A Conspicuous Conspiracy (Ch. 3)
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.
Ch. 3
“So this is about her, I presume?” Addison asks. Damn it! How does everybody know? Does that mean Arizona knows?
I nod my head slightly.
xxx
After grabbing the doughnuts and snacks I prepared in the kitchen, Addie and I headed upstairs toward my room. The familiar dark brown floors and earth-toned walls of the hallway soothed my nerves as much as they could, considering the butterflies that were wreaking havoc on my stomach.
Inside my room Addison and I sat down on my dark purple duvet and leaned against my rather large collection of throw pillows. I thought I’d bide my time by eating the nachos I’d made and sipping from my can of coke as I tried to figure out where to start. I glance at Addison next to me when I feel the bed shift and notice that she’s now sitting facing me head-on with her legs crossed in front of her. Her eyes are narrowed as she slowly lifts a cheesy nacho to her mouth.
“So are you gonna start or should I?” She asks with her mouth full. I sheepishly shrug my shoulders and give her the most innocent look I can muster.
“Okay, I guess it’ll be me, then,” Addie lets out with a sigh.
“So you’re admitting to speaking the vagina monologues now?”
I choke on a nacho as her words assault my mind. In my coughing fit it’s all I can do not to fall off the side of the bed - and Addison isn’t even helping me! She makes me choke and doesn’t so much as - ooph!
There’s that slap on the back. Be careful what you wish for, I guess. At least it dislodged the chip enough to let me gulp a much needed breath. After taking a few sips of my coke I look at Addison again with tear-filled eyes. Man, a little choking will really get to a girl.
“What? No! I don’t know, I mean, I guess I just…happen to kinda sorta maybe have a teensy little bit of a girl crush on my best friend?” I say while looking anywhere but in Addie’s eyes but still trying to gauge her reaction through my peripheral vision.
“Uh huh.”
“What?” I really don’t like it when she checks me out with her eyebrow raised like that. When it’s coupled with a grimace it means she’s about to tell me something I don't want to hear; but right now, the way she’s smirking at me means she’s about to tell me something I know but don’t want to admit to.
“You don’t just have a ‘teensy girl crush’, Callie,” she says. And I was right; something I don't quite want to admit to.
“What? Yes I do, I just admitted that, pfft,” I scoff. Seriously, what is it with me making clichéd sounds of indignation lately? First the ‘humph’ and now a ‘pfft’? What is happening to me?
“Callie, you and I both know that you can’t have a just an innocent crush on someone you care that much about.”
“What? How would you know how much I care about her?” I know she’s right but I’m Callie Torres and I do not fold that easily!
Addison meets my challenge with both eyebrows raised this time. She thinks she has this in the bag - we’ll see about that.
“Well how about how you know exactly what she likes?”
"Seriously? That’s what you’re going with? I know what kind of stuff she likes because we’ve known -"
“No, Callie, not ‘what kind of stuff’ she likes - exactly how she likes them.”
I give her a questioning look practically begging for her to elaborate.
“Okay, do you remember that barbeque I threw at the end of the summer?” I nod. “Well when you came to grab your burger you also got one for Arizona -“
“So what does that have to do with anything? It’s called being considerate!”
“Well if you’d let me finish you’d see what it has to do with it,” she replies pointedly. “When you grabbed the burgers you went to put the condiments on. You didn’t ask her how she wanted it or what sides she preferred. No, you got her a burger, made sure my dad had it cooked to well-done, put a bunch of ketchup on it, a tiny bit of mustard and a bunch of whatever else she liked - I can’t remember exactly anymore.
“But then you also put some sauerkraut on there, which was actually meant for the hotdogs. No one else would have remembered that, Callie. Oh! And then you cut it in half because it makes it easier for her to hold!”
I could do little but simmer in the heat of my blush. I never realized how obvious it was that I paid attention to her.
“Oh come on, Cal. It’s not like it’s a bad thing. I’m sure she doesn’t mind,” she said with a smirk. What is that even supposed to mean?
“What? What do you mean by ‘you’re sure she doesn’t mind’? And what’s the big deal, anyway, it was one burger!”
“Ha! One burger? Every time we come over here to watch a movie you have Twizzlers on hand just for her!”
“They are not just for her! They are for everyone!”
“And yet she’s the only one who eats them. Hell, even you don’t eat Twizzlers, Cal!”
“What? How could you possibly know that? And I know what all my friends like to snack on!”
Addie’s eyebrows just shot up again. Crap, she has another slam-dunk point, doesn’t she?
