Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! or Romeo & Juliet, or anything that sounds like I could make some money off of it.

Summary: What If: Mr. Simmons had never done the play in Elementary school? What if he directed it when they were all in High School instead? This is an expanded take on Helga's schemes to kiss Arnold. AxH, slight AU.

Previous Chapter's Soundtrack: Bitter and Sick by One Two

Current Chapter's Soundtrack: 1000 Times by Sara Bareilles

Chapter 11

"Did My Heart Love Till Now?"

Friday Night.

This is bad.

Like, really bad.

Helga had not been at school that day, and had yet to be reached.

The play was less than 30 minutes from starting, and there was no sign of Juliet.

Needless to say, Mr. Simmons was having a panic attack.

The play's director was scrambling to each previous Juliet, to see if someone could fill in last minute, and Arnold was called back to get his costume on. The costume was heavily reminiscent of the original film's style, and fit perfectly. Sheena was certainly talented, and from the looks of her bouncing from person to person and making adjustments on the fly, he didn't think she'd be available to play the female lead.

Although, all her scrambling would be for naught if they didn't find somebody to fill in.

After all, the show had to go on, didn't it?

It was mere minutes from the curtain call, and Arnold was suddenly pulled into a surprisingly bone crushing hug by Mr. Simmons.

"She's here! Helga made! Okay! Okay, places everybody!" Simmons exclaimed as he released and very dazed Arnold and rushed off to put out any other fires.

Arnold shook himself as what Mr. Simmons registered, "Wait, she's here?"

He moved to search for her; he needed to see her. But, before he could move more than a few steps, Phoebe was ushering him to the wings, "Come with me Arnold! We're just about to start!"

"But-"

A moment later, he heard the small freshman begin to recite the chorus from her place in front of the closed curtain.

The play had begun.

It was the scene before the Capulet's Party, and Arnold had survived so far. Sure, he had fumbled his lines a couple of times and yes he had almost tripped. Once. But, thankfully he was doing this scene with Curly, whose extreme acting method was enough to distract from any small blunders on Arnold's part.

Arnold was just having a hard time staying focused. His mind was filled with thoughts of Helga. Wondering what had happened and why she had been completely AWOL until literally the last minute. Was she going to be able to do these scenes with him without freaking out? Was he?

He had wanted to watch her first scene, and was filled with this desperate need to simply just see her. But, he had been dragged away to make a few minor costume adjustments, in order to be ready for his next scene.

His thoughts kept spinning viciously though his head, and he caught a desperate, pleading face from Mr. Simmons in the wing, silently begging him to be more present in the scene.

Arnold mentally shook himself of his distracting thoughts, and focused on Curly's flamboyant recitation.

" I mean, sir, in delay We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. Take our good meaning, for our judgement sits Five times in that ere once in our five wits," Curly declared as he all but pranced around Arnold.

Arnold facial expression was more him breaking character than Romeo being unimpressed, "And we mean well in going to this mask; But 'tis no wit to go."

Curly stopped in front of Arnold, causing the blond to halt a little more abruptly than he had anticipated, "Why, may one ask?"

Arnold moved deliberately around Curly, and made his way across the stage, " I dream'd a dream tonight."

"And so did I."

Arnold stopped and turned his head towards Curly, "Well, what was yours?"

Curly dropped into an unscripted handstand, "That dreamers often lie."

Arnold crossed his arms, again offering a less than impressed look before replying in a matter of fact tone, "In bed asleep, while they do dream things true."

Curly flipped up and slunk over to Arnold, breaking uncomfortably into the Romeo's personal space, "O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you…"

As Curly delved into his monologue, Arnold found himself only half listening and reacting, his thoughts once more drifting to Helga. Again, he caught the frazzled look of Mr. Simmons, waving for his attention from the wings, and Arnold snapped back to attention. He moved a little awkwardly and stiffly about the stage with the other members of the scene as Curly continued on in an increasingly wild fashion, until it was Arnold's cue to gently cut the lines of Mercutio off with Romeo's calm words of peace.

Arnold heart started pounding in his chest as the scene progressed and they made their way off stage to make way for what was about to be the big party. His first scene with Helga was quickly approaching, and he vaguely wondered if he was going to be sick.

