Chapter III: Polite Talk

Artemis woke to stare up at the polished wood ceiling of his rooms, a frown firmly planted over his features. He had not slept well, and his face showed it. Shadows had formed under his eyes and his face was a tad paler than usual...

With a soft sound that might have been an 'urrrggg' of dislike, he pushed himself out of bed and headed for the shower, his frown still attatched to his face.

His mind had refused to allow him to stop thinking about the girl who his mother said was pitiful and sweet and who he had known to be rather rude... and intelligent enough to make his mind actually scramble for answers. Such things did not happen to Artemis Fowl, and so the young man was having some trouble in figuring how to deal with it.

Of course the young sir refused to admit this to himself, telling himself over and over that it was simply his curiousity being irritating... she was interesting after all, no one made him think that way.

The morning came and went so fast that he had hardly enough time to realize he was heading off to school.

His mother gave him a kiss goodbye, Juliet blinked at him for having said nothing about her coffee and Butler cocked an eyebrow at his empty hands as they drove to the school.

"Artemis... are you all right?" He asked gruffly as they drove into the school parking lot. The young man stiffened ever so slightly and glanced in the direction of his friend and servant, blinking mildly. It took him a grand total of three seconds to pull himself together.

"Whatever are you talking about, Butler?"

"You don't look well... are you sick?"

"Not that I would be aware of." Artemis replied, blinking again at him and turning fully around to face him as he got out of the car. Butler noted that he seemed more pulled together at that moment...even if his tie was a bit loose and his uniform coat was still thrown on the car seat rather than carefully over his shoulder as usual.

"You are sure?" Butler asked again and Artemis stared at him stonily for a long moment.

Butler sighed. "Right... I'll be off then."

"Yes. I will see you this afternoon, Butler." Artemis replied quietly, taking his uniform coat (which he had almost forgotten) and closed the door with a soft snap.

Butler gave him one more long look before driving off, leaving him standing at the steps.

As soon as Butler was out of the parking lot, Artemis sighed and let his shoulders droop just a little bit before grabbing his coat and throwing it on.

He heard her long before she had actually gotten close enough to say a word, and for that he was glad... He had not lost all his abilities, it seemed.

He turned slowly and as he did said. "It's not polite to sneak up on people, Miss Lord."

Crystal blinked at him slowly, standing just behind him. "I do not do it on purpose. It's a nasty habit I have." she replied, a slow smirk spreading over her face.

And now as Artemis looked carefully at her he could tell indeed that she had a sad look upon her, and looked much more fragile for it than before.

"Perhaps you should try ridding of it." He said, coming back to the conversation. He bent down to pick up his book bag and slung it over his shoulder carefully, starting up the stairs. She followed in silence.

"A friend of mine told me it was a good thing to have..." she mumbled, and he was surprised.

Deciding he was in fact too tired to play any mind games at the time being he turned and looked seriously at her, which made her blink back in slight surprise.

"Why is it your attitude towards me has changed from yesterday to today, Miss Lord?'

They stood in silence, for she did not react and then very slowly she murmured. "Father said we are to go to dinner at your home this evening. He informed me last night..."

Artemis' eyes narrowed slightly and he turned fully around on the step to look down at her, since she was one below and he was taller than her either way.

"And how does this affect your character?"

"I did not think I was being hostile to you yesterday." Crystal snapped, hearing the irritation in his voice and getting defensive for it. Artemis smirked. She was not in control this day, though why that was he could not figure.

"Not hostile... there's little you can do that would make it look hostile." he said primly, and her eyes flamed. "Oh?"

"Yes, you're simply too small for such things." His actual thought had been that she was too cute and cuddly too look hostile but that was somehow not what he wanted to end up saying...

Crystal glared death at him steadily, and he felt rather like he was glaring at himself, for her eyes were cold enough that he felt it like a chilly breeze.

"I do hope you are not challanging me." she said very quietly. Artemis felt dull at that moment, for he realized he was messing with his guest just hours before she went to his house... and if he was right about her capabilities then he was being an idiot...

