Arnold straightened the collar of his light blouse. He couldn't recall the last time he stared at his reflection. Primping. Why? He thought and lightheartedly cut his eyes. Because oh, that's right, this person, of the female persuasion.

The space in between his brow creased again, wondering if she'll even show. Yeah, Arnold liked reunion type events, but there had been a few since some of his classmates graduated college. His gaze hardened for a flick in concentration. Still disbelieving the source of the butterflies fluttering in the pit of his belly.

"Shortman!" His head almost hit the ceiling.

"What?!" He barked back with a scowl.

"Hurry up fool! Your hair will be a mess no matter what."

Arnold huffed but shot a thankful eye up to his skylight that someone was giving Tony a ride. He loved the guy, but some people you need to take in small doses. "You all go on; I'll be out in a second."

. . . . .

He briefly engaged in a friendly conversation with Nadine; who'd answered the door. She still seemed the same, mature, low-key but friendly. Her blonde twist now nearly casting to her waist. Gorgeous but modestly so.

Walking inside, one hand partially in his pocket, a half grin in awe of Rhonda's place. Arnold wouldn't ever categorize himself as materialistic more of a lover to things pleasing to the eye. So he had to take a pause to admire the architectural beauty.

As uppity as Rhonda was, just like at every other party there was a sea of red cups floating in the air. He snickered at the contrast between the dollar store party essential and the luxurious furniture.

"Arnold, darling!" Her shiny jet black bob bounced as she strutted towards the foyer in a Chinese Qi Pao-inspired dress that left little to the imagination. "You're here and..." Her arched brows rose, and she forced a smile. "You've brought guests..."

"Oh, yeah," Arnold smiled. "These are my friends Jodie, and that's Tony."

"Anthony." He pursed his lips about to kiss Rhonda's hand, but she pulled back out of his grasp.

"Charmed, I'm sure," she said curtly to them, directing her attention back to Arnold. "Come, come inside and let me announce you."

His mouth curled up, as she dragged him alongside him, into that friendly smile. Used to Rhonda's exaggeratedly lingo and mannerisms.

Once he escaped her slightly superficial conversation, red, green and white go-go boots stained the corner of his eye.

Hm, Lila with Sid?

His thin brows hiked up at this pairing, his focus more on the redhead. It had been a few months since he seen Lila other than on Facebook.

But here she was in the flesh. The perfect picture of delicate beauty. Her hair curled subtly on the ends her sundress neat and modest but fitted in the right places. In spite of her attractiveness and sweetness, when Arnold last bumped into her right after a bad breakup, not even she could pull him out of that funk. It was then that he realized the spell was finally broke; to his relief.

Reminiscing, Arnold fell into a bit of a reverie for God knows how long, but was dragged out by the sound of Rhonda's carrying voice, "Helga G. Pataki," She drug out her name and sighed. "you're late." There was a pause as if Rhonda was taking in her appearance. "But for once I can say fashionably so."

"Is that suppose to pass as a compliment?"

"Hon," A 6'4 blonde guy in a white silk suit and black shades, popped behind Rhonda. "Is this the Helga you were talking about?"

"Yes," She pushed a hand to his chest. "sweetheart these are former schoolmate Phoebe Hyerdahl and Helga Pataki. Helga, Phoebe this is my fiance, Morris-"

"Rich, you might have heard of my Richie designs. I'm a model and part owner." His eyes dragged over their department store wardrobe. "Perhaps not - with the looks of you two, maybe you haven't."

"Oh, no I'm plenty aware since my ass helped sell a few."

He sucked in an exaggerated gasp. "Such low class, I'll make sure you never model in my clothes again."

"Your clothes? You're like the Ronnie Matthews of the fashion industry. And I know for a fact, you don't have the power to fire a janitor."

"How dare you?" that was followed by a haughty sashay off.

Rhonda brought her well-manicured nails to her hips, although she didn't seem too annoyed. But she squinted at Helga's smothering a snicker. "Helga-I see your manners haven't improved."

Helga smiled, albeit devious though as she let out her laughter. "Nor has your taste in men. Mind letting us inside? I mean didn't I inspire this affair?"

