Chapter 9 Jump then Fall into the Untouchable Part 2
***AN
Hey, y'all! Sorry it's been so long! Serious writers block. Hope you guys like it, it's really, really long.
Songs:
Jack Johnson- Better Together
Taylor Swift- Never Mind (You can find this song on YouTube)
Taylor Swift- Untouchable (Not a live version, just regular)
Thanks you guys!
***Flashback (Continued)***
That had her sit up with excitement, "Thank you! Extra chocolate syrup and whip cream please!"
With an answered chuckle, she hung up and went to take a five minute shower, blow dry her hair to reveal a dryer than damp look, applied black eyeliner, put her hair into low pigtails with full bangs, and walked into her room with a towel wrapped around her body in search for clothes. She pulled out her under wear, blue shorts, white Hillwood High pullover, and white converse. She turned on her radio and danced to the music and she continued getting ready for school. She looked around for her other half of her pink socks as she sang along to Bowling for Soup's song 'Where to Begin' as a knock at her door sounded. She knew it wasn't her parents because they leave early in order to get home early. Helga called for Arnold to come in as she was pulling random things from under her bed, except for her boxes of hidden songs and poems. Color coordinated by pink and blue notebooks.
"Well this is an awkward sight," Arnold said in an amused voice, setting down a latte and a wrapped chocolate scone on her desk. He sat down in her desk chair as he looked at her with an eyebrow raised, a smirk playfully on his lips.
"I'm trying to find my stupid pink sock." She snapped, digging deeper under her bed. She felt him walk on her floorboards towards her open dresser drawers. After around ten seconds she felt something soft being tossed onto the small of her back. Helga crawled back out army style to find Arnold back to sitting on the chair, sipping his latte, and a pink sock on the ground. She lightly smacked her forehead. "I swear I looked there twice." She was answered with a 'Mhm.'
She put on the missing sock and slipped on her shoes. She looked herself over in the mirror and added the pink bow around her wrist instead of her neck for the day. The finishing touch was her pink beanie. Helga glanced at the clock: six-forty. "Well, we have five minutes. We can both relax before our final day of sophomore year and continue our testing, or we can get to school early and study in the hallway by our lockers." They looked at each other briefly as Arnold sat down his latte.
"Let's leave that to future us and relax now." They both jumped at the same time onto Helga's bed and relaxed. Helga rested her head on Arnold's shoulder and Arnold closed his eyes with a smile. The room was silenced and morning birds began to chirp. Her emergency alarm rang and they both groaned, reluctantly sitting up. Suddenly Helga smiled and looked at Arnold. He raised his eyebrow at her. "What?" She answered him with a question of her own and Arnold grimaced in reaction. He nodded and gulped down his latte. "Fine, let's go." She squealed and headed for the truck.
When they reached the school parking lot there was a loud screech of tires. Helga laughed as she put the blue Chevy in park. "Thanks for letting me drive!" She went to finish her scone as she looked at Arnold crushing his tasty treat with his hands. "You're wasting money, you know." She said matter-of-factly, chewing softly.
He shook his head to clear it and released the breath he was holding. "Why do I keep letting you drive my truck?" he asked, licking his fingers to get the jelly and flaky bread off.
"Beats me, but keep on letting me." She smiled and looked to the school. Random students were piling through the doors while the cheerleaders were doing their early morning practice on the front sidewalk by the flag. She watched as Ruth was yelling at Rhonda and Lila to get their routines right and on time while pulling distastefully at the green plaid skirt that the red headed girl was wearing. She could tell the smile on Lila's face was strained. Rhonda was looking away while the rest of the girls on the squad sniggered to themselves as Ruth moved on to berate Rhonda about something superficial. Helga sighed. She knew those girls since grade school and how well they can stand up for themselves. She guessed it shows how much they want to be captains when Ruth is gone when they turn juniors. They can't possibly stand up to a graduating senior captain. Helga just hopes they'll still be considered remotely human after their last summer of cheer camp with Captain Ruthless.
Helga shook her head to glance at her other past classmates. Sheena and Nadine were sitting on the steps, looking at the sketches from Eugene and Curly's sketchbooks, comparing different textures and styles. They were laughing together and hanging on to each detail of the pictures the boys drew. No one else from her past was relaxing in the front so she assumed they all went inside or were running late or skipping first period.
Her wandering thoughts were disrupted to the sound of Arnold crumpling up his wrapper, having finished his scone. "Ready?" he asked as he reached behind him into the small opening behind the seats to get his and Helga's bags.
