Author's note: Wow... it's been so long since I updated this fic. I apologize to all of my readers. This story has not been abandoned, I assure you; there's an idea about the story swirling in my mind every time I think about it, I have to write them down on a piece of paper. It's just that I haven't really had time to write a large amount of anything up until now, since I'm in school. I now have plenty of free time and access to a computer! Whoot! So I will be updating more often, hopefully.

Can I still assume you know what the first 2 chapters were about? If now, perhaps a re-reading is in order, but if you feel that you remember enough, then please proceed.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. The chances of that happening are extremely low. So please don't try to sue. Do you really think you can get that much money from an undergraduate college student? Didn't think so.

Chapter 3: Presence and Presents

At 7:43 A.M., Floyd is waiting patiently in the lobby of the Hondew Dorms for two important women in his life: Wendy, his best friend; and Cinnamon, his new girlfriend. The three of them had a short talk about one going out with the other's roommate last night. Floyd was surprised that it went over so well with Wendy. She didn't have a problem with it at all; besides, it wasn't like they had wronged her or anything like that.

He was going to have a great time at Starf. Well, not so much as Sean was around, but he would fix that problem again later on today.

Sean just had to be at the very school he transferred to.

And it's even more complicated because Wendy likes the guy. The same guy he beats up twice as much as the favor is returned. It's not even about being popular anymore, contrary to whatever Sean thinks; it's about who's better than the other. There's not even a good reason for it now; no prizes to be won, no status to reach for. Cinnamon was right about what she said last night. There is no such thing as a 'popular' in college. Now, it was fast becoming a "just because I can" kind of thing.

Floyd pushes his thoughts on the matter to the back of his mind. Right now, Wendy and Cinnamon were coming out of one of the elevators, backpacks in tow.

They met each other halfway across the linoleum floor, with Floyd giving them both hugs. "You two ready?" he asks them as he let go.

"I was born ready," says Cinnamon.

"Well, someone seems confident about their classes," Floyd remarked. "What about you, Wendy?"

"Um… Wendy's fine. Shall they go to class?" Wendy replied, 'they' referring to the three of them.

Cinnamon and Floyd noticed that Wendy was a little bit on edge when she said this, and the new couple noticed quickly. "Hey, what's the matter?" Floyd inquired.

"Nothing," Wendy immediately replied, but after a few moments she said, "Please don't be upset over what she's about to say."

"It's gotta be about Freshwater." Floyd grimaced a little.

"How do you know that? It could be about anything," Cinnamon countered.

"Trust me, my little spice girl, I know," said Floyd, using the new nickname he gave her before the end of last night.

"Actually, Cinnamon, it is about Sean."

"You see?" said Floyd, turning to aforementioned spice girl with a smile of pride on his face. "I know my best friend." Turning back to Wendy, he asks, "What about him?"

"You know how Wendy, Floyd, and Cinnamon are taking the same biology class together, right?"

"Right," the two lovebirds chorused.

"Well, Sean is also taking the same class."

Floyd groaned on the inside. He may have to deal with Freshwater sooner than he thought!

"So, the guy you like-- and Floyd hates-- have to co-exist in the same class?" Cinnamon asked. She knew what Floyd thought about the whole situation, but she wouldn't let on about what she knew to Wendy by her boyfriend's request. Instead, she smirks. "Well, isn't that peachy."

"Sean is gonna be in the same class as me," repeated Floyd, seemingly shrugging the news off. "What's the problem, then?"

"Don't play dumb, Floyd. It's bad for his health," says Wendy while wagging a finger at him. "The problem is that the two of them are going to fight again."

"Yeah, you're right about that," Floyd agreed, thinking briefly about his revenge match with Sean this evening. "But never in a classroom, Wendy. In there, he's just another student. We'll handle it later on today, mano a mano as always. 'Till then, I've got a couple of beautiful ladies to escort to class."

The girls hooked one arm around each of Floyd's; Cinnamon on his left and Wendy on his right. Together, they proceeded to their first class.

Sean had arrived in Room 230 in the Magost Building exactly twelve minutes before class. The teal classroom was acutally an auditorium, with rows upon escalated rows ascending to the back. In between rows were ramps that lead to the bottom part of the classroom were the teacher would use Powerpoint presentations on a big white overhead projector. Out of all 21 rows, Sean sat in the fifteenth row in a small section for seven seats.

