Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl or anything you recognize from the Artemis Fowl books. I do own the plot and the Stones, though those aren't exactly anything to be proud of. *shoots stupid plot and drags off the stage again*
Don't forget to review.
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Chapter 14: Face Thy Doom (Day 1)
Alyssa was led to a splendid dining room. Artemis pulled out her chair for her and pushed it back in after she sat down. He took the seat next to her.
His father was sitting on his other side (at the end of the table) and winked at him, saying in a loud whisper, "She's a cute one, son."
Artemis blushed. Alyssa was very attractive.
"We're very glad to have you here, Lyssie. Is it all right to call you that? That's what I heard your mother call you, so I wasn't sure," said Angeline.
Artemis chuckled, and quirked an eyebrow at Alyssa. "Lyssie?"
"Arty!" warned his mother in a don't-you-dare-tease-her voice.
She ignored him. "Actually, I prefer Alyssa."
"Alright, Alyssa then, is your room alright?" Mrs. Fowl asked.
"Oh, yes. It's absolutely lovely."
"I'm glad. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."
Juliet brought out salad and salad plates. The salad was followed by potato soup, which was followed seasoned roasted chicken on a bed of wild rice. Juliet and Butler took their seats on the open side of the table, Butler next to Mr. Fowl and Juliet next to Mrs. Fowl.
Alyssa started eating. "This tastes delicious! Who made it?" She couldn't see Junior's mum cooking.
"I did," said Butler.
"Butler is a certified cordon bleu chef," Mrs. Fowl said proudly.
"As are all the Butler family after they complete training," added Artemis senior.
Alyssa eyed the big man. Him a chef? Did he keep a gun in one pocket and a frying pan in the other one? She watched the light play on his shaved head. It was very hard to keep from laughing. "It's delicious," she repeated.
"What does your father do, Alyssa?"
"Oh, he's an investigative journalist."
"It's a shame he and your mother and brother couldn't stay tonight."
"Yeah, but they really needed to see my grandma. She was getting worse this week and when she called she said that she didn't want to chance anyone sick coming over. I was starting to get a cold and my parents thought it best I not go with them."
"I understand. As I said, Timmy and I are thrilled to have you here."
They all kept talking until dinner ended. "What were you two planning on doing tonight?" asked Angeline.
"I brought some of my favorite CDs over and I thought Artemis and I could listen to them. I like a lot of older bands. Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Queen. Oldies but goodies, you know?" She smiled charmingly.
Artemis was glad she came up with something to say because he honestly had no plans beyond making sure they both survived dinner with his parents.
"Oh, alright then. Have fun." Angeline Fowl smiled. Everyone started to leave the table. "Butler, Juliet, a word?"
"Yes, Mrs. Fowl," they replied.
"When you pass by Arty's room at all tonight, please make sure the door is open. It's not that I don't trust him, but…"
Butler tried not to grin. "Yes, Mrs. Fowl."
Artemis and Alyssa went upstairs. "I'll be right back. Just got to get my CDs out of my room." She smiled and went to get her music.
Artemis scanned his room again. Nothing out of place. Good. Holly hadn't been into his things. He almost closed the window, but if Holly was out and she needed to get back in, he didn't want her knocking. Maybe he could ask Juliet to open her window. Too late. Alyssa was back, CDs in hand.
She went over to his stereo and put a CD in.
"This one is the best. Queen rocks. Period."
Bohemian Rhapsody started to play and she cranked up the music. She started pretend to play the air guitar. She laughed at the incredulous look on his face and shook her head. She kept laughing as she jumped on his bed with a plop and started singing.
Artemis promptly moved away and sat on his chair at his desk.
"Come on, you've got to like this music," she said. She bounced off the bed and changed tracks. "Even you've got to know this one."
Freddie Mercury started blasting through the speakers with "Don't Stop Me Now". After the first line, Alyssa joined in. "I feel alive, and the world I'll turn it inside out—yeah; and floating around in ecstasy; so don't stop me now don't stop me; 'Cause I'm having a good time having a good time." She looked at him. "Sing it!" she commanded, grinning.
"I don't want to," he protested.
"Come on," she urged. She got up off the bed and took his hands spinning him out of his chair and forcing him to dance with her (well sorta, it wasn't very good dancing because Artemis wasn't a good dancer under the best of circumstances and this wasn't the best of circumstances). She kept singing. "Sing!"
"I don't know the words," he said.
She went over to the stereo. "Then this song is going to be on repeat until you do know the words and you do sing it."
"Only if you lower the volume. It's so loud."
"Deal."
After four and a half times through, Artemis asked again, "Can we please shut this off?"
