Disclaimer: I don't own Artemis Fowl.
Note: I changed my pen name for no reason! Yay me!
Further note: I know I say this at the bottom too, but I'm really sorry if this is short, next chapter will be longer, I promise!
Prisoner of Your Own Home
Chapter 4
The next day:
"SHORT!" A lion-like roar erupted from the doorway of Commander Root's office. Holly jumped about a mile in her seat-she wondered what she could have done now.
She left her cubicle hurriedly and entered Root's office. In one hand he clutched an official-looking envelope-it had stamps and everything-, and in the other hand (Holly gulped) he held Holly's own letter. His face was coloring at an alarming rate as he read Holly's letter. "Sit down." The commander said the words slowly and deliberately, careful to get the tone right. His words were strained, trying to hold in his temper.
Holly sat, feeling thoroughly spooked. The commander spoke quietly, saying, "Did you or did you not understand you were not to question the orders of letting Verbil into your house?"
Holly swallowed. What could she say? If she said no, she would be in for a big verbal beating. If she said yes, he would undoubtedly shove her letter under her nose, proving herself a liar. So, instead, she replied, "Commander sir, Chix and I don't get along too well…"
"Well then I suggest you get along because you are going to stay with Verbil until he moves in!"
Holly's heart sank, but she proceeded with her next question anyway.
"So what does the Council say?"
Root's face was turning red. He pulled out a fungus cigar and lit it for some comfort. It was a while before he answered.
"They've contacted Chix Verbil's relative Matt Verbil, and in three days he will come to pick Chix up from you."
Well, that was one good thing. Three more days and Chix would be out of her house.
Back to the present. "The point is, Short, that's it's unlike you to lodge a complaint. Just how bad is Verbil?"
Holly had a choice. Spill her guts and risk being fired or keep quiet and find some other excuse?
Holly decided to spill her guts. She couldn't stand housing Chix any longer.
"Bad," she stated, then she realized how stupid her answer was. "He keeps acting like we're boyfriend and girlfriend, calling me 'beautiful' and 'gorgeous', and trying to get me to like him. Ever since I healed his wing he's convinced I love him and everything. He keeps flirting with me, he doesn't understand I never have and never will love him." Well, you've already started…might as well go on. "He keeps asking me if he can be my boyfriend. He just doesn't get it." Holly finished her speech and wondered what the Commander was going to say. The funniest thing was he had actually stubbed out his cigar and listened.
"Well." The statement made Holly nervous. "Has Verbil made an -er- attempt on you so far?"
"No sir. He seems to be pretty light-hearted about it, but he's very irritating." Oops. Shouldn't have said that.
But the commander didn't pick up her accidental hint, and didn't rat about how if he was only 'irritating', so to speak, that she should be able to handle him. He said, "Well then Short. Do you think you can handle housing Verbil for another three days?"
What choice did she have but to say yes? So that's what she did.
The commander actually showed concern for her as he said, "Right. Well, I'll issue Verbil a warning that he better not take advantage of you. Meanwhile, GET BACK TO WORK!" His face turning 'Beetroot red' (as Foaly had dubbed it one day), Root directed Holly out of her seat.
Well, it hadn't been a total loss. She had finally done something about her Chix dilemma, and while she doubted Chix would actually listen to it, at least it was something. And she would only have to worry about him for three more days!
The rest of the day was spent on an aboveground mission concerning two sprites and a dwarf who thought it would be extremely funny to let out swear toads in the mud man country of Canada. Holly turned red and nearly slapped her forehead in embarrassment of the recent memory.
When she got home, Chix immediately confronted her. Holly had amused herself on the way back home how Chix's face might look when she got back home. Holly thoughts Chix would be mad at her, but what instead happened was Chix wrapped his arms around her in a hug. Totally stunned, it took her a little longer then usual to comprehend what Chix was doing this time. When the thought finally cycled through her brain, she pushed him off with all the force she could, let out a few words that I could put here but I've rated this a PG. so let's skip that part and go on to the next- Holly savagely demanding 'what the D'Arvit is going on', to be precise.
Meanwhile, Chix was saying, "I knew you loved me! I knew you couldn't resist me!"
Holly blinked, all thoughts from her head gone, flying out the window like aboveground birds. The only thing she could remotely mumble was , "Hmmrph?" Soon this solitary sound turned into five more. "What. Are. You. Talking. About." The words were not a question.
Beaming, Chix was eager to answer. "You wrote a letter to the Council about me! Root told me!"
Oh, gods above. So that's how he had interpreted it. Holly gritted her teeth. "That was a letter of complaint, you idiot. I was complaining about having to live with you. Can't you put two and two together? I DO NOT LIKE YOU!"
Chix's face fell, but he still managed to look haughty as he put his hands on his hips and glared at Holly. "Deny it all you want, Cap'n, but I know one day you'll come to your senses!"
"Riiight." Holly stalked into her kitchen in search of aspirin.
Well, there you go! Chapter four. Sorry if it's a bit short, but I can't type very well due to my pinky, which I cut in science class the day I had a field trip in NH, so I had to miss the field trip AND go to the emergency room pronto and have some doctor glue my skin back on (sorry if I grossed you out there). But the field trip was only Stonehenge America, and despite the fact I couldn't go, I STILL had to write a report on it! Unfair! Oh yeah, and people spread rumors about me that I was gonna sue the school, which I am not.
Anyway,
Review replies:
SPG- I know, how could Eoin Colfer do that?
Trouble Kelp- Thanks!
Kreepi Spicer- Yeah, Mulch is kinda cool. Thanks for reviewing.