DISCLAIMER-Yeah, somebody finally got around to telling me I need one of
these. Do I need one for every chapter, or is one in my profile enough?
It's obvious I'm not Eoin Colfer and I don't own any of these characters,
because if I DID then I would have gotten Holly and Trouble together
several books ago. *grin* On with the reading, if you dare!
DEDICATED TO EVERYBODY WHO READ MY LAST 3 ARTEMIS FICS. (Especially Radioactive Bubblegum, Kelsey, & Slime Frog who have been reviewing since the beginning and are the only reason I wrote the last three books of this quartet) Thanks, everybody!
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Artemis stood in front of the gates of the school with his bags, waiting for Butler. The bodyguard pulled up in the expensive car, looking rather cheerful. Artemis had to admit that it would be good to be home again for the summer and it was good to see Butler, but he was not in the mood for cheer of any sort.
Artemis sighed inwardly and got into the Bentley.
Butler immediately sensed trouble, but what could possibly trouble Artemis? He knew he wasn't making a mistake; something was not right. He had to fix it.
"Sir, are there any problems?"
"None, Butler," he said, his reply prompt and airy.
They rode in silence for a few minutes. Butler knew something was still wrong. By now, Artemis would usually have been complaining about the food at the school, or his classmates, or the tight security, or even swim team. Something was decidedly wrong.
"Are you sure, Artemis? You know you can talk to me, don't you?"
He sighed. "Yes, Butler. Yes, I know."
Butler knew Artemis would say nothing about what was bothering him until he was ready to say it. His attempt to help would have to be postponed until the boy was ready. He changed subjects. "How was your field trip last week?"
"Not bad. The art gallery was quite pleasant. I enjoyed listening to the idiot teachers point out what techniques and markings in particular paintings showed the expertise of that particular artist, especially when they were talking about my work."
Ah, Artemis Jr. was an expert on forgeries and had painted at least a few of the pictures that hung in that gallery.
"One student however, did seem to realize something was amiss with one of the paintings. Very observant. Very cultured. I was surprised."
"Was it a friend of yours?"
He hesitated, "I suppose, you could say, a new friend."
"Really? Did you invite your new friend to spend any time at the Manor now that the summer holidays have started?"
"No."
"What was his name?"
"It doesn't matter."
Something was definitely odd here. But as they pulled into the drive of Fowl Manor, Butler knew that Artemis didn't want to talk anymore. About anything. Butler had touched a nerve somewhere along their brief conversation and he had to wait for the boy to recover and come to him.
Artemis didn't wait around while Butler got his bags out of the trunk. He just walked inside as quickly as he could without appearing rushed. He stumbled on the step, realizing that he left something very important in one of the bags Butler was carrying.
But it was too late. He knew Butler wouldn't go through his things. He would only arouse suspicion if he went back and took the bag now. He took a calming breath and proceeded to make his way into the house.
"Arty!" His mother's slender arms enveloped him in a hug. "It's so good to see you!"
"Hello, Mother."
"Did you have a good term? Your father and I missed you so much. I haven't seen you since the spring holidays."
"Yes. The term was fine."
"Are you all right, sweetie? You don't sound like yourself."
"I'm fine, Mother. Just tired. Where's Father?"
"He got called away on an unexpected business trip. He really wanted to be here when you got home."
What a great time for my father to go away, he thought sarcastically. "I'm feeling a little tired. I think I shall retire to my room to take a nap."
"I'll have Juliet call you down when dinner is ready."
Artemis disappeared, ghost-like up the stairs.
"Butler," said Angeline, "You know Artemis at least as well as I do and much better than most people. Do you think there's something . . . odd going on with him?"
"I think there might be. But it's nothing to worry about. I don't believe it's serious. When he's ready, he'll talk. Excuse me." He took the bags upstairs.
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Okay, there's the first chapter! I'm sorry it's kind of short, but this is Artemis we're talking about and as far as feelings go, there isn't much to work with. I'll post the next chapter soon. Please review!
DEDICATED TO EVERYBODY WHO READ MY LAST 3 ARTEMIS FICS. (Especially Radioactive Bubblegum, Kelsey, & Slime Frog who have been reviewing since the beginning and are the only reason I wrote the last three books of this quartet) Thanks, everybody!
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Artemis stood in front of the gates of the school with his bags, waiting for Butler. The bodyguard pulled up in the expensive car, looking rather cheerful. Artemis had to admit that it would be good to be home again for the summer and it was good to see Butler, but he was not in the mood for cheer of any sort.
Artemis sighed inwardly and got into the Bentley.
Butler immediately sensed trouble, but what could possibly trouble Artemis? He knew he wasn't making a mistake; something was not right. He had to fix it.
"Sir, are there any problems?"
"None, Butler," he said, his reply prompt and airy.
They rode in silence for a few minutes. Butler knew something was still wrong. By now, Artemis would usually have been complaining about the food at the school, or his classmates, or the tight security, or even swim team. Something was decidedly wrong.
"Are you sure, Artemis? You know you can talk to me, don't you?"
He sighed. "Yes, Butler. Yes, I know."
Butler knew Artemis would say nothing about what was bothering him until he was ready to say it. His attempt to help would have to be postponed until the boy was ready. He changed subjects. "How was your field trip last week?"
"Not bad. The art gallery was quite pleasant. I enjoyed listening to the idiot teachers point out what techniques and markings in particular paintings showed the expertise of that particular artist, especially when they were talking about my work."
Ah, Artemis Jr. was an expert on forgeries and had painted at least a few of the pictures that hung in that gallery.
"One student however, did seem to realize something was amiss with one of the paintings. Very observant. Very cultured. I was surprised."
"Was it a friend of yours?"
He hesitated, "I suppose, you could say, a new friend."
"Really? Did you invite your new friend to spend any time at the Manor now that the summer holidays have started?"
"No."
"What was his name?"
"It doesn't matter."
Something was definitely odd here. But as they pulled into the drive of Fowl Manor, Butler knew that Artemis didn't want to talk anymore. About anything. Butler had touched a nerve somewhere along their brief conversation and he had to wait for the boy to recover and come to him.
Artemis didn't wait around while Butler got his bags out of the trunk. He just walked inside as quickly as he could without appearing rushed. He stumbled on the step, realizing that he left something very important in one of the bags Butler was carrying.
But it was too late. He knew Butler wouldn't go through his things. He would only arouse suspicion if he went back and took the bag now. He took a calming breath and proceeded to make his way into the house.
"Arty!" His mother's slender arms enveloped him in a hug. "It's so good to see you!"
"Hello, Mother."
"Did you have a good term? Your father and I missed you so much. I haven't seen you since the spring holidays."
"Yes. The term was fine."
"Are you all right, sweetie? You don't sound like yourself."
"I'm fine, Mother. Just tired. Where's Father?"
"He got called away on an unexpected business trip. He really wanted to be here when you got home."
What a great time for my father to go away, he thought sarcastically. "I'm feeling a little tired. I think I shall retire to my room to take a nap."
"I'll have Juliet call you down when dinner is ready."
Artemis disappeared, ghost-like up the stairs.
"Butler," said Angeline, "You know Artemis at least as well as I do and much better than most people. Do you think there's something . . . odd going on with him?"
"I think there might be. But it's nothing to worry about. I don't believe it's serious. When he's ready, he'll talk. Excuse me." He took the bags upstairs.
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Okay, there's the first chapter! I'm sorry it's kind of short, but this is Artemis we're talking about and as far as feelings go, there isn't much to work with. I'll post the next chapter soon. Please review!