Pizza Hut

Artemis and Athena sat opposite of each other at the corner table. All was normal, except for the fact that Artemis Fowl was in a fast food restaurant.

"Libra drove us all the way here, to eat pizza?" Artemis said trying to clear things up.

"Uh, yeah," Athena said raising an eyebrow, "What's wrong with that? I had to compromise with her, I mean she wanted to shop here and this is one of my favourite restaurants."

"It's a fast food restaurant," Artemis pointed out in a tone that suggested that it was evil. Sort of anyway.

"Why, yes it is."

"You don't think that they have something similar to caviar, do you?"

"I don't think spaghetti is considered caviar," she said shaking her head. "Wait a minute, they have garlic bread," she said her eyes lighting up.

"At least it's edible in my opinion. I think I'll only take a drink," Artemis sighed.

"Hello," a perky voice said, "I'm your waitress today. What do you want to order? As you can see the menus are on the table unless you want to view the children's menu."

"No, I do not want to see the children's menu, I doubt that anything on that menu is anywhere near edible," Artemis said coldly.

Athena nudged him, hard. "He's in a really bad mood," she whispered to the waitress whose smile nearly faded.

The waitress nodded, "So, what would you like to order?"

"I would like a Coke non diet and a regular pepperoni pizza," Athena said.

"And the sir?" the waitress asked. She assumed that since Artemis spoke like that he must've been an older man who had undergone plastic surgery. Anything was possible in today's world especially since the world was filled with new technological advancements.

Artemis smiled satisfactorily, he liked being known as a teenager who acted more maturely than his peers, "A glass of water, spring water if you have it, nothing else."

The poor waitress who was unlucky enough to attend to Artemis' table scurried away. She had heard of horror movie characters from her friend, Artemis could be one of the undead who were strangely alluring, mysterious and seemingly attractive although way to mature.

"Say," Athena began, "Does anyone want to kill you right now?"

Artemis laughed. "Who would want to kill me?"

"Let's just start with all of the waitresses you treat that way."

"Well, I do have a tendency to react that way especially when they treat me like a child," Artemis remarked. "Thanks to you I'll have to find something else to eat."

"What did I do?" Athena asked as the waitress put down a tray and scurried away once again.

"For starters you dragged me to this fast food restaurant."

"The food here tastes good so why should I care?"

"Without having any care for the taste of your guest."

"Then what would you like maybe Libra can whip it up."

"Never mind. If I ask for truffles you might give me plain mushrooms instead."

"I'm not that stupid, and please remember, truffles are hideously expensive. Do you mind Cream of Chicken soup. Homemade not canned," Athena said trying to keep her voice at a moderate tone.

"Your voice has a hint of anger," Artemis noted, finding it hard to keep the smile off his face, "I can be very irritating, yes?"

"Duh, who wouldn't be infuriated with you by now?"

"My parents, Butler and Heather."

"What about Juliet?" Athena asked.

"She seemed quite angry when I allegedly ruined her shoes," Artemis started, "Hold on, how did you know about Juliet?"

"I got it through a grapevine," Athena laughed. Taking care to explain properly she said, "Your parents talk about you all the time, hello, how can I not know?"

"And what do they say?" Artemis asked feeling full of inquisitiveness.

"Let me see, Artemis is a good boy, he is completely rehabilitated, he's much more sociable with his friends now."

"I see my cover has not blown. Are you completely sure this is what they think?" Artemis asked, feeling a pang of guilt.

"As if I'm a dunce in psychology," Athena said rolling her eyes. "I also happen to know that you are actually a young criminal mastermind. You tried hacking into my system remember. Calcolatore gives out a warning when someone tries to hack in. And you my enemy have been trying to hack in today when the taxi driver wasn't cleared."

"Enemy? Very fitting especially since you're irritatingly smart," Artemis smirked, emphasizing the word irritatingly.

"At least you admit I'm smart."

Artemis chuckled, "You surely don't think that I will actually call a member of the opposite gender smart, do you? I doubt your IQ is as high as mine. Which by the way is above 200," Artemis said, sipping his water which did not taste anything like spring water.

"So do I," Athena smirked. "Want proof?"

Artemis nearly choked on his water, "You're jesting, there is absolutely no possible way-"

"I could be an equal to you?" Athena smiled again, "Well think again, Arty."

Artemis tapped the table and seemed strangely amused, he did not like this girl one bit but she was amusing. He watched Athena consume the last of her pepperoni pizza hungrily. "Do not call me Arty," he said finding his voice.

"Big deal, what time is it now?" Athena asked. "We've finished lunch and I'm bored."

"Correction, you've finished lunch."

"Once again, big deal, what time is it?"

Artemis smiled at Athena's annoyance. "Precisely," he said looking at his diamond encrusted Rolex, "Half past twelve. I told you the drive from your manor to this shopping complex was too long."

Athena rolled her eyes, "You timed the drive?" This male specimen was seriously getting on her nerves.

