Ch. 7 Are You Really As You Seem?
Chapter seven is here! It is after school and Arnold, Helga, and friends are at rehearsal for their school play, Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Lila Sawyer is playing Cinderella and Arnold is playing the prince. Helga is Lila's understudy. Lila is moving away which means Helga is going to take over her role in the show. So far Arnold has had no success with the bracelet; however, his emotions give him clue during rehearsal.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold.
After what seemed like an endless day Arnold and Gerald walked the auditorium. Arnold started at the bracelet as he walked. "Arnold," said Gerald, "It's only been one day. Don't worry, we'll find her."
"I hope so Gerald" said Arnold.
"I just realized something" said Gerald.
"What?" asked Arnold.
"We're doing the play Cinderella and at the same time we are searching for your dream girl the way they found Cinderella in play" said Gerald.
"You're right. It's just a coincidence though" said Arnold.
The two of them walked in the doors and hurried to the boys' dressing room to put on their costumes.
A few minutes later they walked out and sat in the audience waiting for rehearsal to start. Slowly other cast members in costume came out. Once everyone was out, Mr. Simmons stood up in front of everyone and announced, "Everyone may I please have your attention? I have just been informed that Lila is moving away tomorrow and will not be able to play the role of Cinderella. Therefore, Helga will be playing Cinderella instead. Congratulations, Helga."
For a minute there was complete silence. "Alright," Mr. Simmons broke the silence, "Arnold, Helga, please come to the piano so we can run your songs."
Arnold looked at Gerald, took a deep breath, and walked to the piano. Helga looked at Phoebe, took a deep breath, and walked to the piano. Both Helga and Arnold looked at each other both too nervous to speak to each other as they approached the piano. They sang through "The Sweetest Sound" and "Ten Minutes Ago" quickly. Then they got to "Do I Love You Because Your Beautiful". The piano began to play; Arnold took a breath, and sang:
Do
I love you because you're beautiful, or are you beautiful because I
love you?
Am I making believe I see in you a girl too lovely to be
really true?
Do I want you because you're wonderful, or are you
wonderful because I want you?
Are you the sweet invention of a
lover's dream or are you really as beautiful as you seem?
Forgetting that the cast and crew were watching them, Helga passionately sang:
Am
I making believe I see in you a man too perfect to be really true?
Do
I want you because you're wonderful, or are you wonderful because I
want you?
Arnold started at Helga and thought, Wow, she has a great voice. She's not so bad when she's not being mean to me. It makes her almost—Oh No! No, No, No! I do not like Helga! I'm getting into my character too much. My cue is coming, I need to sing!
Arnold joined Helga and they both sang:
Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream or are you really as wonderful as you seem?
Arnold and Helga started at each other for a moment in awe. There was whispering all over the auditorium about what just happened. "Excellent! Great job, you two! You sound great and you were acting already. Helga, excellent job for your first time singing that song with Arnold." Mr. Simmons said.
Arnold and Helga snapped out of their traces and blushed. "Oh, um, thanks." said Helga realizing what had happened.
The rest of rehearsal flew by. Arnold put away his costume and began to walk out of the auditorium to go home. Gerald ran to catch up with him. "Arnold, wait up!" Gerald shouted.
Arnold stopped and Gerald caught up. "Thanks" Gerald said.
"No problem" responded Arnold.
"Arnold, what's going on?" Gerald asked, "Everyone saw the way you and Helga looked at each other while you all were singing."
"What? Nothing's going on. We were just acting." Arnold said nervously.
"Oh there was more than acting happening on that stage, Arnold. Everyone, except Mr. Simmons, saw what looked like chemistry, Arnold" said Gerald.
Arnold took a deep breath, looked around, and lowered his voice, "Gerald, promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you."
"I promise" said Gerald and held up his hand to do their special hand shake.
The two of them did their handshake.
Arnold leaned in close to Gerald and whispered, "While I was singing with Helga, I got this feeling. The same feeling I had when I was with the girl in the closet. It was weird, I went into this trace but at the same time I was telling myself in head I don't like Helga. The more I told myself that I don't like Helga, the more I fell into the trance. Then for a moment I forgot that I didn't like Helga and next thing I know I'm blushing."
"Sounds like of a case of denial if you ask me" said Gerald, "Do you like Helga?"
"You mean more than a friend, right, Gerald?" asked Arnold.
"Yes, I mean more than a friend, Arnold" said Gerald.
"I-I don't know, Gerald" Arnold confessed.
Meanwhile, Helga and Phoebe were already on their way home from school.
"Oh my god, Phoebe! Did everyone see the way I was looking at Arnold? Do you think they know my secret now?" Helga asked flooding with anxiety.
"Well" said Phoebe, "Everyone did see something happening between you and Arnold and it was not acting."
"What?!?" Helga gasped.
"Helga, it wasn't just you. Arnold was acting strange too." said Phoebe.
"What do you mean 'strange'?" asked Helga.
"I mean that, he wasn't acting the way he usually acts around you which is scared and angry. He was acting happy, calm, and he was looking at you the same way he used to look at Ruth and Lila" explained Phoebe.
Helga's eyes popped and her mouth dropped. "Th-That same longing puppy dog look he used to give Ruth and Lila?" she asked.
"The same look" said Phoebe confidently.
That's chapter seven! Chapter eight is coming soon. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. R&R!
