Arnold watched Helga as she paced and kicked the door—for the fifth consecutive time. It was dark, hot and they were confined in the small space until Arnold picked up a signal or some poor soul took pity on them after hearing Helga's pounding on the door. After 15 minutes of screaming and banging, that scenario seemed unlikely.
How did they get in this situation?
Oh yeah.
Helga.
She wanted to get away from everyone. This party Sid just had to throw. She should have known it was a dumb idea. Helga never wanted to come here in the first place. Seeing Nadine with her arm nestled comfortably on Arnold's waist sealed her discontent. And Arnold didn't look the least bit bothered by it. She wanted to punch something, she wanted to yell. But years of therapy and Pataki survival instincts taught her to never let anyone see her sweat. So she smiled and nonchalantly sipped a beer while her insides waged war. She'd figured she'd find a quiet place to let out her frustrations.
Well, leave it to Sid to have a party in an abandoned building. One with rickety stairs and doors that shut of their own volition. It wouldn't have been so bad if said doors reopened. Nope, not this one. This one sealed shut as soon as Arnold slipped in behind her.
She must have been so upset, she didn't see him follow her. Also would explain why she left everything (including her sense and her phone) with Phoebe before venturing out on her own.
And now here they were, for God knows how long and she still didn't have enough time to properly vent.
She wriggled the handle one more time. Hoping against hope that it would open.
No such luck.
"Helga, I'm sure someone will find us soon."
She scoffed trying to focus on her anger instead of her fear that the already small walls were closing in around her or the pain of what Nadine's arm around Arnold's waist could possibly mean. "Oh will they? You might as well put your phone away and stop trying to find a signal. We'll just close our eyes and focus really hard on someone finding us. That'll work!"
Arnold smiled in the face of her sarcasm. She wouldn't be her without it and he couldn't imagine her being anyone else. "I just meant someone will notice we are gone and come find us. I know you don't like small spaces, but maybe if we look on the bright side we'll get out of here sooner."
Helga sputtered for a minute. She tried to remain angry but the knowledge that Arnold knew of her claustrophobia was disarming. He knew her. All this time she thought she was invisible to him, but he had been paying attention. She wondered what else he knew about her. "Yeah, well, just let me know if you pick up a signal."
Arnold smirked in the direction of her voice even while looking at his phone screen. Her image was burned in his mind even in the dark. Her hand was probably on her hip as his favorite scowl played on her delicate features. He loved everything about this girl. Even when she frustrated him to no end. Especially then. For a boy who was wary of change he craved her constancy. Because she was a big part of what made Hillwood home. (Hell, even if she didn't know it yet, she was his home).
How didn't she know? Wasn't it obvious? He knew he always wore a goofy grin whenever she was around. His eyes seemed to find hers no matter how crowded a room was. How could she not see it? Was she that blind to his feelings?
He listened to her breath labor. She was probably in full panic mode, or well on her way there. He knew from experience she wouldn't let him touch her now. How was he going to distract her? After a few moments of silence, Arnold's voice lifted from the music outside the door.
"Why don't we play a game?"
"Game?" Her voice pitched higher and louder than normal. "Yeah let's play a game. Let's play 'bang on the door and see how long it takes someone to find us' or better yet, how about we play ' focus on finding a signal and keep sending texts until someone responds.' I think I like those games, let's play those."
"Helga," his voice was softer, patient. "I know you're scared, but we will get out of here. I promise. How about instead of a game you ask me anything you want to know about me."
Her eyes were closed, forehead placed against the cool wooden door. "I don't want to know anything about you."
"Helga—" They both knew that wasn't true.
"Fine," she grumbled. "What's going on with you and Nadine?" She could have kicked herself for asking.
"Nothing."
She laughed without humor and kicked the door instead. "Sure looked like nothing." She could have kicked herself again for showing how much it bothered her.
He sighed. "She asked me to help make Sid jealous. I didn't really want to and I told her it would be better to just tell him the truth but she's my friend and she needed my help."
She was relieved but she couldn't dhow that too. "Right and the great Arnold Shortman has to help everyone."
He knew he wasn't getting anywhere with her and she was still panicked. He wished she would let him hold her just once. So instead of inciting more anger he asked her something that had been bothering him for months.
"Why did you only apply to schools that are halfway across the country?" Everyone had been receiving their acceptances and he listened with keen interest to Helga's choices—Vanderbuilt, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, all so far away. She was running from something and he had an odd feeling he fit somewhere into the decision.
"Is it really so bad here?" He tried to sound neutral but he knew it came out pained. He didn't want to guilt her. He wanted her happy. He just never understood why she wouldn't allow herself to be happy with him. Why she never considered the possibility.
Helga turned from the door and slid down. Was he serious? Hell yeah it was bad here! She'd been dreaming of getting away as soon as she learned to walk. Too many bad memories here, too many people who made her feel worthless. Funny thing was Arnold was always beside her in her dreams whether she went to school in Texas or Borneo. She just never got around to telling him that. "Are you kidding? My family's the worst, Pheebs is going to Tokyo. There's nothing here for me."
"Are you sure that's true? Things aren't always what they seem."
He was so frustrating. "What are you a fortune cookie? If you have something to say just spit it out." Yeah she recognized the hypocrisy in the statement but she tried hard to ignore it.
Hearing his deep chuckle frustrated her more.
"Why?" His sudden question drowned the music outside.
"Why what?" She rubbed her suddenly clammy hands on her jeans. Was it always so hot in here?
"Why did you ask about me and Nadine? You could have asked about anything."
"I don't know, just making conversation." She started banging on the door again, anything to keep her secret hidden.
I love you.
He remembered something he buried in his subconscious too long. The memory of a frantic girl professing her love for him on his way to save the neighborhood. The same girl who was always there to help him in a jam. One of the only people who gave him advice. Most saw her as a cactus—a prickly withered thing—but he'd always known her to be so much more than that. So much more than anyone wanted or expected her to be.
He finally got up the courage to ask: "Do you still love me?"
Her voice grew soft, anxious. "What?"
He moved beside her and put his phone to her face so he could see her. "Do. You. Still. Love. Me?"
She wanted to deny it, wanted to change the subject but she couldn't. Not with him looking at her so earnestly. And she was tired of fighting how she felt. Sure he could tell her he didn't want her, but maybe just maybe he felt the same way.
In a breathless whisper that took all of her strength she responded. "Always."
She put her head down and waited for the rejection she was sure would follow. Instead she gasped as she felt his finger lifting her chin. She didn't know if she was hallucinating but she could have sworn he was leaning into her. All her questions were effectively cut short when she felt his soft lips on hers. And all coherent thought left the building when she felt his tongue trace the seam between her lips. Just like that their tentative kiss turned frantic and greedy, both trying to pour 14 years of longing and yearning and misunderstandings in a single action.
He pulled away first and even with her eyes closed, she could tell he was smiling. "Good. Because I love you and I want to be with you always."
She smiled and looped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer. And they kissed again. And again. They were so lost in their kisses they didn't hear the music cut off, nor did they hear their friends calling their names. But they heard, or rather felt when the door flew open and they slid onto the floor, both looking disheveled, suspicious and annoyingly happy.