Rhonda stomped her pump. "Arnold told you that?" She nodded. "Right, of course, he did."

Helga sighed and pushed passed making her way inside leaving Phoebe behind to converse with Rhonda.

The click of her heels and bright blonde hair snagged almost everyone's eyes. She expected this; it had been 4 1/2 years since she seen any of them.

But in general. Helga being a tall woman who regularly wore heels with a naturally powerful stride couldn't help but grab attention. At this point, she was used to it, so unlike her younger self, she didn't have to flash a fierce scowl to frighten away the gawking. Instead, she shrugged and smiled nonchalantly as few approached.

Arnold sat up on the edge of the lavish couch. His eyes following Helga take food off a silver tray. She bit into the small sandwich, completely ignoring the disapproving glare from the snobbish waiter carrying it.

Arnold swallowed hard, eyeing the gray v neck, palazzo pants, two splits that showed her well-developed legs. His eye shut to visualize her trapping him with those limbs, as he hoisted her in the air.

Little beads of sweat started to form on his hairline. He had to banish those thoughts for now.

As she entered further, upon noticing him, she offered a small wave; her lashes fluttered when her lip curled up. Before he could react, she was whisked away by Rhonda and others.

Finally, Helga escaped the lion's den and came back into the central area with everyone else.

Her eye shimmered while engaging in a conversation with Curly. It was like a contest; who can be the most animated, ending in a tie.

As much as Arnold tried to focus on others, God, he'd never felt so drawn to someone. And he thought he'd been with some of the prettiest girls in the past. But honestly, they couldn't hold a candle.

While enjoying his drink, he watched her getting surrounded by their laughing friends. All of them captivated by her. He couldn't blame them for being highly engrossed in her storytelling. She was alive, a far cry from the standoffish person he remembered from their school days. Even from his distance, he couldn't help but smile or laugh whenever she did. Her brilliant blue gems sparkled, the beauty she held came from so much more than her stunning surface.

. . . . .

Arnold waltzed out the bathroom with a creased forehead at Helga climbing a speaker. He realized she was making her way up to the DJ booth. He scratched his head at why she didn't just take the stairs.

A loud screech forced necks to snap in her direction. "Is this a Friday night or what?" She spoke into the mic. Everyone hooted, raising their cups and she smirked at DJ, "What is this Kenny G. or elevator music, come on play something boss. Don't yall want to hear some real jams?" Her musing eyes shot back as she put the mic back in front of the DJ. "You heard the people, do it."

The crowd cheered or whistled, while Rhonda rolled her eyes. But when a thumping bass came on, it damn near caused a stampede to the dancing area.

Arnold cringed when Helga jumped off the speaker.

But she was okay landing into a slight squat. Instantly grabbed and twirled by a once clumsy jinx, Eugene. He dipped her towards the floor, inciting an infectious grin to stretch across her face. As Curly popped out of nowhere, yanking her from Eugene moving his legs like Elvis impersonator. Helga's laughter roared out brash, causing her chest to shake while she swayed.

His lip lifted weird and lopsided, almost like a grimace. Feeling a bit warm, he rolled up the sleeves of his blouse, revealing more of his arms. On the one hand, he loved seeing the flexibility in Helga dancing, smile and hearing that laugh. But, part of him felt like a kid on Christmas watching others playing with what should have been his. He childishly pouted, wanting to be the one to provoke such amusement out of her.

Arnold flinched at a jab to his side, glancing over at his taller friend. After clicking their cups together, taking a sip, the two of them leaned on the wall both watching as Curly and Helga swing dance.

"Je vois que mademoiselle Pataki a attiré votre attention?"

"I took Spanish, Gerald." He said smart-alecky, even though he did make out enough of Gerald's poor French to understand. "Can you blame me?" That was the only explanation he could offer for his eye stalking.

"Have you gotten a chance to talk to her?"

Arnold blew out air, raising his arms out. "No, she's like the most popular person here."

