Chapter 85

Prom Prep

Holly's POV:

How do I get myself into these situations? Why do I agree to things so easily when he asks them?

"Don't tell me that you're going to renege on your promise, Holly, " my boyfriend said, his piercing eyes eating into me. Artemis does not control me. Not at all, but he does have the power to make me feel guilty. Extremely guilty about going back on promises.

"No, I'm not reneging. I'm just asking if you're sure that you want to take me? "

He moved closer, pulling me into his lap. "There is no one in the world that I would rather have next to me." He meant it. Of course, he did, but I couldn't help but feel nervous. It was a high school prom for Frond's sake. The last one that I went to had been mine, and it had been an utter disaster in almost every way. In fact, everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

"I'm surprised you're even going to prom."

He sat back offended. "Of course. It's a tradition of sorts." And Artemis just the pinnacle of tradition. He adheres to all rules all of the time.

Time to play my trump card that would hopefully save me. "I don't even have a dress."

His mischievous smile spread across his face. "Actually, you do. Juliet purchased one on the off chance that you might choose to accompany me."

Juliet picked a dress? No doubt it was overly feminine and overly revealing to the point that it would make me blush to even look at it. Frond only knows. "What does it look like.?" I asked prepared for the absolute worst.

"I haven't seen it. She forced me to promise that I won't look at it until I see it on you."

I looked into his eyes. He was desperately pleading with me without the use of words. All of a sudden something hit me like a stack of bricks, something that I should have seen earlier. "You really want to go, don't you?"

"I wouldn't force you to do anything that you don't want to." And I knew that he would not. If I wanted to stay here, he'd appease me. He'd put his own wants aside for me to be comfortable. That thought warmed me from my heart down to my toes. It was amazing to know that he would sacrifice for me, but I didn't want him to. Not all of the time, not over this.

"I want to go, " I told him. "I want to spend a night with you."

He smiled. "Wonderful. I've made al of the necessary arrangements."

"You've already made arrangements?" In retrospect, it wasn't surprising, but at the same time I had just agreed.

"Of course. Hair, make up, photographers, etc."

I can never forget how rich Artemis is. Especially not when he throws money about like he does. "Artemis, I don't need someone to do my make up and hair. I don't need a fancy photographer ... I just need you." I'm not rich by a long shot, but paying someone to do what I can do myself seems ridiculous to say the least.

"Thank you, " he blushed slightly. "If you feel that way, then I will cancel their services. Though I do insist on the photographer. "

During the short course of our relationship, I had learned the value of compromise. You can't always get what you want, but together we can reach an understanding that works for both of us. And if I bowed this time, I would be almost certain to get my way next time. Besides, how much could a photographer really be? "Okay, I can live with that." Not exactly happy about it, but I could live with it.

He kissed my cheek. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I feel the exact same way."

TWO DAYS LATER :

"Holly! " Juliet Butler squealed as she threw her arms around me. Honestly, she acts like we haven't seen each other in years. Not that I was complaining, because truthfully, I missed her as much if not more than she missed me.

"Juliet! " I squeezed her tightly in return, a grin stretching my face. "I missed you."

"I know, " she replied. Her bright green eyes scanned me from head to toe, eagerly scanning my outfit. "I see you've been wearing my selections."

I blushed. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she was right. "Just for today."

"Liar," she accused. "I've already been through your suitcase and not a single tag was on anything." Had it been anyone else, I would have been annoyed. After all, my suitcases were full of my own private items, but this was Juliet and if anything, I expected her to rifle through my things.

"Okay. You caught me."

She winked. "Don't I always? " she asked. "So... you and Artemis? "

Of course this was what she wanted from me. More gossip. "What do you want to know?" Because whether or not I answered she would find a way to get the information she wanted.

"Everything."

It took an hour and a half for me to tell everything. Though in all fairness, it probably would have been shorter had Juliet not interrupted with a question and squeals of "Awww".

Finally, when I was finished, she grinned. "So, I was right about you two," She repeated for about the thousandth time since I had began.

I rolled my eyes. There's nothing worse than someone who has proved you wrong. "Yes, you were right."

"That's all I needed to hear. Now let's get started."

Get ready? The clock read 5:30? 5:30 in the evening? "Umm, do you realize that we have almost three hours before it even begins?"

She chuckled like I was a child that had suggested the sky was purple. "No, you only have an hour. I have to do your make up and hair, get you into your dress then you have to meet Artemis's father and take pictures."

Arty's dad. All of a sudden, I felt light headed. I had never actually met him. What if he didn't approve? Artemis hates to disappoint him. I can't make him choose.

