A:N/ Hey, hey! How are all of you, readers! I hope I didn't lose all of you. So this is another chapter of Valentines. Actually the second last one. Sorry I took so crazy long, I wanted to make this one worthy. Hehe.
One more thing, I do not own Hey Arnold.
Saturday.
Today was the day of Rhonda's big party. The party of the century. Rhonda had gone all out, she even broke a nail doing it. The theme was Red Carpet Extravaganza. She had a red carpet from the driveway to her house and she had hired fake paparazzi. There were flashing lights everywhere. She added spotlights like in the movies and placed them by the staircase leading up to the entrance. Rhonda clearly had outdone herself this time. How was she going to raise the bar, next year? Many people who walked by her house the night before, stood in awe and disappointment if they were not invited to the party of the year.
Helga stood outside the gates. Gerald and Phoebe were already inside. Helga looked down at her shoes, she was wearing a long, pink, sparkly dress that ruffled at the her feet. To add to the beauty it was tied with a red silk ribbon at the waist and finished off with red open toed shoes. She twirled around and watched as her dress danced along with her. She giggled. Her hair was in a high messy bun with loose wavy strands of hair that covered part of her face. Her bow sat a top her head like a tiara. She wore the gold locket around her neck. Wow. Where ever did I get this dress? It's beautiful.
Helga walked up the red carpet steps and inside Rhonda's gold ballroom. It was breathtaking, a wide golden staircase at the back of the room, that leads to the upstairs and balconies. The floor was so polished, Helga could see her reflection. As Helga scanned the room and looked past many of her classmates dancing or at least trying too.
"Helga!"
Helga turned around and saw Rhonda in a red sequinned dress that flared at the bottom. She also wore a black faux fur scarf around her neck along with real white pearls.
Wait. Did she say Helga? But before she could think any longer, Rhonda dragged her away to dance with her and Lila. The three danced in silence, enjoying the music. "I am going to get some punch. You darlings want any?" Rhonda smiled politely.
"Nah, I am good." Helga shook her head, her blonde waves bouncing to and fro.
"I'll come with you, Rhonda." Lila perked up. Helga was left dancing all alone, so she went to find Phoebe. Helga finally found her on the patio along with Gerald. They were giggling and whispering in each other's ear. Helga smiled and left. What am I supposed to do now? Helga walked up the gold staircase and explored along the corridors. She finally came to the end of corridor and opened the french doors. It lead onto the balcony that circled the whole top floor. She leaned on the railing and let the wind caress her face. Helga noticed something out of the corner of her eye, two shadowy silhouettes. They were standing at the corner of the balcony. She could tell one of the shadows had a football shaped head, Arnold! But the next she couldn't figure out. Whoever she was, she was beautiful. The moonlight fought it's way through the clouds and when the light hit the two figures. Helga saw that the unknown shadow was a girl who wore the same dress. How dare she wear the same dress. Helga squinted her eyes to try to figure who that girl was but the moon was covered again by the clouds. Now they were two shadows again. She watched as both shadows moved closer and closer together until they finally closed all space between them. Tears welled up in Helga's eyes, she felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. How dare he… She fled down the corridor and down the gold staircase. She ran until she could run no more. Helga found herself at the Park. It looked so dreary and depressed. Helga curled up on a bench and fell asleep as raindrops fell and hit her face in a constant drumming.
Helga woke up. Tears were stained on her face. She was in her pink bed, with the sun streaming in through the window. Wha…? Helga checked her alarm clock, it was 1 pm in the afternoon. Oh it was just a dream. A scary dream, yes but alas just a dream. She felt relieved but a sadness overwhelmed her. Her subconscious had just shown her a darken world filled with brokenness. She slowly got out of bed, she frowned. I should just forget about going to Arnold's. I'll just meet Phoebe at Rhonda's. I am sure he won't mind… Helga walked sombrely down the stairs and made her favourite classic sandwich, The Breathelitor. She piled on the red onions, Lays chips, sliced ham, turkey and cheese, along with tomato and lettuce in between two crisp pieces of french bread. It was her comfort food, well except for "ice cream." Helga flipped on the T.V, she has a 2 hours to kill before she needed to get ready.
