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: Monday morning Arnold arrived earlier than usual at Hillwood Theatre and saw that Helga was already there as well. After the sudden realization that she would soon be gone, Arnold started kissing her desperately, only to be stopped by the other actors coming in.

Helga ran off when she saw David and Arnold told him that she wasn't angry with him for the reason he thought; she was angry because he had in essence called her a lunatic. Before David could apologize, Helga ran off with Arnold to ask him about the little hickey he had placed on her.

Not soon after, the scout, Tate Haddock, came into the room and the scouting, to Arnold's mixed pleasure, had begun.

Author's 1st note: I don't know what to say! 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 20: "Look on the bright side"

A total hardass sounds about right… Helga thought as she and Tate started to walk back inside the auditorium. Tate hadn't done much else than interrogate her since they had gotten alone; asked her about her past drama lessons, other plays she had been in and so on. Helga never thought she would have felt this exhausted before practice and just from talking. Tate's gaze was stern and formal and she felt so small in front of him; a feeling she wasn't used to nor cared for. She almost felt relieved to get back inside. The director noticed them immediately. "Helga, we'll be doing the love-scene now. Please get on your place." He said and she nodded at him. "Excuse me." She said to Tate Haddock, who nodded at her. She groaned on the inside, she really didn't like this feeling that she was sucking up to the man, but she kept the smile painted on as she ran towards the stage.

Arnold turned his head and smiled at Helga once she was close enough. "How did it go?" he asked as they walked towards their places at the back of the stage. "Hardass is right!" she hissed in a low voice, her eyes shooting a quick glance in Tate's direction to make sure he wasn't listening. "The way he's looking at me; it's like he's looking right into my soul and not in the good you-kind-of-way." She explained and crossed her arms, barely noticing the blush she had caused to appear on Arnold's cheeks. "Well… d-do you know if he liked you?"

"I don't have a fucking clue honestly. The man is a male Mona Lisa; his half-assed smile reveals nothing inside his head." Helga replied, causing Arnold to snicker for a bit before the director spoke up again. "You two ready?" he asked and the blondes nodded. Helga gave Arnold a quick kiss on his cheek and then walked a few steps away from him. Tate seemed to notice that and scribbled something down in his black notebook. Uh-oh. Is that a bad kind of scribbling? Helga wondered, but decided to ignore it for the time being.

The lights dimmed and turned into a soft orange glow as Adrasteia took a couple of determined, but also shaky steps. She was looking around, both making sure no one was watching her and also looking for the person who had send her a note earlier that evening. She could hear steps behind her and froze. A pair of warm hands touched her arms and she exhaled shakily. She didn't need to see nor hear his voice to know who it was. "Why did you ask me to come here?"

"I needed to see you again." Aiden answered behind Adrasteia, his hands ghosting delicately over her skin. With a shaky breath, she turned on her heel and put her fingers against his chest. "You must have a sick wish to die if you're so desperate to see me for even a moment." She told him as she pushed him backwards. He didn't fight her before he felt his back touch the wall behind him and he grabbed her hand before she could move it from his chest. They held each other's stare for a moment until Aiden leaned towards Adrasteia to kiss her.

Once Aiden again leaned towards Adrasteia, she stepped around herself in order to get out of his hold, but he just followed her and she ended up as the one pinned against the wall. "Please…" Aiden whispered and leaned as close to Adrasteia as physically possible without actually touching her. "Please let me have you…" Aiden whispered and moved closer to Adrasteia's lips. "Taking me is signing your own death penalty." Adrasteia told him as he put his hands on her cheeks. "Then let the Devil take me." He said before clashing his lips against hers. Adrasteia accepted and even moaned into the kiss and finally give herself to Aiden. Her hands went into his hair, her hips swaying against him as his hand caressed her bare thigh. He then turned them around with his hand still on her thigh and started to lower her down. Elegantly, almost inhumanly gracefully, they landed on the floor and the newly placed curtain fell.