Helga gripped it and yawned, "Nope." They opened their doors and walked through the
parking lot to the front entrance. The cheers they heard too much from their basketball games mixed with fake happiness was entering their ears.
S is for Super
U is for Unique
P is for Perfect, 'cause you know we are sweet.
E is for Enthusiasm
R is for Rap
So come on all you Hornets!
And, Dang, stand back!
Jumping around, shouts of excitement and fingers forming the number one filled the air as Helga and Arnold walked closer. Ruth cut them off. "Alright ladies, that was pathetic." Ruth stood in front of them, hands on her hips. She was wearing her usual tank top and blue plaid skirt. "Lila, you're off step again. If I'm going to be leaving my squad in your tiny, fragile freckled hands alongside Rhonda's man hands, you need to be able to be on step and on point. Are you planning on ruining me? The only reason I'm not in California enjoying my early summer on the beach getting a tan is so I can make sure that all of what I've worked for isn't turned to shit because of you two. Understand?" Ruth stared them down with harsh brown eyes, a scowling smile playing on her lips. Meek yesses answered her. "Alright, then take it from the top with two back flips from the twins at the end. Go." The team started again like wind up dolls, their perfected beauty completed the look of precision.
As Arnold and Helga passed the squad, Captain Ruthless glanced behind her and she caught sight of Arnold, "Oh, hey, Arnold!" Ruth went to the tall teen and gave him a hug, much to Helga's distaste. "How are you? I'm going to miss cheering for you at your basketball games. You sure know how to dribble that ball and score." Ruth smiled sweetly while Arnold returned it politely; Helga- not so politely.
"Thanks, Ruth. Congratulations on graduating and heading to U-Dub." Arnold rubbed the back of his neck. He wasn't used to getting any sort of attention from Ruth and he wondered why he mattered all of a sudden.
She smiled back him with perfect teeth, "Thanks. University of Washington in Tacoma is going to be pretty fun, and it's not too far from home. It's perfect so I can keep an eye on my old cheer-mates." Ruth giggled and Helga raised an eyebrow at her and glanced at Rhonda and Lila who were grimacing. "So, Arnold, do you have a girlfriend?"
Helga's body felt shocked and she looked at the senior, not caring who she thinks she is. Helga had a feeling this will end badly.
"Um, no, I don't." Arnold was blushing while some girls on the squad were giggling. They stopped when their captain looked at them and told them to start again. "Why do you ask?" Arnold was nervous and could feel Helga's eyes on him.
Ruth gave her perfect smile again at him, ignoring Helga, "Well, I just know someone who is absolutely perfect for you. You should know her. Her name is-" she was cut off by the bell and Helga pulling Arnold by his arm away from the auburn haired cheerleader.
"If that stupid girl thinks she's going to set you up with one of her clones because you're you and is one of the guys that are allowed to even touch one of her precious Cheer Hornets, it will be when I am dead and gone. I know you and if you get mixed up with one of those girls you will be too nice to even think about breaking up with her and then you will be forced to bring her to our study sessions with Gerald and Phoebe-as if she would even know how to study-and then you will be bringing her on one of our road trips to go camping, or the beach, or to Seattle or Tacoma, and it'll end up being awkward. You are not ruining my summer, fall, winter and spring breaks Arnold! I will not stand for it and for you to be just another spawn in the social ladder?! No siree! Not on my watch Bucko!" Helga continued ranting about society and how commonly pathetic it is for a boy like him to date a girl like Ruth. How all of Captain Ruthless' minions are just clones of her by their junior year of camp and repeatedly saying, "Don't you remember the stories Gerald heard whenever she started cheer leading in Middle School? She ruins their spirit! You, Arnold Phillip Shortman, do not need his spirit taken by the cheer leading spirit witch! Understand?" Arnold was grinning during the whole process and by the time they reached their lockers, Helga exclaimed, "Now you gather your crap so we can go to English and turn in our essays you paste for brains!" She huffed as she grabbed her bag and put all of her unneeded essentials into her locker and slammed it shut. She leaned against the metal, huffing again and crossed her arms. "Don't you dare to even try to laugh at me Arnold because I swear I will tell your mom on you, Bucko."
"Alright, alright, whatever you say, Helga. Let's just get today over with so we can go camping." Arnold nudged Helga's shoulder playfully and they both walked to Coach Lady's room to turn in their papers and get free time during class.
It was during lunch when they met up with Gerald and Phoebe at their usual spot by the window. Phoebe was congratulating Gerald on getting a B+ on the essay that Coach Lady corrected in class and Gerald was thanking Phoebe for the help. "I couldn't have done it without you Pheebers. I mean, you're the essay goddess and the geometry goddess, and my girlfriend." He kissed her cheek while she blushes a light red. They greeted Arnold and Helga as they came from different directions because of different classes.
