A/N: Surprise, enjoy chapter three two weeks early! And Please let me know what you think with a review. Much love to all the reviews, followers, and favors including the guest, I appreciate y'all too! Everyone who has stuck with HOF this long are a huge reason that I pushed myself to finish this chapter early. So, consider this part of my Valentine's gift to you. Make sure your following/Favoriting this story as another surprise might be coming very soon. :^)
No Trigger Warnings!
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or their lovely characters 333
Resolution
Helga tossed and turned lightly In her bed. She stretched her limbs before she threw her hand over the side of her mattress. She felt something hard and ran her fingers across it. She opened up one eye to see Arnold in the chair next to her, with his head thrown to the side. She looked down at her fingers on his knee.
Helga moved her hand, turned on her back, and lifted up. She looked down to see she was still wearing her mother's black dress and realized she must have fallen asleep. Helga placed her hand on her throbbing head and the other hand on her stomach that was doing back flips. She snuck out the bed to go to the bathroom.
After she brushed her teeth, she filled a cup with water that's usually used for gargling to take an aspirin. She also took an alka- seltzer for her stomach. Helga leaned on the sink and took a few deep breaths before she looked in the mirror and cringed at the sight. She washed her face with a soapy washcloth then rubbed some rose oil into her wet skin before she finished her routine with a few sprays of rose water.
Olga had started the younger sister on this skin care routine once she turned eleven. She informed her that healthy skin was very important for a young girl blossoming into a lady. Helga moaned the whole time and rolled her eyes, but like the lavender shampoo her former nanny gave her, this routine brought her peace.
The young woman sat on the sink to let her face dry. Helga unloosen her high messy ponytail into two pigtails with the hair tie that was already in her hair, and an extra one in a small basket nearby. She placed the silver bow back in the middle of hair and looked in the mirror.
Helga slowly walked back to her room to see her boyfriend's oblong head still leaned to the side. She placed her hand over her heart at the sight. The look of glee changed when she remembered she was the reason for how tired he was. Helga crawled on her bed to sit on her knees. She leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. He shifted his body and opened his eyes slowly. He looked around the room then met his girlfriend's gaze.
"Helga?" He whispered.
"Hey, sleepy head." She smiled at him.
"Wait, what?" He put his hand on his head. "I must have fallen asleep."
"I'm sorry." She looked away.
"For what?' He looked at her with one eye and rubbed the other.
"I don't know, everything" She looked back at him, "You're going to be in so much trouble with your parents." She bit her lip.
"It's okay." He stretched in the chair, "I'll just tell them I took you home and fell asleep." He rubbed the side of his neck.
"Is it sore?" she asked.
"A little." He gave a faint smile.
"Here." She turned his chair so the back of it would lean against her bed, "let me rub it for you." She rubbed his neck and he closed his eyes. "Don't fall asleep again", she teased.
"I'm not." He leaned more and more into her hands, "I am going to have to leave soon." He relaxed completely at her touch. "I ran out of minutes on my phone a long time ago and I know my parents are worried."
"Yeah." She stopped massaging his neck.
"Why did you stop?"
She laughed and started again "You said that you had to go, football head."
"Not at this very minute" His body melted into her touch, "Where did you learn this?"
She felt the tension that his shoulders and neck disappear. "Bob actually."
"He taught you how to give a massage?" He said in disbelief.
"Not exactly." She moved her finger down his shoulder and back up. "Miriam was always passed out and Olga away at college, so whenever Bob came home from work he asked me to rub his back or feet." She smiled at the soft moans her boyfriend was making. "Most of the time I ignored him, but when he really looked like he was in pain I would do it. He complained most of the time that I wasn't doing it wrong." She huffed "I realized I must have been doing something right when he was quiet for once." She looked at her hands " That's when I realized these hands are magic."
"They sure are." He leaned more into her touch.
She stopped once she felt his knots were completely gone, "time to go, Sunny Side Up."
"Is that my new nickname?" He laughed.
"Maybe." she giggled.
Arnold turned around to look at her. "Awe, you change your hair."
"Yeah, this morning." She bit her lip "I wanted to look more like myself when I give you your new years kiss."
"My new years kiss " he bit his lip.
"I wasn't able to kiss you last night and since it's still New Year's -"
"We could seal the year with a kiss." he smirked.
"So?" She leaned against the back of the chair, the only thing between them. "You want to kiss me?" she teased.
"Yes." He leaned back " But, I haven't brushed my teeth," he said faintly.
"Don't care." She grabbed the front of his shirt and gently pulled him towards her.
"Wait, can I please go to the bathroom first?"
She raised a brow. "Are you serious, right now?"
"Didn't you get to go?" He questioned.
"Fine" She laid back putting her hands over her chest "Go." she said to the ceiling.
He put his hand behind his neck "Are you mad?"
She laughed "No, Football Head." She rolled her eyes, still staring at the ceiling.
He smiled, stood up, and walked out.
"The mouthwash and extra toothbrush is in the cabinet." She faced his back and smiled.
Arnold shook his head and ran to the bathroom and closed the door. He brushed his teeth, swished the mouthwash around his mouth before he spit it out. Arnold splashed some water on his face and looked in the mirror as he smoothed out his hair. The young man breathed deep and exhaled before he walked out the bathroom and back in Helga's room. Arnold found her laid across the bed. He walked to the blonde and sat next to her on the bed. She leaned up and looked at him
"You still want to kiss me?" She questioned and he nodded. "Well, maybe I don't want to kiss you."
Arnold's face went pale with confusion and panic.
She giggled "Awe, I'm just messing with you, Football Head. She placed her hands on his cheeks and leaned in until their lips melted against each other. Their bodies moved closer as their kiss deepened. Helga pulled back after a moment but leaned in for two more pecks.
