Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story.
They all belong to their rightful owner: Craig Bartlett.
Title: "Leave the lights on"
In the last chapter: After the kiss Arnold had received on his cheek from Helga, things started going south between them. Helga got more defensive around him and Arnold wasn't sure what to say to her half the time. When Phoebe, Helga's best friend came to their school, Gerald took a shine to her and jumped at the opportunity for all of them to hang out at the house, to Helga's obvious irritation.
When Miriam didn't have time to watch Helga herself, she was forced to ask Arnold to watch Helga as she bathed, which Helga told him was because she had once drowned in the tub and that had made Miriam scared to death. That wasn't the only awkward thing that happened that afternoon though, when Arnold stormed into Helga's room after she had yelled at her sister over the phone and saw her in a bra and was forced to help her out of the blouse, which she was stuck in.
After the awkward moment Gerald and Phoebe had witnessed, the four teens gave up on hanging out that day, which left Arnold alone with his thoughts. After calling Lila and busting her out on a date with Stinky, he went to Helga's room to talk about it. He found out she could play the guitar and was even creating a song of her own, which turned into a jam session.
Author's 1st note: Yeah, this is what happens when school starts again; I don't have as much time and energy to write as I'd like… It's probably going to continue like this though, I can't make a chapter every day like before now – Damn it! xD
[Please notify me if you notice any grammar mistakes. This isn't my first language, so there's bound to be mistakes.]
Chapter 6: "Catch me sleeping"
Helga couldn't believe it was already so cold already she felt the need to wear a jacket. "Autumn came fast this year." She said and blew some air into her hands, watching the white smoke disappear into the distance once it had gotten through her fingers.
"Yes." Arnold agreed and tightened his scarf around his neck. "I can't believe it's already been a month."
"What's been a month?" Helga asked, blowing hot air in her hands again.
"That we all moved in together." The blonde boy clarified a little shyly. He couldn't believe it had been so long already. Well, it wasn't by any standards a long time to know someone, not at all; compared to his classmates whom he had known since he was a child, Helga could still be considered a stranger, but that's not how it felt at all. He was getting so comfortable around her that he was starting to feel he had known her his entire life.
Helga halted when this information had processed through her mind. "Oh, yeah." She said excitedly and Arnold stopped to look at her. "It's been a month today. Bet you five bucks Miriam will try to make dinner." She said and continued to walk with him. "Again." She added teasingly.
Miriam's cooking skills still left all her family members hungry, but she was still trying, to her daughter's surprise. Helga had yet to bust her having a smoothie as well, which was an even bigger surprise. Miles, as far as Helga could tell, had no idea about her mom's former drinking problem. Arnold didn't know, that was obvious. Why? Because Helga didn't want him to know, obviously. Miriam wasn't likely to tell him so it was only in the scenario of Helga having a stroke and losing her mind that Arnold would ever know.
"I'll take that bet." Arnold replied and shoved his hands into his pockets. Helga chuckled at that and they continued in silence for a while. It was only when a female voice called Arnold's name that the silence was disturbed.
Helga froze; she didn't have to turn around to know who that voice belonged to, but she watched as Arnold turned around and gulped. "H-Hi, Lila." He said and cast a pleading look in Helga's direction.
She sighed and faked a smile. "Good morning, Lila." She said.
The redhead approached them with her sugary smile and Helga couldn't help but shoot a hidden scowl at her. She loathed this girl with her entire being, but she still didn't understand why. The only real thing she knew about the redhead was that she had been in an on-and-off sort of relationship with Arnold for a long time. She also knew the kind of face Arnold made when he talked about her and Helga decided that face was more than enough reason to hate this girl. Arnold of course didn't know this.
"It sure has gotten cold, huh? The leaves are already changing color." Lila said and rubbed her hands together.
"We were just talking about that too." Arnold said with an awkward smile as he gestured between himself and Helga.
"Yes, it's amazing how all three of us can feel the cold." Helga retorted sarcastically.
They all started to walk again, Lila sneaking in between Arnold and Helga as she started chatting about a movie about a cat she had watched this weekend. Helga rolled her eyes, stopped walking for a second and then continued behind them. She hated the sight of them walking together and that naïve smile on Lila's face. Was the girl oblivious, stupid or was she just downright cruel? Helga didn't know, but no matter the answer she wouldn't like the girl more or less.
