"Ama me fideliter! Fidem meam noto: De corde totaliter Et ex mente tota, Sum presentialiter Absens in remota."
"Oh Arnold…" Helga sobbed. "It's not the same without Jackie here."
"Don't worry…the police are searching. Everyone is searching. She'll be home before you know it," said Arnold softly, stroking her hair.
"What if she doesn't come home? Huh? She's been gone for over a week already!" Helga sniffed. "This was all probably Lila's fault. She's evil."
"Come on, we can't start pointing fingers."
"Yes we can. And I am. I'm pointing my finger at Lila. Everything's her fault. She's such a bitch."
Arnold wanted to slap her so hard across the face. Lila was really bad, sure…but it was just too mean to call her a bitch for something she probably…maybe…hopefully…didn't do. Everything made her crazy. It was harder to talk to her. He did feel her pain! But, she didn't let him.
"We have to go to school, Helga," said Arnold hopelessly. "We have to."
Helga sighed and nodded.
"Helga, I'm really sorry for your loss," said Phoebe softly. "I don't know how it could have happened."
Helga shrugged.
"I'm sorry, Helga…I hope you find Jackie real soon," mumbled Rhonda, her head dropped. "I'm really sorry."
Helga nodded. She was afraid that if she talked, she would end up flooding her eyes with tears. Everyone told her how sorry they were. How they'd help her find whoever did it. No one actually could understand how she felt. Arnold probably felt just as bad. In his life, he's already lost his parents…and now he lost his kid.
And still…Helga treated him like crap lately. She couldn't help it. It was just…instinct.
Arnold would be walking around the house millions of times, thinking he could find Jacqueline under a bed or something. With all his pain and suffering, he could still try to lift up everyone's spirit. Good ol' Arnold, Helga thought to herself.
"Arnold, I'm ever so sorry for what happened," said Lila softly. She put her hand on his backpack. "Just ever so sorry…"
"It's okay…" he mumbled.
"Is there anyway I could possibly help?" she offered.
Arnold shook his head.
"I'll call you if I see anything suspicious at all," said Lila as she walked away.
Helga walked up to Arnold. "What were you talking to Lila about?" she wondered.
"She was just sorry about our loss."
Sure she is, thought Helga. "I see," she kissed his cheek. "Let's get to class."
The day went by slowly…and there wasn't a second when Helga wasn't thinking about Lila and Arnold and Jacqueline.
During the ride home, Helga and Arnold didn't even speak to each other. They were in no mood to talk about anything.
At home, Arnold threw his things on the ground and went straight to the kitchen. Helga sighed and took his backpack to the living room with her. A note dropped from the pouch of his backpack. Curiously, Helga unfolded the letter and read it.
Dear Arnold,
I'm sorry about your loss…I hope you
can come over, and we can talk about it over some tea and cookies the way you
like it. I care. And I know you'll need a helping hand. It'll be just like
we've never been apart.
Love,
Lila
"What's that you're holding?" Arnold asked, sipping a cup of hot chocolate.
"You pig!" she growled, flinging the crumbled up note in his face. "I can't believe you've been associating with Lila!"
Arnold put his cup down and unraveled the note, his eyes scanned it quickly. "What? Where did this come from?"
"Don't play dumb, Arnold!"
"I really don't know anything about this! I have not been going out with Lila!"
Helga pointed her finger at him. "Then explain the note in your backpack."
"I really don't know how it got there!" he pleaded. "Please believe me!"
"Tell the truth! You've always still loved Lila. You probably have millions more of these little love notes in your room! HIDING THEM FROM ME!" she roared. "You've never been 100% there for me!"
"How can you say that?" he tried to stay cool. "I've always been there for you!"
"You don't love me…"
"I do…"
"Then why have you never told me?"
"Because…I…" Arnold stammered. Because I don't have the guts…I can't…I want to…
"BECAUSE YOU STILL LOVE LILA!" she screamed.
"No! I don't!"
