Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Hey Arnold!
Chapter Playlist: Peroxide Swing by Michael Buble. Your Love Is My Drug by Ke$ha.
"Cut! That's a wrap on Pataki Electronics Halloween commercial. Great job everyone," the director shouted to the crew. Miriam gave everyone the green light to start packing up and head home.
"You can go too, sweetie," she said to Helga.
"Oh, okay. What about…" Helga gestured toward her costume.
"Oh, it's paid for. You can keep it. Maybe wear it again for Halloween," she waved goodbye as she walked towards the director. Helga picked up her bag of clothes and checked her phone for any missed messages. It was 7:42. The commercial didn't take as long as she thought it would. It was a simple concept; Helga and some other people in costume using the various phones and cameras Pataki Electronics carried while out and about during Halloween. All was done in front of a green screen for the effects team to have fun with this week in the editing room. She dialed Arnold's number and walked out to her car, waiting for him to pick up. He answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Football Head," she smiled as she said it, just as he smile when he heard it.
"Hey, Helga. Are you on a break from shooting?" he asked as she settled herself in the driver's seat.
"I'm done actually," she started the car and let it warm up. "The concept was really simple so it didn't take too long to get the shots they needed. I think the hair and make-up took longer," she laughed.
"So, were you on your way home or-"
"Is that Helga on the phone, Arnold? Is she coming over?"
"Helga's coming over? Great! I'll warm up some pie."
"Was that your mom and grandpa shouting?" Helga chuckled.
"Yeah," Arnold sighed. She could imagine him shaking his head in embarrassment. "You don't have to come over, really. I'm sure Grandpa was just joking about the pie."
"In all the years I've known Phil, he has never once joked about pie," Helga recalled. "You need help with Macbeth, right?" she asked.
"Well, yeah, but-"
"I'll be over in ten," she said goodbye and hung up before he could protest anymore.
"Whoa, um…"
"Try not to stare too hard, Football Head," Helga joked as she stepped over the threshold of the Sunset Arms. She hoped the blush on her cheeks would be mistaken for the heavy make-up. Arnold hung Helga's jacket by the door and caught up to her beside the staircase. He blushed as he tried not to draw attention to the fact that, once again, he was checking out his best girl friend. Helga Pataki normally dressed conservatively in t-shirts and jeans, flattering tops with modest necklines, shorts with tights if she felt they were too revealing. Right now, she stood by the staircase in a soft pink dress that reminded him of Marie Antoinette. The bodice was rather tight and decorated with white lace and off-white embroidery. The skirt stopped a few inches above her knees and filled out with layers of fabric. He wondered how she could sit down in it. Wouldn't the skirt ride up and be even shorter. It might go up so far as to- No, he stopped himself from envisioning the thought. The sleeves were a little puffy and short instead of long as it would have originally been in the Queen's time. She had on white knee high stockings with ribbons and ruffles at the top that she wore with nude pumps. Despite this new state of dress, her hair and make-up was what caught him off guard. Helga's long blonde hair was out of its everyday braids and instead set in tight, bouncy curls. The top half was pinned back and held in place with a white lace ribbon that matched her bodice. She had on more make-up than she would usually wear. Eye shadow, eyeliner, lipstick, blush, and mascara was all painted on with such careful attention to detail. She looked like she should be on a runway with other beauties rather than standing and an old boarding house foyer.
"I'm going to change real quick before we start," Helga said and brought him back to his senses.
"Oh, alright," Arnold found his voice in time to reply. "You look nice though," he told her as she started to climb the steps.
"Arnold, is Helga here yet?" the two teens heard Stella call out. Helga's eyes went wide and Arnold understood what that meant.
"Run," he whispered. Helga attempted to make a break for the bathroom on the second floor, but as soon as she took another step Stella came through the doorway adjacent to the kitchen.
"Oh, Helga, you are here. You look beautiful," the woman beamed as she gestured for Helga to come down the staircase. As Stella pulled Helga into a hug, Miles and Phil came in from the living room to see what the fuss was about.