Arnold felt way to warm, and far too trapped as the party scene unfolded. So many couples and groups were dancing as he made his way across the stage to his mark. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Helga made her entrance further up on the other side of the stage. He wanted to let his eyes follow her, and forced himself to not get caught up. Helga was doing a fantastic job of looking everywhere and at everyone but him.

The student portraying a servant awkwardly cleared his throat, and Arnold was suddenly aware that it was way too quiet.

He inwardly cursed as he grasped for his line, eyes trained on Helga's form, "Uh...What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?"

After the servant's reply, Arnold struggled through his brief monologue. Helga kept moving, and seemed to refuse to look directly at him. Arnold caught only the briefest glimpse of Mr. Simmons tugging his own hair in anguish, before turning his gaze once again to Helga. She blinked in surprise as his eyes locked on hers, and she froze in her place. Katrinka, playing the Nurse, bumped into her and knocked Helga out of her daze and she moved on.

Arnold was struggling just to breathe. The moment his eyes had found her's, his heart had leapt inside his chest, rendering him unable to speak, or even think. In that very moment, Helga's expression had said everything. And Arnold finally understood.

"Arnold!" Mr. Simmons harshly whispered from off stage, snapping the male lead back to reality.

"Oh, um...I," Arnold blinked rapidly, trying to recall where he had left off in his lines. He found Helga's form again, still following the choreography of the dance, and he recalled the lines. His smile was small, but warm and his voice was full of awe and wonderment, "Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I never saw true beauty till this night."

Arnold's delivery of the line made Mr. Simmons blink in surprise, before he released a sigh of relief.

Out in the audience, Big Bob Pataki leaned over to his wife and whispered, "This kid ain't half bad," to which Miriam hummed in agreement.

The scene continued on, and Harold still somehow managed to just come off as a whiney kid, and then Arnold took a deep breath.

He made his way to the far end of the stage where Helga was, and grasped her hand. Her Juliet whirled around to face him, and when he leaned toward her to say his lines, Helga suddenly spun away, her back to him. Arnold hid his surprise, and while still lightly holding her hand, he leaned closer so as to appear he was whispering in her ear.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this," he moved smoothly around her, so that they were face to face, "My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

He brought her hand up to his lips, lightly brushing them against the impossibly smooth skin, and felt her shiver ever so slightly.

His Juliet gave a small smile, but Helga rose a brow, "Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this," she reached for his other hand, and held them both up and flat against her own, "For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."

"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" Arnold replied, a little cheekily, lacing his hands with hers as he had been directed to.

Helga's chin tilted upwards, a hint of defiance even as her cheeks had been to redden, "Aye, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."

Arnold released her hands as he improvised his next movements, bringing a hand to gently cup her shoulder while the other went to her chin, tilting it slightly, "Oh, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."

Helga's lips parted, and her eyes dropped down to his before quickly returning to his gaze, "Saints...Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."

"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take," and he closed the gap between them, allowing only a moment to enjoy the softness of her lips against his before pulling back. He waited a beat, as the inevitable round of catcalls from students in the audience floated through the auditorium, before he continued, eyes trained solely on Helga's, "Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged."

Juliet looked up at him expectantly, "Then have my lips the sin that they have took?"

The smirk that broke across his features was not Romeo's, but his own, "Sin from thy lips? Oh trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again."

He drew her to him, this time kissing her fully. More obnoxious urgings came from the younger members of the audience, but Arnold was hardly focusing on that. He felt rocked by the kiss, wanting nothing more than to deepen it, but being extremely aware that hundreds of eyes were on them. He felt her sigh against him, and he let his lips linger a moment longer before pulling back more.

Helga looked up at him with eyes wide and dark, and he had to do his best to suppress a shudder, "You kiss by the book."

When Juliet's Nurse approached, Helga visibly jolted. As their dialogue began, Arnold tore himself away to his next cue as the scene was reaching it's end.

Arnold made his way down the main aisle of the auditorium, narrowly avoiding Curly's constantly swerving form as they approached the stage that had been transformed for the Balcony Scene.

Curly had begun his final lines of the scene, and the players all came to a stop in front of the stage, crafted to look like a stone wall.

