"So since it has been officially two months. Will you now tell me how school is going so far for you?"
Helga smirked at her boyfriend's image on the screen. His hair was slightly askew from whatever he was doing before getting online. That smirk of his own just had her missing him even more since she knew it counted before him wanting an adventure. "School blows. Can't wait till I'm sixteen so I can get myself a job and save up some money."
He nodded in understanding of that. "Bound and determined to leave that place forever aren't you? Who knows? I might end up whisking you away back to here since I miss you badly. I miss my late night talks with you."
Snorting, Helga rolled her eyes. "I'm certain there is a asian beauty flirting with you as we speak. Someone whom I probably can't blame for stealing you away."
Kyoyo cocked his head in annoyance at her. "Yes there are girls here on this campus, but none hold a candle to you. You are this unique beauty that I have the pleasure of kissing many times over."
"Yeah, yeah." Looking down, Helga wished to hide her blush that formed on her cheeks.
"I can see how you are trying to hide that redness there. Don't hide yourself from me. I love looking at you." As Kyoyo peered closely at the image of his girlfriend, he wished he could hold her. "When we see one another again."
She interrupted. "If we ever see one another again."
"We will." He firmly told her. "I found the girl that I want to be with. I found my perfect blossom."
It was so hard for her to come up with something sarcastic after that. Kyoyo found a way to silence her in the best way possible. It was never insulting. Just filled with love.
It was easy to challenge the Sophomores into playing baseball. Always challenge them and they'll take you up on that challenge. Wolfgang always had ulterior motives whenever he did anything, and as he scanned the players on the opposing team he knew he had to time it just right.
Arnold might be one to be level headed so it often took a while for him to anger. Gerald was a bit more cooler about things. Not to say he didn't anger at all, he just kept it well under pressure. The girl that always wore red seemed worthy enough to remember her name to, but seeing how he couldn't stand listening to her spouting off about fashion, Wolfgang ignored her. Yes she is beautiful, just annoying. The other girls were there and Phoebe was a cute little thing, but even Wolfgang had his limits. He felt like he would be breaking a doll. Only one girl was missing from the mix and that was the little red head. Someone boring.
Than there was Helga Pataki. The blonde spitfire.
Wolfgang thought that she certainly improved her looks over the summer. Now seeing her with a models body bode well especially seeing how tough this girl is. She wasn't delicate by any means and she had this smart mouth that he felt confused with in the past. While he respected her spunk, he still wanted to best her, and dominate over her.
During the whole game he tossed his insults their way while enjoying how his team would often best them. This wasn't to say that the Sophomore team were lazy. It was a very close game with Helga on second base and Arnold coming up to bat. Wolfgang needed to do this perfect. He had to or else he would force another game in its place. His whole goal in mind was the blonde currently on the base behind him.
As he slowly made his movements to pitch the ball, Wolfgang did his usual flair of making fun of Arnold. Seeing the slight annoyance on his face, Wolfgang pitched the ball resulting in a strike. Catching the ball from his friend, Wolfgang did it again letting this one also strike. Third time he threw the ball with Arnold hitting it. With the crack of the bat the ball went over his head. Spotting Helga on the run, Wolfgang threw up his hand in the air to signal to throw it to him. Seeing Helga rounding third base, Wolfgang caught the ball that Edmund threw just to run after Helga on purpose.
Arnold spotted the problem seeing how Wolfgang was coming in fast on Helga. He shouted to Helga to watch out. It was too late as he saw her fly down with Wolfgang on top of her. He saw the way he grabbed at Helga prompting him to leave his current position to stop him from touching her.
Helga was pushing with all her strength. Feeling his hands all over her, Helga began to yell. "Get off of me you big ape." She hit. She pushed. She hit again. She saw her friends rushing over to grab him off her. When she was finally free of his large form, Helga stood up. "Just what in the heck is your game?"
Wolfgang laughed at the prize of touching the blonde. She felt right to him. "You certainly did grow right, Pataki. Better than that flouncy sister of yours."
