(A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews! I'm honestly super excited about all of you liking the story so far. Hopefully all your questions you've asked will be answered within this chapter if not the next but don't worry :p I have read them!)
"Oh Arnold... You have brought me along into such a bright and dazzling world! And in the midst of that light, my love radiates so that I can't see a thing. Blindly, I would follow you, my love! I bare myself naked in front of you, pure of thought, love and emotion... if only you would have me to. I would sing the song of our love to the night, to the morning, to the skies and the sea... and yet..." Helga clutched her locket to her heart as she gazed up at the large bright moon in the sky from her basement window. It had become late into the night and she grew longing for him. "And yet I let the ice build around me as some sort of fortress to the rest of the world. You beg to be let in and break it down but my hearts keepers say No! Why must I torment myself this way! Is it penance for the torment I have caused you throughout your childish life? My golden haired king; my muse; my beloved... How can I let myself let you in? Surely there is some way..."
Slowly she sunk to her knees, eyes still locked on the luminous orb. "If only you could hear this plea... Please, be the thoughtful and wise soul you are! Break me of myself and free the being within!"
Within her dreams that night followed flashbacks of her preschool years that tormented her. Kids laughing and pointing fingers. Her love being mocked like some sort of clown at a circus. Within that circus, her father; the ringmaster. He pointed them towards her and engaging the crowd, they all laughed as she lay naked in front of them all. Jeering, they threw things her way. At first, soft rotten fruit that splattered all over and around her, next harder things like rocks until she was covered in a solid foundation... the foundation of which her whole facade was built.
"You gotta come out..." She heard a familiar voice pillow into her ears "You can't stay in there forever..."
Her heart pounded. No... I must stay here, where it's safe! They can't hurt me anymore now... she sunk deeper and deeper beneath the rubble.
"Please..." It begged but she wouldn't budge. Outside she could still hear the crowd. Still see their ugly laughing faces. How silly it was for her to think she could be loved. She wasn't beautiful and perfect like her sister. She wasn't smart and skilled with various talents that would win her awards and scholarships. She was ugly and underdeveloped compared to that of her astounding sister and peers. "You're really brave and loyal..." It continued. "If you won't come out, why not let me in?" Her heart pulsated within her chest. Let you in...
"Yes. Let me in..." It sang back as some of the stones surrounding her crumbled. Light began to peer through and the crowd's voices began to die down. You want to come... in? Why would anyone want to come in? This is a fortress made up of anger and resentment. Of humility and self loathing. I must keep all this inside! She cried, if I open this barrier, then what will protect me from... from them! Helga shook from within and the crowd got louder again. She could feel more things being thrown even though they couldn't reach her and it didn't hurt anymore. "Let them see the real you!" The real... me?
"Yes, the real you... The real Helga that I know..."
The real me.
"Helga..."
The real me...
"Helga!"
"Helga, get your lazy butt out of that bed and come help with customers!" The sleeping girl suddenly awoke to the harsh loud tone of her father. "Criminy!" He yelled before she heard him stomp away from the door between them. What time is it..? She wondered as she picked up her alarm clock. 6:45 am. Rubbing her forehead, the girls head started to pound. When was it she fell asleep last night? It made her wonder if this is how Miriam felt waking up with her frequent hangovers.
Removing her bed covers, Helga swung her legs over her bed and dropped down to the floor. It was cold and only sent further signals to her head to hurt further. She walked over to the light switch by the door and turned it on. "Geez..." She moaned in frustration, still groggy and full of random memories of last night's dream. "What was that all about?" She spoke aloud, walking over to her dresser and pulling out her usual school attire. Slowly she adorned it, opened up her door and walked into the hallway leading to the beeper showroom where she knew her dad was bound to be. Standing there with his arms crossed and tapping his foot impatiently on the ground, Big Bob Pataki glared at his daughter.
"What's wrong with you, girl! Don't you know the beeper sale started over 45 minutes ago?" He bellowed at her. "I'm going to need your help!"
Helga looked around the room. Miriam was lying on the couch asleep, and there were no customers in sight. "What exactly do you need myself with, Bob?" She asked in a soft but aggressive tone. "Are there ghosts trying to buy beepers, AGAIN?"
"Hey! Don't you sass me young lady!" He stomped towards her and put his fat finger in her face. "Today is the day we get back on our feet so you park your fanny over by that door and greet customers when they come in!"