"Well, now. You didn't have to get all dolled up for a study date with the Shortman," Phil joked as he ruffled Arnold's hair for added embarrassment.
"You know I never pegged you as a ruffles and lace kind of girl," Miles chuckled as he watched his son's face redden. Helga knew better than to give in to the teasing. If she let it get to her then the father/son comedy duo would never stop their "jokes".
"Yeah, well it was either this or a candy striper and I didn't want to take any chances with your naughty nurse jokes," Helga gave a smile then explained, "I was helping my mom with the Halloween commercial. I didn't get a chance to change before I came over."
"Oh, well don't let us keep you," Stella said already reigning in her husband and father-in-law. "We'll be in the kitchen. We've already had dinner, but if you're hungry, Helga, I'd be happy to make you something."
"Oh, um, I already ate on set. Thanks though," Helga politely declined.
"Well, I'll be at the table eating some pie," Phil said as he pulled on his suspenders. "I'll save you and the Shortman a piece," he winked.
"Thanks Grandpa," said Arnold and he gave a grateful smile to his mother as he watched her steer them into the kitchen. Finally, the two teens made it to the second floor. Helga slipped into the bathroom while Arnold waited in his bedroom. Arnold sat on his bed and opened up his folder full of English notes. He was just about to give up on trying to understand the material when Helga walked into the room. Now dressed in her purple long sleeved top and black shorts she wore to school, she dumped her bag in its usual resting place by the door and plopped herself on the red couch.
"Is my family really that exhausting?" Arnold asked as Helga stretched out on the couch. She chuckled.
"It's not that. Believe me, I can handle your family. My mom is another story," she smiled up at him from her position lying on the couch.
"What did she do?" he asked her, a little worried that she was over-doing the business woman thing like before.
"Don't get your boxers in a bunch, Arnold. She's not neglecting me like last time. It's just, Halloween is in two weeks and she got a late start on this commercial and she's worried it won't be done in time to get optimal tv time," she told him. Though upside down, she could still see Arnold turn red for a bit, whether from mentioning his boxers or reading his mind, he wasn't sure. "What?" she asked as she sat up. He was getting flustered again and she didn't know why.
"It's nothing, really," Arnold assured her. "Um, here," the boy got off of his bed and sat next to her on the couch. He set the open folder of notes on her lap and waited for her to read them over. As Helga leaned against the back of the couch and held the papers up to read them, Arnold sat back and listened as she explained the genius of William Shakespeare. All the while, finding himself occasionally gazing at her, stunned by her beauty.
"Well, alright," Gerald had a grin on his face as he sat back in his chair. It was Friday morning and everyone was settled in their seats awaiting Thad's performance. He had been working with Harold and the new kids non-stop to get this song just right. Helga had to give the guy credit for his dedication to put on such a good show. He was dressed in a suit and tie and brought a vintage looking microphone, most like his own. He would make Spumoni proud, she thought. She turned to make a comment to Phoebe but was cut off by Harold's drum intro. The horns joined in and soon the beat had Eugene and Sheena up and dancing.
Grab a gal. You're gonna, gonna make her spin and swirl
You jump and jive'n gonna make her twirl
You're swingin' now!
Thad's low voice had the girls in the room nearly swooning.
Make your move, take a chance, just get on that floor and dance!
Don't be cool, don't be slick, you just keep on swingin', keep on swingin'
Keep on swingin' swing!
Eugene took a seat during the interlude and let Sheena dance with Thad. He kept up with her moves and spun her into her seat in time to pick the mic back up.
Make your move, take a chance, just get on that floor and dance!
Don't be cool, don't be slick, you just keep on swingin', keep on swingin'
Keep on swingin' swing!
With the final sound of the horns he slid on his knees and stopped in front of Nadine and Rhonda. The room erupted in applause. Steven and Sid hooting for Harold's drumming and the girls applauding Thad's singing. Vie called the class to order, "That was exceptional Thad. Well done everyone!"
