Only a Friend
Written on November 10th, 2008 by HelenStory Details
(11 votes, average: 4.36 out of 5)
Loading ...Holly took a deep breath and fairy communicator. This would decide her future. She could delay it no longer. She had to know. Her face a mask of indecision, she pressed the button.
“Yes, Holly?”
“Artemis, I have to tell you something.” Her voice cracked slightly on the last syllibal. “I broke up with Trouble.”
“Oh, Holly.” He sounded sorry for her, pitying her for her loss.
“Artemis, I… can I go and visit you?”
“Holly, you know you can. I’ll se what I can do for you.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
Oh, Artemis. You don’t know how I feel at all. Trouble was only a distraction. Unlike you. You were the one I loved all this while.
Holly went, biting her lip all the while, hoping for the best while knowing that it would never be, but hoping all the same.
“Please, come on in.”
He was holding the door open, welcoming her in. It pained her to need to be invited first, but that was must. Holly inhaled the musky odour of the eighteenth century mansion. It smelled like Artemis. Crumpling down on the sofa, she hid her eyes. He would think she was crying.
A steaming cup of tea appeared in front of her eyes.
“Drink. You’ll feel better.”
She did not. Holly looked up, and her face was pinched, white, lifeless. She licked her dry lips. She bit her bottom lip. Then she finally spoke, the words torn from her mouth.
“I love you, Artemis!”
An awkward silence fell in the room. Artemis sucked in a gasp, heart thudding. He had long suspected this, but he had no idea this would happen so soon. This last, terrible confrontation. He could not afford to reveal his true feelings - that would be foolish. His parents would never understand. The world would never understand. No one, except for a few, would ever, ever understand.
So he did the only thing available. He rejected her, lied to her, lied to himself. The gigantic lie came so easily to him, Artemis was quite surprised. He had thought lying to himself would be hard, his brain knowing what was real and what was false, but it seemed that the matters of the heart was quite pliable.
Trying his best to soften his voice, he spoke to the thick, muffling silence all around.
“Holly, I have only ever thought of you as a friend, a comrade, nothing more.”
Nothing so terrible had happened to Holly before. Not her parents death, not her sister’s death, nor Commander Root’s death. This, the rejection of her love, so blatantly, blanked out all her senses. She could only mumble and mutter dumbly, like an idiot.
“Only… a friend?”
“Yes,” Artemis repeated, even though it hurt him. “Only as a friend.”
Despair overwhelmed her. Her hopes was cruelly squashed like a loathsome bug. Groping blindly for the door handle, because the tears were blinding her, obscuring her view. Her voice managed somehow to sound normal, if somewhat muffled, like she had a blocked nose.
“I… I have to go… you understand. I wasn’t feeling well, excuse me… I… well, I have to go, Artemis. Bye.”
Artemis breathed in deeply. He put one slim hand on the clear windowpane, watching Holly stumble her way down the driveway, crying. He showed no expression, he did not say anything, he did not cry. He did what he always had to do, even though it pains him, hurts him, twists his insides. He did what was better for both of them, everyone.
His pale face never flickered as Holly shielded and flew away.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
This is a good rendering of the H/A relationship deal; I like the, eh, angst in it. Please write more! I promise I’ll read it (insert puppy eyes here).
November 11th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Good story. You could REALLY add some detail.
November 11th, 2008 at 7:22 am
In this instance, I agree with AF rules. And although the the content was up to your usual standards (of excellnce), I must admit that it was rather random.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:17 am
I, for one, loved it! It is so sweet! It is so sad! You must update! I think it would be interesting, if sad, if Holly committed suicide. It might get tomatoes thrown at you, but it would be something different.
Again, I loved it!
November 15th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I love it!!
November 15th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Neiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnn!
Okay, who believes a psychotic nutcase?
No one.
So, what I need to do instead, is bring The Time Paradox and Eoin Colfer to that world/dimension, find Holly and tell her the truth.
