Rocket to the Moon
Chapter Twenty One
Ice Cream
.
She turned up to see him - his eyes - so close!
It was something that was bound to happen. She knew it from the first moment; it was just matter of time. She stirred nervously biting her lip. Thinking twice she knew there was no point in deliberating. Her mind was made up, the decision taken and she was going to give.
Taking a long breathe that felt like forever she looked up again. Lost in those pools her mind began to wander.
"… You know?"
Those eyes… they were so deep! They looked at her with wonder… a hint of admiration… expectation… his lower lip settled between hers… in the most delicate of the touches…
Anticipation...
"… I've been thinking…"
Bashfulness.
She could feel the tip of his wet tongue, his coy smile…. She closed her eyes. His breath, his want, his body pressed against hers. She smiled too. There was no sin in a simple kiss, right? She pulled him close and moaned…
"… We should stop seeing other people…"
Shit!
.
"Hey, you two, behave!" Rhonda let out a semi drunken giggle "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
With that warning, she slammed the door shut and ran to her building's entrance. Arnold, always the gentleman, left the car too and ran behind her. Helga scoffed from behind the wheel.
"TYPICAL!" she puffed aloud.
Rhonda looked at him with a questioning look as she dealt with the door. Arnold shrugged. He couldn't hear the rest of the blonde speech; could only see her dramatic complaining. He turned back to Rhonda. Promising they keep in contact they bided farewells. Arnold went back to the passenger seat. Helga had a curious smile on her face.
"Why 'typical?'" he asked. She shook her head dismissively and after making sure Rhonda was inside the building she pulled from the curb. He snorted. They have been joking enthusiastically since the moment they hopped in the car, although he knew they'd lost Helga for shorts periods of time. "Why bother in complain if you aren't you going to tell in the end?"
"If I must…" she grumbled, rolling her eyes. Arnold wondered if she was upset again. She reached the corner and turned north "I remember when we were kids," she started, her attention focused on the road "You know, a particular day when I paid attention. You were being the gentleman to everybody… but me."
"That cannot be true…" Arnold let out a hesitating smile. "I'm sure I always tried to help to whomever…"
"I knew it…" She mumbled to herself, smiling with resignation. "Forget I said it. I knew it was going to be a waste of time."
"No, please, do tell me… if I failed to realize you needed my help I'd like to know…"
Helga kept the skeptic smile on her face. "For real?" he nodded "Alright," she inhaled "I think I can recollect you helping Stinky by keeping the door open for him, and then letting go when me and my tray were coming over. As you can imagine, my lunch ended all over my clothes but you were oblivious, of course. Then I also remember you protecting Rhonda… or someone else… from the rain…" she exhaled tiredly "Anyway, you rushing after Rhonda tonight making sure she made it safely to her door -while leaving my door wide open - brought it back to my mind."
"I'm sorry." Arnold didn't remember a thing but he decided against start a discussion; not with Helga's mood seemingly getting back to distress anyway. "I guess I didn't realize."
"Yeah, I guess." She snorted "You're not the only one, you know?" she added after a short silence "I've realized men don't use to feel the need to protect me. I don't know why."
"What do you mean?" he frowned.
Helga turned to see him, piqued.
"Exactly what I'm saying." She groused "Men don't get all protective of me. I guess they think I'm a strong woman who can handle whatever is coming my way."
"Um…"
"There's no problem. I actually can handle myself very well, thank you very much." Then she slowed her speech "But, you know, sometimes it's nice to feel that someone cares."
"I… "Arnold didn't know what to say "I'm sorry."
Helga waved her hand dismissively.
"Bah! It's not your fault, is it? You're not around anymore." She smirked and went on "And I don't know why I complain. It's not like I really care. I mean, I'm not a weak girl; I don't need protection. Besides, I have Henry." She grinned "And Luke… I can always trust Luke is a gentleman through and through."
Arnold remained silent for a while not knowing what to say. She seemed as if she were talking to somebody else, a girl, not him. And he couldn't help but notice that the mention of those names made his guts twist.
"I… I thought Rhonda neighborhood was safe." He finally said, dumbly.
Helga turned to see him with a frown.
"This is New York, Arnold. No place is safe if you're not careful" she said matter of factly. "For instance, this is not a neighborhood where I'd leave my car parked at."
"No?"
She shook her head.
"Talking about parking spaces there are just a few places where you can do that. If you must, then you should choose better Chelsea… or The Village, by NYU."
"You seem to know a lot of NY."
"You learn over time. And people teach you," she shrugged. "Rhonda did... a lot."
