Hiya everyone! Hanna Cabrodi here! Well, this is it. The MUCH anticipated trip to the Dominican Republic begins HERE! I am VERY excited about this chapter and, based on the feedback I've gotten so far, it seems that you all are too. You don't know how thrilled and humbled I am that you all have taken so kindly to this story. I always second guess my writing and my style but if you guys are enjoying it, the pleasure is mine! I very much look forward to how you receive this so reviews and feedback, constructive, of course, lol, are very much appreciated! I'm sorry about taking so long to update it. Believe me, as an avid reader of fanfics, a few days to update a story can feel like a few years but WAIT NO MORE because it's finally here! :D
So here it is... chapter 7: Sonríeme (Smile at Me)
DISCLAIMER: You know what, I already disclaimed in the first MILLION chapters... You already know HA ain't mine! TOMS ain't mine NEITHA! :P
Friday, May 18th, 9:30 PM, Sunset Arms Boarding House
Arnold found himself in his bedroom, preparing his luggage and backpack for his Spanish class' much anticipated field trip to the Dominican Republic while listening to some jazz on his favorite station. It's hard to believe that time had gone by so fast. It scared him even more that time had progressed so quickly that it'd already been two months since he and Helga shared a little "moment" while helping Ashley perfect her Spanish. They hadn't spoken since but he couldn't stop it from replaying like a scratched record in the nooks and crannies of his mind.
He'd thought about it over and over... Not just the intense ecstasy he felt upon being THISCLOSE to kissing the girl he'd found himself mesmerized with but the fact that Little Miss Bird SPECIFICALLY chose a date dialogue for them. It seemed almost... planned. And not only that... Her body language made it specifically obvious that she was up to something. But Arnold, in all cases tried to shake it off.
Two months after the fact, he found himself falling more and more for Helga. He'd constantly run into her in the halls, as coincidences would have it and would try to provoke some kind of even mediocre conversation. Nevertheless, Helga immediately dusted him off and proceeded to stomping away with a customary insult of choice. He became so enthralled with her presence, her style, her... unique grace. Her as a person.
He'd figured out a few things about her like her deep fascination for the works of Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Maya Angelou [A/N: Who happens to be my favorite poetess], William Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot and the like. He'd even been surprised to have found, one day, while tutoring her with Spanish, a copy of "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. He was surprised to have spotted this. After all, he never could have pictured Helga G. Pataki, of all people with any kind of belief in a Higher Power. She just didn't come off as religious, let alone Christian. He had curiously taken the book off the shelf and opened it to see that the book was given to her by her older sister Olga.
Figures, he thought amusingly. Helga obviously wouldn't get a copy of one of the most influential books in Christianity on a whim...
As he'd begun to skim through the book and was surprised to discover that many passages in the book were marked and highlighted. He flipped page after page, his eyes widening with the intricate outlines Helga had added to some of the passages. He'd reached a page with a quote that was distinctively highlighted with yellow, as opposed to the other pages that were highlighted in pink.
"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."
He smiled as he read it... Of course, HELGA would love a quote like that. She's such an enigma to him.
His reminiscent thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door.
"Come in."
"Hey short man, you all set for your big trip tomorrow?" asked his grandpa as he put a bologna and cheese sandwich on Arnold's desk and grabbed the chair to sit.
His grandson smiled at him excitedly as he finished zipping up his luggage and headed towards the table to eat the sandwich. "Definitely! I've got my alarm clock set and everything! Man, grandpa, this trip is gonna be everything I ever dreamed of! History, music, beaches..."
"...Your friend with the pink bow and the one eyebrow," added Phil, mischievously.
Arnold practically choked on his sandwich and face reddened significantly. "GRANDPA!" He began to cough violently, grabbed his water bottle and chugged it down immediately.
"Hehehehe! I'm just messing with ya, short man," added an amused Phil. "But you like her, don't ya, Arnold?" As soon as his coughing had gone down, he nodded.
"Yeah. But I don't know, Grandpa, she confuses me." Arnold frowned.
