Happy Holidays, everyone! Thanks again for all your great reviews and e-mails! Sorry if I am a bit late in posting the next chapters. I helped prepare for the Christmas party we had. Oh, and about the vagueness of the last part on chap. 7. I purposely put it there for a little suspense but it's not answered here. The next chap. subtlety answers your question. And as for the grammatical errors…duly noted! (Thanks, Evasive, kimba821 and Serena). I even tried to apply it to this chapter and the next. Tell me if I missed any thing.
And also to the Harold-Patti fans, this is my reason why I chose a Harold-Rhonda pairing.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine is Hey Arnold!
Chapter 8
Party
~Friday, City park
It was a beautiful and peaceful Friday morning in the city park. It just rained the night before and the park smelled fresh. Helga avoided the puddles on the walkway as she pushed Muriel in her baby stroller. Both of them went out today to get some fresh air and bask in the sun.
Muriel was the more talkative of the two. You could hear her gurgle and coo at various things that she would see. For Helga this was a way of making up for the bad events that have been happening lately.
While Muriel waved her arms at a flying bird, Helga was thinking about what Lila said to her. "It's everything, Helga. You three made me feel stronger. I know I was a bit passive a while ago but I was really thinking how you all helped me. Even Arnold, although he didn't know much at first, has helped me a great deal. I guess I stopped feeling sorry for myself."
'Everyone loves Lila but she still had an adversity. She endured all the pain, emotional and physical, but she managed to fight back. Even though it took her a long time she fought back in the end. She had been through so much more than I. Maybe I'm the one who's weak. Maybe all I've been doing is feeling sorry for myself also.'
Helga gave a small smile. 'She said I give her strength. I supported her. I did that because…I didn't want her to feel alone. It hurts much more to have a problem with no one to help you. I had to help her.'
'Out of all the friends she had she called me. She could have called Phoebe. She lived through that part of Lila's life but she called me. Me, Helga Pataki, the bully well, ex-bully. The girl that was a pariah, an outsider.'
Helga stopped at a bench, parked the baby carriage and pressed on the brakes. 'Maybe I am good enough for something. Maybe I'm good enough to be a friend.'
She remembered their slumber party with a smile. 'Maybe when I dropped my bully attitude I was good enough for my friends. When I stopped hurting people I stopped hurting myself.'
She digested this for a few moments and later on felt like a heavy burden was lifted up from her shoulders. For the very first time she felt free and content.
Helga turned to face Muriel. "Would you like to come in the carnival today, Rie? I bet a carousel ride would be good for both of us." Muriel waved at her and smiled.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'. Now let's go back to the hotel room and get ready for a girl's day out!"
Helga stood up and released the brakes. She then began to push Muriel while humming a tune. She looked all around her seeping everything in her surroundings as if it was new to her. Even with all the happy atmosphere she didn't fail to notice a man hiding in one of the trees. She could see his reflection in the puddle.
Her eyebrows creased. Is he following them? She shook her head. Probably just some homeless guy loitering in the city park. She scoffed as she remembered the homeless guy they met 18 years ago on the train. He thought the train was his home.
She vanished that memory as she focused on the present. A smile began to weave through her lips as she and Muriel returned home.
~Helga's hotel room
Helga was about to go out of the hotel room with Muriel when she remembered the party tonight. She looked at Muriel and sighed. She won't be able to go to the party. Not with her baby-sitting Muriel.
She went to Muriel's baby bag and retrieved her phone. Since she didn't know Rhonda or Harold's phone number she asked Phoebe which meant she had to call the hospital. This took her a few minutes longer than expected but she got the number anyway. She then dialed it.
RING! Someone picked it up. "Bonjour! Rhonda here. Whom am I speaking to?"
"Hey, Rhonda! It's Helga."
"Helga! I'm so glad you called. You know the party's at 6:00? Good. Now I have a theme for my little party tonight. I want you all to come as yourselves. You know what we usually wore during our school days."