He nodded.
"So, I'm gonna take Fifth unless you have a better option." She said, pointing several blocks ahead after she did another right turn.
"Your car, your decision."
She nodded but then seemed to change her mind.
"You know what? Let's gonna leave it to Google." She stopped at a red light and asked his address. As she typed it on the touch screen he looked around the luxurious car. Knowing who her father was he'd already supposed Helga had to had a big car; it just wouldn't make sense being otherwise.
But oddly enough, it wasn't that big but it was surely heavy. A Range Rover none the less. Evoque was the name. A pristine white, kind-of muscle car, with black interiors and panoramic roof. The screen showed temperature, its position in the street, the distance between cars and other bunch of amenities that surely did your travel more pleasurable.
"That's it." She spoke as the light turned green again "All through Fifth Avenue and will be there in 22 minutes. It's a 6.5 miles distance according to this. Did you have idea it was this far?"
He nodded his head "Coming all this way down in a daily basis I've learned it was far far away." He ironized.
"Yeah, I can imagine." She chortled.
A minute or two passed until she stopped suddenly.
"Oh, my God!" she spoke excitedly "It's here!"
He looked around guardedly. "What is here?"
"Jimbo's" she said excitedly as she turned the gear selector to R "The best ice cream in town! It's right here and I can't believe they're open!"
"Helga… wait-" he warned as she reversed about sixty feet and got parked easily without even turning to see all those cameras assisting her.
"What?" she looked at him as turned off the engine "Don't you want some ice cream?"
"It's two and a half in the morning."
"So what?! We're already here and it'd just take a few minutes. Come on Arnold! I've been dying to come down here for months but never have time." She pouted.
"Helga… you said nowhere is safe."
"The Village it's not anywhere," she scoffed, getting out of the car "And you said I could count on you anytime, didn't you? Besides, this is one of the few spots I was telling you where you can actually park your car." Arnold chuckled "This and next street are the safest places around."
Arnold followed her half-heartedly. He was sure she was lying only to get her own way. In any case, he took a breath resignedly at the sight of Helga walking ahead enthusiastically. They entered into a small and colorful shop that made him blink. He turned around. The parlor was full of life; it didn't even look like it was an early hour in the morning. Arnold blinked again. There were at least twenty persons in the place, kids included. Helga was already placing her order. His blonde companion made suggestions and he nodded, still speechless. A couple of minutes later they were leaving the place with a cone in their hand each.
"Let's take a walk."
"A walk?" he asked bewildered "Aren't we going to get a seat?"
"It's too shiny. Let's go to a darker place."
"Helga… it's almost three in the morning!"
She grumbled and started up the sidewalk "Come on Arnold! Don't be a baby!"
Arnold began to walk behind her reluctantly. But as far he knew Helga he knew she wasn't thoughtless, so he conceded her the benefit of doubt.
"Where to?" he asked when they reached the corner. He turned around, still insecure about this whole improbable adventure.
"Let's just walk around the block." She said and turned right. He followed suit. They advanced practically in silence and didn't talk much other than her asking him what did he thought about the sweet treat. Arnold nodded. Truth was that his vanilla ice cream was surprisingly delicious. She'd chosen chocolate and they both enjoyed them as they kept walking down the street.
Helga repeated something about the safety of this place as they observed a patrol car go by. The officers nodded a greeting. Arnold had to admit that the place was classy. The few people they came across looked like regular people; just like him and Helga themselves; couples, friends, young people…
But he also realized that no matter what Helga said, she was keeping her guard up. She kept looking everywhere and everything that seemed to move; and kept throwing glances up and down the street discreetly as a safety measure. When they reached the corner she looked all the sides before going on.
Arnold couldn't help but being watchful too, but he had to admit that this had been a nice walking. They had completed a lap, and he was making a halt in front of the car when Helga laughed slapping gently his shoulder.
"Don't be lazy." She pointed ahead. "It's a two laps tour. We need to burn out all the dinner." And with that she kept going.
Arnold grumbled. It was not tiredness but precaution what made him to stop in the first place, but didn't have the heart to tell her so. She was ahead, walking with a spring in her step. At least one thing was for sure; Helga seemed more relaxed.
He'd decided he won't think about all what had happened earlier; about what Rhonda told, about the phone call she received and about her relationship with Henry. She was his friend and he was going to be there for her as he'd offered. Period.