"Don't you ever touch me again." Helga growled at him before punching him straight in the eye. Taking momentary pleasure of that, she hit him again only to kick him right in the groin. "Yuck." Turning on her heel, Helga ran back to the boarding house.
Arnold dashed after her to see if she was all right. He entered the house to hear her running feet on the top floor. Going after her, Arnold heard her door slam. "Helga!" Knocking on her door he was worried about her.
Inside her room she whipped her clothes off quickly. Glancing down at her gangly body she spotted the bruises already forming on her hips, her breasts, and even her behind. She cursed as she grabbed her robe and toiletries. Opening the door, Helga sighed seeing Arnold's concerned face. "Bastard."
He wondered if she was calling him that, but forgave her knowing who she was truly calling that. "Did he hurt you bad?"
"Bruises go away, but if you want to know I have them on my chest, hips, and my ass. Now let me wash this dirt off." Pushing past him, Helga went into the bathroom where she slammed the door to take a quick shower.
Thinking of what was good for bruises, Arnold went to his parents room to get the lavender so she can place on it. Writing a quick note, he went back to her room where he deposited it on her bed before leaving the boarding house. Good thing too since there was a match between his friends and Wolfgang.
Heading across the street, Arnold pushed Wolfgang. Anger evident on his face he was ready for a fight. To witness Helga hurt and groped like that infuriated him to no end to the point he even punched him in the face. He heard the gasps from his friends behind him at his uncharacteristic moment. Spotting Wolfgang coming back after him, Arnold punched him again.
"Females are not meant to be treated as your personal abuse. They are supposed to be treated with respect." Arnold readied himself as Wolfgang neared him again.
"Oh?" Wolfgang felt the pain in his eye from the repeated punches. Still felt the pain in his groin from where Helga kicked him. "Tell Helga I say hi then."
His laugh was insulting bringing Gerald forward to grab Arnold to move him away from the cretin. Never in his life had he felt his best friend struggle so much to be pulled away. Gerald knew him to be so level headed. Bringing him far away from everyone, Gerald had to hold him against the wall. "He isn't worth it. He'll just do it again." Feeling his friend's renewed strength, Gerald pushed him back harder against the wall making him sound out in slight pain. "Sorry man, but I have to."
"He hurt her. He bruised her. Helga looks humiliated." At the sight of her face, Arnold tried to wiggle past his friend once more. "No, Gerald! I have to do this. Wolfgang has to be taught."
"He does, but this isn't the way. Phoebe went to see how she is so I know she'll be fine. Helga is a strong person. She may get knocked down, but she'll get back up again. You have to have faith." Gerald spoke to him calmly as he moved him away from Gerald Field. It was best to have a breather. "I may not be her number one fan, but I do know what it is like to be proud. This is something we have in common. If she wants to be saved, she'll let you know."
Arnold thought about her. Thought about wanting to hold her in his arms all night long. Day in and day out with her so close by had him always placing his hand at her door with thoughts of being with her in so many important ways. He was in love with her and he hadn't really verbalized it yet even to his best friend. "Your right. It is just I feel protective over her."
Gerald considered that as he stopped himself from his usual sarcasm about the girl. While she had good points about her, he was still weighed down by the past. He knew it was fair of him, but there were times where it was tough to grow up. "I know you do. I have to respect the girl for wanting to handle things on her own. She isn't like most girls that expect you to do all the work for them." Like Lila always expected Arnold to do.
Sighing, Arnold smiled at her as he looked over to his home. He hoped that Phoebe was doing her usual good job with Helga. Most likely he will hear Helga have a conversation with her boyfriend. His stomach ached at that thought wishing he was the one she would talk to like that.
On the roof, Helga sat there with Phoebe. The scent of lavender circulated around her from what she placed on her body. She breathed in the scent as well as taking in the scenery with her friend. They had been silent since they got up there. They spoke about what happened down on the field. Well they mostly tried to talk about it, but Helga wasn't ready to just yet.
