Helga's Homecoming Chapter 5
Broken Silence by Shadow D. X
Caution All characters are property of Mr. Bartlett and possibly Nickelodeon but that's a little in the gray right now for me. I'm using them simply for entertainment, not profit. Don't sue me - I'm just a misguided fan with a keyboard. Please R&R, if you like to see some more cameos here, I'm accepting all suggestions.
(Ok, let's catch up with this story. Helga comes back to Seattle after leaving 15 years ago because Arnold left to South America to look for his parents. After returning, she runs into Phoebe and Olga's daughter, Heidi. Seeing herself in Heidi, Helga buys her a guitar and revisits her closet shrine, remembering the day she almost killed herself. After a drink with Phoebe at a bar and grill, she bumps into Arnold and makes out with him under the guise of Cecile. This soon makes Helga upset since Arnold moans the name of another while kissing her. The next morning, Arnold discovers that Helga is back in town since yesterday morning but he refuses to connect her with Cecile. Now, day 2.)
Helga woke up Saturday morning, tired and feeling incredibly like an idiot. After slipping on a new white shirt and some jeans, she slumped down the stairs and into the kitchen in 6 of the morning, hoping she would be the only one up at this hour because of the long weekend. Good, not a Pataki in sight. After scarfing down a bowl of cereal and some toast, she went to the fridge and started rummaging for anything worth drinking to wash down all that dry food. Score; there was a bottle of orange juice with just a few drops left. Before she could slam it down, an audible cough broke her attention. As she looked to the side, Heidi was standing by the doorway with her guitar strapped to her back. "You know, I like orange juice too," Heidi said.
Helga smiled and set the bottle aside. "Morning mini mariachi. Sorry but there's only enough for one but you can have it, I can always take a cup of latte."
Heidi smirked ear to ear then grabbed the bottle and pored the rest into a glass. Helga went over to the coffee maker and filled it with a new load of cappuccino bean grounds. While it percolated, Helga turned to Heidi who was now eating cereal out of the box. "Played any good songs since yesterday?"
"Mostly some simple melodies like twinkle, twinkle and Mary had a little lamb. But last night I really focused and I played the first 3 lines of my favorite classic rock song, Honky-Tonk Woman."
"Wow, that sounds like you're really good. How about playing a few notes for your aunt Helga?" Heidi smiled and played as much of the old Rolling Stones song as she could before she tried to play a few more strings and gave up laughing. Helga smiled and filled a cup with the coffee she just brewed. "You're really good Heidi, I never heard the Stones play that good unplugged. You really should consider making this talent work for you."
Heidi blushed and strapped the guitar back over her shoulder. "I can't. Every time I play outside the music room, everyone always interrupts me or just makes fun of me since the school's guitar makes me look so small."
"Well take my advice and ignore them. Anyone who makes fun of you for something you like to do needs a good old fashion Pataki pounding." She closed her eyes and took a sip of her coffee. "I know it's not the Olga thing to do, but trust me kid, not everyone can afford to be little miss perfect. Sometimes you need to grow up and be as tough as life."
"I guess you're right aunt Helga. But do I have to be mean to everyone? There is this one person I really like and he's always being nice to me when I'm having trouble."
Helga looked down at Heidi and finished her coffee quickly. "So you like a boy huh? Does he like you the way you like him?"
"I don't know.he's sort of nice to everyone, really."
"Well my advice is that you don't treat this boy any different than you would anyone else. If you think they make fun of you for playing guitar, would you imagine the embarrassment if they knew you liked a boy? Take it from me kid, when you know this boy likes you back, don't give away anything." Helga knew all to well about how scaring something like that would be since her childhood was based on worshiping Arnold.
Heidi looked down and sighed. "You're right, they would just laugh and pick on me. But if he likes me back, it's ok to tell him how I feel?"
