The Other Roommate

9 - Of the Tiger's Inner Kitten

Responsibility is a word that not many people associate with Alex. She was lucky that her boss was one of the few who did but she was grateful that the careless façade worked. He would often call her to cover for other people's shifts. And because she needed the money, she would always acquiesce to his request.

The night before was one of those days off that became a work day, technically, night. Randy Burk's daughter had a recital he had to attend. The change of schedule had not been easy on the married man but to his relief, Callie knew that, too.

It had been a little over a week after her first breakfast with Callie and everything was going well in actuality this time. They were only engaged in friendly banter, exchanging smiles and horribly made jokes at each other's expense. However, no one dared to label whatever relationship they had, except roommates.

That day, Alex was extra stressed. She was finally emancipating from fear and will finally ask Callie out on a date. She was on edge and it didn't help that she had to talk to her sister about the teenager's college education. On top of it all, she was extremely exhausted and in dire need of a good night's sleep.

"Did you get the money I sent?" Alex asked, pacing in the living room after Callie had said her good night to the blaring sun to rest before her afternoon shift.

It's one of the green-eyed girl's habits to walk around, almost everywhere, when she's on the phone. Her free hand ran through her dark locks as she aimlessly paced the small coffee table like a dog chasing its tail.

It was eight in the morning and she was talking to her younger sister, Stella. They were discussing the younger Rivera's financial aspect to her advanced education. "That's enough for your monthly tuition, right? Do you need anything else?"

"More than enough." Stella assured her. She sighed on the other end of the conversation. Her sister was more concerned of her going to college than she actually was. "Alex, you know I can just apply for student loan or something. You don't really have to worry about me. Besides, I can always work for the mean time. I don't absolutely have to go to college immediately."

Alex stopped in between the table and the couch. Her heart sank down a cruel, painful tunnel. She always hated it every time her sister reminded her of avoiding college even if Stella made it sound to be only temporary.

"No. Absolutely not, Stella. I got it covered, okay?" She insisted wearily. "How many times have we had this conversation? The sooner you finish, the sooner you could do whatever you want. You are staying in college."

While the green-eyed brunette spoke, Callie came out of her room to go to the bathroom. She didn't mean it, but she heard the conversation. She slowly walked across the kitchen, eavesdropping on the one sided conversation she was hearing.

"I'm just saying." The younger girl reasoned. "I don't want to rob you of the things you could enjoy - especially something as important as time. Are you at least living for yourself? Are you even happy? I appreciate all that you have done for me, Alex. But you're not my mother. You deserve to at least celebrate your youth. You should go out into the world and find something that excites you and chase after it. I feel like you should go to college instead of me."

The questions startled Alex to the point where her apprehended heart beat erratically, compromising her breathing. She was guilty of living her life each day to earn some money for the person she was talking to. She was guilty of isolation which had been alleviated recently with the help of one brown-eyed girl who was standing by the kitchen sink, very slowly walking to the bathroom.

She huffed in frustration. It wasn't because her sister was frustrating her - it was because she felt like she, herself, was lacking something. Her head spun as the lack of sleep is slowly taking a toll on her apart from the emotionally draining conversation.

"It's too late for me to go back to school, Stell. Drop out, remember?" She glared as she crashed on the couch behind her, rubbing her pained temples as she closed her eyes. "I am happy and I am chasing something exciting." She said truthfully, thinking about her roommate. She grinned at the thought of Callie, calming her strained heart.

The thrill of getting to know Callie and trying to earn her smile had kept Alex busy since that night she admitted to being Syndey Tucker's unnecessary double. She felt happier and more accomplished every single time the younger brunette flashes her plethora of smiles. As long as they beamed of bliss, Alex wasn't complaining.

"Alex," The younger Rivera started, needing to get her thoughts across, but was quickly cut off by the eldest child.

"Oh, don't Alex me, Stella." Alex grumbled as she shot up from her slouching - pointing in front of her, picturing her sister. "It's final. You're staying - I'm paying and that's that."

"Do I even have a say on this?" Stella complained despite knowing the answer to her own question. She let out a breath of defeat.

"You don't." The older woman said with finality in her tone, slapping the leather seat. "I have to go. I need to sleep. Go to school! Study well. I love you."

