A/N:
HEY EVERYONE :D:D:D
Lol, okay, so, I'm sorry updates have gotten so sluggish with this fic, guys, but my life is crazy busy full and grad school stuff is going to be consuming it for the next three months among other things. But, finally, YAY, a new chapter :) Thank you all for your reviews by the way—I'm really happy that everyone's loving this fic so much and that it's existence actually seems to have gotten a few people to become aware of/read TA, which is always fun for me :) You're all the best!
Okay, so, anyway, brief explanation about this update…
After an OBSCENE amount of personal debate during which I could not decide whether to make the Monday stuff one huge chapter or two medium length chapters, I decided that instead the best thing to do would be to split it up into two chapters, but make it one update (if that makes any sense, lol). So, basically, chapter 12 is getting up right now and you'll all see chapter 13 sometime tonight or tomorrow ;) So anyway I really hope you guys like this (especially someone who I know has been waiting for this very particularly ;)))))) ).
LEARNING TO BE HELGA
CHAPTER 12:
We Have To Go Back to School… (Part 1)
"Alright, alright—MOVE IT, you bunch of chuckleheads! Helga G. Pataki walking here!"
The sound of this familiar announcement of arrival caught the ears of a certain Football Headed fourth grader and caused him to look up from where he was standing near the stoop outside of P.S. 118. He smiled as his eyes quickly (and expectedly) fell upon a scowling and angry looking Helga G. Pataki heading up the sidewalk and putting on her usual show of blusteryness for the other kids.
And she was coming his way…
As she finally got within a few feet, Arnold did his best to turn his dreamy smile into a casual one and then just gave a small wave to the pink wearing bully just starting to pass him by. "Good morning, Helga. Did you have a good weekend?" he asked as he usually might to her or any of his other classmates.
Helga stopped at his address and just glared at him with her usual look of annoyance and contempt. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Not the worst couple of days, Football Head, I'll give you that. I'm just happy I finally got to have a weekend where my world didn't revolve around you and a bunch of poetry! Hmph!" She rolled her scowling eyes to the side.
Arnold, as he had been for the past week, was once again genuinely impressed with how his secret girlfriend could say ironic things like that and keep a totally straight face. As for himself, he was currently doing his best not to let his small smile erupt into warm laughter at her sense of humor. He cleared his throat and did his best to reply as casually as possible to her comment. "Oh, well, I'm glad you had a good time, Helga."
"Yeah, yeah…" She wasn't even looking at him as she continued to speak, acting as though whatever he was saying was just one more bother in her day.
Arnold couldn't help but sigh as he did his best to keep his grin under control. 'I know it would probably be nice if we could just be open about everything, but…I meant what I said to Helga after that first date about keeping our secret for now. This way's a little harder but it's a lot more fun.'
"Anyway…" Helga suddenly began, bringing him out of his thoughts. She put her hands on her hips, turning her angry sights back to him.
Arnold waited for her to continue with whatever else she felt it necessary to say…but she just kept standing there…like she was waiting for something or something. And then suddenly (and to his continued curiosity) she glanced around quickly, her scowl deepening. She cleared her throat loudly before she spoke again. "ANYWAY…!" she announced once more.
Still nothing. Arnold raised an eyebrow.
Helga (who was indeed expecting something very specific to follow her announcement of 'anyway') rolled her eyes in total exasperation at this point. 'Oh for the love of—I am surrounded by incompetence!' "ANYWAY!" she tried once more, as loudly as possible, her fists clenched at her sides!
Suddenly, from somewhere down the sidewalk, Lila came running up to Arnold and Helga. Upon reaching them, she leaned over and took several deep inhales to catch her breath, and then finally straightened up and smiled at the two blondes before her in her usual cheery way. "Oh, Arnold and Helga—just-the-pair-I-was-looking-for!" Her grin became a bit more perfectly sugary (going along with how obviously rehearsed her voice sounded just now) and it really took all Helga had, despite their newfound truce, not to grab her by the collar and fill her in on the fact that she could quit laying it on so thick anytime she wanted. "Do you think that both of you could help me…um…find my…hair clip?" That last part of the sentence was said with so much unsureness that Helga had to just let out a sigh and rub her temples with one of her hands, just plain hoping no one else was paying too much attention to Lila's pathetic attempt at delivering the lie Helga had fed her not fifteen minutes ago.
As for Arnold, he just took a second to absorb Lila's strange (and strangely asked) question…and finally just raised an eyebrow at her. "Your…hair clip?"
Lila nodded enthusiastically at his question, at the same time obviously trying to give Arnold a look that meant something though he remained a bit clueless (as per usual.) "Oh yes, Arnold. I'm ever so certain I dropped it over on the other side of the school—probably near that little alleyway with the dumpster in it." She pointed in said alleyway's direction over her shoulder. "Is there any way you two could help me find it before class starts? I'm certain I'd just be oh too grateful for the assistance."
Arnold blinked, still a bit unclear about what was going on (though at least he was in the game enough to be aware that something was indeed going on). "Well…yeah, sure I'll help you, Lila," he replied sincerely. But then his face took on a look of confusion once more as he really observed Lila's hair for a second (the conversation being so centered around it). "But—" he suddenly began, raising a finger (obviously, and without even really thinking, about to point out something he maybe probably shouldn't).
Helga, still trying to look totally disaffected and her eyes locked on Lila and not shifting back to her beloved in the least, cut him off at that single questioning word before he could even start. "Yeah, I GUESS I could give you a hand too, Lila." She was speaking a bit loudly, as though she wanted the other kids to hear. "I mean, I do owe you for helping smooth things over with my parents and my sister a couple of weeks back, and no one's ever gonna be able to say that Helga G. Pataki doesn't pay back people she owes." She finally threw her glance back to Arnold. "Come on, Football Head—let's get this over with! Crimeny, like I don't have enough to take care of… But, owing somebody is owing somebody and Helga G. Pataki does not like to ever owe anything to anybody!" And with this final announcement, Helga turned fully in the direction Lila had indicated and was about to proceed forward like she really didn't want to but had no choice in the matter when suddenly the sound of Arnold's (still clueless sounding) voice caused her to pause.
"But Lila, aren't both of your clips already in yo—"
He was completely shut down by the feeling of Helga taking a wide step back, grabbing one of his wrists and suddenly dragging him forward, scowling darkly. "Sheesh Football Head—we only have a few minutes before the bell rings! Quit overanalyzing the situation and just help her look with me so that I'm not in anyone's debt anymore! Crimeny!"
Lila quickly trotted after the pair, giving a quick glance and a smile to the few kids who had shown interest in the exchange between herself, Arnold and Helga. She let out a small sigh of relief when, after maybe a second of continuing to look in her and her friends' direction, any such onlookers just walked off or shrugged and went back to their own conversations and affairs.
Arnold and Helga, meanwhile, thanks to the firmness of Helga's grip and her desire to get her and her beloved out of the spotlight asap, had quickly rounded the corner of the school and managed to get down the street and to the alley in question in record time. Now safely at their destination, Helga dropped Arnold's arm and then turned around to be met with a slightly jogging Lila finally reaching the alley as well. Instantly, Helga's scowl left her and she smiled first at the red haired girl. "Thanks, Lila. I really do owe you one." She winked.
Lila, at the grateful statement, just smiled back at Helga kindly. "Oh don't mention it, Helga. I'm ever so certain you would have done the same for me. I'm just ever so sorry I was a few seconds late but I didn't heart your signal the first time. But I'm happy your plan worked!"
Helga chuckled slightly at Lila's genuine enthusiasm for the little scheme they'd just pulled off. She put her hands on her hips and tried to still maintain some degree of attitude as she prepared to speak again, though she really was grateful to the girl before her…and had really come to like her quite a bit lately. "Yeah well…just remember that when you go back out there if anyone asks you why you're suddenly by yourself again…"
Lila nodded just a little solemnly, providing the answer Helga was seeking. "I should say that I found my clip but that you and Arnold got into a fight while you were helping me look and that you went off to find Phoebe to 'blow off some steam' and that Arnold's probably already in class because he's 'such a little do-gooder shrimp.' Incidentally, the phrases in quotations that Lila had just announced were ones that she had been reading from something she'd obviously hastily jotted down in pen on the inside of one of her hands, as the fact that she was squinting and looking closely at the palm of said hand attested to.
