A/N:
Wow, it has been like over a year since I last updated this! Sorry, guys! Seriously ^_^ I just got wrapped up in so many other projects, LTBH in particular is basically like giving birth or something every time I post a new chapter of that, plus this story's just a little stickier for me to write since there's basically two A plots going on at once in the same place at the same time, plus a million B plots XD Anyway, there'll probably be just another chapter or two of this until it's all wrapped up ^w^ The next thing I'll probably update though will be April 2nd since I've been working on the draft of that a lot lately, lol.
I hope you guys like this, and that a 17,000 word chapter will make up at least a little for the epic delay! :)
Dinner AND a Show!
Chapter 5:
'Heartburn'
The breadstick currently being held on one end by a surprised Arnold and on the other end by an even more surprised Helga suddenly snapped in two, leaving the boy and girl in question holding equal pieces. "Oh…" Arnold looked back up at his dinner companion. "Sorry, Helga."
He moved his hand forward slightly, about to offer her the other half of the breadstick and take a separate whole stick of his own, when she held up her free hand in a halting manner. "Uh…don't worry about, Arnol—uh, Football Head." She finally made eye contact with him again, and she tried to laugh. "I mean, don't wanna fill up on bread before the meal gets here, especially if there's a chance this'll be our last time at this place if anything chaotic randomly happens tonight and we get kicked out, right?"
Arnold couldn't help but smile at the comment, and say back to Helga in a bit of a low (but still playful) voice so that Harold and Patty (who were currently occupied with glaring at each other a bit, considering the latest Torvald development) couldn't overhear, "Well, we all have money this time and you already avoided ordering the cow brains and eggs so…it looks like we're off to a good start, don't you think so, Helga?"
He knew there was a chance that Helga would get angry at him again for a making another reference to last Valentine's Day tonight, but he also had a feeling that despite the few scowls and the steak tartare joke she had dished out, she really wouldn't have minded the chance to share a small laugh about it all.
And he noticed, looking at Helga's reaction to his statement, that he was right: she was trying to scowl but there was a definite grin forming on her face at the rhetorical question. Finally her heard her laugh slightly so that only they could hear. She rolled her eyes, and replied quietly, "Oh yeah: Rhonda, my outfit, that snooty waiter, you and me less than three feet from each other for the next hour or so…none of that reeks of a disaster waiting to happen."
Arnold couldn't help but laugh slightly to himself, which made Helga roll her eyes and sigh, leaning back in her chair. 'Okay, okay,' she thought to herself, just enjoying the sight of his smile for a moment, 'Even though there's a bunch of people around he probably did have a little bit of a right to suddenly have a million Cecile questions when he saw me before…And I guess, considering all of the other things he could have possibly done in response to me shutting him down about it, emphasizing my name a few times and saying an ambiguous sentence or two weren't so bad.' She sighed to herself, still smiling. 'And…maybe I deserved it from him…a little…since I'm the one who tricked him into the dinner the first time…and the second time…' The second outing at Chez Paris entering Helga's mind made her unconsciously smile just a bit more. 'And the point is, at least he's trying to be more discreet now…And what he said WAS actually a little funny… And he's not just plain freaking out about this whole thing which is DEFINITELY more than I deserve, all things considered.' For the first time ever since it had happened, Helga couldn't help but be a little thankful for her confession—at least Arnold's unconfirmed knowledge that she loved him had sort of prepared him for finding out something like this… 'If he hadn't had a clue and had suddenly turned Cecile around only to see me…' Helga felt a shudder go through her at the possibilities, most of which started with Arnold passing out in the middle of Chez Paris and then continued on from there with various revealing exclamations of surprise he might make upon waking up… 'Finally, me and my big mouth pay off….' She let out a small mental sigh of relief at the thought.
Meanwhile, now that the initial shock of discovering the identity of his mystery date from last Valentine's Day had worn off and his frustration with Helga about avoiding it had been tempered by a few well-placed jabs at her, Arnold was left just sitting and smiling to himself…a little amazed at how Helga had managed to pull off such an elaborate ruse and a little amused at her attempts to cover things up so far this evening. 'So…Helga was Cecile…Helga is Cecile…' He almost wanted to laugh now that it was all finally sinking in. It was… He did his best not to chuckle again. It was…actually kind of funny, and silly…and also a little sweet when you thought about it. 'I…guess her being Cecile should still be surprising me a lot more than it is, but…for some reason it actually makes sense to me…and…' and this was the truth, 'All I really want to know now is why she didn't just tell me everything that night.' Yes, he wanted to know why, on that lovely night, she hadn't just told him. Why make him wait? The time had seemed so perfect, come to think of it. He could almost feel himself about to open his mouth to ask her right now.
But then, however, Arnold's eyes came a tiny bit back into focus as he prepared to begin this action…and he instantly quieted, recalling the very full restaurant around them. 'No, not right now…I should remember what Gerald said on the bus on Friday—no matter how much I want to talk to Helga about things I can't just do it whenever I feel like it. Especially with so many people from school around. I should wait.' And indeed Arnold mentally sighed to himself and recalled that along with the tables full of people whom they didn't even know all around them, Harold and Patty were just off to their sides, Rhonda was just across the dining room and Torvald would probably be popping up a few times during this night since he was their busboy. And even though Torvald didn't seem to have too much to say about him and Helga on a date…Rhonda sure seemed interested in the subject…and Helga seemed very nervous about that fact. 'I just hope what I said to Rhonda before about how Helga and I both ended up here tonight helped Helga a little…' Arnold smiled to himself a little more…and felt just a touch of heat come to his face, though he tried to ignore it. 'And I hope what I said about how she looks didn't make it worse somehow…but I really wanted to make up for trying to get back at her before for not letting me talk about the Cecile thing…' He sighed to himself, finally glancing away from his plate to Helga once again, who was just staring down at hers...obviously in a little bit of thought herself at the moment…and smiling as well. 'She really does look nice tonight though…just like last Valentine's day.'
Still, though, a small part of Arnold couldn't help but regret that Helga didn't look quite exactly like she had that night anymore… 'I kind of wish she'd put her hair down again, though…I mean, it's not like there's anything else to hide or keep secret from me anymore…and it's also…really kind of pretty that way…I wonder if she knows that?' For just a second Arnold found himself really looking at Helga and recalling that night so many months ago when she had sat across from him smiling with her hand on the table and told him that she really liked him and asked him if he liked her too…And how he'd felt himself reach forward to take her lovely hand, glowing in the flame of the candle between them, before he had suddenly remembered that if he was going to finish the night leaving with the warm, interesting girl in front of him the least he could do was make sure he went and told Ruth the truth about everything and apologized first…
Arnold rested his head on one of his hands, continuing to smile kind of goofily at Helga as he had been unconsciously doing for several seconds as his thoughts had progressed…
"Hey, Football Head, could you pass the bu—"
Apparently, Helga had decided that the remainder of her bread needed a bit of butter (which was currently right in front of Arnold). As she had asked the casual question, though, she had finally looked up at him and away from her plate (putting her thoughts on the subject of herself and Arnold aside for now)…and the sight of Arnold smiling at her again (just as he had been doing on the bus on Friday when she'd turned in his direction only to see him randomly doing so) made Helga freeze, her eyes widening and her heart pounding slightly!
Meanwhile, at the sound of Helga's request and at suddenly finding himself staring right into her wide blue eyes once again, Arnold blinked and suddenly became really fully aware of the thoughts he had just been having! A little, full blush came to his features! "Oh, um…here…" Instantly, he just gave a small sheepish chuckle and pushed the butter towards Helga, and then proceeded to look up and tug at his collar a bit, suddenly doing his best to find the light fixture hanging over the table very, very interesting…and trying hard to get that image out of his head of her sitting across from him on that Valentine's night. It was making him feel…funny. And he'd already been feeling funny enough around Helga lately…
"Hey, guys, what's so funny?" Harold.
Apparently Arnold's sheepish chuckle had been a little loud and had broken through the tension on the other end of the table to reach Harold Berman's ears. However, the football headed boy in question was currently so caught up in trying to avoid eye contact with or too many more blush-worthy thoughts about Helga G. Pataki, and Helga G. Pataki was too caught up in still just having her eyes wide and her jaw a little agape at having caught Arnold gazing at her for the second time within forty eight hours that neither fourth grader really noticed Harold's address.
"Uh…Arnold, Helga…you guys okay?" Patty this time.
Arnold still looked at the lights (though he made a quick glance down at one of Helga's hands on the table, but then instantly his eyes were back up and boring holes into the ceiling once more), and Helga still looked at Arnold (though she glanced down at least once—actually, right when he had looked at her hand, coincidentally enough, causing her to miss his quick gaze in that direction. It was almost like she was trying to figure something out…). Yet suddenly though Helga's eyes came up again just as Arnold's eyes decided to experiment with coming back down again… Green met blue and both sets of eyes were instantly locked into one another…unblinking…unsure…unable to look away.
Okay, now, on the other end of the foursome's small table, Patty was pretty certain at this point that even though Harold was a boy and even though he could be a little slow about picking up on emotional subtleties…even HE would figure out, if this went on for any longer, that Arnold and Helga having been whispering and giggling to and then trying to avoid each other, and now just staring nervously into each other's eyes might tip him off to the fact that there was something going on between the two kids…something Helga obviously did NOT want other people knowing about, if possible.
"Helga!" Patty suddenly called firmly and then she even reached over to the young, blonde girl and actually gave her the lightest nudge she could in the shoulder!
"OW!" Helga winced considerably and instantly shut her eyes and rubbed the top of her arm. Even barely trying, Patty Smith had always had a lot of power behind her.
"Sorry, Helga…" Patty gave her a significant look. "You seemed, um…distracted. A-And, um…" she searched for another reason to have nudged the girl like that, but, unfortunately, could only come up with one. 'Sorry, Helga.' "And also Harold and I were wondering what you guys were, uh, laughing about over there." Most likely they'd been doing some flirting…and that was why Patty hated having to bring up the question again of what was so funny…but it was the only natural way of moving things along that she could come up with.
"Yeah," the brunette sixth grader heard Harold agree across from her, and Patty's eyes shot to him…and then she breathed out a small sigh of relief: he was smiling normally, no look of suspicion in his eyes. ('Thank goodness…') "What's the joke?" the portly fourth grader asked, his smile growing at whatever it might be that was so funny. (On a side note, it suddenly occurred to Patty that Arnold and Helga had just actually managed to distract Harold from the whole Torvald situation and even though she felt guilty about it, she couldn't help but feel a little happy about the momentary relief from her own private romantic situation/catastrophe.)
