Okay, well, I was thinking it would turn out a little different, but I'm happy with the results of this chapter. Gotta keep writing more…Lol, it's funny, when I first started writing this fic, I'd intended for Helga to stay 9, and go to the place and somehow get out of it and come back to school…but, somewhere along the line, imagination got the best of me and here I am *sigh*. Okay, well, not gonna summarize it, just keep reading…Oh, yeah, as you can see by the first line, trying to keep with the ole HA humor…heh…
Chapter 9
"I CAN'T believe I'm going to see Arnold again," I grumbled under my breath as I stood before his very stoop, shivering from the wind's wrath.
The rain continued to pour, and a dark and gloomy sky remained above. Would this be my eternal doom? My fate to be lonely, deprived, cold, and afraid? I shook my head as I looked into the dark gray clouds, disappointed.
"It figures," I spat, talking to myself.
It was so ironic; and yet, was it really such a surprise? No, indeed it was not. I'd half-expected to end up here.
But why Arnold's? Why did it have to be Arnold's house? Why not Phoebe, or…well, why not Phoebe?
I sighed and buried my head into my hands, deeply frustrated. I tried to turn back, regretting I'd ever come, but of course I was too late. The door opened and there he stood.
I scanned his face for emotions. A puzzled Arnold stood, obviously confused and astonished, mouth gaping at this sight. I'm sure I was the last person he expected to end up here, right now.
Arnold was speechless. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out. I sighed heavily and decided to start the conversation, still uncomfortable but apparently more able than Arnold.
"Okay, Arnold, here's the deal," I spat, matter-of-factly, hoping my vulnerable appearance didn't strike him as awry. "I've been tossed out, got no money, no family as far as I'm concerned, no job, and no friends. Sorry to bother you, but you're the only person in town I can count on. So what do ya say, can ya spare me a room? One night and then I'm outta here."
Arnold was still awe-struck, not quite absorbing yet. Not comprehending.
He was just staring at me, eyes wide with horror. Was I that much of a sight? Did he hate me that much? What I that terrible?
These questions swamped my brain, and I tried to shake them off, concentrating on the moment.
I sighed heavily, turning around to walk away, getting the picture. "I see. Okay, I'll just go then. Thanks again, Arnold. Nice seein ya, football head."
I turned my head to give him my last farewell and my fake smile turned into a disturbed frown.
Arnold was now frozen, eyes widening even more--if that was possible--as he continued to stare at me. And then, finally, he uttered his first words.
"H-H-Helga?" he stammered, his voice bewildered.
I rolled my eyes at him, turning around and stopping on the sidewalk to speak. "Well doi, Einstein! Who'd ya think it was?" I shuffled my feet for a moment, then turned back around and continued my path. "Well, have a nice life, bucko!" I hollered, not turning back.
If I turned around, I knew I would never head that direction again. I so feared seeing Arnold again, and now that I had…oh, now I remembered why.
The emotions had spilled again, my heart was ready to explode. I clutched my locket tightly and kept my feet on track. Destination: anywhere but here.
I continued on my path, now aware of a presence behind me. I flinched as I turned to face my stalker, wanting to gash his eyes out with my bare hands. And then, slightly surprised, I was face to face with Arnold. The boy of my childhood fancies, the one of whom my heart had always so longed for. I wanted to both pound him and embrace him--I couldn't decide between the two.
Instead, I growled and clenched my fists, screaming at the top of my lungs, startling Arnold. Did I care? Of course not.
"What IS it with you?! Can't you just NOT care for ONE FREAKING SECOND OF YOUR LIFE?! Does your concern have to ALWAYS shine through?! HOW can I get it into that STUPID football head of yours that I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU!"
I panted, exhausted from my previous eruption, but still not done ranting. Arnold stood, indifferent, just staring and listening.
"I didn't want to come back in the first place! In fact, this is the LAST place I wanted to be right now! Is it MY fault they kicked me out of that cruddy school?! Well, yes it is, but is it MY fault I have no where else to go and no one else to turn to?!!"
Okay, NOW I was done, and feeling slightly embarrassed by my emotional outburst. But Arnold didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, he wrapped his jacket around me, smiled warmly, and guided me with an arm around my shoulders back to the boarding house.
Inside, I jumped for joy and lashed out in fury. I kept both to myself.