"Not the way I imagined my first groping session. Actually I never imagined it." Helga extended her leg out in front of her to enjoy the stretch.
"Not even if it was Arnold a long time back?" Phoebe wondered curiously.
Helga shook her wet hair a little. "Yeah, but now it is different."
"Kyoyo." Phoebe smiled. "I won't ask about if you both did that."
"We haven't. Your cousin is very thoughtful to my feelings. Must be a family trait."
Looking to her side to see how Helga smiled warmly at her, Phoebe returned it. "You can say that. I do know that they are crazy about you."
Helga had to bite down on her comment there. How could they be crazy about her when most of the time she wasn't crazy about herself? "Arnold really punched him."
"Indeed. It was quite shocking to see Arnold display such a brutish behavior. I can say he was quite upset at having you in that position." Phoebe had to be curious if Arnold harbored feelings finally for Helga. It would be nice if he did seeing how long Helga had loved him.
"He shouldn't be. I can handle myself."
"I know Helga, but it is good when someone else also cares for you too." Phoebe reminded her.
She sighed knowing she was correct there. Helga leaned back on the table top they were sitting on. The sounds of the cars on the overpass were clearly heard signaling how many people were getting off of work right now. "I've been mostly used to me being the one to count on for so many things that I'm not use to it. I know I have you all the time and that's great." She glanced towards the large skylight. "Now that I'm here it is still something I'm getting use to."
"True, but at least you aren't facing things alone." Phoebe sounded chipper saying that.
It was a strange and nice new dynamic now. She was a little happier here. She still succumbed to those memories of her past that often bogged her down. Helga knew she still hadn't any closer with her own family in how they constantly dealt with her. She also knew in a way how her sister wouldn't like what happened to her after she passed away.
The sudden sound of screaming filled her head. Bringing her knees up to practically curl herself up in, Helga wished she could erase that.
On Monday, Helga was impressed by the major black eye that Wolfgang was sporting. Hearing her friends chuckle at his misfortune had her observing him smugly as he casted a look her way.
"Let's hope you kicked him hard enough so he never reproduces." Rhonda whispered behind her.
"Man his eye was getting bad after you hit him, but it looks worse now after Arnold kept hitting him." Gerald informed her. "Don't ever let me get on your bad side."
Arnold saw how it appeared like Wolfgang couldn't open up that eye. Guilt struck him knowing he went too far in his anger. "Guys, maybe I shouldn't of kept doing it though."
Helga naturally scoffed at that. "Naturally your goodie two shoe nature will say that." She turned to him. "Need I remind you how many bruises I have on me because of him?"
His eyes went wide at the thought. "I do. I just shouldn't of gone overboard."
Understanding what he meant, Helga didn't bother to say another word even when Lila stopped to say hello to the group. In particular, she kept her eye contact strictly on Arnold. Is she planning on worming her way back into his heart?
"Hello Arnold. How are you doing?" Lila asked him with that blank expression on her face. "I've missed you."
Arnold could only look at her with only a blank expression of his own. "I'm fine."
The silence registered to something uncomfortable in the group as most decided to make an excuse to leave. Helga rolled her eyes as she scoffed at the way Lila tried to chew at her lip in a sensual way. Tried.
"Oh please." Helga bellowed out before grabbing Gerald with Phoebe tagging along. Telling Phoebe that she'll be right in, Helga waited till they were alone before she spoke. "Hit him upside the head if he decides to get back with that fake ass. This is my number one thing that I need to say." She let that sink in wondering if Gerald would actually talk from her rough manhandling of him. "Second of all: Why aren't you asking my friend out on a date? It is obvious you like you. I can't take this song and dance from you both anymore. Go and make my friend happy."
Stepping back with his hands raised, Gerald couldn't believe her gall most of the time. "I doubt that Arnold will get back together with her. IF he does than I will hit him." Calming himself down to talk about the next subject, Gerald appeared almost confused. "You actually want me to ask her out? I thought you didn't like me."