Helga sighed. "But, Rhonda, isn't it a bit too late to be telling me all this. I can't possible get a dress like the one I wore before and… umm it is a bit tacky."
"Tacky?"
Helga waited for the yelling but none came. Only a "You're right! Hmm, I guess I better call the others then. Wow, Helga, you saved me for an embarrassment that will ruin my whole reputation. Hmm… well, I guess you could come as you are now."
Helga sighed. "Right. So anyway, I called because I won't be able to come tonight. I have to take care of the Muriel."
"Muriel? No! Don't worry, Helga, you could bring her along. Kids are cool in my party. So, see you tonight! Au revoir!"
Helga was about to protest some more but Rhonda already hanged up. She sighed as she looked at Muriel who was playing with her hands. "I guess you're invited too. Oh well, let's go to the carnival."
~Friday night, Berman-Lloyd mansion
Helga pulled up in front of a huge mansion. A much bigger mansion than her sister and her husband's. She expected it to be a huge mansion, seeing that it was practically a mile to the gate of the mansion to the mansion itself, but not that big.
She went out of the car to get a much greater view. Helga was so captivated by the mansion that she didn't notice a short brown-haired valet at her side until he cleared his throat. She gave a yelp and faced him. She gave him a glare but calmed herself.
She went in her car again as she said, "Just a moment let me get…" She stopped when she noticed another valet took Muriel from her car seat and stood waiting for her at the stairs. "…Muriel. Okay."
But she didn't go out of the car yet. "I'll just get my…" She again stopped when she noticed that the baby bag was gone.
Helga became confused; "I know I put the bag at the back. Have you, by any chance…" She turned to look at the valet that was holding Muriel only to see that he was also carrying the baby bag at his shoulder. "O-okay. Thank you, I guess."
She then went out of the car. As she passed the valet who was waiting by her side she gave the car keys. She then went to the other valet holding Muriel and the bag. She took both the bag and the baby with a smile. She muttered a thank you and began on her way.
She climbed the few steps to go to the grand door. She stopped for a minute and examined herself and Muriel. They were both on time but she stopped to look at the their attire. They were okay except for a slight wrinkle in her dress from looking for the bag. "Criminey! Just my luck! Now when I really want to impress the others I have wrinkle at my dress."
Suddenly a doorman appeared from out of nowhere with one of those portable, handheld and battery-powered steamers. Helga huffed and glared at the poor man. "That is it! You guys are just way too creepy. I decided I can handle a slight wrinkle in my dress!" She took a deep breath and said, "Thanks but no thanks! Good night!"
With finality she opened the door and went inside.
If the house was grand from the outside it was even more so inside. An elegant balcony facing her was the first thing Helga saw as she walked in. Two huge majestic stairways that curve were seen from both sides of the entrance. A chandelier that Helga guessed contains genuine crystals lighted the whole room.
Music was heard from under the balcony. Helga looked at the source and saw a doorway to what looked like a ballroom.
A well-dressed Rhonda Lloyd-Berman steeped out of the doorway and greeted Helga with a warm smile. "It's great of you to come to the party, Helga." She paused as she saw Muriel. "That's Muriel? I was expecting a kid. Oh dear, I guess I have to return the playground set I bought. Hmm, maybe she would like the swing…"
Helga grinned at the still muttering Rhonda. Her heart is in the right place. She led both Rhonda and Muriel in the party.
Helga entered the party that seemed to have started already. Only Peapod kid, Sid, Nadine, Patti, Arnold, Stinky and Harold were the only ones who arrived. Helga also saw two unknown females, one an Asian and another an African-American. Both ladies were very well endowed in their bodies.
As she went in everybody looked at her. Helga gulped and would have rubbed her arms if it weren't for Muriel. "Umm, hi?"
"Umm, hi?"
