The Shrine Maiden's Folly

By

PennyBlue

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my 06' Hyundai and laptop. Hey Arnold belongs to Craig Bartlett. I'm just messing with his characters. MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

Summary: Arnold and Helga get stuck together for a science project. HxA.

Short Note: This short story takes place between the first movie and "TJM." I'd like to say two weeks or so after the April Fool's Day episode and before The Journal.

Part I: Karma is a Bitch

"Criminy! What is this crap?" –Helga G. Pataki

"Mr. Simmons is out to get you Arnold," said Gerald without hesitation, "how else can you explain being paired up with Helga G. Pataki again?" He made sure he enunciated the last part for good measure.

The blonde glanced away from his friend and back down to the concrete steps of the boarding house's stoop. He had to admit to himself that the odds of Helga and him getting paired together so much were unlikely, but no reason came as to why a teacher would do it on purpose.

"You're just being paranoid, Gerald. He picked the science project pairs randomly; Mr. Simmons said so himself," stated Arnold objectively, "Besides, I'm positive that Helga and I can work together. As you said, we have done projects together before." It felt like he was convincing himself more than he was his friend.

The tall-haired boy frowned slightly, "I worry about you man. I really do. Do you not remember what you went through on April Fool's Day?"

"Of course I do but I got her back at the dance," he thought back to April Fool's Day when Helga pretended she was blind from Arnold's grandfather's "special box." After Gerald overheard Helga telling Phoebe her prank, they devised a plan that caused the pink-bowed girl to be thrown into the gym pool after a rough tango with Arnold.

"Yeah, yeah," Gerald waved the remark off, "she still got the last laugh though."

"Well you can't deny that she hasn't bullied me at all since then," Arnold pointed out as he picked up a small rock off the step and chunked it at the garbage can across the street. It was true. Helga, the bully of PS 118, hadn't called him any names, spit paper balls, or done anything to him in the past couple of weeks. He wouldn't tell Gerald, but he was secretly glad to get this opportunity to talk to Helga and see what was going on.

"Whatever you say man. Maybe she has turned over a new leaf, but maybe," he paused for good measure,"...maybe it's just the calm before the storm." Gerald leaned in front of the blond boy with his hands waving in the air to add dramatic flair to his words.

Arnold rolled his eyes, "I'll never understand your pessimism towards people, Gerald."

The tall-haired boy stood up from his best friend's side and started walking down the steps towards the sidewalk. He took in a breath before turning around and saying, "It's your optimism about Helga that I don't understand. She has been mean to you since you've known each other, yet you still defend her. Sometimes I wonder..."

Gerald paused for a moment. He knew not to let that thought escape his lips lest he wanted to travel into uncharted territory. Looking back down at his expectant friend, whose eyes were questioning him, the boy opted for a scapegoat. He grabbed his bag at the bottom of the stoop before continuing, "..what I meant to say was I wonder what Eugene has planned for tonight. I hope he doesn't want to do a science project on the physics of rhythmic dance or something like that."

Arnold stared at his friend for a moment. Deciding not to push the reason for the sudden subject change, the blonde wiped the dust off his pants and stood up. Gerald obviously looked uncomfortable with his thought. "Well I guess I'd better head inside, Helga is supposed to be here in an hour. I'll see ya tomorrow at school."

"Alright Arnold, good luck tonight," Gerald said as he was putting the backpack on his shoulders, "you're gonna need it."

The blonde chuckled, "I think you're going to need the luck this time, Gerald. After all, Eugene isn't known for being careful." It was a well known fact that Eugene was the biggest klutz in PS 118.

"Heh, don't remind me." They laughed.

The two boys's smiled as they lifted their hands to initiate their secret handshake before Gerald walked down the street away from the boarding house. The other boy watched his departure for a minute before turning towards the door.

"Everything will be ok. I just know it," Arnold mumbled quietly to himself before turning the knob and entering the brick building.

A couple of blocks away, a certain pig-tailed girl was twirling around her bedroom gracefully.

"Oh Arnold, how wonderful fate truly is to have brought us together once again," she said to herself with a dream-like glimmer in her eyes. Some higher power had to be taking pity on her to allow such a wondrous occasion to occur. Getting to spend time with Arnold alone was a rare commodity; much less being invited into his home for a few hours. Even if it was only because of a stupid science project, Arnold had still invited her over! Her decision to avoid him for the past two weeks was finally paying off. Hooray for karma!

Reaching a hand down her shirt, she pulled out her most precious item – her locket. It wasn't just any locket; it was the locket that contained a picture of her beloved football-head. Running a lone finger down his face, she sighed again happily.

Decidedly, she leaped around again clutching the locket to her chest in pure bliss whispering dazedly to herself, "You and I together again at last, alone in your room for a few hou...RIIIIIINNNNGGGG!"

The sudden noise surprised the young girl, causing her to lose balance and land on the floor roughly.

"Criminy! Miriam do you plan on getting the phone," Helga questioned loud enough hopefully for her mother to hear.

RING! RING!

Still lying uncomfortably on the rug in the middle of her room, Helga growled. Either her mom was too buzzed on smoothies or her parents went off somewhere without telling (probably just forgot). She bet the later of the two options.

Ring! Ring!

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Hold your horses, sheez!"

Lifting herself swiftly off of the floor, she placed her locket back underneath her shirt and walked to phone next to her bed.

After sitting down on the bedside, she lifted the phone to her ear, "Hello?"

There was a slight pause on the other end of the line. Helga sighed in annoyance, "Listen pal, I don't have all day. Spit it out or I'm hanging up!"

"Wait!" the voice pleaded from receiver, "it's me Arnold."

Arnold! Why would he be calling her now? She was just about to leave for his house, so why would he call her? Helga started winding her fingers around the phone cord anxiously.

"Calm down old girl. He is probably calling to remind me to show up. It's not like he is going to confess his undying love for me or anything. I wish..."

On the other end of the line, Arnold was waiting for Helga to either hang up the phone or yell at him for bothering her. When neither of those things happened, he decided to continue, "Anyway, we have a slight problem."

Helga, coming out of her mental love fest, responded," What kind of problem football-head? I don't have all day ya know."

Arnold sighed. The old Helga was back, but that wasn't the pressing issue, "Well Helga, you can't come over to my house."

"WHAT!?"

Author Notes: Whoot! Cliffhanger! Not really but I'm trying to keep each part around a 1000 words each since this is supposed to be a "short story". This is my first Hey Arnold fic, so I hope I'm doing alright. Anyway, comment and critique if you like. Just don't flame me please.