"Hey, Arnold, Helga, I got us some celebratory fries!" Gerald nudged the medium basket of golden striped potatoes to the middle of the table as the blondes sat down, digging in. "Guess who passed his English essay and is one step closer to staying in a tent with Phoebe? I'll give you a hint. Nobody else has the coolest curly hair in the school besides him." Gerald smirked, waiting to be congratulated.
Helga dipped her fry into the cup of cheese next to the basket, "Hmm… Eugene?" She casually ate the fry and went for another as Phoebe and Arnold silently laughed at Gerald's annoyed face.
"No, Pataki, it's me." Gerald took a bite of his burger.
"Well, Eugene does beat you in the curly hair department. It's just the red, I think. He's the only one I know who can pull it all off." Arnold nodded in agreement, eating fries also. "And I'm pretty sure he wrote the essay himself and not go to one of the smartest girls in our high school class for help; just saying." Helga smiled to herself as Gerald reached over and took the fries from her. She stood up and asked Phoebe to come with her to get her own since Gerald is too much of a baby to handle a joke.
As they left, Arnold reached for the basket of fries from Gerald and continued to eat them. There was a comforting silence until he decided to fully open up to Gerald, somewhat. "Uh, well, Captain Ruthless cut Helga and I off from entering the school this morning," he took a drink from his water bottle, "I think she was trying to hook me up with a girl from her squad." Arnold toyed with the cap from his water, not looking at Gerald, knowing where this conversation will end up.
Gerald scoffed, "I hope Pataki dragged you off man. That girl is trouble, all those girls are. Well, girls in general are except for Phoebe and Helga, and a few of the quieter ones." Gerald took another bite and leaned against his chair. "I'm telling you man, go for it with Helga G. Pataki if you like her so much. Just ask her out already because I'm tired of waiting and I'm tired of having to watch you go all goo-goo eyes whenever she comes around." Gerald finished off his reasoning with a final nod.
"Gerald," Arnold exclaimed while watching Helga across the room picking up and choosing her meal, "this has to be done delicately. She's Helga G. Pataki and not like any other girl I've ever met. Who am I to just ask her out on a date and then to be her boyfriend? We're best friends and I don't want to ruin that." He put his head in his hands and changed his eye sight towards Gerald. "How am I supposed to impress her?"
"Mm, mm, mm. Arnold all you have to do is be yourself and she'll fall for you like how all the other girls are in this school. You're a catch and she'll be lucky to have you, and as your best friend, I am saying this as sincere as I can." Gerald grinned jokingly at him as the girls arrived with Helga's food and two chocolate puddings.
"Alright you chuckle heads, stop speaking boy because the girls are back in town. No need to hear about your almost-there-armpit-hair." Helga and Phoebe laughed together and sat down. Helga slid the extra pudding across the table to Arnold, "There you are Football Head; to pay you back for this morning and for dragging you off in front of the Captain." She gave him an apologetic smirk.
"So she did drag you off…" Gerald laughed, "Good. He was telling me about that."
Helga chuckled, "Didn't want to bring out dazed and confused Arnold again. That'd be too much to bear." The two laughed and Phoebe joined in. Arnold just sighed and rolls his eyes a bit before cracking a small smile at the two of them. If Gerald hadn't dated Phoebe, he's pretty sure they wouldn't be able to stand in the same room with each other much less laugh at him at a joke Helga made, even if it is at his expense.
As lunch went on, they talked about many things involving their next and last class together, geometry, and telling each other that they're ready for it and they'll all pass. Phoebe was comforting Gerald and telling him she'll stay with him no matter what. That led to planning on what time to leave after school to the lake before twilight. They all agreed on leaving right after school as soon as Gerald gets their Geometry teacher to grade his test and call his father to tell him he passed. They were to pick up their bags at Arnold's' house that they packed and dropped off two nights ago, say goodbye to the Shortman's and the borders and be on their merry way to summer vacation. The bell rang for the end of lunch and the last class of the day. The group stood up, discarded the trash and they all walked together to Mr. Clark's geometry class to take their tests. As they sat down at the desks near each other rounds of good luck's went towards the air around them and the test began.
Around two-thirty the four arrived at Arnold's house to get their bags. They left them in the foyer by the front door so it would be easier for them to leave. Stella walked through the archway from the kitchen with big brown bags in each hand.
"Are you all sure you're ready to go?" Stella handed each teen a bag. She stopped in front of Arnold, looking him in the eyes.