As soon as he brought me in, I cried. I couldn't fight the tears anymore, couldn't hold back the pain. So, oblivious to the fact that anyone else was there, I let it out, probably the first time I'd ever really done that. Ever.
Chapter 9
"I CAN'T believe I'm going to see Arnold again," I grumbled under my breath as I stood before his very stoop, shivering from the wind's wrath.
The rain continued to pour, and a dark and gloomy sky remained above. Would this be my eternal doom? My fate to be lonely, deprived, cold, and afraid? I shook my head as I looked into the dark gray clouds, disappointed.
"It figures," I spat, talking to myself.
It was so ironic; and yet, was it really such a surprise? No, indeed it was not. I'd half-expected to end up here.
But why Arnold's? Why did it have to be Arnold's house? Why not Phoebe, or…well, why not Phoebe?
I sighed and buried my head into my hands, deeply frustrated. I tried to turn back, regretting I'd ever come, but of course I was too late. The door opened and there he stood.
I scanned his face for emotions. A puzzled Arnold stood, obviously confused and astonished, mouth gaping at this sight. I'm sure I was the last person he expected to end up here, right now.
Arnold was speechless. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out. I sighed heavily and decided to start the conversation, still uncomfortable but apparently more able than Arnold.
"Okay, Arnold, here's the deal," I spat, matter-of-factly, hoping my vulnerable appearance didn't strike him as awry. "I've been tossed out, got no money, no family as far as I'm concerned, no job, and no friends. Sorry to bother you, but you're the only person in town I can count on. So what do ya say, can ya spare me a room? One night and then I'm outta here."
Arnold was still awe-struck, not quite absorbing yet. Not comprehending.
He was just staring at me, eyes wide with horror. Was I that much of a sight? Did he hate me that much? What I that terrible?
These questions swamped my brain, and I tried to shake them off, concentrating on the moment.
I sighed heavily, turning around to walk away, getting the picture. "I see. Okay, I'll just go then. Thanks again, Arnold. Nice seein ya, football head."
I turned my head to give him my last farewell and my fake smile turned into a disturbed frown.
Arnold was now frozen, eyes widening even more--if that was possible--as he continued to stare at me. And then, finally, he uttered his first words.
"H-H-Helga?" he stammered, his voice bewildered.
I rolled my eyes at him, turning around and stopping on the sidewalk to speak. "Well doi, Einstein! Who'd ya think it was?" I shuffled my feet for a moment, then turned back around and continued my path. "Well, have a nice life, bucko!" I hollered, not turning back.
If I turned around, I knew I would never head that direction again. I so feared seeing Arnold again, and now that I had…oh, now I remembered why.
The emotions had spilled again, my heart was ready to explode. I clutched my locket tightly and kept my feet on track. Destination: anywhere but here.
I continued on my path, now aware of a presence behind me. I flinched as I turned to face my stalker, wanting to gash his eyes out with my bare hands. And then, slightly surprised, I was face to face with Arnold. The boy of my childhood fancies, the one of whom my heart had always so longed for. I wanted to both pound him and embrace him--I couldn't decide between the two.
Instead, I growled and clenched my fists, screaming at the top of my lungs, startling Arnold. Did I care? Of course not.
"What IS it with you?! Can't you just NOT care for ONE FREAKING SECOND OF YOUR LIFE?! Does your concern have to ALWAYS shine through?! HOW can I get it into that STUPID football head of yours that I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU!"
I panted, exhausted from my previous eruption, but still not done ranting. Arnold stood, indifferent, just staring and listening.
"I didn't want to come back in the first place! In fact, this is the LAST place I wanted to be right now! Is it MY fault they kicked me out of that cruddy school?! Well, yes it is, but is it MY fault I have no where else to go and no one else to turn to?!!"
Okay, NOW I was done, and feeling slightly embarrassed by my emotional outburst. But Arnold didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, he wrapped his jacket around me, smiled warmly, and guided me with an arm around my shoulders back to the boarding house.
Inside, I jumped for joy and lashed out in fury. I kept both to myself.
As soon as he brought me in, I cried. I couldn't fight the tears anymore, couldn't hold back the pain. So, oblivious to the fact that anyone else was there, I let it out, probably the first time I'd ever really done that. Ever.