“Okay, I’ll play along. You don’t like Twizzlers for three reasons: one, you don't like candy that gets stuck to your teeth; two, you hate artificial cherry flavours. Any time you get cough medicine you go for the gross minty flavour just to avoid the cherry -“
“Well fake cherry is gross!” I say as I cross my arms defensively across my chest and let my face from a scowl.
“And three, you don't like that the texture is all waxy and makes you feel like you’re eating a soft crayon.”
“Seriously, why do you pay so much attention when I talk, Addison?”
She smiles at me wickedly. She’s so not done with me yet.
“Because I’m a good friend.
“And as for you knowing what we like to snack on? Sure, you put out a variety of stuff for everyone but you’re not nearly as attentive as with Arizona. Just last week we were watching a Die Hard marathon and you handed me popcorn with salted butter!”
“So? I thought you liked popcorn?” I ask sheepishly. I can tell by her tone that this is the ace up her sleeve.
“So you know that I only like popcorn with unsalted butter and dill popcorn seasoning.” Crap!
“Callie, we’ve known each other since middle school and not once have I eaten popcorn without seasoning and you forget it once in a while. And not to mention, I’m pretty sure that the only reason these nachos are olive-free is because you ran out of them and not because you remembered that I hate olives. Am I right?” I can’t hide my embarrassment at this revelation.
“I’m not mad, Callie. I don’t expect you to remember every little thing about me all the time. I’m just saying that I see how much you care that Arizona is comfortable around you. You take care of her without even realizing it,” she finishes with a warm smile.
I finally meet her gaze and say, “I’m sorry Addison,” in a low voice.
“What for?” she seems genuinely perplexed.
“For forgetting. You’re such a good friend and you don't just remember that I don't like Twizzlers but even why I don’t like them,” I say now starting to tear up. “And I can’t even remember how you like your popcorn,” I finish with a weak smile.
“Oh please, this isn’t about popcorn; it’s about you and Arizona,” she says with a smile. I love how she can always ease me out of my self pity without actually making me feel like she has to work at it, even though I know I’m not the easiest person to comfort.
“So, speaking of you and Arizona, what are you going to do about it?”
“What?” I’m suddenly very alert. “What do you mean? I’m not going to do anything about it. She’s my best friend - and so are you,” I add when she glares at me, “and I don't want to ruin that. What if we do try and it doesn’t work out? I can’t live without my best friend.”
“Look, I can’t tell you it’ll be all sunshine and daisies but you never know until you try.
“...are you really hesitating because she’s your best friend or is it because she’s a girl?”
I stare at her, momentarily stunned.
“What? No, it’s not that. I mean, I freaked out in my head a little when I first realized I had a crush on a girl - who was my best friend, no less - but I’m fine with that now.”
Addison smiles at me.
“I mean I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about that part, especially with my dad being the way he is and the fact that I’ve never been with a girl -“
“Except when drunk.”
“Thanks for that, Addie. Really helped.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” she smiles.
“But seriously, it’s not the whole girl-girl thing. If I had an issue with that I’m pretty sure I would’ve stopped being friends with Arizona in about the seventh grade,” I say and we share a laugh.
“So if I’ve never had a problem with that before then why should it be different just because it’s me this time, right?”
Addison nods at me, still smiling.
“But what if it doesn’t even get to the point where we break up and stop being friends? What if I tell her and she doesn’t like me back that way?” I ask, needing some real advice. "I mean, I don't want things to get awkward between us just because I couldn't keep it in my pants," I finish as I reach for my third doughnut.
“Well that’s for you and her to decide. But do you really want to go off to college and wonder for the rest of your life what would’ve happened if only you were honest with your best friend?
“You guys don't lie to each other and you don't hide from each other; do you want to start now?”
I nod my head, letting Addie know that I understand. I have never run away from a fight or let an opportunity pass me by. She’s right, I need to figure out what I really want and then follow through.
“Wait,” Addison’s voice breaks me out of my thoughts. “What’s Jackson gonna say about all this?”
“Oh, he already knows. I broke up with him this morning,” I tell her casually. This causes her eyes to go wide and her hand to stop half-way to her mouth with a cheesy nacho hanging precariously from its grasp.
“That’s what the doughnuts were for,” I explain as I shrug and motion to the now half-empty box between us.
“Have you told Arizona?” she asks.
“No, and I want to keep it that way for now. I don't want her to worry. Maybe I’ll tell her tomorrow? I’m supposed to call her to hang out tonight.”