Helga rolled her eyes a little at the poor acting but did her best to still be encouraging. "Good—I mean, try and put it in your own words so it doesn't look like I'm feeding you lines, Cyrano, but otherwise, good job, Lila. Hmm…" her slight amused grin turned into a fully impressed one, "You know, you make a pretty decent assistant when Phoebe's too off on cloud nine getting walked to school by tall hair boy to lend a hand."
Lila smiled happily in reply, raising her hands and clasping them together. "Oh thank you, Helga! I'm ever so happy that you think I did a good job as your assistant."
Helga sighed, though once again the smile was still on her face. "Yeah, yeah, you successfully executed a plan and know how to take orders and aren't half bad to be around—just don't let it go to your head though, okay Lila?" And then she couldn't help but blush a little as she finally added, glancing away but still with a grin, her arms now behind her back, "Now if you don't mind…I, uh, need some private time with your ex-boyfriend."
Lila couldn't help but put her hand to her mouth and giggle slightly at Helga's identification of Arnold. "Of course, Helga. Well, I'll see you both in class then!" And with that farewell and a wave to both a still smiling Helga and to a still just looking more and more confused Arnold (who was blushing a little now too at the boyfriend comment), she pranced off back in the direction of P.S. 118's front stoop.
Helga just crossed her arms over her chest and watched her go off, shaking her head to herself. "Mmm, mmm, mmm…she is actually kind of my friend now and it is creeping me out on so many levels." She let a dramatic shudder pass through herself and then finally turned back to Arnold…actually giving him a slight scowl. "And for Pete's sake, Football Head—I'm obviously trying to put together a flimsy last minute excuse to get you alone for a minute before the 'Helga hates Arnold' show starts up for its usual 9 to 3 Monday through Friday run, and you're just announcing gaping holes in my plan!" She sighed and shook her head, unable to help finally smiling at him. "You're not going to make keeping our secret easy, are you Arnoldo?"
Arnold sighed and glanced down sheepishly, finally getting it. "Oh, sorry Helga," he began sincerely, "Um…what do you need?" He looked back up to her…
And then as his own question…and their current situation of solitude…really finally processed with him…he found a bit of his shyness and sincerity giving way to an intrigued grin, and he even took a step closer to her. He didn't want to be presumptuous of course, but still…the girl before him had just pulled him into a private little side street on a Monday morning coming off of a weekend of some of the most intense kissing they'd ever done…. So it seemed like it stood to reason that maybe…well…
He was surprised (and just a little embarrassed, to say the least) to see Helga blink at his question and obviously 'eager' look, and then take a step back from him to compensate for his step forward, her eyes wide.
"Whoa, whoa, hold your horses Prince Charming…" she held up her hands, palms out, in front of herself, "Apparently it's not what 'you' need, I'll tell you that!" Helga couldn't help but grin at the slightly disappointed look that came to Arnold's face (as well as the not so slight blush) at her announcement, though she could tell he was trying to hide both.
Realizing that, however much she wanted to tease him a little about this, she had to move along with things as they were on a tight schedule for getting to class on time, Helga cleared her throat and then glanced away, putting her arms behind her back. A blush gradually crept up into her cheeks as she announced slowly, "Actually, Football Head, I…just wanted to thank you for getting me home last night without a severe grounding as a result. Olga and Miriam explained everything to me this morning and, well…" she took a breath and made eye contact with him again, "You certainly do have a bit of chivalry streak in you, don't you Football Head? Carrying me all the way to my door like that, I mean…. I know I keep saying this but I think you just topped yourself once again in the 'nicest thing anyone's ever done for me' department." She laughed slightly and it was hard for her not to give just a small girlish sigh too at Arnold's half lidded gaze, which had returned to his face at her explanation…just melting back into her own.
She cleared her throat once more, trying to keep her thoughts focused. "A-anyway…I just wanted to thank you for that but also to, um…well…" she swallowed, hesitated and rubbed the back of her neck nervously, glancing down a little, "I know this is going to sound really stupid but…" 'I have to know. I just plain have to know and I can't wait any longer…'
Arnold blinked at the strange reaction and her strange hesitation. "What, Helga…?" He looked very sincerely toward her eyes. "What do you want to know? You can ask me anything, you know…"
Helga felt her blushing grow a bit and she finally managed to fully turn her skittish eyes up to Arnold's caring ones again. "I know Arnold, but it's just…well…" Starting to get a little frustrated with herself she just took a breath and sucked it up and went for it. "Well, I think when I passed out last night I might have started having some dreams about you and me and dating and, um…other stuff, and I was just wondering, well…which parts of last night were real and which parts were the dream… I mean," she began to ramble just a tiny bit in her nervousness, blood pounding into her cheeks, "I know that the dinner and the movie and the walk home were all real…but then we started…well, I started kissing you I think, and everything after that and the beginning of my dream flow together pretty well so…I was just wondering if you could fill me in on how…far we actually got exactly, Arnoldo?" She glanced up at him nervously… (obviously having her suspicions about what had indeed actually transpired yesterday evening, and obviously convinced in some small way that what seemed like it had happened just simply couldn't be true.)
Hearing her finally finish expressing her question clearly, Arnold, who had been listening with great concern and care, just let out a breath and smiled at Helga…having a small plan now in his mind to reassure her about the realities of last night… "Well…" he started innocently enough, that guileless half lidded gaze upon his features, "Why don't you tell me what you think happened that might have been the dream or reality, Helga, and I'll tell you which one it was…okay?"
"Um…Arnold?" Helga looked at him now with her eyes wide, total uncertainty in her voice…especially at that coy little look on his face. "Doing that could, um…doing that could lead to some awkward moments for us…just so you know…" she finished shyly… And it was obvious to him from that look in her eyes as she glanced to the side that thoughts about horizontal kisses and 'talented blue eyed loves'…and maybe even about kissing while waiting to name a child among other escapades were all flashing through her head in an instant.
Finally having his fill of observing her fluster, Arnold just sighed and rolled his eyes…taking another step toward her…(and forward deeper into the privacy of the alleyway.) "Helga," he started, almost shaking his head in amusement, "We've got nearly twenty minutes until class starts and basically everything we've done over the last two weeks has been awkward. Now just slowly tell me what's bothering you piece by piece and we'll try and sort things out. Okay?" He finished with a supportive smile.
Helga just swallowed hard at his offer, glanced from Arnold to the ground (which she was finding rather interesting all of a sudden) and then finally let out a deep sigh, ready to resign herself to full romantic humiliation if she was wrong about this…but darn it, who could say no to a football headed face like that! 'Perfect…' she mentally scolded herself for her weakness, 'If you really did just dream it all then he'll know fully how much of a complete lunatic you can be about him, and if you're right…well, there's a slim chance that you're right. This is Arnold we're talking about after all. Most daring thing he's ever 'tossed back' is a Yahoo soda with a cherry twist!' "Okay then…" she let out a breath, "Here we go, I guess…"
There was a moment of silence during which Arnold waited patiently for Helga to begin and Helga just pulled her courage together to commence this awkward topic of conversation. "Well, uh…" she finally began, "Let's see… Now, you said something ridiculously sweet about my face and a Helga locket, right?" She glanced to him.
Arnold looked up for a second like he was thinking about it, and then turned his eyes back to hers and replied with a smile and a nod, "Mmm hmm—I remember something like that. Keep going, Helga."
Helga let out a sigh and rolled her eyes at how much he was obviously enjoying himself right now. "Okay, well, uh…then I might have grabbed you and thrown you up against my fence…"
Arnold just nodded again, still just smiling in that way of his. "Oh yeah—I definitely remember that!" He let out a small chuckle. "Keep going…"
Helga let out another sigh, blushing slightly. "Okay, well...now this is where the dream and reality start kind of blurring, by the way, Football Head…I kissed you, right?"