Arnold smiled with his eyes still closed. Once he opened his eyes and looked at his girlfriend and smiled. "Helga New Year," He said warmly.
"Don't you mean, Happy New Year, Arnold?" she arched a brow.
"No." he beamed at her.
"No?" she questioned.
"I was thinking that even if we didn't kiss at midnight" he adjusted his shirt, "It would still be a Helga New Year." He smiled wilder, "A whole year filled with you."
She blushed and looked away, "You're such a cornball."
"I know, but you love it."
"I love you." She looked back at Arnold and they set quietly. " I know you're still not ready to say it, but I do love you, Arnold. I always have."
"I know. I just want to be sure before I say it back." he exhaled.
"I know." she smiled faintly.
"I do care about you, Helga. Very much" He reached for her hand.
"I know." She held his hand and looked at their fingers intertwined.
He smiled "I probably should get going before your parents come up here," he teased.
She leaned back on her bed. "They never come up here and even when they catch me doing something weird-" She laughed.
"What's so funny?" He leaned on the bed next to her.
"The night before I went to see Dr. Bliss for the first time. I fell out of my shrine wearing one of the masks I made in your image."
"Wait, what?" He questioned.
"Can I finish?" she smirked.
"Okay. sorry." he arched a brow.
"Anyway, when they came to check on me," She laughed loudly, "Miriam comes in with Bob behind her and sees me on the floor in the mask." She shook her head, "they just walked away."
"Do they do that often?"
"What?"
"Walk away without talking to you." He looked at her with concerned eyes.
"All the time" She laughed softly. "It's six in the morning, Bob is at the Beeper Emporium trying to make a miracle. And Miriam is passed out in the kitchen or the couch, so we're fine."
"The Beeper Emporium is still standing?" Arnold asked.
"Barely, most of the money Bob makes is from the few cell phones I convince him to sell." She shrugged "He's always carried cell phones off and on, but he doesn't commit to them like beepers." She sighed, "So whenever he'd listen I'd let him think he comes up with the Idea to save the place."
"He's lucky to have you." He snuggled next to her.
"Whatever." She rolls her eyes playfully. "Don't worry Arnoldo, even if they did walk in on us," she bit her lip, "I bet they wouldn't say anything."
Arnold swallowed the lump in his throat. "I guess I should get going." He said unconvincing and unlocked their fingers.
"See you, Football Head." She said without watching him make his way to the door.
Helga was a little annoyed that Arnold didn't want to stay a little longer. She knew he had to go. She knew his parents were worried. She also knew more than anything she wasn't ready to part, so she looked at her fingers instead of his face, but looked up to catch his back as he left.
Still not feeling too well the blonde drifted to sleep once her beloved left. She woke up six hours later and couldn't believe she slept so long. She felt the dryness in her throat and went downstairs for a glass of water. She drank the ice cold liquid as she thought of the events that led up to this moment. She thought of the Christmas party, she thought of Rhonda's New Year's Eve party, and this morning. Helga had a nervous feeling about breaking her promise to never drink again.
Meanwhile at Sunset Arms, Arnold was talking to Gerald on the phone.
"You were in her room all night?" Gerald teased.
"Not like that, Gerald," Arnold assured him.
"I'm just saying, man. That's still pretty impressive." He laughed, "Mmm mm mmm, I haven't even seen the inside of Phoebe's room."
Arnold sighed, "Gerald?"
Gerald laughed, "Okay man, I'm just teasing. So, what did you do?"
"We slept." He said with confidence.
"Together?" Gerald teased.
"Yes, but not in the same bed, Gerald." He huffed
"Mmm mm mmm, what a pity." Gerald laughed.
"Gerald?" Arnold said, more annoyed.
"Sorry, man." he laughed harder. "For a guy who spent the night at his girlfriend's you don't seem too happy."
"I'm just a little worried about her." He said faintly.
"Why don't you talk to her? If I was worried about Phoebe that's what I would do."
"Gerald?" Arnold said softly.
"Yeah, man?" Gerald matched his tone.
"Helga and Phoebe are two very different people."
"True, but they're best friends, so it has to be some similarities, right?" Gerald questioned
"What if Phoebe is more similar to Helga than Helga is to Phoebe." The call went silent. Arnold removed the receiver from his ear to look at the phone. "Gerald?"
"Don't scare me like that man." They both laughed, "look you are always telling people to talk about their feelings."
"Okay, so?" Arnold arched a brow.
"So, either you take your own advice, or stop giving it to others." Gerald laughed.
"Thanks, Gerald." he said sarcastically.
"Anytime, man" He laughed harder.
"Hey, I hear the doorbell. I'll talk to you later." Arnold said.
"It's not me you need to talk to." He teased.
"Later Gerald." Arnold rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Later Arnold." He laughed.
Arnold shook his head and walked down the stairs to the door. He opened the door letting out the different array of animals. He smiled at the familiar long pigtails under a lavender beanie, his dad's coat, a pink sweater with purple stripes across it, matching purple pants, all standing in a pair of brown boots.
"Helga?" He said with excitement mixed with confusion.
"How's it going, Football Head?" She rubbed her left hand down her right arm.
"What are you doing here?" He said with more confusion.
"What, I can't visit my boyfriend?" She bit her lip and looked at him with his red plaid shirt, blue jean, and black boots. She nodded with a smile.
"Of course, you can. I'm just surprised to see you."
"Smooth." She teased. "Are you going to let me in?" She crossed her arms loosely over her chest.
"Of course. I'm sorry." He stepped to the side to make room for her, "Come in" He waved her in.
She walked in and watched him close the door. "I came over to return your dad's coat." She opened the coat as she explained.
