Chapter 6

Requests

A/n: Thanks for reading. Please keep up the reviewing.

Holly's Pov:

Ugh, I'm so nervous. There's something I have to do, and I know it won't be fun. I went to sit in front of my holophone. Before I could punch in a number, there was a knock on my door.

I walked to the door. I know it's stupid but I opened it without looking out of the little hole in the door. Once, again I know it's stupid, but I was sure I knew who it was. Either Caballine on her evening run, or Foaly to apologize, Mulch to annoy me, or maybe even Lili Frond to talk. The last person I expected to be was at my door. When I opened it I was staring into the troubled eyes of Trouble Kelp. Oh crap.

"May I come in, Holly?" he asked. He had changed out of his LEP uniform. He was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a red E.L.F. T-shirt. He was wearing some cool sneakers and his hair was still disorderly. His eyes hovered around my body.

Crap, I had changed out of my uniform and put on a rather low-cut red v-neck baby tee. My shorts were black running shorts. They weren't too short, but a lot shorter than I would want for male company. Of course anything shorter than, ankle-length was too short for Trouble's company.

I guess my pause was too long. "Or we could talk out here." he suggested.

"Oh, no." I said "Come on in Trouble."

"Your house is nice, as always." he said looking around. Of course, he had been there a lot. He had been there during the academy, after mom died, and many many times during our careers. He sat down in the armchair that he has always loved. I sat on the couch so, I could face him.

"Something on your mind?" I asked as if I didn't know.

"Well, yes. Actually." he began. "You know this morning with the ,erm, hug?" he asked.

I hadn't expected him to be so outright about it. I blushed. "Yes, what about it?" I asked sitting ramrod straight. I noticed him take in my posture.

"Well, you know Foaly, Chix, and Lili saw us." he informed me.

"Yeah, I know." I said.

"Good, now I want to know why you kicked me out and then shut and locked the door," he pondered. "I thought we were friends."

"Trouble, we are friends." I assured him.

"Are we really?" he asked, looking me straight in the eye for the first time tonight.

"Of course, we've been friends for years. Nothing could change that."

"It seems, something already has." he said. "You never answered my first question: Why did you kick me out?"

"Ugh, I didn't want to start the rumor mill to running." I blushed. "With our hug this morning, that started a ton of rumors."

"Rumors?" he asked. "Is that what you're worried about. That's surprising. Do you really care that much what people think of you?"

"Trouble were you even there this afternoon after lunch?" I asked. "Everyone was sure we had been doing the do."

"Oh, so you're worried about you reputation?" he asked his eyes flashing with surprise and what seemed like anger.

"No, I'm not worried about my reputation. It's more to save yours." I snapped a bit harsher than I had meant to. "You asked did I care what people thought of me: and the answer is both yes and no.

"My reputation? Explain please?" he asked mystified.

"As a commander, you have to be pretty much above approach. Everyone thinks you're dating a major." I said. "And if you were dating a major, it would seem horribly unfair to the other officers. In fact, it would seem like you were playing favoritism. Especially, if that major was known for being wild and unruly."

"Oooh, I see. You were avoiding me to help me?" he said, though it sounded more like a question.

"Yes," I practically shouted, because I was so happy that he got it.

"Well, what if I don't care?" he asked. "What if the others don't matter to me?" I felt dumbstruck. He couldn't be serious. We were just friends, right? He couldn't ... want me like they said... could he?

"Wh-wh-what?" I stammered, avoiding his eyes. I could feel them on me, searching. I kept my eyes focused on the sim-wood that was my floors.

"Holly, I don't care. It doesn't matter to me." he said standing up. "In fact, maybe I'd like for the rumors to be true."

"Wh-why?" I asked even though I was sure, that I knew the answer. He wanted me, but I had to say no.

"Haven't you figured it out yet?" he asked taking my hands and forcing me to look into his eyes. "I'm in love with you."

If I had been drinking something, then I would have spit it out. As it is, I felt as though the air had been squeezed from my lungs. I couldn't breathe at all.

"Trouble, you can't love me. I'm sorry, but I don't love you." I said making eye contact, so that he could know I was serious.

"Oh, I know." he grinned. "You don't love me yet, but you will."

"Look, I don't want to love anybody. I'm happy the way I am."

"Holly, look into my eyes, and answer a question." he said seriously. "Is it him? Is it Artemis Fowl."

