Arnold flips his collar, lightly jogging through the double doors. Spotting the right number, he enters and steps down the stairwell leading towards the stage. Upon seeing a figure, he heaves in a breath.
He squints at the few lights and the glow reflecting off her white garb. Arnold's eyes span from her attire up the long length of her neck, to her high bun.
She looks like a -
"You're late." are the first words heard as he beelines towards the stage. She props one hand on her hip and her brows knit. "I said noon."
"Sorry." With a small apologetic smile he turns his wrist over to glance at his watch, and his smile falls off for a smirk. "It's only three after the hour, Helga; you can't-"
She raises a hand up. "Stop, no need for a football headed excuses. Just pull up a chair." Arnold shaking his head a bit obliges and picks a seat in the front row. It is only then that his eyes absorb her completely from top to bottom and the softness returns in his gaze. Wow, she looks stunning.
He notices her slightly prickly demeanor dwindles, and she starts to resemble a ball of nerves. An urge to jump on the stage grab her hand and tell her not to be scared, that it's just him fills him. But instead, he stills in the hard chair in awe of her - everything.
The tendrils hanging along the cheekbones bounce as her back and forth stride picks up. She pensively burns a hole into the wax-like floor, contemplating her next move. Her eyes unpredictably shift, locking with patient pools of green. "Sorry," A tentative smile spreads across her face while she continues peering down at him. Those gorgeous eyes set straight into hers, unwavering even with her movements. Never will she admit it aloud, but his direct eye contact has always sent her nerves through the roof. "Um...So yeah - I'm a big believer of trusting what I see more than what I hear. So I wanted to show you how I feel versus just tell you...If that's alright?" Arnold gazes dreamy-eyed at how modest and vulnerable Helga is this moment. His lips part to mouth 'okay' with a nod, and keeps up with her legs moving over to click on a sound system.
Helga stretches her stance tall; her hand delicately dangles with her feet comfortably turned out. Slowly she bends her knees while her heels remained on the ground. Her right arm descends outward leveled at her hips. It looks like she's floating as her steps broaden using the entire stage to her advantage, gliding gracefully to a magnificent earful.
For the first minute or so, she emotes a sullenness that tugs at his heartstrings. She suddenly and curls into a downward pose. Then as the mood of the melody lifts her body rises, and her mouth upturns into a romantic smile.
Now he's moved in an entirely different way.
With every spin or twirl, her soft gaze would find his. And it's like without words she's revealing more of herself. There lying open is the tenderness of her heart.
That sharp connection between the two remains as she leaps elegantly through to the last key plays.
Arnold, so busy gawking, completely entranced, isn't aware of his fast heartbeat until the music completely cut off.
Then he inhales and exhales slow breaths to gain control. He peers up, watching Helga coming back into an upright posture.
His brain instructs him to stand, but his body doesn't budge, especially when Helga's hooded eyes fall to his. He can see so purely what's always behind that once ever-scowling face. There is such an abundance of warmth, beauty, kindness, and affection directed his way, it's quite overwhelming, in a pleasant way.
The solo sped by fast, it was only two minutes and some change long, yet still, sublime sensations fill Arnold like never before. At least not in the area of romance.
Then again it's not every day a person finds someone they have a connection that goes beyond just the physical level. Except he never needed to find her, she's always been there, stirring up his emotions like no other.
He soaks in the stage and the position in the back he used to tuck himself in, reminded of the first time he saw her and not just the temperamental girl she wanted him to. And again when his eyes drag back to Helga, it's like he's seeing the whole of her.
A smile registers as he blinks back some mistiness forming in his eyes. Arnold might be someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, but he still has enough male ego not tear up in front of the girl he's pursuing. So he blinks them back successfully.
In the meanwhile, as Arnold's daydreaming, Helga's heart is playing hopscotch in her chest. And not only because of her exertions but from anticipating his reaction. In spite of his previous confession, her clammy hands fidget, and she tries to suppress her flighty nerves.
Hesitant to look his way directly, but when she does, is met with rounded eyes slowly softening into a half-lidded smile.
Arnold rediscovers his ability to speak while making his way up the stage. "Helga that was-"
"Wait, can I say something else first?" She must have thought that sounded too soft because her tone hardened. An old habit of hers to keep herself afloat and reframe from rambling or monologuing. "Then you can say whatever's on that odd head of yours." Arnold, still grinning, rolls his eyes and watches her expression changing into something so soft, almost serene. It is amazing how she can go from one extreme to another in mere seconds. "So the reason why I invited you here to see this is because it's something I've shared with very few people and... it's special to me..." Her skin is growing hot reminds her of why her preference for communicating through writing has always been high. "I...uh Gerald talked to me, um, about you."
"He did? When?" He shakes his head. "Look I didn't tell him to do that-"
"Ugh," She groans. "Woulda quit yapping and let me finish."
Arnold rubs the back his neck; his cheeks now a glowy red. "S-Sorry."
