Chapter 4
Pauleen moved to Seattle in 2015. She followed the woman who was supposed to be the love of her life to the other side of America, only to be left without a fiancee, cheated on and with a rent, she couldn't afford, for herself.
She had studied Education in college and she occasionally wrote a few pieces for a local newspaper, but it wasn't enough. So she worked some shifts as a bartender in gay club downtown. In addition, she often spent her days in the neighborhood recreation center where she helped homeless people.
She liked her life in Seattle, it wasn't monotonous, but she couldn't say she was 'happy happy'.
Her love life left something to be desired. She hadn't dated anyone for a while neither women nor men cause the only interactions she had, were limited to the bar's customers and they were always the same. The other people she hung out with were the children or the sweet old men in the center and she certainly couldn't go out with them.
Arizona's arrival would bring some fresh air in her life too.
"Are you staying a few days?" Pauleen asked Nick as they drank a cup of coffee in her living room.
"Actually, I don't have specific plans... I think I'll help Arizona with the move and then go back to Bend..." he said vaguely, with his elbows on his knees and looking at the liquid in his cup.
"Don't you have other job interviews?" Arizona interrupted, placing her feet on the coffee table in front of the couch and crossing them.
"Yes, one in Portland in a few days" he replied.
"Uhh Portland isn't far! And it's nice… I've been there a few times" Pauleen commented.
"Yeah, I hope it goes well… I would be halfway between Bend and Seattle.. Just saying.." he leaned against the backrest of the armchair.
Arizona ignored his friend's comment.
"Ok guys, I'm getting sleepy, how about going to bed?" Arizona asked.
"You're really getting older…" her friend commented standing up and taking blanket for the couch.
"Who should sleep on it?" Nick asked and since both girls were glaring at him he added "Come on girls, really? I'm almost 6 feet tall.."
"Well, you are actually taller than I imagined…" Pauleen commented looking at him "Okay, don't worry, you get the bed for tonight.. But you change the sheets yourself"
"No way! I'll take the couch! It's already a lot that you've been letting us stay here!" and smacking Nick's head she said "You're unbelievable!"
"Are you sure? Look, it's not very comfortable" she knew firsthand that her sofa wasn't good for backs and that she would wake up half sore.
"Absolutely! Give me that!" she reached out to her friend grabbing the blanket.
"So.. We bunk together?" Nick asked their host.
"Yup! And I warn you, when I sleep, I cling to anything like a limpet!" Pauleen joked as she headed for her room.
"Hey Yuma, are you sure you want the sofa?" he replies jokingly.
"Yes... Pauleen is all yours! Good night!" she answered getting comfy.
Nick went to bed and after a few seconds he felt Pauleen clinging with both her arms and legs and he said "You weren't kidding... You sure you are lesbian?"
They laughed together and after a while, they fell asleep.
"Oh my god, that's.. That's gorgeous!" Arizona said entering her new loft and looking around "I love it!"
"As soon as I saw it, I thought 'That's it!' I'm glad you like it." Pauleen grinned satisfied.
"'Like it'? I'll take it if she doesn't!" Nick intervened, bending over to put his head under the fireplace in the corner of the room.
"Wow! Thank you very much, I don't know how I'd have done without you!"
"I know you used me just to find you an house!" the girl joked, carrying the first box inside.
"Ouch! You caught me!"
The house Pauleen had found for her, loft number 502, was just a few steps away from the hospital. A small kitchen, a peninsula counter, a fireplace and a mezzanine as a bedroom. An open space but nothing excessive: as soon as she entered Arizona she felt she was in her place.
"Well, stop standing there sitting on your hands!" Pauleen ordered "This stuff won't carry itself!"
They all went down the street to Arizona's car and unloaded it waiting for the truck with the rest of her things.
The blonde was grateful that they hadn't left her alone. It would have taken her forever to put everything in order.
