Author's note**I have the BEST readers! Thanks again to CrystalTear1 and
WillyD, my most faithful and helpful reader/reviewers! You guys review
every chapter and that's what keeps me going! Willy, where's the update for
your story?? I love it and I want more! That goes for CrystalTear too!
Okay, enough shameless flattery, on with the show! ( I shout out to ALL my
reviewers)
Chapter 7 Prom Dress Shopping and Big Name Dropping
Saturday dawned bright and airy, and it couldn't have been in more contrast to Helga's mood than that. She sat up, slightly cold from the window being open all night. Her cd player was once again crooning "Hurt", as she had programmed it for continuos play. She clicked it off, and flipped the radio on.
Helga rubbed her eyes as she absent- mindedly threw on a plain white tee shirt. The clock read ony 8:50. She was supposed to meet Sheena, Rhonda, Phoebe and Nadine at the mall at 10 am. That left just enough time for a quick run, shower, and maybe a piece of fruit if she rushed. Sighing, she threw her hair back in a pony tail, slid on her socks and running shoes, and grabbed her Ipod off of the nightstand on her way downstairs.
She had taken up running at Dr. Bliss's suggestion two years ago, as a way to relieve stress. Although Helga had been skeptical, she tried it anyway. Now she was hooked.
"Miriam! For the love of Pete, where's my lucky white belt?" Bob roared distantly from the trophy room as Helga exited the front door. She shook her head in disgust and clicked the door closed behind her. Soon, all her thoughts were drowned out by her new downloads by Maroon 5, and she ran like a woman on a mission through the city park.
An hour later, she was climbing out of Big Bob's ancient blue sedan at the Fashion Square Mall in downtown Hillwood. Despite her parents' obvious lack of responsibility, it was strictly forbidden for a Pataki to travel downtown by bus or subway unless over the age of 21. She appreciated being able to drive herself, even if it was riding on the coattails of a rule put in place originally to protect Olga.
"Where have you been?" Rhonda exclaimed, rushing to meet Helga in the foyer near Marshall's. Phoebe was already sitting near the center court fountain, discussing something intently with Sheena.
" I am right on time, princess. Cool your jets," Helga shot as she pointed at her wrist. "I doubt there's any other teenage girl in her right mind out at the mall at 10 am on a Saturday."
"Don't underestimate that, Helga. Look around you," Rhonda hissed through gritted teeth. Her hair was uncharacteristically pulled back in a simple pony tail. She looked like she meant business.
" Let's get a move on then, girls," Phoebe interjected before either could throw another barb. The foursome tore off through the mall, before they finally made it to Bella's, an extremely trendy and cutting edge boutique. Rhonda was right, and there was already quiet a few girls milling about as they entered.
"Told ya," Rhonda glowered as she elbowed her way towards the window display. Bella's was a highly sought after place to purchase a prom dress, as every single dress was an exclusive, one-of-a-kind designer piece. It had started out as an experimental business, a place for up and coming designers to get their names out there, and established designers got the fun of making people clamor for their own original. Now, it was the hot place to go, and was doing quite well.
"Okay, it's all about three things, girls-cut, color, and originality. Let's get out there and find our masterpieces!" Rhonda drilled them like General Patton on crack, then shot off to the farthest corner of the store.
Helga shook her head, and headed towards the front far corner, where the 2 piece ensembles were displayed. She had been eyeing a sage green concoction the day before, but wasn't sure if it was still there.
"Oh, look at this one!" Phoebe held a deep royal blue gown against her tiny frame, her dark eyes sparkling.
" The color really suits you, Pheebs," Helga commented in approval. It was a spaghetti strapped, two piece with a full ball gown skirt. The top had glass beading along the bottom hem, and the skirt was made of shorn silk in the same color, with hand detailed austrian crystals scattered across it. It was perfect for Phoebe.
"I must concur, Phoebe. The design is not all that original, but the color and cut are exquisite, and there is also much to be said for the classics. Great job! One down, 3 to go!" Rhonda rushed past with three gowns in different shades of red cradled in her arms. Red was, after all, her signature color.
