Kira looked into the full-length mirror that she had in her bedroom. As she twirled, her floor-length skirt bloomed out.

There was a knock on her door, and both boys entered. Along with the all-famous Mary Sue.

Kira smiled at Artemis, who looked surprisingly handsome in a tailored tux.

Thom was fake grinning. The kind of grin that says 'I know I'm supposed to be happy but I'm not'.

Kira tried to give him a sympathetic glance, but Mary Sue was looking straight at her.

Mary, as expected, was wearing all pink. Violent pink. With a violent expression to match.

"Kira, darling. What a cute little outfit. Is it vintage?"

"Maybe, I borrowed it from your mom." Kira smiled.

"Hmm." Mary Sue grabbed Thom's arm. "Let's go already."

Kira laughed to herself. This was going to be good.

Then Artemis offered her his arm.

Kira winked. Holly had promised to get the truth out of him tonight.

He blinked, looking slightly surprised. She took his arm, grinning.

They walked out. Mary was exceptionally annoying today. This provided the perfect excuse to break-up. "Don't look at her!" Kira began.

Artemis caught on quickly. "What? You're always snapping at me, what did I do to you?"

"You're always looking at other girls! I can't live like that!" Kira yelled.

Artemis looked confused. "When? When have I ever done that?"

"Of course you don't remember! You never remember anything important!" Kira was dying to laugh.

"Can't we just enjoy the dance?" Artemis asked.

"I'm not sure I can!" Kira finished.

He just shrugged, leading her into the decorated gym.

"Since when do you get to be?" Kira asked him angrily.

"Be what?"

"See, you used to KNOW what I was talking about!" Kira shook her head.

Artemis led her t the dance floor.

"STOP TRYING TO BE THE LEADER!" Kira screamed so everybody heard.

He pretended to try to calm her down, whispering in her ear. In actuality, he was congratulating her on her acting skills.

"You know. I don't think this is working out." Kira said in a slightly calmer voice. Emphasis on the 'slightly'.

"Not working out? I think its fine!"

"No. Its really not." Kira walked away.

Artemis stood there for a second, and then ran after her. They walked out of the gym together.

"Ha-ha! That was freakin' awesome!" Kira said, laughing.

Artemis raised his right eyebrow, "Indeed."

"Well, I'm going to leave before someone walks out and sees us. EVERYTHING would be ruined if someone did! Later!" she said walking away.

In a very small corner of his brain, Artemis wished she wouldn't.

Later that same day, Holly called Artemis.

Artemis picked up the communicator, wondering what Holly needed help with.

"Hey, mud boy. I was just looking at my calender and I wasn't doing anything so I decided to call you." Holly's lame excuse for calling was almost pathetic.

He raised his right eyebrow.

"OK. Fine. I just had a question I was dying to ask." Holly admitted. "Well?" asked Artemis.

Holly seemed to be struggling to find the right words. "Holly, just spit it out!"

"I just wanted to know if you had a crush on that Mud Girl, to be blunt." She said lamely.

This time it wasn't his right eyebrow he raised. "What?" His voice was carefully controlled.

"You heard me!" Holly was not going to let him push her around.

"Holly, that is none of your business. And NO!" But even as he said it, Artemis felt his stomach go just a little bit squeamish.

"Yeah, right." Holly laughed.

Angrily, he shut down the connection. Seething, he sat down on his bed.

Weird thoughts were getting into his head. It was like, he felt BAD! (GASP) What was happening to him? He called Holly back.

You know, I don't take to kindly to being hung up on."

"Sorry." he grunted. "What was that, Arty?" 'Sorry!" he said clearly annoyed.

"Better. Now, what do you need, Mulch and I have work to do." "I was wondering why you asked me that question." Artemis said coldly. "Oh please. It's very obvious, at least to me. Or don't you know who my great-grandfather is?"

"Holly. I'm really not sure anymore." Artemis admitted.

"Well, I'll give you a hint. He's a very good archer. Only missed once. Acctually... If I remember correctly, Shakespeare did a play about that one miss. Summer something."

"Do we really have to talk about this?" Artemis said boredly. "No. We can talk about your crush." Holly said sweetly.

"Fine. Who was your great-grandfather?"

I don't really want to talk about my great grandfather anymore." Holly told him. She stared at him with slightly mesmerizing eyes. It was easier this way. "Tell me the truth, Artemis." She told him.

He felt himself being pulled into her eyes, her voice. Using all his control, he said, "Not this way."

She pulled harder. "Tell me."

She felt slightly guilty about this, but she just had to know.

Finally. "OK." he said.

Slowly, deliberately, seeming to think about each word, he spoke. "I... I just don't... know."

"Tell yourself. Tell everyone who needs to know. Including me." Holly was getting good at this.

"I can't. I can't tell myself something I don't know yet."

"Figure it out. Then call me back." Holly hung up.

Artemis shook his head like a dog that'd just gotten out of a lake. He scowled when he realized he'd been mesmerized.

"Cripes." He told himself. He looked at the clock. Midnight. 'I'd better go to bed.' He thought and that was the last thing he remembered.
The Next Day: Breakfast

Kira sat stiffly at a table, alone. For seemingly no reason, she'd woken up crying last night.

Maybe it was Night Terrors. She'd had those when she was eight. The ghost fish thing.

But no. She knew herself too well for that. It was something else, but that she wasn't sure of.

Out of nowhere she saw Artemis walk up. She laughed remembering last night.

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Hey! Potestas and MulchDiggums here!

We really appreciate reviews, people!

Plus: The Shakespere thing is in an AF book? Can you find it?