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: Arnold and Helga's plans to keep their feelings at bay went less than well. The frustration of wanting the person living under the same roof turned into downright anger and soon, the blondes were bickering and fighting all the time. That resulted in a food fight that Gerald and Phoebe had to stop. Arnold and Helga agreed to go back to ignoring each other altogether in an attempt to continue their plan.
Author's 1st note: I don't know what to say! Just read! Cx
[Please notify me if you notice any grammar mistakes. This isn't my first language, so there's bound to be mistakes.]
Chapter 30: "I've taken their angel"
"At least they are not fighting anymore…" Sheena muttered to her classmates as they all looked at the two blondes who were sitting next to each other, but wasn't even looking at the other. Sheena sighed. "But this silent treatment is starting to worry me. I wonder if their parents' marriage isn't working out?"
Stinky shrugged. "Maybe. It's not like they'll tell us about it though." He said and made a sad face. "I just hope they won't start a food fight again."
"It was one lemon pudding, Stinky. Let it go!" Rhonda said, rolling her eyes. "Let's change the subject. Who are you bringing for prom?" she asked the girls and the subject quickly changed to her liking.
Arnold and Helga were listening to their peers' conversation, but were hardly interested in participating. They tried to keep low key and even hide what they were feeling at the moment, but it obviously wasn't working the way they wanted it to. Their mood got more and more sour by the day and even though it was better than fighting then it really wasn't much better.
"Does anyone know if there's gonna be a band or something?" Nadine asked casually.
Rhonda shook her head. "No bands. They are just going to be playing music over the stereos. It really sucks."
"Oh, come on!" Sid complained. "We gotta hear some live music. It's our prom!"
"We gotta find someone ourselves if that's gonna happen."
"Well," Lila interfered gently. "how about Helga?"
Rhonda looked like someone ready to murder when Helga looked at them. "Did you say my name?" the blonde girl asked.
Lila nodded. "We were discussing the lack of live music that is going to be at our prom and then I remember that you sing ever so well, Helga. Perhaps you could perform at our prom?"
That got Arnold's attention and he looked at Helga questioningly whose blue eyes were wider than he'd ever seen them before. "Not gonna happen, Miss Perfect. I already told you guys that the thing in Big Bear Valley was going to be a one-time thing." She dismissed and looked away, expecting them to give it up.
That's not what happened.
"It would be pretty cool if you'd perform for us again." Harold interfered.
"Shut it, pig boy." Helga hissed and he growled at her. "It's not happening."
"Why not? You performed for us at Big Bear." Sid pointed out.
"That was different."
"How?"
"It was just you guys. Now you're asking me to perform at the effing prom? Not happening." Helga insisted before she noticed Phoebe biting on her lower lip. She usually did that when she felt guilty. "You too, Phoebe?"
"It's just…" the shorter girl started and looked at Gerald who encouraged her. "Even just one song would be really nice. It's the first time we're ever gonna have a school dance without live music so… just one song wouldn't hurt, right?"
"Traitor…" Helga muttered and looked away, her face taking on a thoughtful expression. She sighed. "I'll think about it, ok?"
"You'd better think fast. Prom is this - - "
"I'm aware, princess." Helga hissed at Rhonda. "I'll give you my answer tomorrow."
"Are you really considering it?" Arnold asked, breaking the silence between him and Helga on their walk home. It was the first time in weeks they were walking next to each other and he couldn't help but want to talk to her as well.
Helga looked at him in surprise. "Why do you ask?"
"It's just… whenever you're asked to perform you hate it with a burning passion so… I was wondering if you just said it to get them off your back."
Helga looked forward. "It's different when it's Phoebe asking… She almost never asks me to do her any favors so… I'm seriously considering it." She explained and shrugged. "I wouldn't know what song to choose though."
Arnold couldn't help but smile; it was the first time in what felt like forever that they were having a normal conversation. "Maybe you could go all out and bring your guitar." He suggested jokingly and Helga snorted. "You could sing that song you've been working on?"
Helga halted at those words and Arnold looked at her questioningly. Had he said something wrong? "That'd…" Helga started and laughed awkwardly. "That'd be one hell of a prom if I did that."