"No... I did not mean it that way." he forced himself to say slowly, and she did not move, nor did the fire in her eyes seize to burn.

"Why 'did' you approach me yesterday?' he asked, a bit quieter, in hopes of making himself less a threat.

She loosened slightly and said carefully. "Oh I know your mother informed you..."

He remembered then, mother saying something about her being curious of him.

"But why?"

"Why ever not? Mr. Genius?"

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly at her. "If you know anything about me, I'd hope you notice how I don't socialize." He snapped, and she cocked her head at him in a way that stated how much she did not care for his statement.

"Of course."

"You approaching me is still unanswered then."

"People are not like mathematical equations, young Master Artemis." She stated softly, eyes narrowing at him. "An action need have no effect on what you would expect in the real world."

He started then, a bit surprised by her statement. It seemed she actually did not know him at all... Well how could she? She had after all watched him from afar. Never interacted with him...

The bell began to toll and he looked back at her face to catch her actually staring at him.

She is studying me...

"Do you not have a lesson to go to, Miss Lord?" He enquired, and she smiled bowing her head in something of a humble move, though there was something mocking about it that irritated him.

"As would you. Excuse me, Master Artemis." she added, walking up the stairs past him.

He followed her with a calculating look upon his face until she disappeared and then finally sighed, feeling out of sorts.

"This... is ridiculous." he grumbled, started up the stairs himself, fixing up his tie and putting his coat on in th process.

He would not allow her to affect him so strongly. He had other things to worry about-

And then he groaned out loud, realizing he had forgotten his Da Vinci book in his bed room.

Letting out a heavy breath he disappeared into class and ignored everyone for most of the morning, stopping his ignoring only to snap rather sulkily at the teacher who decided to call upon him to answer a question in physics class in which he answered the question to such perfection that the professor nearly passed out from shock.

It was not often that Artemis so much as spoke in class let alone answered a question. He had in fact begun to make mistakes on purpose in an attempt to derive the professors of any idea of his abilities in hope that he would be left alone, and it had worked well enough... for the most part.

Silent and cold he started out of class without looking at anyone only to stop dead just outside of the door finding someone rather rudely in his way.

"Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you." The boy said slowly and Artemis realized he was the one that had been speaking to Crystal earlier. He was sorely tempted to simply say he hadn't been startled, but he swallowed the prideful comment and said slowly.

"It's fine." he murmured. The boy nodded. "My name is Matthew, it's a pleasure to meet you, Artemis."

Artemis started in slight surprise at his straight forward introduction. He hesitated to take his out stretched hand but finally did and Matthew just shook his hand, smiling a bit weakly.

"You must be a bit... confused." He admitted, and Artemis finally stopped blinking.

"Actually, no I am not. You know Crystal."

Matthew started in slight surprise. "Oh.. Yes, how did you-"

"You and I sparred in fencing class yesterday morning.' Artemis stated, making the boy blink again.

"Correct."

"What is it you want?" Artemis asked bluntly, not feeling at all like playing games. Matthew shrugged slightly. "You seem to know well where I'm coming from... I'm suprised you don't know."

"I have a vague idea, however I was hoping you would attempt something smarter than simply asking for it."

Matthew looked at him slightly with a calculating puzzled expression. "I'm not so sure you and I are on the same page..."

"We are. Crystal wants information." Artemis said thinly, feeling irritated.

Matthew blinked mildly at him. "...yes."

"She should be getting all she needs tonight seeing as she's coming to dinner." Artemis muttered and Matthew smirked slightly following him as he started walking towards his next class.

"As am I, young Master Fowl."

Artemis stopped and turned to look at him. "I beg your pardon?'

"Crystal and I are cousins... and I happen to be assigned with taking care of her." He murmured, looking away.

"Her father did not trust someone outside of family with her care as of a few months ago. So, I left Canada and went to England for a time to live with them, until they moved here."

Artemis was staring in surprise at him. "You're her body guard?"

"I suppose that's the correct term, yes."

