Rocket to the Moon
Chapter Thirty-Three
Gog
. . .
Finally an update. Yay!
I know :( sorry. Sometimes life just gets complicated.
But I'm here and I'll make my best so this doesn't happen again. I'll come back later to fix typos and more.
Spanish Tomorrow.
Now a brief recap.
Saturday morning. Arnold and Rhonda are taking breakfast in a cute place near his new home. Arnold had a long week in which he ended being dismissed from his position by his fickle boss, and learned in the most embarrassing way that his ex-girlfriend didn't behave honorably in a while. On Friday night he went to a Beneficence Ball where he witnessed a scene that needs further information from his longtime friend to fully understand it.
. . .
Arnold remained silent observing the scene. Luke straightened and hurried away; stopping to stand precariously at the narrow space between the two lanes of the driveway. Two cars stopped at once at each side of him. A white car was on the first lane. The conductor got out and spoke to him. Luke replied quickly before rushing a walk around the car; an appreciative walk. His friend cheered. At the end of his turn around the car, the dark-haired man stroked obscenely its rear side and patted it twice, in an obvious sexual connotation.
Arnold held his breath. He'd seen him doing this gesture before. To Helga. In a park.
He looked at the car then and recognized it immediately. He felt like being miles away; like watching an unreal movie. Luke rushing his way off Dick's path. Then the blond man charging towards him; hitting him marginally in the shoulder before going around the car and interchanging a word and the tip with the valet before getting in.
Then he drove off with a screech of tires.
'It's a Porsche 911 Turbo S.' The memory of his friend's voice - August's - echoed inside his skull at the sight of the gleaming inscription on the tail of the retreating car. 'My favorite car in the entire world'.
. . .
. . .
"¿He did WHAT?" she asked excitedly, leaning towards him. Arnold's bewildered sight shot up to find hers. Rhonda fought back a grin. he'd been so lost in his mind that he'd forgotten they were here, at the café, having breakfast. It was not Friday night anymore.
Yet, her excitement came from the scene he'd just described; not his confusion.
"I beg your pardon?" He blinked the haze off of his eyes - repeatedly – and then turned around to take in the surroundings. Rhonda bit her lower lip to stop herself from giggling. She didn't want him to think he made her laugh, after all. Although "I… um-"
"I'm sorry." She interrupted him; presenting him with her kindest smile "You're right. I've forgot what you said. Your mind keeps replaying the memory; like a-"
"Like a punishment." He nodded.
She'd have loved to ask him why he chose that word precisely, but there were priorities… sort of. They were talking about that - unexpectedly - interesting scene from last evening. It'd be a crime to let go of such a good gossip. For the sake of her dearest friend, of course.
"I didn't quite get you, you know? You spoke too fast." She uttered with an apologetic intone "He did - what?" then she repeated her original question with veiled eagerness.
For all answer, Arnold frowned. "Who?"
She didn't lose her patience despite her interest. She had an ulterior motive to slow things. There was a point she didn't want to reach…
"Luke of course," Rhonda offered.
Not yet anyway.
It seemed that Arnold wasn't too eager to reach that point either. He'd been beating around the bushes the whole morning; willing to discuss long about every other thing, except this.
Alright, maybe she'd prompted the subjects of conversation, but they've talked about a lot of other things first, anyway…
She focused her attention on him. He seemed to be putting his thoughts in order.
"Of course…" Arnold hesitated for a second "Luke…. He walked around the car…"
Rhonda nodded. Happy that the conversation was finally getting somewhere.
"And you said he caressed it all along?" she made an exuberant gesture with her hands "Or it was its rear end only?"
"All along." He put a face "Then he… I'd say he felt its rear end up, but…" Arnold's hand helped him to make clear his meaning "…it was just a car."
"He felt it up?" nodding enthusiastically, the raven haired girl stretched the 'it'.
Arnold nodded. "Anyway, at the end of his…" Arnold vacillated. He straightened uncomfortably.
"Public demonstration of affection?" Rhonda bit her lip imaging the scene.
"It was obscene." Arnold punctuated.
"I can totally see it!" she shook her head with disapproval but in the inside she was savoring the tale. Overcompensating Luke wasn't an unusual sight. Fondling a car, however... She knew all too well Luke's real purpose. The car was Helga. Putting a face to pretend how much she disliked it, she went on "What did everybody say?"
