Hey Arnold: The After Story (Chapter 1)
Back to Hillwood
"Remember when you held my hand on the way to school"? Helga rested her head on the airplane window. She was slowly descending back to Hillwood. Her thoughts were racing, her heart skipping. She was remembering all those moments she told herself she would forget. "I threw that locket into the river, I was done. but, it found its way back to me and yet.." She reached into her purse and pulled it out, holding it next to her heart. "Im still so smitten over you football head". She sighed shutting her eyes and drifting off. Its been 4 years since she's seen Arnold. High school came and went. Her days spent without her beloved. Her parents desperately wanted her to be like Olga. Sending her across the country to the best of the best high school. It was finally over. Her 18th birthday passed. She was free to come back home. For good.
"Hey Gerald"? Arnold was laying on his couch, tossing a baseball into the air. "Yeah man"? Gerald was sitting on Arnold's computer typing away. "Helga comes home tonight" He smirked a bit, blushing. "Man, I KNOW, how many times will you repeat it, we know, YOU miss her, GEEZ". Arnold stood up walking over to Gerald. "Still talking to Phoebe huh"? Gerald clicked out of the browser quickly. "HEY at least her and I have kept it together all these years, I can never understand why Helga..". "Lets..not talk about that now" Arnold interrupted. "Fine, fine.." Gerald went back to typing. Arnold's phone started to vibrate. "A text"! he shouted, jumping on to his bed belly down. "Hey Arnold, its me, Helga, obviously, I just landed. I wanted you to know because obviously, you know, whatever im here". He read the text aloud. Gerald shook his head "She will never change, will she"?. "Yeah but thats what makes her so special Gerald" Arnold held his phone tightly near his chest.
Helga put her phone back into her purse. She sighed. "Hurry it up bob, I aint got all day" she shouted to her father driving her back home from the airport. "Yeah, yeah, im going, geez you'd think 4 years in boarding school would make you more of a lady". Helga rolled her eyes "You wish". "Now, now Helga, I know your're excited to see your old friends but your father and I want to spend time with you too ya know" Her mother softly said. "LATER MIRIAM" Helga crossed her arms looking out the backseat window. Her phone suddenly started to vibrate as she clumsily reached in her purse to grab it. The phones slipping between her fingers, she finally caught hold to the read message. "Im really excited to see you, Cant wait for the party tonight". Helga screamed internally. She looked different from the last time he saw her. Her hair was longer, almost reaching her lower back. She wore a bow clip that rested above her ear. Her eyebrows were thin, shaped, perfect. Slightly winged eye liner, rosy pink lips. Helga was a woman now.
Helga pulled up to her parents house. She jetted out the car with her bags, up the stairs into her old room. She tossed her suitcase on the bed, quickly pulling out her outfit for tonight. She held her dress against her chest looking into the mirror. "Its perfect". "Well, Im outta here, Ill see you at the party Arnold". Gerald got up from Arnold's computer chair and headed towards his bedroom door. "Yeah, I'll see you then". Arnold was distracted looking endlessly into his closet finding something to wear. "Wear that plaid thing and that blue shirt thingy" Gerald said shutting the door behind him. Arnold sighed. "Yeah, I guess I could..". "Its 7:45..." Helga waited by the front door for Phoebe to arrive. "Where the HECK is she"?!.There was a knock on the front door. "FINALLY" Helga rushed to the door opening it quickly. "HELGA!" Phoebe grabbed her tightly. "Hey Pheebs" Helga said underwhelmed. "I missed you"! She held her tighter. "Yeah, yeah haha i know, But you just came to visit me like 2 weeks ago" Helga patted Phoebes head lightly. "But..Im glad to see you too, for realz this time" She giggled.
"Ready to see...Arnooolldd"? Phoebe winked giggling. "Oh hush, way to be discreet Pheebs". Phoebe took her hand pulling her towards her car. "Time to face your demons Helga". Arnold took one last look at himself in the mirror. "Alright, lets go" He buffed up his chest and headed out the front door, Letting the animals out before him of course. He hopped into his car and headed to the party. Helga pulls up with Phoebe in front of P.S 118. "Isnt it great Helga, The principle allowing us to use the school to throw you a welcome home party"!. Helga chuckled a bit. "Oh the irony". She headed up the front steps, quivering a bit. "Feels like yesterday that we were here". She thought to herself. She entered the gymnasium where the party was being held. "HELGA"! everyone screamed out. "Oh wow, Everyone is here"! she thought to herself. "Whats up guys"? everyone started to crowd around her. "How was California, Did you meet some hot dudes"?! Randa asked. "Haha, nah, I was too busy with school".
