Author's Appreciation*** Thanks as always to my faithful R/R's WillyD
(Will) and MidnightOasis. Shouts of love out to those of you who read but
already reviewed alot (CrystalTear, Mikastu) Hope everyone likes the
direction this is taking. I am trying to come up with new ideas, as this
one is almost over! On with the show!
Chapter 11 Oleg's Design and Flowers at Nine
Helga tossed the various empty cartons of takeout down the laundry shoot. She knew full well that the laundry basket was empty, as it was past the time that Miriam usually fumbled through the wash, but it gave her a great sense of satisfaction nonetheless.
She fell asleep, her mind clouded with the remains of the day still swirling through her thoughts. Lila, that little goody-goody Miss Perfect. She thought Arnold had abandoned all dreams of her back in 7th grade, when after she finally went out with him, he realized how utterly hollow and plastic she was. Although she was arguably a very sweet girl indeed, it could not be denied that she was very hard to stomach in some aspects.Arnold had told her as much during those fateful two weeks.
Her slumber was interrupted by a soft knock on her bedroom door.
" Helga? Honey, are you awake in there?" Miriam's voice ebbed slowly through the polished wood.
"Mmmm" Helga yawned, stretching and sitting up momentarily. " What's it to you, Mom?" she asked in an agitated tone.
" You have some kind of delivery, sweetie. I think it's from someone named...Amos?"
"You mean Arnie?," Helga asked, holding her breath nervously.
"No...Oh, Ha! Silly me, I mean Anonymous! Now how did I get that mixed up with Amos? Anyways, it's some kind of flowers, dear," Miriam chuckled slowly to herself more than anyone in particular.
Helga inched the door open. Her mother stood in the hallway, a huge bouquet of Calla Lilies wrapped in light pink cellophane and tied with a huge pink bow were cradled haphazardly in her arms. A small white envelope was nestled among the blossoms.
"Thanks, I'll take that," Helga snatched them away, ripping through the envelope carelessly. Who on earth had sent her such an obviously expensive and, strangely, thoughtful arrangement of her favorite flowers?
"Alrighty then, dear. I am going to make dinner. We're having potato dumplings! Your sister emailed me the recipe all the way fro-" Helga snapped the door shut as her mother continued to rattle on with out a second thought of her mother's dinner plans.
She sat on the edge of her immaculate white bedspread, and yanked the scented card from the depths of the shredded envelope. Unfamiliar, curvy, neat handwriting filled the 1-inch by 3-inch card.
Heavenly flowers for a Fallen Angel
My heart is in your hands
Meet me at the Senior Prom Please make no other Plans With love Anonymous
Helga's face colored scarlet at being referred to as an angel, even a fallen one. Was it just an extreme coincidence that the flowers were her very favorite? And what about the pink cellophane, pink was secretly her favorite color although she would deny that to all but Phoebe. One thing was for sure at least, she knew Arnie could never have afforded the huge, pricey arrangement. And Lorenzo was completely enthralled with Sheena, so no problems there. Who could this very tasteful and frankly, creepy person be?
She shrugged, placing the flowers in a large crystal vase from the top shelf of her closet, carefully removing the cellophane and gigantic pink bow. She folded both neatly and placed them in her special drawer. Another huge pink bow peeked from under stacks of various journals, although it was much older and slightly frayed. She smiled, remembering the bow from her childhood. Arnold had always liked it, but she had discarded it after the eight grade and her failed relationship with him.
Well who ever they were from, it would sure irk Arnold to see her with someone so obviously suave and sophisticated. Maybe it was someone who had admired her from afar, someone who knew of her love of pink and calla lilies. She would meet this mystery man, and watch Arnold squirm. She would put all his little hussies to shame; Timberly AND Lila would be no match for her. She smiled a wicked little grin before pulling her sheets up over her shoulders, falling into a blissful slumber.
Across town, Arnold was simultaneously climbing under his light blue sheets. He smiled nervously, biting his lower lip at the thought of what he had just done. He knew he had made himself very obvious by choosing her favorite flower. Of course, maybe some random ex-suitor had known her preference as well.
