It's been a long time since I wrote a story but, forgive me, if I'm a little rusty at it. I'm just getting started and I hope you stick with me till the end. Some of my stories, you might recall, I never really quite finished but, hopefully, I will have the inspiration to finish this one. Maybe it's over done but I hope you like it anyways and encourage me by leaving me a review/critique. I love the feedback! Anyways, rights of Hey Arnold belong to the Amazing Craig Bartlett and Nickelodeon. Anyone else super excited about the movie!? eeeh! Anyways, enjoy.
"I don't know how you do it Arnold. I really don't. It's like you're weirdly shaped head is some kind of chick magnet." Gerald looked behind him and his best friend to see two women giggling by their lockers and looking in their direction.
"Boy howdy, you could get any girl here if you really wanted to. I'm jealous." Sid turned to look at the two girls only for their faces to turn to disgust at the sight of Sids flirtatious wink in their direction.
"Hey, knock it off. It's not like it's a competition or something." Arnold rolled his eyes.
"Of course it is, Arnold! We're not over exaggerating! Every girl in the school wants to date you!"
"Although Sid's known for over exaggerating and taking things way out of proportion, he does make a solid point. I mean, it's true! Not one girl in this school wouldn't want to be skippin' down the hallway with you in hand." Gerald said in a sing song voice, while flicking his hand in a feminine way and dancing around Arnold. Arnold closed his locker, getting out his backpack and adjusting it over his shoulder.
"Well, even if it is true, it's not like it really matters. I'm not much of a player like you two." Arnold smiled, finding the situation funny. It was true, Gerald was a player. As for Sid, he wishes, or thinks of himself, as one. To him, a restraining order is a long distance relationship. He truly was a hopeless romantic. "I rather stay out of all that drama." Arnold started to walk to the exit, turning a corner. As he did though, someone from the opposite direction knocked into him, sending him and his backpack flying to the floor. He rubbed his head in pain, slowly opened his eyes, not bothering looking towards the person who knocked him over, knowing full well who it was.
"Sorry Helga." He said as he still stared up at the ceiling. Finally sitting up, he grabbed his backpack and looked towards the girl across from him.
"Seriously, Football Head! You really need to watch where you're going! I mean, look at this! My books are everywhere." Arnold grabbed for one of her books, a certain pink book, to help her with them. With a panicked look she quickly raised her voice, lunging for it. "Hey! I didn't say you could touch them!" She quickly snached it out of the boys hands, standing up quickly, towering over him like the prey he was. "I mean, seriously head boy! I bet that wide dome of yours must have it's own orbit! And, for some reason, I keep getting sucked in!" She blushed a little; her words taking on a different meaning than what she meant to make it sound like. "A-as in, it's becoming a real pain knocking into you all the freakin' time!"
"Sorry Helga." Arnold said guiltily. Her face flickered emotions for a short second before she just continued to snarl at him.
"Hey! You're the one who wasn't watching where you were going. I believe you owe my friend an apology."
"Sure thing, Gernaldo. Right after I paint myself blue and travel to the seven sea's with a walrus named Nicky. Now out of my way!" She pushed past the two boys, a path of fire leading its way to the exit. Sid bent down, helping Arnold up, along with his backpack. With a look of sympathy on his face, he stared after the girl that just walked out the front doors. "Man, Arnold. I feel for you. Everyday she does something to make your day more miserable than the last." Arnold started to dust himself off, grabbing his backpack from Sid, muttering him a thanks. Gerald's eyes went wide, as if coming to a realization.
"She isn't that bad, Sid."
"Not that bad?!" Sid shouted in astonishment.
"I stand corrected." Both Sid and Arnold turned their attention to Gerald.
"Huh?" Sid questioned.
"There is at least one girl that will not, in a million years, go out with Arnold." Arnold gave Gerald a confused look.
"What do you mean?"
"What else would I mean? Helga G Pataki!" Sid laughed at his remark.
