A Conspicuous Conspiracy (Ch. 8)
Title: A Conspicuous Conspiracy
Author: clanket
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Callie and Arizona are best friends. As they navigate through their final year of high school, will they realize that they're more than just friends?
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libellous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
A/N: I realize that the legal drinking age in the USA is 21 and in writing this story, in no way am I suggesting under-aged drinking or the breaking of laws in general is a good idea. However, it is a reality that drinking is a part of teen culture in the United States and as such, depicting it being done in a responsible manner on private property is well within the bounds of the reality of this narrative.
Don't drink and drive.
Ch. 8
"The only reason I can stand those movies is because we always had them around the house… You just feel them the way they were meant to be felt; the way people who aren't desensitized feel it," I tell her as I run my hand up and down her back.
"Did you wanna go sit in the hot tub for a bit before bed?"
Arizona nods into my chest.
After finally finding Arizona's bathing suit, which my mom had accidentally put in Aria's room, and grabbing two large towels, we made our way back through the kitchen and out the door to the hot tub.
On my way I turn on the lights around the deck and set the radio to a top-forty station. That should be a safe bet; nothing too serious or sappy and it hopefully won't be too monotonous, as some stations that specialise in one kind of music tend to be.
With Arizona in front of me in nothing but a hot pink bikini with a white hibiscus flower on the butt, it's proving rather difficult to keep my eyes off of her. I soak in her silhouette from behind, paying special attention to that flower.
When Arizona climbs the couple steps to the top of the tub I can't keep my eyes from wandering even more than they already were. She's my best freaking friend - why can't I just be normal around her? I huff in exasperation.
"Hey, Arizona, I'm gonna grab a couple drinks. Did you feel like anything in particular?" I'm trying really hard to keep my eyes locked with hers.
"Surprise me," she says and smiles. I can tell the hot water is already doing wonders for her nerves. I smile at her and head back inside for the moment, making sure to leave the door open just in case she gets scared being out there alone.
I walk over to the fridge and root around for some choices. I mull over the left-over cosmos but settle for a couple of simple Coronas instead. Being able to sip on a cold beer in the heat of the water always feels nice.
I open the beers, leaving the caps on the kitchen counter and make my way back to the door. When I finally get to the threshold I nearly drop the drinks and my eyes bulge at the sight that greets me: Arizona is sitting on the side of the tub directly across from me and the door with her eyes closed, head thrown back, exposing her milky neck, and her arms stretched out to rest on the back of the tub.
My mouth suddenly feels very dry but I'm pretty sure that I'm actually drooling. I quickly avert my eyes as I try to fight off yet another blush. I clear my throat and take a sip of my beer.
Arizona looks up upon hearing me and smiles.
"Ooh, Coronas! My favourite," she tells me as she reaches out expectantly.
I walk the few feet to the jacuzzi and pass her a fresh drink then slowly lift my leg over the side of the tub and step in. I shiver slightly at the sudden change in temperature, though I'm sure that being this close to a half-naked hottie isn't helping matters any, either.
I carefully step off the seat into the middle and turn to sit down on the side to Arizona's left. This is a respectable distance, right? I mean, I'm not on the same side of the tub as her hot, wet body but I'm not the farthest I could be either, so no suspicions. Right?
"Thanks for taking such good care of me, Calliope," Arizona says softly.
"You really don't need to thank me. This is what friends are for," I tell her.
"I know, but Addison's right," she says, barely making eye contact.
I can't help the gulp that my throat unleashes at the thought of where this conversation is leading. To distract myself from it I take a big swallow of my Corona then rest is back on the edge of the spa.
"I mean, I appreciate it and all, but what you did in there was far beyond anything that just a friend would do."
She finally looks at me and even though I'm terrified of what she's getting at here, I give her a small smile. She smiles back at me then glances away for just a moment. I look at her inquisitively, trying to figure out exactly what it is that she's trying to decide about. Is she going to tell me something I don't want to hear? Is she trying to decide if it's okay to tell me whatever is on her mind?
"Hey," I say softly, "it's alright. Just tell me what you're thinking. What's going on in that brain of yours?"
She smiles at me tenderly then, I guess having made up her mind, moves over to my side of the hot tub. When she reaches me, she turns to face outward and kneels on the bench. I watch her as she leans over the edge of the spa, her breasts brushing the arm I have resting there. I roll my eyes as I tightly grip my beer bottle, trying not to let my emotions for her get the best of me. Actually, at this point it's just 'emotion' - singular: lust. And I'm really trying not to let it take over because I'm so tightly wound after this entire night that I'm pretty sure I could take her and do all kinds of naughty things to her even if I've never done those things to a girl before. I mean, whatever, I could learn on my feet, right? Or on my knees - or in various other positions, I mean water takes the weight - what the hell!