"Okay here it goes" Arnold adjusted his shirt a bit. Opening both doors into the gym. He took a deep breath, Looking around the room slowly. Helga kept looking over heads. "I dont see him, he's not here, He chickened out, that idiot, moron, Shit". She thought to herself whilst everyone crowded over her asking a billion questions. Phoebe looked over towards the door, knowing what Helga was actually thinking. She spotted Arnold. "I'll be right back.." she whispered to Helga. "Wait Phoebe.." she grabbed her arm as it slipped from her fingers. "Dont leave me.." she thought. Her fake smiles clouded everyone's judgement. "Man Helga, you've changed" Eugene smiled to her. Phoebe rushed towards Arnold. "Hey, hey, come with me, now" She took his hand. "Okay..okay..". Arnold followed Phoebe. "Make way, clear the way" Phoebe pushed herself through the crowd."Well Eugene, time changes a person.." Helga smiled back. Pheobe pushed Arnold into the circle, pushing Eugene to the ground. "Im okay"! he shouted.
Helga took a step back, looking down to Eugene. "Geez, You'd think he'd be less of a clutz". Arnold found his balance, slowly looking up. There she was. Arnolds eyes grew wide, his heart starting to race. "Helga" he whispered as she was blissfully unaware of his presence. Helga finally looked up, Seeing Arnold standing just a few feet away from her. Her heart was racing, her face was flushed. She smirked a bit. "Arnold" She whispered to herself. Music was blasting through the speakers. People were dancing around them. Time stopped completely. Arnold put his hand up near his face, waving slightly to her. He smirked. "Hi" her lips moved without a sound. He slowly made his way to her. He was just a little taller than her now. He opened his arms pulling her into his chest. She took a deep breath, putting her entire body weight against him. She could smell his cologne. Her heart was melting in his arms.
"Hey, lets go somewhere quiet" He whispered to her. She nodded holding his hand as he led her through the crowd. Her world was quiet, slow, and breathless. She looked down at their holding hands, licking her lips lightly. She looked up at Arnold with his back turned to her as he led her out the gym doors. His golden hair was slightly darker now, but still wacky in shape. They headed into the hallway where the music was muffled and not a soul was to be found. He looked around to see if the cost was clear, swinging her with his hand still clutched to the wall behind them. She was startled at how aggressive he was being. "Wait..Arnold.." He put his hand above her, leaning towards her. "I missed you, I just, missed you" She blushed looking up at him. "We have to talk.. You cant just do THIS to me, so quickly" She looked away from his eyes. "You know..I miss you too..". He pulled her chin towards his lips. "I haven't kissed anyone, in 4 years, havent looked in anyone else's direction, You won Helga".
She looked at him almost angerly. "Won, I didn't WIN anything.." He chuckled. "My heart..silly" he kissed her cheek lightly. Goosebumps engorged her entire body. Her heart was physically out of her mouth. "Cheesy.." she giggled a bit. "I cant help it, Im happy to see you" Arnold eyes were stilled glued to her. She kept looking away with embarrassment. "Lets talk.." she whispered. He slowly backed away from her. "Okay, lets talk". He took her hand and pulled her into their 4th grade class room. They shut the door behind them, sitting in their old desk and chairs. "These chairs are so much smaller than I remember". She laughed. Arnold chuckled. "Right!". The room quickly fell silent. "...Im sorry" her eyes switching to Arnold, away, back and forth. "...You really broke my heart Pataki". She took a small but deep breath. "I know..Its just..that day, the last day of 8th grade, I was so devastated. I didnt want you to hang on to me anymore. I wanted you to go on, I wanted you to continue to live your life. You know that long distant relationships never work".
"I know, but you didnt even let us try. I would have done everything in my power to make it work, you know that". "We were just kids" Helga replied. "I had no idea how to love you the way that I wanted to. I had bad habits, I wanted to learn what it was like to be without you. Its always been you, and being without you broke me. Even though it didnt make it any easier, I thought it would. I thought letting you go was best for both of us". Helga held her head in her hands. "Helga, I hate to tell you that I didnt move on, I didnt find someone else, I didnt even try. I knew you'd be back. I waited. and ill continue to wait for you. Im here, my heart is open". He slowly stood up, walking up to her as she cried quietly. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. She jolted a bit in suprise. "I love you Helga" He whispered. "I dont deserve you Arnold" she quietly whispered. "Dont say that. If anything I dont. I should have came for you. I should have tried harder. I just wasnt sure.." Helga raised her head up, Arnold let her go, walking in front of her turning his chair around to face her.