In response to the inquiry first from Patty and now Harold (as well as the sharp little tingles of pain still going through her shoulder from Patty's punch), Helga, suddenly realizing her situation, gave a small cough and then did her best to smile and answer (and NOT look like a total spazz while doing so). "Oh! Uh…the joke! Uh…yeah. Heh…well, um…Football Head and I were just, um…making peace together, actually. Y-You know, we're finally used to the fact that we're here and together tonight so we figured that we should just bury the hatchet for the rest of this dinner and…try and enjoy ourselves. Especially since we don't want to ruin your evening either, you guys…right, Arnold?" Helga glanced at him both with meaning and uncertainty…not only did she want him to go along with the explanation but she wanted to be sure that he really was willing to call a truce: that he really wasn't seriously annoyed at her or anything anymore for all of this Cecile stuff.
To Helga's immense happiness and relief, the football headed boy across from her looked at her with confusion only for a second…and then smiled…and then nodded his head affirmatively and cleared his throat and turned to Harold and Patty, adding to her explanation as casually as could be, "Uh, yeah. I mean, Helga and I are friends even if we don't act like it sometimes. And with you two being here and us already being here and that waiter keeping an eye on us…we just decided to spend the rest of dinner being nice and…getting to know each other better…That's why we were smiling and talking and laughing a little." He turned to Helga and couldn't help going on… "Actually, I feel like lately I've been getting to know Helga a lot better…And, um…anything else you'd be willing to share with me, I'd love to hear, Helga. I like you, Helga." Arnold smiled a little more…and then gave Helga a small wink…And he had no idea where it came from but he really did not care. It had felt right and so he had done it: and he always had had a compulsion for doing the right thing.
Helga blushed. She knew it was bad to do that: Harold was right next to her and watching her, Rhonda probably had her eyes glued to her from across the restaurant, Torvald would certainly be swinging by any second to perform some more busboy duties, and who knew who else could be in this joint right here and now seeing her all dolled up and eating dinner right across from Arnold and blushing of all things…But…at the same time…the love of her life had just said that he liked getting to know her, basically that he had liked hearing her confession…and also that he…LIKED HER! "I…uh…" she started in an attempt at a response to her beloved Football Head's very unexpected statement.
"Ah, so, Arnold…you like Helga, huh?"
"Mm!" Helga squeaked out! She completely straightened and her eyes went wide! 'Rhonda off the port bow…Oh boy…I should just take the butter knife and plunge it through my heart and save the humiliation the trouble of killing me, shouldn't I?'
Indeed, the stylish, dark haired girl was suddenly over at the table again, standing at the end that put her right between Arnold and Helga…and grinning smugly.
And Arnold was blushing now too, his eyes a little wide in panic, having NOT expected Rhonda's sudden return at all! "Well, I…Y-Yes, of course, Rhonda…" he managed (thankfully without stuttering too much). He looked to her and did his best to just smile normally. "Helga's my friend. Just like you're my friend and Patty's my friend…and I just want her to know that there's no hard feelings from any of the fights we've been having lately."
"Rhonda, I know fancy restaurants like this are your element but putting the Football Head on the spot is MY element, so if you've got nothing better to do than confirm the fact that two people who have known each other for over two thirds of their lives can stand being around each other for a night, can you just let us get back to our meal?" Arnold's eyes flew to Helga at this sudden address from her to Rhonda. To his surprise the blonde haired girl was no longer blushing and scared looking as she had been just seconds ago, but now scowling and sounding rather determined and forceful…
And indeed Helga G. Pataki was planning to nip this whole 'Rhonda popping by every time she finished a course or a glass of water or just felt like it' thing right in the bud! 'If she wants to give me a hard time, it's one thing…But NO ONE messes with Arnold!'
Rhonda blinked at Helga's words and turned her own scowl in her direction. "Well I never!" Her hands went to her hips. "Come on, Helga, you've basically been forced into a date with Arnold tonight! And you're NOT furious about it! And you're…blushing! And he LIKES you!" She smirked and leaned in a little, looking Helga. "It's…interesting…don't you agree, Helga?"
"Rhonda, leave her alone," Patty suddenly cut in, in a level, firm voice, feeling more than entitled to interrupt. After all, it was her own doing that Helga was here in the first place, and all because she was trying to help out Helga with Arnold…and Helga did not deserve to be put through some kind of public confrontation about her feelings.
Rhonda instantly glanced up and at Patty. "But Patty, I—" she started.
Patty just shook her head, scowling. "No."
Rhonda looked at her in frustration for a second or two longer but then just let out a deep sigh and straightened up, crossing her arms over her chest. "Okay, then, can I at LEAST get filled in on the real details about the whole situation between you and Harold and—"
"No." Patty was firm once more and she even gripped the table a little this time, trying to keep her temper from getting the better of her.
"Princess, I'd do what she says…" Helga smirked, crossing her arms over her chest as she addressed Rhonda again. "I don't care if we ARE in public—do you really want to give TWO champion schoolyard bullies a reason? Wouldn't it be easier to just leave us and…whatever our situations might be tonight…alone?"
The boys, meanwhile, were finding this whole little exchange among the ladies rather interesting…and also a little confusing. They looked to each other and shrugged and then looked back at the girls again.
"But…" Rhonda let out a bit of a huff and looked from a smirking Helga to a firmly scowling Patty and back again. "Oh…Oh fine!" Her arms were straight out at her sides in frustration. "But mark my words if there is something that the students have a right to know going on at this table, I will find out the details one way or another! Rhonda Wellington Lloyd is never not the first one to know what's going on behind the scenes at P.S. 118! Ladies…" she nodded to the girls, "Boys…" she nodded to Harold and Arnold as well, and then with a smile walked back over to her table…glancing back and making a V with the index and middle fingers of one of her hands and pointing it from her own eyes back to the table in an 'I'm watching you' gesture as she went.
Helga and Patty just looked at Rhonda go with a blink and looked to each other…and then smiled a little and nodded at having gotten the gossipy girl to leave.
"Hey, can I refill anyone's water?"
And now another problem, of course, came right up to the table…bearing a water pitcher in his hand and a smile on his face.
"Here you go, Patty." Torvald topped off her water glass first, leaning down with a smile. "Oh and hey…" he suddenly whispered, looking from side to side…and then he pulled out a small plate from behind his back and slipped it onto the table between her and Harold. "I snuck you guys a little brie for your bread from the kitchen. On the house. Just to say thank you." He winked.
"Uh…thank you, Torvald," Patty managed in her normal level tone… What wasn't normal, though, was the fact that she was now blushing just a little…just like in the cafeteria on Friday when Torvald had suddenly shown up at her table and offered her an extra tapioca pudding by surprise. Because, just like that time, she...really hadn't expected this little bit of special treatment from her tutoring friend. And also, for a girl who hadn't really had much luck with boys really liking her in any way until only a few months ago with Harold…something like getting a little smile and a little bit of special treatment like this was kind of big for her. 'Even Harold doesn't really—'
"Yes. THANK YOU, Torvald." Speaking of Harold, this firm reply came from the boy in question instantly following Patty's own thank you about the brie. Patty blinked and looked over at her date and could see him scowling. He went on. "And uh, don't busboys usually just clean up tables AFTER people have eaten?" Harold drummed his fingers on the table and tried to resist the urge to punch someone…preferably Torvald.
Patty instantly let out an annoyed sigh through her nose and gave Harold another nice little kick under the table. He winced but the scowl in Torvald's direction remained. Apparently he was getting used to her kicks and learning to take them in stride. 'Perfect…'
Torvald, meanwhile, just shrugged at Harold's question and straightened up again, walking around the table to give quick refills to the rest of the water glasses. Harold sounded a little…annoyed with him…but Torvald had been learning over the last few months not to take everything anyone said as some kind of challenge, and also he was at work so he wasn't about to look for any kind of a reason to lose his temper. Plus, Patty and Harold and Arnold and Helga were his friends. They had no need to be confrontational. "Yeah, sure," he merely replied, still smiling just like he had been all night, "but you guys are my friends. I figured a little special treatment was in order. And hey, by the way, you all clean up nice." He glanced across the table and gave a small chuckle. "Hardly even recognized you, Helga, especially with your hair down before."
"You wouldn't be first…" Helga and Arnold said it at exactly the same time. Upon which they blinked and looked to each other and then just sighed and half smiled, giving up on keeping the ironic comments relegated to their heads at this point.
Torvald just smiled in return and turned his sights back to Patty. "And Patty, you look great too, of course. I like your dress."
That blush was back in Patty's face. Even Harold hadn't said anything about how she looked tonight. "Thanks…" She glanced to the side a little uncomfortably and shifted in her seat.
Harold actually growled a little. "Yes. She's beautiful. And she's my…my date. Now aren't there a million other tables in this place!" He crossed his arms over his chest and slouched in his seat and let out a sigh. 'Who does he think he is, making her blush like that…' He was seething inside and had never felt this way before. 'I oughta…' It took everything he had to keep from standing up, announcing he ought to pound Torvald, and then just doing it!
From her chair across from Harold, Patty blinked. And her heart skipped in kind of a funny way. 'Beautiful…Date.'
"Oh yeah, a busboy's work is never done, huh?" Torvald just shrugged, still with a good-natured smile. 'Must be some girl trouble. Eh, women…' He almost laughed, having had more than a few trying experiences with his own girlfriend over the last few weeks. Yes, he could definitely relate. "Actually, I've gotta get over to Rhonda's table asap," he announced, jerking his thumb in the direction of the Wellington-Lloyd's table, "My boss is really worried about impressing her family tonight. See you guys a little later. Bye Patty." He winked at the table and then zipped away.
Arnold looked to Helga (clueless little thing that he was), seeking some clarity on what had just happened, but Helga was busy at the moment looking to Patty with part of her brow raised (obviously letting her know that she was obviously aware that there was some kind of Torvald/Harold situation going on right now and that she was curious about it). Patty just looked to Helga and shrugged and cleared her throat and glanced away (letting her know that 'it was what it was' and that she wasn't sure what to add, and also that now might not be the best time for details) and Harold just looked at Patty…and felt furious that another boy had made her blush like that before he had! And when he was on a date with her, no less!