This morning, he got out of bed early to train a little before breakfast. Out in the field, surrounded by the morning dew glistening in the rising dawn, Sean practiced his punches and kicks, and even tried out a new move to some success. If there was one good thing that came out of his rivalry with Floyd, it had been all the training and conditioning he forced himself to undertake. With his flat stomach and slightly toned muscles, Sean could merit a second glance from a few people, especially Wendy.

His mind was focused on her at this point. After all, it's not every day that you sit in a college classroom with the most alluring girl from your high school. Sean beamed at the thought. Come on, Wendy. I can't wait for you to show up.

"Hey, Freshwater."

Sean's bliss plummeted instantly. I wasn't waiting for you, Spears. Looking to his left, he sees Floyd and two beautiful ladies looking back at him. "Hey Wendy, Spears—" He said Spears with obvious distaste— "And… you're Cinnamon, right?"

"Yeah… How did you know my name?" Cinnamon inquired.

"Because Wendy is your roommate, and she's also the best friend of my worst enemy, whose arm you're latched on to. I'm assuming that you're his new girlfriend?"

Quick assumption, but he's right on! Cinnamon thinks. So this is Sean, my boyfriend's rival. "That's right. Cinnamon Dodgers. Um… Nice to meet you, I guess?"

"Pleasure's mine." Sean turns to Floyd with a scowl on his face. "When and where, Spears?"

"Lum Park, 7 p.m. You know where it is. Be there," says Floyd, making an intimidating lunge at Sean, who budges a tiny bit.

Sean quickly regains his stance and stands up, facing Floyd. "Have you ever known me to back down from a fight? In fact, I'll be there fifteen minutes early just for you," he says.

"Good," replies Floyd. "Oh yeah, I forgot to thank you for yesterday."

"All I did was kick your butt for the eighth time. Are you that happy to see me because there was nobody to fight at Micle?"

"That ain't what I'm even talking about, punk," said Floyd, who is a little aggravated. "I'm talking about Cinnamon. She had helped me dust myself off after that ass-kicking you gave me, a few words were said between us, and before you know it, we're a couple."

"Seriously?" Sean asks Cinnamon as more students trickle in. "That's how you two hooked up?"

"Yep! We went to dinner and everything," Cinnamon replied. "He is such a gentleman."

Sean was speechless. That's not how it's supposed to work! The guy who gets his butt kicked is never supposed to get the girl! And Floyd, a gentleman? This girl is on something illegal if she thinks that! What in the hell does she see in… Oh, yeah. The same thing all of his ex-girlfriends see in him. They won't last.

"I never knew there were girls out there who went out with people that lost fights," he says to his enemy and rival. "How about that, Spears? You inferiority complex kicks in, and you actually get a girl because of it!"

"You mean superiority complex, punk," retaliates Floyd.

"Spears, you are in no way superior to me."

Brown eyes narrowed. "I beg to differ."

Blue eyes narrowed. "You can beg better than that."

"Don't get smart with me, Freshwater."

"Oh, save it for this evening. I know your policy, Spears."

"Whatever, man. I don't have to fight you in class to prove anything to you."

"And just what are you trying to prove? That the 'populars' are still God's gift to earth?" Sean asked accusingly. "Floyd, you've been out of high school for a little more than a year now. There's got to be another motive, or you just love trying to bully me. Screw the fact that I was an 'unpopular' at Leppa, because a normal person wouldn't want to fight half as much as you want to do with me. So tell me, Spears. Why? Is it because I have a thing for your best friend, or is there some other hidden motivation behind it all?"

"Sean, calm down, please," begs Wendy.

Floyd, after hearing the reason Sean thinks that they fight, laughs a little. "You really think that we're fighting over Wendy?"

The redhead's simple questioning catches the bluenette off-guard. "Wait… we're not?"

Wendy knew that was the reason Sean thought he had to fight so much. Still, it made her happy that there was yet another person in the world who would be there for her, fight for her. And the best part was, he wasn't even six inches away.

"Man, I have nothing against you concerning Wendy," explains Floyd. "I see the way you two are around each other. You two make each other happy. Both of you play Pokemon a bit too much for my taste, but it doesn't matter to me. I'm surprised that you didn't just go with her already. If you're a real man, you would at least do that! I'll tell you what. I hooked up with a hot girl on campus because of something you did to me. Now, I'm gonna spell out something for you. Since you need it so badly, I'll give you permission to hook up with my best friend."

