Love & Softball (Chapter 41)
Title: Love & Softball
Author: BrennaAimee
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG 13
Summary: Callie transfers to a new high school from one where she is a softball star. Can she prove she belongs on this new team and impress the captain in more ways than she knows.
Disclaimer: All television shows, books, movies, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work and the characters, events, and settings thereof are the properties of their respective owners. This is for entertainment purposes only, no profit is being made.
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to YOU. Yes I mean YOU. No, you is not code for someone else it is YOU. If you are reading this it is your chapter. My way of saying thank you. I want to let you know how much I appreciate you reading my fic and sticking with it. I never planned for it to be this long and there are still some chapters to go. If you are still reading, you are a trooper and that means the world to me so, thank you! I love you all. =)
|Callie's P.O.V|
I am so excited because Adrienne is back for the final match ups, to cheer me on. She goes to the rest room and I'm standing watching one of the games waiting on her to come back. I spot Cristina V and some of my teammates and a few of the new friends we have made from the other teams. I feel Adrienne walk up behind me and slips her hand into mine lacing our fingers together. We walk a few steps over to the girls standing in the group. We start discussing the upcoming matches and how we think everything is going to play out, who we think we can blow out of the water, and who we think may actually give us a challenge. At this point of the competition it is pretty much all a challenge. We quickly get into the conversation. I feel someone walk up behind me, but there are so many people here I don't give it a second thought until I hear the only voice that has ever been and probably will ever be able to stop my heart.
"Calliope. . ."
I think I am hearing things because it has been so long since that sweet voice has graced my ear shot. My grip tightens on Adrienne's hand automatically. I think about ignoring it, I mean it's not possible . . . but who else would call me by my full name? There aren't many names close to 'Calliope' either. I make the quick decision to turn around. Before I know what is happening my eyes are locking on the most beautiful blue eyes that have ever been connected with mine.
"Arizona . . ." I manage to say with my grip tightening on Adrienne's hand again.
I see Adrienne out of the corner of my eye looking at Arizona like she is crazy and then turning to me with an inquisitive look on her face. I just can't tear my eyes away from Arizona. I drop Adrienne's hand and grab Arizona up in the tightest hug, picking her up as I do so. I hold on for about thirty seconds before I put her down.
"I. . . I . . . This is the last place I expected to see you." I say looking at her.
"I know the feeling." Arizona says letting her dimples shine, effectively making my heart skip a beat and the butterflies to form in the pit of my stomach. I turn and see Adrienne. Her face a mixture of questioning, jealousy, and anger. I step back to her side and put my arm on her back.
"Arizona, this is my girlfriend Adrienne. Adrienne, this is my best friend that I never get to see Arizona." I say pushing Adry to Arizona.
"Arizona Robbins, nice to meet you." Arizona says sticking her hand out introducing herself in her classic perky fashion.
"Adrienne" My girlfriend says taking her hand and returning to my side.
"Callie, this is my friend Catarina. Cat, this is Callie."
"Nice to meet you Cat." I nod to her. "So, how have you been?" I ask.
"I've been pretty good, doing the same thing you have been doing lately I'm guessing." She says nodding to the field.
"As always" I smile.
"Some things never change do they?" She says jokingly.
"That never will." I smile.
"Good to know." She says and looks down at the ground.
"Callie, which hotel are you staying in?" Arizona's friend Catarina asks.
"La Quinta" I answer.
"That is right across the way from ours." She says looking at Arizona. "You two haven't seen each other in a long time, so I have heard from AZ." When Cat says that I look up at Arizona, lock eyes, and look back at the ground letting a blush appear on my face, but still hiding it from Adrienne. 'She talks about me.' I think and those butterflies just wont stay away. "Why don't we all hang out tonight?" She offers.
I look over at Adrienne to see if I can read what she is thinking. She knows who Arizona is, not in full detail, but she knows she is my ex and now best friend. I was upfront with her about that. She just doesn't know I still love her, but I know that I can't have her back, so I got past it. Arizona is still with Lita and she is happy, so it's not like anything could happen. Besides, friends hang out. Adrienne smiles at me and nods her head.
"Sure, that would be great." I smile. "Here, put your number in my phone and I'll text you and let you know when we get back to the hotel and see if you are free." I hand Arizona my phone and let her type in her number. She hands me my phone back and hands me hers, for me to do the same. I start to key in my number, but her phone starts ringing. I hand it back to her and she answers.
