Hey folks! Hanna Cabrodi here! Well there really isn't much to say about this chapter except that it will only complicate our favorite pair's feelings more! I've added a character in this story! She's not an OC, she exists lol! Well, I leave you with chapter 3: Búscame (Seek Me)
Again, translation for Spanish parts are on the bottom.
DISCLAIMER: HA! ain't mine. Never has been... :(
Several days had gone by since the little "incident" at Helga's place and the trip's permission slip due date was just 3 days away. Most of the students in the class had already handed in their permission slips and some of them were also able to hand in the money for the trip. The overwhelming majority of the class, though a few of them hadn't exactly handed in their slips, had full certainty of being able to go to the Dominican Republic except for just one. Helga G. Pataki.
She still wasn't ABSOLUTELY sure whether she would go on the trip. And this time it isn't because she doesn't want to but because she's had YET to speak to Big Bob about it. She'd tried to pry it into a dinnertime conversation but her segway into the topic was interrupted by the presentation of Bob's latest advertisement for his spring time discounts at Big Bob's Electronics Emporium. Of course, he had moved on from selling beepers and went on to selling TV's, cell phones, laptop and desktop computers, DVD and Blue-Ray players and other electronics, as beepers had slowly become obsolete.
It was 9th period AP Spanish and the class was going over basic tourist questions that would come in handy for their upcoming trip while Helga disinterestedly jotted down the notes from the overhead. Ms. Rodriguez mentally took note of this but continued on with the class. In an attempt to motivate Helga to participate and be excited for the trip, she called on her to read one of the phrases.
"[1] Helga, quiero que leas este diálogo. Quiero que seas la extranjera y Arnold el taxista."
Both Arnold and Helga looked up and glanced at each other briefly, their cheeks slightly flushed in rememberance of their little encounter at her house just days prior, before performing the task at hand.
She began to read. "[2] Hola. Necesito saber cuanto cueista... ahem, cuesta un taxi de aquí al Centro de la Cultura."
"[3] Cuesta 200 pesos," answered Arnold fluently in a kind fashion. "Irás al sola o irás acompañada?"
"[4] Iré con mi amiga peiro, ahem, pero demorara un poco en llegar."
Arnold heard her answer and smiled to himself, proud that she put his techniques into practice.
"[5] Muy bien, chicos!" praised Ms. Rodriguez. "Remember to speak with confidence, Helga. Your comprehension is PERFECT and your pronunciation is improving quite impressively. Speak confidently and let it flow. And, as usual, bien hecho, Arnold!" Arnold smiled and continued to jot down notes.
"Alumnos, I need to remind that the due date for your permissions is just 3 days away. Solo TRES DIAS. However, the due date for payment is yet to be announced. There IS an installment plan so if you have any questions about that, PLEASE SEE ME after class. Now does anyone have any questions about the trip so far?"
"Si, Ms. Rodriguez," replied spunky red-head Ashley Bird. She had become very good friends with Helga in Spanish class since Phoebe was an AP French student, rather than a Spanish student. Phoebe and her were quite the opposite, what with Phoebe's soft-spoken and reserved nature, as opposed to Ashley upbeat and hyper-active disposition. During most Spanish classes, Ashley was Helga's go-to girl for venting and a lending ear. That was the good thing about Ashley. As hyperactive as she was, she always knew when to mellow down and listen to her friends when she needed it, especially Helga. They connected on a very special level, especially since they were both familiar with very difficult home lives but both rose above the circumstances and came up strong. Though their equally passionate personas would cause them to sometimes ram heads, they were always there for each other.
" [6] Sí, Ashley, qué quieres saber?"
"Well, see I was wondering. We're gonna be down there for, like a WEEK and we're gonna be seeing one monument and museum after another. Are we gonna get at least ONE DAY to CHILL and see the beach and go to a merengue dance lesson or SOMETHING? I mean all work and no play makes for a very dull field trip!" She was catching her breath while the class murmured in agreement.
"CRIMINY, BREATHE, Ash! How could you have said that in ONE BREATH?," mocked Helga.
