Chapter 8: Baby Names?
Holly and Laird part ways just after they have done their little bonding and talk. She has been told that the theme for the wedding is colorful. Weird soon-to-be newlyweds. She needs to buy clothes and Lai decided that he will with her. Not such a good idea but does it matter now? She doesn't have any idea of what dress to wear. So, Holly now was deciding if she could take a leave, maybe for a week. She has been also told that there will be a contest who can give the best name for the baby, one girl name and one boy. Holly wants to participate, she's the maid-of honor after all. Perhaps she can ask some friends...
Holly's POV:
+Police Plaza.
Participate. Participate. Baby names. I need baby names. What is the best way to ask? Perhaps I start with the Commander.
Trouble's POV:
+ Commander's Office.
"Come in." I said.
"Commander." Holly said as she enters.
"Do you need something, Major Short?"
"I was going to ask if you read my note."
"Yes, I read it. It's a good thing you left a note, at least you're not someone like I know that is leaving in current working hours. Did you take your time?"
"Yes. My friend and I talk about the things we left behind."
"Good." Friend...? He's not the father?
"Major Short, can I ask you about something?" I ping something under my table and I think she didn't see it.
"Yes, commander."
"And I want true honesty." She tensed up.
"Yes."
"Who are you with during your lunch break?"
"Oh. My childhood friend, Laird Ozias."
"Okay. That's all."
"Umm, Commander. Is it okay if I ask you something too?"
"Okay. Shoot."
"Umm, Trouble..." She began, now whatever she's asking, it's personal.
"Have you ever thinking of–baby names?" She asked. Baby names? That fast? Just how many months is she having the baby?!
"Baby names? Why do you need baby names?" Information! Squeeze her!
"I was thinking of baby names but I need options... Do you have? Did you ever think of baby names? One boy and one girl?" One boy, one girl? Is she having twins?
"I haven't thinking about names lately... What about Travis for boy and Abby for girl?" I suggested, actually I like those names.
"I thought you haven't thinking of it. I like those." Somehow I feel like we're giving each other a suggestion the names of 'our' baby...
"It's just something that popped out in my mind."
"Thank you, Trouble."
"Wait, is 'someone' pregnant...?" I emphasize someone, Holly is smart. She'll get I'm asking about her.
Turns out she didn't get it.
"Yeah." Oh...
It's time to ask another death blow question.
"Who's the father?"
"My childhood friend." She said simply. So it's that guy, ah.
Trouble assumes the father is Liard since he was a childhood friend. 'The' childhood friend.
"Thanks again." She said.
"Don't mention it." I said as she goes out of my office.
Foaly's POV:
+ Ops Booth.
Its hours since Artemis shut his hacked connection to my computers and Commander Vinyaya, Grub, Lili and Trouble have gone back to their respective places. Mulch and N.1 just left also... I'm not really an emotional centaur towards my friends but this is my first time seeing Artemis like that. As a fellow genius, I must help him, right...?
This time, it's my turn to hack Artemis laptop, and I was surprised to see him lying down on his bed like a corpse. Maybe he is a corpse now.
"ARTEMIS FOWL!" I shout and saw him suddenly get up.
"Foaly?!" He's shocked. My hacking was still processing in his mind. He is really affected.
"Can we talk Artemis?" I asked.
"Why?" He said as he went closer to face his laptop.
"We know you love Holly and I know you're hurt." I don't know how to do this. This is not my forte.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're a liar, we know, you can act like nothing happened. Show your poker face to her. But that won't last long. You look terrible. Go see yourself in the mirror." He went to see himself in the mirror but that didn't change his expression. He was so down... If Caballine and I we're not together and I will know that she's pregnant to another centaur will I be like that...?
No, what I'm feeling now is blood boiling...
"Artemis, does your blood boil when you see Holly hugging another man?" He just looks at me then someone pinged on my other computer, and saw it was from Commander's Office.
Then I raise my hand to halt whatever he was going to say. I watch what is currently happening in the Office and I know Fowl is hacking my systems again.