What was this!? Floyd was actually letting his worst enemy go out with his best friend?

Sean had to test this.

"I don't need permission from you, Floyd. But let me get this straight." Fixing his gaze towards Wendy:

"If I were to take Wendy's hands in mine--"

And he did so, ever so softly.

"--and look straight into her emerald eyes, and say with all my love, heart, and courage, 'Wendy, would you be my girl, for now and always?' And she replies--"

"It would be an honor and a privilege."

"--in a voice that could only belong to some heavenly being, then you, Spears, wouldn't have a problem with it? None at all?"

Floyd only smiles. "I would only say, it's about damn time!"

Wendy brings Sean's attention back to her, then engages him in a light, heartfelt kiss, which deepened with every passing second. Never mind who was watching and the lack of experience on both their parts. Sean had finally officially asked her to be his girl!

Cinnamon squealed lightly while hugging Floyd's arm. "Awww, that is so sweet! It reminds me of a pancake," she told him in a hushed voice.

Floyd looked down at the object of his affection with a scrutinizing eye. "A pancake, Cin?"

She turned her smile towards him. "Yeah, a pancake! It's fluffy and heartwarming and everything!"

"You do realize that I didn't eat breakfast this morning, right?" Floyd pointed out.

"Oh, am I making you hungry?" whispered Cinnamon while poking his stomach. "You know, we don't have class for an hour after this period, so we can go get something together."

"Cool," Floyd agreed. Looking back to Sean and Wendy, he wonders, I wonder if those two notice at least 150 plus pairs of eyes on them right now. Sure enough, just about every other student was watching and lightly clapping as Sean and Wendy sealed—well, continued to seal— the official beginning of their relationship with a kiss. When they broke apart, they immediately noticed the crowd, who began clapping loudly at this point, but they did almost nothing about hiding the blush spreading over both of their faces.

Suddenly, there was a handclap and a catcall from Professor Pine, who was magically sitting on her desk decked out in a red business suit and red heels. She had a smile on her face as she wordlessly congratulated the couple. That's that girl from Douglas's meeting yesterday, she thought to herself, recognizing Wendy. "Well, congratulations to the two of you," she finally said. "Nice way to start off the semester, getting together like that." A few of the students laughed.

"Ah… how much did you see, Professor?" inquired Sean.

The entire thing, confrontation and all. Nobody in the class noticed me come in, thanks to all of you. "I didn't see much. Now, if everyone would kindly take a seat, I can take roll and we can start an exciting Biology course!"

Sean and Wendy sat next to each other, hands intertwined. Floyd and Cinnamon sat down right next to them.

"Hey, aren't you guys supposed to be in class or something?" asked Sean quietly. "Floyd, I know you wanted to escort Wendy to class, but—"

"We're taking this class, too," Floyd said rather bluntly. "So we'll have to put up with each other every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And don't you dare get the wrong idea about what just happened. I did it to help Wendy."

"I guess I can put up with you for an hour every other day. As long as Wendy is next to me, I'll endure anything for her sake." And Sean meant it. Wendy knew it as well, as she gave her boyfriend's hand a squeeze. The four then turned their full attention to Professor Pine as she passed out the syllabus to her students.

Professor Pine's class went by faster than most people would realize due to her charm, her openness, and all of her jokes (which were actually funny). After breakfast with her friends and boyfriend, Wendy made the trek to Professor Dogwood's English class in the Cornn building. After taking the elevator up 2 levels, Wendy finally found the class and walked in, a little nervous. Not that many people consider being in a room for 32 students and an instructor nerveracking, but Wendy was afraid of speaking up, which she will certainly have to do. She had her discussion of her speech impairment with Professor Dogwood yesterday, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she would be teased just like everyone else from middle school onward had teased her behind her back or otherwise...

Professor Dogwood came into the room, looking every bit as sharp as an instructor can be. A brown suit with a white tie with equally white dress shoes made an impression that whatever he was doing was going to be serious, as it usually was. He stepped behind his large desk and then proceeded to greet his students for this class. "Good morning, everyone," he said.

"Hello, Professor," most of the class replied.

"Well, glad to see that most of you are ready for this class. My name is Douglas Dogwood, and this is General Writing 101. Now that you can put a face to the name, I'd like to be able to do the same with each of you. When I call roll, I would like for you to stand up and tell me something interesting about yourself." He paused for any possible questions, then proceeded due to lack of those. "All right... Dawson Addleman?"

