Disclaimer: Don't own Arnold, or company. Solely wrote this story. Also don't own the lyrics for The Wanted's Glad you Came.
A/N: I guess kind of Valentine's day inspired. Blegh. When I first heard Glad You Came when it first came out, my initial reaction was "Holy crap, this reminds me of Arnold and Helga" I started this story in 2012 and never finished it. Only finished this part this morning, and then decided I wanted to make it a three parter to show the progression of Arnold and Helga's relationship. Oh snap.
I promise, promise this will be the last one and then I will resume all work on the other multi-chap fics I have running. I keep getting these ideas. But any future ideas will be jotted down in a notebook until the running fics are completed. THAT IS ALL. and for now, enjoy my three part I'm Glad You Came.
-xSerenity
my universe will never be the same..
I'm Glad You Came
-:-
Fists balled and relaxed, and balled and relaxed again. She felt the anger growing, festering behind her furled brow. In front of her, that big, booming voice went in one ear a garbled, muffled mess, and left just the same. She didn't hear a word Big Bob was saying because she was tuning it all out, as she often did.
"For once, for once you did one recognizable thing, so now be normal and go out there and get recognized for it!"
He was in her face as he yelled, ready to combat her naturally obstinate attitude, but rather than the usually snarky comments that would follow, she just scoffed and turned around away from him.
"If that's the only thing you care about, then I refuse to go out there. I don't do things for your recognition, Bob. Especially when you never recognized anything I ever did before!"
He was about to retaliate to that, to scream some more about how she never did anything like her sister, and other less direct ways to say how Olga was so much better, but Helga was already gone, away from it all, stealing upstairs to her room. The slamming of the door cut him off just as he started his thought.
"Arrrrrrrgh" He waved a hand dismissively, and then stormed outside, into the brightness of the day, and to the party that was raging in the neighborhood, leaving his obstinate daughter to sulk upstairs, alone.
It was midsummer the day that fight took place, and more specifically, a few days after Scheck had been carted away for his shady dealings, leaving the neighborhood as it was, not going to be torn down. This was cause for celebration for all the families involved, who had grown on that street, and whose families had come before them and had also grown on that street. For it was all saved because of three determined kids, whose families were among those who lived in that place.
But one of those kids, who did it more for that other kid, than for herself, or even her own family, found herself wallowing in her dismay. She didn't want to partake of those festivities, so she locked herself in her bedroom cursing the man who called himself her father. Imagine, wanting her to come out to get recognition that she didn't even want in the first place. She didn't even do it for anyone else. She only did it for Arnold.
And yet there he was, once again comparing her to Olga, his ever so perfect, beautiful daughter. Helga scoffed, but then sighed softly, considering, as much of a front as she could put up, it would never destroy the fact entirely that her father's actions and words hurt her. They hurt her deeply, and made her feel unloved, but most importantly, undeserving of whatever positive attention was supposedly out there for her. Why should she receive it? She wasn't Olga, and she was most certainly not Arnold...
Her bed was comfy, warm and bouncy, and she sank right into it when she flopped with a huff as she lost herself in thought. Eyes fixed to the ceiling for a while, and she simply stared aimlessly. What else was there to do? Outside the music of a DJ blared, and undoubtedly everyone was having fun. This was something she didn't miss, and wouldn't miss. She didn't want to be there. She couldn't bring herself to face her father's annoying self, but more importantly, she couldn't face him.
Though the more she mused over it, the more she knew she should be happy. After all, she did get to admit those secret feelings that had been a thorn in her side for years, and this sure did alleviate the strain of pesky emotions. But in the end, while not entirely rejected, Arnold's reaction goaded them both back into a state of emotional limbo. She knew she didn't hate him, and she knew she never could. She only wished Arnold would realize that, instead of trying to convince her otherwise.
-oOo-
On the other side of town, just as emotionally riled, was the stubborn, but determined true savior of the city, without whom, the pieces of the plan would have never fallen into place in the first place. He, too, stared out the window of the boarding house over looking the street to the festivities below, and agonized at having to join them.
But his reason was entirely different; it wasn't to avoid her, it was actually because he had already been out there, and hadn't seen her. He scoured the crowds, saw all his friends, except for Helga, and this bothered him, deeply.
At the same time, he knew where she lived, and that she was probably there, but to exert the effort to go and find her, when there was so much that happened between them, just thinking about it made the nest of butterflies start dancing in his stomach. But it was something that had to be done, he knew it did. The dreams and otherwise restless nights would not stop until he did. He had so many questions..