"I know. I know." The younger Rivera groaned. “I love you, too." She reluctantly muttered.

The bartender began to say her goodbyes but was halted by the person on the other line.

"Wait, Alex!" Her sister's tone was desperate - pleading for her sister to hear her out.

Alex hummed inquisitively at her - urging her to go on.

"I want you to do something for me." Stella began but paused, waiting for Alex's complaint. When she heard silence, she continued. "For the entire week, starting from today, Wednesday - you will do something that will make you laugh or smile - the real one, not your annoying smirk. I want every day to have a reason for you to be happy. Every day for seven days, okay?"

Alex rolled her eyes as she felt her lips form a smile but her sister didn't know that. However the reaction, she agreed to Stella's proposal. She was determined to do it no matter how silly she had found it to be. After all, the reward has been set and it was something related to her happiness.

Alex didn't know what she would do in the seven days supposedly spent with laughter but she knew who she wanted to spend it with and that person was waiting patiently for her. She had thought about the date, at least. However, the intricacies were not planned out yet and she was starting to feel immensely anxious.

Callie never left the last place she was standing in - right in front of the sink. She found herself leaning back on the surface, waiting. She felt obliged to comfort her friend, or whoever Alex is to her, for whatever it was that bothered her. But she was relieved to find the beautiful smile that made her heart skip a beat and suck the air out of her lungs. She could not help but mirror the gesture in admiration for her roommate.

The moment the sisters said a better goodbye to end their phone conversation. Alex stood up from her seat, still shaking her head with a satisfied grin on her face. Her squinted eyes soon popped out as she caught sight of the girl she thought was sound asleep. Her lips formed an "o" shape and it felt as if her soul left her body momentarily given the shock. And the anxiety just intensified.

"Hello there, Morticia." Callie greeted playfully to lighten the mood. She swiped her right hand across her for a slight wave. Her grin was significantly wider, making her eyes sparkle which led to a slight chuckle that instantly relaxed Alex.

The older woman clutched her beating chest ferociously as she, too, started giggling nervously. "You scared the s**t out of me, BB." She teasingly scolded, shaking her head.

They felt great the moment they let the happy noise out - setting it free for the world to hear but most importantly for both of them to hear. Their chests were leaping at the seemingly alien noise that grazed their hearing organs.

That was day one of laughter - easily accomplished. Alex was elated and a little more optimistic that the seven day requirement would be easily completed given Callie in the mix.

Callie walked towards the table and pulled up a chair, sitting on it without breaking eye contact. Alex, getting the hint, did the same and sat right across her roommate in their usual seats. The short stride the green-eyed brunette took was spent trying to come up with any ideas for the next six days, especially the date she was planning.

However, this was the brown-eyed girl's chance to comfort Alex in her vulnerability. She smiled at her as she clasped her hands and placed them on her lap. She took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh which worried her friend.

"I'm sorry for intruding, Morticia." She apologetically muttered, her eyes radiated of her concern for the green-eyed girl. "But I heard you and saw how stressed you were. Are you okay?"

Alex unexpectedly chuckled. "Seriously?" She shook her head in amusement - it was not what she had expected at all. No one ever asks how she is feeling, not with that amount of concern, and Callie just did. Instead of voicing her feelings, she settled for joking around with her roommate. "Even in a serious conversation you call me by that morbidly beautiful name? Is my name not good enough for you?"

Callie rolled her eyes as she, too shook her head at their usual banter despite the tensed situation. She liked that about Alex. The green-eyed brunette might be easy to drive up the wall but when you get on her good side, she would always attempt to lighten the mood in another attempt to avoid from talking about her feelings.

But it was different. It was Callie asking. Her burdens were too heavy to handle on her own and since she had opened up about Felicity, she felt as if she could do it again.

"Merrywe-" Alex started with a serious expression but immediately halted as she just burst out laughing. She pushed her head backwards as her body collapsed back to the splat of the chair and her arms were wrapped in her belly. She found it so hilarious, it was almost as if somebody was tickling her.

Callie was soon infected by the laughing gas and tapped her hand repeatedly against the wooden table, closing her eyes shut.

After a good couple of minutes, they were starting to calm down and the laughter was slowly dying out. Their eyes had met, gasping for air as both maintained an open-mouth grin.