The rest of the cast, along with the director and Tate Haddock, clapped before Helga pulled the curtain up to reveal herself and Arnold again. "Is practicing with the curtain really necessary?" she asked jokingly as the curtain fell over her head like a veil. "You look good in red though." Arnold said teasingly and Helga repeatedly clicked her tongue at him before giving him a short-termed kiss. "That was excellent as usual, you two." The director said and was about to say something more before Tate Haddock coughed. "Excuse me, if I may?" he asked and stood up from his seat, barely waiting for the director's reply. "Go ahead." The director said, Helga noticing he looked slightly annoyed with Tate at the moment. "Thank you." Tate said, either ignoring or not noticing the director's stern expression. "I do not wish to pry in your personal life, Miss Pataki, but I wish to know if the rumors that you and Mr. Shortman are dating is true?" he asked and Arnold looked at Helga in surprise. "Well, yes. As of Saturday evening." She replied simply, shrugging in Arnold's direction to tell him she didn't know why Tate wanted to know that either.

"I see…" Tate muttered thoughtfully and started chewing on his lip. Helga couldn't help but cross her arms as she went to sit on her knees. "Is that a problem?" she asked defensively, but Tate waved his hand in disagreement. "Oh, no. Not as such. I'm more worried about… Well, Miss Pataki, acting as a lover to the person you are involved with can either be positive or negative. It is obviously positive with the two of you, I could truly feel the passion between you. What I'm worried about is whether you'd be able to play just as well if the other actor wasn't Arnold?" he asked and Helga frowned once more. "How rude." She whispered without moving her lips too much and Arnold sighed lowly.

"I assure you that Helga isn't affected by whom she acts with, Mr. Haddock." The director insisted and Helga smiled at him. "I would simply like to confirm it, that's all. Are there any other actors here who knows Mr. Shortman's lines?" Tate asked and Helga felt color drain from her face. "Fuck." She whispered after she had turned her head away from Tate's gaze. David turned to look at Maria. "Shit." He hissed and she gulped nervously. "Well…" the director started and sighed sympathetically. "I believe David Whitlock knows Aiden's lines as well." he answered. Tate smiled and looked towards David. "Do you mind taking Arnold's place for one scene?" he asked, his gaze indicating that he wasn't really asking, but rather ordering. "Not at all, sir." David replied, but looked nervously in Helga's director who was giving him a hateful stare. Please, don't let your feelings ruin this for you, Helga. David thought as he walked up the small stairs.

"Do you have a problem with that, Miss Pataki?" Tate asked Helga almost challengingly. Helga put on her best smile as she stood up. "Not at all, sir." She repeated David's words and looked at Arnold. "Sorry." She quickly whispered, but he just nodded at her and walked past David, who whispered an apology as well. Arnold wasn't as worried as Helga and David thought though; sure, he didn't like the thought of someone else being that close to Helga, but Damon was her dancing partner through most of the play and he was more than a little close to her all the time. Granted, Damon was gay so it wasn't really the same thing, but Arnold felt much more confident in his relationship with Helga than he did before they announced their relationship. Besides, Helga hated David right now; he wasn't really a threat.

"Well then. Go to your places." The director ordered and went back to his seat. Helga practically jogged towards her spot, but not quick enough for David not to catch up with her. "Helga, I know you hate me right now, but this is where you should act professionally and ignore your problem with me. Please, don't let yourself ruin this for you." he whispered and she whipped her head around, giving him another burning hateful glance. "I'm fully capable." She hissed and continued towards Adrasteia's spot. David sighed as he went towards Aiden's spot. I hope you are.

Once the scene started, Maria put a hand on Arnold's shoulder. "Are you ok with this?" she asked in a whisper and he shrugged. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?" he answered and looked back at the stage. Please, do your best… He thought and crossed his fingers. Maria noticed and did the same thing. Pretty please, David. Don't push Helga or something like that. She thought and shut her eyes tight. "Are you ok with this?" Arnold whispered when he noticed how Maria had closed her eyes. "Um… yeah. Actually, I am. David and I, we… maybe we won't work…" She muttered with a sad expression, but then shook her head and forced a smile on her face. "I guess we won't know until the play is over."