Arnold cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"
Helga shook her head. "Never mind." She said and continued walking. Arnold turned to look at her and sighed when he realized the conversation was definitely over. He followed her with heavy steps and noticed they were already at the house. He would like to believe that was the reason she had stopped talking to him, but he wasn't sure. When she opened the door, Miriam and Miles were standing in the hallway with their arms crossed.
"What's going on?" Arnold asked and stood behind Helga who took a step back when she saw their parents.
"Intervention." The blonde adults answered in unison and showed a bag they had each been holding behind their backs. Their children recognized the bags immediately; they belonged to themselves.
"Were you messing around with my things?" Helga asked in horror and grabbed the bag from her mother.
"I was simply packing your things." Miriam responded tiredly. "I've put everything you'll need in there."
"Everything I'll…? What?" Helga said and looked as Arnold took his own bag from Miles when he held it out for him.
Arnold opened his bag and looked inside. "What is this?"
"Your things."
"I can see that!" Arnold responded. "Where are we going?"
"To Sunset Arms." Miles explained and the blonde teens looked at each other in shock. "You two have been acting horrible the last month. Going from ignoring each other to fighting and now back to ignoring each other! You won't be let back into your house until you've solved whatever problem you two have."
"You can't just kick us out!" Helga bellowed in shock.
"We're not kicking you to the curb, Helga." Miriam intervened. "We've already called Phil and Gertie and they said they would happily take you in. You can come back as soon as you two are friends again."
"But - - "
"No buts, Arnold." Miles interrupted. "Mom and dad are expecting you soon."
The blonde teenagers looked at each other in disbelief, but turned around to walk away. When they heard the door close behind them, Helga turned around to look at their house. "I don't…" she started unsurely and Arnold looked questioningly at her. "I don't think they are only doing this because of us."
Arnold looked thoughtfully at Helga who had a pained expression on her face. "You think they…?"
Helga shrugged. "It's just… something tells me that they are realizing they have too many problems themselves to deal with us right now." She said and put her bag over her shoulder. Arnold looked at the house one last time, wondering if the house would look any different to him when he and Helga would return. He put his bag over his shoulder and followed Helga to Sunset Arms.
"So, what did my favorite lovebirds do to get them kicked out of the house?" Phil asked with a toothless grin as Arnold and Helga walked into Sunset Arms. The blondes looked at each other silently without answering. "Trouble in paradise, eh? Well, that happens sometimes."
Not quite this way, I think. Helga thought and let go of her bag when Gertie grabbed it. The elderly woman swung it over her shoulder with ease, grabbed Arnold's bag and did the same with that one before she jogged up the stairs. "Gertie really is… something." Helga observed with an impressed smirk. I hope I'll be in as good shape as her when I'm her age.
"Yeah," Phil said and nudged Arnold's arm. "really something, eh?"
"Stop it, grandpa." Arnold begged in a whisper. "Did dad tell you anything about why they send us here?"
"Nothing much. Just that you two have been a pair of gloomy sourpusses and he wanted me to fix that or at least figure out why." Phil said and rolled his eyes dramatically. "It's not like I've got anything better to do my age!"
Helga and Arnold snickered at his exaggerated declaration and smiled at each other. All things considered, this was a much happier home to be in at the moment. Perhaps it wouldn't be too bad to spend a few days there.
"Oh, by the way. I don't know where you got it from, Arnold, but you and Miles are both so dense!" Phil said teasingly and knocked on Arnold's wide head a few times.
"What do you mean, gramps?" Helga asked while Arnold swapped his grandpa's hand away.
"I'm talking about the rooms, of course!" he said excessively. "I don't even think he thought about it before sending you two kids here."
Arnold and Helga looked at each other in confusion. "Grandpa, I don't think I understand." The confused boy admitted.
Phil put his hands on his hips, a familiar smirk on his face. "The reason you all moved out of here to begin with! The only room empty here is yours, Shortman!" he explained and grinned wider when a look of horror struck the teenagers' faces. "You two are gonna have to share."
"What?!" Arnold and Helga exclaimed in shock.
"Why so surprised? You've snuck to Sunset Arms plenty times before to spend the night here. What's changed? Hmm?" Phil asked invasively and leaned down to get right in Arnold and Helga's faces. The blondes looked at each other awkwardly, blushing more than they had in a long time. "Suspicious." Phil declared and clapped his hands together. "Well! What you two do inside closed doors isn't any of my beeswax! What would you two like for dinner?"