"[7] Clase, clase, por favor! Mantenga la calma. Ashley, you bring up a good point. The Spanish department has NOT YET been handed the full itinerary of the trip, save for the cities we'll be visiting and a few museums, but I HAVE been informed that there WILL be at least one day dedicated to leisure in a coastal city!" The class upon hearing the latter cheered and buzzed with excitement.
"Any other questions?"
"Si, Ms. Rodriguez. I have one," added Arnold. "I was researching about different points of interest in Dominican Republic and I came across the Mirabal Sisters' museum in Salcedo. Will we be going there?"
Ms. Rodriguez smiled at Arnold's deep interest in Dominican history and culture, especially since that's her heritage. "Si, Arnold. We WILL be going to the Mirabal Sisters' museum. We will also be meeting the only surviving Mirabal sister, Dede." Arnold smiled in return, his question answered.
The bell rang, marking the end of the class and the day and the students were collecting their books and belongings and proceeded to head out the door. Ms. Rodriguez called to Helga. "Helga, can I see you for a moment, por favor?"
"Sure, just a sec, Ms. R." she looked to Ashley. "I'm gonna be just a few minutes, tell the bus driver to wait for me, will ya?
"Sure thing. Adiós, Ms. Rodriguez."
"Adiós, Ashley. Remember your report and permission slip, [8] de acuerdo?"
"Gotcha!" She left out the door with the other classmates.
Arnold was one of the last to leave and just as he was about to, Ms. Rodriguez called his attention. "OH, Arnold, stay put for JUST a moment! I need to speak with you as well." He noticed that she had also called Helga and felt a little self-conscious but proceeded to his teacher's desk.
"Yes, Ms. Rodriguez?"
"Well, Helga, as you know, I assigned Arnold to help you out with your pronunciation and I see that it's been going well, yes?" They nodded, avoiding each other's gaze. The teacher took note of this.
"I sense a little tension here, is everything alright?" They fidgeted a bit but Arnold was the first to speak up.
"Y-yes. We're fine, right Helga?"
"U-uh, y-yeah, everything's cool. Nothing to worry about!"
She still sensed a little bit of tension but decided not to press anything and carried on with a sly smile on her face. "Muy bien. Since I can see you guys work so well, I decided that you two will have a joint presentation on Dominican music for the trip. I've set up a special dance class for you while you're over there and you will both have a presentation for the class on the last night showing them what you learned. It IS a surprise for the rest of the class so no one else is to know about this, de acuerdo?"
Arnold and Helga's faces were both BRIGHT red with nervousness on this unexpected assignment they had just been given by their Spanish teacher. Helga, though quiet at first, opened her mouth to object but was immediately cut off by Arnold.
"Okay, Ms. Rodriguez. We'll do our best!"
Oh, sweet mother of God, I am gonna STRANGLE that football headed DWEEB! How DARE he just OKAY it without asking me if I thought it was okay! I could just KILL HIM... and yet, OH, ARNOLD! How fate hath once again brought us together, giving us this opportunity to dance the sultry music of the Dominican Republic! Our bodies will unite through music and sway to the beats of the Caribbean beats! Oh, Arnold... Helga completely zoned out in her usual lovesick trance but IMMEDIATELY snapped out of it as soon as Ms. Rodriguez began to speak again.
"Good! I look forward to seeing this unfold. Now, Helga, I have one last order of business to address with you, Arnold you can go ahead and leave."
He silently walked out.
"Now, Helga, I've noticed you haven't given at least a remote answer on whether you'll be going to the trip, is everything alright?"
Her facial expression had slowly faded from one of shock to one of slight embarrassment and sadness. "I, uh... Well, I, uh, tried to bring it up to my dad but he was to busy paying attention to someone else so I never got around to telling him."
Ms. Rodriguez' face softened. "If you'd like, I could call your house and ask him for permission myself. I really want you to go on this trip and not just for the dance assignment, this will be very good for you. Believe it or not Helga, I know that life hasn't been easy on you and I think you deserve to go on this trip. I can sense that it'll be a trip you'll never forget."
"Oh, don't bother, Ms. R, it's not worth it. Big Bob barely listens to me, he wouldn't give you the time of day."
"Oh, no, sweetie. I find I can be rather persuasive. In fact, I am absolutely positive that you will have your permission slip signed by tomorrow."
Helga was about to argue in disagreement but chose to relent and asked if she could leave. Her teacher nodded and she left.
