It was the night of the party and Helga stared at herself in the mirror, on her face she wore mascara and lipgloss, her blue eyes popping under her darkened eyelashes. Her hair was half pinned back, but her bangs fell wispily, framing her face. She wore a tight black sweater which showed off her new curves and a jean skirt she had bought with Phoebe at the mall the other day.
Is this too much? Helga studied her reflection. But before she could decide if she was going to change she heard a knock at her front door.
"I'll get it!" Helga rushed down the stairs, the last thing she wanted was Bob getting up and answering the door first.
"Hey Pheebs." She greeted the dark haired girl at the door. She noticed Gerald was also standing at the bottom of her stoop. "Hey Geraldo." Helga stepped off her stoop and nodded at him.
God, they are joined at the hip nowadays.
He nodded his head in return and put his arm around Phoebe; the three of them headed down the street towards the party.
I cannot wait to be the third wheel tonight! Helga rolled her eyes to herself.
By the time the trio reached Rhonda's house the party was in full swing. Music blared from inside and Eugene was slouched over the stoop of the building getting sick all over his shoes as Sheena rubbed his back.
"I'm okay," Eugene muttered as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
"Gross," Helga scrunched her nose and stepped around them with Phoebe and Gerald into the luxurious townhouse.
Inside there were beer pong tables set up in the living room, Sid was being held up by Stinky as he did a keg stand in the corner while several kids rooted for him. Red cups and beer cans littered the whole area. She turned around and saw Phoebe and Gerald dart upstairs, Helga assumed to go makeout. As she turned back around, she saw Rhonda saunter out in a bright red strapless mini dress, sloppily sloshing her cup around.
Well she sure started early, yeesh!
"Helga! You made it! Go grab yourself a drank, girlfraand!" She slurred and pointed towards the array of liquor bottles on the nearest counter.
"Cool, I'll check it out," Helga gave a sarcastic thumbs up. She watched Rhonda walk away into the living room and heard as she obnoxiously squealed when more guests turned up at the front door.
Crimeny! Why did I agree to come here… Helga furrowed her brow, grabbed a large bottle of cola that was on the counter and headed back towards the door.
As she pushed through the crowd of teenagers, someone ran into her and knocked the cola bottle out of her hand. She watched it fly and skid across the floor by the entrance.
"Nice going pal!" She shouted to nobody in particular.
Helga shoved through the remainder of the crowd and reached for the bottle, but before she could pick it up another hand went down and scooped the bottle up.
"Hey! That's my-" Helga looked up and locked eyes with a messy haired blonde boy. "-Arnold!"
"Here you go. I saw you drop that." He gave her an awkward smile, Arnold looked between her and the door, "are you leaving already?"
"Oh uh… um… I- I uh…" Snap out of it Helga! "Maybe not everyone enjoys these hormone fests your girlfriend throws, football head!" She growled.
"Wow…" Arnold shook his head, "I haven't been called that in years," he let out a small laugh, seemingly unphased by Helga's sour demeanor, "She does throw these outrageous parties often, huh?"
"Looks like not much has changed, remember when she tried to throw that 'cool kids only' party?" Helga scoffed.
"Hah, yeah I'm still surprised Gerald didn't make the list."
"But you did... I guess you two were meant to be," Helga spat and looked down at her shoes. There was a pregnant pause before Arnold finally broke it.
"Uh… so how have you been, Helga?" He rubbed the back of his neck anxiously, "what was it like being abroad?"
"I would hardly call it that. Unless you want to count living in my grandparents basement with Miriam as a trip around the world, well then consider me Christopher Columbus!" Helga chuckled sarcastically.
"You were at your grandparents house?" Arnold's face dropped.
"Uh, yeah... It was pretty miserable." Helga nervously shuffled.
"I just, I didn't know where you'd went. I guess I always pictured you halfway across the world, not only a couple states away." Arnold disheartedly shrugged.
"That imagination of yours is wild Arnold," Helga paused, her natural scowl melting away, "that is something I always liked that about you." She grinned sheepishly up at him, their eyes met and he returned her smile.
"Arnold!" Someone from across the room yelled, "Dude! Get over here and do a keg stand with us!"
"I better go, Park won't let me live it down if I don't do at least one of those with him," he gestured to his friend, "it was nice talking to you, Helga." Arnold looked down and realized he was still holding her cola. He gently placed it in her hands and jogged towards the dark haired boy holding the keg hose.
"It was nice talking to you too, Arnold." Helga said under her breath and wistfully walked outside.
Football head…
"Hey man, why do you have that dopey grin on your face?" Park asked as he handed Arnold the keg hose. "You pregame before the party or somethin'?" He laughed and patted Arnold on the back.
"Ha yeah, sure." Arnold put the keg hose in his mouth and motioned that he was ready.