Arnold and Helga didn't have any preference for dinner. All they could think about the rest of the day was the night to come and whether the discomfort, awkwardness or the passion would win in this wheel of misfortune they were caught in.
"You have to get to bed at some point." Phil pointed out as he put another card down on the table. He yawned, barely noticing Arnold swiping all the cards on the table, having been the one with the highest card and then winning every card in this game of war.
"Shoot! I lose again!" Gertie declared sullenly when Helga was the one to get the next four cards on the table. "I have let my soldiers down!" she said and with those words, she ran out of the room, laughing manically for whatever reason.
"Come on, grandpa." Arnold pleaded. "Just one more game."
"War is a long game! You've won twice times already, Shortman. You can't avoid your room forever." Phil said, threw the rest of his cards on the table and stood up. "I'm going to bed. You two do the same. You have school tomorrow after all."
"But - - " Helga and Arnold begged in unison, but Phil was already out of the room. They looked at each other awkwardly and when Helga looked away, Arnold started to collect the cards to put them back in place. Helga looked at the clock and stated that it was almost midnight. "I'll… go get ready for bed."
Arnold watched Helga in his peripheral vision as she walked out of the living room, presumably heading up the stairs and towards his room. He sighed heavily and let his forehead hit the table in front of him. This is going to be a long night… He thought before continuing tidying up the cards. Once they were all in the package he put them where they belonged and walked slowly out of the room. He looked at the row of stairs, wondering if there had always been so few steps and walked up.
When Arnold reached his room he knocked tentatively on the door and Helga told him he could come in. He took a deep breath, walked in and closed the door behind him without looking at her. "What, um… What are we gonna…?" he started, but when he looked at her, he forgot what he was going to ask her. She was standing in the middle of the room and the moonlight emitting through the skylight made her shine like a jewel. She had loosened her long blonde hair and the locks were falling gracefully down on her shoulders, which were covered by the white, big dress shirt she sometimes slept in. It barely covered the upper part of her thighs and yet the sleeves went past her wrists which looked so undeniably cute.
"Gonna what?" Helga asked awkwardly and put a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"Huh? Oh, uh… I was gonna ask what… what we were going to do. I mean…" he started clumsily and looked away, forcing himself to focus at something else than what was in front of him. "I don't know if I can… sleep in the same bed with you."
Helga frowned. "You have that little self-control?" she asked mockingly.
Arnold frowned back. "It's not about self-control, Helga."
"How is it not? You really can't sleep next to me without trying anything? That's kinda pathetic." She said with a smirk. She wasn't sure why she was trying to provoke him. It just seemed easier than admitting that she had as little self-control as he did.
Arnold growled. "I do have self-control, I just - - "
"Then prove it." Helga challenged and gestured towards the bed. Arnold looked at the bed and then back at her before he headed towards it. She put her hands on her hips and watched as he pulled his t-shirt off his body, soon followed by his pants, leaving him in his boxer shorts. He crawled into the bed and gestured wildly at her as if asking her if she was happy now. She clapped sarcastically and he rolled his eyes. He noticed his reflection in the mirror near the bed and wondered if he could really do this. If he said that he could, he was sure that a long nose would grow on his face.
Helga snuck into the bed as well, dipped under the duvet and turned her back to Arnold. "Goodnight then."
"Goodnight." Arnold responded curtly, putting his arms behind his head to get more comfortable as he looked at the stars above him. The stars had never failed to distract him from whatever troubles he'd had in the past, but somehow they had lost their gleam in his eyes. He turned his head to look at Helga and noticed the mirror. It was placed perfectly for him to see her face and her upper body. She was biting her lip in either annoyance or nervousness, but the sight made him gulp.
Arnold turned to lie on his side and saw Helga flinching when he did. She clearly hadn't noticed the mirror as she was attempting to either look at the floor or close her eyes. The blonde boy behind her was staring at her blonde hair and the white dress shirt that, despite its big size, was hugging her body. He could clearly see the shape of her back and he put a hand on it experimentally.
Helga jolted at the touch, but stayed perfectly still right after. Arnold could see her opening her mouth in a silent moan and her eyes closed. He let the tips of his fingers travel up her back and between her shoulder blades before they disappeared into her hair. He played with one of the locks for a moment before he caved in and enveloped her in a hug.
