Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story.

They all belong to their rightful owner: Craig Bartlett.

Title: "Roadside girl"

In the last chapter: After the very passionate, and sudden, kiss between Arnold and Helga, they both did their best to keep calm around each other. They didn't speak with others in order to keep their minds in order, but in the end neither of them knew what they wanted, felt or needed. Helga and Arnold faced the therapeutic exercises head-on and got to know a little, or perhaps, a lot more about each other.

When Arnold told Helga a secret as part of the exercise, Helga's reaction made him wonder if she knew more about this secret girl he used to have a crush on as a child. A pleading for her to tell him the truth, turned into another kiss that left them both with more questions than answers.

Author's 1st note: The fifteenth I officially started school again! It's so weird… Oh, well, my schedule is off the hook, to put it mildly, so I'm kinda pumped and yet not at all because you know… it's school. xD

Oh, also the song that is being played during the first "scene" that starts at the fourth paragraph in this chapter is Hex Rx – "Dominate". I recommend playing it while reading this scene. Warning: Make sure you're volume is not too loud in case you don't know this song xD No. Seriously. Turn it down… ;)

[Please notify me if you notice any grammar mistakes. This isn't my first language, so there's bound to be mistakes.]

Chapter 8: "Here we go again"

The next few exercises went by within minutes. Neither Arnold nor Helga was very focused on their own or the other's answers and the director gave up on continuing. He closed the book with a small sigh and smiled. "Well, as little as the last few ones interested you, I'd say you have both improved from the others." He said and stood up, his actors loyally following suit. Helga and Arnold looked at each other for a moment before standing up. There was a bit of shame in their eyes, but also some of that longing that would always be there. I have a feeling it's the kissing we've been doing today that's been more therapeutic than these exercises… Arnold thought and shut his eyes as he felt a blush creep up on his cheeks.

"Now, I would like to include everybody a little bit more as we go back to rehearsals. I think it's time to rehearse the big fight scene between Aiden and the pimp again." The director said and Helga felt the color drain from her face. Criminy, you have rotten timing, director! She scolded in her head and her eyes quickly flashed towards David to gauge his reaction. He seemed normal as he simply nodded at the director's suggestion. If he's feeling shitty right now, he's good at hiding it… Then again, unlike me, he's always been good at hiding his own emotions rather than just pretending to be someone else. She thought with a sigh and looked at Arnold.

Contrary to David, he looked a little panicked at the scene they were supposed to rehearse. The fight scene? That one's pretty choreographed… What if I miss? Or he misses… and we actually end up hurting each other? I can't imagine David would hurt me on purpose, but then again… I haven't known him for that long, but… No, I'm being paranoid. He's professional. He wouldn't let his feelings get in the way… like I do. He thought and groaned before walking behind one of the fake walls, hiding him from the future audience. Hold on… Doesn't this scene start with - -

"Places!" the director said, successfully interrupting Arnold's thoughts. Helga took her place along with some girls behind her and some boys sitting around her. They had to imagine that there was a smaller scene at the right front of the bigger stage since that was how it was going to be once the premier would enroll. For now though, they had to pretend. An electric sound ricocheted for a moment over the speakers, Helga and the girls jerking like robots to it until it drums, guitars and every possible instrument appeared over the speakers, creating a loud and chaotic sound and the girls jerked heavily to the music, just making it up as they go.

Arnold appeared in what was supposed to be the strip club, looking around frantically, pretending to be Aiden looking for Adrasteia. Once he saw her up on the stage, men's eyes ogling her, his face turned into one of rage. He had seen her like that so many times before, but things had changed now. He knew she had stronger feelings for him that she let on and he didn't understand why she wouldn't let him get her out of this place and help her start a decent life with him. Surely, that was the preferable choice over selling her body and presumably her soul like this? He went straight towards her, her eyes barely catching him approaching her before he grabbed her arm and yanked her away from the lustful eyes. "Aiden!" she exclaimed in surprise before he pulled her away, the music still booming behind them.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"Taking you home!"