"Romeo, good night: I'll to my truckle-bed; This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep: Come, shall we go?" Curly concluded, before proceeding to cartwheel away and out of sight.

Arnold couldn't help the shaking of his head as their Benvolio spoke their departing line, leaving Arnold all alone.

Romeo leaned against the faux wall, looking in the direction of his companions, "He jests at scars that never felt a wound."

It was then that Juliet made her entrance on the balcony, sighing wistfully as she leaned upon the railing.

Arnold's heart stuttered, and as he climbed up the stairs to the stage, his breathless dialogue served only to make his performance that much more believable.

When it was time for him to climb the ladder, Arnold's trembling was not from nerves. The lighting was soft and focused on the balcony, casting Helga in an ethereal glow and Arnold would not have been able to look away if his life depended on it.

"... therefore pardon me, and not impute this yielding to light love, which the dark night hath so discovered," pleaded Juliet, her body demurely turned away from Romeo's gaze.

Looking up at the bright spotlight, and gesturing towards it, Romeo declared, "Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops— "

Helga's soft hand cupped Arnold's face, and fingertips pressed lightly to his lips, effectively silencing him and sending a jolt down his body, "O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb," Helga, with a raised brow, gave a look of slight suspicion, "Lest that thy love prove likewise variable."

Arnold offered a confident smile, before allowing Romeo to curiously reply, "What shall I swear by?"

Juliet's features went soft, and she approached the railing. She rested her arms on it, and leaned forward, "Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the god of my idolatry, and I'll believe thee."

Arnold moved closer for his next kiss with Juliet, "If my heart's dear love— "

Suddenly, Helga had straightened and Arnold was left wobbling a little from his perch in surprise. She had bailed on the kiss, and in an overly casual tone she recited, "Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract to-night." Helga moved further from the railing, her back to a thoroughly confused looking Arnold as she had begun to sound more like Helga making excuses, as opposed to Juliet protesting vows of inconsistent love, "It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say "It lightens." Sweet, good night! This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest come to thy heart as that within my breast!" With that, Helga was literally halfway through the balcony door, still not having looked at him since her dialogue had begun.

It was Arnold's honest feelings of incredulousness that had him calling out to her, "O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?"

She froze in the archway, and when she turned, the expression one was of surprise and soft wonder. And it was Helga looking at him like that; not Juliet. She turned to him fully, and stepped out on the balcony once more as Juliet, "What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?"

"The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine," was his soft reply. With each return of dialogue, Helga inched her way back to where Arnold was, as their roles made promises of marriage. At his cue, Arnold made his way down the ladder, and as he started to move across the stage, Juliet quickly returned to the balcony.

"Romeo!"

"My dear?" was Romeo's natural reply.

"I…," Helga faltered, and gave herself a slight shake, "At what o'clock tomorrow shall I send to thee?"

"At the hour of nine."

"I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then," she sighed, leaning against the railing. She looked down at him shyly, "I have forgot why I did call thee back."

Smiling, Arnold crossed his arms, "Let me stand here till thou remember it."

She flushed, and Juliet's reply was on a laugh, "I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Remembering how I love thy company."

"And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, forgetting any other home but this," Arnold finished with sincerity.

Helga was silent, and she blinked rapidly. Arnold had begun to look a little concerned, but she had begun to speak her lines, albeit a tad shakily, "'Uh...Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone: And yet no further than a wanton's bird; Who lets it hop a little from her hand, like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, And with a silk thread plucks it back again, so loving-jealous of his liberty."

Romeo responded earnestly, "I would I were thy bird."

Juliet's smile was soft, and Arnold's chest tightened, "Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow."

Juliet made her exit for the scene, and after Romeo spoke his final lines, the curtain closed.

They were approximately half way through the play, and Arnold had just made his entry for the fight between Harold's Tybalt and Curly's Mercutio.

"... make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out," Curly exclaimed, brandishing his fake sword.

"I am for you!" Harold cried, lunging towards the dark haired teen. The two fought, with Curly improvising the majority of the scene, leaving Harold swinging at air half the time and rousing laughter from the audience.

At his cue, Arnold placed himself between them, shielding Curly as he gestured to Harold, "Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath forbidden bandying in Verona streets: Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio!"

