It was just an Ordinary day. Woke up, got dressed, met Gerald, rode the bus, got bullied by Helga, got to school, got bullied by Helga, went to class, got bullied by Helga, took notes, listened, got bullied by Helga, ate lunch, got bullied by Helga. Same old, same old.

It was time for Recess. Gerald left lunch early to go meet Phoebe on the Recess Court so she could tutor him. Apparently he needed to be tutored by Phoebe in a subject he already knew, which left me walking alone to walk to Recess.

Then, it happened.

You see, I had always wondered "Why Me? Why does she hate me? What made me her target? Why?"

This explained it.

And Now, I knew. I knew why, day in and day out- I had been the object of her torment.

Today was retaliation day.

I opened the double doors, and everything was the way it always had been. That, was about to change.

I saw her hanging on the monkey bars, looking for an excuse to mess with me. My very presence gave that to her.

"Well football head, you decided to join us for Recess."

"Wouldn't miss it Helga." I couldn't hide the all-knowing smile that crept onto my face. I finally had the answers she was never willing to give me.

"Criminey football head! Wipe that stupid smirk off your face."

She leaned back and hung upside down from the monkey bars. She made this too easy.

"Why? You don't like my smile, Helga?" I asked, waiting for one more verbal assault.

"Because it makes you look even more stupid that that football head of yours."

Our fight had increased the attention and even though people weren't crowded around us, we both knew they were looking at us.

"Really? I think you do" Retaliation time.

"Oh Really football head? And what makes you think that?" Helga wasn't so tough upside down, and she was actually really cute. She was also face to face with me. Maybe she always made this too easy.

"I don't know, Helga. Just a very well thought out idea." I couldn't help but smirk.

"Really? And what is this idea? And does it prevent me from putting a dent in your football head?"

"Yes Really. And This idea is a very good idea. And you would never hit me Helga, you never have."

"There's a first time for everything, football head" her eyes narrowed.

Suddenly, I felt someone grab my arm and pull me back. "Man, do you have a death wish?!" Gerald whispered in my ear

I could only laugh "Gerald, it all makes sense now."

"What? What makes sense?! You provoking Helga? Are you trying to get killed?" Gerald was in panic mode.

"Just trust me. You'll see. Just promise not to faint." I said

"Promise not to what?- Arnold!" I had ran back to confront Helga. She was exactly how I left her.

"Hey Helga."

"Hey Football Head."

"Can I tell you something?"

"What?"

"I like your bow"

"huh?"

"I like your bow cause its pink like your dress."

"Really? Good to know Arnoldo." She rolled her eyes.

"Just trying to compliment you."

"Thanks? Why this sudden change hair-boy? You come up to me confronting me and being all weird and nice. Its getting creepy."

"You know you like it"

"Oh really? Is that so?"

"Yes." I smiled knowingly

"Please, I'd rather have a route-canal football head!"

"Whatever you say, Helga"

"That's right! Whatever I say."

"So say the truth."

"Huh?"

"The truth Helga. I know what you're hiding."

"H-Hiding…? I'm not hiding anything." She sounded more nervous than convincing.

"Oh really?" it was my turn to call the shots.

"Yes REALLY football head!" That anger of her's was showing again, but this time I knew better.

"You're so cute when you're mad." I smiled, the crowd that formed around us gasped. Helga didn't know what to say. I think she couldn't move.

Finally she regained her voice "What?"

"You're so cute when you're mad, Helga." I smiled "I wish you would be honest with me."

"H-Honest?" She could barley speak. This was too much fun!

"Yep. Well, The bell is about to ring, so I got to go." I smiled. "Oh! And before I forget, I found this outside the Janitors closet on the floor."

I handed her back her gold-heart shaped locket.

"WHAT?!" she screamed in pure horror! "How? What? When? Who? Where?" She couldn't think straight.

It was hard not to smile. I grabbed her upside down face and planted a sweet, gentle but lingering kiss on her lips. "Bye Helga, Cya in class."

Their classmates couldn't hide their shock

"WHILIKERS!"

"Simply Unbelievable!"

"He's A Dead Man!"

"Boy Howdy!"

"AHH MOMMY!"

"…That's Ever So Cute..."

"I… Helga?"

"Did Arnold Just…"

*BOOM!* Gerald fainted.

Helga hung upside down, holding her locket, unmoving.

Arnold knew the damage was done. But He had been waiting so long to tell her his feelings too.

3