Helga looked over at the large clock by the checkout desk. It was now 7:15. "So you're telling me this sale started an hour and fifteen minutes ago and no one has showed up, yet you want me to waste my day greeting all your non-existent customers?" She growled back, narrowing her eyes at the large man. "You do this every week! There is no sale, BOB! No one is coming! No one ever will!" She began to yell out of frustration, as she picked up her backpack next to the couch, startling her mother, and headed towards the door. "Face it! This-" She waved around at the establishment, "All of this is done! Take you're good pal Robbie's advice and count your losses and move on!"
"Move on?!" He continued to yell as he walked towards her. Once he got inches from her face, he propped his hand against the side of the door "I put my life into this business and you think I should Move on?! Look here little missy, you're going to apologize for those words after today's sale because we're gonna make it rich!"
She could feel his breath plunder her face in a disgusting puff and scrunched her nose. This had been a normal thing, as of late. Bob had become far more aggressive than normal ever since his friend and partner told him to give up. It was rather pathetic at this point to continue trying and everyone knew it but him. "Sure dad," Helga sighed as she pushed on the door behind her, letting the cool breeze make its way past them, "And I heard pigs are gonna fly any day now..."
Helga turned away from him and exited the building, her father still hot on her tail. "You get back here, right now!" He demanded but, to his dismay, was completely ignored as she continued to walk across the street.
"I have to go to SCHOOL!" She yelled back, once at a safe distance from the man "Where I can learn and actually DO something with my life!"
As she spoke those words, Helga felt a small tap on her shoulder. Turning with swift might, she stared down at her tiny best friend who had a shocked expression. Without so much as a word, Helga grabbed Phoebe's hand and marched away, leaving Bob to yell incoherently in the distance.
Phoebe knew it was smarter to not ask questions and just obediently follow. She could hear their argument from a mile away and knew what it all about. Helga eventually let go of her hand and readjusted her back pack, huffing and puffing with anger as she did so.
"Good morning, Helga." The small girl politely said after enough time had passed. Helga responded back with a mumble and a grunt. "I see he's at it again..."
"Well DOI Phoebe!" Helga finally answered in a loud cry, "He won't stop! Every single day it's the exact same thing. He wakes me up all freaking early, going on and on about customers that don't exist and insist on me staying home!" Helga's breathing started to become shallow, as she continued on with her rant. "I can't wait until we can't pay rent at this place either and the bank kicks us out! Then maybe he'll wake up! And at least THEN they'll repossess all those stupid beepers so he can't continue to cling to them like they're his only world!"
"But Helga!" Phoebe spoke once her friend was finally done. "That would mean you would be homeless! You shouldn't wish for that..."
"It would be better than dealing with HIM like that every stinking day!" The blonde girl retorted.
"Helga..." Phoebe scolded, looking up at her tall and hopelessly frustrated companion. "You know that isn't true. He'll have to give up at some point... Why don't you stay at my place for a while?"
The two ended up at the intersection where they regularly met their two male partners and stood there waiting patiently. "You know he won't let me, Pheebs..."
"How about we tell him that there is some big talent show going on and we have to practice at my place?" Phoebe suggested hopefully.
Helga shook her head and looked towards their now appearing other halves in the distance "It wouldn't matter. There are only 2 things that matter to him and that's Olga and his business."
Phoebe knew she wasn't wrong and only hung her head in defeat. It was wrong for Helga to have to deal with such abuse but there wasn't anything she could do.
Eventually the boys caught up to them and apologized for being late. "Sorry guys," Gerald started looking more annoyed than normal. "Timberly and my parents got into a heated fight and I, of course, had to break them up..."
Arnold gave a small laugh "It was actually quite a sight. Gerald, the mediator!"
The dark skin boy glared at his shorter blonde friend before clearing his throat and taking his girlfriends hand. "Yeah, whatever man. Let's just go..."
Arnold nodded then turned to Helga, who looked like she hadn't had the best morning either. He could see the circles under her eyes like she hadn't slept in days and her flushed skin tone. Turning to look at Phoebe, she responded to him with a stern head shake as to not bother asking and he understood. The couple started to walk ahead as Arnold kept up with Helga's own pace.
"Uhhh... Nice weather this morning..?" He tried but got no response from the girl. He knew it was a long shot but couldn't stand their silence. She looked so... so hurt. I wonder what could have happened... He thought, as he put his empty hands into his coat pocket. Arnold could hear Phoebe trying to cheer up Gerald and he could only wish to do the same.
The walk seemed longer than normal as the atmosphere was dark and dreary. It was almost a relief to reach their classroom and sit in their respective seats, at least then he was able to watch her in secret and ponder what to say next.