"You must have a sick wish to die if you're so desperate to see me for even a moment." Helga said with a little more venom in her voice than usual as she pushed David backwards with her hand on his chest. Arnold's turned whipped back to the stage. He chewed on his bottom lip and looked nervously at Maria who gulped. David was quick to turn around and pin Helga against the wall. She seemed angry for a second, as if it had hurt, but when she opened her eyes, her expression had grown soft. Arnold's eyebrows twitched in surprise and he moved towards the edge of his seat as if those few centimeters would make it easier for him to see.

"Please…" David whispered and something told Arnold that he was truly begging Helga at that point. Not to kiss him as Aiden, but to forgive him as David. "Please let me have you." he added a little more forcefully and Helga's face twitched for a mere second, but only David could see that. "Taking me is signing your own death penalty." Helga replied with a husky voice, a voice that showed a passion for the man in front of her. He put his hands on her cheeks. "Then let the Devil take me." He said and looked at her apologetically for a mere second before he kissed her. Helga's hands went to his shoulders and her fingers dug painfully hard into his flesh. She softened her hold before she let her hand travel to his head as his hand went to her thigh and caressed it gently, almost ghostly. He turned them around and started lowering them down and they landed on the floor as the red curtain fell.

Arnold sighed in relief and started clapping with the others. "That was painful to watch." Maria whispered and Arnold nodded in agreement. "It seems like I owe you an apology, Miss Pataki." Tate Haddock said as Helga and David appeared from behind the curtain. "Your acting in this scene is still marvelous even with another actor." He said and slowly stopped clapping to look in his notebook. "Thank you, Mr. Haddock." Helga said and scowled at David's hand, which he had offered to help her stand up. She stood up on her own account though and dusted her pants off. David sighed. "Helga, I - - "

"Although…" Tate interrupted and caught everyone's attention again. "The frustration Adrasteia is feeling with her current situation is more obvious with Mr. Whitlock than with Mr. Shortman. With Mr. Shortman though, the passion and the need is practically oozing out the both of you, so if I were to personally cast you, I wouldn't switch the roles around at all." He said with a smile and scribbled some more down. "There's a simple explanation to that." Helga said with a smile. "Compared to Arnold, David is much more capable of bringing out the anger in me." She explained, shot David a knowing glance and then went down the stage. David nodded, chewing on his lips in guilt before he followed her.

"Helga…" Arnold chastised in a whisper when she approached him, in the back of his mind questioning if she had forgotten how easily he could make her angry as well. She simply kissed his cheek again though and turned to await the director's instructions. He coughed awkwardly into his hand, the tension between his actors getting to him. "That was very good, you two. Now, uh…" he said and frowned for a moment. Helga's eyes widened in surprise and she turned to look at the other who looked just as baffled. The director never knew not what to say. "Oh, right." The director then said and coughed again. "Helga, the designers have finished creating your dress for the finale scenes. Please go backstage and try it on so we can rehearse them. That counts for you too, Arnold and David. The rest of you will stay here with Ludmilla and refine the dance routines."

They all nodded in agreement and went towards their places, Helga, Arnold and David walking backstage. "Helga, please let me explain." David said as he stepped next to her. "Careful." She said with a scowl and stepped away from him. "Don't get too close to me. Maybe you'll catch my insanity." She hissed as she kept walking. David looked back at Arnold who sighed. "Helga, please listen to him." He begged. She halted and turned to gawk at him in shock. "How dare you take his side!" she said in anger and with a bit of hurt in her voice. "I-I'm not taking sides, Helga! E-Even if I was, of course I'd be taking yours!" Arnold insisted. "Then start acting like it." Helga begged and sighed. "Look, I don't have time for you." she said to David. "I'm on edge enough as it is. Want me to forgive you? Then leave me alone today."