"Looks like Princess is going to have an anyurism. Better bag that up, Pheebs, while I hunt down that green creation before some other woebegone adolescent," Helga chuckled as she poked her head through the rack.
"Bagging!" Phoebe chanted as she made her way to the register.
Finally, after searching fruitlessly for more than 30 minutes, she saw it. It was stuck behind a cream colored Dolce and Gabbana number. Someone must've been trying to save it! Helga snatched it up triumphantly and ran for the dressing rooms.
She spun around in wonder, watching the flowing skirt wrap around her long, lean legs. The color was perfect with her olive skin, and gorgeous, earthy hair. The top was cut on the bias, exposing just a hint of tummy, and it was a simple raw silk material in the richest color of sage. The top had a double strap that only went over the right shoulder, and was for the most part, backless. The slit along the side showed just enough calf, and hung on her frame like it was made for her. She smiled, tears filling her eyes with gratitude.
"Oh, its lovely Helga!" Sheena breathed softly. " I know Lorenzo will love it!" She smoothed her long fingers lovingly over the smooth material.
"Yeah, well it's lucky I found it. Someone with a penchant for green silk had her hidden in the back. I'm glad you like it, you look stunning," Helga smiled with great satisfaction. Lorenzo knew Sheena was hopeless when it came to fancy things, and had pleaded with Helga to find her a dress at the last minute. It just so happened that Helga had seen this dress in the window just the day before, and ironically enough, had thought how nice Sheena would look in it.
" Nice cut, great color, very fresh and original," Rhonda called from the dressing room doors. " Now get out there and find your dress, Pataki! I have 6 already that I am deciding between,"
" Yeah, yeah, yeah," Helga muttered in reply as she stalked back out into the store, searching half heartedly for a frock.
Why bother going? Her pity date with Arnie was officially out of the question, and all the guys who asked her a month ago were now all either attached or already going with someone else. She sighed. Maybe she would just skip it, feign illness or something.
" You looked adorable, Timb," came an ever-so-annoying voice in the next aisle. Helga ducked under the nearest rack , causing more than one sales people to turn their heads. She listened intently, trying to make out more of the conversation.
" Thanks, I like it, too." Timberly's voice carried from the front registers. She held a gold sparkly, slinky gown with tailored curves and a long, rippling slit up to about mid thigh. A filmy, gold wrap was clutched in her other hand.
"Arnold's gonna need oven mitts to handle me, girl!" Timberly laughed as she whipped out her mom's credit card to the waiting cashier.
"And I am ever so certain that Stinky will love the green Versace I bought," Lila smiled.
Helga hated to admit it, but little miss perfect was alot easier to get along with now that Arnold didn't pine after her. She was actually kind of happy for her and Stinky. She turned her attentions back to Timberly and the gold hoochie dress.
" Well, I have to be going," Timberly whisked her shopping bags up, the golden dress packed carefully in tissue paper and cardboard. " Let's see his little fantasy girl top THIS number!"
Helga gritted her teeth in frustration. If she didn't know any better, she would swear that that last comment was directed at her, as Timberly had raised her voice whilst passing her hiding place. Of course, LILA! She must've told Timberly that she's had it bad for Arnold since preschool! Ohh, I could ring that pretty little neck of hers, Helga thought bitterly. Why she would think Arnold still cared for her was beyond reasoning, but she must sense some type of competition.
"If it's war she wants, then it's was she gets," Helga hissed to herself as she emerged from the rack of strapless gowns.
"Rhonda, Sheena, Pheebs," Helga barked as she gathered her things. "Gotta go. Rhonda, go with the cherry red vintage Versace. Suits your skin tone, great classic designer, super classy."
"And what about your dress, might I ask?" Rhonda asked, both pleased and annoyed at Helga's hidden knowledge of fashion and design. "Where are you going to find your dress??"
" Don't worry, girls. It will be colorful, perfectly cut and COMPLETELY original," Helga replied as she gave Pheebs a quick hug and darted out the door.
