Chapter 10: To San Lorenzo

'… but I do love thee! And when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.' –William Shakespeare, Othello.

"Perfect" I mumbled throwing my pink backpack on the floor and flopped on my bed. Now I have to think about what to wear to the party.

The real reason for me not wanting to go was that I'd planned to run off to San Lorenzo over the weekend. After months of planning and saving up I decided that I'd take a plane to San Lorenzo and find Arnold based on the address from his letters.
It was supposed to be the perfect, foolproof plan but now the party came up and I didn't want to disappoint my friends.

"Helga honey," Mom's voice came from behind the door. "dinner's ready."

"I'll be right there mom." I replied, then as if a light bulb lit over my head I got off the bed and caught up to her. "Mom, my school's having this Halloween party in a week and I don't have a costume."

"I can help you with that baby sister." Olga overheard me and quickly grabbed my hand towards her room.
"Let's see." Olga rummaged through some of her old stuff and got out some photographs. "These are all my Halloween costumes over the years, you can use them for some inspiration- Oh! Oh my gosh! This is me in the 9th grade as Marylin Munroe, how about it Helga?."

"That flashing bimbo? I'll pass."

"Oh and here I am as Farah Fawcett as a Charlie's Angel in the 10th grade." Olga showed the picture of her to me I shook my head furiously.

"An Angel?- Cinderella?- Playboy Bunny?."

"Olga, this is a school dance. I'll get kicked out if I showed up as that!." I sighed blowing a strand of hair away from my eye. "I'm never gonna get a costume in time for the dance."

"Baby sister what am I gonna do with you?." Olga started to pick up the photographs from the floor revealing a couple of magazines.

"You still read teen mags Olga?." I asked her grabbing one and flipping through the very colorful pages filled with teens with very plastic smiles. I stopped at one page where a particular girl caught my attention, and with a smile I looked up at Olga and said, "I think I know who I'm going as."

.

.

.

The day of the dance came and I took one last look in the mirror before going downstairs to tell Olga I was ready.
But as I descended the stairs I heard loud voices belonging to Bob and Olga, they were arguing… again. Ever since she came back to Hillwood she's been auditioning for plays off-Broadway, with not much luck. And much to Bob's dismay.

Olga stormed out of the trophy room and stopped when she saw me by the stairs. Thankfully Miriam wasn't around to see this. She was so stressed the last time.

"I'll get the car ready," Olga gave me a weak smile before grabbing her keys and leaving.

It was a fairly quiet drive until a song came up on the radio that seemed to uplift Olga's mood. "This is my favourite song!." She exclaimed raising the volume and we drove off in her convertible, the lovely autumn air blowing through our hair.

' Cuz you know I'd walk a thousand miles if I can just see you, if I can just hold you… tonight…'

"Have fun Helga." Olga said when we reached the YMAA gym which was the venue for the Halloween dance.

"Olga?."

"Yes little sis?."

"I just wanted to tell you … that Bob's wrong about you. You'll get your break soon enough." I gave her an encouraging smile.

"Oh Helga." She said her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm not just saying that. I promise. But look, to be on the safe side you can get a day job just to get him off your back."

"Thank you so much Helga," Olga leaned in and hugged me. "You always give the best advice."

I wish; I replied in my mind. After breaking the hug I walked towards the party, glancing at my watch seeing that I have 5 hours left before my departure for San Lorenzo.
The gym was packed, it looked like everyone from school was there. I couldn't spot Phoebe or Rhonda from the crowd so I headed towards Park who was dressed as Bruce Lee and Iggy as Batman standing by the snack table.

"Hey Helga, how come you're not in costume?." Iggy asked me.

"I am in costume." I replied.

They scanned my outfit which was basically a white tank top, a tie, cargo pants, striped arm warmers and sneakers.

"Uh- you decided to come as yourself?." Park concluded.

"Since when do I wear a necktie with a tank top?." I started to get frustrated at how dense they were. Don't they listen to the radio?.

