~AIN'T THAT A KICK IN THE HEAD?~





Part 4:







Very few, she decided, had changed all that much since graduation.

She wasn't surprised to hear that Sid and Nadine were both involved in some kind of medical experiment to analyze frog saliva, nor that Eugene was studying the art of stage choreography (Maybe those dance classes were doing him some good--the punch bowl was still in one piece. Then again, the night wasn't over yet...) And naturally, there was your usual assortment of law students and hopeful doctors and businessmen and so forth.

None of them, however, herself included, were yet what people would call truly successful. Unless you counted Curly, who was beginning to make a name for himself in political circles and kept muttering things under his breath like "Once I'm dictator, they'll see. They'll ALL seeee....."



".....then, when they realized I was single-handedly responsible for the new designs that were such a big hit over at the main studio, they practically begged me to accept the internship. In fact, I received an offer from Vogue only last week, and already there's talk of....."



Blah, blah, blah.



Ah yes. Rhonda Wellington-Lloyd. The self-elected queen of fashion was still at it--which was just peachy with Helga, since Rhonda of all people seemed the most likely candidate for greatness in the near future. People like that knew precisely where there lives were headed and had what it took to become famous overnight. (That pile of money she owned couldn't hurt, either.)

Some, Helga reminded herself, weren't so sure anymore.

No worries though. She was still young...didn't she have the rest of her life to figure out what she wanted to be?



I wonder when the fun starts?



One thing was certain. She didn't want to be in that group any longer; listening to certain persons drone on for the rest of the night.



This is.....boring. Who was the genius who decided to throw a reunion after only five years?



She glanced around. People weren't doing anything other than sitting and talking and swigging punch. Well... one or two appeared to be picking assorted nuts out of their teeth, but that wasn't exactly her idea of quality entertainment either. Since she hadn't been close friends with many of the kids, and she wasn't much of a socializer anyway, she had soon run out of things worth saying and old acquaintances to say them to. Maybe it would be better at their next reunion, when they had actually done things--outside of college and start-up jobs.

But for now.....Helga stifled a yawn. She scanned the room unenthusiastically. I should have brought a book, she thought.



Her eyes fell on a mane of bushy blond hair across the room, and she smiled in spite of herself. The person belonging to the hair laughed at some inaudible joke, and turned slightly, just enough for Helga to see the woman he was talking to.

A twinge of resentment shot through her. She frowned.

From somewhere in the back of her mind came the sing-songy little voice of a heartsick nine-year-old.



LI-La.....



Some things never change.



Phoebe, who was sitting beside her, noticed the expression. "Is something wrong, Helga? You look slightly perturbed."

"No, Pheebs...everything's fine."



Shut up, she told the voice. What do you care?

(Doi! It's Little Miss Oh-So Perfect.....And you're jealous!)

Am not!--I haven't any reason to be. It isn't as if there were...feelings...between the two of you.

(Well, aren't you going to do something about it?)

No. That would be senseless and immature and stupid of me. It's been years since then. He can talk to whomever he wants.

(You big pansy!)



The nine-year-old stamped her foot, and stormed away in a huff. Helga sighed quietly. Another pathetic battle with another pathetic memory.



Besides.....you stopped loving him a long time ago.









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A/N: Okay, okay, I lied before. THIS is the last update for who knows how long. Anyway, Happy Holidays to everyone. Have fun, be careful, and don't eat so much you spontaneously combust. And keep working on those fanfics, you slackers!

Oh, and for anyone who might be curious..... No, the title doesn't make any sense, does it? And Yes, it WILL make sense eventually, but not for a long time (somewhere around the 12th chapter, I think) so you'll just have to wait. :)