That afternoon, Chell and Wheatley's office was filled only with the sound of keyboard taps.

"So, uh Chell. You're a natural at this. Have you typed up test reports before?"

Tap tap tap.

"I'll… I'll take that as a 'maybe'."

Tap tap tap.

"Right."

Wheatley adjusted his necktie and got back to his own work.

Chell sighed. She couldn't quite figure out why she was giving the guy such a hard time. Yes, it was Wheatley, the accent and the mannerisms didn't let her forget that, but it wasn't the Wheatley she knew. This was Wheatley Stephens.

But still.

She glanced up at him. He was humming a little tune and typing along to the rhythm and, as if he'd sensed Chell's gaze, he looked up and gave a cheery wave. She stared at him wide-eyed, unsure at how one person could be so energetic. It was then she noticed that the room was silent. No keyboard taps. Chell cursed inwardly.

"It's pretty cool, isn't it? All this technology, I mean."

He stared at Chell as he leant over his monitor, his eyes sparkling with expectancy.

"Uh… Yeah." Her eyes flitted back towards her computer screen.

"Computers," he sighed, "they're bloody amazing! Like… Like little boxes of magic. And they're absolutely everywhere now! Who knows, a computer could even run the facility soon!"

Chell raised an eyebrow.

"I mean… That's just, uh, my opinion, anyway…" He trailed off, fidgeting with his hands a little.

A few more painfully awkward seconds went by.

"So we've got that day off tomorrow, huh?"

"Yep."

"Got… Got any plans?"

Chell paused, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Nope."

"Ah. Okay."

Chell looked back at her computer screen. She managed to get exactly one word typed when-

"I'm gonna go get a coffee," Wheatley announced. "Would you like one?" He asked after a crippling silence.

"I'm good, thanks." Her tone was stronger than she'd anticipated, causing her words to have an effect rather like an unexpected gunshot. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination or not, but Wheatley seemed to deflate a little.

"Oh." There was a crack in his voice. "O-okay, that's fine."

He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Crap. Chell placed her head in her hands. What have I done?

Chell had half a mind to shout after him, to apologise, perhaps, but a feeling like a rock in her stomach stopped her. She'd trusted him once, and that had ended wonderfully, clearly.

"Hey, Chell?"

Chell jumped. Caroline was stood over her computer wearing an awfully solemn look.

"I just passed Mr. Stephens in the hallway. He looked a bit of a state. Did something happen?"

Chell sighed. "I… I snapped at him."

Caroline tilted her head ever so slightly to the side.

"You snapped at him? You've barely known him a day."

"I know, I know. He just… He reminds me of someone I know. In my time. The voice, the way he acts, the… Everything, really. They're pretty much the same person, but…"

Caroline tried to read Chell's face.

"But they're not the same person. You know that, right?"

"Yes, I… Sort of."

"Then why not give him a chance? Maybe if you get to know him, he'll stop reminding you of this other person."

"Maybe. Yeah, maybe."

Caroline nodded.

"Good luck, my dear," she said before slipping out of the door.

Chell tapped her fingers on the desk in front of her restlessly. Her and social interaction usually went together about as well as super-glue and cookies, and trying to get a word in around Wheatley often proved to be just as daunting a task. And besides, even if she did manage to get a word in, what would she say? What would he-

The creak of the door snapped Chell out of her daze and prompted her to leap to her feet.

"Wheat-"

"Hey Chell, I was, uh, thinking… Why don't we… I mean, Wouldn't it be nice if…" He tapped his fingers together, refusing to meet her eye. "What I'm trying to say is… Would you like to get a coffee with me tomorrow? Since, you know, you said you had no plans and-"

"Yeah. That sounds nice."

"Wait, really?"

Chell shrugged. "Yeah, it'll be fun."

A smile slowly spread across Wheatley face, growing and growing until it was as large and radiant as the sun itself.

For the rest of the day, Wheatley had a glow about him. He, rather impossibly, seemed a little taller, and the songs he was humming as he worked became more upbeat.

Everything about him still made Chell's stomach twist and turn, but somehow, seeing him like this made her happy.

"Chell, my dear!" Caroline was, for the second time that day, stood in the doorway. "I'm going home now, are you ready?"

Chell glanced at the clock on her desk, taken aback by the time.

She headed over to meet Caroline. "I'll, uh, see you tomorrow then," she said to Wheatley, who immediately did a fantastic impression of a tomato.

"Y-Yeah, c-can't wait!"

Chell closed the door behind her and followed Caroline.

"A date with Stephens, eh?" Caroline nudged Chell with her elbow.

"Leave it," she replied, unable to hide the grin that was spreading across her face.