"Have a nice day." Arnold smiled to the customer waving bye to him as he left. He smiled as he looked around to see what he had to do. There were a couple of customers already there so better he stay where he's at.
"How's the day so far Arnaldo?" Helga asked as she put a couple of books on the counter.
"Whoa. New shipments?" Arnold asked. "And it's going okay so far. Not too slow. Not too busy." he smiled. Helga smiled back.
"Good. Just how I like it and yes. A couple of new ones and a couple of mine. Let's see if anyone likes them." she thought with a, now, faint smile.
"Helga, people come for your poems all the time." he reassured her. She looked at him and cheered up a bit.
"Yeah. I suppose I am the shit. Ain't I?" she said lifting her head up. Arnold just chuckled.
"You sure are Helga." They laughed a bit together. "I forgot to ask earlier Helga but I haven't seen Leo in the past few days. Where has he been?" he asked. Helga was flipping pages through the books to make sure they were fine.
"He's been trying to find a job or at least he better be. He came home around 8 last night so he better get a call back soon." she said with no expression. Arnold just looked at her.
"I wonder how it's going." Arnold said aloud.
"Excuse me. I'd like to buy these please." a customer came up. Arnold turned his full attention to her. Helga looked at the customer and smiled, then looked at the clock on the wall behind Arnold. It's 11am right now. Hope that idiot finds something. She thought. Just a few moments passed and the two customers that were there left. Helga checked the books she had just got them and put them up.
"You can head out football head. You got classes in a while so you should rest a bit before you head there." Helga said.
"Are you sure Helga? I don't mind stay-" he was interupted by the chime of the bell on the door. "Wel.. come.." Arnold slowed his words down as he saw who it was.
"Arnold! I knew it was you! I was walking along the street and I could have sworn I had seen you! My hunch was correct!" Dani said with a big smile.
"Hello Daniella. How are you?" Arnold gave a slight smile, a bit nervous from what Helga may think. Why do I feel nervous? He turned to see her and to his surprise, she wasn't paying much attention to them as she was looking through a couple of books on the counter.
"I'm doing well. So you work in a book store?" she smiled looking around.
"Yeah. Poems and books to be exact." he corrected. Dani looked around till her eye's landed on Helga.
"Hello. I'm Daniella. An acquaintance of Arnold. You must be his boss." she put her hand out to shake Helgas hand. Helga looked up to see her.
"Hello. Yeah. It says manager on my name tag so you got me." she faintly smiled and shook her hand. "The names Helga by the way." Dani kept her smile and then looked at Arnold.
"I just wanted to say hi so I'll talk to you some other time Arnold. Let's make plans for this weekend. What do you say?" she walked towards the door and waved. Arnold nodded as Dani gave a smile, making her way out.
"Acquaintance huh?" Arnold turned around to see Helga with a faint smirk. Arnold started rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah. To be honest, this was all Leo's idea. He set me up for a... Blind date." he looked at Helga to see not much of an expression. "I had bumped into her when we had gone to the store and Leo was with me so I had already met her. We still have yet to actually make plans." Arnold explained. Helga chuckled.
"You mean until now." she continued chuckling. "Look football head, you don't need to explain anything to me. She seems pretty into you so go for it." Helga said as she grabbed and started reading a book she had on the counter. "Anyways, were just friends after all." she said in a fainter voice that she was sure Arnold wouldnt notice. Arnold didn't like the softer tone she gave him so he put his hands on the counter to get Helgas attention, with no succes. Why can't you show me what you really think Helga. He thought. He knows when something is off with her.
"Helga... " she looked up at him and he was going to let something out that he wasn't even sure of himself when a loud sudden chime rang and the door slammed open.
"Sup' ladies!" Leo barged in and put his arm around Arnold. "Ayyyeee! Green eye's! Been a while!" he laughed. Confused, Arnold just nodded at Leo.
"Hello Leo. Has been a little while hasn't it?" he smiled. Helga glared at Leo and crossed her arms.
"By you comming back so early and looking so preppy, I assume you got a job?" Helga hoped. Leo looked at her and took off his arm from around Arnold's neck.