It was these questions that he ran over in his mind, just to make sure he didn't freeze up when he got there, and then had nothing to say. That was something you couldn't do with Helga. With someone like her, he knew you had to be fully prepared, otherwise she would talk, joke, and bully circles around him, successfully dodging anything important that needed to be discussed. Arnold wasn't going to be fooled this time, not like everyone else was that knew this girl.
Friends approached him, trying to pull him into their game of baseball in the street, but Arnold had to tell them he would join them later. When Gerald started walking with him, concerned by his friends obvious distraction, he tried to coax whatever it was on his mind out of him.
"Nothing big, there's just someone I need to go talk to." Gerald was told. Arnold didn't lie either when Gerald asked him who? Though he did raise an eyebrow in utter curiosity once Arnold revealed it.
"I would think everyone would have a better time if she wasn't here. You know?"
Arnold shrugged, the pace never slowing on the way to her house.
"Maybe. But as far as I'm concerned, we couldn't have done what we did without her help. And because of that, she needs to be out here too. She's our friend just the same."
Gerald sighed, and backed off, muttering a usual "whatever you say, buddy", an a reminder of the games and other activities planned for later before departing all the while calling back to his friend that he didn't want to be there when she started insulting him as always.
That was fine for Arnold, who hadn't even expressed to Gerald just how much Helga had helped them. Nor did he reveal to him the confession of the girl on top of the FTl building that fateful night. This was more for Helga's sake than his own. Truthfully, he had been burning to tell someone. Which added to the need to discuss it all with Helga. He knew as well as she did that things couldn't be left as they were. There was just so much one could say to try to pretend, but in the end they were both fully aware of what happened.
In the beginning, after Arnold tried to convince her that it was a"heat of the moment" thing, he didn't think anything of it, but the more and more he thought about it, the more the sincerity of her words came to light, he had that dawning realization later on, that both horrified, and also confused him.
"She..she likes me." Who was he kidding? She loves him. Her words were as clear as day, and way too real to be acted. What purpose would she have had to act it anyway? It didn't cover anything up, and if anything, it certainly explained a lot of things.
But it was those things that made him make that journey that day to Helga's house to find the girl, and to pull her out into the open, in more ways than one. If Helga's admission was genuine, and it really did explain all those little unexplained occurrences in their past, then this was a person that Arnold really did want to associate with, if for nothing else, then just to be friends. In the end, he knew there was always more to her than what met the eye, but now he was curious to see exactly what extent was she really hiding.
-oOo-
The Pataki family minus Helga was stepping out of their home when Arnold approached. He greeted them, and they were receptive to it. Until he asked where Helga was, then Big Bob's face instantly turned from joyous contentment to that characteristic scowl, and he motioned with a thumb over his shoulder.
"That ungrateful brat is up in her room. She doesn't want to come join the party. Maybe you can go talk some sense into her Alfred."
The boy's face took on a rather deadpanned expression at the obvious disregard for him on Big Bob's behalf, but he didn't really expect anything less; Arnold didn't even bother to correct him.
"I'll go see what I can do.."
Green eyes followed the muscled brute as he stormed outside, muttering constantly all the way out about his ungrateful daughter, and why couldn't she be more like Olga. Arnold felt his stomach twist unpleasantly at such exclamations by a man that was supposed to be his friend's father. He always knew this kind of trouble existed for Helga, and he supposed it added partially to why she was so guarded all the time.
Step after cautious, creaking step brought him up to the girl's room, and the first thing he noticed, naturally, was the rather girly rag doll sign on her door announcing to all that this was her room. Inwardly, he commented on the cuteness of it before raising a fist to the wood to knock three solid times.
No answer.
He sighed a little, and knocked again, three more times, and harder than the first few. This caused a ruckus from the other side of the door.
"What do you want, Bob!" Came the familiar, characteristic hiss he was so familiar with. He felt a certain flutter at the sound.
"Helga? It's me-Arnold.."
CRASH-Arnold blinked from the other side of the door upon hearing a loud commotion from inside the room. He grabbed the knob in concern and went to twist but found it locked. He knocked again. "Helga! Are you okay?"
The sounds to follow were a series of shuffles, things falling, and then bangs like they were being slammed in a drawer, or a closet, and then the girl practically fell into the door.
