Reviews are good and give me a bunch of yay's. I'm a bit sappy today. Now to give Arnold some more reality with his growing situation.
Arnold knew that his costume was possibly not the most thought provoking thing around and obviously predictable, but looking over at his cousin in the passenger seat with just a vampire cape on over his regular clothes was him not even really trying.
"So what's Helga coming as?" Arnie wondered suddenly.
"Uh I don't know she didn't tell me when I asked her. We'll find out later." Arnold tried to ignore his cousin's ever growing interest in Helga, but it was so hard when he would often catch Arnie staring at her closed door.
"Well why didn't she come ride with us?"
Arnold tried to remain patient with his countless questions surrounding her from him. "She thought it would be easier to get ready at Phoebe's and also Gerald will drive them since he has the passenger room."
Arnie fell quiet as the mansion soon came into view. At least whatever opinion he had of Rhonda's place will be quiet hopefully for the rest of the evening. He owed Rhonda big time for letting him bring him along. Arnold almost grunted in what it might be.
After letting the valet take the truck Arnold and Arnie walked up to the entrance where they were announced and Rhonda only flocked to Arnold to give him an air kiss.
"Oh Arnold! Glad you can make it." Rhonda was all bells and whistles in her costume that screamed for attention only because there was barely that much on her body. "An explorer right darling?" She asked of Arnold in which he nodded. "It suits you." She spoke sweetly before looking at Arnie. "You look... Nice."
"And you are?" Arnold was afraid to ask and immediately hated himself doing it.
Puffing up she winked. "It is for a special someone, darling." Fake laugh. "Now go and mingle and have fun."
"Has Gerald, Phoebe and Helga arrived?"
"Nope."
Soon Rhonda's attention was to the other guests that came in behind him making Arnold walk down spotting some of his friends. Stinky and Lila as Raggedy Ann and Andy. Sid as a punker zombie. Eugene as a Mummy? Honestly, Arnold had no idea if that was a costume or real. Sheena as Little Bo Peep. Nadine was a bit different as Alice in Wonderland. His other friends he couldn't locate though. Arnie was already making people run away from him on his end of the room. He wasn't a bad guy.
Getting a drink that was offered by a passing waiter, Arnold turned just in time to see Gerald and Phoebe walk in, her as a little samurai and Gerald looking like the devil. Arnold guessed he decided against the football jersey or the baseball uniform. Helga when she entered was that something that lit up the room just like the first time he met her. She had a white dress on that went to the floor with a bit of a slit up one side of her that didn't reach too far. Her neckline was modest and her hair was done in structured waves. She was either an angel or a fairy with the beautiful wings she was at least sporting.
Helga was perfection and it could be seen by every male in the room that they thought the same thing as she exchanged a few words with Rhonda before heading his way. Arnold loved the smile she plastered on her face as she neared him.
"Football Head! You actually look dashing like this." Helga pointed out in truth as she reached up to his hat. "I really could see you exploring the jungle or what not."
"Angel?" She nodded. "Helga you look gorgeous."
Helga's cheeks burned at the compliment. "Oh ah thanks." Clearing her throat, she decided to say something else as a distraction. "Rhonda said that Curly is here as the Phantom of the Opera. I told her that I hope he doesn't plan on taking down the chandelier and of course I think I scared her there so I had to tell her he might just serenade you instead. I believe I excited her there."
Glancing up at the rather large chandelier, Arnold hoped not either. "Great! Now I'll be staring at that too. Thanks, Swan."
"My pleasure." She laughed. "Oh and I'm entering a writing contest. I won't discuss the prizes because I don't want to jinx anything, but hey I can hope." Feeling herself wrapped up in his arms, Helga didn't hear a word he was saying as the currents were rushing through her body all over again in such a frenzy that she almost reached the oddest release in front of so many. "Oh ok I get it you are happy I'm doing this." She laughed weakly trying to stem off the feeling.
Arnold was beginning to have a growing concern the more he held her and tried to shift himself away. "Fine you stubborn, Swan, don't tell me." Pulls her away from him slightly. "I just thought I was your favorite Football Head."
Helga laughed at the tone in his voice. "Well you are and always will be. Be glad I never bullied you fully."
"Did you bully? I don't really believe that?
Patting the side of his cheek gently, Helga smirked. "You really don't remember pre-school, but in all fairness I wasn't there that long."
Suddenly there was a vision of Helga upset with her lips trembling. Harold stole her food. He came over to give her his and after that Harold along with everyone else except for him and Gerald and Phoebe were laughing at Helga. "Ol' Betsey and the Five Avengers. Harold started it."
