Monday
He tentatively grabbed her hand while she was distracted watching their best friends walk to school hand in hand. It took her a while to snap. Arnold could have sworn he saw her smile before charging ahead.
As he sped up to catch with her, he confirmed his suspicions. Helga was smiling.
Tuesday
Mr. Simons skipped the usual summer break essay since they have spent most of the time together anyway, and some would rather bury these memories. Arnold, on the other hand, felt his heart warm up whenever he thought about them. He decided to shoot Helga a smile; she had to know how happy he was.
This time, she smiled back before looking away.
Wednesday
After school, the kids went to Gerald's Field for their first baseball game as six graders. Arnold always found Helga's physical skills impressive. Now, he couldn't help but notice other qualities of her. Like how cute her focused expression was, or how her hair shone under the sunlight.
Helga caught him staring. More than once. Rather than avoiding her gaze, Arnold kept his eyes on hers. That inevitably led to her mumbling something under her breath, her cheeks pink as her bow.
He always had a thing for her bow.
Thursday
The fact that he kept glancing over his shoulder from time to time during history class was definitely a bad sign. History was his favorite! His thoughts kept getting invaded by a certain pig-tailed girl, which looked pretty bored sitting behind him.
He felt someone tap him on the shoulder, then a note fell on his desk.
Pay attention to class. Doi.
Friday
When Helga G. Pataki closed her locker that Friday evening, paying half attention to Phoebe's hearty description of some movie she and Gerald were going to watch later, she was surprised by a familiar football-headed boy.
"Hey, Helga."
"What do you want, hair boy?"
"Well, I was wondering…" He started, his embarrassment showing through a light blush. Phoebe took that as her cue to leave. "Since it's Friday and everything…"
"Spit it out, Football-Head. What is it?" She looked annoyed, but that didn't discourage him. In fact, he was expecting that. Helga wouldn't soften up overnight. Still, something in his heart told him he would be able to reach her… eventually.
"Would like to get some ice-cream? With me? Slausen's?"
The words came a bit too fast, but Helga understood every syllable. "What are you getting at? Are you trying to ask me out?"
"Well…" His blush only darkened. "Yes?"
For a second, her familiar scowl was there. Then, she sighed. "Oh Arnold… you're so sweet, you know that? And I'm… sour."
"No, Helga, you're not. You're just…" He was looking for the right word. "...bitter." Arnold's face lit up with a smile, as if he somehow figured it all out. "And love is bittersweet."
Arnold could fill a book with reasons why he and Helga could have a great partnership. Nonetheless, three words were enough. He could see it in her eyes that knew it, too.
"So, Slausen's you said? What the heck, I might have time. You're paying, right? Nothing on the cheap, ya know."
"Whatever you say, Helga."