After Rhonda took Helga over to her place to meet her cousin, Arnold went directly to, Dr Bliss's practice for his appointment. After he checked in, Dr Bliss immediately brought him in before he could take a seat in the waiting room. Stepping into her office, Arnold somehow didn't know where to sit while his mind remained cluttered. Soon he just sat in another chair that was almost adjacent to her own.
With her pad of paper in hand, Dr Bliss took in the young man in front of her. She knew why he was here. "So Arnold, how have you been?"
"I don't know where to begin." What a standard answer, that much he knew. "Home life is still the same. Most of my friends are good. Well with the exception of a male friend that ticked me off at, Helga's party."
"Oh? What did he do?"
"Use my bed for sex."
"Well I can see why that would irritate you, but that is not the reason why you're here." She figured patiently.
Running his hands in his scalp, Arnold put his hands down to rest on the arm rests. "It's Helga. At times I'm lost in what to do with her. I wonder if I'm doing enough for her. She's in pain all the time, and I feel helpless. I don't know what to say most of the time. I know to allow her to make the first move. I'll always listen to her and love her. It just hurts to see the person you love in this much pain."
Eyes softening, Dr Bliss wished everyone was this sweet to someone in Helga's circumstance. With female's it is one thing, but most males always act like that the woman should get over it in a matter of minutes. "I can tell you one thing, Arnold. You are saying the right things right now. I can't divulge much in my sessions with her." He nods in understanding. "You are patient with her. You are letting her make the first move. You are listening to her. I know you love her very much. You always have. It is understandable you are feeling helpless in this situation. You want to make this all go away for her. You want that very spirited girl back. I'm sure this hasn't lessened your feelings for her."
"No. Never. Helga is still there, she just changed because of something that wasn't her fault. I just know what is in that heart. In that mind. When I first felt that hug in school, I delirious. To feel her kiss me, I was over the moon. When she takes my hand, I feel privileged. She's amazing."
"I can see why she's crazy about you. You have that old world romantic in your heart." Dr Bliss scribbled on her paper. "I looked out the window yesterday and spotted you both at the bus stop. You looked like a couple. Is that what you want to be?"
"I asked her out for this friday. I'm questioning it if it is too soon to ask her. Is it?"
Watching him wring his hands, Bliss's eye's flickered up to his waiting form. "You can ask her, but remember it is her choice. Would you still be around her if she says to wait a while longer?"
"Yes. I'll always be there for her. I'll just keep waiting."
"What would happen if she keeps saying no?"
Arnold knew she was just testing him. "I'll still be there for her. I love her and only her."
Meanwhile at Rhonda's, Helga was being shown to her cousin's bedroom. Knocking on the door, Rhonda opened the door to let them both in. "Roxanne, this is Helga." Rhonda introduced with no dramatic flair.
Helga looked over to Roxanne who was sitting on her bed with her back against the headboard. Helga noticed that the girl appeared pretty skinny with limp brown hair. She was attractive, but even Helga could plainly see how she obviously didn't care for her appearance. "Hi."
"Hi." Roxanne greeted back. "You can leave us be, Rhonda, thank you."
"Sure. Call if you need anything." Rhonda requested kindly. Gentleness marked her tone.
Waiting for the door to close behind her, Roxanne requested Helga to come over and sit down. Seeing a chair already set up near the bed, Helga chose that. From close up, she could see the amazing paleness of her skin. The deep sadness and pain marred her eyes.
"Helga, you can call me Roxie. I hate when they get too formal around here." Her voice was husky sounding. Tired. "I'm sorry for what has happened to you."
"I'm sorry it happened to you. What did Rhonda say about me?"
"She didn't give me details feeling that is for you to tell. I know she gave you a little about me." Roxie noticed how Helga looked down. "Would you like me to tell you?"
Helga could only nod. She felt unable to verbalize the answer. She can tell this girl was in pain.