Arnold was also making a face. "I don't know. Some of them laughed, but I guess everybody was speechless; just like me." He looked at her with attention.
"What did Dick do?"
"Dick…" Arnold's lips became a line. She cursed herself. It'd been a daring move. "I guess he foresaw what was about to happen." Pausing, he took an intake. "Rhonda… - am I right to suppose that you knew it? … I mean, you've known from the beginning, right?"
"He foresaw what?" Rhonda interrupted him; waving her hand dismissively disregarding that last part. She'd answer later. In due time.
Arnold glared at her but after a second he went on exhaling with impatient resignation.
Good boy!
"He knew right away Luke was about to pull a dirty trick on him."
"You think?" Rhonda bit her lip to stop a stream of giggles. She didn't want to laugh in front of Arnold, but just by imaging an unabashed Luke groping all over Dick's car…
And Dick's expression… Shit! It must be quite a scene! And she missed it!
Where was she? Interviewing some insipid socialité? A serialized debutant?
The raven haired girl realized Arnold's sight had glazed and she knew his attention was back at the white Porsche speeding away.
"Then Dick hit him, am I right?" She went on. Knowing the guy, it wasn't hard to imagine what had happened.
"Well, I didn't see Dick hitting him actually, but he never slowed his pace. Luke flinched. For a second his expression was one of terror."
"So he hit Luke?"
"I think so…" Arnold made a jabbing motion with his shoulder. "Anyway, a second later, just after Dick speeded off, Luke was all smiles; cool as a cucumber. His car arrived next and he got in and went off. Not without making a big show, of course." Arnold made a mock salute and proceeded to take a sip of his drink.
"Of course,"
After that his green eyes focused on her intently. She took a deep intake.
Was it about time?
Nah! No yet. If her name was Rhonda Wellington Lloyd!
"Did you see his car? Which one did he take last night?" Rhonda hurried before he'd be able to speak again "A red Lamborghini?"
"Lamborghini?" Arnold frowned again and Rhonda exhaled with relief; seeing that her trick was successful at sending his train of thoughts off the rails. Again. "Nah! It was something English," he finally added with a thoughtful frown "An Aston… I think."
"Oh! It wasn't his car, then." She said matter-of-factly "Can you believe the guy! He owns only Italians?" she chuckled "A collection of them." She started counting with her fingers as she spoke frivolously. "Fiat, Maserati-"
"Rhonda…" Arnold started.
"Alfa Romeo, this Lamborghini I just told you…" she went on ignoring him. "Name another Italian car that is in the…?"
Arnold took a deep intake and cut her off categorically. For first time in when-ever, his voice rose; imposing. Rhonda took a cautious sip of her drink.
"How long Helga's been seeing Dick?"
The girl choked on her drink. She was already prepared, but his forthrightness still surprised her
"Arnold!" she moaned a complain.
"What kind of joke is it? Are they doing this behind Henry's back?" Arnold went on.
"Of course not!" She blew out. "It was his idea to begin with!"
"Then wh… WHAT?!" he blinked dramatically and glared at her; eyes full with bewilderment. A deep frown and an offended expression framed his face. "His idea?! This is bullshit!" He finally exclaimed; looking fed up "I swear to God I don't get it. What the hell's going on?" Rhonda shrugged her shoulders in a way that showed her own incomprehension. "So it's true? They are actually seeing each other?" he took air again.
"I think they got over 'seeing each other' long time ago, Arnold." She uttered in low voice.
Arnold cursed. "What's going on in Helga's mind?!"
Her forehead creased. "She likes the guy?" she offered. Truth was that she also considered their relation as something almost calamitous, but as any other girl, Helga had every right in the world to like whomever she wanted.
"She likes him?" Arnold snorted "Come on! Everybody knows they hate each other!"
"They don't hate each other…" The loyal friend felt the need to clarify. "That's just what they-"
"Pretend?" he snorted disdainfully.
"More likely what people like to think… about them."
"Well, they act too well their part." Arnold shot back immediately.
"I think that's done by force of habit…" she continued mumbling as to herself
"Why?" he frowned. "Then I'm one of those stupid folks. I completely bought it."