"A-Arnold, I thought we agreed - - " Helga started as her hands went to his arms to push them away.
"I'm just holding you." Arnold interrupted and felt the force of her hands disappear. "I know you think I have no self-control, but… I can just hold you, Helga… Can't I?"
No… Helga thought and shut her eyes tightly. It's me who doesn't have any self-control. She confessed in her mind and relaxed in his embrace. Her hands stayed on his arms even though she had given up trying to push him away. It felt so good to have his body against her again. She could feel her legs drape against his experimentally and his nose hit her neck to hold back his moan.
Arnold could the shape of Helga's breasts above his arm and one of his fingers moved upwards, touching one breast ever so slightly. One could have argued it was an accident, but both blondes knew nothing they were doing was unintentional. Helga opened her eyes as they rolled back in her head and she noticed the mirror in front of her. She could see herself with Arnold's arms around her torso and it did something to her she couldn't explain.
"You… You ass!" Helga hissed and swung around, successfully causing Arnold to let go of her body. "You're doing this on purpose!"
"Doing what?" Arnold bellowed in shock and looked at her. His eyes widened at the sight of the skewed buttons near her breasts and the way she was breathing told him he had started something bigger than what his initial intention had been.
"I…" Helga said and put her hands on Arnold's face in desperation. "I can't sleep like this!" she half-shouted and clashed her lips against his. The boy was confused for less than a second until his passion took over. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her as close to him as possible. They kissed each other desperately, letting every emotion they had felt the past month out.
Even though they had decided to endure it, even though they had agreed to stay away for the sake of their parents getting their affairs back in order, the couldn't. It was impossible if the other person wanted them so passionately. If they wanted it, they would do it. They couldn't deny their feelings anymore and once they found each other again, they realized how torturous the days they had spent apart had been.
"I was… honestly going to just hold you…" Arnold insisted as he breathed heavily. His chest, which Helga was using as a pillow, raised and fell slowly.
"I believe you." Helga responded, smiling as she listened to his heartbeat. This feeling of just touching his skin, she had never imagined how much she had missed it. "You know the saying…? Loving someone means to never have to say you're sorry?"
"Yeah?"
"… I think it's crap." Helga said with her eyebrows furrowed and she could feel Arnold snicker silently. "While we were living in celibacy," she joked. "I said some pretty harsh things to you… I'm, uh… I'm sorry."
"My second apology from Helga G. Pataki. Should I start writing these down?" Arnold asked and earned a slap to his chest from the feisty blonde. "I'm sorry too." he said tenderly and kissed the top of her head, enjoying the giggle she made when he did. "What now though? Our pact just went down the drain…"
Arnold couldn't hear Helga think, but he that knew she was. She was quiet for so long that he almost asked her if she had heard him, but then she started talking. "The way I see it… we have two choices. The first one would be to go back to the original plan and… stop acting on our feelings." She said somberly.
Arnold took a nervous breath. "I'm not a fan of the first one."
Helga chuckled. "Me neither."
Arnold sigh in relief. "What is the second option then?" he asked.
Helga moved around until her chin was resting on her hand which was on his chest. She looked at him with a kind of seriousness he hadn't seen on her face before. "You know what the second one is." She replied matter-of-factly. He inhaled deeply and sighed as he nodded. It was the last option, but it was a scary one. "And I'm going to be the one to start it." she continued and he looked at her in surprise as she shrugged. "Might as well come out with a bang, right?"
Arnold eyed Helga, trying to understand what she was referring to. When he finally understood, he put a lock of her hair before her ear and pulled her closer to him. He gave her a loving peck on her lips and smiled at her. He silently asked her if she was certain this was what she wanted. If she truly thought this was their last and only option. She put her hand over his and gave him a reassuring smile. All of his worries seemed to fade when she smiled like that, but there were plenty reasons to worry.
"Seems like you two are in a much better mood." Gerald stated with a smile as he approached the two blondes who had just entered the gym hall. They smiled at each other knowingly and nodded. "Thank God!" Gerald exclaimed. "You two were fighting like cats."
"But we made up like dogs." Arnold and Helga answered in unison, looked at each other in surprise and then folded over laughing.
Gerald shook his head, unamused. "And we're back to this mushy stuff." He observed and noticed the bag Helga had over her shoulder. "You have a guitar?"
