A/A***As always, I must thank my faithful readers, without whom this story
wouldn't be possible! I waited for inspiration to strike, so I hope this
chapter lives up to everyone's expectations! LOVE U GUYS!! On with the
show..
Chapter 6 Invisible (semi song based chapter-courtesy of Clay Aiken)
Arnold climbed down the stairs, the smell of salami and potatoes permeating the air of the boarding house.
" Well, at least it isn't watermelon again," he sighed to himself.
" There you are, Mon Capitian! We've been delaying rations dispension in anticipation of your arrival," Grandma was wearing a Napoleon type hat, white knickers and a blue general's jacket. She saluted with her spatula in hand.
" At ease, private loonypants," Arnold snapped involuntarily. He clapped his hands over his mouth with a gulp.
" As you wish, sir," Grandma passed the potatoes in his direction, completely unfazed by his sudden sarcasm.
" Well, Shortman, how are things going with your little friend with the singed off eyebrows?" Grandpa speared a slice of cooked salami and plopped it down atop his mound of mashed potatoes.
" My..friend? We're fine, I mean, SHE'S fine-Uh, everything's okay, why do you ask?" Arnold stammered nervously, sweat beading up on his football- shaped brow.
" Well, I was just wondering, since you aren't regaling us with one of your spirited yarns about her tonight. What, did she actually behave today?" Grandpa cocked an eyebrow with curiosity.
" I bet she was sick," Oskar chewed his food ravenously. " Is that right, Arnold? She was sick today?"
" I bet she moved out of the country!" Ernie laughed, smacking Oskar's wandering fork away absentmindedly. " Hands off, Kokoshka!"
" Now that's not nice, you two," Grandma interjected thoughtfully. " I myself think Eleanor is a delightful young lady, much like myself 68 years ago,"
" I bet she found a new boy friend to torture, is that it?" Mr. Hyunh piped up.
" She wasn't sick, she still lives 5 blocks away, I'm NOT her boyfriend, and for the love of pete, HER NAME IS HELGA! HELGA G. PATAKI! NOT Olga, NOT my "little friend" and definetly NOT ELEANOR!!" Arnold spouted in frustration. " CRIMENY!" He pushed his chair in haphazardly. " I'm going to Slausen's, Grandpa," he shot, grabbing his jacket. " At least I can eat in peace there!"
The slamming door vibrated in the silence of the room. The whole table sat gape mouthed in utter disbelief at Arnold's outburst.
" What does the G stand for?" Oskar interjected in a small voice, breaking the silence.
" Yeah, Pheebs, he really asked me out," Helga breathed into the phone, her body sprawled across her bedspread. " Like I would go out with the likes of Barnie,"
" At least, not as long as icecream is around, am I correct?" Phoebe inquired, her pencil poised above her notepad at the other end of the phone.
" Icecream? Oh, Arnold," Helga replied nonchalantly, acknowledging for the first time aloud that icecream was indeed code for her beloved. " You know, that's the weirdest thing. I feel like I should tell him that I love him, as it would be the right thing to do, but it's like my feelings are being suppressed in some way. I still think he's very attractive, but strangely interesting as well. I feel like.."
"Like what?" Phoebe waited patiently for Helga's reply.
" Like I should be his friend, and then see where things go. Weird, huh? All those times he tried to be MY friend, and now that I'm ready to take that step, he acts like I'm the scum of the earth! Go figure,"
" Helga, I really think we need to talk," Phoebe chewed nervously on the end of her pencil. " I think I can deduce what problem seems to be keeping you from acknowledging your true feelings-"
" Listen, I gotta go. I missed dinner thanks to Barnie's phone call, and me calling you afterwards. I think I'm heading to the falafal hut for a quick bite before bed,"
" But Helga-" Phoebe tried once more to intercept her friend's troubled thoughts.
" See ya at school tomorrow, Pheebs," Helga chirped, clicking the phone instantly.
