Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story.
They all belong to their rightful owner: Craig Bartlett.
Title: "Blackmail toy"
In the last chapter of "Blackmail toy": To Helga and Arnold's absolute pleasure, they've already been dancing a couple of times tonight. Though both their best friends made them realize they've been goofing off rather than actual dancing.
While Arnold admitted not holding back whatsoever to Gerald and thereby choosing to be more serious about his flirting with Helga, Helga herself swore to Phoebe to go along with whatever may happen this night. Unfortunately for her, Aaron decided to go back on his promise about there being no surprises this night. She's supposed to do karaoke with a song of his choice.
Author's 1st note: Sorry about the wait!
Chapter 15: "I want to remember our first kiss"
It didn't seem to matter how much Phoebe or anyone else asked. Helga still just had her head on Arnold's shoulder and refused to acknowledge anything else but that fact. "Oh, shut up already!" she said, when she finally had enough. "I'm trying to save some energy here. If I'm gonna do this, I'll need all the energy I can get."
"But, Helga, we just want to know what's going on! What's Aaron making you do?" Phoebe asked in concern. Helga just lifted her hand and waved it dismissively. "You'll see, but for now just… let me sleep or whatever." She answered and nuzzled a little closer to Arnold's neck.
"M-Maybe we should just let her do what she wants. She's obviously not budging." Arnold observed. Not that I mind the 'not budging' part… He thought with a small smile. In a way, this is so much better than her sitting on my lap. Maybe because it's just so sweet and simple… and self-initiated.
"Yeah, she even said it herself, babe," Gerald put his arm over Phoebe's shoulder. "we'll know when we'll know. Let her rest… on Arnold's shoulder." He pointed out. When she turned to look at him, he winked at her. "Oh!" she said, only just now realizing the very promising position of Helga and Arnold. "Alright then."
Arnold at this point just felt a somewhat familiar feeling of pure content. There was something extremely calming about having Helga on his shoulder, and the fact that he'd managed to sober up quite a bit by now made him happy, because he could appreciate it more.
"Don't worry, Helga," Arnold slowly laid his cheek against the top of Helga's head. "whatever it is you're supposed to do, we'll help you anyway we can." He finished and closed his eyes. "Thanks, you guys. I appreciate that." she murmured and started smiling.
Phoebe and Gerald turned to smile at each other. "I have an idea." Gerald whispered and carefully stood up from the couch. He walked around in front of Arnold and Helga while pulling out his phone. He crouched in front of them and took an inaudible picture of the two of them; Both smiling with their eyes closed while cuddling.
"Gerald!" Phoebe whispered with a big smile as he sat down next to her again. "What?" he asked. "What are you going to do with that picture?" she asked and looked at the picture on his phone. "Oh, they're just adorable."
"I know, right? I'm gonna send it to you, you'll send yours to Helga, I'll send mine to Arnold and they will both love us forever. Come on, Phoebe, wouldn't they both love a picture like this?" Gerald asked and started to type on his phone.
"I suppose they would." Phoebe glanced in their direction again. They both had the same blissful smile on their faces as they enjoyed the moment. "Oh, alright, but no more ninja pictures, ok? It feels weird."
"You got it, babe."
Some minutes later, the music in the room got mute, much to the displeasure of everyone in the room. Especially Helga since she knew what it meant. "Oh, no…" she mumbled and turned her head, so her forehead was resting on Arnold's shoulder.
"Attention, everyone!" Rhonda said in a mike close to the middle of one of the longer walls in the room. "Sorry to be a party pooper, but I do have a small surprise planned for us tonight. And, yes, you guessed right; It involves this microphone."
Half-drunken murmurs could be heard in the room, as people tried to figure out what the mike was for. "I thought it could be fun to do a little karaoke!" Rhonda then announced with a cheerful smile. The reaction was positive. Perhaps thanks to the alcohol, but nevertheless people did cheer.
"Is there anyone out there who would like to start? Anyone who would volunteer a friend?" Rhonda asked. In the meantime Helga was mumbling a small mantra: "Please let Aaron forget, please let Aaron forget, please let - "
"I think Helga would love to start." Aaron then announced not too far away from where the gang was sitting. Helga started gritting her teeth. "Damn!" she whispered and removed her forehead from Arnold.