Finally, Patty just sighed and looked back at Harold, a firm look on her face and in NO mood: no mood at all to hear another inevitably jealous comment from Harold especially when…she was really kind of not sure how to respond to his jealousy anymore. After all…Torvald just saying 'hi' since he was their busboy had obviously just been a friendly thing…but…making sure to come back over as often as possible, free cheese, complimenting her outfit, the winks. 'Uh oh. What if he's…got a crush on me or something?' The worst part was that Patty had sort of mixed feelings about this idea. She liked Harold, of course… 'like liked' him…there was no question of that…But still, once again, she had never gotten too much attention from boys and even Harold tended to keep things very casual and low key. But Torvald had been doing all of these little things and she couldn't help but feel…special because of them. So she just took a breadstick and took some cheese and proceeded to look down and eat and it and ignore Harold still scowling in her direction.
Seeing her avoiding eye contact like this, Harold just rolled his eyes to the side and slouched in his seat all the more. 'Oh, we are having a big talk about this later. I don't care what she says—she's been spending time with Torvald and now she's all blushing around him too!' He let out a little huff of a sigh through his nose at the thought. 'I'M the only one who's supposed to make her blush. After all, she's MY…my…' He was stuck suddenly and it only frustrated him all the more. Technically she wasn't officially his girlfriend. Technically that word had never been brought up. Technically this was the first real, official, grownup, date-like thing they had ever done together. Technically he'd never even kissed her (or any girl for that matter…but especially not her…not yet, anyway.) 'But how the heck am I supposed to get the chance with some guy moving in on my territory! She's MY cool awesome fun…girl person…Not Torvald's…Mine…' He did his best not to blush at all of that suddenly swirling around in his head…and then took a breadstick and on principle ate it plain instead of going for any of TORVALD'S cheese.
The 'happy young teenage couple' remained mired in their thoughts like this for the time being, chewing in frustration on their individual breadsticks.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the table, having spent the last minute or so observing Harold and Patty's behavior and reactions during and following Torvald's latest visit, Helga's romantically savvy head was now working a mile a minute. 'Okay…There is obviously some form of a love triangle going on over there. And Patty is obviously drowning in it. Still, maybe this can be a good thing for me: if I can focus this dinner on helping smooth things over between her and Harold and Torvald, maybe nothing'll ever have to come back to me and Arnold's situation. And maybe I can get out of this dinner alive!' Her eyes traveled back to Arnold almost automatically at the thought of him and then went a little wide. He was looking at her again…into her eyes…just like before…and she…couldn't look away…also just like before! Why was he looking at her so deeply…and AGAIN of all things? 'What—is he just fascinated by me and the fact that I'm such a basketcase about him or something? Gawking a little at the freakish fourth grade girl in love? WHAT DOES HE WANT FROM ME? DON'T WE HAVE SOME KIND OF A TRUCE SET UP OR SOMETHING?'
"Hey, take a picture, bucko—it'll last longer!" Helga finally couldn't help announcing to him quietly on defensive reflex with a bit of an indignant scowl.
Arnold (who had actually been rather enjoying a small chance to just look at Helga again tonight) blinked once at her address…but then just smiled…and glanced down…and then paused for moment…and then finally just took another breadstick to eat as he suddenly simply said quietly back to her, "Sorry, Helga. I was just thinking that…I think I liked your hair better down like it was before. Sorry…" he finished sincerely. 'Why did I say that about her hair? She's probably going to punch me right across the table or something. Why did I say that?' He looked down shyly. He had no idea why he had let it pop out of his mouth, but now he had…and he could only wait to see what the consequence would be.
And then a movement caught Arnold's eye. And he looked up. And his jaw just about fell.
Helga had just reached up and undone her ribbon, causing her bun of blonde hair to slouch lazily at the top of her head.
Suddenly she held out the small pink slip of silk to him from across the table. "Hold this please, Arnold."
Arnold gulped…and then reached forward and took the ribbon… He didn't blink.
He watched as Helga ran her hands through her hair a few times until it was down and soft and hanging around her shoulders.
She then reached out a hand. "My bow please, Arnold," she said simply.
Arnold barely managed to push his hand with the item in question forward.
Helga took the ribbon and then retied it at the top of her head into its usual pink bow. And then she let out a sigh and looked at him with only the slightest scowl. "Satisfied?" she mumbled out with a shrug.
Arnold just…nodded.
Helga let out another small sigh and did her best to go back to eating the last of her breadstick and to ignore whatever Arnold might be doing or reacting like right now. In truth, she had no idea why she'd just gone and done that—putting her hair down like that again. It would certainly get Rhonda's attention, Torvald would see her looking like that again, Harold would see her looking like that again, Patty would see her looking like that again, and of course Arnold would see her looking like that again. It was stupid, really. But then again this whole night, everything since her confession…heck everything before her confession…seemed stupid suddenly lately so why the heck not?
Arnold, meanwhile, was having an…issue at the moment.
You see, ever since Helga had given him her ribbon to hold, his heart had been beating kind of…funny…his stomach had felt all light and twisted inside…and he'd felt very warm all over…And all that ran through his head over and over was that same lovely memory from the last time she'd been here with him dressed like that…her hair down… 'I really like you, Arnold. And I need to know…do you like me too?'
That funny beating of his heart increased like crazy.
He had barely noticed when Helga had taken the ribbon away. And then she had asked him if he was 'satisfied.'
He had just nodded. He was really confused at the moment. Very, very confused. So very confused. 'Helga, you're on a date with Arnold!' Rhonda's words echoed in Arnold's head. And they were indeed on a date. NOT helping the confusion. Not helping the confusion at all that…he was sitting across from a pretty, funny, girl he liked ('I like you, Helga')…Not helping that she was in love with him ('I love you, Arnold. I've always loved you'). Not helping that…a small part of him wished this date was a bit more private…Not helping. None of it helping. And he was blushing around her and the only time he ever blushed around a girl was when he…when he… Oh forget why Helga didn't just confess that Valentine's Day night…the better question was… 'What would I have said that night…if she hadn't caught me with Ruth? If I had come back here to our table…and given her an answer…' Oh why oh why did a hair ribbon have so much control over his heart?
"Your dinner is served!" A snooty French accent interrupted the personal conundrums of the four seated dinnergoers. All eyes turned to Jacques, standing there with a silver tray held high in one hand (and looking a little frazzled, obviously from this whole 'Wellington-Lloyds' thing.) He took out a small handkerchief with his free hand and dabbed his brow, then put the item away and leaned down.
"For you two, the Coq au vin…" The maitre d' placed two identical chicken dishes in front of Harold and then Patty.
Jacques turned to Arnold and Helga. "And for mademoiselle, the steak tartare…"
He placed the plate in front of Helga. She rubbed her hands together, so very happy for food to focus on. "Great, I'm starving!" 'I'm surprised I'm still able to pick up a fork after everything that's happened in the last half hour…' she mentally added to herself, snagging her fork to dig in.
"And for monsieur—the steak tartare well done." The maitre d' placed the plate of slightly more browned meat in front of Arnold. "Now if you four will excuse me, I have to—"
"Garçon! Another order of escargot over here, please! Tout suite!" Rhonda's voice rang out across the dining room.
The waiter sighed and rubbed one of his temples with one of his hands. "Qui, mademoiselle Rhonda. Naturalmont!" he called out and then turned back to the four kids at the table. "Er…Enjoy your meal." He nodded and then raced off to do Rhonda's bidding.
The four kids couldn't help looking to each other…and then rolling their eyes and smiling a little despite whatever personal predicaments they might have been in the middle of internally dealing with, unable to help mutually finding Rhonda's always demanding nature just a little amusing. Then they all turned to their respective meals to finally start digging in.
Arnold picked up a fork and took a bite of his steak tartare…and hadn't finished chewing it before an interesting thought occurred to him… (Plus, since this particular thought was something that could only be resolved by the girl in front of him, it would…give him a chance to look up and admire that…long blonde hair some more…though he tried not to think too much about that little bonus…or the fact that he was processing it as a 'bonus' in the first place). "Hey, Helga?"
Helga swallowed some of her steak and took a sip of her water, trying to keep calm and casual and just enjoy her meal. "Yeah, Football Head?" she responded, bringing her eyes up to meet his again.
Arnold's face bore a look of genuine curiosity. "How did you know I would want it well done? The steak tartare, I mean."
Helga just took another bite of her food and replied, without thinking much of it (it seemed like an innocent enough question, after all), "Well, doi—that's the way you ordered it last time, Football Head. Or tried to before Jeeves over there cut you off because he got all in a huff that you tried to order a hamburger first." She smiled just a little smugly, not only enjoying taking a jab at their snooty waiter but still personally taking just a bit of pride in the small joke she had made before at Arnold's expense in retaliation to the cow brains and eggs comment he had nailed her with.
Arnold blinked, a half grin coming to his face. He put his fork down. "You remember that? From all that time ago?"
Helga's eyes went wide and she gave a deep swallow, realizing how much of her obsession with Arnold she had just let slip to him. Her fork made a light clatter to her plate below. "Oh…well…y-yeah…Arnold…" She really didn't know how else to respond.
Having caught this little bit of conversation, Patty couldn't help glancing over at Arnold and Helga with an eyebrow raised, her frustrations about the Torvald/Harold having ebbed a tiny bit with the passage of a few minutes and with the arrival of their meals. "But weren't you two only here a couple of weeks ago with Gerald and Phoebe?" she couldn't help but ask in a little bit of confusion.
Harold blinked at the question from his date and them glanced over at Arnold and Helga as well, a similar look of confusion on his face. "Yeah—that raffle was only last month, right?"
Arnold and Helga both blushed slightly…and then looked to Harold and Patty.
"Well…it…feels a lot longer than that, I guess…" Helga managed to mumble, glancing down.
"Not that long…Helga…" Helga's breath caught in her throat a little and she glanced over to see Arnold smiling slightly to himself. He had emphasized her name once again this evening but this time…it wasn't in that mocking tone like before…He had just said it almost like it was something…nice, Helga noticed…A word he enjoyed saying. The very idea of that made everything inside of her flutter and dance. The idea that he liked her name in any way… 'Oh…'
On Arnold's end, the football headed boy just found himself blinking at the comment that had just slipped out of his mouth. Another random thing popping out of him so very randomly tonight. 'Where did that come from…and what do I even mean by that?' He mentally sighed to himself, doing his best not to look at Helga. 'I'm probably really going to make her angry again if I keep saying things like that…I-I mean, she doesn't seem angry yet but…' Once again, he recalled Gerald's advice from Friday. 'I don't want to upset her again or put her in an awkward position. I should, um…just go back to keeping the comments to myself, probably.'