Roxie noticed her apprehension knowing it was best not to get into every single detail of this story. "I was coming home from school. It was getting late. I remember getting grabbed and being knocked out. When I came to during it, he was in the middle of the act. It was horrible. I kept repeating in my head that this has to be a nightmare and that I'm still asleep. It wasn't. When he saw my eyes looking at him, he hit me knocking me out. When I came to again, he was doing more. I don't know how long this lasted. I still don't. I just know he beat me harder and harder." Tears came out of her thinking of every which way he had his way with her.
Handing her a tissue, Helga's heart went out to her as tears came slowly out of her own eyes.
"He left me there to die in freezing cold weather. Naked. Bleeding. I was found by a cop. In my passed out state I was crying. He broke my collar bone, broke a few ribs, and split my head in the back. I almost died and I wish I did. Be better than how I'm feeling now. I have to take heavy doses of medication. I have another surgery scheduled to get rid of the build up happening to my collar bone." Roxie didn't want to further say much more, but she did notice a look come over Helga. "What's the matter? Do you feel like what happened to you should be less traumatic?" Helga nodded. "Don't. A violation happened against your will. It is all bad. Do you mind sharing what happened to you?"
Sharing what happened to her, Helga really didn't want to look at her face as she recounted that day then the additional one with the faculty. "No one believes me. Once in a while I still get phone calls just because they publicly humiliated me."
Roxie felt disgust. She knew some sick fucks often make up stories, but to believe the guy over her. To treat her like this. "You never thought of filing charges against him or the school?"
"If a whole school sided with him over me, then what chance do I have?" Helga's dead firm tone was nearly spat out. She felt the tension forming in her spine. "That guy was in my current school. Rhonda and Phoebe knew what happened to me. No one else did. I walk in and there he was chatting up with another friend of mines. I yelled in the hallway. I screamed it out. I didn't care. They had to see the monster for himself. The one that killed me. What does that guy do? He acts smug and then he slams me into the locker."
Roxie listened to that. Saw Helga bare her teeth as she said that. Roxie was beginning to give up on herself, and this girl seemed to not be. "What happened after he did that?"
"Arnold, he is my oldest friend, and someone that I've loved for so long, he came out of nowhere practically to deck out that bastard." Closing her eyes, Helga took in several deep breaths to calm herself. "I ran out of school and Arnold came running after me. When I fell, I didn't know it was him at first. My eyes were blurry from crying. Also it was raining. I didn't want to touch any male. I only recognized him after his grandma calmed me enough."
"It's good he did that. Punched the guy. I do understand about not wanting to be touched by any male. It's hard after that. You can't breath most of the time. As you said, it felt like you died that day. I didn't know how to describe it myself, but you did perfectly. At school now, I don't care how I look. I'm there for an education. I don't have any friends. I avoid guys. I don't care if they think I'm a bitch." Pausing in her thoughts, Roxie frowned. "I don't have any professional help at all. I don't trust anyone. I met with one shortly after my attack, and I told my parents I don't like the person."
"I'm seeing this great psychologist. I've known her since I was nine. I trust her completely. She makes me feel so safe. She has come to see me since this has happened. I've only gone to her office recently. Would you like to talk to her? Tell her the situation and I'm certain she will come here. Her name is, Dr Bliss." Helga suggested nicely.
Nodding her head, Roxie's eyes were misting up. "I would really appreciate it, Helga. I love my family, but I can't keep feeling this way. I mean it is nice to talk to someone who understands. I just wish it never happens to another girl, let alone us."
"I hear you."
Yawning, this was the most she had spoken in a long time. "You are a fighter. I can see your strength even if you are doubting it yourself. You are just knocked down right now. I can see you are trying."
"Sometimes I just feel like giving up. Sometimes I wish I was really dead instead of feeling like this all the damned time. I know you feel the same way too. I wish I could freely be with, Arnold, instead of me being three quarters of the way there." Seeing the obvious pain in, Roxie's eyes, Helga felt worried. "Is there anything I can get you?"
