It was such a bad idea. No, not just a bad idea… A terrible one. It was supposed to be their place, men only. So what exactly went through Cobb's head when he decided to occupy the empty room, that Yusuf left when he went back to Mombasa, with a woman. No, scratch that… A woman could had been nice, but no. She wasn't even in age. He had seen her, what a joke. Not even average height, not even her chest was substantial. Her face just normal, almost boyish. What the hell was Cobb thinking? Gosh… Honestly sometimes Cobb could be a real asshole.

He suspected his best friend had a twisted sense on humor, and he found pleasure in torturing him. Otherwise why would he invite a girl to occupy the spare room. They were fine, just the way things were. Even with Eames' untidiness, Cobb constantly making out with Mal on every single freaking room, they were fine. So… why there was the need to add another element to the already perfect equation? That was beyond his comprehension.

Cobb had said it would be good to have the feminine touch in the place, maybe she could help them to clean the place. Eames had been more than eager to welcome her, well of course. The jackass approved anything that had attached a pair of breast on it, even if they were really small ones. So what about him? Nothing, it had been a democratic decision. Even if he grunted, clenched his fist in wrath, there was nothing he could do to change the fact that a girl would be living across the hall.

That afternoon she arrived with all her things, Cobb had called him to help them out. Arthur just ignored him, turning the volume up of his headphones. He knew that eventually he had to confront her and introduce himself, but there was no need to rush that moment. In the meantime he'll avoid her like the plague. Closing his eyes he switched on the sleep mode and took a nap.

His nose was the one who woke him up, a second later his stomach grumbled. Opening his eyes he noticed that it was nighttime. Scratching the back of his head he yawned and walked out of the room, still with his headphones on. The scent came from the kitchen it smelled nice. Cobb must had ordered take out. He was turning to the right when he bumped into a small frame.

Crap.

She looked up and smiled apologetically "Sorry didn't see you"

Arthur resisted the impulse to roll his eyes. 'Gee thanks for pointing that out, captain obvious' he thought bitterly. She glanced from one side to another then cleared her throat and extended her hand to him "I'm Ariadne"

He dismiss it, instead he walked right pass her, heading to the dining room. There was Cobb placing some plates on top of the table, glued to it was Mal kissing him on the neck from time to time, as for Eames he was the great example of the typical American husband. Watching the tv, not helping in one bit. Oh the irony… considering he despised that nation and everything that came from it.

Arthur shook his head and took his usual spot, picking up some utensils he looked up to the couple. "So what are we having?" he asked, removing the headphones.

"Pasta" Cobb said after sharing a light kiss with Mal.

"Is it from Alfredo's?" Arthur asked ignoring the pair and taking a napkin.

"No" the blue eyed man responded.

Arthur just shrugged as he started to serve what it seemed three-cheese fettuccini, taking a generous amount he sat and took the fork. Not waiting for the rest, he plunged the fork in it and after rolling a good part he rushed it to his mouth. It wasn't the best he had eaten, but clearly overpassed the cuisine normally Cobb brought home. Swallowing he looked up, cleaning his face with the napkin.

"Where is it from?" he asked, licking his front teeth and taking the fork. Ready for another strike to the plate.

"Ariadne cooked" Cobb announced.

In an impetuous response Arthur looked up, crashing his fork into the plate. In that precise instant the chef appeared with a smoking casserole in her tiny hands. Attracted by the racket, Eames finally unglued his eyes from the black box. Picking up interest on the scene before his eyes.

They stood like that for what it seemed a minute, Arthur glaring at Cobb. The blue-eyed man just narrowed his eyes as a clear sign of warning. Pulling out his chair, Arthur placed his headphones back on and headed to the front door. Taking his jacket from the wardrobe near the entrance and his set of keys, he stormed out of the apartment. Making sure of smashing the door behind him.

It wasn't that cold but he felt the impulse to warm his insides, looking for the pack of cigarettes in his jacket. He pulled out the lighter from his right pocket, he stopped walking as he tried to lit one. After inhaling the first fume, his head finally started to clear. Sitting on the closest bench, he enjoyed the rest of his guilty pleasure.