A small teen dressed in all black stood up from his desk. "Here, sir. I'm aspiring to become an independent DJ."

"Interesting," Prof. Dogwood remarked as Dawson sat back down. And so the class went for a few minutes. Wendy found out that a girl sitting to her right liked doing cosplay for quite a few animes, and that a boy sitting in front of her wrote fanfiction about video games. Those were some of the more interesting ones...

"Wendy O'Dell?"

Wendy jumped a little in response to her name being called. She couldn't believe it was her turn already. She stood up slowly to address Prof. Dogwood. "Here, sir... Uh... Wendy always... speaks in third person... due to something that happened years ago..."

Prof. Dogwood could sense how nervous Wendy was. "I believe we've talked about it before class started. Guys, Wendy is something of a special case in this class. She might speak a bit differently than the rest of you, but I want you to make sure that you make Wendy as comfortable as you can, okay?"

"Yes, sir," the class, sans Wendy, responded. Wendy silently thanked Prof. Dogwood for understanding and getting everyone else to refrain from teasing, even if it was just a little bit.

After roll was finished, Prof. Dogwood announced, "Now you all have been assigned two books to read over the summer, starting with John Grisham's "The Firm," so we'll now begin to discuss that. First of all, what did you think about the book in general?"

"It's time. We're prepared. We will choose him or her today."

"Perhaps this isn't a wise idea. You do realize what will happen when the person finishes..."

"I am aware of that, Ce-- Celeste. There will be havoc, and turmoil for a bit of a while. But I wish to know.... If such a senario existed, what would people really do? These... people can say one thing, but really want to do something else entirely."

"I understand, sir, but why not unleash it yourself, then? To pick one human out of billions..."

"To do so myself would make it a bit inconveinent for me. You must understand young-- 'lady,' I should call you now-- These people are not to know who or what we exactly are until this... senario reaches a possible conclusion. He or she will ask questions when it begins; we will answer him or her, but not in full. You must also realize that we are very... fragile... in these appearances. So extra caution must be taken to protect yourself. Do NOT do anything deemed unusual out in the open unless it is absolutely necessary. We will also guide the chosen through the more difficult parts of his or her quest. Until the time comes, act as a normal person would."

"Yes, sir. I got it."

"Now, let us proceed to open shop. All of the boxes in this storage room are making me a bit claustrophobic."

"Hee hee. Whatever you say, Artemis. And remember to lighten up some. You're boring if you don't have fun."

After classes were over for the day, Sean and Wendy managed to catch the bus to Lansat Mall to basically hang out by themselves and do a little window shopping. Currently, they were at one end of the mall and were about to turn around when a new store caught their eye.

"Hey, this store wasn't here before," remarked Wendy. "Seems like they finally got that spaced occupied by something."

"Yeah. 'W.A.R.P.' Wierd name for a store," replied Sean. "Let's check it out, maybe we'll even see what the store name means."

"Sounds like an idea. Wendy hopes it's interesting."

At this, the tandem walked into the store, which housed plenty of media. Books on the right shelf near the front, CDs and DVDs on the other side, and different shelves of miscellanious things made small rows in the center. Against the background of green and white, which seemed to swirl in places, Sean and Wendy noticed that the store was devoid of other customers. They must not be that busy right now, concluded Wendy.

The only other person who was in the store worked the front counter. A tall man of 36 years with long snow-white, wavy hair stood at the register checking himself over every once in a while to make sure he looked as presentable as a man of his standing should be. He had on a white overcoat with gold buttons, a small microphone attached to the collar. Golden-colored gloves gently brushed his overcoat free of dust, not that there was a speck on him. The bottom half of his white starched pants and golden shoes were hidden from view.

When the two were at the counter, the red-eyed man proceeded to introduce himself. "Greetings, and welcome to W.A.R.P. My name is Artemis and I reign over this store. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Hey, Artemis. Can you tell us what W.A.R.P. means?" asked Sean.

"Gladly. It means We Acquire Random Parts. Well, not really parts, but we tend to have random things here and there," Artemis replied.

So... it's kinda like a thrift store?" asked Wendy.

"Thrift store...? Y-Yes, you could call it that. Is there anything specific you're looking for? We just might have it in the back if it's not out in the open."

"Well, we just became boyfriend and girlfriend today," Sean began. "I kinda want to give her something special to mark this day, but nothing out here is cutting it. Got something stored away in mind?"