"Good morning, Helga!" a well-known voice yelled and Helga smiled as the Asian girl caught up with her, panting a little.
"Morning, Phoebs." Helga greeted, happy to have someone to keep her minds off the fact that Arnold was still talking to Lila; she didn't deserve his kindness at all, but that was just the way Arnold was she had realized. He couldn't hurt a fly even if it landed in his soup. He would probably scoop it up with his spoon, saving it from drowning.
Phoebe had started at P.S. 218 a few days ago, having felt lonelier than she had imagined back at P.S. 219 when Helga had changed schools. Since Phoebe's academics were pure perfection, P.S. 218 had ignored the fact that she would be changing a little too late into the year and had welcomed her with open arms to the irritation of P.S. 219. Helga was happy though, Phoebe being there meant there was at least one girl in the class she could talk to. Still to this day, the girls loathed her. She didn't care much for them either though.
Helga heard Lila giggle and she forgot what Phoebe was telling her. With a growl, she leaned closer to the shorter girl. "I hate Lila." She hissed in her ear.
"I can tell." Phoebe replied. "Why though? She has never done anything to you, has she?"
"No, it's the whole thing she's got going on with Arnold. She is jerking him around and he just lets her! I'm not sure which one of them I'm the most pissed with." Helga said and groaned when Lila put her hand on Arnold's shoulder, completely ignoring how tense he got when she did that. "Scratch that; I'm more pissed with her."
It was pure torture to walk next to Lila like this at this point, Arnold realized when he almost sighed in relief when she removed her hand from his shoulder. He couldn't help but look over his shoulder at Helga, hoping she would be looking at him so he could silently beg her to join him on his other side. When he saw that she was indeed looking at him though, he went shy and looked back at Lila. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him lately; mere eye contact with Helga could make his heart skip a beat.
"Arnold, are you listening?" Lila asked softly and Arnold woke up from his small daydream.
"Oh, sorry, no." he admitted. "What did you just say?"
Lila smiled patiently. "I wanted to ask you if you wanted to have dinner tonight." She confirmed.
Arnold wasn't sure, but he could have sworn he heard something resembling a snarl behind him. "Uh, d-dinner?" he questioned in confusion.
"Yes. I miss your company and there's this adorable little bistro that's just opened. What do you say?"
"Whoa. Uh, I, um…" Arnold mumbled, feeling confused. A month ago he would have loved if Lila had asked him out like this, but for some reason, he didn't really want to.
He was almost praying for a way to say no and yet not hurt her, when he heard Helga's voice behind them. "Oh, Arnold, by the way; remember that Miriam is planning something special for dinner for tonight since it's our one month anniversary." She said casually and smiled at Lila. "It's been a month since we moved into our house."
"Oh, then I suppose tonight would be bad." Lila stated with a pensive smile. Arnold almost sighed in relief, but then the redhead continued. "Would tomorrow night work for you?" she asked. Arnold felt trapped. He felt he had to accept at this point or else he might seem rude.
Just as he was about to answer though, he felt Helga tap on his shoulder. "Race you!" she declared before running off. With a snicker, Arnold started running after her. This had become a regular thing once they were close enough to the school and he got so caught up in the game that he forgot he was leaving Lila behind him.
"I win." Helga announced in a pant when she touched the school wall. "Again."
"That's because you always run ahead like this!" Arnold said in a smile and looked back while his smile faded. "We just dumped Lila and Phoebe."
"Naw, they'll be fine." Helga insisted and approached him, hitting his shoulder in a fist. "Speaking of which; you need to learn to say no, Football Head."
Arnold rubbed his shoulder, nodding as he did so. "I-I know. She just caught me off guard."
"That's no excuse! You need to officially end it with this bitch before she breaks your heart. Again."
"She's not a… Helga, she isn't that bad. She's a sweet girl, honestly or else I wouldn't like her."
Helga's eyebrows knitted together. "A sweet girl wouldn't jerk you around like that." She insisted. Arnold was about to protest, but she interrupted him. "Face it, Arnold; she's not the girl you thought she was. It's a damn shame, but it's time to realize you can do better, that you deserve better."
