A/N:
Hello there, everyone!
Yeah, I know, I rarely update this story. Sorry about that : 3 You know, you'd think after the insanity of the TA/LTBH thing nothing would wipe me out but something about writing this story drains me a little XD I think it's because things aren't happening one after the other so much as all at the same time in the same place and during a very short window of time. But I do still plan to finish this story, absolutely :) And for anyone who's kept up with this story over the years I appreciate your patience and your readership very much. Thank you!
Also, school always takes up a lot of time and so does work. But I'm graduating in the spring :) Again thank you for bearing with me!
Anyway here's the latest chapter of this story :) It should be maybe another couple of chapters long and that's it.
Dinner AND a Show!
Chapter 6:
What Whets Your Appetite
Though Arnold and Helga's conversation during Harold and Patty's absence had been very enlightening, Harold and Patty's conversation during their absence had been equally interesting…
Arnold and Helga had of course both been privately and even sort of openly grateful for the brief private time they had had together due to Patty taking so long with Harold over by the bathrooms.
Though of course Harold hadn't been so very grateful for such a long amount of time alone with Patty…No, not under these circumstances.
Harold Berman, to put it politely and also a lot more accurately than most, was a solid kid. He had some height, he had some width, he had some weight and he knew how to stand his ground. He might not have been as much of a 'brick wall' as, let's say…Torvald…(not that anyone need make that specific comparison to him right now lest they wanted a knuckle sandwich)…but, in a nutshell, Harold Berman was not a kid who got pushed around…He did the pushing.
Which was why, during the moments as he found himself being literally dragged by Patty across the restaurant over to the bathrooms at a very decent clip (bus boys and waiters diving out of their way left and right), he was quite stunned to say the least…and maybe also a tiny bit impressed. Not quite as secretly (and later publicly) impressed as he had been when she had beat him at arm wrestling that one time, but still just a little impressed. Even in the nice dress and the high heeled shoes and smelling pretty she was just power-housing through the restaurant and dragging him along like he was some nine-year-old wimp instead of a thirteen-year-old part-time bully like herself!
He was most impressed though (and most scared out of his mind) when the two of them were in the bathroom alcove and she suddenly turned, let his arm go and then grabbed his collar and actually managed to pin him up against the wall.
And she…looked…mad.
Harold half choked on his words, his eyes wide, clueless as could be about what was going on! "P-Patty, what—"
"Oh DON'T you 'Patty, what?' me, you…you…you…boy!" she instantly all but shouted back in a seething, loud whisper!
If Harold had looked confused before he looked positively flabbergasted now! Where the heck was this suddenly coming from? Had she taken a few 'being random as all heck tonight' lessons from Helga while they had been in the bathroom before? Oh, but what did it matter, Harold could already feel himself panicking! "B-But…I…you…what?" Even though she had just told him not to… 'what' her, was it?…he couldn't help coming up with 'what' again.
"Grr!" Patty practically growled at him, though it only succeeded in making Harold look even more desperately clueless.
So Patty decided to give him a clue.
She let out an enraged sigh, shook all over…and then calmly let him go and took a step back. "Hmm, well, if the threat of a pounding won't get it out of you then maybe I should try a different approach. One you apparently really like even though you never told me about it until now!" Then Patty cleared her throat, gave him a fake, cheery smile, summoned up a fake, cheery voice to go along with it, cocked her hip to one side and put a fingertip on her chin upon which she began a (truly fantastic) Rhonda Wellington Lloyd impression. "Oh. My. Gosh. Seriously, Harold, have you heard the latest gossip going on around the restaurant? Oh you will just DIE when you hear, it's practically scandalous!" She fluttered her eyes a few times, still totally in valley girl mode.
Harold just looked at her blankly for a second…and then grinned. "Hey, you sound like Rhonda! Wow, that's pretty good, Patty! Keep going! And hey, can you do Helga next? And I don't mean Helga like she is tonight with all the laughing and getting all nervous and stuff…" Harold quirked his mouth to the side and had to scratch his head. Come to think of it now, though, Helga really was acting…very different. But why? Harold really tried to think about it for a moment…but then his stomach grumbled (dessert still hadn't been eaten yet of course) and plus he was in the middle of a sentence and didn't want to lose his idea so he just shook his head and went on. "I mean, can you do an impression of Helga when she's all angry? Like the way she gets around Arnold?" He laughed to himself…but then felt all curious again. Wasn't Helga around Arnold here and now tonight…and yet…she was barely acting angry at all. He angled his head and glanced back to their table, and lo and behold Arnold and Helga were just talking…looking shy…smiling…blushing…
"Oh, why do you want me to 'keep going' with the Rhonda impression, huh?" Patty suddenly shouted, interrupting his thoughts and causing his attention to turn back to her instantly. "I wonder why that is, Harold? Oh dear, could it be because…" the valley girl accent kicked in again, "…you and Rhonda were like totally an item AND YOU DIDN'T FEEL THE NEED TO MENTION THIS FACT TO ME! EVER! EVEN THOUGH THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF TIME TO MENTION TO ME ALL ABOUT HOW MUCH IT BUGS YOU THAT SOMETIMES TORVALD AND I SHARE A SENTENCE OR TWO!"
(Yeah, by the time of the stuff in capital letters the whole Rhonda impression had given way to genuine Patty Smith seething with a jealous rage she had never known she could possess…but boy was it here and was it strong!)
Oh dear…Well, if there was one thing that could take a young man's mind off of two of his friends who were usually fighting like crazy but were now suddenly having a shy, blushing, smiling tête-à-tête together in front of his eyes, it was learning first hand (just like Helga was in the process of just finishing telling Arnold across the restaurant) that women do not like double standards.
"Give me a reason not to grab a cooking torch from the kitchen and flambé you," Patty suddenly added for good measure. (And also by now we were back to that whole 'Patty holding Harold against a wall of a five star restaurant by his collar' thing. The only difference now was that Patty's voice…wasn't just angry sounding. It was low…graveled…hurt…and tears burned somewhere in her flashing eyes.)
A petrified Harold blinked, something coming through his embarrassment and fear at the sight and sound of her like this. He was…seeing beyond Patty's exterior for a moment. He was seeing something deeper than that, something sad behind the anger…something he wanted to address. But it was so hard for him to really process and explore this new aspect of her under feelings the present stressful circumstances and he had to put it to the back of his mind for a moment in order to give Patty that 'reason' she had demanded for not flambéing him. "O-Okay…" he started delicately, "I...can explain…See, I—"
"LIAR!" she cried in a loud hiss of a whisper, eyes flashing again!
Harold's eyes went wide and what little color was left in his face faded. "But I didn't even say anything yet!" he almost whined in fear.
"Oh just like you didn't say anything about YOU DROOLING OVER MY BEST FRIEND FOR WHO THE HECK KNOWS HOW LONG?" Patty seethed back.
"Hey!" Harold scowled at her now and did his best to wriggle out of her hold so that he could get his feet back all the way on the ground and not feel like she was choking him by the collar anymore, "I never DROOLED! What, did Rhonda tell you that?" He straightened his tie, still scowling, and grumbled to himself, "Sheesh, what an ego. A guy gets dragged onto one Tunnel of Love ride and doesn't push the girl out of the boat 'cuz he's tryin' to be nice and because she's not so awful, and suddenly he's branded for life…"
"Oh please!" Patty rolled her eyes, still fuming! (And still feeling really hurt inside about all of this). "Don't act like Rhonda's not all pretty and petite and perfect! Don't act like you wouldn't have been all over her!" A new thought occurred to Patty suddenly, causing her eyes to flash again. "Were you two on a date that night we met at her house for that party?" Yes, Patty was getting a little hysterical and paranoid sounding now but in her defense the poor girl was about as frazzled and confused and frustrated as could be.
Harold, still scowling (and a little more so by now) looked at her with a frown and threw his arms up in desperation. "We never dated, Patty! And oh brother, here we go…" he rolled his eyes and held out his arms, "I don't WANT pretty and petite and perfect! I want YOU!"
(For anyone looking to take dating advice from this story, the thing to take away from this segment of it is to PLEASE have a high awareness of how you phrase things, especially in emotional situations).
Patty just…she just blinked...blinked several times…froze. Her face contorted and her eyes shone.
Harold just looked at her, genuinely and sincerely confused. "What?" he finally almost whined, just not getting what the problem was.
"A-And what am I, exactly?" Patty suddenly croaked out to him, her voice sounding strained, her eyes dark.
Harold blinked. "Huh?"
"Rhonda's pretty and petite and perfect and you don't want that, you want me apparently. So what the heck am I exactly, Harold?!" Patty asked again, trying not to let her voice crack (and her mind not yet focusing on the fact that Harold, despite how poorly he might have phrased it, had just admitted that he wanted her!)
