familiar fragrance, her eyes rolling back in bliss. One hand explored her body between her legs while the other lightly grazed her nipples, the pillow muffling her soft moans. Succumbing to the vivid fantasy of Callie on her knees, begging to fuck her, that mere memory drove Arizona to the edge, her release coming swiftly as she collapse onto her back.