Helga smiled. "Kid, that answer was right on the bull's eye. Now if you'll excuse me, I got some important business I got to take care of today. Later." Helga strapped on her brown leather jacket and gave the phonebook a quick check. Since checking the white pages would take too long, she flipped through the yellow pages and quickly found Phoebe's business number in the lawyer sections. There it was, Phoebe Hyerdahl attorney at law. She picked up the phone and quickly dialed the number on the phone. She waited until Phoebe's machine answered her call. "Shit, she doesn't work on Saturdays. I guess I'll have to just cruise the streets for her." Before she reached the front door, a grim sliver of reality dawned upon her. "Right, no car. Last night I was driving with Phoebe or Arnold. I guess this means I'll be hoofing it around town today." Helga walked down the stoop and onto the sidewalk, admiring the gray morning sky that hung over the buildings of Seattle. Helga took a deep breath and stepped on down the road, looking at all that changed while she was gone. She laughed to herself as she saw her book, Madam President, displayed on the window of a Barnes and Nobles. After about an hour of walking, she found herself back in Sheena's café. Quietly, she slid into an empty booth and waited for Eugene to take her order since Sheena seems to be in charge of the counter. When she looked to the side, thinking she would see Sheena behind the counter, she saw Arnold. She almost went into hyperventilation, last night she walked out on him during a drive-in movie and now they're almost 20 feet away from each and he doesn't even know it. With some quick thinking, she quickly took the menu off the table and buried her face in it hoping no one would recognize her. Sheena knows what the new Helga looks like and if she starts pointing fingers while Arnold was around, there could be one awkward situation under this roof. "Please Arnold.don't see me." No use, a flimsy paper menu sealed in clear laminate won't cover her face for long. With a quick plan she slammed the menu down and dashed out the front door, doing her best not to look mental. She looked back inside; Arnold didn't see her. Perfect, she's in the clear.
Helga took a few steps out of the café before a daytime thug confronted her. He was hiding under a bulky sweater and a black ski mask. He looked unthreatening, well, except for that knife in his hand. "Give me your money lady!"
Helga scowled but smirked as an idea entered her mind. She held up her purse by the string, mocking the thug. "You want my money? It's all in here." The thug slowly took one step forward; that was Helga's cue. She snapped her purse back and swung full force at the thug's head. He reeled back and hit the wall hard, making him drop his knife. "You want it again, punk? Well here, have some more!" She then kicked the hooded man's gut over and over again before walking away in a huff.
As she past Sheena's café, she heard the shuffling of feet coming from behind. As she turned around, she froze as she saw the thug pointing a gun at. Helga never felt fear like this, even though she tried to kill herself once at least she was expecting it, this was totally by surprise. Before anything happened, someone flew out of Sheena's front door and tackled the guy. The thug tried to point his gun at his attacker but he was put down with just one solid punch to the face. Helga just stood there as her savior, Arnold no less, stood on his feet and patted himself off. He took one glance over at Helga and smiled. "Am I still a pig?" he asked coyly. Helga coughed out a sob and ran into his arms, embracing him as if she would never see him again. To her luck, he held her tightly in his arms while she sobbed into his shoulder. "Can I take that as a no?"
Back in Sheena's café, after Sheena had the police take the thug away and Arnold bought Helga a cup of coffee to calm her nerves, Helga slowly told him everything; the obsessions, the poetry, Cecile, everything she had done in her life because he had to walk into it and give her a reason to live. Being faced with her own mortality just a few moments ago made it easier to be honest about even the most demented of details, even the ABC (already been chewed) gum shrine made in his image. After she was finished she sighed and looked down at the rippling surface of her coffee. This was it, the moment of truth. "Well Arnold, that's it in a nutshell. I loved you since kindergarten but I never had the courage to tell you until that shit stain reminded me how fast life can be. I'll understand if you leave and never want to talk to me again.but I fell cleansed now, no matter what happens." Helga dared not look up; she just looked into her coffee, remembering Arnold, as he was when they first met. But something brought her back to reality; it was a warm feeling on the knuckles of her hands. She looked and saw Arnold's hands cupping over her own. Looking up to her beloved's face, she was surprised that he didn't seem disgusted at all, but in fact was smiling a warm smile that could melt ice. "Why are you smiling like that?"