Arnold felt his cheeks heat up at her words. He wanted to ask her if she meant that, but her smile told him that she did. "Thank you."
"The only proper way to thank me is to finally give up on her." Helga said and opened the door into the school. Arnold sighed and nodded, though he knew it wasn't that easy. He had liked Lila for a long time after all; it wouldn't just all disappear overnight, but he was definitely going to try.
As they walked through the hallway, Arnold remembered something. "Did Miriam till you she was going to make a special dinner tonight?" he asked.
Helga smirked and shrugged innocently. "Not really, but I think it's a pretty safe bet. Besides," she said and swung her arms over his shoulder. "I needed to save you from Lila's claws."
Helga had been right in her assumption; as soon as she and Arnold came home, Miriam declared: "Happy one month anniversary!" happily and told them she would make something special tonight. Miles offered to help, though Arnold knew he was just hoping to save dinner, but Miriam insisted she wanted to do it on her own. Arnold and Helga decided to go to his room and jam, something they had made a habit of since he found out she played the guitar.
The doorbell rang just as they had started walking the stairs. "You go get your mouth harmonica and I'll open." Helga said, since she was the one closer to the door and jumped off the staircase. Arnold nodded at her and continued up the stairs. She chuckled at his bouncy way of walking before she opened the front door.
"Hi, Helga." Lila said as she stood there on the doorstep as if she belonged there.
A deep scowl appeared on Helga's face. "What are you doing here?" she asked, ignoring Lila's greeting. She just wanted her to get out of her sight as soon as possible.
"Um, Arnold is home, right?" Lila asked with an innocent smile.
Helga crossed her arms. "Yeah, but he doesn't have time right now. Also, didn't we already tell you we were having dinner plans as a family tonight?" she asked.
"Yes, but it is not tonight quite yet, is it?" Lila asked, still wearing that sugary smile that made Helga wonder why her teeth wasn't filled with holes. "Can I talk to him?" she asked and tried to step inside, but Helga stopped her.
"I don't think so."
"Well, why ever not?" Lila asked, her face looking disordered and somehow dejected.
Helga sighed and leaned closer to the redhead. "Listen, Lila, because if you make me say this again, you'll understand why others call me the girl with the iron fists. Stay away from Arnold." she warned and Lila stared at her in shock. "Stop hurting him. You've had so many chances with him already and you blew it. I'm not going to let you get his hopes up only to shoot them down again."
"Th-That's not what I've been doing!"
"The hell it isn't." Helga retorted and was about to push Lila out from the doorframe, but heard a voice from upstairs that made her curse.
"Helga, what's taking so long?" Arnold asked as he appeared at the staircase. His eyes widened when he noticed Lila who was waving innocently at him. "Lila, what are you doing here?" he asked as he walked down the stairs.
"Well, I thought since you didn't have time for dinner tonight, maybe we could just hang out right now?" the redhead suggested.
"And I was telling her it was a bad idea." Helga interjected, glaring at Lila who looked nervously back.
"Well, that's Arnold's decision, isn't it?" she asked and looked at Arnold expectantly. Helga shook her head in disbelief, but looked at Arnold as well. He felt completely stuck between the two girls; he knew what he wanted to do, but he also knew what his manners told him. He knew Lila lived at the other side of town and she had gotten through the trouble of coming all the way over here. In the end, his kindness won over his desire.
With a nervous sigh, he nodded. "You can come in, Lila." He said, casting a nervous glance at Helga who was staring at him as if he had just grown an extra head.
"Hold on." The blonde said to Lila, putting her hand on her shoulder to stop her from walking in and then walked towards Arnold, grabbing his shoulder a little roughly. "What are you doing?" she asked in a whisper. "What happened to making it clear you weren't interested anymore?"
"I-I'm sorry, Helga. I know, but she walked all the way over here just to spend time with me. I can't bring myself to throw her out."
"Let me do it then."
"No! Helga, I-I…" Arnold said in confusion, looking at everything but her. He had never felt himself getting pulled in two different directions before, not like this anyway. On one hand he was extremely happy that Helga was so angry at Lila for his sake, but on the other hand he didn't understand why she cared this much; it was making him hopeful, but he didn't understand for what. "Why do you hate her so much?" he finally asked.
