This may never start
We could fall apart
and not be your memory
Lost your sense of fear
Feelings insincere
Can now be your memory

So get back back
Back to where we lasted
Just like I imagine
I could never feel this way
So get back back
Back to the disaster
My heart's beating faster
Holding on to feel the same

—Sugarcult , "Memory"

Chapter Ten: Going Back

En route to the Anderson estate

Artemis would not wear the pants. Alanis just didn't understand his weird noise thing. Well, leather did make funny noises sometimes, but that was new leather, and after a while it would be strange-noise-less. She finally managed to get him into a leather jacket.

Alanis turned to glance at him. They were going to ride a taxi to Josh's place, the guy who was throwing the party. Artemis did look rather nice with the jacket and hair, and the smooth, polished words flying out of his mouth as he talked on the cell phone made him seem…for lack of a better word, cool.

"No, Butler, I have been invited to a party at Josh Anderson's house. Yes, tell Mother that we will be at his estate in Dun Laoghaire. Gold? No, I don't recall anything about that." Here Artemis leaned back into the seat, a puzzled expression crossing his face. "Perhaps its Father's, we do carry the same name. I'll leave the investigation up to you." Here he paused for a moment, and a slight tone of…what? warmth? crept into his voice. "Oh, she is? All right. Tell Juliet I said hello. Goodbye, Butler."

Artemis hung up the phone and stepped into the taxi. "Get in. We don't have all day," he said to Alanis.

Alanis rolled her eyes and started to step into the taxi. There was a sudden jolt by her side and Alanis swiveled around to see a man fleeing with her handbag. Her jaw dropped and Alanis heard Artemis gasp, "The files!" from inside the taxi.

Her eyes narrowed and Alanis sped off in hot pursuit.

The files. They could not lose the files, after all his work on them at the library.

"Follow that girl," Artemis told the taxi driver curtly.

"Yessir!" giggled the taxi driver, a ponytailed bubble-gum chewing woman. "Jus' like inna movies, eh? Alllus dreamed of doin' this…put on yer seat belt, 'cos here we goes!"

The taxi car sped roughly and Artemis quickly buckled the seatbelt, glancing out the window. Alanis was chasing the man and shouting angrily at him, shoving aside pedestrians and random objects.

"Shite," muttered the taxi driver, as she blew a bubble. "Red light." The car skidded to a stop and Alanis ran across the street, chasing the panicked man. The woman clicked the turn signal and it clicked tick tock tick tock repeatedly. "Green light!"

The taxi swerved left and Artemis fell over from the force. He clutched the seat in front of him tightly.

"Bloody yellow! WATCH IT THERE, BOB!" she yelled out the window, spitting out her gum at a car that nearly slammed into them.

Alanis came into view, having cornered the man.

The taxi skidded into parallel parking next to her. Artemis let out the breath he was holding and opened the window.

"It's just a bag," the thief muttered.

"It's not just a bag," snapped Alanis, snatching it back. "It's Prada." She walked over to the taxi, yanked open the door, and got in.

The taxi driver whooped. "You go, girl! Show 'em who's boss. Where to now, chief?"

Artemis gasped, "Dun Laoghaire. Ogham drive, number forty-six."

"You got it," said the woman, blowing another bubble and stepping on the gas.

Fowl Manor

Butler hung up the phone and took another sip of tea.

"Was that our ol' chap Arty?" asked Mulch, chomping happily on a scone.

"Yes," said Butler calmly. He could only be calm. He didn't know what to do with the information the dwarf had just thrown at him. It seemed ludicrous—fairies? It was laughable. But Butler didn't laugh. He went on sipping his tea and rubbed his bald head a little. Somehow, it made sense. Could make sense, he corrected himself.

"And out on a date, you said?" Mulch raised an eyebrow. "Never thought he paid any attention to the other sex."

"Apparently he does," said Butler. "So how do we know you?"

Mulch grinned. "I farted in your face. Remember?"

Butler was suddenly attacked by a disgusting memory of a pair of ugly buttocks.

It all made sense, then. The strange feelings of déjà vu that occasionally surfaced. His instincts not to slam the door in the dwarf's face. Butler poured himself another cup of tea.

Anderson Estate, Dun Laoghaire

The taxi dropped them off in front of an ornate gate. "Call Carraway iffen you need 'nother ride," said the woman, handing Artemis a business card after he paid her. She grinned at him and sped off.

