Chapter 1: This Will Not Do
It was the end of their eighth grade year. Summer break was approaching along with another upcoming event…
Hallway
"So, you're cousin's coming to town again buddy?" Gerald asked, seeing the upset look on his best friend's face.
"Yeah. He's supposed to be here Thursday." Arnold sighed.
"Maybe his bus will crash, or you can say you 'forgot' to pick him up from the bus station." Gerald said wittingly.
"Gerald…" Arnold rolled his eyes, as he began to shut his locker.
Classroom
"Is everything okay Helga? You don't appear to be well." Phoebe asked, looking at her friend with concerned eyes.
As Helga let out a deep sigh, she turned to face her friend and said "I'm fine, except for the fact that football head's lame cousin is coming to town this week!"
"Oh dear! I gather this means the two of you won't be spending much time together?" Phoebe assumed, seeing her friend rest her head in her hand.
"I don't know Pheebs. I'm trying to be more supportive. He can't help what a loser that guy is." Helga sighed, as she looked up to see her boyfriend entering the room.
A weak smile formed on her face as he took his seat in front of her. Turning around in his desk, he smiled and said "Hey Helga. I have a surprise for you."
"Is it that your lame cousin discovered nasal strips?' Helga scoffed, leaning back in her seat with her arms crossed.
"Uhhh...not exactly."
Before Arnold could continue on, Mr. Simmons walked in the room. "Hello class! Today's going to be a very special day!"
Rolling her eyes at the teacher's usual giddy morning performance, Helga propped her head in her hand, thinking to herself… I wonder what his surprise is?
As she sat there pondering this, Arnold sat in his desk, thinking to himself… I hope Arnie doesn't ruin things.
Although Arnold knew he never had to worry about Helga falling for Arnie, that didn't stop Arnie from trying to steal her. The more he tried, the more it upset her. There was only so much of his annoying, hillbilly behavior she could take.
When morning classes ended, Arnold turned around in his seat (hoping to forget about his cousin for a moment) and said "Ready for lunch Helga?"
Smiling weakly at her boyfriend, she said "Okay football head. I think you owe me an extra tapioca for dealing with your upcoming family reunion though."
Taking her hand in his, he sighed and said "Whatever you say Helga."
Hallway
As the kids were exiting the class, Rhonda couldn't help but notice Lila with a stack of cards in her hands. Being the nosy person that she was, she walked over to ask "What may I ask are those, Lila?"
"Oh, they're invitations for my housewarming party this weekend. My daddy got an ever so generous raise from work. Now we're in a much nicer home, which is just oh too perfect." the sweet redhead smiled, handing Rhonda an invitation.
Immediately opening it, Rhonda took a look at the plain, non-decorative invitation and said "This will not do at all!"
Giving her a troubled look, Lila said "I'm certain I don't know what you mean?"
Placing a hand on her waist, Rhonda explained "Lila, you and I are known for our high class. A plain invite such as this simply screams failure!"
"What should I do?"
"Come by my place after school. Rather than buying a new stack unworthy of fitting the meaning behind your party, just leave everything to me!"
"Gosh Rhonda! Thanks ever so much." Lila smiled, seeing a wide (almost evil) grin form on her friend's face.
Cafeteria
Standing in the lunch line with his friend, Gerald turned to Arnold and asked "So, what exactly is this surprise you have planned for Pataki?"
"Well, remember when I told you she confessed to me at FTi?"
"You mean when you two were making out on the roof while I was busy walking out past the guards?" Gerald asked in a monotone voice.
Rolling his eyes at the remark, Arnold said "We were not making out."
"Whatever you say Arnold."
Arnold grabbed the last of the tapioca and headed through the line before finishing what he had to say. It was then the boys headed to the table they saw their girlfriends sitting at in the center of the cafeteria.
Sitting beside her with the tray of food, Arnold listened to his girlfriend ask "So, what's my surprise football head?"
Wrapping his arm around her, he began to rub her shoulder softly as he said "I can't tell you that."
"So you felt the best way to pay me back for your cousin visiting would be to tell me I have a surprise coming that you're not willing to tell me about?" Helga smirked, leaning back in her seat with her tapioca.
"Even if he DID tell you, I don't think it would be enough to make up for the cousin inquiry. Gerald said wittily.
Another Table
"I heard Rhonda and Lila talking about having a party this week." Sid said to the guys.
