Author's note: Thanks for all the reviews, even if there's not too many of 'em. They really help me going on.
Unlike my other story, HEAT is based on some of my real summer experiences. Well, let's just say we have our own little Lila here, who was in very similar trouble like she was in the third chapter. And I've been to that place where Gerald is right now, being attracted to the girlfriends best friend, horrible as it is. But mainly I just wanted to show the mood of those summer nights and try to interpret those stories in a funny way.
Arnold freaks out
Lila had the best time ever in the back of the car, while they took her back to the house. The fact, she's almost got raped, didn't bother her too much. There was a lot of amphetamine working in her system.
"Hey cutie. Don't you wanna make out or something?" - she asked.
"Stop staring at me Lila. You're creeping' me out." - Helga said.
"C'mon, don't be so shy." - she replied as she tried to kiss Helga.
"Boys, I think we have a problem here." - Helga said.
"Hey, Gerald, don't look so gloomy. Do you want me to make you feel better?" - Lila said, as she turned to the person on her left.
"I'm Rhonda thank you very much."
"Eh, you two look oh-so the same." - she said, as she turned back to Helga. Rhonda looked surprised.
"Where were we?" - she asked smiling, while she was try to kiss Helga again, who tried to avoid her, without hurting her too much.
"Of course, now the girls are sitting with her in the back." - Arnold murmured in the front seat.
"Who do you want to fool Arnold. You're too much of a wuss to take advantage of her." - Gerald said.
"Like you're not."
"I'm a much worse person than you think I am." - Gerald answered.
At last they've got back to the house with Lila. Arnold helped her out of the car, because Helga tried to get as far from her as she could.
"Hey, it's Arnold!" - she said in surprise - "I love this guy! He has such a funny head!"
"She's got a point." - Helga said.
"C'mon Lila, you need to lie down."
"But I don't want to!" - Lila said, like a little brat. - "Hey, won't you come with me?"
"I don't think it's a good idea Lila."
"Yeah you're right. She would kill me." - she said. And with that, she started humming a weird tone. It took some time to Arnold to recognize it's the main theme of Teenage Ninja Hero Turtles. Arnold tried to help her to find her room.
"That girl is so high." - Gerald said to Rhonda. - "I've never seen anything like it."
In the house the others were sitting at the table, hitting the cards.
"Watch out. Stoned girl comin' trough." - Arnold said, as he entered with Lila.
"Hey guys. It's oh-sooo cold in here." - Lila said - Someone have to keep me warm." - Sid and Stinky stood up in the same time, to volunteer to the task.
"Forget it boys." - Arnold said. - "She's going straight to bed now."
"Arnold will take me to bed." - Lila said, with happy, stupid expression on her face and then she giggled a little. Arnold took her to her room, and lied her on the bed.
"Hey! Check out if there are monsters under the bed!" - Lila said. Arnold took a deep breath. It will take him some time to put Lila to sleep.
After checking the closet for monsters, and singing Lila a bedtime song (Well, he didn't know any bedtime songs, so he sang Strangers in the night - Lila didn't notice the difference.) She finally went to sleep. He was heading back to the hall to see the others when he heard Helga's nervous voice.
"What's taking so long?" - Helga asked.
"I dunno." - Harold said - "Maybe Arnold's getting laid at last. He needs it."
"Stop being an asshole." - Rhonda answered.
"I... I... I need some fresh air." - Helga said, and Arnold heard how she shut the door when she left.
"What's wrong with her?" - Harold asked.
"It's nothing. You should have seen her, when Arnold had a date with Sheena. That was killer." - Rhonda said. Then, she realized Arnold is in the room too. Under other circumstances, what she said wouldn't mean too much, but tonight, Arnold heard too many hints. They all knew it. Rhonda looked at Arnold's face, and she could see the flash of understanding.
"I'm so dead." - she said as a fact. Arnold sat down to the table in disbelief.
"She... loves me? Helga is in love with me?" - he asked. There was dead silence in the room. Everybody looked down guilty.
