What Would Have Happened? Part II: Is This The End?

Chapter 1: Is This The End

After a week spent of paying close attention to the symptoms she had acquired from contact with a circus monkey…

Itching and puffiness

Sweaty palms

Loss of appetite

Irrtibiliy

Expiration

Helga decided it was too late for her. Mr. Simmons had made it sound as though everything scientists had gone through with animals was possible. The blonde girl found it to be a load of nonsense until she began to follow through on everything the animal theory had predicted. Perhaps SHE was the crazy one?

After the symptoms had taken over her, Helga awoke to a phone call from her friend.

"Hello Phoebe, it's Helga. Do you know what our math assignment was?"

Without even thinking out it, Helga's mind jumped to the next stage after reading the line of symptoms.

"No! I DON'T know what our math assignment was!"

While Phoebe was used to Helga's hostility, she found it to be a bit overwhelming in this case. All she had done was ask her friend a simple question, which led to the fourth symptom.

Once Helga realized this, she had decided that was the end for her. After all, she had acquired all the other symptoms. Why wouldn't she expire?

After realizing her unnecessary attitude, the petrified girl requested her best friend set up what she considered close enough to be a funeral. It's not like her parents would care, let alone notice. Why bother telling them?

Arnold's Room

Arnold and Gerald were hanging out like they always do, when they couldn't decide on an activity. Before they knew it, the phone was ringing.

Arnold grabbed the phone that was sitting beside him near the couch, not expecting to hear what he did.

"Hello?"

"Hello Arnold. It's Phoebe."

"Oh, hey Phoebe."

"There's something going on with Helga. She wants everyone to come to her house this afternoon. Although she wouldn't tell me why, from what I understood, it's formal."

"Umm okay. Thanks Phoebe."

After seeing his friend hang up the phone, Gerald stood with his hands on his hips and asked "What was that about?"

Arnold revealed a complex look as he explained "Apparently, Helga wants everyone to dress up and meet at her place this afternoon."

Gerald lifted an eyebrow at the answer and replied "Are you sure we're talking about Pataki and not Rhonda?"

Arnold shrugged his shoulders at the response as he replied "That was Phoebe on the phone. She said Helga wouldn't tell her the reason for the get together, but I have a feeling it's not good."

Arnold may not have been willing to admit it (let alone realize it), but the idea of something happening to Helga always put an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Whether it was because he would no longer have someone to pay him negative attention throughout the day, or because she was one of the few people who had always stood by him, he had a bad feeling about Phoebe's request.

If he in no way had feelings for Helga, why would he bother showing up? After all, he was the one he picked on more than anyone else. Something was obviously going on, and he wanted to know what it was (even if he wasn't aware of the reason).

"Well, guess I better get home and change." Gerald shrugged his shoulders.

Why Arnold was listening to his friend, realizing the same thing, he couldn't take his mind off what this was all about. He sat bent over on the couch, staring at the floor. What if there really was something wrong with Helga?

If it's just a party, I'll feel stupid, but since when does she care what other people look like?

"Uhh yeah. See ya Gerald." For the first time in quite a while, they didn't bother to do their secret handshake. When Gerald saw Arnold couldn't take his eyes off the floor, he didn't see much of a point in it.

Arnold's Kitchen

As Gerald was walking out, he was stopped when he heard the words "Hey, where's shortman?"

Gerald turned to see Phil sitting in the kitchen and replied "Apparently we're meeting at Helga's this afternoon. She spends every day torturing us, then out of nowhere, decides to have a formal get together at a house with a neglecting family?"

Phil chuckled at Gerald's outburst and replied "I told shortman she liked him! She's probably just too scared to do it in private. When Pookie first said it to me, it was in a sarcastic tone in front of our friends. I knew better though."

Gerald left the house, not knowing what to say after that. Helga liking Arnold...and in that way? Guess he'd find out that afternoon.