"Wait, hold on a second," Gerald leaned forward and looked at Helga in incredulity. "You're going to sing up there? That's what Aaron's tricked you to do? That's his prank?" he asked. Helga clicked annoyed with her tongue and nodded.
"Helga, you don't have to do this, if you don't want to." Arnold said while putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Helga smiled and patted his hand. "Oh, but I do. Wish me luck or… whatever." She answered and stood up.
Helga was just about to walk towards Rhonda, but then stopped. She turned around instead and grabbed Arnold's drink out of his hand. They all looked at her in surprise as she gulped down the whole thing. "Sorry, Arnold, but I needed that more than you." She said and handed him the glass.
Arnold kept looking at Helga as she strode towards Rhonda holding the mike. Aaron, I both hate and love you for making Helga doing this… He thought with a small sigh. I hate you for making Helga do this, because she obviously doesn't want to… and I love you for making Helga do this, because I've been wanting to hear her sing ever since we had to clean the cafeteria together.
"Oh… well, alright then. Take it away, Helga." Rhonda said in surprise and held the mike out to Helga. "Thanks." She mumbled and grabbed it roughly. "What would you like to sing?" Rhonda asked.
Helga smiled sarcastically and spoke into the mike. "Why don't you ask the guy who volunteered on my behalf?" she suggested and grit her teeth just a bit. I swear to God, if he chooses a song that sucks, I'm gonna make sure he can never be sucked again.
Rhonda turned to look at Aaron with a questioning look. "Avery with 'Love me or let me go'." He answered with a simple smile. Helga's eyes immediately went wide. She glanced at him in disbelief, but he just winked at her. Well… at least I like this song. She thought and glanced back at her audience. But why does he want me to sing that?
"I don't know that one." Arnold stated and turned to look at Phoebe and Gerald. "Me neither." Gerald answered and shrugged. "I do." Phoebe replied with a crooked smile. "Really? What's it like?" Arnold asked. "You'll hear in a second. In a way, it's very… Helga." Phoebe answered and nodded a bit as if confirming her own words to herself.
Arnold frowned a bit and spun to look up at Helga again. She looked slightly uncomfortable, but also looked ready to just suck it up and do it. She was good at that, and it wasn't like she had stage fright, so Arnold wasn't really worried or anything. He just couldn't get the fact that Aaron chose this song for Helga out of his head. I gotta really listen to the lyrics…
The music began and a small voice in the background of the song started singing: "Love me or let me go. Go. Go. Love me or let me go. Go. Go." Helga then took a deep breath, closed her eyes and started to sing herself. "Stuck-Stuck in your picture perfect fantasy world. Keep run in circles in your merry go around. So for once, don't try to tell me which way to go."
Arnold's eyes went wide. Helga was mostly standing there, bopping her head just a little bit to the music with her eyes closed, and yet she sounded so good. People in the room even started cheering. It obviously surprised her, because suddenly her eyes popped open.
"I'm getting tired of trying to fit your description: Of that girl, she's so Barbie, she's so fiction. Wake up. Your mind is somewhere stuck in a dream." Helga sang, a little less nervous than before. When a couple of people in the crowd started singing along, she even smiled a bit.
"I'm suffocating. I need to know if this isn't real. Give me back all my kisses. I should have kept them for somebody else. Baby, I'm real. I'm not your plastic princess. Maybe you need to get over yourself. I'm not that naïve. There's more to me. Love me or let me go."
Arnold's confused frown got deeper as he glanced towards Aaron, who was sitting not too far away from where Helga continued singing. Almost as if Aaron could feel Arnold's eyes on him, he turned to look at him. He simply kept bouncing a bit to the music as he smiled.
Arnold scowled and then looked away. Is he trying to tell me something? That Helga will leave me if I don't do something soon or something? That I'm not accepting all of her? He wondered in his head. I am! I made that clear earlier! Maybe I need to remind her… Uh, or him. For all I know, Helga doesn't think the same way he does.
What the heck is with this choice of song? Helga thought as she kept singing. What is Aaron trying to accomplish exactly? Is it just fun for him to see me do things that are out of my comfort zone? Well, joke's on you, Aaron! There's no way in Hell, I'm giving you the satisfaction of seeing me getting all shy up here. Nu-uh. Want a show? I'll give him a show!
