A/N: soo, Cynthia and I hit kind of a concrete blockade at the beginning of this chapter… for some reason we just couldn't figure out how to write it. But we did, eventually (obviously)! And, one more thing. In your reviews (which we share with each other and gawk over) lots of you complement our writing, which we love, but not many of them mention both of us. I know I'M the one posting these, but Cynthia takes JUST as much credit as me. So if you meant it that way, fabulous. If you didn't, just make sure you include her too. :) so, other than that, I have nothing else to say!
Cynthia: freeze, baby, freeze...
…okay then. Comment, complement, critique, love, hate, and review and all that stuff. Enjoy! :) J AND Cynthia
"Alright, Juliet!" Holly yelled. She was walking, almost stomping up the stairs, headed for the study. "Your time is up! Time to bring out the costumes!"
It was 6:00, and she planned on setting out early to get as much candy as possible, and have as much time as possible to drag Artemis out (because that would take awhile).
Juliet poked her head out of the door before Holly could take the door handle and grinned naughtily. "Okay, Holly Dolly! You may enter!" And she drew back out dramatically.
Holly sighed. "Only Foaly calls me that," she mumbled. Then she opened the door more and walked in.
Juliet shut the door behind her, and the captain continued walking to the table.
"Has Artemis seen?" she asked, not turning her head.
"Yeah," Juliet answered. "But, er... not in the way I expected."
Holly looked over her shoulder and furrowed her eyebrows together curiously. "What do you mean?"
"He got a sugar rush and forcibly saw himself," she explained sheepishly. If she couldn't protect her work from a single hyper Artemis, what kind of Butler would she be?
Holly laughed. "It's fine, Juliet. I just want to see my costume."
Juliet grinned excitedly, as if it was her birthday, and opened the closet.
Juliet pulled out a floor length, elegant, black dress. It was velvet, sleeveless, and had a v-neckline. There was a black cloak with a red lining and black boots with little heels as well.
"It's gorgeous," Holly gasped. "How in the world did you manage to make this?"
"I had help from Madame Fowl, but I did most of it. Madame Fowl helped me pick out the pattern and material," explained Juliet.
"I never knew she had a talent for that," she murmured. "But it's beautiful... thank you." She took it into her own hands and ran her fingers over the smooth fabric.
"The best part is," she grinned, "it matches Artemis's!"
"WHA-?!"
"Come on, Holly, did you seriously think I wouldn't make your costume match Artemis'?" Juliet said. "The best part, you have to trick or treat together!"
"Juliet, you just gotta let it go," Holly said.
Juliet was calmly strumming a guitar until Holly said that. She raised the guitar by the neck and shouted, "It's true love!" And then lowered it down.
"I'm sorry. I'm just really passionate about Hartemis."
"And I am leaving," Holly was walking out the door and grabbed her costume. "See ya."
"Where? To put it on?" She was grinning excitedly.
"No," Holly snapped. She didn't stop walking. "To the LEP. I'm not going trick or treating in this."
Juliet yelped, like she was in pain. "No!" She leaped forward and grabbed Holly's arm, stopping her from going any further. "You're going with us! You must!"
"Why?" The captain sounded annoyed and bored.
"Because... I'll... I'll... I'll tell Artemis the truth!"
That didn't sound good. Especially if she didn't know what the truth was. "What truth?"
"That you love him!" Juliet smirked and crossed her arms triumphantly.
"There is no truth in that."
"Even if there isn't- there is- I'll tell him anyway!" she threatened.
...Juliet was a sneaky girl.
After a few moments of considering the possible consequences, Holly relented. "Fine."
"Great!" Juliet said happily. "That costume is really too beautiful to waste. Well, you get changed and I'll check on Artemis."
As the blonde girl walked downstairs, Holly just stared at the costume with a mixture of pain and excitement. Tonight was going to be so much fun.
"Oh, Arty!" Juliet sang throughout the manor, looking for Artemis. "You need to get your costume on!"
Speak of the devil, out swept Artemis in the costume Juliet had made for him. He looked absolutely perfect. Except for his eyes.
"Artemis, your eyes are too blue, let's put red contacts in," said Juliet as she pulled some out.
He took them into his own hands, his lower lip dropped into annoyance. Once they were in, Juliet gasped and squealed.
"Oh my god you look so perfect!" she cried. She burst forward, wrapping her arms around him. He didn't have enough time to avoid it; Juliet was fast.
"J-Jeez," Artemis choked. His arms were squished to his sides. "Calm d-down, you maniac..."
"Fine," she giggled, releasing him. "I wouldn't want to ruin your outfit."
Artemis was brushing himself off and smoothing the wrinkles. "Has Holly seen her costume yet?"
"Yup!"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "And...?"
"She was angry, like you said. But at least I didn't tell her you loved her!"
He sighed and nodded. True, that situation was much worse. "Yes, at least for that."
"I find that threat comes in handy! Now, let's go see how my big bro's doing!" She skipped, and started to lead the way out the door.
"Oh, Butler!" Juliet called. "Time to come out!"
"No!"
"Please! You have to! Artemis is wearing his costume and Holly is changing into her's," begged Juliet.
After a moment's pause Butler came out of hiding as Frankenstein's Monster.
"Very nice, old friend. You look simply wonderful." Artemis made fun.
"Okay, that's it, I'm out." Butler started to back away.
Juliet grabbed Butler's arm. "No! Please don't, who cares what Artemis thinks?"
Before Butler could reply, Holly walked to the top of the stairs. She was wearing the form fitting dress with the cloak on, hood on. As Holly walked down the stairs, she slowly took the hood off.
Artemis was staring the whole time.
Holly walked over to Artemis and the Butlers, a bit hesitation.
"You look, uh...lovely," Artemis mumbled the last part.
Holly blushed. "Thanks, you look nice too."
"Well," Juliet said. "I hate to interrupt this awkward flirting, but we have some candy to collect."
That's when they finally noticed Juliet's costume. She was dressed as Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. Artemis and Holly almost gave her a snappy retort, then decided at the same time that it wasn't worth it. She would make fun of them until they dropped off the edge of the Earth.
Butler smiled. "Clever costume," he commented.
Juliet beamed. "Thanks! Now, c'mon, let's get some candy!" She swung a pillowcase (to collect the candy) that had been hanging off her shoulder and skipped away, humming happily. The rest chuckled and followed. This was going to be a very interesting night.
