Dancing With Fire
"This is really what you're planning on wearing tonight? A white t-shirt and some old sweatpants?" Gerald questioned his best friend's fashion choices.
"It's comfortable." Arnold offered.
"It's hideous." Gerald countered, "Besides, this is going to be one of Rhonda's little frou-frou parties. I heard there's going to be a harp player—if you show up to a party like that, looking like this, people are going to try to sponsor you for $1 a day."
Arnold couldn't help but laugh at his best friend's sense of humor at a time like this. Fashion wasn't very big in San Lorenzo and neither were harp players.
"A harp player? Really?" Arnold questioned in disbelief.
"Okay, maybe I heard something about a piano player, but the harp sounded classier. So sue me." Gerald laughed playfully punching his best friend in the arm. "I'm so glad you're back man. Now let's find something suitable for you to wear."
Arnold looked through nearly every men's store in the mall, the fashion seemed so different from when he left. While browsing through one store he saw a man who was wearing tight skinny jeans, but at the same time the pants were so low that his boxers were showing.
"You ready to throw in the towel man? We've been at this mall for 3 hours, I think that I've got the good foundation for an American wardrobe now." Arnold laughed displaying his 7 shopping bags to Gerald.
"Yeah, yeah—let's grab a bite in the food court and then we'll head home buddy." Gerald remarked walking in the direction of the food court.
"Olga, I really don't understand how our conversation took such a turn for the worst yesterday." Helga spoke into the cell phone as she looked in her closet for something to wear to Rhonda's housewarming party, "I swear that I went over there with the best of intentions."
"Baby sister, sometimes you will have the best intentions but unfortunately, things still won't work out. I know how you feel about Stinky—I also know how you used to feel about Arnold. You're going to have to just let things play out the way they were intended to… like in Romeo and Juliet."
"Olga—Romeo and Juliet both died in the end; I'm not sure how that is supposed to be a comforting statement." Helga laughed into the telephone.
"I have to go baby sister, have a good time at your party tonight Helga. I love you." Olga spoke sweetly into the telephone.
"I love you too." Helga responded before hanging up.
This is it, the perfect outfit. Helga spoke to herself before grabbing the pieces to her outfit from the closet and laying them carefully out on her queen sized canopy bed.
"Wow, you've got to be kidding me." Arnold stated in amazement as he began to step out of the taxi. The taxi dropped them off directly in front of Rhonda Wellington Lloyd's new townhome on the Upper East Side. "You're telling me that Rhonda owns this townhouse? She's not living with her parents?"
"Yes, she got this house as a graduation present from her parents. The average selling price for a home in this neighborhood averages $3.5 million dollars, quite a generous graduation gift if you ask me." Phoebe responded as she adjusted her form fitting, but elegant green gown.
"Generous? That's putting it lightly considering all I got for graduation was a party and a reminder from my dad to stop using so much electricity." Gerald chuckled, "I think Nadine is supposed to be moving in with her soon though."
"Full names please." A tall muscular man in an all-black tuxedo with white gloves demanded.
Gerald stepped up closer to the doorman, clearly unintimidated by the door person Rhonda hired.
"Gerald Johannsen, Phoebe Heyerdahl and Arnold Shortman." Gerald stated confidently. The doorman looked down at his invite list and then back at the three eighteen year olds staring at him before holding up a finger indicating they needed to wait. Then he whispered something into his headset.
"Excuse me sir, is there a problem?" Arnold questioned. Before the doorman could respond, the black French doors of Rhonda's townhouse swung open and an irate Rhonda Wellington Lloyd appeared, wearing a tight mermaid style red gown with rhinestone accents. She stormed out of the front door with two large men, also dressed in all black, followed behind her.
"Nate, what seems to be the problem? I asked you to notify me in case of an emergency, I get all the way out here—and there doesn't seem to be any emergency to me." Rhonda exclaimed towards the doorman.
"Rhonda—I'm sorry, I should have contacted you before I just showed up at your party, if its an issue I can leave." Arnold bargained. Rhonda descended the stairs that led to her 3 story home to get a better look at the tanned blonde man that was speaking to her.
