As she climbed into the cab if the truck, she could see Arnold smiling his amazing shortman smile.
"What is that smile for Arnoldo?" She teased shutting the door behind her. She would have sworn she saw him blush as he turned his eye to the road.
"Nothing! Um…Just really excited to see this movie…"He muttered something under his breath that she didn't quite catch but Helga chose to ignore it. Arnold shifted gears and the two teenagers waved at Alice, who stood at the front door and waved back. As the car pulled off, Arnold chuckled to himself.
"Now what, Hair boy?" Helga caught the football head in a sideways glance. He just smiled in return.
"I just think it's funny that my elementary school bully is not only friends with my aunt but also turn out to be one of my best friends." Until that comment Helga didn't know it was possible for words to make your heart flutter while ripping it in two.
"She's a pretty amazing person." Arnold smiled proudly as they fell into a comfortable silence and for the next few miles they didn't say anything until Helga caught Arnold glancing sideways at her like he wanted to say anything.
"Do you have something to say, Hair Boy?" Helga laughed.
"Nothing really…Just wondering what you guys were talking about that had you almost in tears laughing."
"Just her dating stories. She has had quite the interesting love life." Helga grinned and shook her head.
"Oh my god! Did she tell you about Iguana man? The one who thought because his Iguana bit him he was now infused with iguana DNA?" Helga looked up at the ceiling of the car with a hand over her eyes, as she began to laugh remembering the story.
"Yes! The one from North Carolina! How about the one about the New York guy who was stalking the assistant to the CEO of Calvin Klein?"
"Because he wanted to have her job?"
"Yeah that One! And kept pictures of himself in Calvin Klein underwear in his wallet!" They laughed and talked until they got to the movie theater. Arnold put his truck in park and they both started to get out. But Helga's door refused to open. She jiggled the door handle a few times and finally looked up to see Arnold laughing outside the car. He opened the door with a grin.
"Sorry forgot to tell you the passenger door needs a new lock so it has to be opened from the outside." He then stepped back holding a hand out to her and bowed a little. "My lady!"
Helga hopped out of the cab and elbowed him in the ribs as she headed towards the theater, causing Arnold to flinch and catch his breath although he never lost his smile. He ran to catch up with her. They walked in and Arnold gave the kid their tickets. In a bored tone he tore the tickets and told them the third theater on the left. He caught a look at Helga then and smiled at her but immediately stopped when he caught the look from Arnold. The football head directed her away towards the concession counter.
"Ok Football head. Since you got the tickets I'll get the snacks." She reached down to her bag to grab her wallet only to be stopped by Arnold's hand on top of hers. She blushed as she looked up to meet his gaze.
"Not a chance Pataki!" He watched as he pulled out his own wallet. "I asked you out and now I'm going to pay. Now what do you want?" Helga stopped dead in her tracks. Did he just say he asked me out?
"Arnold? What did you just say?" He turned back to her with a confused look.
"'What do you want'?" Helga shook her head,
"No before…" He raised his eyebrows and Helga shook her head. "Never mind football head. I'll get a package of sour patch kids, some popcorn and a Yahoo." Arnold nodded.
"Sounds good, go grab our seats and I'll get the stuff."
Since the movie had been out for a while Helga found only one other group in the theater. A couple sitting all the way up at the top, who cuddled together and Helga wondered how much of the movie they will be watching. She elected to sit in the seats in the center of the theater and made herself comfortable. Seeing as the movie started in 5 minutes she didn't expect anyone else to show up, so as she turned her cell off she saw no need to worry about blocking anyone. But her mind did seem a little occupied what Arnold had said. This couldn't be a date. No way. Maybe he meant hang out and just mixed up the words.
"So is sharing the popcorn ok?" Helga jumped, startled at Arnold's sudden presence. "Because seriously I may need to sale my kidney if I have to buy another. You ok?"
"Yeah! But Jesus Arnold! I think I need to get you a cat collar! You scared the hell out of me!" Arnold sat everything down and took his seat with a smile.
