Now, I know you all want to kill me for how slow I've been with updating, but it's been a struggle as time management is not my forte. However, I do have really big academic plans over the summer, which will limit my updating time.
I do apologize for any anger or annoyance this may have caused you.
ENJOY!
"Where has the star gone?" Rhonda muttered, pacing back and forth. "I am not paying her to be running around my house,no matter how nice it is."
"That seems to be her true talent." Rhonda turned to face Sophia stepping out of the shadows.
Rhonda sneered. "What are you doing here? At my party?"
"I have my ways."
Rhonda rolled her eyes. "Whatever. As long as you don't screw things up, as usual."
Sophia gave a cat-like grin. "Now cousin dear, you underestimate me." She stepped into the shadows, walking towards the exit. "I'll do much, much worse."
***TSLOHP***
"Uh, I mean, party goer!" Helga-er, Cece struggled to correct. "Why are you here?"
Arnold's eyes widened, a flush on his cheeks. "I'm sorry. I just got lost."
As emerald eyes met viridescent, Arnold could feel his heart warm with recognition, yet at the same time doubt. Where have I seen her before? I feel like I know her, but I'm sure we've never met before.
Cece however, twiddled her hands in nervousness. What if he finds out who I am?
Arnold cocked head to the side, eyes half lidded. "Have we met before?"
Struggling to keep her heartbeat even, Cece looked down to her shoes. "I don't think we have."
She looked up and could feel his gaze piercing deep into her soul, and felt her face heat up. Her emotions, like a dam, had flooded over.
After what felt like forever, he responded, "I'm Arnold," and extended his hand out to her.
She raised a brow momentarily before remembering they had never met, or, at least, weren't supposed to. Cece returned his gesture and tried to ignore the tingling sensation she felt when his hand clasped hers. As they withdrew, Cecelia looked to her watch, desperate to leave his presence.
"I-I gotta go," She said, unaware of his smitten look, "Rhonda will deduct my pay if I'm late."
Arnold blinked, regaining composure. "Oh right. I'll see you around."
She was gone before he was even finished, yet that did little to quell the flame in his heart.
***TSLOHP***
"There you are," Rhonda commented, as Cece finally walked into the private room. "People have been waiting!"
Cece sighed, looking into the vanity as Rhonda departed to introduce her. She sat on a chair nearby and looked, really looked at her red hair and pale green eyes that mimicked those of her beloved. She couldn't deny how lonely she had been these past four months and how much she longed to talk to him again, go over to his house and be part of his life once again. As she opened up 'Helga's phone' and saw all the goofy pictures they had taken and all the texts they had sent, she couldn't hold he indifferent mask any longer. A stray tear fell and she looked to her guitar. She had originally planned to sing her Top 10 hit from billboard, but had experimented with a new melody that she had come up with Olga. Pulling out her 'Cece phone', she pulled open the beat and set a timer for it to play.
"...Give it up for Cece NightGale!"
As the cheers sounded from the adjacent room, she stood determined as she walked over to the curtains and prepared for the flood of light...
Arnold walked into the main party room, a smile on his face. "Hey guys!" He waved over to Gerald and Phoebe.
Gerald raised an eyebrow, "Hey..." He was about to cry before! "What's up?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Arnold asked, quickly picking up on Gerald's confusion.
"Well-"
"The guest of honor has finally arrived!" Rhonda spoke into the mic, effectively cutting Arnold and Gerald's conversation short. "So, ladies and gentleman, give it up for Cece NightGale!"
As the room filled with cheers, Cece popped out from under the curtains and briefly squinted from the flash of light as her eyes adjusted.
"Hey everyone." She smiled, "I was gonna sing one of my Top 10 songs-" Boo's came from the crowd-"Quiet! But now I want to play a brand new song you've never heard before."
Screams of excitement sounded as Cece set her phone down and held her guitar out, strumming the beginning.
"Oh baby, baby
Oh baby, baby
Oh baby, baby
How was I supposed to know?
That something wasn't right here
Oh baby, baby
I shouldn't have let you go
And now you're out of sight, yeah..."
Cece walked across the stage, gaining cheers and applause as she did. Arnold looked at her memorized, and for a brief second, their eyes locked.
"...Tell me baby
'Cause I need to know now, oh because..."
I feel like she's signing to me, Arnold thought, or about someone like me.
"...My loneliness is killing me
(And I)
I must confess,
I still believe (Still believe)
When I'm not with you, I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time!"
"Oh baby baby,
The reason I breathe is you
Boy you got me blinded
Oh pretty, baby
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
It's not the way I planned it
Show me, how you want it to be
Tell me baby
'Cause I need to know now,
oh because..."
Cece unintentionally looked directly at Arnold, then closed her eyes as she sang the next verse.
"...I must confess, I still believe (Still believe)
When I'm not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time!"
As the instrumental interlude played, Cece closed her eyes and stood as the crowd quieted down with the BPM of the song.
"...Oh baby baby,
How was I supposed to know?"
Cece let a tear slip down her cheek, in remorse for her-err, Helga's- past actions.
"Oh pretty baby
I shouldn't have let you go
I must confess, that my loneliness
Is killing me now
Don't you know I still believe
That you will be here
And give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time!"
Cece wiped the lone tear off and continued with a brave face.
"My loneliness is killing me
(And I) I must confess,
I still believe (Still believe)
When I'm not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time
I must confess
That my loneliness Is killing me now
Don't you know I still believe?
That you will be here
And give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time!"
The whole crowd stood awestruck before erupting into ovation. As Cece walked into the curtains, she saw Arnold looking to the floor with Gerald comforting him.
Hmm, what could that mean? Now, I know this is short and I haven't updated in *checks calendar* almost nine months, but please review!
Yes, I used a Britney Spears song, "...Baby one more time". It's been stuck in my head and relates to my current situation.
Sophia's part is coming up next chapter.
Good wishes!