IV: Initiation
At seven that night, he was at her house. She was sitting on the stoop waiting for him. Dressed in jeans, a pink tank top and her ever present cardigan, she jumped off the last step, opened the car door and slid in.
He pulled out into the street, glancing at her briefly before turning his attention to the road.
"You're quiet." He noted.
She shook her head, looking out the window. "Typical crap at home. Bob has a client over and he wanted me to stay home and entertain. I told him to go to hell."
Arnold smiled. "Then I guess we'd better have some fun tonight to make up for the crap you're gonna deal with when you get home."
Helga looked at him giving him a small smile. "It's like you know my family."
He chuckled. 'Nobody can forget Bob Pataki."
Three hours, six rides, and three corn dogs later, Helga had forgotten all about her parents, laughing at some guy trying to beat the strong man game. Arnold watched her, taking the time unnoticed to really look at her. He knew a little about her over these three days but it was Monday. He had three maybe three and a half days to get to know her a little better before he really got to know her. Looking around, he spotted the creepiest ride in the carnival. Perfect.
Reaching over, he took her hand, causing her to look back at him.
"Come on." He said, jerking his head towards the ride. She looked in the direction of his head jerk, then back at him.
"Are you kidding?"
"Scared?"
She scoffed. "Never. I'm just afraid it'll be too much for you."
"Whatever. Come on Helga; show me what you're made of."
Shrugging, she followed him very aware that he still held her hand. He handed tickets to the guy manning the ride. The guy looked at the two of them.
"You sure your girl there can handle this?"
"Please." Helga stated. "Plastic dummies jumping out? You should be worried for my friend here."
The guys grinned, opening the bar on the car for them. Helga climbed in, looking expectantly at Arnold. He climbed in, moving to try to make some room. The cars were not built for two people who didn't like each other.
The ride started and the car slid into the dark.
Seven minutes later, the car exited into the lighted night sky, Helga holding onto the bar for dear life, and Arnold peeking through his fingers.
"Scary enough for you?" The guy manning the ride asked them dryly. Helga blinked and looked up at him.
"That was awesome!" she exclaimed. Arnold opened the bar, shaking his head. She was the one screaming the loudest, and now she acted like a kid in a candy store. He climbed out holding a hand out for her. She climbed out of the car, her foot catching the bottom lip of the ride.
"Agh!" She screeched, falling right into Arnold. He caught her, stumbling backwards a bit.
"Got you." He said his voice right next to her ear. He felt her shiver and frowned. "You okay?"
She nodded, pushing lightly away from him. "Sorry about that. Must have tripped on the stupid car."
He nodded, slipping his hand into hers again. "Looks like the place is about to close down."
She glanced at her watch. "It's almost ten. And we got school tomorrow."
He pulled her along into the shadows of the parking lot. He noticed she'd gotten quiet again.
They reached the car and he leaned against it, pulling her to him. "What's on your mind?"
She looked uncomfortable in his embrace. "Nothing much. Just trying to figure out why you're putting so much work into this." She lifted their still entwined fingers. "Acting like we're a couple."
He frowned. "Helga. In about four days, we're going to be a lot more intimate than simple hand holding. If you can't handle this, what make you think you're going to be able to handle more?"
She suddenly looked nervous. "You're actually agreeing to go through with this?"
"I am."
She heaved a sigh. "Great. Now I'm not sure if I can go through with this."
"Look, Helga. I'm not going to pressure you." He gently pulled her closer to him. "But you wanted this three days ago. I'm finding I want this too. And Tad is never going to let you live it down if you don't."
She smiled slightly. "I will get mocked." She turned serious. "I just didn't expect this. Tad had a one night stand, granted it was a weekend, but it was still a one night stand. And no matter how much he thinks she will, I seriously doubt his little princess will be calling him soon for a little romp. And Phoebe," She shook her head, eyes closed for a moment. "One moment of happiness, then bam, two weeks of hysteria and not eating."
She opened her eyes, looking at him. "Why do I get to be happy?"
"You don't think you deserve it?"
"No. Part of me wants it, but the other part knows you're doing this to be nice. Because that's what you do."
He looked at her for a moment, and then sighed. "Okay, let's get something clear. I am not doing this to be nice. Trust me; there is not one nice thought in my head right now. There hasn't been one nice thought in my head since you brought this up to me on Friday." He kept his eyes on her, watching her blush. Keeping a hold on her, he straightened against the car, pulling her to him until she had to adjust herself so she wouldn't fall on him. He could feel the buttons from her sweater brush against his shirt.
"Let's have this out right now. I am going to kiss you, Helga. Not because I'm being nice, or helping you out. I'm going to kiss you because I want to. Because I haven't stopped thinking about it since you got into my car this evening."
He watched her eyes widen before he leaned the small distance to her, brushing his lips against hers briefly, then kissing her. He caught her gasp in his mouth, taking the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue sliding against her lips. His hands slid to her waist, sliding under the cardigan to rest where her tank top met her jeans. He felt her hands press against his chest, her fingers tightening on the material of his tee-shirt. He could feel her shaking in his arms. He broke the kiss, keeping her close to him.
"When was your first kiss?" he whispered. Her eyes opened, and she smirked at him.
"Fourth grade, Romeo and Juliet. I can't believe you forgot." She said, throwing his words back at him.
"Your first real kiss." He said, reciprocating. "You know, open mouth, tongues fighting, sloppy kiss."
She blushed again, ducking her head. "Last week with Tad."
He lifted her chin, so she was looking at him again. "Your first real kiss was with a guy you think of as a brother?"
"Kinda." She answered. "It was open mouth and kinda sloppy. But only because neither of us knew what the hell we were doing."
