Chapter 9
I knocked on her door. I was so nervous, by now I was shaking. But I knew I had to do this.
I heard the sound of Bob hollering something at the tv. I assumed it was football. It took a long time before the door was thrust open, and when it was, a very surprised Helga stood at the door.
"Arnold!? I mean, what are you doing here, football head?" she shouted angrily.
I didn't care; I gave her a big, emotional hug. When I let go she almost fainted from shock.
I saw her shake her head, snapping back into reality. It must have come as quite a surprise to her.
"I'm…sorry, Helga. For…for everything. I'm sorry I blew up at you in the hall, I'm sorry I wished I never met you, I'm sorry that I meant it. And I'm sorry I was so stupid to realize this whole time what was right in front of me. I'm sorry I'm a moron," I said timidly, out of breath.
Helga just stood there, still recovering from shock. I hadn't realized how dramatic that had been for her.
"A-Arnold, I-" Helga stuttered, unsure of her words. I could hear a true attempt at kindness in her voice, but I cut her off. I didn't want to hear her stutter. It brought back the bad memories.
"Please don't apologize to me, Helga. You don't need to. I may not understand everything, but I see a lot more than I used to now. I just came here to apologize. You don't have to say anything."
Slowly, regaining her composure, Helga spoke. "No. I have to say a lot. And I think it's about time I start saying some of it. Arnold, I'm sorry for treating you like crap, and for making you feel so bad at school today. I'm sorry for taking out my frustrations on you, and for all the pain I've caused you in the past 6 years. You don't deserve that, and I'm sorry."
I looked into her eyes. She had been so sincere, and I knew she meant it. And in her eyes, I did not see the bully, nor the vulnerable child I saw in the other world. I saw Helga.
I smiled and let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't the same Helga I saw in the other world, but deep down she was what I'd always thought and hoped she'd be.
"So…was that all you wanted?" she asked, breaking the silence.
I shook my head, still a bit uncertain. "No. But…I think I already got it."
Helga had a very confused look on her face, not comprehending. But I just smiled, and left it a mystery. Now it was her turn to ponder.
I turned and walked away, into the night. I felt Helga's eyes upon me, but shook it off and continued my path. I had a feeling things would be a little interesting from now on. And I was finally starting to get a clue.
Of course, there was still a lot I didn't know. A lot I wanted to know. Still a lot of questions that were never answered.
Maybe one day, they would be.
Not today.
The End
Ha ha ha! You thought she was gonna tell him, didn't ya! Like I would do that! Tsk tsk tsk, don't you know me by now? I said no real revelations, and I meant it! Well, there ya are, the end of the story. And no, I don't plan on making a sequel, because if I did it would only be like 5 paragraphs about Helga still not telling him, trying to keep her cover, but once in a while letting it down. Who'd wanna read that? Well, you probably would, but it would be a waste of my time writing it. So, let it be up to the imagination. Yeah, you've all got it, otherwise you wouldn't be on this last page, interested, reading my every word! Okay, well, I really liked how this story turned out…I'm STILL crying over chapter 3...man…that was just intense…chapter 8 got me, too…that poem, mostly…Just…everything…the fact that she still loves him, even though they never really met, even though he ignores her and even though everything is different…It just got me…cuz it's not what I was expecting…Gah, why do I do that to myself?! I'm such a sap! Well, there ya go peeps, that's the story, and there's really not a whole lot more to say…unless you really wanna hear me babble on about it! Well, PLEASE REVIEW! And I don't take well to negative criticism, so if you actually have some after reading this, please keep it light because my ego is already low as dirt as it is…I love it when I receive positive responses, because then it inspires me to be better. Tips and stuff can help too, they will let me know what to be careful of next time, just keep it nice…if you can…anyway…man, I am TOO sensitive…Just please review, I like to know that people have read my story and what they think of it…read my other stories if you like, just click on my name if you haven't already mastered the technique…C ya!
