A Midsummer Night's Dream
Chapter 4: We Don't Have to Act
A/N at the bottom
"Miss Pataki, can I go through with this poetry lesson, or will I have to send you into the hall as to not contradict my teaching?" Helga smirked weakly and stood up from her seat.
"I suppose I shall save you the trouble and escort myself into the hall Mr. Broddenham." Before she left she picked up her copy of e.e.Cummings and sauntered into the hall. Everyone watched her leave, but only one pair of eyes stayed glued to the door long after it had closed.
"Arnold…Arnold." His head snapped back to the front of the room. "I asked you if you could read to us the one hundred and sixteenth sonnet by Shakespeare."
"Oh, yeah…ummm, 'Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments.'" Suddenly, the words seemed to flow for him, as if he were hearing Helga speak them to him.
"'Love is not love
Which alters when in alteration finds
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O, no it is an ever-fixèd mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.'" These last words to come seemed almost painful to speak…
"'If this be error, and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.'" Her voice faded from his head as he looked toward the door, almost seeing her sitting against the wall in the hall reading from her book.
"Arnold!" He shook his head to rid himself of this image. A few people snickered around him. "I said, what does this poem mean?"
"Oh, uhhh…it's about…well, the union of minds." Paraphrase it, right, what would Helga say? "A strong sort of love, stronger than any physical attraction. Shakespeare is saying that a love so strong is pure, unalterable and will never be broken, not even by death." Arnold glanced toward the door, half expecting Helga to be peaking into the room.
"Excellent. What Arnold here told us—"
"Can I use the bathroom Mr. Broddenham?"
"Umm, sure. As I was saying—"Arnold got up quickly from his seat and sprinted for the door, tearing it open. He looked around wildly, seeing Helga nowhere in sight.
"Shit," he cursed and paced about, thinking about where Helga could possibly have gone…
"Hey football head," A voice came from behind him, sounding a bit weary. "What are you doing out here?" He stopped pacing immediately, whipping his head in her direction.
"Helga, where did you go?" She gave him an odd look.
"Uhh, I went to the bathroom, football head. Am I not allowed to do that?" He shut his eyes that had suddenly blurred up and rubbed the heel of his palms to soothe the sting. "Are you okay Arnoldo?"
"Yeah." He looked at her. She seemed confused, with her eyebrow furrowed a bit as though she were trying to study him. He liked it. "Did you hear anything in there?"
"Um, no." Arnold's heart fell just a little. For some reason he wanted her to know that he understood the way she was feeling. "Where are you going anyway?"
"Nowhere…just to the bathroom."
"Oh. Well, want to sit out here instead of going back into that stupid class room?"
"Sure." She leaned up against the wall and slid to the floor easily. Following suit, he landed a bit harder seeing as he wasn't able to catch himself with two hands. He leaned over to see what she was reading.
"What is that?"
"e.e.Cummings, doi." Arnold sighed.
"I know that, but what are you reading?"
"Nothing."
"Yes you are, read it to me."
"You don't want to hear it."
"Yes I do."
"You won't understand it."
"Try me." Helga scowled.
"You are so freaking persistent football head. Fine, I'll read it to you." She found a comfortable position and began to read.
"i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday ;this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)"
She stopped, looking up at Arnold only to see his eyes piercing through her with something in them, something strong. Dare she say lust or even…love? Only in her wildest dreams.
"I think you underestimate my intelligence, Helga."
"I-I didn't mean to say—"
"I know you didn't." Subconsciously he moved closer to her. "You don't want to believe that I can understand you."
"I-I…"
"Helga, you can come back in now…" The two shot apart quickly as Lila looked down, seeming very confused. "Whatever are you doing Arnold?"
"Um, nothing." He got to his feet and began walking into the classroom.
"But I thought you were going to the bathroom?"
"I-I did…" Lila watched him go inside, then peered down at Helga.
"Whatever is going on, Helga?"
She shrugged. "I really don't know, Lila."
A few weeks passed after the hallway incident between Arnold and Helga. They kept their distance during this time, only speaking to each other when desperately needed. This mostly included Helga yelling at Arnold every moment she got.
"Ugh! Get it right, this time, football head. We're supposed to be off book by now!" Arnold sighed exasperatedly, almost used to Helga reverting to her old ways.
"I know, Helga, I'm trying."
"Well…try harder! Someone get him a script!" Phoebe rushed to the stage and handed Arnold her book. He skimmed the page until he found the spot.
"That very time I saw, but thou couldst not,
Flying between the cold moon and the earth,
Cupid all armed. A certain aim he took
At a fair vestal thronèd by the west,
And loosed his love shaft smartly from his bow,
As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts.
But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft…"
"No, No, NO, Arnoldo! You're telling Puck that you love Titania!"