"Sorry Helga." The lights began to dim and the two turned their attention to the screen. About halfway through the movie, which Helga was enjoying very much, she noticed she and Arnold had been leaning into each other but despite enjoying being close to him she simply deducted that it was because they were sharing the popcorn. It wasn't until a more romantic scene that she felt something slip into her hand. She glanced over to find Arnold's hand in hers. He looked over and mouthed 'is this okay?' to which she nodded and prayed he couldn't hear her heart pounding in her chest. Then towards the end when Helga found herself crying, she found Arnold handing her the handkerchief he kept in his pocket. She took it gratefully with a smile and as the lights came up she made sure to give it back to him. As they walked out of the theater Helga pointed her figure at him.
"Not a word about me crying during this movie to anyone! Got it?" Arnold gave her another Shortman smile.
"I wouldn't dream of it Helga!" He gave her hand a squeeze and it wasn't until then that she realized they were still holding hands. It seemed to comfortable and natural Helga didn't feel the need to ask about it. She didn't want to ruin the moment.
"So I take it you enjoyed the movie?"
"Well I'm not disappointed! Although it doesn't have as much action as other Marvel movies, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks football head." they had made it to the car and Arnold being the gentleman type opened the door for the girl.
"Don't mention it." The moment she let go of his hand, the warmth left hers altogether but she didn't say anything. Arnold climbed into the cab himself and he began to drive her home. They talked about the movie happily until Arnold turned suddenly down the wrong street.
"Hey Arnoldo. You're going the wrong way!" He chuckled at the girl's confused face.
"I know that Helga. But I think we should end the night the right way. With ice cream!" Helga had made the poor decision to take a sip of her the yahoo soda she had left at that moment. She did everything she could not to let it come out her nose as she fell into a fit of laughter, spitting the yahoo instead back into her cup. She was almost hysterical. Arnold had no idea what he had said but Helga refused to explain that not only had he played on one inside joke but two. She had to tell Alice and Pheebes tomorrow. She couldn't handle it and the look on Arnold's face made it even funnier.
They pulled up in front of a place Helga had never seen before. The sign out front read Sock Hoppin' Ice cream parlor on an old neon turquoise and pink sign. After another elbow in the ribs they made their way inside. Stepping through the door Helga felt like she had hopped out of the Delorean. From the records on the walls to the checkered floor, this place was 1950's to the core. Elvis played on a jukebox in the corner and the workers all wore old dinner outfits. Arnold directed them to a table over on the side and they made their selves comfortable. Looking around Helga directed her attention suddenly to Arnold.
"Where did you find this place Arnoldo?" He smiled his famous smile.
"This is I and Alice's favorite spot. We come here at least once a month." Almost as if on cue a man in his late twenties roller skated over to the table with a smile that could have rivaled Arnolds. He was lean with his black hair slicked back in a classic 50's style. When he reached the table he immediately gave Arnold a fist bump.
"Hey kiddo! It's been awhile!" He gave Helga a quite look. "Oh either Alice got younger and Blonder or you brought a date." Helga went to correct him but Arnold was a little faster to answer.
"This is one of my best friends Helga. She's my Aunt's apprentice, you could say. Helga this is Davey." They shook hands with a pleasant hello.
"Ok let us get your order in. An Arnold/Alice Special?" Davey took out his pad.
"Sounds great!" He skated away to give someone their ice cream order. Helga raised an eyebrow. Before she could even ask Arnold began to answer her unspoken question.
"Alice worked here for a year in high school and helped Davey get his job here. He works her on the weekends while he is going back to school to get his master's degree. He also works a full time job as a kindergarten teacher at P.S. 117." With at Davey was back and sat down the funniest ice cream sundae she had ever seen. It included 7 scoops of ice cream, the five on bottom were a large scoop of Jamoca in the middle with two smaller scoops of jamoca almond fudge and two slightly smaller scoops of chocolate, there was another scoop in front of the largest scoop the size of the smaller scoops of vanilla and lastly a scoop of some sort of blue on top of the Jamoca. On both sides of the blue scoop where three chocolate dipped ice cream cones. Then two Oreos pushed into the largest scoop with chocolate chips sprinkled into the bowl. Helga howled with laughter and Arnold blushed a little at her reaction. Davey gave a wink and rolled away to help an elderly couple who had just walked in.
