First, I would like to thank starfiction123 for being the inspiration behind a few of my previous stories. Be sure to check hers out!
Second, thanks to everyone who's read/followed/reviewed my stories. It means a lot, and I hope you like them.
Finally, I'm happy to write a story if you send me a request HOWEVER… I don't appreciate someone saying 'write it however you want' just to send a 500 word review about everything that should not have been in there. If your preferences are that crucial, either send a list of instructions to follow or write it yourself.
I hope my little outburst there will not discourage the rest of you from continuing to read my stories. Hopefully, you'll like this one. Enjoy! :)
Chapter 1: May I Speak With You?
It was the beginning of their seventh grade year. Arnold and Helga had been together for a full year. Helga had learned to deal with the idea of allowing their friends to know about their relationship, while Arnold was continuing to be patient with her 'unnecessarily' aggressive behavior.
One morning Arnold was walking down the street with his best friend, telling him about the special plans he had for him and Helga the next week.
"Man Arnold! You do too much for that girl!"
"Why do you say that?" Arnold wondered, not knowing what the big deal was about buying his girlfriend tickets to Wrestlemania.
"Maybe it has something to do with the fact that she's been your girlfriend for a year now and you still put up with her hostility."
Shrugging his shoulders, he replied "It's just her way. She doesn't mean anything by it."
While Arnold had to admit to himself he was struggling with the idea of Helga feeling the need to continue with her hostile gestures, he had decided to accept it would always be a part of her. She was sweet and sensitive on the inside; perhaps the sweetest person he knew. She just couldn't find the strength to show it to anyone other than her boyfriend. At least for the time being…
As the boys were discussing the problems of Arnold's relationship on one side of the sidewalk, Helga and Phoebe were having their own discussion nearby.
"How do you feel you did on our writing assignment Helga?" Phoebe asked, referring to a poetry assignment they were required to hand in. After choosing to make her topic about Arnold (which she usually did) Helga felt confident she would do well. He was the inspiration behind her sensitive side, which Mr. Simmons always seemed to love. Where would she be without him?
As long as she signed all of her papers anonymous, she felt free to pour her heart out (which he made quite easy for her to do).
"Eh, I guess I did okay. He's had us do so many of those things, it's not like he wouldn't accept anything anyone wrote by now? Sheesh!" Helga scoffed.
The girls were rounding the corner when Helga bumped heads with a familiar face "THUMP!"
Falling to the ground, holding her head, she screamed "Arnold!"
"Sorry Helga." he replied, helping his girlfriend up.
"Walk much football head?" she glared, while Arnold turned to see Gerald giving him a looked that implied See what I mean?
"Uhh I guess not. Ready for school?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
While Phoebe and Gerald began to walk ahead, Arnold stood there a moment looking down at her hand. Helga began to cock her brow, wondering what was keeping him from moving along with him. "Hey football head, the school's that way." she pointed, as he began to look up.
"I wanted to ask if you'd like to go out next Saturday? I kind of have a surprise for you." he scratched the back of his head as a soft smile formed on her face.
"What kind of surprise?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise." he said softly with his signature smile and half lidded eyes that always brought a warm feeling to her heart.
After holding in the swoon she had been wanting to let out, she smirked "Okay football head. Now let's get to school before the best poems in class turn out to be a couple of tardy slips."
"Whatever you say Helga." he sighed, taking his girlfriend's hand to the bus stop.
After making it to school, the two of them entered the classroom just as the bell was about to ring.
Arnold took a seat thinking to himself Guess Helga was right about almost being tardy.
A moment later, their overly enthusiastic teacher walked in with their graded assignments.
"Good morning class! I have your graded poems right here. Before I announce who had the best one written, I want you to know, you all did a wonderful job on them!" Mr. Simmons assured them, as Helga sat there unamused.
While she sat there, gazing at her beloved with her head propped in her hand, she thought to herself…
Oh Arnold! What wonderful surprise could you have in store for us? What special times await for us to share together?
While these thoughts were going through her mind, she didn't notice the voice being called out to her…
"Helga? Helga? Helga!"
Snapping out of her daze, she replied "Huh? What?"
"Here's your graded assignment." Mr. Simmons handed her as she nervously took it, hoping no one noticed the loving look that had been in her eyes.
Helga looked down to read on her graded poem "May I please speak with you after class?"
She cocked her brow at this message, thinking to herself About what? It says here I got another freakin' A? Would could Mr. Special need to speak with me about?
Once morning classes were over, Arnold turned to face his girlfriend and asked "Ready to go to lunch?"
"Uhh I'll meet you there. I have to take care of something." she said nervously, not sure of what Mr. Simmons could need to speak with her about.
Arnold gave a puzzled look as he simply shrugged his shoulders and said "Okay, I guess I'll meet you in the cafeteria."
"Okay football head." she replied, standing from her desk to speak to the teacher.
Once all the students were gone, Helga looked at Mr. Simmons with an annoyed facial expression and said "What's up teach?"
