I am so so so so sorry for the wait, I feel so bad. So I gave you a bit of a reward for waiting so long, at least I think its a reward ;) R&R as always. And remember I love love love reviews.

The Move chapter 6

I woke up the next morning alone, yet extremely content. I had a wonderful dreamless sleep, and felt totally awake. Glancing at the alarm clock, I noticed I had about an hour before I had to leave for school. While going through my morning routine I thought deeply on what has happened to me so far. No one hated me, well beside Lila, but I couldn't help that. I felt at peace with myself. Aware that life was where it was meant to be. At least for the moment.

I dressed in a pink v-neck indian print top, a cute jean skirt and converse. I skipped downstairs, a smile on my face. I didn't want to freak Miriam out, but I just couldn't help the giddy feeling inside my chest. After a bagel and a few not so hidden smiles from Miriam I heard a honk outside. I frowned, not expecting anyone this morning considering it was a school day. I grabbed my book bag, figuring i'd leave after figuring out who was at the door but stopped once I swung it open. Arnold smiled at me, blushing a little. I held in laughter.

"Crimeny football head. Shouldn't it be the girl blushing?"

He grinned. "There's the Helga Pataki I know and love." HOLD THE PHONE. Arnold blushed a scarlet red and glanced at the ground. "Anyways. We should get going. We'll be late for class." I followed him without a word, still confused as to why he thought it would be so easy to forget a comment like that. A comment i've been waiting to hear since I was just a few years old. I climbed into his Grandpa's old Packard, totally lost in my own little world. I ended up jumping a mile high why a warm hand slipped into my and gave a gentle squeeze. "You look good today Helga."

I blushed, and couldn't quite keep myself from teasing him. "Oh, so I didn't look good yesterday? Or the day before?"

Arnold's face fell, and became serious. I swallowed a little, nervously. "Not with that sad and defeated look you always sported. When I first saw you that day, I could see that sad look in your eyes. You tried to hide it, in your usual fashion, but that's not something you can hide from people."

The rest of the ride was silent, a little tense, but not awkwardly so. Just contemplative. Had I really been that bad at hiding myself? Had I failed so badly that even Arnold had seen it, when he most likely had not even been looking?

…...

I guess Lila was a bit of a grudge holder. As I stood by my locker chatting with Phoebe, Gerald, and Arnold before class started, Lila came storming down the hallway towards us fury and determination set in her delicate features. She was what looked to be an old pair of skinny jeans, a simple black ribbed tank top, and had her red hair in a sloppy bun. I actually thought she looked more human like this, down to earth and aproachable. But she seemed to think differently.

"You just love it don't you?" I raised an eyebrow in question. "My pain obviously, or did you become to stupid over the years to pay attention to whats going on around you? I guess you have your drunk mother to thank for that-" I tuned her out after that, fury blurring any sound I heard. I vaguely heard her say something about old clothes and looking poor. "HELGA PATAKI. YOU LISTEN TO ME!"

"Oh dear." this came from Phoebe and almost made me smile.

I narrowed my eyes, and slowly stepped towards her. With that final comment she brought out the old Pataki. Lila's mouth snapped shut audibly and she backed up. "You stupid little bitch. You had no right to bring my mother into this. If you'd get your head out of your ass, you'd realize that your problems are pretty fucking mundane compared to the rest of the school. You'd realize that some of us have more pressing problems than you will." My voice dropped to a menacing whisper, one only she and a select few around me heard. "If you ever bring my mother into this or anything else for that matter, I will fuck you up so badly that Arnold and your clothes will be the farthest thing from your mind. Your going to wonder how your going to eat with not hands, and no tongue. Do you understand me?" She gave a quick nod and ran off, but not before I could see the glint of defiance in her eyes. Crap. What had I just unleashed? I shook away the foreboding feeling, turned around, grabbed my books and walked to class.

The rest of the day was a bit of a blur, my thoughts lost in my own world. I could only think about the fury i'd unknowingly unleashed. Who knew Lila wasn't such a nice quiet girl? Well I guess I would have figured it out, had I never left. But then again had I never left I would most likely still be the bitter bully I used to be. Arnold tried to get me to tell him what was going on, but I truly had nothing to tell him. I haven't been here all that long and all Arnold really knows about is Lila's outburst, and that wasn't even all that clear to anyone. Was she mad at me about Arnold? Who made a choice all on his own? How was that my fault? By the end of the day I was thoroughly depressed. Arnold seemed to have noticed, despite my best effort.

"Hey Helga." Arnold smiled, momentarily disarming me, his green eyes flashing mischief.

My eyes narrowed. "Hi, Arnold."