Arnold watched the knob start to turn this way and that, the clicking of the lock audible from the other side, and it was only a few minutes later that the door swung open, and Helga stood, slightly hunched, frazzled looking, sprouts of blonde this way and that, but stood nonetheless, in the doorway.
"Arnold!" She exclaimed, but was quick to regain her normal composure "I mean-what are you doing here, football head?"
Such a familiar sentiment; He released an exasperated sigh and brushed over it. Arnold's eyes wandered up to hers and remained there, locked with her ever present scowl. The look, for more than a few minutes, always made him uneasy. But inwardly he told himself this would be the day he would not be affected by it.
"I came to find you, because I figured you'd be out at the block party with the rest of us." He held his hand out in an explanatory manner. "You should be there.." He added as an afterthought.
But Helga simply stood unflinching, scowl never leaving, and balled fists pressed to her hips.
"Right, Like I'd ever come to a party with the likes of you" She snarled in characteristic Helgaspeak. She succeeded in putting a frown on the other boy's otherwise friendly face.
But again, with a small intake of breath, he battled down the frustration often raised by Helga G Pataki, until all that remained was that exasperated, half lidded stare.
"You know Helga, your attitude is pointless now. There's no one around. It's just me and you. Feel free to drop the act any second."
He was satisfied with the slight widening of those blue eyes; She hadn't been expecting him to be so forward. Helga had hoped, with all she was, he didn't plan on mentioning what happened those few nights ago, but at the same time her gut told her that there was no other reason but that as to why he was standing in the doorway to her room. The response to that was the swallowing of a nervous lump in her throat.
"I-I don't know what you mean, Arnoldo. You know how sick it makes me to spend two seconds let alone a whole party with you."
Solid as a rock, he inwardly commented to himself with slight amusement. But as far as he was concerned, she was a rock with cracks, and with the proper encouragement, he was determined to get her front to crumble.
Glancing idly over her shoulder to the open window in her room, he let out a thoughtful 'hmm'
"I guess you're right. I know you hate me and all.." Arnold couldn't help but snicker at the reference to their conversation atop the FTi building, but he put on a blank look just as quickly before continuing. "But the party was getting kind of boring anyway. So maybe, Oh I donno, I thought maybe we could hang out together, away from everyone else." He had averted his eyes, with a hand idly rubbing the back of his head, but as he completed that statement, they dared a glance up to hers again, just in time to see them soften considerably.
It was the effect he knew he'd have on her, that is causing her to have an inner struggle. He could sense she was fighting the urge to tell him off, or welcome him in, and he really hoped she gave in and went with the latter. With eyes locked once again, Helga felt a small blush start to creep across her face at Arnold's suggestion.
"I-I-" She started with a stutter, finding herself at a loss for words. Slowly but surely she felt herself losing her stable footing. "Gah! Whatever floats your boat, Arnoldo!" Helga turned to the side, and folded her arms across her chest defiantly. Her head was tilted to one side, eyes now upwards and away from his, mainly so he wouldn't notice the horrible blush that now colored her cheeks.
Now graced with a wide and goofy grin, Arnold welcomed himself into her room with a kindly murmured "Thanks". Once in the center, he took the moment to survey the surroundings, taking in all the sights, and connecting each and everyone to Helga in some form. It brought him a sense of pleasure to do so, mainly because the pink and purple walls, frilly curtains, and otherwise girlish adornments seemed so unlike his bully. It only further deepened his notion that there was more to Helga than he, and everybody else, got to see on a regular basis.
Helga pulled her door closed, muttering in aggravation as she did so. This act had Arnold arching a brow curiously. "Sooo..." He started in an attempt to start a conversation with the guarded girl, a feat he knew would be difficult. Green eyes still roamed the room, and then settled upon a door which he assumed was her closet.
An idea formed in his head, which he pushed to the back of his mind for later use; needed to traverse this carefully for success.
He turned to face her fully, watching her move uneasily about her room; she had her arms folded tightly, protectively, across her chest and her eyes were purposely downwards, not meeting his.
"Sooo..." She returned, only partially annoyed sounding.
Truth be told, the only thought running through the girl's mind at that point was how the object of her obsession was standing in the center of her room, very willingly, and having voiced his desire to see her, and to hang out with her. If kind words could kill, she would be six feet under by then.
"Why do you want to hang out with me, again?"
But of course she has to ruin it. She can't just let something that is, on the front, a very good thing remain such. There has to be an underlying cause, and Arnold has to have some ulterior motive .
