RECIPROCATED LOVE

CHAPTER 37

CONFESSION

Rated MA. You all were warned.

Arnold turned off the faucet and stepped out of the shower dripping water onto the floor. He used to be careful and dry behind the curtain but tonight he couldn't care less, he was in a hurry so he just half dried his hair and threw some clothes on before hurrying out to his bedroom.

Helga was over. He hadn't wanted to leave her alone because he was afraid she'd disappeared without saying goodbye. She had come over reluctantly as they waited for Phoebe to reply. Phoebe had taken Helga's car, thus she has Helga's keys. They hadn't realized until they were at her front door with nobody at home.

Helga had been looking stubbornly for a way to break into the house but there were no use. Then they went to Phoebe's and later to Gerald's but nothing. It was until the sky released one of those quick summer rains that she finally agreed to come to the boarding house and wait for a response.

But the rain brought back the sickness. The blond boy watched her worriedly as she lied back on the seat and breathed deeply trying to keep the nausea at bay. He offered her his jacket, which she accepted, but it seemed to be a bad move. Almost immediately she pleaded him to stop the car because she needed to vomit. She said nothing, but Arnold knew that his jacket smelled like food.

Finally they reached his house, walked through the empty hallway and climbed up the stairs. He let her use the bathroom first while he went to his room to pick a t-shirt and a pair of pijama pants and left them on his bed for her; then climbed down to take a quick shower after she came up. As he left the bathroom Gerald words came over to his mind once and again. 'Don't do anything stupid. Confess your love. Don't go doing anything stupid, Arnold; just confess your love...'

He reached his bedroom illuminated by the lamps in the wall and by the post rain-shower exceptionally shiny moonlight filtering through his skylight.

"I told you I'd be back really qu..." He trailed off. Helga was lying on his bed, over the covers, facing the wall. "Helga..." he got close to realize she was sound sleep.

He breathed deeply as he retracted to turn off the lights and then came back to observe her. She had changed into his t-shirt that came down to her mid thighs but the pants were left aside. She had freed her hair and it was now spilled on his pillow.

Arnold breathed deeply again as he walked to his chair where her fine dress was carefully folded. The boy touched the delicate fabric remembering the way it clung to her body when she danced; the way it made her look not an ordinary girl but like an ethereal goddess. A goddess who belonged to the heavens; a goddess he could only see from afar knowing she was out of his reach as she had been since every minute passing from the very moment when she accepted James' ring. That ring had transformed her. Arnold took a deep intake again. But now... -he turned to see the girl lying on his bed again- ... but there she was. She was just old Helga, his friend... She was now here, in his more-than-earthy room; fast asleep in his humble bed. Gerald's words echoed in the back of his mind again. 'Take it easy. She's not herself tonight. Just be there; all she needs is to know you love her...'

Feeling restless, he went up to close his door; then down to his desk to put some order in there. He took a couple of books and walked up to place them in the shelf, but the books fell from his hands making a dull noise when they hit the thick carpet. He turned warily around to see that she hadn't reacted to the noise. He chortled awkwardly as he went back to his desk feeling his knees weaken. There was no way he could lie to himself. His nerves were killing him. The butterflies had broken free from his stomach and were wreaking havoc all around his body.

He simply couldn't ignore the pink elephant in his room. Helga was on his bed.

The blond left the desk finally alone; moved his chair aside and walked up to his bed; stopped at its edge as he breathed deeply trying to relax. He observed her. Helga was lying on her right, facing the wall and giving him her back. Her long legs were pulled to her chest; her hands by her face, which was covered by her hair. The moonlight filtering through his skylight illuminated her and made her hair gave out a silvery reflex. He extended his hand to take her hair from her face when a buzz went off on the nightstand, freezing him.

He turned to find her black cell phone illuminating; then leaned to see the thin line alive on the top of the display.

"J:" It read. No more Fancy Pants, huh? Arnold smirked.

"Did everything end...

...well? I'm full awake if u..."

It was all the display showed before it went black again. Arnold resisted the urge of open it knowing it'd be too obvious. Still, he observed the item for a little longer before turning back to see the girl. Seeing her rounded form made him take a decision. As Gerald said, it was probably his last chance.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled his legs up to the mattress, leaning towards her. He observed her chest raising and falling in time with her breathing; her lips half parted; her golden hair covering her face. Her skin looked so white illuminated by the silvery moon and her body emanated certain heat and a sweet perfume.

There she was. Helga Pataki was a girl; the girl he had fallen in love with. He reached to set aside her hair, her eyelashes trembled for a second but then she chose that very moment to stir, and her left hand went up to cover her eyes, then Arnold saw it. The ring shone blindingly under the white light casted over it.

