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 Arnold and Helga's semi discussion, they felt rather uncomfortable around each other. It wasn't until the party Saturday night that they managed to talk it out and got to understand each other again to their friends' happiness.
The party started out with the fans growing impatient until the cast for Roadside Girl performed what was the opening song for the play and the party soon escalated fast as Arnold and Helga were confronted by their shippers. To David's unexplainable shock, Arnold and Helga officially announced their relationship and he stormed out with Maria going after him.
Helga confessed to Arnold that she hated to see David hurt, but that she wouldn't change her mind about breaking up with him and dating Arnold.
Author's 1st note: Don't know what to say! Warning: turbulent chapter ahead! Enjoy Cx
[Please notify me if you notice any grammar mistakes. This isn't my first language, so there's bound to be mistakes.]
Chapter 17: "Running on 1%"
"I didn't know you smoke…"
David almost bit on the bud of the cigarette in his mouth in surprise when he heard Maria's voice next to him. He was currently sitting on the asphalt; his back leant against the wall that was shielding the party going on inside what was called Circle Theatre. He gave her a sullen look and simply inhaled from the cigarette again and exhaling the smoke slowly. "I don't do it on a daily basis." He replied and put the cigarette to his mouth again. "Only when you're feeling down?" Maria questioned and sat down next to him. He sighed. "Maria, I really don't wanna go into a therapy session right now." He replied. "What if it's a therapy session including prescribed alcohol?" she asked and showed a bottle she had in her hand. He looked at it as she waved it temptingly and he sighed as he took it.
Maria watched as David chugged the whole thing down in one gulp. A smoker and a heavy drinker when down in the dumps… She thought and took the now empty bottle. "Want me to get you another one?" she asked and he seemed to think about it for a moment and then gave her a halfhearted smile. "Do you mind?" he asked and she shook her head before standing up and walking back inside. David turned his head to look at the mostly empty street in front of him as she nibbled on his cigarette. Why was he being such a baby, letting himself get pampered? He really hated being like this. I don't have any right to be angry… so why am I?
Maria came back then, a couple of different bottles in her arms. David quirked an eyebrow at the different items in her embrace, but helped her put them down safely on the ground. "Thanks." He said and took a bottle without looking at what it was and chugged down that one too. "You sure you don't wanna talk about it? Or at least vent your feelings just a bit?" Maria asked as she drank from her own bottle and David sighed again. "I wouldn't know what to say. I'm not as good with words as you are…" He muttered, but she just shrugged. "Then talk gibberish." She replied and he looked at her again. "Don't just sulk out here while drinking. Save that for when you're old and alone."
The corner of David's mouth went up at Maria's attempt at a joke. "I don't know what to say. I just… feel pissed." He replied and she gave him a look that urged him to continue. "I know that… Helga has been honest with me all the way through. I know that she never felt anything for me, but that she did her best… I know I should just be happy for her, but I still feel a little betrayed. Like… I've been there for her for seven years straight and this guy just comes in and sweeps her off her feet and then I'm forgotten."
"You're not forgotten, David. Helga cares a lot about you."
"But I'm always gonna be number two…" David remarked with a frown and took a gulp from the bottle. "If not number three behind Phoebe."
"Oh, blah-blah-blah!" Maria suddenly retorted, causing David to look curiously at her. "Why are you so negative? You can't measure love like that! She would be devastated if she saw you now, I'm pretty sure she is actually. She saw you running out, you know." She told him and he blinked in surprise. "She did?" he asked with a bit of a guilty frown. He had hoped she wouldn't see him like that. Maria nodded. "Yeah, she was about to go after you, but I told her I would so she stayed back."
David sighed and let the back of his head hit the wall behind him. "Great. So now Arnold can comfort her, which is his specialty…" He muttered a little hatefully, earning a fist to his arm from Maria. "Do remember why she would need comforting to begin with." She pointed out as he rubbed his arm. He huffed at her words and drank from his bottle again. "Yeah, yeah. I'm the bad guy here… but I think Helga has part of the blame too." He retorted. "Well, I suppose so… but she's in love with Arnold, David. You can't change that." she replied and David smirked at that. "That's true… but she's forgetting something."