Arnold replied, "Yes, mom, we're ready. It's going to be okay-we're not kids anymore." Arnold grinned at his mother and kissed her on the cheek, receiving the brown bag of treats and snacks.
Stella continued to look skeptical until Helga hugged her side, saying she'll make sure the Hair Boys won't do anything stupid. The girls laughed.
"Where's Dad, Grandpa and Grandma?" Arnold inquired.
"They're out shopping; getting ready for Lanie's birthday next week," everyone in the room smiled. "Getting gifts for her from the mall downtown." Lanie is Ernie and Lola Potts daughter. They married when Arnold was around 12 and they lived in the boarding house together until Lola became pregnant. They now have a decent sized apartment in Seattle, around twenty minutes away from Hillwood, and spend their Sunday dinners at the Sunset Arms.
Arnold half smiled, "Oh, that's cool."
Stella hugged her son. "Don't worry. You'll see them when you come back." Arnold nodded and went to help his friends load up the truck and Helga's mustang that she left there the night before. Stella sighed and went to put a big brown sack of snacks in each vehicle. She knows how much Arnold wants her and Miles both to be around him at all times. Having to miss almost a decade of each other, and then finally being able to wake up to each other faces, the three of them don't want to miss a thing, but then again life goes on. They will be able to spend the rest of it together knowing they're safe.
After everything was packed and ready, Helga put her hand on the shoulder of a blonde haired boy looking down the road for a green Packard. "Hey, Arnold." Arnold turned to face her, blue to jungle green. "It's going to be fine," Helga smiled. "Don't worry so much. Your hair's going to turn gray by the time we get to the lake." She play punched his shoulder and she and Arnold hopped into her mustang while Gerald and Phoebe took their seats into Arnold's truck. Gerald proceeded to dial his father to tell him the good news and Phoebe brought out her book, rereading Wuthering Heights for the eleventh time. In the mustang, Helga and Arnold were arguing over which station to listen to. Arnold wanted to listen to Jazz while Helga was in the mood for Country, a mood which only comes during long car rides or when she's writing an essay in her room at three in the morning. Arnold suggested they take turns every thirty minutes and Helga agreed as long as she went first.
When they finally reached the campsite Gerald and Arnold pitched the two tents while Phoebe and Helga unloaded the cooler, chairs, bug spray, fishing poles, and various other camping necessities around the fire pit. The girls then went to search for firewood.
"So, are you going to make your move on Arnold tonight, Helga?" Phoebe looked up at her best friend with curiosity. When she didn't receive a reply, Phoebe went on, "I mean, you know Arnold is a catch. Gerald told me Ruth will stop at nothing to get Arnold with one of her Hornets. I'm glad I know he is committed to me, or else I'd be quite worried. Helga, I want you to be happy. I don't want to see you disappointed if Arnold chooses one of the girls on Ruth's-".
"Phoebe, stop," Helga planted her feet in front her friend, "Arnold is not going to fall for one of Captain Ruthless' minions. He's smarter than that and I also wouldn't let him." Helga sighed and then turned to keep walking and picking up random pieces of wood while Phoebe followed and did the same. "I mean, he wouldn't do that to me, he told me he wouldn't date one of those fake followers of Satan." She huffed and sat against a tree with wood resting on her legs.
Phoebe had a perplexed look on her face when she sat in front of her friend, "Arnold actually called Ruth's cheerleaders 'fake followers of Satan'?" She put the wood beside her and brought her legs to her chest.
Helga sighed, "Well… no. He just said what he always says to me," Helga deepened her voice to match Arnold's, "Whatever you say, Helga". She then rolled her eyes. "I'm not certain one-hundred percent, but I'm trying to convince myself I am. I mean, I know Arnold and I are best friends, and that we've come a long way, but whenever he comes close it feels like I'm coming undone. It's like he's untouchable and when I look at him it seems like he's brighter than the sun." Helga sighed while Phoebe stayed silent and smiled at Helga. Phoebe dug into her one shoulder, blue bag and pulled out a blue notebook and gave it to her friend.
Phoebe said, "That sounds like it deserves to be made into something, Helga."
Helga smiled and thought for a moment and then wrote in purple pen:
Untouchable, burning brighter than the sun
And when you're close I feel like coming undone
"There, two lines," said Helga. "I'll finish it up when we're alone tonight." When they both stood up and Helga noticed Phoebe's blushing face. "Oh, no, what, Pheebs?" Helga raised an eyebrow at her.