From across the table, Harold and Patty couldn't help but watch this small exchange between Arnold and Helga with confused faces once again this evening…
…Once again, that was, until Patty recalled that Harold was probably about half a second away from picking up on something going on between their friends again (if he hadn't done so already, of course). And so she cleared her throat and prompted Arnold and Helga to keep the conversation casual and moving along. "So, how did the four of you end up coming here anyway? Rhonda mentioned to me something about a gift certificate…" She smiled.
Arnold smiled and looked up to Patty, happy for a minor change of subject. "Yeah. Helga won it, and then Gerald called me up that night and said Phoebe had asked him to come to dinner with her and Helga and that he should invite a friend and…" He paused and blinked like he had just realized something…and then turned to Helga, an impressed look upon his face. "…And since I'm his best friend, he asked me."
Helga stopped any attempt at eating. She could almost feel his eyes on her. She looked up from her plate to confirm that he was indeed looking at her with just a small little smug grin, and then swallowed the bite of steak tartare in her mouth and glanced away. "Uh…yeah…" she shrugged nervously, "I just told Phoebe to invite whoever and to have that person bring a friend and it just worked out that the person was Gerald and that the friend was Arnold…Heh, heh…Random, huh?"
A chuckle from Arnold. "Yeah…just a happy clever accident, right Helga? Very clever actually…"
Helga froze and blushed so much! 'Clever?' No, she wasn't…She was just obsessive! It was something to be insulted about, not complimented on! She just shrugged once more, almost trembling in shyness. "I-I…guess…"
Patty just smiled a little more from her seat, forgetting entirely about her whole sticky little Torvald/Harold situation for the moment and just kind of enjoying how sweet Arnold and Helga really were together…him all smiling and her all stammering and the two of them blushing a little. It was kind of adorable, really. She let out a sigh and did her best to help Helga out once more this evening with keeping things from getting too awkward between her and Arnold and with still keeping Harold in the dark. "Well, it sounds like you guys had a good time…except for whatever happened here to upset that waiter so much." She ended on the joke, jerking her thumb in the direction the maître d' had gone.
Even though Patty had obviously meant the question innocently enough, Helga couldn't help but blush just a little again as the details of that last embarrassing outing here at Chez Paris flooded her mind. "Heh, yeah…That was a...whoo, quite a story…Heh…" She rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand and just tried to focus on her food again.
"Actually, it was a really fun night," Arnold suddenly supplied, seeing how nervous Helga seemed about the topic and wanting to let her know that it was nothing to be embarrassed about. "There were a few bumps…but Helga was a great hostess and we all had a really good time." He chuckled a little to himself, swallowing another bite of food...and trying not to blush…but he couldn't help reminiscing. "Remember doing the dishes, Helga? How we got in that water fight in the kitchen together after Gerald and Phoebe left?"
"Uh…" Yeah, a squirming and still lightly blushing Helga 'vaguely' recalled how (after Phoebe's parents had shown up that night and Phoebe had offered Gerald a ride home) that little squirt with the sink sprayer and smile Arnold had given her earlier that evening had escalated into the two of them spraying and flicking water at each other over and over again, laughing, feeling happy, playing a little game... It had been wonderful for Helga, absolutely wonderful! (Although, of course, she had sworn to never bring it up again—she didn't want to read too much into it. But apparently Arnold had had different ideas…). "Yeah, you sprayed me, I got annoyed and sprayed you, heh…" She took and chewed another bite of her food. "Mmm…uh…g-good steak…" She gave a small, sheepish grin.
Arnold just rolled his eyes and smiled at her nervousness. This wasn't some big romantic 'rooftop' thing…it was just a harmless game between friends. Why not talk about it? "Oh come on, Helga…I think you had fun…"
"N-No, I…"
"I think you did…"
"Arnold!" She scowled a little.
"Is that why you kept giggling every time the water hit you towards the end?" He couldn't help the topper, smiling just a little smugly (and also…maybe just a little dreamily…)
"Oh my…Helga, you giggle, huh?" Rhonda had just slipped over...and slipped into her favorite little nook right at the end of the table between Arnold and Helga. "Sorry, just searching for our waiter. Mummy and Daddy said I could have some sparkling apple cider and I wanted to put in the order before we get too far into our meal." Her sights turned specifically to Helga again. "So…a little water fight alone with Arnold and giggling and blushing…Oh this is very delicious, Helga." She looked like a hungry cat in sight of a full plate of fresh fish.
Helga blushed furiously and blurted out in a high-pitched voice, she was so flustered and nervous at this point! "Okay, I had fun that night! Uh…does anyone else but me seriously LOVE this French food?" She took another bite of her steak and chewed and swallowed and secretly prayed that Nadine's cockroaches had laid eggs in the rafters or something while they had been loose in this place, and that said eggs would suddenly hatch and re-infest the restaurant and give her an excuse to bail from the clutches of the smug looking girl before her!
Across the table, Patty was in the middle of standing up to send Rhonda away again NOW (and she was exceptionally worried at this point because she had just glanced at Harold and he was very noticeably losing his complacent look and starting to seem a little curious about the blonde couple at the other end of their table).
However, surprisingly, Arnold took care of things instead. "Well…" he suddenly (and unexpectedly) started to reply to Rhonda's comment in a level, calm voice, "I think Helga's just blushing now, Rhonda, because you keep surprising her and also…it sounds like you're trying to embarrass her a little…about her outfit and the fact that she agreed to a truce with me tonight. She's just being nice…Maybe…you could try being nice too."
There had been a very slight edge to the young boy's voice as he had spoken…which was very very VERY rare for Arnold. And the whole table, including Rhonda, just stopped and blinked and looked to him, more than noticing his tone. He was just sitting there now though, cutting another piece of his steak and eating it, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
Interestingly enough, Harold spoke next. "Yeah, Rhonda…Why are you picking on Arnold and Helga?" Harold could understand the few comments Rhonda might have been making to Patty tonight, teasing her a little about being out to dinner like this with him, just like the guys had been teasing him on the bus the other day. But…Arnold and Helga? So they weren't trying to kill each other with the cutlery…What was the big deal?
Rhonda's attention instantly went to Harold and she looked at him in disbelief. "Harold, I know you've got your own romantic problems to deal with tonight, but you can't seriously not see that Helga and Arnold are obviously—"
"RHONDA!"
Rhonda stopped at the sound of both Helga and Patty suddenly shouting her name and standing up, both looking an interesting mix of panicked and furious as they glared at her!
"So help me I am going to—" Helga was really about to punch her right in the pretty little nose, major scene or no major scene, getting kicked out or no getting kicked out! She really had wanted this one dinner here to be nice and smooth and enjoyable as long as she was stuck in it, but her nerves were fried after the last few weeks and her patience tonight was almost at its breaking point!
However, both her words and intended course of action were cut off by Patty Smith.
"No. We're going to have a talk. All three of us. In the bathroom. Now," the older girl firmly announced, and suddenly she pushed back her chair and was instantly about to walk around the table and drag both Rhonda and Helga by the shoulders directly to the ladies room to settle some things once and for all…
….Was about to, that was, until….
"Hey guys, just checking to see if you need anything!" Torvald. Of course. "Oh, and actually anything else you want for dinner or dessert or anything, just let me know. My boss is so busy with Rhonda's family that it looks like I'm going to be finishing up as your waiter for the rest of the night." ('Sure. He's going to be our waiter now. Why not…' Harold thought to himself with an eye roll.) "Oh and hey, let me get you guys a couple of Yahoo sodas to go with the rest of your meals, okay? Unless you want something different, Patty…" He glanced at the girl in question with a smile.
Patty just cringed a little and did her best to still smile (and to not blush this time.) "Yahoos are fine. Thanks, Torvald."
"You got it!" A smiling Torvald assured her, and then proceeded to clear away the empty breadbaskets and plates from the table.
Patty just let out a deep sigh…and saw Rhonda grin out of the corner of her eye. The gossip-loving girl turned to Torvald. "TORVALD. Just the man I wanted to talk to. Now perhaps you can clarify something for me about you and—"
"Bathroom. Right now." Patty was up and around the other side of the table and now had Rhonda and Helga by the backs of their collars. She looked at Torvald and did her best to smile once again. "Thanks again for the sodas, Torvald." Then she turned to Harold and scowled. "Harold. Be nice." And with that she was instantly pulling the girls away.
Rhonda frowned as she began to be led from the table, but then her smile brightened and she angled her head over her shoulder. "Ooo well, maybe I'll see you over at my table when you clear our plates later, Torvald, and then we can catch up a little. I have a lot of things I'd like to ask you abo—"
"Stuff it, Rhonda." Patty gave her a small jerk, turning the gossipy girl back around as they walked.
"And Arnold..." Helga turned back to him with a scowl as she went along with Patty. "Just…think before you speak!" she advised firmly.
"Ooo, what's that about, Helga?" Rhonda was heard to say to her with interest.
"None of your beeswax, princess." The girls went out of earshot of the table.
Left alone, Arnold and Harold and Torvald just looked from the girls to one another.
Torvald smiled and shrugged, the empty baskets and bread plates now in hand. "Women, huh? Always going to the bathroom in groups. And always seem to be involved in a million things we're kind of clueless about." He sighed and shook his head…thinking about his girlfriend a little. "Anyway, I'll see you guys later. And I'll get you some dessert menus." He gave the guys a nod and was gone.
"Arnold…" after a few seconds, Harold turned to the football headed fourth grader, "Is it just me or are girls…just plain kind of nuts?"
Arnold half smiled at the question and did his best not to chuckle. "Um…" Seven years of torture. The FTi confession. Tricking him into a date. A million other things he probably didn't even know about yet. That kiss… "Yeah, Harold. Just plain kind of nuts is a good way to put it. But…I think that makes them a little more fun." Arnold reached for some pepper and seasoned his food a little and took another bite. Finished swallowing, he smiled at Harold. "By the way, I think it's nice that you and Patty have been getting along so well lately, Harold. You two seem…nice together."
