"I'm tellin' ya Phoebs, it's the worst."
"But Helga, everything went very well last night." Phoebe weakly objected.
"Yeah, unless you need to share the spotlight with Olga and her new man. Like I'd want to do that."
"Helga, if I may say, you seem unnecessarily hostile." Phoebe chimed, continuing despite Helga's glare. "I talked with Mr. Burbon for a bit and he seems like a fairly well-adjusted individual."
"Oh c'mon Phoebe. You're only saying that because of the Halo Effect- you find him attractive and that's why you think that way."
"No!" Phoebe objected. "Well...yes..." She admitted with a blush. "I do think he's attractive, but that doesn't take away from what I said, Helga."
"Yeah, like anyone who's dated Olga for a year is well-adjusted. Puh-lease."
"I don't know why you seem so hostile Helga." Phoebe said again, ducking her head at Helga's glare. "The play went well, what are you so worried about?"
"Dealing with Olga, Pheobs, dealing with Olga. I got out of dinner last night but I won't tonight." She sighed.
"Well, I wish you luck Helga."
The two friends went their separate ways. Helga arrived at home. She heard something unusual.
"Louis, I'm serious! Put it down!" Olga demanded in a desperate voice, but Helga could tell she was smiling.
"It's true after all." He said playfully. "You looked like such a dork. Guess that explains why you still are."
"Louis give it to me!"
"No." He said behind a grin. "Wow, you looked like such a nerd."
Helga couldn't help but delay putting her coat away.
"And you were kind of frumpy-looking too." Louis' voice continued. "I've got a new nickname for you. I'm gonna start calling you unibrow now."
Helga widened her eyes and suddenly touched her eyebrow. She growled lowly.
"Oh like you're one to talk!" Olga responded. "Louis I'm serious! I hate that picture! I wish Daddy wouldn't keep that thing! It's embarrassing! Please put it down!"
Helga's eyes widened as she put her coat in the closet. Olga...embarrassed?
"Make me, unibrow."
"Louis please put it down! Can we just get back to the movie?!" She pleaded.
"But I thought you didn't like this movie so much. You only watch it with me because I like it. That is what you said, is it not?" He questioned with an audible smirk.
"Please...?"
"Alright, alright." Louis relented. "You know I can't resist those beautiful blue eyes forever."
"Puh-lease." Helga grumbled as she heard Olga giggling. Voices began to emerge from the TV.
"Need I remind you that it's an act of treason to withhold information from me relative to this matter regardless of how classified it is?"
"Same goes for you."
"Whatever the foreign ministry's wishes this falls within Section Nine's jurisdiction. Of course we have no objections to cooperating if we feel there's adequate cause."
"Oh, there you are baby sister!" Olga greeted as she heard Helga's footsteps in the hallway. She jumped back. It was practically an assault, like usual. "How was the night with your little friend?" She gushed.
Helga grumbled and looked at the TV.
"You guys are watching Ghost in the Shell?" She asked, trying to ignore Olga's questions as much as possible.
"Well, it's not really my kind of movie, baby sister, but I watch it because it's one of Louis' favorites." Olga smiled with her usual happy-go-lucky face.
"You like Ghost in the Shell huh?" Helga asked Louis. She knew this would be a perfect way to challenge and undermine him.
"I do." Louis smirked.
"Yeah, it's alright I guess, but there's way too many faux attempts at unnecessary philosophy. And what's Masamune Shirow's deal with nude women anyway? If you ask me it's something for perverts or pseudo-intellectuals."
Olga was surprised, and was about to lecture Helga on how she was not age-appropriate for this movie, but Louis sensed this and stopped her with a slight raise of his hand.
"That's quite perceptive for a ten-year-old." Louis said, impressed. Helga only scowled at him. "But, I think you miss the main point, Helga." He continued, not caring about the scowl. Helga was surprised at this. She could tell quite clearly that Louis, unlike Olga, sensed her hostility, and what's more, didn't care. "It's an incredibly realistic view of what society could quite easily become, and the focus on government corruption is something near and dear to my heart, given my own business and some...family situations of mine. You should try giving it another go."
"Who asked you anyway?" Helga growled and went upstairs. Criminy, she didn't succeed. What a pompous fop. Why would she do anything he asked? After all, he didn't even make time for her last night, despite the fact that it was her play.
Louis shrugged with a smirk. Helga went upstairs and closed the door to her room.
"You know Louis." Olga began as they continued to watch the movie. "You were incredibly rude to Helga last night."
"Hm?" Louis noised without looking at her.
"I told you I wanted you to meet my sister, but you brushed me and her off when I tried to introduce you to her. You were just talking about stocks and things like that."
Louis glanced to see a look of concern on Olga's face. He sighed.
"Yeah, you're right." He admitted. "I get carried away with that stuff sometimes. Guess it's no surprise she wouldn't have wanted to go out with us last night. I'll make it up to you guys."
"Tonight will be better, I know it!" Olga said excitedly.
"Criminy!" Helga growled as she got to her room. "Why did I have to come home just to be shoved into the background again! It's bad enough that I have to deal with one perfect person in my life, now I have to deal with two! Why am I even here? Why even eat tonight?"
Helga went into her shrine and took out her pink book. She sighed in longing when she gazed upon the statue of Arnold.
"Oh Arnold." Helga bowed. "What a tormented life I lead. What a painful weight my young, frail body is forced to bear! How much endurance your football head and your rows of tall, golden locks give me! How I long to tell you. How I long to let you know how much you mean to me! How I long to say those magical words- 'I love you!' Oh Arnold, my love for you is stronger than any force on this Earth! And with that, I will get through this and any other hardship!"
Helga finished her writing when nature called. She sighed as she went toward the bathroom. Olga and Louis' voices reached her ears. Great. Just what she wanted to hear after a moment of creative inspiration.
"OK well Louis, I think I better get started on dinner before mommy and daddy get back home."
"Let's go out for a snack first." He responded.
"But Louis..." Olga trailed, clearly hesitant.
"They can wait a half hour longer."
Yeah right. Helga thought. Making Big Bob wait for his dinner could only invite trouble. Her eyes narrowed in delight. Perfect. Maybe Olga would get in some heat for once.
"Olga! Mom and dad said they'll be back a bit later anyway!" Helga called down innocently, instigating the situation. "Heh heh heh." She laughed sinisterly to herself.
"Let's just go." Louis beckoned. "Besides, I want to get out of this 'trophy room' with all due haste." He mocked. "Anything past a couple of hours and I wouldn't be able to stand it. This place gives me the creeps."
"Yeah." Olga admitted with a distant sigh. "Me too."
Helga's eyes widened again in surprise as she went into the bathroom. She heard the front door open and close.