I've made a recent discovery with this story. Each chapter is supposed to be one day of the week. An extra day got squeezed in the first week however. You'll have to view Chapter 1 as Monday and Chapter 6 as Friday.
Also, I haven't received many reviews on this story. I uploaded it quickly, rather than waiting day by day to do it. I see several people read it on my profile, but no one feels the need to review.
I would love to hear more opinions about this story.
Also, it's been pointed out to me that it's 'Criminy' not 'Crimity' already, so no need to mention that lol.
Thank you all for reading my stories. I hope you enjoy them :)
Chapter 1: Let's Get Something Straight
Helga got up one morning for school, thinking about how much had changed between her and Arnold since their trip to San Lorenzo. Ever since that moment Arnold confessed he had found himself to have feelings for her as well, they had been spending more time together, but weren't officially in a relationship.
That morning was the first day of their senior year of high school. Their last three years of grade school together, Arnold held doors for Helga, bought her lunch, sat beside her on the bus, walked with her to school, and every other possible loving gesture he could think of. While Helga was in heaven through it all, she couldn't let go of her reputation. Although nearly every kid in their class had noticed Arnold and Helga's 'friendly' behavior, she couldn't give in to the idea of letting the class think she had gone soft. Arnold, being the patient person that he was, let her express her feelings towards him in her usual negative behavior all the way up through their junior year.
After she got dressed, Helga headed downstairs to find her mom passed out at the counter.
"Mom...Mom...MIRIAM!" She screamed. "Oh, I'm awake honey," her mom said, eyes half opened. "Mom, it's my first day of twelfth grade, and I can't find the notebooks I bought for my classes?!" Helga scowled. "Ohh, I remember seeing them last night sweetie. Ummm let's see?" Miriam began searching the house, as Helga rolled her eyes.
Bob came downstairs as the two continued searching. "Well, I'm off to work Miriam! Let me just grab my things." Helga stopped Bob before he could make it out the door, "What are those in your hand?" Helga asked irritably. "Oh, I wrote down my plans for the new cell phone commercial when the store re-opens. Now that people aren't as interested in beepers, I spent the night writing up ideas on how to advertise our new electronic devices." Bob said proudly. "I needed those notebooks for school today!" Helga responded angrily. "Oh, sorry Olga… gotta go Miriam."
Helga left the house frustrated as usual with her home life. Grade school with her family was hardly tolerable, and it didn't look as though high school would end any differently. Phoebe was waiting at the corner near the bus stop for Helga. "Good morning, Helga. Excited about the first day of our senior year?" asked Phoebe.
"Well, I'm going to be walking in there with no notebooks to write down any information we're given on, so no." said Helga angrily. Phoebe then gave Helga some paper as they entered the bus, and Helga's mind was at peace… for a moment.
At the back of the bus, Helga saw Arnold sitting with Gerald. When Phoebe saw Helga hesitate to sit, she knew something had to have happened between the two. She and helga took a seat towards the front, as Helga crouched down low in the seat. Phoebe whispered to Helga, "Is everything okay?" Helga, not sitting up, whispered back, "I don't want him to see me." Phoebe asked confusingly, "I thought things were going well between you two?" Helga sat quietly for a moment, until she said, "I think I might have ruined things."
Phoebe continued to listen as Helga went on. "After all that time we spent together, I still wouldn't let him say we were 'in a relationship.' At first I thought he just kissed me in San Lorenzo out of gratitude, so I didn't get my hopes up. Then, when it was our first day back at school after that, he tried to hold my hand. That's when I knew it was more than a thank you. I couldn't get over my insecurities however, and refused to let him do it. Ever since then, I've let him spend time with me, but not enough to let people know how we feel about each other. Now here it is the first day of our senior year, and I'm worried he may have lost interest. I'm worried I kept things too level between us, and he is ready to move on."
Phoebe responded empathetically, "Well, is that what 'you' want; to just be friends with him? You've claimed to love him for years Helga, but when he finally reciprocated those feelings, you weren't willing to show your passionate side."
Helga sighed, "I never wanted to be that way around him Pheebs. I just couldn't let go of my rough side."
"Well, if you want to make sure you don't lose him, you may have to."
The bus then stopped in front of H.S. 118. All the kids got off, except Helga. She sat, waiting for Arnold to pass her, hoping to get the strength to stop him. As she reached out to stop Arnold, the driver turned and noticed her. He yelled, "Everyone off the bus!" She then got up, and headed for class.