Turning her head away as if her answer was obvious enough, Helga knew she had to say it out loud. "I'm perfectly fine with you. I know you don't like me at all, but that's fine. I'm not here on this planet like Li-la. Where I need people to love me and fawn over me. I'm here hoping at least to have some people to care about me and it is nice that I finally do." Taking a deep breath, Helga softened her voice. "You both like one another. Stop this dance or else you might lose her to someone not willing to waste their time. Phoebe is a catch. I just warn you never to hurt her."
Gerald was astounded at her. He is getting approval from the, Helga G. Pataki? He was almost knocked over with a feather even as she took her leave. He stewed in her words even as Arnold stepped over to see if he was all right. ""Helga told me to ask out Phoebe." He was dumbfounded still.
Arnold smiled at him. "You should. Take her advice."
Snapping out of it quickly, Gerald grabbed him hard in the arm. "Tell me you aren't falling for Lila."
Taking his hand off of him, Arnold felt the pain in his arm. "Are you kidding me? I told her a flat out no. She said that breaking up was a mistake and I told her simply that I'm glad we did. Why fool ourselves?"
Hearing the slight sarcasm in his friend's voice had Gerald do a double take. Arnold hardly used sarcasm. "Because you are a sucker, that's why."
Ascending the steps to the front door, Arnold sighed. "Not that much since I said no." Going through the doors he nodded his head towards Ruth who gave him a slight wave. "I think she is doing that just to get back into the group."
Gerald could only grunt at that as they neared their lockers. "A little pathetic as I see it. Do you have any clue why the other girls aren't so friendly to her anymore?"
"No."
Getting to their lockers he started to unlock it. "Ever thought to ask? Rhonda use to love Lila and had her always around, but now she is no wheres to be seen. This goes with everyone else except for, Helga and Phoebe."
Arnold opened his locker midway in thought. "Honestly I never thought to ask." Seeing Rhonda at her locker doing her make-up he went over to her to ask her. "Hey Rhonda. May I ask you a question?"
Flipping her hair while she peered at her image, Rhonda smiled without turning around. "Why certainly, Arnold. Anything for you."
Smiling at that, Arnold hoped she would answer him. "I need to know why none of you hang out with Lila. I'm the one who would like to know."
Turning around, Rhonda's eyes flitted around for Lila before falling back on him. "Because darling it was all a sham. That purity. That thing about her mother."
He was confused. "Meaning? Her mom died."
Shaking her head, Rhonda pursed her lips. "Not really darling. That is just a story she chose to tell to gain sympathy from us all. Oh I can ignore so much if it was just that. Her mother divorced her father to marry another man. Sure it is bad that she wants nothing to do with Lila, but this isn't why we stopped speaking to her."
"Than why?"
Rhonda thought he deserved to know finally. "She took money from me. I know it was her seeing as she was the only one who spent the night. Helga did come to me to drop off a book that I needed earlier that day so when I confronted Lila about it, she said that Helga took it. The thing is Helga never was in my room at all that day. Also Helga can be so many things at the worst of times, but she isn't a thief. Even if that Helga was on dire straits, she would still find a way of raising money on her own."
His eyebrows knotted in confusion. "She could of needed that money herself."
"Lila could of asked me and I would of lent her some." Rhonda told him honestly. "Nadine also had some money taken from her own purse. All when we were with Lila. That isn't a coincidence, Arnold."
Arnold wished they would of told him. There he was thinking that Lila was this pure thing without a dishonest bone to her body, but with it being revealed how she even also blamed Helga for, Olga's death had him almost stepping away. "Why else does she not like Helga?"
"That's something you should find out yourself." Shutting her locker, Rhonda gave him a sympathetic look before she headed to her first class.
Arnold glanced over to Helga as she was wandering away with Phoebe. He wished he never went out with Lila. Wished he never brought her over to the boarding house since Helga was in deep emotional pain. He had to apologize to her.
