Helga could feel tiny beads on sweat on roll down her soft pink like skin. The school gym was a stuffy warm place while the rest of the city was slowly moving into winter. Helga decided to stay after school that Friday afternoon and practice her basketball skills. Basketball season was over and the jocks were now playing baseball. Helga threw the basketball in the basket and watch it gracefully make a circle around the basket rim before falling in.
Helga thought of Phoebe's advice all week. "Move on." That was easier said then done, how do you move on from someone you've been hopelessly in love with since the age of four? Helga dribbled the dark orange basketball a few more times before throwing it to the basket again, this time it hit the board of the basket and bounced its way to the floor. Helga wiped the sweat off her forehead before bending down to grab the basketball. She heard someone clapping behind her, it was slow claps that was followed with light footsteps. Helga turned around to see the last person she would ever want to see.
There stood Lila Sawyer in one of her usual dresses that made her look like she just came back from a farm. Lila smiled sweetly at Helga, showing those dimples that made the boys swoon. She slightly tilted her head before saying, "Oh Helga I've always admired those athletic skills you have. I couldn't simply make the ball go inside that basket there."
Helga scoffed at Lila, "You have the wrong room Lila, the sunshine and rainbow class is the next door over."
Lila rolled her eyes and let her smile grow playful. She became use to Helga's sarcastic remarks, she even found a few of them humorous. "I'm just here to grab my textbook. I accidently forgot it here during gym class." She grabbed the big blue textbook and stuffed it in her beige backpack that was covered in colorful buttons.
"You take gym? That's a laugh. I've never seen you lift a finger farm girl." Helga threw the basketball and heard it make a swoosh sound.
"Well now I may not be as good as you with a basketball or football, but I have been learning a few things in gym class that might impress you Helga." Lila took the ball from Helga and started dribbling it slowly. This made Helga let out a snarky laugh. Soon she was surprised with the sudden speed of Lila passing her and making her way to the basket.
Lila was just about to throw the ball in the basket when Helga hit the ball mid throw and tried making her way to the other end of the gym where the other basket was placed. Lila caught up to Helga immediately. They were both after the basketball, Lila tried her best to steal the ball away from Helga, but she was guarding it well. Helga was dumbfounded by Lila's secret basketball skills. She had seen her picking daisies and even tearing up when seeing a poor butterfly fluttering it's way to a bug zapper, but Helga had never seen Lila so swift and athletic till now.
Lila finally got a hold of the basketball and dribbled her way to the first basket. She moved passed Helga who tried blocking her way. Lila jumped up and threw the basketball in the basket. The ball happily swerved around the rims before going inside the basket. Helga left her mouth hanging open in astonishment.
"Be careful Helga, you might umm...catch a fly." Lila gave Helga a weak remark, yet she was still impressed with Lila at the moment. Helga looked at Lila who let out a small giggle, obviously she knew how bad she was at smack talk, not as well done as Helga usually put them. Helga closed her mouth and walked towards Lila. Lila had a few sweat drops, she wasn't use to this much exercise. Helga almost laughed at this sight. She had never seen Lila look so tired.
Helga put out her hand in a high five motion. "You're alright Lila." Lila was okay in Helga's book, well for now at least.
Lila happily took this approval and gave Helga the high five. "Well I should get going, I'm feeling ever so worn out." Lila took her backpack then headed out of the gym.
Helga proceeded to play with the basketballs till she grew tired also. A few minutes later the door could be heard opening and again footsteps were walking in.
"Here for another round Lila?" Helga turned around with a smug smile that quickly dropped. Arnold stood there with his green backpack. He was so occupied with Kathy that he was totally clueless about Helga avoiding him that week. Helga looked down nervously and tucked in some strands of hair behind her ear. "Hey Arnold."
Arnold was oblivious of Helga's strange behavior. He put down his backpack and took off his winter coat. He was walking around the school while waiting for Kathy. She promised to meet him at the school for another date at the Black Lagoon bar. Arnold was liking the bar more and more every time they went, of course he would never drink a beer there and gave Kathy a stern look whenever she joked about taking a chug of it. He even liked the loud music there so much he bought a couple of CDs of the bands that played there.