By the end of the day, Nick and Pauleen had managed to arrange things in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Arizona, in addition to giving orders, had taken care of the mezzanine where the movers had assembled the wardrobe and her new bed.
She hoped everything would be ready before the first day of work.
She paused to look at the loft. It may be because of the fireplace or maybe because her friends were there, but for the first time, she was happy with where she lived.
After Bend, nothing else had really had the taste of 'home'.
"Anyone hungry?" Nick spoke, suspending his work with the hammock.
"How is it that you're always the one who wants to eat?" Arizona asked, making Pauleen laugh too.
"Our muscles have been working for you all day Phoenix, you should at least go and buy something. Pauleen what do you want to eat? "
"Everything is okay, really!" and turning to her friend, she added "You know my tastes.."
Arizona looked at Nick, she knew him well, he was practically her brother. He approached him and whispered in his ear "Be careful what you do!"
"I don't know what are you talking about..." he said playing dumb.
She didn't even answer him, they both knew what she was referring to. She took her backpack and pointing her index and middle fingers first towards her own eyes and then towards him she warned "I'm watching you!"
Arizona, despite Nick's attempt to be alone with Pauleen, was happy to take a stroll.
She had never been to Seattle before. The job interview was online, and getting to know the neighborhood seemed like a good idea. And by 'getting to know the neighborhood' she meant exactly knowing which takeaway restaurants were there.
Walking through the streets near her apartment she felt like she belonged there. Also, many restaurants inspired her and that was a big one pro.
After a quick look here and there she decided on spanish tapas and paella for his friend.
"Eres nueva?" The old cashier asked while delivering the goods to the blonde. "You're new?"
"Yes, you can tell?" From what had he deduced it? She was impressed.
"I remember costumers's faces... Yours is.. bright, I hope to see you again!" he smiled at her.
Arizona thanked him and promised she would be back soon. She hadn't been described as 'bright' for a long time.
The choice to move was turning out to be better than she had thought.
Without wasting too much time she went back home and ran up the elevator, stopping it with a foot and entering awkwardly.
She didn't notice until she bumped into him that there was another person inside.
"Oh I'm sorry, I was in a hurry, I wasn't watching!" she excused gently.
"No problem" The man in there smiled and added, pointing with his eyes at the bags she was holding "Do you need any help?"
"Thanks, but I should get off in a bit." she explained looking at the floor indicator "I think". They were on the fourth floor.
When the doors opened, Arizona turned to greet the man and she noticed that he was leaving the elevator too.
He was a man in his forties, very tall, a little grizzled and also charming, if you like the type.
"Oh! My new neighbor?" he smiled and winked "Much better than the old couple that was there before!"
He reached out and introduced himself "Mark, very pleased!"
"Arizona." The blonde smiled... It seemed like that the guy was flirting. Yikes. But she wanted to be civil, they would have been neighbors after all "I would shake hands but I'm a bit occupied!" she said, ringing the bell with her elbow.
"Don't worry!" He said opening the door of 501 "See you around, I hope.."
In the meanwhile Nick opened the door "Hey! It smells good! Come on in, I'll help you!" He looked up, saw the man and gave him a polite smile.
Mark wished good evening and he retired to his apartment.
"Have you already made acquaintance?" Nick commented opening the food bags on the counter.
"Yeah, I found a neighbor in the elevator, he seems.. Nice" she replied and said "You, instead? I hope you haven't made too much acquaintance..." She glared at him.
He sniggered and shook his head "Nope, all quiet!" he winked. "I hung the hammock chair… What do you think?"
Arizona went under the mezzanine where Nick had fixed his hanging chair "Do you think it'll hold me?" she asked unsure, placing her hands on the ropes and pulling them.
"You shouldn't have any problems, I've been there for half an hour" Pauleen intervened, coming out of the bathroom "What else is there to do today? I'm pretty tired"
"Actually, I think we're done and you know, you don't have to stay here and work, you've already done more than enough!"