Helga sighed and looked at the time. It was 3'o clock. Oh no! I better go get ready… ugh. I hate these parties, I have to get so dressed up. Helga dragged herself up the stairs and into the shower. She let the hot water soothe her worries and nightmares away. Helga stepped out of the steamy shower wrapped with in white towel. She sighed and wiped the mirror. Then picked up the brush and slowly combed through her silky hair. Finally she styled it into a messy bun and the loose strands of hair fell into place and covered apart of her face, then finished off with the pink bow. She applied a subtle touch of makeup. A small hint of pink blush, eyeliner and a touch of eyeshadow to bring out her blue eyes along with some minty lip gloss. When she was satisfied with the girl in the mirror, she walked down the hall to her room. At the back of her closet she found the exact same dress form her dream. The same long, pink and sparkly dress with the ruffles at the feet and the silk red ribbon at the waist.
Helga didn't notice the similarity of her appearance to the dream. She was so caught up in the moment. Finally she was done. Glancing in the mirror and twirling one more time, she checked the time. Oh my it's already 5 o' clock! The party has already begun. Guess I will be making one of Rhonda's fashionably late appearances. Only she could pull that off. Helga scoffed and raced out the door. She had to walk, so Helga had to hurry. Miraculously she still looked stunning, as if she took a ride to Rhonda's.
Outside Rhonda's entrance, Helga saw red carpets, spotlights and the fake paparazzi taking her picture as she walked up the steps. Hmm… This looks familiar. The butler opened the door into the gold ballroom. It looked exactly like her dream. Gold posts holding up the second level, golden staircase at the back of the ballroom. Ceiling to floor windows, so the moonlight hit the gold, polished floor just so. Rhonda greeted her with a smile and went on her way to greet her other guests.
Walking around the room, Helga searched for Phoebe. She finally found her by the punch bowl, along with Arnold and Gerald. She made her way slowly over to them.
Arnold on the other hand, had been frantic all evening. Helga hadn't shown up at his place and he was worried and disappointed. But he looked so cute. Dressed in soft black pants and a crisp white shirt with a bold red tie. He looked sharp as did Gerald. It was Gerald who calmed Arnold down.
Gerald nudged Arnold, who then turned around, only to have his jaw to hit the floor. He saw an angel in pink floating toward him. He smiled goofily and his gave his signature half lidded gaze. "Hey Helga." He sighed and breathed in her vanilla scent.
"Helga?" Gerald looked curiously toward Arnold. One eyebrow raised.
Arnold snapped out of his trance. "Er… I mean.. I said Cecile."
Helga blushed a deep tomato red. "No you didn't-" Gerald was cut off by Phoebe.
"Let's go dance, Gerald!" Phoebe grabbed his wrist and dragged him onto the dance floor.
"Sorry about that…" Arnold rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's okay, Arnold." She smiled. He called me by my real name. He sees me, the actual me not the 'fake' me… wait no no, Cecile is the real me but different me, so the fake real me. Gah! I am a basket case. Helga giggled.
Arnold lovingly sighed when he heard her giggle but then he remembered something, his brows furrowed. "Helga, how come you never showed up? Remember we were all going to meet each other at my place and then go to the party."
'I wanted to show you something, Helga…'
"Oh… well you see… um…" Helga trailed off. Unsure of what to say.
"Cecile! You made it! Glad you could come darling." Rhonda waved from behind her. Wow, saved by Rhondaloid. Never thought I see the day.
"Oh! Rhonda! It is simply delightful. Very elegant." Helga faked with a smile.
"Thank you so much."
Helga gracefully walked away, well as graceful as she could. She reached the long table with a white table cloth and gold trim. She poured herself a glass of grape punch and watched her classmates dance. Finished, she set the glass down and placed her hands on the table. Leaning against it, she disappeared into the music. Her eyes snapped open when she felt a hand on top of hers. Turning to her side, she saw an Arnold staring at her intently with those green eyes. Helga smiled.