With those words, Helga continued forward and away from the boys, who sighed once more before following her. "If I leave you alone today, will you promise to let me talk to you afterwards?" David asked and almost crashed into Helga as she stopped again and looked at him over her shoulder. "I don't believe I owe you anything after Saturday night, but sure." She replied and then continued walking. David shot a quick glance in Arnold's direction who simply shrugged before they walked inside.

Lawrence was quick to notice Helga before he skipped happily towards her. "Hello, my darling! How are we doing today?" he asked and noticed the frown on her face. Her eyes traveled towards David who was talking to another designer about his own costume. After Lawrence had noticed her gaze and she had turned to look at him again, he made an artificial sound that indicated he was cold. "Has a snow storm developed in the world known as Helga Pataki?" he asked as a grin spread on his face. She stuck her tongue at him, which he just laughed at. "Don't you worry; your new costume is so hot that it'll melt all your cares away!" he insisted before taking her hand and leading her behind one of the screens.

As his own designer started to explain the details in his outfit, Arnold glanced quickly in Helga's direction. He could hear Lawrence's excited banter as he also explained every piece in Helga's newest costume. "Are you listening to me, young man?" the slowly graying woman in front of Arnold asked and snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. "Y-Yes, ma'am!" he lied, but the obvious skepticism on her face told him that she didn't believe him. "Good. Then please get dressed." She told him, shoved the fabric into his hands and pointed at a free screen. He automatically bowed his head gracefully before disappearing behind the screen and questioned why on earth he had just done that.

"You really don't need a lot of fabric for the girls' costumes, huh?" the boys heard Helga ask behind her own screen. Arnold blushed at the million different images that roamed through his mind and hoped he could in fact fit his own costume after he would see Helga in hers. "And yet it's the girls' costumes that cost the most." David's designer pointed out as Lawrence stepped away from Helga's screen in order to give her some privacy. "Life's fucked up." David announced before politely shooing his own designer away. The three designers started chatting casually while the actors continued to undress and re-dress.

David was the first to come out from his screen. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this." he muttered as he looked at his leather-clad legs in the mirror. "Too bad. It's what the writer told us to create for our favorite villain." One of the designers insisted and flipped the end of the sleeves on David's leather jacket. "I feel stupid." David muttered, earning a smack on the head from Lawrence. "You look fabulous!" he insisted as the younger boy rubbed his sore head. "I'm not supposed to look fabulous; I'm supposed to look intimidating."

"David." Helga started from behind her screen. "No matter what you wear, you are never going to look - - " she continued before her head appeared next to the screen, her bare shoulders indicating that she was mostly naked by now. She looked at David's outfit: black leather pants, black leather jacket and black, finger-less gloves on his hands, and without a word, she disappeared behind the screen. The designers looked questioningly at David who simply shrugged. Some muffled snickering could be heard and David rolled his eyes before crossing his arms. Before he could react, Helga had reappeared. "Say Grease." She ordered before pulling out her phone and taking his picture.

"Helga!" David scolded and was almost about to cover himself, but figured it was too late since Helga was laughing loudly as she was looking at her phone. "I swear to God, you look like John Travolta!" she announced before disappearing behind the screen again. "John Travolta never had this much swag!" David insisted, his pride breaking more and more each time Helga laughed. Due to their banter, Arnold couldn't help but appear from his screen; he was done changing anyway. When he saw David, his hand shot right up to his mouth. "Oh, whoa." He managed to squeak out before snickering once and then coughed under the designers' hard stares. "The make-up and his hair-do will make the look complete." Lawrence insisted and the other designers nodded.

