Chapter 2- Not a Date

"It's a date…" a slight nod.

"Totally a Date…" another nod.

"It's not a Date!" Helga was completely frustrated now. Arnold had left a few minutes ago telling Helga he'd pick her up around 6:30 that night. It was after the door shut that she noticed the eyes peering at her from the romance section where Phoebe had stayed to help Alice pick up the books. They were now having a debate on whether she and Arnold were going on a date.

"He asked me as friends. You are both taking this way out of context." She continued to put the new ISN's in the register not letting the two get to her. She knew Arnold was just asking as friends, it was how he was. He knew she wanted to see this movie since she first saw the trailer for it on television. It was all she talked about for weeks. It was the first time they had hung out like this just the two of them, usually they would hang out at the Arcade or play catch in the park, but it didn't mean anything if they went to the movies. He was just being Arnold, kind hearted, lovable Arnold.

"Have you ever gone to the movies just the two of you?" Alice leaned on her elbows. Helga didn't even look up. It really scared Helga when she read minds like that.

"Nope." She kept a bored expression on her face.

"Well then I don't think I'm taking anything out of context." Phoebe nodded in agreement. Helga held the book in her hand to Alice, one of the new ones.

"Did you finish rearranging Romance?" Alice stuck her bottom lip out.

"No…I guess I'll go do that…" Her boss looked defeated as she turned to head back into the store but turned as if a light bulb turned on. "Oh Helga I need you to call Lila. The book she ordered came in this morning." Helga smiled as the woman all but skipped off to actually do her job.

Not 20 minutes after Helga had hung up the phone, the chimes on the front door announced their visitor. Lila sawyer looked the same as ever. She still had her freckles and most days she donned a dress, usually her signature green. Her auburn hair she now braided into one braid instead of two and added a matching bow in it every day. She had made her way into the group of girls from P.S.118 after finally agreeing to play baseball one afternoon and hitting the ball square between Stinky's eyes. That game not only introduced Lila to a love of Baseball but also started a spark between her and her victim. The whole incident did give Helga a new found respect for the girl.

"Hey Lila." Helga reached under the desk to grab the small package with the redhead's name.

"Oh, Hello Helga." She smiled sweetly. "I am ever so happy to hear the news!" Helga placed the book on the counter and gave the girl an inquisitive look.

"That's gonna be $10.67." Lila handed her the money. "And what on earth are you talking about?"

"Why, your date with Arnold, silly!" Lila giggled. "You have waited for this for oh so very long!" Helga could feel the pink slowly coloring her cheeks.

"How on earth…" She turned to the chairs behind her where Phoebe had slowly sunk behind her book. While Helga couldn't see the Japanese girl's face she knew she was smiling behind the cover.

"Phoebe!" Helga whined. Some best friend.

"Oh Helga! Don't be mad! I am ever so happy that he finally asked you out!" Helga turned a darker shade.

"He didn't ask me out! It's not a date! We are going as friends! Besides why would Arnold want to go out with me anyway?" Helga stopped herself there before she said anything more. Phoebe sat her book down and Lila's face fell into a frown.

"Helga, why wouldn't he want to go out with you?" Phoebe tried to look into her best friends face. But after a moment she laughed it off.

"I just meant since we are such good friends geez!" She smiled hoping they would drop it, which they did. Lila stayed for a little longer and talked before heading out the door. Phoebe decided that was a good time to take her leave as well, having chores to do at home before her parents got there. So Helga waved good-bye to her best friends until she was completely out of sight and the only noise in the store was the soft jazz music and the books being moved on the selves. She had never really listened to jazz music before coming to the little bookshop. At first she was indifferent, it wasn't anything that really caught her attention, but soon she knew the more popular songs and artists. It wasn't until Arnold came in one afternoon looking for a CD from his aunt that she realized he was a Jazz fan. She learned then that is was Alice that had fostered his love for jazz music when he was little. So soon Helga had another reason to get into the swing. She was dedicated to the new genre and now sat, pen in hand, writing stuck in the subtle sounds of a bass and the trumpet.

"Luis Armstrong can get anyone into Jazz." Alice stood with the now empty box in hand. She had a sad looking smile on her face as she looked at her.

"I'm fine Alice." Her boss just rolled her eyes.

"And I'm the queen of France." It was Helga's turn to roll her eyes. "Helga…why do you talk about yourself like that?" Helga's pen stopped and she couldn't seem to look at the woman. Why did she talk like that? Well she wasn't perfect like Olga. She didn't want to end up like Miriam. She defiantly didn't want to be like Bob. But she wasn't going to admit it; she didn't want anyone knowing about that stuff.

