AN: So sorry about this long wait! It's my last semester of school, so that has kept me super busy + new responsibilities at my job... It's crazy. I just started Spring Break though, so I was finally able to finish this chapter. I will say, I love this story, and it does have an ending, so It WILL be finished. I'm never going to give up on it. Thank you SO much to those of you who reviewed. I will try to get another chapter done this week. I really wanted to keep going, cause there is so much more to come, but I didn't want this chapter to be super long...
Fun little story...yesterday I had dinner with this friend….Okay, Okay, I admit, my Ludwig is slightly inspired by him...well this is a man who is into fashion, and business, and the gym….he actually brought up "Hey Arnold"...and quoted Helga! It was the most amazing this ever. No,I did not mention this story to him. Haha.
Dreams Of Philippa
Chapter 9
Helga sniffled as she looked at the text message on her phone, it was the 5th time she'd looked at it, and still had no idea how to reply. It wasn't a long text or anything, rather short and blunt.
"I have a new line. I need you to be my model. Name your price."
It was from Johnny Stitches, the man who had originally 'discovered' her as a child, and someone she'd worked with on and off. It's not like she could afford to ignore it. Her life in Hillwood wasn't exactly permanent, or even desired.
"Ugh, I can't deal with this right now" She grumbled, as she headed toward the kitchen to make herself something to eat. She felt absolutely exhausted, and in desperate need of caffeine. In the kitchen, she sat down on one of the stools and attempted to think of an appropriate response. She was about to reply when suddenly another text came in.
"We need to talk about what happened after Rhonda's wedding. Please. ...this is Arnold BTW. Eugene gave me your number."
"What….Eugene?!" Ugh! Okay definitely she couldn't deal with this. Suddenly her stomach tightened and she felt nauseated. She couldn't deal with this anymore, it was all stupid Ludwig's fault...if he hadn't bought her that moronic dress...how did this all happen? She had to focus on what had occurred a few weeks ago…
"A few weeks ago"
She scowled as she realized that stuck in her head were the words of "Fox in Socks". She was all Dr. Seuss'd out. It had been his birthday last week, and so the Elementary she now worked at, had asked her to read his books to the students that came to see her in the library. She was officially done, so when she came home to "The Grinch" playing on the television, it took all of her willpower not to scream. Okay, she did scream, but that was only after she also saw the dress that was on Ludwig's couch.
"Ludwig!"
"You bellowed, my darling?" came the reply from the kitchen, where Ludwig had been making dinner for the two of them.
"Why does this disgusting dress have a note that says my name on it?"
"Because we're going to a wedding?"
"We are not!" The blonde grumbled, but knew she'd have no choice now. I mean, he actually bought her a dress? Ugh.
That night came much faster than she'd expected. She'd been so busy planning what books to read with her students, and then for some silly reason she'd also began planning small activities for them, and come to realize that she quite enjoyed reading children's books. Perhaps it was their simplicity and happily ever afters.
Her favorite class was of course Miles'. She loved his little comments about the stories she'd tell, but she genuinely loved the whole class. Amy, with her spark for life and love of all things pink, Jeremiah with his determination to be a fireman, and Katherine, who was shy and hated attention, but sometimes she'd come to school in an elephant suit. It was truly one of the best things she'd ever done in her life.
When she wasn't at the school, she was going on hikes with Riley, exploring places she hadn't been to since she was a child, on her days off from PS 118, she'd help Ludwig out at the store. They'd go out for dinner at least once a week, and on these nights she'd allow herself to remember that once upon a time, she had thought she might be able to love him. The next day she'd recall that it would never work out, and so when the day of the wedding arrived, and she'd put on the purple dress that he'd bought her, and he'd put on his tux, and they'd headed off to the wedding, she felt ridiculous, and oddly enough, she wanted to believe that it was real. She told herself that just for that night, she could pretend.
The wedding was beautiful, the definition of perfection. The bride wore a short white dress, paired with blue diamond earrings. The groom was...Harold... but he was clearly in love, and somehow it all gave her hope. She almost wanted to write about it, but that was stupid, because she'd given up on her writing a long time ago...
She had sat alone (Ludwig had gone off to dance) dining on mashed potatoes and chicken, drinking water, and wanting her life to be over for the first part of the reception. They had gotten there late, and the couple was already married by the time they showed up. Helga hadn't seen Arnold, and assumed that he had left right after the ceremony. Just as well. She hadn't been expecting Lorenzo to come in, looking dashing, intelligent, and charismatic, just as he always had.
"It's great to see you, Hel" He had whispered, as he'd gone in for a hug, she'd been too shocked to push him back. As soon as he gave her a cunning smile, however, she was glaring.
"The feeling isn't mutual, you tyrant." At his shocked face, she elaborated. "We didn't end on the best of terms…"
"True, and I wanted to apologize. I'm sorry for not being the man you deserved...the man you deserve."
Oh. crap. 'Why does he always do that', she wondered, he always had a way of nauseating her and making her heart skip a beat all at the same time.
"Oh stop with the crap, please" She groaned out, wondering why she'd let Ludwig go on the dance floor without her….Oh yeah. It's because she hated to dance.
Lorenzo laughed and gave her his winning smile, the one that had made her notice him in the first place. Puke.
"It's the truth."
She was about to blow him off completely when out of the corner of her eye she noticed a tall man, with blonde hair, and blue eyes. A woman was next to him.
Her initial reaction was anger. The second was something she recognized as jealousy. The third was obviously hurt, but she took that one and shoved it deep inside of her.
"Shut up and sit down, already" She finally said to the man hovering around her. As soon as he sat down, she forced herself to look at only him.