"Ya reckon it'll be one of Rhonda's fancy tea parties?" Stinky asked, holding his lemon pudding.
"I guess. Maybe it'll be another costume party?" Sid shrugged his shoulders, thinking of everything Rhonda had done in the past.
"Maybe Ms. Lila will tell us some of her funny farm jokes if we're lucky." Stinky said hopefully. Just the thought of the sweet country girl's amusing stories was enough to bring a smile to his face.
Classroom
As the kids made it back to the classroom, Arnold noticed Lila already sitting in her seat. "Did you not go to lunch Lila?"
"Well to be just perfectly honest, I've been working on a list of activities to add to the invitations Rhonda and I will be making for my housewarming party." Lila said sweetly.
"Uhh housewarming party?" Arnold asked, not having been told about this.
"Yes, my daddy and I are moving into a much bigger home. We're just ever so excited!" Lila exclaimed.
"Sounds great Lila." A warm smile came to Arnold's face, while Helga couldn't help but roll her eyes at the matter. She didn't know what she found to be more annoying, Lila's perky personality or being reminded of how unwelcoming her house made her feel.
Classes began again and Arnold couldn't help but wonder if Lila's party would interfere with Arnie's visit. If the worst should happen, all he had to do was say he couldn't make it. How would Helga feel about that though? Being the anti-social person that she was, Arnold didn't see her as the type to freak out over being unable to go to a party. Not being able to hang out with him was another story however…
Classes ended at last and Arnold turned to his girlfriend to ask "Would you like me to walk you home Helga?"
"I don't know? Do you have a surprise you planned that I get to hear about but not find out about?" she scoffed, standing up from her seat.
Rolling his eyes, the two stood from their seats as they made their way into the hallway.
Rhonda then turned to see Lila grabbing the rest of her things and said "You can follow me straight to my place. The two of us will put together a set of invitations worthy of announcing the party."
"It sounds oh too perfect Rhonda." Lila smiled, following the stylish girl out into the hallway.
Walk
"So when's your lame cousin supposed to be here?" Helga asked, holding her boyfriend's hand down the sidewalk.
"On Thursday. His bus is supposed to arrive at five." Arnold rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand.
"Perfect. Like it's not bad enough I'll be there with my family picking up Oooolga!" Helga smirked. Thinking about her sister made her grip her boyfriend's hand tightly as he lifted an eyebrow and asked.
"You didn't tell me your sister left town?"
"Pttss...do I ever mention her if the situation doesn't call for it?" Helga smirked.
"I guess not. Where did she go?" Arnold asked, feeling bad for Helga. He knew whether or not Olga cared for Helga, the two just didn't connect. They were different and had yet to find a way to look past that.
*Previous Night*
Helga's Dining Room
"Oh Helga! Your sister comes home from her beach trip this week!" Miriam exclaimed (actually sober).
Rolling her eyes at the idea of having to see Olga, Helga leaned back in her chair and listened to Bob add "What time is her bus coming in anyway Miriam?"
"5:00 B."
"Oh right right. Before she gets here, you and the girl spend the day buying party supplies to livin' up the place."
"I've got school dad!" Helga scoffed, propping her head in her hand against the table.
"Fine! Go learn. Don't be late gettin' home when you're through!" Bob warned her, as she once again rolled her eyes, not bothered by his threat.
Walk
A sad look came to Arnold's face after hearing his girlfriend's story. Not only was it bad enough Helga and her sister were highly unlikely to ever find a common ground, but her parents saw her as nothing more than an extra set of hands to keep around the house. Even more sadly, if she ever did feel any desire for attention, being seen as an extra set of hands was something she would have to consider herself lucky for.
"I'm sorry Helga. I know this isn't easy for you." Arnold sighed, as he began to rub her hand with his thumb.
Helga didn't appreciate being pitied. Her whole life was based on proving how strong she was by showing the world she didn't need anyone's help getting through the tough times that were thrown at her.
Glancing over at his sad eyes, she scoffed "You can knock off the waterworks Arnoldo! I don't need another cry baby to take care of."
A weak smile came to Arnold's face after hearing this. Although he knew how fragile she was on the inside, he would always admire her ability to keep up appearances.
Helga's House
When the two at last made it to her front porch, Arnold turned to Helga and winked "Well, I'm going to pick up your surprise now."
