HA: Journey To San Lorenzo 4

Chapter Two

Dear Cecile,

I know that it's been a while since we last wrote, and I do apologize for any worry that I might have caused you. Rest assured I'm fine, and perfectly healthy, life has just been rather- well…hectic lately. As you know for the past month Helga's been coming over to the boarding house to prepare our essay. Of course she refuses to let me see it until it's finished- but I have faith that it'll turn out great. You know Cecile…despite the mean jokes when she talks to me it's actually been kind of…nice hanging out with her. I love watching her when she's writing, the way her eyes start to soften and her entire body seems to melt into the pencil. Of course I'd never tell her that lest I want another black eye.

In truth Cecile I wish that you were here more and more each day…

I need you here to tell me it's all going to be ok…I need your kindness to reassure me that somewhere in this world someone actually cares.

In your last letter you were worried about my journey to find my parents, and honestly, I'm really worried too. But, I can't stand not knowing Cecile…I can't stand sitting in my room hoping and praying that each time the door opens they'll come walking in yelling- 'We're home Arnold, we're finally home'. I can't stand not knowing if they haven't returned because they chose to, or if they're in trouble, and if they are in trouble if I can help them-

I can't stand not knowing if…if they're even alive or not.

I'm sorry…I know I've talked about them a lot already, it's just, you're the only person I can trust. Gerald is a great friend but, he has a great family, he wouldn't understand.

I hope that you can understand this Cecile, as I don't know much about your family. Or- any other part of your personal life for that matter…

It's been years since we started writing to each other…don't you think it's time you tell me who you are?

Eagerly waiting your reply,  

Arnold

"Oh my dearest Arnold" Helga swooned holding the letter tight to her chest as she danced delicately across her room, flopping on her bed with a soft and swooning sigh. She held it out with a giddy smile, a bright blush upon her cheeks as she tilted her head, fluttering her eyelashes.

"Oh how I wish that I could drop my insecure act, my mask of hatred- my stone wall misleading you from the truth- how I wish that I could look in those beautiful green eyes and say the words that  linger on my lips each I see you- I love you Arnold, I LOVE YOU!" She cried out rolling on her bed this way and that.

"IF ONLY YOU KNEW WHO YOUR DARLING CECILE WAS IN REALITY! If only you knew that the woman you've been adorning over for so many years was in fact me, HELGA G PATAKI!" Helga called out dropping her head.

"But…on the other hand…" she relaxed looking at the letter again, her body nearly swooning as she re-read the words.

"He likes me…he actually likes me! I mean, he doesn't like me, like me but-liking me is halfway isn't it?" She asked herself. With a long giggle she pulled off her necklace, opening the locket to reveal his high school picture. She smiled happily to herself, resting her head against the pillow as she held onto it with delicate fingertips.

"Arnold…" she whispered to herself with a light smile. The sunbeams fell through her window into her bright blue eyes as her face turned soft. Her long wavy blonde hair fell in locks across her face as she let her finger fall down the picture.  

And for a moment, she was peaceful.

"GET DOWNSTAIRS LITTLE LADY! NOW!" she heard a voice rumble.

"…GIMMEE A MINUTE BOB!" she yelled back angrily. Throwing her locket back on she jumped out of bed, her jeans falling snugly on her hips. Even as a little girl she had a good figure, and now after entering womanhood she had finally blossomed into a luxurious body. Not that anyone noticed of course.

Helga fixed her pink bow on her head before throwing her hair up into a ponytail.

"HELGA!"

"HOLD YOUR HORSES! CRIMENEY!" Helga screamed throwing open her door. Stomping down the stairs she paused as she felt a vibration on her hip. Rolling her eyes she picked her cell phone out of her pocket, flipping it open.

"WHAT?!" She asked.

"Uh…Helga?" A familiar voice asked. Helga gulped before pushing the phone gently to her face, now whispering.

"Arnold?" Helga whispered.

"Yes..?" he asked.

"I- Why're you calling me football head?! Jeez don't you have anything better to do with your spare time then bug me?" She asked.

"Sorry Helga…I was just wondering if we could work on the project at your house today, the boarding house is under some repairs and they won't be done till tomorrow morning…" He answered.

Helga gulped gently before holding onto the hand railing of the stairs.

"…my house..?" She asked.

"Yea, is that alright?" Arnold repeated.

"Uh, actually, we can't do it at my house- we  have…uh…cockroaches, yea that's it, bugs and rats, EVERYWHERE, it's really sickening, you'd barf just coming inside, and I don't need anything else disgusting to clean up." Helga rambled.

"…rats?" Arnold asked in an unbelieving tone.

"Yea, what, you calling me a liar?!" Helga demanded.

"No no it's just…well, you HATE rats Helga..." he mused. Helga blushed some before nodding gently, cuddling the phone some.

"Yea, you know, it's just terrible, they've over taken my whole room, I can't even step foot in there!" Helga yelped.

"That's horrible" Arnold whispered.

"Yea, it's ok though, sleeping on the patio isn't that bad." Helga said with a smile.

"I'll come and help you get rid of them ok Helga? Just stay put, I need to find my grandma's katana. I know it's somewhere around here…" he whispered.