She huffs but as her gaze lowers her eyes sparkle. "To cut right to the chase, I suppose what he said woke me up and brought me to my senses. I remembered that always knew that where I wanted to be and who I wanted to be with and that's with you." Her fingers intertwine in front, chewing her lip, those dark brows collide. "Crack one chuckle, and I'll deck you."
Arnold elation only increases as he takes in her the whole of her again. And snaps himself out of the trance Helga set him in and hurls out a sigh. "How could I laugh? What you did was incredible! You're - I..." He shakes his head, dreamily gazing at her. He blinks as if coming fully back to reality. "of course, I love everything you did, and I feel so lucky to get to witness this. And what you just said, wow, that really touched me."
She lifts her head, eyeing him closer because what he said is what she wanted to accomplish. It's her turn to fall under a short spell. "It did?"
"Yeah." His eyes sink, suddenly losing their confident glint. "But I have a confession to make...and you may not like it."
Silence fills the air around them, the weird kind. Helga folds her arms across her chest. "Well?" she pushes out, not bothering to leave out the impatience. "Are you going to spit it out? Or do you think I'm supposed to read what's going through that funny looking dome of yours."
Like usual he ignores her quip. Even though secretly he thinks she's funny even when taunting. He takes a few breaths to muster up the courage, but his chin drops.
Crap, I guess if I want anything with her, I better start off being honest."I've already seen you, um, dance."
Her furrow brow and expression are clearly questioning if she heard that correctly. "Come again?"
He stretches his arms out gesturing at the stage and audience space. "I've seen you a few times in practice and when you would stay later after rehearsals. What you just performed was entirely new to me, though." He says to soften his prior statement.
The expression change is so swift; he could almost hear the crackle of thunder when her eyes darkened. "What?" The bite in her voice is evident.
Damn, I might have ruined this before it even got started.
Arnold can practically feel the steam rising from her head. And it's a reminder to stay on her good side as much as possible in the future. His hands raise, feigning innocence. "Trust me it was a coincidence." Her intense stare is unwavering as he pauses so he goes on to explain. "I had no clue you would be there... when I came to see my girlfriend at the time." His mind drew a blank; her name escaped him for a minute. "Sloane."
Helga blinks, lightening a twinge. "Oh right." she won't admit it, but she did pay close attention to the couple the whole time they were together. "She was in my section a few seasons back..."
"Yeah, that's how I saw you." A few shaky chuckles forces it's way out of him. "See I called myself being a decent boyfriend but from the second I saw you, that went down the drain. And I think she sensed the change in me and we ended up splitting. I was so distracted that I didn't see it coming and I was shocked. But then I felt relief, and guilt attached with that. It took me some time to realize it was because I wanted the chance to be with you. I'll admit I did sneak in here to see you practice maybe a few times." Helga opens her mouth, but Arnold rushes out his next words. "Can you honestly blame me? Picture this, the girl who tried so hard to convince me and the world that iron fists and a sharp tongue are all there is to her; which mind you never wholly believed. But it was still a bit of a shock when I saw a polar opposite of how you usually portrayed yourself. I saw you once, and I was a goner. You have more fire in your pinky finger than some people have in their whole body." His eyes crinkle with bemusing. "I hope it doesn't sound like I'm feeding you lines because I'm not. Helga, you steal my breath away with everything you do."
Finishing his last words, he snaps his eyes away from her; his lips poke out. The ongoing silence feels like a swift kick in the gut. So he's pleasantly shocked to hear a few giggles from her.
It surprises her too. But it's hard to maintain any resemblance of anger when looking at that handsome face matched with those sweet words. It doesn't take long before those warm timid eyes melt her frostiness completely. Plus Arnold's explanation seems logical and honest. "Criminy, here I called myself being..." She smiles, but it's awkward and bit tense. "I feel like I did that for nothing..." Her fingers slide and grip her at her bun. She drops her arms with a laugh." I feel silly."
Arnold's face breaks out a wide grin at her flustered reaction. "Don't. You didn't do that for nothing." He flashes a toothy smile that lingers on through his words. "Knowing how scared you've been for years to open up. Inviting me here was like witnessing a piece of you and means a whole lot. It says that you trust me and that's what I've wanted from you. It's the best gift you could've given me."
Arnold's contagious smile affects her in a positive way than anyone else could. But staring out aimlessly, her expression sobers. "You know I still can't believe you feel how you do."
"Why?" He squints.
"I mean, I believe you, but it's just..." Her eyes widen, flickering with amusement. "Criminy Arnold, I use to be your terror for Pete's sake who still sometimes acts like a complete spaz. I'm nothing like any of the girl's you've crushed on or dated, so can you blame a girl for being shocked?"
"You weren't a terror." Helga does an eye roll and deadpans. "Alright sure, you got on my nerves and at times pissed me off. But when I think about it even the worst things you did, didn't leave any emotional scars. We shared some great times together too." Arnold momentarily bites his lip, thinking about her sharp mood swings. "And so what if you can be a spaz." He does a small shrug. "I like that you don't try to hide the fact that you have flaws." His eyes lazily stroll up and down her. "And you're talented, and fun among other great qualities that it'll be worth whatever." His fingers gently graze the inside of her wrist, hesitantly stroking her skin with his thumb. "I should have appreciated all the things you've done for me. It's all quite remarkable when I think back on it." He shakes his head, and a sigh pushes out of his lungs. "If I weren't so dense, I would have seen you were showing that you cared about me through your actions, versus being all talk. No one makes me feel the way you do. Not any crush from the past or my girlfriend of nine months. You're beautiful."
