Awww…Poor Brian. Will he be able to attract Quinn's attention from this new, mysterious stranger? How will Artemis solve Quinn's problem when she's so reluctant to let him in? Why is Quinn such a social outcast? Will a bond ever exist between the two? Hm…I guess you'll have to read to find out.

Sorry for not updating but I've been busy with exams. If it's a plus, I got the highest on my History and my English. :)

"So…are you gay?"

Artemis quirked an eyebrow. "Now what could ever lead you to that conclusion?"

Quinn picked up Artemis' hand and waved his freshly manicured nails in his face. "Usually boys don't even know what the word manicure means. And look at you. Not a single hair out of place nor a spot of dirt to be seen. What kind of boy are you?"

"The one that cares about his hygiene and the way he looks," sniffed Artemis. "That doesn't make me gay."

"Sure. Whatever," said Quinn, rolling her eyes.

Artemis sighed inwardly. The more time he spent with Quinn, the more obvious it was to him that Quinn had a lot of problems. As silence rushed in to fill the pause in their conversation, Quinn began to absentmindedly dig her nails into her skin. Everyone had their habits but Quinn's habit was definitely beyond queer.

And, admittedly, Artemis had been left alone quite a few times when he was Quinn's age but that was because of extenuating circumstances. Where was Quinn's mother? It was obvious that mother-daughter relationships were more than a little frayed. Artemis studied his rotund charge. Apparently the excess flesh was the result of many nights alone eating fast-food. Artemis couldn't even think of anyone he knew personally who had five fast-food restaurants on speed dial. Artemis wondered exactly how much work he was looking at. The amount of therapy Quinn needed added up to months…maybe even years…

"So help me out here," said Quinn, interrupting Artemis' thoughts. "I have this sort of fetish for reading and writing fanfiction and I'm currently writing a fanfic for you. Who would you want to fall in love with if you had to choose? The Gothic rebel girl, a female version of you when you were twelve or a tomboyish girl with insane karate skills?"

"How about none?"

"Choose, goddammit!"

"Fine. I'd choose…aren't there any better options? Someone…normal?"

Quinn blinked. "You want someone…normal? Why?"

Artemis shrugged. "Why not?"

"But…they'd be so plain. You're a millionaire Irish genius, for crying out loud! You deserve someone who's as unique and special as you are."

"Or maybe someone who's normal who doesn't expect too much of me and who can make me forget all about being the great and almighty Artemis Fowl."

"Who ever said that you were great or almighty?"

"I'm done."

"I was just playing with you. Can't you take a joke?" Quinn punched Artemis playfully in the arm.

Artemis rubbed his arm. "You know, you're stronger than you look."

Quinn chuckled.

"There's a restaurant over there," said Artemis, pointing up the street. "Let's go try it."

Inwardly, Quinn recoiled as she looked at where Artemis was pointing. She paused to stare at the red, blue and white sign that hung above the entrance, displaying the restaurant's name and something in French. It was La Fantaisie Halète Le Restaurant(Laissez ici satisfait garanti). Quinn's stomach fell to the floor with a sickening splat!

"I don't think we should…" began Quinn but Artemis was already opening the door and disappearing inside. She sighed and followed.

Inside the restaurant, it was dimly lit and everyone was murmuring in low voices. Artemis was talking to the maître d'. So far, so good. The tall, mustached man was nodding to what Artemis was saying and for a split second, Quinn thought they were actually going to be able to eat in peace. Until the maître d' looked her way and saw her.

"She isn't here with you, is she, sir?" whispered the head waiter in horror.

"If she is?" asked Artemis coolly. He treated the attendant to a frigid look.

The waiter looked away and muttered, "Right this way, sir."

Artemis didn't move. "I do believe I'm not alone this evening."

The waiter didn't say anything but kept walking towards an empty table in the back of the restaurant. Fearfully, Quinn looked at Artemis. To her relief, Artemis only looked amused and intrigued.

"Why do you think he's treating you like that?" asked Artemis under his breath.

"Let's just go," said Quinn, turning to the door. She felt a light hand on her shoulder holding her back. Needless to say, she didn't like the mischievous glitter in Artemis' eye.

"No," said Artemis firmly. "Let's stay. This will be…fun."

The table the waiter had selected for Artemis and Quinn was far away from the customers but not far away enough for Quinn and Artemis not to hear the chatter that surrounded them.

"It's that Davidson girl…"

"You don't mean…"

"I heard he had to get stitches…"

"So vicious…"

"And in such a young child, too…"

Quinn wanted to dissolve into the floor. She could tell Artemis was soaking up every word he heard. Quinn shifted in her seat.

"You know, Artemis," said Quinn loudly. "It's considered rude to talk about a person when they're sitting not a fork's throw away from you."