"Wow, I stopped calling my fists those names a long time ago, but yeah he helped trigger it. Neglect from the family and what happened in the morning with only one bright spot being you just to have it snagged away by the laughing and the teasing. It just made something in me go haywire for a while." Helga was embarrassed by that. "I've long been able to control that part of myself."
"Hey Helga."
Watching Helga's expression change to almost horror before she tried to make herself more cordial to Arnie was interesting as she half turned to face him.
"Hey Arnie." She greeted back.
"You look so pretty tonight. The best in the room."
"Oh thanks." Helga said back to him. "I'm getting kinda nippish so I'm gonna be off to find something to snack on. See you boys later."
On her way to the table that had all the stuff set up, Helga caught a glimpse of Curly descending the stairs in his Phantom disguise before his trademark laugh was heard followed by him running up to Rhonda wrapping his arm around her slim waist. From where Helga was it appeared like he was singing and it could be seen that Rhonda was enjoying his attention.
"Hello there, Helga." She turned to face Lorenzo dressed like he was from the 20's. "I want to say how lovely you look tonight."
"Thanks Lorenzo. You look pretty cool yourself."
"Would you care to dance with me?"
She already danced with him at Arnold's party so at least she knew what to expect. "Sure. Let's cut a rug."
Arnie looked over at his cousin's expression when he spotted Helga dancing with Lorenzo. At least he wasn't afraid to admit to his feelings. At least he wasn't afraid to take a chance while his cousin stands there gaping at watching this perfect woman dance with another man.
"You know I saw the way you held Helga. I notice a lot of things, Arnold."
"Meaning what exactly?" Arnold bit out the words as he eyed Lorenzo with a bit of jealousy.
"Don't act now and things might slip right past you."
"I will not hurt our friendship." Arnold decided to still remain firm in not trying to destroy their friendship by entering into a relationship.
Shrugging and snorting, Arnie simple told him, "You wouldn't" As he made his way elsewhere to be away from his cousin for now.
What the hell does he mean by that? Arnold's thoughts swirled as the dance ended with her smiling at Lorenzo before another song came on to find her dancing with Gerald as both of them were talking about something. Arnold felt no jealousy there seeing that Gerald was his best friend and was always asking Helga's advice on things concerning Phoebe.
Much later Helga went out to the balcony to get some fresh air. Once again she noticed she danced with almost everyone except for Arnold. She didn't dance with Arnie for obvious reasons, but Arnold was due to always that current that shot through her each time they touched. It was strong and it felt so unyielding as it coursed through her making her always weak in the knees. Tonight was especially far more stronger making her both curious and scared. It was already the end of October and they have known each another logically for two months now. They have already been through good and bad so far, but it was still too early and she never had a relationship before.
"You really do look pretty tonight, Helga."
"Thanks, Arnie." Helga didn't want to be rude to him, but didn't want to encourage him either.
"I haven't kissed many girls in my life."
Helga kept her gaze towards the garden to hide her expression as much as possible. "Why is that?"
Stepping closer he also looked at the garden. "Well the girls where I come from are the same. I find them boring. I know many find me boring and strange and that is fine since it is something I can deal with." He began to answer. "I find you the most interesting person I have ever come across. You are the best of both worlds."
Helga finally glanced at him briefly. "Thanks, but it still doesn't change my mind on how I feel about you. You aren't a bad guy, you just aren't my type."
"I know that."
"Then why do you keep trying?"
"Because perhaps I can convince you." Arnie persisted.
Helga rolled her eyes as she looked away only to feel his arms latch around her in such a dominating way that before she can protest with her mouth his mouth clamped down on hers making her squeal out. What the hell is with forced kisses? Ever since she has gotten here it has been nothing but forced kisses. Angry she stomped on his foot and pushed him away as her fist started to clench.
"Don't you ever fucking touch me again! You got that, bucko?" Punching him hard in the arm, Helga stormed past him back into the party angry as all hell.
Phoebe was with Gerald and Arnold when she noticed Helga's angry scowl on her face as she came back in. "Oh no, this isn't good." Immediately she went to meet Helga half way. "Helga what happened?"
Only looking at Phoebe and ignoring Arnold and Gerald following behind her, Helga decided to rage. "What the hell?! Since I've been in this fucking town I've been forcefully kissed by 7 guys. 8 now that includes Arnie just now! Agh!" With that she went on the search for something.
"Uh I have to stop her from doing something she begged me to always stop her from doing." Phoebe told the guys quickly as she ran after Helga.
Gerald was confused as he looked at Arnold's irate face. "What does Phoebe mean?"
"Helga refuses to drink so that is what she wants to stop, but she's in that mood to do it." Arnold answered as he went to the balcony where he knew Arnie was still to confront him.
"Oh great." Gerald muttered as he followed him.