"Helga Pataki? If you consider her a girl that is. She's basically a guy, wearing baggy clothes, cursing and swearing like a sailor and waving her fist in the air, always getting into fights, and let's not forget that unibrow. Sure I understand a lot of girls around here were born with them but they atleast had the decency to shave them off when they started growing boobs." Sid motioned with his hands, cupping invisible breasts on his chest. Arnold elbowed him hard at his side. "Ow, hey!"
"Sid, knock it off. You too Gerald. Helga's just being herself, you don't need to criticize her for that." Gerald put his hands up at Arnold's accusation.
"And you don't need to hit so hard. I was just joking, jeez." Sid rubbed his side, trying to sooth his pain.
"Hey, no judgement. I'm just saying that she is, in all honesty, incapable of being in a relationship with you or any other poor sap that might fall for her brute personality." Gerald started to snicker, finding his sentence hard to finish. "I mean, what guy wouldn't find a unibrow and pigtails attractive." Sid joined along.
"I-Imagine! Helga in a relationship with someone! Going gaga in love with somebody! Impossible!"
"Completely, and utterly impossible...or is it?" Gerald wrapped his arm around Arnolds neck, bringing him closer to his chest, a mischievous look on his face.
"Huh?" Arnold muttered, dumbly.
"I like where this is going." Sid said, intrigued.
"Well, it's a given fact. Every girl, and even some guys, in this school want you to put a ring on it except for Helga G Pataki. But, what do you say to a little wager?"
"Still liking where this is going." Sid rubbed his hands together. Arnold just rolled his eyes, taking Geralds arm and unwrapping it from his neck. "Well, I'm not. If this is some kind of stupid bet that could result in hurting and/or playing with someone's feelings, then I'm O.U.T. out." Arnold started to head in the direction of the front doors. Gerald just smirked, putting his hands inside his jersey pockets and followed after his oblong headed friend; Sid close behind.
"You're not even a little curious of what I have to say?"
"Nope."
"Arnold, no fun. It's simple! And, it's not like you'll be breaking any hearts. We're talking about Helga G freakin' Pataki, for goodness sakes! A wall so tall around her, humpty dumpty couldn't climb it! Besides, I have confidence you wouldn't succeed anyways." Gerald bit his lip, holding back his laugh. It's one thing he knew well; manipulation. Arnold stops, and the first pawn has already been placed. He turns around, trying his best not to look interested and, at the same time, offended.
"Really?"
"Really."
Arnold sighed. "Make it quick." He continued to walk in the same direction, Gerald and Sid still close behind.
"You have to go on one date with Helga G Pataki AND get a kiss." Arnold almost tripped over his own two feet.
"What? Gerald, that's just stupid!" Sid said from behind him. "You're sentencing him to his death."
"I'm already gonna stop you there. There is no way I would agree to that." Gerald just laughed.
"Would you two calm down? You forget, that despite all her rough edges, underneath all them baggy clothes, there's a girl. Maybe an ugly girl but, well, a girl." Arnold blushed.
"She's not 'ugly' Gerald. She's just...well, she's not ugly. And, anyways, that's not the point! Helga isn't someone to mess with, Gerald."
"All the more reason to bring her out of that hard, stubborn shell of hers."Gerald pointed out.
"I'm not following."
"Arnold, you like Helping people, right?"
"W-well, yeah. I'd say so." He shrugged.
"Well, don't you want Helga to get enough confidence to get her out of her little funk that she has and maybe start acting like the diamond in the ruff she potentially is?"
"How are this and that even related?" Arnold gave his friend a weird look.
"Think about it! You could give her the push she needs! Going out on ONE date with her would instantly make all the guys want her. I mean, if word gets out that YOU dated her, then everyone would want her and/or want to be her. She'd instantly be the talk of the school." Actually, that could happen. Arnold raised an eyebrow at his friends smart thinking.
"I...I guess that could happen."
"It most definitely could."
Arnold shook his head. "N-no, but who's to say Helga would want that kind of attention anyways? This isn't 'She's All That.' This is serious."
