A/N:
Shelma: First of all, a great thanks to all my reviewers. I'm awfully sorry it took me so long to update.
Holly (sarcastically): They'll live.
Shelma: Does anyone else think there are too many sarcastic people in the same room?
Holly: You may leave, noone will complain.
Shelma: Well, if you want to stay with Artemis tête-à-tête, it can be arranged easily.
Holly (horrified): NO, I DO NOT!
Shelma (surprised): What on earth do you think he might do that makes you so horrified of him?
Artemis (smirking): It seems to me, she is more horrified of herself and of what she might do.
Holly (calmly): I'm afraid I might do something I'd regret later.
Artemis (unsuccessfully trying to sound uninterested): Like what?
Holly (harshly): Like a murder!
Artemis cautiously steps back.
Shelma: Holly, my reviewers seriously think you need professional help, well, to cope with your anger outbursts.
Artemis (rolling eyes): What else is new?
Holly (punches him and asks threateningly): WHO said this?
Shelma: I'm not telling you. My reviewers mean a lot to me. I don't want them dead.
Holly (very pissed): I don't need no professional help! I'm able to control my emotions!
Shelma and Artemis gasp, looking totally shocked.
Holly: Don't you dare to say otherwise!
Shelma: Artemis, remember when you said about Holly believing in what she's talking about. This is amazing. You were SO right.
Artemis: I'm always right.
Holly glares at him.
Artemis (unwillingly): Fine, almost always.
Shelma: Oh, and I don't own anything except Strunt and his cronies.
Holly (sarcastically): Thank you very much for making up such nice characters. I'm sure you needed to proclaim they're yours or someone could steal them.
Chapter 5.
"I'm not in love I try to tell myself all the timeI just can't help how I feel tonight
So don't go running away..."
Holly arrived home, made herself a cup of coffee and turned on her computer intending to check the mail. Here she got a surprise. There was a message from Artemis Fowl.
Dear Holly,
I'm writing to inform you I've regained my memory.
There are some important matters that need to be discussed. I suggest we meet as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully,
Artemis Fowl.
Holly stared at the message unbelievingly. She closed her eyes and opened again. It was still there. 'What important matters? This is really weird', - she thought and glanced at the watch.
It was 6 p.m. - 'Well, I don't have any other plans anyway. So, why not?' A thought that it might be a trick was pushed away as unwanted. Today Fowl really did not look evil. Holly realised quite well that she's supposed to connect Foaly and make this official. But being Holly Short she decided to ignore the rules and, quickly finishing her coffee, left in a couple of minutes, hoping that if she went on the surface just for a few minutes maybe noone would notice. She was wrong.
Artemis was waiting for her, looking at the window and thinking of the things he was going to say. Knowing Holly and her patience, he expected her to show up almost straight away after getting a message, at least out of curiosity. Indeed, he didn't have to wait for long. He noticed a slight flickering coming inside through the window and said:
--Good evening, Captain. It is nice to meet you again.
Holly unshielded and a warm feeling forming inside almost freaked Artemis out. It was really so very nice to see her again. She was beautiful. Although Artemis tried hard and quite successfully to conceal his emotions, for a few seconds he was speechless. Holly, however, didn't look too pleased.
--Fowl. What do you want?
Actually, Holly already realised coming here was a bad idea, because seeing Artemis made her feel the butterflies in her stomach. That made captain Short angry at herself and, consequently, at Fowl.
Artemis frowned. It wasn't a good start. True, Holly never seemed to be much fond of him, but still... She could look at least not that irritated.
--I take it as you are not glad to see me at all? What a pity, – Artemis said, sounding totally indifferent.
--You wrote about 'important matters'. What did you mean? – asked Holly.
--Well...
At that very moment Holly's communicator bipped.
--D'arvit!
An unfamiliar voice announced:
--Captain Short, you are needed immediately in Sector56G. It's an emergency.
--Who's talking? – asked Holly, but the link was already turned off. That sector was deserted. And she had no idea whose voice it might be. This was weird. The whole day was weird. Normally Holly would call back to Foaly and ask for details, but now she didn't want to explain what the hell she was doing at the Fowl's manor. So she cursed again and headed to leave, muttering, 'Have to go.'
--Already leaving, Captain? – asked Artemis icily,- I don't have much free time to...
--You have two minutes, - said Holly, who wanted him to shut up.
--I'm afraid it won't be enough.
--Then you go with me.
That totally amazed Artemis but he didn't wish to protest.
In few minutes they were sitting in a shuttle, and Holly was trying to understand where the stupid idea of taking Artemis along came from and how quickly she'd be fired for this. Holly frowned, deep in thought. Artemis coughed and immediately gained her attention.
--I do not understand what you are waiting for, Fowl? Fireworks?
--To begin with, how about simple 'Hallo, Artemis, glad to see you too, how have you been'?
Holly sighed and asked sounding tired, but not irritated any more:
--Artemis, could we just get it over with?
'That's already better,' - thought Fowl and started:
--I suppose, the fact that I got my memory back wouldn't be the news for the LEP. I expected someone to come anyway, so I decided to make sure it would be you...