Alex slowly closed her mouth and pursed her lips - remembering the question Callie had just tossed at her. Taking another lungs-worth of air, she composed herself and began talking.

"Don't worry, Cal. You don't have to apologize." She smiled delicately at her. "It was my sister." She shook her head and bowed down, remembering the very thing that had bothered her minutes ago.

The younger roommate's eyes widened in fear of a morbid news that would break the girl in front of her. However, she quickly recalled the contented grin she had just seen a while ago and it reassured her somehow.

"You can't tell anyone." Alex bade as her eyes were back to Callie's. The olive-skinned brunette nodded in response, urging her to continue. "I've been paying for her education since she started high school. She's a freshman in college now and she had just basically told me she wants to put it off. I just want her to see how important it is to go to college. I mean, she has to go and finish those four years. She should be like Rachel or Jazmin, even Denise...or you. You want something and it's driving you to work hard for them. Otherwise, she'd be bouncing from one job to another and she'd be miserable, kinda like me." She embarrassingly narrated - uncomfortably shifting in her seat while averting her roommate's gaze.

Callie beamed her an assuring smile. "Alex, I'm sorry again but don't you think you're just that affected because you dropped all your ambitions on her and you feel like her success means you succeeded, too - like a transitive property?" She muttered slowly and carefully, hoping not to offend the girl sitting in front of her. It was as if she was walking on thin ice and a careless move could plummet her down an icy abyss.

Alex didn't respond. She knew Callie spoke the truth and it wasn't just a blatant attempt at hurting her. It may have only been an unconscious desire, but Alex genuinely wanted a brighter future for her sister.

"I don't want her to become like me, Cal. I'm a failure." She self-consciously mumbled as she picked on her nails while her hands were on the table, still refusing to face Callie. It was a dagger to the chest of her pride. Her insecurity was taking hold of her mind and her frail heart - unearthing the vile feeling out in her words.

"No, you're not." The younger bartender reassured her. The little comment she had just heard caused a massive wave of discomfort to her as she sensed the pained tone in Alex's words. She was not used to seeing her so vulnerable. However, despite the weakened state, she found her immensely beautiful and her burning admiration for her only intensified.

She reached for Alex's busy hands and held them with both of hers, pulling them to the middle. Alex looked up, both surprised and elated by the sudden sensation of Callie's hands. It was as if the touch sent a soothing electrical pulse that calmed her turbulent seas.

"You're more than enough, ok?" Callie assured her with sincerity, looking deep into her emerald irises. "You can't just quantify success by the years you spend in school. Most importantly, you don't need success to be happy. You can be anything you want, Alex Michelle Rivera and the world won't be able to stop you. But it won't be worth it if you're not happy." She offered a compassionate smile as she shook the clamped pairs of hands. "Your name is enough, too." She slightly winked at her, hoping the last comment would make her roommate grin.

Alex mirrored the gesture, although pained, she looked better. Alex was somehow satisfied with the little pep talk considering Callie's words spoke of what was rational and not governed by her feelings for her. She did notice the use of her full name which barely leaves Callie's lips and the tone and reverberations her voice produced was an orchestra of beautiful instruments to her.

"Thanks, Cal." She breathed.

There was a comfortable silence between the two as Callie coyly eyed their fastened hands. Both could not even deny the happiness from themselves - it was too overwhelming to do so. For some reason, it fueled Alex's courage and bravery. She was going to push through with her little plan.

"I meant it, you know." The green-eyed brunette muttered - breaking the silence making Callie furrow her brows in confusion. She nodded repeatedly. "I meant what I said last week. I care about you. I honestly always have."

Callie simply nodded as the smile she had been wearing caused soreness on her cheeks. "Good to know." She timidly affirmed but her heart raced as she braced for what she was about to say knowing when it is unleashed, she could not take it back. "If you absolutely have to know - I do care about you, too."

"Thanks, BB." Alex whispered contentedly as she tightened her grip.

The younger girl reluctantly broke free of Alex's hands as the intriguing two letter acronym still bugged her like a termite slowly eating out from the insides. She frowned, protruding her lip which caused Alex's heart to tumble from within her chest. The older woman suddenly felt breathless.