"Hmm... I'll see if my assistant can find something, she has something of a knack for finding things for all kinds of people." He gently tugs the collar to his lips to speak into the mic. "Celeste, I need you out here. We have a... romantic apprasial," he whispers.

No sooner than 3 seconds later the second employee of W.A.R.P. appears from the back door. Celeste skipped all the way to the front counter. A short young woman of 18, she stops to tuck some strands of her shoulder length, forest-green hair behind her ears which are decorated by two teardrops for earrings, matching her blue eyes. She is wearing nothing but a knee-length sleeveless dress of the deepest green a person ever did see, along with some green flipflops.

When she comes up to Artemis, the top of her head reaches his collarbone. She strains her neck to look up at him. "Right here, Artemis!" she proclaims with a smile. "These them?" she asks, gestering to Sean and Wendy with her hand.

"Celeste, these two have... how do you say... hooked up?"

"Yes, that's it."

"I'd like for you to head to the back and see what these two would like."

"Got it, sir!" She skipped to the back and locked the door behind her. Calmly walking to the center of the storage room, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Her hair began to whip upwards as a mysterious but gentle wind began to whirl around her. She could feel herself becoming spectral, passing through barriers and the dimensions held within.

When she was done, Celeste found herself suspended above a stage in what looked like an auditorium. She could see many people filing into seats, but for the most part their attention was turned to a group of four students; the two guys were arguing, but not too loud, while the two girls watched. Celeste, unseen in her spectral form, decided to fly up to where the argument was taking place to see what exactly was going on.

"Floyd, you've been out of high school for a little more than a year now. There's got to be another motive, or you just love trying to bully me. Screw the fact that I was an 'unpopular' at Leppa, because a normal person wouldn't want to fight half as much as you want to do with me. So tell me, Spears. Why? Is it because I have a thing for your best friend, or is there some other hidden motivation behind it all?"

"Sean, calm down, please."

"Ha ha ha. You really think that we're fighting over Wendy?"

"Wait… we're not?"

"Man, I have nothing against you concerning Wendy. I see the way you two are around each other. You two make each other happy. Both of you play Pokemon a bit too much for my taste, but it doesn't matter to me."

Celeste gasped in shock. Fortunately, nobody could hear her. Did he just mention Pokemon? Then, Sean and Wendy are prospects! She would have to take this up with Artemis immediately.

"Now, I'm gonna spell out something for you. Since you need it so badly, I'll give you permission to hook up with my best friend."

Celeste didn't hear the rest of the conversation due to being wrapped in her own thoughts, but she did catch the long kiss. I wonder what that feels like, she said to herself. She resolved to find out one day.

When she had faded back into the storage room, Celeste opened the door, still finding Artemis trying to make idle conversation with the couple she saw kissing not moments ago in that place and time. "Artemis! I found something desirable, but it's too high for me to reach, and we don't have a ladder yet!"

A believable lie. This was their secret code that she found a prospect and that she needed his help to make a decision. The last past was added because she really was short and really couldn't reach top shelves.

"I understand," he tells her. Turning back to the students, he said, "I'll have to go back and get it down for her. I trust you two will not steal anything?" he asked, suggesting to the hidden camera above his head.

"Don't worry, Artemis, he can trust them," replies Wendy.

"Trust... who?"

"Sorry, Wendy only speaks in third person," Sean and Wendy both announced.

"How unusual. Well then, I'll return shortly." Artemis makes a brisk walk to the storage room where Celeste was waiting. Those two were prospects? And they were the first people to walk into the store!

When the door is closed and locked, Artemis turns to Celeste with a very serious look on his face. "You're sure?"

Celeste stares back with an equally serious expression. "I'm sure."

"Tell me everything you saw."

"Alright. I had warped into a classroom, and they were both there. Sean was arguing with a boy with long red hair about a fight, and Wendy's name came up. This caused the redhead to laugh and say the fight had nothing to do with Wendy."

"Alright. Where does Pokemon come into the picture?"

"The redhead said that the couple played Pokemon a bit too much for his taste."

"Hmm... anything else?"

"Well, when he said that, I actually got lost in my own thoughts and didn't hear anything else, sorry. But I did see them kiss; that lasted quite a while."

Artemis mulled over this new information for a couple of moments, and then said, "Celeste. What do you say we show them what they could be dealing with? Based on their expressions, I will allow these two to begin the experiment."