Helga's lips turned into two thin lines. "Because unlike you, I've seen what your face looks like when you talk about her." she explained, pointing at the redhead for effect. Her face softened. "You look like a kicked puppy… so of course I hate her."
Arnold had never thought he'd feel so happy from hearing something so hateful, but he did. It wasn't kind to take pleasure in someone else's hatred and therefore, he forced himself to swallow the bliss and do, what he believed was right. "I still can't bring myself to send her away." He said, hoping she would understand that this was only out of thoughtfulness and not because he wasn't agreeing that Lila wasn't the one for him.
Helga stared in disbelief as Arnold turned to Lila and waved her inside. With a growl, she shoved her feet into her shoes.
"What are you doing?" Arnold asked as he helped Lila take her coat off.
"If she is coming in, I'm going out." Helga explained as she wrapped her own coat over her shoulder, too impatient to actually close it right then.
"Helga." Arnold pleaded, but she ignored him.
She stepped closer to Lila, shooting her a look that could probably kill. "I hope for your sake that karma slaps you in the face before I do." She told her before heading towards the door. Arnold pleaded with her once more, but she slammed the door behind her, leaving the blonde and redhead alone in the foyer.
Lila blinked a couple of times. "She's ever so temperamental, isn't she?" she questioned, but it sounded more like a statement. Arnold didn't know what to say, but he didn't like her comment one bit. Yes, Helga was a passionate girl, but she meant well. He was the idiot in this scenario and he couldn't believe he had let it get this far. Lila sighed and shook her head. "What a troubled young woman."
Arnold scowled deeply, hating this arrogant comment more than the former one. "Lila, I'm sorry, but I've changed my mind." He said and grabbed her coat, which he had hung up on the rake a mere second ago.
Lila looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked in a hurt voice.
Arnold ignored the part of him, which felt bad for her and gestured for her to slip her arms in her coat. "Helga's right; I can't continue to hope that you'll change your mind, hoping for an opportunity like this to come all the time. I appreciate you coming over," he said and helped her put the coat on a little forcefully. "but I have to go after Helga."
As soon as Lila was in the coat, Arnold put his hand on her shoulder and almost pushed her out once he had opened the front door. "Arnold, don't do this." Lila pleaded as he grabbed his jacket and put it on, too impatient to close the buttons on it. "I-I know I've been indecisive, but I really do want - - "
"Lila, I don't have time to hear this right now. I need to go after Helga before she gets too far away." Arnold said as he closed the door behind him and left Lila on the stoop. He knew she was calling his name, but he decided that he didn't hear it.
Arnold ran through the street, wondering where Helga could have gone. Where would a girl like that go when she was… pissed, he decided. He stopped to think about where to go before he ended up in the opposite direction. He pulled out his phone and called Helga's number, but she didn't pick up. In stubbornness, he tried again and this time she answered.
"Not interested, Arnold."
"I sent Lila home!" he said quickly, hoping she wouldn't hang up on him. When he didn't hear a dial tone, he sighed in relief. "Where are you?"
There was a long silence, but then he could hear Helga make a sound that was a mix of a sigh and a growl. "At the pier." She answered before hanging up. With a smile, Arnold ran towards the harbor.
Helga was indeed sitting at the pier when Arnold got there. She was staring at the water and the ships in it absentmindedly as he sat down next to her. She didn't say anything, seemingly ignoring him.
"I sent her home."
"You said that already."
"I know…"
Helga finally looked at him, but she was a long shot away from smiling. "What changed your mind?"
"You did." The short boy answered honestly. It was the pure truth after all; if Helga hadn't said the things she had, if he hadn't met her, he would probably still follow Lila around like a lost puppy.
Helga's eyebrows lifted at his small confession, but then she smirked proudly. "Took you long enough though." She said and pushed at him, almost pushing him off the pier, but she quickly grabbed him and stopped him from falling.
"Careful!" Arnold reminded her in a chortle and felt his body tingle at the feeling of her hands on him even though it was through the thick fabric of his jacket.
"Don't worry, Football Head; I got you." Helga said in a chuckle and dusted off his shoulders. She looked at his hair before moving a hand in it. "You really should try for the ponytail look again sometime…" she muttered absentmindedly, her fingers going through his hair as if she was mesmerized. Arnold was staring at her and when she looked in his eyes, her own eyes widened for a mere second. She then used both her hands to ruffle his hair until it was a complete mess. "Though I guess this look suits you too."
