Hello wonderful readers! I'm back with a chapter that's not insanely short :) I hope you enjoy this chapter, because I loved writing it! It's just so cute! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold, but I wish I did so we could get TJM!
Chapter 18
"Here, Helga." Rhonda unceremoniously dropped an envelope on Helga's desk Tuesday morning.
"What's this?" Helga asked, but Rhonda had already moved on to the next desk. Helga picked up the envelope and tore it open.
Ms. Rhonda Lloyd cordially invites you
to a homecoming gala
next Friday at 5:00pm. Semi-formal attire.
'Oh boy, Princess really did it this time, didn't she?' Helga thought. Just as she was about to stuff the invitation in her backpack with some other forgotten papers she realized something: if it was a "semi-formal" party, that would mean dancing. She could finally dance with Arnold without some silly cover story! True, their classmates didn't actually know that Arnold and Helga were together now, but it's not like they could hide it forever, right? Besides, everyone already knew she didn't hate him, so this shouldn't be too big a shock, right?
Helga decided that the party might be fun, as long as she could dance with Arnold. But she definitely needed something new to wear!
That weekend Helga and Phoebe, who was also going, hit the nearest mall to go dress shopping. Helga, however, was having more trouble finding a dress than Phoebe, who had found a beautiful blue dress in the first store they went to. Now in store number five, Helga critiqued every dress Phoebe suggested.
"What about this one, Helga?" Phoebe suggested.
"Eh, it's okay, but I don't like the neckline; way too low. I'd be so self-conscious in it!"
"Okay, well what about this one?"
"Too long. I'd trip and fall on my face."
"Well how about this one?" Phoebe held up the next dress.
"Well, it's kind of...actually, Phoebe, I think it's perfect! I'm going to go try it on!" Helga took the dress and ran to the dressing rooms. She emerged wearing the dress, which was a very pale pink, with a cream colored sash and a square neckline. The skirt was covered in a silvery mesh that caught the light, and stopped just below her knees.
"Oh Helga, it's beautiful!" Phoebe breathed.
"This is it, Pheebs. This is my perfect dress!" she changed back into her school clothes and paid for her dress, then both girls went to meet up with Phoebe's mother.
Helga shifted from foot to foot outside the Lloyd estate. She couldn't quite make herself ring the doorbell, even though she knew Arnold was just on the other side of the door. Her hesitation was due, in part, to her attire; the other girls had never seen her in anything very fancy, and she was nervous as to how they'd react. Still more frightening, however, was the prospect of Arnold's reaction. She had left her hair down, just for him, but she now wondered if it was a mistake. 'Stop it, Helga!' she scolded herself 'Don't second guess everything! Arnold already likes you for yourself, so just calm the heck down!'
Finally she screwed up her courage, straightened her bow, and rang the bell. Moments later Rhonda answered it, sounding rather ridiculous as she tried to play the part of "charming hostess".
"Helga! Oh my, I'm so glad you were able to make it! What a gorgeous gown, you must tell me where you got it; Paris?"
"No, the mall, where normal people shop. But thanks for inviting me, Rhonda; I'm glad I could come." Helga wasn't sure what had prompted that last bit, but she had a feeling that hanging around with Arnold had started to rub off on her.
And speaking of Arnold, Helga had just spotted him over by the punch. Slowly she made her way over until she was close enough for him to hear her. But before she could say anything Gerald nudged Arnold and gestured for him to turn around.
Turning to face Helga, Arnold started to speak, then stopped; she was beautiful.
"H-hi, Arnold," Helga said nervously, "Um, you look nice."
"Helga...you look beautiful!" he excalimed. Helga blushed darkly; Arnold just said she looked beautiful, and in a room full of people no less!
"Um, well thanks, Arnold." 'Why am I so nervous? It's Arnold! He accepts me even with all of the crazy things I've done! But this is so public, and I'm not that great at taking compliments, and...oh criminy, I'm such a head case!'
Shaking her head to clear it, Helga joined Arnold and Gerald in talking and laughing and enjoying the snacks. If there was one the Helga could say about Rhonda's party, it was that the girl could certainly plan a menu!
A little while later, Arnold and Helga had moved from the snack table to a couch that had been pushed against the wall, and had spent the time just talking and shairing stories. At a pause in conversation, however, Arnold decided to as Helga the question he had been too nervous to ask before.
"Helga? Would you...like to dance?"
"Arnold, do you even have to ask?" Helga chuckled, taking his hand and leading them to the edge of the dancefloor. Arnold didn't stop there, though. Now it was his turn to lead Helga out the glass doors in the back on to a beautiful balcony.
"Arnold, what are we doing back here? The party's inside," Helga asked.
"I know, I just thought the balcony was more..." he leaned close and whispered in her ear, "romantic."
"Turning into quite the sneaky little thing, aren't you? So bold!" Helga joked.
"Oh, um, I-I just...I mean..." Arnold stuttered.
"Oh relax, Arnold, I was just kidding," Helga assured him before adding, "But just for the record, I really like sneaky Arnold just as much as I like gentleman Arnold."
"O-o-okay."
"So, um...about that dancing..." Helga said.