"Yep." - Phoebe said after a while. There was no point in deny it.
"Yeah." - Rhonda followed..
"Duh." - it was Sid.
"Pretty much." - Stinky replied.
"How do you know?" - Arnold asked. He thought it is just some weird speculation.
"Well, she told me when we were nine." - Phoebe said.
"I found it out at twelve." - Rhonda said.
"I overheard it when I was peaking at Phoebe and Rhonda at the girl's locker room." - Sid joined.
"What?" - Rhonda and Phoebe stood up in the same time.
"That's another issue." - Sid tried to chill them.
"I heard it from Sid." - Stinky said.
"I heard it from Stinky." - Harold said.
"Don't look at me dude, I only know it since two days." - Gerald shouted.
"You knew it too?" - Arnold asked.
"Yeah. She kinda told me."
"Is there anybody who don't know it in the school?" - Arnold asked in desperation
"Well, I don't think the new exchange students heard it. But I'm sure they will get the newsletter in September." - Rhonda said.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!" - Arnold screamed out. - "You say, the hottest, most interesting girl in the school is in love with me... and I'm the last to know?" - he said - "High School supposed to be about gossips and mind games! I can't believe none of you was bitchy enough to tell me!"
"We're... sorry?" - Phoebe said. She wasn't sure what is she apologizing for.
"But you must know, she's like totally, insanely in love with you." - Rhonda said - "It's not like a crush or something. You know those anonymous love poems in the school paper? She wrote them to you." - Rhonda said.
"Rhonda!" - Phoebe raised her voice.
"I don't know why I said that!" - she said, as she grabbed her own head. - "Stop me please!"
Arnold just stood there and tried to adjust to the fact. The girl who was all in his sexual fantasies was in love with her. The one, who he thought - will alway be out of his league. It was just like... a pretty cruel joke. He turned around, and went to the door.
"Where are you going?" - Rhonda asked.
"To find Helga of course." - he said.
"What will you say to him?" - Phoebe asked.
"That I love her." - Arnold said. And he felt that way, he knew it now. He was never brave enough to admit it to himself.
"Arnold is that a good idea?" - Sid asked - "Cuz I will lost a lot of money, if you two get together, and..." - but Arnold left by then. - "Damn!"
"I told you, it's so meant to be. Prepare you're wallet dude." - Stinky said smiling.
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The night was so fresh and beautiful Arnold felt like he's walking on clouds of heaven. He knew exactly where Helga is - looking at the stars on the shore. He has seen the dreamer in Helga many times. He just didn't know she was dreaming about him.
At last, the hell of his teenage years was over. He had his mate, and she loved him back. How many time they wasted simply because of fear. It was horrible to even think about. But maybe it was for the best. They both had a lot of growing up to do.
Soon, he can hug Helga and kiss him, while her beautiful body will bath in the light of the full moon. He just couldn't wait - all of his teenage hormones were screaming in his blood.
Soon, everything will be alright at last.
Everything will be the way it should be.
Perfect.
"It's so weird we've met like this here. No one ever comes here."
"Well, it's a nice place to think pal."
"Yes it is. And it's a good thing to do a lot of other things too."
"I bet." - she said, and let the boy kiss her. Jake was a very gentle kisser. It felt so right, in the sand, while the waves of the ocean fondled their feet. Helga was close to happiness at last.
Arnold wanted to scream as he saw Helga and Jake kissing. Jake the older handsome guy, with his almost perfect, muscular body. Arnold's more primitive instincts wanted to destroy him, and take Helga by force. But he didn't listen to those instincts. He never did. Helga noticed the boy looking at him so they stopped kissing.
"Hey, hair-boy, what's up?"
"Nothing." - he said - "I just wanted make sure you're fine."
"She is." - Jake said smiling.
"I see." - Arnold said as he turned around and walked back to the house. "I see."
/It really wasn't Arnold's night was it. I hope you like the style of this story, it's a little different from what I wrote before. Please review! Thanks!/