" Yeah...but which you will I be seeing?" Phoebe mumbled to herself, the dead receiver hanging limp in her hands.
Arnold stalked down the sidewalk, his hands shoved into his pockets. Why did everyone have to give him the third degree about Helga? And why couldn't they show some REAL concern instead of mocking his problems. He shook his head. Was this what home life was like for Helga?
He plopped down in the nearest booth to the door once he entered Slausen's. "Triple neopolitan sundae, extra whip cream and don't spare the nuts," he ordered quickly without thought.
Suddenly, as he lifted his head, he saw her. Walking down the sidewalk was none other than the person who weighed so heavily on his thoughts today.
Helga whistled as she made her way to the falafal hut near Slausen's. She pulled out a 5 dollar bill and ordered.
Arnold pressed his nose against the glass. " There she is, my angel, my darling," He smiled wide as he went all loopy, lost in the sight of her. He shook his head as well, trying to clear his thoughts.
Where you going tonight Wish I could be A fly on your wall
Helga chewed thoughtfully as her mind returned to the day's events. She thought of Arnold, and how aloof he'd been all day. Why was he being such a pessimistic loner today? If only she could read his mind...
Are you really alone I wish I could read What goes through your mind...
Arnold pushed aside his long awaited dessert, peering through the glass at her. " Oh bright angel, if only I could go to you, speak the true depths of my soul and make you see how much I truly..."
What would it take for you to see that I'm alive?
If I was invisible Then I could just watch you in your room If I was invincible, I'd make you mine tonight
"...love you" Helga thought. Yeah, if she really did love him the way that she thought she did, then why was she now afraid of him?
" Because she'd break my heart," he whispered to himself.
If hearts were unbreakable Then I could just tell you where I stand I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible..
Arnold watched Helga walk away. She looked up at the window momentarily, but it was like she didn't see him at all. He hung his head in dispair.
Wait...I already am...
*****Well another chapter come and gone. It's almost been 24 hours, so now we get to the REAL good stuff. Sorry this one wasn't as funny as the others, I wanted to convey how helpless Helga normally feels in Arnold's persona. As always, R/R-you guys are awesome!!
Chapter 6 Invisible (semi song based chapter-courtesy of Clay Aiken)
Arnold climbed down the stairs, the smell of salami and potatoes permeating the air of the boarding house.
" Well, at least it isn't watermelon again," he sighed to himself.
" There you are, Mon Capitian! We've been delaying rations dispension in anticipation of your arrival," Grandma was wearing a Napoleon type hat, white knickers and a blue general's jacket. She saluted with her spatula in hand.
" At ease, private loonypants," Arnold snapped involuntarily. He clapped his hands over his mouth with a gulp.
" As you wish, sir," Grandma passed the potatoes in his direction, completely unfazed by his sudden sarcasm.
" Well, Shortman, how are things going with your little friend with the singed off eyebrows?" Grandpa speared a slice of cooked salami and plopped it down atop his mound of mashed potatoes.
" My..friend? We're fine, I mean, SHE'S fine-Uh, everything's okay, why do you ask?" Arnold stammered nervously, sweat beading up on his football- shaped brow.
" Well, I was just wondering, since you aren't regaling us with one of your spirited yarns about her tonight. What, did she actually behave today?" Grandpa cocked an eyebrow with curiosity.
" I bet she was sick," Oskar chewed his food ravenously. " Is that right, Arnold? She was sick today?"
" I bet she moved out of the country!" Ernie laughed, smacking Oskar's wandering fork away absentmindedly. " Hands off, Kokoshka!"
" Now that's not nice, you two," Grandma interjected thoughtfully. " I myself think Eleanor is a delightful young lady, much like myself 68 years ago,"
" I bet she found a new boy friend to torture, is that it?" Mr. Hyunh piped up.