Encouraged, Arnold smiled back. "I didn't get to tell you how beautiful you look tonight."
Helga blushed. "Don't look so bad yourself, Arnold." She winked and glanced around the room. Everyone was still dancing. Helga heard Arnold clear his throat. "Arnold, do you want to dance?"
"I loved too." Smiling he grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the dance floor. Together they danced the night away. Their eyes locked onto each others and smiling like no tomorrow.
Meanwhile on the other side of the ballroom.
"Wow, Rhonda. Your party is ever so wonderful." Lila chirped.
Rhonda took a sip of her punch. "Thanks, sugar."
"What are you looking at Rhonda?" Nadine asked. Her curious mind getting the better of her, she followed Rhonda's gaze. "Oh! Look at Cecile and is so cute."
"Just ever so."
"I don't know, girls. Doesn't something seem so fishy about Cecile. I mean Helga and Cecile look like they could be sisters, or even twins."
"What do you mean?" Nadine asked.
"Just look. They both have blonde hair and wear the same pink bow. In fact they both wear pink. Both have blue eyes."
"I guess now that I think about it." Looking back at the two, Nadine realized, Rhonda was right. Rhonda turned to see Lila's reaction but she only saw that Lila was busy talking to some blonde with glasses.
"Speaking of which, the whole Helga gone on a business trip didn't make sense. A few weeks ago, didn't Helga complain about her parents going on some love cruise?"
"That is weird. Wait a minute… you remember this but not the math homework?" Nadine rolled her eyes.
"Ugh! Nadine! That's not the point. The point is Cecile's story isn't straight. If Helga's parents are on a cruise, leaving their 12 year old Helga by herself. Helga is not on a business trip… so…"
"Then where is Helga?" Nadine tapped her foot impatiently.
"Hold on, give me a minute… O.M.G! Helga is Cecile! The details are a bit fuzzy. But she must be impersonating Arnold's real Cecile. As a prank! That devious Helga!"
"A prank? Should we tell Arnold?"
"No, no. I want to see how this plays out. Remember April Fools Day, two years ago when Helga wore that disgusting dress?"
"Ugh, yeah. Who could forget get that day?"
Rhonda rubbed her hands together. "Oh Arnold. Quite a fool you have been."
Meanwhile back to Helga and Arnold.
"Well, well! Look who can dance!" Helga giggled as he spun her out. "Whoa, Arnold! Don't you think your being a little rough?" Helga winked and blushed, remembering those exact words from April's fools day, 2 years back.
"Don't worry my lovely, enchanting friend. You are in good hands." Arnold winked back and his lids dropping to his signature half lidded gaze.
Helga giggled and both danced the night away.
Hours, hours later. It was almost midnight, about 10 minutes to.
Rhonda was burning in impatience. "Argh! What is she doing! When is she going to strike?"
Nadine looked over, concerned. "Rhonda, don't you think that maybe you are wrong about this? Maybe she really is Cecile. I mean, Helga and Arnold are always at each other's throats and that girl over there is close as close can be. That girl over there is resting her head on Arnold's shoulder." Nadine sighed. "Maybe you are just a tiny bit overreacting."
"OVERREACTING? Uncool, Nadine. Uncool." Rhonda fumed. "I swear, if that sweet, darling Helga doesn't do anything in 3 minutes, I am going to march over there."
"Rhonda! Why do you care? I thought you liked Arnold?"
"I do, I do. But it's a party and I like when Helga spices things up." Rhonda laughed. "Hey! Look they are climbing up the staircase to the balcony. What are they up too?"
Arnold opened the french door for Helga and smelled her vanilla scent as she passed by. Mmmmm. She smells so delicious. He then led her on to the corner of the balcony where both ends of the house meet. The moon was high in the sky along with the stars that twinkled. There was a warm breeze. It was the perfect night.
"Oh, Arnold! It's so beautiful!" Helga gasped.
"Mhmm." Arnold wasn't paying attention, he was too busy gazing at her moonlit profile.