"But isn't he going to play a trick on her?"
"Yeah, but deep down he still loves her. He's doing it to gain power."
"I thought he wanted the changeling."
"No, the changeling is something he can't have, so he'll do anything to get it. It's a device Shakespeare uses to show that Oberon is power hungry. He doesn't want to be level with Titania, he wants to rule over her…and getting the changeling from Titania would show that he is more powerful and intelligent than she is."
"Okay." Helga sighed.
"You know what, let's run the catfight between Hermia and Helena, give football head and crazy boy a rest."
Lila, Sid, Stinky and Gloria got up on stage and prepared themselves for the lame fight scene that was about to occur.
"All right people, from Lila's line."
"O me! You juggler! You canker blossom!
You thief of love! What, have you come by night
and stol'n my love's heart from him?" Helga snickered…how badly she wanted to be Helena up there, and let Arnold be Lysander. She didn't care who Dimitrius was, as long as Helga got the guy and Lila wound up with no one.
"Fine, I' faith!" Gloria shouted at Lila.
"Have you no modesty, no maiden shame,
no touch of bashfulness? What, will you tear
impatient answers from my gentle tongue?
Fie, fie! You counterfeit, you puppet, you!"
"Puppet? Why so? Ay, that way goes the game." And they started to fight, Lila slapping Gloria first, the blonde retaliating by pulling Lila's braids. The guys looked on in glory. There was some weird thing about guys loving to watch girls fighting…something erotic that girls apparently missed. Helga saw nothing but bad acting in this fight scene. She looked over to where Arnold sat and saw him watching wide-eyed.
"Stop, stop. I wouldn't want either of you to break a nail before opening night. Why don't you four take this out in the hall and polish the scene. Everyone else is dismissed." People were walking toward their things, happy for the short rehearsal. "Except football head." Arnold sighed, grabbed his backpack and walked over to Helga.
"Yeah?" He looked up at her, but she was too busy looking at her clipboard.
"You suck at this memorization thing, you know that?"
"Thanks, Helga."
"You need someone to run your lines with you."
"If you're thinking I run them with Curly…"
"No, not him…someone else who has a lot of lines opposite you."
"Well, Sheena has been kinda busy with Environmental Club."
"Damnit."
"Do you want to help me run lines, Helga?" She scowled at him, even though he could see through her façade clearly now.
"Do I have to do everything for you, football head?"
"You could come over to my house tonight, if you don't mind my grandmother bothering us every two minutes about what to send the King of Aruba." She gave him a weird look.
"Whatever. I'll be there at seven. I want you to practice your lines before I get there."
"Sure, Helga. I'll see you then." Helga walked away wondering what the hell she got herself into.
The Sunset Arms was exactly as she had remembered it years ago. She had stopped sneaking into his house around seventh grade, but that didn't wash the memories away of what the place used to look like. Arnold's grandfather answered the door, like the many other times she had rung.
"Yeah, what do you want? We all ready paid the electric bill, stop coming by."
"No, I'm here to run lines with Arnold."
"Ohh, why didn't you say so. Come on in." Helga followed him in and he took a good look at her. "Aren't you Big Bob's kid?"
"Yep."
"Okay, I'll go get the boy. Oh, Arnold!" He yelled as he ran up the stairs.
"Yeah, grandpa?"
"Your little friend's here. The cranky one with the one eyebrow."
"Oh, Helga. Yeah, thanks Grandpa."
"No problem short man." He lowered his voice. "But keep it down, your grandma and I need to get some sleep tonight, if you know what I mean."
"Grandpa!"
"Ha ha, just kidding short man. She's waiting downstairs for ya…oh, you'd think I'd have built a tolerance to raspberries by now but they keep giving me problems." Arnold shook his head as the door to the WC closed. He peered down the stairs, seeing Helga engrossed in a conversation with his grandmother.
"Oh, Katherine, I absolutely loved that movie you did for Mr. Hughes."
"Hey Helga."
"Oh, Arnold, isn't it wonderful! Katherine Hepburn has decided to visit us! Don't you just love her work.."
"Uh, yeah Grandma. My room is upstairs, Helga."
"Don't keep her long, Arnold or she'll miss her plane back to Hollywood." Arnold tried to run upstairs as fast as he could, ushering Helga quickly into his room.
"So that's your grandma?" Arnold was afraid of what she might say. He knew his family was weird, but he didn't want to hear it from anyone else. "She's brilliant."
He couldn't believe his ears. "What?"
Helga smiled. "I think she's hilarious." Arnold's heart sank.
"I know she's a little weird, Helga…"
"I'm not saying she's weird, maybe a little eccentric, but whose not?"
"She talks to herself sometimes."