"Yes you do. And I would be happy if you'd just admit it!"
"I won't admit it because I DON'T LOVE LILA!"
"You're probably in this with her…you probably never even loved her!" Helga accused.
"How dare you?" Arnold snapped. "This is making you crazy…you're turning into one of those crazy old senile women. Come on," he opened his arms towards her.
Helga slapped down his arms. "Don't. I'd rather be alone right now." She walked away and out the door.
Suddenly, just as she closed the door behind her, someone pounced on her and pulled a bag over her head, dragging her away. Helga screamed, but Arnold couldn't hear her through the thick door and the bag. A note was slipped through the mail slot.
Arnold saw it fall through and walked over, picking it up.
Arnold-
We have two things you love…will you
risk it all?
There was no signature. But Arnold knew that handwriting…he just couldn't put his finger on who. But, two things? Oh no, he thought. He rushed out the door and down the stoop, looking around frantically. "Helga?" he called out. "HELGA?" he cried out again. The streets were bare, and not a person was in sight.
He fell on his knees and cursed.
He grumbled and went back in the boarding house. Crappy day. Crappy life. At least if Helga had to be kidnapped, let her be kidnapped when she wasn't so mad at Arnold. Damn, damn, damn. Now she's going to think that Arnold wanted her to be kidnapped. He stomped into the kitchen and opened the drawer next to the fridge. There was a box of cigarettes and a lighter next to it. Sometimes Ernie took a smoke, and hid the goods in there.
Arnold took a cigarette and lit it. As he inhaled the smoke, he wanted to choke, but he didn't. It really did lighten up his load. (A/N: Not that I would know or anything. I'm highly against smoking.) He punched the refridgerator and shriveled down in the corner.
***
"Now that I have the two of you here," began Lila, "I'll be able to get Arnold here!" she laughed.
Helga was tied in a chair and her mouth was taped. She mumbled a few words.
"Where are you, you ask? Where are you?" Lila said amusingly. "I'll tell you. You're here at Brainy's house. Under our control."
Helga narrowed her eyes and rocked in her chair furiously, mumbling more words.
"Don't worry…that baby of yours is just across the room." She pointed to the other side of the room. "No need to worry, unless your beloved Arnold never comes."
Helga whimpered.
"Ah, because of my master plan, I'll be able to have Arnold…he'll be mine, all mine! And he won't even think again of you. After all his foolishness of loving you…he'll realize that I'm really the one for him."
Helga looked down.
"Don't be sad…Brainy will be here to comfort you while I go wait for Arnold!" she giggled furiously and ran out of the room.
Oh great, thought Helga. I'm here, stuck with Brainy. And Lila's crazy. I always knew she was a queer.
***
"Damn, damn, damn," cursed Arnold. "Who the hell could have done this? And why am I always the one who has to suffer?" He looked up at the ceiling. "First my parents…then Jackie, and now Helga!"
He paced around his room, eyeing the note that layed open on his desk. "I don't believe this is happening to me. Why would anyone want to take them? Who has a motive? Why am I talking to myself?"
His growl was followed by a sigh, he took the note off his desk again and examined the writing closely. The I's were dotted with little hearts and the g's and y's were curved in a loop at the bottom. Oh this was all too obvious.
How could he have missed it in the first place?
Stupid, stupid, stupid. He hit his head against the wall. "I'm going to kill her," he grunted. Just as he was going to go out, he noticed that it was already night time. He couldn't possibly go out at night. People would think he was some kind of burglar.
Tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow he'd go straight to Lila's house and bust her ass.
***
Tears ran down Helga's cheeks. She had never ever felt so alone in her life. Maybe if she wasn't so mad at Arnold, and didn't go out the door, she would have been in his arms right now. She loved him so dearly…and yet she blamed him for everything that went wrong.
Oh poor Arnold. Taking all of her complaining, and acussing. If only she could change the past few weeks. If only she could see him again. She was so used to constantly being with him, sleeping in the same room as him, sitting in the same car as him…it felt so bad to not have him near her. Instead, Brainy was with her.