"Did you bring another coat?" He smirked.
"No." her cheeks flushed.
"Then you'll be cold if you return it." He stepped closer to her
"Oh I didn't think of that." She moved into his chest hiding her face.
"I'm glad you came over" He lifted up her chin and kissed her softly on the lips.
"I'm glad I came over too." She nibbled the side of her lip. "I told you I would try, so I would like to spend time with you and your parents, if they're not mad at me."
"Why would they be mad at you?" He pulled her close with a smile.
"I kept their golden child out all night." she teased.
"Yeah, they talked about it for an hour." he sighed.
"See, they do hate me." Helga slumped her shoulders.
"No, they just told me to communicate better next time."
"What did you tell them exactly?" Her body tensed up.
"Just that I took you home and waited until your parents got there, but fell asleep before they arrived."
"Oh okay." she softened.
"My parents aren't here now." He placed his chain on top of her head. "Do you want to wait for them?"
"Yeah." she nibbled her lip.
"How about I make us lunch while we wait."
"I can go for that." She smiled.
They walked hand and hand into the kitchen and parted when Arnold went to the fridge as Helga sat at the table.
"Are your grandparents home?" She asked
"No, they went with mom and dad grocery shopping." He continued to look through the fridge "They made it a tradition that every other Sunday they go to the store together."
"I bet they're happy to have time together again." She twirled her hair around her finger.
"They really are." He put the mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, and turkey meat on the table. He walked to get the bread and knife. "You're okay with a turkey sandwich?" He asked and she nodded. "If I knew you were coming I would have bought some Pastrami and Rye bread."
"Awe, you remembered." She smirked
"Of course." He smiled as he took out the bread, spread the mustard on one slice, and mayonnaise on the other. "You have to come over again, so I can make it for you."
"Bribing me?" she teased.
"Is it working?" He smirked as he put the turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickles on the bread.
"Maybe" she smirked twirling her hair.
Arnold repeated the action on another side of bread for both of them to create a double decker sandwich for Helga and himself. He knew Helga his whole life and even though she has always been a petite girl she could beat him in any eating contest. He laughed.
"What's so Funny?" She arched a brow
"I was just thinking how I won the neighborhood eating contest that you swore I was going to lose." He arched a brow.
"I would like to think my teasing has motivated you to win all these years." She stuck out her tongue.
"Whatever you say, Helga." He laughed, "You should have entered the contest too." She smiled "you might have beaten me." He leaned close
"I'm sure I would have." She said with confidence.
"Cocky, aren't we?" He tapped her nose with his finger.
"Is there any other way to be." She shrugged.
"I guess not." He laughed. He sliced the sandwiches in half.
"Hey Arnold?" She tilted her head.
"Yes, Helga?" He set the knife down and gave her his full attention.
"How about we take these sandwiches to go and play catch at the park?" She smiled.
Helga knew Arnold was a sucker for playing catch; he nodded and smiled. Arnold put the sandwiches in two sandwich bags, and grabbed a small bag of grapes, two cups of tapioca pudding, some Yahoo sodas, and put everything in a tote bag. He grabbed his coat and they walked hand and hand to the park. Arnold carried the food while Helga carried the gloves and baseball.
They sat on the bench putting down their stuff. Arnold handed Helga a sandwich and grabbed his own. They both began to eat their food as they looked at the people in the park.
"Not half bad, football head." She said chewing her sandwich.
"Just call me, Chef BoyArnoldo"
"Stop.' She said with a blank expression.
Arnold laughed "you know I'm funny"
"Funny looking?" She teased
"Dang, that's cold" They both laughed "Well, I'll be funny looking if it means I get to hear that adorable laugh of yours."
"Shut it, Chef BoyArnoldo." She took another bit of her sandwich.
"See, you like the name."
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "Arnold?"
"Yes Helga?" He took another bite of his sandwich.
"I know I freaked you out last night." She swallowed the bit in her mouth.
"You didn't," He said unconvincingly.
"Yes I did." She took another bite. "You think with all that therapy it would be easier for you to admit how you feel." She watched Arnold swallow the sandwich and the lump in his throat. She tilted her head "How is it going anyway?" she questioned.
"It's going well." He took another bite of his sandwich, "You know it was hard for mom and dad to adjust after being asleep for almost 10 years." He swallowed the bit in his mouth "Our therapist said that what my parents and I were going through," he sighed, "being happy to have each other while feeling like strangers was actually common. She said it's common in families who've had a parent who was incarcerated for a long period of time." He looked at his girlfriend, who listened without a hint of judgement. He took another bite of his food and continued. "That's why my parents and I volunteer with parents who are freshly out of prison to help them adjust to family life and life in general." He swallowed his bite of food. "They volunteer more than I do. They say that they want me to be a kid a little longer." He laughed warmly.
"How are you? How are you adjusting?" She sat closer to him.
"Some days it's good, really good. Other days it just feels like we're starting from scratch." He took the final bite of his sandwich. "Yesterday when they talked to me for an hour, I could tell they didn't want to get too angry." He said with air quotes, "because they didn't feel they had a right to. He looked at the ground with sad eyes.
Helga nodded, "well, it's okay if you get too angry with me." She said.
"I wasn't angry." He put his hand behind his neck. "You're right I was a little freaked out."
She took the final bite of her sandwich "Don't worry Chef BoyArnold, I'll do better."