"No. I'll be due for my medication soon. We have a few more minutes at least. I appreciate the concern." Roxie sent her a weak smile. "What do you mean by three quarters of the way there?"
Getting slightly red faced, Helga glanced away for a second. "I already said I love him. Rhonda knows him too. I hugged him and we kissed. He never presses anything and allows me to take the lead."
"Guess you are very lucky there." Seeing the Butler come in with her pills, Roxie accepted it with the water. "Thank you, Roger."
"You are quite welcome, Miss." Roger did a slight bow before exiting the room gracefully.
Watching her take her meds, Helga wished she didn't have to go through all this pain. "Can I leave you my number? I would like to be your friend if you want. Also I will leave, Dr Bliss's number. I'll make sure to give her a heads up. The rest will be up to you to say what you wish."
Settling into her bed, Roxie smiled weakly while pointing to a pad of paper. "I would like to have a friend. Leave both those numbers."
Grabbing the pad of paper with the pen, Helga scribbled the information down before placing it down. "When is your surgery?"
"Next week on Saturday. They promise me that I'll be there overnight, but even I doubt that stuff. I get sick really bad after each one." She was feeling sleep edge its way inside of her. "I hate to cut this short, but I need to drift off."
Standing up, Helga did a silent wish for this girl. "Well I hope you have a good night. Also, it was really good to finally meet you."
"Same here. You're nice. Have a good evening."
Seeing her eyes close, Helga left her room silently so as not to disturb her. Closing the door softly, Helga went to speak to, Rhonda before she had to head back home.
Still at the tail end of his session with, Bliss, they were interrupted by her telephone. Excusing herself, she picked it up to speak. "Hello Helga."
"Hey, Doc. Sorry if I'm interrupting anything there, but I needed to give you a heads up about someone." Helga said on the other end.
Giving Arnold a knowing look seeing how anxious he was, Dr Bliss spoke. "Who is that?"
"Her name is Roxanne Lloyd, she is the cousin I told you about. I recommended your name. The thing is this, she doesn't want to leave the house."
"So it will need to be a home session." Penciling the girls name down, Bliss straightened up. "I know I will be able to do that for her."
Helga smiled at her coolness. "Thanks, Doc! You rock."
Laughing politely, Bliss spoke to her a little bit more before hanging up. "Nothing to worry about, Arnold, she just wanted to tell me to expect a call from someone." Sitting back down, Dr Bliss glanced at the time. "We have at least ten minutes left here. Is there anything else you would want to add?"
"I know I've spoken to you about Helga in quite a few sessions. I won't ask what she says about me exactly, but I get this feeling you are rooting for our relationship."
Seeing how his eyes looked like a hawk as he tried to seek the truth, Bliss couldn't help give out a friendly chuckle. "Whatever do you mean, Arnold? I'm a Psychologist not a matchmaker."
Raising his eyebrow up, Arnold highly doubted it right now. "I don't know. You do spend an awfully huge amount of time hinting at it, and throwing these suggestions out."
Standing up abruptly, Dr Bliss told him the session is over. Her little act didn't fool him there. Yes she saw them as both perfect together. So sue her.
Raising himself up, Arnold could only admire the older woman. She is very clever to do this. He doubted she did this for anyone else. "Alright, Dr Bliss. I appreciate you seeing me on short notice. Thank you for the help."
Shaking his hand, she then led him towards the door. "It really is no problem, Arnold. If you ever need me again, don't hesitate to call me."
"I won't. I'm glad she has you. Have a good evening."
After he left, Dr Bliss shut the office door just shaking her head. "I need to cover myself better between those two teenagers. They can see right through me." After admonishing herself, she thought a nice cup of coffee would be a nice prize for herself after a full day.
A/N: Thanks for the support everyone. I greatly appreciate it.