Still, he couldn't help but see that her romance had problems. They might be rich and they might look perfect for each other, but despite everything Helga didn't seem that happy. She wasn't as cheerful as the day he saw her for first time. Henry looked like the perfect gentleman but he was sure he has his issues like every other man. And he knew Helga wasn't a lightweight and being fair he must admit that he also wondered if it was her who caused the problems.
He grunted. Here he was. Don't wanting to think about it but thinking about it nonetheless. Such a basket case.
. . .
"So what do you think?" she asked as soon as he reached her.
"Hu huh?" he blinked, turning to see her and once again, rendering speechless because of her beauty.
"I'm talking about the ice cream. Gawd! You never stopped being a dreamer, did you?"
"Never," Arnold snorted, shaking his head to get rid of indecorous thoughts "It was good."
"Only good?" she raised a perfect shaped brow and pouted her lips. Give me a break! He wanted to shout to his dirty mannish mind. He couldn't help but got drifted by his current thoughts and feel a little playful. He kinda wanted to cause a reaction.
"Yeah," he pretended not being impressed "It wasn't bad, but nothing to do with Slausens."
He looked up at her but she had lowered her sight. It seemed that bringing up Slausens made her hesitate despite it was obvious she was getting ready for the upcoming assault.
"Um… you know that I said exactly the same thing my first time around?" she snorted "but now I think otherwise."
"How so?" he asked "Do you like Jimbo's better?"
"I remember Slausens was delicious." she nodded "But this one is definitively superior."
"You really think so?" somewhat his playful slash belligerent mood was also left behind.
She nodded. "And you know that the last time I was at Slausens I realized it wasn't as good as I remembered." Arnold hummed "I think we get carried on because it tastes like nostalgia, but that's all." She shrugged her shoulders.
Arnold mulled it over.
"Maybe you're right…" he finally said. He had to give her credit though. Jimbo's was definitively superior. And he knew very well nostalgia had the peculiarity of enhance anything with its halo of longing, gloom and melancholy; the unbearable wish of possessing something that is no longer yours. He let out a long sigh. "Or maybe it's just that they changed the recipe…" he chortled.
"Or the chef," she added, laughing too. "But admit it, Arnold. When we were kids we were undemanding customers. Everything impressed us. We bought anything that they put under our noses."
There she was. Not touched a bit by nostalgia at all. Arnold raised his brows. First she was messing with his beloved hometown and now with his favorite ice cream parlor. He scoffed.
"I have to admit that you have a gift to transform warm childhood memories into hard cold facts."
She scoffed.
"Don't be a romantic, Arnold." She laughed derisively making him recall that old Helga. Talk about nostalgia. "It's called 'objectivity'"
"Or 'Impartiality'" he corrected "'Detachment'…. I know it's the financier talking."
She shrugged, walking ahead with a renewed energy.
"I can't hide what I am." She chuckled.
"What you have become…" he mumbled to himself.
"Anyway," she gave a turn in her walk to give him a roll of her eyes "I still can go back to my old self whenever I want, you know?" she wriggled her brows "Just see…" then cleared her throat and spoke with a altered intone "Warm wind that melt my treat- do you think you can take me to him? – Take me up with your wild bursts – and make me reach his - windowsill…" she vacillated at the last word and turned to him with a smirk on her face "Is it window sill or window ledge?" she asked.
"Window ledge I think …" he uttered.
"Yeah, I thought so, but ledge doesn't get the… sense?"
"You know you just took out all the romanticism with your question?"
"Sorry about that. God! What was I thinking? Warm wind?" she scoffed sarcastically, looking around at the chilly night "I should stop contaminating the air with my verses." Her hands shook the air around her. "Dumb and corny; it'd get me an F if so. I think I'm getting rusty."
He exhaled. He kinda liked it anyway.
"As long as you don't get rusty with numbers…" he ended saying. She frowned looking at him with confusion "You said the other day that you only made poetry with numbers." He recalled.
"Oh, that." She nodded. "I'm dead if I get rusty with numbers." She mumbled in low voice.
Arnold nodded. That was something he'd heard a lot in the office. When it came to numbers Helga was gifted. She was like an unstoppable warrior of the business field. She was a go-getter. According to Greg, she was like Midas and his golden touch; taking Mueller to a new level.
"Where were we?" she asked suddenly, looking ahead.
"Um… I think we were talking about ice cream and nostalgia" he said.
"Right," she nodded "And you were saying you think Jimbo's wasn't anything better than Slausens."
He let out a soft laugh realizing he had actually insulted her.
"On second thoughts I think you're right, you know? Jimbo's is way better than Slausens. It was actually nostalgia talking." He admitted.