Harold blinked a bunch of times at this question and instantly his face flushed bright red. "I-I…w-w-well…y-you…I-I mean, you're…th-there's…a-and I already said before that you're…you're…" he stumbled over the words, heart racing a little.
"Oh!"…Patty looked furious…and yet also about to burst into tears. "Just forget it! Just forget everything!"
And then she pushed past him to head back over to their table but not before mumbling under her breath, "At least Torvald doesn't lie to me…"
All of Harold's stammering stopped (though his blushing still went on) and he scowled angrily in her direction. "Grr!" And then he stomped off back toward the table in frustration too. Frustration with Patty, frustration with Torvald, frustration with himself…
'You're strong and smart and funny and creative and nice and…beautiful…I told you before you were beautiful. That's you…and that's all I want…you…'
He hated that: not being able to think of the perfect way to say what you had to say to someone until the moment had passed… Not that he had felt the courage within himself to admit it all to her, at least not here and now. That had been his only reason for hesitation…nerves and needing a moment to organize his thoughts.
But now she was just angry and walking away and thinking of Torvald and so was he.
And now all Harold felt like he wanted was to go back to the table. He wanted to eat dessert and pay the bill and just go. 'Dating stinks…' he grumbled to himself inside.
And now to return to the table at the present moment when all four of its occupants were all in their seats once again this evening…
Both Helga and Arnold had mixed feelings about Patty and Harold suddenly returning to the table at the moment. Both wanted to be alone with the other, to talk…and yet both almost hysterically feared what might happen if they were put together like that for too long. And so the return of their friends felt both like a severe limitation and like the greatest relief at the same time. And now they both just sat there, staring down at their empty plates, Helga sort of trembling, Arnold sort of warm, not saying a word, hoping their friends would fill the silence.
Their friends did no such thing though.
In fact several seconds passed where the only sound at the table was the occasional creak of a chair, a light exhale of breath, a soft clearing of the throat.
Helga, before Arnold of course, realized something was wrong with this situation. She could just…feel it. She glanced over at Harold and Patty and blinked. 'Whoa…' Helga was pretty much an expert scowler but she had never seen two people with darker, more distressed looks about them than Harold and Patty had right now. And both of them still had a bit of food on their plates but they weren't eating…They were just boring holes into the table between them, both looking about ready either to snap from rage or burst into tears of despair.
Something in Helga's heart was touched of course. How could she help but feel sympathy looking at two young lovers, each seeming defeated, miserable, confused…She had spent most of the last seven years of her life feeling just that way after all.
Pouting at the sight, Helga glanced back over to Arnold. She tried to get his attention just by looking at him but he was still just looking down at his plate, blushing, having that big, wide eyed, 'I'm Arnold and I wish I was a ladies man but mostly I wouldn't know the first thing to do with a girl if I got one, and so now I'm permanently extra super flustered around Helga G. Pataki who threw herself at me' look on his face.
Helga just sighed softly and rolled her eyes. 'Oh brother…' She gave him a light kick under the table, scowling a little, and whispering with a touch of a hiss, "Football Head!"
A gasp from him! "Helga, I—…" Then Arnold paused in…whatever deep thought he had been suddenly jogged into almost saying aloud. He blushed more and swallowed…and then realized she had kicked him and he winced a tiny bit as the pain finally processed, and he couldn't help scowling slightly and being about to admonish her for it…until he saw the look on her face.
Something in her gaze was very firm yet very meaningful. He looked to her eyes curiously…then her eyes gestured to the other end of the table. Arnold's eyes went over there and he blinked at the sight of Harold and Patty looking so fiercely angry (and obviously too wrapped up in whatever was making them look that way to even eat let alone tune in to whatever Arnold and Helga might be whispering under their breath about). He looked back at Helga curiously again, though now at least he was obviously aware of the situation and only seeking an explanation of it maybe if she had one.
Helga looked back at him with compassion and also a touch of desire to obviously have a talk with him. She considered for a second and then glanced at the table, then glanced away innocently and casually swiped her fork to the floor.
Arnold blinked at the action, then blinked at her. Hesitated...then reached down and picked up the fork and offered it to her, still looking so very unsure though.
Helga, almost predicting he wouldn't get it, sighed and rolled her eyes, took the fork, then blatantly dropped it on the floor and now swiped his fork to the floor too. Then she cleared her throat and whispered to him very firmly, "Oh dear, Arnold, now both of our forks are on the floor. Perhaps we should retrieve them…together?" She scowled meaningfully at him.
Arnold quirked his mouth to the side and then blinked and his eyes went wide in realization. "Ooohhh…" left his mouth as he put together that she was trying to get him to go under the table with her. He blushed furiously at, well…how that sounded…and then cleared his throat, did his best to get over it because he knew it obviously wasn't about that, and nodded. "S-Sure, Helga…Let's get them…" And then he left his chair and knelt down upon the floor.
A breath escaped Helga and she did her best not to smile and shake her head at his ridiculous and yet cute denseness. And then she ducked down along the side of the table too.
"Arnold, listen, I—" Helga looked at him but had to pause. He had a little hopeful smile on his face and he was holding out her dropped fork to her.
Helga blinked…then gave him a very dry look. "Arnold…you do know that the forks thing was a PRETENCE…right?"
Arnold blinked and then looked down at the fork in his hand and then looked back up to Helga, lowering the fork a little. "Oh, I-I know…Sorry, just…habit, I guess. I mean, someone drops something you should always offer to help them pick it up…" He sighed, still smiling though. "I know, I know, I'm a wet blanket and a goodie two shoes. Sorry, Helga…"
Helga just sighed and rolled her eyes and took the fork before he could put it back on the floor. Then she picked up his fork and shoved it into his hands. 'Yeah, now's the time for random chivalry, sure, why not….' And yet…it was so cute! Oh it was so annoying but so cute! He had picked up her fork for her! And it made Helga feel that maddening feeling that could only be a manifestation of the deep and undeniable love she felt for him. And so with a soft smile Helga left Arnold with the fork and finished calmly and serenely enough, "There, now we're even…" Then she sighed and asked with a half roll of her eyes, "Now can we talk for five seconds? And about something besides…you know… 'us'?" She made air quotes around the last word, speaking with a touch of dryness again though a little quirk or her smile still remained.
Arnold, meanwhile, couldn't help chuckling a tiny bit at Helga. She was so cute when she made jokes like that. Then of course Arnold's eyes went wide at having just thought of her as cute and he swallowed and looked down and just nodded. "Um…sure…" Arnold looked back up at her and added sincerely, "Is something wrong with Harold and Patty, Helga? Do you think we can help?"
Helga bit her lower lip and glanced down. "Yeah, about that, see…remember how before when they left and looked angry I mentioned something about women not liking double standards? Well, heh, to make a long story short, I…kind of…accidently mentioned something to Patty on our way back from the bathroom involving those pesky double standards because I didn't realize she didn't know the thing I mentioned to her, and…in a nutshell, I think I helped cause that little scowl fest up there." She jerked her thumb up towards the top of the table.
Arnold looked at her curiously. "What did you mention to Patty, Helga?" Not that Arnold meant to pry but he couldn't even imagine what could cause two good friends like Harold and Patty, despite any little problems or tiffs they had been having during this meal so far, to suddenly look that angry together.
Helga just sighed and rolled her eyes at his question, then tugged at her collar and kind of mumbled back, "Mmm…that…Harold and Rhonda kind of sort of used to unofficially be an item…Heh…" She gave a weak grin and shrugged.
She saw Arnold blink at first and then he looked like he was about to give her one of his gentle lectures—probably something about people's privacy and whatnot.
Helga just sighed and rolled her eyes though, cutting him off at the pass. "Oh don't give me that look, Arnoldo! Excuse me for letting slip a fact that I thought was common knowledge. I've been under a lot of stress lately, you know…" She glared at him a little.
Arnold just sighed and looked down, 'the look' leaving his face. Alright, now was not the time for a lecture. He looked back at Helga seriously. "I…I know…But so…" he decided to move on to the point of the situation, "…how do you think we can help Patty and Harold then, Helga?"
Helga considered carefully. Then she replied simply, "Let's try and engage them in some conversation. Uh…keep it light. General interests of theirs, the dessert menu…" Then she bit her lip and glanced away… "And…if worse comes to worse…I do have one other thing…Ugh, but I don't want it to come to that." She raised her hand not holding her fork and rubbed one of her temples.
Arnold looked at her curiously, leaning in closer. "What is it, Helga?" Despite the fact that the question might have had a million awkward answers, Arnold just…didn't care. He just wanted to know what was on her mind, what she was thinking of, that was all.