Helga sighed as she looked at the bag over her shoulder. "Yes. I decided to amuse everyone with a song after all." She explained sarcastically. "I figured I'd might as well go all out."
"Since when do you play the guitar?"
"For years actually." Arnold answered.
"And of course I didn't know."
"Neither did I." Phoebe intervened when she appeared to Helga's left. She touched the bag curiously. "Why didn't I know?"
"I didn't want anyone to know, Phoebs. Miriam and Bob forced me to learn an instrument and I only chose the guitar because the seemed like the least lame choice. Except for drums, but those would have been too loud." Helga explained apologetically.
Phoebe nodded in understanding. "So, you're going to play a song for us? What did you choose?" she asked curiously.
"Um… something I've written myself actually." Helga answered and looked nervously at Arnold who gave a tense smile back.
"Wait. What was that?" Gerald asked and pointed between the blondes. "Those looks… What is this song?"
"Gerald," Arnold said seriously. "Helga and I hope that we will continue to have you and Phoebe's support after tonight."
Gerald looked at him in disbelief. "Why are you being so formal, man? You'll always have my support!" he replied and patted his shoulder. "You're making me nervous though. What's all this about?"
"You'll find out by the end of the evening." Helga interfered and grabbed the hem by her bag. "I'm going to hide my bag somewhere. For now, let's enjoy our prom, ok?" she requested and walked away.
Gerald looked at Arnold. "Why do I have a feeling that things are going to change tonight?"
Arnold watched Helga and she looked at him over his shoulder. He gave a smile at Gerald's question. "Because they are, Gerald. More than you know."
True to their words, Phoebe and Gerald spend the evening with Arnold and Helga, partying as if nothing this night was any different. Phoebe and Gerald did not understand what their blonde friends were planning and not just the curiosity, but the anxiety was taking over when the night neared its end.
Helga was looking at the small stage there was near one wall of the gym. It had always been there for performers at the school, but she had never used it herself nor had she actually seen someone perform on it yet. She felt a hand on her shoulder, but she didn't need to turn around to know that it was Arnold.
"I guess it's now or never."
"Yeah."
"Are you… sure about this?" Arnold asked worriedly and she took a deep breath before she put her hand over his.
"Not at all." She replied honestly. "But the alternative isn't exactly tempting either so… here goes."
Arnold's hand fell down Helga's back as she walked near the stage. The teacher who was in charge of keeping the music going looked at her curiously as she approached. She whispered in his ear, explaining that her classmates had asked her to perform by the end of the evening. He nodded his head and touched the stereo system. When the music died, some students were quick to complain until they noticed Helga on the stage, standing in front of a mic. Then the students walked towards her and her own classmates made sure to stand at the front.
"Sorry to be a party pooper." Helga said nervously. "But my classmates asked me if I'd do a song so… Anyways, I'm… I'm, uh…"
Arnold closed in on the stage, making sure she could see him. When she did, he nodded at her encouragingly and she visibly relaxed.
"I'm going to perform a song I've written myself." Helga continued and the teenagers muttered excitedly. "And I… I hope that by doing this I can… confess… so to speak. I want to start a new chapter with no secrets and… this is my way of doing that."
Helga walked away from the mic and walked towards Arnold who held out the guitar for her. He deliberately touched her hand when she took the guitar and she smiled at him as she walked back to the mic. While she played a few notes to make sure everything was as it should be, she could hear some students chatting about what she had just said.
"No secrets?" Nadine repeated to Rhonda. "What's Helga been hiding?"
"Maybe she's actually a boy in a girl's body." The ravenette suggested with a snicker which earned her an elbow to her arm from her blonde friend. "Oh, come on. It's not unlikely. No matter what though, I hope it's juicy."
Arnold frowned at the girls' words, but decided to ignore them. Helga needed to know that he supported her choice and wanted this as much as she did. He felt Gerald put his hand on his shoulder and Gerald gave him a look that told the shorter boy that he had figured out what was going to happen. Arnold bit his lip nervously when Helga took a deep breath and put her hands on the strings.
Helga played nervously on the guitar, a somber melody spreading in the room that caught everyone's attention. Her fingers were shaking, but she closed her eyes and leaned closer to the mic. "We're in the dark, it's getting late… We really should go, they're waiting for us… We both know, it's not what it seems… We both know what's between the sheets…" she sang in a sad, shaky voice and leaned back from the mic as the guitar took over her voice.