"Um," Phoebe was looking anywhere but Helga's face, "I was actually wondering if you would mind not staying in the same tent as me…" Her voice drifted off as she noticed Helga's eyebrow becoming furrowed. "It's just that, um, tonight Gerald and I were talking, and hoping, that we would become intimate for the first time. Well, for my first time. We've waited quite a long time, well I did, and I just want this night to be special. Please?" Phoebe looked up meekly at Helga.
Helga continued to look at her with her eyebrows furrowed and, after a long pause, started to giggle. Then laugh uncontrollably. "Well, gee, Phoebe, if you need to get it in that badly, sure." She laughed harder as she watched her best friends face turn a dark, dark red. "Ha, I'm sorry. Yeah, it's ok. I don't mind. So you brought an extra tent, right?" Helga asked, gaining control of herself.
It was Phoebe's turn to giggle, "Actually, um, no. I didn't. You'll be sharing with Arnold." The little half-Japanese girl proceeded with her loud laughter when Helga's eyes went wide and her coloring went to a rosy pink shade.
Arnold and Gerald were finishing up the tents back at the campsite and Arnold was wondering why they were so far from each other. He decided to shrug it off as they both made a circle with large rocks and waiting for wood from the girls.
Gerald sighed, "So, man, are you going to try to make a move on Helga tonight?" Gerald was hoping he could lead up to his question with a bit of reasoning why Arnold should stay in the same tent as Helga.
"Um, I don't think so," Arnold pondered. "I mean, I don't want to ruin anything. She is my best friend." Gerald narrowed his eyes. "Besides you, of course," Arnold chuckled. "I don't want to ruin this relationship we have now because I'm feeling greedy, you know?"
Gerald shook his head and said, "No, I don't know. At all." He watched his best friend sigh. "Well, I'll tell you what, though," Arnold looked at him, "You get to try anyways because you're going to be sharing a tent with her." Gerald gave him a big smile.
Arnold's mouth dropped. "GERALD!" he exclaimed. "What do you mean I'm sharing a tent with her?! After what I just told you?" Arnold was blushing. "How could you do this to me?" The football headed boy put his hands to his face and sighed.
Gerald put his arm around his friend and said, "Relax, man, it is all going to be okay. If it bothers you this much, then you can sleep in your truck." Gerald stepped back from his friend and nudged him in the side when he saw the girls walking up.
Helga's normal color reappeared when they approached the camp. She decided it wasn't that big of a deal. She knew for a fact neither of them would be trying anything tonight; it is just two best friends sharing a tent together. What could go wrong?
"So, Gerald, Helga said it's ok," said a smiling Phoebe. "So… what did Arnold say?" Phoebe looked at a blushing Arnold, who was looking confusingly at Helga.
Gerald put his arm around his girl friend and said, "Yeah, babe, I told you I would handle it."
There was a long pause.
"So…" Helga let out a gust of air. "The sun is close to setting, how about that fire, guys?"
The group immediately went to work. Arnold and Gerald grabbed a two sticks and they were trying to rub them together on a leaf and some bark. They were arguing about which way and how fast to turn the stick onto the bark. Arnold was blowing air at it, trying to create smoke, and Gerald's hands were getting sore. Phoebe and Helga were done tying their food up onto a branch and gathering their sleeping supplies and putting them into each others respective tents. After that, they got the sticks they gathered and created a tee-pee with their wood. When they were done with that, they stood against Arnold's truck, chuckling at the boys. They were still arguing and Gerald was beginning to sweat and Arnold began losing his breath. After five more minutes of watching them struggle, Helga went to her purse and pulled out a lighter and Phoebe got some lighter fluid from the truck bed. The boys stumbled backwards as the little Asian girl sprayed the tee-pee with the fluid and watched with their eyes wide as Helga set fire to a leaf and dropped it onto the point of the wooden cone. The fire was then set aflame. Arnold and Gerald sat on the ground, staring at the fire with mouths wide open while the girls laughed at them.
"Pretty sure y'all would die on an island," said Helga, in between chuckles. Phoebe, giggling, went to help Gerald off the ground.
Gerald fake glared at her, "Well, you guys cheated. I almost had it." He dusted the dirt off of his pants and helped Arnold up.
Arnold threw the sticks and bark that him and Gerald were using into the fire. "Well, Gerald, at least we have heat. Now we can have s'mores." Arnold dusted himself off as well. "Let's go get the chairs from the back." Him and Gerald went to get the rest of the camping equipment.
Helga and Phoebe were feeling the warmth of the fire on their palms. They were still giggling at the goofiness of the boys.
"Helga, just think, if we get attacked by a monster or a serial killer, who's going to protect us?" Phoebe asked with a grin.