"Not only you." She shrugged "People kinda like to see them as enemies."
"But they are enemies. Natural enemies. I've seen them working side by side-"
"They are very different type of persons, alright. I'd say they have deep creative differences, but that doesn't mean they're enemies." She pronounced half exasperatedly. "Truth that both of them has a difficult character on their own..."
"Are you defending them?" he asked with a hint of belligerence.
She straightened in her seat. "You're making me take this position." She said on the defensive. Exhaling, she added in a softer way "I guess you need time to see them as a couple." She shrugged her shoulders "You've been aware only for one night."
"I actually knew just now; you know? Right now that I saw your expression. Last night I had just a suspicion that I hoped I was wrong."
"Figures,"
He raised his brows and then looked into the distance.
"So you think they make a good… couple?"
Rhonda shrugged her shoulders again.
"They made a couple; period. Being a good couple or a bad couple it's just… inconsequential." She raised her sight to look at him carefully. "The fact is that they are together. Getting closer by the minute."
Arnold took air tiredly.
"Being that you're her friend I'd think you wouldn't like him as her couple." He added after a minute or so.
"Arnold, honey…" She paused "I love Helga; and we've talked at length about this. But I've realized in the end it's her decision. She has her reasons. She thinks they are the right reasons. If she's making a mistake I guess there will be time for her to realize. For now, I suppose she owns the right to make a mistake."
"What are her reasons?" he snorted. "That he's a good match?"
"You know his name's Dick Mueller, right?" Rhonda sneered. "Have you looked at the name engraved on the crystal door of your workplace?"
"So he's a good match." He declared. "If he's so good then why Rhonda Lloyd let him slip from her fingers?"
"Oh!" She laughed openly at this one. "That's because…"
"Oh, I think I remember." Arnold interrupted her to utter sarcastically "You said he was too complicated for your taste."
"Yeah, that…" She exhaled somewhat wistfully "We had nothing in common either." She made a gesture to call the waiter and asked for a glass of water. "He's has a weird sense of humor; peculiar manners. Can you believe that most of the times I couldn't even understand half of what he was saying?" She moaned a complaint.
"He's not complicated for Helga's taste; I assume?"
"Helga it's nothing like me." She breathed out "She kinda likes complicated."
"How long they've been… dating?" He cut her off again.
"They don't date…" she paused briefly when Arnold raised his brow with skepticism "Either." Rhonda bit her lip. Truth was that not even her knew how to call their relationship. "And it wasn't like that, anyway; I mean, their… 'thing'. Helga didn't get caught in his clutches or something like that. It just happened." She shrugged helplessly "I don't really have an explanation for that."
"Love was in the air?" Arnold snorted.
"Yeah," She chuckled at his 'clicheic' expression. "Boy meets girl…" she offered. "You know how it uses to go."
"How this all started?" he leaned back looking relaxed for first time since they started this… thorny topic.
Or maybe resigned was a better term.
"The hell I know." Rhonda spat mockingly.
"I guess you do."
Now it was the raven haired girl's turn to snort. "Then you're completely wrong." She said with a singsong.
"Did you say Henry instigate it?"
Rhonda thanked the waiter and took a sip of her water while Arnold asked for more coffee. She raised her finger to ask the same.
"Black."
No sugar, no fat, no calories.
"Henry is happy with this situation." she informed once the attendant left "He's been dreaming with a grandson since the day he suspected what was going on between those two."
"He suspected? You mean… Didn't he…?"
"Henry didn't start it. Mmm," she vacillted, shaking her head "From the time they all met on, both Henry and his wife tried to set them up." She placed the glass on the table "They thought they were perfect for each other, you know, smart, handsome… Blonds!" she snorted "Poor guys! They failed miserably."
"By the look of it, it's more like they succeeded" Arnold added. "How long has this thing going?" he asked after receiving a fresh cup of coffee.
Rhonda shrugged "Oh, I don't know, Arnold."
"I still think you do." He replied calmly.
"Fine!" Rhonda groaned resignedly. 'What's up with this smart-ass little Arnold?' she shook her head. "This 'thing', as you well call it, has been going for a while now." She looked at him with attention "They… let's say… started seeing each other regularly after the Charity Ball last year."