It took three cigarettes before he decided to have dinner on the bar on the corner. After munching ungracefully the basket of fries and Buffalo wings, passing them with two beers, he decided to head home finally. He was positive that everyone was already on their rooms, so there would be no confrontation when he got in. And just like expected the place was empty. Grateful for this, he walked silently to his room. Trying not to alert any of his roommates. He almost made it when he felt the piercing glare on the back of his neck. Well knowing to who it belonged, he didn't bother to return the look. Instead he looked for the key that opened his room.

"What do you want?" he asked, trying to unlock the door.

"What the hell was that?" Cobb said stepping closer to the trim man.

"What the hell was what?" Arthur asked, struggling with the doorknob. Still avoiding his roommate's gaze.

"Don't give me that shit, Arthur. Just play nice" he said with a commanding voice.

"I don't play nice with people I don't like" Arthur responded walking into his room and smashing the door once he was inside. He heard the clear sigh of his roommate, but he didn't care. He was the one who caused this, the least he could do was to deal with the consequences.

Pushing these thoughts aside, he undressed and jumped into the bed. Placing the headphones back into his ears he turned the volume up and drift to sleep. Hoping that the following morning she would be gone, but well knowing that it was like asking for the snow to be green. Ridiculous and highly improbable.

The following morning when he headed to his private bathroom he noticed it wasn't private anymore, there were a lot of bright colored bottled around the white dull ones in the room.

"What the-" he muttered scanning thoroughly the room. A chuckle interrupted his thoughts and made him turn.

"Oh… didn't you get the memo darling? You're sharing your bathroom with our lady friend" Eames explained with a smug smile on his lips.

Arthur frowned and was about to yell something when Eames intercepted. "Cobb's orders"

He was about to head straight to the blue-eyed man's room, with the solemn purpose to murder him, when Eames chuckled on his back.

"He's not there, he's in class"

Arthur clenched his fists. Of course his roommate wasn't there to confront him, typical of Cobb. To throw the rock and break the window, just to run away after. In two strides he was back into his former private bathroom, smashing the door in front of a smirking English man. Opening the faucet he glanced the counter near the mirror, wondering how the hell such a tiny girl like her could use that much products.

After the third period of classes, Arthur finally managed to get a hold of Cobb. They both discussed heatedly but in the end Arthur lost the fight. Reluctantly and storming out of the building, he refuged on a bench were he succumbed back into the nicotine. Five this time, before walking back to his class.

The following days were uneventful; he came back home past midnight and woke up before dawn. He wasn't in the mood to deal with any of his roommates, not like they bonded that much to begin with, but now that both jerks had teamed to gangbang him, it had been enough to piss him off. So as days turned into weeks, Arthur stopped to pay attention to whatever happened in the house.

One morning when he was washing his face he noticed that the tube of his toothpaste was wrinkled. His eyes twitched.

"Eames" he groaned.

He was about to storm out the bathroom and give a piece of his mind to the perpetrator, when a tiny figure stopped him from doing so. There she was, in a set of pink flannel pjs, her big brown eyes staring directly at his. Arthur narrowed his eyes.

"Don't get angry with Eames" she said motioning to the closed door of the Englishman "It was me who took a little of your toothpaste yesterday"

Arthur stared her for a couple of seconds before going straight back inside the bathroom and smashing the door in front of her, not caring how extremely rude he were. How dare she? Taking what wasn't hers? It wasn't enough that he had to share his private bathroom with her, but now she felt in the liberty to take everything she wanted? What was next?

He had expected in the afternoon he met up with Cobb for lunch, his friend give him a piece of his mind about how he maltreated Ariadne again. He didn't and Arthur was thankful for that. The rest of the day went as usual, boring classes and finishing the assignments on the library. When he was back at his place, the place was empty as usual. He was hungry, in the rush of event he had forgotten to eat something on the way. He walked straight to the fridge and noticed that he had ran out of supplies and since he didn't go to the market anymore, there was no way there would be food for him tonight.

Cursing he looked at his watch, past midnight. No delivery was open at the moment, to top that it was freezing outside and he was in no mood to put all the winter garments to head to the 24 store on the corner. Evaluating his options he noticed by the corner of his eye a Tupperware with a sticky note on top of it near the microwave. Frowning he took the plastic container. The note had his name on it. Picking instantly his curiosity he unattached the note and read the part of the back.

