Cupcakes and Tattoos

Chapter 20

"Hi Mark, is Calliope here?" Arizona asked as she walked into Evangeline's.

She had just read a comic in Volume 31 of her brother's books that she had to show Callie right away, so she went next door when she knew her beautiful girlfriend would be there. Ever since she found her brother's comic books three months ago, she had been slowly reading through them. She smiled at herself thinking about that night. Arizona would never be able to eat dinner in her dining room ever again without blushing.

"No, she has the day off?" Mark was surprised that Arizona didn't already know that.

"What? No, that's impossible. She would have told me." Arizona would have definitely remembered if Callie had said anything about taking a day off, especially because her hard working girlfriend never took days off. "Where is she?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Arizona narrowed her eyes at Mark. She was sure he was lying. "How do you not know?"

"I really have no idea what she always does on this day. She doesn't tell anyone." "Wait. What's today?"

Mark just realized he had probably just said too much. It was obvious his best friend hasn't talked to Arizona about today yet. "Um... maybe she should tell you."

Arizona marched up to Mark and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket to pull him down to her eye level. "Marcus Sloan, you tell me right now what Calliope is doing!"

Mark saw fire in the surprisingly strong blonde's eyes. He hoped Callie would forgive him. "I swear I don't know where she is. She takes this day off every year to spend by herself."

"What. Is. Today?" Arizona growled tightening her grip on his jacket.

"It's Eva's birthday. She would have turned 30 today." Mark squeaked out. "She doesn't talk about it."

Arizona eyes soften and she let go of Mark. "You really don't know where she is?"

"No! Honest!"

Arizona thought for a moment, until she remembered something. "I know where she went." She turned to run out the door.

"Blondie! She wants to be alone!" Mark yelled after her. He was sure Callie was going to kill him.

Arizona ignored him and went back to her shop. She knew her girlfriend well and was sure she needed her. She prayed she was right. "April! I need to take the rest of the day off. Take care of things. Wrap me up a two shortys please!" She went to the back to grab her bag and change her clothes.

"No problem, Boss!" April loved when she was put in charge.

"Thanks April!" Arizona ran past her, grabbed the small pink to-go box, and ran out the door to her car. She needed to go home and get her bike. It would get her to where she needed to go much faster. When she got home, she rushed inside to grab her leather jacket and helmet. Arizona started the motorcycle as she mounted it and took a second to savor the sensation of the monster starting up below her. No matter how many times she did this, it always felt like the first time. The blonde exited her garage, weaved through the streets of the small town, and headed for the highway. Once she reached it, she mentally and physically prepared herself for the 63 mile ride. She knew she would need to be extra alert as she weaved in and out of the fast moving traffic. Arizona was confidant in her skills. She was one with her bike. It was basically an extension of her own body and she was able to control it with effortless ease.

Callie smiled and closed her eyes as another large jet flew low over her head. No matter how many times she did this, the rush was always the same. She loved coming here and only did it when she was feeling down or on special occasions, like to celebrate the birth of her oldest sister who would have been 30 today. Eva had passed away two weeks after her 15th birthday. Callie couldn't believe it has been fifteen years since she has seen her sister's smiling face, heard her infectious laugh, or felt her comforting hugs. She wrapped her arms around her own body and thought about all she had accomplished since then. She's had a lot of disasters in her life, but a lot of great things too, especially lately. Callie hoped Eva would be proud of her. She has her business, she had followed her passion when everything was against her, she has the shelter, and she had found Arizona. Arizona... I wish she was here. Callie didn't know why she hadn't talked to her girlfriend about today. She knew Eva would have loved Arizona. She also knew she wouldn't have treated her like she was nothing like the rest of her family. That was probably the thing she missed the most, her sister's unconditional love and support. Even though Callie was only eleven the last time she saw her, she knew Eva loved her no matter what. Callie suddenly felt eyes watching her. She smiled at the familiar presence she felt near her, but she wasn't sure where. Callie continued to stare down the runway. She would wait for Arizona to approach her.