Arnold glanced up the second a very flowery scent landed on his table. Smiling at his friend he wondered why she appeared so nervous. "Hi Lila. First time I've seen you in here."
"Oh hello Arnold." Lila studied the library before her as she played with one of her braids. "Um I need your guidance ever so much."
Saving his file, Arnold gave his attention to her. "What type of guidance?"
Looking ahead of her, Helga watched Arnold smiling at a pretty red head at the table. It was obvious he knew her or didn't mind her attention. "No we are friends. Just friends." She whispered as she looked down to her computer screen.
"Who's red?" John asked beside her as he came in with some new books.
"I. Don't. Know."
Hearing the note of jealousy in her voice, John whispered in her ear. "If you care to look at her body language right now and his, you can see that he is plainly not interested. They are obviously friends."
Helga told herself not to look up, but she did as the girl put her hands on her lap. "She looks like she was raised on a farm and brought here one day."
"Mmmm hmmmm."
Lila looked over towards the counter to spot the blonde with purple streaks in her hair that was in a pony tail. "Is that her? The girl that you are ever so smitten with?"
Arnold smiled over to meet Helga's eyes giving her a casual wave. "Helga. She is amazing."
"She looks ever so unique. I hope she doesn't think I'm here to flirt with you."
"If she does I'll explain. Anyhow, why are you here?" Arnold spotted an alert coming from Helga making him cock his head at her to smile once more.
"Well Arnold, since Arnie is coming next month, I would like to buy him a birthday present. He sounded ever so excited to come here and spend his birthday with me."
Watching her excitement, Arnold chuckled as soft as possible. "Well of course he is. Arnie loves you, but you don't need to buy him anything. You know how he is."
"I ever so do know, but I guess this time around I want to surprise him with something else so I came here in hopes of helping to figure it out."
Over the years he learned to ignore her speech just to skip on over to the thick of it. Her ever so's provided too much of a distraction. "How about something dealing with a farm? You were on a farm till you moved here."
"Well certainly, but seeing that I haven't been on one in forever I am out of ideas." As a thought crossed her mind, Lila almost clapped loudly till she remembered where they were. "I know. I'll read a farmers guide or something. Do you believe they have something like that here?"
Arnold shrugged till he decided on an idea. "Go over there and ask Helga. She is very helpful."
"Oh alright. Thank you Arnold. Oh I hope I get an idea out of this. I love him ever so much." Waving bye to him, Lila made her way to the counter.
Helga was going through the books late coming back when she was interrupted by a sickenly sweet voice. Glancing up she saw it was the red head. "Hello, may I help you?"
"Hello. My name is Lila and Arnold suggested I come up to you for your assistance."
The hopeful look in the red head's eyes spoke of a puppy dog begging for treats. "What are you looking for exactly?"
Lila placed her finger to her mouth tapping it. "Well my boyfriend is coming into town. He's a farmer. I asked his cousin, which is Arnold, but besides the usual gifts I've given him I want to give him something different."
So Arnold is just friends with her. "So he's a farmer. Do you want some type of farmers almanac or something close to it to give you ideas?"
"Yes. I would be ever so grateful for your help."
"Ease down sister. I'm helping you find a book which would be upstairs. Come with me." Turning her head to John she told him where she'll be. Stepping out from behind the counter, Helga felt like a giant compared to her as she guided her to the stairs. "It is good I'm heading up here anyhow so I can stop the raging hormones upstairs."
Following her, Lila noticed how like a model she seemed. She had an easy effort and grace to her movements, and was tall like a model. Also it didn't hurt that her body was shaped like one. Well at least the ones doing underwear modeling. "What do you mean by that?" Turning her head to the left she saw a couple kissing heavily. "Oh my."
Smirking at her tone, Helga snapped her fingers to gain their attention. "This is the second time I've caught you up here. Please don't make it a third or you'll be suspended from entering here."
As Lila heard her firm tone in how she handled the situation, she watched the couple dart past. "I guess that happens often."
"More often then you think. Fortunately I never encountered them fornicating. This other girl had when she first came on. Scared her. Now that she is pregnant, John and myself handle upstairs." Stopping at the aisle needed, Helga knew there wasn't any cameras up here for some reason so she peered down to see Arnold looking right at her. Blowing him a kiss she escorted Lila down a row of books.
Lila watched her go through them with her finger as she spoke to herself. "Are you required to memorize every book in here?"
"Not really. We are required to know other things. We will know something about books if we have been asked a lot. If not we ask a co-worker. I don't often say this because people will think I'm pretentious, but I have a photographic memory." Hearing her phone vibrate she had to look at her screen. "Sorry." Seeing it was the Emporium, she ignored it.