"Sorry for the toothpaste incident, hope this would make it up to you. Ariadne. P.S: Cobb said you love lasagna, so I saved you a piece."

He rolled his eyes 'What a suck it up girl' He even stopped to think that maybe she was the typical girl who fancied being loved by everyone, including the teachers. Groaning he was ready to place the container back in the same spot when his stomach started to complain in loud volume. Seizing the situation he opened the container and placed it inside the microwave.

Still examining the sticky note he waited until the food was ready. The bell rang as he pulled it out carefully, picking a fork from the drawer he ate in silence. It was good, again not the best but with the hunger he had it, it was enough. Once he was done, he placed the dirty dish on the sink and headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth. He noticed a brand new tube of toothpaste of the same brand he used, next to the old one and the one she used. Tilting his head to the right, he took the tube and smirked.

"Such a suck it up girl"

A month had passed since the incident of the lasagna, Arthur had almost forgotten that she even lived there. It was until one evening when he had come home early that he saw her on the dinning table. All her books were scattered over the surface. Arthur sighed, just when he thought he could have a relaxing night watching the TV. He walked to the kitchen and pulled out a package of popcorn, shoving in the microwave and pushing the buttons he waited. Deciding he had the same rights on the house, just like her. He walked to the dining room and took the remote, flipping the channels until he reached the one he was looking for. Arthur glanced at the petite girl, daring her to say anything. To his surprise she smile.

"Go ahead, I don't mind"

He raised his brows in surprise. The sound of the microwave beeping brought him back. Taking a bowl and serving the contents into it, he tossed the empty package to the trash. Kicking his tennis off he sat on the couch across the room. He munched the snack as he watched the movie on the screen. Once he ran out of it, he pulled out his cigarettes and lit one. He closed his eyes, letting the feeling embrace him. When he heard a cough.

He jerked confused at the sound, looking at the source he noticed that the little girl was trying hard not to cough. Arthur sighed and stood up, taking his tennis with one hand and heading straight to his bedroom. He heard her say something but he dismissed her words, locking his door behind him he threw over the bed and finished his cigarette. Angry that his plan for the evening, had been ruined.

Mid term season finally ended, so spring break was in order. As usual his roommates already had plans of heading to southern places, seeking for the warmth of those lands. And just like every year he claimed the apartment for himself. With plans of walking in his underwear around the place, invite some of his lady friends over and overuse the delivery system of his preferred restaurants. At least that was his plan until he overheard Cobb talking with Ariadne, apparently she had forgotten to delivery a project so she would stay over to finish it.

Seeing how all his plans went crash and burning in front of his eyes, Arthur grunted. Just perfect. Deciding it was best just to ignore her and continue with his plan as scheduled, he sighed as he closed his eyes and drift to sleep. The following morning the place was empty, Cobb and Eames had already left the building. Arthur walked wearing only a pair of pants. One of the things he loved about the place was the windows didn't show anything to the prying eye. Also the hardwood floor was nice to step on barefoot.

Taking his usual spot on the couch he turned the TV on and started flipping the channels, he had been watching a movie for almost an hour when he hear her door open. A light set of footsteps crashed the silence of the room, he didn't bother to look up. Not even when she greeted him in such a cheery style. He heard noises coming from the kitchen and in a couple of minutes the scent of melted butter filled the place. Arthur lifted his head to sniff better, when the realization hit him.

She was cooking pancakes.

Arthur heard his stomach growl in joy, embarrassed he tried to cover it with his hands. Trying to concentrate on the screen in front of him. In that moment an ad of maple honey came, as the amber liquid poured over the fluffy flat pastries his stomach growled louder. Cursing he flipped the channel, finding another ad about the same honey in the TV. Frowning he flipped the channels, running away from those delicious images until he decided the TV had plotted against him. So he did the natural thing, he turned it off.

Closing his eyes he sighed, waiting for his stomach to stop to have a mind on itself, when he heard her clear her throat behind him. Instantly he looked up and found her with a pink apron, a spatula on her right hand, her left one on the back and a huge smile on her face. She almost looked like she was pulled out of a 50's commercial. Arthur tilted his head, not comprehending. But when her left hand appeared from her back with a plate filled with pancakes, drenched in maple syrup his stomach responded for him. By making the loudest growl he had ever heard it do.