Harold blinked and blushed a little. But then just nodded and gulped, playing with his food a bit. 'And now here it comes…'
He waited for the teasing…
…But none came. (Just like none had come from Helga on the bus on Friday when Sid and Stinky had been teasing him about Patty…though his head didn't quite put together the coincidence yet.)
Harold smiled and looked to his friend. "Uh…thanks, Arnold."
Arnold's smile grew. "You're welcome, Harold."
"Hey, Arnold?"
"Uh huh?"
Harold considered what it was he wanted to say, and then spoke slowly. "I think it's nice that you and Helga are getting along a lot better too. You guys seem…a little happier like that. And she's an…okay girl, you know?" He wasn't sure if the observation made sense, but it was the truth.
Arnold, his grin picking up a little on one side, nodded. "We are happier like that actually, Harold. And thanks. And yeah…she…really is an okay girl."
"Yeah…I think she might actually like you, Arnold." Harold grinned, meaning it totally innocently of course.
Arnold blushed just a tiny bit, and used his napkin to dab at his mouth again, hoping Harold wouldn't notice the touch of heat and red coming to his features. "I know," he replied, "And I think Patty likes you too, Harold. And she's pretty okay herself."
Harold grinned more…and blushed…but…didn't feel bad or ashamed about it. "Thanks, Arnold."
Harold started eating again for a few more seconds…when it hit him that he wasn't quite sure how to take Arnold's comment about Patty 'liking' him. After all, Harold meant that Helga liked Arnold in the sense that she was okay with him…But then Arnold had said that Patty liked Harold and it was pretty common knowledge that something at least slightly romantic was going on between himself and Patty. And at the very least everyone knew that they were friends. So had Arnold meant 'like' in that sense? Just as friends…like Arnold and Helga liked each other? But then Harold couldn't figure out why Arnold would say that when he and Patty were on a date right now… Wouldn't meaning that Patty liked him in the sense that she 'like liked' him have made more sense to say? But then that would have meant that Arnold had taken Harold's like about Helga to mean 'like like'…right? But, no, that didn't make any sense because Arnold and Helga weren't on a date like he and Patty were on a date… 'But…But then…'
Harold sighed. 'This is confusing…It's almost enough to make a guy lose his appetite…' He played with the rest of his chicken and then just pushed the plate away while Arnold just sat in his seat eating a little and smiling to himself in thought about certain things.
The two boys waited for the ladies to return.
The door to the women's room burst open. The door to the women's room shut.
Patty Smith looked at the two girls she had just pulled inside of the Chez Paris bathroom with her. "You…" she pointed at Helga, "Just hold on for one second. I need to talk to you about something." Helga blinked at the unexpected request but then just nodded. "And YOU…" Patty's sights turned to Rhonda, "Rhonda, I'm not going to hit you because we're friends, but leave me and Harold and Torvald alone, and especially leave Helga and Arnold alone. I mean it. You and I are friends and you're curious about what's up with me so it's a little understandable, but Helga and Arnold are only here because I invited them and Helga's a good friend of mine so she shouldn't have to get put through this tonight. Okay? As a personal favor to me…leave Arnold and Helga out of your gossip radar."
Rhonda blinked. She was quiet for a second like she was thinking it over. Then she let out a sigh and spoke. "Patty…listen…" she began in an understanding voice, "I'm not trying to disrupt your dinner…" she was met with a stern look from Patty, "MUCH…" Rhonda qualified, rolling her eyes to the side. "And I'm not necessarily going to parade all of the stuff that's happened tonight around school on a loudspeaker or anything on Monday. It's just…I told you before, news around this town has been dead lately and I'm just…curious." She shrugged sheepishly. "And maybe I can even help a little with whatever the mess is that's going on at your table." She smiled hopefully and gestured to herself. "After all I AM a natural born matchmaker. If you need me to distract Harold or Torvald so you can make a beeline out of here with one or the other, just let me know, darling." Rhonda winked at Patty…and then turned her sights to the blonde in the room. "And…Helga…" she couldn't help smiling just a little smugly…this really was just delicious, after all… "Helga, Helga, Helga…I knew underneath all of the brashness and uncouthness there was a fellow girl…and who knew that all it would take to bring her out was a little charm from the most unlikely boy in the world…Helga and Arnold: it has a nice ring to it actually." She could have almost giggled about the whole lovely thing.
"I DO NOT LIKE ARNOLD! DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT!" Helga G. Pataki was seething and instantly went to blindly grab at Rhonda, though Patty held her back just in time! "Let me go! She can't say that! And it's none of her business anyway! I do NOT like, Arnold!" Helga shook her head almost in a panic! 'Rhonda…Rhonda CAN'T know! It'll be the end of everything! My entire cover blown! Worst night of my life! NO!'
Rhonda blinked a few times in a bit of fear at the protests of the blonde fellow fourth grader before her: Helga seemed furious… Indeed, Rhonda had never seen her this worked up before! A 'Methinks the lady doth protest too much' line came to her mind for a moment, but out of legitimate fear for her life Rhonda refrained from voicing it, of course.
"Okay, Okay, Rhonda, cool it with the comments, and Helga, cool it in general." Patty, still holding Helga firmly by the collar and shoulder, now stepped over and came completely between the two girls, really frustrated as this was about the third fight she had had to break up in the last forty-eight hours. She turned her sights to her dark-haired friend first and looked at her seriously though not quite as sternly as before as her anger had had a minute to cool. "Rhonda, listen…I understand that you want to be involved and to help if you can, but now is really not the best time. Now, prove to me that you can be a good friend and stay out of this and leave Helga alone, and then maybe I'll fill you in on what's going on with ME later. Maybe. Okay?"
Rhonda sighed in just a little bit of frustration and disappointment, frowning a bit…but then finally nodded. "Alright, Alright, I'm sorry." She looked from Patty to Helga and then back. "You're right…I shouldn't be making things harder for you both. I'll…head back to my table now…" She saw Helga scowl and open her mouth as though about to speak, but cut her off before she could begin, "And I won't even interrogate Torvald or anything. Scouts honor!" She held up three fingers in a promising gesture. "I was just curious but I'm leaving now and going to my neutral corner! No need for any violence…" She held up her palms defensively with a sheepish smile, and then seeing Helga appear to calm down a little (though she was still scowling) and Patty's scowl ease, Rhonda let out a relieved breath and then gave a small wave to the two girls. "Have a good talk, ladies." And then she popped out of the restroom, not wanting to push her luck any further in here (with no witnesses, to boot).
The door shutting, Patty let out a breath and then finally let Helga go.
Helga let out a deeply frustrated sigh and just turned around and looked to the taller girl. "Okay, whatever…" she shook her head, just trying to put thoughts of Rhonda away for the moment and to get on with things, "Anyway, now that the princess is at bay, what did you need to talk ab—"
"Wait." Patty held her hand up in a pausing motion and walked to the side and suddenly gave a firm little punch against the shut bathroom door.
"OW!" came Rhonda's muffled voice from the other side of the door which had obviously slammed into the side of her head while she had been starting to try and eavesdrop a little (her curiosity getting the better of her).
Patty rolled her eyes. 'Always addicted to gossip…If I didn't know that she was a good person underneath it all, I swear sometimes I'd…' She let out a sigh. 'I've really got to start hanging out with more kids my own age.' She just shook her head and then turned back to Helga. "Good. Now we can talk." She looked at Helga seriously and got right down to business. Her patience was wearing thin tonight. "Alright, Helga, there's obviously a lot of things going on at our table tonight and I think the only way we're going to be able to get through it all and maybe even help each other a little is if we come clean with each other completely. No more secrets."
Helga's jaw practically dropped at the suggestion. She scoffed. "No way, sister! The secret life of Helga G. Pataki has already suffered enough ACCIDENTAL damage this evening—I'm not torpedoing it ON PURPOSE the rest of the way just to make dessert go more smoothly!"
"Helga, just LEVEL with me here, okay!" Patty usually didn't raise her voice but she was at the end of her rope with this disaster of a dinner. She watched Helga blink unsurely at her outburst. The older girl took a breath, trying to calm herself. "Helga…" she began much more normally, leaning back against a sink, "I just want to make sure we get through the rest of this meal as painlessly as possible. And honestly even though it's pretty obvious to me that there's something going on with you and Arnold, I'm not sure about the details and I think I need to be if I'm going to be able to help you at all if you need it. And also…" and now she gulped and squirmed a little, "And also, I…think it'd be good if I came clean with you about what's going on with me because…I…think I might need your advice about something, Helga. And it's important." She blushed just a tiny bit.
Helga…was a little confused. Advice? Her? Sounded more like Arnold's department. And Patty was also three years older than her. Really, what could she need? 'Still though…' Helga thought to herself, 'Patty is my friend…and she's obviously going through a pretty rough night too…and she already basically knows everything about me and Arnold…and she's been helping keep Rhonda in check…and she really is a good friend…' Helga let out a sigh…came to a personal decision…and then smiled up at the older girl. "O-Okay…" she swallowed and gave a small nod, "we'll come clean with each other…But if it's okay, you first." Patty raised an eyebrow. "Sorry," Helga explained, "I can be a little…defensive about what I've got to say… I just…need for you to go first, okay?"
Patty considered, and then smiled in understanding and nodded. "Okay…Well…" she walked over to one of the sinks and leaned back against it and glanced down…took a breath…and then just let it all out, "Harold's been really jealous of Torvald lately because I've had to spend a lot of time with him for…something. And I was hoping this dinner tonight would make up for it but Torvald's our busboy and Harold's just been getting more and more jealous, and now I'm starting to worry that he might actually feelings for me—Torvald that is, not Harold…I mean, I think Harold has real feelings for me too but I'm more sure of that than I am of Torvald's feelings. But anyway the point is Torvald keeps giving our table special treatment and smiling at me and complimenting me and I can't tell if it's because he 'like likes' me or if it's just me being really hyper sensitive because I'm not used to getting attention from guys. And that's where you come in because it sounds like you've been on dates before and you seem to have a better handle on this 'boys' thing than I do and I wanted your opinion on it all, and I SWEAR if I have to kick Harold one more time under the table I'm pretty sure my heel's going to break! Plus, Rhonda popping over and taking notes on everything hasn't exactly been helpful!" She took in a deep breath and let out a deep breath as her speech now finished, feeling much better having gotten all of that off of her chest!
Finally Patty just looked to the ten-year-old girl before her once again…and saw with interest that Helga seemed to be in a bit of thought at the moment. "Helga?"
