Wow, I didn't expect you people to like it this much. Bookworm is very happy to hear this .

Alright, so I'll try to update as much as possible. School is starting up for me really soon, so I don't know how much free time I'll have. If I don't update for a while, then you know why.

After this chapter I'll be introducing Artemis and the gang, for those who are wondering where he is.

Oh yeah, disclaimer: I don't own Artemis Fowl. I don't own Twilight. End of Story.

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Ah, Graduation. A day most students looked forwards to. A day I should have had two years ago.

Anthony and I plotted exactly how the whole thing would play out, from Graduation to getting Artemis to admit he was in league with the faeries. And even if the entire thing happened to be a wild goose chase, it would still be quite an adventure. I'd never felt such a sense of spontaneity. We'd stayed in my room, planning, researching, arranging. I had to leave sometimes to perform daily human tasks, such as eating and bathing, but other than that I rarely left.

I was looking forward to Graduation more and more, as Anthony's love of tricks was evident in his plans for our grand exit. I was literally going out with a bang.

I stood with my classmates, wearing a crimson cap and gown over my absolutely criminal school uniform. It consisted of a red and black plaid skirt that came to my knees, a white button-up shirt, and a tie to match to match the skirt. I hated red and black, so naturally they were the school colors of the ridiculous highschool Georgiana had chosen for me, aptly named Dirgefield, School for the Gifted and Artistic. I detested every inch of the place, and was so glad to be leaving it, especially in the manner I had planned.

I fiddled with a piece of my shoulder length, flipped out hair as I watched the rooftops.

"Quit being nervous," Anthony whispered in my ear from behind me. I started.

I inched away from my peers and whispered back, "You're supposed to be somewhere other than here." I wondered why he hadn't contacted me mentally. Anthony had a knack for opening channels between minds, allowing him to read minds and communicate with another person through telepathy. He was not quite proficient at this technique, however, thus causing nearby people to occasionally see flashes of his thoughts and memories. That was how I found out about how he became a vampire back in the 1960's.

"Chill, missy," he bade with a chuckle. Anthony adjusted his wide-brimmed hat for the umpteenth time. Though he had yet to explain why, he had warned me that vampires could not be exposed to direct sunlight. Anthony was also wearing a green sweater, gardening gloves, long jeans, and boots. "I swear, if the Volturi ever got wind of the risks I was taking…"

"Volturi?" He pressed his lips together, silent. I grudgingly allowed the subject to drop.

"What time do you have to make that whole speech thing?"

"In exactly ten minutes. Go back to your post. If there is one slip-up, whether it damages person or property, there could be suing. And that would delay us by a good few weeks, at the very least."

"That would suck," he agreed, and was gone in a heartbeat.

I stared at the stage, where my peers accepted their diplomas with smiles and happy tears. The reality finally sunk in: This was it. The moment I touched the diploma, I was free. I could do 

just about anything I wanted. Father would continue paying me, of that I was sure, and I had already earned a great deal from my various investments. I wouldn't have to work a day, and I could go anywhere and do anything I pleased. No more of my silly career-centric father, no more of the frivolous and absurd Georgiana, and most importantly, no more Myles.

I grinned openly, no longer caring about the uniform, or the ridiculous school, or anything else. I only wished Joseph could have been there.

"Claire Davenport, could you please come up?"

I composed myself and straightened my attire before ceremoniously stepping up the stairs. One of my teachers, Professor Parish, stood there beaming.

"Congratulations, my star pupil," she said, misty-eyed. I had never really liked her. She had a tendency to talk down to me, though I had already proven that I could teach her English Grammar class. I kept a cautious, stern look on my face.

"Thank you, Professor," was my stoic reply. She handed me my diploma and gestured for me to take the front of the stage. I looked down at the simple piece of paper, scarcely able to contain my pure ecstasy. I was thankfully able to keep myself under control as I stood front and center.

