Thanks for the reviews everyone I appreciate them. I didn't want to take the typical approach between Rhonda and Helga where they always seemed to be at odds. I wanted to show a more mature Rhonda. People can grow up to be the worst or the best, right? :D
It was around 3 in the morning when Helga was woken up with a kiss on the forehead by her mother who expressed for her not to look at her right now since she came in to tell her in private that Helga will have a special gift coming her way very soon so she would need to be patient. Helga blinked at the possible surprise not understanding as she turned her head to her retreating form.
In the morning her mother wasn't there since she attached a note on the inside of her closet door that she is running a special errand for her and not to say a word to her father. Helga only hoped that she wasn't drinking already this early in the morning and that she remained safe as she headed downstairs to leave. Going out the door she found Arnold waiting for her by his truck.
"Oh good a place I can sleep besides on a bus. I need some shut eye." This was really Helga's way of telling him that she really didn't want to talk about yesterday as she climbed into his truck. Putting the seat belt on she leaned back crossing her arms as she closed her eyes by time he got in.
"Really that tired or you just avoiding talking?"
"Maybe one. Maybe both. With me it is best not to push it, Football Head." She was tiredly firm there.
"Well I guess I won't invite you to a party I'm having at the boarding house then if you are too tired to listen to me I guess."
Helga thought his coy act sounded cute coming from him. "I'd rather pose nude in front of my mirror." She mocked.
Practically gulping at those thoughts, Arnold decided to mock back. "You can't because I already posed nude in front of your mirror when you weren't around. I must say I look better in it."
Helga started laughing almost melting down to the floorboard. "Ohhhhh that was cheeky."
"Does your mirror pinch your cheeks too when you turn your back to it because if it does we really need to give it a good talking to."
"No, because it likes to rub my breasts instead." She cutely countered back with a wink. "I kinda like it."
"Ha ha ha ha. If I was Sid we would of gotten into an accident by now with you talking about your breasts." Arnold told her.
She thought he looked so cute laughing and being humorous that she thought she continue on. "What? You don't like the thought of my breasts at all?" That provoked a response with the truck doing a jerky motion. "Ok we will stop that talk since you are secretly hormonal too."
Arnold was trying to maintain a very platonic friendship with her without thinking of her body parts, but each time he accidently brushed against Helga he felt this electrical current shoot through him making him want more. That day when she came to him when Wolfgang attacked her and he held her, Arnold really fought hard against him thinking how perfectly she fit against him. Helga has expressed she didn't want a relationship with anyone and wanted to respect her and still in the beginning of the school year he already broke up with Emma for what she said about her.
Arnold almost growled out loud in thought. He was instantly attracted to Helga, but when she said she didn't want a relationship with anyone due to the possibility of leaving, he respected her wishes. He loved that he can trust her. He knew he could trust her. Felt it deep down. The times she had visited the boarding house, his grandparents loved her with grandma calling her Eleanor. He thought it was cute when Helga was taking too long when she went downstairs that he was concerned so he went and found her having tea with his grandma as they spoke of the war together. None of his other friends did that. Helga beamed afterwards telling him that he was lucky to have them.
"Oh yeah school." Helga groaned out. "I can't hardly wait to walk those hallowed halls."
Parking in the student lot, Arnold didn't get a chance to open the door for her when she slipped out and was already walking away making him curious as he tried to rush up to her.
"Hey you want to go out with me?"
Helga heard the guy's voice suddenly next to her. "No thanks."
The male was surprised. "Really? I heard you go out with anything with a pulse."
Stopping in her tracks, Helga scowled at him. "Where did you hear that and what else have you heard?"
"Emma. She also said if I pay for the date you'll go all the way with me. So wanna go out with me? He winked at her before trying to touch her.
Arnold watched how angry Helga looked as the guy spoke to her before she reared her fist back decking him right in the face.
"I am not into promiscuity you fucking cretin! Never have been and never will be!" Helga yelled out before stalking away.
Arnold rushed over to her side. "Helga what did he say?"
Adjusting her bag on her shoulder she hissed out, "Your Emma is spreading rumors about me. Perhaps it is best for me to take the bus for now on. Thanks for the ride in, Arnold."
Heading into the hallways he spotted Emma at her locker already talking about Helga making him do a beeline in her direction. "Emma stop spreading those lies around this instant."
Emma could only smile in a snarky way. "I won't when it is all the truth. Even Wolfgang has had her. Told me himself."
Arnold shook his head at her. "You are pathetic. That is all you are. To want to spread lies all over to make yourself feel better." He let out a breathy laugh knowing now they had a full audience. "Wolfgang lies because that is what he is good at. Helga is a very upstanding person unlike you; Pathetic. I'm embarrassed that I was even with you for that short time. I'm proud of my friend, Helga. Just like I'm proud of my other friends because at least they wouldn't spread around lies. Helga is a fantastic person and you... You are purely pathetic."