"Yes," Artemis said, "I've been in America before and studied the entire United States of America map as backup knowledge. It doesn't hurt to know more than an average teenager. Back to my point, when I heard you talking about this mall, I tried estimating the time just in case I was late for my appointment."

Athena rolled her eyes again, now he was seriously annoying, "Well sorry if I delayed you," she said with a scoff. "How long did it take?"

"Approximately twenty-six minutes and fifty-seconds plus parking," Artemis calculated.

Athena blew a stray hair away as a sign she was annoyed, "Okay, so what do we do now?"

"Is there a bookshop here?" Artemis asked eagerly. "Not a childish one of course. One which sells a book with an article written by the brilliant psychologist Dr. Dean F. Richard."

Dr. Dean F. Richard was in fact his new pseudonym ever since his father discovered the very same notes from the book in Artemis' room dated a few months before the book was published. Artemis was not given a lecture at all in fact but was given a hearty congratulations and a warning because some of the information inside was not at all true. Now at this moment he wanted to check for the article because his father might have cancelled a few things once again.

"That nitwit? I wouldn't go near his books," Athena exclaimed. I think she had a suspicion on who Dr. Dean F. Richard was. "Dr Maria G. Wright was much better." Dr. Maria G Wright was a fictitious writer whose name Athena used to publish a few short stories and advice for teens online.

"Well he does only write articles," Artemis said dryly trying not to sound annoyed, "Tell me, what are his flaws?"

"Answer this question, what are his articles about?"

"Children and adolescent psychology and at times just plain psychology."

"Who are reading these articles?"

"Other psychologists," Artemis guessed.

"That's the point, he should be writing it directly for the kids and teens. No psychologists can go into a child's mind. They themselves need to read it. He should make it interesting, jive it up a bit."

"Suppose he is writing this simply for extra money, although psychologists can make a difference."

"Athena sighed, Artemis was so stubborn, "Look at me," she said, "What am I thinking when I look at you?"

"I am not a psychic," Artemis retorted. "How am I to know what you are thinking?"

"Any criminal mastermind teenager can easily play mind games with the specialist who is not to bright in their opinion," Athena said referring to her early days with Ms. Trimble, who later retired at the early age of thirty-two because of her exasperation with Athena.

Artemis immediately assumed she was speaking about his experience with Mr. Po. "As much as I hate to agree with you that is true. However there could be a possibility of advanced text in the article which could not possibly be translated in the adolescent's mind."

"That is why he has to let it relate to the teens," Athena said using a completely different standard of English compared to Artemis.

"How do you expect an adult to speak like an adolescent?"

"He should learn how to relate to the teen's problems at least it has nothing to do with language," Athena said diving deeper into the dispute.

"Well, an adolescent's does not always want any help from a psychologist since he or she knows that he or she is perfectly fine," Artemis replied.

"I see I cannot convince you. Wanna play a game? I am totally sick of arguing with you."

"If you are ill, go and see a doctor," Artemis remarked sardonically. "If you are not and still insist on a game, what game do you prefer that I would possibly enjoy?"

"Here's a game I invented. It's called AKQJ."

"It's worth a try, although it's possible that I am merely bored if I actually agree to participate in such a game," Artemis said, he meant to annoy this ignorant girl who seemed to insist on having her way.

"The rules are simple, it's a simple game of skill, talent and sometimes a little fortune," Athena said shuffling the cards, which she has found in her pocket, professionally. "I am pretty much an expert but then again it's very addictive and I hardly play it thanks to the factor. It's a bit of the game 'Happy Families,' 'Snap' and before I forget, 'Poker' as well, you get an Ace, King, Queen and Jack and you automatically win, otherwise you just merely accumulate points by making combinations such as 2, 3 and 4 of the same suit. However only certain combinations can be made. Making a combination with a Ace, King, Queen or Jack is risky because you could get the partnering cards and it's kinda rare but that's why we have the point system. Confusing, huh?"

"Hardly, what are these combinations?"

"I'll write them down on this napkin."

"If someone says you are crazy tell them I agree."

"As if they'll care," Athena smiled.

"Perhaps they will," Artemis said studying the napkin which Athena had very quickly and messily written the combinations on.

"You ready?"

"Of course, but we need to finish this by exactly two p.m. My appointment is thirty minutes after that time."

Athena wanted to say, "Weird, that's the same time my appointment is," but she just said, "Simple warning I rule at this game," as she dealt the cards.

"Not for long," Artemis muttered looking at his cards, "Here's the two, three and five club. Already twenty points for me."

"Well I have the ten, ten of diamonds and spades I have forty."

"As long as I get to my appointment at a quarter past two, I couldn't care less," Artemis replied.

"Hah, I doubt that you'll be able to budge once you get started on this game."

"I am not similar to you, there is an uncertainty that I will ever be addicted to this game."

Approximately one hour and twenty-three minutes later

"Why are those kids still there?" a waiter called Frederick whispered to his colleague at the counter.

"They're playing a card game," the busy waitress, Kelly explained.

"Shouldn't we get a bouncer?"