Arnold shifts uneasily, refusing to be intimidated by his inner trepidations about facing his tormentor. After all, he knew she wasn't as bad as she wanted everyone to perceive her. And he knew he made a grievous mistake by giving her the opportunity to take back her confession. That's really what he wanted to take back that trip. But he also knew to simply jump into that topic would put her on the defensive..
Hell, she already was on the defensive. He noted, watching as she stood there like a solid, grumpy looking statue.
Arnold quietly studied her look for a moment, considering an awkward silence had fallen over them. He struggled for the right words, but was failing miserably. Rolling his eyes to his ceiling in thought then, he inhaled deep, and decided that maybe the best way would be to dive right in.
"I don't like the way things ended the other night."
Helga blinked, and Arnold, with slight contentment, noted as her brow raised from its downward furrowed position.
"I-I don't know what you mean. We said it like it was. It-it was a crazy day, and a lot of stupid things were said that weren't meant." She did her best to keep an edge to her voice, but Arnold had warned himself of this, and with his attention fixed to her, he was able to hear the quaver in her voice, and noted the nervous stutter she had taken on.
"I don't think that's true, Helga." Arnold dared a few steps closer to her, and felt a chill run up his spine. It was like the air around her and only her was tense, like she was giving off those negative waves. He actually felt pity for that fact. Considering the last thing he wanted was for her to feel bad, or uncomfortable around him.
Actually, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that his statement went both ways. He initially said that referencing her confession atop that building, with a budding thunderstorm in the background. But when he recalled that night, and the early morning immediately following, where they stood face to face and brushed it all under the rug, he decided that he had lied as well.
He was in denial, he supposed, because certainly at that moment, when the person that tormented you for years turns around, admits that they were crazy in love with you, and then kisses you, oh, and you're nine years old, yeah, that's a lot to take in. So it was only natural for him to clam up, want to avoid it and pretend it never happened. It would have been better for her too, who was obviously hell-bent on maintaining her tough-girl persona to her classmates, Arnold concluded, and then once more his eyes fell upon her. "I know you don't really hate me."
He could see the struggle on her face, and he caught her sideways glance to her bedroom door. Wordlessly, Arnold sidestepped, and moved so that he was between Helga and her escape route, just in case she decided to bolt. He'd see to it there would be no escaping this time.
Catching on to that move, Helga shot him a scowl, and the two shared a silent understanding at that moment that she wasn't going to run. But that fact did little to settle the girl's nerves, and rapidly beating heart.
"So what if I don't. It's a free country. I can hate and not hate whoever I want, Arnoldo."
The boy stood staring, and then bony shoulders rose and fell in a small shrug.
"Well..why don't you be nicer to me then. We can be friends, instead of this whole-you have to torment me every single day." It seemed so straight forward to him, so obvious. So why was she incapable of doing it. Why had she always been incapable of doing it?
A sound akin to a growl escaped the girl, and she turned around stepping in closer and reaching to grab Arnold's arm. He was surprised by the action, but even more surprised when she started shoving him to her bedroom door.
"Okay, fine fine, done deal. Be nicer, got it. I'll add it to my to do list. Now get out of my room, bucko. And go back to being the hero of the day"
The resounding thud of Arnold's palm against the back of Helga's door sounded as he stopped himself from being thrown out. He was still between her and the entrance, and he blocked her access to the knob.
"Oooh no. No way, Helga. Like I'm really going to believe you when you sound like that" Arnold turned again to face her, and leaned his back firmly against the door to once and for all ensure that neither of them were going anywhere. He then cast her a half lidded look of annoyance which made her insides start to soften; she knew she had to end this soon, since any more of those looks and that tone and she would be reduced to a puddle at his feet.
Her eyes rolled upwards, and she released her grip, inwardly groaning. Criminey!
"Well, geez, Football head, what exactly do you want from me? I told you I didn't mean anything I said that night. It was just-it was crazy.."
When she dared to look up to meet his eyes, she watched as he stared at her blankly, as if he was looking for something deep within her eyes. It made her instantly uncomfortable. But she couldn't look away as much as she wanted to at that moment, all due to those eyes of his..
"I told you what I want, Helga. I want to be friends. I want to be good friends." pause. Then the corners of his lips raised ever so slightly in a small, amused grin. "And I want to see inside your closet."
The last part of that caught her off guard. She didn't think it was possible she could feel anymore tense and stiff, but it was, because she felt it.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Arnold folded his arms, trying hard to suppress the grin that threatened to get any bigger. "If you're telling the truth, and it was all just a heat of the moment thing, then you should let me look inside your closet. Because there would be nothing in there but clothes, right?" No shrines to me.