"Regularly?" she dipped her sight to her own cup of coffee feeling guilty. Maybe she should think twice before talking so freely.
"They've… had a fling… or two…" Rhonda coughed "…previously."
"They've… what?" Arnold mouthed.
Rhonda saw Arnold shaking the surprise from his eyes with repeated blinks. She bit her lip. She knew he cared about Helga. How deep was his care - or how real it actually was - was the question?
Still, she didn't want to hurt him by saying something untimely. She prolonged the sip of her drink as she continued looking at him with attention.
Although...
To be aware of the reality of Helga's actual love life was hurting?
I mean -she talked to herself- Arnold had been virtually engaged up to only days ago. What did that say of the deepness of his feelings for Helga? Or for that other girl anyway?
Helga was in a relationship; and for much 'unconventional' it was, it still was a relationship. Rhonda knew Helga was crazy about the guy. And him… well, if the level of his jealousy said something, then the guy was deeply screwed.
"Huh," Rhonda shrugged her shoulders graciously. Her long silence should have been enough confirmation "It's not that strange, once that you think about it. They've known each other for years. They spent a lot of time together; they work together. They have a lot of things in common. Their interest for the wellbeing of the company being the most and extremely important..."
"But that doesn't mean…"
"Anyway," Rhonda spoke aloud, placing a hand in front of her "Why losing our time looking for a justification. They're together. It's real. That's not gonna change just because we want to dissect their relation one given morning around this very table."
That seemed to make the trick. Arnold leaned back and took air. She hated herself for being this blunt, but truth was that she'd already had this entire conversation with herself. She shrugged apologetically and Arnold seemed to accept her silent excuse. When he talked again he seemed to have already moved on from the initial shock.
"Why Henry pretended he and Helga were together."
"I think we've already talked about this." She complained, looking at him through her fingers spanned over her face. "It was a joke. It did the trick but it also backfired him … Her… Both-"
"What do you mean?" Arnold's frown was deeper now "I'm afraid I'm not following."
She grunted to herself. Supposedly she wasn't going to talk this openly. She'd planned she'd be only willing to accept some truths. But look at her now! Blabbing it all! And starting by the end, nonetheless. Like some simpleton! What a shame, Rhonda Lloyd! There was no doubt. She was unable to contain herself.
Want a proof?
"He wanted to make Dick jealous."
Here you are!
Bit the tongue. Bit the tongue. The coherent part of her mind ordered to her teeth.
Arnold closed his eyes an exhaled. She waited until he was ready. Since it was obvious she was about to spill the beans, at least she'll do it chronologically so Arnold got it right.
"Jealous?" Rhonda looked at him with surprise. So, it turned out that Arnold also wanted to take his time before going on, huh? He seemed to realize this, because he asked ensuit "Why?"
"To force him to make up his mind." She closed her eyes.
"What do you mean 'to make up his mind'?"
"Gee, Arnold!" she grumbled. Opening her eyes again. "It's obvious he knew something was going on between them."
"And?"
"He wanted them to move forward; to get formal." She exhaled "It's kinda a long story-"
He turned to look at his watch. "I have plenty of time"
"It's also a weird story." She warned him.
Her blond companion narrowed his eyes
"It's Helga G. Pataki we're talking about. I guess that's an understanding."
"You can say that." She made a pause to look at the time in her cellphone. Cursing that this time there wasn't a last minute email to save her.
"You dated Dick once, right?" he surprised her with the sudden change of…facet.
"You're really asking me that?" Rhonda snorted involuntarily. "That was long ago!"
"But you did?" he went on impassible.
"It has nothing to do with anything now." She said on the defensive, leaning back in her chair.
"Isn't it weird for you… now… that they're seeing each other?" he asked in low voice.
"No." She mumbled to herself; taking a sip of her lukewarm coffee and making a face. "It doesn't. It's not weird. Dick and I went out a couple of times. We had dinner together and that was it. Nothing else happened."
"Because…?"
"Because there was something that just didn't click between us." She took air "I guess I've already had the sensation that… there was something else going on between Helga and Dick than their apparent and mutual dislike. Something surreptitious; even unconscious. It just felt wrong."
"Did Helga give you the impression that she was jealous?"
