AN: Thank you to those of you who reviewed and to those of you out there who still like this story! I have not given up on this one for the more popular 'You Are What?!' This story is by far, my favourite! :) ANYWAYS, it's been long time since I posted so here is what happened last time: Artemis found out what Ida's real last name was, but he refuses to believe that she has any real relation to the hybrid Columbian/Italian mob family. He confronts her about it though and they end up arguing. Ida realize that she is going to have to kill him off soon!!! End of part one coming up soon!!!

Chapter 9: Strictly Platonic

I figured I'm part of his plans

But now I'm in his heart

I don't know where to start

-M2M- Dear Dairy

She was frustrated. How could Roger be so callous? She was sure that it was Roger who confided to Artemis as to what her real last name was and not Minerva. Minerva didn't know that she and Artemis were friends yet, but she would surely find out soon, and then all hell would break loose.

Ida wasn't the one for drama.

She would have to finish her task soon.

She sighed heavily and rested her head on the table, letting her curly brown locks cascade around her face.

"Um, cus?" Roger asked softly.

"What." Ida said pointedly.

"I'm really sorry. I know I fucked so much up lately, with inviting Minnie over here and then telling Arty your real last name and all, but it isn't all bad. Artemis can keep a secret. And he isn't afraid of you."

Ida knew all of that, but it didn't calm her down at all. She lifted her head and pushed the wild curls back out of her eyes.

"I have rented out the 131 club in Dublin for the dance; I just got conformation on it this morning. We have the build from 9 P.M to two o'clock. Also, I think a lot of people are going to get drunk, so I don't want them coming back to the school. I've made a hotel list for people to sign up." Roger frowned.

"You're still made at me aren't you?" He said, completely ignoring the logistical plan Ida was laying out before him. She rolled her eyes before taking her cousin's hand and squeezed it gently.

"Yes, of course I'm still mad at you. Really, I'm pissed. But unlike Minerva, you didn't do it to hurt me, so I'll have to forgive you." Ida offered her cousin a small smile. He was one of the few people she had ever loved, so there was no way she could stay mad at him, no matter what he did.

Roger squeezed her hand back and returned her smile.

"If it make you feel better, Artemis figured everything out already- Minerva has nothing else that she could possible tell him."

Ida froze as her heart skipped a beat and then another as her eyes widen. He figured her out? Impossible. There was nothing on the internet about her real identity other than the obituary of her mother's that listed her with her alias, Xia McGossicc and the only people who knew her and what she looked like were her immediate family and Maféia.

"Yah, he told me," Roger continued. "You're folks were just servant to the real McGossicc. That's why they let you go so easily when your mom died. Arty told me all about the family dynamic that McGossicc sets up and what not."

"Oh," Ida let out all the breath that she had been holding in. "Leave it to Artemis to figure that one out." She smiled to hide the last of her panic. "If only others were just as smart as him…"

"Honestly Xia, do you really want a world filled with Artemis Fowls?"

She stopped and pondered that question.

"You know Roger; I can't say that it would a bad world…just maybe an awkward one."

Artemis was somewhat surprised that Xia acted as if nothing happened during there first yoga secession. He attended her class the next day, expecting her to be somewhat aloof, but instead, he found her sitting on her pink mat in the lotus pose with more low-cut clothing that showed off her body. When he entered the billiard room, Xia opened one eye, smiled, and motion for him to join her. They went through all the motions they had the day before and when class was over, she rolled up her mat and tuned to him.

"So do you and Minerva plan to stay over your house, or have you come up with other arrangements?"

General conversation. Xia was definitely ignoring what happened the other day, Artemis noted. Obviously, it was a subject the girl rather forget, but that was just fine to Artemis.

"I don't know what you are talking about Xia."

The girl smiled brightly, and shook her head as she tucked her yoga mat under her arm and began walking off to the coat room to grab her jacket.

"For the dance silly, it doesn't end until two in the morning and many people aren't going to want to go so far to crash for the night. I need to make hotel reservations by tomorrow. So I was wondering where you two were going to stay?"

Artemis quickly followed after her.