"Arnold, if there's two things you need to know in life it's this. One, women are complicated creatures. It'd be easier for you to understand Arabic on the first try before you can fully understand a woman."
"And two?" Arnold inquired.
"Never eat raspberries." That being said, Phil dashed out of his grandson's room towards the W.C. to further emphasize his second point.
Arnold laughed heartily at his grandpa's nuisances and finished partaking of his sandwich.
...
9:50 PM, Pataki Residence
"Oh, Helga! This is so EXCITING! You'll be going to an exotic country at the heart of the Caribbean! Palm trees, beaches, tropical sun! Oh, I could just go ON and ON!"
Helga rolled her eyes as Olga beamed with excitement for Helga's trip tomorrow morning while they were in her room finishing her packing. Sure, Helga was internally ecstatic at the idea of being less than 24 hours away from the trip of a lifetime but even though her and Olga's relationship changed drastically over the years, she still had her pride.
"Oh, put a sock in it, would you Olga!? It's HARDLY exotic. It's not a third world country. Sure, it's got its problems but it's not a jungle!"
"I know, THAT, SILLY NILLY! I'm just so happy that Mummy and Daddy paid for your trip in full AND gave you spending money! Make sure you take LOTS AND LOTS of pictures, Baby Sister! OH! And I have a list of souvenirs I'd like for you to bring back! The envelope with the list includes some money so you don't spend any of yours on my silly things! I'd LOVE a little t-shirt for Avery with the Dominican flag on it! Make SURE you get the right size," explained Olga.
Avery is her and her husband Andrew's two year son. Helga adores spending time with him and babysitting him whenever Olga and the family come to Hillwood. He's feisty, much like his aunt, which is probably why she took to him so well.
"Olga, I'm not gonna get him an XXL shirt. Relax, would ya? And criminy, I think you're more excited about this trip than me!" remarked Helga
Maybe by the end of this trip, I'll have a brother in law, thought Olga humorously. She giggled.
"Okay, Helga. Is everything in your luggage? I don't want you to leave anything behind." Olga proceeded to read off the list of articles Helga was to stow in her bags while Helga rolled her eyes checking everything off.
Helga's phone buzzed and she read a text from Phoebe asking her if she'll be taking the bus with the other seniors or if she'll be transported directly to the airport by Olga or her parents.
-Pheebs, plz, u no better than that. Im takin the bus, DOI.
-Okay! Set ur alarm! Oh, Helga, how I wish I was going w/ u!
-Pheebs, u'll b fine. And besides, I no this is more about tall hair boy than wanting 2 b in the DR w/ me. -_- If it makes u feel any better I'll keep an eye on him, ok? RELAX.
- :D RELAXING!
Helga shut her phone off and shooed her sister out so she could FINALLY get some shuteye. Tomorrow's gonna be a LONG day.
She kept thinking back to her little ordeal with Arnold. She'd ignored him since it happened but still found herself at a loss for words with the idea that she was ABOUT to share a kiss with ARNOLD. Her mind exploded with ecstasy at the thought but her heart wouldn't let her cherish the moment.
He'd just end up saying it was the heat of the moment... He tends to do that...
She found herself reminiscing back to their adventure in saving the neighborhood from being destroyed at the hands of Scheck. In a moment of desperation, she found herself unable to contain herself and freed herself of the secret she'd held back for six years. She confessed her undying love for a certain oblong headed fellow who'd be the first person to ever show her an OUNCE of kindness. With his gestures of kindness, he'd grabbed a hold of her heart unknowingly and would for years torture her silently as he went on to pursue girls for attributes that would come to fade one day.
So yes, perhaps her confession did come about in a moment of heat... Nevertheless, it doesn't take away the veracity of every passionate word that she unleashed upon that rooftop. Arnold became overwhelmed with such a hefty load of information and, in fear, instead of confronting, he chose to divert it to a minor case of momentary deluded passion and gave her a way out, a chance to avoid the topic instead of facing it head on. It wasn't like him to just let certain things pass, especially something so... intense.