Entering her room after Helga gave permission to, Arnold sat down at the foot of her bed. He was always struck at how someone like her could make herself even more beautiful just by the gentle tilt of her head. He also loved how her attention stayed on him. Sure he was in a room alone with her, but even when they were with their friends she always had a way of just making you feel alone with her.
"I've been a horrible person to you." He started off with saying. Helga's eyebrow lifted up slightly. "I was insensitive because I was constantly bringing someone by here. Someone who was always so disrespectful of you." He wrung his hands out in nervousness. "I just want to apologize for how I made you feel."
Helga almost didn't know what to say or do. She wanted to end up with her natural defense mechanism, but just sat there almost stoic. "Well you gave me a bit of why you broke up with her. Now tell me about the rest of this." She urged gently.
"I spoke to Rhonda before first period and she informed me how Lila's mom is still alive." His throat felt dry. "Told me how she took money from not only her, but Nadine."
"Ah. Lila also stole from Olga and said that she saw me taking it." She leaned back to chuckle. "I can count so many times that Bob scoured my room to find missing items."
Arnold was astounded that she never told him. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't Rhonda or Nadine?"
Helga narrowed one eye at him. This boy was really gullible at times. "Because you wouldn't of believed us over, Lila. You have to admit that." She countered easily. "I remember when I have tried in the past and you told me I was just jealous. I know I've made up tall tales to sell a newspaper, but I wouldn't of done that to you."
"I'm sorry for that." Seeing her shrug, Arnold almost questioned her. "I'm sorry for not helping you when I should have."
She considered that even as a yawn escaped her mouth. "No repeats and I'll be fine with it."
"Deal." Sticking out his hand, Arnold caught how she looked at it like was a foreign substance. Placing it down, he just will have to accept it. "Is there anything else I should know about her?"
"Is it truly important now?"
He was determined to understand. "Yes. I need to know."
Helga considered him for a long time before she decided to answer. "I caught her kissing another while she was with you." She hated the shocked look in his face before it settled on to another expression she couldn't quite discern. "I knew you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Arnold felt chilled. Did he have a right to be angry at Lila when he was emotionally cheating on, Lila? "Who was it?"
"Does it matter?"
Coming forward he was so close to her now that their legs were touching. "Yes. I need to know."
Helga hated hurting him. "Iggy. I spoke to him wondering why he did it. He couldn't give me an answer." Placing her hand on his, she needed to ease his mind. "He didn't tell me why he did, but he did admit that nothing happened farther than that kiss. I believe him. I told him he should be ashamed of doing that to you."
He felt like his spinal cord was being pulled. He always thought of Lila as such a pure thing. Yes she said the occasional questionable thing, but he dismissed it too easily. "Why does she dislike you so much? I didn't tell you but I spoke with Nadine and she said that Lila told her you did it."
"Arnold I pranked her in the very beginning. She didn't know that Rhonda and I were responsible for her father getting a job. She didn't get over it." Screams were heard in her head. Tears started up quickly at the thought of that. "She was jealous that Olga was my sister and I had a full family. Even she was blind to the fact that they neglected me. She wanted Olga all to herself at any cost."
Reaching out he cupped her face. "Focus on my face. You are safe."
She snickered lightly at that. "Oh please don't tell me I'm becoming more readable to you. I couldn't stand that." Bringing the back of her hand to her forehead, Helga feigned an old starlets pose from classic movies. "Oh what will I become if I stop being a mystery. Oh what a world." Falling back dramatically on her bed she heard him chuckling.
Arnold smiled at her theatrics. Loved how cute she appeared right now. "I can just see the pain from what happened to your sister. I swear that I can hear your thoughts when it happens."
Placing her hand down, Helga heard a familiar chime on her computer signaling she was getting a video message. "I'll be fine. It will take some time, but I'm stronger than I appear." Easily grabbing her computer she placed it on the bed. "I have a feeling that is Kyoyo."
Watching her lift up the cover, Arnold didn't want to stop talking to her. "I guess I'll leave you be."
"Just wait. If it is him do you want to say hi?" Helga offered.