The pink cellophane was also a dead give away, as only he and Phoebe knew it was secretly her favorite color, but the most blatant error that kept repeating itself over and over again in his mind was the idea of tying the bouquet off with a large pink bow. "Pink like your pants," he whispered to himself, a sheepish grin creeping across his face.
She had told him that his innocent compliment way back in preschool was the main reason she had continued wearing the absurdly large hair accessory way beyond the acceptable age limit for such things. That's why he was so crushed when, the day after their break-up, the bow he had loved was painfully absent from her gleaming blonde head. She never wore it again, that he knew of.
Hopefully this would change everything. They were older now, practically college bound, and he knew with his every fiber that he loved her. He hoped Phoebe knew what she was talking about.
Phoebe eyed the blonde/blue haired assistant warily. " This place is certainly..exclusive," she piped up hesitantly, searching for any sign of Helga behind the dressing room screens.
" Just one more meenute, and I will 'ave you all laced in," Oleg chirped as he helped Helga into her dress. " I must zay, eet feets like a glove!"
" Yeah, and it feels like one too," Helga gasped, trying to endure the stiff laces that were being tightened around her already tiny waist. " I just hope this thing turned out right," she said under her breath, her eyes downcast.
It was only 2 days 'til prom, and Phoebe had agreed to accompany her to her fitting. The dress was tailored to her every curve, it was just a matter of seeing the finished product on her.
A few more minutes dragged by slowly, and finally Phoebe heard the swish of the silk screens being pushed aside. She looked up, letting out a barely audible gasp.
"Whaddya think?" Helga asked, her arms open wide for effect. Phoebe couldn't believe her eyes.
Helga stood in the most gorgeous gown that she had ever seen. The back dipped dangerously low, but was laced across a mere two times with thin satin ribbon. Her tan was accented greatly by the pale, barely pink satin material. The fabric clung to her every curve, being extremely kind to her tush and bust. Three slits ran up the first third of flowing skirt, exposing both legs as high as the thigh on each side and one in the back. This look would be tacky with any other dress, but a matching pale pink silk underlay kept her skin from being exposed completely. The dress was a halter-top design, leaving her bronzed shoulders in full view. The amount of cleavage shown was very tasteful, just a hint with out looking tawdry. A plain, crystaled brooch gathered the skirt at an angle near her right hip, causing the fabric to cinch at her narrow waist, the material cascading into a soft pink puddle. It was a simple, elegant gown, but it made Helga look like a Greek goddess.
" Oh Helga, it's exquisite!" Phoebe breathed gently. "You look like you stepped out of a museum painting!"
" Not bad, eh?" Helga turned appreciatively in front of the full-length triple mirror, taking in her form at all three angles.
" And don't forget ze shoes," Oleg brought out a black box, sitting on a small bench near the floor. " Feet, please," he quipped, lifting the lid to the carton.
He slipped the strappy, translucent blush colored shoe over her tiny foot, fastening the crystal clasp at the back of each one.
" They're perfect!" Helga smiled, lifting her foot gingerly, examining the intricate lines.
"Oleg has out done heemself, I think," Oleg complimented himself on a job well done. " Just don't forget our deal, fraehline," He winked, smiling in approval.
" Hey, it's for a good cause, and what can I say?" Helga grinned, feeling the best she had in weeks. "You are AMAZING!" She threw her arms around him impulsively, squeezing him with her gratitude.
"Eets nothing, Helga. Eets Oleg's pleasure to be of service. You go out there and knock him dead at your dance thingy. Oleg Caprini gowns are GUARANTEED to impress!"
" You can expect it tomorrow after 2," the tiny assistant smiled as she handed Helga the paid in full slip for the dress. " Oleg insists that the dress be packed with the shoes and jewelry he has on loan from Alderman's Jewelers. He wishes me to deliver it and help you dress," the girl explained shyly. "He wants you to look perfect."
Helga was touched by the old man's dedication to a vision, and to her success.
"Toots, it's a date," she smiled, walking out into the late spring breeze, breathing in the delicious aroma of lilacs and cut grass. Look out, Hairboy. Wait 'til he gets a load of this!