"So? Virginia Woolf talked to herself, and look at the brilliant work she came up with. Would you call her weird?"
"No…maybe eccentric."
"My point exactly, now let's pound those lines into the ground."
Arnold was surprised to see Helga in a better mood than she had been earlier, but as the moon began to wane far west, he was more than ready to call it a night.
"Now, until the break…Oh Helga I can't do this anymore."
"It's only a few more stinkin' lines Arnoldo."
"How many?"
She counted them up. "About twenty."
"Ugh." Arnold flopped backwards onto his bed, rubbing his eyes with his fist.
"Come on, Arnold, just get this monologue right and you'll have it."
"Can I do it lying down?"
Helga sighed. "Fine, you can say it lying down."
"Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stays…"
"Stray, Arnold, 'each fairy stray.'"
"…each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us shall blessed be;
And the issue there stake…"
"Create."
"…create
Ever shall be fortunate.
So shall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be;
And the blots of Nature's hand
Shall not in their issue stand.
Never mole…never mole…"
"harelip, nor scar…"
"What is a harelip?"
"Does it really matter, football head?"
"You're the one who told us to figure out everything we're saying."
"You should have figured that out before."
"Helga…"
She sighed. "It's like a cleft lip, now keep going."
"…harelip, nor scar,
Nor mark prodigious, such as are
Despised in nativity,
Shall upon their children be.
With this field-dew consecrate,
Every fairy take his gait,
And each several chamber bless,
Through this palace, with sweet peace,
And the owner of it blest
Ever shall in safety rest.
Trip away; make no stay;
Meet me all by break of night." He looked up at her and noticed her staring up at his skylight.
"You didn't realize I made a mistake."
"Huh," she brought her eyes back to his.
"I made a mistake, on the last word. It's day, not night. You didn't notice it."
"Oh, well…it's late and I'm tired."
"Yeah."
"Maybe I'd better be getting home."
"It's late, Helga, just stay here." She sat where she was, completely shocked.
"I-I-I can't…"
"Why not? It's a Saturday tomorrow."
"P-Phoebe's waiting for me downstairs."
"Helga…" He sat next to her, holding her down by the shoulders. She relaxed in his grip and leaned against his bed.
"Arnold, what are we doing?" She looked into his eyes, trust floating around, but also confusion.
"Practicing my lines," he said truthfully. She snorted.
"I know that, but why do I need to hide from you?"
"Why are we acting?"
"I don't…know." She looked down, fidgeting with her shirt hem. He sighed and let his right hand rest on her cheek, feeling it become wet as a single tear fell. "Are we acting?"
"We don't need to."
"I, just, I…" He pulled her head so it was level with hers and took her in. Her eyes, misty from the emotions running between them, her lips, soft and warm. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip, feeling her warm breath on his hand. It sent a shock through his body. Her breathing became more shallow as his was more labored. They had said all they needed to without even saying it. All they needed was…
"Oh, Arnold…" He leaned slowly, painfully, so that his forehead was touching hers, and her hand was on his shoulder. They were level, and almost ready to…
"Cinderella, your pumpkin is here to pick you up!" They pulled back quickly, Arnold hitting his head on the shelf behind him as his grandma ran quickly to Helga and grabbing her wrist.
"You don't want it to turn into a shoe, you'd better hurry!"
"I'll see you tomorrow, Arnold." And she left the room, leaving him alone with her scent lingering to taunt him, to remind him how he had almost kissed her.
"I almost kissed her," he said aloud to himself, only to make it real and painful. And sad. He was sad, and cold. Slowly he crawled beneath the sheets of his bed and fumbled for the remote, turning his lights off.
Phoebe was waiting for Helga in the car as Helga was ushered out by Arnold's grandmother. Helga stumbled into the car as Phoebe inquired smugly what had taken Helga so long. One look at Helga's face and she had her answer.
"Phoebes, can I spend the night?"
"Of course, Helga." And they took off for Phoebe's house, straight across town from the yellow haired boy Helga had fallen in love with all over again.
Phew…well, I wanted to get that up before the new Harry Potter book came out because I'm going to be doing a lot more with my HP fic after reading the 6th book. Only one day guys! I'm really going to be up all night reading that…sad.
I've been kinda busy lately with Harry Potter, work, a book I'm writing for a company ( a motivational book), getting ready for my first year of college (woot woot!), and trying to have a social life when I'm not doing all of the above. :D
Thank you to all my reviewers! You guys keep me going! Keep those reviews coming to keep me pumped and I'll
C ya l8ter! (Wow, haven't done that in a while.)
Arnoldnhelga4eva.
Disclaimer: Although I LOVE e.e.Cummings, Shakespeare and Hey Arnold, I don't own any of the three…sorry to say. Perhaps I can equate to them some day…