Callie furrowed her brows, deciding on looking intimidating instead of adorably pitiful.

"What does that wretched nickname stand for?" She crossed her arms.

Alex chuckled. She was definitely enamored by the girl in front of her. Her playful side took over.

"Nothing." She shrugged her shoulders, looking casual to mess with her roommate. "Like I said, for me to know and you to find out." She quoted herself, beaming cockily and bobbing her brows. "Besides, Merryweather is a mouthful and I just end up laughing which is totally bad for my bad ass rep."

She crinkled her nose up and nodded, grinning.

Callie met two sides to Alex in the duration of their cease fire - one more recent than the other. Alex had become more playful and carefree. That day, Callie met the adoring, selfless person that she is and she was beyond grateful she took a chance on her.

She squinted her eyes, unimpressed by the joke. "I'm actually considering about changing your nickname to Maleficent. It fits you - beautifully scary with a vengeful yet soft heart." She turned her head to the side, playfully ignoring the green-eyes that stared at her. Her mouth betrayed her as her lips beamed of a wide, bright smile as she thought of the next thing to say. "Just so we're in the same story book, DP."

She wiggled one brow with a smug look, after finding an acronym to call her friend.

"DP." Alex let out a breath in amusement as she continued to dig her vision through the girl in front of her. "They're the same queens of darkness, might as well make it Mortificent."

"So, mine just became Bberryweather with two Bs." Callie mumbled to herself loud enough for Alex to hear. “Because Merryweather isn’t obnoxious enough.”

Once again, both girls bellowed in laughter. The younger bartender had come to an abrupt stop as she realized something.

"You're not going to guess what DP is?" She queried, hunching forward. “You’re not even curious at all?”

The green-eyed girl smirked cockily as she sat up straight, reclaiming her power. "Easy. Disney princess. You’re only so eager to tease me about it all the time even if we only watch Disney cause you’re a scaredy cat."

Callie crossed her arms in defeat, narrowing her eyes at the amused girl in front of her. She still could not decipher what Alex's nickname for her meant. However, she had bigger news to share and she was willing to set her pride aside for it.

The younger bartender reluctantly untangled her arms and perched her hands on the table, palms pressed flat on the wooden surface.

"Which reminds me, I have something to tell you." She began making Alex inch closer to the table in curiosity. Her straightened lips slowly bent and formed an excited grin as she proudly said, "We're partners again."

Alex furrowed her brows, pretending to not understand what her roommate was blabbering about. Her flirty side had the upper hand making her smirk knowingly. "Live in partners? You're finally moving in to my room?" She widened her eyes in her faked excitement as her mouth gaped in the unrestrained smile.

Although she found it endearing, Callie shook her head disapprovingly despite the smile on her lips. "Zip it, Alex."

The green-eyed brunette took her roommate's words literally. She bit her lips, hiding the plump surfaces from view and situated her pressed thumb and index fingers together on one corner and traced it to the other, zipping the slit imaginarily. She gave Callie a mischievous closed-mouth smirk and bobbed her brows at her.

Choosing to look past the immature yet charming display in front of her, Callie looked up to the ceiling, barely keeping her straight face. "I switched with Will. I felt bad for the guy." She explained.

Alex waved her arms in the air to catch her friend's attention - and when she did, she silently asked permission to unzip her lips, pointing to her sealed mouth.

The younger bartender finally gave in as her swollen heart could not pretend to be indifferent anymore. Alex was giving her a strong current of butterflies in her stomach and literally felt warm in her chest seeing her usually serious or angered friend goofy.

She nodded which prompted the green-eyed girl to unfasten her lips.

Alex clicked her tongue in a disappointed manner before clearing her throat to speak. "You're too nice, BB. People will take advantage of you."

"Yeah, I'll take that over too rude, DP." Callie honestly said in a huff - emphasizing the newly crafted nickname.

The older woman chuckled contentedly if there was such a feeling. She was satisfied with that one conversation and was extremely thrilled to go back to work with her roommate by her side. Alex had always felt the desire to be with her in all her waking days but was too proud to admit it to herself.

She was willing to jump off the cliff and ask that one question she had been dying to ask, even if Callie didn't want to catch her rough fall.