**** The big day is almost upon them! Get ready to see what the other girls (and guys) look like, plus the other couples I haven't mentioned yet! Thanks again to all my readers, I will post depending on how many reviews this one gets. The more I get, the quicker I update! (I am a sucker for a review, what can I say?)
Chapter 11 Oleg's Design and Flowers at Nine
Helga tossed the various empty cartons of takeout down the laundry shoot. She knew full well that the laundry basket was empty, as it was past the time that Miriam usually fumbled through the wash, but it gave her a great sense of satisfaction nonetheless.
She fell asleep, her mind clouded with the remains of the day still swirling through her thoughts. Lila, that little goody-goody Miss Perfect. She thought Arnold had abandoned all dreams of her back in 7th grade, when after she finally went out with him, he realized how utterly hollow and plastic she was. Although she was arguably a very sweet girl indeed, it could not be denied that she was very hard to stomach in some aspects.Arnold had told her as much during those fateful two weeks.
Her slumber was interrupted by a soft knock on her bedroom door.
" Helga? Honey, are you awake in there?" Miriam's voice ebbed slowly through the polished wood.
"Mmmm" Helga yawned, stretching and sitting up momentarily. " What's it to you, Mom?" she asked in an agitated tone.
" You have some kind of delivery, sweetie. I think it's from someone named...Amos?"
"You mean Arnie?," Helga asked, holding her breath nervously.
"No...Oh, Ha! Silly me, I mean Anonymous! Now how did I get that mixed up with Amos? Anyways, it's some kind of flowers, dear," Miriam chuckled slowly to herself more than anyone in particular.
Helga inched the door open. Her mother stood in the hallway, a huge bouquet of Calla Lilies wrapped in light pink cellophane and tied with a huge pink bow were cradled haphazardly in her arms. A small white envelope was nestled among the blossoms.
"Thanks, I'll take that," Helga snatched them away, ripping through the envelope carelessly. Who on earth had sent her such an obviously expensive and, strangely, thoughtful arrangement of her favorite flowers?
"Alrighty then, dear. I am going to make dinner. We're having potato dumplings! Your sister emailed me the recipe all the way fro-" Helga snapped the door shut as her mother continued to rattle on with out a second thought of her mother's dinner plans.
She sat on the edge of her immaculate white bedspread, and yanked the scented card from the depths of the shredded envelope. Unfamiliar, curvy, neat handwriting filled the 1-inch by 3-inch card.
Heavenly flowers for a Fallen Angel
My heart is in your hands
Meet me at the Senior Prom Please make no other Plans With love Anonymous
Helga's face colored scarlet at being referred to as an angel, even a fallen one. Was it just an extreme coincidence that the flowers were her very favorite? And what about the pink cellophane, pink was secretly her favorite color although she would deny that to all but Phoebe. One thing was for sure at least, she knew Arnie could never have afforded the huge, pricey arrangement. And Lorenzo was completely enthralled with Sheena, so no problems there. Who could this very tasteful and frankly, creepy person be?
She shrugged, placing the flowers in a large crystal vase from the top shelf of her closet, carefully removing the cellophane and gigantic pink bow. She folded both neatly and placed them in her special drawer. Another huge pink bow peeked from under stacks of various journals, although it was much older and slightly frayed. She smiled, remembering the bow from her childhood. Arnold had always liked it, but she had discarded it after the eight grade and her failed relationship with him.
Well who ever they were from, it would sure irk Arnold to see her with someone so obviously suave and sophisticated. Maybe it was someone who had admired her from afar, someone who knew of her love of pink and calla lilies. She would meet this mystery man, and watch Arnold squirm. She would put all his little hussies to shame; Timberly AND Lila would be no match for her. She smiled a wicked little grin before pulling her sheets up over her shoulders, falling into a blissful slumber.
Across town, Arnold was simultaneously climbing under his light blue sheets. He smiled nervously, biting his lower lip at the thought of what he had just done. He knew he had made himself very obvious by choosing her favorite flower. Of course, maybe some random ex-suitor had known her preference as well.
The pink cellophane was also a dead give away, as only he and Phoebe knew it was secretly her favorite color, but the most blatant error that kept repeating itself over and over again in his mind was the idea of tying the bouquet off with a large pink bow. "Pink like your pants," he whispered to himself, a sheepish grin creeping across his face.
