A/N: This is a short chapter, a least shorter then they have been, because the last one was long and the next one might be long. Chapter 11 is probably going to be the longest so far, but we shall see, shan't we?
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold! but I do own a very fat cat. I love my kitty ^_^
Where to Begin
Chapter 9 – Starstruck
"I've been waiting a long time, for this moment to come. I'm destined for anything at all. Downtown, lights will be shining on me, like a new diamond ring out under the midnight hour. Oh, no one can touch me now, and I can't turn my back. It's too late, ready or not at all. Well, I'm so much closer than I have ever known. Wake up."
Arnold eyed Helga carefully, wandering how she could have so much energy. She was bobbing all over while she drove, singing at the top her lungs. She was happier then he had seen her in a long time, at least when she was not torturing him. He grimaced slightly at the memory of the night before. He stared at her uncomprehendingly. She had had school, basketball practice, and pageant practice, and she was acting as if she had just woken up from a four-hour nap. He glared at her out of envy.
"Well, it's been, Arnold," she said cheerfully as she pulled in front of the boarding house. That was something Helga tended to say from time to time. She would say "It's been," but she would not finish the statement by saying exactly what it had been. He did not move; he just stared at her inquisitively.
"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" she asked as she looked at her teeth in the rearview mirror.
"Aren't you going to turn the car off?"
"Why would I turn off the car if I am just going to have to turn it on again to leave?" she asked, throwing her hands in the air in mock fashion.
"Aren't you coming in?"
"What for?"
"We were going to work on the project, remember?"
Helga's brown eyes widened. "Oh, crap." She looked at him, guilt all over her face.
"Helga, it's okay if you forgot." Arnold stepped out of the car. "You can just call your parents inside."
She looked away from him and turned the car off. "It's not that, Arnold."
"What is it, then?"
"I, uh." She finally looked back at him. "I kinda made other plans," she said slowly.
What else could she be doing on a Wednesday? "What kind of plans?"
Helga discovered that her hands were very fascinating. "I'm going to the movies with Jake."
"What? It's like nine o'clock."
"I know. That's why I need to get home and shower and get ready. He's picking me up to go to the late movie at 9:30."
"They have a late movie on Wednesdays?"
"I guess."
Realization finally smacked Arnold in his football shaped head. "You're telling me you are blowing me off for Jake?"
She raised her eyes to him. "It's not really like that, Arnold."
"Then what is it like, Helga?" he snapped.
"Arnold, I forgot. It was an honest mistake," she said quietly. Arnold could tell she was truly sorry, but that did not change how he felt. "Sure, Helga. I bet you just 'forgot' that you were coming over here."
"Yes, that's it. It's not like we have been planning this for months, Arnold. You just told me yesterday."
Arnold rolled his eyes angrily. "I'm sorry. I forgot that when Jake Richardson comes riding by on his white horse and sweeps you away, he leaves every one else in the dust and in the back of your mind."
Helga put her face in her hands. "I can't believe you are blowing this way out of proportion. You're the calm and rational one!"
"I am thinking rationally, Helga! When else are we supposed to work on this?"
"We have tomorrow in class and the weekend."
"I have a game Saturday and Rhonda's taking you to the salon and to pick out your dresses Saturday, remember? Or did you forget all about that as well?"
Helga had forgotten that Rhonda had made plans with her for Saturday. "You know, I'm sorry I can't be like you, Arnold, and never make mistakes. I am truly, honestly sorry I can't be more like a holier-than-thou football head," she hissed.
"I never said that."
"You are implying it! Is there anything else you would like to add about me? Am I in any other way completely inferior to you, oh great Short Man?"
"I'm taller than you!"
She threw her hands in the air. "There's another one. C'mon, Arnoldo, keep the streak going!"
"Stop it, will you?" Arnold could not stand she was putting such horrible things in his mouth.
She looked away from him. "I just really like, him, Arnold." His eyes narrowed slightly. "But you are right, I should not have done this."
Arnold's expression softened slightly, but his heart felt crushed, and he had a bad feeling that it was not just because Helga forgot their plans. He grabbed his stuff. "You know what, don't worry about me or what I think. Just go to your movie with your precious Jake."
Her head snapped back towards him. "Arnold?"
He stared deep into her eyes, his own completely empty of emotions. "I'll be just fine without you, Helga." He shut the door and went inside.
"Arnold?" she asked to no one. She banged her head on the steering wheel. "How could I have been so stupid?"
¤ ~ ¤ ~ ¤
Helga rested her head against the window of Jake's black Mitsubishi Spyder and reflected upon the past couple of moments, which had all happened in a blur. She had been running late when Jake came to pick her up, but that was the normal thing for girls to do. Somehow she had managed to get ready in her dazed state. Jake had talked to her parents while she was getting ready, and amazingly Bob only referred to her as Olga once, and both her parents seemed to like Jake, who was currently talking about something, but Helga was not paying any attention. "Don't you agree, Helga?" he asked.
