Chapter One (New People and Sheets)
"Ariadne! Where should I put this lamp?"
"Julianne, I really don't care. The den is yours anyway and I never come down here. You've done a wonderful job down here though. Wow."
"Why thank you, miss."
Julianne was Ariadne's roommate. The two got along beautifully. They were practically sisters. Sure, they got into arguments and would start yelling matches but they'd eventually sort things out and be best friends again by the next day. Even though they were so close there were just certain things that Ariadne couldn't tell her dearest friend. Like how she entered people's dreams and stole information of how, on some occasions, implanted ideas into the target's mind. She didn't think her friend needed to know.
"Hey, Julianne? Would you mind if I had some friends over tomorrow? They'd be staying for a while, if that's ok with you."
"It's about time I started to meet some of your friends!"
Ariadne smiled at her young and eager friend. She was s willing to meet new people and so unafraid of change. That's actually how the two had been paired for this house. They both just happened to be visiting the small house on the same day. The price wasn't bad but neither one of them could afford the upkeep and the rent, so Julianne asked if she'd like to be housemates with her. Together the rent and utilities wouldn't be so expensive. She was probably more eager for friendship and knowledge than Ariadne was herself. She couldn't help but think some nights that if Julianne had been there the year Dom came that it would have been her who had become his new architect.
Julianne broke her reverie by asking her questions about her friends, none of which she heard.
"I'm sorry Julianne, I was zoned out there for a bit."
Ariadne gave her a sheepish smile and got a raised eyebrow as a response.
"I was just asking if that guy you talk about in your sleep would be in this group of friends."
Ariadne couldn't help the blush that rushed to her cheeks turning her alabaster skin a flattering pink. She had talked to Julianne about the man that she had romantic feelings for in the waking world but she had no clue that she had been sleep talking.
"I'll take that as a yes. The other questions were: how many people will be staying and also, girls or guys?"
Ariadne hadn't realized that all of her friends from the Fischer job were men. She cursed herself for being so stupid in that regard.
"Well, there will be four and they're all guys."
A nervous laugh escaped her lips as she watched Julianne's jaw drop. She probably was thinking that before she knew her, she was a skank for hire.
"I worked with them all on an architecture based job a year ago. They're all great people even though one can be a stick in the mud."
"I don't very much care for people that are sticks in the mud."
Ariadne laughed at this statement because she knew the truth it held. Julianne was the furthest thing from a stick in the mud, she was so lively and unpredictable that sometimes you couldn't keep up with her. Arthur will be in for a treat she thought while a smirked played across her features.
"You said that they'd be coming tomorrow, right?"
She nodded and suddenly realized that one night in advance for four people staying over wasn't a whole lot of time to give someone. She knew that Julianne wasn't mad about it though.
"Yeah. I don't know how long they'll be staying but I do know that they'll be here tomorrow at 7 o'clock."
"We'll have to feed them that night, won't we?"
"And find places for them to sleep."
"We have that guest room, right? People can stay in there. Two of them at least. And I have no problem letting one of them share my room with me."
"Or we could make them sleep in the den."
"But the den's mine!"
Ariadne loved this kid because even though she was almost nineteen she still acted so childish. She knew that the whining girl in front of her was a genius.
"One can sleep on an air mattress in my room and one in your room. Does that sound like a good idea to you?"
"That's a good idea, Ari!"
The two girls went to gather up things such as the air mattresses and some sheets for the guests that would be coming in day. They had the mattresses set up quickly and sheets put on all of the beds. They then went to the store and bought some groceries and beverages. Once they got home and had everything planned for the arrival the next day they said their goodnights and went to sleep.
The next morning came and the girls awoke to the phone ringing. Ariadne was the first one up to answer it while Julianne stumbled out of her room in an oversized t-shirt with bleary eyes.
"Hello?"
"Who is it, Ari?"
Ariadne shooed her friend away while simultaneously shushing her. She took a few notes on a pad of paper that was nearby and then told the caller not to worry. She then said goodbye and hung up.
"Who was that?"
"That was one of the guys. He said that their flight was running ahead of time and that they'd be here around 3 o'clock."
"That's way earlier than 7!"