"Arnold—Arnold Shortman- is that really you!?" Rhonda squealed before running down and throwing her arms around Arnold's neck. "Arnold, I am so sorry for the inconvenience, please come in and make yourself at home."
Rhonda grabbed Arnold by the hand and led him past the three men and into the party. Phoebe and Gerald looked at each other in amusement, exchanged a knowing look, and giggled before heading into the party themselves.
"Full names please." Nate the doorman stated to two new guests arriving at the front door.
"Criminy, it's a housewarming party not the Oscars.. are you kidding me?" Helga questioned, pushing her blonde bangs out of her face.
"It's okay darling." Stinky stated, rubbing Helga's bare shoulders and pulling her closer to his tall frame. "Stinky Peterson and Helga Pataki."
Nate looked down at his clipboard and waved the pair into the home.
"Wow, I've never seen anything like this before." Stinky remarked as they entered into the foyer. A large black, white and gold balloon archway framed the main living area where the party was located at. Professional photographers were stationed in various areas, several women in skimpy black and gold cocktail outfits carried around silver trays of champagne and drink selections, while several men wearing white button down shirts, black vests and black ties were carrying trays of finger foods. In the middle of the large living room was a small party stage that featured a cover singer and piano player doing renditions of currently popular music.
"Yes, it's a little much for a housewarming party—but that's Rhonda for you." Helga remarked.
"Arnold how long have you been back in Hillwood?" Rhonda questioned, intertwining her right arm with his left arm while taking a sip of her vodka martini.
"I just got back to Hillwood yesterday—once again I'm very sorry for attempting to crash your party but Gerald thought this would be a nice way to let all of her old friends know that I'm back in the city- had I known it was such an elaborate affair—" Arnold began to explain.
"Nonsense Arnold, you're always welcome in my home." Rhonda interrupted in a breathy tone. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Harold walk through the door in a dark blue button down with a black tie, holding the arm of Patty who was wearing a long royal blue gown with a black sash placed right above her baby bump. "Um… Arnold, will you excuse me for a moment."
Rhonda tried to shake any feelings of guilt or jealousy from her face as she approached Mr. and Mrs. Berman.
"Wow, this place is beautiful!" Patty exclaimed, leaning in to hug her friend Rhonda. Rhonda forced a small smile back at the mother-to-be and glanced over at Harold who was holding her by the arm.
"Thank you for attending, it means so much to me that you could come." Rhonda stated as she grabbed another vodka martini from the tray of a passing cocktail waitress and taking a sip of it. "Harold, Patty—make yourselves at home and if you need anything let me know."
Harold watched as Rhonda sauntered away towards a tall, slender muscular man with a football shaped head that looked eerily similar to Arnold Shortman. Rhonda walked up to the man and pushed his blonde hair out of his face and interlinked her arm with his. He could see the two of them talking and then suddenly Rhonda threw back her head with a boisterous laugh as though he was the funniest man in the world.
"Harold, honey, is that who I think it is?" Patty inquired, rubbing her 35 week baby bump. "I think we should go and say hi! I'm sure he has tons of stories about his time in San Lorenzo."
"Um—he seems a little busy right now." Harold remarked trying to keep any tone of jealousy out of his voice. "How about we go see what this singer is all about?"
Arnold finally managed to free himself from Rhonda's conversation and began to mingle the party on his own. He was surprised at how much had changed in Hillwood, but how much still remained the same. He stood at the bar holding on to a half-full glass of Captain and Coke, when a tall figure approached him.
"Hey, Arnold, it sure is wild to see you back in the city." Stinky remarked, extending his hand out to Arnold for a handshake.
"Well, technically I saw you last night." Arnold stated, feeling his cheeks get a little rosy.
"Aww yes, I'm sorry I have been on cloud nine since last night. Helga and me are finally together. I've liked her for a long time Arnold, have you ever wanted something for so long and finally after waiting for so long it happens?" Stinky questioned, Arnold looked across the room and saw Helga. Her long blonde hair was pulled into an elegant updo, exposing her soft, feminine yet muscular shoulders. Her simple pink gown lightly draped over all of her slight curves and the slit in the side teased Arnold with glimpses of her long legs.