"Hey. . . yeah . . . ok, we will be there in a minute. . . yeah. . . ok, bye."
"We got to go, just text me and tell me it's you so I'll have your number. See you later." She says smiling and dragging Catarina with her.
Adrienne and I go to sit in some of the bleachers to watch one of the games. I pull my phone back out and go find Arizona's number to key her a quick message.
'About time I got ur number back. ;)'
I type and press send.
"Adry baby, are you sure you are ok with hanging out tonight?"
"Yeah, I'd like to get to know your best friend. She obviously means a great deal to you." She says smiling and laying her head on my shoulder.
"Thank you." I say and kiss the top of her head.
I feel my phone vibrate and I check it quickly, smiling when Arizona's name appears with a smiley face beside it. 'That is so like her.' I think to myself while pressing >View Now.'I know, I was thinkin the same thing. ;) I can't wait 2 hang out 2night.'
'Me either it's been far too long. I missed u.' I quickly reply.
'I missed u 2' She sends back immediately followed by another text. 'I have got 2 get to know ur girlfriend, I have 2 make sure she is good enough 4 u.' 'Well, u will have ur chance to form ur opinion 2night. Ill text u later ok?'
'Ok :)' ~~~~~~~~
|Later that Night|
|Arizona's P.O.V|
I'm drying my hair when I see Catarina behind me in the mirror smirking.
"What?" I smile finishing drying my hair and turning off the blow dryer.
"Nothing, you just haven't been able to wipe that smile off your face since you saw Calliope." She says her name in a sing song voice and I start to blush.
"Shut up. I just haven't seen my friend in a really long time. It's good to see her again, that's all."
"Yeah, ok, I would have believed that if you would have not rambled about it." She says laughing and handing me my phone. "Speaking of which, she text you."
"Can you just go back to practicing for the gig you got coming up. Your manager is going to be unhappy if you sound like crap." I stick my tongue out at her.
"Yeah, yeah, what did Callie say?"
"Quit being so nosey, Catarina." I laugh and she playfully sulks back toward the room.
I unlock my phone and press >View Now. 'Hey, we r back @ the hotel. Do u 2 want 2 go out somewhere or stay n, Adrienne offered 2 go out, if u want.'
"Hey Cat, do you want to go out, or stay in tonight?"
"Oh, can we go to the skating rink? I saw they had one down the road." Catarina practically comes running back into the bathroom.
"Callie's girlfriend is the one driving, but I'll ask them."
"Cool. Oh and Arizona, could you try to take the distain out of your voice when you say the word girlfriend? It makes like you seem like you have a problem with it." She says winking and trying to quickly get out of the bathroom. I barely make contact slapping her arm as she runs out of the bathroom.'Hey, Cat wants 2 know if we can go 2 the skating rink, I think it is down the road. If u r ok with that?'
'Yeah, I'm sure that will be fine, want 2 come over 2 the hotel in about half an hr?'
'Sure thing, meet me in the lobby. ;)' I type and lay my phone back down.
"Get ready we are going across the way in twenty."
"Way to give a girl short notice." She says rushing to find what she wants to wear.
Twenty five minutes later Catarina and I walk into the lobby at the La Quinta and look around. Neither of us see Callie, so we go stand by the lobby door. Five minutes later as I am looking down at the carpet I see a couple of people's shoes and start to slowly look up. It is Calliope looking as stunning as ever. The jeans she has on are hugging her every curve, the shirt she has on is fitting in all the right places, and her hair is flowing down her shoulders and all I want to do is get my fingers tangled in it. Her face is pure perfection and she is smiling at me so brightly she makes her own dimple show. With one look, with one smile, she has managed to make me feel the same huge butterflies I felt the first time I saw her, the first time I touched her, and the first time I kissed her. She brought all the feelings I ever had for her back to life.
"Hey guys" She says acknowledging Cat and myself.
I manage to say hi and look down because all I want to do is stare at her and admire her beauty. All I feel like doing is reaching out to her and touching her if only for a brief moment. I want to be the one who has her fingers intertwined with hers. I can't lie to myself. I want what I use to have.
|Callie's P.O.V|
|An hour earlier|
"Adry, are you sure you are ok with this. You haven't really talked much since we agreed to go out earlier."
"Yes Cal, I'm sure."