Arnold contained his breathing as he retracted slightly. It wasn't only the undeniable beauty of the stone what stunned him but to know it was the cause of his unhappiness. How was it that a simple stone could contain such power?

"How's that a simple stone holds my destiny?" he asked in low voice. "How's that a simple stone takes you away from me, huh, Helga?" he snorted sadly "You're engaged, for God' sake. You're engaged to another man" he made a halt; it was painful to go on "... a man who is going to be your husband. Who's gonna give you his name. To whom you'll belong. It'd be at his side and not mine that you gonna wake every morning. It'd be his shoulder and not mine where your head will rest every night... You know how it feels like? Do you have an idea? ... Do you know... that I haven't been able to sleep a whole night since the first of July? Do you care?"

"You know how long I dreamed that it'd be us?" he let out a soft laugh "We'd live in the boarding house while we settled but then we'll move to a nice house in the suburbs." He chortled "I never dreamed the hills, you know, but if you'd wish I..." he puffed, mocking himself "…it'd be a nice house, with a front yard and a picket fence. A cat and a dog and two kids… maybe three... blonds… they'd make a mess every night and you'd rumble because you'd be cooking and I'd be busy because I'd use to bring work to home -which would like at all- but after cleaning up the mess and after having diner and tucking the kids to bed we'd end lying on our bed with our legs tangled and talking about our days; about future, about the kids, who'd seem to be favoring Bob over Grandpa. Grandpa will be in disadvantage since he'd be too old and decrepit and Bob will try to win their love with money and presents…" he paused observing she pouting her lips "Don't tell me that's not possible anymore…

"Don't tell that, come on…. What I'm gonna do with myself if you marry that moron? What I'm gonna do with all this lo…" he stopped abruptly. "I know I've been an idiot. I can't understand how's that I lost so many time, so many years wanting to know as many girls as I could just to… just to… God … I don't even know why…

"Maybe because I wanted to show to myself that one of them, any given moment, was going to show me what real love was about; what the meaning of everything, the secret of universe was. I was going to meet a girl who doesn't make me feel so … insecure… so frightened… so without control of myself; a girl who didn't make me feel like I'd lose myself in her. I didn't need that. I was happy with whom I was; with sweet girls who didn't challenge me every single second…

"But you know… girls are not stupid. They knew something was wrong with me; with the way I regarded you. Sooner or later, they always realized there was a rival and that such rival was no other than you. They even realized before me. I always thought I cared about so... compulsively... about you because your family issues… or because you were a bully, or because you were trouble…. But I was blind; I couldn't see I liked you." Arnold chortled … "Do you know when I started to realize I liked you?

He observed silent Helga still asleep. She was surely beaten tonight. Arnold wondered if Gerald's suspicion about someone spilling her drink was real. He took her hand away from her face. He didn't want to see the blue ring; he wanted to see her bluer eyes.

"It was when we were in seventh grade…" Arnold let out a soft chuckle "do you remember that we had English together first period on Mondays to Wednesdays? I found myself lost looking your way more often that I wanted to admit. I loved to see your neck and those little earrings you use to wear, remember? You always wore you hair in that loose ponytail and I hated it because it hid the line of your neck. You used to scratch behind your left ear with the cap of your purple pen and I eventually realized that was there when I started daydreaming about you…" Arnold leaned to her neck and mumbled to her hear "I wanted to take your pen away and kiss you instead; to bite you…" just the way someone else kiss you now, he thought as he retreated "I wanted to hug you from behind and don't ever let go... Then summer came and I tried to talk to you… even when you weren't in the hot list I wanted to give it a try… maybe it was just that I already knew you liked me, but I wanted to give you a chance…" he inhaled again "... if I had to be sincere I must admit that I… experienced an insane pleasure watching you … seeing me with other girls. I felt great. I liked to disdain you... maybe I even become addicted to see your sad eyes. Now I know that I was wrong, but what do you want? I was stupid. I've always been dense. A pretty girl was in front of me asking me out and I couldn't turn them down… I just couldn't...

"That summer you make me see my luck. You told me you once had a crush on me but it was past. I was sure you were lying but…. Now I know you were seeing Brian back then… and then…" Arnold shook his head. What was the point bringing Brain to the table now? He looked at her again, how many times he'd seen her this serene?