All through her classes, Helga worried Arnold had lost interest in her, and that she was probably the last thing on his mind. In her poetry class Helga listened to her teacher tell the class how the most inspirational poems come straight from something the writer is passionate about. This made Helga think about all the poems she had written back in grade school. All the notebooks she had filled with poems about Arnold, after sitting in class, staring at his football shaped head all day. The fake school books she created with sculptures of him inside. Her daydream was then interrupted by the bell.
As Helga met Phoebe in the hall, the two of them headed to the cafeteria for lunch. "So," said Phoebe, "how are you enjoying your classes Helga?" "I've yet to be amused," said Helga sarcastically. Then, she spotted Arnold and Gerald sitting together. As Helga sat, Phoebe noticed Helga unable to take her eyes off of Arnold. "Perhaps this is the moment to take the opportunity to go and tell him how you feel?" asked Phoebe.
"Are you kidding?! Not with Geraldo, and the rest of this public affiliation!" scowled Helga. Phoebe sighed, as the two of them ate their lunches. Then, Helga noticed another girl approaching Arnold. Her eyes widened, as she said to Phoebe, "I'll be back Pheebs, I'm going to go clear my tray."
As Helga stood behind the trash can, she heard Arnold talking to the new girl who had approached him. "Hi, my name's Amanda. Do you remember what our English assignment was?"
Helga did not take her eyes off the two of them, as Arnold replied, "Oh yeah, we are supposed to read and answer the review questions at the end of chapter one." "Thank you just ever so much," Amanda replied.
As Amanda walked away, Gerald shook his head and asked, "Remind you of anyone we know?". "She does seem a lot like Lila," Arnold admitted. "Speaking of familiar characters, what's up with you and Helga G. Pataki? No one's been able to figure out if you two are friends, dating, in a semi-abusive relationship or what?" Gerald insisted on knowing.
Helga's eyes widened as much as they could, as she heard Arnold say, "I don't know to be honest. I thought she loved me, and after she helped me find my parents, it made me think about the feelings I have for her. Then when we got the chance to show each other how we both felt, she didn't seem as interested."
"Mmm, mmm, mmm, well she has always been a complex character. One minute she was offering to help you win the trip to San Lorenzo, the next she was repulsed by the idea of you touching her there?!" Gerald said confusingly.
"I know, but I don't think she's ever as angry as she appears to be. I think she's just trying to cover up her own insecurities. From what I've learned these past few years, she does have a pretty tough home life." Arnold said sympathetically.
Helga tried holding back tears of regret as she thought about the way she had let her reputation take control of her and caused her to treat Arnold.
"So, what are you going to do my friend?" asked Gerald curiously.
"I guess I'll just have to talk to her after school; find out how she really feels about us. Only this time, I won't be so lenient about her aggressive behavior." said Arnold.
Helga ran off as she saw Arnold approaching the trash can. As she scattered, she thought to herself, "Okay, if I truly want to be with Arnold, I have to let go of my reputation. I'll see him after school and prove my feelings for him."
Once classes were over, Helga waited by her locker for Arnold to pass. Phoebe saw her looking anxious, knowing what she must be waiting to do. "Good luck Helga," Phoebe whispered. It was then Arnold passed. Helga followed, but when she made it outside, he was nowhere in sight. Helga's head lowered to the ground, thinking about how she had blown her chance to make things right. Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around, and there was Arnold.
"Arnold! I mean, don't creep up on me like that football head!" she exclaimed. "Sorry Helga," Arnold grinned, "do you want to go for a walk?" he asked. Helga paused a moment, thinking about how he may be ready to end things between them. "Uhh sure." she said.
"So, how were your classes," asked Arnold. "No more exciting than last year." Helga said, wishing he would just get to the point.
"It's too bad we don't have any together, huh?" Arnold said, hoping her response would imply how she felt about him. "Yeah, I guess it is." Helga said, unsure of whether his feelings for her were now just platonic.
"Would you like to come back to my place for awhile? We haven't really had a chance to talk about 'us' these past few months." said Arnold nervously. Helga was both relieved and petrified. She was finally getting the chance to tell Arnold how much he meant to her, but he might not feel the same way. It was like grade school all over again. "Sounds good." she said.
They arrived at Arnold's place, and as usual, couldn't open the door without twenty pets passing them. "Sheesh Arnoldo! Where do all these lame animals come from?!" exclaimed Helga. "Well, most of the borders have their own pets, the rest just sort of invited themselves to live here." said Arnold embarrassingly. "Oh brother." Helga said, while thinking to herself, you're blowing your chance to prove you have a soft side!