"What?" Maria asked and David gave her a look. Maria waited for him to talk, but he was obviously waiting for her to figure it out herself so she thought about it. About ten seconds later, she was ready to give up and ask him, but then it dawned on her. "Oh… yeah, that's… a minor detail." She muttered and put her bottle to her lips without drinking. "Minor detail, my ass…" David muttered and let his eyes casually follow two girls who were walking into the club. "I wonder if Helga is so love-struck that she has forgotten or if she's avoiding it."
The girl David had been looking at stumbled inside Circle Theatre, holding the other girl's hand. "Oh, man! We'll never find Helga Pataki in here!" she yelled over the music, but then her brown-haired girlfriend pointed. "There!" she said and her eyes followed. On one of the couches did Helga Pataki indeed sit with her newly announced boyfriend and was talking with him. "They are so cute together." One of the girls said and pulled the other towards the couch.
"Should I try to talk to David at some point?" Helga asked, unaware of the girls approaching her and Arnold. "It might be a good idea for the both of you to air your feelings." Arnold replied and she nodded. "See? You still give good advice." She said teasingly and he smiled at her, about to kiss her. "Excuse me?" a girl in front of them said and the blonde couple turned to look at her. Two girls were standing in front of them, one with brown-hair, the other with black, but both smiling. "Hello, I, um…" the brunette continued, but then stopped talking. "Come on, honey." Her female companion said and nudged her elbow on her arm. The brunette smiled appreciatively and turned to look at Helga again. "I just wanted to say that I am such a huge fan of you."
Helga smiled at the brunette's words, which encouraged her to go on. "You acted as Gabrielle in The power of love a year back, right?" the brunette asked, which Helga nodded at. "I just wanted to tell you that the play, and you particularly, inspired me to confess to this one." The brunette continued and tilted her head towards the black-haired girl next to her who was smiling sweetly. Helga looked between them for a moment, slightly confused, but then a wide grin spread on her face. "Really?" she asked and put her hand on her chest. The girls nodded and put their hands around each other, both beaming with happiness. "I would never have had the courage to come out if it hadn't been for you. I read the interviews about you and The power of love and it felt like you were speaking to me."
Helga was smiling so widely that it almost hurt. "I never thought I… I would have such a positive input on someone's life." She said and turned to look at Arnold. "Who would have known?" she wondered sarcastically. "I would." He responded. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "But, girls, all I really did was act in a play." She pointed out, but the girls shook their heads. "I can think of a lot of people who would never have chosen to act as a lesbian. You took a chance. I read the bad reviews of the play too and they just reek of homophobia and that's why I think you're brave." The black-haired girl interjected and Helga smiled again. "Thank you for approaching me to tell me that. It means a lot."
"Oh, also…" the brunette said and pulled a camera out of her pocket. She smiled guiltily at Helga who rolled her eyes good-heartedly at the silent request. "We totally respect your privacy, but could we have just one picture with you?" the black-haired girl asked. "Sure." Helga replied and called for Phoebe who was dancing with Gerald nearby. The Asian girl turned to look at her. "Could you take our picture, Phoebs?" she asked as the girls approached Phoebe. "Oh, sure!" Phoebe replied and took the camera. "Thank you so much!" the girls said in unison and stepped behind the couch, right behind Helga. Arnold quickly scooted to the side, but the brunette grabbed his shoulder. "No, no! We want Arnold to be in it too."
"How do you know my name?" Arnold asked in confusion, but sat back next to Helga. She shot him a slanted look and then looked at the girls apologetically. "Sorry, he's not used to this just yet." She said and turned to smile at Phoebe who was holding the camera up. "Say cheese." She requested and they all did as she took the picture. "Thank you so much, Helga Pataki." The brunette said and quickly ran around the couch to grab her camera from Phoebe. "Say Helga." Helga ordered with a smirk and the girls smiled happily. "Have a good evening, Helga! You too, Arnold." the black-haired girl said and followed her girlfriend into the crowd.
