Chapter 30

Conflict

RECAP:

I smiled and she smiled back as she leaned in closer. "I knew it," squealed a familiar voice, ruining the moment. "You're trying to steal my Arty."

Artemis's POV:

I was a bit taken back by Minerva's statement. I glanced at Holinda and caught her eyes. "Here we go again." she muttered. Again. Meaning that this had all ready happened once. Was it involving me (not to sound pompous) or some other man? Note to self: file this away for future reference.

I looked back and forth between the two as they stared each other down. "You two know each other?"

"Unfortunately," Holinda sighed. I could see her point. Sometimes, knowing Minerva can be... difficult.

Minerva decided that she did not like being ignored. So, she banged her fist on the table as loudly as possible. How civilized. I must admit, there are times when I question the manners that she was taught. "Thought you didn't know him?" she sneered. "You seem to know him pretty well."

"Excuse me?" Holinda asked angrily.

"I suppose that anyone with five pounds can get to know you," Minerva smirked.

"Minerva," I admonished. I know that she can be mean, assertive, and naugthy (all a part of her charm) but this was past too far. Even for her.I will not allow her to speak to Holinda or anyone else like that in my presence.

"Shh Arty," she hissed pressing her finger to my lips. I fought the urge to push her hand away. I couldn't help but glance at Holinda and see the fury in her eyes. "I'll get rid of her." I wanted to laugh. I'm sure that it will end up being the other way around.

"Minerva, this is Holinda and she is my new friend." Hopefully, that would get her to back off of Holinda.

"You're friends with her?" she screeched. I couldn't help but sigh. I was wrong and she wasn't going to back down. It doesn't take a genius to tell that this is not going to end pleasantly.

"Yes and I'd appreciate it if you would not insult her." Holinda shot me a look of gratitude which puzzled me. She was more than a match for Minerva. Perhaps she was glad for the support or maybe she just doesn't like to fight. Though, she seems accustomed to it.

"Fine," she huffed.

"Now apologize," I tod her sternly. She looked at me in surprise, but I just nodded to where Holinda was sitting. She does not control me, and both she and Holinda need to see that.

Minerva sighed and glared at Holinda before grunting out her apology. "I'm... sorry Holinda. That was very rude of me." She was still glaring, but at least no one was being hurt.

"Now Holinda, what do you have to say?" I asked to be fair. Now they both have to suffer.

"I accept your apology," she said stiffly, obviously not meaning it. But, if I sat around waiting for them to mean it then I'd never leave.

Minerva decided to use this to her advantage. I usually admire cunning, but at the moment it was less than endearing. "Well now that we're all friends, do you mind if I sit down?" I knew she was asking me, but I looked to Holinda to get her opinion. I feel that it should be her choice since she was going to have to put up with her.

"Sure," she smiled and I was impressed. She took the correct way instead of the pleasant, self-serving way. Holinda Briefs is really quite interesting.

"Wonderful," Minerva gushed as he turned to pull her chair up to the table. Of course, she chose to place it between Holinda and I. She 'accidentally' hit Holinda with it, which angered Holinda. If it is possible then I was even angrier, because Minerva definitely knows better.

"Oh Arty. Are you sure that you don't want to dance with me?" she asked as she grabbed unto my arm. She squeezed it hard enough to make it painful. At the moment, I wanted nothing more than for her to let me go.

"Erm, no thank you," I said as politely as I could. Nothing against Minerva, but I don't want to dance with her.

"Aww, come one?" she pouted with her bottom lip poked out. As if that would have any bearings on my answer. Ah, some people never seem to learn.

"No means no," Holinda muttered as Minerva turned to face her.

"And who asked you?" she demanded.

"No one needed to. Any idiot can tell that he doesn't like you." No comment. Though, I wonder why she wants to stand up for me. We haven't known each other long even though it feels like we have. Perhaps she wants to get even with me for earlier.

"Oh and I'm so sure that he likes you."

"He does." And I must admit that I do like Holinda. She's a funny, strong-willed, and intelligent girl. I look forward to learning more about her. Which means that Minerva will probably have to leave.

"Ladies," I tried to interject. "Perhaps-,"

"Stay out of this," they both said together. It doesn't take a genius to know that this is the only time that they will ever agree.

Though I realized that it would have no effect, I still tried to intervene. "But-"

"No, this is between me and the wicked witch of the west," Holinda said and I couldn't help but chuckle. Note to self: mention that later.

"And who do you think you are?" Minerva sneered in her ugliest way. "You faux-wanna-be-goldilocks."

Uh-oh. This was not going to be pleasant. My mother once told me that you never accuse a woman's hair color of being fake even if you see her roots unless you have a death wish. Minerva didn't seem to see her mistake or just didn't care. Either way, things were not looking good for her immediate future.

"My hair color is real. Unlike some bleached-blond bimboes that I could mention," Holinda shrugged innocently.

"Oh please, your hair color came from a bottle and mine was a gift from above," she laughed as she preened and primped. Melodramatic and vain. "Besides, who would want you? I mean, just look at you."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Holinda demanded, looking ready to strike.

"Look at how you're dressed. Super skanky, probably bargain brand."

I could see Holinda get angrier, but she controlled herself and did not attack. "How I'm dressed?" She asked from between her teeth. "If your shirt was any lower or your skirt was any higher then you'd be arrested for public indecency. Maybe you all ready should have been." I couldn't help but laugh. Unfortunately, Minerva noticed which only served to make her angrier.

"Oh please. The only thing 'indecent' around here is your face." Once again I had to laugh. Minerva seemed so proud of her mediocre line. She could have done better, if she used her intellect. Unfortunately, her intellect was being overrided due to her temper.