When Helga's eyes went wide, he knew he had her. She would have no choice but to admit it, or beat him up horribly and throw him out her window, but he seriously doubted that would occur, especially if she loved him like she claimed he did. Still the thought did amuse him a little as well.
"I-I-Are you kidding?! No way!" She knew he was talking about the shrine. She stupidly mentioned it in her confession. Doi. Idiot, Helga.. Of course there was a shrine. And now here he was, the person who occupied 99% of her heart and mind, the object of that shrine, wanting to go invade her closet to see said shrine. That would be it, however, that would confirm all beyond a reasonable doubt that she was absolutely, positively, insanely crazy, both crazy in love with him, and simply just crazy. And that would be the end of her.
His gaze remained half lidded, but his grin faded. Nevertheless, he stood firm, with arms still planted across his chest.
"Okay, Helga. Then I'll just assume it's true. I'll assume there's a shrine to me in your closet, and that, like you said, you're madly in lo-" Arnold was unable to finish that sentiment, as Helga had lunged forward, and pressed a hand to his mouth to silence him, not wanting to hear such a solid, confirmation from the person she actually did love.
"Shut up! Shutupshutupshutup!" When she felt no more vibrations against her palm from his words, she withdrew, and sighed somewhat defeated. It was definitely difficult to maintain appearances when you were one on one with your crush, in your room, and with no one else to put on a show for. "Look, then what difference does it make, Arnoldo? If you're just going to assume it, why would you need to see it?"
"So you admit it then, that there's a shrine." Arnold beamed with much amusement.
The girl clenched her fists, and shook them besides her head while her face scrunched up in frustration.
"I never said that! I'm just saying, what would it matter then. If you don't take my word for it, why do you need to see it?"
That was a good question; Arnold studied her face for any signs that might betray her thoughts, to confirm his rising suspicions. He found himself musing over the possibilities that there was actually a shrine. Truthfully, he really wanted to see it, if for nothing else than to see what a shrine to him would look like.
But then he recognized the part of him that really wanted it to be true for none other than the fact that, well, it's kind of cool that someone would care about him so much that they'd build a shrine to him. He wasn't egotistical like that, but he couldn't deny that the sentiment would be nice.
At the end of the thought, he simply shrugged: "I want to see it." Came his nonchalant response.
Another growl from the girl. "Well you can't"
He grinned. "So it's there."
"It's not!"
"Then let me in your closet. If there's no shrine, you shouldn't be this unwilling to let me see."
Another growl, and she took up a rather defensive stance; Her elbows bent, and fists balled and threatening in his direction. "You must be out of your mind. It doesn't even exist."
"Helga.." He closed the gap between them, and dared to reach out, his hand finding hers, melting her fist so that he could lace their fingers together. "Would it help it if I told you that I wouldn't think differently of you, or that I wouldn't laugh at you if the shrine actually exists?"
To his surprise, she didn't flinch, or pull away at the contact. But she was watching their hands almost cautiously, as if she expected him to suddenly disappear. There was something about their hands intertwined as well that made something flutter in Arnold's stomach. He could feel himself blush slightly.
After what seemed like an eternity of awkward silence, Helga withdrew her hand with a sigh, and motioned toward her closet.
"Just go"
She refolded her arms, annoyed by that wide grin which automatically slipped across his face, and then watched with a twisting heart as he turned in the direction of her closet, simply staring at it for a moment.
Helga's eyes narrowed; with any luck, he'll miss the chain for the attic stairs. Thankfully I moved all the shrine up there. If he goes in and sees nothing right away, then maybe he'll finally believe that it really was heat of the moment..Even if it wasn't..
And Arnold, having been so adamant about entering her closet, now seemed stuck in place for a moment. Here he was, granted permission, and was about to confirm once and for all if everything she said atop FTi was true, and his shoes felt glued to the floor.
One foot finally fell forward, and then the other in a slow, cautious rhythm until he was directly in front.
He gripped the knob hard in one hand, gave it a twist, and with a deep breath he pushed it open.
When he stepped into the dark room and found the light switch on the side of the door, he flipped it, and was greeted with-nothing. Just two rows of clothes and a wall on the other side. There was no shrine.
Arnold blinked, feeling his heart sink in his chest. His face scrunched up sadly, and disappointment washed over him like a wave, completely unexpected. He didn't imagine he would feel this bad.