"Hair boy, this is too perfect." She wiped a tear from her face.
"It was Davey's creation. The first time Alice brought me here he made it and we get it every time now." He grabbed a spoon and they began to dip in. Helga had never had such amazing ice cream. It was the creamiest and tasted fresh. The blue one was the illusive one, it was amazingly delicious but she couldn't point out the taste. As if he could suddenly read her mind again, Arnold spoke up.
"It's called Blue Moon. The owner is originally from Chicago and its super popular there."
"But what's the flavor?" She took another bite and stopped. "It doesn't have strawberry right?" looking suspiciously down at the weird colored ice cream.
"No. raspberry I believe." They continued to eat while chit chatting solo and sometimes with Davey. After finishing the wonderful sundae they paid the check and headed out the door. Davey waved until they were out of sight. They drove in silence to the Pataki residence being content with the company and having nothing really to say. Helga wore a pleased expression reflecting on the night and felt higher than a kite. It was 10:30 when they pulled up to the house.
"Sorry it's so late…"He gave her a sheepish smile which made her own lips tug upward.
"No worries football head. I don't have a curfew." Arnold went to get out of the truck to let her out but found that Helga was already standing outside the vehicle with the window down. She winked at him and leaned back into the cab. "Thanks for tonight. It was fun." Arnold looked a little disappointed but smiled again anyway.
"I'm glad…" Helga watched him grip the steering wheel a little tighter as if he wanted to say something but was fighting the urge. After a moment Helga when to go inside, "Well good…"
"Helga?" She turned back around to see Arnold leaning over the seat to call out the window. His cheeks flushed a little. "Would you like to do this like…every week? I mean not always at the movies but you could come over to my house and watch something or here. Its Date night at the Boarding house so usually everyone is out and Gerald and Phoebe go out a lot on Saturday nights.. . But if it would be awkward we don't have to, it was just a thought…" Helga stopped him with her hand and a small smile.
"That sounds awesome Arnold. But well stick with your house and the theater, Big bob usually has the Television Saturday nights." Arnold's face lite up with joy.
"Well then…Awesome. Good night Helga."
"Night Arnold." Arnold started the car but waited until Helga had her door open to drive off with a wave. Helga was on cloud 9 as she opened the door of her home. She thought nothing could ruin the night. As the closed the door something in the kitchen hit the wall and shattered. Bog Bob was home and drunk as usual. Helga turned to go upstairs without him catching her. The Television was on in the front room and she could hear a drunken Miriam crying softly. After Beepers became obsolete with the age of cell phones, Bob had to sell his company to a big cell phone corporation. In the years following he started some even shadier work with his attorney. He also found himself a new girlfriend that he lived with almost full time now. But being as controlling as he was he kept Miriam on a string and refused to divorce her. Every so often he would show up in a drunken stupor and slap them around a little. It wasn't hard for Helga to explain the bruises away but she didn't like him touching her. Helga was halfway up when Bob came hulking through the foyer. He turned to her and shouted in a drunken slur.
"And where the Fuck has you been, Olga?" Helga rolled her eyes.
"One. I'm Helga, not Olga. And Two, I am home at curfew so why does it matter?" She continued up the stairs and heard Bob follow ranting and cursing behind her.
"Disrespectful little slut. Get back here you little tramp." As she turned into her room, Helga closed and locked the door. She had added and extra bolt last year and used it too. Bob began banging on the door in an angry manner, shouting at her through the door but Helga was used to it. She grabbed her pj's, slipped them on and grabbed her journal. It wasn't 10 minutes before Bob gave up and went down to torment Miriam some more. She tried to let her memories of the day drown out the idiocy of Bob and fell asleep with a smile on her face.