Mr. Simmons walked into class, his usual cheerful self and greeted the class warmly. After a moment to quiet the classroom, he explained our new project.
"It's called Recycling Treasures of the Past!" He exclaimed excitedly, "P.S 118 got a letter from our mayor yesterday evening stating that she wanted to hear our future's voice and ideas on how to reinvent the city and some of its landmarks! Doesn't that sound like fun?!" He cried in happiness as the rest of the room let out a groan. "I want you all to go to various, run down places and imagine what could be done to reclaim it, so to speak."
Gerald raised his hand, "You mean like we did with the old abandoned lot a few years back?"
"Sort of, Gerald!" Simmons smiled, as he started writing on the board behind him. He drew a plastic bottle then explained how it could be cut and made into a bird feeder, along with a few other suggestions of how recycling could benefit the city. "The skies are the limit to where you can go and what you can think of! I want you to visit buildings that have been abandoned and envision how you could fix them up and make something new from them! Whether it be your own business or a new one built in replacement of them. Something that could be... revitalized or refurbished into something helpful."
"So you mean like tearing down a gross used clothing store and putting in a Rauphiell Laurel store instead?" Rhonda asked as she crossed her legs and looked intrigued.
Mr. Simmons gave a tired and sad look. "No... I mean like taking a littered shore that is seemingly unused and making into maybe a park, or something that could be enjoyed by the public."
Arnold thought of the humanitarian project he had just done a month or so back to help refurbish a bunch of garbage into a house for Monkey Man and how it didn't work out so well. Slumping in his seat, images of the homeless destroying it flashed in his mind and the project somehow didn't seem very fun.
"The project is due at the end of next week so you have plenty of time to think about it." The balding teacher finished, with a smile as he erased the drawings on the board. "I look forward into reading all your ideas and maybe pitching these ideas to the mayor and make them a reality! Doesn't that sound awesome?" The class began to talk among themselves excitedly about ideas.
"Now I know all of you will have your own special ideas but, because our time is limited to hand these ideas in, so you'll be grouping into pairs of two to decide when and where you will be doing this. I want your plans handed in at the end of class!" He finished before fumbling into his desk and pulling out papers that he handed to each student.
As Arnold was handed his paper, he immediately looked to Gerald who seemed to already be grouping with Phoebe. "Dang it..." Arnold swore under his breath. Gerald had always been his partner with the exception of a few projects.
Meanwhile, Helga was feeling the same betrayal as Phoebe giggled and began to plan ideas with her oh so cool boyfriend. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes to relax as her headache was starting to reappear. Could today get any worse? We only just started school and already have a big project to do? It's like we're slaves of something... Placing her hand on her forehead, she decided it would probably be best if she head to the nurse and got some aspirin.
Helga rose from her seat and headed to talk to their teacher, who nodded and handed the young girl as pass. Arnold watched curiously before quickly picking up his body and caught up to her at the door.
"Hey Helga, where are you going?" He asked, cautiously touching her shoulder.
Instinctively, she swatted him away before actually noticing who he was. "Oh, Hey..." She responded dully without looking at him "The nurse's office."
Alarmed, he followed her out of the classroom and shut the door behind them "Why? What's wrong? Are you sick? Do you want me to come with you?" His words were going a mile a minute and only making her head throb more.
Wanting nothing more than to just shut him up, she waved him off "Yeah sure, do whatever you want Football head just keep your voice down, will Ya?"
"Oh..." He looked back at the class room and then back at her and noticed she had already began to walk ahead. Normally he would have told Mr. Simmons he was accompanying her but made this time an exception. Quickly, the boy followed after her until catching up and remaining at her pace.
"What's wrong?" He asked again, this time even more concerned. "You didn't look so good earlier either... you sick?"
Helga gave a heavy sigh and continued onward "Just a headache, no big deal." She looked down at him for a moment, then back in front of them "You don't have to follow me, Arnold."
"I know... But I want to." He smiled, doing his best to make her feel even a little bit better.
The thought of his concern made her heart flutter a little. Despite all the bad that was coming from her waking up that morning, at least she still had him caring about her.
"You're such a goof." She chuckled as they reached the nurses office door. "I'm just going to get an aspirin, stay here."
Arnold nodded and did as he was told, waiting on the bench outside the door. Helga disappeared into the room and he sat there in silence. I hope she's okay... He thought as he patiently. I wonder if I can get her to tell me what happened. Or maybe I should just let her talk to me on her own...