Helga, at the moment, did have a natural, instinctive compulsion to tell him that it was none of his business what it was and then to yank him up off the floor by his shirt collar and back up to the table with her. But at the same time she also…had this sort of new instinct…an instinct to confide in him. Honestly, she didn't know why she felt it—maybe her confession had opened some kind of floodgate inside of her towards him or something? But, despite how strangely he had been reacting to learning about her secret feelings for him, Helga felt like at the very least their friendship was special somehow now…and so she wanted to tell him things. It was scary…but she wanted to.
She swallowed and glanced to the side, biting her lip before beginning. "Well…l-look, I'm sworn to a degree of secrecy here so I can't let you in on all the details, Football Head, but, um…part of the reason there's been so much tension on the far side of our table tonight is that Patty's been spending a lot of extra time away from Harold lately and…Harold's getting a little suspicious about that. But…I can account for at least part of Patty's 'absence'…" She was slowly yet mercilessly pulling at a lock of her hair.
Arnold just looked at her with interest and a small smile. "Oh…you've been spending time hanging out with Patty? Well, that's great, Helga. I told you that you guys might have a lot in common. I'm happy you've been hitting it off." A curious look came to his face. "But, Helga…I don't understand. If a big part of why Patty hasn't been around is that she's been spending time with you, then why not just tell Harold that from the start?"
"I asked her not to tell anyone, alright?" Helga couldn't help but reply with a touch of attitude.
Arnold blinked, his head tilting to the side. "Well…why not?" He couldn't help but quirk his mouth into a small frown and add with a touch of disappointment, "Helga…you're not…embarrassed by spending time with Patty, are you? You know that's not very nice. How would you feel if someone—"
"What is with the inquisition and what part of 'now is not the time for a lecture' has not yet sunk in yet?!" she shot back before he could keep going. But then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath and let it out, and then she opened her eyes and spoke in a much calmer…and almost hurt…voice. "Give me a little credit, Arnold. I'm not going to have some 'secret friendship' with Patty just because some other people are idiots and really do think that she's dumb and ugly and a bunch of stupid stuff like that. And frankly you know darn well that the only reason I was ever acting like I thought of her like that too was because whenever I get defensive the first thing I do is shoot my mouth off and hope for the best, and if there's one person for me to feel defensive around it's the only girl in school who's not only tough enough to beat me to a pulp but who also is quite convinced that you and I have a 'thing' for each other. Came to that screwy conclusion all on her own, by the way, nearly gave me a freaking heart attack! So, no, Arnold, I haven't been keeping spending time with Patty under wraps because I'm embarrassed of her…" Helga swallowed, her serious, poised face reddening slightly under a blush, "I've been keeping it under wraps because I'm embarrassed of me…" She swallowed and looked down and finished with a quick mumble, "I've been tutoring her in poetry interpretation…since I write a lot of that stuff…You remember…" she finished dryly, barely glancing up at him, "… 'Filling volumes of books with poems about you…'…you nosy little Football Head?" She tried not to let the heat of her blushing consume her.
During all of that, Arnold had just been watching Helga with wide, consumed eyes. She had never spoken to him about herself so directly before, so calmly, so straightforwardly…and he felt something again. This…intimacy between them. They had a secret…Helga's love for him. And they were coming together over it. And he felt bad for assuming she had selfish motives with keeping her time with Patty a secret. And he felt shy thinking about her poetry. And he felt…a feeling he didn't want to place…as he let sink in the phrase '…we have a thing for each other.' Patty thought they had a thing for each other…Did other people think they had a thing for each other? What was it about him specifically that suggested to other possibly that he had a thing for Helga…?
"I…I'm sorry, Helga…" suddenly left Arnold in a quiet and sincere voice as he put his worries aside and focused on her for the moment. He looked into her eyes. "I shouldn't have assumed the worst about you. That was wrong. I…I know you wouldn't pretend not to be friends with someone just because you're embarrassed…" he sort of half smiled and added, "…except of course for me, but…there's been a reason why you pretend we aren't friends, after all." He shrugged…and then he reached out his hand to her. "Come on. We'll help Harold and Patty…together. And you don't have to mention the poetry right now if you're not ready. Okay?" He smiled warmly at her.
'Ugh…' Oh it was that sultry smile, the one that always made her weak in the knees…And then with all the kind things he had said, apologizing, that cute little joke...how close they were acting right now… Helga sighed softly, unable to help smiling and looking at him a little dreamily. "O-Okay, Arnold…" She took his hand, "Wh-Whatever floats your boat, Football Head." And then she even giggled. Where the heck had that come from? All she could imagine to herself in her daze was that it had been fueled by their furthering intimacy, their furthering closeness together, and if there was one thing in life that had always gotten to her it was being close with Arnold.
Arnold's thoughts were similar as he felt himself liking more and more the idea of them and a new, secret aspect of their friendship. Indeed, he actually seemed to be in a little trance of his own at the moment too. He chuckled and nodded as he clasped her hand…He had a dreamy smile, and a touch of something playful about him. "I guess we really can't ever just have a nice, normal dinner with friends, huh?" He sighed and laughed a little.
Helga laughed too and shrugged, giving him a playful smirk. "Not at this restaurant, at least. Maybe we can break the curse if we head over to Chez Pierre one of these days instead?" she joked.
"We could try…" Arnold sighed and shrugged in return.
Helga's gaze softened. Her blue eyes were half lidded. Her smile was sweet and sincere. "W-We'll see, paste for brains, we'll see…Don't know why you're such a glutton for punishment and tempting fate but maybe the fourth 'date' will be the charm." She rolled her eyes with a smile.
They were quiet and still for a moment.
And a little tug pulled them closer to one another.
An extra blush, a swallow, and a glancing away ended it though and then Helga stood and pulled Arnold up with her and the two of them resumed their seats.
Helga immediately turned her attention to Harold and Patty (ignoring the pounding fluttering of her heart at that last second of her and Arnold's moment together…and what it had felt like the start of for a second there). "So, um—" She paused. Harold and Patty were both still scowling…but some of the seething had softened now to curiosity and they were looking in her and Arnold's direction with raised eyebrows.
Helga blushed scarlet and swallowed, clearing her throat. "U-Um…s-sorry. W-We dropped our forks and they were…hard to find…Um…" he gulped, "A-Anyway, Patty…Harold…" she put on her best smile, leaning close to them, "Arnold and I have been talking and we just want to thank you so much for inviting us to this dinner. Uh…y-you know, Football Head and I haven't had very good luck with experiences at this restaurant but tonight we've actually k-kind of enjoyed ourselves a little, and especially with you two, so thanks…" she finished appreciatively.
Harold and Patty blinked a few times and a little more softening happened to their features.
"Mm…you're welcome, Helga…" Harold mumbled out.
Patty nodded. "Yeah, you're welcome…And thanks for coming, Helga. I'm glad you're having a good time." A touch of something angry came back into Patty's features and she ground her fork into the plate before her. Doing so reminded her of something and she looked back to Arnold and Helga. "Oh, and that head waiter swung by for a sec when you guys were on the floor, by the way…He said Torvald'll be coming back and clear our plates so we can order dessert…right after he brings Rhonda's table another bottle of Pyrenees spring water."
"Gr…" Harold grumbled. He rolled his eyes and then started stabbing at the plate in front of him with his own fork. "Yeah, Torvald saves the day again…"
Patty shot him a look.
Helga watched them, unable to help a touch of concern coming to her features once more. She knew the two of them really needed to cool it with the digs at each other otherwise the problem was going to escalate and get way out of control. 'Not that I'm anyone to talk considering my usual relationship with Arnold but still, those two are NORMAL people, they need to quit messing around and deal with the problem and make up like normal people!'
Then all of Helga's thoughts on the matter shut down for a second and she felt a touch of euphoria come over her as Arnold suddenly put his hand over hers on the table and said some…truly wonderful things.
"We really have had a good time, Harold, Patty. But it's not just the nice dinner. I think that Helga and I can…finally really be friends now and okay with each other…and it's all because of you two."
These words, softly spoken by a smiling Arnold, at the very least intrigued Patty and Harold. The two of them glanced back over to their ten-year-old counterparts, only to see Arnold smiling at them and Helga glancing at Arnold looking just as intrigued as they were.
Arnold smiled a little more and explained in response to their gazes. "Helga and I have been fighting…a lot more than usual lately. But, well…you two have always been kind of confrontational, but when you're together you're nice and smile and enjoy each other's company and Helga and I have decided to take it as an example. We want to be friends too…V-Very good friends. And this dinner helped us see that we can be if we try. Right, Helga?" And now suddenly his sights were on her and he squeezed her hand.
