OUTSIDE CHUTE E1, TARA, IRELAND

Artemis woke up feeling groggy. His thoughts were just unscrambling, but he still noticed Holly's hand on his chest, magic sparking and healing the bruise where she had punched him. As soon as his head had cleared he jumped up and scowled at her.

'I come to invite you to a Christmas party and you punch me in the head. What is wrong with you?'

'Firstly,' started Holly, 'You have been tracking me'.

'No I haven't,' Artemis said feebly, although they both knew he was lying. Holly looked pointedly towards the transmitter on the Bentley's dashboard. 'And point number two?'

Holly explained the holographic mishap, but skipped out the love part. Artemis didn't need to find out her feelings for him yet.

'But that wasn't actually me'

'I know', Holly sighed. 'But it caused me so much trouble I couldn't resist'

'Apology accepted', said Artemis.

'That wasn't an apology', smiled Holly. 'Tracking me like that...'

'Look, I am sorry about that...blip in the plan. But it had to be done'

'Plan?' Asked Holly warily.

'Yes, plan.'

Holly raised an eyebrow. 'It's all plans with you. Everything you do has to be planned in some way or another'

Artemis sighed. 'I know. But as I mentioned before, I've come to invite you to a Christmas party'

Holly looked at him incredulously . 'Artemis Fowl the great criminal mastermind asking a fairy to come to a Christmas party. Somehow I don't think that's what you came to ask me about.'

Artemis looked hurt. 'You know I've changed'

'Who says you won't go back to your old ways?'

'True, but I wish you'd trust me more'

'After you lied to my face? I don't think so'

Artemis stood up, looking angry. 'Now who's making false promises! You said we could leave the past in the past and forget about it'

Now it was Holly's turn to look angry. 'I know what I said, but its hard leaving the past in the past when your trust has been shattered. You said that you didn't think I'd do it otherwise, even though deep down, you knew I would do anything for you. Maybe Foaly and Commander Kelp are right. Humans and fairies don't mix.'

Artemis shook his head sadly. 'You don't know how much I regret lying to you'

'How do I know you regret it?'

'Look into my eyes and tell me I don't hold any remorse'

Holly looked into Artemis's sad mismatched eyes. 'I forgive you,' she said. 'I don't know what's wrong with me...I've been so emotional lately'

Artemis rubbed his nose, which was still throbbing despite Holly's magic. 'Still, why did you have to sock me one? I've received enough punches from you already'

Holly sighed. 'I really don't know. As I said, I've been feeling so emotional lately.'

'Artemis came up and gave her an awkward hug, trying to comfort her. Holly pulled away, laughing.

'You, mud boy, are the worst hugger I've ever met'

''Hugger' isn't a word'

'Oh, lighten up'

'I try,' he sighed. 'Are you coming to the party then?'

'I'll think about it. When is it anyway?'

'Well, obviously on the 25thof December, starting at 6:00pm'

'Today's the 20th,' mused Holly, 'So it's about five days from now' She glanced at her moonometer. 'D'Arvit! It's midnight already!'

'So technically it's the 21st'', said Artemis. 'So there are only four days until the party'

'Perfectionist,' muttered Holly.

Here goes, thought Artemis nervously.

He started to lean towards her, closer, closer...

And found Holly's finger blocking his lips from kissing her.

'No, mud boy,' she said, almost regretfully. 'I meant what I said. Your elf-kissing days are over'

And with that she kicked off into the air.

Artemis allowed himself a dangerous grin.

'No, Holly' He said quietly. 'They aren't over quite yet'

And they weren't.

Holly landed under an old oak 5 miles away from Tara. She cradled her head in her hands. She was completely torn between two things; Artemis and The People. Being with Artemis could ruin her career, make her an outcast among the people and lose some of her fairy friends – but being without him caused her to be moody and irrational. For once Holly Short was completely out of her depth.