"Hey grandpa!" Arnold waved at Phil as the two passed by the kitchen. "Hey shortman! Hey shortman's girlfriend!" Both Arnold and Helga blushed. "So, you two hanging out tonight?" asked Phil. "Uhh, yea. We'll be upstairs." said Arnold. "Alright, have fun!" said Phil.
As Arnold took Helga up to his room, she thought the whole way to herself, okay, no matter what happens, do NOT get angry! Arnold opened the door, and brought Helga inside. Even before he found out her feelings for him, she had seen it several times before.
Stealing back her pink book of poems Arnold had found on the bus; stealing back Bob's parrot that memorized Helga's loving poem about Arnold; stealing back her recorded cassette on which she confessed her love to him...
She made herself comfortable on his bed and asked, "So football head, what did you want to talk about?"
She waited nervously for Arnold to answer, knowing she had already made a mistake with her insulting name for him. "Well Helga," Arnold said softly, "I wanted to find out how you really feel about me?"
Helga tugged at her shirt, as she asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about how for the past seven or eight years now, we've known about the feelings we claim to have for each other, but are too scared to act on them." Arnold replied.
"Scared? I'm not scared of anything Arnoldo!" Helga wanted desperately to tell Arnold all she ever wanted was to be near him. While she was brave enough to face the troubles of tearing down the neighborhood, and the dangers of San Lorenzo, she wasn't brave enough to face her own true feelings.
"Helga, you kissed me in grade school. You let me kiss you. You let me do practically everything a boyfriend does for a girlfriend for you. You just wouldn't let me say we were boyfriend and girlfriend. We're nearly through with high school now. I have to know, are you or are you not my girlfriend?" Arnold insisted on knowing.
Helga sat on the bed, staring at the floor. If she didn't give up her foolish pride, she would lose Arnold forever. Every moment of her life she had dedicated to dreaming of a life with him would be wasted if she wasn't willing to give in to her emotions that he obviously already knew about.
Arnold walked closer as he said, "If you have to think that hard about it, I must not be. So I gue…" Before he could finish, Helga pulled him close to kiss him. Arnold tried to pull away to finish what he was saying. Instead, Helga pulled Arnold onto the bed and wouldn't let go. Arnold was then reminded of the dominant personality Helga possessed. While it was an excuse for her behavior, it wasn't a solution to their problem.
Arnold pulled off Helga's shirt. Rather than wearing her pink dress and white turtleneck, she now wore a pink silk shirt and jeans. She let out a love sick grin followed by a familiar phrase, "Hey! Who said you could touch me?!" scowled Helga. Arnold sighed as he looked at Helga laying there. He pulled her up and took the bow off her head. Her hair fell down the side of her face. As the two remained silent, Arnold took the bow and tied Helga's hands behind her back. "Is that too tight?" he asked.
Helga looked at him confused, as she responded, "No, but what are you doing?"
"Helga, I think the problem between us is your insecurity. The thought of rejection terrifies you, so you feel the need to reject others before they have the chance to do it to you." Arnold said.
"Okayyy, whether or not that's true, what does that have to do with you tying me up like this, football head?!" she scowled.
"We spent a lot of time together, but we never actually talked about our feelings for each other. I think because you were afraid for us to get too close to each other. Now we can talk without you being able to run away from your emotions." said Arnold happily.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Helga scowled. Arnold kissed her passionately, as she laid there feeling vulnerable. He took off his shirt and asked her, "What is it that makes you feel the need to act so aggressive?"
Helga sighed as she said, "Arnold, I've told you how angry my family makes me." As Helga began to turn away from him, he faced her towards him to kiss her again as he said, "That can't be your only reason for acting as angrily as you do?"
"If I tell you why, you better untie me!" she scowled. "We'll see." Arnold smiled. Helga rolled her eyes as she began to remind Arnold of their first day of preschool. She reminded him of how sweet he was to her; sharing his umbrella, complimenting her outfit, sharing his graham crackers, etc. When he did all that, the other kids noticed how flattered she was, and began to make fun of her. It was then she knew, she couldn't let anyone know there was a soft side to her (especially not around Arnold).
After telling Arnold this, he kissed her again and said, "You didn't have to hide your feelings from me. No one else's opinion but mine mattered." Helga jumped in and said, "That's it though! I didn't know what your opinion of me was. You could have made fun of me, just like the rest of the kids!" exclaimed Helga.
