Chapter 4 - Reunited
(...Arnold's house...that night...)
Arnold and Helga are sitting on a couch in the living room, which is dimly lit.
"So, tell me something, Arnold."
"What is it, Helga?"
She looks deep into his eyes, almost ready to kiss him...but she slaps him, instead.
"How could you end up with Lila again?!"
Arnold, still dazed from the slap, rubs his cheek.
"Well?"
"It's complicated, Helga."
"Then uncomplicate it."
"I was on a trip to New York City..."
(...New York City...about 18 months ago...)
Arnold is walking through the busy streets of Big Apple.
"I was running a little late for a meeting with a client and I stopped to get some lunch."
He stops at a hot dog stand and gets a foot long with mustard and onions.
"That's when I saw her."
Arnold is barely two bites into his hot dog when he sees Lila standing at a street corner.
"She looked so nice that day, with her hair and her dress and..."
"Could you skip to the part where you make the big-ass mistake?"
"Okay. Well, I walk over to her and I say..."
"Hey, Lila."
"Oh, hi, Arnold."
"How have you been?"
"I've been alright. I'm doing a lot of Broadway plays. And you?"
"Oh, I'm an architect."
"How nice."
"Arnold...?"
"Yeah, Lila?"
"The years have given me time to think about a lot of things."
"Like what?"
"Us. I miss us."
"In a way, I kind of miss us, too."
"I'm sorry for the way I led you on."
"That's all right, Lila. We were only nine. That's a really young age for a relationship, anyway."
"So, how about it?"
"Time will tell, I guess."
(...Arnold's house...present...)
"And that's how it happened."
"Well, you sure can spin a yarn, Arnold."
"Not half as well as you."
"Flattery will get you most everywhere."
Helga gets on top of Arnold and looks him deep in the eyes.
"Now shut up and pay the toll."
They kiss, then stop for a moment.
"I can't help but wonder..."
"What now?"
"I hope that Lila will be all right."
"C'mon. A girl like her; she'll be just fine."
The couple soon resumes kissing.