Harold lunged forward, plunging his sword across Curly's side, where Parker's blood capsule waited for the effect. Curly dramatically clutched his side, gagging in agony as he wobbled backwards with a final lunge off the stage. A gasp at the theatrics rang out in the audience, and Arnold gave a show of despair as the Benvolio scrambled down to where Curly lay, twitching obnoxiously.

"A plague o' both your houses!" Mercutio cursed, as Benvolio dragged him back up the stairs and off stage. He quickly returned, stating that Mercutio was dead, only for Curly's overly dramatic gagging to sound from off stage. Again, the audience laughed.

"This day's black fate on more days doth depend," Arnold recited, only to be interrupted by Curly's noises of dying from the wings, "This but begins the woe, others must end."

Arnold emphasis and pointed look towards the disruption earned more chortling from the audience.

Benvolio awkwardly spoke, gesturing to the other side of the stage, "Here comes the furious Tybalt back again."

" Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!" Arnold was once again cut off by the persistent coughing from Curly, and with a growl of irritation Arnold looked directly to his deceased castmate, "Away to heaven," as the crowd laughed generously, Arnold continued on more evenly, "respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!"

Harold approached him, sword drawn and Arnold called out, "Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, that late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company: Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him."

"Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, shalt with him hence," Harold raised his flimsy sword up high.

Arnold drew his own prop sword and lunged forward, "This shall determine that!"

Several moments later, Tybalt lay slain, Harold's own blood capsule successfully broken, as Romeo had to flee from the stage.

After releasing a breath, Arnold went to take a seat to rest until his next scene. He saw Helga across the stage, waiting in the wings for her scene with Katrinka and found himself unable to tear his eyes away. He was jolted from his rather obvious staring when Sid plopped down beside him, dressed as Paris and waiting for his scene to come. Arnold was forced to make small talk all throughout Helga's emotional scene, and was thankful when it was Sid's turn to finally go on stage.

When it was his scene to seek the Friar's advice, he couldn't help but recall his conversation with Helga weeks ago. He absently thought as Stinky drawled his lines that this whole scenario the friar was pitching really was total shit. Consequently, his distraction caused him to lose his place, and he jumped a line ahead from where he was supposed to.

Stinky stared at him blankly, before harshly replying in confusion, "...huh?"

"What?" Arnold returned, caught off guard and the crowd cackled, while Mr. Simmons hung his head.

Arnold shook his head vigorously and cleared his throat before he said the correct line, and the scene progressed without another snag.

He had several minutes to get some water, and look over his lines before his next scene. Arnold swallowed thickly, stomach tight with nerves. It was the Morning After scene, and he had no idea how it was going to go, but he was honestly assuming the worst. He watched Helga speak her lines, and tried to fight the blush as her voice lilted suggestively. The curtain dropped, and that was his cue to go to his mark on stage. He was dressed in his trousers and cotton undershirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he carried boots across the stage to place them beside the bed. He took his seat on the edge, and glanced over at Helga who was curled on her side. She was in a silky, but modest long nightgown, paired with a billowing robe. She was completely covered, but he couldn't help but feel such an intense want that he had to look away.

Helga had made no move to acknowledge him, but he didn't have time to dwell on it as the curtain began to rise. He leaned over and started to make work of putting his boots on, rolling his eyes as catcalls came from several audience members. He felt Helga stir beside him and sigh softly, feigning sleepiness before she spoke her lines.

"Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day," she curled up behind him, brushing a hand against his shoulder, and he fought back a shiver, "It was the nightingale, not the lark, that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear," resting her chin on his shoulder, she looked out over the audience, "Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree: Believe me, love, it was the nightingale."

Arnold sat up fully, having finished with his boots, and turned his face towards her, "It was the lark, the herald of the morn…" he recited, as a saddened and tired Romeo, before moving from Helga, and standing up from the bed, "I must be gone and live, or stay and die."

Helga moved so that she sat on the edge of the bed, "Yon ligt is not daylight, I know it I," Juliet declared, as she reached for her Romeo's hand, gently urging him closer, "It is some meteor that the sun exhales, to be to thee this night a torch-bearer, and light thee on thy way to Mantua," Helga's voice was soft as she looked up at him, "therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone."