"Arnold, everyone wants attention, they're just too insecure to admit it." Sid added.
"I don't want attention."
"That's different, you already have attention."
"What Sid is trying to say is, in the long run, this would be good for Helga."
"No, it wouldn't. It would just get the both of us in trouble." Arnold tightened his hold on his backpack.
"Arnold, if you're too scared to do it, just say so." Arnold's eyes went half lidded in annoyance.
"I'm not scared. I'm just not stupid." Arnold made his way out the school doors, walking the direction of home.
"I gotta be honest, Arnold. I would do anything to convince you to take this bet. What happened to that bold kid I know so well? The kid who excepted every bet I gave him! Now you're all about 'responsibility' and 'thinking about the future'." Gerald said in a mocking tone.
"Yeah, well...I'm just trying to grow up a little. Maybe you could learn a thing or two?" Arnold smirked.
Oh come on, Arnold! Remember the last bet we did? You totally got me good! I just want to return the favor. Now, it's my turn! And, besides, what better things do you have to do with your time?"
"Gerald, why are you so dead set on this stupid bet?"
"Maybe I'm discovering my own good nature? I just want to help the poor, scary, ill-tempered, girl. But, maybe you're right. I guess you should know as much as anyone that Helga's a loss cause." That got Arnold's attention.
"Don't say that, Gerald. You know it's not true."
"Prove me wrong then. Unless your chicken." Sid started bawking like the sidekick he was. What an idiot, Gerald thought, wanting to roll his eyes.
"Plus, you DO remember our promise, right?" Arnold paled before he closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and let it out. Why did he have to bring that stupid promise up? They were kids...still, a promise was a promise.
"Fine." Hmm? Did he hear that right? Sid suddenly stopped bawking.
"Fine...what?"
"I'll take the stupid bet." Arnold put his hands in his pocket, a look of determination and challenge on his face.
"Well then. You're o-"
"But!" There it was. The but.
"But what, oh generous foe." Gerald mocked.
"If I win, and do succeed on taking Helga on ONE date and...the other thing...YOU have to ask out 'you know who.' Gerald gulped.
"Wait a minute. Don't you think that's a little extreme?" Arnold raised an eyebrow. Gerald cleared his throat. "Fine, fine. I'll accept, but what if you lose?"
"Name your price." Gerald smiled wide. Some of his favorite words.
"Remember those bunny PJ's?" Arnold visibly paled before he shook his head and swallowed hard.
"Deal." Gerald reached his hands out to shake Arnold's but, last second, he pulled his hand back. Arnolds look questioned his sudden action. "What now?"
"You got two weeks AND Helga can't find out about the bet or the whole deal's off."
"Gerald, that's impossible. This is Helga we're talking about. I want two months!"
"No way! I'll give you three weeks."
"One month, two weeks." They both looked dead into the other's eyes, like bulls ready to ram into each other.
"One month!" They said in unison.
"Fine."
"Fine!"
Then, they did their secret handshake to truly seal the deal. Game on.
…
"What the hell did I just do?" How could he be so stupid? He felt really stupid. He lay in bed, staring straight up into the fading bluish orange sky. He covered his face with his arm and grunted loudly. "Maybe...Gerald will forget about it tomorrow. Yeah, I mean...it's just some stupid bet. I'm probably making this into way too much of a big deal."
…
"What do you mean, you want out?"
"I don't want to do the bet. I mean, we weren't actually serious, right? We were just messing around, right?" He smiled nervously.
"Hey, Arnold." Gerald stood up from his seat at the breakfast table. He put an arm around his friend. "If you want to quit, then by all means that's your choice. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do." Arnold visibly relaxed.
"Good. Thank you Gerald, that's good to hear. Whoo, for a second there I thought I would actually have to go through with it."