His eyes ran over her face. He moved his hands to cover hers and pull them away from his chest placing them on his waist. She didn't move, didn't breath. He lifted his hands to touch her face, one hand moving to brush a stray strand of hair out of her face.
"I'm going to kiss you again," he whispered, his face close to hers. "I don't want you to think, just do."
Before she could say a word, his hand slid behind to cup her neck and he pulled her to him, his mouth covering hers again. Without the brace, she fell into him, her chest pressed against him. He felt her freeze for a moment, then relax, her hands tightening against his waist. His tongue slid out again sliding against her lips, urging them open. A moment of hesitation, then her mouth opened against his, giving him access. He delved in, and she groaned, her hands moving up to slide over his shoulders and around his neck, pressing herself even closer to him. He allowed his hands to slide back down her body, feeling her shiver, to rest back at her hips, his fingers sliding under her tank top this time to touch flesh.
Her responses to him were invigorating. She fit perfectly in his hands, her mouth melded with his, her body pressed against him felt incredible. He suddenly couldn't wait until Friday to find out just how well they did fit together. His body jerked at that thought, and he broke the kiss, gasping for breath. Her head fell onto his shoulder and he could hear her panting for air. His hands slid up her back, holding her to him, enjoying the feel of her against him.
"We'd better get back home soon." He whispered in her ear, feeling her shiver against him. He realized she wasn't cold; it was in response to him, just like earlier at the ride.
She didn't move for a moment, then sighed and pulled away from him.
"Bob's gonna kill me for staying out this late." She said.
The next day at school, Gerald was waiting at Arnold's locker when he walked in.
"What's up?"
"Rumor is someone saw you and the Pataki terror at the carnival last night." Gerald said, as Arnold opened his locker. "And you didn't call me."
He threw his books into the locker and pulled others out. "Yeah, I went to the carnival with Helga. I asked her yesterday during class. So?"
"Really Arnold? The Pataki terror? You that hard up for company?"
Arnold rolled his eyes. "I've been out with Helga before, Gerald, and you know that. We've gone to the movies, the park, grab something to eat. Why are you suddenly questioning this one?'
Gerald waited until the boy shut his locker and they began to walk down the hall. "You just seem secretive."
"You seem jealous." Arnold grinned, slinging an arm over the dark skinned teen's shoulder. "What's wrong baby? Did you miss me last night?"
"Dude!" Gerald ducked under Arnold's arm as the blond kid laughed.
"I knew it!" Shayla exclaimed walking towards them. "You were cheating on me with a blonde?"
Gerald gave her a glare and Arnold laughed harder. "That isn't even funny, Shay."
"If you must know, I was with Shay last night." Arnold teased. The cocoa skinned girl laughed, throwing an arm around Arnold.
"That's right baby. I decided to try some white meat."
Gerald threw up his hands. "I give up! Forget I asked anything." He muttered.
Shayla looked at the two men, falling into step with them. "Asked what?"
"Gerald's jealous of who I'm spending my time with suddenly." Arnold told her.
"I ain't jealous." Gerald insisted. The sound of laughter caught their attention. Turning the corner, they spotted Phoebe laughing at Helga and Tad dancing in the middle of the hallway. Some of the students were clapping, some were just watching them. Arnold felt a smile come over his face.
"See." Gerald stated, pointing at the two students. "Crazy."
Shayla grinned. "Aw…it's cute."
Tad spun Helga around, then grabbed Phoebe's hand and spun her. The Asian teen let out a peel of laughter.
"And that's how you handle two women at one time." Tad said to a couple of grinning students by them.
"Like you've ever had a woman." Gerald stated. The three teens stopped, glancing to the three across from them. Tad grinned, grabbing the waists of Helga and Phoebe and pulling them close to him.
"That's why I have two on my arm and you don't?" he asked Gerald. He let go of both women long enough to bow to Shayla. "And no offense to the beautiful woman next to you, but I'm not sure you would know what to do with a real woman."
Gerald took a step forward. "Listen freak…"
Shayla grabbed Gerald's arm, as Helga stepped forward.
Arnold put a hand out to stop Gerald.
"Okay, everyone calm down."
Tad grinned, gently tugging Helga back to his side. Arnold frowned.
"Come on ladies, homeroom awaits." Sliding his arms around both of their waists, he spun around, leading them towards their first period class. Arnold dropped his hand, watching the three leave.
"See what I mean about crazy?" Gerald explained. "Why you want to hang around that crazy bitch?"
Shayla looked at him. "Probably because she knows how to have a good time."
"Yeah, I'm sure all three of them know how to have a good time all right." Gerald muttered darkly.
Shayla pulled away from him about to say something, when Arnold turned, his fist connecting with Gerald's face. Gerald stumbled back, hand going up to his jaw.
"What the hell?"
Shayla stepped to him, her face furious. "You're lucky he got to you first. You don't talk about Phoebe like that, ever, do you understand me?"
He looked at her, blinking. "Baby…"
"Don't you baby me, Gerald Johansson." She told him.
"You don't talk about any of them like that." Arnold seethed. "Phoebe's been nothing but nice and kind to you. Even after you fucked her and forgot her. Helga and Tad may be a little nuts at times, but they never did anything to you that you didn't start."
Gerald looked at both of them, knowing he wasn't going to win this battle. Still holding his jaw, his nodded.
"You're right. I didn't mean it…well about one of them." He turned his pathetic face on both of them. "I'm sorry."
Shayla gave him a look, but still nodded. "I'll forgive you this time."
Gerald glanced over at Arnold, who was still glaring at him. "Sorry bro." He worked his jaw. "I didn't know you could hit like that!"
Arnold grinned. "Neither did I."
