3.

The third call was made two weeks later, around evening.

She was sitting in bed, reading, when her phone started ringing.

It was Arthur who called, which took Ariadne by complete surprise. Every time they talked she felt like it would be the last time. And the last time had been no different. That's why she had hung up first.

'Ariadne. It's Arthur.'

'Yeah, I saw,' she mumbled, setting down her book. She had saved his number under the name A.

'You've memorized my number? Nevermind. Miles called me.'

This was another shocker. Miles? Her professor? Talking to Arthur? What for?

'He told me you'd like another job,' he said quickly.

Ariadne instantly panicked. Waves of nausea hit her like currents of strong, cold air. She felt her chest crumbling.

She had never said anything very relevant to Miles on the subject, but she had given him subtle hints here and there. Was she to blame that he was her only connection to the team?

'What? He said that? I didn't tell him to say that...Arthur, I swear...'

'Relax, he said he'd noticed it in your work and in your recent behaviour. He thought he should inform me,' Arthur replied.

'Oh, but why didn't he call...?'

'Cobb? Well, he wanted to give him a break from the job. For now.'

'I see. He didn't need to call. Really it was unnecessary and...'

'Ariadne, it's fine. I don't mind. At least it wasn't something serious,' he said, his tone somewhat heavier.

Ariadne's anger suddenly flared. She tried to bottle it down, but she couldn't.

'Wasn't something serious? Sorry, what's serious then?'

'Ariadne...'

'No, really, tell me. I mean if you find my desire to work in such a complex field a mere fancy, I wonder what you take seriously,' she said briskly.

'Calm down. I was not insulting you or your level of maturity, although you're proving particularly paranoid for someone who knows what I do. You know what I meant.'

She remained silent.

'I meant that it was not about your safety which, in my field, is something quite serious.'

'You only care about my safety then?' Ariadne asked softly.

'Yes. Isn't that enough?'

'What do you mean?'

'What more could you want?' he countered.

'Well, do you care about me wanting to work again?'

'That's irrelevant.'

'Irrelevant?'

'It should be.'

'It isn't?'

He sighed audibly.

'Look, stop fighting whatever I say. My job is to care about certain things. My caring about your employment would surpass my field.'

'That wouldn't prevent you from caring,' she pointed out.

Arthur smiled in the phone.

'True. For instance, I do care if you chose to work with another team. I'd rather you worked with us again.'

Ariadne's heart made a small leap.

'That is, I wouldn't like you to be a liability for us and we wouldn't want another team taking advantage of you,' he added.

Ariadne nodded absently.

'Liability, you say?'

'You know what I mean, Ariadne. They could search your mind.'

At the mere thought of that she shuddered.

'That won't happen, because I probably will not work with another team.'

'That's good to hear. Cobb wouldn't want to share you anyways,' he added lightly.

She chuckled. Cobb? Was it really Cobb who didn't want to share her?

She shook her head. She was getting her hopes up again. Stupid.

'Now that we've settled that, does this mean I can get back to work?' she asked excitedly.

'Not exactly. The previous job was an emergency. I'd rather – we'd rather you finished school first this time around. You'd gain more experience and we wouldn't have to worry about your academic situation.'

'I'd gain more experience by building in the dream,' she mumbled.

'I'm sure you can transfer your knowledge into dreams,' he said kindly. But she wasn't buying it.

'What if there's another emergency?'

'We'll let you know,' Arthur replied.

'Arthur, who is the architect now?'

'A friend of Eames'. He will do for the present since we are not working on a large scale,' he explained.

'Oh. A friend of Eames'. That sounds troublesome.'

'Tell me about it. They share the same personality,' he replied.

Ariadne laughed. 'Is there room for one more Eames on the planet?'

Arthur chuckled. He was going to reply, but he suddenly realized he was being too comfortable.

He wanted to discuss other matters. He coughed loudly.

'So, do we have an understanding then?'

'You mean my finishing my Masters? That would mean one more year,' she told him. 'I'd have to wait a year.'

'Can you do that? Or will I have to find a new architect?'

She knew he meant it as a joke, but for some reason, it sounded hollow and bleak to her.

'I suppose I can.'

'Good. You can tell Miles what I've told you. He will feel more at ease.'

'It's very sweet of him to worry,' Ariadne said. 'He really is the best professor here.'

'Cobb used to say the same thing,' Arthur drawled.

'Well, it's true.'

'I'm glad he called,' Arthur added matter-of-factly. Ariadne would have wanted to say 'I'm glad you called' but she knew that would just put more space between them.

She couldn't believe that they had shared that kiss all those months ago. It was as if it had never really happened.

She was beginning to think Arthur didn't even remember anymore or had chosen to block out that particular memory on purpose.

'A year, Arthur?' she asked again.

'A year,' he repeated.

'Huh. I expect you not to keep your promise.'

'When have I ever done that?'

'Well, I can't think of an example right now, but if you really want to know, you can try and extract it,' she joked. Then she realized how cheesy the joke had sounded and she cursed inaudibly.

'Sorry, bad, bad joke. I am terrible at these. Especially puns. I can make some painful puns when I put my mind to it, so I should stop thinking...'

Arthur chuckled.

'Relax. Your humour doesn't bother me.'

Ariadne sighed and pulled back her hair.

'Will I be hearing from you again?'

This sounded like a miserable ultimatum. Arthur flinched slightly, feeling like she was holding him at gunpoint.

'Probably. I can't know for sure,' he replied blankly.

'Probably,' he repeated.

'Oh, okay. In case I don't, good luck with the job,' she said, trying to make her tone lighter.

There was silence for a moment or two.

'Thanks, but I don't think it will be the case,' he finally replied and hung up.

Ariadne fell back on her bed, feeling like the ceiling was going to collapse.

She hated the fact that she was smiling.

It won't be the case...