Well, I feel old(er) now. The birthday excitement has long worn off, and I hate the doctors that gave me flu injections.
But enough of all my sob stories, you're here to read the story, aren't you?
Disclaimer: If you haven't figured out that I don't own this awesome cartoon, you must be in la-la land.
Helga's POV
Hey, buckos. Haven't talked to you guys in a while. Just busy with my life. My annoying celebrity filled life. Criminy, as if I haven't had enough drama to satisfy me for a lifetime. The Cecelia thing has been going strong for over a year, and no one still has any idea that we're the same person. As far as my life could go, I have it good.
Except one thing's been bothering me of a while...Arnold's been acting weird around me lately. You know, nervous, sweaty plams, blushes almost all the time around me, the works. It's almost as if, he, you know...likes me?
Ha, as if THAT could ever happen. But then again, who ever thought that I would be famous? Well, secretly, that is.
Maybe...there's hope that he could return my yearnings that I so desperately hoped for since the tender age of three...
"What do you want? Come to tell us more exciting adventures from the world of the famous?" Helga sneered as Cody slid into the bus seat next to her. Arnold watched the upcoming confrontation with a mixture of anger, jealousy and expectation.
"Look," He sighed heavily, pushing his hair from his face, "I'm really sorry about yesterday. What I said and did was way out of line."
"No kidding. Criminy, you can't just make assumptions like that."
"I know, and I apologize."
Arnold glanced from Cody to Helga and back to Cody again. "We forgive you. I guess we were a little judging before we even met you."
"It's cool. You guys aren't the first and you won't be the last either."
Helga drummed her fingers against the back of the pale brown seats, the chatter on the bus almost deafening.
"Soo..." Cody continued apprehensiveness, "I never did get to know your names."
"I'm Helga Pataki, and my football-headed friend sitting next to me is Arnold Shortman."
Cody gave a mental chuckle at Arnold's last name. "So, wanna hang out later?"
Shielding his doodles from Helga's eyes, "I guess." Arnold shrugged, scribbling 'Helga' down on a piece of paper, a lovesick beam tugging at the corner of his cheeks.
"Whatever floats your boat." She laid back on the seat, a song that's name escaped her mind playing in her eardrums as her eyes fluttered shut.
Cody sighed as his fan girls carried him over to their side of the bus. It's not much, but it's a start.
Barbwire13: Y didn't u tell me?
That was the first message in Helga's inbox as she opened her Fmail. She quickly fired up a chat, sitting up for a better view.
PatakiGal14: what r u talking about
Barbwire13: coooodddy! :) :) :)
PatakiGal14:*scoffs* u can have him
Barbwire13: Whats wrong
PatakiGal14: lets just say he's rubbed me the wrong way
Barbwire13: how so?
PatakiGal14: well, he might have said some relationship comments about yours truly and a friend of mine
Barbwire13: that Arnold guy?
PatakiGal14: nooooooo -_-
Barbwire13: r u being sarcastic?
PatakiGal14: thanks captain obvoius
Barbwire13: moving on...don't you like him, anyways?
PatakiGal14: maybe I do...maybe I don't
Barbwire13: you totally do, don't deny it
PatakiGal14: *raises eyebrow* how would you know?
Barbwire13: umm...
PatakiGal14: you did not
Barbwire13: what?
PatakiGal14: u did not look through my poetry books the last time you were here
Barbwire13: o_o ...actually, Anna told me. She's good at reading people.
Barbwire13: wait a sec...what poetry books
PatakiGal14: nothing. just slip of keys
Barbwire13: you don't mess up 10 words
PatakiGal14: well, there's a first time for anything, isn't there bucko?
Barbwire13: uggghh, my mom is calling me to help her with dinner
Barbwire13: the conversation is not over, Pataki
PatakiGal14: bye williams
Barbara Williams (Barbwire13) has signed off. Any messages sent from this point on will be sent to his/her inbox.
What was I thinking? Telling her I wrote poetry? Helga plopped back on her bed and re positioned the computer, signing into Cecelia's Fmail account. Looking past her fan mail, a message caught her eye.
From: Cody Nickelson (Therockstar14)
To: Cecelia NightGale (CeceNight)
I did it, Cece. I'm finally their friends. I can't wait to 'hang out' with them. Talk to you soon. :)
Helga rolled her eyes, storing the message in her 'STUPID CRAP' folder. Friends my ass. I'm watching you, 'rockstar'.
"So, where do you guys wanna go?"
Arnold continued staring at the gum spotted sidewalk, hands his pockets.
"I don't know; you pick. This was your idea, anyways," Helga had a hard time avoiding the crowds of people who had gathered around her and Arnold, pointing, taking pictures and asking for autographs, which just gave her more motivated to keep Cecelia a secret.
"Are we there yet, already?" Helga asked, scowling at yet another passerby, whom shrieked back in fear, "I feel like I'm a prize at the country fair!"
