Romeo and Juliet's time to shine was approaching again. And the PS.118 kids were all primping and polishing for their auditions.
A very violent blond, however, stood unfazed. Mr. Simmons, who was in charge of the play once again, had already spoken to her and had told her that her place as Juliet was still secure. Her counterpart of Romeo was still undecided to everyone, though everyone knew who was a shoe in for the role.
Arnold, however, wasn't that sure himself.
"Man Arnold, I don't know why you're making such a big deal about this." Gerald said, leaning against the wall watching his nerve-wrecked friend.
"But Gerald...this is an open audition...anyone could get the part of Romeo, I mean there might be someone better than me that gets the part!" Arnold cried, waving his arms wildly.
"Aw man, you know that you're the perfect one for the role lover boy." Gerald said with a smirk. "I wonder who your Juliet will be this year...hopefully not Helga Pataki."
The blond, football headed boy jumped slightly and continued his pacing.
To tell the truth, he didn't mind if Helga got the part of Juliet this year, she had been surprisingly good at the role and it was all about making the show as good as it could be, right? Of course, he also didn't want anyone else getting the part of Romeo if she was going to be Juliet. A spark of something burned in his stomach at the thought of some other Romeo acting alongside his H...I mean Helga.
"Yo Arnold, you alright?" Gerald asked, concern masking his usually joking face. "You look kinda red."
Kinda red was an understatement, his face was as red as his undershirt. His betraying thought had caused his nervous system to raise another level, leaving him sweatier and redder than ever.
"I'm fine Gerald, just really nervous about the audition," he replied.
"Arnold...oh drat, why is there always a smudge over the last name," cried Mr. Simmons' voice.
Arnold made his way to the stage, passing the boys who were dosing off in boredom and the girls who were shooting hostile looks at each other and more specifically, Helga. She however was unmoved by the whole thing and sat in her seat with her pale legs resting on the back of the seat in front of her.
"Good luck Football Head, you're going to need it," snorted Helga as he passed by her seat.
He blushed slightly at her voice, but then composed himself as he ascended the stairs.
"Alright Arnold, go for it."
He cleared his throat and said his line.
"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks. It is the east and Juliet is the sun..."
By the time he had finished his monologue, their teacher was in tears and the girls were staring at him through dreamy eyes, all except Helga that is, who just sat in her seat with a smirk gracing her features.
"Oh Arnold, you get better every year...it looks like we've found our Romeo!" he cried as Arnold descended the stairs.
"Welcome to the cast, Football Head...looks like I'm going to have to put up with you as my Romeo once again," Helga said, rolling her sapphire eyes. "Don't screw up, or I might have to make you pay."
"Whatever you say Helga." Arnold told her. Inside, his stomach flipped at her words. Never had her threat sounded so joking, so kind, so beaut...
Arnold's green eyes widened and he quickly slapped himself across the face. The play was getting to his head, that was it...there was nothing different about Helga: same loud voice, same angry scowl, same pink dress, same pink boy crowning her shining golden head that brought out those bright blue eyes...
"Arnold, are you sure you're alright...you look a little pale."
Arnold looked at his friend and shook his head, then looked down at the stage where Helga sat with Phoebe, giggling her head off.
"No Gerald...I think I'm coming down with something...something real bad."
Yup and it's called the love bug.