Arnold looked like he was really thinking about it again, the grin still on his face. "Let's see…hmm…" Suddenly he snapped his fingers and smiled at Helga. "Oh yeah, I remember that!" He laughed to himself, and then turned his smiling eyes back to her wide, shy ones. "And in case you're wondering, how hard you kissed me wasn't part of the dream either—I think you might have almost outdone yourself from FTi, to be honest. Oh and sorry, by the way, Helga—I didn't realize just how much all those marriage comments and us not getting to kiss at the theatre last night would get to you."
Helga just blinked several times and put her arms behind her back, trying to brush off the compliment and comment about both her kissing and need to kiss him before it all got to her too much… "Oh, uh, well…yeah…thanks and um…don't worry about it." She swallowed hard and plowed forward. "So, anyway…okay—that kiss against my fence was real… Good to know…heh, heh…" She glanced down in her blushing and was silent for another moment…thinking about the next set of things she could recall from their time together last night. 'Oh boy…'
Arnold, meanwhile, (and to her surprise) took yet another step toward her as she finished speaking. "So…what do you think happened next, Helga?" he asked her in a quiet, smooth voice…his perfect gaze so very half lidded…
Both his look and tone caused Helga to blink and to feel her heart pound. She looked up at him just standing there, obviously anxious to hear whatever she had to say next…very very anxious… 'Oh come on, he didn't actually…' her thoughts began in disbelief, 'that was just the dream last night, right? I mean…I mean…'
She swallowed hard and then finally managed to speak, eyes still locked onto Arnold's. "Well, um…the next thing I remember is that I was kissing you and you were kissing me back, and then I might have made some kind of comment about you being a lot more fun lately…"
Arnold nodded in assurance. "I remember that too, Helga…Something about how I've been that way ever since you came into the picture, from the April Fools dance straight through to last night…right?" He leaned his face just a bit closer to hers. 'If kissing her is fun…then I never want to do anything boring ever again for as long as I live!'
Helga felt herself blush even more and she moved back slightly once again… and was a bit surprised to find her back suddenly pushing up against the wall of the building behind her. Trapped now and too far gone in her slight panic to think of a way out (and not really wanting a way out very sincerely…Arnold's body being so close to hers at the moment, after all), she just pressed herself against the wall as much as possible, feeling her heart pound like crazy at the sight of Arnold's quite close smile…as well as at the memory she had next about last night…
"Well, um…" Helga swallowed again, looking shy and sheepish once more… "Then, uh…and there's every chance in the world that this was just part of the dream, heh, heh…but…Then I remember you suddenly kind of pulling me away from the fence and leaning me back to finish the kiss…" Her heart was racing and her eyes were cringed as she awaited a reply… And why the heck was he getting so close like that?
Suddenly to her surprise Arnold frowned slightly (or rather, did his best to frown slightly). "Huh?" He moved his head just a bit back from hers. "Oh…well I'm sorry Helga, but I remember something a little different than that…"
Helga raised an eyebrow, feeling, along with the immense relief of him and his secret aggressive side backing off just a little, just a touch of disappointment overtake her as well. "Huh? Oh…really…?" 'I knew that was too good to be real…' She mentally sighed to herself. 'Football Head actually taking me in his arms and doing something that daring… I mean, yeah, I know he's been making my dreams come true six ways to Sunday but there's a big difference between fulfilling my 'dreams' and fulfilling my 'fantasi—'
Helga's thoughts were cut off (actually they were sent into complete and undeniable meltdown) by the feeling of Arnold suddenly moving forward, wrapping one of his arms behind her back to pull her away from the wall and pull her firmly against him, turning the both of them around, wrapping his other arm around her torso and then quickly finishing by dipping her back all the way, all before she could even process what was happening!
Helga's eyes went wide as she saw his half lidded face looking down into her terrified one with a smile just as it had done when he'd dipped her at the April Fools dance and just like she'd thought he'd done last night… She couldn't help taking a few heavy breaths at his sudden action and proximity. "Arnold, what the—" came her cracked, panicked words.
He pulled them just a bit closer, and cut her off in a low, lovely voice, savoring all of that blueness there was in her eyes when they got wide like they were right now in love and worry. "You see, Helga…you said that last night I just 'leaned' you back and finished the kiss… Actually, I kind of dipped you back like I'm doing right now and finished the kiss…and then you kind of squealed in surprise…which was interesting for me, by the way—almost as much fun as when you make that little moaning sound of yours, like you did during the first part of the kiss…" He chuckled to himself a little, still letting himself get lost in blue as he spoke. "Anyway, we finished and then I told you that you were in good hands my poor blind friend…or, actually, my talented blue eyed love… Oh and then your jaw dropped and I asked if I could take that as you admitting I'm the better kisser because you've never made my jaw drop before…at least not right after a kiss Ms. 'Come and get it—the rope I mean, Arnold'…not yet anyway…" He winked, and felt warmth and love and sparks go all through him as his memories of Saturday night…and last night…and being against her right now all washed over him. He decided to wrap things up before he lost any will power to let her go without going all the way and kissing her like he had last night when he'd had her in this position. "…A-And then I might have thrown in something about how there was always our next date, though, to see if you could."
He chuckled warmly to himself a little, and then, still gently cradling her body, lifted Helga up and released her warm, surprised form. He took a step back from her and just smiled to himself, his arms over his chest. "Anyway, that's when you fainted in my arms…which I'm taking as more evidence that I'm getting better than you, Helga, because even after FTi I didn't faint… And everything after that was probably your dream." He could feel himself really about to burst into warm laughter but did his best to just smirk as he took a step or two past Helga toward the alley exit, unable to help adding in a casual though amused voice, "And as for that dream of yours…well, I only know parts of it from what you were mumbling in your sleep, but all I can say is thank you, Helga…at least you let me name the first child." His grin picked up a bit more. "Oh and If I ever catch you dreaming something like that again I won't whisper in your ear to name our daughter Lila or Ruth… You actually hit me in the nose in your sleep when I did that and then threatened to name the first boy Brainy…" And with that and another laugh to himself he turned to head back out to the street. "You know, I never knew that you could make a girl pass out by kissing her right, Helga…let alone dream about having you as her husband. Thanks for helping me figure out both." He laughed a little more to himself as he continued forward, blushing a little at that last comment he'd thrown in.
Arnold had to stop and turn around with a blink before reaching the alley exit, though, at the sound of a slight moan coming from behind him accompanied by a loud thump of something hitting pavement... "Helga?"
His eyes instantly went wide at sight of the girl in question sunken to her knees upon the ground, a hand on her head and looking a little woozy to say the least.
Arnold instantly raced back over to her and leaned over his girlfriend with a concerned look, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Helga, are you feeling okay?"
Helga just closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath, then swallowed and opened them again. "Ye-yeah…I-I'm…" she took another breath and looked to him, "I'm fine… Sorry, Football Head, I just…finding out about all of that happening last night was a lot to take in at once, I guess…" She swallowed hard and glanced away from him once more…a whole new wave of nausea suddenly coming over her as she recalled her situation. "And I actually, uh…" she went on in a quieter, slightly higher pitched voice, "I mean, you heard me talking about, uh…" 'Marriage, our children…oh just shoot me now… Why am I so insane? I mean, what ten-year-old in her right mind plans things out that far in advance? Arnold'll never be okay with…'
Arnold, however, had more that noticed that she couldn't seem to find the right words to finish the sentence (or possibly was just too shy to go on, though he really couldn't understand such severe embarrassment about the situation on her part), and so he just half smiled and did his best to help her words along, having a pretty good idea of what she was talking about. "…Heard you talking about…dreaming that we were married and had kids?"
Her eyes snapped open. She gave a small nod. "Yeah, uh…that…" She managed to glance up at him timidly, and then slowly began to lift herself from the sidewalk, allowing his hand to slip from her shoulder. "Sorry, I, uh…keep freaking you out with my slight obsession with you, Football Head… It was really nice of you to still take me home after that though…" Now fully standing, she just blushed and looked away from him again with her hands behind her back.
