Hello. This chapter is sad. It's also a little bit melodramatic. Forgive me. Can I say much more? Thank you for all the reviews.
aperfectattitude: But of course. Men are like that sometimes... It's sad. I promise.
avovisto: Very sad. But don't rush too hard. You don't want to fail. Elyne: You'll see what happens. You'll see. What do you think my next story should be about? Something else fresh. People like new things. You can tell, by the reviews I've gotten. By the way, I forgot to ask. Why do you have access to computers in bio? Or do you have a laptop? I know some of the richer schools supply their students with laptops.
Holly Rox: I was waiting for you to review... Just kidding. Actually, I almost forgot. Lucky you mentioned it.
notdapunkprincess: Heh heh. Read on.
THe Blazing Blade: WHO WHO WHO WHO WHO WHO WHO WHO WHO WHO WHO! breathing hard, and glaring harder
Trouble Kelp: Thank you, Annalise. The only keys I've worn out are my panio teacher's keys. Middle 'C' is so used, it has a big dent in it. Just from being used.
Disclaimer: Juliet Butler and all references to the Artemis Fowl series are in the sole possession of Eoin Colfer. I do not own anything except everything else.
"Justin!"
Juliet jerked awake, eyes widening.
For an instant, Justin hesitated, unsure. She looked so afraid. Then, he forced his finger to tighten on the trigger. He couldn't do this— go soft on her. She was a woman. And a Butler.
"I'm sorry, Juliet. I have to obey. Forgive me now. You can punch me in another world."
"Oh damn!" The door of the tent ripped open. "Don't! Justin don't!"
Justin dropped the safety back into place, and let go of the gun. "What's the matter?"
Chance ignored the question, leaning down, and picking up the gun. Juliet hadn't moved, except to spit it out. Her eyes were closed. "Oh damn it! Talk to me, woman! Are you alright?"
"Maybe. Why?"
With a sigh of relief, he pushed her aside, and sat down by Justin. "He— the Butler— has got a hold of the manor. He threatened to kill all of them, and us, if he didn't get her back. He's not kidding either. He's angry. Very angry. He'd do it too. If it meant her life."
Juliet smiled slightly. "Yes. I asked him to."
Chance looked at Justin. "I need ideas, man. Give me ideas!"
"Like what?"
Quietly, Juliet crawled around Chance to sit on Justin's other side. Justin nodded to her. "Do you have anymore painkiller, Juliet? Please. Or don't you feel like giving it to me?"
Juliet checked her watch, and then opened her pack, pulling out another tube of painkiller.
"An idea, Justin! I have nine minutes!"
Justin swore at him. "Look, I can't think right now! I doubt I could come up with something anyway! What am I supposed to do about things?"
"I'd think if I were you. The Butler isn't going to be happy with you. He wouldn't be content with just killing you. Something like torture, wouldn't he, Miss Juliet?"
Juliet glanced down at Justin, meeting his eyes as she pushed the needle in. "Yeah. Probably."
For a moment, no one said anything. Then Chance motioned to the door. "Step outside, Butler, where your brother can see you, and I can talk with Justin in private."
Juliet got up, and slipped outside.
Chance looked at Justin. "You two have gotten attached, haven't you? I can tell. She doesn't want to leave. There're going to be a lot of problems. It won't be pretty."
"Well what do you want me to do about it?" asked Justin. He'd known it, kind of. Inside. But he'd ignored it. He'd thought it would go away, if he pretended it wasn't there. "It's not like I can say: Don't care about me, hate me, and go away; and she will!"
"Not exactly," admitted Chance. "But in a way, you could. If you made her think you didn't love her. That you wanted her to go. Then, she would leave. She's proud, Justin. She wouldn't sit around moping."
Justin sighed. "Fine. I guess."
With a smile, Chance got up, and unzipped the tent. "You can go ahead and pack, Butler."
Juliet ducked back inside, as he moved off towards the fire. "You need anything, Justin?"
"No. I'm fine."
Slowly, she collected her things. Justin could see it now— that she did not want to go. She was lingering, even if she didn't realize it. "What's the matter, Butler?"
"What do you mean?"
He shut his eyes. "I'd think you'd be anxious to get out of here, from the way you've acted."
She paused, watching him. "I just…"
It was harder than he had thought it would be. A lot harder. Chance had been right. They were attached. Too attached. "What? You don't think I care for you, do you?"
Juliet started, a slight flush rising on her face. "I—"
He forced a laugh of disbelief, with a hint of mocking. "You do, don't you? You care about me, don't you?"
She didn't move.
Angry guilt washed over Justin. Anger with himself for doing this to her. He shouldn't. It was cruel. It was so very cruel. To tell her this, after he had let… encouraged her. After he had done so much to make her think he might care for her.