"This is my home!" Adrasteia said as she yanked her hand out of Aiden's grasp and turned to walk back to her stage, but he walked in front of her, successfully stopping her in her steps. "Adrasteia, this is not a home! It's a strip club. A working place for harlots. You don't belong here." He told her. "I do belong here. I was born here." She insisted, angry tears prickling her eyes. Why did he refuse to give up? "You were not born here, Adrasteia. You know that as well as I do. You were bought by that disgusting creature." He told her, her face turning away from his in frustration. "This man is the only one who has ever wanted me. Not even my own parents wanted anything to do with me." She said with a sneer and attempted to walk past Aiden, but he grabbed her shoulders and shook her in place. "I do."

Adrasteia's breath got caught in her throat and for a moment, it felt as if the music around her dulled. It did in fact dull and the dancers slowed their moves while David slowly appeared in the way back of the stage, cleverly placed right where the audience would be able to see him. "I want you, Adrasteia and not in the same way the men you have met before do. I want all of you. Your sweet laughter, your cute smile, your heart when it beats in synch with mine. I want all of that and so much more." He told her, love in his voice. Adrasteia felt her heart speed up and her body acted before her mind could tell her that it was a bad idea. She leaned into him, crashing her lips against his, desperate to feel his love and not just hear it. She needed to feel loved for just a moment. He pulled her against him, holding her with just as much fervor as she was holding him.

Then the music got louder again, a male almost animalistic voice screaming over the speakers before Adrasteia felt Aiden getting torn from her grasp. The next thing she saw was the only man, until this moment, she had ever felt any bond to beating up the only man who had ever made her feel loved. "No! Please!" she begged and tried to stop his punching arm, but he just pushed her away, her body falling to the floor hard. "Adrasteia!" Aiden yelled angrily and then turned to sneer at the attacking man in front of him. He punched him right back and so began a fight between the two men in Adrasteia's life.

No one in the club noticed or they didn't seem to care. The girls kept dancing, the men kept hollering obscene things over the music and Adrasteia watched in horror, afraid for her love's life. Suddenly, almost out of nowhere, Aiden fell to the floor. He didn't get up. "Aiden… Aiden!" Adrasteia shrieked and was about to run to him, but felt a strong arm grab her around her waist and stopping her. Without a word, she was pulled away from the stage, her screams being ignored by the people around her as she cried and screamed for Aiden to wake up.

"Great!" the director said as the music died and Arnold got himself up from the stage, instantly looking towards David and Helga who appeared again. Helga rubbed her stomach, which wasn't easy since she had changed into her gray and pink sweatshirt before they had started the therapeutic exercises. "Next time, drag me a little more gently, would you?" she asked with humor in her voice and David smiled apologetically. "Sorry." He said and she forced her smile to stay on. He was definitely not as careful as he usually is in this scene… He wasn't… punishing me, was he? She wondered, but then she shook her head at the idea. It was a ridiculous thought. David was little hurt and angry now, but he wouldn't get physical with her surely. Her eyes found Arnold's and she waited to see if he seemed hurt somehow. She wasn't sure why she was being so paranoid, but she just wanted to make sure. He simply smiled at her, showing no signs of pain. She sighed in relief as she approached him along with David.

"Well, everybody. I'd say this is a nice time to say goodbye." The director said and seemed to be holding back a yawn. "That's early." Helga declared as she looked at David's wristwatch. "I think we deserve it today. Go home. Get some well-deserved rest and we'll meet at the usual time tomorrow." He told and they all sighed in content and started to go their separate ways, some to the backstage and some just grabbing their bags on the seats and getting out of the auditorium. Perfect. Helga thought and put her hand on David's shoulder. "Hey, this might be our opportunity to explore Hillwood like we talked about?" she asked hopefully, but he didn't seem too keen on the idea. "Uh, I'd love to, Helga, but I'll have to take a rain check." He told her with a small smile. "I'm pretty tired and the director is right. Rest should be our top priority now that we have the chance."

"Oh…" Helga mumbled, barely able to hide her disappointment as she removed her hand from his shoulder. "Ok. Yeah, I get that. See you tomorrow?" she asked and he smiled at her more lightly. "Yeah. See ya." He told her, patted her shoulder and then jumped off the stage to head towards the door. "Fantastic." Helga muttered to herself, not noticing that Arnold was approaching her from the side. "Now he hates me…" she added and walked past Arnold to walk down the stage. "He doesn't hate you, Helga." He insisted as he followed her. "How do you know?" she asked a little snippily. "It's a guess." He admitted and she rolled her eyes. "But it's a qualified one."

