I saw Mark start to approach from behind Erica’s bad blonde dye job, in case any punches were thrown. Despite my internal reverie I was getting pissed at this girl, viciously insulting me on our first ever encounter, so I did what any Marine’s daughter would do. I stood up for myself.

”Excuse me? How dare you insinuate I’m anything less than respectful, especially to someone like Callie. You and I have never even met, but you think it’s OK to come here and disrespect my character. I don’t think so.” I didn’t yell, I just raised myself up to my full height, now looking down into Erica’s firm blue eyes.

”Ha. Respect. What respect, you certainly don’t have any for Callie’s relationship, which by the way, isn’t with you!” she spat snidely.

I have to admit I was simultaneously crushed and ready to punch this girl. Hurt, because it was true, as much as I was into Callie, I had no claim to her, we were friends, even though I longed for so much more, even knowing I could make the unparalleled girl beside me sincerely happy. She was right, but I kept face.

Before I could defend myself, a very passionate and fiery Callie emerged, and if I wasn’t so shocked by her outburst, I probably would have thought it was the hottest thing I’d ever witnessed. ”Erica! When I tell you we’re done, that means I don’t want to see you again, I don’t want you here or anywhere near me for that matter. Leave Arizona out of this she has nothing to do with why I broke up with you. You are the reason I ended it!”

Everything went silent and Erica’s anger fueled face shifted into a painful grimace, almost as if she was going to cry. I almost felt bad for this girl, then I remembered she’d probably seen Callie naked. All sympathy I had vanished in that instant, becoming submerged in an overwhelming surge of jealousy.

It suddenly got extremely awkward and I glanced over to look at Callie, subconsciously squeezing her hand lightly, which I hadn’t even realized were laced together. Granted, this did look a little suspicious to the onlookers eye, especially when said onlooker was Calliope’s (now ex) girlfriend. But we knew. It’s just how we were together, we were a little closer than most new friends, and it didn’t help that we were gay, but we just seen it as unconventional, never reading between the lines. It was easy, simple, like breathing. I never felt self-conscious or like she was judging me. She was what I needed, as crazy as it seemed.