"Oh that's all right. I've been paying attention to my phone because my dad has been getting sick so much lately."
Helga paused in her cataloging to turn her head to her saddened tone of voice. "Here's hoping that your dad will be healthy so you don't worry so much."
"Thank you so much Helga. I hope so too."
Pulling out a book, Helga showed it to her. "This will give you a ton of information of what you are looking for. Do you go to this school?" She nods her head. "Then we can easily lend it to you. Perhaps something will jog inside of you that won't deal with this book at all. If anything make something very creative with parts of things he enjoys."
Lila beamed. "Oh my goodness, Helga. That is a perfect idea. My boyfriend collects, lint, dirt, reads ingredients, and loves to count. He'll love it if I create something."
Placing the book away, Helga placed a hand on her shoulder. "You didn't need a book after all."
"No, but I'm glad I met you. Oh you are such an ever nice person. You know you couldn't do better than Arnold. I known him since I was nine and he is ever so kind and helpful. Also without him I wouldn't of met Arnie."
Helga was surprised with a hug by the friendly girl. "Guess he got an endorsement. Don't worry I was planning on seeing him again."
"Oh you should. Oh I hope I see you again."
Going past her she escorted her downstairs where Lila chattered away. Reaching the bottom step Lila waved good bye to her just so she can start with her project. Shaking her head, Helga went to take the books John put aside to be re-shelved. Going over to the furtherest aisle she wasn't surprised when Arnold came over. "Can't resist me can you?"
"Nope. I wish I can kiss you."
"I wish I can kiss you." Placing the book where it belonged she grabbed the step stool to climb on. "I somehow gave her an idea so your cousin will have a homemade project made for him. If you see it I want a picture of it."
"Not a problem. I'm glad you helped. She always acts like a lost little child."
Hearing his tone, Helga shook her head to dispel herself from laughing too hard. "I take it you went out with her."
"Long time ago and we were bored to tears. We work better as friends."
Stepping down she met his eyes. "Just not kissing friends."
"No. I only kiss one friend and she is right here." Tapping her nose gently, he grinned. "Since I can't kiss you pretend I kissed your nose just now."
She knew where the cameras were at least so she pulled him a bit deeper in to kiss him lightly on the lips. "I can't do that again or Ruby will punish me." Hearing her phone vibrate she looked at it growling. "What the hell?"
"Is Hailie fine?"
Her eyes darted up to meet his own loving the concerned voice. "No. My dad is calling. It is his annual you are a mistake call."
Arnold shook his head unhappy at how she is treated. How her own daughter was treated too. Kissing her again, Arnold touched the tip of his nose to hers. "You can call me at anytime when you want. Also I would love to see you again and again."
"I might take you up on that again and again and again." Kissing his nose she pulled away. "I need to go back to work and you need to study."
"Oh I will. I just wanted to do and say all that to you. I'll kiss you later, Beautiful."
Grinning, Helga turned her body away to continue on with her job.
After putting books away, Helga left the fiction aisle to get Hailie running into her arms. Glancing up towards the counter was Olga coming towards her wearing a grave face. "Oh honey. What are you doing here?"
"Grandpa is a mean man." Hailie told her as she rested her head on her shoulder.
"What? Olga what happened?" Helga asked as she guided them towards a place they can all speak a bit more in private. Placing her daughter down, Helga looked at Olga.
"He came to the school telling me how you won't answer the phone. He told me how I have become as disappointing as you. He said some bad things concerning you know who." Olga answered as she looked outside the doors glass.
"Auntie, I know what he said, and I understood it." Hailie told Olga before turning to her mother. "He said I was also a mistake that shouldn't of been born. Why is he so mean?"
Helga fumed as she got down on her knees to meet her daughter's eyes. "I'm unable to explain that at all. I wish I could, but I truly don't know where he gets half these ideas in his head. I want you to know that you are not a mistake. None of us are. I find you to be my pride and joy. I'm blessed to have you as my daughter."
"I know. I just wanted to understand why he is so mean." Hailie wasn't fond of why her supposed grandfather could treat them so badly.
Brushing her hair away from her face, Helga smiled at her. "I really don't know myself. Why don't you head on home with Olga, and I'll see you soon. Is that good Munchkin?"
Kissing her cheek, Hailie smiled back. "I love you mom."
"I love you too." Standing up, Helga hugged her sister. "Thanks for helping out. I hope you didn't take it too hard with what he said."
"No. He isn't right at all. I'm glad I see it now." Taking her nieces hand, Olga issued a good bye to her as they left the library.
Helga was fuming at Big Bob. How dare he do that.
A/N: Last story I turned Lila into a villain. I'm not fond of that character but I thought to give it a break. Sorry also if this chapter sucked some. I really tried.