"Cal..." Alex prompted, trailing off as she watched the younger brunette look at her inquisitively. She took a deep breath and took a lungs-worth of air in, filling her veins with oxygen. "Will you go out on a date with me?"

Callie sat there, stunned with her mouth gaped. Her roommate anxiously tried to read her expressions but only arrived at a conclusion that quantified as her heart being cruelly ripped from her chest, mercilessly stomped and ruthlessly burnt to ashes.

Alex regretfully shook her head as her eyes began to feel sore, "I'm...I'm s-"

"Yes." The brown-eyed girl cut her off making the girl who sat opposite her look up in confusion with her scrunched up features and arched brows. The corners of Callie's mouth tugged upwards, showing off her priceless smile. "Yes, Alex. I would love to."

The green-eyed brunette fervently threw a fist in the air as she bit her lower lip and closed her eyes - savoring the triumph. Adrenaline gushed through her veins. It felt as if she had climbed the highest peak, swam the deepest oceans and walked through the driest of desserts - and she was there, alive.

It was one of the rare times of Callie's life that she felt freed of responsibility for anybody. It was a multitude of celebrated liberty from the constricting grasp of her life - her parents', Collin's and everybody else who expected something from her, anything. She felt like she was allowed to feel something - something thrilling and her feelings were valid. She felt freedom in Alex's arms.

Callie checked the time on her phone and stood up, reluctantly excusing herself from her roommate who didn't look as happy as she was a moment ago.

"Where are you going?" Alex asked. She felt as if she was robbed of her time with Callie.

The younger brunette sighed dejectedly. "I'm meeting up with the actual Sydney Tucker for lunch."

The green-eyed brunette was evidently disheartened and the frown on her features was only the tip of the iceberg. She chose not to speak. Instead, she weakly smiled at her roommate and nodded without another word.

Callie felt compelled to alleviate Alex's pain. It was as if she, too, could feel it. She slowly made her way around the table to her partner's side and embraced from the side. She pulled her roommate's right shoulder to the middle of her chest while her hands rested on Alex's left shoulder. "Don't worry. She's no you." She assured her.

There was a force tugging the corners of Alex's mouth. She was happy upon hearing the beautifully raspy voice utter those words. It didn't take much for her to think of something to make her happier. "Don't I get a kiss at least?"

"What for? For lying to me?" The younger girl pulled back, feigning annoyance as she theatrically held her right palm against her chest.

Alex huffed in surrender. Despite being forgiven, the guilt still lingered in her chest and the fire that burnt it still flickered strongly. "I'm sorry, ok? How many times do I have to apologize?"

Callie's features softened as she slowly inched closer to her partner. She stopped when her body slightly touched Alex's. In one bold move, the younger brunette swung her leg over the green-eyed girl's seated legs and settled on her lap, straddling her.

"I've forgiven you, remember?" She whispered as she beamed affectionately at her.

Callie leaned in and hungrily collided their lips together while her chest struggled to survive from the raging tides of her overwhelmingly strong emotions she had for Alex.

-

"Callie?" A light feminine voice filled the brunette's ears as she sat in an Italian restaurant with a big brown leather-bound menu in her hands. The bartender was seated in a small wooden round table covered in red cloth, fit for two. To her right was a goblet of water with sweat trickling down signaling that she had been there for a good while.

The restaurant is called Capparis Spinosa which is the binomial name of the caper bush, otherwise called Flinders Rose. The specific plant produces the bud that is simply called caper, and such bud is a common ingredient for the Italian cuisine. The establishment was embellished in vibrant colors of yellow, green and mostly red. Walls were filled with framed pictures of the Italian land from the hilly landscapes of Tuscany, the vineyards in the Chianti region, the renowned Colosseum in Rome to the Grand Canal in the city of Venice.

The place was filled with people considering it was lunch time. It was in a strategic part of the city where a lot of students and business workers roam the streets. That, coupled by an assortment of choices and affordable prices - Capparis Spinosa is easily one of the favorites by locals and tourists alike. They refer to the place simply as "Caper".

Callie lifted her head up to look for the owner of the voice and found a woman with fiery amber hair, about the same height as Alex, beaming at her while slightly waving her hand by the wrist. It was the one and only, Sydney Tucker - dressed in a knee-length black dress with a white blazer.