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.
Ch. 3
“So this is about her, I presume?” Addison asks. Damn it! How does everybody know? Does that mean Arizona knows?
I nod my head slightly.
xxx
After grabbing the doughnuts and snacks I prepared in the kitchen, Addie and I headed upstairs toward my room. The familiar dark brown floors and earth-toned walls of the hallway soothed my nerves as much as they could, considering the butterflies that were wreaking havoc on my stomach.
Inside my room Addison and I sat down on my dark purple duvet and leaned against my rather large collection of throw pillows. I thought I’d bide my time by eating the nachos I’d made and sipping from my can of coke as I tried to figure out where to start. I glance at Addison next to me when I feel the bed shift and notice that she’s now sitting facing me head-on with her legs crossed in front of her. Her eyes are narrowed as she slowly lifts a cheesy nacho to her mouth.
“So are you gonna start or should I?” She asks with her mouth full. I sheepishly shrug my shoulders and give her the most innocent look I can muster.
“Okay, I guess it’ll be me, then,” Addie lets out with a sigh.
“So you’re admitting to speaking the vagina monologues now?”
I choke on a nacho as her words assault my mind. In my coughing fit it’s all I can do not to fall off the side of the bed - and Addison isn’t even helping me! She makes me choke and doesn’t so much as - ooph!
There’s that slap on the back. Be careful what you wish for, I guess. At least it dislodged the chip enough to let me gulp a much needed breath. After taking a few sips of my coke I look at Addison again with tear-filled eyes. Man, a little choking will really get to a girl.
“What? No! I don’t know, I mean, I guess I just…happen to kinda sorta maybe have a teensy little bit of a girl crush on my best friend?” I say while looking anywhere but in Addie’s eyes but still trying to gauge her reaction through my peripheral vision.
“Uh huh.”
“What?” I really don’t like it when she checks me out with her eyebrow raised like that. When it’s coupled with a grimace it means she’s about to tell me something I don't want to hear; but right now, the way she’s smirking at me means she’s about to tell me something I know but don’t want to admit to.
“You don’t just have a ‘teensy girl crush’, Callie,” she says. And I was right; something I don't quite want to admit to.
“What? Yes I do, I just admitted that, pfft,” I scoff. Seriously, what is it with me making clichéd sounds of indignation lately? First the ‘humph’ and now a ‘pfft’? What is happening to me?
“Callie, you and I both know that you can’t have a just an innocent crush on someone you care that much about.”
“What? How would you know how much I care about her?” I know she’s right but I’m Callie Torres and I do not fold that easily!
Addison meets my challenge with both eyebrows raised this time. She thinks she has this in the bag - we’ll see about that.
“Well how about how you know exactly what she likes?”
"Seriously? That’s what you’re going with? I know what kind of stuff she likes because we’ve known -"
“No, Callie, not ‘what kind of stuff’ she likes - exactly how she likes them.”
I give her a questioning look practically begging for her to elaborate.
“Okay, do you remember that barbeque I threw at the end of the summer?” I nod. “Well when you came to grab your burger you also got one for Arizona -“
“So what does that have to do with anything? It’s called being considerate!”
“Well if you’d let me finish you’d see what it has to do with it,” she replies pointedly. “When you grabbed the burgers you went to put the condiments on. You didn’t ask her how she wanted it or what sides she preferred. No, you got her a burger, made sure my dad had it cooked to well-done, put a bunch of ketchup on it, a tiny bit of mustard and a bunch of whatever else she liked - I can’t remember exactly anymore.
“But then you also put some sauerkraut on there, which was actually meant for the hotdogs. No one else would have remembered that, Callie. Oh! And then you cut it in half because it makes it easier for her to hold!”
I could do little but simmer in the heat of my blush. I never realized how obvious it was that I paid attention to her.
“Oh come on, Cal. It’s not like it’s a bad thing. I’m sure she doesn’t mind,” she said with a smirk. What is that even supposed to mean?
“What? What do you mean by ‘you’re sure she doesn’t mind’? And what’s the big deal, anyway, it was one burger!”
“Ha! One burger? Every time we come over here to watch a movie you have Twizzlers on hand just for her!”
“They are not just for her! They are for everyone!”
“And yet she’s the only one who eats them. Hell, even you don’t eat Twizzlers, Cal!”
“What? How could you possibly know that? And I know what all my friends like to snack on!”
Addie’s eyebrows just shot up again. Crap, she has another slam-dunk point, doesn’t she?