"I have more care to stay than will to go: Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so," Romeo announced, as he moved towards her. Arnold leaned over Helga, his lips inching closer to hers as she eyed him warily, "How is't, my soul? let's talk; it is not day."

Once again, Helga balked, turning her head from his lips and instead he felt the smooth skin of her jaw. The cue for the bird song filled the auditorium, and Helga shuddered a breath before pushing him away, "It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!" Helga pushed up from the bed and past him, as Juliet's words of woe filled the room.

At the nurse's entrance, the two made their way to the edge of the stage for their farewell scene.

as they spoke their lines, and Arnold began his descent down the stage's stairs, he looked up at Helga and was taken aback at how...sad she looked.

"O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?" Helga implored as she leaned over what was serving as the balcony, her voice full of longing.

in a moment, Arnold rose up, bringing his lips to hers. Helga made a sound of surprise at the unscripted contact, and Arnold let the moment linger. His last kiss with her where either one of them was still able to react. When he broke away, he saw an unreadable expression on her face,and he felt like he was being dragged underwater.

"I doubt it not," he spoke, and voice was heavy with emotion, "And all these woes shall serve for sweet discourses in our time to come."

Romeo and Juliet spoke their final lines to one another as living players, and then Arnold made his exit.

He managed to complete his costume change in time to see Helga's passionate scene with the friar. He found himself thinking that she was breathtaking in her expression of agony as she clutched the dagger high as she spoke Juliet's lines of desperation.

Arnold had just finished his scene with the apothecary, and he was doing a final reading of his lines for his last scene. They hadn't really rehearsed this particular scene much, oddly enough. Mr. Simmons had been so preoccupied by the lack of chemistry with the previous Juliets, that the scene where each of them was dead didn't seem to take precedence. He had only had the opportunity to run through this scene once with Helga, and it had been choppy at best.

Everyone was scrambling off the stage, leaving Helga behind the roll-away walls of the tomb, lying in her death-like slumber. She was wearing a pale dress, he knew, so that Parker's blood capsule would be a stark contrast for the climactic moment. Arnold pulled out his stage dagger and tested the retraction blade, before slipping it back into its sheath.

Arnold took a deep breath before heading out onto the stage. He did fumble his lines a couple of times, and he could definitely admit the fell a bit flat. On his cue, he had begun to open up the tomb door, waiting for Sid's Paris to make his entrance.

"Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Monague!" came Curly's loud cry.

Arnold whirled around, staring in wide-eyed-surprise even as the audience gave a quiet chuckle, Uh…," his eyes shifted back and forth, and he leaned towards Curly, a quizzical brow raised, "Paris?"

The audience gave a generous roll of laughter, but Arnold managed to hear his name from the wings. He saw a desperate looking Mr. Simmons, urging him to go on. Just beyond him, he saw Sid dangling from one of the ropes, clinging to a frantic Harold.

"Uh, I mean...right! Paris!" Arnold cleared his throat, "Uh, stay not, be gone; live, and hereafter say, a madman's mercy bade thee run away."

"I do defy thy conjurations, and apprehend thee for a felon here."

"Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy!"

They attempted to perform the fight, although Curly being Curly couldn't help but improvise. Getting frustrated, Arnold finally just tripped the flamboyant teen before delivering the final blow, all the while earning a laugh from the audience.

"O, I am slain!" Curly cried dramatically.

As Arnold made his way over to the tomb walls, Curly began to make gagging noises, to which Arnold whipped around and harshly commanded, "Don't!" Curly immediately ceased, and the auditorium was again filled with laughter.

After finally rolling away the tomb walls, Arnold took a steadying breath. There Helga was, lying as still as could be, with her hands folded gently across her stomach. She truly was beautiful, and he'd almost think she was an angel if he didn't know any better.

He had approached the altar where Helga lie, unmoving, "Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty," he rested a hand on the side of the prop, gazing freely at Helga without her scrutiny, "Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death's pale flag is not advanced there…" as he continued through the lines, a heavy feeling settled in his stomach. Soon, his final lines will have been spoken. The play is nearly over; what will happen after?