"I don't love anyone. Not like that." I shook my head, to emphasize my flat out no. "He's my friend. You're my friend."

"As long as you don't love him..." he trailed off, leaving me to wonder what he meant. "I guess, I should be going." he stretched as he was talking, probably to let me enjoy the view. Just like I had done to Artemis. Let me tell you, it's not as fun on the receiving end.

"Bye, Trouble." I said also standing up.

"Oh, and just a few more things." he said. "I'd like you to know, that you're very beautiful. And I loved your hair today."

"Thanks," I nodded, still trying to usher him towards the door. He didn't budge.

"And the last thing I wanted to ask, will you go out with me one day?" he asked, looking me in my eyes and grabbing my hands. Here we were, in the middle of my living room. And he was asking me out. This seemed like the plot from some stupid romance movie, that would sell out really quickly. Life was a lot different from the movies. I never expected the rumors to be true.

"Trouble," I cautioned gently. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Hmmm. That's okay." he said leaning down. I thought that he had finally got it, but I was wrong. He leaned down and kissed me on the lips. His kiss was soft and gentle. His lips felt like a gentle caress of feathers. He broke it off after a few seconds. "I'm prepared to be know what they say, good things come to those who wait. I whole heartedly believe in perserverance."

He let me go and walked towards the door. "Oh, and see you tomorrow, Holly."

Tomorrow, something that I definately didn't want to think about. I just stood there for a while, stuck in my own thoughts of Trouble. I felt my lips where his had been, not too long ago. I couldn't help but compare them to the last lips that had touched mine. They had belonged to a pale white mud boy at the time. I couldn't help but remember the blue sparks that had fizzled as our lips touched. The sparks. When I kissed Trouble, I had neither seen or felt any sparks.

Ugh, I'm so drained both emotionally and physically. Usually, I would just plop myself down on my bed, but I know I have to make a call. It's not going to be fun, but you have to do what you have to do.

It felt like deja vu. Once again, I sat in front of my holo-phone. I quickly punched in the numbers and waited. the phone rang. Brring. Brrring. Once, twice, three times, and then it was picked up.

A blonde girl stood in frnt of me. She looked like any normal teenage girl. Of course, a normal teenager wouldn't know 5,000 ways to kill a man. The girl was wearing a pink T-shirt with 'fab' scrawled across the chest. Her hair was in a ling braid, and around the end of that braid was a gold ring with a jade stone in the center. She looked very pretty.

"Hey Holly." Juliet Butler smiled at me.

"Hey Juliet," Even after everything that day, I couldn't help but smile. "How's it going?"

"Same old, same old." she sighed rolling her eyes. Too bad my life wasn't like that. I miss the old days. "What about you?"

I took a few seconds to think over the day, I had had. " I don't want to talk about it."

"Oooh, sounds juicy." Juliet cooed. Hard to believe that she was relaated to Butler. The was thye epitimy of calm, understated efficency. Juliet wouldn't know calm or understated if they came up and knocked her in the face. They'd be sorry afterwards, though. Despite her looks, this girl was no pop princess.

"What part of 'no' don't you understand?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"Fine, I'll stop grilling you for now." she said. "But I will find out." to be honest, I knew she probably would, and there was nothing I could do to stop her. And, of course, once she knew so would Arty. Great, just my luck.

"Whatever." I said rolling my eyes.

"Hey, I can go all night, Fairy." Juliet shot back warning me. "But can you?"

"D'arvit." I swore. I have to go to work tomorrow. Otherwise, I would stay and argue until she ran out of stupid comments. Which as I know from experience can take a while.

"So what's up? More trouble?" She has no idea how much Trouble I was having. Of course, my Trouble was not the trouble she was thinking about. To be fair, the Trouble I was dealing with was probably worse than anything she was thinking about.

"You have no idea." I mumbled too low for her to hear.

"What was that."

"Uh, never mind." I smiled. I''m off Saturday and I was just wondering do you have any plans?"

"Um no." she said confused. "Why?"

"Well, Arty's coming ot visit and..." I began, but before I could finish she had cut me off.

"Arty?" she asked grinning mischeviously. "Since when is he Arty, to you?" D'arvit. I usually only use that name in my mind.

"It's just a nickname." I sighed dramatically.