He nodded feeling privilege to be allowed into her world. Looking at her answering it and to see her face light up when her boyfriend's voice filtered through, Arnold felt sick personally. Thoughts of wanting to slam that laptop down felt more permanent than being nice right now.
"What do I owe this pleasure to?" Helga inquired. She could see a slight smudge on his lens of his glasses. Saw the amusing superhero t-shirt he had on.
Kyoyo smiled at her. Suddenly all the crazy studying he was doing melted down the second he looked at her face. "I needed a most welcomed distraction in my life. I wish you can walk in the gardens with me once more."
Arnold scanned her room hoping to rid of thoughts of her kissing another male. Jealousy was rearing its ugly head and telling him to yell at the interloper. His eyes went back to Helga to spot how much she was glowing right now.
Helga wanted to talk more like this in private so she glanced over to Arnold trying his best not to listen. "Kyoyo, I have a friend here with me. I told you about Arnold. Would you like to meet him?"
"Certainly." Kyoyo affirmed happily.
Turning the laptop around towards Arnold, Helga smiled at him. "Arnold this is Kyoyo. Kyoyo, Arnold."
'Oh fuck.' Arnold's thoughts were killing him. He was expecting someone average. He was hoping for someone that didn't look like some type of model, but there he was. Arnold had to push thoughts away that would betray how he was feeling about their whole relationship. He couldn't reveal his own jealousy to Helga. "Hi, Kyoyo. She tells us so much about you." Actually not since he is looking at an obviously good looking man who was studying to become a doctor.
Kyoyo smiled kindly towards the male in his screen. While his head was of an interesting shape, he saw that he was a nice looking guy. This is the one that his cousin informed him about. The one who held Helga's heart for a long time. "Hello Arnold. Pleasure to see you finally." He spoke honestly even if he felt some jealousy over the fact that Arnold was able to see her far more than himself. "How have you been?"
"I'm fine. How about you? I hear that you want to be a doctor."
Nodding his head, Kyoyo looked proud. "I do. I have to think of something though. I want to also study medicine there too in case I decide to move to the States one day. It is all up in the air."
His stomach flipped at the thought of him here. "High achievement goals to carry out with. I can admire that."
"Thank you. What about you? What do you wish to do?"
Arnold had been tossing two career choices in the air. "I was thinking of following my father's footsteps to become an Archeologist. I also have a desire to be a Vet. I love animals."
Helga snorted. "That's for sure. This boarding house had a lot of them running around. Is Abner responsible for all of that?"
He chuckled at that. "Abner is my pig in case she didn't tell you." He told Kyoyo before addressing Helga. "Abner and my grandma are in it fifty/fifty." He told Helga. "I've had Abner since I was a baby."
"That's excellent to hear. I never had a pet. So many mouths in the family that we simply paid attention to the Koi. As for your career choices they are both fine paths to take. To look at history and to uncover more items is exciting. Than with being a veterinarian, you help others fur babies." Kyoyo told him honestly.
While Arnold enjoyed talking to Kyoyo he had a feeling that Helga would like some alone time. Making an excuse to leave, Arnold left the room unhappily. Hearing her laughing had him wishing she was more like that with him. One day he hoped to make her his.
A/N: I wasn't originally intending for all that with Lila. I was about to plan something else for her, but thought it was just too wah wah wah.
Thanks for the reviews everyone. My boyfriend adopted this lovable Amazon parrot by the name of Frankie and we have been having loads of fun with my oldest feather baby and this latest edition. Seeing that I'm unable to have children of my own and I'm unable to adopt due to my health this was our most natural course. I haven't smiled this much in ages.
My boyfriend is a Psychiatrist and will help out from time to time during portions of the stories that I write. For me I have a lot of health conditions with Depression being my most oldest mental health condition. I'm grateful for the friends and family I do have, and for the longest time I did suffer from neglect so I do understand where Helga is coming from. Now after I post this I will keep playing with my oldest bird, Baby while my boyfriend is busy with Frankie. :)