I'm back! I haven't abandoned my account! Please enjoy my first participation in Shortaki week.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or its characters. Rights go to Craig Bartlett, Nickelodeon, and Viacom
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Arnold and Helga knew when they started dating that things weren't going to be easy, but one thing they had never expected was for Helga's parents to pull a full one eighty their freshman year. Olga, with some help from Dr. Bliss at Helga's request, had convinced Bob and Miriam to work on being better parents. Bob worked less and did some anger management classes, Miriam went to AA, and they both took some parenting classes. At first Helga thought it was great; there was almost always real food in the house now, instead of pork rinds and cheese fizz, MIriam had a job at the local library, and they almost always asked how her day was at dinner. Then, one day about a week before homecoming, progress reports went home.
"So, Arnold," Helga said, shifting the phone to her right ear and hanging upside down off her bed, "Ready for our first ever high school dance?"
"Definitely. Hey, did you hear about what happened at C lunch today?"
"No, what happened?"
"Rhonda was telling her little crew about how she wasn't going to homecoming because she didn't have a date, which personally I think is a little ridiculous-"
"That's because it's a stupid reason to miss a dance," Helga interjected.
"Yeah. But anyway, so she's in the middle of saying how no one has asked her, and Curly walks in carrying this huge poster covered in glitter with 'Rhonda, will you be my homecoming date?' in neon blue and pink letters."
"No way!"
"Really!" Arnold said, trying to hold in his laugh. "Rhonda looked like she was going to pass out, and then Curly says-"
"Helga, can you come here, please?" Miriam called from downstairs.
"One second, Arnold. My mom's calling," Helga sighed. She got up, leaving the phone on her bed, and stuck her head out into the hall. "In a minute, mom, I'm on the phone!"
"Now, Helga. This is important!"
"Fine!" Helga hurried back to the phone. "Sorry Arnold, my parents are on another 'good parenting' kick and need to talk to me. I'll call you later, okay?"
"Okay, Helga, talk to you later. I love you."
"I love you, too, Football Head." Helga hung up, and headed down to the living room where both of her parents were standing, Bob holding a piece of paper in his hands.
"What do you have to say about this?" Bob asked.
"That depends on what 'this' is," Helga replied.
"Helga, why didn't you tell us you were having trouble in math?" Miriam asked.
"Because I'm not."
"According to this progress report you're failing!" Bob said, his voice rising.
"Okay, so I'm not doing the best that I could be. I'm working on it," Helga said.
"Helga, I'm afraid working on it isn't enough," Miriam said. "This is serious. You've only been in school for a few months, how are you failing a class already?"
"Heck if I know! I'm doing the work."
"Well, apparently you need to spend some more time on it," Miriam said.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're grounded," Bob said bluntly.
"Grounded?" Helga asked.
"For a week," Bob clarified. "No phone unless you're calling someone for homework help, no tv, and no hanging out with friends."
"But homecoming is Friday!"
"I'm sorry, Helga, but you'll have to miss it," Miriam said.
"But it's my first high school dance!"
"There will be other dances, Helga," Miriam said.
"But not other firsts," Helga muttered. She turned on her heel and ran back to her room, pausing on the stairs to yell "Sometimes I think I liked it better when you ignored me!"
In her room Helga tried to use some of the anger tactics Dr. Bliss had taught her, years ago, but punching pillows and breathing exercises weren't helping. Eventually she gave up, grabbed the phone, and called Arnold. Rules be darned, she needed her boyfriend, and he should know that her parents were ruining not only her homecoming, but his, too.
"Hello, Sunset Arms Boarding House," Arnold answered.
"Hey, Arnold, it's me."
"Oh, hi Helga! What did your parents want? Is everything okay?"
"No, everything is awful. They found out I'm failing math, and grounded me. I can't go to homecoming with you."
"Really? Did you try to compromise with them? We can study every day after school, and I can help you, you you want?"
"I doubt it, Arnold. They're pretty set on this. Besides, I'm not allowed out of the house other than for school."
"Then during study hall?"
"I guess we can try, Arnold, but don't get your hopes up."
Although Helga and Arnold worked every study hall until the dance, Helga's parents wouldn't budge. They were proud of her efforts, but a punishment was a punishment. Helga pointed out that pride didn't get her to the dance.
At ten minutes to seven, ten minutes before the dance was supposed to start, Helga pulled half her hair back in a ponytail, leaving the rest hanging around her shoulders, and put on the dress she had wanted to wear, a pink knee length dress with a blue sash.
"If I can't go to the dance, I'll have my own," Helga decided.
"In that case, will you be my date to your dance?" Helga turned around to find Arnold, dressed in a suit, sitting in the tree outside her window.
"Arnold?" Helga said, careful not to let her parents hear. "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't let you spend tonight alone. This was supposed to be our night."
"Arnold, I..." Helga just smiled, then ran over and locked her bedroom door. "Just in case. Now get in here, Football Head, before you fall and break a leg!" Helga helped Arnold through the window, smiling like mad the whole time. "Have I ever told you you're the best boyfriend ever?" she asked once he was inside.
"Yes, but that's okay. You're the best girlfriend ever." Helga smiled and kissed him, before pulling him by the hand to her CD player.
"So, what should our first dance be to? It's not often couples get to pick their song."
"I was thinking this?" Arnold said, holding up a CD with 'H&A 4Ever' written on it in marker.
"What is that?" Helga asked with a grin.
"Just a little mix CD I put together last night. Full of all the best dance songs."
"You really are the best," Helga said, putting the disk in. The first song began, drifting through the room, and Arnold led Helga to the middle of the room.
"What is this?" Helga asked, resting her arms on Arnold's shoulders.
"Hanging By A Moment by Lighthouse. Maybe not a traditional slow dance song, but since when are we traditional?" Helga smiled, and tucked her head into Arnold's neck.
"This is the best first high school dance ever."
"Even though we're the only ones here?"
"Especially because we're the only ones here. We get to pick all the music, and we don't have to stand around and watch some senior girls fight over the homecoming queen crown."
"That reminds me," Arnold said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a small plastic ring shaped like a crown. "Sorry it's just a gumball machine one. I couldn't afford a real ring. But anyway, Helga Pataki, I am pleased to crown you homecoming queen." Arnold placed the ring on her head before sliding it onto her finger.
"You are the are the biggest cheeseball ever," Helga said. "And I love it. And I love you."
"I love you too," Arnold said, pulling her closer. They danced to a few songs, until Miriam heard the music and asked Helga why she had music playing while she was working. Then they scrambled to turn it off, and hide Arnold in Helga's closet while she talked to Miriam, before Arnold sneaked back out the window.
"I have the best boyfriend ever," Helga said before falling asleep.