There was confused mutters between the students who were listening to Helga's song. Rhonda and Nadine who had seemed ready for a juicy secret, were looking at each other in astonishment, incapable of even attempting to figure out what Helga was singing about.
Gerald patted Arnold's shoulder. "I know this is not the right time to say this… but damn, Helga can sing." He whispered in his ear and Arnold chuckled breathlessly. He muttered his thanks to his friend, knowing full well that he had been trying to calm him down.
The boys looked at Phoebe who seemed mesmerized as she looked at her friend playing. Her eyes were glazed over as she spoke. "I've never seen her so vulnerable… she's really holding back up there." She whispered and the boys looked back at the blonde girl, silently agreeing.
The signs were clear to anyone who knew her; that fact that her eyes were closed, her lips pursed and her fingers playing dutifully, but shakily on the guitar proved that she was fighting to keep her feeling at bay. She got closer to the mic again, licked her lips and started singing again.
"What will they say? What would they do…? Would it be trouble if they knew…? I'm trying hard to make you see… all that you are, is all that I need…" she sang and then, as if she had realized how much she truly meant those words, she opened her eyes determinedly. "I know that it's a secret and that I gotta keep it, but I want the lights on. Yeah, I want the lights on, and I don't wanna run away anymore. Leave the lights on, leave the lights on, leave the lights on…"
Helga took a deep breath once again and let the sound of the guitar slowly fade away until it stopped completely. She was staring at the floor, desperately holding back her urge to gag at the way she was being stared at. The sound of a single person clapping caught her ears and she looked at Arnold who was smiling at her. Phoebe joined in almost immediately, tears streaming down her eyes and Gerald nudged her soothingly before he whistled at Helga.
Soon, most of the crowd was applauding Helga, but it was the part of the crowd that had no idea what Helga might have been singing about. The other part was looking at her curiously and some had realized that Arnold had something to do with her song and were looking at him for any clues.
Helga gulped, bowed her head awkwardly and jumped off the stage with the guitar in her hands. "Out." She whispered to Arnold and he nodded at her. They took each other's hand and jogged through the herd of people, ignoring the voices of their classmates that were asking them what all this meant.
Once the blondes were outside, Helga put her forehead against the car to rest it. Her hands were shaking so Arnold quickly grabbed the guitar before she dropped it. She put her arms around herself, shivering like a leaf and trying to calm her breath.
"Do you regret it?" Arnold asked with a hurt voice as he put the guitar into the car, not bothering with putting it into its case again.
Helga shook her head. "No… but I'm scared."
"No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you, Helga."
"No." Helga interrupted and looked at him. "I'm scared for you." She explained and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You're basically everyone's best friend in our class. I'm afraid that they'll be disappointed in you and they will shun you for this."
"Helga - - "
"You're the good guy! I mean, I'm used to being hated, but I'll be find, but you were always loved by your classmates and this, this could change everything!" Helga continued in panic, but Arnold grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "Just hugging me is not going to solve anything!" she said, but he didn't let go. She groaned in surrender and wrapped her arms around him too.
Arnold leaned back and pecked Helga's cheek. When she looked at him, he put his hands on her cheeks and pulled her into a deep kiss. He could feel her fingers dragging at his waist, but he decided to end the kiss before he reached a point where he couldn't let go. His smile faded when he noticed the mob of people walking out of the gym, presumably to get to their cars.
Helga noticed Arnold's stare and turned around just in time to see their classmates before he pushed gently at her. She walked to the car door and hopped inside at the same time he did. After securing their belts, Arnold started the engine and backed out. Once they were driving, Helga looked at their classmates in the rearview mirror. So many eyes were looking at them in wonder or confused anger and Helga shut her eyes tightly.
I feel like I've taken their angel away from them. She thought and hid her eyes behind her hand as she cried.
Author's 2nd note: I definitely recommend listening to "Leave the lights on" by Meiko. It's not as good as the original, but there is a guitar version so you can easier imagine Helga singing it. Just don't look at Meiko's face while she sings, ok? Because she makes a lot of odd expressions when she sings xD Also, I changed a few of the lyrics here and there to make it fit more x3
So… there's like two or three chapters left O.o So put on your seatbelts; it's gonna be a bumpy ride!