Helga watched as Arnold's head drooped a little, and she breathed a small sigh of relief. But it was short-lived, considering as he turned around to leave, he walked straight into a dangling chain from the ceiling. He blinked curiously and looked up at it, noticing then that there was a door up there.
Surprised at having missed it, Arnold reached up and grabbed the chain, making Helga's breath hitch. She wanted to scream out for him to stop, but when she went to, she found that her voice was frozen; lips parted, but no words escaped her. Arnold yanked on the chain.
The attic door dropped open, allowing a small ladder to slide down. He hadn't waited for Helga's further permission either. She had said he could go into her closet, and this was part of her closet. So with his back to her, he grasped the first rungs of the ladder and started to climb with renewed hope.
When he reached the top, he stood on the ladder and simply surveyed his surroundings. Attic, attic, and more attic, Climbing up fully so that he was now standing on attic floor, he turned around to see the other side of the wall which he hadn't before.
And there it was; it was enshrouded in darkness, but as he stepped up closer to it, he noticed another chain from the ceiling of the attic. He reached up and yanked it. The light switched on, and illuminated the sculpture of every day items against the back wall.
He would never know just how many transformations Helga's shrine to him had undergone, but currently there was a football with a face painted on it, feathers protruding on either side, and a small blue paper cup that sat on top as a makeshift hat.
The ball sat on a small pedestal that she had wrapped a green fabric all the way around. The whole thing sat beneath a decorative awning of pink and purple construction paper, pipe cleaners, and sparkly paint.
The whole thing gleamed in the glow from the small light over head, and Arnold's eyes widened considerably at the sight of it.
"A football. Of course." Was the first thing he noted, and commented on lowly, but with a certain fondness in his voice. His eyes rolled, and He felt himself approaching it slowly, and then lowering in front of it, his own eyes fixed to the statue's painted on green dots.
With a slightly shaky hand, he reached out and traced the tip of his finger along the rough outside of the ball, down the front of it, gaze following as he did so, and inwardly, that disappointment he had previously felt dissipated.
"I can't believe it." He murmured while letting himself flop back onto his butt. He supported his weight on his hands as he leaned back, still taking in the sight before him. There was a new lightness that had overcome him at the final confirmation that Helga had, in fact, built a shrine in a closet to him, and truthfully, he loved it. He loved the shrine itself simply for the technical aspect of it. He couldn't believe she was so creative, and he had never seen that before. How could he miss something like that?
Delving deeper, he felt a certain fluttering in his stomach at the idea that this was something she had creatively concocted out of her feelings for him. She cared that much about him that this was what she did in her spare time?
A brow arched, and he leaned forward, struck suddenly with a small amount of regret and sadness. She should have just talked to me about it. I really would have loved to see this side of her. Heh, I guess now I am seeing it.
He felt a small genuine smile cross his face, while lingering a few moments longer to let the realization really sink in.
Meanwhile, frozen from the ice running through her veins, Helga stood in the center of her room staring wide eyed at the open door to her closet, looking as if she had seen a ghost. The color had drained from her face, and she was rather confused, as if disbelieving that what was happening was actually happening.
Was it really happening?
She had expected him to go into the main part of the closet, see nothing, and then come out and they could go back to normal. She hadn't counted on him noticing the way to the attic, and now that he had, she had frozen up. She was too late to stop him, and now there was absolutely no going back. What was going to be seen was never, ever going to be unseen.
In her mind she replayed the last few minutes of that day. Arnold had come over to-hang out with her. He somehow talked her into letting him in her closet, and now he was in her closet, up in her otherwise hidden attic observing the shrine she had hidden away up there.
Lips parted as if to speak, not that he was there, and simply hung ajar. Her stance in that silence lasted for a good ten minutes before the creak of the ladder sent her crashing back down to reality, which in turn had reality then crashing down upon her when she saw him taking step after step back down into her closet.
She grit her teeth, and lifted her nails to her lips so she could bite them anxiously; her eyes darted from the window to the door, and for the moment she contemplated making a run for it. But before the message could reach her feet to move, he was already closing the closet door and then closing the distance between them.
Helga's eyes saw his expression when his head was tilted over his shoulder as he shut her closet door, and she noticed a rather bemused smile on his face. There was no look of disgust, not even indifference. He looked-pleased?