He waited for what seemed like forever until she came back out and mumbled something under her breath. "What happened?" He asked, following her as she walked away again.
"Geez Arnold!" She shouted his way "Nothing of any importance!"
Arnold smiled as she seemed a little like herself again. Maybe the pill was starting to take effect. It was a bit silly to him that he was getting happy over her yelling at him. "So... Wanna work with me on that project Mr. Simmons was talking about?"
"What project?" She asked blankly before looking at him.
They both stopped. "The one about revitalizing the neighborhood?" Arnold raised an eyebrow "You know, fixing up the bay area or turning old abandoned house into a homeless shelter or something...?"
Helga gave a nervous giggle "Oh, THAT Project..." She knew Phoebe had already grouped up with tall hair boy but was surprised that he actually wanted to work on the project with her. "I mean, I guess it wouldn't be so bad working with a dimwitted football head like you for a change..."
She definitely is back to being Helga again, Arnold thought happily as he opened their classroom door and let her in first before following suit.
"Great!" He responded as he looked around the classroom to see if anyone had noticed they were gone which thankfully wasn't the case. "Do you have any ideas on where or what you'd like to do it on?" He asked as he followed her to her desk.
"Nope. Not a clue in the world. I'll let you figure out that one." Helga dismissed, pulling out her pen to write her name on the worksheet. "You're always full of bright ideas, right?"
Arnold was surprised to hear a possible compliment from her, but took it with pride.
As he spoke aloud ideas, Helga scribbled them all down halfheartedly and Arnold started to remember some of the projects they had worked on together in the past. Their ant science project: which started out okay but ended pretty badly since she was being unreasonable, but even after all their dysfunction they ended up working together and getting a passing grade. Their parenting egg project: which started out very horrible as he was attempting to get ahead of himself with her bad attitude, to ironically have foiled her plans to attempt to be nice but in the end, it wasn't so bad when they tried to work it out and ended up passing again. Finally there was the Float Parade, where she willingly helped him get funds from her father to help build it into something magnificent! Only to have her father ruin it by masking it as a beeper. Fortunately for him and his class, the car ended up going out of control and wound up shredding the beeper and relieving their hard work to the city and winning!
I guess working with Helga has always yielded some sort of positive outcome. He thought as he watched her work, unable to keep himself from smiling. Although she seemed like she hated school and everything was such a bother, she was actually rather successful at the projects she immersed herself in. Come to think of it... He further pondered Her works within the last few years; she has even rivaled Phoebe in the top grades of our class! The warm feeling in his chest returned as he continued to gaze at her, half lidded and full of hope. It was astonishing that he had never noticed these things even though he had known her practically his whole life.
Noticing that Arnold had stopped blurting out random ideas, Helga looked up at him and saw his expression, causing a red hue to darken her cheeks. There was no mistaking the look her was giving her as she had only made it half a million times in her life of knowing eyes met for a brief moment and his feelings seemed to pour into her own as they danced only within their own world together.
Suddenly they were jolted back into reality by a loud crash from behind them. Turning instantly, they saw their jinxy classmate Eugene on the floor and his seat turned over with him. "I'm okay..." He whimpered as his partner Sheena scrambled over to help him up.
"You really must be more careful Eugene!" She said, worry in her voice as she collected his things that were now scattered around the floor. "You might end up hurting yourself really bad and..." she gulped "Bleeding again..."
Eugene smiled as he helped her put everything back into place "Gosh, I'm really sorry Sheena! I promise to be more careful next time!"
"Geez... You'd think after probably breaking all the bones in his body by now that the loser would learn!" Helga scoffed, returning back to her paper and erasing the accidental mark she had made when flinching from the loud sound.
"Yeah, you'd think that..." He replied softly, sounding as if he had just woken up from a dream.
"Psh... Moment ruined." Helga unthinkingly blurted out, causing her partner to look at her in surprise. "I-I mean..." She fumbled for words to come out but to no avail.
"You mean...?" He coaxed, almost trying to help her make something up in sake of herself.
"I mean..." Helga then suddenly kicked him in the shin and returned to her work. "Shut up, football head and get back to work! Doi!"
Unable to contain his yelp of pain, Arnold covered his mouth in attempt to now bring attention to himself. "Ow! Don't be so rough, Helga!" He scolded.
"Well don't be so dumb, Arnoldo! Sheesh! This project isn't going to think itself up now is it?" She retorted, doing well to change the subject and not have to explain herself.
Class eventually broke into lunch and the students gathered their things and made their way into the cafeteria. The meal was mediocre at best, per usual, and all the student cliques stayed at their own respective table, save for a few minglers here and there.