"You really are a genius, Jules."
They both laughed and then looked up at the clock that sat in the kitchen where they both were because that is where their phone is located in the house.
"Crap. It's getting kind of late."
It was almost ten which meant that the guys would be at the house in about five hours. It really didn't seem like a lot of time to them. They both went to shower and change into clothes for the day. Once they were both finished and they were sitting around the living room Julianne asked if they'd have to pick them up at the airport.
"No, they have a friend that had everything arranged for this visit. He's kind of a business man that can do whatever he wants."
"What were the notes that you took while you were on the phone with whoever?"
"The time they would be coming in and what they want for dinner and drinks."
"Needy crowd you were in with Ari. What were the orders they put in?"
"They all wanted pizza and beer."
"Alcohol is icky. How old are these guys, anyway?"
"One is in his late thirties early forties, two are in their thirties and the youngest is in his mid to late twenties."
"Which age group does your guy fall into?"
"Thirties."
"I can't wait to meet this guy."
"I'm not going to give it away easily, you know that right?"
"I wouldn't expect anything less!"
The two smiled at each other then decided that they would watch some TV. Before they knew it they were playing video games and yelling at the TV and at each other sometimes. They were interrupted when there was a loud knock on the door. They both looked at the door and then up at the clock perched on the table in the living room. It was 3:30. That knock on the door was more than likely Ariadne's friends. They both jumped up to answer the door. They were pushing each other out of the way to get to the door. Julianne was the first to the door ad opened in triumphantly. Four men stood before her. They all looked tired and worn but when Ariadne jumped on Julianne to see them they all seemed to lighten up a bit.
"Jules these are my friends!"
She took them all in for a moment before she smiled and greeted them. She stood aside to let them all into the house.
"You all must be tired. I'm Julianne, by the way. Can we get you guys anything?"
All at once they all said that they wanted water. The Englishman and the darker skinned man shared a dorky look that showed how much that amused them. Right away Julianne could tell which man was the oldest out of the group, he certainly looked aged and stressed, like a dad. She grabbed four water bottles and chucked them at the men in the living room then picked up the phone to order three pizzas; cheese, sausage and pepperoni, that should please everyone she thought.
"So, I just ordered the pizzas and they should be here in like 45 minutes. I'm sorry but I don't know any of your names."
She smiled at them all. The oldest looking one cleared his throat and introduced himself as Dom Cobb, then the Arabic looking dude said he was Yusuf, the Englishman was Eames and finally the stick in the mud guy in the business suit announced he was Arthur.
"Nice to meet you all! We have a little time before the pizza gets here so I can show you guys to your rooms if that's cool."
The group of men nodded and stood up to grab their bags as they followed her down a hallway.
"Um, there's a guest room right here that two of you can share. Does anyone have a preferred room buddy?"
The older gentleman spoke up.
"Yusuf and I can share this room. Does this mean that Eames and Arthur have to share a room too?"
She noticed that he and Yusuf chuckled to themselves as he asked this question.
"Well, they will be sharing but with me and Ariadne. Who wants to room with Ariadne?"
Eames' hand shot up so fast that I knew he was the one. She nodded politely and led him into her room where the threats began.
"I know you're the guy. Be careful."
Julianne left a confused Eames in Ariadne's room while she went back to get Arthur.
"I guess this means that you'll be rooming with me."
He didn't seem too enthused by the idea. She wasn't too terribly happy by the news but at least she was trying to be hospitable and kind.
"Uh, you'll be on the air mattress there on the floor, if you want to change before dinner that's cool. If you need anything let me know."
"Why would I want to change?"
"I don't know. I mean, you are in a business suit and that couldn't have been too comfortable on the plane and I thought you might like to throw on some jeans or something."
He nodded and she took that as her cue to leave the room and leave him be. She couldn't help but think how good he looked in that three piece suit. She bit her lip nervously as she closed the door behind her. The doorbell had just rang and she could hear Ariadne answer the door and get the food.
Everyone was sitting around the living room with plates in hand with a beer off to the side. Julianne took a diet coke from the fridge and when she turned around she could feel the blood rush to her cheeks at what she saw before her.