Gerald threw his head back tickled since that didn't use to be the case. The music lowered back into the smooth jazz kind you hear in elevators. Rhonda's request. So mostly everyone took seats or hit up the food trays.

Helga finally left her dance partners side to resume the company of a petite spectacled lady. "Hey," Gerald's eyes spied who stood beside Helga. "uh... hold on, I'll help you out."

The brown skinned man stood up, and Arnold eyes nervously wavered.

Helga and Gerald seemed to have back and forth before Helga seem to give in with a flick of her wrist. The long-term couple walked off, and she stared down at her nails and propped against the wall. Arnold noticed the wink Gerald sent him.

"Hey, Helga." She smiled right away like on instinct, even if a slight eye roll following that his heart still skipped a beat. She moved her hair off her forehead, fanning herself. Closer up, he could see she had on mascara that made her blue eyes stand out. And the slight flush of her cheeks from all the dancing and being in the hot seat. "So you decided to join us?"

A ghost of a smirk lied heavy on her lip; she bobbed her head. "But don't think it's because of your convincing." Arnold's mouth turned up a fraction of an inch. "Pheebs flew in for the weekend and wanted to see everyone. So, I have to steal some time since I know Gerald's going take up most of the weekend. Rightfully so..."

"Are you having fun?"

Her lashes batted his way. "Sure," She blew out a tiredly playful whistle. "Fun..." She fanned her face. "It's hot," Arnold handed over the soda he hadn't opened. "Thanks." She muttered, and he watched her pressed the cold glass against her skin. "and I forgot how exhausting these guys could be. I don't know how you and Gerald handled being little social fairies four years straight. I could barely even get through a solid hour."

Arnold sent her a skeptical eye. "I couldn't tell." He took in the faces of their peers. "Besides they're just curious. You've been a big mystery, and out of the blue you come back looking like..."

"Um, looking like what?" She asked part curious and a tad defensive.

His eyes flicked up and down her and involuntarily licked his lips. "You look even more...," He shook his head, steering his eyes down and rubbing the back of his neck. "Come on; you have mirrors." His arms drop to his sides as he tilted his head. "you know you look good."

Helga stilled, her eyes wide and locked on his with a furrowed brow.

That is until Rhonda bumped between the two before Helga could say anything yanked Arnold by the arm. "Arnold! Come and get your buddy! He's harassing my guests."

Arnold sighed, looking, searching around for Gerald or Jodie to help babysit their womanizing glanced back over his shoulder to see Helga looking down and a slight frown on her face. He was going to have to get alone time with her.

He glanced back over his shoulder to see Helga looking down and a slight frown on her face. He was going to have to get alone time, maybe offering a ride home would bring him luck.


She propped her shoulder against the door, a squint in her eyes as she stared directly at him.

"that was some party. I'm glad I came out."

"I'm happy that you did too." Arnold takes one step closer, staring semi dazedly. He blinked and glanced away. "Yeah, I thought it was fun. All of us together in the same place. It hadn't been like that in so long."

Helga, smiling coyly and lowered her eyes with a nod. "Thanks for the ride."

His eyes grow hooded as he eased even closer. "Helga..." She looked up; her eyes dragged over him a bit surprised at his closeness. A question mark in her gaze. "Look I...shit." He bit his tongue, thinking about what Gerald said, thinking about the past and what his near future would be like it. "Fuck." He muttered, knowing he was the world's worst liar, so she'd know something was up if he tried to brush it off. The way her bunched eyebrows and squint indicated that.

"Uh, are you okay, football head. I mean if you have to take a leak or something you can just go up-"

Arnold chuckled, shaking his head. "No... I'm trying to say." He sighed. "I like you."

"You like me?"

Her tone, matched with the incredulous look on her face gave a severe case of deja vu.

Arnold's eyes involuntarily sank to her lips, then to her neck, down to her collarbone and backed up to her eyes. "Fuck... I can't," he bit his lip and pinched his nose. "lie ... yes.."

Helga's mouth opened, and out came a roar of laughter. He frowned, slightly offended, thinking not only was she going to turn him down but laugh in his face too.