"I don't know, Pheebs," Helga replied. "But I think they're gonna have to depend on us."
"So did you bring your guitar?" Phoebe questioned. "I mean, it's kind of a long trip, are you going to be able to be without it? To be without singing?"
Helga shrugged. "I mean, my guitar's in my trunk, but I think Arnold brought his. I think he might play a little tonight." Phoebe looked at her expectantly. "No, Phoebe, I am not gonna sing in front of them. I'll probably just walk off or something later tonight." Helga gave her best friend a sly smile, "I would invite you, but you know, I think you'll be busy getting busy."
Phoebe gasped and playfully shoved her. They both giggled and went to go get the hot dog buns and meat, as well as beverages.
The moon was high and everyone was still gathered around the fire; remembering and retelling stories from their younger days. Phoebe was wrapped in Gerald's arms underneath a quilt, her sitting on his lap and him in a camping chair. Arnold and Helga sat separately, in their own chairs, but next to each other. Helga was heating up another marshmallow while Gerald was talking about Big Caesar.
Helga rolled her eyes for the fourth time. "Geraldo, I do not believe you," she blew out the flames on her treat. "I mean, there is no way a fish that big lives in the city lake. That's just crazy." She took a bite out of her burnt marshmallow and smiled.
Gerald growled at her, "Pataki. I am telling the freaking' truth. Arnold was there, he'll back me up." Arnold was nodding, eating his bologna sandwich. "See? We saw it! He was hooked to our swan!" Phoebe was laughing silently at how ridiculous this argument is, knowing Helga just likes to get him all riled up.
Helga narrowed her eyes. "Don't you raise your voice at me, Gerald. So tell me, why didn't you win that stupid competition, huh? Because if I remember correctly, Stinky and Harold won because Stinky had a stupid, psycho vision." Helga was trying not to laugh.
Gerald raised his voice anyways, "Like I have told you before, countless, countless times, it is because ARNOLD wanted to let Big Caesar go because he felt bad for him!"
Arnold was laughing, "Gerald, Helga's only gonna believe what she wants to believe. You might as well drop it."
Gerald huffed.
Phoebe looked up at him, "Gerald, don't you think it's getting kind of late? Shouldn't we rest up before tomorrow? You know, since we're going to be hiking and swimming?" Gerald looked into her big brown eyes and melting while Arnold and Helga had their eyebrows raised. They both thought, 'Go, Phoebe…'. Gerald nodded and they both got up and went to their tent, which was a good deal of distance from Arnold and Helga's.
Helga blushed, "Well, Arnold, I guess that just leaves you and me." She was staring intently at the tip of her marshmallow stick, still sticky from the former 6 marshmallows. Her stomach full of sweet goo. Her legs were warm from the fire, as well as her cheeks.
Arnold glanced at her and he was gazing slightly at the way her blonde hair was shining against the moon and the fire. Her blue eyes were bright and she was biting her bottom lip in what seemed intense concentration. "So, what do you wanna do now?"
Helga looked at him, confused and slightly amused, "Gee, I don't know." Helga was trying not to laugh, "We could make out," she teased. Her and Arnold laughed, tension breaking.
"Whatever you say, Helga," Arnold joked. "You know, I could get my guitar, and I can play a few songs for you? I've been practicing." Helga nodded.
As he went to get his guitar from his truck, Helga was gazing at the stars and wishing that Arnold could just make a move on her. Just so she wouldn't have to, but she also knew that it would never happen, so she tried to push the thoughts away.
"So, what song do you want me to play?" Arnold dragged his chair to face her and he sat down. His instrument resting on his lap.
"I don't know, Arnold, you pick." Helga pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on top of her knees. Her blue eyes wide with anticipation.
Arnold was thinking, while tuning his guitar. "Hm…" he was thinking intently, something that would impress Helga as well as maybe put it into her mind that he thinks she's amazing, because she is. "How about Jack Johnson?" Helga nodded and then Arnold started strumming.
There's no combination of words
I could put on the back of a postcard
No song that I could sing
But I can try for your heart
Our dreams,
And they are made out of real things
Like a shoe box of photographs
With sepia-toned loving
Love is the answer.
At least for most of the questions in my heart.
Like: "Why are we here?", "And where do we go?",
"And how come it's so hard?".
It's not always easy,
And sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing:
It's always better when we're together
Mm, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, we'll look at them stars when we're together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together
Helga was dazing as she watched him strum the chords and was practically melting along to his voice. She was trying so hard not to sing along, since she was very shy about her voice and didn't want anyone to know she could sing, besides Phoebe. Helga was so happy she could spend a little time alone with him. Arnold couldn't tell what Helga was thinking as he was singing. He knew that Helga thinks his voice is very good, but he can't tell if she realized why he picked this song in particular.