Surely, Helga felt relief surge through her veins at the chance of being able to keep her secret safe. As crazy as she found herself in that moment of confession, she knew deep down that it truly wasn't the best way to let Arnold know how she feels. Not in a crazy moment of crisis where the world, or Hillwood, for that matter, was THISCLOSE to tumbling down their ears. It was at this particular moment, while thinking back to that day, where Helga finally has an epiphany.
That's it! Dominican Republic's GOTTA be the place to let it all out! No neighborhood in danger, no crisis to hide from, no problems! Tropical locales and romantic beach scenery! THAT'S how I'll get my beloved!
She grabbed her locket as she began to immerse herself in romantic praise to her love.
Oh, Arnold, keeper of my heart and healer of my broken spirit, I shall take full advantage of this trip. With the dance Ms. Rodriguez has given us, I will dance my way to your heart with the tropical beats of the Dominican island! Ohhh...
She swooned audibly and collapsed on the floor. Bob walked into the room and saw her dazed look and proceeded to exit the room with a confused expression spread across his face.
"I'm not even gonna ask..."
...
Saturday, May 19th, 8:30 AM, Hillwood High School
Seniors were still arriving to the front entrance of Hillwood High School. The chartered buses were already there and were labeled depending on the language course. Portuguese students were on bus #1, Italian on bus #2, French on bus #3 and Spanish on bus #4.
Arnold, who was dressed in a teal colored short sleeved tee, a pair of bermuda shorts and casual sneakers, just arrived his grandparents in the Packard and proceeded to take out his backpack and luggage from the trunk.
"Now short man, remember what I told you. You call EVERY NIGHT! We gotta make sure you're still breathin'! Some mosquitoes over there are still infected with dengue and malaria."
"GRANDPA! I got the SHOTS!" retaliated Arnold defensively as he blushed sightly in embarrassment.
"Now, now, Kimba. We're just watching out for you. The jungle is just SWARMING with unruly creatures and insects!" answered his mischievous grandmother.
"Grandma, we're not going to the jungle, we're going to the Dominican Republic."
His grandmother smiled nostalgically. "Oh, Phil, do you remember when WE went down there all those years ago?"
"Yes, Pookie. I told the boy about that a few weeks ago!"
The old timers looked into each other's aged eyes with genuine love and reminiscence when Pookie's attention was immediately distracted by a familiar face.
Helga, who sported a pink tank top, khaki shorts and a pair of gray TOMS had just gotten dropped off at the school by Olga and was dragging her bags to the bus.
"TAKE CARE, BABY SISTERRRRRR! I LOVE YOUUUUUUU! Make sure you CALL!" shouted Olga from her vehicle.
"GOODBYE, OLGA," answered an annoyed and very much sleepy Helga. She'd tried getting some sleep the night before but couldn't sleep with anticipation of the trip.
"OH, ELEANOR! How's Teddy?" interrogated Pookie as she approached Helga.
Helga proceeded to give the elder woman a hug. Unbeknownst to Arnold, Helga had spent quite some time with Pookie, who she calls Gertie.
"I'm fine, Gertie, I'm just beat."
Arnold's ears wised up to this and his suspicion was confirmed. Grandma IS Gertie.
He approached them and shyly greeted Helga. "H-hi, Helga."
Helga looked up and smirked slightly at him, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said her goodbye to Gertie and walked away.
"YO, PATAKIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" shouted Ashley as she approached her blonde friend.
"EYYYYYYY, 'TSUP BIRD!?"
The two friends greeted each other and finished putting their bags in the storage compartments of the bus.
...
"Phoebe, I really wish you were on my trip." Gerald was with his longtime girlfriend as they held hands.
"Gerald, I wish I was going with you. Or I just wish you'd be with me in France. I don't think the Eiffel Tower will be the same if you weren't there." She looked towards the ground and frowned.
He took note of the melancholic look on her face and held her chin up with his finger and held her other hand tighter. "Kirei, it's only 10 days but I'll miss you like you'll never know. I'll text and Spykenger every night."