"Oh my gosh!" was the first thing Helga heard when she stepped into Rhonda's bedroom that Friday afternoon. She had told her parents she'd be spending the night so they wouldn't worry. Arnold had seemed a little disappointed when she told him she couldn't hang out this weekend, but looked relieved when she said she'd be with the girls at a sleepover. She wondered why he would be relieved to hear that, but gave up once she pulled in to the Lloyds' driveway. If she looked like she was thinking about something Rhonda would assume it was about a boy and grill her like a hamburger on the Fourth of July. In this case, she would be absolutely right and Helga did not want to her feelings about Arnold to be outed. She set her overnight bag with the rest in Rhonda's spacious walk-in closet and joined Phoebe on the floor by the bed.
"Homework, Pheebs? Isn't that against Rhonda Lloyd's Sleepover agenda of fun?" the blonde chuckled as the brunette blushed and closed the notebook.
"It was just the practice questions at the end of the next chapter. I just wanted to be sure that I understand the material before class on Monday," she placed the notebook in her bag and slid it under the bed, out of sight.
"So, what did I miss so far?" Helga asked settling onto the multitude of cushions and pillows and blankets strewn about the room.
"Well, Rhonda and Sheena have been fiddling with the television set. They're trying to set up the karaoke machine Rhonda recently purchased," Phoebe started to explain.
"Let me guess, Ke$ha and Gaga?" Helga asked, her tone unsurprised.
"Of course," Phoebe smiled and went on with her recap," Nadine has been on her phone since I arrived. We don't know who she's texting, but the fact that Rhonda hasn't made a big deal of it yet is unnerving. Lila has been going through Rhonda's nail polish collection. She designated herself manicurist of the night. Apparently, she's gotten very interested in nail art over the summer."
"And all the while, you're sitting here doing schoolwork like the good little nerd we know and love," Helga gave Phoebe's shoulder a little squeeze.
"Yes, well, I've accepted my role as the group nerd in the first grade when it was revealed that I could read Green Eggs & Ham better than our teacher and discuss the dietary implications of consuming food fare past its expiration date," she said with smile. Helga chuckled and the two discussed the week's events and the upcoming Halloween party. About five minutes into the conversation, Rhonda gave a triumphant "Ha!" and stepped back to admire her (and Sheena's) work.
"Sheena, if you would be so kind," she gave a wink and walked over to Nadine.
Maybe I need some rehab
Or maybe just need some sleep.
Lila, Sheena and Phoebe giggled as Nadine's startled reaction to her best friend serenading her. Poor kid, Helga thought, Now there's no way to stop Rhonda's interrogation. Well, better her than me.
Because your love, your love, your love is my drug
Your love, your love, your love.
The six girls sang together, some more enthusiastic about it than others. When the song ended, Nadine tried to start the next one to distract Rhonda, but Ms. Lloyd was expecting that move. She switched to one of her cds for the time being and sat next to her best friend with a rather devious smile on her face.
"So, Arnold, what exactly do you and Helga do every day after school?" Sid asked seemingly out of nowhere. At lunch, Gerald had suggested that since the girls were getting together for a sleepover, the guys should do the same, or at least something similar. So here they were, (Eugene, Thad, Steven, Harold, Sid, Gerald and Arnold) all crammed into Arnold's bedroom for the night.
"Please, don't answer that, Arnold," Gerald called over his shoulder. He was challenging Steven to a match in Marvel vs. Capcom and was losing pretty quickly.
"Yeah, I really don't want to hear the details of you and Helga's late night rendezvous," Steven smirked as he laid the finishing blow to Gerald's character.
"Hand it over Gerald," Harold laughed. "I really don't want to hear about it either," he said getting back to the conversation. "Especially if whatever you did happened where I'm sitting right now." That comment made the other guys look down at their seats and back at Arnold, who was sitting quite calmly on his bed, his back against the shelf.
