Questions & No Answers
Opal Koboi is back in business. This thought ran through Artemis' head all day. She attempted to take over the world once before, and clearly that didn't work. What could she be back for? Revenge on Holly? This made him slightly worried that his friends might be in danger, but he thought of other possibilities as well.
Right after school was out; he went to his spot on the hill under the apple tree to research any other suspicious action, above ground as well as below.
Finally, he had a hit... Oxygen houses? What WERE they? Apparently, in these oxygen houses, workers transferred normal air to pure oxygen. And the odd thing about this company is that it showed no buyers for the oxygen, and yet got an extremely high income—of gold. (Artemis was surfing the internet illegally obviously). But where did the oxidized air go? Across the ocean? Somewhere in Ireland? Only someone with hacking skills out of this world would be able to find the blueprints of the factory, and it would probably take forever to do so.
So naturally, Artemis was in the website in two minutes flat. The first thing he noticed was that the pipes containing the oxygen lead downwards … almost to the Haven. Actually, unless he was much mistaken (which he highly doubted) that's exactly where this oxygen led. But of course. Artemis thought. The Haven would have to get oxygen somewhere. Fairies lived above ground until a couple centuries ago. I can't believe I didn't pick up on this before. But the real question is…how is Opal involved, if at all. What could she gain? True, there is a bundle to be made, but why switch careers so suddenly, weapons to…business?
And yet another thought occurred to him. Who ran this factory? Fairies couldn't control it- they would be seen by humans. So it must be a human…but who knows about the People? Holly clearly said he was the first breach in history… Way too many questions…and no answers. Artemis was about to dive deeper into the internet looking for other possible links between Opal and this oxygen factory called "Woodland Fresh." He smirked…so somehow the Woodland elves were involved judging by the name of the factory. Yet another mystery to figure out. Hopefully he wouldn't be taken on another crazy adventure like the Artic Incident, he's had enough of those, although he could daresay find himself in much better shape than before (he worked out 4 times a week now and wasn't the weakling he once was.)
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Kashia walked up the hill snapping her gum out to appreciate the fresh air. She walked to the hill where she sat often times last year. There was that guy, Arty, sitting with his laptop looking hard at work, which was a change considering how little work he did at the school despite the numerous classes he took.
So this of course would be a prime opportunity to sneak up him and make him so scared he'll wet himself. Kashia quietly tiptoed up behind Artemis, and just before she jumped out, she peered at what he was looking at on his laptop. The "Woodland Fresh" Factory…! Belonging to the People!
She panicked…he couldn't find out about the People…and her, since she was partially a fairy! How did he get to the website anyways? The amount of security placed on that website- Kashia knew about this factory by accidentally coming across her father's laptop (before he died obviously) with this site, and found that there was some sort of smuggling ring between her father and somebody named Boholv Koboi. (A/N: Remember this name) This led her to believe that her so called parent's car accident…was not so accidental. She had no proof, only unfounded theories-- that would make the police laugh. 'Fairies that her father worked with murdered her parents…?' Honestly.
Kashia then was snapped to reality when she heard Artemis typing at an extremely fast rate on the keyboard. What if he found out about LEP? She did the first thing she could think of to get the laptop shut, which in turn would exit out all of the programs. There was no way she would let him find out about the fairies.
The girl threw herself into Artemis' lap, 'accidentally' bumping his laptop safely shut. He jumped, and gave a small yell.
"Honestly Arty, its just me, Kashia. You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Artemis severely shaken, and pissed off that all his hard work was exited because she closed his laptop, was pondering why she had chosen to sit on his lap. Of all days, it was the day after the dream. Images from last night came rushing back to his head and his blood, in turn, began rushing southwards.
For the first time that day he looked at Kashia and found she was wearing a three quarter sleeved black shirt , that had lace down the middle. Her sitting on his lap was an excellent view down her shirt, Artemis didn't fail to notice, and she didn't realize this.
"So why are you here…on my lap?" Artemis managed to finally finding his voice.
"I came up here to think. And then I saw you… " she replied.
"So you jumped into my lap? And would you stop squirming around!"
