First Hey Arnold fic, and first fic in a looooong time =) It was a random Idea I had...hope you like!
It was dark outside as she fumbled her way to the door in heavy rain. She was late…again. Which was no surprise, she usually was late these days. Conveniences like cars and buses now seemed to her like a gift only the gods could partake in. With a sigh, the tall blond fumbled for keys in the cargo pockets of her large jeans, finally extracting the wad from a pocket she didn't even know she had.
The door squeaked awkwardly as she forced it open, scraping against the floor….which was some sort of tile, she was sure. She just couldn't make out the original design or color anymore.
"Yo, Jace!" the woman snapped as she slipped her soaking shirt off and dropped it in the sink, watching as the hunter green wad seemed to leak dirty water from an unknown number of orifices. In a way, it was gross and normal at the same time.
"What?" a male voice whined as a handsome figure strode into the kitchen that was lit only by a single fluorescent bulb dangling from a cord. It was dangerous, and it was all they could afford. It was hard to enough to pay this cruddy apartment with only three rooms and one bathroom.
"Is the dryer fixed?" the woman replied as she slipped off her oversized cargo pants and proceeded to toss them in sink as well. Crossing her arms over her soaking chest, she looked his way and snapped, "Well? Is it?"
"Yes…and no…" he replied, tossing his handsome face, his brunette hair falling in shaggy waves to his shoulders.
"Jace!"
"Helli!" the male replied, crossing his arms in a similar manner, jutting his hip out to the side. "You know Im not making enough money with my painting to pay for food, much less a dryer. It works…if you use it as a storage cabinet."
"Figures," Helga sighed, wringing her hair out in the sink. "We have water?"
"Its out for a bit."
"Which is also friggin typical," Helga hissed, tossing her hair over her shoulders. Nothing ever worked here. Well, except for her.
"Honey, it's tweezing time," Jace commented, interrupting her thoughts as he reached out to poke the woman between the eyebrows. "And good heavens, you could stand to moisturize while you're out it."
"Oh stick it where the sun don't shine!" she snapped, batting his hand away. "Oh wait, you do that already."
"Love you too," the brunette hissed, "miss crabby pants. I mean after all-"
"Shut it!" Helga cautioned, raising a fierce fist to her roommate's face. "I'm in no mood."
"Bad day?" Jace commented, following her through the living area and into the bedroom they shared. It was small, but it was home.
"That's not the half of it!"
"Tell me about it sweetie." Jace flopped on the large bed in the center of the room, rolling over to observe as Helga ripped through her dresser for something clean, which was a rarity. "It'll make you feel better. Back rub? You want me to do your nails?"
Helga let out a small chuckle as she made her way into the small bathroom, fumbling for the switch. "You know I'd just use my nails to claw people."
"If you use it claw up that annoying red headed sugar blob I'll do them in red so no one would notice."
Helga grabbed a brush from the sink and jerked it through her knotted waist length mass of hair, wincing at she felt some of the strands pop free from their home on her scalp. "It's nothing Jace," she mumbled in a voice that was barely audible. "I just cant stand working as a bartender anymore. I know it's supposed to be what college kids do and all, getting jobs in these clubs and whatnot. But I swear if one more sleezebag tells me, I mean slurs at me, to take my top off, I will take his top off! Owww!" The brush snapped audibly, echoing between the two rooms.
Helga cursed as she tossed the broken fragments into the trash while Jace replied, "You haven't already? Gee, I was giving you two weeks at most, but you're doing good so far!"
"I cant get fired again," Helga sighed as she pulled the oversized shirt on. "I can't afford to not have a place to live." She trudged over to the bed, sitting heavily on it. "We're already close enough to it."
"At least you've got a scholarship, though," Jace replied softly, producing a brush from the nightstand. "You've just got to make it through a few more years of school," he encouraged as he ran it through her hair. "You can do this."
Helga sighed, closing her eyes and concentrating on the feeling of the brush pulling through her hair. She didn't like to admit the fact she liked it when Jace brushed her hair, or did her nails occasionally. It wasn't that she wanted the feeling of "girliness" it gave and Jace practically emitted; it was the feeling of someone caring for her. She had very few memories of people doing that for her. If anyone had ever showed concern or kindness for her, it had been her long time crush, Arnold.
A tiny gasp escaped her throat suddenly, but she covered it with a cough.
"Hope you arent getting a cold.." Jace muttered, oblivious.
"Its fine," she replied, casting her glance to the floor. Arnold. She tried rarely to think of him; it wasn't like they were kids living in the same town anymore. After high school, she had practically lost all contact with him, if she had ever had any to begin with. He was sure to have forgotten about her anyway. It's not like he had a reason to want to remember her. It was awkward. A small tear escaped and ran down her cheek, but it was lost within the raindrops already there.
A/N Sorry it's kinda sort of weird, but it was an idea I wanted to explore a bit =) I hope you like it. Anyway, please leave me a review if you feel the urge ^_~