A Helping Hand

By: Starry Nights

        Perhaps, the best thing in the world to do to create a good feeling in oneself is to be kind to another. Imagine seeing the gratitude in someone else's eyes, seeing the love in the eyes that person. Oh!

But imagine someone who does that all the time…imagine how good that person must feel everyday! But…

What if the feel good feeling doesn't last for long? Then what?

        Life must be terribly complicated if it isn't perfect. How sad that a person cannot get long-term satisfaction from doing any one particular thing? A runner is only satisfied on a track, a swimmer in water and a scientist in a lab but what about all other times? Nothing is certain…even love. However, some people claim that there is no greater feeling that the feeling of being in love. They say that love is the ultimate feeling…and that feeling can last throughout one's life.

But isn't love about doing well to another? Isn't it about helping each other? Imagine seeing the gratitude in someone else's eyes, seeing the love in the eyes that person. Maybe it's a vicious cycle but what do I know…I could be wrong.

An adaptation of Kathleen Taylor's; A Helping Heart

        For some reason, the article had caught his eye. Each month, on the student bulletin board, someone wrote an adaptation of a quote or a speech. Arnold snatched a copy and posted his own bulletin on the board. Winter was coming and he wanted to have a clothes drive so that he could give the clothes to other teens who couldn't afford winter coats.

"That is really nice of you."

"Thank you."

"She does like you. I did some snooping. How awful that she couldn't tell her best friend!"

"Really?"

"She said that if she liked for your kindness and not your looks."

        Just then Nadine walked up to the talking pair. Rhonda smiled and gestured to the bulletin.

"I have a few cashmere sweaters and angora jackets that Daddy bought me that I wouldn't be caught dead in."

"Those will be fine, Rhonda."

"Maybe I could find those old Italian snow boots from last season. Oh, then there are those Anna Elizabeth coats."

Arnold smiled. "Anything you want to donate is fine."

"I can donate as much as I want?"

"Of course."

Rhonda turned to Nadine. "Look how many people will benefit from having my very fashionable clothes."

Nadine glanced at Arnold who had a bemused expression on his face. "Don't you have cheerleading practice now?"

Rhonda widened her ebony eyes in recollection. "You're right! Arnold, we'll talk about this later and Nadine, I'll see you after practice."

        Nadine and Arnold watched as Rhonda walked coolly down the hall. The blonde caramel beauty turned to Arnold. She smiled apologetically "I'm sorry."

"You forget that I've known her for years as well. I know how she can be sometimes."

Nadine chuckled and gestured to the bulletin. "This is a nice thing you're doing."

"I hope people will actually show up."

"Of course they will! When the captain of the basketball team and school hunk does something everybody else follows." Helga looked at Nadine and grinned. "Don't you just love his modesty?"

        Nadine laughed at Helga's exuberance and watched as they discussed their plans for Halloween. Honestly, no one knew what was up with the blond couple. When they started going out, a new side of Helga had emerged. She was…nice. Phoebe tried to explain that as people grow they change but many just attributed to the fact she was going out with Arnold.  They broke up last year during spring break after going out but they pretty much act like they did while they were going out. To make matters worse, they never answered questions about their relationship status so everyone just assumed that they never actually broke up.

"I'll see you tonight." She kissed him on the cheek. "Bye Nadine."

Arnold turned to Nadine once Helga was gone. "I should go too."

"Wait."

"Yeah."

"Do you need help?"

"Sure. Come over tonight."

"Are you sure?"

Arnold sighed. "Helga is just coming to pick up some notes from yesterday's classes. She had a dentist appointment."

"Well, I'm really sorry. It's just that…"

"Don't worry about it."

"Let me tell you about another project I heard about…"

"Really?"

"Sure, I mean I don't really organize my own charities but I participate in them especially those that have to do with nature."

"Of course, I remember you fascination for bugs."

"Now it's just for other creature in nature and well, nature itself."

"Wow, tell me about your project."

"Well, Nature Helps Nature is creating these homes for people that are nature friendly. The actual building doesn't start until next spring but you could come to the meetings with me."

"Interesting, last year when I went to visit my cousin Valerie we went to these series of demonstrations that supported these projects."

"Huh, a whole family of humanitarians."

"You sound surprise and actually, it's just my cousin Valerie, her friend Elaine and me."

"In my family, it's just me and last year I declared myself a vegetarian but my mother insist on putting a side of meat on my plate."

Arnold laughed. "Actually, it was Helga who got me to be a vegetarian. She was showing me pictures and it sickened me."

"She's a vegetarian?"

"Don't sound too surprised. She cares but she's not as passionate as I am."

Nadine laughed.

"Look, I really should go now but I'll see you tonight at around 7. Is that okay with you."

"Of course."

"Until tonight."

"Bye."

***

        Nadine was nervous. Of course, she had been to Arnold's house before. There was that biology project in freshman year but now she was standing on the front of the Sunset Arms scared to death. Rhonda had been thrilled to hear about this. The self-proclaimed fashion queen had a crush on the blond humanitarian and wanted to know if the rumors were true. Nadine, however, had other objectives. She enjoyed their talk earlier and wanted to get to know him better. There was no doubt he was attractive but she wasn't into his looks. She loved his warm personality and his eagerness to help other people. If she didn't know any better, she would go as far to say that she liked him.

"Nadine…hi."

"Hi Helga."

"It's nice that you're going to help Arnold. I would but my sister is taking me to Boston."

Nadine thought she heard a bit of sarcasm in her voice.

"Well, I'll see you around. Just head up those stairs."

"Bye."

"Bye."

        The Sunset Arm changed little in the past three years except that the old floorboard had been fixed. Nadine continued up the stairs where she saw Arnold waiting for her.

"I saw you talking to Helga." He said answering her unasked question. She smiled warily and followed him up the stairs.

"I guess you, like everyone else, must be wondering what's up with me and Helga."

"Not really."

"Don't lie."

"Okay, I'm a little curious." She smiled sheepishly at Arnold's unbelieving gaze. "Okay, okay, I'm very curious."

"Of course you are but we're only friend."

"But the kisses…"

"Have you ever seen us kiss on the mouth?"

"Not really…"

"So?"

"But the gifts…"

"People do have birthdays."

"The hugs?"

"You hugs Sid when you see him don't you. Rhonda hugs me when she sees me."

That's because she likes you. "Fine. I guess it's irregular to see someone get only so well with an ex."

He nodded. "We broke up on good terms. It was time."

"Do you still like her?"

"Apart of me always will. She was my first girlfriend."

"How sweet. Why are you telling me this?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "I met someone who has all the same interest like me. She's great and doesn't like me because I'm the star of the basketball team or because of my looks."

"Really?" I know he isn't talking about Rhonda.

"I hope so and when I asked her friend about her. Her friend said that she liked me as much as I liked her."

"Interesting."

He watched her for a few moments. "How about we have dinner sometime?"

"Me?"

He laughed. "Yes."

"You like me."

"I like you."

"Interesting…"

"Stop saying that. So how about it?"

"Of course. I know this great place on 56th."

"Sounds great."

"Arnold."

"Was that bulletin a way to get me up here?"

"Would you be mad if it was?"

"Yes."

"Good because it isn't."

"I like you."

"I like you too."

The End

Author's Note: I'm not entirely happy with this but I'm never totally satisfied with my work. Next couple is…I have no idea. Review!