Helga laughed in surprise as Phoebe sat down next to her, Gerald joining her on her other side. "One of those girls got the courage to confess her love to another girl thanks to a play I was in…" Helga muttered. "I didn't think that… that I would influence anyone like that… ever." she continued in awe. "See?" Arnold asked and took her hand, using his thumb to caress it. She nodded and started smiling at him. "Yeah…" she muttered and turned to look at Phoebe when she felt her hand caress her shoulder. "Ok." She said and stood up. "I am gonna party tonight like there's no tomorrow! And there won't be because I'll be so hung-over that I'll sleep the whole day away."
And they did indeed get the party started. Like Helga had sworn, she got herself drunk rather quickly and to her pleasure, managed to get a few shots down Arnold's throat too, albeit only because she tempted him by offering to give it to him through her mouth. Not that she minded. About an hour later, she had been dancing with Arnold for 30 minutes straight, only taking breaks in order to drink.
A song that Helga knew, but didn't recognize was momentarily drowned out when the DJ spoke into his mic. "Helga Pataki, two girls are asking for you. Come to the booth, please." He requested and turned the volume of the song back up. "Who the fuck could that be?" Helga asked in a loud and slurred voice even though Arnold had his ear right next to her mouth. He figured it wouldn't make a difference in the long run though. The music was already so loud that he could feel those little hairs in his middle ear dying. He had a big, boyish grin on his face while Helga pulled him towards the booth.
"What's up?" Helga asked the DJ who simply pointed at the two girls next to him. "Hi, there! Who are you?" Helga asked, swaying a little as she did, but got steadied by Arnold's arm around her waist. "Do I know you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "No, but I'm a huge fan!" one of the girls answered in a high-pitched voice. "Hah! I'm starting to see a trend, Football H-Hat!" Helga mispronounced in a giddy voice. "People are lining up to meet me!"
The girls giggled girlishly, obviously shy in Helga's presence even though she was just as drunk as they were. "We were hoping you could sing for us?" one of them asked right before the other folded her hands pleadingly. "Pretty please?" she begged. "Oh, I don't know…" Helga replied in a teasing singsong voice. She really didn't mind singing and she figured this was the last chance before she got too drunk to remember the lyrics to Itsy bitsy spider.
"Oh, come on!" a girl begged and turned to look at the DJ. She grabbed his mic without asking, but he just rolled his eyes at the drunken girl rather than trying to get ahold of it again. "Hey, everybody! Who would like to hear Helga Pataki sing?!" she yelled into the mic and the crowd cheered despite the obviously ringing that eluded in the room. Helga then grabbed the mic. "Oh, fine! What do you want me to sing?" she asked and the crowd started throwing hundreds of different song titles at her. "I only got two ears! And I'm only gonna sing one song… This evening isn't about me. Besides, soon I'll be too drunk to sing anything."
The crowd laughed though Helga in the back of her mind where she wasn't drunk had a feeling the laughing was mostly due to the alcohol. She hadn't really been making a joke either, so who cared? "I'll take one request and one request only… Girls, since you were the ones who wanted me up here, what would you like me to sing?" she asked and the girls looked at each other. One of them shrugged so the other went to whisper in Helga's ear. Helga smiled. "I love that one!" she said and turned to the DJ. "You got any Shania Twain in there?" she asked as she held her hand over the mic. "I've got everything she's ever made. What are you thinking, honey?" he asked and gestured to the list of Shania Twain songs. She smiled as she pointed at the one the girl had requested and he nodded. "Knock 'em dead."