The jets power into my back and bring me out of all the things I want to do to Arizona's body in that sexy little pink number - or out of it, for that matter.
She eases back into the water right next to me and takes full advantage of the fact that my side is completely unguarded. I watch with bated breath as she cosies up to me under the water, her body moulding to mine as if the heat has melted us into one. She sneaks one arm behind me and rests the other on my thigh. My very naked, very exposed thigh. And she's touching it. Arizona is touching my bare thigh. I really need to get a grip and not freak out; this is her being my best friend and being comfortable around me.
I need a twelve step get-Arizona-out-of-your-head program.
"Calliope," she starts with her face only inches from me, her eyes boring straight into mine. "Addison is right; the way you took care of me, it isn't just a friendly thing. You're not just my friend, you're my best friend. And, don't freak out," she says with a small laugh, "but you're even more than that to me. To me, you are my soul mate. I don't think that I'll ever find anyone that will understand me like you do, who will take care of me like you do, or who will stand by me the way you always have. So, I guess I just want to say thank you for everything. Thank you for being awesome."
I can't help but smile. The look in her eyes tells me that she meant every word.
"I love you, Arizona."
My eyes go wide and my smile drops. Did I just say that out loud?
I blink several times while trying to think of a way to fix this but my mind is blank save for the panicking thoughts of having actually told Arizona I loved her in an obviously intimate moment. What the hell was I thinking?
Before I can freak out any more, I feel a warm wet hand on my face. My eyes finally settle on the pair of blues in front of me to find that Arizona is smiling. I let out a small breath. At least she isn't freaked out, right?
She's leaning toward me slowly, the smile still plastered to her face. Is she doing what I think she's going?
At the last moment I close eyes, unsure of what to expect.
I feel Arizona gently rub her nose against mine a few times then…nothing. Eskimo kisses?
I open my eyes to find Arizona staring at me, the smile seemingly unmoving.
"I love you, too," she tells me with all the conviction in the world. Her hand drops back into the water and she rests her head against my shoulder.
I could really get used to this. Even though she's toned she's so much softer than Jackson or Alex ever were. And the lack of thick body hair is a plus, too, not that Jackson has ever let it grow out.
Arizona's head suddenly jerks up.
"Oh, my beer!" she exclaims then stands and takes the couple steps to grab her beer from the side she'd left it on before coming to sit by me. I chuckle at her sudden outburst and take a quick sip of my own drink before resting my hand back up on the side of the tub to make sure that Arizona sidles up next to me again. Even if this is just a friend's thing, it feels nice to have her close.
Sure enough my plan works perfectly: Arizona turns around after grabbing her drink and checks out how I'm sitting. Satisfied that my side is still unprotected, she smiles and quickly makes her way back over to me, careful to keep her drink above the water. She wraps her left arm around my waist once more and settles into the familiar position.
I scoot down a little in my seat so that I can rest my head back. I'm also quite thirsty from the heat. My arm is too far. Can I get a drink without making it awkward or hitting Arizona in the head with the bottle?
Maybe if I just sit up a little and hold the bottle over her head - no, I have a better idea!
I open my eyes slightly to take a look at what Arizona is doing. She's still just sitting with her head on my shoulder with the beer in her right hand. I move my right arm to wrap around her shoulders and simultaneously reach up with my left for the bottle. I pass the bottle into my receiving hand and let my right arm fall around Arizona. Watching her closely, she merely takes in a big breath and lets it out slowly.
I take a few gulps of the beer.
I guess she's okay with this, too. Go Torres! I smile at how smooth I am. Jackson can suck it with his 'advice with the ladies'; I don't need his advice. Besides, Arizona is totally hotter than April. I think we both know who won that break-up.
Crap, the break-up! I still haven't told Arizona! But she looks so cute and content just sitting there sipping on her beer right now. I can't tell her. I'll just do it tomorrow like I'd planned.
As I relax into the water I notice that I'm slightly buzzed just from that one drink.
"Hey, Arizona," I coo quietly.
"Hmm?" That's it? I tell her I love her and all I get is a grunt in response?
"That beer is kinda getting to me in the heat of the water and you're half asleep. Why don't we go to bed?" I'm really hoping she agrees because I really can't stay in here much longer.