"Hi!" The brunette stood up from her seat to acknowledge her. She struggled to decide between cheek kisses or hugs as the appropriate gesture but ended up extending her hand to shake Sydney’s, establishing where the night would lead them. Nowhere. "I'm Callie. It's nice to finally meet you."

Sydney giggled from the courteous display. She took Callie's waiting hand but pulled her close to give her an anticipated tight embrace, grinning broadly in the brunette's arms. "The pleasure is all mine, Callie."

Sydney Tucker was easily charming right off the bat. Her smiles show off her prominent cheek bones and a slight dimple to her right cheek. Her almond shaped light blue eyes would exuded glee.

The girls pulled back and soon settled on their seats, right across each other. After the pleasantries, the girls went over the menu despite Callie already knowing what she wanted to eat. It was a good distraction for her as she was not as comfortable as she wanted to be.

"I'm sorry for taking so long." Sydney looked at her apologetically as she set the menu down on the table. Her voice had a certain kept and poised tone which are reinforced by her graceful movements. "My friend wanted to go over the case we're currently working on and I couldn't get out of there as fast as I could."

Callie offered a closed-lip smile as she shook her head dismissing Sydney's apology. "Don't worry about it. It's fine." She assured her as she, herself, set the menu down. "Really, it is."

The brunette never denied the beauty that the girl who sat across her possessed. She reminded herself to give Jazmin kudos for her choice. However, despite the looks, she could not find anything special in the girl - anything striking. She kept comparing her to the green-eyed brunette she left at home - sleeping or eating lunch by herself. The thought significantly bothered Callie, making her stomach coil in knots.

Alex and Sydney were of the same height even.

"I feel really horrible about this. I'm sorry." Sydney pressed her palm against her chest, fervently asking for forgiveness despite the irrelevance. "I understand you work at three. I promise I won't keep you long."

Callie never bothered to correct her. She was more than willing to head back home earlier to be reunited with her roommate. All she ever thought was Sydney being a more poised, freckled, version of Alex Rivera with red hair. And being a version of the original wasn't enough for her.

At first, the brunette thought she was going to talk to a potential girlfriend. That was Jazmin's intention prior to her knowing about Alex's feelings for her childhood friend. However, sitting there with Sydney, Callie realized she was only looking at a friend and nothing more.

Soon, a female server in a red collared button down and black pants came to take their orders. The two engaged in casual conversation, nothing too personal which eased Callie up. They were talking about kitchen mishaps - the bartender talking about her sea bass cooked to char while Sydney mentioned something about her raw hard-boiled egg she wondered if it could give her salmonella. Callie's goofy side soon shone which Sydney appreciated immensely. She would momentarily look up as she giggled in her typical reserved manner.

"We should hang out soon." Sydney suggested before she took a sip of her white wine. She was instantly engrossed by the brunette that sat in front of her.

Callie had that effect on everybody. Her charisma has always been too strong to ignore and Alex Rivera was not an exception. In fact, the green-eyed brunette was probably the one severely affected by the intoxicating serum that is Callie.

Some Italian folk music played in the background and the brunette seemed to be enjoying the light music, grinning to herself at times. Everybody found that endearing.

"Sure." The brunette mindlessly agreed, not thinking too much of it. She looked up from her plate of half eaten grilled salmon and arugula salad. "We should invite Jazmin next time." She proposed, remembering the friend responsible for her new friend.

"Yeah." Sydney reluctantly agreed, nodding. She had a different thing in mind but felt as if it was too early to reveal her deeper desires for the brunette. She twirled the stem of the wine glass as she stared at chocolate eyes that were not on her. She barely touched her chicken pappardelle as she was so occupied with Callie, taken by her. "Jazmin would be thrilled."

But she wasn't.

Sydney forced a smile to save face. After all, she had something to be proud of. She came from a reputable family with an astounding track record as far as her academics are concerned. She wanted to impress the brunette.

"You should meet my roommates!" Callie eagerly muttered as soon as she swallowed the food in her mouth, leaning towards the table. She dabbed around the area of her lips with the white napkin that was laid out on her lap, ridding it with excess oil. "Alex's a little intimidating but she's really sweet once you get past her very stubborn shell." She reached for her goblet of water and ushered it to her lips.