"Chillax, Helga. We're almost there."
Helga froze, feeling her eye twitch. He did not just tell me to relax while parading around town so that he can have fun.
Sensing Helga's simmering rage, Arnold interjected, "Cody, maybe we should just-"
"See, we're here!"
The outstretched arms gestured to the infamous resturant 'Chez Paris'. The blondes could feel the memories flooding back, especially the last time they and their friend had to wash dishes in order to pay off their bills. The water spraying from Arnold was especially permanently entwined in Helga's mind...
"Uh, Cody?," Arnold started a bit nervously, "Can't we just grab a hamburger or something from Slausens?"
Cody gave a grand smile, responding, "No way. I wanted to show my regrets for what I said and this seemed like the best way to do it."
No way I'm falling for that malarkey. "There's not a snowball's chance in July that I'm going in there," Helga crossed her arm, shaking her head violently with Arnold silently agreeing.
"Please? I really want to treat you guys."
Arnold shook his head, further sealing his crush's wishes. "I'm sorry, but there's no way that we are ever going in there."
"I cannot believe you let him take us in here, football head!" Helga growled angrily, reluctantly scanning over the menu. "I mean, criminy, we don't even have the proper attire for this place!"
Arnold sighed, looking over to her apparel of faded blue jeans, a semi-formal blouse and a casual sweat-jacket. He himself was wearing a sweatshirt was covered a short-sleeve plaid shirt, and dark blue jeans.
"Come'n Helga, let's make the most of this." It dawned on him the this could be a chance to make a move.
"You look really nice tonight," Arnold commented at Helga's grumpy, slumped form. She shot up like a rocket.
"What did you say, Arnold?" Her rapid heartbeat messing up her hearing, "I didn't catch that."
He nervously cleared his throat, before blurting out, "You're beautiful," quickly covering his month at his mistake.
Why am I this nervous? He thought as his face flushed, I'm never this nervous!
Helga tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, her face turning as red as the velvet crimson tablecloth. "Umm..." She looked down to her feet.
Noting her slight uncomfort, he said, "I didn't mean it like that!"
"I mean, of course I think you're beautiful, you'd have to blind not to see it, but, I, and," He rubbed his neck, hearing Helga's vain efforts to cover her amusement of the situation. "I'm gonna stop talking now..."
"It's OK, Arnold." She looked up to him with a smile, his word vomit enjoyable to her, "You're not looking too shabby tonight, either."
A few silent moments passed before Arnold continued, "So, Helga?"
Yes, my love? "Yeah Arnold?"
"I've been meaning to tell you something for the past few days but something got in the way." In the name of Cody.
She nodded for him to continue.
"Well, over the past few years I've been thinking about, you know, that-"
"Hey guys!" Cody took this moment to return from his bathroom break, shooting a plush hand towel in the trash bin to the disapproval to the posh ladies and gentlemen of the vancity. He pulled up a chair right in the center of the two, glancing over the menu before taking note their annoyed gazes.
"Did I interrupt something?" He asked worriedly, looking between the two of them. "You guys look angry."
"Noooooo," Helga dawdled sarcastically at her 'friend's' obliviousness, looking into space, "Everything is fine."
His face softened a bit, "Good, I thought you were angry or something."
Or something. Arnold put his head down on his folded arms, giving a deep and long exhale. Looking up, he had caught Helga's wandering eyes for a brief second before she looked away, attempting a whistle.
"Whatever," Helga commented wistfully as she recovered from the slight awkwardness, picking up her menu once again, "Let's just eat and get the heck out of here."
Helga's POV
Yup, this is how I got roped in a date with the boy of my every dream and the the boy of every other girl's dreams. Any other girl would kill to have a date with 'The Cody Nickelson' but right now, I could give two shits as long as my sweet beloved is right next to me...
Speaking of which, the football-headed god, what was he going to tell me before the grand "celebrity" showed up?
Yup, that's pretty much it. Or is it?
OK, time to answer all your review questions/comments from Chapter 13.
Hanna Cabrodi- Yup, I j'dore that part too! :)
jenniy04 - To be honest, it may not happen that soon. If it did, the fic would be over in fifteen chapters.
Random - Aww, thanks!
Nep2uune - Oh, don't worry, It will...or will it? Mwh ha ha ha ha... *coughs*
Myriamj- More like 'bad by association' rather than 'bad to be bad'.
AngelGirl569 -Thanks, I try. But can someone explain why I have a B in English? Right, H/W...
InexperiencedAuthor - I will take a few of those into the story. Add some twists so this won't become cliched or boring. Thanks for the suggestions!
Hey Arnold Fan - Well, I wounldn't say 'better', per say. All the chapters have something I'm proud of. Fluff, rebellion, identity crisis, the works. But I try to incorporate a bit of everything.
Weren't expecting that, were you? Like I said, I'm unpredictable. Never forget that.
Oh, and don't forget to review! :)
**Minor Edits December 26, 2012**