Arthur wouldn't see Merlin until Friday morning, where Merlin arrived a little later than on Monday, due to getting the bus to the school. Noticing the light on inside, Merlin pushed open the door, and saw Arthur at his desk with a bottle of water instead of a coffee cup.

"Where have you been the last few days?"

"Why, did you miss me?"

"No!"

"Liar."

"You can't just take days off when you feel like it."

"Oh, hush up Arthur. I'm only a part-time teacher. I teach Monday's and Friday's."

"So what do you do for the other three days then?

"I go to university. I'm working on my Masters degree."

"So, you leave me here, all by myself, for three whole days?"

"Yes."

"Good. I might actually get some work done."

"Like hell."

Merlin had brought in some ready-made coffee from home, and began pouring a cup out whilst he was waiting for his laptop to start up.

"Hey Emrys, what you got there?"

"Coffee!" Merlin eyed the coffee machine. "Not drinking that excuse for a beverage."

"Give us a cup will you?"

Merlin smirked, teasing the blond. "I might let you have a sip."

"Merlin!"

"Fine, Get a mug then, some sugar and some milk."

Merlin would begin teaching from nine throughout the day, where as Arthur was more relaxed in his chair, only having two classes that day, both on the afternoon.

Merlin came in during the morning break and looked through his rucksack. "Dammit!"

Arthur peered over his laptop, curious, his own specs on. "What's wrong?"

"Forgot my sandwich box. I'll have to get something from the canteen. What's the special today?"

"Macaroni Cheese."

"Ah, that'll do."

Merlin shoved his spectacles back on, which were those geeky, black framed ones, rather stylish to be honest, and suited Merlin perfectly, which made Arthur the more oblivious as to having a secret desire for Merlin.

Arthur leaned back in his chair, a wide smile plastered on his face, ogling Merlin. "Nice glasses."

"You think?"

"Yeah, suit you well."

"So do yours."

"Thank you." Merlin then collected his gear and went to prepare for his next class, throwing back "catch you later" on the way out.

With Arthur having post-stick notes on his desk, Arthur noticed one of Merlin's books on the table with a bookmark in, something he reads pretty often then. Arthur wrote out a note in a red pen, and then stuck it in Merlin's book. If Arthur was somehow going to get Merlin in his bed, then this would be one way, making an effort. The note read:

Them specs of yours make you intellectually sexy; mind you, you're sexy anyway. Maybe you could read me a love poem whilst I undress you like a recipe, one ingredient after the other.

Arthur would then head downstairs, and grab some early lunch, one of the kitchen staff helping to bring the bowls up. Merlin arrived at noon to chuck his items on the desk. As he was about to grab his wallet, Merlin noticed the two bowls of macaroni cheese, and two bowls of cake and custard on Arthur's desk.

"Come on Merlin! Eat up!"

"What's all this?"

"Lunch. What else does it look like?"

"Arthur, you didn't have to."

"Yeah well, you bought me coffee on Monday, so I've bought you lunch today."

"You're so cute Arthur," Merlin sing-songed sarcastically.

"Shut up Merlin." Merlin would then drop his things onto his desk, and pull a chair over to join Arthur at his desk, both digging in to lunch, trying not to bump knees under the table.

Later that evening when Merlin opened his book before he was going to sleep, he noticed the post-stick note inside, reading the details. Wondering who got hold of his book, he kept the note in there, fingers tracing the handwriting. Merlin had an admirer.

The morning after, Merlin was due to work at the coffee shop, helping Will out, as times were much busier on Saturday than any other day. Following the rather splendid cup that Arthur had the privilege of enjoying last Monday, Arthur would pay another visit, as he had the groceries to fetch.

"What can I get you, blondie?"

Arthur turned in all directions; the voice being rather familiar to his ears, said voice snapped his fingers for Arthur to stop. "Arthur! Over at the counter love."

"Merlin? What the hell are you doing there?"

"I work here, well, on Saturday's anyway."

"I thought you were a teacher?"

"Hey! People love my coffee!"

"I can see that." Some people obviously love more than just Merlin's coffee though.

"Monday's cup then?"

"Yeah."

"Take a seat, I'll be with you in a bit."

Arthur sat at the table they were at on Monday, and waited for his cup. Instead, a slice of coffee cake came with the cup, as Merlin handed it over, Merlin's green apron now discarded.

"Cake? I asked for coffee only! Get them glasses back on Merlin!"

"It's my cake you goon! Coffee is yours."

"Oh. Still, get them glasses back on."

"Why?"

Arthur might have let a little too much out, forgetting where he was and who with. "Because they suit you, and you look gorgeous in them." Arthur coughed and then added, using his usual mockery tone. "And clearly you can't read orders properly."

"Shut up, Arthur." Merlin blushed anyway over the compliments.

"Why aren't you working anyway?"

"Because I'm done for the day."

"Hmm, wanna come over?"

"Yeah alright. Gwen's out, Freya's at work, and she'll only get me to model for her otherwise."

"I've got to see that."

"Maybe you will some day."

"Good. Oh I need to get the groceries first though."

"Damn you Arthur!" Arthur grinned, and nudged Merlin's knee under the table, both unable to break contact, as the side of their knees remained plastered together.

