~*~ Okay, everyone, here is the next installment to Masked! I'm sorry it took so long, but I've been swamped with homework and studying, and I went on vacation right after school ended! So, so sorry! ~*~

~*~Thank you to all who reviewed! I was so excited when I saw them! Thanks again. ~*~

~*~ Last, but not least, I forgot a disclaimer on my last chapter, so here goes - I do not own Hey Arnold, and I do not own the fairy tale of Cinderella, so keep the lawyers at bay. Anyways, onto the story! ~*~\

Helga glanced up at the clock. Four fifty. Hmm. Time for her to get going for work, if she wanted to make it on time, for her 5 O'clock appointment at Miss Carolyn Meyer's house. It shouldn't be too hard, though, Helga thought, seeing as Miss Meyer lived just around the corner.

Helga walked out her door, and down her steps. She started up the street, and went to turn the corner and - surprise, surprise - she ran smack dab into someone, falling flat on her butt. Helga shook her head, clearing it, and stared up at the concerned looking blonde boy, and took his offered hand. He pulled her up, and smiled at her.

"You okay, Helga? I knocked into you pretty hard there...sorry about that." Arnold said, smiling that charming smile of his. Damn that smile, Helga thought.

"I'm fine, football-head," Helga said, flipping her long blonde hair behind her back. Arnold followed its progress, and his eyes did a slow once over of her body.

"Yeah, you are..." remarked Arnold, making Helga's jaw drop.

"Excuse me?" Helga bit out, snapping Arnold out of it. He blushed furiously. Helga smirked.

"Umm...Uhh...Helga, are you planning on going to Rhonda's tonight? You know, she's gonna have that great party, and I figured -" Arnold began, but Helga promptly interrupted him.

"Nope, can't, working - speaking of work, I better go, I need to be there at five. Oh, but...why don't you go with Lila? She's such a slut I'd bet she'd even go out with you, football head. Oh, wait, she did, and she couldn't keep her legs together, could she?..."

Arnold's eyes began to darken with anger. He couldn't believe Helga has just said that. No one talked about that, or Lila, in front of him. Not ever since she cheated on him Junior year and broke his heart. Helga couldn't believe it either. She mentally slapped herself for being such a bitch.

"Look, Arnold...I'm sorry - "

This time it was Arnold who interrupted Helga.

"You know what, Helga, just forget it." With that said, Arnold walked off, leaving Helga by herself. She kicked at the dirt, and swore.

"Smooth, Helga, real smooth." She started walking down the street again, climbing a few steps, and knocking at Miss Meyer's door. The door flew open, and a disheveled lady stood there. Helga took a quick glance around, and had to smile at what she saw. Fabric was strewn everywhere, along with many sketches showing different types of clothing. Helga smiled at Miss Meyer, and the red head smiled back. Helga's eyes moved up to the woman's hair, and she smiled. Red, like Lila's, but a mess of curls. It suited her, Helga decided.

"Well, you must be Helga. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you doing this for me..." Carolyn started. Helga smiled at her.

"It's fine...It is my job." Helga walked into the room, and gasped. Standing next to a TV stand was a mannequin wearing the most amazing dress she had ever seen. It was light, light blue, with a silver tint. It had an empire waist, with beads cascading down, and had slim spaghetti straps. Needless to say, it was a very beautiful dress. Helga could imagine herself in that exact dress, the belle at Rhonda's party, the silk hugging her curves, hinting at her shapely legs. She sighed, mourning the fact that she would never wear it, without thinking, and Carolyn raised her eyebrows, then followed Helga's gaze. She smiled, and nodded.

"I know...I love it too...it has to be my favorite dress...me and my mom started it when I was just out of college, and when she died, I didn't have the heart to finish it...but I've finished it now...I don't know what to do with it though, I haven't had a buyer in a while." Carolyn said, a smile playing about her face as she remembered the cherished memories of sewing with her beloved mother.

"It's stunning. Well, I better start cleaning..." Helga said, taking one last mournful look at the dress. Carolyn, noticing the look, stopped Helga.

"Helga...I really like you...you have great taste ...my house can wait...don't you have a party to go to tonight?" Carolyn said, watching Helga for her reaction. Helga raised one eyebrow.

"How did you know about Rhonda's party?" Helga asked, her eyes opened wide.

"I have a niece that was planning on going...Lila Sawyer...you know her?" Carolyn asked. Helga's eyes opened wider. This sweet woman...related to Lila???

"You bet I do..." Helga said, cringing. Carolyn smiled.

"Yeah, Lila can be quite the spoiled brat. I made her dress for her. I'm betting you don't have a dress..." Carolyn said slyly.

"And I don't need one...us Pataki's don't accept charity," Helga spit out. "and I have a job to do."

"Forget your job, have fun tonight, Helga. I have a feeling you deserve it. Please...you seemed to like that blue dress...will you try it on?" Carolyn pleaded with Helga. Helga rolled her eyes.

"Fine, if you're going to make me..." Inside, Helga felt extremely giddy. Maybe she would have a chance to dance with Prince Charming at the ball.

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Helga stepped out of the bathroom. Carolyn gasped, then grinned.

"Dahling, you look faaaabulous!!" She exclaimed. Helga stepped up to a full length mirror, and her eye widened. The dress looked ten times better on her then on the mannequin. It showed just enough cleavage to tease a man to come closer, and the silk flirted with her legs beneath the skirt. It was the perfect dress for Helga. Helga, lost in her reflection, never saw Carolyn come up behind her and place a necklace around her neck. Helga's hand went up to it, and her mouth opened in an O. This necklace was exquisite. She shook her head.

"Carolyn, I can't take this. It must have cost you a fortune..." Carolyn shook her head.

"Go ahead, sweetheart....it looks perfect on you...and don't forget these..." Carolyn held up two silver-blue gloves. Helga took them, and put them on slowly. The reached all the way to her elbows, and accentuated the dress perfectly.

"Now all we need is a mask, some pretty shoes, and some hair duty...and you'll be ready for Rhonda's little soiree."

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Helga walked to the door, her face covered with a light blue feather mask that Carolyn, or Carrie, as Helga had been told to call her, had whipped up in about five minutes. Not only that, but she had...you guessed it...a pair of glass slippers, that should have hurt like the devil, but were more comfortable than Helga's most worn out pair of tennis shoes. Her hair was in a delicate, lovely array of curls that adorned her head like a royal crown. Her piercing blue eyes twinkled, and her skin had a luster to it that made her all the more beautiful. She looked like a princess. Helga turned, and smiled at Carrie. Carrie grinned back at her, placing her hand on her cheek. They had become fast friends in the past thirty minutes. Helga placed her hand on Carrie's wrist, tears shining in her eyes.

"Carrie, why did you do all this for me? Why did I deserve it??" Helga asked, looking up at her.

"Let's just say you have a guardian angel watching over you darling. Have fun tonight..." With that, Carrie pushed Helga out the door, and Helga ran to her car, waving once before getting in, starting the engine, and driving off towards Rhonda's house. Carrie blew her a kiss, hoping in her heart that all of Helga's dreams would come true...

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~*~So ends the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, that's awesome...please tell me what you thought, and, if you want to, give me some constructive criticism!! It's always welcome. Again, I'm sorry for it being so late. Hopefully, I'll get the second chapter in sooner...~*~

~*~ I'm not sure about how putting in a picture will work, so if this doesn't work, email me and I'll send you the picture~*~'

~*~ Helga's Dress~*~