" She wasn't sick, she still lives 5 blocks away, I'm NOT her boyfriend, and for the love of pete, HER NAME IS HELGA! HELGA G. PATAKI! NOT Olga, NOT my "little friend" and definetly NOT ELEANOR!!" Arnold spouted in frustration. " CRIMENY!" He pushed his chair in haphazardly. " I'm going to Slausen's, Grandpa," he shot, grabbing his jacket. " At least I can eat in peace there!"
The slamming door vibrated in the silence of the room. The whole table sat gape mouthed in utter disbelief at Arnold's outburst.
" What does the G stand for?" Oskar interjected in a small voice, breaking the silence.
" Yeah, Pheebs, he really asked me out," Helga breathed into the phone, her body sprawled across her bedspread. " Like I would go out with the likes of Barnie,"
" At least, not as long as icecream is around, am I correct?" Phoebe inquired, her pencil poised above her notepad at the other end of the phone.
" Icecream? Oh, Arnold," Helga replied nonchalantly, acknowledging for the first time aloud that icecream was indeed code for her beloved. " You know, that's the weirdest thing. I feel like I should tell him that I love him, as it would be the right thing to do, but it's like my feelings are being suppressed in some way. I still think he's very attractive, but strangely interesting as well. I feel like.."
"Like what?" Phoebe waited patiently for Helga's reply.
" Like I should be his friend, and then see where things go. Weird, huh? All those times he tried to be MY friend, and now that I'm ready to take that step, he acts like I'm the scum of the earth! Go figure,"
" Helga, I really think we need to talk," Phoebe chewed nervously on the end of her pencil. " I think I can deduce what problem seems to be keeping you from acknowledging your true feelings-"
" Listen, I gotta go. I missed dinner thanks to Barnie's phone call, and me calling you afterwards. I think I'm heading to the falafal hut for a quick bite before bed,"
" But Helga-" Phoebe tried once more to intercept her friend's troubled thoughts.
" See ya at school tomorrow, Pheebs," Helga chirped, clicking the phone instantly.
" Yeah...but which you will I be seeing?" Phoebe mumbled to herself, the dead receiver hanging limp in her hands.
Arnold stalked down the sidewalk, his hands shoved into his pockets. Why did everyone have to give him the third degree about Helga? And why couldn't they show some REAL concern instead of mocking his problems. He shook his head. Was this what home life was like for Helga?
He plopped down in the nearest booth to the door once he entered Slausen's. "Triple neopolitan sundae, extra whip cream and don't spare the nuts," he ordered quickly without thought.
Suddenly, as he lifted his head, he saw her. Walking down the sidewalk was none other than the person who weighed so heavily on his thoughts today.
Helga whistled as she made her way to the falafal hut near Slausen's. She pulled out a 5 dollar bill and ordered.
Arnold pressed his nose against the glass. " There she is, my angel, my darling," He smiled wide as he went all loopy, lost in the sight of her. He shook his head as well, trying to clear his thoughts.
Where you going tonight Wish I could be A fly on your wall
Helga chewed thoughtfully as her mind returned to the day's events. She thought of Arnold, and how aloof he'd been all day. Why was he being such a pessimistic loner today? If only she could read his mind...
Are you really alone I wish I could read What goes through your mind...
Arnold pushed aside his long awaited dessert, peering through the glass at her. " Oh bright angel, if only I could go to you, speak the true depths of my soul and make you see how much I truly..."
What would it take for you to see that I'm alive?
If I was invisible Then I could just watch you in your room If I was invincible, I'd make you mine tonight
"...love you" Helga thought. Yeah, if she really did love him the way that she thought she did, then why was she now afraid of him?
" Because she'd break my heart," he whispered to himself.
If hearts were unbreakable Then I could just tell you where I stand I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible..
Arnold watched Helga walk away. She looked up at the window momentarily, but it was like she didn't see him at all. He hung his head in dispair.
Wait...I already am...
*****Well another chapter come and gone. It's almost been 24 hours, so now we get to the REAL good stuff. Sorry this one wasn't as funny as the others, I wanted to convey how helpless Helga normally feels in Arnold's persona. As always, R/R-you guys are awesome!!