Flawed

By Miss Matched

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Interlude

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"I must say how impressed I was with your papers." Dr. Bliss began as the class sat down. The long recess had them antsy and longing once again for the outdoors. Many students were squirming in their chairs, and Curly was attempting to sneak out the window without being noticed. Luckily, Mr. Simmons caught this and began to pull him back down. Curly didn't put up much of a fight, but did say that the blood of the monkeys would be on Mr. Simmons' balding head. Dr. Bliss cleared her throat to direct attention back to her at the front of the room.


"Yes, there will be another assignment." Dr. Bliss continued, looking down at her papers. "Yes Stinky, it's due tomorrow, and no Harold, it doesn't involve food." Those two raised hands went back down. "Your job will be to compile in the most interesting way that you can think of, a list of things about your partner that not many people know. I will check to see that it is done tomorrow, but you will not turn it in. On Friday you may use it as a part of your presentations. Does that make sense?" The room suddenly became dead-silent except for the sound of Brainy's persistent, asthmatic breathing. Dr. Bliss smiled. "I'll take that as a 'yes'. Until tomorrow, children!" She picked up her folders as she said this, and walked out the door, unaware of a small piece of pink paper that came fluttering down from the stack.


Gerald gave Arnold a small, knowing smile as the good doctor left, then walked over to Phoebe's chair. Placing his hand on her shoulder, they walked over to two free desks at the other side of the room to begin the next phase of the project. After she sat down, Phoebe glanced over to Helga and gave her a thumbs up. Nervously, Helga walked over to Arnold's desk. As she was walking, Arnold grabbed the desk next to him and dragged it across from his own. Gathering his courage, he finally spoke.


"Truse again?" His eyes were hopeful, yet worried at the same time. Helga nodded.


"Truse again." She confirmed as she sat down. "So Football head... um, I mean..."


Arnold laughed, "It's okay. I'll survive."


"Um, right." Helga answered back nervously, looking down at her hands. Finally she broke the silence again. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just---- I don't know! I just..." She growled, and banged her hands against the desk, then laughed. "I don't know what do to with myself!" Unfortunately, these actions drew quite a bit of attention to herself. She turned in her chair and shook Old Betsy until finally people returned to their own conversations.


"I don't exactly know what you're talking about, Helga." Arnold admitted, taken aback at the display.


Helga leaned forward in her chair with her arms resting on the oak surface of the desk, trying to calm herself down. Her right hand began to rub against her left arm, a nervous habit she'd gained from over the years. "I don't know how to handle myself around you. It's conflicting emotions, but I don't know why." She paused for a few moments as those words hung uneasily in the air. "And if you ever tell anyone that I told you that, I'll... I'll..." she crossed her arms over her chest huffily, realizing that she didn't know what she'd do. "I'll do... something."


For once in nine longs years, Arnold had the upper hand. The power that the female bully over him had been lifted, leaving her vulnerable, a mere shadow of herself. The facade she'd put up so long ago was peeling away as she clumsily tried to cling to it. Arnold knew that if he ever wanted to reach through to her, now would be the time. But just as those thoughts passed through his mind, a new set replaced them.


"Helga, it's okay, you can forget about what happened on the FTI building." It took him a while to get those words out for fear that someone else would hear them. Leaning forward, he continued, speaking slowly, softly and rhythmically as if telling a story to a frightened child. "This'll be the last time I'll ever mention it; it doesn't change my opinion of you, I promise." He chided her gently as he put his hand atop hers. "Remember? We got caught up in the moment, you still hate me. I'll never forget that." He alluded to the very words she had told him that day with a wink of his own. "Now, come on. Let's get this project done."


Arnold's words hit Helga like a smack in the face, but she bit her tongue. And while she did so, something did crumble. Not the facade she'd worn so long, but her heart.



(AN: Please no one kill me! Or maim me, or anything of the like. I began this as chapter six, but then realized that it would do better on it's own. The next chapter will be the most important of the entire story so far. So, hang in there. I'll have the next chapter up before I leave to Colorado, hopefully.)