Arnold won't know what hit him.
****Thanks for the tip, Willy. I will make sure not to try too hard with this story line, it works better that way!
Chapter 7 Prom Dress Shopping and Big Name Dropping
Saturday dawned bright and airy, and it couldn't have been in more contrast to Helga's mood than that. She sat up, slightly cold from the window being open all night. Her cd player was once again crooning "Hurt", as she had programmed it for continuos play. She clicked it off, and flipped the radio on.
Helga rubbed her eyes as she absent- mindedly threw on a plain white tee shirt. The clock read ony 8:50. She was supposed to meet Sheena, Rhonda, Phoebe and Nadine at the mall at 10 am. That left just enough time for a quick run, shower, and maybe a piece of fruit if she rushed. Sighing, she threw her hair back in a pony tail, slid on her socks and running shoes, and grabbed her Ipod off of the nightstand on her way downstairs.
She had taken up running at Dr. Bliss's suggestion two years ago, as a way to relieve stress. Although Helga had been skeptical, she tried it anyway. Now she was hooked.
"Miriam! For the love of Pete, where's my lucky white belt?" Bob roared distantly from the trophy room as Helga exited the front door. She shook her head in disgust and clicked the door closed behind her. Soon, all her thoughts were drowned out by her new downloads by Maroon 5, and she ran like a woman on a mission through the city park.
An hour later, she was climbing out of Big Bob's ancient blue sedan at the Fashion Square Mall in downtown Hillwood. Despite her parents' obvious lack of responsibility, it was strictly forbidden for a Pataki to travel downtown by bus or subway unless over the age of 21. She appreciated being able to drive herself, even if it was riding on the coattails of a rule put in place originally to protect Olga.
"Where have you been?" Rhonda exclaimed, rushing to meet Helga in the foyer near Marshall's. Phoebe was already sitting near the center court fountain, discussing something intently with Sheena.
" I am right on time, princess. Cool your jets," Helga shot as she pointed at her wrist. "I doubt there's any other teenage girl in her right mind out at the mall at 10 am on a Saturday."
"Don't underestimate that, Helga. Look around you," Rhonda hissed through gritted teeth. Her hair was uncharacteristically pulled back in a simple pony tail. She looked like she meant business.
" Let's get a move on then, girls," Phoebe interjected before either could throw another barb. The foursome tore off through the mall, before they finally made it to Bella's, an extremely trendy and cutting edge boutique. Rhonda was right, and there was already quiet a few girls milling about as they entered.
"Told ya," Rhonda glowered as she elbowed her way towards the window display. Bella's was a highly sought after place to purchase a prom dress, as every single dress was an exclusive, one-of-a-kind designer piece. It had started out as an experimental business, a place for up and coming designers to get their names out there, and established designers got the fun of making people clamor for their own original. Now, it was the hot place to go, and was doing quite well.
"Okay, it's all about three things, girls-cut, color, and originality. Let's get out there and find our masterpieces!" Rhonda drilled them like General Patton on crack, then shot off to the farthest corner of the store.
Helga shook her head, and headed towards the front far corner, where the 2 piece ensembles were displayed. She had been eyeing a sage green concoction the day before, but wasn't sure if it was still there.
"Oh, look at this one!" Phoebe held a deep royal blue gown against her tiny frame, her dark eyes sparkling.
" The color really suits you, Pheebs," Helga commented in approval. It was a spaghetti strapped, two piece with a full ball gown skirt. The top had glass beading along the bottom hem, and the skirt was made of shorn silk in the same color, with hand detailed austrian crystals scattered across it. It was perfect for Phoebe.
"I must concur, Phoebe. The design is not all that original, but the color and cut are exquisite, and there is also much to be said for the classics. Great job! One down, 3 to go!" Rhonda rushed past with three gowns in different shades of red cradled in her arms. Red was, after all, her signature color.
"Looks like Princess is going to have an anyurism. Better bag that up, Pheebs, while I hunt down that green creation before some other woebegone adolescent," Helga chuckled as she poked her head through the rack.
