She stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom looking at herself. The black pants suit she'd packed was suddenly all wrong. Images of everything that could go wrong ran through her head with alarming clarity. She took a deep breath and focused on her face in the mirror.
"You can do this." She told herself firmly. "You are better than this, you can face them, all of them. It's only one night. Not even five hours. Get through this night and you can go home tomorrow."
She kept repeating it until she believed it enough to leave the bathroom. Walking into the main room, she glanced around making sure she hadn't forgotten anything.
She'd spent the entire day finishing up paperwork and working on dictations. She'd checked up on her patients and her messages. She'd even called Jennifer for a pep talk. Hence the speech in the bathroom.
"You can do this Pataki. It's only a reunion." She told herself one last time before grabbing her purse and leaving her room to face the unknown.
She ordered a drink from the small bar then eyed the crowd. There were some people she recognized, some she didn't, and a select few that even now she would never forget. Taking a sip from her drink, she spotted Sid and Stinky in the corner talking to a group of people. By the exit, she recognized Eugene and Sheena, talking animatedly with someone she could swear was Brainy.
Rhonda, Lila and Nadine were on the reunion committee so she'd seen them milling about the center from time to time.
"Helga!" Someone screamed across the room, startling her. Blinking, she turned towards the sound to see a short, slender Asian woman running at her full force. She had barely enough time to put down her drink and brace herself before the woman pounced.
"Phoebe!" She cried happily, returning the woman's bear hug.
Happily, Phoebe broke the hug, then punched her hard in the arm.
"Ow!" Helga exclaimed, rubbing the now sore arm. "What the hell was that for?"
"For dropping off the face of the earth and not letting me know where you were."
"Phoebe, I'm so sorry. I had to get out of Hillwood. I needed to get my mind straight."
"Did it work?" Asked the man standing beside Phoebe. Helga turned her attention to the older black man and smiled warmly.
"Hi Gerald." She said.
"What? No insults?"
She eyes his closely cropped hair. "Well, you don't look like Kid-N-Play anymore, so, no." She smiled again as he rolled his eyes.
"So, she been running you ragged?"
Gerald grinned. "I didn't know someone so small could have that much energy."
Phoebe slapped him lightly. "Hey." She turned back to Helga. "Oh! Let's sit down and I'll show you the kids."
"You two have kids?" She asked, allowing herself to be pulled along. Phoebe let her to a round table and pulled out a small book from her purse. Gerald laughed.
"Oh, you're in for it now."
Helga frowned. "Did you bring every picture you own?"
"Of course not. That could take a suitcase. These are just the basic ones." She opened the book. The first picture was that of a young teen girl with straight black hair and skin the color of caramel.
"This is our oldest, Valerie. She's fifteen now. She was thirteen in this picture." The next page showed the same girl only older standing next to a younger boy and an even younger girl.
"This was taken last month. These are all of our children. Valerie," She said pointing to the older girl. "That's Bryce. He's eleven." The grinning boy with the curly black hair and skin the color of milk chocolate. "And that's Karinna, our youngest. She's seven." The young girl with straight black hair up in two buns, her skin the same color as her sister. The youngest looked like she was pouting.
Helga smiled, as she went through the small photo album. "They're beautiful, Phoebe. Given the other half of their genetic material, I'm impressed."
Phoebe laughed. Gerald just glared playfully at her. "I think I've been insulted."
Helga shrugged. "Hey, some things have to stay the same."
A large screech from the doorway interrupted their conversation. The three turned in time to see Rhonda and Lila run towards an older blond man. Gerald stared at the man for a moment, before his face broke out in a grin.
"Holy…that's Arnold!"
Phoebe stood up, scanning the mass of blond hair still hugging the two women. "Looks like it. Go on honey."
He smiled at the two women. "I'll be right back."
Helga watched as Gerald made his way towards the front of the room. Both women had back away as Gerald approached. From this distance, she could see the blonde's face light up as he and Gerald did that silly handshake from their childhood years, and then catch each other up in a hug.
"So." Phoebe asked, watching her friend watch the two men. "Still addicted to ice cream eh?"
Helga smiled, turning her attention to the Asian woman. "You know, when I got this invitation, I called Jennifer. You remember her, Dr. Bliss?"
Phoebe frowned. "The psychiatrist you used to go to? You still talk to her?"
"She was my mentor. Anyway, she reminded me of something. Every day, I try to teach my patients about closure. Most of them have unresolved issues that need to be dealt with before they can ever get back to being healthy. She said it was time to practice what I preach."
"Good advice." Phoebe glanced up then smiled. "Let put it to the test now."
Helga's eyes widened. "What? No!"