"Why are you being short with me?" I say sitting down on the bed next to her. I look over to Cris's bed and lock eyes with her. She nods and gets her stuff, leaving to go to someone else's room. I nod a thanks and look back to Adrienne.
"I don't know babe, I just. . ."
"You just what?"
"I have heard stories about your's and Arizona's great love. Everyone was determined that you were going to be together no matter what the situation. The fact that I heard this when no one thought I was listening is besides the point. Callie, she means a lot to you. You even told me from the beginning that you had her and would never give up talking to her no matter what anyone said. I'm just scared."
"You're right. I won't give up talking to her, but that is because she is my best friend. Yes, we were together, but it's not like I am trying to hide that fact from you. Everything will be fine. We will go, hang out, and you can see for yourself. I promise you will love her and she will love you." I say pulling her into a hug.
"Look, you see this?" I say pointing to the ring she gave me "I accepted this ring from you because I love you and you are my now. The relationship I had with her is the past. The friendship with her is the present. You have nothing to worry about baby." I miss her temple gently.
"Thank you." She says leaning back and tucking my hair behind my ear. "I love you too." She leans in and places a gentle, yet passionate kiss on my lips.
"Ok, get ready, and I'm going to text them and see what we are going to do ok?"
"Ok." She says and goes over to her suit case to look for clothes. "If they want to go out, I don't know how their team did it, but I can drive us somewhere."
"Thanks babe." I say typing my message to Arizona. A few minutes later I feel my phone vibrate. 'Hey, Cat wants 2 know if we can go 2 the skating rink, I think it is down the road. If u r ok with that?' I look back at Adrienne who is getting ready. I don't even ask before I key my response. I'm sure she will be ok with whatever. 'Yeah, I'm sure that will be fine, want 2 come over 2 the hotel in about half an hr?'
I tell Arizona to meet us in the lobby in thirty and I start to get ready along side my girl.
Thirty minutes later Adry and I are walking out of our room and heading for the lobby holding hands, as usual. We make it all the way down the hall and I spot the head of blonde curls that have captivated my dreams since the day I met her. Our eyes connect and I smile like a fool. She returns the smile letting those deep dimples grace my vision. She looks away and we stop in front of her and Catarina.
"Hey guys" I manage to say looking at them both, trying anything I can to keep from staring at the beautiful blonde before me. She is my personal perfection, just the way I remember her, and the way I dreamed of her.
"Every one ready?" Adrienne asks smiling. We all agree and turn to walk out the hotel. We all pile into the car. Arizona sits behind me and Catarina sits behind Adrienne.
"Ok, where to?" Adry asks backing out of the parking lot and heading toward the street.
"Turn left up here." Catarina offers.
This car ride immediately starts to effect me. I want to fall back into old habits but I can't. In ever car Arizona and I ever rode in together we found a way to hold hands or touch. If I sat in front she sat behind me and I would slide my arm back between the door and my seat to get to her. I move my arm out of habit and start to reach back, but I stop myself and grab my head rest and reach to put my hand on Adrienne's leg. Adry does follows Catarina's directions and within ten minutes we are pulling into the parking lot of the skating center. Adry parks the car and we get out and start to walk inside with Arizona and Catarina leading the way. Adrienne pulls me by my arm back a few feet.
"Did you know we were coming skating?" She asks abruptly.
"Yeah, I didn't think you would mind."
"Cal, have you ever seen me skate?"
"Umm. . . no. I can't say that I have." I finally answer.
"Because I can't." She deadpans.
"Oh, babe, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I should have said something. Do you want to leave?" I ask as we walk into the front door.
"No, it's ok. I can watch you. Besides, they have an arcade. You have fun with your best friend." She says smiling.
"Thank you. I don't know what I did that made me deserve such an amazing girlfriend, but I'm glad I got you."
"I don't know, maybe it's because you are just plain hot." She laughs and leans in to kiss me. I return her kiss and start to deepen it.
"Cal, do you think you sill got it?" I hear Arizona yell from the desk.
I lean back from Adry and yell back. "Of course I do, I have always been able to skate circles around you." It wasn't exactly true, but that was one thing Arizona and I did use to do. We would go to the skating rink or bowling alley whenever we got the chance, and that was usually our date nights. Adry and I go to stand beside Arizona and Cat at the counter to pay our way to get in. We go to the next counter to get some skates.
The lady informs me that they are out of roller blades, and I know right then I am in trouble. I can roller blade, but skating on four wheels is just not for me.