He placed his thumb on her cheek, brushing her tears away. "Lets go back to the party, show face, and get the heck out of here". She nodded sniffling back to positive thoughts. She started to stand up. "Wait.." Arnold pulled her back down to her chair, pulling his closer to hers. He placed his hand on her shoulder, slowly pulling her towards him. She shut her eyes slowly, putting her chin towards his lips. He kissed her lightly, sweet and innocently. His eyes shut, his hand gripping her shoulder. They backed away, slowly opening their eyes. "Dang, lets hope they dont get us kicked out of this joint" Gerald was leaning up against the wall watching the party unfold. Phoebe grabbed his hand beside him. "Isnt it romantic..Helga and Arnold back together again". Gerald smirked. "Yeah, I bet he's really happy" Arnold and Helga discretely made it back to the party. Arnold spotted Gerald up against the wall. "Hey, Im gonna talk to Gerald really quickly". "You got it Arnoldo" Helga waited for him by the doors. "Hey man" Arnold and Gerald pumped fists and squiggled thumbs. "Hey man, how did it go"?. "Great, Listen me and Helga are gonna head out" .
"Fine with me. Just be careful alright" Gerald winked. "Oh come on, you know I always am" Arnold winked back. They both laughed a bit. "Okay, im going." Arnold turned around. "Wait, Arnold" Phoebe grabbed his arm. "You hurt Helga in any way, shape or form, Im going to make sure you never make it to college". She smiled wide. "You got it boss" He pulled his arm back to his side. "Cool cool" Phoebe said walking away from him. "You got one...interesting girl Gerald". "Yeah I know, thats why I love her". He smiled. Helga was browsing through her phone when Arnold approached her. "Shall we get going". He held his hand out to her. "Fine.." she held his hand as they left the opened his car door guiding Helga to her seat. "Thanks.." she said quietly. He got in the driver seat and started up the car. "Where to"? Arnold asked. "hmm.." Helga's mind started to race. "Geez Helga dont say a hotel, Dont even think it, what if he already, ya know..no no no stop it!". "Well.."? Arnold asked. "Um...well..how about..my..my new apartment"?. "New apartment, I thought you were staying at your parents house"? Arnold asked. "Listen buddy, I HAVE a job ya know. I did sacrifice my love for you for a better education..so like, YEAH, I have an apartment, Its just downtown is all.." Helga replied.
"Right.. well. lets go then!" he said with excitement. "Right..okay.." She guided Arnold with her cellphone to her new place. "So, whats the new job"? he asked. "Im writing for the city newspaper now". Arnold smiled. "I knew it. I knew you'd become a writer one day. You were always so good at writing poems and..". "Okay thats enough Arnold, I dont need to be reminded on how obsessive I was..". "haha im sorry, but if it means anything, I was always flattered" Arnold laughed a bit. Helga crossed her arms, staring out the window. Music was quietly playing in the background. "I..Love you too, by the way" Helga whispered under her breath. "...I know.. but its nice to hear anyway" he said. They drove up to her place. "Well, here we are. Do you even have any furniture yet"? He asked. "Of course I do, My parents may be forgetful morons but my dad knows how to spend his money right". They got out of the car and headed towards the steps. She searched her purse for the key. "Where is that stupid key, stupid fuc, ah here we go" she pulled out her key, opening her front door.
"Well, come on it football head". They both walked inside the apartment. "Wow Helga, its..um, nice". Helga looked around to see her fathers now "Cell phone" emporium posters all over her walls. "Oh..My..Fucking..GODDDD" she shouted. "BOB IS SUCH A MORON, WHAT IN GODS NAME IS THIS GARBAGE?, WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON HIM..." Arnold started to giggle. "Its okay Helga, you haven't been here to fix it up yet. hey, at least the couch is nice" he sat down on the black leather couch. "Oh boy, Betsy is itching for a good punch in the face.." she thought to herself. she sat beside him. "So, id offer you a drink but im pretty sure its just beer or something since my dad decided to rent out the place to HIMSELF". "Thats fine, Im not thirsty" He leaned back into the couch. Helga stood up quickly, her nervs taking her to the fridge anyway. "Maybe if I have a beer I can lighten up or somethin". She grabbed a beer and sat next to Arnold. "Maybe you shouldn't.." Helga started to chug the beer, letting up a burp, followed by a hiccup. "do..that" Arnold interjected.
She put the drink down on the coffee table. "Excuse me.." she crossed her legs trying to act girly. "I think thats enough for now" Arnold pulled her closer to him. "Your a bold kid Arnold" she said as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I think its safe to say that im a bold man now.." He lifted her chin towards his lips as they shared a more intimate kiss. Her body was shivering from nervs, her stomach in knots. She placed her hand on his knee, lifting herself deeper into his lips. They slowly separated, but only an inch away. "I want to be a gentleman right now, I do..My family taught me well..but..you are just so beautiful". He pecked her lips. "ROLL WITH IT HELGA, YOU GOT THIS. LET HIM RAVISH YOU LIKE YOU SEE IN YOUR DREAMS" Her mind was shouting to her. "LIFT YOUR HAND HIGHER, GET CLOSER, DONT BE STUPID". She shook her head a bit. "Sorry, sorry, im just overwhelmed" she sighed deeply. "Thats okay, So am I". They continued to kiss, her hand slowly running up his leg, reaching closer to his unspoken territory.