He looked into her blue eyes and nodded. Arnold took out the sodas and handed her one. They kept talking about everything. They talked about school, and Valentine's day where Helga reminded him not to buy her anything because of their no gift policy and Arnold shook his head. They drank their sodas, ate their grapes and their pudding. They watched the daylight dim as Helga laid on Arnold's lap and listened to the softness of his breath. She looked up to watch his chest rise and fall. Arnold looked down and made eye contact with his girlfriend who was now wearing a red brush. He leaned down to kiss her and she kissed him back. The soft kiss turned into a longing one until they stopped for air. Arnold leaned his head back and allowed the memory of the kiss to dance on his lips.
"Do you want to still play catch?" She said, licking her bottom lip.
He looked at the sight and gave her a small kiss on the lips "Yeah, let's play."
They stood up, took off their coats and folded it on the bench. They grabbed their gloves and went to separate sides of the field. The couple threw the ball softly catching it with ease. Helga became bored and started to throw the ball harder causing Arnold to dive for it. He smirked and started to throw it at the same speed and Helga had no problem keeping up. She dived and slid across the field with ease. Arnold watched in awe the smile on his face said that he had become a fan of his girlfriend's tomboyish ways.
"Hey Arnold?"
"Huh?" He said, coming out a daze.
"Are you going to throw the ball today?" She tilted her head "or are you waiting for Abner sprouts wings?"
"Ha ha, Helga." He positioned himself to throw the ball and then he stopped.
"Why did you stop?" She huffed.
He tossed the ball in his own glove "What if I don't want to throw the ball?" He shouted across the field.
"What do you mean?" She shouted back
"Are you going to make me?" He opened his arms wide, holding the glove in one hand and the ball in the other.
Helga bit her lip and charged towards him. His eyes widened as she threw the glove and kneel down, swipe her foot against his knees causing him to fall. She leaped on top of him. "What did you say?"
"No fair, you caught me off guard." He laughed.
"Okay." She got up and reached out her hand.
He put down the mitt and ball and took it. "What's your angle, Pataki?" He said as she helped him up.
"You only call me Pataki when you're trying to be serious." She laughed."No angle, Shortman." She smirked "I'm giving you a chance to take me down." She squatted low to the ground . He did the same, but when he reached for her arm she sprinted around and slammed him on the grassed landing on top of him "pinned you."
Arnold tried to spin her on her back and failed miserably as she sprinted him back on his back "pinned you again." She smirked
"Where did you learn that?" he said with wild eyes.
"I've been watching wrestling my whole life, Arnold." She giggled "And Phoebe has been teaching me Jujitsu." She shrugged.
Arnold palmed his face, "Why would Phoebe do that?"
Helga laughed and laid on her boyfriend's chest. "I didn't want to learn fencing, or talk about science, and we always talk about literature, so this was the next best thing." She shrugged.
Arnold put his hand on her back and looked at her hair spread across his chest. "It's a good thing you didn't learn how to fence."
"Why is that?" She arched a brow.
"You're dangerous enough without a sword" They both laughed.
"So, where did Phoebe learn Jujitsu?" Arnold questioned
"Her dad signed her up for lessons when she was six. He said a girl should know how to defend herself." Helga said and Arnold nodded.
They laid on the grass letting the cool breeze blow over them. They watched people pass by and didn't care if the people watched them back. They laid there in a comfortable silence as Arnold slowly rubbed his hand down Helga's back every once in the while his finger would brush against her bare skin and she would shiver.
"Arnold?"
"Yes, my lady?"
She giggled "What are you thinking?"
"Honestly how nice this feels."
She thanked the heavens that she wasn't facing him, so he couldn't see her blush.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked
"How warm you make me feel" Her blush deepened.
Arnold's cheeks turned a tint to match hers. "Helga?"
"Yes Arnold?" She snuggled into his chest.
"You never told me what happened with Dr. Bliss." He continue rubbing down her back
"It's not much to tell." she snuggled even more into his chest. "I wanted to keep seeing her, but Bob didn't want to pay for it." She shifted her head into his neck. "And even if I paid for it myself I need a parent's signature." she sighed softly.
"I'm sorry Helga."
"It's okay, football head, I should be fine until I turn eighteen. That's only 3 years and two months." She turned her head to face him, "Unless you think I need it now." She smirked "You think I'm crazy."
"No." He rubbed his hand down her beanie and her pigtails " I think everyone needs someone to talk to without judgement."
"Isn't that what I got you for?"
"Yes, but-"
"But-?"
"I can't be your entire support system." he said softly.
"You're not. I have Phoebe too." She laid under his chin and that was the end of the conversation.
They watched the sun set as they had a perfect view where they laid
"Helga we should go in for dinner." Arnold said, rubbing his hand on her cheek.
She looked at him. "Yeah, you're right. Plus, I have to pee like a racehorse." She laughed and he shook his head. She stood up and helped her boyfriend up too. They got their gloves and baseball, went to the bench, got their trash and Arnold helped Helga put her coat on. They walked hand and hand back to Sunset Arms.
Helga stopped on the stoop and Arnold gave her hand a squeeze. He placed his forehead on hers and looked into her eyes.
"It's okay." He said, "You and me, kid. You and me."
She sighed softly "You better mean it, Bucko."
"With every breath." He said
They walked in the house and Arnold took their coats to put them on the coat rack. Helga went upstairs to the bathroom while Arnold walked in the kitchen. He threw away their trash and put the tote bag away. He grabbed the gloves and baseball and was heading to meet his girlfriend upstairs, so they could go to his room until his parents got back. As soon as Arnold stepped one foot on the stairs he was stopped by Ernie Potts.
"Hey Arnold." The shorter man smiled up at Arnold.
"Hey Mr. Potts."Arnold smiled back.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me, Ernie?"
"I call you Ernie sometimes." Arnold assured the shorter man.
"Well, start calling me Erine all the time." He sighed. "Mr Potts makes me sound like my dad." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Anyway, I saw the blonde you brought in." He whistled "what a beaut."