"Hell na. No one seems to like me. I just thought I could chill for today." he grinned big. Helga rolled her eyes.
"Gee I wonder why nobody likes you." she sarcastically said. Leo put his arms over his head and behind his neck.
"I know right!?. Im charming and freakin sexy! Who would hate this adorable face?" he asked as he saw Helga and Arnold both raise they're hands. In astonishment, Leo gave them a glare. "How DARE you two!" he said looking hurt as Helga and Arnold looked at each other and started to chuckle. Not a moment passed when they suddenly looked away from each other with a quiet look. Noticing them, Leo was about to say something when the door chimed yet again. Leo quickly turned around, Helga and Arnold following.
"Welcome!" Leo let out with a smile and a preppy tone, to the other two's suprise. The customer was a little old lady. She smiled and went up to Leo.
"Ohh look at you young'n with your up-beat attitudes." she squished Leo's cheeck.
"Oh darn ma'am. You look just as young." he smiled, winning a small laugh from the lady.
"Oh goodness! If only sonny." she then got a paper out of her purse and handed it to Leo. "Would you mind helping me find these two books sonny. That's if you have them ofcourse." she asked. Leo got the paper and smiled.
"Ofcourse ma'am! Take a seat right over there while I go search for them. I'll show you after to see if they are it!" he said as he showed the small couch to the little lady and made his way. With a big smile on her face, she noticed Helga and Arnold, amazed by how well Leo handled the customer, and even more, that he knows how to find the books.
"He's such a wonderful worker miss. Please let his manager know that this little old lady will be returning more regularly." she smiled. Helga looked at Arnold, him doing the same, and they both sighed. They knew what was going to happen next. Damnit Leo. How do you know this place so well already? Helga wondered. Making his way back with two books, Leo walks up to the little old lady and shows her the books.
"Are these it ma'am?" he said politely.
"Oh yes. Thank you very much." She got the books and stood up to buy them. Helga had helped her out and once the lady left, waving and smiling out the door, Helga and Arnold just stare at Leo. Waving bye, he turns to look at them as well.
"What?" he asked with a confused look.
"How in the world do you know your way around here already? And the way you treated that lady!" he had a shocked look.
"Oh fuck. Did I mess up? I didn't insult her did I?" He asked concerned. Helga got annoyed and Arnold laughed.
"No Leo. You gave her great service." Arnold smiled. Now smiling, Leo crossed his arms and lifted his chin up.
"Well thanks." he said proudly. "I guess I got used to the store a bit from reading a couple of books here." he chuckled. Helga rolled her eyes until they landed on the clock.
"Hey Arnaldo." she said, getting his attention, and then pointing at the clock.
"Oh man! I better leave before I get to class late!" Arnold said as he hurriedly made his way out. "See you both later!" he said leaving.
"See ya some other time bro." Leo said as he felt chills down his spine. He glanced at Helga as she gave him a glare. He slowly moved back towards the staircase. "I'll... be upstairs." he said almost making it until Helga grabbed him by the collar.
"Oh no your not. Your going to stay here and help me at the shop." she ordered.
"Wait... What? Help out?" he asked confused. Helga let go of his collar and crossed her arms, facing him.
"Yes. By help out, I mean work here. You'll be working here when Arnold isn't around and I'll pay you the same as Arnold so you can save up and then get the hell outta my home." she told him. Still confused, Leo scratched his head.
"But, why would YOU want me to work HERE?" He wondered.
"Criminey Leo! You just helped that lady out and made her a regular here! You also know how to look for the books so you know this place well by now. So it's obvious that you're not bad at this." Leo lifted an eye brow.
"Thank... You?" wondering of it was an insult or compliment. Then he shook of the confusion and decided to roll with it. "Alright then! What do you want me to do boss!" he said standing up straight like a soldier. Helga got a broom and gave it to him.
"Don't need to be so dramatic you dope. Just clean around for now. It's starting to get a bit dusty." she told him as she went behind the counter. "If you start screwing around with customers then you're out for good! You hear me?" Leo nodded and did as he was told. Helga gave a faint smile at his determination. I guess he does want to start making some changes for himself. She thought as she started looking through a couple more books.