"Oh, we do it everywhere," Arnold told them without so much as blinking. "Mostly on the couch," to which Thad and Eugene groaned and moved to the floor, "sometimes on the bed," from which he got disgruntled grunts as they continued their game, "a few times on the roof," Arnold went on, his face still serious.
"Boy howdy, Helga sure is an adventurous one," Sid wriggled his eyebrows at Arnold in what the blonde took as a sign of approval.
"Arnold, I really don't think that you should be speaking about Helga like that. What you do is between the two of you and I think it should stay between the two of you," Eugene squeaked up from his seat on the floor. Part of it was because he really did respect the girl's feelings, most of it was because he was terrified of what Helga would do to them if she found out they were talking about her in such a way.
"I don't see what you guys are getting so worked up about," Arnold shrugged. "Helga and I hang out in my room. We do homework on the couch and watch movies on my bed and talk on the roof. What did you think we did together?" Arnold raised an eyebrow at his friends.
"Nothing," Sid was the first to speak up, "right guys? That's exactly what we thought was going on with you and Helga every day after school all alone in your secluded bedroom-"
"With my parents, grandparents and a handful of boarders in the building at any given time," Arnold sighed. "Really, guys, there's nothing going on with me and Helga. We're friends," he firmly stated.
"But you want to be more than that," Thad suggested as he continued texting.
"Why would you say that?" Gerald asked. "That's a ridiculous thing to say to my man, Arnold."
"Well, as a man also in the pursuit of love, I can see the signs. He wants her," Thad looked up at the other guys who had all gone quiet. They looked from Thad to Arnold who had gone pale and wide-eyed then blushed furiously as all eyes were on him.
"Arnold, no," Gerald said disbelievingly.
"Well, I- it's not love, it's just-" he stammered as Gerald, Sid, Harold and even Steven ganged up and bombarded the poor boy with questions of "How?" and "When?" and unapproving words of "How could you?" and "Why Helga?". Arnold was at a loss for words. He had barely admitted to himself that he developed a little crush on his best friend over the last few months and here he was, expected to answer question from his friends.
Eugene gave Arnold a sympathetic look from his seat next to Thad. "So who are you texting this whole time?" he asked.
"Nadine," was the answer he received.
"Nadine, dear, you know the rules of the sleepover: No secrets and don't ever lie to the hostess unless it's to boost her self esteem," Rhonda explained. The music was lowered to become background noise so that the conversation could take place. Lila had started on Sheena's nails at the vanity while Helga and Phoebe remained in the seats on the floor beside the bed. Nadine was on Rhonda's bed with the Princess herself looking a little annoyed. "Tell me, who is it you've been texting this evening?" Rhonda asked. Nadine sighed and decided to get it over with as soon as possible. Besides, it was for Rhonda's benefit.
"I've been texting Thad," she revealed as her phone alerted her of another message. The girls were surprised, none more so than Ms. Lloyd.
"Why would you be texting Thad? What could you possibly have to say to him? I mean, it's not like you and he have anything going on. Do you?"
"Rhonda, before you start your dramatic 'Woe Is Me' monologue and shun me for my betrayal, let me explain. And no interruptions," Nadine clarified. "Thad and I have been talking for the last week or so." Nadine glared at Rhonda's dramatic gasp. "He was suddenly inspired when Mrs. Moreau said we'd be studying Big Band music the next week. He had a really great number planned out and immediately got started practicing with the band. He asked my opinion of the number a few times and I went over to his house," another gasp & glare, "to help him choose the right clothes to wear during the performance. And now we've been going over his performance: how he sounded, how he looked dancing, you know," she shrugged.
"And why, may I ask, did he want your opinion on all of this if there's nothing going on between the two of you?" Rhonda asked indignantly.