But Alice had already gotten the idea and decided to drop the question. She knew the teenager was going through more than she let everyone believe. So with a sigh she brought a smile back to her face.

"Helga…" The teen looked up. "Can you just promise me you'll have fun tonight? Date or not! Just relax and have fun with an awesome guy. No pressure, no commitment. And let it just happen!" Helga nodded. She could do that. She always had fun with Arnold so it wasn't going to be hard. Alice turned to walk away when Helga's voice called her back.

"Alice?" The woman turned with a smile. "When was the last time you went on a date?"

It was the store keeps turn to blush. She brought a finger to lips and crossed her arms in thought.

"2 years ago?" Helga looked at her in disbelief.

"2 years, Alice? Criminy!" This did not help the woman get rid of her blush. She looked almost ashamed of herself.

"I've been busy Helga…You know my deadlines for my books, the store, life!" There was a sad smile on her face. "I spend most of my time worrying about you and Arnold and my family." Helga leaned into the counter. Alice didn't talk about herself very personally very often. It was almost an unwritten rule between them. Sure she told stories but she didn't just talk about things that bugged her. It was one of the many ways they seemed to be alike. Helga moved the stool next her over and motioned for Alice to sit. With a small shake of her head, she seemed to think having girl time right now was silly, she sat next to Helga and they both leaned on the counter on their elbows, chins in their hands, staring at the door.

"So who was this date?" Helga finally asked not looking away from the door. Alice's face twisted in displeasure.

"A guy I had had a crush on when I went to Hillwood high." Helga could feel the pure displeasure dripping from her boss's words.

"Not the guy you thought he was huh?"

"Oh you have no idea." She felt Alice's hands hit the table. "I mean I'm an Adult. In my thirties! I'm not ashamed of it but I don't have time to waste on one night stands and fooling around with 'friends with benefits!" Helga had started the fire in Alice and it was funny to watch. Arnold and Alice had very mild tempers, unlike herself, so it was interesting to see them when they finally got upset. "So he took me out to dinner." Alice turned on her stool to face Helga now. "You know. That nice little steak place downtown. We had met by chance by the grocery store, started catching up and he asked me if I wanted to have dinner with him. I said yes. I mean he was cute still and had a good job, told me he graduated with an accounting degree." Helga had learned to have self-control around her boss. She was fighting back a fit of laughter as they spoke. she was just so funny when she was fired up. "So we met there because, I'm not stupid and I'm not going to be stranded if the date went bad, and believe me it did. We sit down and he compliments me. I say thank you and compliment him. And it begins! He started talking. About himself. Just on and on and on about his life story…And personal information. Things I didn't need to know. His ego was so big I was suffocating on it was he was stuffing it down my throat. I had not chance to talk. None. He didn't ask me a single question. And after we got done eating he looks down and says, 'oh no. I walked out without my wallet.' It took everything I had to not snap. I mean first you talk about yourself all night and then I have to pay for the date you asked me on? So I paid and as we were walking out, He put his hand on my hip and tried to get me to go to his car. When I asked him what he thought he was doing. He said 'ending the night the right way.' And winked! I flipped out and slapped him so hard he literally spun. I told him he can end the night 'the right way' by himself and I would appreciate it if he stayed away from me. And if he dared come near me again I'd make sure he could never 'end' the night again." Helga was laughing so hard at this point that she had to hold onto the counter to keep in her chair. Alice seemed quite proud of herself and began laughing too. Helga spent the rest of the day asking about Alice's dating experience. From high school dates and boyfriend, to her traveling. She dated people from all over the country, some people from other countries. It wasn't long until she looked up to see it was already a little past 6 o' clock.

Helga saw Alice looking at her with a smile. With a small scowl the blonde tried to hide her blush.

"You can be excited. Because I know you are." Helga couldn't keep her scowl as Alice winked. "Want something to eat before you go? I have some pizza we can heat up." Helga didn't even have to answer since the look on her face pretty much said it all. So within minutes Alice ran upstairs to her kitchen and got them both two slices. They ate and talked like they usually did, until they saw a familiar 1965 turquoise Ford pull up to the store. Helga took off her apron, putting it on her hook, and grabbed her bag while fixing her clothes a little. Alice smiled and kissed her cheek.

"Have fun Helga! And just roll with it." Helga took a deep breath and headed out for her "date" with Arnold Shortman.