Helga looked so confused and her eyes were so wide. "I…I-I…" Her eyes came to look up at his, "I…" she seemed confused…and then her features glowed and softened, as though realizing something, "I…you and I…could be friends…and very good friends…" She said it as though waiting for it to be confirmed. 'Th-That would be more than two thirds of the way there, r-right? There's 'I don't like, Helga' and then there's 'I like Helga sometimes' and then there's 'I really like Helga' and then…Y-Yeah that's three-quarters of the way actually…Oh….' Her heart was practically palpitating.
Arnold just nodded to her, still smiling warmly. "Of course, Helga. We don't always have to fight just because…w-we have some personal issues. Even if sometimes we confuse each other a little, it doesn't mean that you hate me or that I hate you. We can be very good friends, Helga." He squeezed her hand again and this time raised both of theirs up. And then he…he swallowed…and he added…softly… "I told you…I like you, Helga…and I-I'd like to know…do you… like me too?" 'Even after running away from you during Valentine's Day and leaving you after your confession…even after avoiding you and then almost embarrassing you in front of everyone lately…are we still okay, Helga…are we still okay?'
'O-Oh…' Oh dear…oh no…he had just…recreated…that night…Valentine's night…that moment…when she had asked and…he hadn't answered because he'd gone off to be with stupid Ruth and…Oh dear, she felt just as flustered as when she had walked into the restaurant tonight and he had recognized her as Cecile, maybe even worse! Oh and why did he have to be doing it in front of other people, even if it was Harold and Patty, and even if it was to help take their minds off of their own fighting….Why... "I…like you, Arnold…You know…I've always liked you…ever since I first laid eyes on that stupid football head of yours…" Oh her cheeks burned with blushing and her heart fluttered like mad…But faced with his re-creation how could she help but have one of her own in reply…? And now she just looked down and tried not to tremble and hoped that she hadn't humiliated herself.
From across the table, Patty and Harold watched closely. And all anger was gone from their faces. Indeed, their attentions were rapt, eyes wide in wonder as they watched a softly smiling Arnold hold a blushing Helga G. Pataki's hand and remind her he liked her…and had her admit in reply that she liked him too.
Patty felt any hardness in her heart soften and any despair about love find new hope.
Harold felt like…he was understanding, though at the same time that it was something that shouldn't be understandable. His mind couldn't wrap around specifics just yet though. In short, he was confused so far but growing more curious and understanding more little by little as time passed during this meal.
Patty and Harold's attentions were so drawn to Arnold and Helga that the two of them barely noticed it when…
"Hey…guys? Harold, Patty…you who? Just wanted to clear your plates before I bring dessert." Torvald quickly went around, gathering up the empty entrée plates. He noticed Arnold and Helga as he did so and smiled at them. And Harold and Patty just kept looking at Arnold and Helga too.
As Torvald had left, Helga (who had barely even registered his presence) was starting to feel quite overwhelmed. It was just…she cherished any happy time with Arnold, would feed off of any hope…but this was getting to be too much, this here, this moment and so many other little moments this night. It felt like a dream…and she was one meal course away from waking up from it. She knew she had to reel it in, had to let it go, had to prepare for the lonely, long walk back to her house tonight. No teasing herself with Arnold. Yes, all of this was too much and it had gotten to the point where she just knew that something inside of her must be weakening and imagining his new kindness and friendliness into an illusion of romance…The poor, dense little thing didn't really like her like that at all. Of course, his starved little heart was just so happy to actually have a girl like him for once that it was responding to her feelings involuntarily. Not to mention Arnold probably felt so bad for her…loving him and being so awkward. Of course his do-gooder little heart would take pity on her. And she was sure, just like how he hadn't even realized that his attempts to 'talk to her' lately were risky and scary for her, that he must not realize that what he was doing now wasn't just being nice but it would have the consequence of giving her a false hope, of leading her on in her desperation. If he gave her an inch her heart would imagine a mile, and right now he was giving her a mile which made her imagine many miles…and she didn't want to imagine miles…and then have the door of reality slammed in her face again.
And so Helga did the only thing she could think of to do to fix this problem and get herself out of this mess. Forget the small talk plan for fixing Harold and Patty—it wasn't working and she didn't want to go with Arnold's obvious plan of distracting their friends by bringing attention to themselves. And so Helga decided it was time for the third option of making things better, however awkward it might be. She bit her lip, looked away from Arnold and downward…and then sighed and looked up again and addressed Harold.
Helga really usually didn't speak to anyone in her calm, normal, natural voice very often (which, at the back of her mind she realized, was probably a big part of why Arnold hadn't recognized her as Cecile last Valentine's Day no matter how much they had talked and how much her French accent had slipped). But she let herself speak to Harold in that voice now. She just didn't have the energy or the will to fake anything more at the moment as she felt her heart was breaking away. "Harold…listen. Um…I…" she chose the way to phrase it carefully, "I've been meaning to thank you for something, and as long as we're all here and we have some time, and especially since you and Patty seem a little upset, I'd like to do it now. I know you and Patty have been good friends for a while now but…lately Patty and I have also started becoming kind of good friends. But I feel like for the last few weeks I've been taking up a large part of her time and being a little secretive about it, and also asking her to be a little secretive about it too…and I'm sorry if it's affected your friendship at all. I didn't mean to exclude you or to put Patty in an awkward position. It's just…I was helping Patty with something for school, something that I sort of have a talent for, but I was embarrassed about it so I wanted it kept under wraps. You know me—defensive to a fault. But, we're all friends here and you should know the truth." She let out a breath. She was as frank as could be. She even smiled softly as she finally admitted, "I like to write poetry, Harold. Most of it I find…questionable at best." She blushed a little bit, almost wanting to give Arnold a look. Not that she had meant that as a dig at him but she figured it wouldn't hurt to take him down a peg about all of this and make him realize that he wasn't exactly compelling book-length epic poems from her ten-year-old fingertips on a regular basis. On top of which, she couldn't help but find some of her work (especially from her younger days) a touch sappy at times…though sweet and heartfelt and true at its core of course. Anyway, Helga went on. "But Simmons likes my work, and Patty needed some help in poetry interpretation for her class, so I promised her I'd do it if she promised not to tell anyone that I was doing it. And now here we are. And I'm sorry again if me taking up so much of her time has been hard on your friendship."
Helga knew that she had just told the only other kid who teased other kids as much as she did that she, Helga G. Pataki, the iron fisted Queen of the fourth grade, wrote and taught poetry. She also knew that she didn't care anymore quite frankly. If she could survive Arnold recognizing her as Cecile, anything Harold had to dish out about her 'girly extracurriculars' she could take and then some.
Harold was just watching her, looking very curious, like he was taking everything in and gently letting his mind absorb and understand it.
His first words weren't addressed to Helga though, but rather to Patty.
He turned to look at the girl across from him. "Patty…is that true? Some of the time lately…you've been spending with Helga working on, um…poetry stuff?"
Patty, rather surprised indeed at everything Helga had just admitted, just looked at Harold, looked at Helga, felt incredibly grateful to her, then looked at Harold again. She nodded. "Yeah. I…I got a B+ on the paper she helped me write…and that was enough to help me get an A- overall in English…"
Harold's eyes lit up a little. He smiled. "You got an A-. You're so smart, Patty." He always smiled and said that whenever he would find out that she had gotten a good grade. And he would sigh a little, his eyes would go half lidded…much like they were doing now.
And Patty would blush and sort of smile much like she was doing now too. "thank you, Harold…"
Helga smiled almost dreamily at the sight of them sort of reconciling, of them even looking as perfectly happy with their special relationship as ever, even if it was only for right now and even if later things might get a little tense again when they talked out whatever they needed to talk out. But at least for the moment they had been started upon the road to being okay again and Helga was just happy that at least one romance was looking like it might be okay after the zaniness of this meal.
"Hey guys, I'm back for your dessert order! Sorry for the delay!" A smiling Torvald suddenly appeared again now, order pad in hand, looking to each of the happy couples. "And, hey, whatever you get, I'll try to get you guys some extra large portions." He winked good naturedly at his friends.
Harold and Patty were quite understandably feeling a little awkward (not really angry again but just awkward) at the moment now that their 'friend' had returned, and so they both just kind of half glanced at the dessert menu and shrugged and mumbled.
"Uh…I-I'm not sure. Anything's okay…"
"Yeah, what, uh…what she said…"
Torvald observed Harold and Patty with interest for a moment, and then he looked to the other couple. "Arnold, Helga? Any preferences?"
Torvald was met with Helga just sighing and making what looked like a great effort at picking up the little dessert menu to read the darn thing. Arnold however smiled and replied, not even looking at the menu. "I'll have whatever Helga's having."
And now Torvald continued to watch with interest and amusement (and maybe a touch of something sentimental) as Helga's reaction to this preference of her dinner companion was to blush scarlet and drop her jaw. Then she just sighed dramatically and tossed her head back over the back of her chair. And though it might have been hard to tell at first, it became obvious quickly that she was desperately trying to hold back a smile and maybe even a laugh. "Torvald, whatever's quickest to make would be just swell for all of us, I think." She looked to Torvald and even smiled a little.