But Phoebe was already standing up, a huge smile on her face. "If it isn't the carefree adventurer returned to mingle with his classmates." She teased. Taking a deep breath, Helga turned around in her seat. Phoebe's feet were off the ground as Arnold had picked her up in a hug. She took that time to stare at him unnoticed. Tall, muscular, tan and drop dead handsome. His blond hair was shaggy, but trimmed with a small growth of a beard on his face. His green eyes twinkled as he smiled.
"Gerald told me you brought the photo book." He said, his deep voice sending quivers down her spine. He put her down, his attention turning to the final person at the table as she stood up. Their eyes met and he froze. She managed to conjure up a smile.
"Helga?" He asked.
"Hey football head." She answered.
He grinned again, and took a step towards her. Before she could protest, he'd scooped her up in a bone-crushing hug.
"God I've missed you." He murmured in her ear. Between his voice and his scent, she actually felt herself melting in his arms. As quick as that, he let her go looking at all three of them.
"You guys don't know how much I've missed all of you." He said, sitting down at the table. Helga managed to get her wobbly legs to the chair and flopped down in it. He'd pulled the photo album over and was flipping through the pictures.
"Wow! They've grown up so much since the last pictures you've sent."
Phoebe caught Helga's eye and smiled, patting her on the leg.
Dinner went by too fast, the four of them sitting at their own table, eating and talking. She listened to Phoebe and Gerald talk about their jobs and their children, and she had her suspicions confirmed when Arnold told them about his son. During the meal she glance up periodically to see green eyes gazing at her. As they finished with dinner, Gerald put her on the spot.
"You know, we haven't seen or heard from you for almost twenty years Helga." He said. "What's going on? You married? What do you do for a living?"
Taking a calming breath, she pushed the plate away and looked at the three of them.
"No. I'm not married," she said quietly, trying to ignore the green eyes watching her from across the table. "Never found the right guy, never had time. I've spent the last fifteen years working on my doctorate."
The table was silent. "Doctorate?" Phoebe squeaked. "You're a doctor?"
Helga smirked slightly, nodding. "Dr. Helga G. Patacki, child psychiatrist."
Phoebe squealed, drawing her friend into a hug. "Oh Helga, I'm so proud of you."
Gerald looked impressed. "You actually counsel kids?"
"My theory is, you had to be a screwed up kid to help screwed up kids." She joked.
Arnold smiled knowingly, watching her. "So, you listen to the kids one else will."
Helga heart jumped into her throat for the second time that night. That was almost the same thing she'd told Phillip the night before. She faked a smile.
"Pretty much."
"I bet you're good at it." He said, his voice still quiet.
"My patients think so."
A redhead rushing towards their table interrupted their conversation. She smiled at the people, then grabbed Arnold's arm.
"Arnold, you don't mind if I steal you away for a bit. Olivia just arrived and she doesn't believe you're here."
Olivia was a friend of Lila's in high school that he'd dated for several months. He threw a pleading look to the group. Phoebe jumped in for the assist.
"Not too long Lila." She said. "The music's starting soon and he promised Helga a dance or several."
Helga shot her friend a panicked look, and then turned around to get caught in Lila's piercing gaze.
"Helga? I didn't even recognize you."
Funny, I recognized you. She thought irritably, pasting on her professional smile.
"I thought that was you when I signed in." She said. Lila's smile was fake as she turned her full attention on her, still not letting go of Arnold's arm.
"So, I haven't seen you since we graduated. What have you been doing?"
"I live in Birmingham, Virginia now."
"Oh. What's there?"
She smirked. "My practice."
"She's a doctor." Arnold said, beaming like a proud father. Or boyfriend, her brain thought. She quickly dispelled the traitorous thought.
But apparently it jumped right into Lila's head. She glanced at the both of them, looking puzzled.
"Are you two…" she asked, using the hand that wasn't clutched onto Arnold's arm to gesture between the two of them.
"I haven't seen him in twenty years." Helga said. "When did we have time?"
He gave her a grin, and then looked back at Lila. "Ask me tomorrow."
Helga's jaw dropped. Was he flirting with her? Even Phoebe and Gerald looked stunned.
Arnold excused himself from the table and dragging along Gerald, the two men followed Lila across the room. The moment they were out of earshot, Phoebe pounced.
"What was that about? Did you two talk or something? What's going on?"
"Phoebs, when he was over here was the first time I've seen or spoken to him since graduation. Your guess is as good as mine."
The other woman sat back. "I don't know," she murmured, watching her husband and his friend across the room. "I'm pretty good when it comes to guessing games."
Sometime later, most of the tables were pushed back and the DJ started off the music. Phoebe managed to get Helga out of the dance floor for a couple of fast songs they used to dance to during their teen years. Mostly the two women reminisced over years gone by and some of the things they did and got away with.
The two men showed back up at the beginning of a slow song. Gerald smiled over at his wife.
"This was our Prom song." He mused, extending his hand. "Would you like to dance?"
Phoebe smiled, taking his hand and allowing him to lead her to the dance floor. Helga watched the two, a small smile playing on her face. Phoebe looked really happy.