"I don't want your qualified guesses. I need a way to fix this." Helga told Arnold before she started to change her shoes to outdoor ones instead. "How the fuck do I solve this?" she muttered to herself, but Arnold could hear her as he leaned against the stage, having jumped off it as well. "I didn't want to hurt him, but it was inevitable… He didn't have to see Arnold and me like that though. An apology is not going to be appreciated. It's kinda stupid at this point to apologize for something I've already apologized for and he doesn't even think I should apologize for anyway… so what should I do?"

"Talking to yourself?" Arnold couldn't help but question in amusement. "Yeah, it's the only way to have an intelligent conversation around here." Helga told him with the same monotone voice as before. He couldn't help but look around, reminding himself that everyone had either already left or gone backstage to get changed. He sighed and looked at her. "Are we back to that?" he asked and she gave him a look and then shrugged. "I don't know, Football Head. What is that?" she asked him and stood up from the floor. "Name-calling for one thing." He muttered with a frown. "Look, Arnold." she said before grabbing her bag. "I don't have it in me to be Miss Sensitive right now."

"Why would you also start now…?" Arnold muttered sarcastically under his breath. "I need to figure out a way to make it up to David." Helga continued, either not noticing his words or ignoring them completely. "He must feel so unloved right now, like if no one could ever like him or something." She continued with a melancholic sigh. "That's not true. Maria likes him and I'm sure a lot of other girls has and will in the future." Arnold pointed out matter-of-factly, but frowned in confusion when Helga showed him a surprised expression. "Maria likes David?"

Arnold gulped and then hissed in pain. "Oops…" he muttered and Helga then approached him, a desperate look in her eyes. "Maria likes David?" she asked again and Arnold sighed. "Damon told me." He answered with a shrug. I am so bad at keeping secrets. How come they always just fly out of my mouth like that? He thought, but then remembered how they had talked about Helga's ballet lessons. Huh. Helga's secret I've managed to keep… Why can't I keep anyone else's? He wondered for a moment, feeling guilt flooding through him until he saw Helga's smirk as she looked at nothing in particular.

"Oh, no. Helga, I know that look. What are you thinking?" Arnold asked and she turned to smirk at him. "What would you say is the best way to mend a broken love?" she asked and he was momentarily stunned at her way of phrasing it. He knew Helga could speak quite beautifully, but he was always taken aback when she suddenly spoke like that. "A… new love?" he suggested and her smirk turned into a big grin. "Ding-ding-ding." She whispered giddily and then giggled. His heart stopped at the sight of her, all happy like that. It didn't happen too often.

"But wouldn't that make Maria David's rebound girl?" Arnold asked apprehensively, but Helga waved her hand in dismissal. "No way. David doesn't start finding a person attractive until he's gotten to know them properly first… Unlike some people." Helga mocked and Arnold rolled his eyes. "That was when I was a kid, Helga." He pointed out and she simply stuck her tongue out at him. "It actually makes sense actually… I think David would like Maria a lot…" She muttered thoughtfully. "Really?" Arnold asked curiously and she nodded. "I mean, he often told me he didn't get why he liked me. There's a lot of things about me he doesn't like. Maria seems more like his type honestly."

"Oh, I do wonder what things David doesn't like about you." Arnold teased, which earned him a punch to his shoulder from Helga. "That might be one of those things…" he pointed out with a groan and she smirked. "On the contrary, he likes that I can punch as good as the next guy." She said and he continued to rub his slightly sore arm. "Well, sure, but no one likes getting punched themselves." He said and grumbled dramatically. "Aw, poor baby. Want me to kiss it away?" she asked mockingly, but Arnold couldn't help but look at her in embarrassment, feeling anticipation rising within him.

