I am a bit early with my upload but that's because I will be gone for the weekend and then I can't upload it for you, the reader.
Another Build-up chapter towards the graduation party.
It was so much fun, cleaning the roof, Arnold and his grandpa had so much fun. At the end, both of them were soaking wet.
'' There you go, Arnold. Clean and shiny.'' said Philip.
'' Thank you, Grandpa. Without you I was still busy.'' said Arnold. '' I wonder if the lights are still working.''
'' Well, let's try them out.'' said Philip and pushed the plug into the socket. The lights did nothing, it seems it was broken.
'' I guess I need to go shopping. I will ask mom when she goes to the mall.'' said Arnold as he dried off the water tank.
'' Alright Shortman. I am going to help Miles since he said something about a broken window lock he can't fix.'' said Philip. With that, he left Arnold.
Arnold look around before he get his phone from his pocket and was looking at the time.
It was already 10:20 am. He smiled a bit before he goes to his chat app and write Helga.
'' Good morning, my love. What are your plans for today except playing baseball this afternoon?''
As he put back his phone in his pocket, Arnold goes back to his room and changed in clean clothes.
Today he was going to visit Stoop kid but first he needed to ask his mom if he could join her with the shopping.
Helga was shopping with Phoebe. Helga didn't like to shop but when Phoebe called Helga to join her, she said yes to kill time.
Phoebe needed some hair ornaments that could fit her dress and tried to convince Helga as well to look for something.
They were at a warehouse and it seems more girls were shopping around.
Phoebe found a petite hair ornament with hydrangea flowers on it, soft blue with purple that would fit her dress.
'' What do you think, Helga?'' asked Phoebe when she put it on.
'' Hmmmm, you always have your up, why not letting it down and do it like this?'' asked Helga as she let down Phoebe's hair and clipped the ornament behind her ear, her bangs pulled backwards to have a chic look.
'' Ooh… I never thought about that. I like it this way. Thank you, Helga.'' said Phoebe and Helga smiled. Now she need to find something for herself and was looking at the store rack when she finds an ornament, decorated with pink colored carnations. She pick it off the rack and made a low bun and placed the ornament in it and made her bangs messy, trying to get a fairy look.
'' Helga, that's just amazing.'' chirped Phoebe as Helga took it out.
'' Thank you, Phoebe. Want to look further before we pay our ornaments?'' asked Helga and Phoebe smiled. '' Yes, I need to get a new set of lingerie.''
As the start walking towards the section of lingerie, Helga felt a bit uneasy.
'' You just need a bra for your dress, you mean.'' said Helga.
'' No you silly. After the party, Gerald and I go to a hotel. And when we put on our bathrobes, I have a nice surprise underneath. Sometimes a girl do that for her boyfriend.'' said Phoebe.
'' I get it.'' said Helga. She never thought about it since for starters, she and Arnold were never that intimate. They just started to get intimate.
Would it then be weird if she would buy a set too? She didn't even know what the plans were of Arnold after the party.
Helga came back in reality when her phone buzzed, she received a message and saw it was from Arnold.
She smiled as she answered him back.
'' I am shopping with Phoebe for the party and it seems also that Gerald and Phoebe will have an '' after party.'' Want to meet up before we going to play baseball?''
She hit the send button and then she came in contact with a grinning Phoebe.
'' Pheebs, you scare me. What are you planning?'' said Helga.
'' You are going to pick also a nice set of lingerie.''
'' Phoebe! Since you hang out with Gerald, you have turn into a seducing creature.''
'' Just wait until you have found out what sex means, you will understand what is going on..'' said Phoebe.
Helga rolled her eyes. That was something she was afraid off. That when she and Arnold will finally become one, it will become something wild.
She didn't say much when Phoebe was picking out some lingerie sets and told Helga that she went to the fitting room.
Helga gazed around when she saw a lingerie set that caught her eye and walked to it. It was broken white, all lacey but very soft. The soft cotton inside was covering the lace from inside so nothing would be seen. At the borders, small colored embroidered flowers decorated the bra and panties. It would fit her dress perfectly.
She smiled a bit. What if Arnold had planned something? Would Phoebe right and Arnold would actually like it? She better be prepare than for it. She found her size and took it with her to the changing room next to Phoebe and tried it on. That was the moment that Helga realized she was becoming indeed a woman. The lingerie made her curves visible. Helga felt blushful when she saw herself like that but she loved her image like this.
When she came out of the changing room, Phoebe was waiting for her.