"Helga, I know what you just told me might sound weird, outrageous even. But it makes the most sense. I never wanted to relive that dinner with Cecile, it was you who I wanted to see again, the real you. There were times when you left your guard down and looked so totally kind and sweet and I knew that was the real you. And now, after all this time, you had the courage to tell me this, you're darkest secret, I know that you're the one. You, Helga Pataki, the last girl on earth I thought I would ever like, are the girl I've been looking for. I mean, you're Phoebe's best friend and she was the closest one to give me the feeling I'm having right now with you."
Helga stared gawkily into Arnold's eyes, trying to make sense of what was going on. "Arnold.what are you trying to tell me?"
Arnold pulled Helga's hands up so that they were both resting their elbows on the table and squeezed them gently. "Helga.I love you too. I'm not 100% sure if this makes any sense but I love you.maybe even more than I think I do."
Helga could die right there. If the apocalypse came raining down on the earth and the four horsemen were taking lives like pez candy, Helga wouldn't care. This was the greatest moment of her life; Arnold and her, in a café, holding hands, and he told her that he loved her like no other woman he knows. "Oh.Arnold." Her eyes teared up and she laughed like the heavens just opened the pearly gates just for her. The two leaned over the table and kissed each other lovingly on the lips. Unlike the kisses they shared in the drive thru movie, this kiss was filled with pure love. Helga couldn't believe it, with this, her life was complete.
(Ok folks, I guess that ends this story. Sorry it was so short but.huh?)
Across the street from Sheena's café, a pink Corvette was parked and the driver was spying on the two newly formed lovers behind a set of binoculars. "Helga Pataki.I never thought you'd come back to town. Bitch! You think you can come back and expect to take MY man away from me? Well, I'll just have to show you why no one fucks with Lila Buccille unless they want their faces intact. After I'm done with you, you'll be too ugly for any man and you'll be begging me to put you out of your misery." The sultry red head laughed to herself manically and drove off, all the meanwhile devising a plan to destroy Helga's happiness with her new found love, Arnold.
(Uh Oh, is this the end of this newly formed love? Well who knows, if I were normal, they would always be together. But I'm sick minded so anything goes! Also, Buccille is the last name of the voice actress who played Lila - $$Plugs$$ - since I cant find her real last name)
Caution All characters are property of Mr. Bartlett and possibly Nickelodeon but that's a little in the gray right now for me. I'm using them simply for entertainment, not profit. Don't sue me - I'm just a misguided fan with a keyboard. Please R&R, if you like to see some more cameos here, I'm accepting all suggestions.
(Ok, let's catch up with this story. Helga comes back to Seattle after leaving 15 years ago because Arnold left to South America to look for his parents. After returning, she runs into Phoebe and Olga's daughter, Heidi. Seeing herself in Heidi, Helga buys her a guitar and revisits her closet shrine, remembering the day she almost killed herself. After a drink with Phoebe at a bar and grill, she bumps into Arnold and makes out with him under the guise of Cecile. This soon makes Helga upset since Arnold moans the name of another while kissing her. The next morning, Arnold discovers that Helga is back in town since yesterday morning but he refuses to connect her with Cecile. Now, day 2.)
Helga woke up Saturday morning, tired and feeling incredibly like an idiot. After slipping on a new white shirt and some jeans, she slumped down the stairs and into the kitchen in 6 of the morning, hoping she would be the only one up at this hour because of the long weekend. Good, not a Pataki in sight. After scarfing down a bowl of cereal and some toast, she went to the fridge and started rummaging for anything worth drinking to wash down all that dry food. Score; there was a bottle of orange juice with just a few drops left. Before she could slam it down, an audible cough broke her attention. As she looked to the side, Heidi was standing by the doorway with her guitar strapped to her back. "You know, I like orange juice too," Heidi said.
Helga smiled and set the bottle aside. "Morning mini mariachi. Sorry but there's only enough for one but you can have it, I can always take a cup of latte."
Heidi smirked ear to ear then grabbed the bottle and pored the rest into a glass. Helga went over to the coffee maker and filled it with a new load of cappuccino bean grounds. While it percolated, Helga turned to Heidi who was now eating cereal out of the box. "Played any good songs since yesterday?"