"That's Helga, Mr. - Ernie." He cleared his throat. "and you've seen her before." Arnold smiled
"That's the little girl that has been following you around all these years."
Arnold laughed. "Yeah"
"You got lucky, kid."
'I know." He smiled warmly
"Guys like us have more luck than sense." Ernie said
"What do you mean?" Arnold said, confused.
"She waited all these years for you to ask her out." He laughed "Now, that's luck."
"Technically, Helga and I have been getting to know each other since San Lorenzo, so she wasn't just waiting."
"Getting to know each other?" Ernie laughed. "Haven't you've known each other since preschool"
"Yes, but my head was always in the clouds," He sighed, " And Helga was hiding behind her fist."
"Trust me Arnold, time for a woman is different than man time."
"Okay." Arnold arched a brow.
"Take Lola for instance." He cleared his throat "Sure we've been dating for years, but until I propose she considers herself waiting."
"Helga, not like other girls."
Ernie laughed, "Kid, no matter how much of an iron her fist she has, it doesn't change how soft her heart is."
Arnold sat with these words and was thinking of what to say next when they both heard arguing coming from upstairs.
"I don't have five dollars, you loser." Helga said walking down the stairs.
"I didn't say if you have five dollars. I asked if you play Frogger?" He laughed nervously and looked at Ernie and Arnold.
"Asking her for five dollars is very creepy, Oskar." Mr. Hyunh said
"You think everything is creepy," Oskar retorted.
"No! Just everything you do." Mr Hyunh pointed in Oskar's face.
"And you're a bum." Ernie added. "That's why Suzie left you." The room went silent.
"Shows what you know." He crossed his arms and said, "She'll be back."
"Oskar, you can't be serious." Ernie arched a brow "it's been years."
"So." Oskar leaned closer to the shorter man. "She always comes back." his voice cracked.
"Hey." Arnold cleared his throat."We have a guest, guys." He pointed towards Helga
"Don't stop on my behalf." Helga smirk "It was just getting good."
"Helga" Arnold shook his head
"What?" She loosely crosses her arms over her chest "I'm missing a cage match to be here, so might as well see a living room smackdown."
Everyone started to calm down and Arnold exhaled.
"I didn't ask for five dollars. I asked if she played Frogger." Oskar spoke again
"Mr. Kokoshka" Arnold palmed his forehead
"What do you know about Fogger?" Earnie asked
"Arnold used to play it." Oskar put his hand on his hip.
Helga laughed. "You played Frogger, football head?"
"What's wrong with Frogger? He arched his brow "It's a good game."
"Someone like you would say that." she teased
"Someone like me?"
"Yeah, a dork." Helga laughed and so did the boarders.
"Whatever, I'm your dork." he smiled at her
"Awe" The group of men said which made Arnold's cheeks turn red.
"True" Helga tousled his hair
"Hey quit it." He laughed, smoothing his hair back. Arnold looked at the boarders who watched the two teens. "We're going to go upstairs until my parents and grandparents get back.
The teens walked past the men and up the stairs. Arnold pulled down his stairs to his room to let Helga walk up first. She walked in her beloved's room and was screaming inside. Sure she has been inside his room many times in her dreams, uninvited, or as a friend. But, today was different because she was invited into her boyfriend's room, the boy she loved all her life. Helga melted when she sat on the red couch. He replaced the old one with a bigger one. She looked at his bed and thought it was large enough to fit them both. Arnold put away his baseball and glove then sat next to his girlfriend. He let out a soft sigh as he turned to face his girlfriend with a smile.
"What's up, football head?"
Arnold leaned to face her better, "I'm just happy that you're here."
She looked away from him to hide her blush "Yeah me too." She said softly
He reached and grabbed her hand. She looked at him and down at their intertwined fingers. She scooted closer and he did the same. They smiled at each other and looked away. They scooted a little closer causing their cheeks to brush against one another. Helga looked over to Arnold who looked over to her. Arnold brushed a stray hair behind her ear before he leaned in to kiss her. She captured his lips with hers and they melted into one another. Arnold pulled back just to lean in to a few more sweet kisses. He smiled at his girlfriend who smiled back at him with both of their faces flushed. Arnold leaned against the couch as Helga followed and the couple listened to the cars pass by. Arnold picked up his remote and put on some Jazz as Helga snuggled next to him. They listened to one smooth song after the other as they snuggled on his red couch.
"Arnoldo," She said looking up at her boyfriend.
"Yes, my lady?" He met her gaze.
"You want to play a game," Helga asked with a smirk.
"I'm scared to ask what kind of game." He teased
"It will be fun. I promise." She wiggled her brow.
"Okay, what's the game?" he said
"Ask me to do something you always wanted me to do, but was too afraid to ask."
"If I was too afraid to ask then why would I ask now?" he looked into her eyes.
"Because now you get a pass." She smiled
"A pass?"
"Yes, a no judgement zone." she said with confidence.
Arnold sat there holding his girlfriend's hand as he thought of something and his eyes lit up. "Helga?" He said
"Yes, Arnold?"
"Can I see you dance?"
"Dance?" She arched a brow
" Remember when we were a part of the school newspaper?"
"What about it?"
"I never told you this." He scratched behind his ear.
"Spit it out, hair boy."
"Gerald had got pictures from Sid to blackmail you." He said in one breath
Helga blinked slowly. "Blackmail me?" Helga leaned away.
Arnold waved his hand "I said no to the idea."
"Whatever" She huffed.
He bit his lip "I thought there was no judgment?"
"I'm going to kill those guys." She lowered her brow.
"Helga please. I don't want another Iggy situation." he rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Arnold?"