Helga could be heard laughing again. "Yeah, some make-up will make him look a lot less like someone who should be perform as a go-go dancer in a gay bar." She said before appearing beside her screen, her arm leaning casually up against it and with her legs crossed. Arnold felt as if he had just swallowed his tongue. "Whoa." David simply stated, his own eyes a little more wide than usual, but Arnold was the one who might have to pick his jaw up from the floor later. Her arms and shoulders were mostly bare except for the black fishnet covering them all the way down to her middle finger. Her breasts were covered in black velvet fabric while a black leather corset covered her stomach all the way down to the black and red plaid skirt, which was held up by the black spiky belt hanging lazily down her hip. On her feet were a pair of black go-go boots, which made the tall girl even taller than she needed to be.

"Looks like the outfit has the wished effect." Helga stated as she walked towards Arnold and leaned down a bit until she was at his eye-level. He was staring straight into her half-lidded eyes, not daring to blink. He felt her finger touch his chin and forcing his mouth to close before she readjusted the collar on his neck. "You look cute." She said before she started to circle him, eyeing the outfit. He was wearing a pair of black shoes, brown pants, a white dress-shirt and a green vest. Arnold looked at her as she observed him, wondering why he felt like a vulture was watching him. "You know…" she said and stopped in front of him. "Your outfit reminds me of something or… someone."

Arnold looked down at himself and then turned to look at himself in the mirror. Helga snapped loudly. "A-ha! Dimitri!" she announced in realization and Arnold quirked an eyebrow at her. "You know, Dimitri from Anastasia." She explained and David snapped as well. "The animated 20th Century Fox movie?" he asked and she nodded. "Oh." Arnold muttered and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't remember that movie and somehow he couldn't help but frown at the fact that David obviously knew it. The designers were frowning as well. "He does not look like Dimitri." One of them insisted stubbornly, huffed and then walked away. "He looks dashing. You did a splendid job." Helga said and started pushing at Arnold's back. "Let's get out before they rip your clothes off you. That's my job."

Arnold blushed, but also snickered as they all walked out and re-entered the stage. They all quickly scooted around the dancers on the stage and went to sit next to the director and Tate Haddock. Tate gave a curt nod in Helga's direction, obviously disinterested in what was going on at the stage at the moment. Helga turned to look at Arnold and made a small choking sound. "You ok?" he asked with a smile and started to rub her shoulder. "Yeah… I'm just… Mr. Haddock's just…" she muttered and made the same choked sound again. Arnold made a low snicker as he continued to rub her softly. "It'll be ok. He's just being professional." He insisted and Helga frowned. "Do professionals have to look like they're constipated?"

Arnold quickly hushed her, but Tate didn't seem like he was listening to them at all; the director was sitting between them after all, who was actually the one to shoot them a warning glare. "Mr. Hirsch, would it be completely unreasonable to request certain scenes from the manuscript?" Tate Haddock asked as he skimmed the manuscript, which the director gracefully enough had offered him. "Well… the premiere is within two weeks so there are certain scenes that are more important to rehearse right now." The director replied politely, but Helga could see he was starting to feel angry. Tate nodded absentmindedly and Helga wondered if he was even listening as he just kept skimming through the pages, obviously looking for her name on all the pages. She turned to look at Arnold. "I have a bad feeling…"

Helga's bad feeling had been more than justified. Tate Haddock took complete control over the play and which scenes to rehearse and which not to. He even changed some of the scenes in order to have more focus on Helga. He chose to have her show him scenes she already knew by heart, when she should have been rehearsing those she either had problems with or were a little iffy about. Helga was good in all her scenes, but there were scenes she preferred over others and those she weren't comfortable with were naturally the ones she should have practiced. To make matters worse, the director seemed ready to throw a hissy fit towards the end of the day.