"Mostly some simple melodies like twinkle, twinkle and Mary had a little lamb. But last night I really focused and I played the first 3 lines of my favorite classic rock song, Honky-Tonk Woman."
"Wow, that sounds like you're really good. How about playing a few notes for your aunt Helga?" Heidi smiled and played as much of the old Rolling Stones song as she could before she tried to play a few more strings and gave up laughing. Helga smiled and filled a cup with the coffee she just brewed. "You're really good Heidi, I never heard the Stones play that good unplugged. You really should consider making this talent work for you."
Heidi blushed and strapped the guitar back over her shoulder. "I can't. Every time I play outside the music room, everyone always interrupts me or just makes fun of me since the school's guitar makes me look so small."
"Well take my advice and ignore them. Anyone who makes fun of you for something you like to do needs a good old fashion Pataki pounding." She closed her eyes and took a sip of her coffee. "I know it's not the Olga thing to do, but trust me kid, not everyone can afford to be little miss perfect. Sometimes you need to grow up and be as tough as life."
"I guess you're right aunt Helga. But do I have to be mean to everyone? There is this one person I really like and he's always being nice to me when I'm having trouble."
Helga looked down at Heidi and finished her coffee quickly. "So you like a boy huh? Does he like you the way you like him?"
"I don't know.he's sort of nice to everyone, really."
"Well my advice is that you don't treat this boy any different than you would anyone else. If you think they make fun of you for playing guitar, would you imagine the embarrassment if they knew you liked a boy? Take it from me kid, when you know this boy likes you back, don't give away anything." Helga knew all to well about how scaring something like that would be since her childhood was based on worshiping Arnold.
Heidi looked down and sighed. "You're right, they would just laugh and pick on me. But if he likes me back, it's ok to tell him how I feel?"
Helga smiled. "Kid, that answer was right on the bull's eye. Now if you'll excuse me, I got some important business I got to take care of today. Later." Helga strapped on her brown leather jacket and gave the phonebook a quick check. Since checking the white pages would take too long, she flipped through the yellow pages and quickly found Phoebe's business number in the lawyer sections. There it was, Phoebe Hyerdahl attorney at law. She picked up the phone and quickly dialed the number on the phone. She waited until Phoebe's machine answered her call. "Shit, she doesn't work on Saturdays. I guess I'll have to just cruise the streets for her." Before she reached the front door, a grim sliver of reality dawned upon her. "Right, no car. Last night I was driving with Phoebe or Arnold. I guess this means I'll be hoofing it around town today." Helga walked down the stoop and onto the sidewalk, admiring the gray morning sky that hung over the buildings of Seattle. Helga took a deep breath and stepped on down the road, looking at all that changed while she was gone. She laughed to herself as she saw her book, Madam President, displayed on the window of a Barnes and Nobles. After about an hour of walking, she found herself back in Sheena's café. Quietly, she slid into an empty booth and waited for Eugene to take her order since Sheena seems to be in charge of the counter. When she looked to the side, thinking she would see Sheena behind the counter, she saw Arnold. She almost went into hyperventilation, last night she walked out on him during a drive-in movie and now they're almost 20 feet away from each and he doesn't even know it. With some quick thinking, she quickly took the menu off the table and buried her face in it hoping no one would recognize her. Sheena knows what the new Helga looks like and if she starts pointing fingers while Arnold was around, there could be one awkward situation under this roof. "Please Arnold.don't see me." No use, a flimsy paper menu sealed in clear laminate won't cover her face for long. With a quick plan she slammed the menu down and dashed out the front door, doing her best not to look mental. She looked back inside; Arnold didn't see her. Perfect, she's in the clear.
Helga took a few steps out of the café before a daytime thug confronted her. He was hiding under a bulky sweater and a black ski mask. He looked unthreatening, well, except for that knife in his hand. "Give me your money lady!"
Helga scowled but smirked as an idea entered her mind. She held up her purse by the string, mocking the thug. "You want my money? It's all in here." The thug slowly took one step forward; that was Helga's cue. She snapped her purse back and swung full force at the thug's head. He reeled back and hit the wall hard, making him drop his knife. "You want it again, punk? Well here, have some more!" She then kicked the hooded man's gut over and over again before walking away in a huff.