Torvald smiled back, chuckling. Arnold and Helga…really were kind of funny together actually. He liked it. He wrote something down on the order pad. "Okay, you've got it, Helga. I'll be back soon guys. Just got to head to Rhonda's table first to get her dessert order too." He gave a little wave to everyone and quickly departed in the direction of their friend's table.
"Hey Rhonda, how's it going? Hope your family's enjoying everything—it's really important to my boss." A smiling Torvald had lowered his voice to a whisper, winking at Rhonda as he finished writing down the last specifics of her family's dessert order.
Oh temptation…sweet, sweet temptation…Torvald, trusting, open, eager to please Torvald right in her lap and…Rhonda had to pretend like she didn't want to charmingly pounce all over him and pull every detail she could out of him about him and Patty and Harold (and certainly she could glean a tidbit or two about Arnold and Helga from him while she was at it)!
Oooo Arnold and Helga…so much juicier even than the Harold/Patty/Torvald thing…and that was saying something.
Rhonda was drooling.
Yet she resisted…
"Th-Thank you, Torvald…Yes, w-we're having a grand time…" She stammered it out, biting her tongue. Oh it was hard, it was so hard…but, no, she had promised Patty. And she wasn't even holding back just now for fear of getting beat up or something. Patty was her friend and she had to respect her friend. Yes, it was the right thing to do to respect her friend and to leave Patty and Harold and Torvald…and even Arnold and Helga…alone…
"Awesome, glad to hear it, Rhonda." Torvald smiled, picking up a few used plates to take away.
Rhonda did her best to smile back at him, though it was weak…and then her eyes traveled behind him and went wide. She could see Arnold and Helga sitting right next to Harold and Patty on the opposite side of the table, and the two young blondes were smiling at each other, and…o-m-g, Arnold was holding her hand and she—
"Rhonda, can I ask you a question if you've got a sec? Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt your meal but…you're the only one I can talk to I think."
Torvald had just moved to the right, entirely blocking Rhonda's field of vision of Arnold and Helga.
'Darn it!' Rhonda couldn't help but scowl and nearly want to groan at the loss of the visual…Still, she did her best with it. "Um, yes, Torvald, wh-what is it?" She looked to him, calling upon all of her patience and restraint.
Torvald sighed, a sincerely concerned and curious look coming to his face. "Well…I know I can be a little inconsiderate sometimes…and I'm working on getting better about that but…well, I just can't figure out this one. Why is Harold angry at me, Rhonda? What did I do to him?" Torvald leaned against the edge of the table. After all, he might have been a little behind the other kids in class sometimes but he wasn't stupid nor blind. He had noticed the little scowls from Harold directed at him, the grumbling under his breath (which usually included Torvald's name at some point), the way Patty had actually had to kick Harold under the table at one point for making some crack that Torvald had done his best not to pay attention to (he refused to lose his temper and risk his job over something as silly as another kid giving him attitude—he liked the changes he had made in his life and wanted to keep things that way, and besides, Arnold had helped teach him that talking was a way better way of solving things than punching)…Anyway, the point was, Torvald knew he wasn't particularly liked tonight by Harold…but for Pete's sake he could not figure out why? What in the world had he done? He knew Harold, and though the kid had a temper and could be kind of confrontational he never got that way without some kind of provocation…so what had it been?
And so Torvald, seeking answers, had chosen to come to the one place he was sure to get them from. The school gossip: Miss Rhonda Wellington Lloyd. Not to mention, Rhonda was one of Patty's best friends so maybe Patty had mentioned something about Harold to her that she could share. And also Torvald was fairly certain that Rhonda and Harold had been close once. He didn't really know any details and knew they weren't that close now, but he did have a distinct memory of chanting with a bunch of people 'Harold and Rhonda Sitting in a Tree' a couple cheese festivals ago when she had pulled him in to the Tunnel of Love Ride by force. ( 'Aw, that night was so classic…' Torvald couldn't help but think to himself with a little grin.)
"Mm…mmmm…" Rhonda bit her lip, her gossip tongue writhing in her mouth, dying, dying, dying to scream out, 'HAROLD IS PRACTICALLY IN LOVE WITH PATTY AND HE THINKS YOU'VE BEEN WOOING THE HECK OUT OF HER AND HE'S ABOUT READY TO PUNCH YOUR LIGHTS OUT AND WHAT EXACTLY HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SNEAKING OFF WITH MY FRIEND FOR SECRET tête-à-têtes FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS ANYWAY? AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PASSIONATE, SECRET, SUDDEN AFFAIR BETWEEN ARNOLD AND HELGA BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT MUST BE A SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE!'
Ugh, if there was one thing that could leave a bad taste in your mouth after a delicious five star meal it was having clam up!
But Rhonda gulped, took it in stride, and respected Patty's wishes as best she could.. "Um…y-you know, I…I-I think, T-Torvald, that, um…m-maybe y-you should just t-talk to Patty about it…later. Trust me, you didn't do anything…really…" Rhonda picked up her glass of sparkling spring water—she needed a gulp. Her hand shook the whole time she was drinking it and made the glass rattle and spill a few drops of water as she put it down. 'Ugh…this goes against everything in my nature…'
"Oh…" was all Torvald merely replied with a shrug and a smile at this explanation, straightening up again and taking another used plate in hand from the table. "Alright. I'm just glad I didn't do anything wrong. Thanks, Rhonda." He sighed and nodded. "And yeah, that's probably a good idea actually. I'll talk to Patty when everything's done. She seems a little stressed out anyway…" Torvald happened to glance back at the table across the restaurant and noticed that though Harold and Patty didn't seem angry with one another at the moment, they did seem quite listless and weren't really talking at all again. He hoped he hadn't made anything worse when he had gone over there just now for the dessert order.
"Y-Yeah, um…she's just…tired…m-maybe?" Rhonda managed to mumble with a forced half smile…while inside of her head she screamed, 'SHE'S TRYING TO JUGGLE TWO MEN AT ONCE AND MAY VERY WELL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TORRID LOVE TRIANGLE! ARE YOU BLIND? GO TO HER! HAVE IT OUT WITH HAROLD RIGHT IN THE OPEN! GO OUT TO THE ALLEY AND DO A FIST FIGHT AT TWENTY PACES! OH IT'S TOO JUICY TO BELIEVE! AND FIND OUT HOW LONG HELGA'S HAD THE HOTS FOR ARNOLD WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!'
As Rhonda's internal meltdown continued, meanwhile, Torvald just sighed and did his best to smile and remain optimistic though. "Hmm…but maybe some more time around Arnold and Helga will help them feel better. I don't know about you, Rhonda, but those two always make me crack a smile." He turned to look back at Rhonda and pointed over his shoulder with his thumb back at Arnold and Helga. "They're sweet, aren't they…Like…Like brother and sister or best friends or…or something, you know?" He shrugged innocently.
"Ah…" It squeaked out of her. Oh that…just…and…oh…. "Yes, they're sweet," she got out stiffly upon which she collapsed onto her arms on the table.
Torvald blinked, looking at her in concern. "Rhonda? You okay?"
Rhonda just sighed and sat up, looking a little defeated but surviving nonetheless. "Yes. But bring me two chocolate mousses for dessert instead of one, okay, Torvald? I need it."
Torvald looked at her with a curious smile for a moment but then just shrugged and nodded and jotted something down on his notepad. "You got it, Rhonda. Two desserts it is." He winked at her.
"Hey Torvald?" one of the other busboys suddenly piped up, tapping him on the shoulder.
Torvald turned around to his coworker. "Yeah, Tony?"
The kid pointed in the direction of the front doors with the thumb of his hand that wasn't currently involved in carrying a tray of used glasses back to the kitchen. "Someone girl's up front waiting for you. I told her you weren't off for half an hour but she said she wanted to surprise you and say hi."
Torvald perked up, having an idea of who that might be. "Oh thanks! I'll be right there!" Tony left and then Torvald turned back to Rhonda, his face a big, bright grin now. "See you in a bit with dessert, Rhonda! And thanks again for the talk." And with that he popped over to the kitchen to hand in the dessert orders for Rhonda's table and for Patty and Helga's table before he went up front to deal with his guest.