"Arnold? You okay?"
"Yeahh." Arnold sighed but then snapped himself out of his trance. "Have ever I told you how beautiful you look in the moonlight?"
"Why no, Arnold. I am afraid you haven't." She winked but turned back to look at the moon. Resting her arm on the railing, she cupped her face in her palm.
"Helga."
"Yes, Arnold?" She said softly while gazing at the stars.
"After hanging out with you for a week, and actually getting to know the real Helga. I knew there was more to you that meets the eye. You are beautiful, poetic and the deepest girl I ever met. You really amazed me. This week has been…been… EXTRAORDINARY!" Arnold shouted to the heavens. Helga started to tear up, the moon shone on her face, making her tears look like diamonds.
"Really, Arnold?" She whispered, as if afraid she would ruin everything with volume.
"Yes. There is more, Helga. To the most amazing girl I ever met." Arnold cupped her cheek in his hand. "I think I am slowly falling in love with you." He pulled her closer into a soft kiss after whispering those sweet words. When both lips brushed the clock had struck twelve. Bells could be heard in the distance. Tears of happiness slipped down Helga's face. Arnold slowly pulled back, their kiss lingering. Arnold already missed that taste of her minty lip gloss and missed even more, the taste of her.
"Wow. Is it true?" Helga softly whispered. Her face still inches away from Arnold's. She looked up into his green eyes and he looked into her blue ones.
Arnold simply nodded. Both blondes smiled. Helga realized that she was the girl from her dream. It was destined to happen. That made Helga smile even more and pulled him closer. The faint sound of music drifted upstairs and the blondes slowly danced the night away on the balcony.
Back downstairs. The party had just begun, people were still dancing on the dance floor, some by the punch bowl and some enjoying Rhonda's beautiful garden.
Lila took a sip of her grape punch. She wore a green ruffled dress that stopped at the knees. Her shoes were sparkly open toed pumps.
"uh...Enjoying the party?"
Lila turned to see the mysterious voice. She found Brainy leaning against the table. He wore a sky blue shirt with a dark blue tie and black slacks with shiny black shoes. His hair was still spiked up in its usual fashion.
"Oh, hey Brainy. Yeah. Rhonda throws ever so killer parties." She smiled.
"Yeah. Uh…Uh… I agree." Brainy breathed.
Lila rolled her eyes. "You can cut the act, Fuzzy Slippers."
"Hey! Hey! I told you keep that hush hush." He loudly whispered.
Lila moved closer to him and bumped his shoulder. "Sorry. But what puzzles me ever so much is the fact that you have all this knowledge and connections."
"Well, it pays to be the shy and quiet one." He smiled. "Nobody notices the outlier. So I was always on top of all the gossip. Rhonda doesn't have anything on me."
"So you know some secrets about me?" Lila asked nervously.
"I don't know, chica. You tell me." He winked.
Lila blushed.
Rhonda still watching the staircase, waiting by the snack table. "Ugh."
Nadine danced up to her with Sid by her side. Blowing a kiss goodbye, she grabbed a glass of punch. "You are still waiting? Nothing is gonna happen, Rhonda. Let it go."
"But…"
"No buts, Rhonda Wellington Llyod. Leave the kids alone. Next thing you know, you make a big scene and turns out your wrong. She really is Cecile and even if she is not, let them have their fun."
Rhonda crossed her arms. "Fine."
"C'mon. Look at all the time you wasted already. Go have fun! It's your party!" Nadine dragged her out onto the dance floor and soon enough Rhonda was flirting with a group of 7th graders.
Everyone danced the night away with the moon high in the sky. All problems were forgotten and love was found.
A:N/ I had so much fun writing this one. The whole Brainy is FS is crazy, I know but I thought it would be quite the twist. Don't you think he could have been. I mean he is the quiet one and he has experience from stalking Helga. He kinda fits the job description. Rhonda might have been a bit overdone but I needed some action in this chapter. I thought the whole kissing at midnight was cute. Tell me what you think! :D