'' Found something you like? Are you going for it?'' asked Phoebe and Helga nodded.
She showed it to Phoebe and Phoebe was looking at the detailed embroidery.
'' It's very beautiful Helga, it will suit you very well.''
'' Thanks Pheebs.'' said Helga with a soft smile as they walked to the cash register to pay.
As they paid, they went to a café where they served coffee, tea, lemonade, sandwiches and other pastries.
As they received their order, Phoebe having green tea with a fruit tart and Helga an ice coffee with a piece of an apple pie, Phoebe started to giggle a bit and Helga look up.
'' What?'' asked Helga confused.
'' Never thought I would go shopping with and that we both ending up buying something sexy.'' giggled Phoebe.
'' You have bad influence on me and Gerald on you.'' grinned Helga.
'' Trust me, Helga. He will love it.''
Meanwhile Arnold had joined his mother with shopping. He had finally his garden lights, an 2 person folding mattress and some fake plants since he was missing the jungle.
'' Why the 2 person mattress? You already have a 2-person bed.'' said Stella.
'' It's when Gerald and Phoebe stays over. They can't sleep on my sofa.'' said Arnold.
'' Agreed. Oh wait, Arnold. I need to get some stuff for the bathroom like shampoo.'' said Stella and took the store path of skin and hair care.
There was also sanitary towels and tampons for the woman her period. Arnold wondered how a woman knew exactly which towel or tampon was correct to use until his eyes fell on the next items.
He blushed but that was also something he need. He did had practice on school but they didn't tell which one was good or safe or both.
Stella turned around with soap in her hands as she saw her son looking at the condoms with red cheeks. Stella sighs and smiled. She stood behind him and went with her hand towards the classic ones and gave it to him. '' This is fine and you also need this.'' she said as she took a package of sanitary towels and gave it to him.
Arnold was confused and stared at his mom. '' Miles didn't tell you, I guess.'' said Stella a bit disappointed in her husband.
'' What was he supposed to tell me?'' asked Arnold.
'' You know it can hurt for a girl?'' asked Stella and Arnold nodded. '' Because the hymen gets broken.''
'' Yes and because of that, a girl can bleed.'' said Stella and Arnold's eyes went wide.
'' Not that bad silly but that's why you need this. That way you tell Helga that you thought about her also after your love making.'' explained Stella.
'' Mom, I think of Helga 24 hour and 7 days a week.'' said Arnold while he put the stuff in the cart as Stella laughed softly.
'' I wonder… maybe some candles and flowers as well? Since you put so much effort in it.'' said Stella while she winked with her eye.
Arnold stared at the ground before he look at his mom.
'' Why is it so much easier with you then with dad?'' ask Arnold and Stella stop walking.
'' Arnold, you need to see it like this. Me and dad, we saw you the last time when you were a baby, when we woke up, we missed ten years and we saw you hitting puberty. Of course dad is happy you have a girlfriend but deep inside, we still hold the dear image of our little boy. I am a bit sober about it but we love you, Arnold.''
'' I love you and dad as well. Thank you.''
Shopping time was over and the old group of friends had gotten together to play baseball.
It was just like old times, Harold throwing his low balls, Curly running the wrong way and spontaneously chasing Rhonda. Eugene who tripped over his own feet and Arnold with his hard blows, which were more dangerous than before.
After the game they sat on the grass with cans of lemonade and talked about the past until Lila suddenly asked, "Who's ready for Rhonda's party?"
''I'm definitely ready for all the good food.'' Harold says and Sid shook his head.
"Is there anything else for you other than food?" Sid asks and Harold shook his head no but Stinky grinned. "I'm sure there is something else out there for you."
"Stinky, shut up!" said Harold. "Everyone will see that at the party."
''Ooh? Does Harold have a date?'' Rhonda teased and Harold looked annoyed at Rhonda. ''At least I do. What about you, Rhonda?"
''I already have someone too. Do you think I'm alone at my own party? '' said Rhonda. Then she looks at Helga. "Surely you'll come alone?"
Before Helga could say anything, Arnold beat her to it.
''She's coming with me. Gerald and I are coming to pick up Phoebe and Helga in my grandfather's car.'' Arnold said and everyone looked at Arnold, dumbfounded.
"Do you have a driver's license?" Eugene asked and Arnold nodded yes.
'' That's handy. And also practical if you asked Helga. Because Gerald and Phoebe also want to ride along. You never do anything without a reason.'' Stinky said to help Arnold and Helga keep their relationship quiet.