Arnold just looked at her curiously for a second and then smiled, taking a step toward her once again this morning, his arms crossed over his chest. "Helga, you know I would never leave you passed out in a street…and definitely not because of something you did or said. And as for the dream, well," he shrugged and did his best to casually point out, considering 'certain' memories about 'certain' matrimonial things that had passed through his own sleeping head several weeks ago (and also some new things that had passed through his head in his sleep just last night), "Well, if I remember right didn't I tell you on Friday afternoon about a very similar dream that I had once…you know, about us married?"
Helga blinked and responded shyly, arms still behind her back. "Yeah, but…come on, Arnold, we both know there's a big difference between you coming up with something like that after getting my name in an origami marriage predictor 110 times and me just doing it on a regular basis…" 'I am so weird, aren't I?'
"And…who says I haven't had more than one dream like that myself?"
Helga was pretty sure her heart had just stopped.
It took several seconds for her to regain the power of speech.
When she finally felt herself able to talk again, she looked up at Arnold slightly though she absolutely REFUSED to make direct eye contact with him. "I'm sorry…what?"
Arnold felt himself blushing at what he'd just managed to get himself to admit, but, well…if sharing the memory of what he'd dreamt last night would make Helga feel a little more comfortable, then it was well worth any personal embarrassment in his book. Besides, it was the truth…and if there was one thing Arnold had always stuck by in his life it was the truth. He cleared his throat, putting his own arms behind his back…and elaborated a little. "I…might have had another dream like that since I told you about that first one."
Helga just continued standing there with a shocked look in her eyes and a blank stare. "I…I'm sorry can you repeat that one more time?"
Arnold sighed and almost chuckled, getting a very familiar vibe from this line of questioning. He decided to cut to the chase. "I, Arnold, have dreamt more than once that I've been married to you, Helga G. Pataki…with children. And the second dream was, um…a g-good dream…" he willed himself to get out that last part before he lost his nerve. "A…really good dream…"
She just continued standing there with that totally stunned look on her face, her eyes occasionally darting back and forth almost in panic at this new situation she'd been introduced to. Finally, though, Helga managed to speak again. "Ah…I see." She was trying to make it sound casual but her usual forceful, strong voice was all but a squeak. "Um, then, Arnold…?" she continued seriously, "In the interest of making sure I don't lose my marbles and dive on top of you again…which would be pretty bad considering how close we are to the school…I'm pretty sure I'm about to pass out now… But, before you go off to class, could you just make sure to… I don't know, tie my ribbon around my mouth or something so I can't speak in my sleep, you know, just in case anyone comes along. Really, just let Phoebe know and she'll come check on me at recess or something, because I'm pretty sure I'm going…going to…uh…" Helga felt her knees go weak again and she began to go forward.
Arnold, though, being so close to her and having time to prepare considering her speech, managed to go forward and catch her before she sunk down to the pavement again. He righted her to standing position once more and held onto her shoulders to prop her up. "Helga?" The genuine look of concern on his face was apparent. "Are you sure you're not sick?" He put a hand to her forehead for a moment. "Maybe I should take you home or something…"
Helga blinked a couple of times, feeling strength return to her legs at his touch. She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts and forget about this shaky, shimmery, sublime sensation creeping through her…because, really, what was happening right now…Arnold caring about her that much…sincerely liking the idea of marrying her…of having a family with her…it just couldn't…and what had she done to deserve…and how could his opinion of the idea have changed so much so quickly in such a short…and… She swallowed hard and finally managed to speak again, though her voice still had a touch of weakness to it. "No, no…I'm okay, Arnold," she assured him. "Sorry, I just…" she clasped her hands in front of herself shyly, "Well, like I said last night, you really can't spring intense stuff like that on me without some kind of warning. I mean, the last two weeks feel like enough of a whirlwind as it is, but…you just keep tossing fulfilled personal fantasy on top of fulfilled personal fantasy and I'm bound to need a good passing out every once in a while to cope with it all, heh, heh…" She looked to him a little sheepishly at this admission.
Arnold just smiled encouragingly back at her…and also with a touch of relief that she really was okay. "That's okay, Helga…I know—things between us have been happening a little fast…" A felt a bit of warmth prick at his face (the idea of him going fast with a girl…), but went on smiling just the same as he continued on… "In a way, though, I guess, for me at least, it's not that hard to get used to it all though because…" he took a second to let his thoughts work themselves out a little in his head, and then went on, "In a way…it feels like all of this started way before the tutoring two weeks ago…like with your confession or even the first day we met or something, you know?" A small chuckle escaped him and he reached up and gave a small, gentle adjustment to her bow (which had gone just the tiniest bit lopsided from her two drops to the ground). "Like you were telling me with how I liked your outfit that first day of preschool…" he finished in explanation.
Helga swallowed and felt her jaw quiver just a little at the feeling of him moving her bow like that and then pulling back…and also at what he'd just said about seriously starting to wonder if maybe…if maybe he had fallen in love with her in some small way the day they'd first met…(or maybe, especially considering the fact that he had been the one to initiate their small first conversation…maybe he had even fallen in love with her first a little…). She blushed at the very thought and quickly spoke to keep herself here in reality instead of going off into her feelings and fantasies. "Oh, um…I-I…that…makes sense, I-I guess…" Seeing him smile just a little more at her fluster, she took a small step back and tried to move things along with a nervous laugh. "Heh, heh, but, uh…still, even if that football head of yours explained it so well, uh, the whole you liking me back thing is going to take me a while to fully absorb, I guess." She then, still trying to move away a little bit from all of the intimacy, managed a weak scowl and asked in the most sarcastic voice she could come up with, "A-and, meanwhile, Football Head, what guy in their right mind goes from zero to 'I'm okay with being your husband' in a matter of weeks?" She gave him a small smirk and couldn't help but chuckle as she added, "You are seriously weird, you know that, Arnoldo?"
At this final question and the return of her familiar attitude that it brought, Arnold had to just smile warmly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah, I guess the two of us are a little different…" He glanced down for just a moment in thought. "But…" he went on, "Like I was telling your mom last night…even though we're not like most people…we're happy." He looked up again. "And I'm okay with that if you are, Helga…" He reached forward and took one of her hands in both of his, holding it warmly.
Helga's eyes went wide at his sudden sentiment and sudden touch, and she felt her heartbeat quicken, pumping heat and sparks throughout her system…and it was utterly delightful. 'Oh why bother getting nervous about being nervous anymore…After all, flirting should be expected and welcome from my…my boyfriend…' She allowed the word to wash over her… 'Boyfriend'…and then let out a sigh and half smiled at her beloved, just shaking her head. "Arnold…you are so corny…" She giggled. "Cute…" she placed the index finger of her free hand on his nose, "but corny…" She removed her finger and then delicately slipped her other hand from his, placing both arms behind her back, still grinning at him.
Arnold just smiled a little more at her gesture and then let out a sigh, rubbing his right arm with his left hand shyly. "Whatever you say, Helga."
Helga gave him a wink at his familiar response of acquiescence, and then shook her head with a smile once again and began to exit the alleyway. 'Eh, I wanted to ask him a thing or two more but this is such a great note to end things on, and we really should probably get to class soon…I'll just use Lila or Phoebe to pull him aside after school to talk a little more…'
Arnold, meanwhile, just watched her go with a half grin and a half lidded gaze for a second or two (similar to how he'd watched her saunter off from her dining room to her kitchen after dinner last night), and then eagerly followed after her.
"Just so we're clear Football Head," Helga began, glancing over her shoulder as she heard Arnold catch up with her, "Next Friday's date is going to feature you explaining this other 'married' dream of your to me…in excruciating detail!" She let out a small laugh. "And meanwhile what the heck brought on something like that exactly?" She raised part of her brow at him, stopping just before they'd reached the street and putting her hands on her hips, curious enough all of a sudden about his response to delay their arrival to class by another few mere seconds. "I mean, I know I'm on your mind morning, noon and night, Arnoldo," she smirked a little, "but something that specific feels like it at least needs something small to give it a shove forward."