Helga's eyes then caught sight of Maria appearing from backstage and she waved. "Maria, hold on!" she told her as Maria looked at her and nodded. Helga let her bag fall to the floor and walked past Arnold, about to approach Maria, but then turned to point at him. "Stay." She ordered with no room for argument. He frowned in surprise. "Yes, mistress." He answered like a genie belonging in a lamp before he could consider his words first. She looked at him over her shoulder, a confused and yet impressed smile on her face. "Arnold, that's hardly appropriate talk in public." She told him and he blushed furiously before she turned her head around to continue her way to Maria again. You're infuriating! He thought, embarrassed that she had gotten him to blush again so easily.

"Hi, Maria. Could I talk with you for a second?" Helga asked, pointing with her thumb away from Arnold and holding her other hand out for Maria to take. "Uh… sure, Helga." She told her, took her hand and jumped off the stage. She followed her obediently until they were out of Arnold's hearing range. "So… Maria, I have a feeling that you like David." Helga told her with a big grin and Maria looked mortified. "Oh, God, Helga. I, uh, I - - " she started, obviously scared that Helga would react badly, but the blonde girl shook her pink strands of hair furiously. "No, no, no. I'm happy for you." she told her reassuringly, grabbing her hands. Maria looked surprised. "You are?"

"Yes. In fact, I want to help you. You know, tell you about the things David likes, hates, his interests. Give you a chance to get to know him and get him to want to know you. You can take my advices if you want and ignore others, but if you will let me, I want to help you." Helga told her in a fast voice, but Maria caught the gist of what she said. "Helga, this is pretty sudden! I-I-I… I, uh… You really want to help me?" she finally asked and Helga sighed. "If I'm totally honest… yes, I want to help you, but it's for David as much as it's for you. I've hurt David a lot, Maria, and I don't know how to make it up to him. I'm hoping that if he falls in love with you… maybe he can forgive me."

Maria was shocked at Helga's honesty. She had never seen Helga vulnerable before, never seen her desperate for something. Helga's intentions may not have been the purest, but she was earnest about it and Maria couldn't help but smile at her, feeling like she suddenly got a little closer to her. "Ok. I'd love your help, Helga. Thank you so much!" she said happily and couldn't contain her urge to hug her. Helga choked for a second; still not very fond of physical contact, especially from people she wasn't very close to, which wasn't many. She saw Arnold snickering though, him noticing her discomfort easily. She rolled her eyes and patted Maria's back a couple of times before the girl pulled back. "I'm so excited for tomorrow!" she announced before skipping off.

Helga looked at Maria for a second, shaking her head a little in amusement. She then folded her hands behind her back, leaned back a little bit and taking bouncy steps towards Arnold who looked curiously at her way of walking. "Oh, the cleverness of me!" she announced proudly and he chuckled her words. "And I did nothing?" he asked sarcastically and she shrugged. "You did a little." She admitted and he huffed artificially. "A little?" he repeated in disbelief and went towards his own bag, which he had made a habit of leaving against the wall the same way Helga did. "Oh, don't be like that." she told him as she followed him. He ignored her, a little satisfied that she was following him and sat down on his knees in front of his bag.

Arnold could feel Helga's presence behind him, but he still choked on his breath when he felt her sit down behind him, her chest against his back and her hands on his shoulders. "You were astonishing." She whispered a little mockingly, but all he felt was her warm breath tickling his ear, coaxing him into turning his head around to face her. She looked at him for a moment, her eyes only half-opened as if she was about to kiss him, but then she stood up. Arnold sighed in both relief and disappointment. He couldn't help but feel if Helga started something now, he wouldn't be able to keep it decent for long.

"You boys and your little egos." Helga then mocked, kind of to Arnold's relief, as she sauntered towards her bag. He didn't realize until now, but he could much better deal with her mocking and teasing rather when she was close to flirtatious. He hadn't experienced that Helga before and that Helga was… really rather kissable… among other indecent things he refused to describe her as. "Says the girl with the biggest ego I've ever met." He teased as he swung his bag over his shoulder. Helga turned to look at him, eyes hooded, as she swung her bag over her shoulder. She strolled towards him, his heart jumping into his throat as he was sure she was about to kiss him. He had to fight the urge to shut his eyes tight when her face was suddenly close to his. Rather than kissing him, she made a repetitive mocking click with her tongue to his former comment and then started walking nonchalantly towards the door. He waited for a moment as he let his heart find its rightful place in his chest again before following her.

