So now that we've gotten a bit of an introduction any good story needs to move forward right? The story of Helga and Arnold is pretty big, and within the confines of a cartoon we can see as much as the censors allow which is of course understandable right? However now with the characters out of the television box and into the minds of people like myself, combined with the fact the characters are older...we'll see things aren't as child friendly. As such be warned of language and a bit of mature themes in this chapter, though I assure you nothing more then hints and discussion. Also as my first upload onto here I am still trying to figure out the system, so be warned that spacing is something I'm working on. Speaking of, anything that isn't verbal in this story I'm going to write in bold.
As the sun began to disappear into the horizon, Helga's room darkened. But her mind wasn't focused on the room itself, if anything she preferred to be in the dark with only her computer screen's glare around masquerading as a source of light. She took a deep breath, looked up to the ceiling and embraced the noise that was flooding her ears. Her massive headphones covered both sides of her, forcing her to put her hair down just to listen to the music. As the singer let out his first few words, Helga's feet began to move with the beat.
"Come with me…into the trees…we'll lay on the grass, and let hours pass…" she heard.
As the singer continued, Helga spun to the music. Letting her arms move as if separate from her body. For just a few sweet moments, away from her parents and the rest of the world she was free to act as she pleased. She didn't need to confine herself beneath her mask, or clothes for that matter. She was wearing nothing but a pair of underwear and a tank top; all that she needed to feel comfy within her room. To her it was all the freedom she needed to think. As her room became a stage, Helga moved freely to the rhythm of the band imagining her own world to go along with the tune. This was her escape, not through partying or drinking or any means that would harm her…just a simple set of instruments whose sound blinded her from the harshness of the real world.
Miriam was downstairs, preparing some sort of a roast while trying to sing to her own music, though her singing could be misinterpreted as screeching by Helga. The house was quiet, without Bob Pataki around there were no TVs on and no chores to be done. It was a boring day for the females of the household; Bob was out of town at a convention trying to sell his new line of camping equipment. Things in the household seemed to never change: Miriam would get drunk, do something stupid, fight with bob and get drunk again while Helga lived her life as if she didn't have parents to answer to. It was only when Olga was heard from that Bob and Miriam seemed to show interest in each other, but after a few days that would fade away and the three beats of idiocy, anger and eventual sadness would fill the house with it's less then sweet music again.
As the instruments stopped playing, Helga fell to her bed and finally started to breath. She took off her headphones and stood upward, crossing her legs and placing her headphones on her shoulders. It was time for her to write the dreaded message on her cellphone, and thanks to the music clearing her head she now had the strength to do it. With Miriam's "issues" Helga could easily fool her into believing much, but Terra was a completely separate matter. She knew if she mentioned Phoebe in her lie then that would come back to haunt her, as Terra was already mean enough to the girl. There was only one excuse that came to Helga's mind, but it was a fragile one at that. She adjusted her cellphone and began typing: I've got a Job interview….Gotta cancel tonight. Knowing Terra, if Helga had named where she was having her fake interview, Terra would either show up to root for Helga, or worse go back later to damage the place when Helga further lied about not getting the job.
After hitting the send button Helga threw her phone against her pillows and took a deep and calming breath. She would have a few minutes of silence before Terra would respond, giving her enough time to clean herself up and head out again. She was in no mood to write and wouldn't be able to watch TV by herself with her mom around, it was Miriam's loose term for bonding. Although she dreaded it, all that remained clean enough to wear were those same jeans she wore before. It was once her sister's, passed down to her so that her parents weren't forced to by Helga a new wardrobe when she started to grow. . She put her bra back on and replaced her spaghetti strapped shirt with a less revealing pink t shirt which like the pants were much tighter then Helga would've hoped. Helga wondered why she still even had clothes like these, but without a job she couldn't buy what she wanted. She grabbed her phone, checking to see that Terra still hadn't responded and put it in her pocket.
Her hair was back in two long ponytails, which she placed under one of her dad's old baseball caps. It was her hope to keep people distracted from her once again forming unibrow. It was the only real place weird hair was growing on her body, but it still hurt Helga to look in the mirror. It was a signature trait of her dad's side, but luckily for Olga, she never inherited the unibrow. At her desk looking into the mirror Helga wondered what people really thought of her physical appearance. It was an awkward situation, no matter how hard she tried, or how little she tried Helga never seemed to be glanced at. Would she really be attractive if she looked more feminine or would her persona as the school's bully be irreversible?