"What? Oh, whole-heartedly," she replied to the unknown question.
"I knew you would." Helga smiled slightly, but she had an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Jake watched her for a moment, then asked, "Helga, are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Because we can do this another time if you aren't up to it."
Helga stared at him, his eyes full of kindness and sympathy. Helga, what are you doing? she thought. You are on a date with an amazing guy, who for some odd reason likes you a lot. Forget about everything and just concentrate on him and on having a good time. She smiled. "No, I'm fine."
He returned the smile. "Good, because I hate to see you unhappy, and I would hate it even more if I would not be able to go out with you tonight."
Helga could not believe her ears. That's so sweet. "So would I."
His smiled widened. "Well, here we are. One movie, two medium sodas, and one large popcorn."
She climbed out of the car. "Raisenettes?"
"Of course." He took her hand. "Shall we?"
She giggled. "Let's." Jake bought the tickets for Just Married and the food, and they sat down in the middle of the crowded theater. After a few minutes, they both agreed that the movie was stupid, and decided to annoy the people around them by talking through the whole movie, a la Mystery Science Theater 3000. The two were laughing hysterically when they left the theater. "That guy behind us looked like he was about to beat the crap out of you," Helga said between laughs.
"I could have taken him." Jake held the car door open for Helga.
"Oh, is that why you ran out of the theater, dragging me with you?"
"I was trying to get you to safety in case he tried to attack you."
"Ah, I see." She smiled broadly. "I'm glad my hero wants to protect me, especially if he can save his own ass in the process."
He smiled but eyed her. "I didn't think girls cussed around guys."
"Then you need to be around girls more often."
Jake pulled the car into Ramon's Ice Cream Parlor. "No, I think I just need to be around you more often."
Helga blushed furiously as they walked into the restaurant and was sure her face was still red when they sat down. Helga's hands shook slightly as she ate, something that happened when she was nervous or had a lot of adrenaline. Jake noticed. "Helga, you're shaking."
She tried to shrug it off. "Oh, yeah, that happens sometimes."
"Are you sure that you are okay?"
"Well, I was just nervous about things going well," she said shyly.
He grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Me too."
She smiled. "Well, what do you think?"
"I think it's going so well that we might have to try it again just to make sure this isn't a fluke."
"Sound's good." She looked at his hand. "Whoa, where'd you get the bling-bling?" On his ring finger was the largest ring Helga had ever seen that was not fake.
He fallowed her gaze. "Oh, that was my dad's. He won the state football championship for West Hillwood back in '78."
"That's great that he gave it to you," she said, thinking of her own father.
"Yeah, I guess. It's the only thing that I have of him. He left my mom and me when I was six. He left it attached to a note that said he would always love me, but he just could not handle a family. Too bad I haven't heard from him in seven years."
Helga dropped her gaze. Big Bob may be a rotten father, but at least he was there. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. It's not like I am the only one it's ever happened to."
"Yeah."
"You ready to go?"
"Yeah. It's getting kind of late."
On the way home they talked mostly about her. Jake wanted to know all about the pageant and about the basketball team. Helga thought that the ride was too short. If she could, she would have had it last forever. Jake walked her to her door. "I hope you had a good time."
"I did."
He smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow." He leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. "Good night, Helga." She went inside, feeling amazingly and blissfully happy. She went upstairs in a daze and went directly to bed. She dreamed about her amazing night with Jake Richardson and held on to the idea that this was only the beginning.
¤ ~ ¤ ~ ¤
Helga arrived to her U.S. history class just before the bell because she had taken her time getting ready that morning. She suddenly had a feeling that the world was going to wait for her. She sat in her seat as Mr. Phegley took roll call. Arnold was working on his Pre-Calculus homework. After the attendance was taken, the class went down to the library. Helga put her books down on the table where Arnold was sitting and sat down across from him. "So, what should we work on today?"
He did not look up from the book he was reading. "Why are you asking for my opinion? You'll just do what ever you like in the end."
"You're still mad," she said softly.
"Yes, I'm still mad," he snapped. "Is there any other completely obvious observations you would like to point out. I know, your favorite. I have a football-shaped head."
Her blood began to boil. "Damnit, Arnold, can't you get over it already?"
"You don't get it, do you?"
"Get what? So I messed up, Arnold. I forgot that we were supposed to study together. Big deal. Like I haven't done it before."
"But that was because you honestly forgot, not because you chose to go out on a date with the world's biggest idiot with great hair."
She folded her arms over her chest. "Is that was this is about? Are you jealous of Jake?"
