Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Arthur bit the end of his pen. Suspending two students the previous day...he knew Cobb would be furious. With a feeling of foreboding, he checked his work email. Sure enough, an email from "Principal" popped up in his inbox.

Arthur,

I've dealt with two angry phone calls today about the supsension of Kevin and Mike. Please talk to me about this.

Dom.

Swallowing, Arthur walked into Cobb's adjoining office. The Principal was tinkering with a strange looking machine. Arthur raised his eyebrows.

"What on earth...?"

"Hey," Cobb said, looking up, and smiling. "Like it? Its for my 'psychology of dreams' class."

Arthur frowned. "Sure we should be using that on students?"

Cobb looked exasperated. "I'm sure. Have a seat, Art." The Vice Principal did so, and Cobb perched on the edge of his desk. "Listen, whats going on? You suspended two students yesterday. And their parents are claiming that it was over talking."

Arthur visibly bristled. "No, they weren't! They were-" he paused, suddenly afraid of seeming childish.

Cobb looked at him. "Arthur. They're teenagers. They're moody, silly at times. They're also the reason we're here - to guide them, help them, mentor them. Not suspend them when they're kids being kids. And kids like to talk You know this."

"It was what they were saying!" Arthur protested. Suddenly, he felt like a teenager again himself - the overweight one that everyone laughed at, who ended up burying himself in books and taking solace in his guitair.

Cobb looked at him. "What were they saying?"

Arthur paused. "They were- making comments about Ariadne," he said, looking at Cobb. " Saying she couldn't teach."

Cobb raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes," Arthur said, aware he was sinking into his own lie, but it was too humiliating to admit that they'd been teasing him over having a crush.

"Well, if thats the case," Cobb said, "I'll ring the parents back, saying it was inappropriate rudeness to a member of staff." He smiled at Arthur. "Good call."

Arthur exhaled, slowly. "Thanks." He turned and left, loosening his tie as he did so.

"Spill!"

Arthur looked up. Eames had seated himself opposite to him, his eyes gleaming. Arthur sighed and dug his fork into his tuna salad, watching as Eames picked up his cheeseburger.

"Those things will kill you, you know," he commented, dryly. The Drama specialist merely grinned and took a bite.

"Maybe," he commented. "But at least I won't have cat breath."

"What?" Arthur looked at him.

"Cat breath," Eames said, pointing at the salad. "Don't you have a date tonight?"

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Maybe."

"Well, I wouldn't gorge on tuna salad, you'll get bad breath." Eames took another bite of cheeseburger. "Then she won't snog your face off later!"

"Eames!" Arthur blushed. "Ariadne will not-"

"Oh, she might." Eames grinned again. "You might get lucky!"

"Ssh!" Arthur said, frantically. "Here she comes!"

The Art teacher was approaching their table. On her tray she had lasagne and chocolate chip cookie. "Hi," she said, hesitantly.

Eames smiled. "Please, join us!"

She sat down, and looked at the two men, shyly. "Arthur..."

"Yes?"

"Its 7pm tonight, isn't it?"

He swallowed. "Yes, it is." He thrust another forkful of salad into his mouth. "I'll pick you up!"

"Great!" She smiled at him. "What should I wear?"

Arthur thought, frantically. "Oh, don't get dressed up. It is a weekday night."

She nodded. "OK." She dug her fork into the lasagne. Arthur watched as she lifted a forkful, and proceeded to delicately place a strand of melting cheese into her mouth.

"Um, I have to go," he said, hurriedly. "I'll see you later!"

She nodded. "Of course!"

He picked up the tray, and hurried off. Ariadne frowned. Eames caught her eye. "What's up?"

"Well," she said, looking after Arthur. "This date..."

"He likes you," Eames said, sincerely. "He gets nervous. Just make him relax."

Ariadne nodded. "I'll try."

Arthur finished buttoning his vest, and frowned. He couldn't wear a suit. He was trying, he remembered, to be casual.

"I don't do casual," he muttered. "I don't-" he picked up his cellphone, and dialled, hoping for some advice from Eames. The call went straight to voicemail.

Arthur sighed. Clearly, there was only one solution.

Ariadne blinked. Standing in front of her was the Vice Principal. In a suit. She blushed - she was wearing jeans and a button down shirt.

"I didn't-" she broke off. Arthur flushed.

"Sorry," he mumbled, "but everything else is in the wash." He looked at his feet.

"You look great," she said, sincerely. "Let's go!"

"Do you come here often?"

Arthur blinked. He'd brought Ariadne to a relatively low key restaurant. "Sometimes," he said hastily.

He then proceeded to fiddle with his fork. Two courses had passed, along with polite small talk. So far, they'd gone through the weather, the latest movies, and the classes they taught. Now, it was heading towards dessert, and he realised he was rapidly running out of things to say.

"So um," Ariadne said, looking at him. "Do you-"

He blinked. "Do I?"

"Do you think the new behaviour policy-" she broke off. "Oh, dessert menu!"

The waiter, smiling, handed over the small black menus. Arthur swallowed. "Just an Americano for me, thank you."

Ariadne looked surprised. "No dessert?"

Arthur blushed slightly. "Um, no."

She leaned forward. "Why?"

He swallowed. "I-" He blinked. She was smiling at him, which somehow, was making him relax. "I just don't want to get fat, thats all."

"Arthur!" Ariadne looked slightly shocked. "You're so thin!"

He blushed again. "Not always." He rearranged his remaining cutlery. "I was pretty overweight as a teenager. I try and be careful now."

She looked at him. "Well, there's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself once in a while!"

He looked at her. "I...guess not."

"Arthur." She looked at him. "Life is for living. I feel like a slice of cheesecake. I can get two forks?"

He swallowed. "Sounds...good."

Ariadne nodded. "Great!" She turned and gestured to the waiter. Arthur leaned back in his chair. Maybe loosening up wasn't going to be so hard, after all.

"Oh, and by the way," he said, "those two students you put in detention? I suspended them!"

"You did?" She looked shocked. "What for?"

"They were incredibly rude," he said, hurriedly. "I won't tolerate that, especially against a new member of staff!" He swallowed again. "And someone whose a friend." He blinked. She was - he wanted her to be more than a friend. God, I'm stupid!

She nodded, her expression slightly crestfallen. "OK, thank you." The cheesecake arrived, complete with two forks. She looked at him.

"Do you want the first bite?"

Arthur smiled, seemingly oblivious to her slightly downbeat demeanour. "Sure. What are friends for?"

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