Helga held up a finger in a 'just a moment, please' gesture. A few more seconds of quiet passed (with Helga obviously contemplating things), and then the blonde walked over and leaned back against a sink next to Patty. She let out a breath and then slowly spoke, obviously carefully considering her words. "Hmm…honestly, Patty…I'm… not really familiar enough with how Torvald acted around you in the past to compare it with how he's acting around you now to say if there's been enough of a change to hint that he's got a crush on you. But…the one thing I do know is that…" she swallowed…and looked at Patty sincerely…and recalled certain things from Friday afternoon on a certain bus after school, "Patty…Harold likes you a lot. A whole lot. And even though him acting jealous is annoying, it's…a little understandable if he thinks someone's trying to steal you away, especially someone you've been spending some time with lately…" Helga raised part of her brow. "And this 'time' you've been spending with Torvald doing 'something'—it absolutely hasn't been romantic?" She wasn't suggesting anything, just checking, and it was obvious from her tone.
Patty understood and shook her head. "Completely professional," she replied. "He asked me to help him with something…but he also asked me to keep it a secret for a little while."
Helga nodded at the information. "Okay. Well then…as for Torvald, all I can say is that I would just wait and if he comes to you directly and says he's got feelings for you, then you can let him down gently…Unless you want to be with him and not Harold?" Once again, obviously just checking.
Patty shook her head once more. "I really like Harold just like he likes me, Helga…you know… 'like like'." She blushed a little. "Torvald's my friend but…nothing else."
Helga nodded again. "Okay." She smiled and spoke warmly as she went on. "Then…just let Torvald down gently if he comes to you. But otherwise I'd worry more about Harold now." A touch of concern came to her eyes. "Like I said, if he's getting this jealous he obviously really cares about you…and also he's an okay guy in general. Maybe instead of waiting for extra attention from him…try giving him a little extra attention first and see what that does." She shrugged and almost chuckled a little. "Boys are a little dense sometimes, Patty…They can need a little nudge in the right direction before they figure out what's what." Her eyes couldn't help traveling over in the direction of the bathroom door…in the direction of Arnold.
Patty just looked at the younger girl curiously as the two still continued to lean side by side against their respective sinks…and then she genuinely smiled. "You know…you're pretty smart, Helga."
Helga blinked at the sudden compliment and then just shrugged once again and smiled a little more. "Hey, uh…I try. Heh…"
Patty smirked just the tiniest bit. "So…if you don't mind my asking…your story now? The whole deal with you and Arnold…"
Helga blushed and sighed and glanced away…but couldn't help smiling just a little nonetheless. "Well…it…it's, uh…well, you've got a doozy on your hands with Harold and Torvald, I'll give you that, Patty, but…mine's going to come off as thoroughly psychotic. Guaranteed." 'Psychotic, loopy, loony, crazy, insane, nuts, bonkers…' So many adjectives, so little time…
Patty just raised an eyebrow, a curious smile on her face. "Try me, Helga. I really am kind of curious about what the deal is with you and Arnold…and why you two looked like you had heart attacks when you saw each other tonight."
Helga blushed quite a bit at the reminder of her and Arnold's first encounter this evening, but then swallowed…and finally began her explanations. "O-Okay, well…" she cleared her throat… "So, strictly off the record—and I MEAN STRICTLY OFF THE RECORD—I might actually like Arnold…a little."
Helga's eyes traveled up to be met with Patty giving her a look. Helga sighed and rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay, fine, I've been…in love with him for years." She glared a little at her companion. "You tell anybody ever and I don't care how much stronger than me you are, I will find a way to KILL you." She glanced away in frustration, always hating whenever she got put in a position of having to spill the beans about Arnold. She reached up a hand and rubbed the back of her neck as she went on. "Anyway, I kind of let how I feel slip to him a few weeks ago and lately he's been following me around trying to 'talk about it' which explains those fights you keep having to break up between us because who in their right mind tries to talk about something like that in the middle of a crowded cafeteria? I mean, WHAT the HECK am I supposed to do with that?" She let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes at her beloved's eternal cluelessness, but then just shook her head and went on, placing her palms against the edge of the sink once more. "Anyway, I didn't know he'd be here tonight and I didn't have anything else to wear so I put on this outfit…but…" She paused, blushing a little more. Having to tell someone else about her feelings for Arnold was bad enough but…having to go into the details of a crazy scheme? 'Crimeny, I hate this stupid night…'
"But?" Patty prompted curiously, interrupting Helga's internal lamentations.
"Uh…but…" Helga went on with a small shrug, only just barely looking to the older girl, "I…might have worn what I'm wearing right now one other time when I was here with him…and he might have realized that fact the second he walked through the door of this place and saw me."
A confused look remained on Patty's face and she just shrugged. "So, what's the big deal—you wore that skirt and top when you were here with Gerald and Phoebe last time."
Helga took a breath and blushed quite a bit more. "No…I…I actually wore it last Valentine's Day when I…Now you CANNOT tell anyone about this EVER, ESPECIALLY RHONDA!" She looked to the older girl desperately.
"Okay…okay," Patty assured, holding up her hands defensively. "I won't tell another soul. I promise."
Helga sighed and bit her lower lip…and then finally let it out. "I…wore this outfit when I set up a Valentine's Day date here between Arnold and his French penpal Cecile a few months back…"
Patty just had this 'So…?' look on her face…And, in point of fact, she was indeed a little confused. 'Why would Helga set up a date for Arnold with another gir—'
"…And…And then I came here disguised in this outfit with my hair down like it is now and pretended to be Cecile so that I could go on a date with him and he wouldn't know that it was me or that I liked him!" Helga just cringed, having finally spat out this confession! 'Oh even all these months later it STILL sounds psychotic! Fantastic! I'm such a basketcase!'
There were a few seconds of silence during which Helga just awaited the laughter or the disgust or whatever reaction she'd get from Patty.
However, Patty merely chose to react with a simple observation.
"Uh…okay…your problem is a little… 'more unusual' than mine. You win, Helga."
This statement from the sixth grade girl…and the obvious little grin Helga could now see forming on her face…broke Helga from her thoughts.
The blonde then rolled her eyes and let out a sigh of frustration, turning to face the mirror as she still leaned on the sink. "Oh, don't I ALWAYS win! Helga G. Pataki: Queen of Romantic Fiascos!" She glanced over her shoulder at Patty. "And, yeah, Rhonda being around tonight is not helping. If she starts spreading around that there's something going on between me and Arnold, I am dead." She looked at her reflection in the mirror, still scowling…trying not to tremble in nervousness. "Yup, just slap a toe tag on me right now." She leaned her head down and let out a groan.
"Helga?" Suddenly Patty's hand was on Helga's shoulder, doing her best to comfort her. 'Wow…I didn't realize this was that big of a thing for her. And she's…in love?'
Patty watched as her touch made Helga blink and then glance at her almost in a touch of fear. "If you don't mind my asking, Helga…" Patty went on in her usual, calm voice, "what's so bad about…other people knowing? I mean, the whole school knows about me and Harold and no one really says anything."
Helga just looked to her with frustration. "Patty, that's because you and Harold could flatten anyone who even looks at you the wrong way, no question! Me, I'm a ton of talk and I could maybe throw out a punch or two but not the way you two could. If the entire fourth grade started ganging up on me though, it wouldn't take two seconds for my reputation to go down like a lead balloon, and for me to get blown as the scared little girl I really am! And what about poor Arnold?" Tears almost came to her eyes and she threw up her hands in the air! "He doesn't deserve to get mocked and ridiculed just because I'm hopelessly in love with him! He doesn't deserve to get put through things like tonight! He doesn't deserve to—"
Instantly the sink faucet was turned on and a sudden splash of cool water hit Helga right in the face courtesy of Patty, cutting her off in her exclamations and ravings! Helga sputtered a little and blinked and just looked at Patty in confusion.
"Sorry," Patty shrugged, "You were getting a little hysterical, Helga."
Helga just blinked a few more times and then snatched a paper towel from a dispenser near the wall and wiped some of the water from her face. "Uh…thanks. And sorry…I tend to get like that about Arnold. Very, um…defensive. Just ask Phoebe, heh…" She tossed the towel into the garbage and grinned a little sheepishly…but then cleared her throat and glanced away. "A-Anyway, the bottom line is just…Me and Arnold…I love him…and he knows…and he doesn't love me back…simple as that." She gave a little shrug…and actually tried not to cry (which she'd been having to try and not do now and again over the course of the last few weeks ever since she'd spilled the beans, though she'd been doing her best to avoid those more… 'melancholy' moments). Her love didn't love her back: she hated thinking about it. Hated how it had been basically confirmed by his reaction to her confession of just pretending like it had never happened.
"He told you that?"
Helga glanced up at Patty and blushed, coming out of her thoughts once more. She shook her head. And then added in explanation, "No, he didn't, but I just…know. There's no reason for him to…love me. And it's just…hard to be around him at this point because of that. And that's where all of the tension between us has been coming from…okay?" No more scowling…she just looked at Patty sincerely.
Patty observed the young girl curiously for a moment. "Helga…you know…" she spoke quietly and carefully, "…that day when I didn't beat you up a couple months ago…when I asked you if you and Arnold have some kind of thing for each other…I really did mean do you AND Arnold have some kind of thing for EACH OTHER…"
Helga blushed even more and shook her head a little again. "Patty, it's a lost cause. Give it up. Trust me. When you pour your heart out to a guy and his response is to pretend it never happened for a few weeks…you just know."
Patty just let out a sigh and shook her head with a smile. "Helga…" Helga may have understood boys pretty well…but she was still only ten-years-old. It was understandable that maybe, when it came to her own affairs, she really couldn't see… "It seems like you understand boys pretty well. I mean, you gave me good advice about Harold and Torvald, and you're always hanging around guys and stuff…"
Helga sighed and rolled her eyes up. "Yeah, I'm a closet hopeless romantic and a Tom Boy. What's your point?"
Patty shrugged, smiling a little more as she went on. "Well…you're the one who just said boys could be a little slow about stuff…So maybe Arnold's just being a little slow about things… He said at the table before that he likes you…remember? And also…between you and me, I think he thinks you're a knockout tonight, Helga." She winked. And from how Arnold had been gazing at Helga quite a few times this evening, that last thing had to be the undeniable truth!
