Disclaimer: Read the ones in the previous chapters. Read the chapters too while you're there :P

Chapter 3: Un-Fortunes

Artemis stared into the familiar hazel a moment longer, until he realized that the owner of those eyes was speaking. And she was not happy about being knocked into the mud. Then again which sane person, fairy or otherwise, would be?

"Artemis, what do you think you are doing?" the fairy asked, annoyed. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Ah, yes, I mean, no, I mean…"

Artemis struggled to clear his head and answer the fairy who was currently attempting to get as much mud out of her red hair.

"Ignore him Holly," said Juliet said.

Artemis looked up to see the blond girl help Holly up out of the mud.

"Sometimes the Mud Boy has no manners" she said, giving the genius a disapproving look. "Really Artemis. Couldn't you use that massive IQ of yours to come up with a better plan to attract a lady's attention?"

Holly turned her head slightly away from Artemis so that he could not see her grin.

"Yes," she agreed, pretending to inspect how much damage the mud had done to her clothes. "As far as I know, knocking people into the mud is no longer considered a form of greeting among Mudmen."

Artemis was now highly embarrassed and very irritated about the fact that he was embarrassed. "I did not do that on purpose." he said, getting up.

"Now, Arty" said Juliet in a false motherly tone. "That's not how you apologize to a girl. Haven't you read any books on proper etiquette? You're supposed to be a genius!"

She shook her head in mock disappointment, solely because she knew this would irritate Artemis. She wasn't wrong.

Artemis had now resorted to taking deep calming breaths."I repeat. I did not push her into the mud on purpose. It was an accident which occurred after I tripped coming down the stairs."

He now turned towards the fairy that he had shoved into the mud. "I beg your pardon mademoiselle and hope that I did not cause any lasting damage." His sarcasm was terror inspiring.

The fairy stopped pretending to inspect her clothes and sighed. "Oh forget it. I accept your apology, Artemis, but you owe me."

"I owe you what?" Artemis asked confused (probably for the first time in his life).

Holly rolled her eyes."Forget it, Mr. Genius."

The way she said 'genius' made it quite clear that was not what she thought Artemis was. Before Artemis had a chance to make a witty comeback, Butler swiftly intervened. Honestly, sometimes he felt more like a referee rather than a bodyguard.

"Hello, Holly," he said while giving Artemis a look which was meant to shut him up. "Nice to see you again. Where's Mulch?"

Holly smiled. "Mulch had to take an unexpected vacation when he came in contact with some very suspicious purple slime."

For a moment, Holly positively, well, impish.

Mulch who was currently sitting miserably in a room he had rented in the darkest neighborhood in San Francisco was really regretting that comment he made about Holly and Trouble. You could only tease a fairy so far.

Back at Fowl Manor, no one in the vicinity doubted for a second that Holly and Mulch's sudden desire to travel were not connected.

However, before anyone could comment, the arrival of a pretty blond girl distracted the group.

"Bonjour, mon amies!" Minerva said happily, as she joined the group. She looked at Holly, with surprise. "What happened to you?"

"Artemis." Replied Holly, looking pointedly away from the boy genius.

Artemis considered defending himself, but, based on the previous reactions of everyone, he discarded the idea as useless.

Everyone seemed determined to make sure that Artemis, or anyone else, forgot about this incident anytime soon.

Artemis knew it was childish, but he couldn't help thinking that this was the evil bag of fortune cookies fault.

"Artemis, really! Apologize now." Minerva said, outraged on the behalf of her friend.

"I already did." Artemis snapped. Why was everyone making such a big deal about this incident?

"Ohhh!" Juliet said suddenly, startling everyone.

Artemis immediately took a step back when he saw the look in her eye.

"I know how Artemis should be punished." She paused for dramatic effect. "Make him eat another fortune cookie."

Holly gave a very un-ladylike snort.

"Fortune cookies?" she said incredulously. She clearly did not think much of Juliet's suggested form of punishment.

"Yes, let's." said Minerva suddenly, looking at Artemis. She had not missed how Artemis's face had paled at the mention of fortune cookies and neither had Butler.

The bodyguard could not help grinning as the two girls and one fairy ganged up on Artemis the Second they realized Artemis was less than fond of Juliet's plan.

"What's the deal with Artemis and fortune cookies?" Holly asked curiously, looking at Artemis. She had been acquainted with the Mud Boy long enough to know that he was uncomfortable.

"Arty's afraid of fortune cookies." Juliet announced gleefully.

Holly snorted again, highly amused. Minerva giggled uncontrollably. Butler struggled to keep a straight face. Artemis was now desperately wishing that the ground under his feet would swallow him up.

"I am not afraid of fortune cookies!" he said forcefully, avoiding eye contact with anyone. "I just believe that they are unhealthy and idiotic."

"You owe me, Arty." Holly said, grinning impishly."Eat the cookie."

Artemis looked at Holly, fully intending to tell her to forget it (in a more civilized manner of course).Unfortunately, he made the mistake of looking into her eyes. Once again, the boy genius found himself lost him the hazel orbs.

"Fine." He dimly heard himself agreeing.

Then he blinked, freeing himself from the fairy's hypnotic gaze.

Eyes widening as he realized what he had agreed to, Artemis just looked at an amused Butler who offering the evil bag of fortune cookies.

The only thought going through his brilliant mind was I hate puberty.

Review please? :D