Arnold took off her pants as he said, "I don't think I would have been brave enough to make fun of you. If I'm remembering that day correctly, I would have had to answer to 'old betsy' and 'the five avengers.'" Helga blushed as she tried to keep herself from smiling.
Arnold began kissing Helga again, as she laid there thinking to herself. I've never felt so powerless, but at least he still has feelings for me.
As Arnold reached behind her back to unhook her strapless bra, something fell out of it. "You still have this?" he said curiously. It was Helga's locket with Arnold's picture inside. "What's it look like football head?" she said while blushing. Arnold smiled at the locket, as he said to her, "I remember when my grandpa found this, thinking it was a gift from my grandma. We never could get it open." Then, as Arnold sat there fidgeting with the clasp, the locket opened.
"Hey! It opened!" Arnold exclaimed. "Oh no, this is it!" thought Helga. She turned away, as Arnold read the inscription inside the locket. "Arnold my love, you are always in my heart, love Helga G. Pataki!"
Arnold paused for a moment, then said, "I guess this means everything you said to me that night really was true." "Night? What night?" said Helga.
"The night you confessed your feelings to me on the roof of the FTi building?" Arnold reminded her. Helga laid there embarrassed. She couldn't believe how defenseless she felt. Finally, she said, "I thought we agreed that was just me getting caught up in the heat of the moment?"
"Well, was it?" Arnold asked anxiously. "Come on Arnold, just untie me. I think enough emotions have been revealed for one night." Helga said sadly.
"Helga we need to settle this once and for all. Being in a relationship means not being afraid to be honest with one another, which you clearly are." Arnold pointed out.
Helga turned to look at him as her eyes began to water. "Fine, I admit it. I've loved you my whole life. You can't blame me for hiding my feelings however. The few times I did confront you about them, you came up with a lame excuse to forget it ever happened!" Helga exclaimed, as Arnold stared at her quietly.
"You're right, I wasn't ready to hear it. The news was just such a shock. When we both knew the truth however, that was your chance to let go of your insecurity, and our chance to start over." Arnold said softly. Helga looked at him full of regret for the way she had acted all those years. As she began to apologize, Arnold put his hands on her breasts. Finally, instead of having his picture up against them, she had him. He leaned in and kissed her, as she laid there thinking. While the vulnerability that was being forced upon her was embarrassing, it was a relief to finally be able to be open and honest with Arnold.
They smiled at each other, as Arnold said, "So you were pretty obsessed with me, huh?"
Helga glared at him, as she said, "You know, you're going to have to untie me at some point."
Arnold continued smiling as he responded, "I just think it's sweet."
"That I was obsessed with you?" Helga questioned.
"That you were as creative as you were about it." said Arnold.
Helga gave him a questioning look as she asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well looking back," Arnold began, "You said on FTi, you'd been stalking me, writing poems about me, and building shrines in your closet to me."
Helga blushed heavily, not believing he had remembered all of that. "Oh, you didn't really take all that seriously did you, football head?!" she said nervously.
"Helga, we're sitting here being open with each other; you might as well be honest with me about that too." Arnold insisted.
"You're being open, I'm being held captive!" Helga pointed out.
After a moment of silence, Helga saw it was her chance to take back her anger and overcome her insecurities.
"If you must know however, yes, it was all true." she said hesitantly.
Arnold let out a huge smile. It was wonderful seeing her finally open up to him. "I'm assuming that's where all the footage for the San Lorenzo video came from… you stalking me over the years?" Arnold laughed.
Helga struggled to let loose. Being open with him was one thing, having all her secrets revealed at once, was so overwhelming. "Okay, you got me. We can forget about it now." She insisted.
"I don't want to forget about it Helga. You're the whole reason I found my parents. You and your dominant yet passionate personality are the reason we've accomplished so much together." said Arnold.
Helga laid there unresponsive, feeling more and more defeated with every secret that was revealed.
"I've yet to see that exclusively high numbered volume of books you wrote about me," Arnold started, "but I'm assuming every time Mr. Simmons read an 'anonymous' poem in the classroom, it was by you, about me?"
Arnold turned Helga's face towards his, as she remained quiet. He gave her a long, passionate kiss. "I thought they were beautiful; almost as beautiful as the person who wrote them." He said.
Helga smiled a moment, forgetting she was tied up. She and Arnold looked into each other's eyes, knowing they were meant for each other. He held her breasts as he kissed her deeply, happy he was finally able to see this side of her. The side he knew she possessed, but was never brave enough to show.
As Arnold released his lips, he kept his head against Helga's. "You know what I have to ask about next right?" Arnold asked with a slight grin. Helga's eyes widened, as she started to pull away.