"I'm not that bad of a singer." Helga insisted and stuck her tongue out at the DJ who snickered at her words. "Arnold, make sure to stand in front of the crowd, ok?" she whispered to Arnold, kissed his cheek and jumped on the stage. Arnold grinned as he moved towards the front of the stage, noticing how Gerald and Phoebe had made sure to get spots there too. "You know what she's gonna sing?" Gerald asked. "A Shania Twain song." Arnold replied, but then shrugged. "Don't know anymore."
Arnold wasn't sure when or how Helga had gotten herself a mic, but she was indeed holding one now as she stood on the stage. He didn't recognize the song playing, but then again he had never listened much to a whole lot of Shania Twain's songs. Helga seemed to like the song though if the way she was bopping her head was any indication. Arnold wrote in his mental scrapbook to look up Shania Twain's songs later.
"Don't want you for a weekend." Helga sang and the sound of something resembling a mechanic tuba tooted its horn one short time and then four quick times. "Don't want you for a night. I'm only interested if I can have you for life." She continued and seemed to sober up just a bit because the slur in her voice was getting less apparent. Arnold was smiling at her words, especially when she looked at him as if she was singing especially to him. Gerald seemed to think the same because his elbow started to nudge Arnold's arm. Arnold shoved his arm away playfully, but Gerald just started tussling with his hair.
"I know I sound serious… and, baby, I am. You're a fine piece of real estate and I'm gonna get me some land." Helga sang and started to really get into the song as the crowd cheered, some people even singing along. Her voice was echoing in the whole room and eventually David and Maria noticed it outside. "Is that Helga…?" Maria muttered in absolute slur. She wasn't much of a drinker, but in the attempt of keeping up with David, she had been drowning bottle after bottle through the last hour. "Huh?" David groaned in annoyance and leaned over her to get closer to the sound. "Oh. Yeah! That sounds like Helga…" he said before hiccupping and thereafter frowning at the cartoonish way it had sounded.
"Wanna go check her out?" Maria asked and was trying to stand up. As soon as she did, she slipped and landed on David. "Oopsie…" she mumbled giddily and chuckled. David snickered at her, pushed at her back to get her standing up and then stood up himself. She was swaying a lot as she walked, which David did as well though he wasn't nearly as drunk as she was. While he wasn't a heavy drinker, he had been to his fair share of parties over the years. He grabbed ahold of Maria's waist as they walked and she giggled goofily at that.
David by mere luck, and perhaps because he still felt a little angry from earlier, managed to squeeze through the crowd of people to get near the stage. "She's singing! Helga's singing!" Maria said as she pointed on Helga on the stage and lost her balance when she did. "Whoa!" she exclaimed before landing on the floor and pulling David down with her. "You ok?" she asked and he just shot her a slanted look. "You're the one who fell!" he pointed out, but she just blew a raspberry at him. "Come on, you klutzy baby." He said and tried to get her standing up, but as his hands went beneath her arms, she started laughing uncontrollably. "That tickles!"
"Oh, give me a break!" David said before falling backwards into someone's legs. "Watch it, shrimp!" the guy whose legs David had hit warned him before he looked back at the stage. David just rolled his eyes, ignoring the big goon above him. "Stand up!" David ordered Maria as he turned onto his knees and took her hands. She was still in her laughing fit, but he managed to get her standing up. "Shit, when did I become your babysitter?" he asked before looking up at the stage and then smiled. Helga was indeed standing up there, singing her lungs out and still sounding amazing. I suddenly remember why I fell for her… He thought, but slowly that smile turned into a frown.
"I'm gonna getcha, it's a matter of fact. I'm gonna getcha, don't you worry about that. You can bet your bottom dollar, in time you're gonna be mine. Just like I should: I'll getcha good." Helga continued to sing, but now got down on her knees right in front of Arnold whom David hadn't noticed until then. Arnold had his arms casually placed on the scene, his face one big grin at this point just like Helga's was one big Cheshire smile. David could feel his heart leap into his throat, staying there as if trying to choke him. He wanted to shut his eyes tight when Helga used her free hand to caress Arnold's cheek, her enchanting voice still singing.