"Are you two finally together?" she asked without pausing to take a breath. "Is that why he's staying with you?"

"Um, no." I shouted. "He's staying because we're friends who never get to see each other." Thank Frond, she just had a regular phone. Meaning, she couldn't see me or how red I was.

"You don't get to see me, either." she countered. "But I didn't get an invite."

"You can come," I shrieked, knowing there wouldn't be room. I hate to say this, but I was hoping she would decline.

"No thanks." she giggled. "Dom would kill me for ruining the moments." I didn't even want to think about that too closely. Everyone else was playing matchmaker, but surely the mountainous Butler was not in on it too. He wouldn't. At least I hope he wouldn't.

"Anyway, back to the matter at hand." I said.

"Yeah, what did you want to do anyway? Go out? Clubbing maybe?" she asked. I could practically hear the gears turning in her mind.

"Well, I told Artemis to dress casually." I began,and of course she cut me off.

"Artemis now?" she snickered. I guess my glare was enough to get her off of my back. "Oh, so you want to go shopping?"

"Yes. Casural for him is a pair of dress pants, a dress without a tie, and loafers."

"Ugh, I know. It's pretty awful." Juliet cringed. "Goodness knows, I've tried to find him some regular clothes, but he won't let me."

"Well, I'll make him." I promised.

"Okay, so you want a partner to help you." she nodded. "And of course a style expert. Anything else you need?"

"Well, you need to get his sizes, I doubt they're very big."

"Can do." she smiled, impishly. "Though there's only one size you're worried about, and I'm not looking there." she burst into giggles. "I don't want to know if he's big or not. Chances are you'll find out."

"Disgusting," I said my lips curling. Sure, I may have been curious, but she didn't have to know. "Hmm, I need to convert my ignots into cash."

"No problem Holly. I got you covered on that." she nodded.

"Thanks, Juliet."

"What type of clothes do you think he'll need?"

"Well, a week and a half worth of pants(jeans.), shirts (both tee and a few dress.) Not to mention sneakers. Actually make that two weeks, he may prefer one type of clothes. Besides, you never know what may happen to an outfit.

"Got it." Juliet said nodding.

"Good." I said. "Well, good-night."

"Wait! Holly!" she called.

"What Juliet?" I snapped a little harsher than I had meant to be. I hate to be mean, but I'm pretty tired and we'd have plenty of time to talk on Saturday.

"You forgot three very important things." Juliet pointed out smugly. Of course, she was used to Artemis and his perfect plans. Luckiluy, she was as much a renegade rebel as I am.

"What are they?" I asked.

"One, where are we going to meet?" she asked. It was so obvious, yet I hadn't seen it. We couldn't meet at Fowl Manor, because Artemis was there. And he can't know what I was up to. "Not Fowl Manor."

"No, we'll meet at the Dublin mall." I said.

"Okay. Now for number two." she said. I could just see her holding up her two fingers. "What time are we meeting? And what time do you have to leave?" Once again obvious question. Well, I guess plotting is not my strong point. That's Arty's job.

"Hmm, we meet the mall at eeven when it , I don't have to leave until Sunday at... five."

"Cool, we can shop all day, and go out that night." she confirmed. It did sound like it would be fun.

"Fine, but what's number three?"

"Umm, the fact that you're a three foot tall elf? Your ears are pointed." she said."Or are you going as my little sister. If so, you'll need a wig."

:"Oh, I got that covered." I said and her eyes widened in surprise. "You'll see."

"Hmm, Foaly."

"You know it." I couldn't help but grin at my favorite human girl.

"Well, I've monopolized enough of your time." she smiled. "Have sweet dreams."

"I always do. Good-night, Juliet." I said hanging up.

I was exausted. Frond knows, I had spent enough time on the phone today. I feel so utterly confused right now. It was pretty bad. My emotional ups and downs had tired me out. I went to my closet, and pulled out my pajamas. I quickly put on a black t-shirt and red and black plaid sweatpants. I crawled into bed, and closed my eyes. I was asleep before I hit the pillow. The last thought I had before blackness engulfed me was about Artemis Fowl.

A/n:

Whoo, another great chapter. Thanks to you guys my fans. I know you're thinking, there are hardly any diary entries, but that's going to change. The next chapter is another diary entry. Enjoy. Once again, submit your ideas and you get a chapter dedicated to you.

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