Artemis heard Juliet's dreadful ringtone jangle in the next room. Noise pollution. He went to the door to tell her so. As he reached it, she started talking. Now he'd have to wait.

"Coming tonight, Nicky?" (His parents had given Juliet permission for a party. And they'd suddenly remembered they had tickets to an opera. Funny.)

Juliet laughed. "Nah, he'll be in his room."

Artemis frowned. He...?

Juliet gasped. "Don't you dare say anything!" A pause. "Then I'll have to tell Tom about you..." More laughter. "You're meaner." Giggles. "Yeah, bye."

Retreating, Artemis thought perhaps he would be sociable tonight.