Helga swallowed at the comment, but then just let out a deep sigh and gave Patty a look, speaking a little sarcastically. 'She just doesn't get it…' "Fine. If I admit there's 'hope' or something can we just get back to finishing up this evening from heck now that we're both fully aware of our chaotic love lives?"
Patty chuckled just a little and gave a small nod. "Fair enough."
Helga shrugged. "Okay. There's 'hope'…" She made air quotes around the word. "Now let's just get back to the table and at least get some dessert out of this disaster of a dinner!" The ten-year-old girl headed over to the bathroom door and opened it, and both girls exited and began to head back to their dates.
As they walked, an interesting thought occurred to Helga and she smiled and raised part of her brow curiously, and commented on it without really thinking. "Hey, Patty…you know, I've gotta say, you've got a lot of self control."
Patty blinked at the strange comment and turned to Helga in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Helga shrugged, looking to her as well. "Well, all this time you've been getting ticked off at Harold for being jealous about you just spending a little time with Torvald…and it doesn't sound like you even once brought up the fact to him that he's the one who used to be practically dating Rhonda. It takes a lot of self-control not to just start pulling out that ace in the hole. Especially after a night as stressful as this one."
"Oh, he and Rho—" Patty then froze and her eyes went wide. There was no more walking. "What did you just say?" she asked quietly, now standing completely still in the middle of the restaurant.
Helga stopped as well and looked back at Patty curiously…and then her eyes went wide and then she slapped a hand to her forehead and dragged it down with a cringe. "He…didn't tell you yet, did he? And I have a very VERY big mouth!" She opened her eyes, not having wanted to start something. Patty was her friend and Harold was an okay guy and her friend, and she could have just kicked herself for unintentionally meddling like this! After all, her meddling in her own love life always seemed to end in disaster—who knew what chaos could ensue from her actually meddling in someone else's! 'Big FREAKING mouth, Helga…Big freaking mouth….' "Listen, Patty," she quickly began, trying to smooth things over, "It was just a stupid crush she had on him a bunch of months ago that he went along with for a bit! Just some stupid flirting brought about by a forced Tunnel of Love ride at a Cheese Festival. Nothing! The goal right now is to be nice to Harold and give him attention and to appreciate how much he likes you. Remember?" She looked at her hopefully. "Then AFTER that you can chew him out for holding out on you, oka—"
But Patty was suddenly gone, off across the room. Helga watched as the sixth grade girl reached their table, grabbed Harold by the shoulder, forced him up out of his seat and proceeded to walk him (and he was looking very confused, by the way) right across the restaurant and right back in the direction of the alcove leading to the bathrooms.
Helga just gulped at the sight, having instantly moved away to make room for them passing by. 'Happy happy happy….so very happy that I'm not him.' Helga felt a serious twinge of guilt of course for having put Harold in this position…but still it had been an accident, and also, if he really was starting to take the jealousy thing too far, maybe a little reminder of one of his own sprees with another girl (and another girl who happened to be here tonight as well) would help curb his attitude about the Torvald situation. Helga knew that she and Patty had similar personalities and thus probably similar opinions about jealousy in boy's: cute to a point but if it got too controlling, it was time to cut it off right at the knees. And pronto. 'Still…I'm going to owe Harold about a million Mr. Fudgie bars after this one…' She let out a sigh. 'Here's hoping he doesn't have to wait six months while his jaw is wired shut by the paramedics to enjoy them…' Despite the graphic nature of this thought, Helga was smiling though as she had it. After all, Patty and her were also alike in another way: they both had boys they cared about, and no matter how short their tempers might be or how prone to using their fists to solve problems they were…they'd never actually hurt them for anything in the world… 'No matter how dense and clueless and silly our guys can be…'
With these thoughts in her head, Helga just let out a breath and walked back in the direction of her table, leaving Harold and Patty to do whatever they had to do.
Reaching her destination now, she sat down with a plop in her seat and let out a sigh, resting her head on her hand…so very worn out from this epic evening.
Arnold, meanwhile, having witnessed firsthand a very confused Harold being torn from the table by a very unhappy looking Patty, looked to Helga curiously now that she had finally returned. "Um, Helga? What's going on with Harold and Patty?"
Helga blinked and looked up, recalling Arnold's presence…and couldn't help smiling a little and leaning back, rubbing one of her temples. "Oh…he's just in a little bit of trouble because women hate double standards, Football Head." She took a swig of one of the Yahoo sodas now on the table (and mentally thanked Torvald for bringing by a few 'cold ones' that she could use to settle her nerves).
Arnold just seemed all the more confused by this explanation though…and Helga had to smile and chuckle a little because it was really cute…that dense little look he could get sometimes and that she had missed seeing him get just a little ever since her confession. "Don't worry about it, Arnold," she assured him, "She likes him…'like likes' him…she won't hurt him or anything. And look on the 'bright side': he's the one in trouble, not you." Helga winked at him. "Just be thankful and accept it." She watched Arnold blink…and then glance down at the rest of his steak tartare with a thoughtful look on his face.
She grinned a little more to herself. 'Silly little dense thing…Never did understand girls very well. Sometimes I wonder if he'd even know what to do with one if he liked her and she actually liked him back. Probably freeze up and blush and spend every date just nodding and spazzing and working up the nerve to even touch her hand…Quiet as a little mouse… My cute, modest, shy beloved…' She gave a small internal girlish swoon.
"So…I guess we have a few minutes alone then, don't we, Helga?" Arnold's voice surprisingly broke through Helga's thoughts suddenly…quietly… "Say…Helga?" his voice went on and he glanced up.
The fork Helga had picked up to take a final bite of food from her now nearly empty plate paused in mid air…and was instantly placed lightly back down upon said plate in its former position. Arnold didn't like her back…which meant no cute, modest shyness…which meant that he had just suddenly realized that a golden opportunity had fallen into his lap during this chaotic evening. A few minutes…alone…with her…to say whatever might be on his mind without consequence. Helga gulped. She did NOT like this. 'No, no, no, no, no…'
Helga let out a breath and pushed the dish before her away (having lost her appetite by this point) and instantly cut off Arnold. This was going to be dealt with swiftly and neatly. No question. "Arnold…" she closed her eyes…she was so tired at this point, she just… "Seriously…We're still out in public. Harold and Patty'll be back any minute. This isn't the time or the place. Really!" She brought her blue eyes to look right into his green ones. "Not to mention Rhonda could be watching and Torvald's our busboy and—Grr…" She let out a sigh and rubbed one of her temples again…unfortunately now recalling her thoughts from at the beginning of this meal about Arnold maybe having deserved to have a few questions…and maybe feeling just a touch of guilt about it all especially in light his OWN surprising and difficult experiences from tonight… And, well, they did have a moment alone now…and maybe, when you thought about it, something small right now would satisfy him for a little while so he wouldn't be making her life at school as stressful as he had been doing...
And so, reluctantly, Helga G. Pataki decided to compromise. "Okay, look, fine, Arnold. Here's the deal…" she laid it right out on the line, "I give you one freebie question right now that I'll answer. Just one. Then you shut up about anything I ever might have said regarding you and me and me not exactly hating you until I'm good and ready to have this stupid talk or whatever you've been bucking for lately." She slumped in her chair a little and scowled at him. "Do we have a deal?"
Arnold just looked at her in a little bit of surprise. In point of fact, had not been expecting this...offer. Not at all… Still though it brought a little smile to his lips…and he couldn't help but think it over for a second. "Well…" he began quietly…the tiniest bit of a blush coming to his cheeks, "I guess if I only had one question for now…for YOU…It would be why, when I asked you who you were the first time we were here together, you didn't you just say 'I'm Helga, Arnold. And I love you. Will you be my valentine?' But actually right now I was just going to ask you to pass me one of those Yahoo sodas." He looked into her surprised eyes with his small, little smile. "I know better than to ask you anything 'important' directly in public, Helga…Well, I mean…" he shrugged a little sheepishly, "I didn't know better at first but then I was talking to Gerald—don't worry, I didn't tell him anything…he just knows I've been wanting to talk to you. Anyway, he said that if I kept trying to do it in public it was only going to upset you…and that people might even, um…start thinking I sort of 'liked' you liked you…You know, me with a little crush on Helga G. Pataki…" He was playing with the food on his plate very deliberately now as he spoke. "So…I know better, Helga. But, whenever you're ready…if you'd like to answer that one question I had…I'd love to hear what you have to say. I love hearing you say anything really, actually. We should spend more, um…more time like this together, Helga. Sure it's a little stressful but…it's also very nice. I'm happy I got invited here with you."
Helga just sat there. Stunned. Genuinely and sincerely stunned. 'He wants to know why didn't I…And we should spend more…And he's happy he got invited…Huh?'
Arnold just picked up with his fork and then chewed and swallowed a final bite of steak, reaching across the table himself and taking a soda bottle and popping off the top…and added something. "Thanks for putting your hair down again, by the way, Helga. It's pretty, you know. And I'm sorry if I've been bothering you at all lately or tonight."
'Pr-Pr-Pretty?' She gulped. 'Pretty? A-After all of…After all of everything, one of the things on his mind tonight is that my hair is…p-p-p—" "Arnold…sometimes I just plain don't get you at all." Helga couldn't help it. He really was the most confusing individual on the planet to her sometimes. And she just had to make this observation as she continued to marvel at him a little.
Arnold blinked at the unexpected comment but then smiled again and leaned a little bit forward…and gazed at her a little, blushing lightly. "I feel the same way about you, Helga…" He chuckled. "But…I like getting the chance to…figure you out a little…if that makes any sense."
Helga blushed a little herself…but then uncontrollably smiled a little as well. She couldn't help it—she felt so…flattered! How lovely! He actually… liked getting to know her…even knowing that she was her and not his silly French penpal. "I…like figuring you out too, Arnold…" she managed…and just barely glanced up and gazed at him a little as well.
Five seconds later Helga was suddenly blinking and clearing her throat and looking away and trying to scowl as she realized the urge she had just given in to to just look at Arnold so lovingly…and he'd even been looking back! ('He was probably just being amused by me but STILL! Staring into each other's eyes in public! With the school gossip twenty feet behind us! Crimeny, am I INSANE?') "Okay, okay, enough mushy stuff. Crimeny, Arnold, quit trying to make me go soft or something!" She huffed a little and crossed her arms over her chest, slumping a bit in her seat and scowling once more.