"I'm happy to help, but I think now I'll sit here and look at you guys, huh" she said yawning.
They all laughed and they began to eat around the coffee table in the living room while Arizona tried to figure something out with the TV instructions.
"I remembered you being less clumsy. You suck!" Pauleen commented, snatching the booklet from her friend's hands and joking "Didn't you win a mega-doctor-genius-contest? I can't imagine the other competitors!"
Arizona knew she wasn't that good with these things, she always let others deal with technology. And, of course, Pauleen in few seconds was able to program the channel scan. They kept eating while the TV fund some new channels, until her phone rang: it was her mother.
The blonde read the name on the screen and pretended nothing happened. But she could feel Nick's gaze on her. She looked at him and knew that she had no alternative.
"Hi Mom!" she said nonchalantly.
"Oh my goodness! Hello darling!" Arizona then heard her mother "Daniel, she answered! Come on!" and she continued "How did the trip go? Nick said you're fixing up the house!"
Arizona nodded and turned to his friend "Oh yeah? Nick told you?" trying in vain to shove him.
"Arizona, leave him alone, he just wants our good! Now tell me, what do you think of Seattle?"
"From what I've seen it looks nice, today it was sunny, but Pauleen says it's pretty rare..."
"Ohh Pauleen, I remember! Say hi to her! How nice that you are close to home, we're so happy!" Barbara sweetly said and then her husband added "We would like to see you sooner or later bug!"
"Yes.. you will" she said unconvinced as she hoped the conversation would end quickly.
"Let's hope Nick gets the job in Portland, then. So that all of us will be on the West Coast!" Barbara joked.
Arizona didn't answer because she didn't want to ruin the moment for her parents: that 'all of us' wasn't quite correct. Teddy was deployed and Tim was missing. And unfortunately, he couldn't move to the West Coast.
"Well, we'll see you soon honey!" Barbara said.
"I'll call you this week" Arizona said and heard her mother sniffle "I will mom, I promise!"
"Ok, we love you bug!" the Robbins concluded.
Arizona shut the phone and waited for Nick's comment, which immediately arrived: "Was it so heartbreaking?"
"Not so easy!" she promptly answered.
"For what it's worth, I'm proud of you" Pauleen winked at her from her place on the couch corner.
Arizona smiled, taking another croquette in her mouth.
Things really seemed to be going well.
"So, at that point I asked her to come and live with me!" Pauleen said.
"No wait wait, you're telling me that after you practically declared your love and I'd .."
"In front of the whole bar" Pauleen added, interrupting her.
Arizona suppressed a laugh "..in front of the whole bar, so after you've thrown away all your pride, she got up and left?" she asked from the adjacent fitting room.
"Can you not let the entire shop listen to my drama?" she whispered.
"I'm sorry, but I'm out of words, seriously… and then, what did you do? You stood there?"
"I swear! I was so embarrassed! It was so awkward I almost quit the job!" Pauleen said peeking into the dressing room with her head "Wow! That's a really tight ass that you got!" She commented while her friend was trying on a new pair of jeans.
"You don't have to be embarrassed, she's a bitch! You're just the poor wretch that happens to choose all these whack-jobs!" She turned and looking in the mirror she asked "What you think? Which one?"
"I think all Seattle lesbians will jump on you, no matter which pair you buy!" her friend answered.
Arizona frowned and watched her through the mirror as if asking for an explanation.
"I'll have you know that it's not a huge city and there are always the same people around here... Fresh meat is tempting for everyone." Pauleen said as if it was obvious.
"I'll ignore the fact that you referred to me as 'fresh meat' and I'll take these" she said as she walked out of the dressing room, a pile of clothes to buy on her arm.
After shopping, they were joining Nick to have lunch together before his return to Bend.
"I'm sorry he's leaving, he's nice" Pauleen said, starting the car.
"He is, if you take him in small doses." Arizona joked.
