Author's Note: 'Sup mate? You guys all right?  Hope ya are! Chapter 6 is here for you!!! Onward, merry readers, onward!

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Chapter 6: As in he's crushing on you

Back in Foaly's office, things were pretty quiet. Foaly was busy with a new weapon design and both Artemis and Holly were deep in their own thoughts.

Holly was wondering why Kelp was being so cold. She couldn't put her finger on it. He had always been so nice to her...

And Artemis? He was wondering how the hell he could tell Holly that the Commander was crushing on her.

It wasn't as if he was really all that surprised. There had been rumours...

Maybe I'll tell her when Foaly's not here, Artemis thought. It'll be easier then.

Luckily for him, Foaly left his office a moment later. He said he had to adjust something somewhere in the Sector and that he'd be quite a long time.

"Just don't trash my office too much, okay?" he joked as he clopped out.

As soon as he was gone, Holly swiveled the huge chair she was sitting on around so she could face Artemis.

"I don't get it, Arty...Kelp was being so harsh..."

"Yeah..." said Artemis, his mouth going dry.

"I mean, you'd think Foaly would take it even worse but...he loved it! Trouble...he was so different."

"Mmm..."

"I don't see why he was so angry...there was no reason to be...he was so annoyed...and he started to annoy me, really..."

The raven-haired boy said nothing. What could he say?

Holly continued to talk absently, more to herself than Artemis, though he thought he caught the words 'don't get it' and 'too harsh'.

Artemis chose this moment to begin explaining his theory.

"Well, Holly, I think I've come up with the reason." he interrupted.

Holly stopped muttering and grinned. "I thought you might have. A big brain like yours can never resist a puzzle. So what is it?"

Artemis swallowed. "Holly...I think he might...he might..."

"He might what?"

"I think he might like you."

Holly shrugged. "Of course he does. He's my friend, isn't he?"

"No." Artemis croaked. "I mean he might like like you."

Holly raised her eyebrows. "As in he's...?"

"As in he's...as in he's crushing on you."

Holly's eyes widened and then she burst out laughing.

"Artemis, come on! I know the guy...he's not crushing on me!"

"He is, Holly. All the evidence points that way. Being mad at you... being extra mad at me...it fits Holly! He proved it when he moved around a bit when he said 'suitable' when he was telling you about using more sense!"

Holly bit her lip. "I dunno..."

"It wasn't just a coincidence Holly." Artemis insisted.

Holly's mouth dropped open in horror.

"Oh no no no! This cannot be happening! No way. Not now."

Artemis shrugged. "It's the only reason. Either that...or he has seriously bad anger issues."

"I'd take option two any day." Holly groaned.

Artemis sighed and plonked himself down next to Holly on the enormous chair.

Holly rested her head on his shoulder.

"What are we going to do, Artemis? I want to stay friends with Trouble but I can't see how I can without breaking up with you. And I definitely don't want to do that! Besides, now that I know, it'll be all awkward when he's around and he might even try to get together with me..."

She squeezed the chair's arm hard and moaned.

"Who knew being with someone would be so...hard?"

Artemis took her hand.

"I know." he said quietly. "I know."

Just then, Foaly came clattering noisily back into the room, talking quickly.

"Fixed it, it was simple, took a lot less time than I thought, it was only a little error...oh."

He stopped his ranting and sniggered at the sight of Holly and Artemis together in the same chair. It didn't help that they we holding hands.

Artemis jumped up at once.

"So, before me and Holly left, you were saying something about a new helmet expansion?"

"Oh, yeah!" said Foaly excitedly. "They're awesome! You see..."

And off he went in a long winded explanation about fake clouds that operatives could use to camouflage themselves against the sky when they went above ground while showing Artemis a tiny cloud-shaped thing which fitted into a slot in the side of the new helmets.

"It's better than becoming invisible because invisibility wastes a whole lot of power. No matter how few operatives we allow to the surface, our bills are still huge! Yeah I know, but even the LEPrecon has to pay bills. But these babies use barely any power at all so it's great and it'll save us a lot of cash. I still have to work out a few glitches though 'cause sometimes the clouds come out bright yellow and neon pink..."

"I see. I recommend you check the cam gel layer's colour cells. They might need changing..."

"Oh yeah, I hadn't thought of that, thanks Arty..."

The pair continued to talk like this for a while until Holly got bored. She walked over to a window that was facing the Town Square. As she gazed at the holographic sky, her thoughts strayed to the Commander.

I wish he didn't have a crush on me...I just want to be friends...all right, I'll admit he's all right looking but Artemis makes me feel so different...

The young elf closed her eyes and breathed slowly.

No...I won't leave Artemis...never...he's too special...I just need to sit down and talk with Trouble...tell him that my place is with Artemis...

But that would be one of the hardest things Holly had ever done. Who knows what might happen?

A tear rolled down Holly's cheek. She brushed it away impatiently. The elf had never been so troubled in her life...

"Holly?"

It was Artemis. He had finally left Foaly after they had put their heads together to work out the glitches with Foaly's new invention.

"Are you all right?"

Holly shrugged. "Yes...no...oh, I don't know!" she burst out angrily.

"Shh, calm down, it's okay Holly." said Artemis soothingly.

"I know...I feel like I have too many problems..." she replied sadly, looking at her feet.

"Holly...I know you're struggling right now but I promise you. We'll work it all out."

Holly raised her eyes. "Together?"

"Together. I promise."

"Really?"

"Yes. You have my word Holly. We'll get through this."

Holly beamed. "Thanks, Arty. It means a lot."

"Ooh, Holly! Artemis! Get over here! I've think I've found an idea for a new super-cool suit add-on! Come here!" Foaly cried suddenly from over at his giant-screened fairy computer.

"You're welcome." Artemis whispered back, smiling, before they joined Foaly and pretended to be utterly amazed at the fact that he had just created a design for illuminating bum flaps.

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Yeah, uh, Foaly, that might only be good with dwarves ;)

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iLYSM mah faithful readers!

Laters!

DreamWriter123