Fun.
If Arnold really loves me, he would come to the rescue, right? He wouldn't leave me here, would he? I hope he kicks Lila's ass…
***
The sun was extra bright the next morning. There was not a single cloud in the sky. Arnold had not been able to sleep all night. Not having Helga near him…no one to kiss good night (though she had been avoiding him for the last week) made Arnold go crazy. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair a mess.
With a stiff body, he sat up. Nine o' clock.
"Must go," he muttered.
***
"Hey Helga," said Brainy, he approached her.
"What is it?" she asked coldly. Though, he couldn't hear because of the tape over her mouth.
"I've always admired you, you know?" His hands were behind his back as he paced from side to side. "You were my world…I would have done anything for you. But you always hated me. Thrown me off trains, back-knuckled me one too many times. I treasured those moments…whenever I got a cast for my nose, I was always thinking that it was your way of showing you cared for me too.
"Boy, was I stupid. So blind to see that you were in love with that stupid Arnold. What could he have offered you? Huh? That orphan boy…" he leaned in front of her. "Now that I have you here with me, tied up with no way to hurt me, I can do what I've always wanted to do to you. Ever since the first day I saw you…"
His hands grasped her face and he kissed her through the duct tape. Helga squirmed and gave a muffled scream. Even through tape, it was really digusting. The look on his face as he was kissing her was apalling. She had no choice but to kick him in the shin.
"Ouch! Fuck, Helga!" He hugged his leg. "That hurt!"
Helga rolled her eyes. No duh…
***
Arnold walked through the green unlocked door cautiously. "Lila?" he growled. "I know you're in here…" he pushed open her bedroom door.
"Arnold," smiled Lila with a plate of brownies in her hands, "so good of you to come over and visit me. Would you like some cookies?"
"No," he said plainly.
Lila pouted and put the plate down on her pink table and picked up a cup and tea pot. "Some tea perhaps?"
"No. I don't want any of your poison."
"I know my food isn't spectacular, but I wouldn't call it poison…"
"I know it was you, Lila. I just can't figure out why or how."
"I'm a very complex woman," she said.
"You took Jackie away from me and Helga. Then you take Helga away from me…she thinks that I'm in love with you!"
"Well, aren't you?"
"Aren't I what?"
"In love with me?"
"You're crazy," he snapped.
"I know for a fact that ever since the fourth grade, you've been in love with me! Feelings like that don't go away!" she stomped her feet on the ground.
"…why did you do this?"
"Because. I want you to know that I love you. I'd do anything – get anyone – just to show you."
"But I don't love you!"
"Well, I LOVE YOU! Can't you see? You were meant for me…if Helga loved you as much as I did, she wouldn't have acussed you of anything! She would have believed you and not get mad at you!"
Arnold didn't say anything.
"SEE!" She paused, "but since you love them so much, I have a proposition for you. I'm willing to let both Helga and the baby go. Right now they're with Brainy. I'll tell him to let them go if…" she walked up in front of him and held his hands, swinging them around playfully and put them behind him as she looked directly in his eyes.
"If what? I'll do anything…"
"If you'll say you love me and dump Helga, and kick her out of the Boarding House."
"What? ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?!"
"Fine then…I guess you don't want them back into safety."
"I couuld never love you. You're a worthless piece of crap which no one could ever love…"
"Shut up!" she growled.
"You're a conceited brat, with stupid braids…"
"SHUT UP!" She slapped him across the face.
Arnold was about to hit her back, but then realized his hands were handcuffed behind his back. Damn his slow reaction.
She cleared her throat. "I'm going to make a phone call." She left the room.
Arnold groaned. He looked up at the ceiling again and sighed. His eyes wandered around the room to see stuffed animals, unicorns, and tiny furniture. Then, he caught glimpse of a key on her dresser.
"This is too good to be true," he said to himself.