Arnold groaned as he put his hands on his head, attempting to straighten his hair again. He looked at Helga who was laughing, but it seemed forced for some reason. He forgot his hair when he noticed an unmistakable pink tint on her cream-colored cheeks. Then he felt something he had felt before, but refused to acknowledge that he had; he got the tingles. It started in his toes and spread through his body until all he could feel was this all-consuming joy, he knew he shouldn't be feeling towards his stepsister.
When Helga and Arnold had gotten home, he heard himself say he wanted to take a shower before dinner. The blonde girl didn't get to reply before he had already stormed up the stairs and locked the bathroom door. He stripped faster than he ever had before and got into the shower. He turned the knob and sighed in relief as the cold water turned his skin numb.
What happened in the bathroom while Arnold showered was not at all disturbing. It wasn't disturbing because it simply hadn't happened. Of course not, that would be ridiculous.
Arnold hadn't stood in the shower and let his mind wander to his stepsister. He didn't imagine her smirking at him, teasing him and stick her soft tongue at him in a childish manner. He hadn't imagined her out of her hoodie or her baggy pants and he hadn't imagined her on his bed, moaning and writhing underneath him. He hadn't imagined her touching his skin, running her hand through his hair again or kissing him breathless.
And he most certainly hadn't reacted on those thoughts because they never happened. All he did was wash his hair; ask him yourself.
When Arnold came out of his completely uneventful shower, he walked to his room to change, still thinking about the thoughts that didn't happen. Where were they coming from? What had changed? Hadn't he been perfectly capable at ignoring and containing these inappropriate thoughts before?
Once Arnold was dressed, he was on his way downstairs, but heard his dad call him before he could walk down. "Could you go and fetch Helga? Miriam says she might be asleep." He said. Arnold wanted nothing more than to have an excuse to walk into Helga's room, but the timing was rotten. He told his dad that he would though, as the kind boy that he was, and turned to approach Helga's room.
He knocked gently. "Helga?" he asked, but no answer. He opened the door slowly and peeked inside. Then he saw something that most definitely did not make his heart beat faster. Why would it? Just because Helga was lying on her bed, in a long t-shirt only, leaving most of her legs exposed to the world, that was no excuse to get reddened cheeks.
Helga was sleeping, Arnold realized when he noticed her closed eyes and the way her chest rose and fell slowly. She was lying on her side, using one of her hands as extra leverage on her pillow. He walked inside, closing the door behind him. He approached her slowly and sat down on his knees next to the bed. He smirked at how peaceful she looked; it was almost alien-looking compared to the usual passionate expression she showed him. He tilted his head to the side, resting his chin on the mattress and watched her for a bit, feeling her hot breath on his face whenever she exhaled.
Then a disturbing thought entered Arnold's mind and he couldn't deny this one because it was way too strong. No. he told himself as if scolding a child. You're not doing that. Why would you even want to do that? Have you lost your mind?! He thought and gulped since the thought got more persistent. His finger went to her arm and he caressed it gently. Her skin was warm against his cold fingers and he couldn't help but spread his palm to feel more of her heat.
Helga shivered from the cold feeling, but sighed through her nose in content right after. Arnold moved his face closer to hear, observing her face as he did so. He knew she was hiding the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen behind those eyelids, but it was her lips who stole his attention. They were slightly parted as she breathed slowly, heavily, but without much sound. He didn't think it made her look incredibly sexy at all; he didn't even use words like that.
Yet Arnold gulped and moved closer to the sleeping girl in front of him. Her lips were practically an inch away from his own. No. He told himself again. He stopped there, didn't move even an inch more even though his whole body was pleading him to do so. Then something amazingly disturbing happened; Helga readjusted herself in her sleep and therefore, her lips touched his ever so gently.
It was a mere peck at the corner of his mouth and yet Arnold flinched. He moved back, staring at her, but she was still sleeping soundly. He considered walking away, he knew he should have. Yet he heard himself think that he hadn't quite got to feel her lips on his. Now, that wasn't quite fair was it? Helga had kissed him out of the blue, it was only reasonable he got a proper kiss then.