"Only if you sing and dance first. You don't have to do the whole song, just part of it."
"Okay," he sighed. "Restart."
She obliged by restarting the song, and then she came back over and danced with him. When it got to the part he'd decided to sing, he took a deep breath and started to sing it. He wasn't a good singer, but he almost sounded half decent. He didn't see Butler stick his head in. He didn't see Juliet look in on them, or his parents check up on them. He certainly didn't notice the shimmering haze watching from across the room, thinking about how much Foaly and Root would be laughing at this. The song ended.
"My turn," he said smoothly. He went to his case of alphabetized CDs and looked up M. "Mozart," he smiled.
They listened to his Mozart CD for a while. One track came up that Alyssa decided was just perfect for slow dancing. She got up off the bed and pulled him from his chair again. She asked, "May I have this dance?"
"Isn't that my line? Besides, I don't believe you're giving me a choice in the matter."
"You've got that right." She pulled him closer.
Artemis decided to let her decide just how close they were going to dance.
She put her hands on his shoulders, then changed her mind and snaked her arms up around his neck.
He hesitatingly put his hands on her waist, but noticing that she shifted her hands, he did the same (while carefully avoiding touching areas that shouldn't be touched). They danced like this for a while, swaying to the music. St. Bartleby's had had dances for the older students (they invited some girl school to come) and his new school did the same thing, but he never went to any dances. Never saw much point. But a week earlier, Juliet had taught him to dance.
They switched off between his CDs and hers. Sometimes they just sat and listened, but sometimes they danced or sang softly (or in Alyssa's case loudly). Around ten o'clock or so, Alyssa went to put on her pajamas while Artemis went down stairs to get some snacks. She said she was just entirely worn out with singing and she needed some energy.
So he put on his slippers and padded downstairs to the kitchen. What would she eat for a snack? He saw someone was already looking in the refrigerator for food.
"Holly? What are you doing down here? I thought you ate."
"Nobody brought me anything, so I waited 'til your parents were asleep so I could come get something."
"Oh. Well, goodnight then."
"Yeah, you too, Mud Boy."
Artemis looked and finally found some potato chips. He also grabbed a couple bottles of water and brought it all upstairs.
Alyssa was waiting in his room wearing plaid pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt that said across the chest "Watch here for further developments". She jumped up, "Food!" and opened the bag of potato chips. "Sorry, my pajamas are so tacky but I love these. One more CD and I swear I'll stop bugging you for tonight." She went over to the stereo and put in the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack. She went back over and sat on the bed again, munching potato chips. "So I was wondering, is breakfast a big formal thing?"
"Formal?"
"Do I have to get dressed?"
His eyes widened in shock. "Of course you have to wear clothes, if that's what you're asking."
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Junior. I was just asking if breakfast is formal or relaxed. At my house we usually eat breakfast in our pajamas and then get changed and showered and stuff afterward. At least, we do in the summer. During the school year it depends on everybody's schedule."
"Oh. We usually shower and dress first."
"Okay, that's all I was asking." She laughed and she her head. "Goodnight, Junior." She kissed him on the cheek.
"Did Juliet show you where the bathroom was?" he asked.
"No," she shrugged.
He led her down the hall and showed her the bathroom. "Towels in this cabinet, soap and shampoo, and stuff in the shower there."
"Thanks." They went back out into the hall. She gave him a hug, "Goodnight, Junior."
"Goodnight, Alyssa." Artemis watched her disappear and went back to his room. Holly was waiting on his bed with her arms crossed. It was very funny to see her sitting there swinging her legs that didn't reach the floor. "Now what?" he asked, exasperated. "I thought you were bunking with Juliet."
"I was going to but she went to bed earlier and I didn't want to wake her up. I'm staying in here. I brought my sleeping bag. It's in your closet with all my other stuff."
"And you're staying in their with it. I can't have anyone come in and find you." He dug up a flashlight for her and made some more space on the floor of his closet. "Hope you're comfortable. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Arty. By the way, you have a lovely singing voice," she said tonelessly.
Artemis couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic. He shut the closet door with her inside and turned off his light, climbing under the covers.
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A few notes:
I love Queen. It rocks!
The sweatshirt that says "Watch here for further developments" was not my idea. For all I know that sweatshirt may exist, but I got the idea from Young Wizard Series by Diane Duane.
One more thing, for once I actually do know where the story is going, so I'll update as soon as you send some reviews.
And, one more thing, I'm thinking about changing everything to titles that actually make sense so that this will no longer be the titleless series. Personally, I like everything with pointless titles but I'm taking a vote if you want to change them.
REVIEW! Just click the little button that says "GO".