"Sir, I am so sorry!" Helga whispered once the director had ordered that people took a two-minute break. She was following him outside, noticing that he was fumbling with something in his pocket. He didn't reply as he simply stepped outside and pulled out something that looked like a cigarette package from his pocket. Within speed of light, he had turned on a cigarette and was sucking violently on it. Helga would usually have been tempted to make a dirty comment, but jokes were the last thing on her mind right then. She waited patiently as the smoke seemed to calm him down. "That man is driving me crazy!" he announced and took another puff. Helga did her best to ignore the smoke around despite her lungs protesting against it. This is why I don't smoke. It stinks! She thought before stepping in front of him. "I'm sorry." She repeated. "Mr. Haddock is interfering way too much and I'd understand if you - - "

"No, no, no, Helga." The director interrupted and threw his cigarette on the ground. He stepped on it and twisted his ankle around until the black smoke emitting from the cigarette faded. "I am not at all angry with you. Tate Haddock has always been a… oh, let's call it passionate man about his work. He doesn't mean to mess with our pace, but he really has started to get on my nerves. Not a lot of people can do that." he said and shot Helga a look that made her cringe. She hid it with a smile though. "I guess Tate and I have that in common?" she asked and blinked sweetly. The director continued to look at her until he lifted his hand, patted her head and then started to walk towards the door. Helga blinked in shock. Was that his weird attempt at showing affection? She wondered before following him.

Inside the auditorium, the other main actors were quick to notice Helga's presence. "Helga!" Maria called and the boys turned around. They all ran towards her and the director. "Mr. Haddock wants you to practice the rape scene." Arnold told her with a sour frown on his face, which she quickly took on. "What?! But we've already done that five times today, and we didn't even need to practice it!" Helga said and heard the director growl in frustration next to her. "Is he dissatisfied with something?" he asked, but they all shook their heads. "No, but I'm starting to think he's a sadistic bastard who's getting off on it." David hissed and crossed his arms. Helga was quick to smack him at the back of his head. "Ew!" she stated more girlishly than she usually would have and looked over Arnold's shoulder at Tate Haddock who was currently talking with Camille. Helga rolled her eyes. "Looks like I've got some competition."

They all turned to look in Tate and Camille's direction. "No, you don't." they answered in unison and Helga smiled. The smile soon faded as she saw the director start to massage his temples in frustration. It took her five seconds to make a decision and as soon as she had, she pushed past David and walked towards Tate Haddock. "Mr. Haddock." She said in a firm voice and he turned to look at her. Camille shot her an annoyed look before walking away. "Oh, there you are, Miss Pataki. Listen, I was hoping to see the - - "

"No." Helga interjected and Tate blinked in surprise. "No?" he questioned. Everyone who had heard Helga were gawking at her. Oh, no. Arnold thought and looked nervously in David's direction who looked back at him. "No, Mr. Haddock, we won't do the rape scene again." she explained and he arched his back in a dignified way, his face going stern. "And why not?" he asked simply, a smile hidden in the corner of his mouth. Helga took a deep breath. "Mr. Haddock, we have less than fourteen days to make sure that everything in the play is going to be perfect. Unfortunately, the scenes you keep requesting are scenes that are already done to perfection. I understand your need to see me in my right element, but there are other actors in this play than me and frankly, they need more practice than I do."

Arnold smiled as he rolled his eyes, noticing that David was shaking his head. Maria sighed behind them as she crossed her arms. "We need more practice, huh?" she questioned in a low voice and snickered. Tate Haddock was looking at Helga with his signature strict expression, but Helga didn't falter. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Hirsch is in charge of this play again. Excuse me." She said, bowed her head and turned around, shooting the director a pleading look. "I extend the break to three more minutes." He announced and showed Helga a smile before she walked past him, tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes. Arnold quickly followed her and without seeing him, she knew he was there. She opened the door, held it for him and then they turned to sit against the wall next to it.

They didn't say anything, words weren't needed at first. Arnold knew in which direction Helga's thoughts were going, but he didn't know what to tell her so he just waited. After a few seconds, she looked at him. "I am never going to Broadway." She stated as she rubbed her palms against her eyes to wipe the tears away before they could appear. "You don't know that." Arnold insisted as he shook his head. "Oh, but I do." She countered with a sigh and leaned her cheek against his shoulder. "No one speaks to Tate Haddock that way without losing their head…" She mumbled against his neck, causing a shiver to go through him. "Good news is that means I'll have more free time once Roadside Girl is over… Bad news is that I'll be in Los Angeles."