"I have no problem with that. But just how are you going to do that?"

Artemis smirked. "You do realize who I am, right?"

Celeste giggled. "Yeah, I know exactly who you are."

Nothing further needed to be said. With that, Artemis reached up to the top shelf and brought down a small brown box. He proceeded back into the actual store, Celeste following behind minus the skipping.

Sean and Wendy were still at the counter, pondering over what exactly Celeste had found in the storage room when Artemis walked back behind it. "I apologize for the wait. Now, how would you like to see what Celeste found?"

"Sure," replied Wendy. "They've been pondering this whole time."

"All right, then. Open the box and take out what's inside," Artemis offered, placing the box on the counter. Sean lifted the lid and, with a slightly puzzled look in his eyes, lifted out...

"A miniature Poke Ball?"

"Oh, not just any miniature Poke Ball," Celeste chirped. "Press the button in the center." Sean did so and the Pokeball immediately expanded to what one would expect to be a normal-sized Ball.

"Wow! Wendy didn't know there were Poke Balls that actually did that!" replied Wendy.

"Yeah, usually they're just plastic and a fixed size. And this one's made of metal, isn't it?" asked Sean.

"Yep," confirmed Celeste. "If Pokemon were real, you could actually catch them with that, I feel."

"Man, that's way cool!" said Sean. "But if I had a Pokemon, I'd have to take real good care of it, especially since there aren't any Pokemon Centers in the world. I'd be training my Pokemon to be the best out there, whatever it is." Wendy nodded her head in agreement. Turning to face Artemis, Sean asks, "So how much are they?"

"Hmm... well, since you showed a keen interest, I'd be willing to lower my price just for you. That Poke Ball, plus the three others in the box, are 10 dollars each."

Sean couldn't believe his luck. Four expandable Poke Balls for 40 dollars. That was a steal! He quickly paid for them, giving one to Wendy and putting the box that contained the other two in a small plastic bag.

"Sean, for being the first person to request something from the back of W.A.R.P., I'd like to present you with this." Artemis reached down into the counter drawer, and handed Sean a tied scroll.

"What does it contain?" asked Wendy.

"A prophecy that Sean must read before tonight is over," said Artemis while keeping a straight look on his face. "People are destined for great things, or so prophecies say. Perhaps that particular one may lead to your destiny."

"Um... thanks. I guess it couldn't hurt," replied Sean. "How much is this?"

"Free of charge."

"Alright. Thanks, Artemis. I'll be sure to spread the word about you guys, since you just opened... how long ago?"

"We just opened yesterday," said Celeste.

"Wow. But shouldn't you guys have a 'Grand Opening' banner over the entrance or something? That'll attract more people to the store."

Artemis and Celeste looked over at each other, both slightly red in the face. "Heh heh... we must not have planned this as well as we thought, huh?" Celeste said sheepishly.

"Well, even with me, things can go wrong," replied Artemis. "We'll get one up tomorrow."

"Well, we must be going," said Sean.

"Good luck with the store. Wendy and Sean will be back to check up on things," said Wendy.

"Thank you both. I have no doubt that you'll come back to W.A.R.P. very soon," said Artemis.

"Come back and visit, and good luck with your relationship!" replied Celeste.

As the two lovebirds walked out of sight, Artemis and Celeste looked back at each other. "Nice move with selling the Pokeballs; if he tells some people after reading that, people will constantly want to buy Poke Balls! We'll make a lot of money during this experiment!" Celeste confirmed.

"That is true, but it can also become a bad thing. If we get too much attention, people will demand to know who exactly makes the Poke Balls, making it that much harder for us to keep our identities. Also, you know that money is next to useless for us," said Artemis.

That was when his stomach rumbled.

"Looks like you can use some of that money to buy something from the food court!" Celeste laughed. "If you don't eat, you're not gonna be able to keep your energy up."

Artemis sighed. "Hmm... comes with the territory, I suppose. I have to use the money out of my own pocket to buy food, anyway, since using store money is against mall policy. Mind the store for me while I get us something to eat. I've been wanting to try this mall's nachos."

"You know what I like, Artemis."

"Yes, I do, you vegetarian. I'll be back shortly... shorty."

"Hey!"

"Well, you did tell me to loosen up, right? So don't be offended. You know I mean no harm."

"Yes, I know. It's good that you're trying, though."

"Thank you, Celeste."

"No problem. I'll call you on the mic if I need anything."