This story is taking me so many places. I have no idea to where it's going, but I know it's going to be great. I hope this chapter will clean up any confusion from the last. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! or its characters. All that technical stuff belongs to Craig Bartlett.
Thanks to all those who have reviewed.
Tinánia Legolinde- I know what it is. I'm a born again Christian. That's not good you almost burned down your house. You'll have to be more careful with rice from now on. :) I'm glad your mom didn't make you throw the posters away. She doesn't seem too bad, just protective. That's great you'll be done with high school, ugh, I still have another three years to go. I'm going to start counting the days. 1023, 1022, 1021, etc. Okay that's enough. In a way Brainy did trick Helga, but not on purposely. He thought she loved him as much as he loved her. I don't know what Arnold is going to do. We'll just have to see what happens. I hate using plot lines. They don't work for me and even when I do make them I always go off track. For this story I started out with an original idea, but that idea has become a lot different. So I learned to give up on outlines a long time ago. Thanks for being such a faithful reviewer.
Queen Artemis- Awww, did it really make you cry? I'm happy it had that much effect on you. I'm glad you like the story that much. I think your story "Am I Too Lost?" is going great. I just read the last chapter and I, too, felt like crying (in a good way).
RuffMaster- Thank you, I'm happy you've taken notice in my improved writing. I think it's mostly because I feel more comfortable with this story. To take this story to a different level wasn't my plan. It just kind of happened as I was writing it. Deep down Brainy knows the truth behind Helga and Arnold, but he refuses it because he doesn't understand why. I don't know if that made sense, but thanks for reviewing.
Estel fuga- I'm so grateful to you for being such a faithful reviewer. Did you get my review for your story? Brainy's actions were kind of harsh, but he has so much anger from the situation. I'm sorry the chapter was short. If I would have wrote everything I wanted to for it, it would have came out entirely too long. I also wouldn't have updated for another week. I'm glad you like the way the story is headed.
Ms. Frosty- Is that the first time I made you cry? You read my writing so well. Brainy feels enormous amounts of love towards Helga, so much he would do anything to keep her. I'm happy you liked me putting the gang in high school. I just thought I wrote all I could write for their elementary school years. Sigh, it was time to move on. I'm glad you like the confusion. It's good not to always know what is happening with the characters. Thanks for reviewing once again.
Amelia Badelia- Thanks for the advice and I'm glad you liked my story. With my story I have no idea when it will end. It kind of tells me when it's finished. When I started writing I had no outline of how many chapters there would be. But from what I'm thinking it's probably going to be another 5-7 at least.
maya jade- Thank you so much. I love it that you enjoy the way the story is heading. I appreciate you stopping by to review.
Chapter 9: New Found False
Sprinting into the girls' restroom Helga deemed herself too debilitated to breath. Her body began to convulse from lack of air. After regaining mobility Helga searched under the stalls to confirm no one else made their presence in the area. Stepping into the corridor Helga laggardly declined to the linoleum floor and began sobbing into her trembling arms as thoughts of Brainy weighted her mind. What was he thinking? How could he do that? He said he loved me! What a crock! I was a delusional fool to believe him.
Bring!
Lasting for a minute, the bell echoed through the slated walls alerting tardiness for those students who still solicited in the hallways, but Helga conjectured no concern. Confronting Brainy in that classroom after he had threatened her with obscure actions was not what Helga wanted. The anger that had showed in his obstinate eyes as he catapulted her locket to the wall had petrified her. To Helga it felt as if he would have rather thrown her against that hard surface.
"I hate him," Helga muttered her crying relenting. In the duration of their relationship Brainy had never exhibited violence towards her. This did not appear to be the Brainy Helga had known; this appeared to be a new, dangerous person. Helga felt additional fear at this. She had conceived the notion that she understood him down to the depths of his lathered soul. Never had she viewed this boy before, the man behind the mask.
Wiping her reddened eyes Helga stood trying to balance on her unsteady legs. Warily she took small paces to the mirror where she stared into the piercing blue eyes that punctured her soul. Reflecting from the defiled glass Helga distinguished a young woman whose spirit had been shattered and now was forced to collect the pieces, a belittled young girl who pleaded from the vacancy of her troubled life, and an abashed teenager whose confusion continued to escalate. But in the mixture of images Helga foresaw herself; a robust individual who spurned to be conquered from recent problems. Somewhere inside she would construct the strength to challenge her despair.
Revolving the knob cold water began rushing from the faucet. Helga soaked her scarlet face and the peered again at her knowing reflection. You're a stubborn girl Helga. A translucent grin marked her mouth replacing the scowl as she visualized her new found strength.
~*~*
Since Lila had convinced him to walk her to class, Arnold now hurried to his locker already detained. Shifting to his knees Arnold entered his combination for the retrieval of his Algebra book. Less than twenty-four hours ago they had announced their evolved relationship, and already Arnold could not tolerate her. He realized that he valued Lila's optimistic outlook regarding stressful situations, but the idea that she presented no other emotion agitated Arnold. No anger, no sadness, no worry possessed her. To him, she held no vitality for life; she represented jaded perfection. When the word perfection boasted, Arnold instantly thought of Helga who performed the opposite. She retained all the trivial emotions that he could ever expect from a mate causing him to desire her more.
"I need to break up with her," Arnold told himself still attempting to convince his locker to show its contents. Whenever Arnold mentioned the topic Lila's exaggerated pout caused him to transgress to a different subject. Understanding that she meant no harm Arnold rejected the idea of hurting her on purpose.