Rhonda was pleasantly surprised to see Arnold so efficiently inquisitive. He used to sail under the flag of a nice, easy going guy; never getting his nose in the business that weren't his; but maybe he only played the role. He was a skilled lawyer after all. His job was the making of such perfectly redacted contracts that assured the parts they'll never end at a law court reconciling differences because everything was previously settled and revised to begin with.
"Back then when you dated Dick?"
She shook her head no. "I guess Helga didn't know back then he would be this important to her…" when Arnold raised a skeptical eyebrow she supplemented "Not only work-related, I meant; but…"
"Love-related?" Arnold sneered.
"Well, yes." she sniffed. "Disregarding if you like it or not, Arnold. They are together. There's some level of love involved."
'What is love?' Rhonda leaned heavily back in her seat recalling one of Helga's most frequent soliloquies. The blonde girl started with that question, and then followed with the adequate description of the scene they just happen to run into. A mother almost enslaved to her kids; an abusive or unequal husband-wife relationship; and old, withered couple; o young random gay -couple; or simply philosophizing about her own love life…
"What did Helga do to get involved with Dick?" Arnold leaned back in his chair too. Rhonda narrowed her eyes. She had the feeling that this was a déjà-vu. "You said it wasn't like her falling into his clutches or anything."
She blinked the brief haze and smirked.
"Wouldn't you think the opposite?" she replied as he showed his confusion with a frown "What did she do to make him fall into her clutches?"
"Oh," Arnold nodded in understanding. "Given that he's 'quite a catch', you mean?" She nodded with rejoice, realizing she was enjoying this conversation more than she expected. It was the pleasure of a superb conversationalist like Arnold.
And herself, of course!
"Well, I'm glad you already got it!" she opened her eyes showing her regard for such intellect "You should be happy for her. Helga's caught a big shot!"
"Caught?" he counterattacked; cheekily.
"Well I get you point," she acknowledged his point. "Given that we're talking about Dick…" she left it there, exhaling long then added. "Still…"
"You never told me how it all started."
The raven haired girl tried to hide a mischievous grin. She failed miserably, though. "Didn't I?" There was no way she would ever answer that. To anyone.
Arnold shook his head with amusement. "Did they… had long, deep, romantic evenings with heart-to-heart conversations what made they made madly in love with each other?"
She smirked; but then exhaled. Truth that the origins of their relation made her feel guilty to some extent.
"Nope." She spat serenely "Mix a short, unplanned reunion, two individuals full of anger and spite, and a casual and powerful spark. Everything burst into flames. Literally." She informed.
She saw Arnold leaning back again as a deep furrow appeared on his brow. Deep thoughts. It wasn't easy to take, she guessed.
She recalled again the possibility of Arnold harboring feelings for the girl in question. But as she'd said to herself before, she wasn't about to relate something that could be painful to him. What she'd said had been descriptive enough.
But that didn't mean she wouldn't recall it to herself. There was something about that remembrance that should be… learnable. In many aspects.
Memory lane took Rhonda to one of those Friday nights of their four - almost - five years long ritual. It should be about their first year; maybe the second…. They both were joyful singles ladies back then. Correction. Scratch joyful. They were complaining about love at the heat of Helga's fireplace and some vodka-based homemade drinks.
After a good share of 'love stinks', 'love's a bad joke', 'Who said women need men?' and other spiteful phrases of the like; they've reached the point where they swore they'd never let themselves get smitten again. They'll become shallow from then on; cold-hearted vamps. They vowed they'd rather become the greatest whores of the Shire than fell in love again.
Then the conversation turned weird… hot…
After pestering the love skills of their former lovers; they both started to voice unabashed wishes, dreams, their most hidden secrets. Their needs. Weird, sexy scenes passed through the haze of their minds. All of a sudden the blue eyes and full lips of her female companion started to look suggestive to Rhonda's eyes. They looked erotic; simply irresistibly. She was inexplicably and unequivocally turned on. And she knew Helga's mood was similar. They both wanted to 'feel'. It was as if the decision of what would happen next had been already taken; unconsciously. They were both right there. Ready. Willing to experience…
A knock on the front door made them jump apart from each other right when their lips just touched. Rhonda felt hot in her face as she left the couch and hurried to the kitchen. She opened the faucet and enjoyed the sensation of the cold water running through her fingers. She rinsed her hands. Eager to do something; anything. Helga came behind her and left some dirty dishes on the marble surface of the counter; then turned quickly around; avoiding her eyes. Her face was flush red too.