--Of course, it would be me! Who else would agree to this mission, - exclaimed Holly.
--...it would be you to whom I'd talk first of all. Unofficially, - finished Artemis, taking her small outburst as a point in his favour.
--But why? –Holly almost whispered, her heart in her mouth.
Suddenly she realised:
--You need my help, don't you? Something happened with you mother? Father? Butler? Juliet?
--Holly. They are all fine.
--Some other friends?
--What friends? – Artemis was amazed.
Holly snorted.
--Would you let me say at last? – continued Artemis.--
--Because I doubt anyone else would believe me. I wanted you to know I do not plan any harm to the People. I assure you that you and the LEP don't need to be alarmed. I do not wish anyone get hurt because of me.
--And why did you think I would believe you? – Holly asked .
--Well, we are friends, aren't we?
--Since when we're friends?
--Since you cured my mother and saved the lives of my father and Butler. Furthermore, the fact that the accountants with the People influenced formation of my personality cannot be denied.
--Glad to see you too, Artemis. How have you been? –answered Holly, smiling.
Artemis stared at her, taken aback. Holly gave a short laugh.
--I take it as we make a truce, - he summed up.
--You may say so. There's only one thing I still don't get. Why couldn't it be said in two minutes?
--Well, I wanted to enjoy your company more than two minutes.
--Very funny, Fowl. We've arrived. I think, you'd better stay here. Wouldn't want you to get hurt.
--That's nice. But what if someone decides to check the shuttle?
--Uhh, – sighed Holly, - Remind me, why I took you with me?
--I must confess I have no idea.
--I must confess me too. Fine, you wait for me near the shuttle and don't do anything stupid.
--I never do anything stupid.
Rolling her eyes, Holly went out, followed closely by Artemis. Then she turned round and said:
--I'll be back as soon as possible. Just stay here, OK?
--No need of repetitions, Holly. I always get a grasp at once.
Holly snorted and headed to the direction of Sector56G but managed to do only several steps before she saw a few figures coming out of the dark, including a middle-aged dark-haired elf with weird black eyes, whom Holly immediately recognised.
--Captain Holly Short. It's about time.
--Strunt! What the hell...
--The hell was at Howler's pick thanks to you. And you are going to pay for every minute of it, my dear.
A/N:
Shelma: So, a weak attempt at action though there ain't much action in this chapter...
Holly (snorting): Like there was much action in previous chapters.
Artemis: Actually, this is romance section, action isn't supposed to be here but romance... Ouch! What, I have simply reminded her the rules. Nothing personal.
Holly: You shouldn't have!
Artemis: According to you, I shouldn't have done everything I have ever done.
Holly: You shouldn't have been born at all. That would save me and the world a bunch of problems.
Artemis: Sorry to disappoint, but this can't be taken care of. You and the world will have to deal with me.
Holly: What a pity.
Shelma: Hey! Cool down a little! Holly, some of your insults are too...insulting.
Artemis: I don't care about her insults.
Shelma: So, you've decided to join Holly in her lame attempts at denying the obvious?
Artemis glares at me.
Shelma (shrugging her shoulders): Never can resist the temptation of saying something sarcastic.
Uncomfortable silence.
Holly (sighing): Fine. Maybe I've overshot the mark.
Artemis: It didn't sound like a proper apology.
Holly: You are not getting another one.
Artemis: Do not expect me to talk to you anymore then.
Holly (snorting): I couldn't care less.
Shelma: Guys, common, this is not funny already.
Artemis: She should at least show some respect, it's not too much to ask.
Shelma: Holly, say you are sorry.
Holly: No way.
Shelma: I'm not going to talk to you either till you make it up.
Silence.
Holly: Aren't you supposed to be writing something funny?
Silence. Artemis starts polishing his nails.
Holly: Hey!
Silence.
Holly: If you've decided to ignore me from now on, I'm leaving.
Silence. Holly leaves.
Shelma: Didn't you overreact?
Artemis: Do not worry. She will come back in five minutes.
Holly comes back in few minutes.
Artemis: Four minutes fifty-two seconds. My mistake.
Holly (hopefully): Back on speaking terms, are we?
Artemis: Positive. I presume the fact you can not survive five minutes without me can be considered an apology.
Holly (looking relieved): Not that I care much, of course.
Shelma (smiling): Of course.
Artemis smirks.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Holly Rox: Thanks. I'll think about your suggestion. And I love your name! And I'm totally obsessed with Holly too!
Hikaru: Thanks a lot! And sorry for the delay. Yeah, making Holly visit a doctor is not an easy task. :sigh: And a dangerous one, btw.
LovingKitten: Thank you. I adore cats. Do you have one?
Akuweaselgirl, Cherri JM. Ookami, trohSylloH, Jarad: Thanks a lot. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hope you're still reading.:)
Rosemary the Rubix Cube: Unfortunately I didn't have an opportunity to read the Artemis Fowl files yet. It's going to appear only in January in our country. She really said that? Wow! Can't wait till I can get the book!
Iamthemorgana: You're not alone, that's for sure. I'm positively sick. :) Holly keeps saying that all the time.