Chapter three: Rich Guests From Ireland
Lauryn's POV
A/N: No you did not miss an Artemis Fowl book. Lauryn is purely my character. I made her based on me. The only thing is she's a little older than me.
I picked up the hair brush and started untangling the knots in my hair. For some reason my mom wanted me to look my best when our guests arrived. She even picked out my clothes: A beautiful embroidered blouse and a brown silk skirt. Even she never dressed like that. Yes, maybe for my uncle's performance when he starred in the Broadway musical "The King and I" she dressed in her gorgeous gown from China but usually she wears a sweatshirt and sweatpants.
I pulled on my blouse and buttoned it. I admit it was beautiful but it's just not my style. I slipped on my skirt and put a clip in my hair to keep my bangs out of my eyes. After putting on some lip balm I rushed upstairs to wait. My parents told me about the Fowls. They were my dad's cousin's wife's cousin so they're not really blood related. Dad said that they're really rich and live in a huge mansion in Ireland. I heard about Ireland. I heard everyone there hang out in pubs and drink themselves silly all the time. I heard they believe that little men in red beards and knickers run around fields of shamrocks with a pot of gold. I heard they chase rainbows. I find all of those things hard to believe but here in the US people drink and smoke themselves to death. And everywhere people believe in God and Buddha so why not believe in little men? But why anyone would chase rainbows is beyond me.
I ran to the stereo upstairs immediately. I quickly picked out some of my favorite music. Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Abigail Washburn. Oh and of course. How could I leave out the Dixie Chicks? I put all of my favorite CDs in the stereo and shuffled them. Then I ran to help mom with the dessert.
Artemis' POV
We drove up – AVE and looked for the address number. We stopped at the white house with the purple leaf plum tree in front. A bio diesel Mercedes Benz was parked in the driveway. Bio diesel. I heard of that. It's a fuel made purely of soy beans and isn't bad for the environment unlike gasoline or diesel.
Mother unbuckled the twins and cradled them in her arms. Butler opened the door for me and I stepped out. Then the driver of the rented limo opened the trunk of the car and unloaded the luggage. He and Butler heaved them up the one outside flight of stairs. Father knocked on the door.
Lauryn's POV
We heard a knock on the door. It was them. Mom rushed to the door, but not without checking her hair. She opened the door.
Artemis' POV
Mrs. Jeffreys opened the door. She had short black hair that was combed neatly and she wore a Chinese skirt and blouse. "Goodness, Angeline!" She exclaimed and hugged my mother. "You haven't changed a bit!"
"Neither have you! It is simply wonderful to see you again." Mother replied returning the embrace.
"Oh, Artemis!" Mrs. Jeffreys cried this time hugging my father, "How are you? Is all well?"
Then she saw me. "Oh. My. God." She said in utter shock. "You must me Artemis Fowl Jr.! Last time I saw you you were two years old! You've changed so much! How old are you now? About eighteen?"
"Yes." I replied lamely.
"Mr. Butler." She said addressing my bodyguard and shook his hand. "How are you?" then she saw the twins. "Oh, my goodness gracious me oh my! These must be the twins! They are simply adorable!" She cooed.
"Oh, how rude of me." She said placing a hand on her heart. "Come in, come in. You must be freezing out there. Winters can be harsh here.
'Freezing?' I thought to myself. 'This is by far the warmest winter I have ever witnessed.'
Nonetheless, Mrs. Jeffreys dragged us indoors. The smell of barbequed sausages filled the small entryway. The song "Cowboy Take Me Away" by the Dixie Chicks was playing on the stereo. "Artemis," she said addressing me instead of my father. "I heard you had gone missing just over three years ago. That must have been horrifying."
"Yes," I replied, "It was quite an adventure."
"Did the kidnappers just let you go?"
"No. But, um, it's just too horrible to talk about." I said with a chuckle.
"Of course. I won't ask."
Mrs. Jeffreys daughter came in from the hallway. As soon as I saw her, my eyes opened wide and my jaw almost dropped to the ground. I recognized her. Her hair brown hair was down and she wore a skirt and blouse, but she was clearly recognizable. Her eyes, too, opened wide behind her glasses as she recognized me. She was the girl from the basketball court.
A/N: There, big cliffhanger for those who didn't read "Disaster in the LEP Labs." Just letting some readers who don't know start knowing, the " –AVE" and the "address number----" is just me being paranoid about my address.