Arnold chuckled at her small joke, stopping now too and rubbing the back of his neck with one of his hands. "Well, actually, I think it was hearing your dream last night…which I also expect to hear a lot of details about if I'm sharing with you next weekend…" He gave her a small smirk causing her to raise part of her brow in a bit of interest and smile back at him in response to this proposition of his of a trade. He then blushed a little as he added, glancing down from her shyly once again. "And then well…along with my dream happening partly because of your dream…it also probably happened a little bit because of that…that kiss…" He felt himself getting lost in a daydream…and was more than willing to finally give into i—
"Hello, earth to Arnold, you who!" He blinked at the sight and sound of Helga waving a hand in front of his face, snapping her fingers once or twice to bring him back to reality.
Arnold's eyes instantly went wide and he froze a bit. Finally with a swallow he managed to look to Helga's amused and intrigued face, and then quickly cleared his throat and glanced down in a bit of embarrassment. 'Okay, so…maybe I should really save the daydreams for when we're apart…The ones about her holding my hand in the halls all day in school…sitting next to me at lunch and in class…sneaking me a small kiss during recess…' Heat began to burn in his cheeks…especially as his thoughts progressed… 'Oh, one of these days I really am going to be brave and pull her into a janitors closet and just…just—'
The sound of Helga's laughter and the feeling of her smacking a hand upon his shoulder woke Arnold up from his fantasies again, and he was instantly just thankful that she couldn't know exactly what he was thinking about…even if it was at least obvious that he was thinking about her. "You've gotta watch that whole 'daydreaming about me' thing, Football Head…" His eyes focused on the finger she was pointing at him, "It's fine for now but if we're in the middle of one of Simmons' lectures and you go all lovesick someone's bound to notice."
Arnold smiled sheepishly and sighed, clearing his throat. "Right, right…sorry Helga." He half grinned. "I'll try and think about you and all of our fun memories together only on my own time or during our dates…" Before she could respond to that little joke, his eyes then suddenly lit up for a second as he recalled something, considering the mention of 'fun memories' and 'their dates'. He turned fully to Helga. "Oh, and speaking of our date on Friday, I thought that instead of going to Slausen's we could maybe eat in…I was talking to my grandparents and, if you'd like to, they said they'd be happy to tell us some stories about when they were little and how they got together…"
Helga's smile went very wide at the proposition. "Seriously? Oh man, Arnold, it is a date! Like, even more so than usual!" She crossed her arms over her chest and her eyes went a bit half lidded. "I really cannot think of a better way to start a weekend than hearing more evidence about how we're meant to be together…"
Arnold looked at her sincerely. "Happy to hear it, my…my Helga…" And with this small term of affection he blushed a little and then resumed walking to the street.
He stopped though as he felt Helga suddenly latch one of her hands onto one of his own from behind before he could finally make it to the main sidewalk. He turned back to her, an eyebrow raised, and noticed she was blushing slightly and glancing away from him. "Something else on your mind, Helga?" he asked sincerely.
'Maybe…' Helga thought to herself, remembering one of two of those other things she wanted to address with Arnold at some point during this day, 'Maybe I…maybe I could ask him now…all things considered… We do still have a few minutes left alone like this…And he really is being such a sweetheart…And besides, might as well get all of the awkwardness and mushiness over in one shot, right?'
She cleared her throat and Arnold waited with a smile for her to say whatever was on her mind before they had to pretend like they were enemies like usual for the rest of the day.
Helga swallowed and glanced up at him as much as she dared before finally speaking. "Um…Football Head?" A blush was building in her features that he couldn't help but notice…especially since he'd come to be looking for any kind of a blush in her all the time…it being such a pretty look on her. "Did, um…did you really tell my Mom that…" the red in her face went a bit darker, "…that the way you feel about me is the same way I feel about you…?"
Arnold just watched her curiously for a second or two…but then couldn't help a small chuckle escaping him…especially at how nervous she seemed about asking such a simple question. He nodded his head in reply. "Of course, Helga…" He squeezed her hand a little harder to reassure her. "She just seemed kind of curious about us and you said she already found out everything on your end, and I just wanted her to know that…well…whatever was happening between us wasn't one sided… that we're both on the same page." He blinked, a touch of worry coming to his eyes just for a second as a new thought suddenly entered his mind about why Helga might be asking him this question and looking so concerned about his answer. "Do you think I shouldn't have said anything, Helga? I mean, I really wasn't sure what it would be okay to say…I know you said she knows about us but I wasn't sure exactly how much, so I thought just letting her know that we feel the same way about each other would have been better than saying I loved you."
Helga continued blushing and just barely managing to look at him completely, her eyes wide. She still held his hand...feeling his warm grasp firmly around her own. And then a small smile came to her face as his words finally sunk in. "Oh yeah, Arnold—I'm angry at you for caring about me." She rolled her eyes and laughed a little (as did Arnold), but then cleared her throat and got quiet again, much to the young blonde boy's confusion once more. "It's just…" she went on shyly, "you specifically told her that you feel the same way about me as I do about you?"
Arnold raised an eyebrow again, pretty sure he had already confirmed this fact. "Uh, yeah, Helga...just like I said."
"O-oh." She instantly looked away again, feeling her heart pump all free blood into her face.
Arnold half smiled at her curiously. "Is there something on your mind again, Helga?"
She sighed and swallowed and finally managed to speak more fully again. "Arnold, I just…well, what you said…and you meant it, right?" Her eyes glanced up at his.
Arnold smiled a bit more…and did his best not to chuckle at how cute and shy the usually blustery girl before him looked like that. "Yes, I meant it, Helga…" he reassured her, nodding.
Helga felt her heart flutter…almost effervesce really…and did her best not to get too giddy of a smile on her face. She cleared her throat once more to help in this endeavor, and then finally separated her hand from Arnold's and crossed her arms over her chest, trying to seem more serious than shy again. "And you're, uh…I mean, you are aware of just how much of an emotional commitment that is…right?" She was trying to seem a bit casual but the question was actually very important to her. After all…(and this had been on her mind ever since her mother had related her conversation with Arnold from last night to her this morning)…it was one thing for Arnold to just like her, one thing for him to like her like her, and even just one thing for him to be falling in love with her or even flat out love her… But to specifically love her like she loved him…and to admit to that degree of an emotional state all the while knowing about her locket and the shrines and the poetry and the stalking and the dreams and the years and years of pining and even the fact that deep down she wanted to be his bride and wife more than just about anything in the world (well, becoming president was the only thing that might tie with it)…it was too good to be…just too good to really be true.
Arnold just watched her in genuine amazement for a moment, letting what must be going on with her sink in. 'She still doesn't fully get it, does she? She still thinks…' he almost really couldn't believe it, 'She still thinks that I'm just going to turn around one day and realize I've made some kind of 'horrible mistake' or something…' He almost shook his head in amusement at how absurd the whole thing sounded, '…that…that we couldn't love each other just the same…that it's impossible or something for her to be loved just as strongly as she loves…'
Helga was still letting herself be in awe at the very idea of Arnold's love equaling her own when she suddenly came out of these thoughts and felt her stomach do a flip as, in response to her question, she felt Arnold once more lace together one set of their fingers each, raise their hands, and then just look into her eyes, smiling in that way she loved so much. "I…think I have a pretty good idea of what it meant for me to say that, Helga…considering the last few weeks…" He leaned down and gently kissed the back of her hand…and then moved his lips away and whispered to her in a low voice. "I love you just like you love me, Helga G. Pataki."
Helga. Felt. Herself. Melt. A dreamy smile and a girlish sigh finally got the better of her.