And he did. So much more than he had thought he had.
"Won't people be interested in hearing that? I wonder what your brother would say… Yes, did you know your sister fell in love with an Anthony, by any chance? No? Why, I thought you two were close! I thought you would have told each other everything!"
Juliet turned her head away. "Don't Justin. It wasn't really anything. Not really."
He snorted. "Sure. You expect me to believe that? Don't insult my intelligence, Butler."
"You were kind to me though."
He spat. "Don't insult me more! You're a Butler! I didn't make you an enemy like the others did, because I had to share a tent with you, and work with you. It's common sense, in case you haven't noticed. And I broke your shoulder. I would have pulled the trigger a few minutes ago. I'm an Anthony. You, are a Butler."
Juliet zipped her backpack slowly. "I know."
"So what did you think? Love conquers all? Is that what you really thought? That you could say— I love him, and everyone would smile, and say: That's nice? Is that it?"
"No."
"Do you think you matter to me?"
"Not now."
Justin laughed again. "Really? That's interesting. You change your mind fast. Don't worry, dear, I'm sure you'll get over it. It won't take you long to change your mind and forget me."
"No," whispered Juliet.
Justin shook his head in amused disgust.
Slowly, Juliet unzipped her pack again, reaching inside, and pulling out a handful of needles. "You'll want these. You might as well have them. I don't need them. Give it at least four hours before taking another. Clean the needles. Don't let it freeze."
Juliet watched her set them down on the floor within his reach. How could he do this to her? And she still cared for him enough to give him the painkillers he would need more than anything else on the way down the mountain. She still cared enough to worry about him. To want to take care of him, and protect him as best she could.
"Thank you." That was the best he could give her. Any more would have told her he was lying.
Juliet zipped up her back pack, and turned back to him, silently lifting his head, and resituating him on the pillow.
Justin let her, knowing it was cruel, but wanting her to touch him. Outside, Chance and Butler were talking. They would be done in a few moments. And then, he would never see her again, most likely.
He felt her eyes on him, memorizing his face. Then, she reached out, slowly running her fingers through his hair.
"You'll get over me, Butler. I'm sure you will. Give yourself some time to recover. Visit a doctor. In a few years you'll probably fall in love with someone else."
Still, she said nothing back to him.
Inside, Justin cursed himself, again and again. For hurting her. He'd done enough, telling her he didn't love her. Didn't care for her. Didn't want her. But did he have to keep reminding her of that? Did he have to keep mocking her? Hurting her?
"Are you thirsty?" she asked quietly.
"Yes."
Slowly, she picked up the water bottle, and held it to his mouth, watching him drink. "Enough?"
He nodded, and she pulled it away, setting it down.
"They'll be done in a few minutes. You want to step outside?"
Juliet swallowed. He saw her throat move. "It's warmer in here. I'll wait. Unless you want me to leave."
No! He wanted to say. He wanted to tell her he was sorry. To tell her he'd lied. Not to go away hating him for the things he'd said. But he couldn't. What she had said earlier drummed through his head. Yeah. Probably.
If her brother found out, not only would he be dead, but he would be dead by torture.
"You might as well stay in here. Your brother wouldn't be too pleased if you got a cold, would he?"
Juliet winced, turning her face away.
"Come now— don't cry! Not now. Not after you've done so wonderfully in everything else. You didn't even cry after you went through the rapids! Don't cry now!"
"I don't cry," said Juliet woodenly.
Outside the tent, Chance shouted for Juliet to hurry up.
"Go on. No tears now. Be a big girl for your brother."
Juliet picked up her bag, and got to her feet. "I don't cry, Justin. I never cry."
He saw a tear glint on her check, as she ducked out the tent door. Then she closed it, and was gone.
Justin shut his eyes, and rolled over,swearing into his pillow. Using words that wouldhave shocked even Chance. She was only a woman. Only a Butler. He couldn't care for her. But he did. And now she wasn't coming back.
After he had told her how he hated her. And laughed at her. And she had believed him. And that was the worst sin of all. Letting her. Letting her believe him, and the lies he had told her.
At which point, we are all bawling, and my keyboard is so slippery from tears, that I am forced to stop typing…
Tragic, isn't it? Like Dead Dreams, for those of you who remember. Those of you don't, and are ready to kill me, don't worry, I hate sad endings. It's always tragic, until the very last chapter. But I do like a little tears (okay, a lot at times) so I throw in sad things.
Get over it. It all comes out right in the end. However, if there are no reviews, I shan't publish the last chapter or two and there are only two more days left in which I can, so you'd better click the button, if only to gnash your teeth at me for not hurrying to the happy part.