"Coming!" she shouted.
Rhonda inhaled watching her go to check the door given that the undesirable visitor was too insistent. The raven-haired girl touched her face softly with her cold hands, wanting nothing else but the blush -and the slight drunkenness- to disappear. She was still seeing Helga's fair complexion and red lips quite too alluring… but how? She shook her head. "I'm not gay!"
Not that there is anything wrong with that, of course. The back of her head recited.
Before she could think anything else about the near miss, Rhonda turned to the doorway where she heard Helga' swearing followed by a deep masculine voice.
A very well-known and very deep masculine voice, by the way.
She left the kitchen, towel in her hands. Helga's protests made her know she should make her presence known to the visitor. She stepped in the room right in the moment Dick turned around after closing the door.
"You have company." It wasn't a question.
Dick's restless eyes swept her rapidly before going back to Helga. There was something dark in Dick's sight that always unnerved her; that bothered her. Now it was obvious he had his own wrong, bigoted impression about what was happening here.
"As if!" she uttered, annoyed.
Although he might be not mistaken this time around... Rhonda cringed visibly. Fortunately, nobody was paying her any attention.
"What do you want?" Helga asked, leaning back against the hall wall to prevent him to reach the living room.
"I want a word with you." He said dryly. He looked briefly Rhonda's way once again; uncomfortably. Rhonda suppressed a smirk.
"Dick…" Rhonda started.
"It's about Henry?" Helga asked cautiously, interrupting her. When he shook his head, she went on offhandedly. "Then sorry folk: you have no business in here. Office's been closed for a few hours and I'm at home. Enjoying my ladies' night."
"That I can see." He said mordant. Rhonda was about to protest, but her friend's stern sight shut her mouth. Helga had also discerning his meaning, but chose to ignore it.
"Then leave." She uttered plainly.
He began to rant. "That proposal of yours! It's stupid for God's sake!"
"You waited until now?" Helga snorted.
"How did you dare to advise the Board it'd be wise to…"
"Because nobody else would do it!" she retorted "And it needs to be done. What? You didn't like it?" Helga asked mockingly. "I thought you did. Everybody else did."
"There's no way you're… you're getting away with this!"
Rhonda watched him stumbling with the words. His fists were clenched and his lips were a thin line. His emotions always overflooded. For a second she got worried…
"I didn't hear your protests at the meeting. There's nothing you can do now."
"I want you to back off. It's nonsense!"
"Are you crazy?! It's already voted."
"I'm not fucking following."
"Richard, Richard!" Helga laughed dryly. "If only you had spoken on time. At the meeting. Now it's late."
"I did!" Rhonda observed the tall threatening guy leaning forward towards the blonde again and she turned around losing interest. By the look of her friend she knew it was no sense to worry about her safety. Helga had more than enough experience dealing with bullies of this kind.
But she was annoyed nevertheless. She hated seeing how easily Helga got hooked on Dick's tricks; or his nonsense; or even over some actual and valid arguments. She'd forgotten about them both and their nice reunion in a blink. They'd shared a dark mood and grumpy commentaries; a pleasant evening. And an almost 'something'; but it all was out of her mind now. She was happily engrossed in a nonsensical discussion with her oddly attractive archenemy.
Maybe it was meant to be, Rhonda said to herself as she took her bag and coat from the hanger and turned to look at them before heading for the door.
"I could never compete for attention when you're all dolled-up by your gay boyfriend!"
"Ha!" Rhonda did nothing to suppress the derisive snort that left her mouth at this commentary.
"He's not gay!" Helga retorted "And the dress was all mine by the way! I don't need lackeys to do my…"
The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes. "Boooriiiing!" she uttered aloud but even then, nobody paid her attention. She made a face. Not that she lamented it, really. It was for the best, once that you thought about it.
If not for Dick's arrival only God knew what would have happened in there. She shook her head, taken aback. A sudden surge of trepidation overcame her at the realization of the definitiveness of what could have happened. She liked men; ugly strong and dignified - although a cute smile wouldn't be despised-. Was because of it that she found Dick extremely sexy right now?
