Chapter 1: She's Not Going To Like It
It was a bright sunny day in Hillwood. Arnold and Gerald were playing catch at Gerald Field, discussing plans they may be having for later on that weekend.
"So man, got any plans this weekend?" Gerald asked, while tossing the ball towards his best friend.
"Actually, I was thinking of asking Helga to Chez Paris. You know, to celebrate Valentine's Day." Arnold said hesitantly.
"Uh huh...and what makes you think she'd agree to something like that?" Gerald asked, lifting and eyebrow.
"Well, she is my girlfriend. Why wouldn't she?" Arnold shrugged his shoulders.
"Ummm because she's Helga... Helga - G. - Pataki! You're asking a girl who cuts in the lunch line everyday to the best mannered restaurant in town." Gerald pointed out.
Rolling his eyes, Arnold sighed "Oh come on. We've eaten there with her before."
"And how exactly did it turn out?" Gerald glared with his hands on his hips, while Arnold thought back to the four of them spending the night washing dishes in the kitchen to make up for Helga having brought the wrong coupon to the restaurant.
While the boys were pondering Arnold's choice of how to spend Valentine's Day with his not so sensitive girlfriend, Helga was making her way to Phoebe's house to finish a homework assignment.
Rounding the corner of Gerald Field, she heard…
"I'm telling you man, she is NOT going to go for it!"
"I've gotten her to open up to me before. I mean, I'm still working on it." Arnold admitted, while rubbing his neck.
"Uh huh. And what makes you think jumping to something as sophisticated as a French restaurant on a romantic holiday around fifty people would help ease her into the idea of softening up around you?" Gerald said wittingly as Helga glared from around the corner.
Gritting her teeth at the conversation, Helga listened to her beloved say "It's just dinner and I've seen her act sensitive there before."
Helga's eyes widened, wondering if Arnold was about to reveal her secret about their fourth grade Valentine's day spent at the romantic restaurant together to his best friend.
"You have?" Gerald asked suspiciously.
"Uh yeah, it was when...uh…" Arnold began, while Helga began to tremble mercilessly from around the corner.
"It was when man? Just say it?" Gerald insisted, losing his patience.
"Nevermind. Let's just say I have a feeling things will go well." Arnold said, while Helga wiped her sweat covered brow with intense relief.
"Whatever you say Arnold." Gerald shook his head as the two left the field.
After watching them walk away, Helga stood against the brick wall pulling her treasured item out of her shirt. Gazing at it with sorrowful eyes, she began to pour out her feelings for the one she had so long adored…
Oh Arnold my love! Years of my mochery and torturous behavior have lead to nothing but you facing each day with the burden of being called upon to defend my hidden sensitive soul. The side I myself am to weak to reveal to the world. Oh Arnold! If there was ever a chance to make it up to you, 'tis now! I shall use this special event to override my harsh nature! I shall…
As her passion was revealed more and more throughout her poem, she began to hear heavy breathing from behind her.
Much like the sound of Brainy's wheezing interrupting her relinquishing her emotional feelings, Helga used her fist to interrupt his breathing.
After that problem was taken care of, she continued her march to her best friend's house. Only now her focus was on her date with Arnold, rather than her homework.
When Helga made it to her best friend's house, she knocked on the door, rubbing her arm as the thought about Valentine's day spent with her boyfriend.
"Good afternoon Helga." Phoebe said, opening the door.
"How's it going Pheebs." Helga sighed, welcoming herself inside.
"I take it you're ready to discuss our English assignment?" Phoebe assumed, while seeing Helga's shoulders tense.
"Uhh English. You got it! Hehe." Helga laughed, not wanting to reveal what was on her mind.
While Helga was sitting on the floor of Phoebe's bedroom, pretending to pay attention to her English notes, Gerald was following Arnold home.
"So when are you planning on asking out Pataki?" he asked.
"I guess at school tomorrow." Arnold shrugged his shoulders.
"School? Judgemental eyes surrounding the two of you, her reputation in full mode, harsh behavior all throughout the day...great choice man!" Gerald said wittingly, while watching his bed friend walk inside.
"See ya Gerald."
"Later man."
As Arnold walked inside past the swarm of pets, he heard his grandpa in the kitchen.
"That you shortman?" Phil asked.
"Hey grandpa." Arnold replied.
"What's eatin' ya?" Phil wondered, noticing the puzzled look on his grandson's face.
Arnold took a seat at the table as he explained "I want to ask Helga out for Valentine's day…"
"Ahhh Valentine's Day! I remember the first time I asked your grandma out." Phil began.
"What happened?" Arnold asked.
"I took her to a fancy restaurant she didn't quite behave in, we went to see a movie she didn't want to be romantic, and when it was time to go home, she slammed the door in my face the moment I tried to kiss her." Phil laughed uncontrollably.
Arnold rolled his eyes at his grandpa's story. "So, you didn't have any fun then?"
"Nonsense! I asked her to go out with me again the next weekend." Phil exclaimed.
"Thanks grandpa." Arnold sighed as he left the table to head for his room.