Chapter 58

Friends

Holly's POV:

"Ugh," I groaned loudly as I looked at the outfit that Juliet had chosen. It just had to be today… Surely I could just dispose of this and no one would be any wiser.

And like magic, Juliet's disappointed face popped to the forefront of my mind. "It took me forever to pick that out." I sighed, knowing that I must be insane. It wasn't hearing the voices this time. Nope, it was actually the thought of me wearing the monstrous outfit that seemed to be glaring at me from the bed.

Ugh, note to self: find a backbone and get No 1 to install it. I sighed again and reluctantly left my room. "Ready to go?" I asked as I entered the living room where Arty was sitting.

He turned around, his witty retort caught somewhere between his throat and mouth. It took him a moment, but he finally managed to compose himself. "Interesting."

I glanced down at myself, cursing the day that I met Juliet Butler. That girl had put me into a dark blue mini, emphasis on mini tutu skirt. It fluffed and puffed in the most girly way, showing off my shapely legs. Somehow, I had convinced myself to step into a high-heeled pair of boots. Ugh, I can barely walk. As for my shirt… a see-through bright blue lace cami that left little to the imagination. Thankfully, I had a matching dark blue bolero jacket. Though it did little to actually cover me up. "Shoot me now," I mumbled to myself. "Go ahead. Get it out of your system."

"I've never seen you in a skirt before…" he trailed off. "I was under the impression that you did not own any."

I shot him a glare. Honestly, it was like I was not even a female. If I was getting this now just wait until Foaly and Mulch saw me. The teasing and pointed jokes are going to be just unbearable. Ugh, I had to shudder at the thought. "Well, you only ever see me in the standard LEP uniform. But for the record, I do have skirts. And dresses."

"You should wear them more often," he commented, his eyes lingering on my legs. Honestly, I don't get the attraction that men have to legs. As Lili says, guys only really think about legs when they're imagining them wrapped around their waists. Though in Arty's case I don't believe that he would have those thoughts about me. Or anyone else for that matter.

"Why?" I demanded.

"It makes you look even more beautiful," he said, pulling himself to his feet. "Now, where are we going today?"

What could I say? I was speechless. There should be a book How to Respond When Your Best Friend Calls You Beautiful. Because right now I am floundering. So, I decided to do what I do best and go with the first thing that came to my mind. "I'm not beautiful." As usual, it wasn't my best idea.

His eyes raked over me so roughly that I could feel his appraisal. "Myself and all other men would disagree," he protested.

I giggled, seeing a glaring oversight. "What about gay men?"

"They may not wish to partake in the feast, but they can still appreciate a beauty such as yours."

I felt my skin heat up. Beautiful? Pretty maybe. Attractive yes. But beautiful. All of a sudden the room seemed to warm. I needed a breath of the outside air. "Let's go," I mumbled, stumbling to the door.

Arty chuckled, grabbing my arm to steady me. "Careful, Holly," he chastised.

As we walked down the street, I felt my eyes shift to Arty. He was wearing black skinny jeans, black and white converse, a baby blue dress shirt, and a black vest. His royal profile was so much like a king or rather a Greek god. I'd never really admit it, but he had truly grown up to be… attractive. And that was putting it mildly.

I was so preoccupied with quelling those inappropriate thoughts that threatened to take seed in my mind. So preoccupied that I almost walked straight past Police Plaza. "D'Arvit!" I muttered, changing directions.

I could feel a certain pair of mismatched eyes on me, but I turned around to meet them. "I'm sorry that I caused you any anxiety, Holly. I was sure that women liked compliments."

And just like that, I felt bad. It was my issue. I didn't want to make him feel bad. Especially not for my own mistake. "No, I'm sorry. I suppose I'm not like other women."

"Obviously," he chuckled as we entered the bustling Police Plaza. "I doubt you would as tolerable if you were the typical woman."