Noting this, Helga waved her hands faintly, his tension ceased. "Sorry, sorry, I never thought I hear you say that and with such undignified language."

Arnold's mouth formed into a thin line and covered half his face behind his hand. "Oh excuse me..."

"Do I look like a pampered princess? I'm not offended...it's just weird hearing that from you."

He thought about the goody-two-shoes reputation that followed him since preschool. Like, Helga's rep, he contributed significantly to that. "I guess I can understand that..." as the seconds sped on, they sank into a staring contest for several seconds with Arnold shaking his head out of it. "Well?"

Nonchalantly, she dropped a stick of gum on her tongue. "Well, what?" Asked Helga through her chewing.

"Aren't you going to say something? "

"About what?"

He groaned at the slickness on her face. "About what I said. You know." He sighed exhaustively through his teeth when she just blinked. "If you feel the same."

Helga raised her brows to her headline and let her blue eyes lazily move down to his feet and back up. "Maybe..." She unlocked the door in one quick swoop of her wrist of the knob; she was inside.

Arnold stepped backward until his back tapped the opposite wall. He scratched his head a broad amused smiled spread his hand dropped to his side. With a head bob, he pulled out his phone.

Arnold: See you, soon.


They decided to attend an outdoor festival, the ones that always arrived at the start of summer.

Those eyes are the most beautiful and vibrant he'd ever seen as she crossed the street to his car. The rays of the sun highlighted the natural glow of her skin.

His eyes gaze lowered to soak in her leggy frame. He chewed his lip gravely concerned getting through this outing without drowning in a pool of perspiration. And it didn't help when her aggressively lovely voice hit his ears and her brash, full laughter that followed. She was truly the cure to his 'dry spell.' The more he spent time with her the more he liked her and also craved her.

His heart fluttered every time Helga's shoulder brushed against his, which happened the whole time as they made their way around.

It had only been an hour, but already his face hurt from laughing so much. Helga's doing.

"Look, Arnold, cheese!" She grinned animatedly "remember those cheese festivals." and rolled her eyes.

Then skipped cutely ahead allowing for his eyes wander where they please. Cursing the way those black jeans clung. She beckoned for him to walk her way. He sighed out both pleasure and discomfort as he galloped to catch up with her.

"You know Arnold..." She began gaping up at him with those lovely big eyes. "If you had asked me out back in the day. I'd shot you down so hard."

Arnold gasped and laughed at the same time. "Really? Why?" He asked with great interest even though back then he didn't have any plans to pursue her; romantically.

"'Cause, I just wasn't dateable."

Arnold looked at her like she had three heads. Then nodded, recalling her hostility. "What changed?"

Her shoulder lifted and dropped. "Me I guess."

"So, it seemed like you couldn't stand me. it's just odd that you keep saying I haven't changed and yet you like me."

For scant seconds, her cheeks flushed red. "I never said I liked you. You've grown full of yourself Arnoldo." She snorted at the dry glance he gave her. "Like I said I've changed ... a little."

His eyes flickered up and down the length of her. "You sure have." But in actuality, he thought she'd grown into herself or became an improved part of who she already was.

Helga's eyes widened as his hooded ones keep gazing at her. "What?" She asked, that suppose to sound irritable but came out much softer.

"Nothing," The unblinking gaze remained. Arnold's eyes inched down to those lips that had been driving him insane the whole night. Once again, her teeth sank into her bottom lip, and he couldn't take it anymore. Without any warning, Arnold cupped her face, bringing their lips together; hard, yet somehow gentle.

At the pull back, Arnold marveled at the honey taste on his tongue. He glanced at her in time to see Helga take a breath she probably hadn't realized she was holding. That told him he wasn't alone in feeling impacted by that kiss. "Hey," She blinked, slowly removing her hands off from around his neck. They briefly watched the crowd dwindling and a few stands closing. His eyes lifted in a boyish glee. "The night is still young. We can do whatever you want."

His fine hairs on his skin stood high at the mischief steaming out of her pours. "W-What do you say?" He asked in a hoarse whisper. Highly curious and nervously anticipating what possibly could have in mind.