Atellix: That's what's so great about old movies: the banter, gags, and random dry humor. No one puts good banter in their movies anymore. Anyway...
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"What?" She had started back toward the movie crowd to indicate that the conversation was over and the subject had become a moot point, but now she stopped and turned to him, incredulous. "What do you mean?"
"You're actually saying none of this had to do with me?"
She scoffed. "Did I stutter?"
"No. But you forgot something." Arnold walked closer to her. Very close. She could hear him breathing--quick, tense breaths--as he caught her eyes and stared directly into them. There was a strange, almost threatening seriousness about it. She wanted to back away, but somehow that didn't seem very feasible. Besides, backing away would be like backing out....and she was not afraid of him. She held her ground, putting her hands on her hips and a defiant expression on her face.
"And what might that be?" Criminy, hadn't he ever heard of allowing three feet of personal space? He wasn't what you would call an intimidating person, yet there was a quiet, scary sort of uncomfortableness to this.
"I think this has a lot more to do with me than you want to admit," he said in a low voice. "If you once felt a strong attachment to that guy, it couldn't have been just because of his winning personality. You're much more careful with your deepest emotions than that. There's some other reason."
"Ohhhhhh..." she said, catching on. "So you think you are the reason, you pushy, conceited excuse of a..."
"I may be a little dense, but I'm not stupid," he replied. "Do you expect me to believe this is all a big coincidence, and you just happened to tear yourself apart over someone who just happened to look like me?"
"He does not! His hair is an entirely different color."
Arnold threw up his hands in exasperation. "Oh, give me a BREAK! We could be twins!! Helga--you've been honestly yourself all evening...up until now. All of a sudden, you've decided you have to shut everything out. I don't care about your reputation, I don't care about our past, and I sure don't care about your selfish pride. For once in your life, just tell the TRUTH!!"
She whirled on him then, a chilling gleam in her eyes, her words dropping with all the warmth and tenderness of sharp icicles.
"Really? The truth? Okay, Football-head...if that's what you want. The truth is: once upon a time there was a little girl who loved you more than anything, and when she finally found the courage to confess it, you didn't..believe..her. Every minute of every day for six stinkin' years those affections ate away at me--and you didn't even believe they existed. You couldn't believe for a second that someone like ME was capable of feeling something like THAT. Isn't that worse than being laughed at? The truth is: you were always the compassionate one, the philanthropic, selfless little humanitarian so caught up in helping everybody solve their problems--everybody but me. You couldn't solve my problems, could you? Ever wonder why? Maybe what you never realised is that you couldn't fix my problems, because you WERE my problem. You couldn't leave me alone and ignore me like everyone else. Nope, you had to come along and be so...so Arnold. I was completely obsessed and pathetic for a long time; I know that now. You can't begin to imagine some of the crazy things I did because of you!"
"Helga, I didn't..."
"Don't interrupt! You wanted the truth; now you're gonna get it. I was miserable before you happened, before you became my reason for breathing each day. You--walking around in an idealistic daze, spouting dreams and hope. In some twisted little way, you were my hope. And then all of a sudden... everything changes. Your parents are alive. It's a miracle! You aren't an orphan anymore, and every day is a celebration. Yippee. Nobody was happier for you than I was, Arnold. Nobody, and I mean that with all my heart. I really do. But the thing is: you moved away to start a wonderful, new life full of sunshine and rainbows--and meanwhile, I had to force myself to forget how I felt about you. To forget the first thing I ever liked about myself!"
Arnold couldn't think of anything constructive to say. (He did wonder momentarily if it were possible for a person to shoot little red laser beams out of their eyes and fry somebody to a crisp when they were mad. It certainly appeared as if she were about to. The police report would look odd: Man vanishes from park, mysterious pile of ashes found in shoes. Possibly work of spontaneous combustion or violent woman.) He wasn't quite so angry anymore--in some peculiar way he was actually beginning to feel better. Even relieved.
"Helga..."
"Stop staring at me like that! I don't need your pity...in fact, the truth is: I don't blame you. You never asked for any of this, and it isn't your fault. Yes--forgetting you was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. But it was also one of the best. It made me stronger. So--thanks. Thanks for your help." She spat the last word out bitterly and continued. "Oh, and furthermore...I don't see how my life was ever any of your business to begin with! Hate to break it to ya'...but you are not the center of my universe. Maybe it IS a coincidence that I've loved two football-headed morons in my lifetime! Stranger things have happened!! MAYBE I'll fall in love with a hundred more before I die!! And MAYBE...I'll end up hating them all--because NONE of them will be YOU!!!"
She caught herself immediately, a complete change washing over her demeanor. Suddenly she seemed so empty and exhausted and worn-out. And scared. As if she had been burdened her whole life.
A wounded soul who couldn't bear it anymore.
Helga sighed. "I'm sorry, Arnold," she said quietly. "I've been a thorn in your side long enough." She smiled weakly and rested a hand on his arm as she went past, turning to leave. "I tried, but I guess I never forgot you after all."
And with that, she walked away from him one last time. No tears. No more harsh words.
Just goodbye.
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A/N: Hmmmm...What would you do if I told you that this is the end? You'd throttle me, that's what. Since I don't particularly enjoy being throttled, I'll tell you there's one more chapter. Check back in a couple of months or so.
Kidding. Just kidding. The ending should be out some time next week.