"Oh, um, yeah," Arnold gently wrapped his arms around Helga, who almost feinted as she rested her hands on Arnold's shoulders. With the music floating through the air and out to the balcony, seeming to come from everywhere at once, it was almost exactly as Helga had always dreamed.
As the two danced, the same feeling of everything being perfect as the last time they danced settled over them.
"You know, Helga, you're a really good dancer," Arnold comented.
"You're not too bad yourself, Hair Boy," she replied.
Just as the song ended, Arnold twirled Helga so that the beautiful view created a backdrop, and he looked up at her lovingly.
"You really do look beautiful tonight, Helga," he whispered. Then, he streached up on his toes, and Helga leand down to meet him half way. Meeting in the middle, they shaired a perfect, movie-ending kiss.
Rhonda's party was finally winding down, and everyone was starting to go home. Arnold and Helga said their goodbyes, thanked Rhonda again for inviting them, and went to the door to leave. But when Helga opened the door they were met with rain coming down in sheets.
"Oh this is just great! We're going to get soaked!" Helga complained.
"Don't worry, Helga, I have an umbrella." Arnold produced a small, fold up umbrella from his jacket pocket. Then he slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around Helga.
"Arnold, you don't need to give me your coat; you'll be cold."
"I have long sleeves, so I'll be fine. But your arms are bare, and you don't have a sweater or anything. Don't worry about it, okay, Helga?"
"Alright," she agreed.
They stepped out into the rain, sheltered by Arnold's umbrella. Helga couldn't help but notice how familiar this whole situation was, and it made her smile.
"Hey Arnold, Dejá vôú, huh?" Helga said, nodding at the rain.
"Yeah. That was a pretty special day," Arnold said.
"Special? How so?"
"I met you. Think about it: if you hadn't walked to preschool, and I hadn't shaired my umbrella with you, where would we be now?"
"We...wow. Arnold, I don't even know if I can think about it! We wouldn't have had all of the experiences we've had, and we...we might not even be...d-d-dating. Wow, that word still seems so...big."
"I know what you mean. It sounds so...offical and adult."
"Yeah. I mean, I've dreamed of the day I could call you my boyfriend since...well to be honest since I was three. But I didn't think it would actually happen until high school, if ever."
"You really thought that I'd never see you as anything more than a friend?" Arnold asked.
"I never thought you'd see me as anything more than a bully. The girl who tormented you day after day. Someone you couldn't wait to never see again."
"Helga, it's true that we weren't always on the best terms, but I can't imagine never seeing you again. Even if you never told me you loved me, and you tormented me for the rest of my life, I'd still want you around."
"Really?" Helga asked softly.
"Yes, really."
"Arnold...thank you. And thank you for not letting me run away that day on your roof. I don't think I ever actually thanked you for that, but I should have. If you hadn't, we wouldn't be where we are now. Instead I'd probably be at home writing poetry and being depressed that I still couldn't tell you how I felt and fearing you thought I was some kind of crazy stalker freak. Which I still can't believe you're okay with! I mean really, Arnold. I made shrines! Lots of them in fact! That doesn't...freak you out or anything? Really?"
"Helga, I told you. I love that you found such creative ways to express yourself. I can't imagine being as passionate as you and keeping all of those feeling bottled up for so long! Of course you needed some way to express them!"
"Arnold...I know I've told you this before, but you really are wonderful. Just completely wonderfully amazingly perfect!"
"Whatever you say, Helga"
"Exactly!"
They shared a laugh at the old exchange as they climbed the steps to Helga's front door.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now, huh Helga?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Arnold, I wish tonoight could just last forever! It's been so perfect!"
"Yeah, it has. Here, I know the perfect way to end it, too." Helga looked at Arnold in a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"Close your eyes," Arnold whispered. Helga complied and felt something land on her head, just on top of her bow. Then she felt Arnold kiss her gently.
Helga opened her eyes and touched the top of her head. At the same moment that she felt what was on her head, she realized what was missing from Arnold's.
"Arnold...your hat? Your little blue hat that was a gift from your parents? Arnold, I...I can't take this. It's so special to you!"
"Exactly. Just like you. Keep it safe for me until I see you again, okay?"
"Okay. I promise, Arnold, this hat is in the second best hands possible, the best being yours."
Arnold pulled Helga into a hug and whispered, "I love you".
"I love you too, Arnold."
Helga opened the door and stepped out from under the best umbrella in the world and into her house, but just as Arnold turned to leave she thought of something.
"Arnold, wait!"
"What is it, Helga?"
"Here, take this. You keep this safe while I have your hat." In his hand she placed her pink ribbon.
"Your pink ribbon, Helga? Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. Besides, you said you liked it in preschool, so now you can get an up-close look at it."
"Helga, do you mean...this is the same ribbon you wore to preschool?"
"Yeah. Well, it was the one I wore on the first day. After you complimented it, I saved it for special occasions; I have others that I wear daily. And, funny enough, this is the same ribbon I was wearing at the beach, on the roof, and on the first day of school. I guess it's kind of lucky, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Don't worry, Helga, I promise I'll keep it extra safe," Arnold assured her.
"I know you will, Arnold."
Both went to their respective homes, and when they went to bed that night, Helga had Arnold's hat tucked under her pillow, and Arnold had Helga's ribbon under his.