These were the words Helga said but it didn't register to her. She, like all the other, people from the room was staring (some more like gaping) at the young woman holding a child. She gritted her teeth, 'Even though she holds a baby she looks even more Ick! gorgeous."
She gazed at her husband for two years and saw he was checking her out! She wrung her handkerchief and somehow managed to tear it. 'That little vixen!'
Arnold was talking to Lorenzo when he noticed that every one became quiet. He looked around, curious as to why and saw Helga, or someone who resembles Helga. He knew she was beautiful when he first saw her at the reunion but now…
Her long blonde hair was let loose. Her hair was wavy and was now covering a part of her face. Her long sleeveless dark red dress accentuated the curves in her body and brought out the light blue color of her eyes. He felt a familiarity but he just told himself it was because she was Helga, of course it would be familiar.
And by the way she was holding Muriel it seemed more fitting to call her the mother of the baby than her sister. He was so shocked to see her he dropped the glass he was holding. Nobody even noticed the drop.
Helga nervously laughed. "I know I'm not late because Phoebe and the others haven't arrived yet." She began to enter the room.
Rhonda who was at that time smiling at all the attention Helga was getting. She ushered her in the room. "People, people! You all do have other lives to go back to. Get on with it!"
Slowly the party was getting back.
The party had been going on for about one hour now and everyone had arrived. Helga was seated on one of the tables being surrounded by almost all the girls. All of them wanted to hold Muriel. And despite it was her time for bed she loved the attention she was getting and even gave them cooing noises. All of them responded with a gushing, "Aww! How cute!"
But as for the guys they were all bunched up in one corner, looking at the women. "If I even hear one more 'Aww! How cute!' I'll… I'll…I'll do something bad!" Sid exclaimed.
"She is cute, Sid," Arnold said.
"I know. But do they still have to say those words again and again?" Sid asked.
"I know what you mean, Sid. I'm in the room and not even a single female has noticed me. This really bites!" Stinky added. "Look, even my date Cynthia don't even notice me. Hey, Cindy! Could you come over here? I'd like to introduce you to the guys."
The African-American woman looked up at Stinky smiled and said, "Hi!" Then she went back to tickling Muriel.
"See? I tell ya, it's a conspiracy!"
"Stinky!"
He looked at all of them, confused. "What? What did I do?" All shook their heads.
"Never mind, Stinky," Gerald uttered.
Peapod kid looked around and noticed someone was missing. "Hey, where's Harold?"
"Brainy's missing too," Lorenzo said.
"No, he's with the girls," Arnold articulated.
The other guys looked for him and found him missing too. "I guess he's somewhere. This mansion is his after all," Eugene said.
"Yeah, probably somewhere with Rhonda," Stinky said. The other boys snickered.
"No, Rhonda's with the other girls. It's Patti that's missing," Park remarked.
"Patti!" Everyone said. Park nodded.
"You don't think she's with Harold," Lorenzo said.
"No, couldn't be. I know Harold and Rhonda are happily married. Harold is a bit immature but he wouldn't cheat on Rhonda. They are just friends," Gerald stated. Some guys nodded while some was a bit uncertain.
"I'll look for them," Arnold offered. He left the group and began searching.
All was quiet in the night except for a few crickets and other insects. The mansion is located on the outskirts of the town so it was pretty isolated. Patti was admiring the night sky and enjoying the coolness of night.
Her hair was in an elegant bun with a few wisps of hair loose at the edge. Her long-sleeved form fitting black dress swayed in a slight breeze. She leaned on the balcony as she gazed at the grounds. "Aren't you enjoying the party?" a male voice asked.
Patti looked around to find a man who was a few inches shorter than her. She gave a slight chuckle when she noticed he still doesn't know how to keep his black tuxedo in place. Rhonda probably fixed him at the beginning but now the top buttons of his shirt was undone and his cufflinks were gone. "I just needed a fresh air."
He stopped near the doorway and looked down. He scuffed the ground with his right foot as he said, "Why aren't you admiring Helga's niece like the other girls?"
