Disclaimer: I don't own Inception, but I do own Edward.
Hi there! I've been wanting to put up another one-shot but Twenty Steps has been holding me up. Now that I've got spare time, I decided to put up a new one. Thank you so much to those who read and reviewed and added this to their favorites/alerts. I really hope you enjoy this one!
Not beta'd sorry :(
To make things clear: (1) Dom and Mal are older than Arthur, Ariadne and Edward. (2) Roommates here don't have to be in the same year level so I'm guessing in France, too? (3) Only Arthur isn't taking up architecture. (4) AU.
Distance
Ariadne
"Is that law student filling up your head again, Ari?" Mal asks as she slides beside her.
Ariadne looks up at her friend. "No."
"Really? Then I suppose your model of a cathedral is in the works."
She frowns. "No."
Mal laughs and prepares to eat her salad. "You know, Dom or Edward could introduce you to him."
"No!"
"That's three no's in this conversation, mon ami. Do you have anything else to say?"
"No." She shakes her head. "I mean, I don't want your boyfriend to introduce me to his friend. And especially not Edward. I'd rather not be more distracted than I already am. Besides, he seems like a no-fun."
"Arthur is a very nice man. I've had small talk with once or twice. He's almost perfect."
Ariadne lets her gaze wonder towards the further bench. The man is in a dress shirt with sleeves rolled up (his forearms!), slacks and dress shoes. She hasn't seen a hair out of place. Arthur's a law student who decided to take a short vacation in Paris before going back to Harvard. His brother is Ariadne's classmate in some subjects. While Edward is laid back, Arthur clearly isn't. Dom had befriended him since he and Edward are roommates.
"He's leaving next week, Ari," Mal sighs, "I think you should at least say hi."
"I can't, Mal!" She cries. "I'm…" she looks down at the ham and cheese sandwich she's holding, "…eating."
Mal rolls her eyes. "Well I want to talk to Dom and I don't want to leave you, so," the dark haired woman stands and grabs both their lunches, swinging her satchel over her shoulders, "if you want your sandwich and," she snatches her friend's satchel from the table, "your works, you will follow me."
Arthur
Arthur is very surprised to find himself searching for the petite brunette with long, wavy hair. When he spots her, he sits a few feet away from her and opens his book.
A few minutes later, someone speaks up. "It isn't a coincidence you're in this spot, right?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Edward," he answers without looking up.
"Please, I know you too well." Arthur's younger brother sits beside him, followed by Dom, Edward's roommate, in front. "Why don't you introduce yourself?"
"There isn't a reason to."
"I think there is," Dom speaks, "my girlfriend is her roommate and best friend. She's also Edward's classmate."
"Ariadne and I don't need to be friends."
Edward looks at him. He isn't surprised but he states, "I never told you her name."
Arthur looks up and then back down at his book. "I'll be leaving soon."
"The more you should talk to her!" Dom exclaims.
"Yeah," Edward nods, "there's something called internet, e-mail and social networking. Are you familiar with them?"
Arthur glares at him. "You're starting to become like Eames."
"He is your best friend."
"Regretfully," he mutters. He closes his book, knowing that he won't be able to read a single word. Edward slides him a muffin and he begins to eat it. "Don't you have a cathedral model to do?"
"That's Professor Miles's project, isn't it?" Dom inquires. "Mal isn't allowed to be in any of his classes and she was pissed to find out that we'd be making cathedrals while her class was stuck with office buildings."
"I would be, too," Edward agrees. "And I'm almost done…I think."
Arthur rolls his eyes.
"Hey, looks like Mal's coming over," Dom says, his back turned to Arthur and he's waving at the woman coming closer. "And guess who she's with." Edward's face breaks into a grin.
Arthur looks up and can't help but feel hollow in his stomach as the young girl with bright eyes and full lips behind Dom's girlfriend, the one he's been eyeing since he arrived three days ago, walks towards them slowly. Her scarf blows behind her as the wind picks up. He thinks he's just swallowed live butterflies and they're all fluttering inside him.
Sorry it's short. I didn't expect the point of view thingy like the last chapter. Oh well. I hope you guys enjoyed this! Please tell me your thoughts.