Finishing off the cake, Merlin was about to clear the table, when Arthur asked for a pen and a napkin. Fetching one, Arthur scribbled a note, whilst Merlin cleaned up.

You be the cookies. I'll be the cream. Why don't we bake tonight?

Arthur then slipped the napkin into Merlin's jacket pocket. Returning back to the table, both waved to Will on the way out and took to the supermarket, Arthur producing a shopping list. Reaching the entrance, where all the trollies and baskets were, Merlin eyed both.

"Shopping basket or trolley?"

"Trolley. It's a week's worth today."

Merlin collected a trolley, and both went inside. The first item to collect was the TV Guide. "Is there any point in getting one of them? You were moaning yesterday that there was nothing on."

"My shopping, my choices."

Whizzing around to the clothes section, because Arthur liked to have a look at the sales for some odd reason, Merlin viewed the contents, some of the clothing he already recognised, as they were part of his own wardrobe. Arthur would pick up a pair of jeans and eye them, jeans clearly too small for himself.

"No point trying them on! They won't fit you."

"Are you trying to say that I'm fat?"

"Nope. Just telling the truth."

"What makes you think they are for me?"

"Well who else would they be for?" Arthur then went silent, and placed them back on the hanger.

Eventually, over much squabbling and debating, Merlin and Arthur were in the queue, and Merlin and his big mouth eyed the contents on the conveyer belt.

"This is going to cost a lot."

"Oh hush up Merlin. It's a week's worth."

An elderly woman was behind them, and uttered to herself, smirking. "Ah, young love." Both turned around, not scandalised, but both gasped and were bewildered.

Arthur would speak first. "I'm sorry?"

The woman replied, "Oh, don't worry. It's nice to see two young people so affectionate towards one another in public. You don't see your type do that very often. I support you pair for one."

Merlin added. "We're not a couple."

Again, the woman only giggled, the till worker joining in and saying. "Oh, don't worry lads. You don't need to be in denial about each other. We live in a free country. Keeping it quiet two decades ago, I can understand that. But it's the 21st Century, no need to panic if you have the urge to kiss one another right this instant."

Both were then gobsmacked. Paying for the items, they argued over how many bags each would carry and walked to Arthur's car, which was in the car park around the back of the supermarket.

Unlocking the car, Merlin eyed the vehicle. "You are so lucky!"

"Not really. It's only a second-hand."

"You have a car. I don't have a bike."

Both placed the bags into the boot of the car, and Arthur drove the both back to Arthur's house. Arthur's house was on the edge of Avalon, which was in a quiet road, mostly full of pensioners, and was a semi-detached.

Arthur never had a garage or driveway, so he had to park outside the house instead. "Any flat mates you should warn me on?"

"Live on my own."

"Don't you get bored?"

"Sometimes. When I have guests around though, it's not so bad."

Merlin carried the shopping in, and helped Arthur to put the groceries away. Arthur made two drinks, after Merlin recommended the tea and coffee that Merlin bought in with him to work, Arthur now having the freedom to a proper cup.

Looking at the receipt, waiting for the kettle to boil, Arthur scanned the list, and noticed the price of the beverages, his voice going high-pitched, and giving a death glare at Merlin, who was relaxing against the counter. "£2.25?"

"What's £2.25?"

"The bloody coffee! Merlin, you realise I have to pay the bills and keep a car on the road?"

"Yeah, and I have to pay the rent!"

"You have a flat share!"

"You earn twice the amount that I do! If you're worried so much, rent a room of yours out."

Arthur lowered his tone, speaking to himself and barely audible. "I wouldn't mind you."

Of course though, Merlin can trace the slightest of noises with those colossal ears of his, and turned to Arthur.

"You've got to be kidding right?"

"What have I done now?"

"You… and me… living together?"

"Why not?"

"Arthur… we've known each other a week!"

"Sorry to say Merlin, we've known each other longer!"

"Come again?"

"Do you remember Gwaine's 21st Birthday?"

"Can't forget it. I actually got shagged that night. Sorry if I just let that out."

"No, it's okay. Do you remember who you shagged?"

"I was drunk, of course not. He did have blonde hair, quite toned, his voice was like melted chocolate."

"That was I!" Arthur blurted out, cutting the story short.

"Wait, we shagged each other?"

"I was surprised when Gwaine told me the other day."

"Gwaine's probably lying, you know that."

"Not really, no. I wouldn't properly find out unless we did each other."

"How would you know?"

"Because I've never had it so good. If I feel the same way as I did back then, I'd know it'd be you."

"This is probably one of the most awkward talks ever you know?"

"I know. Damn Gwaine!"

They never shagged each other that night. They never really did anything, instead just lazing about together watching rubbish TV. Arthur did drop Merlin home though, and both had exchanged phone numbers, and as he fished his phone out from his jacket pocket, noticing the amount of unread messages, he noticed the paper napkin in his pocket. Fishing this out as well, Merlin read the message. He recognised the handwriting, and checked the earlier message.

The handwriting matched, meaning that the admirer had been in contact with Merlin on more than one occasion. His admirer worked with Merlin.