Another compliment. Not as sweet as the first, but a compliment none the less. I blushed, leading him through the halls and to a large door. Shakily, I keyed in my pass code and the door whooshed open to the reveal the technical center of the LEP.

Everywhere one looked there were computers, experiments, diagrams, and lots of carrots. I could see Arty's eyes glazing over from the desire to manipulate the technology. Ah, once a boy genius… always a boy genius. Well, at least he had stopped complimenting me now. "Let's go see Foaly first," I suggested, gently dragging him away. Frond knows that if he started on those computers, he would never leave.

Foaly was sitting, glued to his screens as one would expect of him. Next to him and spinning in one of Foaly's only normal chairs was Mulch Diggums. Great. This just got a lot better.

"Foaly," I called from right behind him. "Mulch."

He whinnied loudly. "Holly, you can't ju-" he stopped mid sentenced as he turned to actually look at me. "Wow."

Mulch managed to tear himself away from what he was eating long enough to see me. His mouth went slack, exposing his partially chewed food. A second that seemed like an hour later, the peaceful spell broke and the two fairies that I call friends began laughing so loudly that their faces turned red and they were gasping for breath.

I glanced over at Arty for support only to find him covering his own mouth to conceal his smile. At that moment, I realized that I would truly never live this down.

I sighed waiting for the laughter to die down and the jokes to begin. "Finished yet?" I asked when he had settled down.

The two both nodded, and even managed to straighten their faces. "I didn't even know you owned a skirt," Mulch commented.

"Neither did I," Foaly added, his smile wider than I had seen it.

"Hilarious," I muttered dryly. "You two should be comedians."

"It's funny you should mention that," Mulch began. "We have a plan to go on-stage. 'Pony-boy and Diggums'."

The 'noble' centaur looked at the dwarf incredulously. "Pony boy? More like the noble centaur and the amazing combustible behind."

"Hey, as long as I'm amazing," he shrugged.

"Not even in your dreams. Not even to your mother."

I sighed, knowing that this could go on for hours and still have no end in sight. Luckily, Artemis seemed to realize the same thing. "I'm offended. Neither of you have said a word to me."

Foaly stopped mid-insult and turned to Artemis. "Sorry mud boy. How are you?"

"Mud boy? What are you talking about, Foaly?" I could almost see the gears turning in Mulch's head. One, he thought Foaly had lost his mind. Two, he was playing with his us as usual. Probably a bit of both…

"And you don't recognize me?" Arty shot the dwarf his signature smirk.

Of course that was when the dam of comprehension broke. Because without his smirk Arty was just your typical, run of the mill genius and criminal mastermind. "Oh Artemis. Hmm, I always knew you were really a vampire."

The young genius' smirk fell into a scowl. Ah, it's good to finally have a sense of normality between the four of us. As of now, we were just friends enjoying each other's company. Albeit we were of four different species, but it really just didn't matter.

"Adorable, Mulch. Shouldn't you be pointing your behind at some defenseless creature?"

"Only on Wednesdays, kid," he chuckled at his own joke like it was just so funny. Sadly, to him it probably was. "So, looks like you've finally invented something useful, Mud boy."

Needless o say, Foaly did not take that well. He snorted loudly, crashing his hind legs down to the floor in frustration. As he always said, a genius is never appreciated. "No, I can't take credit for this. All of said credit goes to Foaly."

As expected, Foaly's neighing stopped immediately as he stared at the mud boy. "What?"

"It is your invention, is it not?"

And that's all that the centaur wanted. Respect from a fellow genius. Well that and a nice, swift kick in the dwarf's direction, but beggars can't be choosers. "Of course. What other fairy could have created such a beautiful piece of machinery?" Did I mention that Foaly was modest too?

"Very good though there are some discrepancies that should be rectified," Artemis began.

"Such as?"

"First of all, the influence of cold on the system," he began. I could see Foaly's lips twisting. After all, this was the second time that this had come up. Not that Arty knew that. Actually, take that back, he probably did know.