"And you know there's been too much wrongs so, boy," Helga sang and then lifted her hand to make her index finger point down. "get down on your knees if you want me. Yeah, you better treat me right if," she stretched her left leg back, ready to kick it high. "you wanna kick it with me."
As Helga kicked at just the right time the crowd cheered. Luckily, she knew the right way to kick without revealing any undergarments. That kinda ability was necessary if you wore a dress and was a tomboy all through your childhood.
"(Love me or let me go. Go. Go.) You wanna kick it with me. (Love me or let me go, whoa oh.) Boy, get down on your knees. (Love me or let me go, whoa oh.) I'm letting you know." Helga kept singing, surprising everyone in the crowd with how much she suddenly got into her small performance.
Aaron and Arnold's eyes were practically popping out of their eye sockets. Whoa! They thought in unison and started smiling. Arnold leaned close to Gerald. "Did you have any idea that Helga could… do that?" he asked, referring to nothing specific really. "Hell no! We should get her to perform at our prom or something! She's good! Phoebe," Gerald said and leaned a little forward to get his girlfriend's attention. "you knew Helga could be like this?"
Phoebe was currently just staring with big eyes at Helga shimmering with her shoulders on the stage. She was blinking and just shook her head slowly in disbelief. "I had… no clue." She answered honestly.
"What! How can you not know?"
"Helga's a secretive girl! Besides… is it really that surprising?" Phoebe asked. Gerald and Arnold looked at each other for a second. "How is it not?" they asked in unison. "Think about it," she suggested and turned to look at them. "Helga's not afraid of the stage, she played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, she was on the top of our float, she did impressions in front our entire class at least twice and she's not exactly a gray mouse."
Gerald and Arnold looked at each other again and then back at Helga. She was at this very moment having the time of her life it seemed. They started smiling. "Alright, good point, babe." Gerald said and nodded.
Arnold's smile turned into a smirk. "Yeah, you're right. This isn't as surprising as it seemed at first. Whoo-hoo, Helga!" he suddenly yelled followed by a laugh. Helga, of course noticing the outburst, laughed a bit. "Love me or let me go!" she made a fist pump as she sang that.
The crowd started applauding Helga as she panted just a bit. She then curtsied with an obvious sarcastic smile and walked towards Rhonda and Aaron. Her smug smirk remained on her lips, as she bend forward a little to meet Aaron's eye level, since he was sitting down.
"Here you go, big boy." Helga said and handed Aaron the mike. While smiling in disbelief he took it. "Let that teach you a lesson. No one catches Helga Pataki off guard." She said, clapped his cheek a couple of times and then sauntered towards her friends.
Gerald lifted his hand and whistled as Helga approached them. A big smile appeared on her face as she sat down and took ahold of Arnold's collar. "Did you guys see that?!" she asked happily and let go. "Aaron's face when I just… Oh, my god! That was the best thing ever!"
They others laughed at Helga's energy. She sighed happily and then looked around the table. "I need a drink after that. Who's with me?" she asked and stood up. "I am." Arnold answered and copied her movement. "After all, you did steal my drink earlier."
Another hour later, the karaoke was still going on. Helga, to both her luck and slight unhappiness, wasn't put on the spot again. She was happy boozing and talking with Arnold, Phoebe and Gerald. At least until someone decided to interfere.
"Hey! How about getting Arnold up singing?" someone in the crowd suddenly suggested. Arnold, in the middle of sipping form his drink, popped his eyes open and spit a little of the drink out. He coughed a little bit and looked at the crowd. "What? Me?"
"Of course! You haven't sung yet and we've all seen you singing like a million times before!" Sid answered with a big encouraging smile. "Oh, yeah!" Helga said and smirked satisfied at Arnold. "I had completely forgotten. You were on the Spring Concert with me, you played the banana with Gerald as the fruit at my play and you sang 'Without you I'm nothing' with Gerald playing the piano. You gotta get up there too!"
"Well, all that's true, I guess, but… Wait, how do you know about that Dino Spumoni and Don Reynolds song?" Arnold asked, realizing what Helga had just said. Her eyes went big for a second, but then she just scowled. "Get your priorities straight, bucko! It doesn't matter how I know," she said, while reminding herself exactly why she didn't want him to know how she knew. "I just do! Now get up there!"