"I knew it!" she clicked her tongue, turning to see him. He shrugged his shoulders in an apologetic gesture. After a pause she went on. "But actually you shouldn't feel bad about that. You're not the only one. It happens to everybody. Our whole pasts, from old failed romances, households, homesickness, every childhood memories… our minds outsmart us; alter our perception, our remembrances. They change it all creating a dreamscape."
He made a pause.
"Maybe you're right. But looking on the bright side, at least we have something to yearn for, don't you think?"
"Well, that's true, but only until we discover the awful trick our minds are playing on us."
"Then we have to enjoy them as long as they last." He smiled brightly.
"Always the optimist!" she snorted and shook her head. The wind played with a few loose strands of hair. She reached back and freed it from the improvised bun. He smiled at the vision of this nightly siren. "You know, my nephews…" she sneered "their local ice cream parlor is a Dairy Queen." She let out a laugh "Poor kids! They're never going to have something to yearn over when they are older."
Arnold crumpled his lips.
"Mmm…" he mused "At least they are gonna have their favorite dessert anywhere across the world."
"As I said before, always the optimist!" she pointed at him with both hands. He shrugged.
Before longer he spoke again.
"How's Olga doing by the way? You say she have two children?"
"Uh huh" she nodded "Two boys"
"Great…. How old are they?"
She frowned and then turned to see him with amused eyes.
"Nine… and seven, I guess."
"And your relationship with her…" he bit inside his lip feeling suddenly inappropriate "… I mean, I don't want to pry, but I remember you two having a complicated…"
"It's okay Arnold." She said letting out a gentle smile "I know I wasn't precisely shy to hide that I found her obnoxious when we were younger. I should've been more discreet for the sake of family harmony, but I guess…" she made a pause to put in order her thoughts "I know I had issues back then; I was full of anger. I remember how I couldn't stand her and all her perfection; the way my parents adored her… in one word: I hated the girl." She exhaled "Her presence made me see my own imperfection and I guess all those fears brought the worst of me out to the surface."
"Wow Helga!" he exclaimed "It's a very mature way to see things."
She snorted.
"I can talk about it now, but for a long while it was hell." She laughed softly "It required a lot of time and energy to reach this understanding, you know? To make my mind to see everything with fresh new eyes."
"Did you see… a therapist?" he asked feeling invited by her openness.
"Yeah," she nodded "Dr. Bliss, the poor thing, tried to make me understand it all along grade school, but I guess I wasn't ready back then. Here in NY we met a shrink… a thanatology specialist who's helped me a lot."
"A thanatologist? Really?" she nodded somewhat proudly.
"She's Henry's shrink too. Actually she's the one who helped him and…" she paused and bit her lower lip. Then she breathed deeply "Anyway, she taught me to see the… let's say… the big picture. To gettiing to know myself. It's a long and painful process, and I've learned that is something that we never stop doing, since life situations change continually." She exhaled "I should see her one of these days, but you know how it is. We're always busy."
Arnold nodded. He listened to everything she said about insight; but he'd also realized Helga evaded talking about Mrs. Mueller. It was an uncomfortable topic for him too so decided to leave it aside. She was being so open, as never before, and he was willing to listen with his full attention to whatever she wanted to tell .
"But you know?" she went on "I owe a lot to Dr. Wong but it had been Olga's job too. I mean, in due course I realized Olga was far from perfect, she has her own demons, but it wasn't as if I wanted to go all the way back to California to tell her in her face that our problems were also her fault, right? for monopolizing our parents attention and..." she made a pause to breathe deeply before going on "but right then she realized by her own, you know, in the least- expected- and sad- way…"
"Why? What happened?" he asked, curious.
"The story repeated itself… at home,"
"Really?" she nodded "How so?"
"Well, I'm going to tell you the story of two sweet boys, Arnold. Nathan and Ethan Walsh," she smiled a slanted smile and rolled the eyes at the mention of the names "Nathan, the older, is the image of the perfect little gentleman. He's smart, nice, polite, and obedient. The kind of kid that every mother dreams about." She raised her brows in mock surprise "Ethan, on the other hand, can only be defined as a grumpy old man in miniature."
"The kind of kid the mother is always complaining about?" she shrugged her shoulders in an ill-fated fashion "Talk about irony."
"Tell me about it!" she grimaced. "Poor Olga, now she's living first-hand what we lived back at home. I know it's hard for her. Fortunately for her kids, she's a better mother than Miriam ever was; she's more prepared and is completely dedicated to her family."
"That's nice to hear," he said. She nodded "Do they talk about the past? About how the family seemed to be 'predestined' to live the same situation over and over?"