As the two got involved in an advanced scientific debate. I felt my self grow bored very quickly. I loved them both, but how much of this could a nongenius take? From the glazed expression in Mulch's eyes, I could tell that he felt the same. "Want some coffee?" I whispered.

"Anything to get out of here," he replied. He was probably hoping for food. Frond knows at least seventy-five percent of his time is spent eating.

I nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. There was nothing worse than feeling like the idiot in the room.

I led Mulch out of the ops booth, down the hall, and into the lounge. Ah, the LEP lounge, the small rickety table, the vomit green couch, and some of the best coffee in the Lower Elements.

The first cup tasted delicious. Though after going a few days without it, I was more than happy to have it.

"So…" the dwarf trailed off. "How's Arty doing?"

"Great," I replied, smiling to myself. "He really seems to be having fun."

"Are you having fun too?" he asked, his bushy eyebrows waggling and his beard shaking from his own sense of humor. Obviously, that was an innuendo that was made on my behalf.

"Cute," I rolled my eyes. "And yes, I am having fun." See, I can be a mature adult. At times.

"So… how many licks does it take to get to the center of Holly-kins?"

Okay, stay calm. Don't hit him. "One, don't call me 'Holly-kins.' Two, one more inappropriate joke and I can't be held responsible for my actions."

His eyes widened. Obviously, he could tell that I was not kidding. He sighed, swallowing the comment that he had been about to make. Ah, and who says that violence never solves anything?

Mulch said nothing as he filled a mug with coffee and drank it down black. Ugh, just the thought made me shudder. There was nothing worse than bitter, black coffee. "Holly, can I just ask you a question?"

A part of me wanted to say no, to stem whatever awful comment he was about to make. But as usual, curiosity won out. "What is it?"

"I just want to know what's going on with you and Artemis?" he asked, all traces of joking gone from his face. It was amazing. Since the first day that I met Mulch, he had been a joker. Even in situations when our lives were in danger, he had something to say. The last and really the only time that I had seen him this serious was right after Commander Root had died.

"What do you mean?" I asked like I had no idea what he meant. Though, I must admit that I'm getting tired of these constant 'you-two-are-perfect-for-each-other' speeches. We're just friends.

"You love the mud boy and the mud boy loves you," he stopped me before I could even begin to protest. "Hey, look I don't even pretend to see the attraction, but even I have to admit that you are perfect for each other."

I sighed loudly. "Arty and I? Together? We wouldn't last two minutes without a fight. Let alone actually staying together…" I trailed off.

"Ooooh, but that's the best part of fighting. You get to make up," the dwarf giggled, making kissy faces at me. That was Mulch. Never serious for more than a minute at a time. And in a way, I preferred this childish Mulch more than the serious one that I had seen a moment ago.

"You have ten seconds," I warned, making good on my promise. "10...9.…"

"Ten seconds. Really? That's all you and Arty need? Surely, it should last a bit longer."

"8...7...6..."

I could see the 'worried lights' flash on in Mulch's head. "C'mon Holly. You know I was only kidding."

"5...4...3...2...1..." I finished. "Run!"

Mulch didn't need telling twice as he and his stumpy legs ran as quickly as possible to the Ops booth. I grinned. He didn't even have a chance.

A/N:

Well, that's another chapter down! Yay! You'll be happy to know that while I've been away I've actually been busy. So busy that I actually finished writing this story. Thank you. Your love is very much appreciated. ;)

So, I know this chapter was not up to my usual standard. Just be patient. Things get back to normal with the next chapter. Be patient and stick with it.

Rest assured that I am working on this story quite a bit. I haven't abandoned anything, and don't plan on it. The next chapter should be coming up soon... hopefully. So, in the mean time, you guys should check out my other stories. They're pretty good, I think.

So, yeah, thanks to all of my reviewers and people who added me or this story to favorites. I love you guys. Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and 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