"Mmm…you're welcome…" Rhonda managed in a quiet grumble. Then she let out a sigh and just slumped down in her seat, feeling relief now that she was out of close proximity of Torvald…and whoever Torvald was going up front to see…What if it was another side in this love triangle? Oh the temptation, the sweet temptation… 'B-But no, I-I can resist…I really…really can…yes…'
But still she couldn't help the sickening feeling that unless this meal ended soon she was going to burst and scream at Torvald and anyone else who would listen all of those things she had screamed at him in her head and more…
Meanwhile, back at the table with our two favorite couples…
As Torvald left following the dessert order, Helga sighed once more and looked up. Her gaze went to Arnold and took her hand from his to cross her arms over her chest finally and smirked a little, still amused by that 'I'll have whatever she's having' little quip of his just now. "Are you ever going to stop sucking up, Football Head?" she asked. Her tone was devoid of sarcasm though—it sounded amused actually. She may have been feeling on an emotional rollercoaster at the moment but she always gave comedy credit where credit was due.
At the question and her action, Arnold brought his hands back in front of himself on the table and just shrugged, grinning away. "What? You did such a good job ordering my steak…and not ordering yourself brains…I figured I couldn't pick a better dessert than what you'd pick." A little chuckle escaped him, though he did his best to suppress it..
Helga just sighed and rolled her eyes. Back to the Cecile jokes, huh? She was torn between amusement and annoyance and that despair from before. And, before she could think better of it, that fear inside of her of all of this closeness between them ending as soon as the check was paid made her reply quietly, taking up the dessert menu just for the sake of having something in her hand, "Well…you'd have probably found out what dessert I would have picked last time…if you'd stuck around 'til the end of the meal…"
She was unsure about the slightly cool comment and yet…in all fairness, however charming and magical and memorable their first 'date' at this place had been…Arnold had indeed ditched her after the entrée for Ruth P. McDougal…And even if the two of them were now sort of trying to get along and were sort of doing really well at it and could sort of maybe be friends, no young lady ever forgets something like being ditched on her first date. Besides, she had been looking for something to douse all of his lovey-dovey-ness a little and so why not a very unfair thing he had once done to her (regardless of not knowing it had been her he was doing it to at the time).
At such 'harsh' words from Helga Arnold blinked and frowned. 'But I thought we were past…' Hadn't things just been going so well? Hadn't they been getting okay and hadn't she said she liked him too and hadn't they been talking about being friends? Arnold sighed to himself and closed his eyes. 'Women are complicated, women are complicated…Be patient…' Yes, he just had to have patience. He was getting her to open up little by little, he just had to stay the course, not let her get under his skin, not let her bug him…
"Not that you got any 'dessert' from Ruth though of course…" It left Helga in the lightest mumble so that only Arnold would hear. She really just hadn't been able to help herself.
And of course Arnold did indeed hear her. And then he blinked. And then he blushed. And then he decided that patience could wait for a minute and he played with a stray spoon on the table and mumbled right back to her, "At least 'Ruth' was her real name…"
Helga's eyes went a little wide and then she scowled at being answered back. She put down the dessert menu and mumbled back, "Real name, huh? Now the only question is if that air-brained ditz could spell it without getting distracted by a barrette or something shiny…"
Arnold's cheeks turned dark red and he clenched his jaw a little, squeezing the spoon in his hand. "She is a perfectly nice person, Helga…who doesn't eat brains."
"Um…Arnold?...Helga?"
Helga scoffed at Arnold, her mumble starting to sound more like an audible grumble and she was scowling again. "I ate the brains for you, Arnold. Not to mention going through the French and the outfit and the hair and the shoes…."
"Uh…you guys?"
Arnold sighed, letting the spoon go and starting to drum his fingers on the table as he mumbled/grumbled (and quite audibly) too. "…Ruth had to go through a lot too, Helga…You know, just like I had to go through a lot of dirty dishes the second time you got us both here together."
"Guys! Seriously…"
"Pfft, please…First of all, oh boo hoo, you had to wash a few dishes—you still got a fabulous five star meal out of the night. Plus that water fight you won't shut up about. And second, trust me, Football Head, the only thing Ruth 'went through' that night was a box of two ply tissues half an hour before dinner when she was stuffing her—"
"Okay! Arnold! Helga! I know you two are having a 'moment' but, um…people are starting to hear and notice…Helga. Maybe you…want to wait until after dessert…?" By now a concerned Patty (and Harold was looking equally concerned…and very confused, by the way) had not only raised her voice to interrupt Helga but had gently grabbed her arm. She had been trying to interrupt the two of them for the last several back-and-forth barbs, having started to get a little concerned that this sudden bickering between Arnold and Helga might lead to some kind of physical altercation like back at school during the past week…but she was more concerned that the two of them getting so worked up and so absorbed in each other might lead to, well…she had only ever seen it in movies, but the way they were 'fighting' might lead to…a kiss…or kissing… The notion made Patty blush but she did her best to just put aside such thoughts and feelings and to focus on bringing Helga and Arnold back to reality.
"Huh?!" Helga gasped, almost sounding surprised that someone else was here. Then she blinked a few times and glanced around and suddenly really seemed to gain a new awareness of being here at a table with other people in a public place. She swallowed and looked down, removing her arm from Patty's grasp and just twiddling her thumbs on the tabletop. "U-Um…o-okay…wh-whatever…" she mumbled, sounding a little mortified. Then she sighed and crossed her arms over her chest and looked off to the side. "Crimeny, can't dessert come already…" She grumbled to herself nervously.
Across from her Arnold just sighed, frustrated with her for her attitude and stubbornness but also frustrated with himself for suddenly participating freely in an open back and forth with her again. Yet it…ugh, it was so hard NOT to fight with her! He had never liked fighting but fighting with her felt so right sometimes, and he was always supposed to do the right thing, right? Follow his instincts and stuff…But why did his instincts always lead him to some sort of heated confrontation with Helga G. Pataki? What was so special about Helga G. Pata…ki… Arnold's eyes had gone to her in the middle of these thoughts. She was looking down, pouting, a little scowl in her eyes…her blue eyes…face tinged with a blustery pink…and her long blonde hair seemed nicer than ever tonight. He was still so frustrated with her…but he liked her just the same. And how was that even possible… '…being bugged by someone but…liking them…' His thoughts tried to progress and mostly he just avoided them and looked down and blushed a little too to go right along with her.
"Arnold…um…" Harold Berman suddenly spoke up. He was scratching his head like he was trying to figure out if he was phrasing something right, "…can we go talk for a second…like by the bathrooms I guess?"
Arnold blinked, not having expected to be addressed and certainly not asked aside. Come to think of it though he was the only person at this table who hadn't been pulled across this restaurant for a private conversation with someone at least once this evening so perhaps he was due. He just shrugged. "Sure." And then he sighed and stood up and Harold stood up and both of them headed across the restaurant.
They had been gone for about two seconds. Then Patty turned to Helga. "You and Arnold take the love/hate thing pretty seriously, don't you, Helga?" she asked in a tone actually quite devoid of sarcasm and more slightly impressed and amused sounding than anything else.
Helga just sighed and slumped down in her chair. "Oh…shut up, Patty…" she couldn't help but grumble listlessly. "He does not love me back, he's just a little do-gooder jerk who think it's neat that he's finally got proof that 'big, mean' Helga G. Pataki has a huge secret soft spot." She huffed and then looked to Patty, scowling. "Besides, I hate when he tries to get all 'close' and 'cute' with me sometimes. You know what, fine, I lied to him about being his stupid pen pal the first time we came here, but he was on a date with another woman at the SAME TIME AS ME! And did he ever apologize for that? No! All he did was shuffle his feet and pretend nothing had happened. Jerk. Grr…" Helga huffed once more and threw her napkin down onto the table cloth. She was still scowling, which was typical of Helga G. Pataki of course…but she was also biting her lower lip, looking a little rosy in the face…and her blue eyes shone a little.
Patty observed her carefully and considered before softly and sincerely speaking to her. "Are you sure that's really what's bothering you, Helga?"
Helga's features remained the same. And though she knew she must look a little…vulnerable…right now and that someone—Torvald, Rhonda, who knew, maybe the rest of the fourth grade would conveniently pop by right about now—might see…she didn't care. She didn't look Patty in the eye and responded very softly. "He doesn't act nice to me anymore because he wants to…he just does it to tease me…"
Patty blinked, not having expected this reply at all. "Helga…" she shook her head. She knew Arnold better than that…and she knew the blond girl sitting diagonally from her knew him better than that too. "That's not true…"
"Yes it is!" Helga couldn't help but announce dramatically (though quietly), glaring at Patty (though her eyes shone even more). "It's not genuine anymore. Trust me, he just acts nice now because he thinks he's supposed to because of how I feel about him or to make himself feel better about things. And it almost makes me think that…that…" she trembled and swallowed and went on, not wanting to say it lest she break into hysterics or something, "But he doesn't and it's upsetting for me, alright?" She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest and slumped more. She looked down, her scowl turning into a frown, and a listless glance. "I'm sorry, Patty. I'm sure that you wanted to help Arnold and me by inviting us here…and I appreciate it but…it's over now…We found out that we can be civil to each other and even very nice to each other but when the day is done we need to be apart from each other so that neither one of us gets hurt." She swallowed and then did her best to muster a smile, looking in Patty's direction. "A-Anyway, um…i-it looks like you and Harold are doing better though…I'm glad." The comment was very sincere and heartfelt.