She shrugged. "I admired her for 15 minutes. I guess that's my time limit for admiring someone."
Harold smiled. This was why he liked her a long time ago. "Could I join you?"
She faced the grounds again. "Hey, it's you're house…oh excuse me…mansion," she teased.
"Hey, I happen to like the mansion! Oh, you were joking…" Patti just chuckled.
"Arnold, who are you looking for?" a female voice asked.
He was on the stairs. He turned around to see Rhonda in what he heard from them the latest Parisian outfit. It was chic. It was elegant and it was… totally color uncoordinated but he doesn't know a thing about fashion so he kept silent.
He smiled at her as she approached. "I was just looking for…the bathroom!"
Rhonda rolled her eyes. "Arnold, you're totally so obvious when you're lying. Now 'fess up! What is it you're looking for?"
Arnold took a deep breath. How was he supposed to say this without hurting her? Well, the direct approach is always the best. "Harold is missing and Patti too," he mumbled.
Rhonda smiled at him for a second then a worried face appeared. "Yes, I know. They've been gone for 10 minutes."
He began to come to her but she blocked him with her arms. "I know I shouldn't be worried but before we got together I know how close they were. It amazes me that Patti and me are close friends even though I married Harold."
She sat down on one of the steps and fiddled with the carpeting. He also sat at her left and worriedly gazed at her. "Sometimes I ask myself, 'What do I give Harold?' I know he doesn't love me by my money. He'd rather be blinded by my ability to buy him the food companies but I know it isn't that too."
Rhonda looked at him. "I sometimes think that all the benefits of this marriage are to me. He gives me love and security. What do I give him?"
Arnold placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You give him love too, Rhonda." He was about to continue when he heard someone chuckling at the top of the stairs.
"Love? That's all? After everything I ask of him?" She shook her head. "No, I ask too much of him. He's just going to ask for a divorce…"
He raised his hand and she became silent. He pointed to the top of the steps. She looked up and was about to ask what he means when she heard two voices both low but the other was more feminine.
She went to them and he followed her. They were only a few feet from the doorway to the balcony when she stopped and hesitated. Arnold gently pushed her forward until they were near the doorframe.
"Like I'm going to start dating again? I don't think so, Harold. I don't care what people think. I want to enjoy my life as much as possible and not with some guy trying to pin me down. I don't want to pattern my life to account for both of our needs," Patti leaned on the balcony but she was facing the house.
"But marriage is a good thing. You do have to adjust to meet the needs of two people but think of the benefits you get: Love, companionship, understanding… you know the good stuff. You don't feel as lonely as before. And even though you fight it makes the marriage more exciting because you're getting to know you're partner even more, " Harold replied, facing her.
Patti smiled at Harold. "You really are marriage material." Harold blushed.
At the hallway, tears were falling out of Rhonda's eyes. She didn't care for the make-up that was destroyed as she listened to the words her husband was saying. But her heart stopped when she heard Patti say, "It just makes me wonder why we never got together. We were so great as a couple but now we're just you know, friends."
Harold looked at her as if a bit surprised. He took a deep breath and looked at her eyes. "We were too right for each other."
Patti looked at him, now she was the one surprised.
He continued on, "We both were kind of bullies back then. We shared the same opinions and views. We liked a lot of stuff. For me it was like dating me only you wear a skirt, no offense," he quickly added seeing her look.
She replied a quick, "None taken."
"What I mean is we were too much a like. We were having fun being together because we liked to be with each other. We understood each other. We were together only as best friends."
Harold looked at the sky. "Me and Rhonda. I married her because we have our differences. Anybody could see that but that's what makes our marriage exciting. We two are probably the most mismatched pair in the world."
"But its not only because of our differences, we also had similarities. Did you know that she shares a passion for chocolate? She could give Chocolate boy a run for his money. Literally and figuratively."