Rolling her eyes at his attempt to mess with her, she scoffed "And I'm going to go inside now…"
Before letting her leave, Arnold pulled her close to kiss her. Just that one moment each day of feeling his sweet lips pressed against hers with her face held in his warm hands was enough to help her overlook the downfalls in her life.
Slowly releasing her lips, he smiled and softly said "Okay, now you can go."
Helga let out a swoon, as her lovesick eyes met her beloved's half lidded eyes. Rather than turning to go inside, she watched him walk away, as he turned to wave a last goodbye to her. What would she do without someone like him in her life? Without someone so optimistic to give her a life worth living.
Rhonda's House
"Have you made a list of all the activities you feel would be appropriate for the party?" Rhonda asked Lila, as the two sat in front of her computer.
Lila held out the sheet she had skipped lunch to work on….
Complementing each other
Telling amusing stories
Be nice to one another
Rhonda rolled her eyes at the sweet girls suggestions and said "Lila, this is a party. There are standards people expect you to live up to."
"Such as?"
"Tell me, when you go to a restaurant, would you eat there if you knew you would be disappointed with the atmosphere surrounding you?"
Rather than responding, Lila continued to listen to her stuck up friend.
"How could someone enjoy a meal if they were repulsed by everything around them? Same goes for a party. Why would someone bother showing up, if they weren't guaranteed to have a good time."
"Well gosh. I hadn't considered that." Lila admitted, wondering how she could fix this.
The Crown Jewel
"Here's your order Mr. Shortman!" the jeweler said, handing Arnold Helga's gift.
"Thanks!" Arnold exclaimed, anxiously grabbing the box from the jeweler. After paying the man, he wasted no time rushing out of the store.
Standing outside the building, he opened the box and said to himself It's almost as pretty as she is.
The Boarding House
Arnold made it back to the boarding house, not taking his eyes off his girlfriend's gift. Had he not been so used to stepping to the side when opening the door, he would have surely been trampled by the stampede of pets pouring out the door.
As he walked inside, he heard a voice call out to him "That you shortman?"
Arnold walked into the kitchen to see Phil eating a roast beef sandwich. "Hey grandpa."
"Hey! Whatcha got there shortman?"
Arnold handed his grandpa the box from the jeweler. Phil opened it to see a pink diamond necklace carved into the shape of a heart with a gold chain.
"Mama Loni! Where in the heck did you get that?!" Phil exclaimed.
*San Lorenzo*
"Mm, mm, mmm! Okay...NOW I've seen everything!" Gerald shook his head, interrupting his best friend's first mutual kiss.
After being incredibly embarrassed, Helga rushed away from their romantic spot, while Arnold couldn't help but stand still and think to himself a moment. He had his parents back (or for the first time he might as well say). He had just been on a life altering adventure through a dangerous jungle; finding out he was basically a god to the hidden village in it. To top it off, he found who he thought to be his biggest rival was actually the love of his life. All this happened in such a short amount of time.
As he was about to join his parents and friends, he looked down at the spot Helga's locket had fallen before picking it up to give to her. Beside the arrow she used to dig it out of the controls with, was a pile of dirt that appeared to have something shining beneath it.
Arnold glanced down and thought to himself… The ambient is gone? What could that be?
As he bent down to dig through the pile, he came across a large pink stone that shimmered in the light of which he stood. Every time he saw that color, he was reminded of Helga.
Arnold's Kitchen
"So, I got the jeweler to shape it and make it into a necklace for her." Arnold explained, seeing a suspicious look on Phil's face.
"Hmm...okay shortman. You did get a receipt for that didn't ya? That way if things don't work out between you two, you'll have evidence showing it was yours to begin with."
Normally Arnold would roll his eyes at one of his grandpa's goofy remarks. Being too happy to care however, he continued sitting, smiling at the necklace. The week couldn't go fast enough.
Rhonda's House
"Now, here is a list of the latest entertaining party games. Any you pick from this list is sure to make this a memorable night." Rhonda said, handing Lila over the list…
New Town Trivia
Scavenger Hunt
Rotating Tour Guide
Room Memory
Housewarming Gift Game
"I'm certain I've never heard of these games Rhonda?" Lila said, with a concerned face.
Placing a hand on the sweet girl's shoulder, Rhonda grinned and said "Just leave everything to me."