Author's Note: I do not own Artemis Fowl or anything having to do with it as you probably know.
I wrote this just this night becuase I was thinking about Arty, sorry if there are a lot of errors but this is pretty much a first draft. I have some ideas of continuing so if you want me to please r&r friends! ^.^ I hope it's not too cliche, I'm gonna give it some non-chliche twists in later chapters. Please enjoy!!!!
Artemis stood across from Holly Short. He could hardly see her, not one feature was distinguishable from the other, and each part of her was blurry. Artemis himself felt out-of place and stiff. He didn't think to move his mouth but words came out.
"Another time Holly, a less complicated life." Artemis stared at Holly; although his senses were muted he could feel his throat was chocked with a lump that felt like an apple blocking his airway. His eyes burned from the strain of holding back tears that would make his words feel false. He had no idea why he had said this; he decided that he had always been here, in this spot, across from Holly. Slowly Holly fell to the ground then his peripheral vision blackened, it closed in on Holly's crumpled figure until there was nothing. No feeling, no sound, just being. And then, something soft hit his body, within seconds his mind registered that he was in his bed. The window in his room was dark, his second realization was that it was late and he was no longer in a dream. He rolled over to the red and black display on his bedside table. The colon blinked out the seconds and the numbers read 4:19. Artemis lay on his back in the dark room, the only light was the faint red glow emitted from the clock.
"Another time… a less complicated life… Holly?" He whispered to himself. He very rarely dreamt, and usually his dreams were of accomplishments; once he dreamt he had won an award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, a laughable trophy to him of course. Another time he dreamt he had finally solved pi, ending it with a number unused for centuries. Never in his life had he had a dream concerning emotion. And never did he expect to have a dream concerning this particular emotion, one he had never intended to feel. It was a complex yet common thought that had undoubtedly run through his mind while saying these words, It is not safe for us to be together, it is impossible, it is wrong, I love her.
All his theories on psychology could not explain why he hated that he loved her. Although, Artemis knew what had probably brought on this. They had been squished together on countless occasions, saving each other's life, fighting for survival, keeping secrets, plotting, arguing, and dealing with loss. They were best friends and could not have been closer if they were brother and sister. He shut his tired eyes, staring at the white ceiling did not help him concentrate. Even more distracting though was the image in his mind. He had often wondered what Holly would look like in a dress. And even more often pushed the thought from his mind. But now it played in front of him like a slideshow. Her hair grown long, a soft white dress tailored to her slight figure, a bright smile on her face and more importantly, in her eyes. The eyes that they shared, the eyes, he stared into so often just to remember how hers looked.
He knew of course, that dreams often reflect our wishes, hopes, or even future realities. Artemis also knew that they pulled from an unprotected part of the mind. Where they could open fears and dislikes and jumble them together with the good. Then there were his memories, Fowl's rich and exhaustive memories. Was he perhaps remembering when Holly and he were both teenagers? Was that the time and life that would allow their love? A locked place in his heart wished they were back there. In that time and in that life. Back on the cold concrete floor, back where animal smells and sounds filled his every sense, back, to where Holly's soft lips had touched his, sending an electrical spark between them. This locker of uncertainty wanted him to stay there for eternity. He would never forget that moment whether he chose to or not.
Artemis groggily opened his eyes. Only a few minutes had past since he had been jarred awake by this revelation. He knew he should wait until his mind was a little more clear, but he threw caution aside and reached for the fairy communicator.
"Hmmm?" Holly's tired voice asked into the receiver. She hadn't even bothered to open her eyes. She wasn't extremely upset about being woken up by the communicator. It was probably Artemis calling to say goodnight… Artemis…. Artemis…. The name bounced through her head. She was remembering a dream from that night. Holly knew he was there some where but couldn't remember much at all. Her sleepy thoughts were intruded upon when Artemis spoke.
"Holly, did I wake you?" Holly decided it was time to open her eyes; she blinked a few times to refresh them from their blurred state.
"Uh, oh yeah….. you woke me. No problem though I was getting up anyway,"
"Of course you were" Artemis realized she didn't know what she was saying. Why would she wake up at 4:30 on a Saturday?
"Of course, of course, so what's up?" Artemis smiled at her attempt to start a conversation. Then realized he really had no reason for calling other than that he wanted to hear her voice. He quickly put together a reason for the rouge call.
"My parents are holding their annual Valentines Day Ball," So far no lies, maybe he could get away with this early bird call after all. "If I don't have a lady on my arm Minerva will certainly snag me." He shuddered at her name. Minerva was almost as brilliant as he was, but she had a heart of stone. They had gone out for a few expensive dinners in Paris, but Artemis had ended it quickly yet gently. They only ever talked about current science or the latest mathematical breakthrough. She acted like a robot half the time and like a little girl the other half. Artemis found himself wishing her blond curls would morph into auburn, her glass like stone eyes would soften into light hazel and blue and her sharp, cold features would give way to rounded, real life ones that didn't remind him of a cheaply made Barbie doll.
"Ex-girlfriend issues, go on" Holly knew where it was going, it was very obvious, but she didn't want to ruin it.
"Holly Short, may I be your escort to the 2009 Saint Valentines Day Ball?"
"Alright, I'll ask Foaly to cover for me. When does should I show up?" Artemis hadn't thought it all through though. How would she hide her pointed ears? Wouldn't his parents be wary of his dating some one who looked so much older than him yet was almost a foot shorter? He had already invited her though, so he would take it as it came. His mother already knew. Only seven months before, she had been taken over by a certain pixie, and she now knew everything about the fairy people. His father on the other hand, would need to be tricked.
"Eight o'clock, and if you don't mind, please wear a dress"
"No, I think I'll show up to a ball in my shimmer suite so I can entertain the quests with floating objects…." Sarcasm played a key role in her early-morning speech.
"Haha Holly, very funny, what would I do without your sword-sharp wit?"
"Probably be a whole lot more duller then you were" Artemis winced when she said "more duller"
"Yes Holly, and you're a whole lot more duller at night. Get some sleep"
"Yes sir, g'night Arty."
"Sleep well Holly" Artemis cut the call just a second before he said "I love you" as an ending remark. They were going to the ball together but they weren't dating. He had to stay in line here.
Holly crawled back under the covers of her bed. This time her dream was more vivid than the last. She was on the ground, curled into a tight ball; a tear ran down her check. Holly felt sure she was alone and would be alone forever, but a hand rested on her back. It warmed her spine and gave her more comfort than words could. Without any thought of her own she said something to whoever owned this hand.
"This is the only time we have; it's the only life we have. Artemis; love is worth it isn't it?"
The second time she awoke confused. She never imagined falling in love with Artemis, that kiss was behind them. She realized that once she was in love with him, almost seven months back when she was young again. So, in another time, another life, she supposed she had loved him.