Arnold eyes opened just a bit. He looked down towards Helgas hand. "IM BOLD"!? he thought to himself. He pulled himself back from her lips. "Whoa, wait, Helga"?. "Yes..my love" she replied. "Its just.." he looked back down towards her hand, which was placed inches away from..there. "Helga looked down at her hand, quickly removing it. "Ah..im..im sorry.." she got up and nervously started brushing her skit with her hands. "No..its just, Its not that I didnt want that..honestly...I think about it a lot lately..its just..man.." he nervously scratched the back of his head. "No its okay, its getting late anyway, maybe you should go..". Helga turned away. "...okay..I mean..if you truly want me to.." Arnold stood up off the couch. "YOU IDIOT DONT YOU DARE LET HIM LEAVE" she shouted internally."I guess ill see you later than Helga.." He started walking towards the door. She could hear his footsteps getting quieter and quieter. She turned around to watch him off. "Later Arnold.." she whispered.
He slowly turned the knob taking a deep breath. "Man im going to need a cold shower tonight" he thought to himself opening the door to leave. Time was stopping again for them both, not knowing what to do, what the next move should be. "Should I leave"? he thought. "Should I tell him to stay"? she thought to herself. "WAIT" they both shouted to one another. Helga's legs just started moving towards him. She couldnt control it. She didnt want to. He watched it all unfold. Her moving towards him, without any hesitation. He didnt want to question it, he let her take control. Helga grabbed him aggressively, all those years of built up emotions. She threw him against her front door. Shutting it hard. He wrapped his hands around her waist, pushing her hips against his. They started to passionately kiss. Her hands started to venture again, but he didnt stop her. Groping him intensely. He jolted his head back, hitting the wall behind him. They separated lips a bit. Their eyes met, as she continued to ravish the man she's been in love with since she was a little girl.
Arnold decided to take control even for a moment, grabbing her by the shoulders, switching sides. He pushed her against the wall this time. Running his hands up her skirt, feeling her soft skin. She threw her arms around his head. Sexy smirks across their faces. The hair in back of her neck stood up as she felt his hands get closer up her skirt. She felt dangerous, just as bold and damn sexy. This was the first time she felt like a woman. This is was growing up is all about. These moments that were impossible, unspoken in the past. She lifted her shirt above her head, tossing it across the room. Arnold blushed, looking at her perfect C32 breast. Helga turned her head away blushing a bit. "L..Lik..Like what you see"? she asked embarrassingly. Arnold cleared his throat. "Y..yes I do". She took his hands, placing them on her breasts. "Then show me..". "Yes m'am" He started lightly squeezing her breasts. She yelped with pleasure. "Dont stop" she whispered sexually. He continued to feel her up. "Maybe we should take this to my bedroom". He nodded, lifting her off the floor wrapping her legs around his waist.
He kicked open the door, throwing her onto the bed. Helga looked around seeing more of her fathers obnoxious posters. "Damn it dad" she mumbled under her breath. Arnold slowly climbed on top of her, looking down into her eyes. "Only if your ready Helga, only IF". "Arnold.." she looked up at him, her eyes glazed over with passion. "Ive been ready". He lifted his shirt, tossing it across the room. She started to unbuckle his belt, pulling it out of the loops and tossing it across the room. She ripped the button off his pants, unzipping and pulling the sides down to his knees. Arnold put his left hand behind her back, undoing her bra instantly. "How did you just.." she whispered curiously. He giggled a bit. "I dream too ya know". She smirked. He lifted her skirt revealing her panties. Cute pink and laced. Her hip bones were slightly exposed through her underwear. He took his fingertips, slowly pulling them down. She turned away and gasped a bit. "Dont worry, ill be gentle". She nodded, trusting him completely. He pulled her panties down to her ankles, slowly passing through her toes and off on the floor. She was exposed in ways she never knew were possible.