"Minerva already made plans to stay elsewhere for the night, but I think I'm going to go home. I miss Beckett and Myles terribly, and my mother would be upset if I was in town and didn't stop by."

"Good to hear," Ida said, while grabbing her pea coat and sidling it on. "I'm sure the twins are going to be excited."

"What do you and Nathan plan to do for the night?"

Ida's face turned somewhat sour, and she shook her head, as if to clear it of a bad image.

"I hear you can keep secrets Fowl. Nathan Smith is just about getting on my last nerve. He stares at me all day with these goo-goo eyes and gets pissy whenever someone else even glances in my direction. He acts as if he owns me but you know what? He has never once asked me out. He's being a pansy."

Artemis chuckled a little as they walked out the Recreation Hall together and back towards the main building.

"Do you realize how many guys here feel that way about you Xia? You are undoubtedly the prettiest girl here; I'm sure all the males agree."

"Second to Juliet, Katherine, Maféia, Molly, Patty-"

"Second to none, Xia. You really don't see yourself in a correct light. You have a wonderful aura to you that's alluring and draws everyone one in. You're beautiful, both inside and out."

Ida stopped dead in her tracks. It was the second time that day she had frozen due to something Artemis said. This wasn't good at all.

"I just didn't hear you say that!" Her oak-wood eyes where widen, almost fearful, and her cheeks started to burn from all the blood pumping into them. Artemis smiled to, but he felt horrible inside. He hadn't meant to embarrass her nor did he mean to create another awkward moment between them.

"I can assure you that what I said was strictly platonic Xia. There is no need to fret; I won't become another Smith." Artemis felt no shame in saying that lie. His feelings for her were everything but platonic, but he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable either.

Ida smiled at him to let him know it was okay, but her eyes were searching his again, the way they offended did when she felt that he wasn't telling her all of something. He quickly turned away. If he didn't know what he was feeling, he didn't want her coming to her own conclusions.

"Your friends a probably waiting for you," Artemis spoke quickly. "It is Thursday after all."

Ida nodded once, still smiling.

"I see how it is," Her sly smile turned into an all out grin as she continued to peer at Artemis for a moment longer. "You didn't mean to say what you said out loud. Now you're embarrassed and trying to dismiss me."

"Not so," Artemis said smoothly, reveling nothing that would indicate his current mood. "I was merely stating that you might want to get ready, so you can go party with your friends. That was all. And why should I feel any embarrassment if what I sad was platonic?"

"Fair enough, I guess" Ida said, shrugging it off already. "What are you're plans for tonight?" She asked causally as they continued to walk over to where the dorm buildings where. Artemis was thrown off a bit. Why was she asking him that? Everybody knew that Artemis never did anything on weekend's start. He raised a pale brow.

"Are you or aren't you going to answer my question?" She asked testily.

"I hadn't planed anything much, but I'm confident that I'll find something to occupy my time, I'm sure."

Ida nodded her head, a smile spreading across her face.

"Well truth be told, I'm doing absolutely nothing this evening as well. So why don't we go and have a night out on the town eh?"

Had he heard her right?

Did she really just ask him to accompany her on an outing?

"Why are you asking me this?" He said after a few seconds.

"Because Maféia is busy with David, Roger with Juliet and I'm sure as hell not going to ask Nathan if he wants to hang out… If you don't want to, then that's fine, it was just that, well, I-"

"Of course I'll go with you." Artemis said quickly butting in. They arrived at Othello Hall, the dorm building the girls were housed in, and the pair stopped.

"Might I tell you not to feel obliged to do so."

"You can be assured that I don't."

Ida smiled widely, and gave Artemis a quick hug that left him feeling warm where they touched.

"I'll meet you at the main gates in about an hour then." She spoke softly, and then dashed off to her dorm, leaving Artemis to contemplate what the night would bring.

Next time…

"It's a wonderful world, isn't it? And to think that we haven't even come close to find out what else is out there. We could co-exist with another race of intelligent beings right now and we'd never know it."

Artemis half chuckled at that. If only the girl knew that some of his closes friends where indeed of another race.