She smirked. "Well, Ethan likes to say that he'd be the one who will bring richness to the family" she winked at him and clicked her tongue "as Aunt Helga does, but we all know that the thing is not that romantic." She paused "I think it's a good thing that we all know that is not the same situation."
"Their father is…?"
"Nothing like Bob… impatient and blowhard I mean." She shook her head leisurely "But like Bob, he's a workaholic and…" she paused "Olga don't have it that easy."
Arnold nodded and decided to change the subject since it was private waters.
"Your dad…?" he stopped suddenly not knowing how to formulate the next question. He turned up to see her looking at him with an indecipherable Mona Lisa smile. His stomach lurched.
"My dad…?" it didn't help that it seemed that she was having fun at his expense. He started again.
"You two made peace before…" he paused again. He didn't know why he continued treading in murky waters but couldn't help it. For some reason he knew Helga wasn't going to lose her patience, no with him anyway, not tonight. It was something furtive, not more than a subtle feeling, a sensation; but he knew there was a bond between them; a bond that had survived even after all those years; something that could not be easily removed.
"He died?" he nodded and she exhaled. "You can say so." He saw her trying to swallow a lump.
He sighed long.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk."
"I know," she said in low voice and then he waited until she seemed ready to go on "But… oddly enough, you're one of the few persons I see these days that could actually understand because you got to know him." She smiled sadly "Well, other than Henry of course, but Henry's point of view has nothing to do with yours. He was not my 'little friend'."
Arnold remembered Henry calling him like that previously. He smirked. The same day he found them at her office sitting very close together. He shook the image from his mind. He better wondered how old would be Bob now? Older than Mr. Mueller? He couldn't be. Bob would be seventy or so, if his memory serves him right. He exhaled by his mouth realizing Bob was relatively young when he passed away ten years ago. Reaching the thirties taught people to see things in perspective.
"Anyway," Helga's voice brought him back from his thoughts. "We had time to talk." She smiled softly "It was kind of difficult because the doctor asked us to avoid do anything that would wear him down, but you knew Bob, he wasn't one to listen to doctors." Helga paused as they kept walking what was probably the fourth lap around the block. "Maybe he already knew every second was precious…" she paused again.
"It's ironic, isn't it?" he asked imitating her soft unhurried speech "The way we waste our time every day as if nothing, and when it really counts there's nothing we can do to stretch it out."
"How true." She nodded, looking at the sky. Arnold followed her sight. It was a cloudy night with no stars; although no-stars were the norm in here. .
"I guess your father asked you to take his place."
"Yeah, he did." She adjusted her leather jacket around her body. Her voice was weak when she finally went on. "But what I remember most it's him saying that he loved me, he was proud of me and he knew I was going to do great."
"He did?" Arnold asked with a lump in his throat as response to her emotive speech. A single tear left her eyes and he felt the impulse of taking her in his arms and hold tight. But he held himself in the end because she didn't stop her march to wait for him to make up his mind and console her; not that she expected him. She kept going stoically.
She nodded. "He also apologized… and confessed it wasn't easy for him to show me all his love…"
'Because you were tough and moody just like he was?' he was about to ask but fortunately he didn't. It'd be awkward.
"… Because he didn't want to cause more hurt." She threw him a cautious look "That he expected I eventually understand... and forgive him."
"And you did?" he asked, looking at her looking at the floor.
She shrugged. "I've worked a lot on that." She bit her lip "But I guess I finally got to understand him."
"Did you forgive him too?"
"Arnold…" she smiled sadly "Do you think I'd be able to take care of everything if I didn't? I loved him. I would never let go unforgiven."
Arnold remained in silence as she seemed to get lost in her thoughts. After a minute or two he decided to start talking about the lame last Halloween party he'd attended to lighten the mood. The city was decorated in orange and black made him remember. She apologized. Halloween partying was something she didn't do lately and he understood. He guessed it wasn't funny anymore to a senior executive of her rank.
After that they kept talking about festivities. They remembered those old times all along grade school when they anticipated especially Halloween dances. Then there were Thanksgiving and Christmas season looming over.
"I think I'll be here then, but I still don't have plans for Christmas." He said, answering her question "Claire and I hadn't talked about that. What about you?"
He turned around realizing they were starting the fifth lap. This part of the city was still active, but not that much anymore. They both continued walking keeping the guard up.
"I think I'm gonna stay in the city for Thanksgiving but we're going to California for Christmas." She replied.
"We?" he asked, expecting don't look too insistent. She didn't seem to mind.