Arnold sighed. "Which is way further away from Hillwood than New York is…" He added and put his chin on Helga's head. He could feel her nod. "Helga, it'll… it'll be ok." He vowed and caressed her cheek. "Funny." She said and moved away from under him to look at him. "You seemed less confident this morning." She stated and he felt air leave his lungs for a moment at the reminder. The stinging pain returned, but he shoved it away. "I'm just…" he muttered and coughed to get the croak out of his voice. "I'm just trying to…"

"Look on the bright side?" Helga asked with a very small smile, which Arnold returned as he nodded. None of them said anything, but Arnold could feel that some words were building up inside Helga. She took his hand and moved to rest her forehead against his. "Arnold… I'm scared… too." She whispered almost inaudibly, but there was so much power behind those few words. Arnold shut his eyes tight. Damn… He had really hoped that she was more confident in their situation than he was. He put his hands on her cheeks, her hands automatically going up to hold his hands as well. They looked at each other for a moment before going in for a tender kiss. A kiss that lasted for a long, bittersweet, but also agonizing moment.

The sound of the director's voice from inside the auditorium was what made them pull apart. Arnold offered Helga his hand and they helped the other stand up. They gave each other one last glance before they walked back inside. It felt as if all eyes were upon them as they walked towards the stage. "Miss Pataki." Tate said as they were about to walk past him. The blondes halted, Helga turning her head to look at him. "I will be taking my leave now." He said as he closed the buttons on his coat. Helga took a deep breath and nodded. She felt Arnold squeeze her hand, but it was a minor consolation. She had really hoped, a big part of her at least, that she would be able to say that she had been a Broadway actress.

Tate Haddock nodded gracefully before he started to walk. Helga turned to look at Arnold and shrugged. "Well, that's that." She whispered and he opened his mouth to speak, but another voice cut through. "Miss Pataki." Tate said and turned around. Helga looked at him over her shoulder. "We will be looking forward to seeing you on Broadway once Roadside Girl is finished playing." He said with a small smile, a smile Helga barely noticed. She looked at Arnold, silently questioning if she had heard him wrong, but he looked just as dumbfounded. "But… I thought - - "

"You stood up when I was treating your fellow actors and your director unfairly. That shows commitment and loyalty, something we always seek in our actors. Congratulations." Tate said, gave a last nod and turned to continue walking. "Y… Yes, sir." Helga replied before he smiled at her again and then left the room. It took Helga a couple of seconds before a grin spread on her face. She looked at Arnold who started grinning as well. "I'm going on Broadway…" she whispered disbelievingly. "You're going on Broadway." Arnold confirmed and she started bouncing. "I'm going on Broadway!" she squealed and wrapped her arms around Arnold who started jumping with her. The sound of the others clapping as they approached them filled their ears.

"Congratulations, Helga!" Maria shrieked before Helga wrapped her arms around her and Maria was already bouncing when she did. "Way to go, Helga." David said with a smile and she stopped bouncing. She looked at him for a moment before she wrapped her arms around him too, surprising him. "Thank you." she whispered and he smiled as he hugged her back. "So… I'm forgiven?" he asked hopefully and heard her hum thoughtfully. "Forgiven, but not forgotten." She stated before leaning back to look at him. "I'll punish you for the rest of our lives." She said, but he just smiled. 'For the rest of our lives' meant that they would know each other for the rest of their lives, after all.

Author's 2nd note: Still don't know what to say! I am so not talkative right now it seems xD Well, except: as usual Helga's outfit has a reference in the form of a picture. Contact me on my YouTube or deviantArt account by same name and ask for a link so you can see it if you want to :3