"You know another thing I've realized about you? Should I tell you?" he smirked "Your lack of values and ethics is just a smoke screen. You may walk away from usual needs in people around you and from ordinary charity but you couldn't let Brian down back then, could you? Just the same way you couldn't leave your friends with all the work in the car wash and the same way you'd go beyond anyone and anything to get the job done. You draw your own path in that field, don't you? You'll never break your promise of helping Gerald and you'd never walk away from the possibility of helping me. You know I'm aware of the stunt with Mai? ... Mr. Hyun told me a while ago." Arnold chuckled "You're a serious case of the Robin Hood syndrome"

He leaned to kiss her shoulder blade and mumbled.

"Well... all that I wanted to say is that I love you Helga. I love you... I can't wait to say it and I'm tempted to wake you up to let you know..." He closed his eyes and pressed his nose to her neck, breathing into her perfume and then reaching to kiss her jaw "I love you, Helga... I'm all yours..."

He opened his eyes, breathing softly but then almost choked when he felt her shifting.

"Arnold...?"

Arnold straightened in a second. Helga was turning around; her hand went down to tug at the hem of his shirt as she sat up. Arnold swallowed hard; his eyes fixed on her as she blinked.

"What did you say?" she looked at him half asleep and confused.

"I love you!" he blurted out, emboldened and closing the distance. She blinked and retracted slightly at his closeness; her hair falling all over her eyes.

"You... what?" she frowned.

He moved aside the screen of hair and looked at her in the eye.

"I'm in love with you, Helga..." he saw as her eyes widened and her jaw fell. "I love you the same way you love me."

She retracted again, shaking lightly her head.

"You have to be kidding me"

"No. I'm being serious" shaking her head she closed her eyes and covered them with her hand. He took it away "No, it's not a dream. It's me, Helga. It's really me... I swear to God..."

"Do you really love me?" she interrupted. He nodded "Why?"

"Why?" he chortled. Out of all the questions she has to ask precisely that. "I ... I don't know... my heart chose. There's nothing I could do..."

"I don't believe you..." there was a strange glint in her eyes when they fixed on his. They pierced into his soul. He took her hands in his.

"Helga..." he started, not taking her eyes away from her "Did you hear what I said... before?"

She frowned.

"I heard something about... taking my purple pen away and..." she blushed and her eyes widened. She lowered her head and took two quick breathes "When was that?" she let out in a whisper.

"Middle school..."

She opened her eyes in awe.

"You love me since...?"

"I'm not sure, Helga... but I've been in love with you for a while..." he went on, keeping his voice slow and quiet.

"Why you never...?"

"I don't know..." he shrugged.

"This is weird..." she let out a soft snort.

Arnold chuckled. She seemed to be relaxing.

"I know..." he smiled, taking her hands in his "... but now I want you to know that I love you. I love everything of you. I love the way you laugh, the way you fight. You're the most beautiful girl I've ever known. Your eyes are like two diamonds shining brightly amidst this sky pale blue heaven..."

He saw Helga stay still; her wide eyes looking at him in awe.

"This has to be a dream..." she let out in a breath.

"I assure you it's not" he flashed a smile, getting close again "Do you want me to pinch you?"

She hadn't stop seeing him all the while.

"You better kiss me, Football Head"

Obedient, he leaned to kiss her. Arnold chuckled. He pecked her lips one, two, three times and then he retracted to see her eyes. She let out a shy smile.

"There's one little thing I'm uncomfortable about..." he said quietly. Then he took her left hand where the blue stone shone again. Helga followed her sight not uttering a word. Arnold took it as an approval and took the ring away, placing it in the nightstand on top of her cellphone. He breathed, perceiving the dark look Helga threw its way. "Where were we?"

It wasn't like the last kisses he'd stolen from her when he had to force his way into her mouth. Now she was waiting for him and he went straight away to kiss her, to brush her lips, to suck from them. His memories didn't do justice; his pillow wasn't at all like her. Helga was... she was... why was he looking for words to describe it?

Deciding he'd take his time, Arnold went on sucking her lips leisurely, brushing his tongue against hers, relishing in her taste; reveling in each ounce of her. Her tongue was busy too, but hurried; brushing also his lips, sneaking past his teeth to savor him; coercing him to open wide his mouth to gloat in his wetness. He didn't realize when her hands slid up to cup his head, forcing it to tilt at her will to reach deeper into his mouth or when she managed to place herself beneath him; but he did realized when one of her legs went up and rounded his waist, went across his back and pulled him to her.

He reacted instinctively pressing himself against her, against the warm spot between her legs and rubbing onto her. Helga let out a groan. She responded brushing hers against him roughly and then rolling on the bed so she was now over him. She observed him impassive and in silence for some seconds and took an intake before taking the hem of his shirt and pulling up. He upraised his upper body enough to take it off, and following her shinning eyes as she came down to kiss him again.

