VIII. Landing on Two Feet

"Stay the night."

Arnold had just taken a bite of the reheated pizza. He turned to her, trying to chew quickly. He swallowed the lump of cheese and bread.

"Huh?"

She stepped into the dimly lit kitchen, still in the clothes for that morning.

"Stay the night." she repeated. "I know you've done what I've asked of you, but if you would, please, stay the night?"

He put the plate on the counter and walked over to her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I...I just don't want this to end yet." she admitted, looking at him. "I promise I won't be weird on Monday, but I just want this. This last..." she shrugged. "Fantasy. I mean, if you can't, I understand, I just..."

He took her hands, gently tugging her to him. "I'll stay."

She buried her face in his chest, he arms sliding around his waist. "Thank you."

That night, they took things slower. Helga's words about what Rhonda had told Tad a week before echoed in his mind. According to her, if she's going to do this, she's going to teach him the correct way to please a lady.

So they spend the entire night finding out what she liked and what she didn't. He discovered she couldn't be quiet, even when she tried. And apparently she really liked doing one thing men would absolutely have no problem accepting. And the one thing that stunned him the most. She loved to cuddle. As the first colors of the morning were just coming over the horizon, she'd curled into him, exhausted and content, her face buried in his chest and had fallen asleep. He lay there, softly stroking her shoulder, listening to her soft breathing and watching the sun rise.

When he heard her soft snores, he leaned down, kissing her cheek and gently extracting her from him. She let out a soft moan, and rolled over, pulling the covers further up her body.

He got dressed quietly and slipped out of the bedroom. Walking down the stairs, he picked up some of their empty dishes and cleaned up the kitchen a bit. Slipping on his shoes, he looked back at the stairs. Last night Helga had told him she'd wanted the last fantasy. The problem with fantasies was by the morning light, they were gone and reality returned to rule. Standing up, he walked to the front door, made sure the lock was secure and walked out into the morning light.

Arnold stood at his locker waiting for Gerald. He'd gone home that Sunday morning and slept until late afternoon. He'd gotten up long enough to finish his homework, then went back to bed.

Gerald walked down the hall, his exasperated eyes on Arnold as he approached. Arnold grinned at him.

"How was your weekend?"

"Don't ask me, bro." Gerald grumbled. "All that girl did was talk about a relationship. The entire weekend." He shook his head, as he opened his locker and threw in some books, replacing them with ones he needed for the next classes.
"I may have to break it off."

"Don't be an idiot. You aren't going to break it off." Arnold told him as Gerald slammed his locker door. "Face it, she's got you whipped."

"Dude, do you have to say that so loud?" Gerald hissed, looking around. He looked at Arnold and grinned as the two set off down the hallway of the school. "She does. And I am an idiot."

Arnold grinned back, giving him a fist bump. "About dammed time, bro."

"So how was your weekend?" Gerald asked. "You get laid?"

Arnold opened his mouth to answer when Shayla rushed up to them, interrupting anything he was about to say.

"Oh my god guys, you have to see this!" she told them.

"Damn girl, why you so excited this morning?" Gerald complained.

Shayla grabbed his hand and pulled. Arnold followed. As they neared another hall, the murmur of the teens grew louder. Gerald stopped suddenly in front of him.

"Holy shit." he gaped.

Arnold looked around him, his jaw dropping. Walking towards them, were Rhonda and Tad, holding hands. Behind them were Phoebe and Helga looking just about as shell shocked. Rhonda was sighing dramatically.

"It's like these people have never seen PDA before."

"Are they bothering you, my goddess?" Tad joked. With her free hand Rhonda waved off his question.

"Of course not. They'll get over it. Oh, morning Arnold, morning Gerald." she said as they passed the three. Tad smiled and waved.

Arnold blinked, his eyes catching Helga's. She gave him a look that clearly said, she had no idea what alternate universe she'd woken up in that morning. As she passed, he grabbed her arm, holding her back.

"What the heck is going on?" he asked. She shrugged.

"You guess is as good as mine." she told him, ignoring Gerald and Shayla who were still watching the trio walk down the hall. "I met up with Phoebe this morning and next thing we know, Tad and Rhonda were meeting up with us, like that." she gestured to the two holding hands.

"It's like some weird alternate universe." Gerald said, still watching.

"As soon as we can pry him off the princess, Phoebs and I are going to get answers." She smirked at him. "This is what happens when I go off the grid for an entire weekend."

He smirked back at her. "When you find out, call me and let me know."

"You got it."

He squeezed her hand, then let go. She gave him one last look, then ran ahead to catch up with the other three.

Arnold watched the four walk off and smiled to himself. As promised, there was no awkward looks, no uncomfortable moments. Although, leave it to Rhonda and Tad to completely throw the entire balance of the school dynamics out of whack.

But the thought caught him. Rhonda was Tad's chosen one. And look at them now.

The thought stuck with him as he followed Gerald and Shayla to their first class.