Arnold took another steadying breath as he moved his arm across Helga's form to gently grasp her arm. He brought his free hand to lightly cup the side of Helga's face, and felt her give the slightest of jolts. As he leaned over her, Arnold did not speak as the wild and desperately sorrow Romeo, but instead he spoke with somber reverence, "Eyes, look your last. Arms, take your last embrace. And lips...O you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss," he moved the rest of the way, closing his lips over hers, and felt no response; why would he? She's supposed to be dead. And yet he still couldn't help that feeling of disappointment.

He broke the contact, and pulled the vial from his pouch, "Here's to my love!' he brought it to his lips and tipped it back, grimacing at the sickening sweetness. Arnold clutched at his stomach, stumbling back as though in agony, "O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die."

He fell back on his mark, the vile clutched loosely in his hand. He angled his face as much away from the audience as he could, as he was honestly not that confident in his ability to keep a straight face.

Stinky made his way onto the stage, and managed through his lines at a meandering pace.

"Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too?" he drawled monotonously. Helga made a slight noise, "The lady stirs."

Helga rose from her open tomb, and sighed sleepily. She looked over to where Stinky stood, "O, comfortable friar! Where is my lord? I do remember well where I should be, and there I am. Where is my Romeo?"

"Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead; and Paris too. Come, I'll dispose of thee among a sisterhood of holy nuns: stay not to question, for the watch is coming; come, go, good Juliet, I dare no longer stay."

Helga had looked over to where Arnold lay across the stage. She was struck with a similar feeling that Arnold had experienced earlier; the play was nearly over, and whatever had been going on with her and Arnold would be ending with it. She felt her eyes prickle, but didn't fight it. After all, who would question a crying Juliet.

Helga slid from her altar and knelt beside Arnold, "Go get thee hence, for I will not away."

"Okie dokie," was Stinky's reply, and the audience gave a laugh as he walked casually off stage.

Helga gingerly placed her hands on Arnold, and felt him give the slightest reaction. With watery eyes, Helga reached over to his outstretched hand, "What's here? A cup closed in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end," she brought the vile to her lips, tipping it back. At finding it empty, she tossed it to the side in a sorrowful rage, "O churl! Drunk all and left no friendly drop to help me after?" With tears freely flowing, Helga paused for a beat as she looked down at Arnold's face. She allowed herself to drink in his features without causing any suspicion, before speaking delicately, "I will kiss the lips; Haply some poison yet doth hang on them to make me die with restorative." Helga bent over, cupping his face gently as she pressed her lips to his. She wanted to stay like that forever, the softness of his lips far more perfect than she could've ever imagined. Lips she may very well never get to kiss again. Knowing though, that the kiss must end, she turned her face wit a sob, and Arnold's stomach flipped when he felt the wetness of her cheek against his.

"Thy lips are warm!" was Helga's agonizing cry, and several people in the audience had begun to cry themselves. A sound from offstage was Helga's cue, and she shot up, wiping the back of her hand across her wet cheek, "Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief," she grabbed Arnold's dagger and held it high above her, "O happy dagger, this is thy sheath! there rust, and let me die!" Helga brought the dagger to where the blood capsule was waiting, the red instantly blooming across the pale dress. The audience gasped loudly ah the effect, and Helga made sounds of anguish before collapsing across Arnold's frame. He made a nearly unnoticeable ' Oof!' at the impact before the curtain began to close and a loud applause broke out through the auditorium. With the curtain closed, the two fallen leads both rose up, and Arnold couldn't keep the astonished look off his face. Helga saw the wetness of his cheek, and blushed. Before she realized what she was doing, her hand had softly wiped her earlier tears from his face.

"Sorry."

"Helga…"

His voice immediately snapped her out of it, and she scrambled to her feet, "Well, c'mon Football Head. It's time for the curtain call."

As everyone gathered on the assigned wings, the curtains opened. Arnold couldn't believe they were actually receiving a standing ovation, and that most of the audience appeared to be in tears. The cast in their assigned groups made their way out for their bows, until it was finally the leads' turn. Arnold walked out from his wing to the middle of the stage, and was unable to help the small blush of embarrassment at the louder cheering that ensued. He made a brief bow and then gestured to the other side of the stage, where Helga made her way out to the stage to meet him. She too gave a small curtsy, before they both bowed together and moved up to all for Mr. Simmons. Finally the entire cast linked together, and Helga hesitated briefly before taking Arnold's outstretched hand. When the final bows were made, Helga immediately released Arnold's hand, and out of everything else, it was that that hurt the most for both of them.