And all of these moments
Just might find their way into my dreams tonight
But I know that they'll be gone
When the morning light sings and brings new things
For tomorrow night you see that they'll be gone too
Too many things I have to do
But if all of these dreams
Might find their way into my day-to-day scene
I'd be under the impression
I was somewhere in between
With only two
Just me and you
Not so many things we got to do
Or places we got to be
We'll sit beneath the mango tree now
Yeah, it's always better when we're together
Mm, we're somewhere in between together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together
Mmm, mmm, mmm
Him and Helga began to hum along together. Arnold smiled widely and he can't strumming with lazy precision.
I believe in memories
They look so, so pretty when I sleep
Hey now, and when I wake up,
You look so pretty sleeping next to me
But there is not enough time,
And there is no, no song I could sing
And there is no combination of words I could say
But I will still tell you one thing
We're better together.
Arnold was blushing while Helga lightly clapped for him. He set the guitar against the chair and both just sat there in comfortable silence. Helga unraveled the blanket that was around her arms and rested her legs on top of Arnold's lap, laying the blanket over the both of them. The fire began to die and the stars appeared brighter above their heads.
"Helga, do you see right there, next to that really bright star?" Arnold pointed, his silhouette shown a little by the full moon.
"Yeah."
"You can see how they kind of connect with each other, making you zodiac sign, Aries."
Helga looked at him, "Do you believe in that kind of stuff, Arnold?"
Arnold blushed, "Well, not really." He rubbed the back of his neck, staring intently at the stars, "I mean, it's kind of pretty cool. How futures can be shaped by the stars? I mean, well, sure it isn't always certain, but it's still pretty cool and-"
"Relax, Arnold, it was just a question." Helga laughed softly. "So where's your sign? Where's Libra?"
Arnold found what he was searching for. He smiled. "Right there. Opposite of yours." He described the lines, pointing in the air towards outer space.
"I don't see it," Helga frowned slightly. She quickly blushed when Arnold grabbed her hand and pointed her finger towards the air, adjusting her direction in order to face his zodiac sign in the stars. Although, Helga was just staring at him, switching between his focused eyes and their intertwined hands.
Tracing the invisible surface against the night sky, Arnold whispered, "Do you see it now?"
"Yeah," she whispered back. Helga looked up at the sky, seeing how their signs are so far away from each other. "This is really cool, Arnold."
The young boy, with spiky, unruly blonde hair looked down to the girl with big baby blue eyes. "Thanks, Helga. You know, staring at the stars from my bed for the past 15 years made me want to learn about them." Arnold's face went red, because he realized that their hands were still twisted together, but on their laps now. Out of nowhere he yawned, covering his mouth with his once intertwined hand. "Hey, you know it's getting pretty late, we should get some sleep."
They didn't move for a few seconds until Helga nodded, moving her feet from his lap, to the ground. She hesitated, "Hey, Arnold?" He was already standing, stretching his arms and back. He looked down to her, questioningly. Helga paused. "Um, you know, well… Um, I just wanted to say…" Helga stared at her hands and sighed. "Never mind. I'm gonna stay out here a while."
"Are you sure?" Arnold asked. Worried about her.
"Yeah, just go ahead. I'll be in the tent in a minute." Helga crossed her legs and pulled her blanket up to her chin, staring at the dying embers. She heard his footsteps slowly walk towards their tent and then listened intently for the zipper to open and close, and then waited a few more minutes.
Helga grabbed the flashlight underneath her chair and went to her car, pulling out her blue notebook from underneath the driver's seat. She walked back quietly to grab Arnold's guitar and then started onto the small trail leading to a clearing by the lake. It was short enough that she would not get lost in the night, but also far enough that she knew for sure no one would hear her work. She sat cross legged on a flat large bolder and positioned the flashlight so she would be able to write in her notebook. Phoebe snuck this blue book from her purse to Helga's car so that if Gerald ever needed something, he wouldn't come across it by accident. She turned the page from the few short lines she wrote earlier and started a new song. After about thirty minutes or so, she had her lyrics and the chords just right, for now. With only the crickets and creeks and various animals to hear her, she began to strum and sing.
Look at you
Look at me
Look at who we could be
I wanna know who you are
What you want from the stars
And every time I look at you I can hardly say a thing
My head starts to spin and it hits me then
I love you
And every time you look at me I could go crazy but I don't
Say it but I won't
'Cause I'd rather be alone than lose you
And all I really wanna do is be next to you
But I'm too tired to fight
And I could tell you now
But baby, never mind
Helga was imagining how her song would sound with a violin, drums, bass, everything. She would readjust everything with her computer when she got home.