She heard Arnold laugh at this response to his kiss, and that made her giggle on top of the sigh she'd just given. She lowered their hands and then swung them in unison for just a second coyly before delicately slipping hers from his to put her arms behind her back shyly once more...though she was feeling a lot less nervous and a lot more elated while doing it this time around. Warmth flooded her entire body as she then joked with a smile, "Hey, uh, Football Head, you know it's not going to help us keep this secret under wraps if I have to walk into Simmons' room with my face bright pink and a smile like this on my lips…my incredibly romantic little love god…"
Arnold glanced down sheepishly and sighed at her point. "Sorry, Helga. Didn't mean to get to you so much with that little kiss…and another 'I love you.' I guess I just wanted to give you some kind of small goodbye to remember me by until our next date…." He looked back up at her with a smile.
Helga just shrugged, still grinning. "Hey, what are you gonna do, right?" she asked rhetorically. "Besides, you and your romaticness should be the last thing I'm complaining about, Arnoldo."
The two of them shared a laugh.
A few seconds later Arnold, with a grin, turned and stretched one of his arms forward, gesturing the way ahead. "Well, we've been here a little while now…I guess we should probably head back so we're not late to class or anything. But I think there's still ten minutes until the bell rings so that gives us a little time at least: do you want to go to the front steps from this side and then I'll wait a few minutes and go around the school from the other side so we can make sure no one sees us together?"
Helga smirked at his suggestion and crossed her arms over her chest, raising part of her brow. "You really are getting good at this whole keeping a secret thing, aren't you, my beloved?"
Arnold felt himself blush very darkly and his eyes went wide. My beloved. That was certainly a new one. Not that it didn't have its appeal but getting to new layers of Helga's affection for him couldn't help but make his heart skip a beat every single time, and just a touch of shock and wonder come over him. "Well I…" he stammered nervously, though he tried to seem unphased (yet, sadly, Arnold was just plain not good at hiding his emotions, especially on the spot like this), "I just wanted to make sure that…that things stay between us as long as you want them to, Helga." He grinned at her and rubbed the back of his neck with the arm he'd had extended just now, feeling his blushing grow stronger. "So, um…anyway, I guess we should go then…"
He turned to leave once more when he suddenly felt Helga grab his hand from behind for the second time this morning. He turned… However, rather than his eyes meeting with the sight of her blushing and looking away timidly like the first time he'd been in this situation…they met with the sight of a girl half grinning...and with a twinkle in her eye.
"Hey…Arnold?" she asked with just a touch of coyness.
"Um…yes, Helga?" Arnold asked back with an obvious amount of curiosity in his voice, wondering what else they could possibly have to cover after everything they'd just shared and considering how little time they had left before they had to go back to school.
He couldn't help but feel a touch of unease (after all, the look on her face right now was…somehow it went beyond content or happy if that was possible…and he wasn't exactly sure what to make of it just yet) as he heard Helga giggle before replying cryptically, "You uh…you said there's ten minutes until class starts, right?"
Arnold still looked at her blankly, even more puzzled by this question. "Uh…yeah."
Helga took a step closer to him, still keeping her firm grip upon his hand. "Well, you know…it only takes five minutes to get to Simmons' room from here if we run…"
'Only five minutes to get to Simmons' room from…' Helga's words echoed in his head for a moment. 'So that would leave us with…five minutes free?'
Arnold wasn't sure quite why yet but he felt his heart do a flip as the thought finished processing…
His heart began fully pounding though as he suddenly felt Helga quickly yank him back into the alley and then to the other side of the dumpster in the shadows (where, conveniently, no one would be able to see them from the street if anyone happened to pass by.)
"H-Helga!" came a slightly panicked and muffled voice…like something was half pushed against the speaker's mouth. "What about not wanting to go into the classroom blushing?" then came the playful question off screen after a second or two.
"Hey, the damage was already done! Besides, if I'm going down then I'm taking you with me, head boy!" A girlish giggle from the shadows. "And anyway quit complaining—at least we finally have some more uninterrupted alone time…"
And indeed from the street Arnold and Helga had been about to walk onto, nothing out of the ordinary could be seen… (except of course for a blue hat suddenly dropping down to the ground right near the edge of the dumpster.)
However, standing right in the entrance of the alley and listening closely (which luckily no one was doing right now as everyone…well, almost everyone…was getting ready to head to class), the sounds of the two happy voices concealed in a corner against a wall could distinctly be heard…as well as a few other things.
"H-lga!" It sounded like something was mashing up even more against the surprised yet happy speaker's mouth.
Another giggle. "Oh, what—I thought you liked FTi kisses, Arnold. Besides, if I don't practice 'em, how am I gonna get better at 'em, huh? Hmm…Now come on Mr. 'I love Helga just as much as she loves me'…if we've got a whole day of putting on a show of hatred to get through then you at least have to give sweet Helga five minutes to play with dark Arnold! Oh yes—dark, daring, girlfriend-dipping-back Arnold!" she cooed in delight.
"Hel—" started the other voice in a tone trying to sound serious but obviously coming off as more amused than anything else. He was cut off though (of course), and then a few seconds of silence ensued followed by another giggle and then a light, girlish moan.
And then finally there was the sound of a slightly deeper chuckle…and a pink ribbon quickly landed on the ground to join the blue hat.
"Arnold!" came a very amused, almost laughing female voice all of a sudden. "Wow, you really do like my hair, don't you?"
"Oh…!" came a slightly nervous and yet also slightly dazed voice in response. "Sorry Helga, I…I don't even remember starting to…I mean…" A second of surprised silence. "Did I really…make your ribbon…pull your ribbon out of your…and make your hair…I mean…"
A very romantic giggle. "Hey don't worry about it, Football Head. It feels good when you cradle my head and your fingers pull through my hair like that… So strong and yet so tender and loving. Hmm…hey, does it feel the same way for you every time I grab that wide but wonderful head of yours and grip your flaxen hair, my beloved?"
Once again in Arnold and Helga's relationship, a silence so thick with tension that it actually SOUNDED like someone was blushing. Then there was a very distinct swallowing sound. "Well…I…" began a goofy male voice, "Sort of…"
Another bit of girlish laughter. "Okay then, I'm game for changing things up a bit—we'll go back to the status quo a little later but for now you keep caressing my head and hair like I usually do to you, and I'll get an arm around you just like you usually do to me, my once again surprisingly enthusiastic little Football Head…" Another small laugh. "It's good to try new experiences, anyway."
A warm chuckle. "Helga you're not really going to—"
Total sudden silence.
"Wow, this actually feels really good, Arnoldo…just pulling you as close as I want…my arms wrapped snugly around that warm little body of yours. How's it working out for you…? Feel nice to be held against little old Helga G. Pataki?"
Another very long silence…
"Arnold?" came a hesitant yet amused voice.
Suddenly there was the sound of another girlish moan followed by, just for a moment it seemed…it almost seemed like a (just for a second, mind you, and only if you listened really, really closely) like something of a…slightly deeper moan as well? There was quiet for several more seconds as the owners of the two voices were, uh, 'occupied' at the moment…
Finally there was the sound of lips smacking apart and a certain young man taking in and releasing a deep breath. "It's…working out okay for me, Helga."
"Yeah…I gathered…" responded his very lovesick lady friend. Then a light and musical female laugh (at least, in Arnold's ears that what it sounded like…that's what it would always sound like) sounded. "I really am just destroying all of your innocence, aren't I, Football Head? Just like I said in that note I left you with the first pink book—first you're eavesdropping then I've got you lying to ninety percent of the people we know about us, and then I give you the bright idea to break into my house, and now finally you've gone from the poster boy of modesty to actively making out in alleys just before class…taking out my pigtails and everything…" She laughed playfully again. "If I come to the boarding house on Friday and find a bunch of bags filled with unmarked bills and you making shady phone calls to Big Gino, I'm getting your grandparents and we're having an intervention you kno—"
She was cut off, a slight squeal of surprise and satisfaction escaping her just before 'something' made her unable to speak again.
A few more seconds of peaceful, romantic silence.
Finally the sounds of two people breathing heavily. "Didn't you tell me once that I was the one who talked too much, Helga?" It was obvious he was doing his best not to laugh.