Her face was red, she could feel the heat and at the same time she felt her body tremble out of pure, unabated fear. She wanted to run, but her feet were just glued. She looked at him helplessly, trying to keep her expression blank at best, so as not to alert him just how afraid she was, and then he was facing her, meeting her eyes with those friendly green ones of his own. Gentle smile ever present on his lips.
"Wow Helga. I never knew you were so good at arts and crafts. That was amazing" He had warned himself not to laugh, knowing full well his laughter was something she feared, but he would never actually laugh at her, and he wished she knew that, but as much as he warned himself not to, he couldn't help the small, amused chuckle that escaped, not at her, but just at how spot on the visual was. "And you used a football for my head. Hahah, that's genius."
She stared with that deer-in-headlights look that was foreign to him and everyone else they knew. There wasn't really a person besides him that could catch her so off guard. He didn't' fully understand that, but he could sense something to that affect, it made his eyes go half lidded a little dreamily as he mused over it.
"You-you really think so?" Helga finally managed to squeak out, one hand rubbing her opposite upper arm in order to soothe the nervous goosebumps that had risen. "You're not..freaked out?"
Arnold's smile widened and he stepped in until they were only a few inches apart; reaching out, he didn't hesitate to take her hand in both of his, green eyes once again seeking out those frightened blue ones.
"I am-a little." He admitted then, and he tightened his hands onto of hers when he started to feel her pull backwards. "But!" With a gentle, almost playful pull he tugged her back in after she had managed a successful step back."-The only reason I am is because it's just a little weird when you've known someone for so long, and how they've always been, and then you finally see the side they never show." Helga watched him as he spoke, his voice held that typical gentle, encouraging tone that she had come to love hearing, now directed at her. It made her heart swell, truthfully. "You don't know how happy I am, Helga, because now I know that side exists, for certain. I always thought it did, but could never be sure. But now that you let me see what you created, I know it's for real."
So he accepted it, her craziness. That was encouraging. She blinked, still having a hard time believing it honestly. But it still left that particular question unanswered. Helga cleared her throat, suddenly feeling exceptionally shy. Sinking her teeth into her lower lip, she lowered her eyes to their hands.
"But you still don't-feel the same." She found the words slipping out on their own accord, and she coughed then in order to regain some of that composure. "I mean-hypothetically speaking of course, if what I said that night was all true.."
Her words only made his hands tighten around hers reassuringly, and he stared down at them for a moment, feeling that blush once again cross his face.
"I know I like you, Helga. I know I've always liked you, and now that I know everything you said was true, well-" It was his turn to be struck with that sudden shyness, and the loud thump of his heart again and again in his chest almost drowned out his words. "It's getting there. Can we leave it at that for now?" He glanced up to her face beseechingly, but his words, which had started out as shy and uncertain took on a very confident tone that drew a small smile from her.
She was young, and he was young, and while he decided that he very much enjoyed this sensitive, creative, artistic side of Helga, and was overjoyed that it definitely existed, beyond simple suspicions, he didn't want to rush into anything, especially for her sake.
She nodded wordlessly, and he returned her small smile, while letting a single hand drop to his side, so that now only one of his hands clutched hers. He maneuvered it so that their fingers intertwined.
"Good. Because I really want to get to know you Helga, everything you never showed before."
Helga blinked, pondering over what that would entail, but if that's what it would take to finally, after so long of pining, and wishing, and hoping, get what she wanted, she figured she'd work on it, for him.
"I'll..try.." She whispered, and her blush intensified when she felt him squeeze her hand reassuringly.
"Good." He noticed her eyes were fixed to the floor, and he imagined she was feeling incredibly open and vulnerable at that point, from years of having built those walls so tall and solid, all for him to break them down in a few seemingly eternal moments. But he also knew that downstairs, and outside there were a ton of people eager to face her, along with him and Gerald, and he didn't want her to miss out on something she deserved. "Now, I'm going back outside, and you're going to come with me, because it's your party too, and you need to be there."
It was definitely a statement, rather than a question. Had this been an hour ago, he would've received numerous death threats, and that angry scowl. But now, she could only respond with a small, dreamy sigh and a nod, her feet barely touching the floor as he guided her out of that room, and into the neighborhood, their hands still fondly linked.
By then the afternoon was giving way to twilight; overhead the first signs of night were stretched across the very uppermost portions of the sky, painting it a dark sapphire, bedazzled with flecks of silver.