As she past Sheena's café, she heard the shuffling of feet coming from behind. As she turned around, she froze as she saw the thug pointing a gun at. Helga never felt fear like this, even though she tried to kill herself once at least she was expecting it, this was totally by surprise. Before anything happened, someone flew out of Sheena's front door and tackled the guy. The thug tried to point his gun at his attacker but he was put down with just one solid punch to the face. Helga just stood there as her savior, Arnold no less, stood on his feet and patted himself off. He took one glance over at Helga and smiled. "Am I still a pig?" he asked coyly. Helga coughed out a sob and ran into his arms, embracing him as if she would never see him again. To her luck, he held her tightly in his arms while she sobbed into his shoulder. "Can I take that as a no?"
Back in Sheena's café, after Sheena had the police take the thug away and Arnold bought Helga a cup of coffee to calm her nerves, Helga slowly told him everything; the obsessions, the poetry, Cecile, everything she had done in her life because he had to walk into it and give her a reason to live. Being faced with her own mortality just a few moments ago made it easier to be honest about even the most demented of details, even the ABC (already been chewed) gum shrine made in his image. After she was finished she sighed and looked down at the rippling surface of her coffee. This was it, the moment of truth. "Well Arnold, that's it in a nutshell. I loved you since kindergarten but I never had the courage to tell you until that shit stain reminded me how fast life can be. I'll understand if you leave and never want to talk to me again.but I fell cleansed now, no matter what happens." Helga dared not look up; she just looked into her coffee, remembering Arnold, as he was when they first met. But something brought her back to reality; it was a warm feeling on the knuckles of her hands. She looked and saw Arnold's hands cupping over her own. Looking up to her beloved's face, she was surprised that he didn't seem disgusted at all, but in fact was smiling a warm smile that could melt ice. "Why are you smiling like that?"
"Helga, I know what you just told me might sound weird, outrageous even. But it makes the most sense. I never wanted to relive that dinner with Cecile, it was you who I wanted to see again, the real you. There were times when you left your guard down and looked so totally kind and sweet and I knew that was the real you. And now, after all this time, you had the courage to tell me this, you're darkest secret, I know that you're the one. You, Helga Pataki, the last girl on earth I thought I would ever like, are the girl I've been looking for. I mean, you're Phoebe's best friend and she was the closest one to give me the feeling I'm having right now with you."
Helga stared gawkily into Arnold's eyes, trying to make sense of what was going on. "Arnold.what are you trying to tell me?"
Arnold pulled Helga's hands up so that they were both resting their elbows on the table and squeezed them gently. "Helga.I love you too. I'm not 100% sure if this makes any sense but I love you.maybe even more than I think I do."
Helga could die right there. If the apocalypse came raining down on the earth and the four horsemen were taking lives like pez candy, Helga wouldn't care. This was the greatest moment of her life; Arnold and her, in a café, holding hands, and he told her that he loved her like no other woman he knows. "Oh.Arnold." Her eyes teared up and she laughed like the heavens just opened the pearly gates just for her. The two leaned over the table and kissed each other lovingly on the lips. Unlike the kisses they shared in the drive thru movie, this kiss was filled with pure love. Helga couldn't believe it, with this, her life was complete.
(Ok folks, I guess that ends this story. Sorry it was so short but.huh?)
Across the street from Sheena's café, a pink Corvette was parked and the driver was spying on the two newly formed lovers behind a set of binoculars. "Helga Pataki.I never thought you'd come back to town. Bitch! You think you can come back and expect to take MY man away from me? Well, I'll just have to show you why no one fucks with Lila Buccille unless they want their faces intact. After I'm done with you, you'll be too ugly for any man and you'll be begging me to put you out of your misery." The sultry red head laughed to herself manically and drove off, all the meanwhile devising a plan to destroy Helga's happiness with her new found love, Arnold.
(Uh Oh, is this the end of this newly formed love? Well who knows, if I were normal, they would always be together. But I'm sick minded so anything goes! Also, Buccille is the last name of the voice actress who played Lila - $$Plugs$$ - since I cant find her real last name)