"You're just waiting for me to kiss you, aren't you?" Helga asked with such an indifferent voice that Arnold for a moment stumbled on his feet at how casually she could bring that up. "Wha-What makes you say that?" he asked, cursing at himself for his obvious stutter. She turned to look at him, her eyes still half-covered by her lids in that way Arnold found so very enticing. She walked back towards him and his legs tensed, gluing him to the floor as he shut his eyes tight.

"Maybe the fact that you're closing your eyes right now…" Helga whispered mockingly and Arnold opened his eyes, seeing that her face was so close to his that he could only see her blue eyes. "I, uh, I…" he mumbled and she snickered for a short moment. "Where did the aggressive Arnold go?" she wondered teasingly and turned to continue her walk out of the auditorium. "The aggressive…?" he questioned as he followed her. "Yeah. You practically threw me up against the wall not just once, but twice today." She said as she opened the door, holding it open behind her. "Right about here I think." She said just as he walked through the door and then she pushed him against the same spot that he had pushed her up against twice that day.

Arnold was so shocked that he dropped his bag, subconsciously noticing that Helga had thrown hers to the floor on purpose. Her hands were planted solidly next to his head, their roles reversed in this particular situation. "Now, this Arnold is the one I've known my whole life. Modest, shy, doesn't really know what to do in this sort of situation… The one I've been seeing through the most of this day isn't that Arnold so… what, are you bipolar or something?" she asked him and he gulped. "A-Aggressive?" he questioned again. "I… No one's ever… I-I'm not aggressive around anyone else." He told her, his heart beating so hard that it was making it hard for him to talk properly.

"So… I'm the only one who can bring out Dark Arnold?" Helga asked almost proudly as she removed her hands from the wall. "Dark…?" Arnold questioned at first and then nodded sheepishly, unsure of what else to do. "Hm. Good to know." She hummed pensively before grabbing her bag and swinging it over her shoulder once more. "I like regular Arnold, but I also like Dark Arnold… he's sexy." She said with a predatory smirk before turning around and walking away. Arnold desperately tried to repeat what she had just called him, but he couldn't. Arnold had been called many things in his life; cute, stupid, dorky, sweet, kind, but never sexy.

"See you tomorrow, Football Head." Helga said with her usual joking tone before walking out. Arnold slumped against the wall and allowed his legs to give up and he fell to the floor gently. She is killing me… He thought, his cheeks still heating up. He shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone, only pushing a few times on the screen before putting it his ear. "Hey, Gerald. Do you have time today? I… seriously need to talk with you."

"So, man, you seemed really panicked on the phone. Also, mind I point out that this is the first time you've talked to me since you got into that play." Gerald said as he sat across from Arnold on his and Phoebe's king-sized bed. "I'm only in this play because you decided to pull a joke!" Arnold pointed out with a frown and Gerald smiled apologetically. "Yeah, sorry about that, but you're enjoying it, right?" he asked and Arnold sighed. "Yes, I do. It's really fun and everyone is so nice."

"All except for Helga I assume?"

"Uh… well, uh, you're sorta right."

"Only sorta? What, has the girl changed that much?"

"Not really… Not a lot at least."

"Is she giving you a hard time?"

"Oh, yeah. She's constantly breathing down my neck, pointing out every mistake I make as if the director isn't already doing that and she's… a really big distraction." Arnold half-confessed and coughed into his hand to avoid giving too much away already. He wanted to ease in on this; Gerald did tend to have quite dramatic reactions whenever Arnold talked about girls and Helga wasn't just a girl. She was Helga Pataki. "Doesn't sound like she's acting professional?" Gerald questioned and Arnold made a breathy laugh. "I'm not either… I'm letting my feelings control my body rather than my head." He admitted and Gerald cocked his head curiously to the side. "Is that what this is about?" he asked and Arnold looked at him. "That you and Helga are still exactly the same and somehow that surprises you?"

Arnold opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated for a moment. Not because he had changed his mind about telling Gerald, but because he wasn't sure which was the best way of approaching the subject. "Well… we do fight a lot and it's those same… stupid, silly and childish fights that doesn't really have any purpose."