"Miriam, Henry and I. Oh, the irony!" She snorted. "Do you still own the old Boarding House?" she changed the subject.
"Yep" Arnold nodded "Always" he assured "Mr. Huynh -do you remember him? - is in charge. He'd got help, of course."
"Of course." She nodded "Do you get any earning from that?"
He snorted "Not really…. I kind of see the lot as my family."
"I know," she threw him a warm look and gently patted his shoulder. He smiled. It was all what he needed. It was nice not receiving a pitiful look for a change. With Helga he knew he didn't need to explain why he had no parents, why he was all alone in the world.
They kept walking in silence but Arnold didn't mind. It was a confortable silence and he appreciated it. She looked comfortable too, at ease. They went side by side. Arnold looked ahead and exhaled. He knew that once turning down the corner there was a sort of vacant lot that reached both streets. It had a chain like fence whose gates weren't locked. Every time they passed it over Arnold got anxious and looked intently around the place, looking for danger in the form of thugs or muggers, but to tell the truth the spot was well maintained as a small park and it didn't look dangerous at all, just like the rest of the area.
Nevertheless he was dreading to reach the spot.
"I think it's time to go." He was checking the area when she spoke.
"Yeah." He agreed. Much as he was enjoying the company it was really late.
"Uh oh,"
At the sound of Helga's voice a cold shiver ran all along his spine. He knew it! Luck said it was over. He looked ahead and saw a loud group of guys coming their way; they were around five; they hadn't seen them yet. He turned to the floor looking intently for something that would help them when Helga took him from the jacket and pushed him against a door, shielding him with her own body.
"Helga..?"
"Weapon? Tell me you have some kind of weapon!" she muttered against the hollow of his neck. He shook his head. He was getting frantic. Who did she think he was? "Keys?" she asked again. He opened his eyes and dug his hand into his pocket. "Alright, play along and get them ready." Helga threw her arms around his neck and got closer, pretending to be a couple making out, but her sight was fixed up the street. Arnold felt ridiculous. He should be the one watching over, not her. For what felt like interminable seconds he was able to see only the part of her face that was illuminated by the lamppost as the group was closer by the second. Her hands become fists behind his neck and Arnold got prepared.
Before they realized the group was passing them by and kept talking and laughing without giving them a second glance. They didn't look like muggers at all, but something more like hardcore gamers. Helga's sight remained glued to them anyway; and it wasn't until they went across the street that she let go and gave a step back.
"No way!"
"What the f…!"
It all happened in a second. Before she could react he had changed positions and it was her who was now against the wall. He was relieved but at the same time furious because he should be the one taking care of her; no the other way around. Humiliated, angry, cold... The absence of warmth was definitely a factor.
"Don't do that again, you listen?" Helga seemed surprised by his sudden action but he didn't care "You listen?" he insisted, pushing harder.
"What's wrong with you?!" she said with difficulty and kept pushing trying to get free but he didn't give.
"That - thing that you did," he almost shouted "Never again, alright?"
Helga opened her eyes with disbelief, and then began to talk without stopping fighting.
"I can't believe you!" she puffed "Something had to be done! There was no time for plans or discussions. Now let go, Mr. Macho!"
He rested his head against hers and exhaled, allowing relief cover him.
"I was scared to death." He blurted out "I was afraid of losing you… again."
She froze. He opened his eyes and looked down at her. Her eyes – so close!
He knew it was bound to happen; something inside him told him so. His heart beat wildly in his chest. And she also knew; he could tell by the way she stirred nervously and bitted her lip; by the way her eyelashes fluttered. What was the point in denying it? In thinking this over? He'd been dying for having her in his arms like this since that beautiful dance in early spring all those months ago.
He'd stopped breathing, he didn't know when or why, but when her eyes met his again the world stop spinning. Lost in those pools he just couldn't get enough.
She was so beautiful. Images of the Ball, of the girl in pink danced in his mind; of her wearing that spectacular white dress while walking by the office; or that anything but boring oxford grey outfit that hugged nicely her hips when in India…. Her eyes; they seemed to be looking something, somewhere beyond him.
Her upper lip settled between his… a fluttering touch…. He couldn't take it anymore; anticipation was killing him. He attracted her towards him. His tongue caressed her lip. He smiled. He closed his eyes and focused on the breath on his face, in her silence; her warm body pressed against him. She smiled too. Moaning, she threw her arms around his neck, and attracted him. He leaned in and let go…
"Shit!" She cursed.