"Helga what are you doing here?" Arnold grabbed the basketball to dribble it a bit before hearing Helga's answer.
"I have nothing better to do, Phoebe's at some mathlete competition and there's never anything good on TV at this time." Helga walked to her backpack to grab her gym shirt. She used it to wipe the sweat from her face. Helga grabbed the water bottle next to her backpack to take a big gulp, the gym was getting hotter by the minute.
"What are you doing here Arnoldo?" Helga asked.
Arnold blushed slightly, "Waiting for someone."
"Well don't get in my way." Helga snapped at him. She grabbed the basketball away from him to continue her personal game.
"Don't worry Helga, I won't" Arnold sat down at a bleacher to watch Helga play. Helga felt his eyes on her and it made it hard to focus. She tried dribbling the ball till she was ready to throw it at the basket. She missed terribly. Helga facepalmed at this embarrassing moment.
"Do you need some help?" Arnold stood up from the bleachers. He walked towards Helga who looked fumed about not making it in the basket.
"I don't need help. I can do this myself." Helga snatched the ball before Arnold could. He looked as Helga missed the basket again, this time hitting a trash can. Helga let out a angry groan.
"Just let me give you a hand Helga." Arnold said.
"Look Arnold I can do this myself! I've done this many times." Helga had this determined look on her face. Arnold was always impressed by her determination. He simply gestured her to the basket to give her another chance. Helga concentrated so hard Arnold almost heard her brain sizzle. She threw the ball only for it to get stuck between the board and basket.
"Criminy." Helga muttered before grabbing another basketball. She threw it at the stuck basketball to try to get it out, but it bounced off the ball and it Helga's forehead.
"Helga are you okay!" Arnold ran to the blonde girl who fell back on the ground. Arnold took the cold water bottle Helga left on the floor and ran back to her. He helped her sit up and held the cold water bottle to her forehead. Her forehead had a big red mark from the basketball. Arnold made sure to hold Helga up forcefully so she wouldn't have to use her own strength.
"I'll walk you to the nurses office, she might still be here." Arnold said worriedly.
"No, I'm fine." Helga shook away from his grip and stood up. She felt nothing but air in her head. Suddenly the room was spinning and she almost fell back on the ground till Arnold caught her. Helga held on tight to his shoulders, she looked up to his face, they were closer then she thought. Arnold had one hand on her back and the other on her waist. He felt his cheeks go hot when his nose touch hers.
"Helga your eyes...they have little green specs in them." Arnold noticed this was the first time they had ever been this close. Helga felt a sudden wave of weakness in her again, she felt her legs struggle to stand again.
"I'm going to take you to the nurses office." Arnold help Helga walk out of the gym. She felt too light headed to protest. The halls were empty at this time. The ugly mustard yellow halls were covered with afterschool activity posters, the lights needed new bulbs with how dim they seem to be, and the white and blue tiled floor was left with a few papers the students have left before leaving. Luckily the nurse was still in her office. Just was Arnold was about to open her door he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey Arnold." Kathy had walked in the school after she didn't see Arnold at the front. She decided to explore the school till she found him.
"Hey Kathy." Arnold smiled at her, he felt like cupid struck him with a love arrow that moment.
"Whose your friend?" Kathy looked to Helga and gave her a friendly smile.
"Oh this is Helga." Arnold almost forgot he was with her and why. He moved away from her to go to Kathy. Arnold held Kathy's hand before introducing her. "Helga this is Kathy."
Helga studied Kathy head to toe, she was definitely different from Lila. Kathy wore her black sleeveless shirt with her black cargo pants that had mini black skulls all over it. Kathy had her usual heavy black makeup on, but Helga was sure that if she dunked her head in water Kathy would have the girl next door look that Arnold loved. "Hi." Helga simply said.
"Well you're at the nurses office, you think you can take it from here?" Arnold asked.
Helga knew that if she put on a good act Arnold would stay here longer. That also meant Kathy would be staying. "I'll be fine. Go ahead and go. Thanks for walking me to the nurses office." Helga opened the nurses door which gave Arnold the okay to leave with Kathy. Helga thought more of Phoebe's advice that night.
I'm surprised I finished this before one in the morning. I thought it was time Helga met Kathy.