David couldn't hear Maria calling his name or even feel that she was shaking his shirt with her small hand. He just kept staring as Helga finished singing and then kissed Arnold sweetly, earning a huge applause from the crowd. It could have been the alcohol, really, he wouldn't be sure later this night, but suddenly he felt himself throwing up in the middle of the floor. "Ew!" a girl shrieked and jumped backwards, alarming some of the other people around him. "David, are you ok?!" Maria asked in a panic, sobering almost instantly. "Yeah… I'd like some water though…" he mumbled and averted his eyes from the small puddle of vomit on the floor. "S-Sure." Maria responded, wrapped her arm under his arms and guided him to the bar.
"You were amazing!" Arnold complimented Helga as he helped her down from the stage. She chuckled happily, as she offered the mic to the DJ who quickly grabbed it before she was too close to the floor. "You think so?" she asked and put her arms over Arnold's shoulders. "Yeah…" he answered and leaned closer to kiss her, but then a snort from a girl nearby caught his ears. "I can't believe someone threw up on the floor just like that! It's super disgusting!" she uttered and stuck her tongue out in disgust. Helga was looking at them curiously. "Somebody threw up?" she asked, but wondered right after why she even cared. "Yeah! Some dude totally just vomited all over the floor! We're gonna go get someone to clean it up." Another girl answered and then they disappeared.
"What an overreaction." Helga mumbled and rolled her eyes. "Uh, Helga…" Phoebe said in a small voice in according to the music as she poked Helga's shoulder. The blonde girl turned around to look at her. "I believe I saw Maria carrying David towards the bar. Perhaps he was the one who felt sick?" she suggested and Helga's eyes widened. "David? No way! He's not exactly a lightweight." She insisted, but her face grew worried. "I-I'll go check." She muttered and walked away without another word. "Wait, Helga! Let me - - " Arnold said as he was about to go after her, but Gerald grabbed his hand and stopped him. Arnold turned to question him, but Gerald just shook his head. "I think they need to talk alone."
While Arnold was reluctant to let Helga go, she did indeed go to the bar on her own. It took some time because she needed to get through the swarm of people. When she caught sight of the green hair decoration she knew Maria was wearing, she knew David would be next to her. "Maria?" she asked and reached her hand out for her. Maria turned to look at her, grabbed her hand and pulled her out from the crowd. "Helga?"
"Is David…?" Helga started, but then saw David looking at her in surprise. He was sitting on one of the bar chairs with a glass of water in his hand, his eyes a little glassy from the alcohol and probably from feeling sick. "What's with you and the vomiting? You outta shape, champion?" she asked teasingly and nudged up against his arm. He kept looking at her for a bit, but then turned his eyes away from her as he drank from the glass. "Ooh, ice-ice, baby…" she sang teasingly, but when he didn't laugh, she frowned. "You ok?"
David's eyes turned to look at Helga again, his light blue eyes looking somewhat more grayish. She didn't falter under that slightly familiar gaze though, despite knowing what that look meant. "I want to talk to you." he announced and she leaned closer. "Alone." He added and chugged down the rest of the glass. "It's gonna be a little hard with all these people here." She joked, but he just took her hand and led her away. "Hey! Hold on! David, you're hurting me!" she sneered, but he just kept pulling her away from the crowd, leaving Maria to wonder whether she should tell Arnold what was going on.
"What do you think you're doing? Let me go!" Helga ordered as David pulled her outside and finally faced her and let go. "What is your fucking problem?!" she shouted angrily. "My problem, Helga, you wanna know what my problem is?!" he asked. "Yeah, that's why I'm asking, dumbass!" she replied. "My problem is this whole thing with you and Arnold!" he answered and she groaned loudly. "Again with me and Arnold! You know what? You're one big ass liar, you know that?" she asked him, her anger seething already. She'd had a feeling this would happen, she had just hoped that feeling had been wrong. "You say you want me to be happy, but what you really mean is you want me to be happy with you!"
"What?!"