"Well, Mr. Fudgie bar and all the local chocolates are my fave and hers is the imported ones. One time we had ourselves our own eating contest just for chocolates. You'll never believe that we tied!"
He looked down and laughed. "The day after that we both went to the doctor for a check-up because we ate way too much. We swore never to eat another chocolate for the rest of our lives but the next day…" He laughed again.
"Anyway, Rhonda needs me. It's a great compliment coming from a girl that has everything. And the feeling of being needed even if Rhonda was poor is a great feeling. Imagine Harold Berman, being needed." He scoffed.
He turned around and saw Patti with tears in her eyes. "Did I say something wrong? Aww, now what did I say wrong?"
She smiled at him and shook her head. As a result the tears fell. "You said everything right, Harold. Now, why don't you go back to the party? Everyone must be waiting for you. I just need to dry my eyes." She looked at him sternly. "No one needs to know about all this."
He nodded but he seemed hesitant on leaving her.
"Go, Harold," she said, sternly. He left.
Arnold gently grabbed Rhonda and took her to the next door. He closed the doors and waited. They both waited to hear Harold pass. While both were waiting, Rhonda softly cried. And when he passed, she went to Arnold and sobbed.
The door opened and a solemn Patti walked in. She went to Rhonda and Arnold and tenderly pried Rhonda from Arnold. Rhonda now cried at Patti's arms.
"Now, you heard what you needed to know. If you just asked him before I wouldn't have to do it this way," was all Patti said. Rhonda cried even more hard. She hugged Patti even more tightly. "You know, if you two are going to spy you better do it right. I saw your shadow earlier." Rhonda managed to make a teary smile but she continued to cry.
Arnold nodded his head at Patti and she raised her hand. He then left the two alone.
When Arnold came down the boys and girls group got disbanded and now they were mingling, other than Helga who now held a sleeping Muriel in her arms. She wanted to leave but she couldn't find Harold or Rhonda. She hadn't noticed Harold's arrival because she was too busy making sure Muriel was sleeping soundly. It seemed she was a very heavy sleeper. Probably due to the fact almost every girl was fawning over her a while ago.
She went to the most farthest corner of the room, where there were few talking and settled there. But she was barely settled when one of the two ladies she didn't know sat next to her. The Asian one.
Helga smiled at her but she didn't smile back. Helga became confused.
"How do you expect to live with yourself? You come here with a child and flirt with every single one of the men?" she angrily whispered.
"Excuse me, but I think…"
The other woman raised her hand. "Oh no, no. I don't think you understand. I made myself beautiful but he just said I was pretty. Now you come waltzing here and he just stares at you. That weird taco-shaped headed man even managed to drop his drink on the carpet. Thank goodness it was only water."
"Anyway, the girls here may be hesitant to tell you but I'm not. Lay off the guys. Stick with the father of the child."
It hurt Helga. It deeply hurt her. Here was a woman accusing her for all the wrong reasons. She wanted to get angry and tell her to shut up. She wanted to leave the party and all of their lives. But she didn't because she remembered Lila's words, their slumber party, even (to her irritation) Arnold's concern.
So she gently laughed. The woman looked at her as if she was insane.
"This is my niece, Muriel. And I'm thankful for telling me the reason why everyone was staring at me. I thought it was the wrinkle at my dress." Helga blushed. "Everyone thought I was pretty?"
"Don't act as if you didn't know!"
Helga shook her head. "I didn't. Do you know who I am?"
She scoffed. "Of course! Every one mentions you're name. Helga Pataki."
Helga nodded. "Then you do know what I looked at before."
"Yeah you were plain. So what's the deal?"
Helga laughed. "That's an understatement. I was a long-limbed, one eyebrow girl that scowls at everyone. I bully, torture and insult every single one at my school. Believe me I wasn't just plain."
She looked at her incredulously. "You're not kidding are you?"
Helga shook her head. "Nah. I'm as ugly as they come."
"Was," she slowly corrected.
Helga smiled at her and nodded. "Was."