"Ugh! Oh my gawd! Nadine! Would you get a look at that dress?!" Rhonda shouted, so loud that the whole room could probably hear her. She turned her magazine left, then right, and then pulled it far away from her face as to possibly see different angles on the one picture. "I just don't get it! How could that even look good?!"
Nadine had taken no interest in the magazine and continued to read her geography book and take notes. "Uh huh..." Was all the girl said to keep her best friend entertained.
"I mean... That hat is just wayyyy to vintage and that belt! Just look at it!" The rich girl said as she shoved the magazine in between Nadine's face and her book.
Unable to avoid the subject now, the tan skinned girl looked over the image that was rudely placed in front of her and thought up her own opinion. "I dunno, Rhonda. It doesn't look that bad to me."
"That BAD?!" Rhonda scoffed, clearly appalled at the opinion and snatched the picture back. "I mean, sure if we lived in the 50's again! What is this design line thinking?"
"Maybe vintage is what they're going for?" Nadine suggested as she got back to her own work. "Now days it really seems like people are trying to bring back old trends. Floppy hats, thick framed glasses, plaid skirts, button up blouses... just to name a few."
Surprised that her friend had any knowledge of the current fashion world, Rhonda took what she said into consideration. It was true that a lot of old things were coming back. "I guess you're right... Next maybe we'll start seeing boys in fedoras! Hipsters are sooo weird."
Nadine nodded but continued to keep herself occupied in what was actually important. Rhonda maybe her best friend but even she knew when to stop entertaining her or she would never shut up.
Over in the next table, Helga listened in on the pompous girl's speech and quietly ate the grotesque burger that had been placed on her plate, along with the stale french fries and green jello. She couldn't help but chuckle at her frustration though. "Did you guys hear?" She beckoned to the other members at her table. "Little Miss Queen is going ape over some new shirt or something. Sheesh, I wish my life was so simple that, that's all I had to worry me."
"Actually Helga," Phoebe responded, looking to her friend from across the table. "Fashion culture can be rather important to some people. It's just as important as say... Music or films. It actually is known to define a whole culture or tribe, if you will."
Helga gave her tiny friend a disgusted look and bit into a stale fry. "Criminy Pheebs, it's like you're a history teacher or something. Next are you gonna tell us about the origin of hair spray or something?"
"I would be happy to, if you're interested." Phoebe smiled, knowing full well that the question was sarcastic.
"You know, Rhonda does kinda have a point." Gerald unexpectedly inquired, "Why do old schools things tend to come back? You think they died out for a reason, right?"
"Actually Gerald, it's quite common for history to repeat itself. If things were popular back then, there also had to be a reason so why not try and bring it back?" Phoebe inquired back, bringing a valid point. "This includes remakes of movies, TV shows, fashion, music and a lot of other pop culture."
"Phoebe's right. Nostalgia tends to sell..." Arnold smiled as he chimed into the heated conversation. "My grandparents have been listening to Dino Spumoni for a long as I can remember, and I was just as surprised as the next person when his records started to suddenly sell out."
Helga laughed as she finished her food and propped her feet up on an empty chair. "Monkeys, all of them. Can't have an original idea or taste? Copy someone else's!"
Phoebe hesitated at her comment but knew that, that was also a valid point. "A sale is a sale, to be fair."
"Yeah well society is screwed up enough. We don't need to copy other people's mistakes and present them as our new flashy idea!" Helga animated as she threw her hands up in the air to imitate sparkles.
Realizing that the conversation wasn't going to go anywhere productive, Arnold thought back to their project which had a similar topic. "So what have you two decided to do for the recycling the town project?" He asked, turning to Gerald who had also just finished his food.
Gerald wiped his face and smiled at Phoebe "She had the awesome idea of going to the old movie cinema on 42nd street and seeing its potential for something new."
"There is a lot of old architecture around that area, as well as a few landmarks. I was thinking of the possibility of maybe making it into a museum... but I want to take a better look at the demographic first." Phoebe explained, happy that complimented her idea and announced it to the rest of them. "What about you two? I assume you also grouped up?"
Arnold frowned and shook his head before looking over at Helga who had nothing to say about the subject before continuing "We... have had some ideas but nothing that stuck or that we could agree on."
"You two? Not agreeing? That's hardly surprising!" Gerald couldn't help but laugh. "Next you're gonna tell me that the food tasted bad, right?"
