A/N: Meesa saysa hisa tosa yousa,

Yeah... so this is just something o' mine that's been beggin' to be posted for a while. Thought I'd get the first chapter up. I've yet to start the second or any other future chapters, and I'm not planning on doing so until I've finished Hypnotizing Helga. I just thought I'd post it up so you guys can enjoy the first chapter. It's lookin' like it's gonna make it to at least six chapters. It's gonna be in Gerald, Phoebe and most of their classmates' perspectives, and takes place after the Jungle Movie so Arnold and Helga have a thing. What kind of thing? That's what their classmates are trying to figure out. Just enjoy...

Disclaimer: Meesa nosa ownsa Hey Arnold!...-sa. Meesa sadsa. =(

Behind the Act

"Let me back this up a bit... Helga confesses she loves you, we go to find your parents and you realize she's your soul-mate and that you're in love with her and seal it with a kiss..." He snickered a bit at the memory of what happened next, "And... then I walk in on you right in the middle... of you two..." He couldn't help it! He burst into laughter. After a moment, He gasped for breath, and attempted to finish his recap before he lost himself in the irresistible urge to laugh again, "Right in the middle of you two practically making out!" Gerald chuckled a bit more.

"We were not making out! It was just a friendly kiss to prove my feelings were true. Plus she really seems to have a thing for... um... kissing me." He blushed a bit at his last comment and averted his eyes from the darker boy.

"Arnold, man..." He fought to control his laughter, "You dipped her back and practically shoved your tongue down her throat! Besides I didn't ev-"

"Gerald! We. were. not. making. out." He gave his friend a stern look as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Whatever you say, man. But like I was saying, I didn't even get to the best part!" He laughed softly for a moment, "So then I'm standing there and you drop her on the ground in shock! Then your just standing there with your eyes all bugged out and Helga is threatening to pulverize me, so finally I ask you what was going on and then... what did you say again...?" He knew perfectly well what his poor friend's excuse was, but it was always much more fun hearing him say it.

Arnold sighed in defeat. "I told you that she had a mosquito on her lip and I was just trying to kill it." Arnold winced as soon as the laughter came. He sighed again as they made their way to school. This had been going on ever since they got back from San Lorenzo. Yes, he had found his parents. After nine long years of wishing and dreaming, he had found them. Of course he couldn't have done it without the help of Gerald... or Helga.

Now there was the mystery. He had never understood Helga, but he did know that she wasn't as bad as she let on. He knew she was afraid of being herself. But he never quite understood why she was the way she was. He knew Big Bob wasn't the best father and he knew her mother hardly paid her any mind... or had any mind to pay for that matter. And he knew she had a sister that she absolutely loathed. She had proved that to be true several times. She had also proved that she cared greatly about what happened to her perfect older sister, blow-hard dad, and brain-dead mother.

She had a heart despite it all. But he still didn't quite get why she had to act so cruel. He always thought it to be because she was just covering up for her own insecurities. But she always seemed so confidant. He really didn't know why she hid her true self. But he always knew that underneath the bully was a nice, normal person just like everybody else.

OH BOY WAS HE WRONG! Helga was far from normal. He knew she hid her true self, but he had never expected her true self to be so... perfect. Well... for him. She was always independent, and she was always bossy. She was always a very straight-forward, to the point, type of person. She didn't beat around the bush unless she was really nervous, and she always had a sarcastic sense of humor. Which at times, he didn't mind. Sometimes it would bug him, and then other times he couldn't help but chuckle. He had always known these things about her. But what he didn't know of was her secret self.

Oh yes, in San Lorenzo he had finally cracked the code that was Helga G. Pataki. He had finally gotten the pleasure of seeing her soft, mushy, good-hearted center. And once he had finally seen it, he could hardly believe who she was hiding all this time.

She was caring, selfless, brave, poetic, adventurous, intelligent, and of course... she was a hopelessly passionate romantic. Arnold smiled at these thoughts as they rounded the corner. He was a little dazed and Gerald was still laughing and fighting to control his laughter when...

"Oooof!"

"Ooof!"

"Crimin-eyyyyy!"

They had apparently hit something... or rather someone by the sound of someone else yelling criminy... WAIT! Criminy? But that means-

"HEY! Watch where you're going you little yellow-haired, football-headed pip squeak!"

Arnold looked up at her and got a love-sick smile on his face.

He dazedly replied, "Hey, Helga. Sorry about crashing into you..." He was still dazed just by the sight of her.

Helga noticed the look and tone of voice... but chose to ignore it, for now.

"Yeah, well, let's see that it doesn't happen again! Got it?!" She scowled down at him.

"Whatever you say, Helga." His love-sick gaze got even more pathetic looking as he smiled even wider and his half-lidded eyes got even more half-lidded.

Gerald saw this and eyed him curiously. Helga was yelling at him, not primping herself for another one of his make-out parties. What was up?

Finally Gerald spoke, attempting to sound pleasant for Arnold's sake despite his irritation, "Uh... Helga, we get it. No need to yell. Come on Arnold!" He then grabbed Arnold's arm and yanked him off the ground. Arnold didn't seem to notice as he was still enchanted by the blonde-haired creature in front of him.

"Yeah, whatever! Just stay out of my way!" She stalked down the street away from them. Gerald didn't notice her quickly jump behind a trash can and beckon Arnold over.

Arnold noticed, however, and excitedly began towards her. She scowled and gestured him to stop and turn around. He raised an eyebrow and turned, seeing a very peeved Gerald in his wake.

"Um... Gerald, why don't you go ahead. I'll catch up later. I just have to... uh..."

"Yeah, whatever, man. I could actually use some alone time to try and cool myself down. Just hurry with whatever it is." He said as her turnd to look back down the sidewalk to school.

Arnold beamed silently, "No problem, Gerald." He then skipped off to Helga when Gerald had his back turned.

"Yeah, so I'll see you in..." He had just turned around to find that Arnold was already gone. 'Well that was fast' He shrugged. "...a few minutes... yeah right. If he ran off that quickly from me, then whatever it is, is probably gonna take a few hours." He rolled his eyes to himself and continued to school. Failing to notice Arnold and Helga running into an alley joyfully.

A/N: Yuppers, there she blows. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Spread the word. I want this story to spread like wild fire.

Anyway, what did you think? Worth continuing? Did this chapter suck buns? Voice, or rather type, your opinion by...

REVIEWING!!!!!!!