"You'll be fine." Arizona protests when I start to back out of skating. "I wont let you fall." She says leaning in to me.
I finally give in and get skates in my size. We go around the carpeted area and find a spot to put them on. We change and roll over to the lockers and find one to put our shoes in. Arizona knows that I can't skate on four wheels well, so we stay on the carpet for a few minutes and go into the arcade with Adrienne so I can get the hang of this before going out into the rink with everyone.
After a few games we head out to the rink. Adrienne follows us and stops when she gets to the wall and watches us. We go around the rink slowly like five times and every time I stop and talk to Adrienne or grab for her or something. Cat leaves the rink and goes and stands beside Adrienne and Arizona and I continue skating. I really have crappy balance on skates so Arizona is literally doing what I told her I was going to do. She is skating circles around me and laughing at me. Even though she is laughing and making fun of me, every time I stumble she is right there to make sure nothing happens.
We skate around a few more times and Cat has already taken off her skates and is walking around talking to Adrienne. Next time I pass where they were standing I see them entering the game room again. Arizona and I decide to get out of the rink and join cat and Adrienne. We all decide to get food and sit down to eat. After we eat Cat and Adrienne go back to the arcade, those two seem to have hit it off. I can't lie and say that I don't like that fact because now I can talk to Arizona a little.
We get back into the rink and join the flow of people going around. We talk a little catching up as always. We talk about our families and school and of course Lita and Adrienne.
"You know, she seems like a great girl Callie." Arizona admits slowing down the skate beside me. I can tell this is effecting her.
"Is this as weird for you as it is for me?" I ask her.
"Probably worse." She admits. "But I can't deny that I love being around you again. I like spending time with my friend. Let's just make the most of it. Who knows when we will be able to see each other again."
Conversation easily shifts and we start joking around again. Arizona is skating backwards talking to me when the song we use to sing to each other all the time comes on: With You by Chris Brown. Our eyes connect, and we both smile and look away shyly. I get that feeling in my stomach again, but it only makes me want to lock eyes with her again. I start to reach out for her, but I almost stumble because of my lack of balance. Arizona reaches out and grabs my arms effectively stabilizing me. Her hands slowly run down my arms and she has a hold on my hands making sure I can't fall. When her hands meet mine I feel a jolt of energy run up my arms giving me chills. She smiles at me and winks knowing what I am feeling. She finally lets go and hold her arms out making sure I still have control. I keep looking down at my feet and when I finally look up sky blue meets pools of chocolate brown. My eyes go down her face and I see her lips moving mouthing the words. I get stuck on reading her lips and the words she is mouthing. All I can do is get caught up in the emotions I feel for her.
I literally stumble and Arizona actually has to catch me this time. She wraps her arms around me and has her face beside mine. ". . . and I will never try to deny, that you are my whole life, 'cause if you ever let me go I would die, so I wont front, I don't need another woman, I just need your all or nothing, 'cause if I got that then I'll be straight, baby, you're the best part of my day . . ." She sings in my ear and I feel weak in the knees. I tense up and she stands me back up and our eyes lock again. The song finishes and we take one more lap around the rink before we get out and go find Catarina and Adrienne.
We get our shoes and leave the bowling alley in a silent trip home. My mind is so jumbled with thoughts and the sound of Arizona's voice in my ear singing one of our songs that I don't realize when we park. I feel Adrienne's hand on my knee squeezing to let me know we are back. I get out of the car and give Arizona an awkward hug and give Cat a hug. Adrienne and Cat exchange numbers and give each other hugs before we head inside.
|3 Hours Later|
Adrienne and I are laying in bed. She is fast asleep and I am still wide awake with everything playing over and over in my head. Why did she have to be here? Why did seeing her bring all those emotions flowing back? Ugh. . . I just want to sleep and wake up with it all being a dream. I hear my phone vibrate on the night stand, so I roll over and check it. >View Now or >View Later. 'So how was seeing Blondie' The text from Mark read. 'I don't want 2 talk about it Mark' 'I'm sorry Cal. U can tell me about it later. Luv u.'
'Luv u 2' I feel my phone vibrate in my hand again and expect it to be a good bye from Mark. >View Now or >View Later. I immediately hit view now. 'Meet me outside in 15 please?' It was from Arizona. It made my heart stop.
I look over at Adrienne who is fast asleep and back at my phone. What do I want to do?