Helga sucked in the cool, evening air, noticing the festive lanterns glowing hung up over each and every doorstep, and the people there were all laughing, dancing, eating, talking. It was all pure happiness, and it was all because of the three of them.
"There she is!" There was a big voice from behind her and it startled her then, but even more so when she was swept up in a huge bear hug by her dad. Her fingers slipped from Arnold's, and from over her dad's shoulder she saw him standing there with that satisfied, half lidded smile looking up at her. "Hey girl. I'm real sorry about yelling at you earlier. I just didn't get why you didn't want to come out and join the party." With her in his arms, he held her back a little so that their eyes could meet, and she was, for lack of a better word, surprised.
"It's okay, Dad" Helga responded a little meekly, still reeling from just about everything that had gone on that afternoon.
Soon after, Harvey the mailman and Mr Greene stepped up along side the two, the latter slapping Big Bob on the back of the shoulder.
"Arnold told us what you helped them do, Helga. That was pretty courageous." The butcher pointed out with a big grin on his face.
"Yeah, I hope you realize how happy you three made all the families that lived here for so long. " Harvey stated in addition, motioning with a hand to the crowds of their friends all stretched down the street, and the surrounding side streets.
Helga followed his hand, still absorbing the sights. It was a lot to take in, truthfully. She had never imagined she would help so many people, actually it wasn't even her reason for acting in the first place. Her actions were solely for the one that she loved wholeheartedly. Yet at the same time, now that she was here, absorbing the rare compliments, she couldn't help but feel a little pleased inwardly anyway, that she had helped those people.
Heh, I guess Arnoldo's been rubbing off on me. She thought to herself with a small snicker.
She then barely registered her father's hearty chuckle afterwards as he held her close, an exceptionally rare show of affection that made her feel just barely warm inside. Her otherwise blank expression gave way to a small, awkward smile as he hugged her tight enough that her chin came to rest awkwardly on his shoulder. The faint "yeah, that's right. I'm proud of her" lingering in her ears, though it was muffled, almost as if she didn't believe it was actually said.
And then, she was back on the ground, the affection gone as quickly as it came. She looked up to her father, whose attention was elsewhere, and she knew she probably wouldn't get another moment like that again for sometime, or until the next good deed, she supposed. But then again, at least they did exist, at some point or another.
She turned around and found that Arnold was waiting for her, that same half lidded, knowing grin on his face as he held a hand out for her. Helga eyed it for a moment, but took it just the same with that tiny, almost nervous smile. He didn't need to comment on the scene that just took place, she could see the satisfaction he derived from it.
With their attention now focused on the party at hand, the music from the DJ was loud throughout the streets, and the vibrations echoed beneath their feet. In front of the massive speakers, most of their friends had gathered to dance. Over the crowds, Arnold spotted Gerald and Phoebe who happened to be dancing together.
"Hey Arnold!" His best friend called, waving them over. Arnold waved, and then glanced back to his date.
"Shall we, Helga?" He asked, his tone light and playful.
Looking from those warm eyes, over to the crowds again, and more specifically to their waiting dancing friends, Helga felt her fear slowly start to dissipate, and instead, it was replaced by that familiar yearning that arose every so often; that want to be a simple kid, with simple friends, and having simple fun.
"Sure, why not?" She responded with an equally playful voice, letting her shoulders rise and fall in a small shrug. But she let her eyes lock with his again, and this time they held a more genuine appearance, which in turn was coupled by an even more genuine smile. "Lets kick it, Football head."
Arnold grinned, and started running, his fingers still laced with hers so he tugged her after, just so he could pull her into the throng of their friends, who were enthralled in the music. The duo quickly followed, joining Gerald and Phoebe, and Helga had to admit, to herself more than anyone, that for once she was glad she listened, and joined the party.
Arnold noticed the rather peaceful smile that had taken over Helga's normally angry face while they all danced together, and had he been a mind reader, he would have been able to say he agreed with her. But since he wasn't he could only formulate that opinion for himself.
The opinion which included how he was glad he went to see her, gladder that he had gotten through to her, and in the end he was glad she came.
"The sun goes down, the stars come out, and all that counts is here and now. My universe will never be the same. I'm glad you came..."
Loooong. Oh well. This works equally good as a one shot I think. But I have plans for this..since I love this friggen song so much ( in case your wondering, this was the song I envisioned playing while the kids were dancin' ehueheh). Anyway, Hope you all enjoyed, and send me some feedbacks please because I also friggen love that so much as well. Good bad indifferent. Ciao my loves. -heart-