His eyes shot open. She was pulling back but their lips remained together a second longer. She groaned before opening her eyes. She looked at him with a mixture of apology and disappointment.
"This is not right," She mumbled, lowering her head "Not right. We shouldn't be doing this. We both have… people we care about…"
Arnold exhaled loudly in sorrow. He nodded his head and hid his face in the hollow of her neck. Her smell made his knees go weak. She was right, but he couldn't help but feel like he wanted to hit something. Preferably her, up against the wall… He grunted again, frustrated. Shaking his head he raised his head looking for her eyes.
"He makes you happy?" his sudden question startled her; not him. He'd learned to love his newly found impulsiveness.
"Arnold…"
"Does he make you happy?" he asked again; right on her lips. "Please, Helga, just tell me…"
"Yes, he makes me happy." She drew back and looked at him in the eye "At this point in my life he's everything I want."
Something inside his mind stopped working. He also drew back. It all felt wrong, incongruous, ridiculous. He had no right to ask anything from her. As she'd said they had other people they cared about. She had a man by her side. A man that was waiting for her probably the same way Claire was waiting for him.
"Sorry about that." He finally said. "I don't know what happened to me. I'm really sorry, Helga. I don't want you think…"
"Shhh," Helga patted his shoulder and started walking "It's okay. It was just a slip; the heat of the moment. It won't happen again. I know."
"No, Helga, look, that's not what I mean…" he hurried to her side.
"I know, Arnold." There was warning in her voice.
"But…"
She put a hand on his chest with authority.
"But nothing." She ordered "I'd had a great time; loved every second of the evening. And this… last, impromptu walk was great, the icing on the cake. An impulse is not going to spoil everything."
Arnold nodded. Sure she knew how to be imposing. He should've remained quiet but he was stubborn as a mule.
"I just…"
"If you're going to apologize then I'm gonna turn around and leave, understand? There's no point in wearing ourselves out over a no-kiss."
"I guess you're right."
"As usual." She said sparingly. "I think it's time to go," they were reaching the vacant lot "Let's take the shortcut."
As she opened the gate he looked into the darker spots for danger. It all looked so calm and quiet. He followed her inside and down the asphalted path, when they were about to round a big tree Helga leaned over and picked up something.
"Look," she said with a big smile showing him a baseball bat. "Am I lucky or what?" she swung the bat in the air.
"Helga, put it back. It's not yours. The owner is gonna miss it."
She snorted, looking at him with incredulity.
"You know, the people I hang around lately would say 'Finders keepers'." she swung the bat again "That they had it coming for being so stupid."
"Maybe they hid them in here on purpose; thinking it was safe."
She shrugged her shoulders in obviousness. "Stuuuu-piiid..."
He tried to take the item from her hands. "Come on, Helga."
"No way!" she puffed out and rolled her eyes "Really Arnold! You're too much! " She grumbled and leaned again "Here!" she threw him a ball "You're the pitcher."
He couldn't help it. He smiled at the mere contact with the ball. It'd been years since he last played ball.
"Why I have to be the pitcher?"
"Because everybody knows you can't hit, what else is new?!" she laughed and walked away. When she was a good distance she turned around and took a batting stance; with her legs spread wider than her shoulders and the knees lightly bent. He smiled at the sight. A lesson well learned is never forgotten.
"This is stupid!" she laughed.
"Ready?"
"Just throw the damn ball" she cried. He looked at her while mimicked stupid pitching positions causing her to bend over with laugher until, he finally threw the ball. Incredibly, and considering how rusty they were, Helga hit the ball. They couldn't believe it. Helga danced around the place as he went to retrieve the ball. They kept going for a while; he pitching the ball as she batted. He was surprised to see he was having fun in a way he hadn't had in a long time, just by playing ball in a vacant lot. Helga was having fun too. She boasted when she hit and cursed when she got a strike. After three strikes he booed and walked to her.
"My turn." He stuck her tongue out at her. She mimicked her former threatening gestures and he scurried away laughing like a kid.
After a few throws Helga made a pause and propped her weight on one leg.
"You suck Football Head! Seriously!"
"Hey! I'm a little rusty! I haven't played in years!"
"Me neither but…" She winced when a neighbor in the opposite building threatened to call the cops on them. "I think that's our cue. Your last ball, alright?"
"Alright," he nodded "Throw your best fastball, Heeel-gaaa!" he said mimicking Harold's old way to call her.
"You better be ready!" he laughed observing as she concentrated. She threw the ball and he swung, hitting the ball on the side. The ball went rolling up in an erratic path and they froze; dreading that it'd hit a window… or something worse.
