When they had reached the school Artemis realized that this was it. No more fairy adventures or criminal activities for him. For once in his life he was going to lead a normal life. He would attend college, get high grades and graduate. But what he did not know was that college life would be anything but normal for him. He would experience pain, wanting, and even what had eluded him the most, love.

As Artemis was walking toward the assembly hall, where the incoming freshmen students were to go to for the orientation, he uttered something to himself "I wonder whaa— " but just then he had bumped into a girl picking up something from the ground. "Excuse you!" she said flipping her hair as she walked away.

Artemis noticed the way her brown hair moved as she walked. He noticed how she bounced a bit with every step she took. But Artemis came to his senses. "Stop" he said to himself. "She's pretty. So what? Attraction is nothing of importance to one's intellect and neither is love." But no matter how hard Artemis tried he couldn't get the image of her out of his mind. She seemed like a rebel, she was different.

In the past Artemis was only attracted to one other girl. Juliet. But now she was a big shot wrestler in Canada and was hundreds of miles away from him. He hadn't seen her since her first big wrestling fight three years ago. And even then he had only watched from the television.

After the extremely boring an unimportant orientation, Artemis proceeded to his next class where he learned that for their first project they had to think of a way to improve the way humans live. In Artemis' point of view nothing could improve the human life. It was on a down spiral. It was doomed.

Artemis having plenty ideas of his own such as creating a machine which could alter the emotions one is currently experiencing, was shocked to learn that they had to work in pairs. Artemis had always hated having to work with another because that could mean having to compromise his ideas just for the sake of teamwork.

The partner's names were posted just outside the door of the class. So when they were dismissed Artemis immediately checked the list. He looked around for someone named forester but to his shock he or rather SHE had found him. "So I guess we're working together?" he was partnered with the same girl whom he had bumped that very morning. "I'm Giselle but my friends call me gem."

"A-aa-Atemis" Artemis had never stuttered before. Not like this. Not in front of a girl.

"Artemis? The Greek goddess of archery?" Giselle replied

"Yes but- "

"So anyway I have a lot to do why don't you just meet me at the café two blocks from here. You know the one at the corner?"

"You interrupted me!" Artemis couldn't believe that someone had butt in while he was talking. Everyone had always wanted to hear whatever he had to say.

"I'm sorry it's just that I really do have a lot to do and I'm running out of time here. So the café at four?" She replied

"I'd rather work alone." Artemis retorted, still shocked by the way she took control of things.

"Well you can't. Meet me at four." Then she walked away. Bouncing with every step.

It was 4:15 and she still wasn't there. Artemis hated people who were late. No matter how pretty they are. It showed a lack of discipline. And Artemis did not want to work with people who were lax.

"Hey there!" finally gem had arrived. "Sorry I'm late it's just that I ran into an old friend an— "

"It's my turn to interrupt" Artemis said. "I do not appreciate people who are late. It shows that you are not committed to this project. As I had said before, I'd rather work alone."

"Will you stop for just one second!" said gem in a rather irritated voice. "I can't believe you're getting mad at me for making you wait a couple of minutes. I should be mad at you. You think that you can do this alone? I'm committed to this project but I don't think you are."

"I am."

Gem had enough. "No you're not. You make everything hard. If you really want this project to be good then you would just work with me as a team."

"Fine," Artemis said "let's work as a team, gem." Artemis decided to be professional after all gem was right. If all they'd was fight then nothing would be accomplished.

"Okay."

After a long talk they had finally agreed on what they would present. There was nothing left to discuss so they had decided to go back to their apartments.

But just before they left, gem said "by the way we still have to work on our presentation together. Why don't you come to my apartment tomorrow at noon? It will be much easier to prepare and talk there." She gave Artemis her address and then they parted ways.

The next day Artemis was on his way to gem's. "Rolf, please stop by that restaurant over there and order some take-out and earl gray tea will you? I'd hate to have to eat tasteless microwaved food." Artemis changed a lot but his taste did not. Food was something to take pleasure in, not merely just something you have to eat in order to survive.

Gem was fixing lunch. She had microwaved the food herself. She felt sorry for Artemis because she had no real food in her fridge. While preparing, She was listening to a dashboard confessional CD. She liked rock music. She loved the beat and the passion in it.

Gem wasn't quite sure why but she felt different when Artemis was around. She felt happy and hopeful. She liked talking to him. Even if all they talked about was that stupid project. She also liked getting mad at him. She didn't know why but fighting Artemis made her feel powerful. It made her feel important.

The bell rang. It was Artemis. Gem tidied up a bit and checked the mirror before she answered the door.

"Artemis, come in. I was just microwaving lunch."

"Don't bother, I brought food. I find it so funny how technology can produce such bad food."

"Enough humor. Let's eat. I'm starved." Gem said

It's funny the way the human mind works. Sometimes you remember the smallest things. You remember how a room smells or what the color of the walls are. What Artemis remembered about going over to gem's was that this music was playing. It was passionate. He didn't know what the name of the song was but he remembered a couple of lines.

The words are hushed lets not get busted;
just lay entwined here, undiscovered.
Safe from the earth and all the stupid questions..
"hey did you get some?"
Man, that is so dumb.
Stay quiet, stay near, stay close they can't hear...
so we can get some.

As Artemis lay in his bed that night, he recalled all these things. He thought about the way gem's hair was tied back and how strands of hair had managed to loosen, falling in front of her face. He remembered her laugh at every sarcastic comment he made. He even noticed that gem's resenblance to his mother, Angeline Fowl.

When Artemis heard the phone ring he realized that he had fallen asleep thinking about gem. Or did he even sleep at all? "Artemis fowl II speaking" he said to the phone.

"Artemis, it's me butler."

"hello old friend, why do you call?"

"I just wanted you to know that we'll be there in an hour." Butler replied.

Artemis was taken aback "what? Here in an hour? We?"

"yes there in an hour. Juliet and I will be there. If that's alright with you."

"Juliet?" Artemis asked. Surprised at the mention of butler's sibling.

"yes. She has a wrestling match somewhere in the area and our arrangements got mixed up so we were wondering if we could stay with you. Your parents also asked me to check up on you while we're here. They are very worried about you. This is the first time you've lived alone."

"I know butler, but I'm doing fine. In fact I have had no problems so far."

"nevertheless we'll see you in an hour. We're already in the Connecticut airport ."

"alright, see you in a bit old friend."

Artemis sat in bed. He was stunned by the situation. It wasn't like butler to do things at the last minute. But the thing that really bothered him was the fact that Juliet was coming to see him too. He hadn't seen her in such a long time that he almost forgot what she looked like, almost.