Holinda rolled her eyes and clapped in a slow, overrating manner. "Very good. You just made the most obvious and least funny joke ever," she congratulated. "What's next? Are you going to call me ugly or talk trash about my 'mama'?" She had a point, but I tried not to make it worse for either girl.

I watched Minerva's face redden as she became angry. "Whatever. It doesn't matter what you say," Holinda shrugged.

"Arty's my boyfriend," Minerva said as a parting jab. "You need to leave. He doesn't want you here."

"Fine. Why don't we just ask him who he wants to stay?" Holinda suggested. Oh, I was finally getting to speak. How wonderful. I continued watching as Holinda looked back and forth between Minerva and I. She probably feels in over her head, but I'm sure she'll end up... pleasantly surprised.

"Fine," Minerva grinned. "Lets." I could tell that she felt that she would win hands down. Someone should remind her that life has no guarentees.

"Well?" Holinda deminded turning to me.

"Hmm?" I muttered to avoid looking at either, now that I was finally allowed to speak. "What?"

"Which one of us do you want to stay?" I could almost feel the fire from Holinda's eyes. She was angry, but it was nice to know that it wasn't towards me.

"And who do you want to go?" Minerva demanded with her watered-down glare directed towards Holinda. I feel like a (for lack of a better term) monkey in the middle.

"I suppose one of you really must leave to keep the peace," I sighed. The two blonds nodded tersely. There was sure to be trouble if they both stayed and it doesn't take a genius to see that.

"So, who do you want to stay?" Minerva demanded.

"Minerva," I said. I paused for a moment to see what was going on around me. I saw Minerva grin in triumph. Then, I saw Holinda's face fall. She looked so broken as she started trying to push her chair backwards. "I am sorry, but I want to get to know Holinda better."

"W-what are you saying?" Minerva stammered. Ah, she had been so sure that she was right, only to be proven wrong. Well, you know what they say about assumptions.

"I'm saying that it's you that I want to leave. I'm asking you to go."

"For her?" she screeched.

"You gave me an ultimatum and I made the best choice from the ones that I was given." I shrugged. "I do apologize."

"Fine," she said to me. Then, she turned to talk to Holinda. "I'm leaving but you just remember that he's my boyfriend." After all ot that she still believes it. Delusions are awful and serve no other purpose than to annoy me. Story of my life.

"Doesn't look like it," Holinda grumbled.

"You'd better watch your back," she hissed menacingly. "Arty can't protect you forever."

"Don't need you to," Holinda smirked. "I can take care of myself. Can you say the same?"

"Oooh whatever," Minerva screeched as she stood, knocking her chair over, and stomping off while mumbling to herself.

"Well, that was..." I began, but even my intellect couldn't think of a suitable word for the confrontation that I had just witnessed.

"Strange, pointless, one stupid girl," Holinda suggested, trying to help me fill in the blanks.

"D, all of the above." For a moment, I felt like I was reliving one of those idiotic multiple choice tests that even an infant can pass. Though my teacher is a lot more intelligent then they were back then.

Then I heard Holinda's chiming, bell-tone laugh. "You sure know how to pick 'em," she teased. "Quite the girlfriend, you have there."

I couldn't help but shudder at the thought. "I don't 'pick 'em' as you say. And she is not my girlfriend."

"Then what is she? And wy does she think that you belong to and/or with her?"

"Well," I sighed as I thought of how it was going to sound. "This may sound cliche, but she is my friend. We have known each other for a while, and she has always liked me."

"And who did you feel for her?" she asked. I felt my face heat. I couldn't decide what to say or how to make my mouth move. To make it clear, I have never liked her. Though at one point when we first met, I was sure that she was pretty and interesting. Thankfully, it never progressed.

Holinda rolled her eyes. She moved down to picke up the chair that Minerva had thrown down. I got there first and pulled the chair up.

We were both still on the floor. Her green eyes caught and held me. I hadn't noticed how bright and deep they were. They were a deeper green and had a beautiful, sparkly color that rivaled emeralds. Her eyes weren't the only thing that I noticed. I couldn't help but notice that her face was even prettier close up. Her skin was tan and her lashes were long. Her blond hair fell in a very becoming way around her face.

Holinda smiled a little, and I could see a little red come to her face. "We need to stop meeting like this."

I smirked at her. "I don't know. It's not so bad is is?"

"No, I guess not," she giggled. So, she really doesn't mind spending some time with me. Charming.

I realized that we were still on the floor. Anyone watching us probably thought that we were drunk or crazy. "Need help getting up?" I asked holding out my hand to help her up.

She glanced at it for a moment, but didn't take it. "I can do it myself," she informed me with her usual attitude. But I did notice that she took my hand. I suppose that that is the point.

"Yes, and just because you can doesn't mean that you have to." I said using my leverage to pull us both up from the floor. She stood there with both hands in mine while looking into my eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. Philisophical," she rolled her eyes while I nodded graciously.

"So what should we do for the rest of the night?" she asked and I remembered what Butler had said. People only do three things in a club.

"It depends" I shrugged.

"On what?"

"On how you answer the next thing that I'm about to say."

"Which is?" she asked, hands on her hips.

I swallowed nervously, but projected confidence. I refused to think about what I was going to say. I just said it. "Dance with me."

*End of Chapter*

A/n:

Woo-hoo! Another chapter down. Thank God it's a snow day! Oh and, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to each person who has reviewed this story since my last update:

donttouchmykyoka818

unknown

MikeJoe

and to all the others who reviewed and were all ready mentioned. I love you guys.

I know this wasn't the showdown that you expected but keep your fingers next chapter will be Hollinda and Artemis dancing. I hope to update this story soon. Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and remember to review. Flames are welcome. They're what keep me warm and toasty at night. ;)

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Yours truly, madly, and deeply,

Einstinette