The latch of Arnold's locker refused to lift allowing him access. As the intractable locker challenged Arnold's efforts Helga took voluntary paces down the depleted hallway with her head facing down. Even with the abrupt detection of strength, her body still shook skittishly.
At the sound of flesh hitting metal Helga eyes shot up from their position on the floor. She saw him, she saw the boy that all the chaos in her heart revolved around. Oh my beloved, my heart's desire, how I wish I could compare my locket's image to you. Still, too much anguish overwhelmed her, she would never contemplate an ordinary conversation with him. He had not yet noticed her; she still had an opportunity to run away.
Heeding the sound of faint footsteps instilled in his ear Arnold's eyes peered away from his locker. Please let it not be Lila. Cutting short, Arnold's breath began to sputter. There, Helga walked, so near to him, ready to turn into a side hall. Securing fresh air into his lungs Arnold realized that this would be his only chance to speak with her unattached from Brainy. He abandoned his books to the view of his unopened locker and walked towards Helga's direction.
"Helga," Arnold managed halting his movements.
Pausing Helga dismissed walking away from an apprehensible opportunity even if her heart felt trampled.
"Arnold," she mocked turning her gaze upwards to meet his.
"Um…hey," Arnold stifled wanting to smack himself. How stupid was that? The inferior judgment of words did not prevent him from edging closer to Helga.
Isolated in a desolate hallway, they stood watching each other, passion building in their eyes. Both aspired to express to the other a significant word that would magically dissipate the conflicts and contrasts tearing them away, but silence intervened.
"Hey," Helga answered interrupting the disturbing quietness. Time came to an exhilarating halt as Helga stared into the towering green eyes of her true love. Five feet of undeniable air separated them from clinging on to one another, from displaying their sincere love.
"I, uh, are you okay?" Worry sifted into his body as Arnold noticed the smudged mascara under Helga's dispirited eyes.
"What?" Arnold's comment took Helga by surprise, causing her to turn from his inducing stare, "Of course, Arnoldo. Even if everything wasn't okay I wouldn't tell you anyway." Stepping backwards Helga was ready to leave his unyielding presence. She knew she had spoken the wrong words, but she refused to appear weak in front of him. For her the moment loomed disastrous until Arnold gravitated closer, so close Helga's nostrils flared with the scent of his faint aftershave. Grasping his powerful arms around her stiff body, Arnold hugged her tightly not allowing her to move. Helga stood speechless from the unexpected act; but soon found herself relenting to his caressing touch.
Oh my gosh, he's hugging me! I'm hugging him! We're hugging! The realization sunk into Helga's head as the words repeated themselves in her mind. All the plaguing emotions drifted from her soul as she continued to hold on to Arnold never wanting his body to recede from her clutch. Under her bosom Helga's heart leapt in ecstasy. She was positive its blatant thumping could be heard from anyone in ears' distance, but it didn't matter. I love him! Oh, how, I love-
"Arnold?" One set of bewildered eyes peered up at the voice that had interrupted the tranquil peace between them.
"Lila?" Rapidly, Arnold unhooked his grasp from Helga and took two slow steps towards the surprised brunette who stood with her arms folded. Her angered eyes narrowed in on Arnold and then relocated to Helga. Agitated, she began tapping her foot demanding an explanation.
"Arnold, what is ever so going on here?" A small frown dinted her face. This is not how I wanted my ever so first meeting with Helga to be. Why was she holding on to my boyfriend?
At her side Helga's arms fell limp. Lila? When did she move back? Her stare drifted to Arnold as he tried to succumb Lila's upset expression. Are they going out? Defeat arose inside of her; had Arnold taken advantage of her vulnerability? He lied to me, his behavior lied to me.
"Nothing is going on Lila. This isn't what it looks like," Arnold reached out his perspiring hands towards Lila.
Once again, tears pierced Helga's eyes. How could I be so stupid into thinking he liked me? Clasping her arms around her wavering body, she wanted to shut out the world from hurting her with another of its cruel jokes.
"Then what is it Arnold?" Lila questioned denying Arnold's outstretched arms.
"Go ahead, tell her Football Head," Helga's voice crumpled as she contemplated Arnold through clenched teeth.
Helplessly, Arnold gazed at Helga and then back to Lila. No practical words surfaced in his boggled mind.
"I, she, we," he stumbled, passing his hand through his hair.
"Come talk to me when you have an oh so better answer." Rotating away from Arnold, Lila started walking speedily away not looking back.
"Lila, hold on," Arnold began to follow her, but then his rambled thoughts traced back to Helga," Helga, I'm sor-."
"Don't talk to me," Helga scowled, turning her back on him as a tear mustered down her cheek.
"I'm sorry," Arnold finished. Cautiously, he treaded to his locker and collected his discarded books. Then, he followed after Lila at a measured pace.
Bracing herself against the grey lockers, sobbing muffled Helga's throat as she watched the boy her heart had leapt for chase after the girl she despised. Her new found strength had fooled her. Before this incident she believed it would accompany her through every trial she encountered, but now she knew that belief was false.
A/N: Okay, what did you think? Isn't Lila becoming a real pain? Why did Arnold do that? Write me a review telling me your thoughts please. I love hearing them. Where do you think the story should go? Was this chapter too short? I hope not. Don't worry Brainy will come up in the next chapter. There was no room for him in this chapter. Thanks for reading and again don't forget to review.