"I'll call if I want an injury," muttered Artemis darkly, rubbing his arm where he had rammed into the wall.

Alanis laughed. "I thought it was fun. This the place?" She looked at the fancy gate and security system. Artemis thought it was rather gaudy (not to mention hideous) but Alanis seemed impressed. "Whoa. The guy's loaded."

Artemis dismissed her comment and walked up to the speaker intercom, where a staticky voice greeted them as the gate slid open automatically. "Party's in the poolhouse. Keep to the right, and stay off the grass."

Artemis raised an eyebrow and walked in, noticing the camera studded on the gate pillar following them. Following Alanis, to be exact.

"His father is an Irish diplomat for the government," he said, even though he knew Alanis would neither understand nor care. What was that shiny thing swiveling in the pathway…another camera? Odd place… "There will be surveillance and security guards monitoring everything. People who work for the government tend to be paranoid."

Something clicked inside his mind as he took several strides ahead of Alanis and stepped on the camera, hearing a nice smashing sound underneath his foot. "Not to mention perverts," he muttered.

"What was that?" asked Alanis, looking at him.

"Nothing," said Artemis. "Come on, I see the poolhouse. The sooner I find Josh the better."

Alanis pouted, following him. "Can't we stay for awhile? I haven't been to a party in ages."

They entered a large veranda surrounding a pool. People were shouting and laughing, loud rock music roared, some were dancing, some were swimming, and Artemis could just feel the body heat suffusing into the summer night air, turning it into a tangible wave of sweltering tepidity. "Ugh. Teenage hormones and alcohol. Disgusting," drawled Artemis.

Alanis sighed, breathing in happily. "I love it. Come on, let's dance, I love this song!"

"I suppose it would help us seem like normal partygoers on an outing while I scan the room for Josh," said Artemis, trying to look for the familiar sandy-haired boy among the throngs of people. The scene of colorful garb and bright lights and moving bodies disoriented him, as Artemis was used to the cold still halls of his mansion. He couldn't see Josh anywhere. It was so damn hard to see in this light.

Alanis had pressed her bag into Artemis' hands and joined the dancers in a rhythmic swaying move unfamiliar to Artemis.

Artemis slid into the shadows, distinctly uncomfortable. Give him plots and schemes and bank robberies, and he knew exactly what to do. Here were a group of teenagers his own age and Artemis was at a loss. He couldn't try to blend in and dance, that would be impossible. Mother had insisted I learn ballroom dancing, but I hardly find that suitable.

A girl with brown hair and an impossible amount of blue eyeshadow sidled up to him, two drinks in her hand. "Mm…I've never seen you before. Want a drink?"

Artemis eyed the green liquid as he accepted the glass. "What is this?"

She sighed, leaning on his shoulder. "No idea."

Artemis grew distinctly uncomfortable. There was a drunk girl practically on top of him. He tried to push her off but she seized his hands, the glasses of green drink clinking and breaking on the floor. "Kiss me," she demanded. Artemis could smell the alcohol on her breath.

Artemis swiveled around and shoved her. Another guy caught her. "Kiss him," he said curtly, walking off.

This might be a little more harder than he expected.

A/N: So there you have it, my quickest update ever. So leave many, many, reviews. XD

WormmonABC: Thanks for the comments! Yes, you picked up all the spiffing references.

The Cheezhead: Oh yes, you were my inspiration for Artemis' clothing in this chapter. Sorry for all of you who wanted him in the pants. I'm afraid our little Fowl protested horribly. Plus they wouldn't fit and they kind of tore and the store manager got terribly angry. Thanks!

Raven Ghost: yes, very smart you are! Very weird plot-thingies going on. Going back to the bodies...

Schizophrenic Inner Child: Woohoo leather! Hope you got more of your Arty fix in this chapter. Thanks!

Lessa3: Thank you for the chocolate, I updated! XD And yes, I'm insane--I mean unsane.

holikaimelar: thanks for reading! yes, Jonathan Night is a bit presumptous. And my offer to be your beta still stands.

A/N 2: Thanks for everybody who reviewed! Even if I didn't respond, I still adore you because y'all rock! :: hands all reviewers candy:: The next chapter coming soon. Clicky on the purply button and review!