He pulled his lips next to her ear. His hot breath just barely on her earlobe. "You are beautiful" He whispered. Her back arched a bit. Chills running down her spin. She put her hands on the side of his red checked boxers, pulling them down to his ankles. She shouldn't bear to look down. She had all these visions and expectations. But she couldn't help it. Her eyes made their way down, seeing him exposed. She naturally bit the side of her lip. She was pleased. Better than her dreams. She looked back up into his eyes. She wrapped his legs around his waist as he slowly placed himself in between her. She didn't stop looking at him, no matter how embarrassed she felt. She didn't want to miss this moment. He slipped inside her, both their eyes shut tightly. Helga felt a surge of pain, but it quickly became pleasure. Her legs started to tremble. Her toes lifted up towards the ceiling. He was smooth, gliding through with ease. He let out a slight moan. Low, almost muffled. She was louder than she imagined herself to be. With every breath a moan reached her lips and flew out of her mouth. She let out a few "yes's" and "Dont Stop's". She was living a dream she used to have even before sex was real to her.
She was counting how many times she felt herself pulse. It was well over 5 now. Arnold let out a loud grunt, pulling the back of her hair while his body shook a bit. He let out a deep breath, his lips were burning up. She knew he reached his climax, as she did, 6 times now. He started to chuckle a bit, catching his breath. "I..I didn't want to stop". She was catching her breath as well. "haha, yeah me neither, I could have gone all night". Arnold plopped beside her. She lifted the covers over them as they started to come down. "Well now, that was fun" she laughed. "It was perfect" Arnold rested his head in his hands, looking at Helga with such pleasure. "Trust me, once I start to really open it, your going to crawl into my window every night and ask me for seconds". She flipped her hair back in confidence. "I believe it" he giggled. They stood up the entire night talking. She caught up with everything he did during high school, and she told him all she did back in California. It was a perfect night.
The next day, Arnold left back to the boarding house to shower and change clothes. He had work and wanted to quickly get it over with so he could see Helga again. He walked in to find his parents waiting for him by the stairs. "Hey Arnold, Where were you last night"?. His dad asked. Arnold blushed a bit. "I slept over Gerald's house, I got super tired after the party and he was closer, I didn't want to drive tired". That was the first time he really lied to his parents before. But he wasn't sure they could handle the truth. Ever since they came back before the 6th grade, they've been really close. "Okay..just make sure you call if you do that, we were worried sick". His mother ruffled his hair a bit "Im 18 now guys, I mean..yeah, Ill call next time" He headed up the stairs to his bedroom. Helga stood in bed all day watching television. Clicking through the channels but not really paying attention to anything. "Ohh Arnold" she said a loud. "Last night was merely a dream wasn't it"?. She put the blanket over her head in embarrassment. "But here I am, still feeling your hands, those lips, your well hung beautiful.."
Her cell phone started to ring. "OH WHAT NOW"? she grabbed her phone from the night stand. Phoebe was calling. She answered. "Hey Pheebs, whats shakin". "Helga!, What happened last night, Are you okay"? Phoebe was worried. "HA am I okay..sheesh, yeah of course im okay. Im more than okay" She screeched, holding her mouth away from the phone. "Helga, are you there"?! Phoebes voice resonated. "Yea, yea, im here..look im good, im at my apartment just watching TV". "O..okay..so..Arnold..did anything interesting happen"?. Helga gulped. "Well..I mean, we hung out ya see, we just sat here and spoke..". "HE CAME OVER YOUR APARTMENT"?! She shouted. "QUIET PHOEBE, SERIOUSLY"! Helga shouted. "Sorry!, its just, how exciting, how dangerous, i mean like, I bet you guy's were kissing and cuddly". "Yo..you..can say that.." Helga got quiet. "Did you guys...DID YOU GUYS GO ALL THE WAY"!?. "PHOEBE, I AM GOING TO COME OVER AND POUND YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE". Helga was furious. "Oh dont worry, you did enough POUNDING last night, GOT TO GO" Phoebe quickly hung up. Helga looked at her phone in shock. "FUCK"!. she shouted.
"Hey Arnold, hellllooo" Gerald shouted to him. Arnold was staring counter, costumers lined up in front of him. "GET IT TOGETHER MAN, WE GOT COSTUMERS". "Oh..um right..hi, welcome to the Mexican grill, can I take your order"? Arnold tried to keep it together but could not stop thinking of last night. "Let me handle this, go to the back and fill up the rice. "Okay.." Arnold headed to the back. He took his phone out quickly to text Helga. "Hey, thinking of you, cant wait to see you again, 3" he stuffed his phone back into his apron. Within a couple of seconds his phone vibrated. He quickly checked his text. "3 3 Me neither, but hey, try not to tell anyone. Its kind of a big deal and I think Phoebe is on to me. Its our business ya know"?. Arnold sent back a wink face emoji followed by a thumbs up and a heart. Arnold headed back to the front to help Gerald. "Got the rice"? Gerald asked. "No, crap..sorry Gerald" Arnold headed to the back again. Time passed and the store started to die down. "So, Arnold, What happened last night. A certain someone told me you went all the way with Helga"?. Arnold blushed for a second trying to dodge the question. "We spent the night together, think what you will". Gerald laughed. "Im not stupid man, I said the same thing when Phoebe and I.. ya know, you saw RIGHT through me. Its okay man, your 18 now. You are qualified. And Helga, shes really grown up since middle school".