Arnold stopped her, as he kissed her again and said, "You've told me almost everything, don't be embarrassed now." Helga sighed and said, "Every week or so, I'd find a new way to create a figure of you to keep in my closet."
Arnold let out a small laugh, as he said, "Tell me all about it." Helga rolled her eyes, as she said, "Oh shut up Arnoldo," insisting they had shared enough information.
Arnold smiled as he looked at her and said, "I'm sorry you felt vulnerable sharing information with me, but it was the only way to make our 'relationship' work. We couldn't continue not seeing other people, while pretending to not be with each other. We had to decide how much we meant to each other, and you clearly couldn't share your feelings on your own."
Helga sighed and said, "Alright, you win. Starting tomorrow I won't be afraid to let everyone know we're in a relationship." Arnold grabbed Helga's shoulders to sit her up. As he reached to untie the bow, she grabbed his hand to stop him. "Arnold wait…"
"What is it?" he asked. Helga looked down ashamed as she said to him, "I don't hate being open with you, I'm just used to being in charge of things. My family's always ignored me, I've never cared to be like the other girls at school. I couldn't let anyone know their opinions of me mattered. Imagine how I would have felt if I did, and then you rejected me on top of all that?!" she exclaimed.
Arnold smiled at her honesty, then finished undressing himself as he walked over to his desk. "My grandpa is so goofy. Look what he gave me, for my birthday last year." Helga looked up to find Arnold holding a box of condoms. "I guess he knew what he was doing." said Arnold.
"It's only if you want to Helga." Arnold asked questionably. "When you grabbed and started kissing me, I knew you weren't afraid to show your physical feelings. I don't want to however, if you still can't show me your emotional feelings."
Helga smiled and said, "I'm 'emotionally' ready when you are."
Arnold got ready; as he laid on top of Helga kissing her, he thought about how he never would have guessed she would turn out to be the girl he fell in love with. He thought about the negative attention she gave him when they were kids, and while it was negative, it was more attention than any other girl had ever paid towards him.
Helga laid there amazed at what was happening. All her life, she had waited for this moment. It turned out to be better than she imagined, because she was able to open up to him emotionally. Finally, they had no secrets from each other, and were going to be a real couple. She no longer had to worry about the idea of someone stealing him, or keep hiding her sensitive side, because he at last knew about it.
Arnold began to rub her breasts, as he continued kissing her. He thought about how strange it was that 'he' was finally the dominant one. After realizing that, he put his right arm behind her head to kiss her harder, and the other around her waist to pull her closer.
Helga laid there thinking about how strange it was that her dream was coming true, but her aggressive side couldn't be shown. In her fantasies about being with Arnold, he was the one who needed her. Now she was the one tied up, and he was doing all the work. It was something she would have to get used to; not always being in charge of things.
When he finally released their lips, Arnold looked at Helga a moment, then asked, "Are you ready?" Helga smiled at him, and nodded her head. At that moment, it didn't matter to her who was in charge.
Arnold took her legs to spread them. She laid there thinking about how different things would be between them the next day. Then her thoughts were interrupted by a slight sting.
Before she had time to let out a response, Arnold grabbed her head to kiss her. His tongue was as far inside her as his member was. He laid on top of her, thinking to himself, even though it's nice to be in charge for once, her dominance is one of the things I love most about her.
Helga wrapped her legs around Arnold, pulling him tight as she could. He put his arms around her waist, and pulled her in closer. They were almost out of breath, but couldn't let go of each other.
Helga finally gave into the idea of being vulnerable, as she took her legs off Arnold. When they released their lips, Arnold wrapped his arms under Helga's, and pulled her chest up against his. He laid on top of her, as she sat her head on his.
When the two caught their breath, Arnold looked at Helga and said, "I love you, and don't want you to be afraid of what anyone thinks of us."
Helga smiled as she responded, "I do have to admit, it was nice not having to be the one to give orders for once."
Arnold laughed, as he untied her. She responded, "It's about time, football head!"
He smiled and said, "We'll work on that next."
"One step at a time, Arnoldo!" said Helga.
Despite how neglectful Helga's family was towards her, she knew they must be wondering where she was by that point. The two of them started to get dressed, and saw each other through new eyes. Arnold kissed Helga goodbye before she could leave his room, as she said to him, "Thank you for loving me as much as you do. I'm sorry I wasn't willing to open up to you before."
Arnold smiled at her, as he replied, "I'm just happy we're finally together."