"Yeah, okay," she says quietly as she lifts herself off my shoulder. "I am pretty tired."
I smile at her and stand up to get out of the tub. I grab one of the towels that we'd carelessly dropped onto a deck chair and begin to dry off. No one likes walking through their house and stepping into cold puddles at random intervals. I rest my foot on the chair and work on my legs.
When I notice that Arizona hasn't gotten out yet, I turn my head to look at her and find that she's staring at me with her mouth slightly agape and I just can't help but smirk at the thought that maybe she's checking me out, too.
"Arizona?"
"Hm?" Her eyes suddenly snap up to meet my gaze.
"Oh, sorry," she says and if her skin wasn't already flushed from the hot water I'm sure she'd be blushing right now. I give her a knowing smile.
"Sorry, I was admiring your new bathing suit. It looks really good. The dark purple works well with your skin tone and all that," she finishes nonchalantly as she climbs out.
I grab the other towel from the chair my foot is still resting on, making sure to bend over just a little more than necessary. If I can entice her a little bit then why not? Maybe it'll be the little push she needs to convince her that we could actually be more than best friends; more than soul mates.
I can't wipe the smile of knowing that she's following my every move with her eyes off my face as I hand her the towel.
"Whatever, Calliope, don't give me that."
I chuckle a little and say, "What? I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to, I've known you practically my entire life; I can read you like a book.
"I'm still a lesbian and you're still hot. I can't help admiring you in a new suit," she explains with a roll of her eyes as she finishes towelling off.
I laugh at her again and walk around the jacuzzi to turn off the jets and close the cover for the night.
xxx
"Did you want to shower first or should I?" I ask Arizona once we're up in my room. I watch as she mulls it over for a few moments all the while fiddling with the cell phone she's retrieved from her pants' pocket.
"You go ahead; I think I'll just shower in the morning. I just want to go to sleep."
"You afraid of being alone in there because of the movie?"
She scowls at me.
"Because if you are, you could always leave the door open a bit while you rinse off."
"Thank you for that, Calliope. We just spent the last hour trying to forget that and you bring it up right before bed? You know, as awesome as you are, sometimes you really suck," she tells me in mock anger.
I laugh softly and walk over to her, my towel gone in anticipation of my shower and hers wrapped around her waist. I gather her into a warm hug and run my hands over her back a few times.
"You love it. I'm your soul mate, remember," I tease. All I get in return is another scowl and a playful slap to the arm.
"Seriously though, you should at least rinse the chlorine off or your skin will get all dry and itchy."
She grumbles something unintelligible so I continue.
"If you're really scared I can sit on the toilet for the few minutes you'll be in there," I tell her. She looks up at me from my embrace, trying to gauge whether I'm joking. I look at her with a straight face to imbue her with the confidence that I really would.
"Can we just rinse off together and have proper showers in the morning when it's light out?" she asks quietly.
"You just want to shower next my hot body and bathing suit that matches my skin tone and all that," I tease her all the while grinning mischievously.
She immediately scoffs and tries to pull out of my arms. "Oh, shut up. Just 'cause I'm into women doesn't mean that I'm into every woman," she says with another roll of her eyes.
I laugh and squeeze her tight once more, liking the feeling of being this close to her, with or without the teasing.
"I know, I know. Come on," I order and grab her hand to lead her into the bathroom.
After a shower that involved no touching, much to my dismay, and all our suits, Arizona and I got changed into our pyjamas. She crawls into my bed as I finish brushing my teeth. I'm actually quite worn out, too. The emotions involved in keeping a break-up secret, a crush under locks, and blatant flirting without the admission really take a toll on your energy reserves.
On my way to the bed, I stop at my DVD collection and grab a box then make my way over to the TV.
"What are you doing?" came Arizona's sleepy voice.
"I was gonna put a movie on to fall asleep to," I tell her.
"Oh. Which one?"
I hold the box up for her to see.
"Monsters Inc.? I love that movie."
"I'm glad you approve. I thought it would be nice to fall asleep to something light. Plus Mike Wazowski is hilarious."
I turn around to put the disc into the player and ready the TV.
"Calliope?"
"Yeah?"
"Have I told you how awesome you are," she asks with a sleepy smile.
"You might've mentioned it once or twice but I still like hearing it," I tell her as I climb into the bed next to her. She immediately rests her head on my left shoulder and snuggles into my side with her arms firmly pressed between me and her chest, just like she's done since we were kids.
I put the TV volume to a minimum and wrap my arm around her lithe body in anticipation of the Sandman.
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