Patty managed a smile back and a thank you. She understood—Helga wanted to drop the subject now. "Thanks, Helga…Yeah, I…think we're okay for now…We should probably talk later and I'm gonna take your advice about giving him some more attention now that I have more free time. We'll be alright. And thanks, Helga, for telling him about the poetry tutoring to help me out." Patty smiled very gratefully at her. "I appreciate it." She gave Helga a playful nudge in the shoulder.
"Ow!" Helga winced, rubbing her arm. Even Patty's 'playful' punches packed quite a bit of heat. She smiled though, knowing Patty had really only meant it in a friendly way (and also trying to keep up the image of her own toughness). "Oh, uh…sure, no problem, Patty." She shrugged, smiling more. "After all, this night's been a disaster for me, I figured another drop in the bucket wouldn't hurt and especially if it would help you and Harold out."
Patty smiled more and rolled her eyes. "Helga, come on, it hasn't been that bad of a dinner. And it's almost over anyway. Do you really regret coming?"
Helga looked down and thought about that, the little smile still on her face. "Well…no…not entirely." She looked at Patty, speaking dryly but with a touch of humor as she added, "But no more surprise set-ups between me and the Football Head, alright?"
Patty nodded and shrugged. "Alright, if you say so, Helga…" 'He definitely likes her back. Or 'loves' her or whatever. They won't be needing me to set them up. They'll be going out all on their own soon enough.' She smirked to herself a little at the idea, but then mentally added with a sigh, 'I wonder if I'll be able to say the same for me and Harold ever…' Rather than lingering on the blush-worthy question though, Patty accepted once again that she would need to wait until later and a private conversation with Harold to sort out their relationship. Then she looked to Helga and added, just wanting to make sure the offer was out there, "And Helga…you know…if you ever really want to talk about this Arnold stuff…I'm always here for you. I won't tell anyone ever. I know it's important to you."
Helga's smile wobbled a bit but managed to remain firm. "Thanks, Patty…" she replied softly, looking to the older girl. She shrugged and finished, "Maybe…"
Though the answer was ambiguous, Patty could tell it was sincere, and that fact made her smile more and made her feel a lot better about her friend.
"Hey guys! Just, uh…just wanted to bring you some fresh napkins and, um…Oh…where are the guys?" Torvald said these words as he now appeared by their table once again, fresh napkins indeed in hand. And Patty and Helga had to blink in surprise at him. His words were…now suddenly strangely lilting and full of sighs, his eyes were half lidded, and a distinctive little grin was picking up on the side of his face.
Helga ad Patty both knew that look.
"Um…Harold and Arnold went…to talk over by the bathrooms, I think…" Patty replied distractedly, still looking at him curiously.
"Oh…" A small chuckle left Torvald as he picked up the dirty napkins to replace them. "That's kind of silly. Who goes and leaves a pretty girl all alone at a table on a date to talk? Don't worry, I'll go get them." He winked at both girls, his gaze mostly focused on Patty though. "Oh and by the way Patty, thanks so much again for uh…you know…" he wasn't specific, considering Helga's presence, though she and Patty both knew what he was referring to (at least in a general sense in the case of Helga), "…It's really gonna make a difference for me." He smiled more, still looking goofy as ever. Then he gave both girls a little wave. "Well, bye for now! I'll have your dessert soon, guaranteed!" And then he dashed off.
"Whoa…who the heck is he in love with?" Helga couldn't help but ask aloud the second he was gone, her eyes wide as she watched him go.
Patty blushed…and swallowed. "Helga…you…you don't really think that…that it's me…do you?" she asked, almost shakily.
Helga blinked and then looked to her friend and she could see right away how nervous the question made Patty. She replied as reassuringly as she could. "I think that you need to talk to him sometime soon, like I said, and figure out where you guys stand. But for now don't worry about it, Patty. Just focus on being okay with Harold." She smiled comfortingly.
Patty sighed and glanced at Helga. She tried to smile too though it was shaky at first. "Helga…were Harold and Rhonda really…not a big deal? The truth, please…" Patty at least had to ask this question from a third, neutral party while she had the chance, she just had to.
Helga's look became serious and she replied to her friend in a similar serious tone, "Absolutely. It was just a silly crush…and it was mostly on her part. He kind of put up with it but that's all. And…he never acted around her the way he acts around you, Patty. Like you're special and really important to him…Truly."
Patty had looked right into Helga's eyes the whole time she had spoken. And she smiled at her now. "Okay. Thanks, Helga…"
"Don't mention it, Patty…" Helga replied, smiling back. Then she sighed, suddenly seeming like her casual fun self again. "Come on, let's both buck up, wait patiently for Laurel and Hardy over there to come back, stuff our faces with dessert and then go home and take hot baths and pretend like our lives aren't full of ridiculous amounts of male-based drama."
Patty chuckled and nodded. "Sounds good to me, Helga."
And so the girls waited patiently for the boys to return so that they could get on with their evening already.
Meanwhile, with 'Laurel and Hardy'…
"Arnold…don't take this the wrong way but…what the heck did you do to Helga exactly?" a very confused and very, very curious Harold Berman had had to ask his smaller friend as the two of them had found themselves in the bathroom alcove.
At the rather unexpected question, Arnold, already quite frazzled from a few things tonight, blinked and looked almost helpless for a moment, like a man accused of a crime right out of the blue. "Wh-What? I…" Arnold unconsciously backed up against the wall behind him. "But I haven't been doing anything to her!" The reply was more desperate than annoyed…and referred to a larger space of time than just dinner here tonight of course. "I just…she just…" a frustrated pout came to his features and he looked down, recalling those last little digs of hers before all else in his mind…and then he finished, using words not dissimilar to words he had used before in regards to Helga at this very restaurant, "…She just bugs me, okay? And I guess I bug her and…we bug each other. So what?" And then with a little sigh Arnold crossed his arms over his chest and glanced away…face quite rosy.
Harold blinked but then went right back to scowling in perplexity. "So what? So what happened to an hour ago when you two decided to be new friends or whatever and you were telling Helga she looked nice and she was smiling and you were smiling too? I mean…" Harold paused, really considering how best to put what was bothering him before continuing slowly, "…I get why you guys were upset when you first got here—Helga's been ready to pound you all week and then you both realized Patty tricked you into coming here. Okay. And then we're eating for a little bit and I guess you two got used to each other cuz then you two decide to be nice and not fight and to be friends. Okay, that makes sense too. But then you two started acting really, really nice to each other but then now Helga's saying mean stuff to you that I don't even get and you keep saying other mean stuff back to her that I don't even get, and, well…I don't get it! What happened during the last twenty minutes to make you guys hate each other again?" he finally asked to finish things up, sincerely looking to Arnold for an explanation.
Arnold just sighed, still looking away, still blushing and blushing. He barely knew what to say. "N-Nothing happened! We just…it's this private thing that…and she's just very complicated…and I guess I just bug her too." He shrugged, knowing it was a lame explanation and feeling even more frustrated for how lame it had been. 'Helga could have come up with a much better one…Helga always knows the right way to say things…' The observation uncontrollably popped into his mind and he pouted even more at the continuation of the constant urge he had always found himself having over the course of his young life to find something good in Helga G. Pataki.
"Well, duh, Arnold…"
This reply brought Arnold out of his stubborn thoughts and made him blink and look to Harold.
Harold was just finishing up rolling his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest. He went on, looking at his friend. "Of course you bug Helga, Arnold. Why do you think she's always picking on you the most? I don't know what you do to her exactly but whatever it is you sure must be good at it."
Arnold turned absolutely fiery red and looked down, arms coming to his sides in shyness. Good at…what he did…to Helga…He tried not to think about that idea. "Um…H-Harold?" he sort of squeaked out, doing his best to sound normal, "…Do you have a point?"
Harold scratched his head at the question and then shrugged. "Well, yeah! So you make her feel bugged…but since when does she make you feel bugged too? She almost never bugs you Arnold even though she bugs the heck out of the rest of us all the time—you always act like no matter what it is she does to you it just doesn't bother you that much. But she's definitely been getting to you and bugging you lately at school and now tonight, and it's because she's been picking on you a lot extra so…what did you do to her, Arnold? How'd you bug her enough to make her start making you feel bugged all the time now? The whole thing's starting to get confusing!"