"You are so beautiful. I'm really glad I ran into you Hel, really, there's so much I've always wanted to apologize for…"
He droned on and on, and part of her believed him, and the other wanted to go with her gut reaction to just go find Ludwig and go home, but soon enough they were laughing and drinking, and she remembered why he'd meant something to her.
Arnold tried hard not to stare at Helga, but he couldn't help the feelings of jealousy that were stirring inside of him as he saw the way she laughed at whatever Lorenzo was saying. He was at the bar, trying to pay attention to Elsy, his newest boarder. She was a cousin of Lila's, who had decided she loved Hillwood, and wanted to study at the Community College. Arnold hadn't exactly loved the idea of giving her room a the Boarding house, but he figured it was good for Miles to be around family.
"So, I was thinking of doing that first, and then possibly finding inspiration for a few sketches. What do you think?"
Oh. Shit. Had she really been talking the entire time? Arnold smiled, and took a sip of his drink, trying to think of a response. He knew she wanted to be a fashion designer.
"Yeah, that sounds good…"
"Oh my….Arnold, do you see that blonde woman over there?" She was not discreet at pointing at Helga, and he almost choked on his drink.
"Uh...yes, I know her."
"That's Hel Geraldine! Oh my goodness...what is she doing here?"
Arnold grimaced at the name. He didn't love that she'd been so sick of her life, that she'd started going by a different name when her fame had skyrocketed.
"She grew up here… we...we used to be friends."
Elsy's eyes grew twice their size, and she grabbed his shoulders, almost making him drop his drink.
"Arnold. You have to introduce me!"
At that, the blonde man groaned, and shrugged her grip off. Elsy was a sweet young woman, he didn't want Helga to traumatize her.
"Elsy, Helga is...not exactly...my biggest fan."
The young brunette quirked a brow at that, but there was no way she was giving up that easily. She really admired Helga, and more to the point, she wanted to be a famous fashion designer, Helga definitely knew the right people for that.
"Arnold, this would mean so much to me, please, I'd just love to introduce myself. She can't dislike you that much, right? You're a sweetheart."
"Oh...you'd be surprised." He had said, but knew that he wouldn't be able to say no, he was after all, quite interested in keeping the peace between him and Helga. Did she really have to look so beautiful in that purple dress though?
"So, I'd really love to take you out Hel." Lorenzo was saying when she noticed Arnold and his whore walking towards them. Was he serious? Arnold was bringing his date over to her table? Oh no, he had another thing coming...
"Sure, I'd love that Lorenzo" She smiled weakly, as his eyes lit up with genuine excitement. He was about to say something when Arnold came up to them and greeted him.
"Hey man!" Lorenzo was saying, before Helga could tell Arnold to bug off. "It's been awhile, when are we going to get the basketball team together again?"
"Well, maybe for the spring tournament. It's just been crazy with the wedding and all" Arnold replied, and then turned to the woman he was with. Helga almost growled. "Lorenzo, and I, and some of the other guys like to enter the Basketball tournament at the rec center every once in a while...we're a bit delusional and think eventually we'll win one."
At that, Lorenzo and the woman laughed, and Helga wanted more and more to strangle somebody. She had been trying to make Arnold jealous, not get him to come over and chit chat.
"And Arnold is the optimistic one. Wait, you're Lila's cousin right?"
"Oh yeah, I'm so sorry. Elsy, this is Helga and Lorenzo, Helga, Lorenzo this is Elsy."
Helga couldn't even manage a fake smile.
"Oh, how is dear Lila?" Helga asked bitterly, and hoping to hurt Arnold. She couldn't help it, it was the 9 year old brat in her that wanted to humiliate him every chance she got.
"Oh, do you know her Miss. Geraldine?" Elsy asked, and that's when Helga realized the woman probably didn't know much about her other than what she'd seen on magazine covers.
"I...yeah. We went to school together...I mean, I didn't get an invite to her and Arnold's wedding or anything-"
"Helga"
At that, she glared at Arnold, upset that he would use a 'warning' tone to say her name. She was Helga. She'd do as she pleased.
"... but I guess that would have been awkward, right? I mean, you don't invite your girlfriend to your wedding."
"Seriously, Helga?" He asked, he could feel his own temper starting to rise. Elsy was completely shocked, and Lorenzo was looking around the room, hoping that no one was paying attention to them.
"Look, I hate to be that guy..."
"Lorenzo, it's okay, you don't have to say anything" Arnold was saying, still trying hard to keep his composure. Helga was suddenly confused by Lorenzo's comment. Did he have something to say?
"Look man, you're a good guy, but the truth is I just asked Helga out. She and I have history too..."
"And I can respect that. Elsy, we should go..."
"Wait." He demanded, and then turned to the beautiful blond. "Helga, I think you and Arnold should talk. I think you should talk about the night your father threatened him to stay away from you."
Helga stared at Lorenzo, and then looked to Arnold, who was clearly uncomfortable, not to mention poor Elsy, who looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her up.
"Lorenzo, what are you talking about?"
"Hel. I want to go out with you, just like I said, but, it'll be so much better if you and Arnold can clear a few things up, and perhaps move on. Give it a try, darling."
She wasn't sure what was going on, and she hated not being in the loop. Clearly she was missing something, and even though it wouldn't change anything, she supposed she just needed to get this ridiculous conversation over with.
"...Whatever." She finally said, and started walking off, only turning around when she realized he hadn't understood.
"Well, football head? I'm waiting. Let's go talk" She growled out, trying to sound as hateful as she could.
To be Continued...