Arnold put his hands on the mattress and leaned closer, making sure nothing but his lips touched Helga so he didn't risk waking her up. He sighed through his nose when the tingly feeling returned to his body. Her mouth was warm, soft and moist from her breathing.
Oh, God. Arnold barely got to think before he felt Helga shift. He pulled back instantly, watching as her eyes flickered. He considered standing up, he wanted to stand up so it wasn't so obvious he had been watching her sleep, but he was frozen in place. Her eyes finally opened, revealing the blue color he adored so much.
Helga blinked a couple of times. "What are you doing here?" she asked, not accusingly, but curiously.
"Um… dinner's ready. I was sent to fetch you."
"Any particular reason why you're all the way down here? Why didn't you just knock on my door?"
"I did, but you didn't wake up. You're a sound sleeper, you know." Arnold said in a grin, hoping it looked less tense than he felt.
Helga didn't answer, but simply sat up and rubbed her eyes. "You said dinner was ready?"
"Yeah, I'll, uh.. go downstairs and join them." He answered, stood up and headed towards the door. He could hear her hum in approval, but it was a hollow sound since his mind was screaming at him. Get out – Get out – Get out! He told himself and grabbed the handle, sure that he was safe at this point.
"You know, I thought it was Miriam who had come to wake me up until you kissed me."
Arnold froze. There's simply no other way to describe what happened. His eyes were wider than teacups, the hairs on his body stood straight from his skin and he could hear his heart throb in his ears. He told himself to walk out, to pretend he hadn't heard her, but he didn't. God knew why. He turned to look at her, his neck practically cracking as he did so. She was looking at him nonchalantly, waiting for him to speak.
"I… I am so sorry. I, uh, I wasn't thinking. I - - "
"You know how they say the worst way to get a kiss is to ask for it?" Helga interrupted and grabbed her pants which were at the end of her bed on the headboard. "You should always surprise a girl when you want a kiss, and I must say you've got the surprise part down." She said as she pulled her pants on, watching Arnold as he recoiled at her words. "Though I suppose with a cutesy guy like you, asking if you can kiss someone might be considered charming."
Arnold was just staring at Helga as she stood up from her bed. She was looking around for a bit until she found a hair elastic and grabbed it. What's going on? Was all he could decipher as he felt his hand leave the handle.
Helga hummed thoughtfully. "But I guess the cutesy type isn't very popular among women today, at least not the average, stereotypical, American woman." She muttered as she tied the hair elastic into her hair, making a high ponytail. "Oh, speaking of which… did I ever tell you where my last name is from?" she asked. Arnold shook his head slowly, still staring at her as she whipped her hair back and shook her head to loosen her ponytail a bit. "It's Hungarian. My dad's from Hungary."
"Huh." Was all Arnold could mutter as she walked towards him. She looked at him for a bit and then clapped at his shoulder, signaling for him to move away from the door. He did so, albeit clumsily, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I guess that means I'm not fully American." Helga stated in a casual grin.
Arnold could feel the hidden meaning behind her words, but he still couldn't react on it. What's going on? He wondered again.
"I kinda like waking up like this." Helga admitted casually, almost thoughtfully and that got Arnold's attention on a whole different level. "Want to make a deal?" she asked. "If you catch me sleeping again, wake me up the same way you did before and I won't question it or tell a soul about it."
What's going on?! At this point, Arnold's mind was working as well as an old, rusty grandfather clock that needed a fix. Helga didn't wait for Arnold to accept her condition and simply opened her door and walked outside.
Arnold could feel himself breathing again as soon as Helga was out of his sight, but he tensed when she reappeared. "You, uh… You joining us for dinner or are you scared you're gonna choke on your food?" she asked teasingly.
Arnold didn't answer; he still couldn't get the lump out of his throat. He tried to respond, but she just smirked at him. Before he knew it, she had her hand at the nape of his neck and she had pulled him into a sweet kiss. And Arnold couldn't even bring himself to wonder what was going on anymore.
Author's 2nd note: And once again I find myself finishing this chapter after midnight. Well, it's lucky that my psychology teacher cancelled tomorrow's class because she's sick so I had time for this since I won't be meeting at 8:35, but 12:30 instead xD