"Great, Juliet, now I can relax."

She giggled. "You should. Mrs. Fowl already adores you, and Mr. Fowl can't hate anything that she likes. "

Great, I'll be liked by default. That's exactly what I want. "I feel better now."

"Shut up and sit down."

Her voice was so commanding that I did what she ordered. I was nervous as she approached me, but I trust Juliet. After all, she usually knows what she's doing.

As she moved around, her brushes softly sweeping over my face, I thought about Arty.

I was doing this for him. It's funny. I spent all of that time denying my feelings, and when I think back to just two weeks ago, I laugh at myself. I know it won't all be roses and sunshine all of the time, but... I'm willing to ride out almost any storm.

Then my mind went to this entire prom situation. This dress… what would it be like? I'm fine with most things, but I do not want a see through dress that makes me look like a prostitute. Yes, Juliet knows me, but she is known for her rather skimpy preferences in the dress department, and that's what I'm worried about. As I enter that room, I want to enter in something that says Holly Short. I suppose I can only cross my fingers and hope for the best.

"You can open your eyes now, "Juliet announced. I had been so engrossed in my thoughts that I hadn't even noticed her sliding the dress over my head. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes and stared into the mirror.

The woman in the mirror surprised me. Was she really me?

Silver embellishments accented everything all the way down to my sparkling heels. My dress. It was beautiful, a vision in azure blue. The tight sweet heart bodice was embroidered with a large quantity of beads and what appeared to be precious stones. The skirt cascaded from my hips in a storm of tulle that flowed down to where it gently swept the floor with a slight train trailing behind me.

Perhaps the most overwhelming vision was that of my face. The make up was perfectly done. The smoky eye shadow was just enough to make me seem mysterious, and the slightly red lipstick made my lips look perfectly…kissable. My long, auburn hair was intricately curled tightly down to my shoulders. Juliet had added a silver, jewel encrusted headband, and voila…I had this girl who was apparently supposed to be me.

"Woow!" I murmured. "I look amazing."

"Of course you do. You're Holly freaking Short."

The girl in the mirror felt like a fairy tale, like a character in a book. But for the first time, instead of the fairy godmother, I was a princess. Albeit a tough, kick butt princess that took nothing from anyone. I'd never admit this out loud, but I liked it a lot. "Thank you!" I threw my arms around the human girl who had annoyingly wormed her way into my heart and became one of my closest friends in the process.

"You're welcome." she took a moment to pat my back. "Now stop crying before you ruin your makeup."

I laughed, pulling away. "You are amazing."

"And so are you. Most of the time." She paused. "Now, I have a few questions for you missy."

Missy? Really? Was I a misbehaving twelve year old or an eighty year old fairy? "Go for it."

"You love Artemis, right?"

"Of course." I couldn't have denied it even if I wanted to.

"You really love him?"

"More than I could ever describe," I admitted, a blush tainting my cheeks.

She nodded. Her green eyes were full of something though just what I couldn't place exactly what it was. "Are you going to prom as Holly or Hollinda?"

Something that I hadn't thought of. Hollinda… Holly. Did it really matter in the long run? I was still me, though in many ways Hollinda was a wilder girl. "I don't know."

"If I may be so bold, go as Holly. Hollinda's great, but she's not you. Not really. And it is you that Arty loves, not her.

I could recognize the truth in that. Artemis loved me. As for Hollinda, she was just an alias. And to be completely honest, I want everyone there to know that it's me that he's with. That he loves me and only me. "I agree."

"Well," she sighed. "Are you ready?"

Am I ready? Am I ready to go and meet Artemis' father? Am I ready to meet the twins? I don't know. But as I sit here, I realize that's not an answer that I would give. I am Holly Coral Short Major of the LepRecon unit of the Lower Elements Police. I am known for my daring, bravery, and general dislike of rules. I may be dating, but I refuse to lose that part of myself. After all of the things that I had done, meeting a few humans was going to be a walk in the park. Okay, I was hiding behind false bravado, but it was better than nothing. I took a deep breath, and infused my voice with confidence. "I'm ready."

A/n:

Yay! Another Chapter Down! It's almost over. Can you believe it? I'm happy and sad to know this that there are only five chapters left to go.

Rest assured that I will update as much and as quickly as I possibly can. I wanted to be finished by July 10th, but by now you've all realized that I'm horrible at making deadlines. So this time I'm going to be more realistic. I want to be finished eventually. Hopefully, before my summer ends, but no promises.

By the way, happy Independence Day, Americans!

Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and 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