Embarrassed he gulped and looked away, she only giggled and pushed the pancakes to him. Seeing that there was no way out, he reached for them and thank her with a slight nod. She told him it was nothing before heading to the kitchen once more. Arthur ogled the colorful fest upon him and before Ariadne could return with a fork, he was already half the way done with the pancakes. Eating them like if they were tortillas. When he was over she offered him a full glass of milk, which he accepted and drank in one gulp.

Their eyes met for a fraction of a second, Arthur broke the eye contact, feeling exposed. After how he had treated her, she was still being nice? Why? Was there a concealed motive behind her actions? Was she trying to accomplish something? Or was she really in fact a nice person? He dismissed this thoughts as he saw her smile, taking the dirty dishes with her and disappearing into the kitchen. Leaving a confused Arthur behind.

The week went by smoothly, they didn't interact much after that incident. Still that didn't stop her from leaving him containers with food. Even if he didn't want to admit it and claimed that he wasn't hungry, he was thankful about those little gestures. One evening he even offered a slice of his pizza once he spotted the poor girl struggling against the blender. She had accepted and took a sit on the opposite couch, almost afraid that if she was too close he might bite her. Arthur chuckled mentally by this silly idea. They ate in silence, watching a movie until it was over when she wished him a good night and thanked him for the food.

On the last day of the spring break he walked in with a bag of Chinese take out, enough for both of them to eat. He would be lying if he said he did it thinking of her, there was a sale on the restaurant and it was such a waste to pay the same for one person's share, when for a dollar more you could get the double. Pushing this thought aside he started to fix the table when he heard a muffled sob.

Frowning he looked up, trying to figurate out if he was imagining thing. But when he heard the noise again, he was sure this time someone was crying. And for the way it sounded it was a woman. He put down everything he had on his hands and started to search for the source of the sound, when his feet bump into the girl's door he sighed.

This would be complicated.

He knocked once, no response. He waited for a minute longer before knocking harder the second time. Again no response. Getting frustrated he knocked a third time, almost banging the door. This time he heard a muffled voice. He couldn't tell what she said, so taking this a sing he turned the doorknob, it was unlocked. He took a peek before opening the door completely. The room was immersed in darkness, the petite figure of the girl was curled on the corner of her bed.

Stepping in carefully, Arthur walked a couple steps closer to her. She didn't acknowledge his presence; instead she kept hugging tightly the pillow to her chest. Arthur felt his stomach constrict at the sight of her. He gulped and scratched the back of his neck, not knowing what to say or do in a moment like this. He opted to spoke what was in his mind at the moment.

"I brought Chinese" he said quietly.

He felt the impulse to smack his face with his palm, what the hell was wrong with him? There she was, suffering at the first thing his mind came up with was the food he brought home. Clearly something was wrong in his head. Her figure stirring up, the back of her hands wiping the tears on her eyes, interrupted his thoughts. She coughed and cleared her throat.

"I'll be there in a minute" she said sniffing, looking away.

Taking this as his cue to leave, he nodded and left the room. He started pacing on the dining room, waiting for her to appear. Just like she promised, she was there after a minute. Her face looked refreshed, evidently she had splashed it several times with water. Still her eyes looked puffy and red. He didn't comment anything, instead he started to eat in silence.

As both ate quietly, Arthur started to wonder what could had possibly happened to her to make her cry. The few times she had seen her, she was full of live, incapable of feeling anything anguish or saddening. So what just happened to put her in such a state. He kept on glancing her from time to time, just to check if she was fine. She was eating, that was good, but there was not even a single trace of her trademark smile in her face. He felt uncomfortable and for a fraction of second worried.

She had finished before him, which it was odd since he usually ate really fast. She thanked him for the food and took her plate, going to the kitchen and starting to wash it. Arthur followed her actions with his eyes, forgetting about his food for a moment. She still looked really sad, he felt that same cringing sensation he felt when he first saw her crying in her room.

Deciding it was best to just investigate a little further, he stood up and started to clean the table. He reached for the rag on the sink, using this as an excuse to approach her, he cleared his throat. She looked up and a small smile sprout on the corner of her lips. She shook her head as she cleaned her nose disgustingly with the back of her hand.