Emma looked at him with doe eyes. "Oh Arnold I was just jealous and even though I got it from a reliable source, I was just doing what was best for us."
"Who is your source?"
Emma turned around in shock to hear Helga behind her before puffing up. "Who cares? I just did and that is important."
Stepping closer, Helga gave her a very deadly look in the eyes. "Tell me your source or you'll never see the light of day again." She snarled as her fists curled up as she backed her into her locker.
"Helga..." Arnold gave her a light warning tone in his voice not wishing for her to raise her fists to Emma.
Helga's gaze held onto Emma's very hard watching how she was starting to break down under her stare. "I guess your life isn't truly important." She hissed out.
"Fine! I made it up! Kay! About everything else but Wolfgang." Emma didn't wish to relent there but screamed when a fist flew into her locker denting it some.
"Let me get something straight about Wolfgang. That piece of shit attacked me out of no where and tried to rape me. He forced a kiss on me. I bit him and kicked him in the groin. End of story." Helga came even closer making Emma whimper. "If I ever hear you spread lies about me or even about anyone else I will make sure karma bites you incredibly hard in the ass. Got it?" She nodded. "Good."
As quietly as she entered the picture, Helga left just as quietly only after she was truly gone everyone resumed their natural lives again as Arnold slowly stared at Helga's retreating form. When they were sitting in Chemistry class together she was looking out the window with her hand on the tabletop. Arnold wondered what was going through her mind right now deciding not to ask right then so instead he slid his hand over to place over hers to give it a light squeeze. Helga smiled a bit at the comforting feeling as she continued to daydream.
"Guess you have no one to make out with at lunch now." She pointed out.
"Untrue. I use to make out with my pudding or the wall just to keep in good practice." He joked lightly.
"Really?" Turning her head to look at him a little brightness returned to her eyes. "I wondered why that part of the wall rejected my advances. It was waiting for you to return."
"I guess when you got it you got it." He boasted a bit too lamely giving her a larger smile. "I wish we met before. I mean it feels like I've known you for a very long time."
Helga wasn't gonna mention it so soon, but figured she would. "Think Urban Tots. We did meet before. Brainy remembered me."
Opening his mouth to speak, Arnold shut it when the teacher entered the room making his brain think back instead of in the now. Most of the kids from pre-school he met from Urban Tots he was still friends with. Suddenly a bolt of lightening felt like it struck him. A little girl who was wet from the rain with mud on her.
"I like your bow because it's pink like your pants." Arnold muttered out soft enough for her to hear.
"Man I was an ugly child." Helga whispered.
Looking at her, Arnold shook his head. "No you weren't."
Her eyes closed half way as her heart went and seemed to plummet at how he said that. Helga didn't know how to respond to that so she just remained quiet to concentrate on class.
At lunch everyone gathered outside on the bleachers instead of having their lunch inside. Helga remained quiet just listening to her friends talking about Arnold's upcoming party with Rhonda throwing suggestions on what he can do at his party and Arnold politely declining them. Sid asking Helga if she would like to accompany him as his date to the party with her shaking her head before groaning at her cell.
"Yes?" She spoke into her phone. "I'm still in school dad." Listening to him talk was giving Helga a headache. "I get out at 3 and I have to take the bus there." Rolls her eyes. "Yeah don't worry I'll be there to pick it up to bring it to her. I'll see you then." Hangs up her phone.
"Must be great to have a father that owns an electronics store. I bet you get anything for free or at least anything at a huge discount." Stinky said cheerfully.
Picking at her fingers, Helga almost got up to leave as her usual go to whenever people start saying how great it is to have a family owning a store like her dad's, but she tried to keep herself rooted there. "Oh yeah... It. Is. Great." She droned out. Seeing a tiny dainty hand drop on hers, Helga knew it was Phoebe making her lean her head against hers in silent appreciation.
Arnold wondered how much Phoebe knew of Helga's home life since when he spoke to her she did hint at something, but feeling it would violate Helga's trust he just couldn't.
After school Helga rushed to the bus stop instead of accepting a ride with Arnold. Quite honestly she could of accepted the ride but the embarrassment of him meeting her father was high and she respected Arnold far too much to subject him to that brand of torture. Seeing the street she needed to get off at she got off the bus and went inside to meet up with the one person she didn't want to again: Wolfgang.
"Well hello beautiful lady. Change your mind about me?" He tried to suavely say with his eyebrows hitched up.
Helga noticed he was wearing an employee's shirt on him which immediately sickened her twice as much. "Hell no." With a look of disgust she went back to her father's office where he surely would be.
"Hey you aren't allowed back there."