Her lips soon left his, sliding down to his chin, then along his jaw. Arnold closed his eyes, getting lost in the perceptions her soft and hungry lips raised as they roamed his jaw; as they left a burning path that went down his neck to his chest. She stopped there to peck repeatedly his nipple and then captured it between her lips; Arnold groaned but then gasped when she bit him. His whole body reacted uncontrollably but it was in the most sensible part of his anatomy where it echoed the most. Arnold flinched; his cock beating against the zipper of his denim short and under Helga's weight.

"Helga..."

"Huh?" she straightened, freeing him briefly from the torture she was inflicting "The other one is jealous?" she chuckled, leaning again to overmaster him. Arnold groaned again. He knew his body; his left half was far more sensitive. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander for a space of time he couldn't estimate. Then her lips went on, downwards, leaving a path of wetness and an ardent sensation down to his belly, then around his navel. Arnold gasped again when her tongue brushed against the scarce hairs of his lower abdomen and her hands stopped to deal with his fly.

It was right then when he realized she had taken control. In a fast motion that surprised even him, he rolled over so she was now with her back on the bed. If she wanted him to lose all the fun she was mistaken. Helga opened her eyes, surprised and Arnold took advantage of her short lapse to slide his hands under her shirt and pull it over her head. His weight kept her against the bed so the shirt got tangled in her hair.

He took a second to take in all the blossomed beauty wearing only silky white panties lying under him before going on without a warning; she'd beat him again if he gave her the least chance. He leaning over her, kissing her whole, from her jaw to her belly button and of course taking his time to taste her breasts; they've had the lead role in most of his dreams. He pecked them just like she did; then kissing and squeezing her nipples with his lips. He was recompensed with her gasping and groaning. Arnold knew he was losing a bit of restraint with every groan she let out, with every one of her cries. His most basic instincts boosted seeing her wriggling under him, complaining because his suffocating weight, weakening because his incessant attack. When his lips reached the waistband of her panties she bit her lips; probably to stop herself for shouting his name. Arnold smirked. A sudden warning came to his mind.

"You sure you want this?" he asked before he could stop himself. Helga made an annoyed noise and fidgeted under him again "Helga..."

"Fuck …" she grunted, breathless"...Just shut up at once…" she stressed as she hooked her thumbs under the waist of her panties "I've wanted this all my life" she mumbled under her breath.

Of course she had wanted this all her entire life. He'd wanted it even longer probably. He drew back to see as she raised her hips and slid down her underwear and stopped to see her again.

"You're beautiful" he mumbled. He blessed the full moon up in the sky showering them with its faint light. It has to be here, in his bed in a night like this. He leaned down to kiss her breast again as he pushed her down. Helga brought her legs around his waist again and his hand went down to caress in circular motions the smooth skin of her hips. Then he pulled her up to him and slid his hands to her buttocks.

"Oh, God..." he spoke as her hands went to his fly again. This time he paused to let her finish the apparently impossible task so his hands left her hips to help her. A second later his pants joined her panties at the bottom of the bed.

"No briefs?" she asked raising her brow.

"No time for th- aaagh!" he gasped as her hand wrapped around him. There wasn't air left in his lungs. He pulled back knowing he'd burst right there if he didn't do something to stop her. "No… no... wait..." he asked taking her hand away. "Geez, Helga…" he jerked again as her other hand came to knead his balls. His dick screamed for release. He took a sharp intake before kissing her again and taking both of her hands up to his neck. She laced them over his nape and deepened the kiss.

His hands slid along her sides and stopped at her hips, raising them a little as he kneaded her bottoms. Gentleness was left behind... along his usual tenderness. He groaned again as his hand reached that warm spot between her legs. She gasped. "You're wet" he mumbled against her lips "…you are so…" his voice died. She was surprisingly soft and so hot; he felt her tensing up when his fingers played with her curls for a second before he slid his middle finger between her folds, into her. She yelped and arched her body against him, raising her hips to welcome his contact, opening more her legs letting his finger explore her.

He cursed under his breath when her nails dug in the flesh of his shoulders and his whole body reacted pressing her harder against the mattress. He wanted her now; he couldn't wait anymore. He stretched over her to his bedside table. Helga complained beneath him and he grunted at the intensity of his response. With trembling hands he reached for what he was blindly looking for; opened the top drawer but couldn't avoid turning over the items on the table; Helga's cellphone and the ring fell. Arnold blinked.