Quinn stared pointedly at a skinny, vulture looking lady who was speaking the loudest. The woman gasped and looked around for sympathetic looks as if she were the injured party. She received these looks in heaps. But Quinn's statement had done its job.

"So beastly! But anyways did you hear…"

"So, Beatrice says…"

"I couldn't believe Harold could do such a thing…"

"And so, I say…"

"The filet mignon sounds good…"

Artemis smiled wryly as he took a sip of water from his wine glass. "You know, that wasn't very civilized either."

Quinn picked up the menu and scanned it for the most expensive thing possible. "You know you're paying, right?"

"Whatever your heart desires…" drawled Artemis.

Quinn didn't like the trail off at the end of Artemis' statement. "Dot, dot, dot?"

"So long as you tell me a story."

A red headed waitress came to take their order. She glanced uncertainly and a bit coldly in Quinn's direction and asked Artemis for his order first.

"I think I'll let my friend here order first," said Artemis calmly.

"I'm sorry," said the waitress. "She's lucky to even be in this restaurant. She can wait. I should warn you that it's social suicide to even be seen with her. I suggest you dump her and move on as soon as you have the chance. Your order, sir?"

Artemis smiled dryly. "Yes. My order."

Artemis flipped through his menu before saying anything. "HonestlyIdon'tknowwhatIwant.Italljustlookssogood,youknow?Whatdoyousuggest?Imeanyou'vebeenworkinghereforhowmanyyearsinsteadofatsomejobthat'sactuallynoteworthyandisn'tjustanotherpartofyourmiserable,patethic,mockeryofahumanlife."

"What?" said the waitress. Quinn tried to stifle her giggle. Even though she only understood half of what Artemis had said, she was pretty sure there was an insult hidden somewhere in his barrage of questions. But this fact seemed to have flown over the waitress' head. She merely looked confused.

Artemis sighed. Then he began to speak so softly, only Quinn could hear him.

"I was asking for your suggestion but obviously your incompetent brain was unable to comprehend the words coming out of my mouth. It seems the many years of menial, mind-numbing labor has gotten to your brain."

"Pardon?" said the waitress, still looking confused.

Artemis sighed dramatically again. This time he spoke normally. "I said, I don't know what I want. What do you recommend?"

"Oh," said the waitress, adding a nervous giggle. "You should definitely try the…"

"I don't eat red meat."

"I wasn't going to recommend red meat."

"Oh. Okay."

"I do recommend…"

"I don't eat cheese either. Lactose intolerant."

"Okay. Sorry about that, sir."

"I'm sorry. Could I get another waitress or waiter by any chance?"

"Why?" asked the waitress, starting to lose her patience.

"I'm on a diet. I was wondering if I could get another waiter who could provide a little more motivation."

Quinn's mouth dropped open at the same time the waitress' mouth dropped open.

"I'll have you know, I just underwent liposuction," said the waitress defensively. "If this isn't skinny then I don't know what it is."

"It's called being 'obese,'" said Artemis as if he were talking to a particularly slow four year-old. "God. If this is what you look like now, you must have been huge before."

"I…I…I should…"

"Go on the South Bitch diet?" suggested Artemis. "That would be an excellent idea."

"Get out," growled the waitress through gritted teeth.

"Why?" asked Artemis, looking genuinely puzzled. "You were the one who was being rude to my friend."

"As manager of this establishment, I reserve the right to refuse service to either you or your friend," said a dark, husky voice from behind the waitress. A man with at least half a gallon of cheap hair gel in his hair and a dark, greasy look about him stepped forward and glared at Quinn.

"I thought I made it clear that you're not welcomed in here," said the man darkly.

"And why isn't she?" asked Artemis.

"She should tell you why," said the man nodding in Quinn's direction. Then he turned to Quinn again. "You know, he hasn't been the same since that day, witch. He's afraid of his own shadow, now."

Quinn didn't say anything but just stood up to leave.

"I don't want to ever see you around here again, you understand me Davidson?" demanded the man. "You're nothing but trouble. You hear me? Nothing but trouble. Now that I think about it, how do we know you didn't off your old man too? If you could do that to my little boy, how do we know you didn't do your father in? Huh? He did die under some pretty mysterious circumstances. I can't believe the sheriff is actually letting you, Little Miss Megalomaniac, walk around freely…"

"If it's any consolation," said Quinn quietly. "I threw his doll out a long time ago."

Artemis barely managed to get in between Quinn and the restaurant's manager in time before his grasping, ill-intentioned fingers reached Quinn's throat. Artemis quickly led Quinn outside and as they walked away from La Fantaisie Halète Le Restaurant Quinn didn't say anything or do anything. She just followed Artemis obediently with a blank look on her face as if she were somewhere far away…

So...what is Quinn's past? Hm...I wonder...Well, you'll only find out if you review. So review already! And I can't tell you who's getting together with who or if there's any getting together at all! That would ruin the story!