Archie's fingers loosened on the book he read as he shifted on the bed, trying to get more comfy. He was lying on his side trying to read while his body was suggesting sleep. He'd been at the stables for most of the morning and then working on lesson plans and script annotations in the afternoon. He'd lost lunch altogether, but wasn't feeling hungry even now as dinner time approached. It was far too early to sleep but finally his mind gave in to his body and his eyes closed.

The book fell to the floor as he rolled onto his stomach, face on the very edge of the bed and hand resting on the carpet. It was too late now to realise that the bedroom door wasn't locked. He muttered something as he often did when he dreamed, while the hours slowly ticked by.

Tom had spent the afternoon showing a couple of sophomore students his bike down in the garage. In all honesty, he hadn't really wanted to spend the day with students when he was going to have to do that a lot soon, but he loved any excuse to talk about his bike - or, in fact, any bike at all. However, before he had even realised the time passing, it was dinner time and he had to go back up into the main part of the school.

Having decided to watch his weight, Tom chose a light, healthy meal. It really wasn't very appetising to look at but surprisingly it didn't taste too bad. Once he'd disposed of his plate and used all of his willpower to avoid having a dessert, he headed upstairs with the intention of doing something useful with his evening. It was only when he was passing Archie's room that he stopped, wondering if he should pay a quick visit to the other man as he hadn't been at dinner.

He knocked on the door and, when there was no reply, he assumed it would probably be safe to go in. When he was fully inside the room, he could see Archie asleep on the bed and stopped. Archie was adorable when he was asleep, and Tom didn't realise he was just stood there staring.

Archie was aware of a noise that broke through his dreaming, but it took a few moments for it to register and for him to wake. He shifted on the bed pushing himself onto his side and stretching. Roughing a hand through his hair he blinked in surprise as he noticed Tom in the doorway. But smiled at the other teacher, not in the least bit worried that he was in his room.

'Mmm 'lo, is it morning?' He sat up hurriedly. 'Have I missed a meeting?' He groaned, thinking it would be just like him to sleep in and miss a faculty meeting, he couldn't even remember falling asleep. 'I was reading...'

Tom wasn't sure how long he had been staring, but when the other man started to wake up he realised it could have been a while and he wouldn't have known. He moved slightly, trying to look like he had just arrived as Archie started speaking to him. He looked absolutely gorgeous all messy and just-woken-up, and Tom bit his lip subtly to stop himself from sighing.

"No, y-you've not missed a meeting," he replied, checking his watch. "It's only about eight thirty, I just didn't see you at dinner so I thought I'd come and see if you were alright..." he continued, fidgeting nervously with his hands as he spoke. There was something about Archie that caused Tom's brain to stop working properly.

Relieved at Tom's explanation Archie got to his feet and fished a leather jacket out of his wardrobe. 'Looks like I'll have to find my own dinner then.' He grinned at Tom, wondering why the other teacher was so nervous around him. He didn't usually effect people that way, swooning, yes, nervousness, no.

Glancing out of the window, he noted that the sky was still fairly light. Making a snap decision he grabbed his helmet from on top of the wardrobe, stretching up to do so and feeling his t-shirt riding up at the back. He smiled slightly, wondering if that little flash of skin had made Tom even nervier. Turning back, smile still in place he crossed to the door, taking Tom by the arm as he did so.

'Come on, you're coming with me. We'll take a bike.'

Tom watched Archie moving around, wondering what he was doing getting a jacket out in the middle of summer. It was only when the helmet emerged as well that he realised he was just being a bit thick and that, of course, it meant he was going out on his bike. This was confirmed for him a few moments later when Archie passed him and somehow managed to take him along.

"Oh, okay..." he replied, somewhat confused and even more nervous than he had been before. As soon as they were out the door he stopped and turned to Archie, trying to get his brain to focus for a long enough time that he might actually be able to work out what it was he was trying to say. "Oh... eh..." he started, not really sure where he was going with it. Trying again, he said, "I... eh... I haven't got my gear with me..." silently cursing his ultimate crapness at talking to the younger man.

Archie had to resist the urge to pat Tom reassuringly, as it was he was aww-ing inwardly at how awkward the other man seemed. He wondered if he was being too forceful and let his arm drop from Tom's. He wanted to get to know Tom better, but he didn't want him to be so uncomfortable.

'Its okay, we can go get your stuff on the way to the bikes.' He smiled, not the cheeky smile or the 'come get me' smile, but a gentle smile; making his eyes a little wider to seem less intimidating -if that was the word. 'If you don''t feel like it its no matter, you've already eaten so me dragging you off to get food is a bit selfish really.' He played with the visor on his helmet.

'Up to you, I'm easy.' He grinned, laughing at the words. 'Maybe I should have phrased that differently?'

Tom did his best to smile back, although he was pretty sure his brain had now entered the full malfunction stage so the smile was probably a little more goofy than he had intended it to be. He nodded in reply to the statement about getting his stuff and quickly moved to answer to the slightly bizarre addition.

"Y-yeah, you probably should have..." he said, laughing a little and blushing quite a lot more than a little. "And n-no, it's cool. To tell the truth - I'm still hungry anyway... been trying to stick to this diet thing but lettuce isn't really that filling," he said, half-smiling nervously. He now turned back and started to walk, already embarrassed and findign this feeling increasing as he admitted to the diet - it wasn't exactly the best chat-up line in the world to tell someone that you think you're fat and need to lose some weight.

Archie followed Tom along the corridor as they headed to his room. He glanced at him in interest, not seeing why the other should feel he needed to diet. He looked absolutely normal to Archie, healthy, certainly not in need of losing weight.

'You don't need to diet.' He blurted out, the sentence sounding more abrupt than he'd intended. 'I mean you look fine as you are.'

And now his colleague would know that Archie had been checking him out. Something Archie would put money on, that would make Tom feel doubly uncomfortable. Yet again Archie's mouth had been disconnected from his brain. He'd hoped to build a firm friendship with Tom, but between his stupidity and Tom's lack of confidence, it wasn't looking like the easiest thing to achieve.

'So, what have you been up to today?' He asked.