November 16th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
great story!
write more and more detail
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:25 am
Okay, I added lotta stuff, and I might just continue, who knows? Fine, I know, but you still have to convince me it’s worth it.
Okay? So start typing now! You know you want to read the rest.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
this is good, i like the way it’s holly who admits her feelings first rather than artemis. The lie is very artemis-esque as well. 4.5 stars
November 24th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Artymon, what do you say? I know (as do everyone here), that you are a crazy nutcase, and should be sent to the nuthouse, but that’s not the point. The point is that your stories (I hate to say this) are pretty good, so I’d like you to say something.
That is NOT crazy.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
you do what you want and ef the rest
November 26th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Ok, but there’s a problem. I really, really, dunno what I want. REALLY! So now you gotta tell me. Anyone?
November 27th, 2008 at 4:53 am
My opinion on the story, I mean. I think two people, if they really do love each other and are “forbidden” to be together, they should just do want THEY want, not what everyone else wants, and screw the rest. Artemis, THAT is my message to you.
Most humans want what is typically worst for them. Wealth, health, power, all that good stuff. That is probably a desire in every person, some wanting those more than others. Choose, but choose wisely, for, that true Grail will bring you life, while the false Grail will take it from you.
*Infringement Police bust in and arrest Bartymon for infringement*
November 27th, 2008 at 7:48 am
You don’t sound like Artymon… No! You’re Bartymon! thanx for your opinion, but I’d also like to know how artymon died. Did you kill him?
November 27th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
No, my brother was murdered by Randy Quid.
November 29th, 2008 at 12:35 am
not sure what happened with artymon but ok! Once again excellent story!!! You captured the characters perfectly and made a good story without a happy ending. Great job!
November 30th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Bartymon-did you say HEALTH was one of the worse things humans want? If you think that, then you’re even crazier than artymon!
November 30th, 2008 at 2:23 am
Oh, I forgot to add, I agree with Bartymon when he said that people should do what THEY want, and screw everyone else(unless one of those opposers is God, then YOU’RE screwed).
November 30th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Oh. Okay.
Huh?
Hey! You forgot YOUR opinion!!! I know what I want, it’s just that I’m so annoying that I want you to tell me what YOU think, then I’ll update.
Oopsies.
December 1st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Ambi!!! You don’t like HAPPY ENDINGS??? Oh well, then I suppose you’re just like me. Happy endigns are just a tweeny bit TOO perfect.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am
I loved it!!Sad and romantic. Exactly my taste. Five stars!
December 6th, 2008 at 5:45 am
When I say “health” I mean, well, unlimited life, maybe special powers or something…
Oh yeah, by-the-by, I infringed that whole “do what you want and ef the rest” from Little Miss Sunshine (don’t let the title fool you, it’s an awesome movie).
December 6th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Uh, yuck. ‘Little miss sunshine’ doesn’t exactly describe me. More like, little miss, well, no, drop the ‘little miss part. Just well, generally sarcastic and scary. By the way, I’m not either of Helen’s subs.
Guess. I’m scary and theatening. You know now?
December 12th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Did I say anything here? If I didn’t, then…
FIVE STARS!!!
December 13th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Seriously, does anyone even bother to read this?
If I get five reviews, the I spill Helen’s updates. She keeps ‘em with me. Shhh… I’ll tell you what happens to all the people if you review. Honestly, I don’t care - it’s Helen who’s making me.
December 14th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Okay….
And, Little Miss Sunshine: A story of a typical suburban family:
The dad, a guy obsessed with his “Nine steps to success”
The step-sin, the boy who hasn’t spoken a word in months, determined to fly planes.
The slightly over weight Olive Hoover, the step-daughter, accepts a competition in California, whole family goes with them…
The suicidal brother, Steve Carrel
The heroin snorting grandpa who taught his granddaughter a kick a$$ dance to Super Freak.
The mom, not too many problems, just divorce.
They go on their merry journey to get Olive to Cally to compete in her Little Miss–ah, GO WIKI IT!!
December 14th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Er…
What can I say to an insane person like this???