"I would like to begin by stating that on behalf of the school, thank you all for coming." It wouldn't kill me to pretend to like this place for just a few minutes. "I'm sorry to say this speech will be brief, and perhaps a little unorthodox." I paused for effect, my hands clasped behind my back. "During the course of our lives, we experience hardships, obstacles made to make us or break us. Some say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and I agree with them one hundred percent." Another good pause. My audience was watching me intently. "School is no exception. During my time here at Dirgefield, I have experienced many hardships, the most detrimental being the passing of my dear brother Joseph." I caught sight of my family in the audience. Father sat with a small smile, Georgiana dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, and Myles, ever the bubbly one, kept his eyes fixed on me with an annoyed glare. "He attended this same school with me. He was my constant companion, my protector, my friend. I loved him very dearly… I will not lie to you: his death has crushed me, leaving wounds that will probably never completely heal. That said, I believe I have recovered enough to see just what he would have wanted." This was where it would get exciting. I stared at the rooftops of the school buildings again. "I've realized that Joseph would not have wanted me to part from this place in my usual dreary manner, despite the fact that I am a very dreary person. I have recently obtained a spark of spontaneity." The audience was beginning to stir, to look at each other in confusion. They sensed the trap, knew somewhere in the back of their minds the entropy that was to ensue. "You see, I had an epiphany recently: How would I like the students of this school to remember me? As the awful nasty thing that liked to hide in the library? Or someone who added a little color to her life by in fact—," I smirked deviously, an expression that no doubt would send chills up the spines of almost every listener in my audience. "—going out with a bang."

There was a split second of silence before the chaos erupted. All around the audience, from the tops of the school buildings, shot fireworks of every color I had been able to find. Shocked and startled screams came from the audience as they were bathed in colorful light. Anthony had done a wonderful job at placing them.

Firecrackers dropped onto the stage around me, and a large banner unfurled from the framework that arched over the stage. I spread my arms theatrically, milking every bit of brilliance I possibly could from the scene. Anthony had made the banner, which hung directly above me, so I could only hope he hadn't put any insulting images or crude language on it. I 

grinned wickedly and blew a kiss. "I bid you all farewell!" I called, then made for the exit, sprinting as fast as I possibly could.

I took my cap and tossed it into the audience like a frisbee before I dove off the stage to be caught by Anthony. There was far too much commotion for us to be noticed.

People screamed and scattered about like ants under a magnifying glass. The roar of the fireworks drowned all thought. I glanced in my family's direction to see my father pinching the bridge of his nose, Georgiana holding him tightly, and Myles leering at me. I slowed ever-so-slightly under his hateful gaze, but Anthony pulled me along by my sleeve, causing me to return my focus to the task at hand: getting out of there as quickly as possible.

"Now everyone!" screamed the dean, a stout and bearded old man, "P-please don't panic!"

My vampire friend and I bolted from the chaotic scene, laughing like fools as we spilled into the limousine.

"J-Jeffery," I gasped as I glanced out the window to see the school, above which still blossomed colorful fireworks. They'd go off for several more seconds, and by then we'd be far from here. "We need to get to the house immediately."

Kindly old Jeffery caught on immediately, chuckling and shaking his head as he realized the fireworks were our doing. "You're completely mad, Miss Davenport."

"That I am," I sighed as we pulled out, "That I am."

oOo

We reached the house within minutes. I called as I waved goodbye to the chauffer, "I'll send you the video, Jeffery, Anthony got some amazing footage of the whole thing, or so he says."

"Thank you, Miss Davenport. If you don't mind, I should get back to your family."

"Thank you, Jeffery. I hope to see you again sometime. Though who knows… now that I've graduated, you may never see me again!"

"I certainly hope that's not the case," he replied with a last wave. The second he was past the front gate, Anthony scooped me up and ran at vampire-speed into the spacious garage of the home. In the same amount of time it took to take a deep breath, he ran and stopped just in front of my favorite car: My silver Jaguar convertible. Our belongings were already packed in the trunk. I had given the instruction for a maid to place Jessie in her carrier and set her beside my car at exactly 1:00, about the time we'd get home.

She howled in confusion just beside the car, and I reached down to pick her up. I brought the carrier to eye level and said reassuringly, "Calm down, Jessie my dear. We're going on a nice long vacation." The grey hairless cat stared up at me with the glossy blue and black orbs that were her eyes.

Anthony hopped over the car door into his seat and buckled his seatbelt.