Geez, he sure knows how to make a girl turn to putty."Ah," She shakes her head, trying to settle the butterflies in the pit of her stomach. "I reciprocated already so you can quit sucking up." Helga aims for hostile but gets airy instead. She turns her face to hide the evidence of any swooning.
"So what does this mean? Can I take you out on a date?"
Helga taps the middle of lips then pulls her arm from his grasp. "No."
His mouth sinks and his eyes widen like saucers projecting a dejected look that makes him resemble a sad, lost puppy. "No?"
She tries to keep up the charade but one look at his adorable expression she can't hold it in.
Bringing a frown to his face when she starts to laugh wickedly. She stops to smirk. "But if you quit being such a sap. I might take you out."
Unceremoniously, he grabs her waist exciting high pitched squeals that hit his ears as he tickles her sides. Laughing so hard she almost fell backward, but his hold is tight. He keeps his fingers working against her as she chucks out insults between cackles. Eventually, that amusement dies down, and his eyes soften looking at someone so amazing, Arnold can't believe his luck. He holds her snug and presses his forehead against hers. "Helga..." He breathily whispers her name.
"Hmm?" she giggles when his warm breath tickles her skin, making her nose wrinkle up.
His hands leave her sides to rest on her shoulders.
And when he takes in her face, sentiments start coming out of him like word-vomit. "You're perfect; you make it hard for me to resist." He doesn't mean that in the same way someone like Lila Sawyer might have been described. But that with the pros and cons of her personality and her outer beauty, she is her particular type of perfect that no one else can match.
It takes a second for her to respond because she's taken aback by his description. Never had she heard the words perfect, and Helga coincide. "Resist what?"
He breathes in her sweet scent, remembering how her lips move against his. And he knew before she was holding back. So the thrill that runs through him when thinking about her gave in to her desires is all too overwhelming. His eyes circle the shape of her mouth. "Kissing you." His voice quivers.
She snorts, jerking her chin back. "You've already kissed me you dolt..." two of her finger lift near his face. "twice if you count my birthday. "
He sighs and nuzzles into her neck. It seems like he constantly has to hold back with Helga. With other girls, he was easily able to be the gentlemen without any strain. But around her, there's a constant fight to slow down his urges. "Right, but after the date ..." When he raises his chin the redness on his cheeks brightens. "is the proper way, you know?"
"Hmm." She cups his face; her eyes half-lidded matched with a partial smile. "If you want to date me, you gonna have to loosen up." Arnold swallows when she eases closer brushing her lips against his. "Arnold..." She whispers against the curl of his lip making him shuts his eyes. Mmm, she smells good. He bites the inside of his jaw. No, nope, I won't give in unless she does. He doesn't move an inch, though. Still, he decides that if they're going to kiss now, he'll let her take the lead. At the absence of her touch, he frowns and opens his eyes. Immediately met with an up-to-somethingness beaming from her. "But we'll stick to your plan for now."
Arnold huffs through his teeth. "You pick a funny time to..." He looks away briefly, folding his arms and deadpanning. "start agreeing with me." Helga shrugs her shoulders, playing coy. Anyway..." his teeth show again through a smile materializing. "So, tonight - date?"
His face is conveying such an excitement while Helga tries to play it cool but the bliss shines in her eyes. "Yeah, I that would be okay." She bites her lip, then her eyebrows knit together. "but if you keep me waiting again. I don't care if it's one minute, I swear-"
"Whatever you say, Helga." He interrupts with that typical light sarcasm and begins to turn away but jumps feeling something hit the back of his pants. He faces her realizing it was her ballerina slippers. The mischieve from her is bursting out of the seams. Then with a half shrug, she whirls around to pick up her towel and squawks when she felt a squeeze at her backside. Her mouth drops open, and she's met with a flirty wink. "See you in a few."
And with what seems like a few steps he's gone.
When the doors close, she finally seals her lips, and her fingers graze where his hand just was. First, a look of shock wears on her features over the usually goody two shoes Arnold doing such a thing. Had any other guy tried that, they'd be on the ground whimpering. But this is Arnold, always the exception.
Her eyes drop down, and a comical smile emerges. An odd pleasure consumes her at becoming aware of the ability to pull the darker side out of Arnold. Unlike she might have in the past, she plans on picking and choosing when to use her powers to her advantage. "Oh, you'll pay for that, football head...one of these days..." She tries to move but is unsuccessful. Her chest vibrates with her laughter. "As soon as I gain the feeling back in my legs."
Hey readers, hope you all liked this chapter. Thanks to all of you who have reviewed/followed/favorite. I think they'll be a few more chapters. I've been writing another story for a few weeks, so I'm hoping to upload that one soon;P