Harold Berman, as a guy, may have been a little self-centered at times…a bit immature as well…arguably gullible…and even a little slow witted…But it had to be remembered that despite all of those tendencies and traits he was still a good, sensitive kid, and also a thirteen-year-old kid who all but had a steady girlfriend at this point. The point was that despite any shortcomings Harold was at a point in his life where at the very least he could finally have the occasional insight about women (at least when the woman in question wasn't his woman). And he'd certainly come up with a crackerjack insight right here and now.
Arnold's embarrassed and startled young mind did its best to wrap itself around all of Harold's very good and valid points.
He swallowed, unable to help one more last ditch effort to get out of his. "H-Harold," Arnold made an attempt at a smile, "I-I'm not sure what you're talking about…I…um…"He could feel the heat in his face building and building and he looked to Harold nervously, knowing it was useless.
And indeed Harold just gave him a dry look. "Arnold…you guys were talking about eating brains. Even I know that something is going on…"
Arnold sighed. Yeah, pretty much no way to explain talking about eating brains without telling the truth. He bit his lip, glanced away and considered. "Harold…" he looked to his friend's eyes again, this time sincerely, "Um…I'm sorry if…if Helga and I have been making dinner uncomfortable for you and Patty at all. The problem is just that I…we, um…I…I did do something to Helga…" The words left his mouth before he could think about them, quietly and seriously, and the sound of them made him pause for just a moment as he realized that…they were arguably true. He had done something to Helga...sort of… "Actually, it's more like I…didn't do something to Helga…for Helga…that I was supposed to do. Twice, now that I think about it…" And it really was true: she had confessed love to him a couple of weeks ago and he had never said anything back to her about it…and it mirrored so well how last Valentine's Day she (as Cecile, but still it was her) had confessed to really liking him and he had never said anything back to her about that either…even though now tonight he had at least admitted to himself that he did like her, very, very much…just like how he had liked her that first night they had ever come here together. "I have to talk to her. But there's never any place private enough to talk. And to be honest…I don't know exactly what to say to her…" Arnold let out a breath, feeling a confusion he had been avoiding come over him again. Really what, what, what was he going to say to her? 'I really, really like you. Okay, well, thanks for the three French dinners together! See you in school tomorrow!' That wasn't an answer you gave to someone who'd grabbed your collar on a rainy rooftop and wrapped her arms around you and given you your first real kiss…from a woman! That wasn't an answer at all and…Arnold's heart stopped. 'I just thought of her as a woman…' A deep tremor went through him and part of him made it out to be a sort of disgust though he knew disgust wasn't as likeable or as desirable as the real cause of that tremor had been.
"Arnold…"
The sound of his name snapped him out of it and a distressed Arnold looked over to see a casually smiling Harold Berman.
Harold went on, shrugging and still smiling. "That's easy. Just do what you always tell us to do whenever we're afraid of talking to someone or don't know what to say…Just tell her the truth. Come on, Arnold, she's a bit of a pain sometimes but she's nice and kind of cool deep down. She'll be okay with whatever it is. And even if all you can tell her is that you don't know what to say…well, that's better than just saying nothing and ignoring stuff, isn't it? You always tell us to face our problems to make them better, Arnold, so I think even just talking to her about not knowing what to talk about has gotta help something."
Harold smiled at Arnold.
Arnold just looked straight forward with wide eyes.
Harold looked at him curiously for a moment. "Arnold?"
"Hey guys!" Suddenly none other, of course, than Torvald popped onto the scene once again tonight (and the dreamy look and smile were still there on his face). "How's it going? Uh…just wanted to let you know that dessert'll be out soon and that you two have a couple of lovely ladies waiting for you." He chuckled warmly to himself and almost seemed to blush a little! "Anyway, I've gotta get back to the kitchen! See you fellas!" With this that and a little extra spring in his step he trotted off to the doors of the kitchen.
Harold just looked after him in surprise at first and then with a slight scowl. 'She's not YOUR lovely lady, just remember that, Torvald…And why do you look so smug after being over there anyway? What, was she all smiley and happy towards you since I wasn't there. Oh I'll show you…' he thought to himself in a touch of anger, his cheeks tinging red at the idea.
Arnold beside him had cheeks tinged red as well, though his were accompanied by his still wide eyes and also a desperate attempt at the moment not to think about Helga as a 'lovely lady' all for him.
"I'll see you back at the table, Arnold. Good luck with, Helga," Harold grumbled and then he stomped his way back over to their dinner table, lost in his own thoughts and situation again.
Arnold meanwhile, just remained where he was for a moment, still blushing, eyes still wide, mind still obviously adrift in thought for the moment.
Just…deal with the problem.
Could it all…this whole thing…really be that simple?
Just stop beating around the bush or waiting to figure out how to say things perfectly to her or trying to say things in a way different from how he meant them or getting lost in fights with her or even getting lost in…flirtation with her…Just talk no matter what even if he didn't know what to say beyond a vague 'I like you very much' and thus had no idea where a calm conversation might go from there?
Arnold sighed. Why not? What did he have to lose? Just bring up the problem directly and simply and quickly…and privately...and admit that he wasn't sure what to say.
He promised himself that he would try it and soon.
'From now on I think Helga and I need to go on dates alone…No second couple, no me having another date at the same time…" he blushed a little, "…just…alone. I think it would be easier if we were alone.' Despite the thought and the intimacy that it suggested (and the fact that he was thinking about dates with Helga G. Pataki) the only part of the thought in question that really caused Arnold to blush was the part about thinking about how he had shamelessly kept two dates at once like that last Valentine's Day evening.
Arnold left the bathroom alcove to head back over to his table now.
Taking his seat across from his date for the evening, Arnold first looked to Harold and Patty to make sure they were okay and that no new conflict had sparked between them (Harold had seemed upset after all as he had been leaving the bathroom area to come back here).
Harold did seem a little grumbly and pouty again, but not much more than before they had left the table, and Patty didn't exactly seem happy again but she wasn't angry and just seemed to be looking down and occasionally to Harold, lost in her own thoughts.
Helga's voice then (almost predictably) interrupted Arnold's observations and brought his attention back to her. Her tone wasn't exactly warm and friendly but it definitely wasn't biting and angry. She seemed to have found a happy medium again. "Hey, you left the table before dessert and actually came back this time. Very impressive, Football Head."
Arnold didn't miss a beat. And he didn't give in to his instinct to banter back and forth with her, not just now at least. He turned to her and smiled, and then before he could lose his nerve, he just went for it, simply and directly. "Helga…if you wouldn't mind could we walk home together after dinner? Please…" It was a very sincere request.
Helga blinked, her smile dropping, feeling almost startled at the sudden question! "I…I-I…um…I…don't…" 'What the heck is wrong with him? I make another joke and now he wants to walk me home?! Crimeny, I can't win with him! I'm nice, he tries to get close to me, I'm mean, he tries to get close to me, I'm civil but sarcastic, he tries to get close to me! Sheesh!' "Arnold…" she barely knew what to say to him anymore, he just wasn't getting it. She didn't want his constant companionship, especially if it might be the result of pity, she just wanted to be left alone and to be friends but not bosom buddies or anything. In lieu of him not loving her back, was all of that so much to ask?
"Please…" left Arnold softly once more and this time as Helga looked into his eyes they shone with so much green jellybean warmth and caring that…oh darn it she couldn't help herself.
Helga sighed. "O-Okay, Arnold…" finally escaped her in a breath. She looked down playing with the rim of her water glass. Still, she didn't want to seem too 'easy' about all of this… "It doesn't matter to me…" she tacked on quietly. Anyway, maybe if they walked home she could explain things to him once and for all and be done with it already.
Arnold winced a tiny bit at Helga's finishing words, but he at least took heart from the fact that his offer had been accepted. He smiled a little and nodded in her direction. "Thank you, Helga." He looked down now too.
Helga swallowed and tried to smile a little herself. "You're welcome, Arnold."
There was a soft silence between them.
Harold and Patty, meanwhile, had stopped any awkward near-returning of their fight and observed their two young friends during this small conversation of theirs…and now they both smiled a little, each feeling like something had been settled on the other side of the table and unable to ignore the ease in tension all around that it brought.
Just then the front door of Chez Paris opened and a certain someone walked in.
And dessert was just about to be brought out, by the way.
The next chapter involves a surprise guest, a few expected guests, and a fire.
Enjoy.
A/N:
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter :) Things'll wrap up at the end of the next chapter and then maybe there'll be an epilogue I think. As for an update I really don't know when I can give you all a realistic date for one-sometime in the summer maybe? I'm sorry, it would be sooner but I've still got a semester of school left like I said and also LTBH is my priority right now to finish up so that I can start giving regular attention to all of my other stories. But I appreciate your patience and thank you all so much again for reading :)
Happy Reading! And Happy New Year!
~Azure129 aka Jenna