He looked at her "Yes, my lady." He smirked
Helga rolled her eyes playfully. "How many times do I have to tell you that'll never happen"
"It just felt so real." She shook his head.
"Really Arnold, the whole news team came out to see you in a bunny suit."
" is that really unbelievable?"
"A little." she shrugged.
"How so? They came out for Stoop kid." He put his hand on his hip.
"Sorry to break it to you, football face, but the legend of stoop kid was a big deal."
"Well, I don't want what happened in my dream to actually happen."
"Arnold, that dream was just your fear of it, if you didn't stay the loveable pushover then people would hate you."
"Okay, Dr. Pataki."
"Hey, I read Psychic books." She shrugged "What else am I supposed to do since Bob won't sign off on therapy." She moved closer to him
"Really?" He tilted his head.
She laughed "Well, that's part of the reason." She shrugged " I'm really fascinated with human behavior." She smirked "That's why I read about serial killers.
"You are amazing, Helga." He smiled warmly at her. "And a little scary" He added
"Only a little scary?" She arched her brow.
He laughed "Since I know you won't kill me, because you love me." He tapped her nose with his finger.
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "So what type of dance do you want to see?"
"Ballet." he wiggled a brow.
"Of course, you would know about Ballet."
"Should I change the music?" He said excited to see her dance.
She stood up and took off her shoes. "No, I can dance to Jazz just fine." She smirked.
Helga stood on the tip of her toes of one foot while holding the ankle of her other leg to stretch. She leaned all the way over touching the ground with her finger tips to get a good stretch. Before switching legs as Arnold watched in awe. Helga rolled her neck and scratched her arm and leaped to the melody on the radio. She bent, and stretched, and curved her body in ways Arnold never saw. She smirked at him as she flipped on her hands and pointed one foot in the and the other in his direction.
"Wow." He breathed out.
Helga placed flipped on her feet and laughed. She went back to the couch to sit next to her boyfriend.
"How was that, dork of all trades?"
"Amazing." He said with half lidded eyes.
"Thanks" she blushed.
"Do you still take lessons?" Arnold asked.
She shook her head "No, I got tired of Miriam forgetting to drop me off and pick me up" She leaned her head back "I stopped dancing at thirteen, but whenever I get bored I dance in my room."
He smiled "You can dance here too, if you like."
She leaned close to his ear "Is it my turn to ask you to do something?"
He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Yes." he choked out.
"Why are you nervous?' She licked her lips.
"A wise man would be." He placed his hand on the back of his neck.
She sat back and bit her lip. "Arnold?" She looked at him.
"Yes Helga?" He met her gaze
"You want to play twister?"
"Twister?" He tilted his head
"Why, so surprised?" she said with a sly grin.
"You never cease to amaze me." He smiled.
"Smooth" she teased "Since I showed you my moves." She leaned closer to him " You show me yours?" She stood up on her toes and lifted her leg behind her head..
"Sure." He swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded.
"Let me get the game from the hallway closet." He hopped to his feet and ran out the room.
She laughed "Take your time." She yelled out the door.
He walked back in the room. "Okay I'm back." He looked at his girlfriend still holding her leg in the air. "So you've been standing like that this whole time?" He leaned his head to follow the curve of her body
She snickered "I'm stretching, Arnoldo." She put her leg on the ground, stood on her toes and lifted the other leg. "You weren't gone that long. I'm surprised you're not out of breath."
Arnold went to lay the twister mat on the floor and took out the spinning board. "I'm ready when you are." He said, not seeming ready at all
Helga let out a hearty laugh "You sure about that?" She arched a brow
"Yeah" his voice sounded weak as he poked out his chest.
"You should probably stretch, Bucko" She said walking over to him.
"I'm fine." He leaned against the wall.
"Yeah. Okay." She shook her head. "You're spin." She crossed her arms over her chest.
Arnold flicked the arrow on the board and watched it land right foot blue. "Right foot blue." He said, proudly.
Helga shrugged and lifted her leg up to point her toe gently on the blue circle effortless. "My turn" She smirked and flicked the arrow while Arnold held the board. She watched it land on right hand red. "Right hand red." She said with a smirk.
Arnold kneels down stretching over her foot placing his hand on the red circle. He flicked the arrow until it landed on left hand yellow. Helga stretched over his body and placed her hand on the yellow circle. She spun around with the toe of her free foot. Arnold's next move was right foot green. He stretched his leg under his girlfriend while grinding his teeth. Helga smiled at the sweat forming on his forehead. He let out a yelp in pain and collapsed to the ground
"A cramp!" He screamed and held his calf
"I win!" She spun on her toes off the board. She looked at her boyfriend holding his calf in pain. She shook her head and sat down and placed his leg on her lap
"Helga, it hurts" He hissed
"Will you relax?" She started to massage his tense muscle "Remember these hands are magic" she smiled and felt him relax against her fingers.
"That feels good." His face softened. "Thank you." He said softly.
"I told you to stretch." She hissed
"I know. I should have listened." He said with glossed eyes
"It's okay. I should have listened to you too." She said looking away from him.
"What do you mean?" He questioned.
She sighed "The reason I wanted to play all these games with you today." She pressed her fingers in his calf and worked around the tension "Was just in case it was the last time." She stared into his curious eyes with her sad ones.
"Why would it be the last time?" He said, confused.
"I lied to you." She stopped massaging his calf and scooted away.
"Lied, about what?" He moved closer.
"After the Christmas party when I said I wouldn't drink again," She bit her lip.
"You didn't?" He shook his head.
"I did." She made eye contact with him. "I also drank at Rondas'." She added
"I know and I shouldn't have given you that second glass of champagne."
"I was surprised that you did give me a second glass of champagne."