The play was finished.

Arnold wandered through the Wellington-Lloyd mansion, stopping occasionally to chat with his peers. The play had ended a couple hours ago, and had been a surprising success. There had even been a reviewer from the local newspaper there, and from what Mr. Simmons had said, it was going to be quite a good article.

As Arnold continued to make his rounds, he caught out of the corner of his eye a familiar silhouette out on the balcony. For the first time all night, his heart was beating steadily as he made his way through the terrace doors.

"Haven't you had enough of these yet?" Arnold commented lightly, and Helga jumped in surprise as she faced him.

She regained her composure and crossed her arms as she offered a small smirk, "What can I say? They're great places for dramatic ponderings."

Arnold gave a light chuckle, "I'll take your word for it."

They stood in a surprisingly companionable silence for a few moments, before Helga spoke, "You know, you turned out to be a pretty good actor, Football Head."

Arnold knew it was as close to a compliment as Helga G. Pataki gave, and his mind urged him to take it and leave it at that, but his heart was far more insistent. He took a step forward, and a deep breath before replying in a rather matter-of-fact tone, "Actually Helga, I'm really not...and neither are you."

Helga took a step back in surprise, feeling the balcony railing behind her, "Wh-what are you talking about?" she crossed her arms again in true Helga form, "I'm a fantastic actress, obviously."

Arnold sighed, "Helga, I know you weren't acting."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really."

"And just how would you know that?' Helga asked snidely.

"Because I wasn't acting either," when all Helga did was stare silently at him, Arnold continued, "You couldn't have looked at me the way you did tonight without meaning it Helga. Even you aren't that good."

"Well...well, maybe I am, Hair Boy. Ever consider that?"

"A little. At first," Arnold replied simply with a shrug, "But not after tonight."

"What if I told you that you are wrong, huh? What then?" she asked quickly.

Arnold waited a beat before replying, "Then...I'd be wrong. But it wouldn't change how I felt."

"How...how you feel?" she asked quietly.

Arnold stared into her blue eyes, so wide with what looked like hope, and said, "Helga. I am an awful actor...but, I meant every word of what I said tonight."

Helga stood there in stunned silence for several moments, and Arnold had to remind himself to breathe. Finally, she spoke, "Why would you say something like that? When you have no way of being sure what I would say, how could you just...put that all out there?" she asked desperately.

"Because…" Arnold started, even though his heart was thundering in his chest, "because if there is one thing that this play has taught me, it's that this is the sort of thing that's worth the risk. And I know, in my heart, that you believe it, too. Don't you?" When Helga said nothing, Arnold pressed again, "Helga. Is this worth it?"

Helga was looking away from him, her lower lip between her teeth as she fought back tears. She had never been so scared in her life. Here she was, faced with her greatest secret, and she was frozen in terror. Arnold's words echoed through her head, and she glanced over at him. His face was completely open to her, and her answer was clear.

Helga took a shuddering breath as she faced him, "Of course it is, Arnold. You have always been worth it."

Arnold's lips parted at the admission, and his eyes searched hers, waiting.

Helga pursed her lips as she still fought back the prickle behind her eyes, and she gave a small shrug, "I'm scared."

Arnold offered a small smile as he moved closer to her, "I know. So am I."

When he said nothing else, Helga gave herself a brief shake. She squared her shoulders, placed her hands on her hips and looked up at Arnold with determination, "I love you, Arnold."

Arnold's smile was wide and full of relief as he tugged her towards him, pulling her in for a kiss. He broke away, a smile still present on his face, "Helga, I love you too."

Helga's smile matched his own, and she clutched the collar of his shirt, dragging him down to meet her lips once more for a passionate kiss.

So involved with each other, the two lovestruck teens didn't notice the figure observing them from the doorway.

Lila quietly pulled the doors shut to allow the couple some privacy, before shrugging prettily to herself, "I knew it."

Welp, there you have it! There will be a brief epilogue up later this week.

Again, I want to say how grateful I am for everyone that has enjoyed this story and continued to review even when it seemed like this would never be finished. I never would have come back to this probably, if it hadn't been for you guys :)