"W-Well, still, I… all that was back in fourth grade - "
"Hey!" Gerald interrupted, earning the attention of the two blondes. "How about getting Helga to come up and sing with you?" he suggested. Helga and Arnold looked at each other as Phoebe gave Gerald a hidden thumbs-up.
"Would you… consider that?" Arnold asked, almost wanting to kiss Gerald for suggesting that. Singing together with Helga… he thought with a small smile. That's worth the embarrassment. Without a doubt.
Helga was biting at her lower lip with a pensive look on her face. The crowd around them started cheering for Arnold to get up there already and those who heard Gerald's suggestion, wanted Helga to join him.
"Oh, brother." She sighed. "Alright, alright." She said and grabbed her glass. She emptied it within three seconds and then put it down with a clunk. "Really?" Arnold asked and stood up. She nodded and stood up as well. "Can't leave you out of my sight for one second, can I?"
Arnold just smiled giddily and took Helga's hand. "What do you want to sing?" he asked as he pulled her towards the mike. "Oh! Uh…" she said and narrowed her eyes, as if that would make her brain work faster.
"'Shut up and kiss me'!" Phoebe yelled. Some people in the crowd concurred and started hollering at the thought of Arnold and Helga singing a song like that. They looked embarrassed at each other. "Uh… w-well, I don't have any other ideas, so… if you're cool, football head, then I am too." She said as she scratched her head a bit.
"I'm… cool." Arnold answered and took an inaudible deep breath. I know that one… Oh, gosh. He thought and took a mike. Helga did the same and looked towards Rhonda, who was in the middle of choosing the song. "You got it, princess?"
"It's right here!" Rhonda answered. "Wait!" Helga spun to look at Arnold. "It's a one person song. Do we just sing everything together or…?" she asked. "Oh, uh… maybe we could just take four lines each and then do the chorus together?" he suggested.
Helga nodded. "Sure." She answered and rotated to look at Rhonda again. "We're ready, princess!" she called to her. "And so is the machine!" Rhonda answered and pushed a couple of buttons. "There we go!"
"I'll start." Helga quickly said as she scanned the lyrics on the screen. In a way… this is kinda our song. At least for me, it is. She thought with a smile and opened her mouth. "You're too loud. I'm so hyper. On paper, we're a disaster, and I'm driving you crazy. It's my little game."
I need to listen to more music with Helga in mind. Songs can match a relationship so well, and if Helga do have feelings for me… then this is just perfect. Arnold thought and opened his own mouth. "I push you, and you push back. Two opposites so alike that every day's a roller coaster, but I'm a bump you'll never get over."
Helga started smiling as she sang along with Arnold. "This love-hate relationship. You say you can't handle it, but there's no way to stop this now, so shut up and kiss me. Kick, scream, call it quits, but you're just so full of it. 'Cause it's too late to close your mouth, so shut up and kiss me."
The more Helga and Arnold sang, the more they got into it. They started forgetting their surroundings, just like they did at the cafeteria that day. They swung their hips, walked in circles around each other and even took each other's hands from time to time.
"So shut up and kiss me!" the two teens finished and bowed in front of each other. As the crowd applauded them, they started laughing in embarrassment. "Kiss!" someone suddenly yelled. Arnold and Helga froze on the spot. What?! They thought in unison.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" the people in the room started to chant. "You can't sing a song about kissing if you don't end it with a kiss!" someone yelled over the others and the chanting continued. No! Not like this! Not because everyone is forcing us to. Is what both of the blondes were thinking.
But… a kiss on the cheek might be ok. Arnold wondered in his head and looked at Helga. She was scowling at the crowd and was obviously about to roar at them, when he put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Helga froze. Huh…? Wh… What just…? She thought and touched her cheek before turning to look at Arnold. He shrugged innocently. "Since you already kissed my cheek twice tonight…" he said as an excuse and pushed at her back a little.
Oh… my… dear… God! Helga thought in her head, as Arnold led the both of them back to Phoebe and Gerald. The crowd wasn't completely satisfied with the kiss, but their yells were drowned out by both Helga and Arnold's lovesick thoughts.