Nadine had to laugh at how worked up Rhonda was getting over all of this. It wasn't exactly what Thad and Nadine wanted to happen, but getting Rhonda's interest in the subject was the general idea. "He wanted my opinion because I knew you best," Nadine revealed. That definitely got Rhonda's attention.
"What do you mean?" Rhonda asked.
"He likes you, Rhonda. He still likes you after all these years," Nadine smiled and gave the girl's knee a gentle squeeze.
"But he never said anything," Rhonda recalled. "He's practically ignored my existence since the fifth grade. The only time I see him is in class or on stage. And even then it's always 'Hey, Rhonda', 'Bye, Rhonda', 'You dropped your pencil Rhonda'," she babbled on.
"Is this really something to be upset about? He sang a song for you," Nadine tried to rationalize. "He did all this to get your attention."
"Well he has it now," Rhonda huffed. The other girls looked at their hostess in confusion. "I just don't see why he would go through all that trouble just to impress me. It's ludicrous."
Helga rolled her eyes at that comment. "Sure it is, Princess. Be honest, you wouldn't have taken him seriously if the guy had walked up to you after class and asked you to go for ice cream at Slausen's. He knows you like big grand gestures. That's why he did all this," Helga finished, the others agreeing with her.
"So, Rhonda," Lila spoke up excitedly, "how are you going to answer him?"
"Yeah, Rhonda, he's been asking what you thought about it all night," Nadine said. "I'm sure he wants more than 'She seems to like it.'"
"Is that all you told him? Nadine, for shame!" Rhonda scolded. "It was beautiful. He sounded amazing and his outfit was perfect. Superb job on that, by the way. And his dancing is to die for. Everything was on point and-" She abruptly stopped her speech and grabbed her phone off of the bedside table. They knew who she was calling and that there was a very slim chance of getting her to rejoin them this evening.
"Well, I guess it can't be helped," Phoebe smiled. "They have been circling each other for long enough."
"Speaking of," said Nadine with a devious glint in her eye, "when are you and Gerald going to get together, Phoebe?"
"Ah- what?" she sputtered.
"The two of you have been courting much longer than Thad and Rhonda," Sheena said.
"And I thought for sure things would move along when Benji Benson came into the picture," Lila added. "Gerald doesn't exactly do much to hide his jealousy."
Phoebe brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "To be quite honest, I'm not sure what I should do. I've known Gerald nearly all of my life and I've come to care about him very much. Benji, on the other hand, he's so new and exciting. He's my intellectual equal, but we still talk about subjects other than our academics." She frowned. "I don't know what I should do." Helga patted her friend's back in sympathy and the others gave suggestions on how to decide between the two young men.
"Well, I guess Thad's out for the rest of the night," Sid motioned to the guy in question. He had nearly dropped his phone when he saw Rhonda's name appear on the screen instead of Nadine's as he was expecting. He gave a nervous greeting before slipping back to his old self as he discussed the Peroxide Swing with his muse. "So, Gerald," Sid tried to change the subject after Arnold refused to give his friends any information on his developing feelings for Helga Pataki. "How are things with you and Phoebe?"
Though Gerald tried to act nonchalant about it, the others could see the frustration set in his features. "Things are cool," he shrugged, keeping his attention on the game. "Really. I'm just-"
"Laying the foundation," chorused the boys in the room.
"You've been saying that for years, man," Sid pointed out. "When are you going to grow a pair and ask her out on an actual date?" he challenged.
Gerald huffed indignantly at the comment on his manhood. "Hey! I have a pair, alright? Phoebe, she's a classy girl. You can't rush this kind of thing with her."
"What rush? It's been over six years," Steven said as he handed his controller to Sid.
"I think you're scared," Harold teased as he scrolled through the characters on the screen.
"Me? Scared? Of what?" Gerald sputtered.
"Guys, come on. Leave Gerald alone," Arnold tried his best to back his bro up. "Things are a little tricky right now. Phoebe's been hanging out with Benji a lot lately and if Gerald asks her now, he might come off as jealous or desperate or something."