"Bagging!" Phoebe chanted as she made her way to the register.
Finally, after searching fruitlessly for more than 30 minutes, she saw it. It was stuck behind a cream colored Dolce and Gabbana number. Someone must've been trying to save it! Helga snatched it up triumphantly and ran for the dressing rooms.
She spun around in wonder, watching the flowing skirt wrap around her long, lean legs. The color was perfect with her olive skin, and gorgeous, earthy hair. The top was cut on the bias, exposing just a hint of tummy, and it was a simple raw silk material in the richest color of sage. The top had a double strap that only went over the right shoulder, and was for the most part, backless. The slit along the side showed just enough calf, and hung on her frame like it was made for her. She smiled, tears filling her eyes with gratitude.
"Oh, its lovely Helga!" Sheena breathed softly. " I know Lorenzo will love it!" She smoothed her long fingers lovingly over the smooth material.
"Yeah, well it's lucky I found it. Someone with a penchant for green silk had her hidden in the back. I'm glad you like it, you look stunning," Helga smiled with great satisfaction. Lorenzo knew Sheena was hopeless when it came to fancy things, and had pleaded with Helga to find her a dress at the last minute. It just so happened that Helga had seen this dress in the window just the day before, and ironically enough, had thought how nice Sheena would look in it.
" Nice cut, great color, very fresh and original," Rhonda called from the dressing room doors. " Now get out there and find your dress, Pataki! I have 6 already that I am deciding between,"
" Yeah, yeah, yeah," Helga muttered in reply as she stalked back out into the store, searching half heartedly for a frock.
Why bother going? Her pity date with Arnie was officially out of the question, and all the guys who asked her a month ago were now all either attached or already going with someone else. She sighed. Maybe she would just skip it, feign illness or something.
" You looked adorable, Timb," came an ever-so-annoying voice in the next aisle. Helga ducked under the nearest rack , causing more than one sales people to turn their heads. She listened intently, trying to make out more of the conversation.
" Thanks, I like it, too." Timberly's voice carried from the front registers. She held a gold sparkly, slinky gown with tailored curves and a long, rippling slit up to about mid thigh. A filmy, gold wrap was clutched in her other hand.
"Arnold's gonna need oven mitts to handle me, girl!" Timberly laughed as she whipped out her mom's credit card to the waiting cashier.
"And I am ever so certain that Stinky will love the green Versace I bought," Lila smiled.
Helga hated to admit it, but little miss perfect was alot easier to get along with now that Arnold didn't pine after her. She was actually kind of happy for her and Stinky. She turned her attentions back to Timberly and the gold hoochie dress.
" Well, I have to be going," Timberly whisked her shopping bags up, the golden dress packed carefully in tissue paper and cardboard. " Let's see his little fantasy girl top THIS number!"
Helga gritted her teeth in frustration. If she didn't know any better, she would swear that that last comment was directed at her, as Timberly had raised her voice whilst passing her hiding place. Of course, LILA! She must've told Timberly that she's had it bad for Arnold since preschool! Ohh, I could ring that pretty little neck of hers, Helga thought bitterly. Why she would think Arnold still cared for her was beyond reasoning, but she must sense some type of competition.
"If it's war she wants, then it's was she gets," Helga hissed to herself as she emerged from the rack of strapless gowns.
"Rhonda, Sheena, Pheebs," Helga barked as she gathered her things. "Gotta go. Rhonda, go with the cherry red vintage Versace. Suits your skin tone, great classic designer, super classy."
"And what about your dress, might I ask?" Rhonda asked, both pleased and annoyed at Helga's hidden knowledge of fashion and design. "Where are you going to find your dress??"
" Don't worry, girls. It will be colorful, perfectly cut and COMPLETELY original," Helga replied as she gave Pheebs a quick hug and darted out the door.
Arnold won't know what hit him.
****Thanks for the tip, Willy. I will make sure not to try too hard with this story line, it works better that way!