Chapter 75

Dueling with Disaster

Holly's POV:

I'm almost one hundred percent sure that I have finally lost my mind because right now I'm standing in the corner of a large, circular ball room in clothes that were the opposite of what I would choose to wear.

My dress. It was an old time English ball gown, cut low, an emerald green, sleeveless lacy, and wide with hoops from the hips down. Yet that wasn't what made me worry about my sanity. No, it was the fact that Arty and Trouble were standing in the middle of a ballroom with swords drawn, glaring at each other malevolently.

Of course, Arty played the part of the rouge. His perfectly tailored suit, long black cape and a curtain of black hair falling into his bright blue eyes.

And there was Trouble. He was wearing the same thing more or less, but he didn't pull it off in the same way. Not at all rather. Where Arty was tall, pale, handsome and delightfully rakish Trouble seemed like a clichéd 'want to be' hero. Like a Don Quixote of this battle.

Regardless, one of them was still going to get hurt. "Stop!" I screamed. "Don't do it."

"I'm willing to duel for the woman that I love," Artemis smiled, twirling his sword like he knew how to use it. And somehow, I believed that he actually did. After all, what young gentleman didn't learn the basis of fencing?

"As am I," Trouble responded. And somehow his movements seemed less adept. Like he was a child playing with an older man's sword. Surely not. Surely, he would have some sort of experience. "We fight for her hand."

Arty grinned, bowing as he knew that he should. "En garde."

"En garde."

And the two met in the middle. Parry, slash, thrust. Parry, slash, thrust. The clash of metal on metal rang in my ears as I watched, trying to tell who was coming out on top, and from what I was able to see, it was Artemis. He was amazing. A grim smile never leaving his lips as he slashed closer and closer to Trouble. He was just toying with him. Within seconds he could win, but he chose not to.

Trouble was getting tired. His strokes were slower and his arms seemed to be getting weaker. Obviously Artemis noticed this too, because he stopped his furious onslaught. "Do you surrender?"

"Never," Trouble panted.

"Stop!" I called. There are plenty of things that I can't live with. I cannot live with the death of one of my dear friends because of me. I can't and I won't. "It's my choice, let me make it!"

The two men turned to me, and I couldn't believe what I had just said. Now, I was supposed to choose? What had been going on in my mind, and how was I going to do this?

"Of course it's your choice," my best friend nodded, sheathing his weapon. "I respect any choice that you make."

Trouble sat up off of the ground. "As do I. Though I ask if I may say something?"

"You may," I nod though I really am not curious in the least. He may say whatever he wishes. Words cannot convince me of anything. Only actions serve to sway me.

"Holly. I want you more than this stupid human ever could. He may be a genius, but he cannot know you better than I do. Let me prove that by being yours." Really? That was his decision? He was going to insult Artemis? Call the genius stupid? Ridiculous.

"Holly, we have been best friends for a number of years, and I know that I've never said this, but I really love you. You may not feel the same, and I accept that, but even if you don't just know that I'll be here. I'll always be waiting in the wings for you."

And that was Arty. There he was being polite and sweet. He didn't say anything bad about Trouble and even complimented me. He talked about being there, about never leaving me. He reminded me of what we really had and not something fictional.

I looked between the two who were truly opposites. Pale and dark. Thin and muscular. Best friend and boss. Happiness and misery? That's the way to look at it. It's not a choice between the two. It's a choice of one or the other. Which can I live with? Which can I live without?

First there's Trouble. He's my boss and he has some rather desirable assets. He's fun, cute, and he really likes me, but that's all that he has…

But Arty. He said he'd always be there for me, and I automatically know that he'd been telling the truth. He's fun, cute, and really likes me. I'm never bored with him. He understands me, and all of my silly quirks. He really knows me like no one else.

And the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. It really was the difference between misery and happiness, between life or death. "I choose you, Arty."

"Noooo," Trouble howled as he dissolved, and it was as if he never existed. How anticlimactic. How like some ridiculous drama. I suppose dreams are always this surreal.

Now, I was left standing in front of Artemis. His smile was blinding. "I was sure that you would choose me," he grinned. But it was not cocky as I would have expected. Rather, he was reflecting an unbridled, finally unhindered joy.

"And if I didn't ?"

"Then, I really would have waited for you."

"I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to be close to a man." And this was true. A few dates here and there had done nothing for me in the area of trust. Not to mention the fact that Artemis was so… different from anyone that I knew. Anything that I had learned with any of my other conquests was utterly useless when it came to him.

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me gently, tenderly. His warm lips just barely making contact at all. "That's perfectly fine, Holly. I'm a genius. I can teach you."

And that's when I woke up. That dream, it was ridiculous. Artemis will never fight for me, and I will never choose either of them. Honestly, all of this is just brought on by my earlier conversation with Trouble. Damn him! First he interrupts my Saturday, and now he interrupts my dreams too!

Not a chance. I absolutely refuse to lose anything else for him.

My fist made contact with the pillow as I struggled to get comfortable. Tonight will not be an easy night as my mind is full of the things that I had said. I hadn't meant them, had I?

A/n:

Here's yet anotherlong awaited update. I know it's been like forever and a day, but it's not my fault. My brother was a jerk and wouldn't let me borrow his laptop. L Now we're back on speaking terms (for now) so I'm back. I hope you guys missed me.

Well… I hope you liked the chapter. I'm going to try to update sooner, but I can't promise anything since my computer time is at the whim of my brother. But if you want more updates…Do any of you know a Kindle Fire app that will let me type something and then upload it to fan fiction. Preferably free, but I am more than willing to pay. If so, let me know and if it works you get an awesome dedication chapter.

So, I kind of want to finish this story by the nineteenth of June so that this story will be officially two years old. So, no promises, but I'm trying. Beam me good thoughts and let's hope for the best.

I really love you guys. Thanks again for being the best parts of my day.

Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and to review. Flames are welcome. They're what keep me warm and toasty at night. ;)

Remember: Reviews = happy camper. Happy camper = quicker updates. Quicker updates = you reading more. It's a cycle. Keep it going!

Yours truly, madly, and deeply,

Einstinette