"You cheeky little devils!" a sudden noise by the gates startled them. Helga complained when the ball hit her in its way down. "Whippersnappers! HOOLIGANS!" Arnold straightened to see. An old man was coming his way brandishing his cane
"Let's get the hell out of here!" Helga threw the ball to the tree and ran away to the gate on the opposite street.
"But Helga, we wake him up. The least we can do is apologizing."
"You think you can… come over here… and destroy… our precious playground.… You're gonna pay for this!"
"Your wish Mr. Right." she panted as she fought with the gate "See you on Monday then. Good luck!" She got it open and scurried away as quickly as she could.
He also threw the bat to the tree but stood still waiting for the old guy. He could see now the bald old man dressed in his pajamas pants and a big jacket. He was furious. He was cursing now and throwing pebbles at him.
Maybe Helga was right. He followed her but stopped at the door, looking back again.
"What the hell are you doing?!" she cried when she made it to the car "You want to die?"
Arnold didn't know how he did it, but in matter of seconds he hoped in the car, Helga pulled from the curb and they flew away. When they passed by the gates the angry man threw his cane to the car in movement, hitting the windshield. Arnold cringed, turning to see Helga who was concentrated reaching the corner in less than a second. Once turning down the street they looked at each other in shock; and then in unison they roared with laughter.
. . .
"This is the strangest day I've had in a long time." He said when was finally able to speak. They had laughed heartedly for a few minutes.
"I know." she breathed out "Poor guy! I hope he doesn't get a heart attack."
"I don't think so." He sighed "But I feel kind of bad, you know? We woke him up."
"Well, yeah I guess. But who leaves his cozy bed in the middle of the night to go confront some hooligans, huh?" she scoffed "I think he's a lonely man who just got a hell of a story to tell in the morning."
Arnold leaned his head back in his confortable seat. "Yeah, you're probably right."
"Uh huh." She remained in silence for a while "I hope he didn't get the plates. I mean, I'd hate if I have to deal with NYPD." She grunted.
He frowned for a moment feeling worried but then thought it over "I don't think so," he said calmly "We did not vandalize."
"But we committed crime against public order… God! What were we thinking?!"
"I know." He exhaled "I was having such good time."
Helga turned to see him and smiled brightly when they eyes met.
"Yeah. Me too."
Their eyes kept glued together until she turned back to the road. He hummed slightly. She turned again and her smile still adorned her face.
"You know what?"
"What?" he asked after she made a pause.
"Tonight was great." She let out with a sigh.
"You really think so?"
She nodded
"Yeah…. And I… I think I need to thank you now since it won't be possible do it -you know- once reaching your place," she kept passing green lights quickly "I don't know how to describe it. But it was nice, in such a simply way. Like it had been always there, inside us, but was somewhat forgotten. Like being carefree kids again." Her voice was slow but deep at the same time.
He could not stop looking at her in awe; he couldn't believe it.
"You know I feel exactly the same way?" he snorted softly. "Just I didn't know how to describe it. I'm not a poet." She rolled her eyes bashfully and he'd swear there was blush covering her cheeks. "But images of my childhood had been running in my mind all through the night."
"And look that's been a long night!" she whistled.
~'I don't want it to end'. ~
"Yes, it has." He smiled. He felt the sudden urge to reach for the hand that rested in her thigh. "I also had a great time." He sighed. He felt sad because the words sounded like a cliché and didn't come anywhere close to describe his real feelings.
"I know what you mean." Her smile told him she understood "It was like … if I was able to be Helga again. Just Helga…. No titles or last names to worry about." She turned to him and directed him the prettiest smile he'd seen in a long time. "Just Helga."
He smiled back.
"It was a pleasure to meet you again, Helga."
.
.
. . .
I don't own Hey Arnold!
Next chapter is a sense an unforeseen chapter. It will alter the order I've set at the end of chapter nineteen. It's really short and will be here in two days.
I also wanted to apologize because it's not possible for me to update more often, I've tried but I can't. Hope to keep your interest so you come every time I got something new. Still, that doesn't mean I wouldn't come unexpectedly soon every once in a while. I have the outline of three next chapters already but I'll take its time to develop. There will be a few surprises for you in there.
Well, hope you enjoyed this. See you in a couple of days with a chapter that actually talks about what happened at the beginning of this one, but is told by another PoV.
R&R. Thanks for reading. Double thanks to Nep2uune, José Ramiro, Carlin, PresleyRox and a guest for your awesome reviews. Thanks to those who follow /favorite.
August 7th, 2015.