"Hello Helga, I thought your poem was wonderful!"
She did her best not to roll her eyes, as she stood there thinking to herself If that's all he needed to say, I think the A he wrote on my paper more than well implied it.
"Thanks. So I can go now." she said, as she began to walk away.
"Well no, not just yet." he stopped her, while she turned to cock her brow at him, wondering what could be so important he felt the need to take up half her lunch period.
"You see Helga, I've gone over your grades more and more, ever since the aptitude test your class took back in fourth grade. And well…" He began as she kept her hands on her waist.
"Yeah?"
"I feel as though you should be promoted to the eighth grade." he replied as Helga's eyes lit up. The first thought that came to her mind was the fact that she would be leaving her beloved. Despite the terrible job she still did of showing how much she needed him, what would she do without him to comfort her in her time of need?
"The eighth grade?"
"I realize what a big decision this is, considering how close your class is to finishing grade school already. Take some time to think about if, and of course I'll need your parents' permission." her teacher said, handing her the slip.
"Ok-kay. Thanks." she gulped, staring at the sheet all the way into the cafeteria.
When Helga made it there to see her friends sitting at a table with a tray of food her boyfriend had been nice enough to get for her, she took a seat beside him.
Anxiously awaiting her arrival, Arnold asked "So, what did Mr. Simmons need to talk to you about?"
Helga quickly shoved the paper into her backpack as she grabbed the tapioca pudding off his tray. "Oh, he just wanted to tell me what a great job I did on my poem. Like he didn't already imply that with the A he had written on my sheet. What an idiot!" she scoffed.
"Most people would take that as a compliment. Appreciation is in the eye of the beholder however." Gerald said wittingly, as he looked over at his best friend.
Arnold was tempted to ask Helga what was on her mind as he saw her stirring her pudding, rather than digging into it like she normally did. Before he could say anything, they heard…
"I cannot believe he gave me such a low score on my poem! I practically copied it out of Pre-teen Miss and their article on the latest shoe styles."
"At least he's not makin' you rewrite yours. On account of bad grammar and shortening words."
"Just think of something that fascinates you! For instance whatever bugs you see in your backyard."
As Helga turned her head to listen to her friends speaking about their poetry topics, she thought to herself Maybe skipping a grade wouldn't be such a lame idea. She continued to stare in that direction until she felt her boyfriend begin to rub her shoulder. Turning her head back in his direction to face his sweet smile, she thought to herself…
Oh Arnold! How could I ever leave you? Who would I have to bring joy to the constant pain my life has been filled with?
After a moment spent staring into her beloved's emerald eyes, they heard the bell ring. Snapping out of her daze, Arnold saw his girlfriend quickly reach for her bag, as if she wanted to get away as quickly as possible.
"Helga wait up!" he called out, without receiving an answer. Standing there full of confusion, Arnold heard "We're in the same class. It's not like you'll never see her again."
After rolling his eyes at Gerald's witty remark, Arnold turned to Phoebe and asked "Is something bothering Helga?"
"I'm certain I don't know." her best friend replied, while the kids headed back for the room, wondering why Helga had raced off the way she did.
When they made it back, Arnold came to find Helga hunched over in her desk, staring at a peace of paper.
"What's that?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Huh? What's what?" she gasped, holding the paper close to her chest.
"The sheet you're holding. What is it?"
"None of your beezewax football head!" she scowled, as Arnold turned to face the front. Helga watched him lean his head in his hand, sighing at the idea of her not being willing to share with him what was bothering her.
While watching the sad position he was in, Helga looked back and forth from the sheet to her boyfriend, thinking to herself…
I can't leave Arnold! I've dedicated my tormented soul nearly all my life getting him to reciprocate my feelings. I didn't do it just to leave him!
When the bell for the last class rang, Arnold turned to face his overly anxious girlfriend and asked "Would you like to come back to my place?"
Helga sat there a moment thinking to herself…
As much as I hate to admit it, I should still tell my parents about this. Even if I don't plan on leaving Arnold, I can't turn down an opportunity to make myself look better than Olga.
"Thanks but I've got to get home. There's something I have to take care of."
Hearing this from her again that day, Arnold was beginning to grow suspicious. He knew how much she hated for other people to force her to open up however. All he could do was be patient with her.
"Can I at least walk you home?"
She looked at his pleading eyes and said "Sure football head."
A weak smile came to his face as he helped her out of her seat. Once they exited the room, Helga turned and said "I've got to stop by my locker, I'll meet you outside."
Arnold didn't know why he couldn't just go with her, but for whatever reason, she seemed to need her space that day. Therefore, he gave it to her.
While standing at her locker, Phoebe came by to check on her. "Are you alright Helga? You haven't seemed like yourself today?"
Shutting the door after switching out her books, while not remembering to zip her bag all the way, Helga sighed "I've just got some things on my mind."
"Would you like to come over and discuss them?" Phoebe offered while Helga stood there a moment to consider the offer.