"Come on Gerald," His best friend with a hint of annoyance. "Remember the last thing we did to improve our city? That didn't end so well, now did it?"
"Yeah but this project is only a reasonable idea, not actually doing it." The tall haired boy corrected a matter-of-factly "And I'm honestly surprised that you, Mr. Look on the bright-side all the time, is actually not looking forward to this."
Arnold looked over at Helga who had been fiddling with her tray and completely ignoring the conversation. He had had quite a few ideas, but she shot them all down... but he couldn't tell Gerald that. He also didn't want to make her unhappy either. "Don't worry, I'll think of something... Right Helga?"
Hearing her name made her jump a little into attention "Huh? Uhhh... Whatever, Football head."
"Just remember that we only have till the end of next week to turn the project in so don't take too long and fail..." Gerald reminded them, a little concerned as he could see Helga had little to no interest. Arnold had never once failed a project and he hoped the couples new found... relationship wouldn't be the beginning of an end.
Despite understanding Gerald's concern, Arnold smiled at him reassuringly and placed his hand on Helga's shoulder "Don't worry so much! We got this-" He said before his hand was swatted away.
"Who said you could touch me?!" She snapped at him, before getting up and picking up her empty lunch tray. "Come on, Phoebe."
The small Asian girl looked at the two boys in confusion, "Coming!" she said before following her harsh companion with her own lunch tray.
Gerald waited until the girls were completely out of sight before turning back to Arnold with the same concerned look, which only got greater as he saw his friend's expression. "You okay, man?"
Arnold shook his head and gave a sign in defeat. "Yeah..." He started, before deciding it would be best to actually come out with the truth. "I don't know, honestly. She is just really hard to read, Gerald."
Hearing such a common line come from his friend's mouth made him laugh a little, despite the situation. "Yeah well, she is a girl. They're always hard to read."
"Yeah but this is a little different. She's not like other girls, Gerald." Although the setting of the conversation probably wasn't the best, Arnold figured he needed to get the situation off his chest at some point so it might as well be now. At least most of the students had finished their food and began clearing out, causing little to overhear.
"You got that right." Gerald nodded. "She's Helga Pataki! The class bully! The meanest and cruelest girl I know so yeah, she definitely isn't like other girls."
His friend's description caused Arnold to get a little angry. "But you do know she is much more than that. You've seen it for yourself a few times." He said in her defense.
Gerald rolled his eyes "Yeah, yeah, I know. She stands up and helps out with things get out of hand and I totally am giving her credit for that but just because you do a few good things doesn't mean it erases all the bad things you've done. She will always be the same Helga Pataki in my book, Arnold. Whether you like-like her now or not." Gerald took the last bite of his burger, and washed it down with some soda before continuing. "And I have to honestly say you've got weird taste in girls, buddy."
Knowing there was no way to change his friends mind; Arnold just gave up and picked up his own plate. "I just..." He started, a little wistful in his voice. "I just want to help her."
Gerald laughed and picked up his things and began to walk towards the trash "And you can't always help people, Arnold. Its life! Some people are just... who they are, man! Set in their ways."
Arnold knew full well that in some cases, Gerald was right but in this case he wasn't. He knew Helga was much MUCH more than what she let others see. He knew she was much softer underneath that fierce exterior she showed everyone all the time but that wasn't something he could convince his best friend of. If she wasn't willing to show others, then they would never see and never change their mind. Ignorance is bliss, as they say and Gerald was proving that point.
"One day you'll see..." Arnold finally let out, as they fully cleaned up and grabbed their things. "You'll see what I see in her."
"Whatever you say, Arnold." Gerald replied, as they slowly made their way to the classroom before the bell rang. "Whatever you say..."
School started back up again and eventually ended, letting out all the anxious students to depart into their daily life on the outside. Arnold had attempted to hang out with Gerald after school but was unfortunately denied as him and Phoebe were going to research the area in which their project was based. This left Arnold with very little to do and he decided maybe it was best to go home. It had been a while since he had last done this by himself, but it wasn't such a bad thing. It gave him time to be alone in his thoughts and maybe, as he passed establishments old and new, it would give him a successful idea on what to base his and Helga's project on.
He passed the park, still plenty full of people and blooming with life. He passed a bakery, smelling the sweet smell of freshly baked good that made his stomach rumble. He passed the Ice cream shop that still had plenty of customers; old and young. More and more he passed business that seemed to be doing pretty fine. Beginning to feel absolutely hopeless, Arnold decided to go to the peer to think. It was always quiet there and it was a fine place to think about life. He found himself going there from time to time and always ended up getting something positive from the experience.