"Nice way to get out of that." Gerald observed with a smile as the two blondes sat down. "Uh, thanks." Arnold answered and took his glass in his hand. He gulped everything down in one go. Can't believe I just did that! he thought as he put the glass down. I wonder if Helga's mad?
Arnold dared to look at Helga, but her expression gave him nothing. She was just rummaging through her purse next to her. She pulled out one of her small, pink notebooks and pulled out a pencil she had stuck in it and started writing.
"You brought a notebook with you, Pataki? Why?" Gerald asked. "None of your beeswax." Helga answered. Not with the usual angry scowl though, but more in a 'don't talk to me right now, I need to do this' kinda tone.
Arnold wanted nothing more than to peek at what Helga was writing, but decided against it. Who knew, maybe that thing was her diary? If that were the case, he'd feel bad about sneaking a look at it. "Anyone I can get a drink for?" he asked and stood up.
"Rum and coke." Helga answered and stopped writing. She sped-read her words and then gave an approving nod. I must remember to continue this poem tomorrow. In this half-drunken haze, my words won't seem to seem as beautiful as usual. She thought as she pushed the book back into her purse.
Yet another hour later, Helga started to feel a bit dizzy. Thank God I'm not a light drunk. She thought as she watched Arnold wave his head from side to side. Arnold on the other hand is starting to act funny though. He's kinda cute while drunk.
A new song started over the speakers and both Arnold and Helga gave a surprised 'oh' in unison. They looked smilingly at each other. "You like Jesse McCartney?" Helga asked in slight surprise. "I don't hate him, that's for sure." Arnold answered.
A slow beat picked up its pace and then Helga closed her eyes and mumbled the words. "Oh, that body's like music to my ears…" Arnold turned to look at her again and noticed the obvious smile on her face. "Oh, that body's like music to my ears…" she whispered. He smiled immediately. "Oh, that body's like music to my ears…" he sang along. She turned to smile at him as they sang together. "'Cause what you want is right here…"
Arnold, feeling brave again, put his glass down and extended his hand to Helga. "May I have this dance…? Again." he asked with a smirk. She eyed it for a second. Th-This song…? Really? It's a little… We can't exactly goof around like before to this. I do like this song though… Oh, to hell with it!
"Yes, you may." Helga answered and took his hand. Arnold lifted both of them up from the couch and walked with her to the dance floor, which wasn't empty, but not filled with people either. "Now, I don't speak Spanish, Japanese or French," Jesse McCartney sang over the speakers, while the two blondes found an empty spot on the dance floor. "but the way that body's talking definitely makes sense."
As Arnold let go of Helga's hand, she felt the liquor and her own very good mood working its way around her hips. Every time Jesse McCartney sang 'her body' she twisted it just a tiny bit in a flowing movement.
Arnold had to gulp a little at the sight. Doing the tango as kids and knowing she did ballet, it was safe to say that she was probably a good dancer. But seeing her move her hips like Shakira made him nervous in ways only boys could understand. Thank God, grandma decided to teach me different dance techniques along with karate through the years. He decided to thank Gertie later for that.
"The way she moves around, when she grinds to the beat."
Helga smiled cheekily and then walked around Arnold, matching the beat perfectly. He kept his eyes on her, not minding how she took control. It shouldn't surprise him. It was Helga after all, but he didn't plan to let her lead the whole song through.
"Breaking it down articulately."
Again, matching the beat of the song perfectly, Helga lifted her arms and made her hands into fists, looking as if she was driving a motorcycle. She then bend her knees a little getting closer to the floor, and continuing that in a jerky motion, she got as close to the floor as possible, without actually touching it, and stood straight up again. The move had been more playful than skanky, as most girls tend to do and Arnold just had to touch her now.
"It's her… her body, her body, her body language."
As Helga made that twist with the right side of her hip again, Arnold dared to lay his hand gently on it. Her twist stopped for a mere second in surprise, but then she just smiled and kept going. She looked into his eyes and put her hand on his shoulder.
"It's her… her body, her body, her body language."
Helga didn't feel insecure, as much as she felt rather vulnerable. Here she was, dancing with the boy of her girlish dreams – the boy that made her girlhood tremble – and to a song so heavily focused on a girl with some serious body language. She trusted her own body and knew she'd gotten way too many dance lessons to not be able to dance, but she still would've wished she'd gotten a bit more to drink first!
