Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl (we've already discussed this and if I have to say it again I will be very sad, depressed enough not to update…).
I think I am going to do more Holly/Trouble but not much more on them for this fic. This fic is centered on Artemis and his romance problems (and believe me, has he got problems!), not on Holly and her lack of maternal instinct. That will be my next fic. I know I said this was the last one, but I said that 3 fics ago and look where we are now.
Anyway, thanks for the reviews, here's the next chapter.
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Artemis surveyed himself he did not like what he saw.
"Artemis! Come out so I can see you."
"No. I will not be seen dressed like this."
"I'm sure you look fine."
"I look like an idiot."
"Just come out so I can see you."
He walked out of the dressing room wearing baggy blue jeans, a loose t-shirt (a horrible bright yellow), a blue hooded sweatshirt, and dark blue sneakers. And a pair of very dark sunglasses. There was a chain attached to the jeans. "I look like an idiot," he repeated sourly. This look did not look good on him. His pale face and dark did not work well with this "skater boy" look.
"You're right. Try on the next one," she commanded.
He trudged back to the dressing room and tried on the next outfit. It was worse (if that was possible).
"I'm not coming out!" he shouted. Shouting public? Very unlike him.
"Just let me see."
"No."
"Artemis, if you don't come out by the time I count to five, I'm coming in after you and I can take the door off the hinge."
He believed her. She could probably do it. He came out in chunky leather boots, a leather jacket, a black t-shirt with a skull and cross bones, spiked jewelry, and tight black jeans. [A/N: my attempt at a "goth" look, sorry I don't know much fashion-wise and everybody at my school wears a uniform]
She considered him. Black was his color and this look was better on him, but it still wasn't right. "Try on the next outfit. I'll be back in two minutes!"
Artemis sighed and went back to the dressing room. He came out in a cammoflauge shirt with matching pants and hat and army boots. Not his look at all. His skinny frame really didn't belong in these clothes. The weight of the shirt was awful.
She had another bundle of clothes in her arms. "No good. Those definitely aren't you. Try these. I think they're good."
He went back to the dressing room and tried on her latest outfit. He looked in the mirror. Not bad at all, this was much more his style.
"I think we've found the outfit." She nearly squealed. This was perfect! With his complexion, his frame, and his hair this outfit was great. "What do you think?"
"Not bad," he admitted. Artemis was wearing dark slacks and a long-sleeved black turtleneck. He had on nice lace up leather shoes (though they weren't his handmade Italian loafers). The look worked well on him.
"Really?"
"Yes," he sighed. He was ready for the torture known as shopping to end.
"Great! Change back into your clothes and we can pay for these at the register."
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That night, Artemis went to Juliet's room to go over places he and Alyssa could eat at. They had a map spread before them.
"Here's the theatre. If you don't want to have my brother pick you up between time, I assume he's not staying to watch the show?"
"I don't believe he is."
"Then you'll want to keep it close. This restaurant is very nice, it's classy, but not extremely elegant and its only two blocks, so it's close enough to walk. But what type of foods does she like?"
Artemis tried to recall anything Alyssa had said about food.
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Mrs. Fowl looked at Butler. "Artemis has been spending a lot of time with your sister. In her room. Are you positive it's not her he has a crush on?"
"I'm sure. Juliet is just helping pick out clothes and decide on a restaurant and giving him advice."
"I wish his father were here to see him and talk to him."
"Girls are better with advice of this sort. Don't worry. Artemis will be fine."
"If you say so." She still looked worried.
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Friday night came and Juliet was helping Artemis get ready for his date. He was already dressed and she was straightening out his clothes and combing his hair for him. It had to look just right after all. He brushed his teeth until they gleamed. His shoes were polished. He was ready. "Don't give her any lame lines? Better yet, don't give her any lines."
"Hmm?"
"I said don't give her any of the corny lines guys use to get girls to like them. Idiot guys. Like 'You must be tired because you've been running through my mind all day' or something lame like that."
"Okay."
They went downstairs and he was just getting ready to make his exit when Juliet exclaimed, "I almost forgot! Hold on a moment!" She dashed out to the kitchen and came back with a single red rose. "Give this to her when you see her."
"It's cold," he said, startled.
"It's been in the refrigerator all day to keep it fresh."
Unfortunately the delay had given Artemis's mother enough time to come downstairs and see him off. "My little Arty! All grown up. Going out on his first date!" She hugged him.
"Mother!" he said, embarrassed.
"Have fun tonight, Arty. Butler will keep an eye on you."
Artemis's eyes bulged slightly. He wasn't sure whether or not he'd factored his bodyguard into the equation of his first date.
Butler was standing behind Mrs. Fowl and mouthed the words, "Don't worry about it."