"Oh, don't play stupid! It's always been like this! You're happiest when I'm miserable, that's our thing, isn't it? Because that way I can have someone to turn to and you can get the feeling of being needed!"
"Oh, screw you, Helga!"
"No! Screw you, David! Look, I know I hurt you, ok?" Helga said, forcing her voice to a more calming manner. David was panting from yelling, but he didn't seem like he was planning to interrupt her so she continued. "And I am sorry for that… I'm sorry for wanting to give you a chance and thereby giving you false hope… because I couldn't forget Arnold. That I'm sorry for… but I refuse to apologize for being together with Arnold now. I refuse to make excuses and apologize for being happy and you shouldn't want me to either."
"It's not about that." David said. Helga felt like screaming at him for denying it, but inhaled deeply to calm herself instead. "Then what is it about?" she asked, but he didn't answer. He just looked at her, apparently waiting for her to guess or something. "David, I'm not a mind reader. If it's not that then what is it?" she asked, but he just shook his head as if he didn't believe she needed to ask. "Boy, you're stupid!" he declared, unknowingly adding fuel to her anger. "Why am I stupid?! Because I'm finally with the love of my life?" she asked, but he laughed at her. "Is that it?!"
"Love of your life, are you kidding me?! Helga, you had an unhealthy obsession with that boy through your whole goddamn childhood!" David shouted, catching Helga off guard. "You were a lonely, sad and angry little girl who got a few kind words from a random boy and then followed him like a lost puppy for years! What did he do to deserve you? Do you really love him and not just the idea of someone loving you?"
"If…" Helga started, shocked at his words, but then shook her head. "If that had been all it was, I could just have stayed with you! You loved me!"
"I did! Yes, I did, but it wasn't enough. I wasn't your Prince Charming, but after meeting him personally… Well, frankly, Helga, I don't get your tastes." David said with a sour expression and crossed his arms. Oh, the level of maturity of that guy when he's angry… Helga thought and sighed. "You don't need to get it, David; you just need to accept it. If you can't, then I can't be your friend anymore." She said honestly, though it hurt to say it. David was looking away from her, but the shock on his face was evident. Helga waited for him to speak, but he was just biting his lower lip and curling his hand into a fist. "I'm done." She said and started walking towards the club.
Helga barely made it past David before he spoke again. "You're forgetting something, Helga." He said and the grave tone in his voice made her halt. She turned to look at him, an expression of confusion on her face. She didn't ask what he was talking about though, but just went to stand next to him to see his face again. "There's something you've forgotten completely… You could also just be playing dumb or be in denial, but I think it's the first option." He continued and once more, she tried to hold her anger inside. "What have I forgotten, David?" she asked patiently.
It took a few seconds before David turned his body around to look at Helga properly. "What about after the play?" he asked, which Helga just frowned at. "After the play…? What about after the play?" she questioned, but he just sighed. "You really are stupid…" He muttered more as a statement than an accusation. "What are you two going to do once we're done with the play?" he asked more directly, but the look on Helga's face told him that she still didn't understand. He decided to give her a moment though and waited patiently for her to realize.
"What we're…? Well, we'll still be together." Helga replied and crossed her arms. "How? How are you going to be together?" David asked and then her patience ran out. "Stop with the stupid interrogation! If you want me to answer a question then fucking ask one instead of talking in riddles!" she yelled, but he didn't say anything. "What do you want me to realize, huh? I'm obviously too stupid to catch on so why don't you enlighten me?! Why would anything change once the play is over? Why would Arnold and I not be able to be together? Why would… we…."
David could see that while Helga hadn't fully realized yet, her mind was slowly processing the information. Her face twitched a bit as the wheels in her head churned. David's words were echoing through her mind: "You're forgetting something, Helga. What about after the play? What are you two going to do once we're done with the play? How are you going to be together?" and then it hit her like an anvil falling from the sky.