"Gerald, the time difference..."
"We'll work around it. I promise. We always do, right." He smiled as she saw the corners of her mouth contort into a small smile.
"Aishteru, Gerald," smiled Phoebe.
"Aishteru, kirei."
They gave each other a heart-stopping kiss, as usual. They had a bond that, though they've had their storms, was unbreakable. Each time their lips connect, it's as if they've become a new couple all over again. Their relationship was envious among their peers.
Their moment was interrupted by the principal's announcement to board busses. "Students, you are now to board your busses immidiately. Report to your respective busses immediately. Thank you."
...
9:15 AM, Concourse D, Hillwood International Airport
"Estudiantes, su atencion por favor. When I call your name, step forward so I can hand you your tickets."
Ms. Rodriguez, donning a simple green tank top, khaki shorts, running sneakers, a straw fedora and aviator shades, began to read her list of students and handed out their tickets one by one.
"Pataki, Helga." Helga stepped forward and read her seat assignment. 7D.
"Shortman, Arnold" Arnold stepped forward and took his ticket without so much as reading his seat number.
...
9:45 PM, Concourse D, Gate D29, Hillwood International Airport
The students had finally gotten settled into the gate. Boarding wasn't for another 15 minutes so some went lounging around the concourse purchasing small snacks, magazines or other items. Helga and Gerald met up with Phoebe briefly, who was set to board at gate D25 for her flight to France. Helga was TRYING to say goodbye to her longtime friend but her and her beloved boyfriend continued to kiss as if they were being shipped to the line of duty. She'd had just about enough, they were boarding soon and was becoming, quite frankly, annoyed at the prospect of waiting any longer for the lovebirds to finish their PDA.
"OKAY, ENOUGH. Tall hair boy, would YOU and my dear Pheebs QUIT sucking face so I can say goodbye and go back to the gate. I am TIRED as hell."
The couple pulled back and said their goodbyes. Again.
Helga obnoxiously cut in and gave her Asian friend a hug, said her goodbye and left.
...
10:10 AM, Concourse D, Gate D29, Hillwood International Airport
"Good Morning, this is the boarding call for Skyview Airlines flight 315 with non-stop service to Newark International Airport. We now boarding rows 5-8. Again, we are boarding rows 5-8 on Skyview Airlines flight 315 to Newark, New Jersey. Thank You."
Those were the exact rows the AP Spanish group would be boarding so they all began to grab their carry on baggage and proceed to the gate door.
As they made their way into the plane, Helga had zoomed past Arnold in the tunnel and dashed immediately to her convenient aisle seat. She grabbed her mp3 player and began to mellow out to some smooth rock when she was asked to stand to let the passenger whose seat was assigned next to her take his seat. She looked up to find none other than Arnold Shortman, the young man whose mere existence made, as she can recall, her girlhood tremble.
She silently obliged and allowed Arnold to pass to his seat, 7E. Ms. Rodriguez, who was sitting right behind them, smiled.
...
4:00 PM, Terminal B, Newark Liberty International Airport
The flight from Hillwood to Newark went rather well. Arnold and Helga sat in absolute silence though both were DYING to stir up SOME kind of conversation.
During the flight, Sid, who sat a row in front of them began to panic, as it was his first time flying. The flight attendants had to find a rational way to calm him down, he was becoming hysterical which became a means of humor for his classmates. Harold grabbed his digital camera and recorded the whole ordeal. He's NEVER gonna let him live it down.
The group immediately got their bags from the baggage claim, checked in for the flight to Puerto Plata and went immediately to the gate. They were on a time constraint, boarding begins at 5:00 PM
Eventually, they made it in time and got to have a few minutes of relaxation at gate B7. Arnold, after mulling it over and over, finally decided to work up the guts to try and have a decent conversation with her. He wanted so badly to connect with her on SOME level so he worked up the courage and approached her, especially considering, he's to sit next to her AGAIN for the upcoming flight.
He nervously walked up to her, his hand rubbing the back of his head, a common nervous habit for him. "H-hey, Helga."