I knocked on her door. I was so nervous, by now I was shaking. But I knew I had to do this.
I heard the sound of Bob hollering something at the tv. I assumed it was football. It took a long time before the door was thrust open, and when it was, a very surprised Helga stood at the door.
"Arnold!? I mean, what are you doing here, football head?" she shouted angrily.
I didn't care; I gave her a big, emotional hug. When I let go she almost fainted from shock.
I saw her shake her head, snapping back into reality. It must have come as quite a surprise to her.
"I'm…sorry, Helga. For…for everything. I'm sorry I blew up at you in the hall, I'm sorry I wished I never met you, I'm sorry that I meant it. And I'm sorry I was so stupid to realize this whole time what was right in front of me. I'm sorry I'm a moron," I said timidly, out of breath.
Helga just stood there, still recovering from shock. I hadn't realized how dramatic that had been for her.
"A-Arnold, I-" Helga stuttered, unsure of her words. I could hear a true attempt at kindness in her voice, but I cut her off. I didn't want to hear her stutter. It brought back the bad memories.
"Please don't apologize to me, Helga. You don't need to. I may not understand everything, but I see a lot more than I used to now. I just came here to apologize. You don't have to say anything."
Slowly, regaining her composure, Helga spoke. "No. I have to say a lot. And I think it's about time I start saying some of it. Arnold, I'm sorry for treating you like crap, and for making you feel so bad at school today. I'm sorry for taking out my frustrations on you, and for all the pain I've caused you in the past 6 years. You don't deserve that, and I'm sorry."
I looked into her eyes. She had been so sincere, and I knew she meant it. And in her eyes, I did not see the bully, nor the vulnerable child I saw in the other world. I saw Helga.
I smiled and let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't the same Helga I saw in the other world, but deep down she was what I'd always thought and hoped she'd be.
"So…was that all you wanted?" she asked, breaking the silence.
I shook my head, still a bit uncertain. "No. But…I think I already got it."
Helga had a very confused look on her face, not comprehending. But I just smiled, and left it a mystery. Now it was her turn to ponder.
I turned and walked away, into the night. I felt Helga's eyes upon me, but shook it off and continued my path. I had a feeling things would be a little interesting from now on. And I was finally starting to get a clue.
Of course, there was still a lot I didn't know. A lot I wanted to know. Still a lot of questions that were never answered.
Maybe one day, they would be.
Not today.
The End
Ha ha ha! You thought she was gonna tell him, didn't ya! Like I would do that! Tsk tsk tsk, don't you know me by now? I said no real revelations, and I meant it! Well, there ya are, the end of the story. And no, I don't plan on making a sequel, because if I did it would only be like 5 paragraphs about Helga still not telling him, trying to keep her cover, but once in a while letting it down. Who'd wanna read that? Well, you probably would, but it would be a waste of my time writing it. So, let it be up to the imagination. Yeah, you've all got it, otherwise you wouldn't be on this last page, interested, reading my every word! Okay, well, I really liked how this story turned out…I'm STILL crying over chapter 3...man…that was just intense…chapter 8 got me, too…that poem, mostly…Just…everything…the fact that she still loves him, even though they never really met, even though he ignores her and even though everything is different…It just got me…cuz it's not what I was expecting…Gah, why do I do that to myself?! I'm such a sap! Well, there ya go peeps, that's the story, and there's really not a whole lot more to say…unless you really wanna hear me babble on about it! Well, PLEASE REVIEW! And I don't take well to negative criticism, so if you actually have some after reading this, please keep it light because my ego is already low as dirt as it is…I love it when I receive positive responses, because then it inspires me to be better. Tips and stuff can help too, they will let me know what to be careful of next time, just keep it nice…if you can…anyway…man, I am TOO sensitive…Just please review, I like to know that people have read my story and what they think of it…read my other stories if you like, just click on my name if you haven't already mastered the technique…C ya!