"It's nothing… "she said, trying to sound as normal as she could "is just that my dog died"

Silence. Arthur tried to connect ideas in his head but somehow his brain had stopped working. The only thought that circulated inside was the words she had spoken. After a second or two, finally his body started to cooperate and the first emotion that came was rage. What? Is that all it? Her pet just died? That's why she was so depressed about? Just for an animal? Geez… He thought something quite serious had happened, one of her relatives dying or her doctor told her she had cancer. But a stupid dog? What the hell is wrong with this girl!

Outraged he stepped back, focusing in one thing only. Leave the room. He was almost successful when he felt a tiny hand grasp around his wrist. Frowning he looked up over his shoulder, glaring at the owner of the hand. Indifferent to his glare, she smiled to him the same way she always did. Somehow making his rage grow bigger. They stood like that for a moment before she took a step closer to him.

"Thanks" she spoke gently.

He raise an eyebrow questioningly, she pronounced the smile.

"For dinner" she explained

Arthur glanced at his arm, her hand still wrapped around his writs. Feeling the connection uncomfortable, he broke the bond rudely. Her eyes widened in surprise at this but didn't say anything. Arthur groaned.

"You're such a child" he muttered before leaving the room.

He heard her call him, making him stop on his tracks. He thought he heard her say something but he couldn't quiet place it. So turning over his shoulder he knitted his brows.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"I said. Oh so now I'm the child" she said with her hands over her waist.

Angered he turned to face her, closing the distance between them.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he spoke with a dangerous tone.

"I think you know perfectly what that means" she retorted defiantly, raising her face to his level.

Arthur snorted, it was just simply hilarious. A midget defying the giant with nothing to defend with. Still he had to admire the guts of her, she kept on glaring him, not a single sing of she backing up. He shook his head.

"This is ridiculous" he commented, motioning to leave the room. Again she stopped him by the wrists. Angered he turned to her.

"Don't you dare to walk away from me" she said firmly

He raised an eyebrow and smirked cynically "Watch me" he said, freeing his arms roughly and walking away.

He didn't give two steps when from out of nowhere he felt an object smash against him, she had tackled him. Falling straight face to the floor, he suffocated a groan of pain. Turning to face her, glaring at her with a mixture of shock and wrath. Her arms were circling him by the waist.

"Let me go" he demanded.

"No" she said shaking her head

"Let me go!" he repeated.

"Not until you stop avoiding me!" she exclaimed.

He grunted and tried to push her away with his hands, it turned out ineffective. Groaning he glared her.

"I'm warning you…" he spoke, threat in his tone.

"Why are you avoiding me?" she asked, defying him.

He didn't respond, instead he kept struggling to release his body from her clenches.

"Is it because I'm a girl?"

He rolled his eyes. Really? How thick some girls could get.

"Or is it because that you had started to like me and you're afraid to admit it?" she said in a soft tone.

He looked up to face her eyes, there was a spark of challenge in them. Knitting his eyebrows.

"I don't like you" he said raising his voice

"Yes you do!" she proclaimed

"No! I don't" he yelled "In fact I hate you"

Silence. Her hands softened the grasp, taking this as the opportunity he freed from her embrace and sat.

"I hate everything about you" he continued, "I hate your hair, your face, your freckles, those thin lines you call lips. I hate that you're vertically challenged. I hate when you laugh, I hate it even more when you cry. I hate that the most because you almost made me care!"

Silence. Arthur looked away, clenching his fists. He closed his eyes as he heard his ears buzz. He felt a pair of tiny hands framing his face. He opened his eyes in surprise. There she was, sitting on top of his waist, looking straight at his eyes, smiling. He gulped.

"What are you doing?" he demanded, with a sense of panic in his voice.

She pronounced her smile, her fingers started to caress his cheeks. Making his skin crawl in joy.

"Stop being nice" he whispered

"Why?" she asked in a soft tone. Still caressing his cheeks in circles.

"Because I hate you" he said, closing his eyes "Didn't you hear me?"

"No, you don't" she chuckled, stopping her actions. Holding his face with both hands firmly.

Arthur opened his eyes, just to find hers a couple of inches from his. Her ever so present smile printed on her lips.

"I hate everything about you" he spoke in a hushed tone

She pressed her forehead against his

"And yet…" he continued "Why do I love you?"


A/N: Hehehehe I am running out of songs worth writing for, any requests out there?