Or maybe it was just that she was turned on. Too turned on to go to waste it. 'Maybe I still could make a call,' she thought.
"I'm off." She pronounced resolutely. Helga surprised expression made her laugh. She'd rendered speechless. "It was a great night, thank you so much for your hospitality." She dismissed her apologetic face with a wave of her hand. "Now I'll go so you two have fun together." She added, acerbic.
She closed the door behind her and stood, hesitating for a second. Then she walked down the hallway trying to ignore the warning light inside her head.
Was she being too selfish? Should she have stayed here in her friend behalf?
Would it be a god idea to leave them on their own? In a night like this? When the powers of night are exalted? When the risk of something happening between them both was higher than ever?
Would be that a problem?
Maybe she was thinking so much. Giving love too much credit. They were both adults perfectly capable of keep control of their instincts; and ultimately, if all that animadversion found its natural course, at least they were responsible enough to deal with the consequences.
…
…
That mental justification didn't leave Rhonda in peace for the rest of the night; despite her nightly wanderings. The next day Helga was nowhere to be found, which was strange, since they used to keep Whatsapp running all day long after their gatherings. Rhonda decided she'd leave her in peace for the day. If only for one day. But then the mischievous smile that was perched on her face the entire Saturday became a worried frown by Sunday noon when she couldn't reach her friend by any terms. She needed to find her. Now.
She knew Helga' Sunday itineraries like the back of her hand. The blonde girl used to wake up late; go for a run to Central Park and meet Henry to have lunch at Tony's. Then she walked back home.
Her dutiful detective work paid off. The shocked face of her friend at the sight of Rhonda waiting for her in her building hall was priceless. Instantly Rhonda confirmed her suspicions. Before the blonde could think of a coherent excuse to get rid of her, Rhonda took her wrists and didn't let go until they both were flopping on the couch with Rhonda gripping tightly to prevent her from escaping. Helga knew she was cornered.
"How was it?"
"Horrible!" Helga shouted. Rhonda finally released her hands and the blonde took them up to cover her face immediately. "Delicious!" she moaned, leaning heavily back on her seat. "Fuck, Rhonda! What have I done?!"
"No - shit." Was all she could say.
To say Helga was still stunned was an understanding. She didn't even flinch at her 'cultured' expression. Her face showed a myriad of feelings: guiltiness, awe, surprise, confusion, delight. And then she ended confessing it all.
. . .
…
It turned out after Rhonda left they continued 'talking about work'. 'Discussing' would be a more appropriate term in Rhonda vocabulary, but anyway…. To make clear that she wasn't about pay any care to his complaints, Helga occupied herself with picking up the dishware and taking it to the kitchen. Dick trailed behind; his bully side at its maximum.
When she intended to leave the kitchen she found him blocking the doorway. Placing her fists on her hips, she faced him.
"Move it, freckle dick!"
"I'm NOT-!" Dick writhed with humiliation. Helga smiled with satisfaction. She loved how easily was to get in his nerves. "I'm…" he stammered. "I'm…"
"Not my business." Helga placed her hands in front of her impassively; then she intended to push past him to leave the room, but Dick blocked her way again. Swearing, Helga shoved him hard "Move!"
"Don't touch me!" He brushed her touch brusquely "Don't ever dare… to touch me again!" he snarled, showing his teeth.
"You're a nuisance in the middle of my kitchen." She retorted, drawing her hands onward. "I'll touch you all what I want." She swept up and down his chest with lithe, ample movements. "See? What are you gonna do? Stop me?" she pushed him again, daring "Ha! You and what ar-…"
She gasped.
In his intend to evade her touch he fidgeted; and somehow Helga's fingers were met with a very private part of his anatomy. A part of his anatomy that came to life with such light, unintentional touch.
"I - I'm- I'm sorry." her hands jumped back to her own chest "I didn't mean…" she said breathlessly; earnestly wanting to let him know it all had been casual. But it was late. A heavy pant had followed her gasp. He'd taken her arm and now they were standing too close. She could feel his breath; to smell his cologne; to look into his eyes. His bewildered, sparkling, beautiful blue eyes…
It was her undoing.
Her lips parted.
His undoing.