He stared at him a long moment and then said. "I see..."

"You and her are very much alike, I see why she's so curious..." Matthew said with a bit of hesitance. Artemis turned to face him completely, eyes narrowed in thought. He was giving information.

"What?' he asked, rather dully he thought, but he said it anyway.

"She wants to know... how it is that you manage... to handle being here, and yet be so different. She knows what it's like, and as you can see. She's not been able to handle it very well." Matthew said, nodding over Artemis' shoulder with narrowed suddenly irritated eyes.

Artemis turned to look and to his surprise saw Crystal, at the end of the hall, surrounded by girls. She was small compared to the others, hugging her books to her chest, eyes flickering between them all, defiant though she was... she was cornered.

"...are they...?" Artemis said slowly, but the question had no need to be finished, for at that moment one of the girls took the books in Crystal's arms and forced them from her grip to the marble floor with a clatter.

Papers and books littered the floor. Crystal let her arms drop to her sides and looked the girl in the eye defiantly as she laughed and with her friends turned into the other hall.

Artemis looked away, feeling something odd in his chest. He turned to Matthew with narrowed eyes.

"If you're her bodyguard... why aren't you-"

"I can't. Crystal refuses my help. Since she arrived yesterday she has been the target in most of her classes. Except for the one she shares with you..." He said calmly, turning to look at him again.

"...Because she dared to speak to me." Artemis said eyes widening slightly. Matthew nodded. "She earned respect through speaking to someone they... feared, I suppose I can say."

"But if she's so much like me-"

"She is... However, more independant I would say." He smirked. Artemis bristled in annoyance.

"Good afternoon, Master Fowl. I shall see you this evening." He murmured, nodding his head before going down the hall to help Crystal as she gathered her books and papers.

Artemis did not reply, but watched them both as they quickly gathered her things, noting as Crystal grudgidly took her things from her cousin, and then they disappeared down another hall.

Frowning, he started to class, hearing the bell toll and realizing that he was in fact late...

But something else was festering in his mind. If she was supposedly so much like him... His eyes widened and he remembered her studying the same Da Vinci book that he had forgotten.

He frowned.

It was not impossible, however his mind suggested it was in fact unlikely. Deciding to keep his hypothesis at hand in case something to prove him right or wrong came along, he hurried down the hall...

He'd have to give Holly another call to see what she thought of all this sudden information...

"So... she was different today?" Holly asked, the image on the screen showing her leaning back with a puzzled expression on her face. Artemis nodded.

"Yes... quite different. And her cousin, Matthew... that was a bit... Obvious. It was as if he didn't mind me knowing at all that they had in fact been speaking of me..."

"Well, he seems to be so comfortable in his own skin that I'm not that surprised. He sounds like the kind of guy that's just honest about things. He must be rather used to being around Crystal... so he wasn't affected by you at all." Holly said thoughtfully.

Artemis almost twitched at that comment, but skillfully kept his face in control and instead said nothing at all.

"... Perhaps you should just let things play out as they would." Holly said very quietly and Artemis looked over at the screen with dislike. "What?" he asked, though he had heard quite clearly what she had said.

She sighed. "i know it's not your choice of action-"

"It's not at all my choice of action..."

"Yes, but perhaps this is how you should handle it." she snapped. "She is a peer. More a peer to you than anyone else, by the sound of it... and I think perhaps she's just curious because you dont seem to be struggling as much as she is. Perhaps she didn't before her sister was killed."

Artemis frowned. "You aren't suggesting I actually comfort her, are you?"

"That's not at all what I said. I said let it play out as it would-"

"Holly..." he said very thinly, and the elf gave a loud huff. "I did not say anything of the sort."

"You were thinking it, however." He snapped, and she sighed. "Well... she sounds rather like she's in a lot of pain, Arty."

"I am not going to do as you say."

"I didn't say anything!"

"I think, I'm going to go and deal with this my own way." he said, moving to turn off the screen.

Holly glared at him and he could still feel the blow of power despite her being several miles under.