“Okay, I’ll play along. You don’t like Twizzlers for three reasons: one, you don't like candy that gets stuck to your teeth; two, you hate artificial cherry flavours. Any time you get cough medicine you go for the gross minty flavour just to avoid the cherry -“
“Well fake cherry is gross!” I say as I cross my arms defensively across my chest and let my face from a scowl.
“And three, you don't like that the texture is all waxy and makes you feel like you’re eating a soft crayon.”
“Seriously, why do you pay so much attention when I talk, Addison?”
She smiles at me wickedly. She’s so not done with me yet.
“Because I’m a good friend.
“And as for you knowing what we like to snack on? Sure, you put out a variety of stuff for everyone but you’re not nearly as attentive as with Arizona. Just last week we were watching a Die Hard marathon and you handed me popcorn with salted butter!”
“So? I thought you liked popcorn?” I ask sheepishly. I can tell by her tone that this is the ace up her sleeve.
“So you know that I only like popcorn with unsalted butter and dill popcorn seasoning.” Crap!
“Callie, we’ve known each other since middle school and not once have I eaten popcorn without seasoning and you forget it once in a while. And not to mention, I’m pretty sure that the only reason these nachos are olive-free is because you ran out of them and not because you remembered that I hate olives. Am I right?” I can’t hide my embarrassment at this revelation.
“I’m not mad, Callie. I don’t expect you to remember every little thing about me all the time. I’m just saying that I see how much you care that Arizona is comfortable around you. You take care of her without even realizing it,” she finishes with a warm smile.
I finally meet her gaze and say, “I’m sorry Addison,” in a low voice.
“What for?” she seems genuinely perplexed.
“For forgetting. You’re such a good friend and you don't just remember that I don't like Twizzlers but even why I don’t like them,” I say now starting to tear up. “And I can’t even remember how you like your popcorn,” I finish with a weak smile.
“Oh please, this isn’t about popcorn; it’s about you and Arizona,” she says with a smile. I love how she can always ease me out of my self pity without actually making me feel like she has to work at it, even though I know I’m not the easiest person to comfort.
“So, speaking of you and Arizona, what are you going to do about it?”
“What?” I’m suddenly very alert. “What do you mean? I’m not going to do anything about it. She’s my best friend - and so are you,” I add when she glares at me, “and I don't want to ruin that. What if we do try and it doesn’t work out? I can’t live without my best friend.”
“Look, I can’t tell you it’ll be all sunshine and daisies but you never know until you try.
“...are you really hesitating because she’s your best friend or is it because she’s a girl?”
I stare at her, momentarily stunned.
“What? No, it’s not that. I mean, I freaked out in my head a little when I first realized I had a crush on a girl - who was my best friend, no less - but I’m fine with that now.”
Addison smiles at me.
“I mean I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about that part, especially with my dad being the way he is and the fact that I’ve never been with a girl -“
“Except when drunk.”
“Thanks for that, Addie. Really helped.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” she smiles.
“But seriously, it’s not the whole girl-girl thing. If I had an issue with that I’m pretty sure I would’ve stopped being friends with Arizona in about the seventh grade,” I say and we share a laugh.
“So if I’ve never had a problem with that before then why should it be different just because it’s me this time, right?”
Addison nods at me, still smiling.
“But what if it doesn’t even get to the point where we break up and stop being friends? What if I tell her and she doesn’t like me back that way?” I ask, needing some real advice. "I mean, I don't want things to get awkward between us just because I couldn't keep it in my pants," I finish as I reach for my third doughnut.
“Well that’s for you and her to decide. But do you really want to go off to college and wonder for the rest of your life what would’ve happened if only you were honest with your best friend?
“You guys don't lie to each other and you don't hide from each other; do you want to start now?”
I nod my head, letting Addie know that I understand. I have never run away from a fight or let an opportunity pass me by. She’s right, I need to figure out what I really want and then follow through.
“Wait,” Addison’s voice breaks me out of my thoughts. “What’s Jackson gonna say about all this?”
“Oh, he already knows. I broke up with him this morning,” I tell her casually. This causes her eyes to go wide and her hand to stop half-way to her mouth with a cheesy nacho hanging precariously from its grasp.
“That’s what the doughnuts were for,” I explain as I shrug and motion to the now half-empty box between us.
“Have you told Arizona?” she asks.
“No, and I want to keep it that way for now. I don't want her to worry. Maybe I’ll tell her tomorrow? I’m supposed to call her to hang out tonight.”