All the time
Everyday
There's nothing I can do, baby, to make it go away
So look at you
And look at me
And think of who we could be
But every time I look at you I can hardly say a thing
My head starts to spin and it hits me then
I love you
And every time you look at me I could go crazy but I don't
Say it but I won't
'Cause I'd rather be alone than lose you
And all I really wanna do is be next to you
But I'm too tired to fight
And I could tell you now
But baby, never mind
She really wished Arnold knew how she felt. Helga just wanted Arnold to know how her heart feels and how she would give anything to be the girl to make him happy. Although, if this would mess up their friendship, she willing to sacrifice her heart in order to maintain their status as best friends.
All I really wanna say is I need you, babe
But how could you understand?
What happens if you turn away and everything turns blue and grey?
And I just wish I told you never mind
And I could tell you now, but baby, never mind
Yeah, oh yeah
I could tell you now but never mind
Yeah, oh yeah yeah
And I could tell you now but never mind
Helga sighed. She continued to add on some lyrics to the song she came up with in the woods for a while. Helga started to become tired so she gathered up her things. She whispered goodnight to the stars and the water, and then she began to walk back quietly to the camp ground. Safely putting away her notebook and bringing in Arnold's guitar into the tent. Crickets and birds were chirping slightly. She smiled softly at Arnold who looked so innocent underneath the sheets and thick blankets. Helga made sure he was sound asleep before changing into her shorts, sports bra, and big t-shirt. She laid beside Arnold under the sheets, already warm from his body heat, and watched him sleep. His chest rose and fell steadily and his breathing was soothing. She fell asleep comfortably, dreaming of Arnold's warm touch and stars and sparkling lakes.
***End of Flashback***
The crowd was still applauding the two dancers while the lights were dimming. Soon, the whole room was black. People could see that there was slight movement on stage, but couldn't exactly make out what was happening. All of a sudden, the projectors on the wall shown stars and their constellations. There was light strumming in the air with a hint of a violin. Arnold noticed that the zodiac signs, Aries and Libra, were on opposite walls, the only stars that stayed constant while the others swayed slightly. A soft light hit center stage as Helga sang and smiled softly.
Untouchable like a distant diamond sky, Mmmm
I'm reaching out and I just can't tell you why
I'm caught up in you, I'm caught up in you
Untouchable, burning brighter than the sun
And when you're close I feel like coming undone
In the middle of the night
When I'm in this dream
It's like a million little stars
Spelling out your name
You gotta come on, come on
Say that we'll be together
Come on, come on
Little taste of Heaven
Helga had Arnold's full attention and they both were thinking about that night that no one in this room knows about, besides Phoebe. He wished that he could go back to that summer full of bliss, before his mistakes; before Lila.
It's half full and I won't wait here all day
I know you're saying that you'll be here anyway
But you're untouchable
Burning brighter than the sun
Now that you're close I feel like coming undone
In the middle of the night
When I'm in this dream
It's like a million little stars
Spelling out your name
You gotta come on, come on
Say that we'll be together
Come on, come on
Oh, In the middle of the night
Waking from this dream
I wanna feel you by my side
Standing next to me
You gotta come on, come on
Say that we'll be together
Come on, come on
Little taste of Heaven
The whole room was swaying and a few were catching onto the rooms and were singing along with Helga. She was glowing like an angel underneath the soft light and her blonde curls were full and her smile was magic. Helga was taking it all in and loving every minute of it. Like a weight was coming off of her shoulders.
Oh, oh I'm caught up in you
Oh, oh, oh
Untouchable burning brighter than the sun
And when you're close I feel like coming undone
In the middle of the night
When I'm in this dream
It's like a million little stars
Spelling out your name
You gotta come on, come on
Say that we'll be together
Come on, come on, oh oh
Oh, Oh, In the middle of the night
Waking from this dream
I wanna feel you by my side
Standing next to me
You gotta come on, come on
Say that we'll be together
Come on, come on
Little taste of Heaven
Like a million little stars, spelling out your name
Spelling out your name
The crowd applauded and everyone stood. The stars were still dancing and Helga smiled wistfully at them all.
***AN
Hey! Sorry it's been so long! I was half way through this story two years ago and I had no idea at all how to finish this chapter one day! I had a serious writers block. I hope y'all liked it! It has been a good minute. Oh, and I'm still in college, so I'm still super busy. Love y'all! Please tell me how I did! :)