"No way, they're attracting business galore playing AKQJ. Haven't you noticed? Meanwhile try and notice the guy's Armani and diamond encrusted Rolex."

"Rich kids, aren't they?"

"Marcie said that one of them doesn't sound like a kid. Maybe a plastic-surgeried dad and his kid."

"That's that short? I don't think so. Is surgeried even a word?"
"Who cares?" Kelly nearly shouted, "Help me out here."

"AKQJ!" Athena nearly yelled but instead it came out as a perfectly flat tone.

"Best thirty-two out of thirty-three," Artemis grumbled.

"You're on. What time is it?" Athena smiled.

People around her groaned, it was the tenth time Athena had asked that during the hour. They wanted to see them compete once again. Those two had perfect competitiveness and to some teenagers, perfect chemistry. Most people came and left, some even left trying to remember the rules because the game was both tough and challenging. And then there was the reason they were not kicked out, watching a game is boring sometimes, right? Which is what food is for, to have something to do while watching whether one's choice won.

"Athena, is that you?" a voice was heard amongst the small crowd.

"Uh-oh," Athena breathed, "I hope he doesn't take this the wrong way. Oh well at least I can explain."

"Who? What?" Artemis said shuffling the cards and making a few fly out.

"Boyfriend," was her quick reply, "Hi Zach," she said flashing a million dollar smile.

"I thought you had to meet a nerdo son of your mother's business associates," Zach said glaring at Artemis.

This time the crowd backed away into seats instead of hoping a new game. This was definitely like one of those soap operas. They hoped that this was going to be a show they would never forget. For your information the crowd comprised of some children that were dumped by their baby-sitters and teenagers that were dragged along for weekly shopping. When the crowed had backed away, it revealed a tall teenager, with tanned skin and a toned body. He was definitely a handsome male which happened to be both smart and athletic although his IQ was only about 143.

"Uh, yeah, would I lie to you? This is ner-Artemis," Athena said.

Zach slid in the seat next to Athena and moved in for a quick kiss which was quickly and swiftly returned much to Artemis' disgust.

"Excuse me. We have people around us," said Artemis sarcastically.

Zach rolled his eyes, as Athena responded, "It wasn't like a mouth to mouth kiss or anything more disgusting than that."

"How long have you been sitting here with him?" Zach asked.

"He's the one with the watch," Athena said pointing to Artemis.

"She's the irritating one which keeps asking for the time," Artemis retorted, looking at his watch once again, "Exactly one hour and thirty-four minutes and Libra still has not returned."

"You know how girls are when it comes to the mall," Zach shrugged.

"Does Athena here give you that problem? I know Heather does though," Artemis smirked.

"Hardly, plus she likes boy stuff, so where she shops I can shop too," Zach said with a cheerful grin.

"Wait a minute, Heather?" Athena said in disbelief, "You have a girlfriend? A cold hearted, overly sophisticated nerd like you has a girlfriend?"

"Yes," was all Artemis could say.

"What's her social status?" Athena inquired, "She's a nerd too, right?"
Zach glanced over at his girlfriend, he was seventeen, she fourteen. He had a car she had more than five cars, she was super smart, he, and well he was a straight A student at least. Sort of a perfect match, now only if she'll ease up on the sarcasm.

"Hardly," Artemis rolled his eyes. "She is actually the supposed queen of my school."

"Good for you then. Are you sure she isn't a nerd?" Athena asked again.

Zach snickered, "Athena I think that's enough."

"It's about time for my appointment. Where is Libra?" Artemis complained, sort of.

"Fine I'll call her," Athena rolled her eyes in a similar way to Artemis. She flipped open her Samsung phone. Since there was no need to make her boyfriend freaked with the fact that his girlfriend was an ex-criminal who was a genius.

"So, Artemis, how old are you? And why do you look kinda pale?" Zach asked.

"Fourteen and this was how I looked like since I was young," Artemis replied, uninterested in this small conversation.

"Fourteen? You're tall for a fourteen year old. A bit like Athena," Zach said again.

"I take that as an insult," Artemis retorted.

"I suppose, if you don't want to be like her. She's a genius in Cyber Junior High," Zach smiled.

"How old are you?'

"Seventeen," Zach replied.

"Ah," Artemis nodded as Athena flipped her phone back and put it in her pocket.

"She's coming in two minutes under insistence and I've got to run too. Believe it or not Arty," Athena said.

"Do not call me Arty," Artemis said, his voice rising to a warning tone.

"Chill, dude," Zach cut in sensing a fight coming on.

"Okay, I'm back," Libra said holding shopping bags.

"That was a long time," Athena said, "Send me and Artemis back home. I think his parents might want to take him home."

The small crowd was quite disappointed. What about the fight, the fireworks over a girl? Piffle. The show was over, the boyfriend was too understanding and the girl had to tell him about the ner-business associate's son.

Please review on this one. I know there aren't many Artemis/OC fans but at least try and get other users to review. FYI, I know this isn't one of my best but I'm working on it.

Liz