"Uh- you-you don't need to do that!" Helga yelled out quickly.

"No no, I won't take no for an answer, I'll be there in ten minutes ok?" He answered, concern in his voice. Helga whimpered as he hung up and shook her head.

"Nice one Helga, real nice."

"HELGA!"

Helga snapped back to reality as she headed down the stairs to see Bob sitting in front of the TV holding her report card in one hand as Miriam slept with her head on the coffee table.

Bob had gotten even fatter than she last saw him and Miriam's face was wilted from her face, probably from the lack of sleep due to countless fights during the early hours.

"What is it BOB?" Helga asked stepping closer to him. She flinched as he smacked her across the head, showing her the paper he held in his hands. She rubbed the back of her head angrily before taking it from him.

"You see that? C's all across the board! How are you going to get anywhere in the world when you're so average?!" He angrily asked. Helga rolled her eyes throwing it back on his lap.

"Actually Bob, I've got an A in English if you didn't notice, and Physical Education." She pointed out.

"Of course I noticed, I'm not the idiot here- it doesn't take a scientist to pass ENGLISH and P.E missy.
Those are the two easiest classes out there!" He yelled out.

"I'm in advanced placement classes dad…none of them are the easiest out there." She said a bit softer looking down at the ground. He groaned shaking his hand as he stood, she backed up a bit.

"Don't talk back to me Olga!" He yelled quickly.

"It's Helga dad…"

"Right right whatever." Bob mumbled. "Honestly, I don't know how I can have one amazing child and one…of these" he spat out looking her up and down.

"Lazy, and idiotic, you're not even pretty! Don't think that you're gonna be able to mooch off your mother and I all your life, as soon as you turn eighteen you're out of the house, maybe that'll teach you how to do…something, for God's sake you're just a waste of space!"  He pleaded out. Helga blinked, taking the sentence in before growling.

"I'm sorry I can't be Olga Bob." Helga spat back. "But you don't have any place to yell at me, you just sit on your butt all day and watch soaps ever since the beeper emporium closed."

She could see his face growing red with anger but she was on a roll, and merely continued.

"You're mean and cruel, and can't tell a goat from your own ass. You're a bully Bob, and not even a good one!" Helga shouted. She yelped as he slapped her cheek. She blinked at that as tears on instinct grew in her eyes. At that he hit her again.

"Pataki's don't cry."  He whispered coldly.  She closed her eyes quickly as a tear fell from her eye. She
tried to catch it but felt the sting of his hand once more.

"Pataki's don't cry!" He yelled again. "Say it!"

Helga flinched as she fought for her voice.

"Pataki's don't cry…" she whispered flinching as she felt another tear run down her cheek. He smacked it away making her open her eyes quickly.

"Pataki's don't' cry!" He screamed again. Her eyes went dull as she stared at the wall.

"Pataki's don't cry…" she repeated softly. She stood still and looked away as he slowly started to calm down. His face became sad for a moment as he wrapped his arms around her slowly, hugging her.

"You shouldn't do things to make me so mad Helga…why can't you be more like your sister Helga…why can't you be someone I can love?" He asked softly. Helga didn't move, didn't speak. When he let her go she merely headed back to her room, as she passed her mother she whispered-

"Do you have anything to say Miriam?" She asked bitterly. She saw her mother's sad eyes look upon her before closing again.

"…I didn't think so…" She whispered moving away from them. As she exited the living room she stopped dead in her tracks at the sight before her. With papers scattered over the floor a rather frozen football headed boy stood beside her front door. Helga's eyes went wide as she suddenly panicked.

"GET OUT OF HERE FOOTBALL HEAD!" She screamed. He didn't move. He seemed glued to the floor.
She took in deep breaths as a look of humiliation crowned over her. He saw it, he saw it all! Her one love had seen her in the worst possible situation. He saw…he saw.

She nearly cried.

"GET OUT!" she screamed her voice shrill. Arnold slowly moved toward her and placed his hand in her own. She blinked in surprise and tried to rip it away, but he held tight. Without a word he turned and opened the door, dragging her outside with him. She fussed, rubbing her eyes as she became more and more unstable.

"Stop it, let me go, STOP!" She screamed as they ended up outside.

"NO!" She yelled holding back tears. He dragged her down the street, she started to hear her heart beat faster, why wouldn't he show her his face, why wouldn't he look at her? Why…why…

"…I'm sorry." He whispered finally stopping in his tracks. He shook his head gently as he bit his lip quickly, his shoulders were shaking. Helga blinked a bit before watching him closer.

"…I'm sorry…I froze…I should have…I mean…I could have-"

Helga sat down slowly as she realized that Arnold was..crying.

She laughed softly to herself.

He really was…the most beautiful person on Earth…

"…let's go to the library…I want to show you the essay…" Helga whispered with a light smile. Arnold wiped his eyes before he turned back to her.

"What?"

"The essay…I want you to see it." Helga said softly. Arnold blinked before slowly nodding. She stood up calmly, rubbing the dirt off of her jeans before walking ahead of him. He watched her for a moment before jumping as she turned her head quickly to look at him. The way the sunset hit her face, she was so-

"Come on football head I haven't got all day." She demanded. He merely smiled and grabbed his bag.

"Sorry Helga…"