Silence.
"So, your Peapod kid's wife?"
"Excuse me?"
"Pericles."
"Oh yes! Yes!"
"You're lucky, you know. Your husband is ingenious! You know he was the kid that was the least bullied, teased or tortured, individually that is, by me. He always manages to slip by me. He would use…" She continued on.
Brainy looked at the two girls that were gossiping. He was glad that everything turned out okay. He knew Melanie, Peapod kid's wife, was a bit on the jealous side so he carefully watched from across the room.
It was great that Helga didn't yell or isolate herself like before. She must have figured out that her friends do care for her. He glanced at the other guy who was also worriedly watching the two women talk. Even Arnold. Heck, that was an understatement! He practically oozes of love for her. It amazes him that he didn't confess his love for her right here and now.
That was why he didn't pursue Helga. He did confess his love for her but he knew he never had a chance. He didn't have a chance all those years ago and he still didn't have a chance now. But he still loves her, nevertheless. It hurts but he was glad she didn't spurn him. A friend is much better than having no relation at all. Besides, he knew Arnold and Helga were meant to be together. Although these two dense individuals didn't know it, they are.
Brainy smiled as a thought occurred to him. What would happen if… he grinned as he approached the two girls.
"So, there he was breathing away. I didn't know how he always get there behind my back but he always does," Helga said. She was carrying a still sleeping Muriel on her right arm.
Melanie noticed a tall guy with glasses come near them. He was heaving. No, he was wheezing. He stopped at the space at Helga's left side.
"The telltale signs I know he's near is his wheezing…" She stops. "…like you hear now. I know he's right at the back of me, wheezing his lungs out. So my solution:" Helga whacks him in the head. She hits him much harder than before so he immediately lies down on the floor with broken glasses. "…I whack him in the head. I don't do it now because of Dr. Bliss…"
Helga stops and looks at Melanie. "Did I just hit Brainy?" Melanie nods.
Helga puts Muriel at Melanie's arms and she goes to Brainy. "Brainy! I'm sorry, I didn't know. You were just wheezing there… and I… it was just natural reflexes. I'm so sorry."
"His nose is bleeding," Melanie observes.
Helga helps Brainy to a chair while she treats him for nose bleed and also profusely saying her apologies.
Melanie peers and says, "Wow, you hit him so hard you broke his glasses!"
Helga glares at her. "Thank you so much for your observation," she says dryly.
Melanie smiles at her. "Your welcome!"
Brainy was done being treated by Eugene and Muriel was already lying in a quiet room when Sid stopped the musicians from playing. Some people became quiet and looked around for the reason for the sudden cease. Sid cleared his throat and now everyone became quiet and looked at him.
He was by the musicians as he looked at everyone in their eyes and said, "My dear friends, Gerald has something to say that concerns our generation and the kid generation now and the next." He faced Gerald who was on his right. "Take it, Gerald!"
"Thank you, Sid." Sid and Gerald exchanged positions. Like Sid he looked at everyone. "Now…"
"Not another one of your inane urban legends. Can't you ever grow up!?"
Gerald glared at the far right corner. He saw Helga smirking with a teasing light in her eyes. Gerald briefly smiled and continued. "I was talking to one of my clients the other day and he said to me that Gerald field is going to be used. Their building another new store and they're going to use that field."
There was a massive murmur. "Can't we do something about it?" Sheena asked.
Everyone looked at Harold and Rhonda. "Are you all expecting us to buy the guy out?"
"Well, yes. You both have the highest financial position among us," Phoebe stated.
The couple looked at each other. "Sure, we'll do it!" Harold exclaimed. Then he rubbed his hands together. "We'll show him! He'll be so stunned by what we're going to offer him he's going to faint like a little girl. Heh! Heh! Heh!" Some people rolled their eyes.
So if you see any more grammar errors tell me. Do you like the story so far or am I rushing on in Helga's realization? Review, please.