Quickly, he walked to the dresser. But, damnit, his hands couldn't reach up high enough. He backed away and kicked the dresser from the side. The key moved closer to the edge of the dresser. He kicked it again and the key fell on the ground. His limber body helped him ease down to get the key within the grasp of his fingers.
He eagerly twisted the key in the key hole. Click. He was unlocked. Footsteps were heard and he quickly stood up, with his hands behind his back, pretending he was still handcuffed. Lila walked through the door.
"Lila," he began, "I've been thinking…and I'm sorry. You were right. I do have feelings for you."
Lila grinned stupidly. "Really?" her eyes seemed to have stars in them, as they gazed at Arnold. She walked up towards him.
"Yes." He walked up to her as well and leaned into her. Her hands were down as he very carefully put the handcuffs around her wrists and locked them. "I find your controlness very…sexy…"
"Oh Arnold!" she exclaimed, and tried to open her arms, but instead fell flat on her face.
Arnold stepped off to the side and sprinted out of the door, closing it behind him. He pushed the hallway desk in front of the door. Off he went to Brainy's place.
Arnold ran in front of the door of Brainy's house. The door was locked. He pounded on the door furiously. Brainy opened the door. "Arnold?" Arnold automatically threw a punch in the middle of his face, leaving Brainy unconscious on the floor.
He could feel the adrenaline pump in his body…his sixth sense led him directly to Helga in Brainy's room.
Helga was crying…Jackie was asleep.
Arnold ran in and saw Helga strapped in the chair. He kneeled in front of her, his eyes full of worry and relief. Helga couldn't bear to look at him. She tried so hard to avoid eye-contact, but it didn't work. Her teary eyes connected with his. Though she could say no words, her eyes told the whole thing.
"It's okay, Helga," cooed Arnold. "Just stay still…I'm going to pull the tape off." He tore the tape off of her lips. Being the strong girl she is, she didn't scream but instead she cried. Arnold got up and began to untie the ropes holding her down.
"I'm sorry, Arnold, I'm really sorry...I should have believed you in the first place." she began to sob hysterically. "Maybe if I believed you in the first place this never would have happened…"
Once
he finished untying her, he kneeled in front of her again and cupped her cheek
with his hand and wiped her tears away with his thumb.
"No, you have no reason to be sorry. I'm the one who's sorry...I thought
you knew that I love you. I love the way you laugh, I love your sarcastic
humor, I love the way you kiss me, the way you comb your hair. I love you…so
much, Helga. I can't stand a day without you."
"I can't either…I missed you so much, Arnold." She flinged her arms around him and they were both kneeling on the ground.
Arnold pulled her into a kiss. A warm, sweet, tangy kiss. Helga could taste his Winterfresh gum he always chewed. They were lip-locked for the longest time, kiss after kiss…indulging in each other every second. Together they shared a kiss which let out all their feelings, whole-heartedly. Helga's head was spinning, and Arnold's world turned upside down.
As he pulled apart from her lips, a question just rolled off his tongue. "Marry me, Helga."
"Did you just say…"
Arnold was just as astonished as she was. "Please, Helga…let's get married."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Why not? We love each other…we have a kid, for Heaven's sake! I can't think of a better resolution for this problem. So what do you say?"
"But Arnold, there are so many things we haven't done…do you really want to bind ourselves forever? Through college too?"
"Well, I didn't think about that…but I do know that I want to marry you someday…"
"Then, Arnold, ask me someday. When we're both ready…and when we're not teenagers. And I swear, that I'll love you forever."
Arnold smiled and took her in his arms again.
"Do you smell that?"
"Uh, I don't think Jackie's been changed for a while," said Helga.
"Love me faithfully! / See how I am faithful: / with all my heart / And all my soul / I am with you / Though I am far away."
A/N: Hope you liked this last chapter. I didn't quite know how to end it…Maybe there'll be another chapter coming up…with a wedding! Whoo! And, I'm sorry if things went wrong, and I'm sorry if ideas were stupid. But please bear with me. I'm sick, and I'm groggy…