Arnold was very happy that Stinky and Lila also knew about it so that they could help if necessary.
'' I do hope for you, Arnold, that Helga look at least nice. Knowing you, you will have a tuxedo or something.'' said Rhonda with a smug smile.
No way Helga could look refined like Rhonda did.
'' It will be fine, Rhonda.'' said Arnold neutral. He stood up and stretched himself. '' I got to go, I am going to hang out with Stoop kid.''
'' Let me go with you.'' said Gerald as he stood up.
'' Alright, Gerald. See everyone later.'' said Arnold and he and Gerald left the group.
When Arnold and Gerald were gone, Sid scoffed and crossed his arms.
'' Arnold is hiding something.''
"What do you mean, Arnold is hiding something?" Harold asks.
"I can't explain it exactly, but it seems like Arnold is preparing for something else to come." Sid says and everyone in the group looked surprised.
"Prepare for what?" Lila asks.
"I think a party on the roof. Remember when Arnold said on the bus that he was going to clean the roof? I saw him running errands with his mother today. He had garden lights and fake plants. Except it was a bit embarrassing." Sid said.
" Embarrassing?" Phoebe asked. Helga was half listening as she wrote a poem on her cell phone.
"Yes, his mother had condoms, scented candles and sanitary towels in the cart. I don't think I want to know what my parents are up to." Sid said, sending shivers down his spine.
Helga, who was most busy with her poem, did not notice that Phoebe was secretly smiling at Lila and vice versa. Helga didn't notice what was going on, too busy with the poem.
They knew exactly what was going to happen, Arnold was preparing for the night of love.
Stinky also noticed and played along.
"Willekers! I wouldn't want to know that either."
Arnold and Gerald were almost at Stoop kid's house.
"Is he still a tease from before?" Arnold asks and Gerald chuckled.
" You'll see soon enough. He's changed a bit, but he can still be a jerk." Gerald said.
'' I'm curious. It's been a long time since I saw him.'' Arnold said.
'' He is doing well. He became a therapist."
''A therapist? Really?'' Arnold asked and Gerald nodded yes.
'' Thanks to you. Because you had helped him overcome his fear in the past, he also wanted to help others.'' Gerald said.
'' I'm flattered. '' Arnold said as they turned the corner and saw Stoop Kid already sitting on his old familiar stoop.
When Stoop Kid saw them walking towards him he stood up and walked towards Arnold and Gerald.
''Hey Arnold! It's been a long time, dude!'' Stoop Kid says and claps Arnold on the shoulder.
''Definitely a long time ago. What did I hear from Gerald, are you there?'' Arnold asked.
''Certainly! As a result, I finally have a name, my official name is Matthew Stoop. But feel free to call me Stoop Kid, it sounds more familiar.'' Stoop Kid laughed.
The three of them had a lot to say until Stoop Kid asked: "How far along are you with Helga?"
Arnold blushed and Gerald chuckled. "Stoop Kid, I tell you, those two are holier than Mary herself."
''Seriously? Or are you afraid of something?'' Stoop Kid wondered.
''I... I've read a lot about it and what's holding me back is that I have to hurt Helga to become one together. And that she can bleed. I don't want to hurt her.'' Arnold said worriedly.
"That's only once, after that it's only love." Stoop Kid said and Arnold sighed. '' Gerald said that too. But how do you know this? Do you have a girlfriend?''
"No, I have a wife, although she is currently abroad for work."
Arnold was surprised.
''So much has changed in those 4 years... it seems like I've been away for 10 years.'' Arnold said with a sigh. "But it's great that you have a wife now."
''Thank you, Arnold. So don't be afraid if you want to make love. Helga herself also knows what awaits her. Do you already have an idea of how you want to do it so that it is easy for both of you?'' StoopKid asked.
"After Rhonda's party, I want to take her to my house where I decorated everything and surprised her with flowers," Arnold said. "And then... well... it's going to happen..." he muttered afterward.
Gerald shook his head, why Arnold still so shy about it?
"How can I be sure she's ready?" Arnold asked.
Gerald and Stoop Kid looked at each other and grinned.
''If a woman has prepared herself aka she is wearing a lingerie set, then you have the green light. And believe me, you will feel really special in that moment.'' Stoop Kid said.
"I believe you, even though I'm even more nervous now," Arnold said.
Gerald and Stoop Kid laughed, that Arnold was really a sweet guy and too innocent.
Stoop Kid, I like that guy. One of my favorite characters! But what in the world... Gerald made Phoebe really a woman out of her.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Thank you!