As the song continued and they stayed in this swaying position for a bit, Helga slowly felt less vulnerable. She lifted her arms a bit and made both sides of her hips sway. Arnold, also feeling less nervous, put his other hand on her hip. He didn't know the song, so it wasn't like he could just let the lyrics flow into his head and give him ideas on what to do. He did his best to listen though.
"Shorty, let me whisper in your ear."
Perfect. Arnold thought with a smile. When Helga noticed that certain smile, she let her hips move only, as he snuck behind her, while letting one of his hands stay on her body and thereby caressing her stomach just a bit.
"Tell you everything you wanna hear."
Arnold didn't know how Helga felt about him standing this close to her. Behind her even, but he was braver than usual (thank you, alcohol) and just tried to go with his instincts. He put his other hand on her hip and snuck just a little closer to her, so his mouth was next to her ear.
"You got my vote: Hottest Girl Of The Year."
For a second he regretted their position deeply. This particular line felt a bit odd. Not that it didn't fit Helga… but he did find her more beautiful than hot. To him, hot was something food and certain drinks were supposed to be. It wasn't a compliment. It seemed so demeaning. This typical 'piece of meat' comment. 'Beautiful'. Yeah, that fit her much more.
"Let's have a celebration, baby."
Helga on the other hand wasn't listening to the lyrics or the beat of the music anymore. Feeling Arnold's breath tickling down her neck made her knees wobble. He's so close! I can't breathe… She thought with an inaudible gulp. Oh, my goodness. If this is a dream, don't ever wake me up! If you do, I'll wrap your tongue around your neck!
"Parlez vous francais?"
Reminding herself yet again that she had promised herself and Phoebe to just, go with whatever would happen this night, Helga turned to glance at Arnold with a small smile. If I'm this nervous, Arnold most be shaking to his very core. There's no way this gentle guy isn't nervous about being this close to a girl. Helga Pataki or not.
"Konichiwa, come and move in my way."
Seeing Helga's smile made Arnold smile too. Oh, god, she's so beautiful… and she seems ok with this. Maybe I could try something… he thought pensively and then rearranged the position of his hand a bit. If she seems uncomfortable, I'll let go right away.
"Hey, little chica from Guadeloupe."
Helga felt her heart stop beating, when Arnold's palm laid against the back of her hand and his fingers intertwine gently with her own. Their hands had touched before, but… not like this! She spread her fingers a bit to give him room, and she gulped when he held her hand tightly.
"That thing you got behind you is amazing."
Alright, steady, Helga, old girl… If Arnold has the guts to do that, you have the guts to do this too. Helga pep talked herself and lifted their now tangled hands above their heads in a fluid and slow movement.
"I don't speak Spanish, Japanese or French, but the way that body's talking definitely makes sense."
Arnold's eyes were glued to Helga's temple, as he let her lift their right arms above them. They both let their arms fall slowly again, but to his surprise, she bend her arm back, so their arms landed behind his neck.
"It's her… Her body, her body, her body language. It's her… Her body, her body, her body language."
Helga took a deep breath, closed her eyes to let everything around her disappear and then swayed her hips very closely to Arnold's. She wasn't quite touching him, but it was close enough for him to get the message. What it was, didn't even she know.
"The way she moves around, when she grinds to the beat."
Oh… God. Arnold thought as he felt Helga's backside hit him here and there. I want her closer and yet I want her to go away! Please, dear body, don't react at this. Please don't… In a desperate attempt at stopping her swaying against him, he put both of his hands on her hips.
"Breaking it down articulately."
Remembering Helga's little dance move at this line earlier, Arnold gave her a toothy grin when she turned to look at him. Making her move with him, they made a jerk motion towards the floor and then stood up straight again.
"It's her… Her body, her body, her body language. It's her… Her body, her body, her body language."
Helga giggled a bit, feeling less and less nervous. She kept her right arm twisted behind Arnold's neck and put her left hand atop his left, which still held her hip firmly. I'm feeling dizzy for so many reasons right now…
"That make me want to say hey… Hey! Hey… Hey! Hey… Hey! It's her body, her body, her body language. Come on!"