"Wait, is someone pregnant...?" Trouble asked.
"Yeah." Holly answered simply...
"Who's the father?" Trouble asked again, oh no... I looked at Artemis and I can clearly see in the monitor that he was holding his breath, getting ready for the blow.
"My childhood friend." She said simply. Then that's it. Artemis cut his connections again. I think I just made this situation hard, real hard for him...
Artemis' POV:
+ Artemis' Room, Fowl Manor.
I saw Foaly's face indicating something. He's watching something at another monitor. I hacked it. I know I shouldn't, another mistake.
"Who are you with during your lunch break?" Trouble asked. Yeah, who are you with, Holly?!
"Oh. My childhood friend, Laird Ozias."
Really, childhood friend? Well, why did you hug him like... I'm turning possessive. I shouldn't. I know I shouldn't but I can't help it...
"Umm, Trouble..." Why is she fidgeting like that?! Calling Trouble, Trouble at work...? I know they're friends but she called her Commander earlier!
"Have you ever thinking of–baby names?" Baby names?! Holly? You're not showing! Are you too damn excited about having a baby?!
"Baby names? Why do you need baby names?" Go, Commander. Information is power!
"It's just something that popped out in my mind." Well, Commander. It looks like you're thinking also in advance. It's obvious you have the names before this.
"Thank you, Trouble."
"Wait, is someone pregnant...?" Now we're talking...
"Yeah."
"Who's the father?"
Can I still watch this?
"My childhood friend."
I disconnect again.
How I hope I disconnect to the world. He's the father. I must say, yes, compare to me, Holly's better with him. The childhood friend or the kidnapper...? It is simple basic analogy and I know I can't win. Holly sees me as best friend and nothing more. I should be grateful with that... Actually, I do not know Holly's past, Laird did. I don't say vulgar words but you know what, fuck this! I can't take it anymore.
I heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." I said.
"Artemis." It's Butler. "Your parents' wishes you to come down and eat dinner with them."
Dinner? Just what time is it now? 7:35 pm? Just how long am I lying in bed?
"I can't Butler. Sorry. I won't eat tonight. I lost my appetite." I said, and it turns out I used my old cold voice. My voice before I meet Holly. Butler closed the door and it became quiet. I closed my eyes and hope to drift myself in sleep.
I woke up when something buzz on my hand. The fairy communicator. Only Holly knows this and she's calling me. I answered it rather longer than usual.
"Holly." I put some upgrade on the fairy communicator so I can see Holly's face. When Holly visited last time, I also put some upgrade on her communicator so we can both see each other. It turns out it was another wrong decision for me again. It will be hard seeing her this time.
"Arty. I hope I didn't disturb you. Are you sleeping now?"
"Yes. I am sleeping but you didn't disturb me. What is the call about?" No. You disturb me, big time but I will always have time for you. Always...
"Always down to business. Never said Hello. No wonder, you would never have a girlfriend."
"Why are we talking about this Holly?" I know I shouldn't be sounded angry but I did and I am not really in the mood to talk to you, especially with the topic of girlfriend. Not to mention not getting one. Not getting YOU.
"Hey. Easy. Okay. I'm sorry. Why are you so pissed?" She asked and I can't answer. I can't tell her. It will destroy me more.
"Is it because I called you when you sleep? I did disturb you and now you're pissed to me."
"Yes. But since you already did can we just get over with this?" I used again my cold voice and saw her jaw drop and slowly shaking her head side by side.
"What happened to you today, Fowl?" She uses my last name... Oh no. I should tell her the truth.
"It's nothing in your business, Major." What? What did I just said? I'm so screwed!
"Oh... I guess, we're only best friends when YOU needed something from me, from us... Good night, Fowl. Nightmares, be with you."
She disconnects. I failed to be her 'lover' if that's what you call it and now it seems like I also failed to handle the 'best friend' position. October 6, 2013. 9:14 pm. I discovered something. I TOTALLY SUCKED.