Disclaimer – I don't own Artemis Fowl.

Chapter 3

Once again I was in the school cafeteria. It was dinner time now and everyone sat back, relaxed and ate their meals, relieved that the day was finally ending and it was one day closer to the weekend. The sound of several different conversations taking place at the same time filled the large room. Everyone was talking about what they had done the weekend before and complaining about homework and teachers. I'd decided to sit with Joshua and his friends this time. Artemis was right at the other end of the room, reading again. I struggled to tear my gaze away from him and concentrate on the group. I didn't want to be rude.

"Are you going to eat that or what?" Joshua asked, pointing at my steak. "Cause if you're full I'll eat it."

"No, I'll eat it," I said, "I was just a bit distracted."

"He was staring at Artemis Fowl," said a friend of Joshua's, Richard. Richard was tall, taller than me. He was thin and lanky and he had long, black, greasy hair which covered most of his face. I stared at Richard. Was it that obvious? Had anyone else noticed?

"He was probably thinking about what a jerk Artemis is," Joshua laughed. "He sat down with Artemis at lunch. As usual Artemis wasn't exactly friendly."

I sighed in relief and thanked God for good people like Joshua.

"Dude," said another of Joshua's friends, Scott was his name I think. "You sat with the Fowl kid? You're either really brave or just plain stupid."

"Just stupid," I said, laughing.

Richard grunted and stabbed at his steak viscously. I watched him with interest. Did he have a grudge against Artemis too?

After dinner I stood and announced that I was going to bed. Everyone at the table said the usual goodbye and see you later. Before the cafeteria I briefly looked around for Artemis he'd already left. As I walked down the corridor I wondered who my roommate was. When I had dropped off my stuff at the room this morning everyone was already in class. What if my roommate was Artemis? Yeah right. There were at least four hundred students in the school which only a tiny chance of being paired with Artemis.

Apparently I have a fairy god mother. I stood in the doorway of the room staring at Artemis who was sitting on his bed, typing on his laptop. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you just going to stand there and gape at me or are you going to come in and close the door?" he asked.

I entered the room, closing the door behind me than sat on my bed and continued to stare at him. He sighed, obviously annoyed.

"So," I said, "What are you doing?"

"That is none of your business," Artemis replied, "And even if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand. It's much too complicated for a brain as underdeveloped as yours." He gave me a fake look of pity.

"Don't be mean," I said, "I'm not that dumb."

"I'll be whatever I want to be," Artemis said, "And compared to my intellect you really are that dumb."

"Just how smart are you?" I asked.

"I never tell anyone how smart I am," he said. "If I did everyone would be afraid of me."

I snorted at him. He gave me a smile that immediately made me think of vampires. God, I wanted him so much. I got up and sat down next to him.

"You're invading my personal space," he said.

"You need to step out of your comfort zone," I said, "Get rid of your personal space."

"I like my comfort zone just the way it is," he said, scowling at me.

I leaned over his shoulder and looked at the screen of his laptop. Well, it certainly looked complicated.

"Stop reading over my shoulder," Artemis ordered. He pushed me lightly.

As soon as his hand made contact with my chest I forgot who I was, completely lost control of myself. I gripped his hand and flipped him onto his back; his laptop fell to the floor with a light thud. Artemis opened his mouth to say something, probably to complain about what I was doing but before he could speak I smashed my lips against his, kissing him frantically, my hands reaching under his shirt, exploring his stomach and chest. I pushed my tongue into his mouth and he bit it. I let out a strangled yelp of pain and pushed myself off of him.

I stared at Artemis as he sat up and stared back at me. What did I just do? Why did I do that? I was such an idiot. How could I just force myself onto Artemis like that? I was disgusted with myself. I noticed that Artemis was shaking.

"Artemis?" I said.

"Get out," he hissed, "Now."

"Wait," I said, "I can explain. It was an accident. I didn't mean it. Please!"

"Get out now," he repeated, his voice getting louder till he was yelling. "I want you out! Get out!"

I ran out of the room. I didn't stop running till I reached the end of the corridor.

"No, no, no, no, no," I moaned. I leaned against the wall and covered my face with my hands, wishing that I could turn back time. I don't know how long I stood there like that. I probably would have stood there all night but I soon became aware that someone was standing in front of me. I removed my hands from my face and was shoved against the wall. Two hands wrapped around my throat, painfully tight.

"Richard," I gasped, "What are you…"

"What did you do?" he interrupted, his voice dangerously low. "Tell me what you did."

"Nothing," I said, "I didn't do anything!"

"Good," Richard said. "You better not have done anything. Artemis is mine."

"He's your boyfriend?" I said.

"No, not yet," Richard said, "But he will be, so you stay away from him"

He shoved me against the wall again then let go of me and left. I shivered in shock then walked in the direction of Joshua's room. He'd let me spend the night there, I hoped.

A/N – There, finished. Remember that comments are greatly appreciated.