A satisfied smirk made its way upon her lips as she immersed herself in thoughts of the green-eyed brunette. Her lips became tingly as a nostalgic wind hit the plump surface. She raised an index finger and traced the satisfyingly prickly sensation.

That was not the first time Callie grinned because of Alex during the few hours she spent with Sydney, and it did not go unnoticed. Somehow, that didn't throw Sydney off. She was holding on to the fact that Callie was single and nobody had thought of changing that status yet, even Alex.

Then again, she was up for some competition.

She was sure she’d win.

"Of course." Sydney grew even more curious to meet the green-eyed girl the more Callie mentioned her. She was thrown off at the fact that the younger brunette spoke of her fondly. "I would love to meet this Alex you're talking about." She mumbled under her breath - flashing the younger girl a slight toothless grin.

At the end of the lunch get-together, Callie was more than pleased with herself. She had fixed the unintended mix-up and befriended a gorgeous law student. But she was not drawn to her - or at least with the same intensity as somebody else. Physical attraction was only the beginning of a relationship. Nobody should stay with anyone just for their looks.

However, Callie would be lying if she said Sydney wasn't her type. Callie always loved ambition-driven people who stopped at nothing to get to the top and Sydney was that kind of person.

Then again, as they say, the heart wants what it wants.

Alex was passed out on the couch with a bag of corn chips on her belly with her right hand holding onto it. The bright afternoon light feely passed through the wide iron clad window out to the last corner of the kitchen with open floor plan. The minute volume of the television coupled by muffled Chicago street noise outside filled the space. The serene look on the green-eyed brunette's features seemed to set the mood for the entire room, making Callie significantly calmer despite the fluttering bugs with beautiful kaleidoscopic wings in her belly.

The brown-eyed brunette stood by the door. She deposited her keys in the red and white woven bowl that was perched on the table by the door. She pulled the black knitted scarf loose and proceeded to take her gray outer woolen coat off revealing her in white striped button down shirt and tight black pants. She hung them on one of the hooks and tried to wriggle her feet out of her shin high boots.

Callie quietly inched her way towards the sleeping girl - walking on tiptoes. She sat on the coffee table with her elbows on her knees. That was when she turned to her right and saw the Mickey Mouse cartoon playing on the TV screen. Her grin widened as she shook her head in amusement.

"That's why you're my DP." She whispered as she carefully slipped the bag of corn chips out of Alex's grasp and onto the coffee table she was sitting on. She held her breath, thinking it would help to silence the crunching noise of the packet. However, the sound didn't seem to bother the sleeping brunette.

She observed the way Alex tank top folded and pulled to whatever form Alex comfortably slept on. It was slightly hiked up but never revealed much other than the sliver of fair skin that showed. Her sweats were perfectly draped over her extended legs.

The younger bartender reached for the remote which was conveniently on the same table as she was and shut the television off. She then turned to her roommate and brushed the stray strand of her dyed jet black hair out of the way and leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep well, Aurora." She muttered under her breath. Her already elated mood seemed to have intensified the moment her lips fell on the smooth surface of Alex's skin.

Callie straightened herself up, rubbing her palms on her jeans. Before she could take the first step away from the living room, she was interrupted by the sound of rustling emanating from the couch in front of her. The younger brunette flinched causing another disruption in her breathing.

"That's not how the fairytale went, Merryweather." Alex croaked out, pointing to her pucker lips while her eyes remained closed.

Callie smiled to herself as she let out air through nose, amused by Alex's admittedly childish antics. She perched her hands on her waist as she towered over her roommate, playfully shaking her head condescendingly.

"That's the thing." She chuckled at the nickname, more amused by her work partner's words and behavior. "I'm not Prince Phillip."

"Oh, you know you want to." The green-eyed brunette peeked through one eye, with a knowing smirk playing on her pink lips. "And you called me Aurora."

The younger bartender was left speechless with her open mouth grin. She began to walk away prompting Alex to sit up, watching her leave with her eyes particularly glued to Callie's ample backside. The sight immediately pulled her out of her lucid consciousness as her primal need descended upon her.

