"No," Holly folded her arms over her chest and turned away from Artemis, who was sitting across from her on a bar stool, leaning across the island, "Artemis I'm not going to do it… no way!" she stuck out her bottom lip.

"Holly!" Artemis did his best to whine, "Please, just one bite," he held the hotdog up to her lips, "you might like it."

"Nooooo I wooooon't!" Holly exclaimed, then quickly pressed her lips together so Artemis couldn't put it in her mouth.

Artemis rubbed the bun against her lips.

"Doesn't it smell good?" he whispered breathily.

"Mmm mh!" Holly shook her head.

"Come on, Holly," Artemis prodded, "just nibble on it?"

"Mmmmmmm mh!" Holly shook her head harder.

"Well at least lick it!" Artemis exclaimed.

Holly looked at him. As quickly as she could, so quick Artemis barely saw it, she stuck her tongue out and touched the hotdog with the tip.

Artemis smiled. "Very good," but he kept the hotdog to Holly's mouth, "Now take a bite!"

"Artemis!" Holly shrieked. "I'm vegetarian!"

"You're being ridiculous. It's not like you're eating a full cow or anything!" Holly glowered at him, "Just a little bite, and if you don't like it-"

"If I don't like it, you have to eat a stink worm- a full one, too!" Holly grinned at him. "And you can't barf it up afterward!"

Artemis gave her a long hard look. "Deal." He said finally. "But you have to take a bite."

Holly nodded, and moved towards the hotdog. Artemis pressed it to her lips and Holly opened her mouth and took a wary bite, and chewed slowly.

Her eyes popped open. "Oh Gods! Artemis-" she grabbed a napkin and spit out her mouthful of hotdog, "Ugh! Uuuuuughhh! That's sooooo gah-rosss!" she wiped her tongue with the napkin a couple of times and then tossed it into the garbage.

Artemis was laughing at the look on her face.

"Laugh all you want Arty," Holly hissed, "soon you'll be laughing with a mouthful of juicy, mushy, squishy stink worm." She leaned closer to him, "And there's a reason they call them STINK worms."

Artemis gulped. "I'm ready…"

Holly walked over to the freezer, opened the door and rummaged through a bag until she found what she was looking for. A fat stink worm, still wriggling slightly.

"You keep stink worms in my freezer?" Artemis asked, slightly appalled, "Why?"

"In case Mulch drops by," Holly smiled, walking over to him. "Open up…" she said seductively.

Artemis gulped and obeyed. Holly lowered the stink worm to his lips and Artemis took a bite, his teeth sinking into the soft membrane of the stink worm.

He got a gush of something warm and sticky, then something meaty and oddly sweet. It tasted… good. Why did Holly think he wouldn't like it?

To Holly's surprise, Artemis pushed himself up and snatched the rest of the stink worm from her fingers.

Artemis chewed, swallowed and sighed.

"Why have you been withholding this from me for so long?" Artemis croaked, his throat coated with stink worm paste.

Holly blinked. "You liked it?"

Artemis nodded. "I want more."

Holly stared at him wide eyed. "Um… okay…"

How strange. Maybe Holly should tell him that stink worms have an acid reflects in their bodies that reached badly with human stomach acid, and induces nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mental confusion. And maybe she shouldn't. He would find out in about 20 minutes or so, anyway.