It was a collision. There was not a best way to describe it. It'd been the roughest, cleanest expression of two starving bodies in perfect state of functioning finally getting what they wanted. Needed. Required. They were no people. There was no past or present. No social conventions. Two prisoners being set free for a fairly long frame of time to get their justice and go back to the confinement they've been in.
No questions would be asked.
…
…
"The only problem is that there will be questions to be asked, I'm sure!" Helga wailed.
"Of course there will be! Mine!" Rhonda exclaimed, ecstatic. "First… Did you reach your bedroom or just...?" her wriggling fingers pointed to the carpet in front of them.
"Rhonda!" Helga protested.
"Alright -alright," she giggled "How did everything end, then?" Helga threw her a murderous look, which, if she weren't for her deep mortification, it might have gotten some response. Rhonda went on with mischief in her eyes. "You both hiding flushed faces from each other. Uttering no more words than ashamed mumbles as you picked your clothes from all over the place?" a big grin was spread on her face as she interrogated her friend "Did Dick do the walk of shame?"
Her friend surprised her when she let out a faint smile.
"You can say so." She bit her lip. Then she became serious again.
"What's worrying you?" Rhonda got serious too.
"What if he talks?"
"Do you think he dares?
"Dunno. Dick has already surprised me unpleasantly before."
"He also had surprised you in a pleasing way"
Helga mumbled a reluctant agreement. "Oh, God! What I'm gonna do next time I see him?!" se moaned contritely.
…
…
It turned out Helga didn't have reason to worry. Dick was fateful to his word. Or to his unspoken vow, anyway. They've been in cordial terms for a while. Not getting at each other neck at the least provocation. Henry was happy.
…
. . .
"It worked out for a while" Rhonda told Arnold since he'd asked precisely that. Her blond friend only nodded in understanding.
"You said it'd happened twice." He asked fixing his green eyes on her.
"That's true," Rhonda shrugged, turning aside. God, she was tired! She didn't feel like talking anymore "It happened only one more time."
"Helga's place again?" Arnold raised a skeptical brow.
Rhonda shook her head. "Some random meeting." She informed sparingly.
"When?"
It was Rhonda's turn to look at him now; assessing whether give an answer or pass. "A year and a half ago. Give or take." She finally disclosed.
"What happened then?"
"Henry realized…. he decided to take matter into his hands; meaning he'd pretend he was interested in Helga, so provoke Dick's jealousy."
"Did it work?"
"Eventually." Rhonda nodded. "Dick showed no care at the beginning but after a while he tried by all means to get them apart. I mean all means." She added emphatically "In sight that he didn't hide his intentions, people bagan thinking he was afraid he'd lose Henry's favor because of Helga-"
"Favor or heritance?" Arnold asked with a smirk.
Rhonda shrugged "It's the same thing I guess."
"But you think otherwise. That was what you were about to say? Was it jealousy?"
"True that I have no idea. Dick is a mystery."
Arnold exhaled. His cellphone chimed and he frowned when checked it. She did the same with hers. It was getting late. "You said they've been going out for a while now, huh?" he smirked "Sorry. 'Going out' is not the term, right?"
Rhonda smirked. "Ya." Arnold raised his eyes at her economical retort "They fuck." She said for all explanation. She raised her had to call a waiter failing to pay attention to Arnold reaction to her description.
"I gotta go. Sorry Arnold." she smiled apologetically.
"Don't be. I have to go too." He admitted once he took the bill from the waiter. Rhonda considered protesting for a second, but then let it go. If he wanted to act all the gentleman she would not stop him. "Need to go to my old place." He made a face "Pick up my things."
"Really? Do you really need them?" she mimicked his expression of disgust. "Sometimes turns out it's only garbage, don't you think?" she stood from the seat.
"Don't doubt about it" he nodded as he also got on his feet. "Actually," he glanced at her "I'm only going because I need explanations."
"Explanations?" Rhonda sneered "I think you didn't care anymore."
"I don't." Arnold smiled dryly "But that doesn't mean I don't want to hear what perfect little Claire has to say about some sex invitation she extended behind my back."
Rhonda laughed freely. "Oh, Arnold, you're a pip!"
…
. . .
Happy Halloween.
I don't own Hey Arnold!
Thank you for reading.
October 30th, 2016.