Should she get everything off her chest before taking a risk that Arnold found out what was going on? Then again, what did it matter if she didn't plan on leaving him. She was just keeping the secret to gloat to her parents. All her life she had been neglected by her family. She deserved at least one night to have them feel proud of her, or at least noticed. Why scare her boyfriend with the thought of him leaving?
After taking time to consider this, Helga sighed "No thanks Pheebs. I already told football head he could walk me home."
Placing a hand on her best friend's shoulder, she replied "Well, alright then. Enjoy your evening."
Once her best friend had left, she continued to stand and sulk at the floor until she felt a hand on her shoulder. As she turned to see her boyfriend standing there, her eyes widened, thinking to herself…
Crimity! What all did he hear?!
"What are you doing here football head? I told you to wait outside."
"Well, I saw Phoebe left and you were still standing here, so I thought you might be ready to go." he replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeah, we can go." she sighed, taking his hand which he held out for her.
After a few moments of silence, walking down the street together, Arnold continued to take notice of the gloomy look on Helga's face. "I really wish you'd tell me what's bothering you. I can't help you feel better if you don't."
Rolling her eyes at his reasonable remark, she scoffed "What makes you think I need your help with anything? I'm fine!"
"I don't think you are. I wish you'd quit being so secretive." he admitted. While he could deal with her negativity, it was frustrating dealing with her inability to open up. What was the point of being together is she wasn't willing to let him know what was going on in her life? He was PART of her life.
Helga didn't have a response for this. She knew she needed to work on this issue, but now wasn't the time for it. All it would do was scare him and quite possibly cause him to leave her. What if it made him question the feelings she had for him? Even worse, the feelings he had for her.
Once they arrived at her house, she turned to her boyfriend to say "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
A disappointing look remained on his face until he noticed a sheet of paper slip out of her bag as she began heading up the stairs.
"What's this?" he asked.
Her eyes began to widen as she scowled "Give that here right now!"
Arnold paid no attention to her remark, as he continued to read…
TO THE PARENTS OF HELGA GERALDINE PATAKI
Helga is no longer being academically challenged. Therefore, she has the school's permission to be promoted to the eighth grade.
Signature:
Helga watched her boyfriend's eyes widen as he fell short of breath. His heart began to pound as he continued to stare at the permission slip. This can't be happening! She can't possibly be considering this?!
Before he could say anything, Helga snatched the paper and said "Hey! Who said you could touch my things?"
Arnold looked up at her with sorrowful eyes as he replied "How long were you planning on keeping this from me?"
A fearful look came to her face as she began to say "I..I..I don't know. I just got it today. I mean, I wasn't actually going to do it."
Glaring at her, he replied "Then why didn't you just show it to me?"
Rolling her eyes at his need to win the argument, she scoffed "Maybe I didn't think it was worth mentioning! Crimity football head! Must you make a big deal out of everything?!"
"How could you not think leaving me was a big deal?" he asked, as his heart began to ache.
"I was never going to leave you! I just wanted to show it to my parents!"
"Since when do you care what they think?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
It was bad enough her decisions were being questioned. She didn't need someone digging as deep into her reasons for them as he was doing at that moment.
Rather than responding, she marched up the porch steps to slam the door in her beloved's face.
Arnold stood outside sulking a moment, just as Helga had done in the hallway. Rather than worrying about telling someone something, his thoughts were on what had just been heard.
After finally deciding to make his way back home, he was being watched through the window by his girlfriend, who had made it up to her bedroom.
Crimity! Why am I such an idiot? So what if my parents don't care about me. So what if this is the perfect opportunity to make myself look better than Olga. I finally have Arnold! No dumb school promotion could ever be worth losing him!
As Helga was pondering this, laying across her bed with her arms spread across it, she heard a noise downstairs "I'm home!"
Rolling her eyes at the sound of her annoying sibling's voice, she thought to herself What the heck is it about that annoying screeching that people feel the need to go gaga over?!
While continuing to lay in her room, Arnold made it to the boarding house. After opening the door to let the parade of animals pass, he walked inside to see his grandpa sitting in the kitchen.
"That you shortman?"
"Hey grandpa." Arnold sighed, entering the room.
"Oohh...bad day?" Phil asked, setting aside the paper.
"Uh huh." Arnold sighed, as he placed his head in his hands, propping his elbows on the table.
"Your classmate picking on you again? The one with the big pink bow and the one eyebrow?" Phil laughed, certain that had to be the reason.
"No grandpa, it's worse."
"Worse? What could be worse than that?"
"She's getting promoted to the eighth grade!" Arnold exclaimed, lifting his head from his hands.
"Yeah, I guess that would make me kind of jealous too."
"I'm upset because she'll be leaving me. We'll be in completely different grades!"
"Hmm...that's a problem. Maybe you could just start to copy off her. You better do it quick though!" Phil laughed as his grandson got up to leave the table.
"Thanks grandpa."
"Anytime shortman."