The peer was just as it normally was. Men taking cargo on and off boats, the smell of salt and fish lingered in the air as well as the occasional fisherman docking his boat with his catch of the day. Arnold stood at the edge and crossed his arms to rest up against the fence surrounding the dock. He watched the people and their daily lives and wondered to himself if they're lives were just as complicated behind closed doors as his was now becoming. He had always had a pretty peaceful and good life, which he would never deny but behind the curtains of his seemingly blissful life hung the fact he never had parents. His grandparents were great but he never got to experience having a regular family like his friends and this one daunting issue always loomed even in the brightest of times. However... That was finally solved! Finally that curtain was drawn back and his parents were let out and were back home waiting for him... and yet, here he was away from them willingly.
Directly after returning from San Lorenzo, Arnold had made it a point to spend almost every waking moment with them, to almost an overwhelming point. The stories they shared, the hugs they gave, the kisses on his forehead before he went to sleep were all things he had always dreamed about and now were a reality. He HAD parents now... so his life should be perfect and whole, right?
Arnold could feel a complex wave of emotions rock back and forth inside him.
"When did everything get so complicated..." He wondered aloud, staring into the water at his reflection.
The jungle had given him many things, not just his parents. It had given the young man insight to real danger and to real love and sacrifice. These were not things normal for almost twelve years old to experience. The jungle had shown him that things weren't always as they seemed and nothing was black and white. People he trusted could easily turn on him. People he loved could easily die without him even being able to say goodbye. It also showed him that no matter what the cost... someone would always be by his side. "Helga..." He whispered to himself, as he watched the air ripple the water blow him. He knew she had a tough life, probably even more tough then he could image but he would never know unless she told him. Sure, he knew what her parents were like. He knew how they treated more as an object than an actual daughter while her sister was put up on a shelf like a trophy. Anyone with eyes could see that... but just like with the curtain in his life, he knew there was probably one in hers as well.
Just as the boy began to ponder the matter, he was startled by the loud sound of what sounded like metal colliding with more metal. Arnold turned around to see what was going on and saw someone marching towards his direction, kicking anything in their way. As he narrowed his eyes and paid closer attention, he could hear said person yelling about something until he realized he recognized just who it was and it wasn't long before that person noticed him either.
"Helga?!" He yelled, confused and not sure if it was his mind playing games on him.
"Arnold?!" She shouted back, now gradually approaching him.
The meeting almost seemed poetic as she was just on his mind but after thinking about it for a second, they had coincidentally met up in this location way more than once.
"What are YOU doing here, Football head? Shouldn't you be at home listening to your parents telling you bedtime stories or something?" She asked, clearly out of breath from her tantrum a moment earlier.
Arnold couldn't help but smile at her existence there with him, and wrapped his arms around her body "I can't believe you're here!" He spoke with shock.
Although she would normally shove him off of her, Helga noticed her surroundings and let it be. "Yeah well... It seems like we always have a way of running into each other, Arnoldo. What else is new?"
Arnold laughed and let her go, beaming with happiness as he gazed upon her face. "Maybe its fate?" he encouraged, feeling hopeful now that he was suddenly jolted out of his not so pleasant thoughts.
Helga raised her eyebrow at the suggestion and, although she had thought that many times in her life, decided not to admit it openly. "Or... maybe we both just happen to like smelling rotting fish carcass and loud angry sailors, which mind you, I feel right at home with."
Her suggestion only made him smile brighter before remembered that she was in fact very angry a moment ago. "So what brings you here? What were you yelling about?"
The sight of her beloved only made her forget her issues for a short while before being thrust back into the fit of rage she felt. "Oh Nothing. I just had to get away from home, is all."
Arnold furrowed his brow and watched as she took his place at the edge of the dock and rested her back to it and faced him. "Things worse than usual?" Was all he could inquire as he didn't know all that much to begin with.
Helga heaved a large sigh and remained silent for a while. You know you can open up to him... just DO it! She screamed from within but the reality was, it was much harder to do than to think. The young girl closed her eyes and began to listen to the waves. The whole reason she always wound up at the docks was the sound always seemed to calm her soul, even just for a little while. Doing her best to breathe in and out to calm down, she began to collect herself in order to begin the story she would tell him.
"To give you the reader's digest version... you know my dad's business has hit rock bottom. You know we no longer have a how to live in and are currently being housed inside our beeper warehouse, and you know, well, my dad. Right?"
"Right." Arnold nodded, patiently awaiting the rest.