He grabbed my arm gently and began pulling me along to the packard. "So I thought we could go out for some ice cream. And maybe we could figure out whats wrong with Lila, although I may have a feeling about what." Not twenty minutes later we sat in a small booth eating small bowls of chocolate ice cream. I laughed, remembering what Phoebe and I used to refer to Arnold as.

"So what do you think is wrong with Lila?"

"Actually I had hoped we could talk at the boarding house. More private there. I really was just craving ice cream. Is that ok?"

I laughed. "Of course it is. I'm not gonna complain when I get free ice cream." Arnold laughed loudly.

"Of course not." We left a few minutes later, for the boarding house, where Arnold led me up to his room. It took all my will to hold back a blush. He pulled me down next to him on his bed. "I think it's a bit obvious what Lila's problem is. She needs to be in control, and in just a few day or so she lost it. You know, I never really realized it, but she was a very controlling girl. We weren't allowed to talk about some things, we had weekly study dates and biweekly dates. She called me once every day an hour after school. She even warned me that if I got a job I would have to set my hours so she could call me everyday. I never really noticed until you came back how bad she was. I remembered how much fun we had as kids, how although mean, how fun you could be and how laid back. You used to help people, and try to hide it. Lila always just kept to herself and went along with things. And by the way don't think I don't know what you did Christmas when we were nine."

I blushed. I didn't know anyone, even Phoebe knew about that. That was something I never told anyone. "How did you find out?"

"I looked out the window. You had the most happy, and serene smile on your face, kind of like you had gotten the one thing for christmas that you had always wanted. It took me a while, but once I realized May probably couldn't have just found us on her own, and you were the only other person outside I made the connection. I didn't tell anyone, figuring you didn't want anyone to know, so I never brought it up." I guess that explained the funny peaceful look he occasionally shot me when he thought I wasn't looking.

I blushed. He was never supposed to find out. I looked away to hide the redness of my cheeks, he gripped my chin and turned me to him.

"It was very sweet Helga." He glanced at my lips briefly before muttering something under his breath. His lips crashed to mine, startling me into a near heart attack. I moaned and ran my fingers through his hair. I've waited for this kind of kiss from him, ever since I first found out about them. I laid back, puling Arnold with me. He propped himself up so he wouldn't crush me and kept kissing. Who knew he had this much boldness inside him. My hands traveled down his chest, of their own accord feeling just how muscled he really was. I swear he had the beginnings of a six pack going on. He pulled back for air, and I gasped out a question.

"What's with the muscle Football Head?"

He grinned, and leaned in kissing along my jawline and up to my earlobe, where he gently bit down. "I work out twice a week, and I still play baseball." I laughed. Should have known about the baseball."

"Why am I surprised?" Arnold laughed and shook his head, falling down besides me. I rested my head on his shoulder, as he trailed his fingers through my hair.

"I love your hair Helga. Will you do me a favor?" I nodded against him. "Grow it out for me?"

"Why?"

"I like it long. The way you used to have it when we were little. I know you it down a couple times but I remember each time. I always through you looked so much prettier and nicer like that. Like the little girl I knew you were hiding somewhere. I liked it on valentines day. I never knew until I figured out that was you, how much I truly needed you. You were there when I need someone to listen, you helped me when no one else would or knew how, you were there when I needed you, a crutch I didn't know I needed." He kissed the top of my head. "I'm glad you came back Helga." his voice had slowly become sleepy, as if performing such a bold act had worn him out. My own eyes closed as I fell asleep with him, barely registering his sleep muttered last sentence. "Don't ever leave me again."

…...

"Now isn't that the sweetest thing i've ever seen." I frowned in my sleep. Who was disturbing my nap? And boy was I comfortable and warm. I pulled closer to the pillow I was laying against and sighed. "Well, Pheebs, at least we know Lila wont be much of a problem."

I heard deep laughed along with a girly giggle. I growled when a third laugh joined the two, this one coming from above my head. "Helga. Helga we've got visitors. And my arm is falling asleep."

It finally registered just who my pillow was, and I shot up. I looked around the room wide eyed, and at Arnold who still laid back, hands folded behind his head like he didn't have a care in the world.

I glanced at Gerald and Phoebe who were standing in the doorway. I cleared my throat. "What are you two doing here?"

"Well, we actually wanted to talk to you guys about Lila. But I think we may have interrupted something. We could always come back in a couple of hours."

Arnold laughed. "No need Gerald. We will meet you in the living room, just give us a second OK?"

Gerald just grinned and walked away with a broadly grinning Phoebe. I groaned. "We are never going to live this down, are we Arnold?"

Arnold grinned and pulled me up with him. "Absolutely not." Then he quickly kissed me on the lips before pulling me out the door.

OK what do you think? I'm not done with the story yet so don't worry. R&R