Chapter 2 - A Star is Born
(...Los Angeles...fourteen years later...)
Against her better judgment, Helga chose the path of a writer. To her surprise, she found it rife with success. Her books, while not quite Pulitzer material, were very popular with the public. What's more, they enabled her to make a comfortable living. Haven't heard of her work? Perhaps these titles will refresh your memory: "Sweet Sixteen", "Love in the Time of Apathy", "Heart of a Hero" and "Girls' Night Out". However, she still regrets giving up love for the sake of a career.
Helga, having since gotten rid of her bow and still fairly attractive, is at Viksten's, signing copies of her latest book, "The Time of Her Life". A twentysomething woman hands her a copy of the book for an autograph.
"I like your books, but why are they all romance novels? Have you ever considered writing stuff like fantasies or horror novels?"
"Well, nothing else inspires me like romance; fate bringing two people together, the longing of one person for another..."
Helga had to stop, for she was getting teary-eyed.
"I'm sorry."
After wiping away tears, she hands the book back to the young woman, who takes it.
"Well, thanks. Have a nice life."
Just as the young woman walks away, a middle-aged woman walks up to Helga.
"Would you please sign my book, Ms. Pataki?"
"Certainly, ma'am. That's why I'm here."
After putting the signature in the back fold, Helga hands the book back to the woman, who gleefully takes it.
"Thank you very much, Ms. Pataki. I read all of your books and I just love them."
"Thank you. I'm glad you like them."
"Take care, Ms. Pataki."
The woman walked away, waving.
"Now, who else wants a sig-"
It turns out that the female fan was the last of a very small crowd to attend the book signing. The turnouts weren't massive, but the people who usually came numbered in the low hundreds, much more significant than the dozen or so to appear this night.
"Where in the hell is everyone?"
Helga looks toward the exit and spots a couple strolling past the doorway. Helga gets up from her chair and runs out. She sees several people walking to a movie theater.
(...the movie theater...moments later...)
Helga is amazed to find the theater so packed. She looks around to find a seat and does in the back row. Just before sitting down, she sees what she thinks is the familiar outline of someone she once knew. She ignores it and sits down.
"What's going on, some dumb action movie? I swear, those things come out every freakin' week-"
The theater went dark and the screen started to play a movie: "Voice of an Angel".
Helga watched the opening moments of the film. About five minutes in, she was shocked to see a familiar face on the screen: Lila. Her reddish brown hair no longer in pigtails, but allowed to flow freely. Her character was wearing a lovely blue dress and descending a flight of stairs. Memories of the past flooding her mind, Helga was ready to MST3K her nemesis. Just as she opened her mouth to start the razzing, Lila's character spoke:
"Oh, my darling. You shouldn't have come."
Helga never really thought much of Lila, but she stayed with the film; through the laughs, the sad moments, the dry stretches and by the time the heart-breaking ending came around, she was in tears, awestruck at the conviction that Lila invested in her performance.
(...the movie theater...a couple of hours later...)
The house lights went up, and Helga quickly dried her eyes so no one could see how affected she was by the film.
The figure that she thought she recognized stood up; it was indeed Arnold! Though the years had caught up with him somewhat, he looked very much the same as he did in the 4th grade. Feeling that she was unready to see him after such a long time, she ducked behind the seats as he walked up the row.
Helga then walked outside and, just then, saw Arnold and Lila kissing.
At that moment, time stopped for Helga. Her mind immediately went back to a day in high school:
[...Arnold was walking through the crowded halls of the school, trying to get to his next class. He was still wearing his hat (priceless heirloom, you know). Just as he made it to the classroom, he was stopped by a familiar face in his path - that of Helga.
"How's it hangin', footballhead?", she said.
"Do you mind, Helga? I'm trying to get to my class."
"Well, that's fine, Arnold..."
She steps aside, and as he walks in, she sticks her leg out, blocking him.
"...as long as you pay the toll."
"C'mon, Helga."
"No toll, no passage."
"All right."
Arnold leans over...and kisses Helga on the lips!
"Well, I'll see ya later, Helga."
"See ya later, Arnold", she responds, a bemused look crossing her face.
(...the park...late that afternoon...)
Arnold and Helga are sitting on a patch of grass.
"...so she tells me that you're the reason my writing isn't as strong as it used to be."
"That's kinda silly."
"My thoughts exactly."
"But, then again..."
"You're not agreeing with her, are you?"
"Well, it seems that your writing was so full of life when we weren't together."
"So, what are you saying?"
"You have a great future ahead of you in writing..."
"And?"
"...maybe it would be better if I wasn't a part of that future."
A look of crushing disappointment crossed Helga's face.
"So, this is it, huh? I've wanted this for so long, and now, poof, it's gone."
Arnold put his hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, Helga. There's always a chance that we can end up together again, you know? After you've made it."
Helga wipes some tears away.
"Maybe you're right."
The two of them hug...]
Helga still couldn't believe it; the love of her life, and her rival, together again!
She watched as reporters swarmed on the happy couple, microphones in hand.
"Your performance was incredible. Have you been acting long?"
"Well, I acted on stage for eight years..."
"Have you thought about the possibility of winning any awards?"
"I suppose, but it's only my first performance in a film."
"Who is this handsome lad with you?"
"Well, this is Arnold. We went out briefly in school, and we got back together a few months ago."
The more Helga looked at them, the angrier she became.
"And how do you feel about your girlfriend's acting?"
"Well, I guess I should be truthful, right?", he said as she playfully nudged him.
The crowd chuckles.
"Seriously, I think she was terrific. As her boyfriend, I'm confident that Lila has a bright future ahead of her."
The couple shares another kiss.
Helga felt ill at the sight of them.
"How could this happen? I'm supposed to be with Arnold. Me, not Lila!"
As Helga started to walk to her car, she couldn't get that thought out of her head. She had promised herself that she would avoid such childish actions as an adult, but her love for Arnold was just too strong. In her mind, she had no other choice:
"I guess I'll just have to break them up."