"Have you eaten yet?" Callie asked as she was halfway towards the empty dining table.

"I...uh...I...I mean," Alex stammered as she fought to avert her gaze with fortitude. Panic seemed to rule her state of mine and it was one of those rare times that she does succumb to pressure. "If turkey deli counts, then yes." She cleared her throat and tried to muster up her typical proud, unfazed exterior. Her efforts were valiant and stubborn just as she is.

"Do you want me to cook for you?" The younger bartender offered with a smirk on her face as she opened the refrigerator door - feeling the pair of green eyes that had been staring at her. "Stop staring at my ass, Morticia." She warned as she darted a glance at the green-eyed brunette, pointing at her with her index finger.

Alex's breath hitched as she raised both hands up in surrender. Her eyes wandered aimlessly to different parts of the space as she feigned innocence. She bit on her lips to prevent the smirk that was fighting to get out. "I mean, I would eat free, well cooked meals. I'm just saying."

Callie couldn't help but grin. It amazed her how the person she was sure she hated could elicit such positive feeling with so little effort. However, it was because she has feelings for the specific person and she knew that.

"How would you like a chicken club sandwich?" She proposed as she dug into the cold confinement for the necessary ingredients.

Alex was more than pleased with the choice. She offered to help but Callie was keen on keeping her away from the kitchen which she gladly obliged. She sat on the table holding a fork and a knife as a prop to fake being impatient, banging the cutleries gently on the wooden table.

"Where's my food, BB?" She playfully whined as she watched the younger brunette whip her late lunch up in the kitchen.

Callie simply ignored her, thawing the chicken breast in the microwave oven as she cut some tomatoes with bacon, bread and ice berg lettuce waiting in the wings. She was quick in her task which astounded Alex, only adding up to the list of attractive features to Callie Maxwell.

"You didn't really have to do this." Alex confessed when all the fun and games died down, and her sandwich ready to be served. "I was just kidding."

"I know." Callie shrugged her shoulders while keeping her eyes on the two plates she was holding. "I wanted to. It's the least I could for my breakfast chef." She grinned as she placed her culinary masterpiece down to the table, to the hungry tiger waiting for her meal.

There was a sense of accomplishment in Callie when she saw the tenderness in Alex's eyes. She was pleased to have done something to contribute to her roommate's happiness even if it was just food. She simply adored that genuine smile on her lips that weakened her knees and made her heart go ballistic.

"Didn't you eat already?" Alex queried with narrowed eyes, scrutinizing her roommate. Her hands were on her three cornered sandwich, ready to devour the savory dish.

"I did but I thought you might like some company." Callie's lips formed into a toothless grin before quickly looking down on her food and taking a bite of it.

It was a different perspective to be seated in front of the girl Callie had feelings for. It was something that was nothing short of bliss, or even euphoria. The tiniest gesture made her panic in a good way. The smallest smile, the lightest touch felt more to her and her beating heart may be the only witness to that, other than her mind and the stomach that had been filled with butterflies up to the brim.

It was a different feeling for her. She had not fallen in love, at least not completely. Being with Sydney Tucker only reinforced her feelings for Alex. She wanted a new perspective, something that would make her feel a feeling so obvious, she only had to open her heart. The thing is, it was her who was blocking everything from plain sight. It was her own fear and inhibitions.

Callie's feelings were always coupled by doubts considering how she met Alex and who she was for a good amount of time. Their history together was not exactly the nicest.

"Do you drink, BB?" Alex probed out of the blue as she watched Callie chug down a glass of water. "I haven't seen you drink."

"I used to." The younger girl simply retorted.

For some reason, the question startled the brunette. Her doe eyes were wider as her jaw clenched. The movement in her throat as she swallowed hard was more than visible. It was something that Alex wanted to learn more about but left to ask some other time. She could not bear the thought of flicking the switch to Callie's mood.

"It's ok." She reached for her partner's hand and squeezed it while offering a reassuring smile. "You don't have to tell me why."

The gesture showed the sensitivity in Alex's heart and it only made Callie think that it was rational to trust the green-eyed brunette but she could not offer her an answer for now. It had been something buried in the back of her mind along with the memory of her ex-boyfriend.

But for now, they were happy and that was all that mattered to them.