She had told him that his innocent compliment way back in preschool was the main reason she had continued wearing the absurdly large hair accessory way beyond the acceptable age limit for such things. That's why he was so crushed when, the day after their break-up, the bow he had loved was painfully absent from her gleaming blonde head. She never wore it again, that he knew of.
Hopefully this would change everything. They were older now, practically college bound, and he knew with his every fiber that he loved her. He hoped Phoebe knew what she was talking about.
Phoebe eyed the blonde/blue haired assistant warily. " This place is certainly..exclusive," she piped up hesitantly, searching for any sign of Helga behind the dressing room screens.
" Just one more meenute, and I will 'ave you all laced in," Oleg chirped as he helped Helga into her dress. " I must zay, eet feets like a glove!"
" Yeah, and it feels like one too," Helga gasped, trying to endure the stiff laces that were being tightened around her already tiny waist. " I just hope this thing turned out right," she said under her breath, her eyes downcast.
It was only 2 days 'til prom, and Phoebe had agreed to accompany her to her fitting. The dress was tailored to her every curve, it was just a matter of seeing the finished product on her.
A few more minutes dragged by slowly, and finally Phoebe heard the swish of the silk screens being pushed aside. She looked up, letting out a barely audible gasp.
"Whaddya think?" Helga asked, her arms open wide for effect. Phoebe couldn't believe her eyes.
Helga stood in the most gorgeous gown that she had ever seen. The back dipped dangerously low, but was laced across a mere two times with thin satin ribbon. Her tan was accented greatly by the pale, barely pink satin material. The fabric clung to her every curve, being extremely kind to her tush and bust. Three slits ran up the first third of flowing skirt, exposing both legs as high as the thigh on each side and one in the back. This look would be tacky with any other dress, but a matching pale pink silk underlay kept her skin from being exposed completely. The dress was a halter-top design, leaving her bronzed shoulders in full view. The amount of cleavage shown was very tasteful, just a hint with out looking tawdry. A plain, crystaled brooch gathered the skirt at an angle near her right hip, causing the fabric to cinch at her narrow waist, the material cascading into a soft pink puddle. It was a simple, elegant gown, but it made Helga look like a Greek goddess.
" Oh Helga, it's exquisite!" Phoebe breathed gently. "You look like you stepped out of a museum painting!"
" Not bad, eh?" Helga turned appreciatively in front of the full-length triple mirror, taking in her form at all three angles.
" And don't forget ze shoes," Oleg brought out a black box, sitting on a small bench near the floor. " Feet, please," he quipped, lifting the lid to the carton.
He slipped the strappy, translucent blush colored shoe over her tiny foot, fastening the crystal clasp at the back of each one.
" They're perfect!" Helga smiled, lifting her foot gingerly, examining the intricate lines.
"Oleg has out done heemself, I think," Oleg complimented himself on a job well done. " Just don't forget our deal, fraehline," He winked, smiling in approval.
" Hey, it's for a good cause, and what can I say?" Helga grinned, feeling the best she had in weeks. "You are AMAZING!" She threw her arms around him impulsively, squeezing him with her gratitude.
"Eets nothing, Helga. Eets Oleg's pleasure to be of service. You go out there and knock him dead at your dance thingy. Oleg Caprini gowns are GUARANTEED to impress!"
" You can expect it tomorrow after 2," the tiny assistant smiled as she handed Helga the paid in full slip for the dress. " Oleg insists that the dress be packed with the shoes and jewelry he has on loan from Alderman's Jewelers. He wishes me to deliver it and help you dress," the girl explained shyly. "He wants you to look perfect."
Helga was touched by the old man's dedication to a vision, and to her success.
"Toots, it's a date," she smiled, walking out into the late spring breeze, breathing in the delicious aroma of lilacs and cut grass. Look out, Hairboy. Wait 'til he gets a load of this!
**** The big day is almost upon them! Get ready to see what the other girls (and guys) look like, plus the other couples I haven't mentioned yet! Thanks again to all my readers, I will post depending on how many reviews this one gets. The more I get, the quicker I update! (I am a sucker for a review, what can I say?)