"Oh my gosh! Avril Lavigne!." Eugene exclaimed coming from behind me dressed as the Abdicator.

"Thank you!." I've never felt more grateful.

"Have you guys seen Phoebe and Rhonda?." I asked them.

"Rhonda went to the bathroom to fix her makeup." Sid replied appearing holding a cup of punch.

"Thanks." I've been avoiding Sid like the Plague for the last couple of weeks, telling him it was best if we practiced on our own and rehearse at school once a month. I made up a story of me getting a part-time job at Big Bob's.
He was wearing a chain around his neck with a small padlock, leather biker jacket with a vest underneath, skinny black pants and black combat boots.

"Sid Vicous?." Iggy smirked.

"The one and only." Sid grinned.

"Now that's an outfit that's close to his usual outfit but you can tell it's a costume." Park told me and I gave him a dark look.

"Cool outfit by the way," he complimented me. "I like Avril."

I gave him a nervous smile and walked as fast as I could to the girl's bathroom. Rhonda was there along with Phoebe, Nadine who was dressed as a Greek Goddess and Lila as a ballerina.

"Helga! You're not in costume?." Rhonda turned to face me when she saw my reflection in the mirror.

I just rolled my eyes, "I'm dressed as Avril."

"Oh- Original." her voice contrasted what she said.

"Girls the party started. Let's go." Nadine said and everyone rushed towards the party.

Soon enough everyone was dancing with their dates and I was the wallflower. All the guys who I turned down had their own dates. I decided I'd better go sit at the bleachers, maybe I'd look less pathetic than standing by the snack table or against the wall.
I thought I glimpsed a familiar football shaped head in the crowd of dancing students before climbing up to the bleachers but I shook it off thinking my anticipation of seeing him was starting to get the best of me.

"Hey!-." I felt someone suddenly grab my arm and I turned to find a tall figure wearing a suit and a black masquerade eye mask… a tall figure with a head the shape of a football!

It can't be…

"Missed me?." He asked with that familiar wide grin slowly removing his mask.

"A- Arnold!."

"It's me." He nodded "I understand it's been a while…" he trailed off nervously rubbing the back of his neck and looking away.
Was he blushing?.

"How?- ." I suddenly blurted.

"Huh?."

I was gonna see you in San Lorenzo in a few hours! I booked that flight!- I paid for the ticket!—I paid for the freakin' ticket!.

"How- what- when- why?... when?!." I stammered.

"Well I came back to Hillwood a couple days back and Gerald told me about this party so I figured I'd surprise you." He smiled.

Oh Arnold…

I managed to smile back my mind still trying to take in the big surprise that hit me like a speeding truck.
Before I could open my mouth to say anything I suddenly felt the ground underneath me move.

"Helga." Arnold pulled me away as the YMAA gym's floor split into half slowly revealing it's swimming pool.

"It's just like in the April Fool's dance!." I heard Harold say.

And just like in the April Fool's dance questioning and surprised mumbles spread throughout the gym. But this time, to everyone's shock an empty swimming pool was revealed with words written in big letters

'I DID IT –SID'.

"What is going on in here?." Principal Beaton along with the chaperones reached the scene. "What is the meaning of this Sid?."

"I have no idea! I swear!."

"Look there's a big brown envelope down there!." Curly pointed out and Coach Ebstein was sent down to get it.

"Gah!," coach cried when he slipped on the still wet paint in the pool. "This better be worth it," he huffed grabbing the envelope and seeing its contents.

The chuckles died when Principal Beaton asked what was in it and Coach revealed it to be pictures of Sid smoking at the back of the auditorium and throwing his cigar away before leaving the scene.

Cat's out of the bag…

Author's Note: So finally! The long awaited return of our favourite Football Head! I kept meaning to post this sooner but every time I started a new chapter a new idea came up and that just made it longer for me to reach this chapter. Hope it was worth the wait.
The story doesn't end here. Stay tuned xoxo.