"Oh old girl…" Helga said softly "What are you going to do with yourself"
After a quick moment of thought, Helga shook her head and made her way downstairs. Her mother's eyes were attached to the Television and inattentive to the smell coming from the kitchen. It didn't take long for Helga to realize what was wrong. "Crimney Miriam! Did you forget about your food!?".
"Oh what's that dear? Circle of Wealth is on. It's a good episode" Miriam said, her eyes still fixed on the Television.
"Mom! Dinner!" Helga shouted as she turned off the oven and checked the damage.
"Oh? OH! OH NO!" She had finally gotten it. Miriam rushed into the kitchen as Helga pulled out the darkened roast. The girls didn't need to open it up to tell that it wouldn't be worth trying to eat. Helga mumbled under her breath as Miriam watched, unsure of what to do. Helga put the burnt food onto the counter and started washing its plate which had bits of the roast and it's spices melted onto it. "I…Okay…Right…" Miriam said to herself, awkwardly moving back into the comfortable chair while her daughter continued to clean the mess.
"If you're done destroying the house, I'm going to go to Phoebe's." Helga stated.
"Oh…Okay. Don't stay out too late." Miriam replied, not even looking at Helga. She was clearly embarrassed, not knowing how to handle her screw up.
"Oh I wouldn't DREAM of that. Don't wait up…" Helga growled as she stomped through the living room and out the door.
At Sunset Arms apartment, Arnold returns to his room after having a long shower. His eyes turn to the mirror, where he tries to flex in an attempt to look macho. Despite his attempts no muscle could be seen and instead his lanky arms just look silly in the reflection. He checks over his body, trying to see any differences or problems. His shoulders were burnt from being outside but his face remained clear thanks to his work hat. A quick curious sniff of his armpits reveal he smelt cleaner. After putting on a pair of boxers and pants he checks his phone, revealing a message from Leo.
"Hey man Just wanted to warn you. Marko Is looking for some more goons to work tomorrow, be warned he may call you, don't answer your phone if you can help it."
Arnold smirked and sent a reply Thank You to his co-worker, as he was in no mood to go to work tomorrow. He jumps on his bed and looks at the photos on the wall, some of his friends and others of his parents, who he hasn't seen in some time. Arnold spent three years with his parents before returning to go to high school and in that time he'd done more than most at his age. From helping animals to participating in native festivities it was quiet the journey, but the insistence of his parents was what helped push him back to America, where his grandparents and friends were. "Do I really want to put on a shirt?" Arnold asked himself. "Not exactly anything going on tonight…Oh wait!"
In a sudden realization he headed over to his desk and pulls out a new set of batteries for his mp3 player, which failed him earlier in the day. Arnold shook his gripped mp3 player back and forth while looking out to the darkening world and wonders if maybe a nice walk is what he needs. Supper was filling but he'd need to eat again and there wasn't a whole lot around the house, so a long walk downtown would fill most of his time. After much arguing with himself Arnold finally puts a shirt back on and headed downstairs, dodging the random animals that lived in the apartment complex.
"Hey Oskar, can you tell my grandparents I'm going out for a bit?" He asked his neighbor.
Oskar however was more focused on the lounge television, which was playing the newest episode of Circle of Wealth was on and like usual the men of the apartment were betting spare change on the program's answers. Oskar simply raised his hand and gave Arnold a thumb up the closest thing to a confirmation he was going to get. Looking around him, no pets were barging to get out giving Arnold a quick escape outdoors. He headed through the doors, closing it quickly before the creatures flung in his direction; he was free. Now outside Arnold adjusted his own cap and put on his ear phones, while the player continued where the song ended earlier in the day.
The night was beautiful, the air was blowing a nice wind across Arnold's face and the sky was a beautiful shade of blue. It must have dropped in heat, as it almost felt like an autumn day all that was missing was the leaves in the wind. As Arnold continued his journey the music shifted from smooth jazz to rock and roll and back again. His taste in music was wide and apart from most of the current music, he could listen to about anything if he was in the mood. Almost an hour later somewhere downtown Arnold struggled to find a calling for his appetite. His eyes judged each of the places he passes, even if they weren't restaurants. The lights were starting to glow now and the people around him changed. It was definitely a Saturday night, crowds were forming, sports cars were flying by and the children had all disappeared indoors. It was like a completely different place.