"I had champagne before it was so light it reminded me of juice. And most of our friends have had a glass or two for birthdays or special occasions." He rubbed the back of his neck "I didn't think it was as bad as brandy in the egg nog." He exhaled "I saw how dazed you looked and wanted to get you water instead, but I didn't want to upset you." He admitted.
"Champagne is not as bad as brandy in eggnog." she sighed "Well, I guess it could be, if you drink too much of it." She swallowed slowly "But gin is worse than brandy and champagne."
"Gin?" He said surprised.
"Yeah, I had a small flask that was probably one or two sips- maybe a gulp." she bit the side of her lip.
"Helga, you're fourteen, any amount isn't good." he lowered his brows. "Why would you bring a flask anyway?"
"I don't know." She wiped the tear running down her cheek now. "I thought if the party became too much maybe the Gin would make me feel like the eggnog after the Christmas party." she wiped more tears.
"Helga don't cry." He said softly.
"You probably hate me, don't you?" Her shoulders shook as the tears blurred her vision
"I'm turning into a real, Olga."
"I don't hate you." He wiped her tears
"You don't?" She said between shallow breaths
"Of course not." He held her close to his chest and said, "I'm just concerned about you." He rubbed her shoulder
"I promise, this time I'm going to stop drinking"
"Helga." he sighed
"No, football head." she placed a finger on his lips. "It's my new year's resolution." She snuggled more into him, "the first time I felt good after drinking. I felt like how I do when I'm with you, but the second time." She shook her head. "I never want to feel that way again." she admitted.
"Okay." He smiled warmly
"Okay?" She looked in his eyes.
He nodded and kissed her on the forehead. She laid in his arms as he caressed her arms.
They sat silently in each other's company while they listened to the buses and cars pass by.
After a while Arnold heard his parents moving in the kitchen. The couple continued to embrace each other for quite some time until they felt the food would be done.
"Helga?"
"Yes Arnold?" She snuggled in his arms
"Do you still want to eat with us?" He asked softly "Or do you want me to bring some food up?" he smiled.
She set up and looked at him. "I still want to eat with you and your family."
"Good." He smiled and brushed a stray hair behind her ear.
"Let me wash my face and I meet you down there." she said.
"Okay." he smiled.
"And Arnold?"
"Yes?"
"If you tell anyone you saw me cry I will pound you." She threatened.
He laughed. "Scout Honor." He held up his index and middle finger. "I won't tell." he added
"That doesn't count." She stood up
"Why not?" He stood next to her
"Because you're not a boy Scout." She put her hand on her hip.
He laughed "I'm still honest."
"You better be, Bucko." She took his hand.
They walked hand and hand until Helga went into the hall bathroom. She splashed water on her face and dried it with a clean face towel. She took a breath and opened the door to head down the hall and down the stairs.
"Arnold?" She quested when seeing him outside the door.
"I wanted to escort you to dinner." He offered his arm and she locked hers with his.
Once the couple arrived in the kitchen Helga felt nervous seeing the boarders, Arnold's grandpa Phil, and his dad, Miles at the table. Arnold gave her hand a gentle squeeze and she softened at his touch. The two sat next to each other still holding hands. Grandma Gertie came out holding the dinner rolls.
"Would you like a roll little blonde boy." Grandma smiled at Arnold
"Yes, please." Arnold said
"Would the little blonde girl like one too?" Gertie offered.
Arnold laughed "This is Helga, Grandma." He smiled warmly at her.
"Eleanor, it's nice of you to join us for dinner." Pookie smiled warmly at Helga.
Phil sighed "Stella, you didn't let Pookie cook did you?" Phill raised a brow.
"No Dad, Mom is helping me serve" Stella smiled at her father in law.
"Don't start with me, you've eaten my food for over forty years." Pookie said
"Gertie, has a point for once, old man." Ernie said
"Who asked you?!" Phil and Gertie retorted.
Helga leaned over to Arnold "How many names does this woman have?" She whispered
"What do you mean?" Arnold whispered back
"Gertie, Pookie, Mom, Grandma, Jeez. " She crossed her arms loosely.
Arnold snickered "it's only four, Helga." He said
"Four too many." She said.
"What did you say, Dear?" Gertie asked
"I'm just not sure what to call you?"
Gertie put her finger to her chin and smiled. "Call me a cab, let's blow this popsicle stand." The woman cackled.
Arnold leaned over to Helga "You can call her Grandma or Gertie, if you like." He smiled.
Stella placed a hand on the older woman's shoulders. "Mom, Do you want to take a seat while I finish serving dinner?" The older woman sat across from Helga.
Helga hoped she would be as comfortable with Arnold's parents as Stella was with Grandma and Grandpa. She hoped she could serve dinner and have her mother in law help. She smiled at the domestic thought. As Pookie and Stella placed the food on the table then sat down. Helga sat next to Arnold with Stella on the other side of her.
"It smells amazing, Honey" Miles beamed.
"Yeah Mom, what is it?" Arnold smiled
"It's stew chicken, cabbage, tomatoes and red potatoes over jasmine rice." She smiled "It's a Belizean dish " She added.
"Helga, do you like Belizean food?" Miles asked
"I never had it." Helga smiled softly.
"Our time in central America we stayed with a family in Belize for a little while" Stella passed the chicken dish to Helga
Helga happily put a generous amount on her plate "Do you ever miss it?'
"Miss what, dear?" Stella smiled
"Traveling?" Helga said.
"Honestly, with our jobs at the high school with me overseeing the botanist club, and Miles overseeing the Anthropology club, plus volunteering with incarcerated families we are more than fulfilled."
