Artemis flopped down on the sofa.

"Holly," he said. "I'm bored."

Holly looked amused. "Can't your genius-brain think of something for your puny body to do?"

Artemis scowled. Two insults in a sentence. "No." he stated.

"Well I'll just have to think of something then, won't I?"

Now Artemis was scared. "Actually Holly, being bored is fine…"

"No, no," Holly chimed in, in her cheerful-but-slightly-insane voice. "Can't have Arty being bored, can we?

Her tone stung Artemis. "There's no need to be quite so patronising," he muttered, folding his arms.

"What's that?" Holly came forward, and chucked his chin. "Is Arty having a sulk?"

Artemis glared at her, and she gave him and infuriating (but pretty, he admitted) grin.

"Got an idea," she said, straightening up. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet, surprising him, so he almost fell on her. "Easy tiger," she laughed, much to the mudboy's embarrassment.

They stood face to face, a little distance apart.

"So what's the idea?" Artemis asked, curious.

Holly smiled. Then, she slowly reached out her hand, and prodded him in the centre of his bony chest.

"Tig."

Artemis frowned. "That is so immature."

Holly laughed. "It's called fun Arty! Live for the moment!" She ran behind a table. "Can't catch me!"

He tried to keep frowning, but a smile forced its way onto his face. Live for the moment, he repeated in his head.

So he ran after Holly, dodging around the table. She could easily of outran him, but decided to give him a chance, and let him catch her.

He poked her arm. "Tig," he said breathlessly.

Holly smiled a wolfish smile, and Artemis ran.

He ran faster than he ever had before, out of the door and into the corridor, Holly hot on his heels. He ran out of the French windows and into the garden, loafers struggling to grip the grass.

Holly decided she's had enough of chasing, so she increased her speed until she was right behind Artemis; then rugby tackled him down.

Artemis spat out a mouthful of grass and tried to get up, but Holly's weight prevented him from doing so. She was laughing, slightly hysterically.

"What's so funny?" asked Artemis, shoving her off.

"I just rugby-tackled Artemis Fowl!" Holly giggled. "I wonder if they'll put that on your Interpol file!"

Seeing Holly so happy, Artemis felt an urge to laugh with her.

So they lay back on the grass, and laughed together.