Author's Note: Sorry, took a bit longer to get a new chapter up this time. I was working on this a while ago and sorta drew a blank, but I think you'll enjoy this chapter. =) As always, thanks for reading!
"Sure," Arnold replied.
The music Helga put on the radio was some kind of alternative station. The song was a piano rock ballad with a male singer. It wasn't really Helga or Arnold's kind of thing, but the two of them left it on anyway. Neither wanted to change the station lest the other person not like what they put on. Eventually, however, Helga spoke up.
"You don't like this sort of music, do you?" she asked.
"No, you?"
Helga laughed just a bit, "Nope."
"I'll put something else on then." And he went over to his shelves and pulled out on of his favorite CDs. It was big band and swing type music. He didn't know if Helga would like it, but he decided to take the risk. He pressed play and then went to sit back by Helga.
The music started to play and the sound filled the room. It was definitely different than the piano song that had been playing on the radio. This song made you want to get up and move to the rhythm. Arnold did just that. He stood up and grabbed Helga by the wrists, pulling her up so that she was standing. She gave him a quizzical look.
"Come on, Helga," he said, "Just follow what I do. It'll be fun."
She was reluctant at first, but she really did think this song was good and so it was easy for her to dance to. Helga had never done swing dancing before, so she had no idea what she was supposed to do, but she did her best to follow Arnold's lead.
The two of them twirled around Arnold's room. Arnold spun Helga around and then pulled her back in toward him. Helga had to admit, this was never something she dreamed of doing with Arnold, but it was definitely a moment she would never forget.
"Okay, ready?" Arnold asked her. She had no idea what he was talking about.
Then, unexpectedly (at least to Helga), he grabbed her waist and she went up into the air. She closed her eyes; partly because she was scared that Arnold would drop her and partly because she was completely in the moment. He then set her back down and they danced until the song was over. When the song was finished the two of them stood there smiling at each other.
"Arnold?" she said, "Thanks. I really needed that."
Arnold smiled at her, "How come you're never this girl at school? You're this sweet, brave girl who's full of emotion, but you only ever show the Helga who is mean and distant. I wish I could see this girl all the time; it was nice getting to see the real you for a change."
Suddenly, Helga felt shy. She looked away, not providing an answer to his question. But he understood, she wasn't just hiding from her classmates and friends; she used a different personality to block out the abuse from her family. He just wished he could get her to be open all the time instead of just the rare occasion.
Arnold heard his grandma coming up the stairs, presumably to tell the two of them that dinner was finally ready.
"We should do this again sometime," he said to Helga.
Before Helga could say anything, Arnold's grandmother opened the door and came in. Just as Arnold predicted, dinner was finally prepared.
Arnold's grandma led the way downstairs to the dining room. Dinner was ready, but only Grandpa and Mr. Hyuhn were sitting at the table. Grandma went to bring out the food while Arnold and Helga sat down.
"Where is everyone, Grandpa?" Arnold asked.
"Apparently it's Suzie and Oskar's anniversary, so she took him out somewhere. And Ernie got tired of waiting and ordered take out food." Phil's stomach growled, "Well, I guess if I weren't in love with Pookie I'd have given up on dinner by now too."
Luckily, Arnold's Grandma walked in a couple seconds later with a ton of food. There was a big bowl of mashed potatoes and another with macaroni and cheese. She also brought out cooked carrots and bread and butter. It was a weird meal, but everyone was starving so it didn't matter. Helga, in particular, thought it was one of the best meals she had ever seen. Her parents never cooked anything this good and she usually ended up eating cereal or some kind of microwave meal for dinner. This food, she thought, was fantastic.
They finished their meal and then everyone headed into the common room. Grandpa leaned back into the recliner and shut his eyes.
"You aren't going to fall asleep out here, are you?" asked Arnold, knowing that this was what his Grandpa did every night. He would eat dinner then come out here to say he was resting his eyes. Later, when Arnold would come downstairs to get a drink he would find his Grandpa sound asleep in the same exact spot he was earlier.
"Nah, I'm just resting my eyes. They've been open all day, haven't they?" Grandpa replied with a smiled.
Mr. Hyuhn was sitting on the sofa, reading a novel. Arnold's Grandma was washing up the dishes. Helga sat down by the fireplace and Arnold sat on a chair close by. He watched her silhouette and she watched the roaring flames. He remembered a dream he had once where he visited his cousin and everyone looked like the kids from PS. 118. That girl in his dream, the one that looked like Helga, he could have sworn he was looking at her right now. Arnold wondered what would become of their friendship after tonight, after things would probably go back to how they were before.