"Well, had you expected a friendship to suddenly grow between you?" Gerald asked with a snort and Arnold sighed. "No, and that's the problem…" Arnold muttered, which made Gerald's eyebrows connect in confusion. "Have you become… friends?" he almost hissed the last word with a bit of disgust on his face and Arnold bit at his lower lip. "Not… exactly." He said and his eyes started to dart around. "Helga and I, we, uh… I'm, uh… I'm starting to, uh - -

"Oh, my God! Please tell me you didn't sleep with her?!"

"No!" Arnold answered, his face beet red at the mere thought… which was honestly a rather nice one. "Oh, thank God!" Gerald exclaimed in appreciation and held a hand to his heart. "Because that would have given me a freaking heart attack!" he told him honestly, but then caught sight of Arnold's slightly flushed skin and he blinked in surprise. "What have you been doing then?" he asked matter-of-factly, but his face was one of apprehension. "We… We've just been, uh… kissing a bit here and there…" He answered. "Well, you kiss in the play, right?" Gerald asked and Arnold nodded. "Yes, but… I'm talking about kissing away from the stage."

"… Today?"

"Today and yesterday…"

"… Are you out of your mind?!" Gerald asked in such a high-pitched voice that Arnold for a moment wondered if any dogs outside would hear him. "Keep it down, will you?! Phoebe is home!" he told him in a scolding voice, but Gerald didn't seem to hear him. "You're a masochist, you know that, right? You always fall for girls who end up treating you like shit. This time you're just cutting the middle part. You already know that this girl treats you like shit!" Gerald scolded and then fell onto the bed, almost as if too exhausted already. "She doesn't treat me like shit! All the time…" Arnold muttered and Gerald opened one eye to look at him. "You sure it's your bigger head talking right now?"

"Yes!" Arnold insisted with an embarrassed frown. Gerald sighed and sat up again. "Then what? Do you have, like… feelings for her or are you just sexually frustrated?" he asked and Arnold shook his head. "I have feelings for her and… I have to tell you that I, uh… I had feelings for her back when we were thirteen too." He admitted and Gerald shook his head in shock only to then freeze with his eyes wide open. "Say what now? Huh? When? Where? W-Why did I not know that?!" Gerald asked in anger and Arnold frowned again. "Because I knew you would react this way! Especially when we were kids! You've always been a drama queen!"

"You calling me queer?"

"No! I'm calling you dramatic!"

"That's almost the same thing!"

"No, it's not! I - - Oh, for crying out loud!" Arnold said in frustration and hid his face in his hands. "Wait. So… the reason you went all emo back when we were thirteen was because you were sad Helga had left? I thought you were so happy you didn't know how to react." Gerald said and Arnold shot him a slanted look. "Oh, yes. I was so happy that I turned around and became sad. That makes a lot of sense." He said and Gerald frowned immaturely. "You make a lot of sense…" He muttered and crossed his arms childishly. Arnold sighed and leaned back against the wall, earning Gerald's attention again. "So… what now?"

"I don't know… My feelings for Helga is affecting the play negatively."

"So what? The only reason you're in this play is because I was stupid enough to pull a joke."

"Well, now I'm committed. I'm partially responsible for the play as an actor. Also… it means a lot to Helga." Arnold said matter-of-factly or that is what he thought. To Gerald, who had known him his whole life, could hear and even see the caring oozing out of Arnold with those words. "You… You really like her, don't you?" he asked and Arnold sighed as he shook his head. "No… I don't just like her, Gerald." He corrected and Gerald's eyes widened a bit. "Oh, man, you masochist… Not again." he said with a sigh and watched Arnold as he hid his face on his bend knees. Well, shit… Gerald thought. Here we go again.

Author's 2nd note: Don't ask me why I suddenly got quick again because I don't know! xD Don't get used to it because of school though :P I am gonna need time for homework too -.- Ugh, homework. The thing I missed the least.

Oh, and in case you guys may have forgotten: Helga has what is called ombré hair: she has her blonde natural hair, but the ends of it is dip dyed pink. I mentioned that in the first chapter, but she is still referred to as blonde of course :P I just wanted to explain it in case someone got confused by the statement: "the blonde girl shook her pink strands of hair" ;)