"And...I know. I mean...what if I say it and he says no?"
"How can he say no to you like-linking him? It's how you feel Helga. He can't say no to your feelings!"
"I know...It's just..." and she keeps babbling. On and on. The same thing I have heard since I was three years old. Oh I like Arnold, OH, I want to have him. But what if I can't get him? Well you sure as heck won't if you don't tell him. It's high school already and you can't even get one word out to him? I HAVE HAD IT! AH! I spot Arnold and I can see him looking at her, his eyes all googly. I know the look. Gerald gives it to me all the time. It's utterly sweet coming from him but from Arold, it's just plain sad.
"All right! I have had ENOUGH!" I grab Helga's hand fast-too fast for her to speak and march her over to Arnold. "Arnold-she likes you! Helga-he likes YOU! Now can you just get married and have those zillions of babies already?" Arnold and Helga look at each other, doughy eyed and confused. He smiles first, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as Helga starts to smile herself.
"Hey Arnold! Did you catch what Mr-" I push my suddenly interrupting Gerald onto the lockers and shush him, dolling out my best "Do-it-and-die," face before pointing to them. He looks on-too shocked to speak.
"Wait...you actually like me?" Helga asks accusingly.
"And you...like me?"
"Yea well...don't go thinking I'll be easy on you now." Arnold half-lids his eyes.
"Nope, wouldn't hear of it."
"Oh...so...um...I guess we should...um...get pizza?"
"Is this a date?" Arnold asks, brow bouncing. Helga blushes but soon regains composure.
"Well, I'm not going to eat by myself Football head! Criminy! What kind of boyfriend are you? Now I like my pizza with pepperoni and my Yahoo soda always full! Got it? Or is your head too big to hold anything in?"
"Nope, I think it's just big enough for whatever you can throw at me. Your books M'Lady?" Arnold bows with his hand out to hold her books. Helga blushes again, my heart fluttering with excitement for her.
"Just don't drop anything Arnoldo! These are the thoughts of Helga G. Pataki and I expect them in PRISTINE conditions for..." Arnold smiles at her as he gently gathers her things, and her hand. They walk off, Helga still jabbering, Arnold still blissful. Ah...FINALLY!
"Ok, what in the hell was that?" My Gerald asks.
"Oh nothing. Just life as it should be."
"But..."
"Come on, Dad's invited you to dinner and I thought maybe you'd like to 'study' before we eat."
"Well..." Gerald sighs suggestively, "I have been slacking in our anatomy class." I giggle.
"My star subject." And with that we gather our backpacks and leave.