"Well..." she started nervously, "At first, Bob remained hopeful and tried a bunch of crazy schemes to get beepers back on the map and booming like before. Then, when it didn't work, his business friend and the bank told him to give up and move on... which only caused him to become depressed for awhile, I guess..."
"Go on..." He encouraged, amazed she was opening up to him again all on her own.
"Now, he's just angry all the time. Forcing me and Miriam to build displays. Trying to push sales and make me stay home from school to help him out with it since OLGA can't because she's away in Alaska again. He just doesn't get it! He doesn't get that no one wants his piece of crap obsolete technology!" Helga could feel her rage start to build up and decided to pace around to contain it as best as possible. "We are on the edge of becoming homeless and, instead of getting a real job and trying to support his family like a normal father and husband, he insists on being delusional! Like we are just items on his shelf rather than his family! I'm getting sick of it, Arnold! That's why I am angry! That's why I was angry this morning and THAT'S why I had a migraine earlier."
Arnold stood in silence, unsure if he should speak or just continue to nod, afraid she would end up closing herself back up. He could see she was in a lot of pain, but until she calmed down and finished, all he could do was be patient.
"I'm just..." She yelled before going silent and halting by the water's edge again. "I'm just really tired of it all, Arnold." Helga's voice had gone from complete and utter rage to absolute exhaustion and sadness.
Placing his arm around her shoulder, he looked up into her eyes with empathy. "I'm sorry."
Helga shook her head and crossed her arms before looking away from him and down at her reflection. "Yeah, that's all Phoebe can say too. We're just kids. We don't have a say in what happens in our lives or what our parents do. All we can do is... live with it."
Nothing we can do... Arnold repeated her words in his mind, memorizing them. Nothing we can do... Nothing we can do..? It became like a broken record. Something was trying to form in his brain but wasn't coming to head.
"There's nothing we can do?" He asked out loud, causing his distressed friend to look at him in curiosity.
"Well, yeah. What can I do about Bob not wanting to give up? Have an intervention with him and explain all his actions are hurting everyone around him?" Helga laughed at the thought. "That would totally blow over well and someone would probably get a limb cut off!"
Nothing we can do..? He continued to ponder. It didn't seem right. There had to be something they could do, right?
Helga could see the cogs in Arnold's mind begin to turn as if he was about to come up with some wild plan to save the city again, or get chocolate boy to stop eating chocolate.
"Arnold... what are you thinking about?" She asked, now becoming further curious as he looked up into her eyes. Suddenly there was a gleam and a smile back on his face. "What?"
"Helga!" He shouted in happiness "There IS something we can do!"
His emotions had become contagious an Helga couldn't stop herself from smiling back even though she had no idea what he was going on about. "What?"
Arnold then reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded and slightly crumpled up piece of white paper with something written on it. He handed it over with delight and watched her face. "We can do this!"
Taking the paper, Helga became skeptical and began to open it up. Much to her dismay, all that stare back at her was their assignment from earlier. "So you want us to do this assignment to... get my mind off of how crap my life is? That's not very helpful."
Arnold snatched back the paper from her hands and held it up in front of her face. "No Helga, don't you see?"
"See WHAT?" She shouted, now becoming annoyed as he wasn't being remotely clear.
"Your family business isn't doing so well! We can make a plan to revive it!" He cried out happily, almost dancing in step.
The idea was a nice one but the reality of it wasn't quite as nice. "Arnold, don't you think my dad tried that? I've told you already, dimwit! Nothing works! And besides this assignment is just to recycle old junk into new junk that people might like or use. You can't recycle beepers into anything cool!"
Arnold shook his head. "That's where you're wrong Helga!" He started, folding the paper back up and placing it back into his pants pocket. "Remember the conversation Rhonda was having at lunch?"
Helga stared at him back, blankly "About... fashion..?"
"No! I mean, yes but no that's not what I mean. It was about old fashion suddenly becoming cool again. People like to take old, out of date, vintage stuff and use it as a fashion statement!" He finished, grabbing on to both of her hands.
Slowly, the cogs in Helga's head began to turn and she began to realize the point he was trying to make... even though it was far-fetched. "You're trying to say that you want our assignment to be how to make HIPSTERS want BEEPERS?!"
"Yes, Helga!" He smiled, squeezing on to her hands unable to contain his excitement. "We can pitch them as a fashion statement or find uses for them that would appeal to this type of fad! Maybe we can get your business afloat again, even if for a little while so you can get rid of your inventory and make your dad use that money to steer the business into another direction!"