Helga was about to grab the champagne when Phoebe grabbed her arm to drag her away to safety. She felt the ebbs of her friends sanity slip away, and knowing that Helga had a court case coming up that was a stressful situation for her to deal with, this was the last thing that was needed. Bringing her upstairs Phoebe brought her into an unoccupied bedroom closing the door behind her.
Helga started to pant and pace before stopping to take her wings off her so she can pace again without hinderance. "Thanks Pheebs for having my back."
"Always Helga. I'm sorry that happened to you."
"I've been forcefully kissed by guys with no oral hygiene whatsoever. I'd take eating strawberries than repeating any of those performances any day of my life." Helga searched the room to get rid of the taste in her mouth. "A tube of lipstick would be useful if I owned any."
Bringing out a mint from her secret pocket, Phoebe handed it to her. "Here."
"Arigato." Popping it in her mouth she just let it soak in as she finally plopped on the bed. "Oh I told Arnold about the writing contest but didn't say anything about prizes. I hope I do win. I shouldn't get my hopes up, but still."
"I know and if you did and you asked him to join you do you really think he would?" Phoebe wondered with excitement.
"This place he will go to. That I know already." Helga finally smiled about something. "It is a long shot but I want him to be shown how much he means to others."
"And to you." Phoebe reminded coyly.
"Ok and sure sure." Rolling her eyes, Helga laughed at her friends brimming excitement right now.
Arnold came out to the balcony to see Arnie's usual stoic face looking at him. "Helga didn't want that!"
"I did." Arnie said in his defense calmly.
"Yeah I know you did that's why you forced a kiss on her. Something she isn't happy about."
Arnie smiled a bit. "Don't you look at her lips and wonder how they will feel or taste next to mines? Well I did and even though I forced it I don't regret it since she won't give it to me willingly. Her lips are perfect, but they are wanting only one person on them, and that person isn't me."
"Who exactly are you referring to?" Arnold asked. Clueless.
Gerald almost face palmed himself. He didn't have a leg to stand on since he took so much time getting with Phoebe until Helga pushed her on him.
"Cousin I love you and respect you." Arnie started off with saying. "But you can be so dense at times. Smart but dense. How is that possible? I won't force myself on to Helga again, but I can't deny how I feel for her." He almost added something else but there was a point that Arnold needed to reach himself.
"Will you respect Helga enough not to violate her personal space again?" Arnold inquired. "To at least apologize?"
"Hard to apologize for something I don't regret. I can try, but it won't come out right. As for her personal space, it will be hard there too." Arnie stepped closer to him. "You do realize how magnetic her personality is, don't you?"
Arnold did as he nodded. "Just please respect her. She deserves it."
"Now that I could do." Arnie smirked stepping away from his cousin and Gerald.
Once Gerald was sure the coast was clear he decided to speak. "Remember how it was with Phoebe and myself and how you kept trying to get me to ask her out and it took Helga to finally push Phoebe up to me? Is this how it will be with you and Helga?"
"Gerald it is still too soon." He sighed almost in defeat. "I don't want to ruin a great friendship. She is my female best friend in the two months we known one another. What if I ask her out and it fails and I am left without an amazing friend? I'd hate us to never speak again."
"Man I see your point and I was in that same boat. I still am." Gerald looked behind him to make sure no one came out. "I'm still in this brand new relationship with a great girl that I hope to be with for a very long time because I'm glad to finally got the chance."
"You've known each another since you were 3 and Helga and I really since now. Think about it, Gerald." Arnold finally turned to look at his friend in hopes he would truly understand his dilemma. "I mean sure when I touch her it feel like my body is alive for the first time. I enjoy the arguments we do have because it puts this fire in me making me feel alive. I missed talking to her when I had Julie around. I really enjoy jamming with her. She's incredible."
"You have it bad for her already." Gerald pointed out. "What happens if another guy swoops in and takes her away? Will you enjoy the sight of her in another guys arms? I know you were being protective to her just now, but I also saw something else... Jealousy."
"What? I wasn't jealous. That's absurd." Arnold steps back incredulous.
Gerald had what looked like an evil half grin on his face as he spoke low to him. "Just imagine Helga in the arms of another man. His hands brushing against her side. His lips pressing against hers. She returns the kiss as her hands reach up. Her chest pressed against his..."
Waving his hands around in front of him, Arnold raised his voice slightly. "Alright, alright! Sheesh enough of the visual." Covering his face he had to admit he was right. "Fine, you're right, but I still can't destroy our friendship just yet."
"All right buddy, but don't say you weren't warned. Don't think I didn't have the same worry myself when it came to Phoebe."
Arnold knew he had a valid point, but he still was afraid of killing a great friendship.
Gotta love Gerald. :)