"Arnold..." there was some inflexion in her voice that made him became alert. When his eyes found hers the blue eyes shone in a way that made his heart skip a beat. She was gorgeous; his heart rejoiced at the sight.

"I love you" he mumbled leaning to kiss her "Don't be afraid. I'll always be by your side" he felt her swallowing hard and nodding but when he retracted she had closed her eyes. He pecked her lips again before tearing open the small package and fitting himself. He threw one last look to her when she reopened her eyes; her sight fixed on his. He took a sharp intake as memories and memories of her eyes went through his mind. Everything started and ended with her. He knew it; he always knew it. He was hers. The awareness overwhelmed him as he pushed himself into her with more force than necessary. She flinched under him and he pushed harder, a fervent feeling filling him. She was his; she was his and he wanted to make it damn clear...

But then he heard her cry.

"Helga..." her eyes were wet "You're okay? - Oh, my God, Helga!" he pulled up, blinking; shocked by the revelation "Why you didn't tell me?" he wiped her tears with his thumbs "Did I hurt you?" she was gasping but shook her head. He took her head in his hands to make her look at him "Why didn't tell me?" her eyes looked anywhere but his. "Helga" he insisted.

"I'm sorry" her voice as weak when her eyes finally fixed on his.

Arnold chuckled.

"Don't apologize" he stroked her cheek "Don't ever apologize..." he bent down to kiss her again "but I should know. You should tell me." then a sudden thought shook him. He searched her face, stunned "This means James and you never...?" she exhaled and shook her head, looking aside. He couldn't help but wonder why, but decided he didn't care. She was his. She was only his. No more worrying about Mr. Fancy Shit. The thought eased his soul and he let out a chuckle again. He was happy, beyond happy. He was jubilant.

"I'll be gentle, I promise" he pecked her lips and started to move, burying himself deeper into her. His movements started slow, careful, probing, but then he moved faster. She was so soft, and her tight walls compressed him in a way that drove him crazy. Feeling almighty, he straightened, closed his eyes and threw his head back as his hips continued rocking back and forth, increasing the pleasure

The blur of images that used to fill his mind when he was getting into oblivion were here again. He never knew why but most of the times, when his guard was low and he the most vulnerable, there were always images in his mind; vague images of Hillwood, its streets. Streets that he wasn't able to pinpoint where they were; like if didn't exist anymore; like belonging to old times, to a dream that felt as if taking place in the serene swaying of the sea. A corner and a store that he used to see daily but hadn't seen in long time; rain, cars, people, poodles, buildings, shop windows, streams of dirty water running along curbs, a pink smear turning down the corner... Arnold gasped and held.

He opened his eyes. His breath ragged. Then he saw the girl beneath him and thanked heaven for the little bit self-control he still possessed. How could he be so selfish? She didn't have experience at all! He bended forward to kiss her, to kiss her neck but in his frantic condition he bit her hard instead; she wriggled under him and Arnold pushed to the back of his mind the annoying memory of the other man as he angled his hips to shove deeper into her.

But then the same memory came back to remind him that he was the one, he was her owner and that thought almost made him lost it. Arnold grunted containing himself. His hand reached for the apex between her thighs and felt her. Then he bore his thumb down, deeper, finding her core and working in circles. Helga whimpers become cries; her stiffness grew, her thighs shook. He didn't stop his thrusts as he felt her shaking increase and her inner muscles swelling, compressing him. He let out a yelp. After taking air yet again, he continued working inside her; he rubbed harder as his hips rolled in a circular motion. Then her thighs clenched and she let out a cry, climaxing around him. His entire body trembled when he felt like if she were swallowing him, crushing him, shattering him. His head fell back lifelessly as he finally released and let go, exploding into fragments, disappearing into her.

I don't own Hey Arnold!

Thanks to all of you for bearing with me this far; after over two hundred thousand words. I just need to tell you that this is not over yet but the end is not far from here. I hope to finish it before its third anniversary which falls on July 30th.

Your reviews are, as always, welcome and they really make my day brighter.

I want to double thanks to those who use to review: Nep2uune and Conor Dachisen, as well as to Miss Cerezo, GRIMMM, Misabril23, Orkidea16, hel201, diana carolina, letifiesta, MarHelga, Gabyah, Gelygirl, Sweet-sol; a eXtraNIo y Lolita Pataki. Hel 201, and everyone else, I'm really Sorry the previous chapter had taken so long but I really hope to compensate you all with this and the next. Then the story will take a quicker pace until the end.

See you around and have a happy day. Review! O no habrá más de limón. I mean, Review or no more lemons!