The day goes by and once nighttime came Leo was finished for good. After getting everything set for the next day, Leo and Helga turned everything off downstairs and walked upstairs. Leo laid down on the couch while Helga went to grab herself something to snack on.
"Fuck. Who knew taking care of a little book store could be so tiring!" he complained. He got his phone out and looked at the screen. "It is NOT 9 o'clock." he said suprised by how time flew. Helga rolled her eyes as she got a bowl of grapes and sat on a armchair next to the couch.
"You said it. So isn't it obvious?" She stated. Leo glared at her and put his hand down, almost touching the floor. They were quiet for a few moments until Helga lifted her head up and looked at Leo. "So, a girl named Daniella came by today just to say hi to Arnold. What are you planning on Leo?" she said in a suspicious tone. Leo grinned.
"And how do you know I was the one who did anything?" He lifted his head up to look at her.
"Arnold said you set him on a blind date." she retored. Damn that green eyes. Now shes gonna bark at me. He thought. "I didn't say I didn't. I was just curious how you found out." he looked away a bit nervous but then shot back and looked at Helga with a grin. "Why are YOU so interested in Arnold's plans? Huh?" Helga's expression didn't change but she was trying to figure out what to tell him, keeping quiet. "Do you happen to... Like Arnold?" he said slowly. Helga's forehead scrunched up, giving him an angered look. "What? I'm not wrong huh?" he sat up and got closer to her.
"Are you fucking stupid? I was just curious. That's all." crossing her arms and looking to the side. Leo kept his evil grin and inched closer to her.
"If your so worried about him being with another woman then why not come to me instead." he was nearly right in front of her. "We ARE under the same roof you know." his face was getting closer to hers when she turned to look at him, knowing well enough how close he is to her. Having no expression on her face and Leo hovering right on top of her on the arm chair, she got just a bit closer to his face and smirked, surprising Leo, before she got right next to his ear and whispered.
"You were warned." as she lifted her knee up, rather hard, and Leo let out a screech as he grabbed his, now throbbing and full of pain, self and fell to the floor on his knees.
"Hey guys! You left the door open. You should really be more... What's... Wrong with Leo?" Arnold came in, pointing at Leo on the floor. Helga turned around and stood up.
"Nothing. He's just praying for a full recovery." she said as she slightly kicked Leo to the side as she walked next to Arnold.
"Okay... Anyways, I was going to ask if you two wanted to go out and get some wings. I just got done with some homework and I'm starving." he smiled. Helga smiled as well and nodded.
"I'm up for some wings anytime. Let me go and change real quick." she said leaving to her room. Arnold decided to kneel next to Leo and check on him.
"Hey. Are you alright?" Arnold asked a bit concerned. Leo lifted his head up. His face was red and he had tears. "Woah." Arnold unintentionally said.
"Fuck you green eyes. This... Is all... Your fault..." He managed before he slowly started standing and sat on the armchair, holding his precious jewels from the pain. Confused, Arnold was going to ask what happened but Leo interupted. "You just HAD to tell her I'm setting you up with Dani." Leo said more clearly now but with a grunt in his voice.
"Well of course I did Leo. Why wouldn't I? She's one of my closest friends." Arnold said. Leo looked at him with one brow up.
"Closest friend huh?" he said before he heard footsteps. Arnold wasn't sure what Leo was trying to say with repeating what he said. We are close friends. Were not more or less. Right? But.. Why would Helga get so upset at Leo for doing so? Arnold thought.
"You ready football head?" Helga asked as Arnold looked up. He saw Helga and felt a warmth on his face by the look of her. Maybe..He thought without really thinking and shook his head. He smiled and nodded his head making his way to the door.
"So are you comming Leo?" Arnold asked. Leo didn't turn around or say anything. All he did was lift his hand up in the air and stuck the middle finger at both of them. Arnold shook his head at his gesture while Helga just completely ignored it. Closing the door, Leo slowly stood up and went to the freezer to try and find an ice pack.
"She's going to be hard to deal with damnit." he said to himself. "You'd figure I had learned my lesson by now too." letting out a sigh.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Holidays got in the way but I'm still on it so don't worry haha! Let me know your thoughts! :)
Till next chapter!