Artemis nodded. They'd work out the details in the car. "Goodbye, Mother. Goodbye, Juliet. I'll see you both later this evening." He gratefully made his exit.
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Artemis walked up to Alyssa's front door, a cool mask of composure on his face (though inwardly he squirmed).
He knocked on the door and it was almost immediately pulled open by a lanky boy of about 8, with flaming red hair. "Mum! Lys's date is here!"
Artemis winced and remember what Juliet had told him. "Does she have any brothers?" he had asked. "One that I know of," he had replied. She asked if he was younger or old and he'd said, "I'm fairly sure he's young." She said, "The brother and the dad might grill you a bit. Be nice and make a good impression." "Grill me?" he had asked. "Just the usual 'Don't lay a hand on my daughter or I'll hunt you down with my rifle, it's loaded'." "Oh," he had said faintly. Now he looked at the brother and he didn't look very intimidating. He stuck out his hand. "Hello, I'm—"
A woman with hair the same color as Alyssa's came out of the hallway at once and said, "You must be Junior. Come and sit down in here. Lyssie is almost ready. Shut the door quietly, Paul, don't slam it." She led him to the living room and sat on the sofa. "Lyssie tells me you're going to see Les Miserables and go out to dinner?"
"Yes."
"You don't look old enough to drive."
"I'm fourteen. About a week older than Alyssa."
"Who is driving?"
"My—"
"His cousin Boris is driving and chaperoning us," Alyssa's voice came from the hallway. "I'm ready."
Why would she interrupt him? He looked at her and his jaw nearly dropped. Gorgeous. She was beautiful. She wore a knee-length black dress that scooped at the neck (without going down far enough to show cleavage or anything like that; very conservative), and it was clingy without being too clingy. Her hair was arranged around her shoulders with slight curls at the ends. She was a far cry from the girl in jeans, a ponytail, and school t-shirt he'd met at the museum. She cleaned up quite nicely after all.
"You look lovely," he said, handing her the rose.
"Thank you." She blushed a little. "We'd better get going."
"Right," he said, rising to his feet.
"Don't stay out too late," Alyssa's mother admonished.
"We won't."
Alyssa's mum walked them to the door. She saw the car and the large man in the suit standing outside it who was supposed to be "Junior's cousin Boris". She blinked. "My goodness. What was it you said your father did for a living?"
"Businessman."
"A very successful businessman," she muttered. She smiled at them, "Have fun, kids!"
"We will," called Alyssa, waving back.
Butler was holding the door of the car open for them. Alyssa and Artemis got in the backseat and Butler shut the door. He took up the driver's seat and pulled out into the street.
"You didn't tell her who I am." He smiled smugly.
That vampire-ish smile was unnerving, thought Alyssa. Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea, a very bad idea. She didn't let any of these thoughts show in her voice. "I don't think she'd take kindly to me going to dinner with a criminal," she said, smoothly.
"I see." Artemis had been thinking about holding her hand and decided against it upon hearing her words. She had pointedly not called tonight's outing a date.
"Is your bodyguard coming with us?"
Artemis hesitated. "Yes and no." He didn't bother to explain. They'd worked out some freedom for Artemis tonight but not entirely.
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Artemis tore his eyes away from the stage to look at Alyssa again. Gosh, she was beautiful, thought Artemis. He looked around. He didn't see Butler, but he knew he was there, somewhere. Alyssa's hand was on the armrest. Even in the dim light, Artemis could tell that the nails were freshly polished in light pink. The same shade as her lips, thought Artemis, distracted. Artemis was hesitant as he slowly moved his hand toward hers. She didn't appear to notice. He placed his hand on top of hers and after a second moved his fingers until he was holding her hand, his fingers laced through hers. She appeared to take no notice but he didn't take his hand away. He didn't want to. He continued to watch the show without really paying attention to it. His attention was consumed by the girl sitting next to him.
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Alyssa was watching the show; it was spectacular. But she was watching Junior out of the corner of her eyes. She wasn't exactly sure why she called him that, even though technically he was Artemis Junior. She'd initially done it for two reasons. Firstly, to annoy him. Secondly, to keep her mother from finding out who he was. She might learn eventually. That had been a close call earlier. Very close.
She continued to watch him out of the corner of her eye. He was watching her quite openly several times, before turning back to watch the stage, embarrassed. Was he . . .? Yes, it appeared he was going to try to hold her hand. He sure was hesitant about it, she thought. Not that she'd ever dated before . . . She decided to let him hold her hand if he did try. Finally he put his hand on top of hers and closed his fingers around hers. She showed no outward reaction, but this boy was like an electric shock. Suddenly she was very, very nervous. And her hand tingled as though it had gone to sleep, even though she knew it hadn't. She couldn't look at him. She kept her eyes on the stage. His hand didn't move, except maybe to grip hers tighter.