"Yeah, I know what that's like. I'm going to go mingle for a bit... but congratulations man." Arnold stated before he walked off into the distance.
"Arnold, dear, I've been looking all over for you." Rhonda stated pulling Arnold close to her and running her fingers through his blonde hair. "You're so rugged and handsome"
Helga caught a glimpse of Rhonda looking into Arnold's eyes and felt a twinge of envy, jealousy and pain wrapped up into one. Stinky walked up to Helga and placed his arm around her waist.
"Are you okay puddin'?" he asked concerned about the look that he saw in his girlfriend's bright blue eyes that he couldn't quite place.
"I'm fine honey, I just really need some fresh air. All of this hoity-toity, high society jazz is just really getting to me." Helga said as she walked off to find a balcony or somewhere private.
"Rhonda, can I talk to you for just a moment?" Harold interrupted.
"I'm a little busy right now Harold." Rhonda snipped.
"I was just leaving." Arnold remarked, he couldn't get the combination of how good Helga looked along with the kiss he had seen between her and Stinky the night before out of his mind or how closely Stinky's words to him matched his own feelings. He needed some time to himself.
"Rhonda, what are you doing?" Harold questioned, pulling Rhonda into the library. "Every time I look at you, you're hanging all over someone."
"I'm single. I can do whatever I want. Where is your wife, shouldn't you be somewhere with her?" Rhonda asked, pulling away from Harold.
"Can we not do this tonight?" Harold questioned, "Besides, you demanded that I bring her here tonight."
Rhonda walked over to Harold and ran her fingers down his back and looked up at him sensually.
"Oh no, not now, not tonight and not with my wife here." Harold demanded. Rhonda reached up and started to undo his tie and the top buttons of his shirt. She caressed the back of his neck and leaned in for a kiss. Harold could feel himself begin to give in to the temptation.
Helga found herself on the rooftop of Rhonda's townhouse overlooking the city, alone with just her thoughts.
"Nine years have passed, why can't I shake these thoughts and feelings?" Helga questioned silently to herself before she was startled by the sound of the rooftop door slamming shut.
"Is there anyone out there?" Helga called out.
"It's just me—I just needed some fresh air." Arnold remarked, "I didn't realize you were up here—I can leave if you want me to." Arnold stated walking over to her. Helga moved away and plopped herself onto the cream and wicker outdoor couch.
"No, you're welcome here. I'm not surprised you needed fresh air with you and Rhonda breathing down each other's necks all night—one night back in Hillwood and you already are hooking up with someone, unbelievable. I guess you really aren't the guy I used to know." Helga snipped, kicking off her high-heel shoes and folding her legs up to her chest.
"Don't be ridiculous Helga. You know- " Arnold began to state, taking a seat next to Helga.
"Not to mention how rude you were this morning. Implying that I never liked you—" Helga interrupted then trailed off.
"That was wrong of me Helga." Arnold admitted looking down at his new shoes, "There was a lot going on and we were thousands of miles away from each other. You were all that I thought about for quite some time—even on the flight back all I could think about was seeing you. Of course, my visions didn't include Stinky's tongue down your throat—but here we are." Arnold remarked.
"I couldn't wait forever for you." Helga stated feeling her eyes start to water slightly.
"It would be unfair of me to expect that you would." Arnold replied, his brow furrowing slightly not trying to show the sadness that he felt.
"Look, Arnold, I don't want to lose you—as a friend I mean. You're very important to me." Helga admitted, placing a hand on Arnold's knee. Arnold placed his hand on top of Helga's.
"You're important to me too, your friendship means a lot to me." Arnold responded softly and Helga could feel her heart begin to pound.
"Okay, um—well I guess I'll be seeing you around." Helga jolted up suddenly, grabbing her shoes and offering one last lingering look back at Arnold before heading back to the party. Arnold stood up and looked at the skyline of the city, wondering how differently life could have been if he had come back to Hillwood sooner.