"Yeah she has.." his face was beat red. "Man, get outta here" Gerald took Arnold's apron. "Thanks Gerald"! Arnold sped out of the restaurant into his car. He was blasting "Believer" from Imagine Dragons. Windows down, heading down town. Helga was hard at work in the kitchen trying to make a decent meal. "2 ounces of water, WHAT THE HECK"!? the kitchen was a mess. "Cant they just tell me cups or spoons or somethin"!?. Arnold pulled up to Helga's apartment, running up 2 flights of stairs rushing to her door. He knocked. "COMING"! she shouted. She opened the door, flour in her hair and eye lashes. She smelled like pie crust. Arnold started to laugh uncontrollably. "WHATS SO FUNNY"!? she lifted his collar up. "Nothin its just, you are adorable". She let him go and blushed a bit. "Shut your mouth and come inside, dinner is ALMOST done". He walked in, taking a seat on the couch. "Smells good in here" he commented. "Ya well...im trying". She pulled out chicken from the oven."Not bad.." she thought to herself.
"Ill eat whatever you cook because its you cooking it" he said. "Oh LORD you are cheesey sometimes" she chuckled. Arnold stood up, walking over to the kitchen. He placed his jacket down on the counter. "Ill be right back" he headed to the rest room. Helga continued to cook when suddenly she heard something vibrating. She checked her phone but it wasn't her's. "Hmmm.." she reached into Arnold's jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Lila's name was across his screen. "Lila...why in the world is she calling..". The phone went to voice mail. She looked around the room a bit. "I hope he doesn't mind...ah screw it". She put the phone to her ear, listening to her voicemail. "You have one new message, new message..Hey its Lilia, I haven't heard from you since last weekend. Is everything okay? I know Helga is back in town and everything. Are you seriously going to forgive her? Its probably too late, Im sure you did. Anyway, I miss you. I feel selfish but I hope you dont because then our little "thing" can become official. Anyway..hehe, call me back when your done with HER, bye".
Helga slowly set the phone down on the counter. She could hear her heart shattering into millions of pieces. Her body felt numb. Her limbs were liquefying. Her eyes started to fill with tears. She took off her apron, placed it on the counter. She shut off all the burners. She took the chicken she just made, tossed it into the garbage. Every move she made wasn't her own. She was broken. She felt like a sloppy second. "He lied..he told me he waited..". Her hands were holding her up as she was staring at the burners in front of her. Her breath was shallow, harsh and heavy. Arnold walked back into the room. "So, we ready to eat"?. Helga stood quiet. "Helga..are you okay"?. Helga took another shallow breath. "Get out.." she said quietly. "Wait what"? he asked. "Get. Out. GET OUT"! she shouted. "Wait why, whats going on, Helga"?. He put his hand on her shoulder, she quickly turned around and pushed him away. "You wanted to break my heart, FINE, YOU WIN!" her makeup running down her lips. "YOU WIN, YOU WIN, GOD DAMN YOU ARNOLD". she kept shoving him.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT"!?. He kept shouting. Helga ran into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her and locking it. "WHAT DID I DO"!? His hands were trembling. "ASK LILA" she shouted from behind the door. "LILA, WHAT?". Arnold ran to his cell phone to see he had a voice mail. He quickly heard the message, his eyes wide and his mouth half open in shock. "No..no.. this is some mistake.." he ran back to Helga's door. "Helga listen to me, this is a mistake. I haven't spoken to Lila in a really long time. Shes messing with me because im with you. you HAVE to believe me!". "Why did I ever think you would wait for me. Its my fault..its my fault. Even so, It hurts" Her voice was shaking. She opened the door quickly. Arnold was almost to his knees. "Its a mistake Helga I swear". She reached for the locket she kept. "Remember when I saved your parents, where it all started. I sacrificed EVERYTHING for you" she tossed the locket to him. "Get out and take this with you. I never want to see you again". Arnold held the locket in his hands tightly.
"No..I wont. because this is a mistake. I wont take it. I wont leave here". Arnold tried to grab her hand. "Dont you dare.." she pointed at the front door. "I cant even be mad..im just..in pain. just go okay"?. she said quietly. "Helga please..." his eyes filled with tears. "Go..". she was defeated. Arnold turned his back, heading towards the door. "For what its worth, I will never stop trying, I will make sure this is justified" he shut the door behind him. Helga was uncontrollably sobbing. She fell to her knees the minute the door shut. Arnold slammed his car door, resting his forehead on the steering wheel. He couldn't stop crying. He felt betrayed. Lila was a stranger who was trying to sabotage his relationship. He was angry. He punched the side of the steering wheel a few times. "I cant feel this again, I just cant..I cant do this again. She's MY Helga". Helga was laying on her kitchen floor. Food all around her. A few beers opened beside her. "Drink away the paaiinn, like a chandelierrrrrr" she sang loudly.