"Move it, Claire. We have to be out of here before anyone notices we're gone."

"Of course," was my reply. I pried off my gown, tossing it into the backseat, and jumped into the passenger seat as my companion had. No sooner had I set Jessie in my lap than Anthony had driven at almost 90 mph from the house.

"You know the way to the airport?" I shouted above the wind around us as I gripped the armrest. Jessie let out a howl of panic.



"Yeah," Anthony answered, not at all fazed by the fact that he was driving at an absurd speed. He was pulled into a parking space within ten minutes of taking off.

I leaped from the car and snatched up my bags, then strode briskly towards the hangar. Anthony was by my side in an instant. I looked back to see the cover on the vehicle, to prevent theft.

"You have the tickets?"

"We're not going by public transportation."

The vampire gaped at me for a long moment before breathing, "You don't mean…"

I laughed heartily as we broke into a run, "We most definitely are. My brother won't need it for a while."

He cackled maniacally with me. "You're so twisted!"

So far I was pulling off more tricks within one hour than I had in my entire lifetime. I wasn't normally a trouble-maker, but the sheer elation of being free of my ludicrous family was exhilarating.

We sprinted through the hanger where the airport kept private vehicles till we reached Myles' jet. "You're pushing your luck with this, you know."

"I've weighed the risks, Anthony," I panted as we ran straight past the pilot I'd hired. "I'd rather be sent to juvenile hall for plane theft than sit around here."

The pilot, recognizing me immediately, hurried to the cockpit. We dumped our luggage in a corner of the spacious air vehicle, and I let Jessie out. The pilot, Johann was his name, buckled himself in and called, "Where to, Miss?"

"To Dublin Airport."

He whistled. "That's a little far."

"I could pay you extra if you…"

"No, no. I'm just not sure if your brother…"

"Stepbrother, Johann, stepbrother," I corrected. "He won't be needing it. You'll be back here before he even thinks it's gone."

He gazed at me warily. "This is awfully close to being illegal, Miss Davenport."

My eyes narrowed. "I wish to disappear, Johann, and if you cannot get me to Dublin Airport now, I will have to delay this disappearance, and that would only serve to make me angry."

Anthony nodded vigorously, his eyes widened mockingly. "You don't want to screw around with Miss Davenport here, dude." Johann sighed.

"Alright miss. You may want to take a seat."

I collapsed across one of the several black leather chairs in the belly of the plane, still a little out of breath from my sprint. I loosened my tie and kicked off my black pumps.

Anthony did the same in the chair across from me. I sighed, paused for a moment, then got up and sauntered to the miniature bar, behind which was a small fridge. I pulled out a large bottle and a pair of champagne flutes. My vampire companion jumped from his seat and leaned against the bar.

"Are you really…?"

"Relax, my fanged friend, it's only sparkling cider. Myles keeps some in here whenever there are parents accompanying him and his friends."

"And when there aren't?"

My eyes narrowed. "His motto is 'what they don't know won't hurt them'."

"Oh. Say no more."



I shook the bottle slightly and popped the top, sending showers of the cider spraying about. I giggled most uncharacteristically as I poured our glasses. Though, being a vampire, Anthony didn't need to drink, he still took a glass. I took mine, and raised it with his.

"To going out with a bang."

"To going out with a bang," I echoed. We clinked our glasses together and sipped.

"So what exactly are we?" he asked as he dragged his finger around the rim of the glass, making the famous resonating sound.

"Beg pardon?" I inquired around a sip. The cider was delightfully sweet and tangy, and made my tongue tingle.

"What are we? Like, the Dynamic Duo, or Beauty and the Beast." He grinned and said teasingly, "I call dibs on Beauty."

I rolled my eyes and thought. I took another sip, than said. "I like to think of us as sort of like Bonnie and Clyde… so I'm thinking… Partners in Crime?"

Anthony smirked. "Partners in Crime." We clinked our glasses and drank again.

"Say," called Johann from the cockpit, "What're you kids going to be doing in Dublin anyway?"

I shrugged, not even caring about the madness of what I said next. "Hunting faeries."

………………….

That chapter was a little longer than the others I think… Keep reviewing, and I'll update when I can.