David almost felt sorry for Helga when reality hit her and she even gasped. She looked at him, sorrow flooding in her eyes. "Helga… I'm sorry. I really am…" he said and approached her as she shook her head, still hoping that she would forget this information again. She felt David's arms wrap around her, arms that used to be like walls protecting her from her own pain, but now they just felt like glass; fragile and breakable. "Helga, I'll always be there because I can… Arnold won't be able to be there for you soon… I know it's not fair and I am sorry, but it's the reality…" He continued in what Helga knew was supposed to be in a soothing voice, but it felt cruel.
"Helga…?" Arnold's voice asked near the door and Helga felt her heart leap into her throat. David turned to look at Arnold who had just walked outside and was now staring at them in shock. Arnold had never considered that Helga would have feelings for David, but the way David was looking at him so guiltily… something was wrong and Arnold needed to find out, but before he could say anything, Helga pushed herself away from David. She didn't look at either of them for a moment, but then shot a look of pure hatred at David. "Fuck you." she hissed with disgust dripping from her voice and then turned to run.
David didn't feel hurt by Helga's words; he knew why she had said them. They had nothing to do with him, she was just furious at the messenger for delivering the message. "Helga!" Arnold called and took a couple of steps towards her, but then turned to look at David. "What did you say to her?!" he asked accusingly, but David just sighed. "I'm sorry, Arnold, but someone had to put some sense into that love-filled brain of hers. Honestly, I'd rather want that someone to be me rather than someone else." He answered. Arnold looked at him in disbelief, but then shook his head. "I don't care what that means." He declared before running after Helga.
David stayed back, watching the two blondes running down the street. He turned around, looking around to make sure no one had seen them. There wasn't an eye in sight; everyone were inside partying. He turned around, about to walk into the club, but then saw Maria in the mass. She was trying to get through to get to him and then caught his eyes. They looked at each other for a moment, but then David shut his eyes painfully tight and punched a fist into the wall next to him. Shit!
"Helga!" Arnold called in such a loud voice that it already felt raspy. Helga hadn't heard him the first time, but stopped then. Tears were running down her eyes quicker than water from a waterfall, but she didn't care about that. The pain she felt so abruptly had been like a stab to her heart and she knew that her anger with David was unfair, but she couldn't help it. Why had he felt the need to remind her? Would it have been so horrible to leave her in blissful oblivion for some more time? She didn't want to deal with the future in the present.
"Finally… caught up… with you…" Arnold said in-between pants. He attempted a smile, but Helga didn't turn around to face him. "Helga, what did David say?" he asked. She flinched at the reminder, almost as if the words had stung her. "Helga?" Arnold questioned and put his hand on her shoulder. "No, don't. I…" she tried, but he still went around her and held her shoulders firmly. "Helga, what's going on? Why… Why are you crying? And so much… What did David say to you?"
Helga opened her mouth as if about to answer, but it turned into a choke. She was crying silently, but heavily and it was too much. She couldn't deal with telling Arnold right now. She couldn't even get herself to look at him. She just wanted to go home and get away from everything. It had been seven years since she last felt like this. "I'm…" she started, trying feebly to figure out an excuse to get out of this. She wanted to tell him something reassuring, something that would make him let her go without following her again, but she couldn't think of anything.
"Helga…?" Arnold probed gently and upon hearing her name, Helga inhaled sharply as if coming back to life. "I… I'm sorry…" She finally said, her voice cracking. Arnold's eyes widened in uncertainty. "Hel - - " he started, but then she pushed him aside and started running. Arnold opened his mouth to call her again, but heard no sound coming out of his mouth. He was frozen on the spot, Helga's last words echoing in his mind. He wanted to wonder what she had been apologizing for, but it was like his brain was shutting down to protect him. Mechanically, like a robot running on 1% of its battery, he turned around to walk back to Circle Theatre.
Author's 2nd note: So… have you realized what the big issue here is? xD I am not going to "announce it" just yet in case not everyone has figured it out, but do write if you have guessed or is trying to guess though I won't answer if it's right or not :P
Song:
Shania Twain – "Getcha good"