Discliamer: Inception does not belong to me.

Arthur sighed, tiredly, and looked at the clock. 6.30am. Time to get up, get dressed, and face another day in school.

He groaned, and rubbed his face. Ariadne would be back today - and no doubt it would be around the teacher's lounge by 10am at how the Vice Principal had gone to her house. Sneaking around, they'd say. Typical Arthur! Always trying to catch you out!

He sniffed. Why couldn't people understand his perspective? He was the VP - not their friend. He was there to assist in leading, mentoring, helping the school become the best that it could. And all he got was grief.

The phone bleeped. He blinked, and picked it up, frowning. Eames.

See you today!

Arthur scowled, and snapped the phone shut. Eames. Eames was one of the popular guys - everyone's friend, and everyone's date. He remembered a conversation he'd had with Cobb, when he'd been complaining about how the Englishman had failed to submit his data on time.

"Oh, come on," Cobb had said, soothingly, "He gets the best results in school You know that!"

"But he doesn't play by the rules," Arthur had almost growled. He'd felt his face flush with anger and embarrassment - wasn't Cobb going to try and see his point of view?

"Art," Cobb had said, smiling. "Give him a chance. I know he's eccentric, and flirtatious, and doesn't dress appropriately most of the time, but he's got a heart of gold. If he hadn't, he wouldn't be here."

Arthur felt himself getting aggravated. "And what have I got a heart of? Rock?"

His outburst had taken Cobb by surprise. The Principal blinked. "Listen, I've got to run. We'll talk later, ok?"

Arthur nodded, feeling angry. Turning, he slammed a file down on the desk.

He blinked, shaking his head to clear it, and looked at the clock. Jumping up, he headed for the shower, grumbling under his breath.

"Morning!" Cobb greeted him, smiling. "Something for you on the desk!"

Arthur blinked. A muffin. With a cup of coffee. He looked at Cobb. "You...?"

"Mal," Cobb said with a laugh. "Honestly, Art, she worries about you!"

"Well," Arthur said, looking at the muffin. "I did miss breakfast..."

Cobb shook his head. "You'll be sliding under the doors soon," he said, scoldingly. "Honestly, Art, I need you to stay healthy! How could I cope with this place on my own?"

Arthur raised his eyebrows, grabbed the muffin, and nibbled it. "You'd be fine."

Cobb grinned. "If you say so-"

"Oh, there you both are!"

Arthur looked up, and frowned. Eames was in the doorway. He looked slightly dishevelled.

"Where were you yesterday?" Arthur demanded, his authorative tone undercut by the mouthful of muffin.

Eames looked taken aback. "I was sick, Artie. Very sick."

"Really?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. He eyed the Drama specialist suspicously. "You don't look ill."

"Well, thats' because I'm better!" Eames retorted, a flush starting to rise to his cheeks. "You should calm down Arthur! You don't eat properly, you get stressed easily - you'll end up with a nervous breakdown at this rate!"

"What a surprise!" Arthur almost shouted. "What a surprise that would be! I've got teachers who go sick at every opportunity, and a Principal who dumps more and more work onto me! I'm sick and tired of everyone leaning on me!"

Eames blinked, astonished. Arthur flushed and turned away. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"Oh, Artie," Eames said, soothingly. "Its allright, really, you're just-"

Suddenly, a soft knock was heard at the door. Both men turned. Ariadne stood in the doorway, looking uncertain. Arthur blushed, and Eames caught the look.

"Hi, I can come back if you-"

"Oh, no, its fine," Arthur said, hastily. "Eames was just leaving."

"Oh, yes," Eames said, quickly. "I mean, talking to you about reports is fascinating, Arthur, but I've got to go!" Turning, he hurried out of the door.

Arthur looked at the Art teacher. "Sorry about that."

"No, I wanted to say thank you," she said, quickly. "It was so sweet of you to come by and see if I was ok!" She laughed. "I did wonder if you were coming by to see if I was really sick, but I thought, no, he can't be that devious!"

She laughed, and so did Arthur - with an embarrassed edge to it.

"I mean, I hear how you're really uptight," she said, looking slightly ashamed, "but, well..."

Arthur blinked. Make a move! his inner voice started screaming at him.

"Oh, I'm not really, uptight," he blustered, "just-"

Suddenly, Eames came crashing back in through the door.

"Oops, sorry!"

Arthur went scarlet. "Eames!"

"Listen, I have to go," Ariadne said, hurriedly. "Homeroom."

Arthur watched as she left. Eames turned to him, grinning wickedly.

"You went to her house!"

"Eames..." Arthur's voice held a warning note.

"You didn't think she was sick!" Eames' face was practically splitting in half. "Arthur! You don't trust your employees!"

"I thought she was with you!" Arthur burst out. He looked at Eames' face, which was starting to look astonished.

"You thought she was-" Eames blinked. "Artie, she's lovely, very sweet, but I prefer a woman who doesn't expect me to try and hold an intelligent conversation with her."

Arthur blinked. "Oh, but you-"

"Artie!" Eames was grinning again. "You've got a crush!"

"Maybe!" Arthur mumbled. "Now, Eames, I have paperwork to-"

"Arthur, the paperwork can wait!" Eames looked serious. "You have a crush! And you need my help!"

Arthur's face paled. "I - what?"

"I'm serious!" Eames protested. He looked at the younger man, critically. "When was the last time you went on a date? When was the last time you had a woman who made you feel special? When was the last time a woman brought you muffins - aside from Mal?"

Arthur swallowed. "Well, I-"

"See, you need my help, Artie," Eames said, slinging a companiable arm around the younger man's shoulders. "And - you won't mention to Cobb I pulled a sickie yesterday, will you?"

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