"Yeah, I guess it works out for the both of us." Gerald smiled, snapping his fingers to get Sids attention. "Sid!" Sid, pulling out his satchel (a new fashion statement he was trying) took out the one and only bunny PJ's that possibly ruined a great chunk of Arnolds fourth grade life. Arnolds eyes wide, he reached out for it, trying to take it out of Sids hand.
"Ah ah ah, Arnold. You made your bed, you gotta lie in it. That's the bet, we shook on it!"
"Come on, Gerald. Please don't make me do this!"
"Hey! You DID promise and I've never seen you break your promise before." Arnold looked a bit guilty at that.
"What happened to "I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do?""
"Did you want to break your promise?" Arnold's fists clenched before he visibly relaxed.
"Fine Gerald, but get ready to lose. And, until this bet is over, we're not friends." Gerald's smile instantly disappeared.
"Woah, hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
"You made your bed, Gerald. Lie in it." Arnold crossed his arms, turning and walking away.
"This won't make me back off! And, I'm still cheering you on, even if you are mad! Good luck, buddy!"
"We're not buddies until this is over!" He yelled behind him.
"Right!" Gerald put his thumb up, even though Arnold's back was to him. "Good luck, buddy to be!"
…
Ok, ok. How was he going to go about this, exactly? He drummed his fingers on his desk; thinking hard, he was sure smoke was coming from his ears. He should probably pay attention to what Mrs. Emberds was saying about their next Creative Writing project but the pressure was on now. In all honesty, maybe he deserved this. Him and Gerald had a tendency to always put each other in ridiculous and just plain stupid situations. It all started with a stupid bet they made as kids. They both promised, in a fit of stupidity amongst each other, that, if one offered a bet with a proper bargain then the other had an obligation to accept. It was like the ultimate game truth or dare. Of course, it was just a stupid bet and, most of the things they make the other do were simple and moderately reasonable like giving yourself a wedgie or putting a 'kick me' on your back but, after a while, it got more stupid and reckless like go to school with your underwear over your pants or make a fool of yourself in front of a girl you like. That's where it stopped; after Arnold bet Gerald to do the unthinkable. True, he really regretted it but it was all in good fun...until, of course, it was Geralds turn. One rule they had, you cannot make two bets in a row. Arnold knew that this was coming but, since it was more than a year ago, he'd think that Gerald forgot all about it. Well, he was wrong and how he's paying his ultimate consequence for it. But, after thinking about it, after this whole fiasco, he didn't have to make, or experience, another stupid bet again because it would end here. A part of him had a feeling that Gerald knew this, since it was their senior year. He was sure that Gerald wanted to make the best of a truly cruel bet and, well, he accomplished just that. This really was the holy grail of all their stupid jokes over the years.
He took in a breath, finally determined to take action.
"So, I'd like you to pick your partners for the next three weeks to work on your English portfolio. Why is it a group project this year, you might ask? Well, you'll need each other to work closely together to critique, and compare and contrast your writing styles, creativity, and overall adaptability in working as a team. I swear, as a teacher, this makes me excited already to see what exactly you will all come up with! This project is worth thirty percent of your grade, so make it count who you pick. If you pick your friend, make sure their not gonna distract you." Perfect, he thought. What a better way to talk to Helga then to actually have to work with her, side by side, for close to a month. I can do this he said to himself, as he stood up; slowly walking to Helga's desk. I can do this. He stopped in front of her. I can do this.
"What do you want, paste for brains?" She said, her cheek flat against her palm and her elbow on her desk. A pencil between her lips and a glare that could kill.
"I uh…" I can't do this! "Do you have a, uh, a pencil I could borrow?"
"No." She said flatly, taking the pencil she had out of her mouth. He looked at her, then at her pencil, then back at her.
"Okey, dokey." He turned on his heel, his face suddenly feeling very hot. Okey Dokey?! Smooth, Arnold. So smooth. He heard snickering and turned his attention to Gerald and Sid holding back their laughs. Gerald gave a thumbs up to which Arnold just rolled his eyes at. Yeah, this is gonna be harder than he thought.
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