Her phone kept blowing up with phone calls. Phoebes name, even Gerald. Arnold kept his distance. She picked up her phone off the floor beside her. "I wish I had that BITCHES number, Id tell her she can go fu-" there was a knock on the front door. "GO *burp* AWAY" she said slurred. "Helga, Its Phoebe, open up. Please. This is unhealthy. Its been 2 days now. Have you eaten, showered? Open up!". Helga stumbled up lifting herself up to open her front door. Phoebe grabbed Helga tightly and just held her. Helga let herself melt into her shoulder, crying uncontrollably. "Come on, lets go inside and get yourself showerd. I brought some of your favorite food. Come on.." Phoebe carried her into the apartment and helped her get cleaned up. A few days passed now. There was silence between the two. An obsession with constant phone checks, midnight apartment drive by's. Arnold was busy trying to get a confession out of Lila indirectly but kept failing. She was good a pretending that her story was the truth.
Helga managed to get herself together. Hanging out with her old friends. Attending every party she could hear about. People would chatter. They knew something was wrong. Arnold never showed face. She came alone to every event. Helga knew she had to move on. But Arnold was the only love she ever knew. She would escape her emotions after midnight. Showing up to clubs in a pre-game mind set. She didn't even like dancing. bar hoping, flirting with random dudes she couldn't even remember their names. But her heart just wanted a substitute. She hung out as a wallflower waiting for the next man to approach her. She hated smoking, but she was smoking, leaning against a cold misty wall behind a down town bar. She felt numb, waiting for a stranger to take her away from her own body. A handsome dark haired man approached her. "Hey Helga, long time no see". She lifted her eyes to meet his. "And you are"? she asked. "Its Lorenzo, from back in the day". Her eye brows adjusted with her eyes to make out his face. "Oh..yeah..the rich kid". "Right, haha still am, still me. What's a pretty lady like you doing in a place like this"? he asked.
"Um.. None of your damn business is what" she spat fire. "Well, somethings dont change do they"? he giggled. "Listen, I know your trying to act like you dont give a shit about anyone or anything around you, but let me at least take you back inside and buy you a drink" he suggested. Without a second thought she put her hand out to his. "Sure, why not". They both entered the bar, sitting next to each other chatting away the night. She was tipsy but coherent. He was a gentleman, asking her about her life in California. He gushed about owning a vineyard there with his parents and how he would love to take her one day. "Maybe I should have never come back to Hillwood. Honestly, I had it good in California" she confessed. "I doubt thats true. You came back for a reason". He took back a shot. She drifted off in her mind, making her still. She could see Arnold's smile in her mind like he was in front of her. Her heart was cracking in her chest again. "You okay"? Lorenzo put his hand on her knee. She quickly recovered with a fake smile coming back down to earth. "Oh haha, yeah im totally fine. Nothing wrong here". "Hey, lets get outta here, what do ya say"? he asked.
All she could hear is Arnold's voice in her mind. Asking her the same question when she first came back to town, and how that night ended for her. Helga's broken soul took the wheel. "Sure.. my apartment isnt far from here" she couldn't believe her lips made such sounds. "What am I doing..Ahh! who cares. I got nothing to lose" she thought to herself. They walked together back to her apartment, both completely silent. Her mind was racing with "what if's" but her broken heart quickly talked her out of letting him leave her. She wanted someone to want her, anyone else. They headed up the stairs opening her apartment door. They both sat down on her couch. Here she was again, but with someone else. Someone who she had no feelings for. Someone who wasn't Arnold. He slowly put his arm around her. Her skin was crawling with regret but she shook it off. She put her shoulder his bicep, leaning back. They were still wordless. He lifted her chin toward his lips. Her chest was on fire, she felt dirty and messy. She hated it. But her lips touched his. She felt an overwhelming feeling of numbness. She was an empty person, with empty actions.
She barely kissed him back. Her lips hardly moving. He can sense her not being into this moment. He pushed back a bit. "Listen, Im sorry. I shouldn't have went for that. I got way over confident". She shook her head in disagreement. "No no, its okay". Lorzeno stood up grabbing his coat. "Im gonna go. Im just glad you got home safely. You have my number. If you ever want someone to talk to, call". She nodded. He headed out the door. She sat in her darkened apartment, wondering what her broken heart would do next. Arnold drove up to Helga's apartment, sitting in the parking lot with his lights off. He just wanted to see her, even if she was taking out the trash. He missed her something fierce. He was a mess, unshaven with red eyes. He shut the engine off taking a deep breath. "Today you will knock on her door, you'll take her straight to Lila, MAKE her confess..fix it..today is the day.." He looked up towards her stairs with eyes on her apartment door. He saw a figure of a man closing her apartment door behind him. Putting on his black coat, adjusting his collar as if he just finished her. Arnold's chest dropped in fear.