Someone nudged her shoulder.
"Come dance with me."
Blinking, she glanced over at Arnold who was watching her intently.
"I'm sorry?" She asked, not really sure if she heard him correctly.
"Don't apologize," he joked, holding out his hand. "Just dance with me. Phoebe kinda told Lila I owed you a couple."
Shrugging, she held out her hand, allowing him to lead her to the floor. "Oh. So you're just doing this to save face with Lila."
He snorted. "Nope. I'm doing this so I can dance with you."
His comment left her stunned long enough for him to grab her hand, and pull her to him. They danced in silence through half the song before he jostled her.
"Loosen up. I'm not going to molest you."
Damn, her emotional side thought.
"Unless, you want me to."
Stunned, her head shot up to look at him. He really did have to stop reading her mind. He looked down at her, a smirk on his face.
"See. I knew that would get your attention."
Fine, two could play at this game. Her emotions thought determinedly.
No, no it can't. Her logic screamed.
"Oh Arnold. You always had my attention." She purred. He raised an eyebrow, bemused.
"Really? See what I missed when I didn't pay attention."
"You never paid attention." She chastised.
He chuckled, pulling her closer to him. The song ended and another slow one took its place.
"Let's just stay out here for a while." He murmured against her ear. She felt her knees grow weak again.
"Okay."
The song and the scent of his aftershave or soap or whatever he was wearing was making her careless. She'd come here for closure and here she was, dancing close to slow songs with the man of her dreams.
Okay, this could be closure, her emotions reasoned. Closure could just mean you have to sleep with him.
Sleeping? No sleeping. The logical side argued.
Who said anything about sleeping? Her emotions asked.
"You okay." He asked, interrupting the debate in her mind. "You got quiet all of a sudden."
"Fine." She answered, unconsciously rubbing her face against his shirt. "Just enjoying myself. Why didn't we dance at Prom?"
"Because we were young and stupid." He answered, pulling back a bit. She looked up, a slight pout on her face for being interrupted from her reminiscing. The pout disappeared when she saw how he was looking at her.
He's going to kiss you! Her emotional side screamed. For once, her logical side had to agree.
Her breath caught in her throat and she stood frozen in her spot. His gaze went to her lips, then back to her eyes. He had that sexy half lidded gaze that sent her into too many long frustrated evenings in the shower when she was younger.
He moved closer to her and her eyes fluttered closed.
"Song's over you two!" Gerald called out from behind her.
"Gerald!" The accompanying screech broke them out of the trance. Blinking, they broke apart. Gerald was frowning at them both and Phoebe had one hand covering her face and the other on a death grip on Gerald's arm. Helga looked around, realizing that the tempo had picked up and the four of them were the only ones not dancing.
"Oh. I didn't even realize." Helga said, ignoring the tantrum her emotions were throwing.
Phoebe lifted her hand from her face to show a tight smile that Helga quickly recognized as her "deep shit" smile. Her grip on Gerald's arm tightened.
"Ow, babe, you're hurting me." Gerald stated, completely oblivious.
"Really? I'm so sorry."
Helga stayed for another hour or so, before realizing that the evening was quickly coming to an end. She and Phoebe had exchanged phone numbers; addresses, e-mails and promises not to let even another twenty days go past without corresponding. Saying goodbye to their classmates, the three of them walked out to the car. Arnold, unsurprisingly, was held back for a moment. But not until he made them promise not to drive off without saying goodbye outside.
Phoebe and Helga stood off to the side while Gerald went to unlock the car.
"I'm really, really sorry Helga." She said. Helga frowned.
"For what?"
"For the thing on the dance floor." She said, gesturing towards Gerald. She looked over, and then smiled at her friend.
"Look. One of the things I came here for was closure. I got it. That was just proof that it was never meant to be."
Phoebe looked skeptical. "Or maybe, it's suppose to happen on it's own terms?" She suggested.
"We've never had terms, Phoebe. It's always been all or nothing."
They heard Arnold call out as he hurried across the parking lot and the conversation stopped.
He approached them. "Sorry. Rhonda and Lila wouldn't let me out until I said goodbye to practically the entire class."
"No problem." Gerald said, joining the group. They did their little handshake, and hugged. He hugged Phoebe.
"So we'll see you tomorrow?" Gerald asked. Arnold nodded.
"Me and short stuff, breakfast, nine am sharp." He glanced over at Helga. "You coming? You can meet my son and their kids."
She smiled. "I wish I'd known. My flight leaved at ten tomorrow. I'll have to take a rain check."
Smiling, he pulled her into another hug. "I'm going to hold you to that promise." He whispered in her ear, his breath making her shiver.
Pasting a smile on her face, she hugged Phoebe and waved to Gerald as she walked towards her car. Taking one last look at the three, she slipped into her car and drove off.