With the small instrumental moment in the song, Arnold grabbed the chance of getting out of the promising position to get into a less dangerous one. He took Helga's hands in his own and lifted their arms above them to swirl her around to face him.
"I'm lifting up my voice to say, that you're the hottest girl in the world today."
Helga swayed her pelvis from side to side, while Arnold let their arms fall slowly to their sides again. He already felt less nervous again and simply wanted to give it his all dancing with this amazing girl in front of him.
"The way you shake, you got me losing my mind."
As Jesse McCartney sang the last word in the former sentence, Helga arched her back so her torso went into a vertical position. Arnold quickly let go off one of her hands and used it to support her lower back. He put his leg forward to get a better hold and had to gulp at the sight of her leaning back up again.
"You're banging like a speaker box. Turn around, the party stops."
Arnold gave a crooked smile and pushed at Helga's hands to make her stretch her arms. She followed his lead, as he then pulled her back, swirled one of his arms above her, so she got into his embrace and had to lean at one of his arms for support.
"Universal lady, let me take you away."
Helga, definitely starting to feel it, smiled boldly at him and swirled right back out. Arnold's eyes followed her, as she started to step back while pulling him with her. He followed gladly while he watched her twist her free arm over her head in a snaky motion.
Falling for Helga's conscious teasing, Arnold smiled cheekily and pulled her roughly back into his arms. She gasped a little as her free hand landed on his shoulder. She could feel his thigh between her own and felt herself forced to lean more and more backwards.
Helga lifted one of her legs to use it as support. She snaked it around Arnold's waist, and he caught himself enjoying this new position very much. A little too much maybe. He slowly lifted the both of them up and twirled her in his arms again.
Helga felt her breath grow heavier and heavier and so did Arnold. Is it just me or… is this dance starting to feel pretty… intense? Helga thought as she stared into Arnold's eyes. They were currently just swaying a bit to the beat, with Helga having her arms laying lazily over his shoulders and Arnold having his arms snaked around her waist.
That was when Arnold noticed that his subconscious had made him pull the both of them closer to the wall. When he did notice, was when Helga's back hit it. She gasped slightly and was about to turn to look what had hit her, when her gaze was pulled back to Arnold's when he lifted his hand to her cheek.
Arnold looked at Helga with such an intense gaze that she stopped breathing for a couple of seconds. Oh, God, is… That look… Is he going to…? She bit at her lower lip a bit and moved just a tiny bit closer to him.
What am I doing? Arnold thought to himself and moved a bit closer to Helga. I don't know why I grabbed her cheek like this. I-I just did… Am I really gonna kiss her like this? Drunk at a party? I want to so badly that my body's moving on its own, but… will she even remember this kiss? Will I? I want to remember our first kiss! I want it to be… special.
Helga's mind was a complete mess though. This… This is too much. We're so close. This is not a play, it's not a scene in a movie, i-it's real and he's standing so close… My heart feels like it's gonna jump out of my chest. I-I can't breathe… I need to lie down.
Arnold was desperately searching for an answer in his head, when he felt a strange force at the arm he was holding Helga's waist with. He opened his eyes and noticed her eyes were closed. That wasn't what was odd though, the odd part was that she wasn't holding herself up. As his eyes dilated, he realized she had just passed out on him.
I don't know how to feel about this. I feel disappointed and relieved all at the same time. Thank God, I didn't kiss her. She would definitely have forgotten. Arnold thought and smiled a bit. Helga's sleeping face was so peaceful. He leaned in a bit and kissed the corner of her lips. "Time to go home, Helga." He said and lifted her up into his arms.
Author's 2nd note: OK, before you chew my ass off for cockblocking Arnold yet AGAIN, listen to me: Who in their right mind wishes for their first kiss with the person they're in love with, to be while they're drunk? Really? Besides, I have this really cute out-of-the-blue first kiss planned for them later on, so don't strangle me mentally please! xD
Btw, I have no clue if "gray mouse" makes sense in America, tell me if it doesn't. In Denmark it's a term for a shy and cautious person.
I also don't know the exact title of the Dino Spumoni and Don Reynolds' song, but I figured that "Without you I'm nothing" was a qualified guess xD
Credits:
Avery – "Love me or let me go"
Orianthi – "Shut up and kiss me"
Jesse McCartney – "Body language"