He stood up. "No. It's just that I thought that you would be the last person to pick a guy over your best friend, that's all. But why are you upset? You got what you wanted, and by your mood this morning, you must have had a good time."
"I did," she said softly.
He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. "I'm glad. Now all you need is to find someone who cares." He walked to another table across the library. Helga could not believe what had just happened. She knew he would be mad, she was not that clueless, but she would never had guessed that he would have acted so hateful towards her. It was so unlike him, and she was the reason why he was acting this way.
¤ ~ ¤ ~ ¤
Arnold was watching the lights on the stage and was deciding what would look best for the pageant. He scribbled a few notes down when Josh walked over to him. "The lights on the steps are working great."
"Good," Arnold said.
"Hey, I didn't see Helga's car in the parking lot today."
Arnold wrote down a few more observations. "She had a game tonight."
"Oh. So who brought you here?"
"My friend Gerald. Speaking of which, can you take me home?"
"Sure." Josh paused. "But don't you want to go to Helga's game?"
"No," Arnold said shortly. "Try a little more blue," he called to Ryne and Reese who were controlling the lights.
Josh looked very confused. "Why not?"
"Let's just say I don't really feel like it."
"Is everything okay between you two?"
"It's fine," he snapped. Josh took a step back, surprised at his normally good-natured friend's demeanor. Arnold sighed. "We just got into a fight, that's all."
Josh chuckled lightly. "Trouble in paradise, huh?"
Arnold's eyes narrowed. "What is it with all the couple references? News flash: Helga and I have never and have no intention of ever dating."
"Sorry. So, if you don't mind too much, what happened?"
"She blew me off for another guy, but I think I went overboard, so I am really more angry at myself then her."
"Why don't you just tell her that?"
Arnold bit his lip. "It's not that simple."
"Why not? Just tell her what you just tell me."
Arnold sighed. "I'll talk to her tomorrow." Hopefully I will be over this by then. He hated fighting with her. Arnold stared up at the lights. And why did it bother him so much?
¤ ~ ¤ ~ ¤
Arnold rubbed his hands together as he stood in the icy February air on his roof. He came up here every time he needed to get away and think. He gazed at the cloudy black sky. "Where is a shooting star when you need one?"
"Funny. I asked myself the same thing when I was coming over."
Arnold turned around and looked at Helga. Her hair was wet and she was wearing sweats and a sweatshirt. A blue beanie was atop her blonde hair, and matching gloves and scarf adorned her hands and neck. He smiled when he looked at her feet. She was wearing bright blue flip-flops. She walked over to him and handed him a bag. "I brought you a peace offering."
He opened it. "Sweet tarts? Why sweet tarts?" He stared at the box of sour candies, which were in the shape of hearts for Valentine's Day.
"Because you are sweet, even though lately you have been slightly sour. And they are my favorites, just like you."
"Thanks."
She rocked back and forth. "Yeah."
They stood in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes when Arnold finally said, "Look, Helga, I'm sorry about the way I acted."
"You shouldn't be. It was my fault."
"Yeah, but I went overboard." He leaned against the rail and stared out at the city. "I was afraid that I was losing you."
Helga's eyes widened. She walked over and stood beside him. "You're not loosing me, and I am not leaving you."
"I know. I just, don't know."
"Arnold, it was just one date."
"Are there going to be more?"
She did not reply at first. "I hope so. But it's not like I'm marrying him."
"I just don't want you to get hurt."
She smiled. "Is that why you throw a fit? To try to get me to not go with him?"
Arnold blushed. "No. I don't really know what that was." He turned to her. "I just want you to be happy. You know that, right?"
"Yeah, I know. And I appreciate you looking out for me, but you really don't need to."
"I take it things went well, then?"
"Yeah. He's really sweet, Arnold."
He sneered. "I can't believe I missed that one," he said sarcastically. "I'm glad you're happy."
"I know." She paused. "So are we okay?"
Arnold nodded. "Yeah."
She smiled. "Great. I better get going, though. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Right."
"And we'll work on the project then."
"Helga, tomorrow's Friday."
"So?"
"So don't you want to go to a party or something?"
She shook her head. "Nope. I want to work the project with you."
He sighed. "And whatever Helga wants, Helga gets."
Helga laughed. "Damn straight." She hugged him. "Good night, Arnold."
"Night, Helga." He watched her as she left and as she pulled away. "Everything's fine, Helga." He stared at the blank sky. "Except that I have a crush on you, and you are with someone else."
A/N: That was nice and short. I like it, though it came out sappier then I intended it to be. Anyways, I really have to be working on my homework. I can't afford to fall behind, so updates will go back to their snail pace. But don't worry, I will be back and updating soon. Later days.