"I'm the store owners daughter shit brick." Helga informed him coldly as she pushed through the doors that would lead her to his office. Knocking on Bob's office she was told to enter to see her dad tossing her over a phone that was supposed to be for her mom. "You hired Wolfgang? Why?"
"I like him. In fact next week he's coming over to dinner and I want you there." Bob told her nonchalantly.
"What?!" Helga exploded. "That asshole tried to rape me and you want to invite him over? What the hell, Bob?"
Raising up from his seat, Bob immediately came up to her. "HEY, HEY, HEY! Watch your mouth little lady. While you are living under my roof you are to follow my rules and while you do you must help me entertain my future son in law."
Helga stepped back. "Exactly who are you planning on marrying him off to?"
"You of course." Reaching over to grab her arm hard, Bob brought her close to her. "And I expect you to listen because that kid is going somewhere's."
"Yeah... To jail." Helga expected a slap. A punch. She didn't care right now just as long as she voiced her opinion. "You are my father. Not my pimp. I will not be with an animal such as that. I'd rather die first."
Bob slapped her making her stumble to the ground. "You are nothing like Olga. Nothing. At least she listens. She wasn't a mistake from the day she was born. With you I intend to correct you and I will start with marrying you off to whomever I wish to."
Grabbing the phone she dropped on the ground, Helga stared straight at him. "What happened to you to make you like this? I remember for a very brief time you tried to make an effort in trying to bond with me. What happened?"
Bob sneered at her. "You aren't your sister. She's worth the trouble."
Helga stepped away from him grabbing the door handle. "I feel sorry for you." She hissed before opening the door to leave storming past Wolfgang and walking outside to begin her treck home.
Opening the door, she was greeted by her mother who was surprisingly sober for now seeing that there were bottles at the ready. Going up to her she gave her the new phone.
"Thank you dear." Taking the phone out of the box she noticed it was already charged and everything so Miriam just placed it aside. "I got some chicken before coming home with all the fixings. Lets pretend I made this from scratch."
Helga nodded her head as she took a pan out and stuff to put the chicken on and mash potatoes in before going outside to conveniently discard the evidence. It wasn't surprising when they did this once in a while so as she was going through the motions, Helga was vaguely aware Miriam was studying her.
"What is it?" Miriam hated seeing her daughter like this.
"When I went to pick up your phone dad hired that guy Wolfgang. The guy who tried to..." Helga trailed off trying to fight off her anger. "He says he's coming over next week for dinner. Mom he wants me to marry this guy. Why does he hate me so much?" Dropping to the ground, Helga started to cry. "Why is he like this?"
Getting on her knees in front of her, Miriam reached out to touch her knee. "I don't know why he's like this. It is hard to understand and I tried to ask, but he gets so angry. I do think it is evil he is forcing you together with this person."
"Mom, I can't take this anymore. I can't. I'm dying here. How can you stand it here?"
Miriam didn't want to tell her the truth until it was time and as it was the secret she was holding away was hopefully something that will free her daughter of the pain. Helga has friends here. "Sweetheart why don't you go to one of your friends places for the night. I'll just tell your father I wanted a romantic evening alone with him. I hope I can talk him out of that, but in the meantime I want you to do that."
"You sure mom? I'm always afraid of what he does to you." Helga wasn't blind to what he did.
Miriam didn't have much time left and she masked it well as she kissed her daughter's cheek. "I'm very sure. I love you dear and you are very important."
Helga hesitated there as she slowly stood up to bring her mother in for a hug. "Love you." Separating, Helga slowly made her way upstairs to her room grabbing her pack and texting the one person who had plenty of room at their place.
Hey, is it ok if I spend the night there? - H
Sure we have plenty of room here. I'll come pick you up. - A
Helga smiled as she grabbed some clothes for tomorrow and to sleep in before grabbing her toiletries. Contemplating her journal she heard the doorbell ring followed by her mother calling for her. "Coming!"
"So your name is Arnold?" Miriam asked pleasantly looking over the handsome young man in front of her with the friendly face. "She calls you Mr Brightside. I'm glad my daughter has a friend like you in her life."
"Thank you, Mrs Pataki. Your daughter is a great friend." Arnold told her honestly before catching sight of Helga coming downstairs. He could see that she had cried not too long ago. "Your daughter will be safe with my family."
"Please call me, Miriam, and I have no doubt about it. I heard great things about them from some people at the grocery store. You all have a good reputation."
"Not to mention that his grandparents rock." Helga added in as she reached her side giving her mom a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Night mom."
"Night sweetheart." Miriam said back and watched her daughter walk off with Arnold. She observed how he was such a gentleman to her by taking her pack, helping her in the car by opening the door and closing it. Miriam could tell Arnold was genuine and that is what her daughter needed in her life. Someone who honestly cared for her.
Bob is a sleaze.