"All the more reason for Gerald to make his move," Eugene reasoned. "If he waits too long, Benji might work up the nerve and ask Phoebe out and you'll have missed your chance," he told the forlorn boy.
Gerald was quiet for a moment, contemplating the words of his friends. He wanted more than anything to finally be able to call Phoebe his girlfriend, but she hadn't given him any indication that she might feel the same way. She was a kind person, nice to everyone, so he couldn't take her smiles and giggles as a sign to go ahead with his plans. With the amount of time Benji had been spending with her, the guys were right, he couldn't afford to wait around anymore. He made his decision. And to be sure that he wouldn't back out, "Halloween," he said aloud. "Rhonda's party. I'll ask Phoebe out," Gerald declared to the guys in the room.
"Well, alright," Sid smirked.
"Finally," Harold muttered.
"So have you stated, so shall it be," Thad rejoined the conversation having just hung up with Rhonda. "You know the consequences of backing out of a decision," he reminded Gerald.
"I'm not going to back out, Thad, so keep your hair dye in the closet," Gerald warned.
"So what's everyone going as?" Arnold asked trying to change the subject.
"Zombie hunter," said Gerald, Sid, Steven and Harold in sync. It was essentially their everyday clothes, just a little dirty and ripped. Add a gun or knife and you're all set.
"Thad and I were thinking Vaudevillian performers or maybe something more contemporary like the Dapper Dans," Eugene spoke up.
"What about you Arnold?" Gerald asked his friend. Arnold thought for a moment. Maybe a French king to match Helga's Marie Antoinette costume from the other day. Then he thought, what were the chances of her wearing that outfit again? She had already decided on Alice in Wonderland.
He shrugged, "Zombie hunter," he decided. "I have some gear in the basement from my San Lorenzo trips. They could pass as zombie killing gear." And so their evening continued with conversations of Halloween plans and a Marvel vs Capcom tournament.
"So, what will everyone be wearing to the party?" Rhonda had finished her conversation with Thad for the moment and promised to call him in the morning to make plans for the weekend. Regardless of what the girls had been talking about, Rhonda was back and in need of being in control. Much to Phoebe's relief and the other girls' slight irritation.
"I will be the Cheshire Cat as Helga has decided to be Alice this year," Phoebe pulled up a picture of their costumes on her phone to show the girls.
"I'm nearly finished with making my costume," Sheena said.
"Making a costume sounds like a lot of work," Helga said.
"It is, but I couldn't find a satisfactory replica of Kathy's Cake Girl costume from the party scene in Singing in the Rain. I felt that making it myself was my only choice," Sheena explained.
"I found a really great replica of Keira Knightley's Pirate King outfit online," Nadine said excitedly. "It should be here sometime next week. That gives me enough time to get it altered if needed."
"Lila? What have you decided to dress as this year?" Phoebe asked the adorable red head.
"Well, I have a lot of tulle left over from when I volunteered for the wardrobe department at the community theater, so I made myself a can can girl dress," she said proudly. "I'm nearly done. I just need to sew up some loose ends."
"Well," Rhonda once again took center stage, or rather bed, "seeing as this year's theme for the Halloween Bash will be Dark Carnival, it seemed only fitting that I go as your ringmaster. The costume I found is absolutely fabulous," she gushed. "And the accessories are to die for. That hat alone, I want to wear it every day."
"Sounds great, Princess," Helga smirked. "Now, what say we get on with the activities," she reached into her bag and pulled out two DVD cases. "The girls of St. Trinian's await." The other girls squealed in agreement as Helga loaded the first movie into the disc tray. The rest of the evening was spent catching up, watching movies and making plans for Halloween.
A/N Well, there you have it. That's what I've been working on these last few months. I apologize for the wait. Next chapter will finally be the Halloween party. I'm not sure what else though. As always, thank you so much for reading.
A/N 11JAN12 I posted some links on my profile of how I pictured the girls in my head. Made on Doll Divine.