Ay Dios mio, what am doing trying to push two students together? I'm working on a professional capacity and I'm trying to play MATCHMAKER? Oh boy...
...
Arnold had just left Ms. Rodriguez' classroom and couldn't BELIEVE what he had just gotten himself into.
GREAT! As if the awkward moment at her house wasn't ENOUGH and that I STILL have to tutor her for Spanish, NOW I have to learn how to DANCE with her! God must be having a BALL Upstairs with this! Well, it's NOT FUNNY, Big Guy! I've SEEN bachata dancing before! To have to do such a close dance with such a... beautiful blue eyed blonde that'd make a guy go weak in the knees... AGH! STOP IT! What is going ON WITH ME? I can't keep thinking about her like this! This is HELGA we're dealing with here, not -
"Hey, Arnold! ARNOLD! ARNOOOOOOOOOOLD!" Gerald shouted in his ear to get his best friend since preschool's attention as they stepped into the bus. "Man, what is going ON with you? You've been on the moon for the past few days! You okay, man?"
Arnold absently nodded as he saw Helga walk inside the bus. He tried to hide his face and his best friend took note of this. "Okay, man. Spill it. What's wrong with you? I got a feeling Pataki's involved."
"It's nothing Gerald, I'm fine."
"Come on, man. We tell each other EVERYTHING! Plus, I JUST saw how you avoided her. What's goin' on?"
Arnold sighed and let it out. "Well, you remember Ms. Rodriguez asked me to tutor someone with their Spanish, right?"
"Yeah, what happened? "Well, turns out it was Helga. We'd gotten started and she told me she might not go. When we finished, I told her that the trip wouldn't be the same without her and I WINKED at her. Ever since, I couldn't stop thinking about it... or her. Am I over thinking this?"
Gerald looked at his best friend in awe, his eye slightly twitching. "Did you just say you can't stop thinking about HELGA G. PATAKI?"
"I knew I shouldn't have told you." Arnold rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Okay, okay. I think you're mauling this over too much. I HIGHLY doubt that YOU, or ANYONE for that matter could possibly have any kind of romantic feelings towards Helga G. Pataki. She's cold and mean and doesn't care about anyone." Arnold was internally appalled at how his best friend thought of her.
She's not that bad! She's had her moments of kindness, she has a good sense of humor, she protects those she cares about the most and she's beautiful... HERE I GO AGAIN!
...
Meanwhile, Helga had sat down between Ashley and Phoebe, who'd saved a spot for her on the bus. She'd been silent for a while and both girls took note of this. Knowing that Helga wouldn't want to bring up whatever's bothering her out loud, they took their Blackberries and created a little group chat and sent a message to Helga asking her what's up.
Helga's phone buzzed and saw it. She looked at both girls and rolled her eyes.
Hell Girl: Im fine. I dont wanna tlk about this rn.
AshBird: Plz, we're nt stupid, Helga. This is bout Arnold, isnt it?
Phoebe-san: Im afraid I have 2 concur w/ Ashley, Helga. Uve bn quiet during the whole ride n ur facial expression showed discomfort upon seeing him in class 2day.
Helga proceeded to text the girls about everything that'd gone down with Arnold and Spanish class, save for the dance assignment, which Ms. Rodriguez had explicitly told them to keep under wraps. Their response was generally the same one Gerald had given Arnold.
Eventually the bus let her off at her stop and Arnold immediately got off there too. Before Gerald could ask him and get a word in edgewise, Arnold had already gotten off the bus with Helga and the bus had already left.
"He's a bold kid... bold and crazy..."
TRANSLATIONS
[1] - Helga, I want you to read this dialogue. I want you to play the tourist and Arnold to play the taxi driver.
[2]- Hello. I need to know how much I need pay to go from here to the Centro de la Cultura.
[3] - It costs 200 pesos... Will you be going alone or accompanied?
[4] - I'll be going with a friend but she'll be running a bit late.
[5] - Well done, guys.
[6] - Yes, Ashley, what would you like to know?
[7] - Class, class, please keep calm.
[8] - Okay? / agreed?
Be honest. What did you think? Where do you want to see this go? Review PWEEZE!? :DD GBY!
-Hanna Cabrodi :D