Ok, so maybe she should've thought more in advance about an actual reason she sat on his lap. But, what's done is doneShe needed to stall for time before she had a legitimate excuse as to why she was sitting on his lap… so, she stalled for time.
"Artemis Fowl, I know that you LIKE me squirming around on your lap. Feels good, doesn't it?" She winked, mentally shooting herself…of all the ways to distract him, she had to flirt with him like a slut. The People better be worth it.
"I-I I have no idea what you mean."
She laughed. WOW, this was priceless. He didn't have any experience with girls, or hormones, or even being a teenager.
"Face it Arty, if you had minded me sitting on your lap so much you would've told me to move. And you haven't so far, so I might was well make myself comfortable." The look on his face was priceless.
So, here it is-- Artemis finally meets his match, a 15 year girl, who sits on his lap. This small act renders him speechless. Evil masterminds like Opal Koboi—easy, but Kashia? That's a different story.
Artemis finally comes to his senses and realizes something. "You never answered my question before…why did you sit on my lap in the first place?"
But this time, Kashia was ready to answer the question. "I wanted to see your reaction to it. And it was priceless. I don't think I've seen a more nervous guy in my entire life."
"You can get off my lap now."
"Yes, I imagine that you would want me off, that was wayyy to much girl action for one day. What next, a kiss?"
"Nobody asked you Kashia. And tattoos are bad for your skin, you could get skin cancer." He was referring to the small black rose tattoo that was just covered by the rim of her shirt.
"I don't believe it. You were looking down my shirt!" She said jumping up.
"Well, you practically threw yourself at me like some sort of slut!"
She glared at him. "I am NOT a slut! I only got the tattoo to show my brother Adam what an ass he is."
"What does a tattoo prove?"
"That being a rebel isn't so awesome. Adam deals drugs, he drinks almost every night, and he's a senior in high school, only seventeen for goodness sakes! But, apparently my plan backfired because he already had tattoos that I didn't know about…and then he ratted me out to my parents. Who died two weeks ago, if you don't mind me adding."
"I'm sorry about your parents." Artemis said quietly.
"You know what? I don't want to hear it. I don't really know why I thought that you could be my friend. You are an ass. That simple, you don't act civil until you hear how screwed up my life is. So you can go back to talking to yourself, you pathetic little mudboy!"
"Fine" Artemis said coolly. "Whatever suits you." This girl was nothing but trouble, obviously, and now he wouldn't have to worry about any more dreams at night.
She was already down the hill by the time he turned to look at her again. Wait a minute…the thought dawned on him. Mudboy. She knows the People, or most likely is related to them somehow… Dear Lord, this day was getting so confusing!
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Kashia slammed her door shut and turned to find Holly Short and Trouble Kelp.
"Why are you here" she said rudely.
"To see how you are since…you know, your parents."
"I'm perfectly fine, it's not bothering me at all. The door is right there, I'm sure you can show yourself out."
Trouble Kelp muttered something in Holly's ear.
Kashia heard what he said and responded. "I am NOT a bitch. I just came back from talking with this guy who is an annoying ASSHOLE."
Holly smiled. Sort of reminded her of Artemis. He really wasn't so bad once you got to know him and got past his cold attitude.
"So Kashia, that's it? You don't want help with anything? Good, now I can go home, my job here is done." Holly said.
"Buh-bye!" Kashia said in a false sweeet voice.
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Artemis thought about the girl dressed in black in his room that night. Kashia wasn't so bad, really. Not as bad as him at least. He admitted he acted like an ass to her, but how could he have known that she had a bad day today? It was her fault as much as his.
He even understood the sitting on his lap thing now. The whole purpose of it was to close his laptop was so he wouldn't find out about the People. He felt bad for calling her a slut when she was really protecting the fairies.
Tomorrow he would have to shelve his pride and go and talk to her again—without starting an argument. He'd rather battle a troll and face Opal Koboi again…
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I honestly have no idea how this chapter turned out, I really hope you guys like it, because I spent the most time on this one…
REVIEW! Just don't flame me. Oh, and don't say something like 'you are making this American' because news flash: I AM. I don't feel like doing research on Ireland's words just for a fanfiction. So please, look past the americanness and review on the actual story. I really hope I don't sound bitchy…unless you were going to flame me.
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