I stared at my phone typing away to Olga as she continued to bore me with news of her newest project of helping underprivileged somebodies in somewhereland. Arnold peeked over my shoulder and made me jump nearly out of my skin.

"Arnold! What the hell!" I exclaimed and he smirked while leaning away to sit up against his bed like we had previously been sitting.

"Sorry, you've just been sort of out of it tonight."

I shrugged my shoulders returning my attention to my phone. "Just tired I guess."

"You've been talking to that person for a while though. For almost the whole movie, actually," He commented and i set my phone down with an eye roll and turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry, Arnoldo, I didn't know that you were my keeper?" I asked with a furrowed brow and he shook his head immediately.

"No, no, not at all, I guess i just, well, i thought you were coming over to spend time together is all," he said sheepishly and I smirked while crossing my arms over my chest.

"Well I'm here, aren't i?"

"N-no, not really. You haven't been 'here' for nearly a week now."

This bothered me and i turned to face him more directly. "What's THAT supposed to mean?"

He reached up to rub at the back of his neck and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know it's just, since your science project with James, you've sort of been, i don't know, out of it with me."

"Out of what," I deadpanned waiting to figure out what it is Arnold was getting at.

"Us, Helga. We-we hardly talk anymore."

"It's a big project, bucko. Like nearly half my grade. And if I'm ever going to get ANY sort of scholarships, i gotta keep those things in like, tip top shape." I explained, but this didn't seem to calm him as he began to pick at his fingers in his lap.

"Well i could help you with it if you wanted," he offered but i waved him off.

"Nah, you aren't even taking the same science class as I am. You're taking astrology or whatever. I'm in a totally different class."

Arnold frowned. "So? That doesn't mean i couldn't help you."

I raised a brow at him. "Arnold. That's sort of what a 'partner' is for. To help on big projects like this one."

"And what about life partners, huh?" He countered, his tone changing to that of a defensive and wounded one. "What about relationship partnership? Shouldn't i be able to help you in that?"

I laughed and shoved my phone in my pocket altogether. "What has gotten INto you, Hair Boy? You're acting like this project with James is some big thing that it CLEARLY isn't."

"James. James, James, JAMES, that's all you can talk about. is that who you've been so busy with during our movie? Talking about your project instead of spending the night with me like you promised?"

I laughed. And laughed. And laughed like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The whole thing was just so… ridiculous and Arnold wasn't getting my reaction AT ALL.

"What's so funny, Helga?" He asked, his brows furrowing as his eyes narrowed in on me. "You think this is funny?"

"No, Arnold," i replied mid-laugh, "YOU'RE funny, okay? What, you're like, JEALOUS or something? Of JAMES the dweeb?"

"See? You've even got a nickname for him," He muttered and i threw my arms up in the air while continuing to laugh.

"Newsflash: I have nicknames for EVERYBODY, Arnold! And his isn't even CREATIVE it's just an observation for cripes sake," I defended before reaching in my pocket for my phone and pulling it out. "And, to settle your mind a bit, I've been talking to Olga– you know Olga, right? My SISTER, Olga. And i've only been talking to her because she's been bugging me nonstop about her stupid new program for underprivileged kids halfway across the world."

"Oh," Arnold murmured before his cheeks turned a bright shade of red. "I-I-I didn't know."

"No, you didn't. You just assumed." I watched him for a moment before scooting closer to him and setting a hand on his thigh. "Arnold, you know i don't have feelings for James the dweeb, right? Because if you honestly think i do, then we have a bigger problem here than your insane jealousy."

"Jealousy?" He asked and i nodded my head with a smile.

"That's what I'd call this little freakout, yes."

"I'm sorry Helga, it's just, you've been so distant lately and I thought, well i was getting scared, not so much scared as–"

I squeezed his leg and offered him a warm smile. "I get it, Arnold. You worry, like i do sometimes, that I'll leave you but you know, that's a part of the whole love game. When you find someone worth loving, you become afraid of all the risks of loving that person in the first place. And one of those risks is losing that person that makes you so happy."

"Yeah," he said with a small nod and i reached up to tilt his chin up so he was looking at me in the eye.

"Arnold, look at me," I demanded before he followed my order and our eyes met and locked together. "I've waited far too long for you to feel like that about me. And i can honestly say that you never, ever, EVER have to waste one second of your time worrying that I'll go anywhere." I smiled wider and gave him a wink. "Especially with James the dweeb."

"Especially, huh?" He asked and I nodded while curling up into his arms and resting my head on his shoulder.

"Especially. But Arnold," i asked before tilting my head to look up at him as he looked down at me, "Try not to go macho jealous ape man again, okay? I don't know how many times I can talk you off that crazy ledge you were just on."

"Sure, Helga," he replied and kissed me on my forehead. "No ledges and no James the dweeb."