Waiting to cross the street Arnold took a quick peak across the road to see an annoyed Helga trying to hide within the crowds. His eyes widen, confirming it to be her. It was his chance to get to talk to her, and he wasn't about to let her get away. The light changes and before he should Arnold rushed across the street, getting in the way of a car trying to turn. "Sorry, sorry!" He plead as he rushes across. Helga had almost disappeared behind a gang of female shoppers but the chase was not over yet. Arnold bolted for it, his feet tearing across terrain while he dodges the hordes of people walking against him. His eyes remain fixed on target, on that tall blond hair of Helga's that bounced with her every pace. As he made his way closer he lets out a shout. "Hey! Helga!" He cried. "Helga…HELGA!" But still she is doesn't hear him. "Helgaaaaaaaaaaaaa"
After a few moments of shouting her ears finally caught the sound of her name being called and turned to find the source. 'Oh no' she thought to herself. Fearing it might be one of her gang. Her cover was blown.
"Wait! Helga!" He continued to shout.
Finally she turned, seeing the out of breath teenager whose face was covered in hair. Confused she studied the boy, who tries to catch his breath and adjust his footing. "What the heck are you doing here?" She asked. Her heart started to flutter, he was once again trying to talk to her.
"I…Phew…I Saw…you and I…Just wanted to say Hi" he stuttered.
"You ran all this way to say Hi?" She scoffed.
He bent himself back upward, trying to look like he wasn't nearly as out of breath as he was. "No…Not exactly…well…maybe"
Helga started to rub the side of her face as her eyes rolled. "Do you not remember what I said about not wanting to see you?"
"I know…I'm sorry…" he began "I should've helped you when you needed it. Just because I'm on break doesn't mean I should…you know…ignore a customer in need"
'Does he mean it', she thought. Was he actually apologizing for trying to enjoy his break? The care in Arnold seemed to not have bounds, at least when it meant for Helga. "Yeah well, maybe you'll react faster next time instead of arguing with a customer. Who is always right…" Even with the thoughts in her head, she had to remain true to the mask she was wearing. She couldn't let him in. Not now.
"Well, if you come by again I'll make sure to pay attention to you." He smiled "But Uh…What are you…up to?"
Helga started to look around, worried that although she was downtown, people she knew would recognize the two of them together. "Just doing my own thing, wanted to get away from the house is all…and when I say my own thing I mean me enjoying myself by myself"
Arnold looked confused, it was clear she was hiding but he didn't understand from who. "Oh I see…I'm the same. Just walking around"
She finally looked back into his eyes. "Sounds boring"
A small smile formed on his face, along with a chuckle. "It's relaxing don't you think?"
"Yeah, uh No" she barked. "Not with the terrible drivers of this city zooming around. This place can be a disaster area sometimes" She focused then on the other side of the street, she didn't want to catch sight of his beautiful eyes.
He raised his brow and turned to look at wherever she was looking. "Then why'd you come down here Helga? Why not go see your friends?"
When he turned back, he noticed her starting to walk away. "Not your concern Football head. I'd rather get away for now"
Arnold rushed over to walk at her side, but there wasn't enough room so he was forced to walk behind her through the crowds. "Get away from them, or away from everyone?"
"…what's the difference?"
"Well I mean…we could walk together?"
"You think I want to walk with you?" but she did.
"Well you said this place can be scary I could you know…watch out for you?"
"Please…if anything I'll be watching your ass."
For even the briefest moment Arnold found himself staring at her behind, but quickly shook his head and got his mind away from that place. "I think I could handle myself…"
"Yeah right…I could take you down in two minutes flat" she said as Arnold finally started to walk alongside her.
"Two minutes? I'm sure I can last longer than that" Arnold stated over confidently.
She chuckled and turned to look him in the eye. "Oh I'm SURE you tell ALL the girls that" Then he started to chuckle alongside her, and for a second the two were actually looking like they were enjoying themselves. Helga however realized this and stopped dead in her tracks…
'shit'.
So this is an interesting "concept" I guess you could say, but because I sorta prefer the idea of an episodic storytelling this is what I'd consider the first of a few two part chapters, with the second part continuing but with a different focus. This part focuses more on struggle the two have of trying to talk with one another without trying to slip into topics, especially considering their past and the fact that they're both teenagers.
The song used in this part is Stripped by Depeche Mode, however I will admit that I didn't know that at first, I knew it originally by Rammstein but I doubt that would be the version Helga listens to. The song makes me think of her honestly, the idea of being "stripped" down to the bone to the bareness of the person is something that she struggles with, which is why she enjoys the song. I'm not one for saying "oh that song was meant JUST for me" but this is a song that resembles some of what Helga has always dealt with.
So what is going on next? Helga and Arnold go out on a pseudo-date in chapter five of Open Your Heart.