She, meanwhile, had to at least let out a slight snort, the statement was so funny to her. "Oh just shut up and get one hand in my hair and one arm around me where it belongs and I'll try and do the same for you! Best of both worlds. Okay?"
An agreeing chuckle. "Fair enough…"
More lovely quiet interspersed with the occasional bit of light laughter and the occasional girlish moan…
"You know something, Helga…" Arnold let out a sigh several seconds later, recalling a bit of their conversation from last night…and the last time they had been kissing…"you're a lot more fun ever since I came into the picture…"
"Hmm…" Helga chuckled. "Oh, tell me about it…I mean, really, COULD I have been more uptight before?"
Several shared laughs interspersed with occasional segments of (quite productive) silence.
"Phoebe, slow down—I'm sure they're okay!" Gerald Johansson assured the girl just ahead of him. "They probably just got caught up in another random 'Arnold and Helga drama adventure.' He probably wrote her another poem and she got all gushy about it, or she probably flirted with him and convinced him to play hooky or something…Besides, we're going to be late to class ourselves if we don't get going. We can't have more than five minutes until the bell rings—I mean, everyone else is already inside." Gerald jerked a thumb back in the direction of P.S. 118's entirely vacant stoop, which he was currently being pulled away from by a certain short, dark haired girl who had a surprisingly firm grip on one of his wrists (and a surprising amount of strength behind that small frame of hers).
Phoebe gave a worried sigh in response to his observations, glancing back at him and pausing for just a second on the corner they had just reached (though she continued to hold his wrist firmly, obviously not about to give up on her current mission). "I know, Gerald, and those are all valid points…. And I'm certain that one of those two situations is very likely what's detaining them. But still…" the worry in her eyes increased, "Lila said it sounded very much like Helga had every intention of coming back and of having Arnold come back as well, but they've been gone nearly twenty minutes. I just want to make sure that everything's…okay…" She turned away from the boy before her again and brought them around the corner and a little ways down a street alongside the school…more specifically, the street with the alleyway (which was currently in sight) where Lila had informed Phoebe that she had left Arnold and Helga earlier.
Gerald sighed at her concern but tried to smile supportively, though he stopped moving forward in tow as compliantly as before for just a second, causing Phoebe to have to pause once again in their journey as well. As she turned around again, Gerald put his free hand reassuringly on top of her hand that he was currently already holding. "Phoebe, listen…" he began understandingly, "I know you worry about Helga but it's broad daylight and not even 9 am and we're in possibly the safest part of the neighborhood imaginable. And on top of all that they've only been alone for fifteen minutes and both of them know how to take care of themselves… Remember—Old Betsey and The Five Avengers, and a blackbelt someone got from their Grandma?" He half smiled and raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "What are you worried about, exactly?" He knew Phoebe had a habit of being very concerned about Helga when it came to Arnold…but he really just couldn't see how there could be a major problem right now, all things considered.
Phoebe felt a small smile pull at the corners of her mouth at how caring Gerald was being (and at the small joke he'd just made about Helga and Arnold's fighting skills), but her concern over her best friend quickly came back to her in full force and she sighed and glanced away once more. "I…I don't know Gerald…" she began hesitantly. "I mean, I don't believe they are in serious danger or anything like that but… Well, Gerald…" she looked up into his eyes, "Gerald, being with Arnold is literally a dream come true for Helga. It…it means more to her than I think you or I or even Arnold realizes and, well…they had dinner with her parents last night and then Helga didn't call me before bed to let me know how things went and I only briefly caught a glance of her this morning and she seemed just as defensive and angry as ever, and then according to Lila it sounded like Helga needed to have some kind of serious talk with Arnold…I'm just worried that perhaps something went…well, wrong between them…" Phoebe paused and took a deep breath and a step closer to the boy before her, taking comfort in the fact that he was still cradling her hand in both of his and still listening so attentively to her concerns, though the thought she was expressing now was so sad to her that she just had to look down as she explained it. "Gerald…if it all turned out to be too much for Arnold right now…if he couldn't handle the relationship right now after she's finally had her dream for a week…I'm not sure what that would do to her, and I suppose I'm just worried that maybe something like that happened, and that maybe she's…she's—"
Phoebe stopped as she felt a warm hand suddenly shift from gently resting upon the top of her own hand to gently holding one of her shoulders. She looked up at Gerald once more, the distress evident in her eyes…along with a decent degree of curiosity.
He just smiled compassionately down at her, finally getting it. "Okay, okay…" he started warmly, "We'll try to find them, babe. But, hey…" he squeezed her hand a little firmly for a moment, "Don't worry about it so much, okay? I'm sure they just had to make plans for next weekend or something. I mean, it's not like they could just do that at recess like normal people with Helga having to pretend to torture Arnold and Arnold having to pretend to just ignore her like always, right?" That got another small smile from Phoebe which made Gerald smile a bit more as well. "And anyway, I get it…" he went on, "Helga's your best friend and you have to look out for her." He laughed slightly to himself, a strange thought he'd been having to admit to himself lately actually coming to mind. "Actually, I guess she's kind of become a friend of mine now too…I'm still going to be having some fun with her with that shrine stuff today whenever I get the chance, of course…" he winked and that actually got a full on chuckle out of Phoebe (much to his continued happiness), "…But yeah, like I said, she's kind of my friend now…and so is my man Arnold, of course, so…let's you and me check where Lila said she left them and if they're not there we can…I don't know…see if Mr. Simmons will let us go home sick so we can keep looking for them, or I'll put in a few calls during recess and see if my man Fuzzy Slippers can't figure out where they are, okay?" He smiled, hoping coming up with this plan would make her happy, and help take the edge off of her worries even a little bit.
Phoebe continued to smile warmly at him for a second longer…and then went forward and wrapped him in a tight (and prolonged) hug (which caused a very dreamy smile to come to Gerald's face). Slowly, realizing her actions and blushing a little, she pulled away. "Arigato, Gerald…" She was looking down with a small smile and her hands clasped together in front of her. 'It's…it's so nice having someone care about how you feel like this…having someone to really talk to…'
Gerald, his slight shock at her sudden hug wearing off, just laughed and shrugged, happy he really did seem to be making her feel better. 'Besides, every girl looks prettier when they smile than when they frown…especially her…' "Hey…shitsurenshimasenyo, right?" he replied jokingly.
Phoebe just giggled warmly. "Yes, Gerald..." She took his hand this time instead of his wrist and the two now headed slowly in the direction of the alleyway. "I don't think any of us have been disappointed in love lately, actually…" she found the courage in herself to tack on.
Gerald laughed and blushed slightly at the very correct statement, as did Phoebe…
The tender moment between them was only interrupted as they reached the entrance of the alley only to hear some very… 'interesting' sounds.
Indeed, several bits of laughter suddenly met their ears...followed by a couple of very familiar and very VERY happy sounding voices.
"Arnold…Arnold!" The tone was surprised, flustered, elated, impressed…
A chuckle met it in reply...along with a very content sounding young man's voice. "Helga, you shouldn't have started this… We're never going to get to class on time you know…"
A moan sounded for a second or two and was then followed by a deep breath…and an INCREDIBLY eager young lady's voice. "Oh…Oh who cares about class? Come on, let's take the day off and get back to that Cineplex and find an empty theatre and have the date we were supposed to have last night!" A second or two more of quiet...a deep sigh through someone's nose…and then a girl's voice that sounded like it was getting more and more gone by the second. "And then we can go lay under the trees at the park and then sit together on the pier looking at the city lake…" Several more seconds with occasional female moans…and then a distinctly girlish sigh and a much more dazed sounding voice this time, "And then we can catch a plane to Paris and have dinner under the stars…"
A warm, low chuckle. "Is that another dream you've had about us, my Helga…Paris?"