Helga, who was devouring a pizza dropped the slice on her plate and invited him to sit down. Might as well TRY and be nice, how ELSE am I gonna get him to fall for me. DOI.
"Look, I, uh... we never got a chance to talk about what happened that night at the boarding house."
"Uh... Arnold, I understand, it was a 'heat of the moment' thing, right? Right. We just got caught up in the dialogue."
Arnold shook his head and daringly placed his hand upon hers. They both felt electricity ignite their innards at the contact of each others' skin.
"N-no, Helga, it wasn't..."
Her azure pools WIDENED at a width never seen among humans, her cheeks threatening to reach a new level of crimson.
"I-it... wasn't?"
"No," he continued. "Helga, I'm sorry if it seemed a little forward but why don't we try to be friends... you know? As a start?"
As a START? Meaning we could develop into something more. Oh, THANK YOU, GOD! You are opening the possibility for LOVE! Ohhh...
She lowered her guard a bit and smiled. "You've got yourself a deal, Arnoldo."
He smiled brightly in return.
"Good afternoon, this is the boarding call for Skyview Airlines flight 831 with non-stop service to Gregorio Luperon International Airport. We are now starting the boarding process for Skyview Airlines flight 831 with non-stop service to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic."
The announcement was repeated in Spanish.
"Muy buenas tardes, este es el llamado de abordaje para el vuelo 831 de Skyview Airlines con servicio sin escala al Aeropuerto Internacional Gregorio Luperon. Ya ha empezado el proceso de abordaje para el vuelo 831 de Skyview Airlines con servicio sin escala a Puerto Plata, Republica Dominicana."
"Guess that's our cue. Better get going." stated Arnold after hearing the announcement. Helga grabbed her slice and downed it in order to proceed to the gate for boarding. They walked to the gate together, silently giddy with joy.
...
8:45 PM, Aeropuerto Gregorio Luperon, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
"Good evening, we are making our final descent into Puerto Plata, please make sure you all your tray tables are in their locked positions, that your seatbelt is on and that your seatback is set upright. Also be sure that you have the proper documentation to enter the Dominican Republic for customs. Buenas noches, estamos haciendo el ultimo decenso hacia Puerto plata, favor de asegurarse que sus mesas esten aseguradas, que su cinturon de segurdad este puesta y que su asiento este en posicion vertical. Tambien, favor de asegurarse de tener la necesaria documentacion para entrar a la Republica Dominicana para imigracion."
Arnold and Helga had long fallen asleep but were awoken by the announcement made by the flight attendant. They did as told and prepared to land in the foreign country. They briefly looked at each other and smiled.
The plane began to descend and as soon as it hit Dominican soil, the passengers began to clap. Having never flown to the country before, the group found it odd but joined in with the overwhelming majority of natives in applauding the landing.
"Good evening, we have now landed into the Dominican Republic, the time is 8:51 PM, we are right on schedule. The temperature is currently a cozy 77 degrees fahrenheit and we're looking at clear skies for the Puerto Plata tonight. We wanna thank you for choosing Skyview Airlines, the right way to fly, as your carrier of choice. Have a great night."
The group felt a surge of excitement in finally knowing that they've arrived to the island of merengue and incredible beaches.
As they stepped into the terminal, they were received by a perico ripiao band. Gerald had once looked up perico ripiao music, which is a very raw and traditional version of merengue, and became quite fascinated with it. He immediately went towards them and began to dance. Ms. Rodriguez joined in on the fun. Gerald and Ms. Rodriguez chastely danced together to the music and the other students began to join in on the fun, even though they didn't know how to dance to this particular genre.
The students eventually went through customs and proceeded to board the bus. Some of them began to take photos of the picturesque palm trees and flora outside the airport. Others were to tired... It has been, in fact, a long day.
Well, that's what I've got for ya. Longest chapter I have EVER written! So wadja think? LEAVE ME SOMETHING, MAN! :DD
GBY!
-Hanna Cabrodi :D