"Not to be rude," Helga said and Arnold looked nervous. Helga squeezed his hand to assure him she was going to behave."You two have been gone for ten years. I would think you wouldn't want to have such a full plate." She added a roll and plantains to her plate. "If I were you I would spend as much time with Arnold as I could." She looked at the two "Not to be rude." she said again to claim her boyfriend's nervous. -a
"No, it's okay" The parents smiled
"We do spend a lot of time with Arnold, but he does have his own life." Stella put some food on her plate "His friends and you" She smiled. "When we first got back home we waited outside his school everyday for a year, but in therapy we learned that space is as important for any relationship as togetherness."
Helga rolled her eyes at the comment, but smiled and nodded anyway. "So, you're giving him space?" she questioned
'Yes." Miles added "But, we intentionally took jobs at his high school just in case he ever wants to spend more time with us. " Miles smiled "Just enough space to not be in his way and there when he needs." Miles put some food on his plate.
Everyone put food on their plate and started to talk around the table. Helga looked at all the boarders and remembered their lives outside of Sunset Arms. Ernie with his girlfriend Lola, Mr. Hyunh with his daughter Mai, and Oskar really didn't have anything since his wife, Suzie left him. She remembered hearing the woman cry to Miriam about how Oskar wouldn't help with the bills, the house work, and wouldn't even touch her. Helga shook her head at the man.
Oskar spoke with a mouth full of food. "Now that i'm as a dishwasher at Mr. Hyuhh's job I can cover my potion of the rent." He looked at Ernie. "I'll keep everything together until Suzie comes back"
"She is not coming back, you bum," Ernie shook his head.
"Oskar is a bum, but he is trying." Mr. Hyunh added
"I'll believe it when I see it" Grandpa mumbled
"We don't have to talk about this now." Stella added with a smile.
"Let's talk about Eleanor's time as President's wife." Grandma giggled
Helga swallowed the big bite of food in her mouth "well-"
"Helga you don't have to." Arnold squeezed her hand to assure her.
"It's okay, good sir." She put her fork down "My time as a president's wife was quite draining." She said in her best british accent which wasn't quite that good.
Arnold leaned over, "Eleanor Roosevelt was American" he whispered
"I know." She huffed.
"Why the accent?" he raised a brow.
"It just came out, okay!" She hissed.
"Okay." he leaned back.
Everyone snickered around the table. "Silence, can't you see a lady is speaking?" Helga said and sat up straight. Everyone nodded with a proud smile. "Yes, draining so very exhausting." she smiled.
"I know what you mean, Eleanor." Grandma looked at Phil and turned back to Helga "Being anyone's wife is exhausting."
"Hey, I heard that, Pookie." Phil said.
The woman cackled and stood on the table before she leaped off it. "You can't catch me copper." She ran out the room.
Phil put his hand on his forehead "Hopefully she'll wear herself out."
Everyone went back to laughing and talking as they finished their food. After Dinner Arnold helped Helga into her coat then Miles and Stella hugged her and wished her Happy New Year. They offered to drive her home, but the teens insisted they'll be fine walking there. When Helga saw the worry on their face she added she would not keep their golden son out too late. Miles and Stella laughed and pulled her into a tighter hug.
Once the couple made it to Helga's stoop she pulled Arnold in and kissed him soft and long. His cheeks flushed when they parted and he rubbed the back of his neck.
Helga was the first to break the silence, "Are sure your dad won't mind me stealing his coat?"
"It's practically my coat now and I don't mind you having it." He smiled
She wrapped herself more in the coat "Okay." She smiled. "But it doesn't smell enough like you." She sniffed the coat.
He laughed softly "Here let's switch." he said and she nodded. They switched coats and she inhaled his scent and beamed at him. "Thank you."
"Thank you, so much for tonight, Helga." He caressed her cheek. "It really meant a lot to me for you to try with my family."
"It's nothing, football head." She kicked a small pebble.
"It's everything to me" He lifted her chin and met her lips once again. They melted into each other and released with a gentle sigh.
"Maybe next time I can have dinner at your house?" He questioned
She looked over her shoulder to her house and pictured her blow hard dad, lame mom, and perfect sister. She bit her lip and looked back at Arnold "Maybe one day." she gave a soft smile.
"I know your parents can be-" He thought carefully, "A lot, but they are a part of you, and I want to know them because of that."
"Okay okay, Chef BoyArnoldo" She teased, "One day soon, I promise."
They kissed a few more times and Helga watched Arnold's Oblong head fade into the shadows. She held her heart and felt herself float all the way to her room and on her bed. She held her pillow and thought of how many times they're lips met today. She snuggled into her blanket replaying every moment that made her insides shiver until she drifted to sleep.
The next few weeks Helga kept her promise to Arnold and didn't pick up a drink. She ignored the temptation of her mother's leftover smoothies in the blender. She ignored the bottles on the top shelf of the cabinet and in the pantry. She felt good and thought the drinking was just a lapse in judgement.
During winter break she found herself at the boarding house often. Arnold and Helga would play catch and she pinned him to the ground every chance she could. When they weren't at the park she was in his room doing ballet to jazz or laying against his chest as they listened to it instead. Helga even talked to Stella a little, while she prepared dinner. Miles let her read a few of his old Journals and then they would discuss them. She liked that Arnold's parents took turns cooking and caring for each other. She would laugh at Gertie and Phil bickering but smiled at how much love they still had for each other.
Helga set back and looked at the Shortmans and wondered if it was real or fantasy. Could she really have something like they did, she thought. Having Arnold was overwhelmingly beautiful and scary enough, and adding his family stole her heart. She shook her head and decided it didn't matter if it was a fantasy, because it felt real to her, and that was more than enough.
Awe, wasn't this just a lovely chapter? You think Helga will keep her Resolution?
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