Another bout of quiet with soft moans and a sigh and maybe even a small laugh or giggle or two during which Gerald and Phoebe's mouths continued to remain totally agape, just as they had fallen into being upon entering the alley and hearing the voices of their best friends and piecing together pretty quickly what it was exactly that had been 'detaining' them…
A giggle and then the female of the two voices started speaking again. "Come on, Football Head—like you said, it's getting late so everyone we know's bound to be in class by now. Even if we're not going to make it to the movies or Paris just yet, let's get away from this stupid wall and dumpster and try for something a little more free standing!" She chuckled. "Besides, it's dark over here and I keep almost missing you every time I lean in…"
A mischievous chuckle. "Whatever you say, Helga…"
"Arnold…Arnold! What the heck are you—"
Suddenly (and finally) Arnold and Helga emerged from their hiding place on the other side of the dumpster in the corner of the alley…and Arnold was fully cradling Helga in his arms and looking dreamily into her face just like last night when he'd carried her to her door!
Gerald and Phoebe (who were remaining unnoticed by the two lovers due to both their shocked silence as well as the fact that Arnold and Helga were about as lost in each other's eyes as it was possible to be) couldn't help but notice Arnold's completely disheveled hair and his sweater pulled quite a ways up his body…as well as Helga's incredibly tousled, down hair and the fact that both of her jumper straps seemed about ready to slide off either one of her shoulders. Both of them were breathing heavily.
And then Helga, with an almost shuddery giggle, finally spoke again, her eyes about as half lidded as could be and her face flushed and happy. "Once again you are so corny, Football Head. So cute but so corny…" 'He's HOLDING ME! Oh don't ever let him let me go EVER!'
Almost as if in response to her thought, Arnold just let out a low laugh and firmed up his grip on her a little more. "You're cuter…" 'Helga…is much more fun to hold when she's awake…Definitely…'
The girl in his arms just sighed at his response and rolled her eyes playfully. "Arnold, I already told you, I am not playing these little 'you are, no YOU are' games with you. Not my style at all, Football Head, so cork it!"
He leaned his face just a bit closer to hers…and his eyes narrowed just a bit. "Why don't you cork it for me?"
Helga blinked and went wide eyed and bright scarlet, her senses all spiraling out of control as she just stared into that strange look her beloved kept getting every time she got him worked up with kissing.
Still, having had a week or so to get used to it (just as she'd also had a week or so to get used to him flirting with her and loving her), she finally just smiled and leaned closer toward him as well. Her voice went low and playful. "Yes sir…"
There was so little space between them…she could already feel the warmth coming off of his lips (those soft lips that were so talented at participating in the gentle pulls and pushes of all of their kisses, from the sweetest and shyest to the most passionate and crazed)… He could feel the warmth coming off of hers too…and he couldn't wait to hold her and kiss her at the same time like this…
The two of them were suddenly interrupted in this position of being mid-leaning in to kiss by the sound of Gerald clearing his throat. LOUDLY.
A second passed…
And then Arnold and Helga's eyes flew open wide as they both FINALLY realized that they weren't alone…and quite possibly…quite probably, actually…hadn't been for a while.
Shocked silence proceeded to reign between the four ten-year-olds for many seconds during which Gerald just did his best not to stare too much at the completely out of left field sight of Arnold and Helga (and what they were doing) before him…while Phoebe just stood there blushing and trying to keep her jaw (which had snapped shut at the sound of Gerald clearing his throat like that to draw attention to their presences) from dropping again, though it wasn't easy… Helga, meanwhile, just stared wide eyed at her and her beloved's best friends, feeling all color drain from her face… and finally Arnold, blushing furiously, continued to hold Helga and just stare wide-eyed only at her…too terrified of the imminent humiliation to even begin looking to their friends.
Gerald was the one to finally speak first, and he chose, with a half grin, to address Phoebe. "So much for your theory about them being late because they were calling it quits, huh?"
Phoebe continued to not say anything for another second, but then finally just closed her eyes and sighed in familiar exasperation, rubbing her eyes under her glasses though it was obvious she was trying to fight a serious smile at her companion's joke.
Finally, Arnold and Helga managed to start being able to breathe again…which meant they actually might be able to start making words again too anytime soon.
"How…uh…" Helga's voice squeaked a little as she tried it out all of a sudden, though she got it under control quickly enough, "How long have you two been there…exactly…?"
Phoebe was still just rubbing her eyes in total disbelief at this whole crazy situation, so Gerald stepped forward and spoke up. "Uh…" he shrugged and tried to smile without breaking into full blown laughter, "Well, I've gotta tell you, a pretty loud ringing started in my ears a few seconds after we got here but I remember something about Paris getting mentioned before that happened…"
Arnold smiled as innocently as possible and finally looked from Helga still in his arms to his friends. "Uh…heh, heh…well then…" his voice shook like crazy, "Uh…boy, what this must look like then, right, Helga?" He looked to her again just a little desperately and laughed nervously.
At the sound of Arnold addressing her Helga felt her face instantly flood with color. She swallowed and did her best to speak again, managing a nervous laugh as well and going along, in her initial embarrassment, with his efforts to smooth things over and save some face. "Heh, heh…uh, yeah…this must look like… I-I mean…"
She took a few nervous breaths as she considered how to continue…but then finally she just swallowed and instantly a familiar determination came to her face and voice. She looked Gerald and Phoebe right in the eyes. "Aw, you know what—the heck with it! What it looks like is exactly what it is!" And with a smile she suddenly grabbed her beloved's head firmly and planted upon his very surprised lips the kiss they had been interrupted from having, causing him to fall backward onto the sidewalk with her falling on top of him!
After a couple of seconds she pulled her mouth off of his with a distinct lip-smacking sound and a satisfied sigh, and then stood up from the pavement she'd had him pinned against. She then leaned back near the dumpster and picked up Arnold's hat and popped it on his very surprised and dazed head as he slowly managed to sit himself up in happiness, and then took her ribbon and started using it to put up her hair as best she could for now. "Sorry, guys," she looked to Gerald and Phoebe, "but I was NOT getting interrupted in the middle of a kiss like that again! Not even by you two! Your timings lousy by the way!" Finished with her hair, she rolled her eyes and then jerked a thumb in a still lovesick looking (and now finally standing) Arnold's direction. "Seriously, I think I could have gotten him to propose if you'd given me a few more minutes…or at least to carry me as far as the school doors…" Helga laughed a little and then sighed, turning her sights back to Arnold with her eyes a bit half lidded. She leaned a little towards him, her arms behind her back. "But I guess this is for the best, right, Football Head?" she went on sweetly, "Like you said, we'd never have gotten to class on time if things had kept up like that…"
Arnold blinked several times at her unexpected (and very close) address, finally coming out of the trance of her sudden surprise kiss that had quite literally knocked him off of his feet. He then felt himself blush at her repetition of his words from before and also because, now that he was fully returning to his normal self, it was finally sinking in what exactly he'd just spent the better part of the last ten minutes doing with Helga G. Pataki. He quickly looked down sheepishly and hoped she wouldn't notice the dark heat pounding in his cheeks. "Uh…whatever you say, Helga," came his quick, modest reply.
Helga just rolled her eyes with a smirk again at that typically Arnold phrase and then looked back to Gerald and Phoebe, jerking her thumb in her beloved's direction. "Great, now he's back to being all polite and modest instead of fun and daring. You two redefine killjoy, you know that? Sheesh!" She shook her head, still with a smile, and walked forward, putting a hand on Phoebe's shoulder. "Come on, Pheebs—let's you and me head to class first and then tall hair boy and Football Head can hang back a minute and then head in after us just as the bell rings so no one'll be the wiser about anything. It'll just look like two pairs of friends barely making it to class on time. Sound good?"
Phoebe just sighed and looked to her best friend with a smile. "Sounding good, Helga!"
Helga's smiled picked up. "Well, guess I'll see ya when I see ya, then, Football Head!" she called over her shoulder with a wink to her beloved, and then she headed forward and rounded the corner of the alley out onto the side street, Phoebe following right behind her.
Gerald and Arnold just stood back in the alley watching Helga and Phoebe depart in this manner…finally leaving the boys alone for the time being...
A/N:
Okay, the next half of this update will be within the next 24 hours, so stay tuned and please review this piece for now! I love you guys!
Happy Reading!
~Azure129 aka Jenna