"Things will play out as they would whether you want them or not. I think you're just going to make things harder for yourself!" she cried. Artemis sighed. "Goodnight, Holly." he stated.

"Gah! Artemis Fowl you cowardly little-"

And he cut the communication bluntly, frowning at the now blank screen.

A knock at the door cut his thoughts short and he looked over his shoulder at it thoughtfully.

"Artemis, may I come in?" Butler's voice rumbled through the wood. He relaxed slightly and straightened, looking around the room for a moment to check and see if perhaps there was anything he would preffer to keep hidden but deciding it was fine he said.

"Yes, come in."

Butler opened the door and peeked in, seeing him at the desk, typing into his laptom lazily he finally stepped fully into the room.

"The Lords have arrived, your mother wishes you to come down and greet them..." he said quietly.

Artemis sighed softly and nodded, though his eyes were still on the screen. "I will be there in a moment." he murmured, his fingers moving with agility over the keys of the computer...

Hacking into his father's system was equivilant to logging into a mail account... After all most of his father's defenses were designed by him.

"... Are you all right? Since they arrived at Dublin you've been acting a bit strange." Butler murmured.

Artemis glanced at him as he accessed the computer files he wanted. "I am having some time adjusting to their pressence, I think that is all. AndI have some other things to worry about.. Not to do with them." he added, glancing at his friend, who frowned thoughtfully at him a moment before shrugging.

"All right, Artemis." he sighed, slipping out the door and closing it softly.

Artemis turned fully back to the screen, his eyes flickering over the information pouring on there, locating what he wanted.

In a few seconds he had the file needed.

"Matthew Williamson." he muttered, frowning. A sharp beeping nose made him jump slightly and he looked at the cell phone on the desk with scrutinizing blue eyes.

Sighing he picked it up, knowing well who it was.

"Yes?"

"Arty, whyever are you not down here already?"

"I will be down in justa moment, Mother..." he said, containing the irritation carefully.

"...I'd like you here now.." His mother said, with a tad of demand but more request than anything.

He sighed and rubbed his face. "All right, Mother. I'll be right down."

"Thank you, Arty."

"Yes, Mother."

He hung up and groaned slightly, leaning back and closing his eyes.

Sighing he stood and slipped out the door, starting down the stairs in silence, to find Juliet coming up, a frown firmly planted on her face, her hands clenched.

"Juliet, are you all right?' Artemis asked, blinking at her as she stormed past.

"That rotten little child- she reminds me a little of you when you were younger, actually." she muttered, and he started in surprise, only to look down and find Crystal looking up at him from the bottom of the stairs.

She blinked mildly, as if surprised by Juliet's reaction as the older youth stormed into one of the rooms in the hall and closed the door with enough force to make it echo around the foyer.

"What did you say?" Artemis asked, looking at Crystal with narrowed eyes. She blinked at him, turning to him after having stared at Juliet's tantrum with something like amusement.

"... I belive I wasn't very appreciative about her style of dress." she murmured, and Artemis sighed.

It only figured Juliet would have a tantrum over something so unimportant.

"What are you doing here?" He asked instead. She cocked an eyebrow slightly.

"Your mother told me to make sure you came down."

He stared.

"She sent you to get me...?"

"Yes."

He frowned. /Bother./

Still frowning he walked the rest of the way down the stairs and said very quietly.

"Well, let us not keep mother waiting."

Together and in silence they headed back towards the sitting area, Artemis wondering just how long he'd have to put up with the small yet threatening person beside him.

Hi everyone, I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in so long... Things have been a bit of a hassle. I'll be honest and tell you that most of my fanfictions will just be around for me to write when i'm in writers block for my original work.

i have to finish a book by the end of this school year, so I'm a bit taken up with that and all my after school activities. However, this story will be updated once in a while, perhaps once a week if I can manage it.

Please Review, it keeps me going and knowing how I'm doing. If you see any plot holes or personality probs with Artemis and the other characters lemme know, I'm having trouble writing them well, i think they're sorta OC. but oh well...

Thanks for all!

-White Scribe