"Whatever you say, Helga." Arnold let out a sigh and just played with his napkin a little… (and tried not to grin too much at the idea of that…smile that had come over Helga's face for a few seconds just now when she had seemed so very happy that he liked getting to know her. He just wished that piece of hair hadn't been blocking part of her face (just like last Valentine's Day) so that he could have gotten a full view of it.) "I'll leave making you go soft all to you…" Eh, they were alone and had a truce and besides…he liked complimenting Helga and making blush a little. It was…a fun little power to have. Besides, he…wouldn't have minded seeing that happy smile of hers again… ('…o-or the blush')… He let out a small sigh, almost disbelieving this new little skill and goal of his.
"Well thank you, I—" Helga had started, but then (right on schedule) she suddenly blushed and looked at Arnold with wide eyes…which she then just rolled to the side, trying to huff and sound all sarcastic again, though her blush remained…along with a small bit of a flattered smile (In short, Arnold's efforts had perfectly succeeded). "Oh just…shut up and start thinking about a dessert that's quick to make and eat so we can get out of here and this nightmare of a night can be over, paste for brains."
Arnold finally had to just chuckle at her. All the sarcasm was really more cute than anything else when you knew what was being hidden underneath it. "Okay. But it's not a 'nightmare' to me, Helga." He gave a little shrug. "I enjoy our dates, personally."
Helga's heart stopped for a single second…and then her breath instantly hitched in her throat…and Arnold did not fail to notice. 'Our…d-dates?' "Our dates…" she squeaked. She'd never…really thought about it all like that. That they had technically been on…dates…together…Her heart beat and beat and beat…
Arnold just gave a small nod, trying to ignore the occasional the little beats of his own heart going on at the moment. "Yeah…Don't you enjoy them, Helga?"
Helga shakily nodded, unable to think of anything else to do… A few more seconds passed to allow her shock and surprise to ebb, and then just let out a sigh and closed her eyes and rested her head in one of her hands and spoke in a low, cynical, slightly defeated voice. "I swear, after I was stupid enough to confess to you on top of that stupid building I should have just punched your stupid lights out and carried your stupid knocked-out butt down to the stupid sidewalk, left you for Gerald and that stupid bus driver to find, and then slipped off into the shadows and faked like me being Deep Voice was all just a stupid dream you had or something. So much stress could have been avoided…" She lay back in her chair, eyes closed, head angled up toward the ceiling with a tired look on her face.
"Wouldn't have worked," Arnold shook his head, still smiling a little to himself, "A guy never forgets his first real kiss, Helga."
Helga G. Pataki blushed so very much and her eyes popped open and she just plain stopped breathing at that one! She was trembling, actually…His…first kiss… Just like she had never really thought of their 'outings' and 'adventures' together as dates, she had never really thought about what she'd done to him on the FTi rooftop in the terms he seemed to be applying to it either. It had just processed in her head: I kissed Arnold. It hadn't occurred to her to phrase it in the way that she had given Arnold his first real kiss. 'And…And that's how he thinks about it?' It was too much! She had to…had to write a poem or swoon and faint or something or…kiss him again, or… "O-Okay, Arnold, that's it… no more. Now is n-not the place or the time. Like I said." Helga's face moved back to Arnold's and got serious. She didn't want to talk about this. Any of this. It was too much. Not here and now. 'No matter how much he's enjoying having fun with all of this and even flirting a little…it's all just going to lead to the inevitable gentle let down from him. Remember that.' She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and breathed a small sigh of relief for another excuse to end their conversation coming along right in the nick time. "Besides, Harold and Patty are coming back."
Arnold glanced over and behind Helga to indeed see a scowling Patty and a scowling and slightly blushing Harold approaching the table again. Arnold turned his sights back to Helga and gave a small nod. "Okay…we'll talk more later," he finished quietly. He watched Helga just kind of nod though she still looked a little serious and she wasn't looking at him. "And, um…" he lowered his voice and leaned a little closer, wanting to clarify something before their talk right now had to finish up for the time being. "I'm not trying to tease you or anything you know, Helga. I'll remember that kiss…for the rest of my life." Then, in the boldest move he had ever made in his life (and he so very much knew it was so very bold) he reached up and over…and shifted the piece of hair over one of Helga's eyes so that it was now resting around and behind her ear. "And, um…you can move the piece of hair back if you want to, of course, Helga, but…you don't have to hide anymore since there're no more secrets…and also it's nice to see all of your face…and both of your eyes…They're blue, you know…."
Arnold had to glance down now and play with the remains of the meal on his dish in nervousness. ' 'They're blue, you know…'! Of course she knows her eyes are blue! What am I even doing…I…I don't…' He let out such a deep mental sigh. 'Blue…Blonde, blue…pink…' 'Blonde, blue and pink' mere feet away from him, his date for the night… 'Blonde blue and pink'…in love, of all things…in love with him… 'Blonde blue and pink' with her arms around his body and her lips upon his own…caught up in an unforgettable moment of heat… First kiss… And he'd been wondering ever since her confession… If the two of them ever really found themselves alone again…really alone…would she still be stubborn and pretend like nothing had happened…or would she give in and try to make something happen once more? And what would he do with her like that again…?
(Arnold instantly began to play with his food even more deliberately. Every time he'd had that thought…a few, well…ideas for what he could do with her like that had popped into his head…and it was happening again. 'Oh boy…' )
Across the table, at what he'd just said and how he'd just touched her hair so gently, Helga's heart overflowed and she blushed and everything inside of her fluttered and begged to swoon, and her 'blue eyes' instantly snapped right to her beloved and she wanted, no, needed, to say something! Anything! Public or no public! Right time and place or no right time and place! He was making her heart quiver! Talking to her like he was her boyfriend or something! Talking to her in a way that made her want to be alone with him again—in a way that made her need to be alone with him again! She wanted to just dive at him and kiss him and kiss him and burst into tears and ask how, how, HOW could it be possible that there was even a chance that he didn't just plain hate her for loving him? After all, what else was there for him to be if not disgusted by her secret feelings? And if this was all a joke, WHY was he doing it to her? Yes, she'd put him through seven years of torture but hadn't she suffered enough in her own right going through seven years of unrequited love? Unrequited love all for the perfect boy before her…
…But unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, since they were still indeed in a public setting) she was cut off from saying or doing any of the things with which she was brimming by Harold and Patty reaching the table and now sitting firmly down in their respective seats.
Yes, it looked like it was time for dessert. They could talk more later. Even though Helga now felt more confused than ever…
…While Arnold meanwhile was just…trying very very hard not to look at Helga's lips…though he couldn't help at least recalling in vivid detail again the feeling of them on his own not too many weeks ago. The moaning… His heart overflowed with a little something as well. 'I really like you, Arnold, and I need to know. Do you like me too?' He let out a sigh. 'Very much, Helga. I like you very very…very much…' He wished this meal was over…He wanted to tell her that he liked her so very much…what he had been wanting to tell her among other things these past few weeks…and especially after all of this…but he knew she was right: here and now was not just yet the right time.
And also he wasn't even sure at the moment…what he meant by 'I like you very very…very much…' But he was going to take dessert to try and figure it out.
(Arnold had long since forgotten about the movie ticket in his pocket, by the way.)
"Gerald, I reckon it's startin' to get late. Are you sure Arnold's gonna meet us out here in front of the theatre to go in and watch the other two movies?"
Gerald turned to Stinky and nodded "Yeah, he'll be here, trust me. He's got his ticket and everything. Besides we've got a few minutes before the next movie starts. Just hold your horses, okay, fellas?"
Sid, standing next to Stinky on the sidewalk, rolled his eyes. "Okay but if we don't have time to get snacks, then you're the one missing the first part of the movie to wait on the concessions line."
Needless to say, Gerald had run into Sid and Stinky at the Evil Twin triple feature and the three boys had figured as long as they were all there, they might as well gorge themselves on horror movies and salty and sweet snacks in a group (that was supposed to have one more member as soon as Arnold showed up.) And now it had just struck eight p.m. and they were waiting on the sidewalk outside of the entrance to the theatre for Arnold to complete their foursome.
Gerald just rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine, I promise, Sid—I'll wait and get the snacks." He glanced at his wristwatch. 8:05 already. He glanced up the block. No one appeared to be coming. He let out a sigh. "Actually guys, why don't you head inside and I'll just make a quick run to Chez Paris and see if he's still planning on coming and then I'll meet you guys back in the theatre, okay?"
"Whoa, he's at Chez Paris?" Sid's eyes lit you. "You didn't say he was eating there." He grinned. "Hey, if we could get an order of appetizers to go and sneak them into the movies in our pockets, that'd be much better than just some more overpriced stale popcorn."
Stinky nodded eagerly. "Yeah! And I reckon maybe Arnold could give us some of his leftovers to take back here too!"
Gerald glanced at his watch again. "Okay, okay, we'll try and get some food to go but come on guys, let's just do this quick! We don't want to miss too much of the second movie!" He began to head up the street.
Sid and Stinky smiled and nodded and began to follow after Gerald.
"Hey…" Sid suddenly went on to Gerald, just kind of curious, "Why's Arnold at Chez Paris, anyway, Gerald?"
Gerald shrugged, glancing over his shoulder at his friend. "Eh, some kind of group dinner thing he got invited to with Big Patty and a few other people, and he'd already said yes so he didn't want to be rude and cancel." He faced forward again as the boys continued moving quickly up the street.
Or rather, as Gerald alone continued moving quickly up the street…since Sid and Stinky had stopped dead in their tracks for just a moment…and were now looking at each other…and smiling…the name 'Big Patty' having rung a few bells in their heads, to say the least.
"You don't think…" Sid started, his grin growing…
"…That Harold couldn't come to the movies tonight because…" Stinky went on, his grin growing as well...
"Guys, come on! We're gonna to miss the opening scene with the mass Evil Twin slaughter on the beach!" Gerald called out impatiently, way ahead of them by now.
Sid and Stinky just chuckled to each other knowingly and headed up the street after their friend…suddenly a lot more interested at checking out the current situation at Chez Paris than the first twenty minutes of a horror movie they'd already seen a zillion times.
A/N:
Okay guys, I hope you liked that and please review ;) Like I said, the next thing I'll be updating is April 2nd, LTBH should get an update before January's out, and I'll try and have this story wrapped up within the next couple of months ^_^
Happy Reading!
AXH FOREVER!
~Azure129 aka Jenna