"Who is that"? he asked himself. As the figure got closer, he could make out a few features. "Lo..lorenzo"? he adjusted his eyes a bit to see him clear as day. "What is Lorenzo doing leaving Helga's apartment"? he whispered aloud. Lorenzo turned the corner heading back to the bar. Arnold gripped the wheel, digging his nails into the leather. Arnold's phone started to vibrate. His eyes glanced down to the glowing vibration. Lila was calling. He dug his nails even deeper, answering. "What do you want.."? his voice was deep and dark. "Oh nothing, I just find it funny how Helga manages to move on so quickly and easily. Did you hear? Lorzeno took her home they totally made out. Im sorry Arnold, looks like you dont have much of a choice anymore. hehee..Oh Arnold, I wouldn't ever betray you". Arnold didnt say a word, just ended the call. He slammed open his car door, slamming it back closed. He darted towards Helga's apartment. Violently knocking on her door. Helga quickly opened the door thinking it was something serious. She didn't even look through the hole to see who it was. She saw Arnold standing there, shaky fists.
Her heart stopped beating. She just stepped aside to let him in. He stormed inside and slammed the door behind him. "Wha..wha..what the hell was Lorenzo doing here"?! he shouted. She quickly became angry. "What does it matter to you anyway. We arent TOGETHER ARNOLD. DONT YOU FORGET THAT YOU STARTED ALL THIS". He started to pace back and forth. This was a side of Arnold she NEVER knew existed. "Yeah but here is the difference, NOTHING..No..Nothing happened with Lila, Nothing. I dont know yet how to prove that..." Arnold stopped pacing and started to think. "OH sure okay, So lets just put the blame on me, Im the bad guy, Im the one who deserved it, IM THE-" Helga shouted. "Wait..Helga, wait..how in the hell did Lila know Lorenzo was here tonight.."?. "Wait so you still TALK TO HER. HAVE YOU NOT LEARNED ANYTHING"?!. "No Helga, listen..Lila called me tonight. I was sitting outside your apartment..waiting for you to come out or..for me to come to you..and I saw Lorenzo leaving..the second he did my phone rang and Lila called. She was telling me how you and Lorenzo..made out" His voice broke with the last few words. "We didn't make up, thats a load of crap! he went to kiss me and it was barely a kiss. I couldn't do it. I couldn't kiss him back. He knew I wasn't in to him and he left. THATS how it went ARNODLO". "But Helga, how did Lila know he was here"?!. "I dont know, maybe shes a creeper whos spying on me.." She chuckled a bit.
"No..that cant be it. I think Lorenzo and Lila are in on this! I think...no I KNOW that Lila sent Lorenzo to find you and try to hook up with you. She wanted to make sure her story played out and that I'd stop trying to be with you by making you do something with him. Dont you see it now"?. Helga sat down on her couch thinking. "Lets say I believe you now..Lets say shes making all this up..where does that leave us, how can I trust you"?. Arnold fell to his knee's in front of her, holding her hands in his. "Because, everyone around us, our family, our friends.. they knew the truth. They know that I've been waiting for you. They know. Helga, Ever since we kissed in San Lorenzo its been all about you. I meant it. We had those 3 amazing years in middle school. How could I throw that all away for someone else? You and I get each other. We always have, always will". Helga stood silent, looking away from him. "If you haven't figured out we are soulmates by now, then I dont know what will.." Arnold started to run his thumb against her's.
"I've known you moron..i've known since you held that umbrella over my head when we were practically babies" she shifted her eyes to his. "I cant be without you. Its too hard ya know? even if you break my heart again and again. Ill take that over being without you" her voice was quiet. He smirked a bit. "I assure you, I wont break your heart. Its us against the world. People envy us, of course they'd try to break us" he put his hands on her wrists, pulling her closer to him. "You know me better than anyone in this entire world does, and I love you". Helga started to blush. She can slowly feel herself being brought back to life. Color in her face and her heart gluing back together. "I love you too football head" she wrapped her hands around his head, pulling him to her lips. They kissed softly. He wrapped his hands around her waist pulling himself even closer to her. They seperated a bit, lips only inches away. "I promise you I will never break your heart again, no more..no mor-" he whispered to her going in for another kiss. Helga smirked in between each kiss. They ended the night the same way they did the first time.
(Chapter 2 now available)