"You say that because he's practically your brother... Speaking of, I never understood what exactly happened to his family..." she was curious.
Arizona explained "His father and mine were colleagues and they were best friends, actually, they still are. That's why we've always been together... His mum left when we were little.."
"Yeah, yeah, I remember she ran off with her lover to Italy?" her friend intervened.
"Greece… Never heard from her, I think" and she shrugged.
"And the father?"
She sighed "Basically he was discharged after some kind of accident at work, along with my dad, but Frank has never recovered from depression.. I think he is still being treated in Bend" she continued.
"Why Bend?" Pauleen asked.
"We went there just to be close to the Altman family, but Nick and Teddy have always been with us, they even had their own room".
"It must not have been easy, poor Nick" Pauleen commented as she parked in front of the restaurant.
"Yeah, it's still hard to see Frank in that shape.."
"Is Nick single?" Pauleen laughed trying to lighten the conversation a little.
"Hey!" she exclaimed "Weren't you done with men after that gym guy?" Arizona asked unfastening her belt.
"You're right, but, as you know, it doesn't seem to go much better with women... And then, look at him!" Pauleen retorted, pointing with her head in Nick's direction who was waiting for them at a table.
"We won't look at him Paul, since he lives in another state.." Arizona glared at her and got out of the car.
Pauleen snorted. She knew Arizona was right but that's how she was. She knew herself by now, her heart was in her vagina.
"It was really nice to see you again Pauleen, I hope to be back soon!" Nick hugged her and winked at Arizona who was behind Pauleen's back.
"Yeah, next time we'll do something different from moving furniture!" she joked.
"It's all very nice, but Nick, we need to get going… Paul, are you sure you don't want to come?"
"No I'm sorry, I'd like it.." She said. Her gaze lingering on Nick. "But I told them I'd be at the center the whole afternoon."
"Okay, have fun with your old folk then.." the blonde smiled and she walked to the car.
Pauleen greeted the two, got into her car and put her hands in her hair. Why did she have her heart in her vagina?
She had said goodbye and left Nick at the station, she had done some shopping for the apartment and she had eaten the leftovers from the previous night. What else could she do? She could have unboxed a bit more or tidied up her closet but it was Sunday night and she could hear the noises of the city outside.
She might have known Seattle by night, the lesbian bars were not that far away. But then, she thought that going alone would have been sad, and, Pauleen would have liked to go with her for the first tour. So she decided to go out and to stay in the neighborhood.
Joe's.
The sign was simple and the people outside seemed alright. It was only one block away from her house and the hospital, perhaps she would have found some future colleague.
As she entered she looked around the bar. It seemed they all knew each other. Did she end up by chance at a private party?
Soon after, she saw her neighbor, Mark. He was leaning on a table and he was with a very beautiful woman, probably a lot younger than him. 'No accounting for taste' she thought. Mark looked up and intercepted her gaze. She smiled slightly at him when he raised his glass as if he toasted to her. And while he was with a girl. Poor girl.
She sat at the counter ordering a drink and the barman asked her if she was new in town as he poured her beer.
"Yes! But, is it so obvious? You're the second who notices." She smiled.
The man laughed and said "It's always the same people around here, it's hard not to notice a new face!" He extended his hand for her to shake it and he continued "Anyway, I'm Joe. The only one rule here is to hand over your car keys after the third drink!"
Arizona raised her glass smiling "You're wise Joe.." She took a sip of her beer she and introduced herself "I'm Arizona!"
"Arizona.. Did you come here for...?" he asked.
"Work. I am a doctor, I start tomorrow at the hospital across the street" she answered, unaware of the fact that practically all the customers of the bar worked there.
"You are in the right place then!" He left the blonde's money on the counter and he added "The first one is on the house.. I'm sure it won't be the last!" He walked away to serve other customers, but he turned around smiling and exclaiming "Welcome to Seattle!"