Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.

Married II

Chapter 1: Girl trouble YET AGAIN

It was a typical Friday afternoon for the people of Hillwood. Class had just let out and the children of P.S. 118 were eager to enjoy their weekends, which involved playing with friends, watching cartoons and just generally goofing off.

"Man, I thought this weekend would never come…'Gerald said as he spun his basketball in his hand.

"I know what you mean, especially with that math test today…'Arnold said with a sigh.

This week was pretty exhausting, what with a pop quiz last Tuesday, football practice and extra homework, he was wiped and was really looking forward for at least two days of quiet and relaxation.

'So anyway Arnold, want to go shoot some hoops and then grab a scoop at Slausens to start the weekend…"The tall hair boy asked his best friend.

"You just read my mind…'Arnold said smiling.

Ice cream and a friendly game of basketball was definitely his idea of a good way to start the weekend. The football headed boy was so deep in his conversation with his best friend that he ended up bumping into someone when he turned the corner.

CRASH

Oof!

Ow!

"Watch it Football head!...'An annoyed voice shouted.

Yep, Arnold had once again bumped into his sometimes friend, sometimes enemy Helga G. Pataki. It seems she and her best friend Phoebe were also having a conversation and didn't see where they were going as well.

"Sorry Helga…"Arnold muttered as he got up.

He was about to offer to help her up but Helga just grumbled and got up herself, dusting herself up, before giving him that scowl she always had on her face.

"Are you alright Helga?..."Phoebe asked timidly.

'Eh…No damage done…'She muttered before sending Arnold a look.

"So where are you and tall hair-boy going that has your head in the clouds again?...'She asked sarcastically.

"If you must know, we're going to go play some basketball, got to kick start this weekend the right way…"Gerald said with his arms crossed before turning his attention to Phoebe.

"Hey Phoebe…'He said smoothly to the cute Asian girl.

'Hello Gerald…So how did you do on the test today?...'She asked the cool boy who shrugged.

"Heh…I'll survive, though I'm sure you aced it as always…'Gerald said, trying to be smooth and earn a giggle from the girl he liked.

"I should say so…"

'Criminy…Those two are so obvious…'Helga thought in a mixture of annoyance and pleasure. It was obvious they liked each other and she really did wish she had Phoebe's luck. She had the boy she liked who liked her back…and she wasn't afraid to be nice to him too….

Her eyes glanced at Arnold and felt her heart long for him so much. She wished she could tell him her feelings and hold him in her arms forever but sadly fate was always against her.

"Oh my beloved…One day…"She thought to herself and felt a swoon. However, suddenly Arnold turned to look at her and she froze, before snapping out of her lovesick thoughts and sent him a glare.

"What are you looking at Football head?...'She said in a hostile tone to the boy she loved.

Arnold however had a patience look on his face, was silent for a moment, before shaking his head.

"Nothing…'He said vaguely.

That caused Helga to blink, wondering what was on his mind. However, she just put her hand on her hips and still had her stubborn frown on her face.

"Whatever…Let's go Phoebe…"Helga ordered before marching away.

"Coming…'Phoebe piped… "Bye Gerald, Bye Arnold…"She said quickly before following the blonde girl.

All the while Gerald shook his head while Arnold rolled his eyes...

"Man, what is that girl's problem?...'Gerald asked out loud once they were out of ear shot.

Unknown to him, his blonde friend was still staring at Helga's retreating form. He has been very confused about her since…that day. The day they saved the neighbor from being bulldozed by Sheck…and when he finally learned more about Helga than he bargained for.

Flashback

A few months ago

On the roof of FTI

"Don't go out in the hall yet. It's swarming with guards…."Deep voice, the mysterious man ordered on the phone.vArnold blinked in surprise. How did he know about that? And how did he know where he was to call him?

"Wait, how do you know I'm here? Where are you?...'Arnold asked, feeling more and more confused right now.

"Don't worry about me. The point is you've got the evidence you need to save the neighborhood. Now we've got to get you safely out of the building…."Deep voice commanded, however Arnold wasn't listening anymore.

He looked around, trying to find where his mysterious ally was. Suddenly he noticed a door with a silhouette and he suddenly knew where his ally was.

"If you're caught now, all is lost…."Deep Voice said dramatically over the phone.

Arnold now knew where he was and he was tired of all these games. Why was Deep Voice so adept in keeping his identity a secret anyway?

Well, if he wanted to play a game, Arnold had a new one in store for him.

"Deep Voice. Tell me how I can get out of here?..."Arnold asked as he kept heading for the door, not even paying attention to Deep Voice now.

He didn't need the phone anymore as he could now hear Deep Voice who was on the other side of the door.

"I have a plan to distract them, but it'll only buy you a few minutes. They're covering the elevators and the stairs. So... 'Deep Voice continued giving instructions, still unaware that the Football headed boy was on the other side of the door.

Until now.

"Deep Voice!...'Arnold shouted as he opened the door, all of a sudden lightning flash and he saw the cloaked figure try to back away from him.

What was going on?

"Don't come another step closer. Pay no attention to that man with the voice box….'Deep Voice said, still holding the voice box as he backed away in fear.

What was with him?

"Who are you?...'Arnold demanded as he got closer.

"Uh…N-No one in particular…'Deep Voice stuttered as he kept backing away from him.

That does it!

He was sick of all this mystery. True, he owed a lot to Deep Voice, his tips and information had been very helpful but Arnold was so stressed and nearing his breaking point. He was tired about being ordered around by this guy when he doesn't even know his real name!

What was with all the secrecy?

"No more games, Deep Voice. I'm not doing anything until I know who you are…."He said as he kept backing the cloaked figure into a corner.

He wanted to know the truth and he wanted to know now! As he kept stepping forward and thus, Deep Voice kept stepping back until Arnold heard a slight "snap" sound and soon noticed that he was wearing stilts of all things, and he fell to the ground. He then heard a distinctive "feminine" yelp and he soon saw that Deep Voice was a girl.

Not just any girl either…

"Helga?!..."He shouted in shock, unable to believe it at all. There stood Helga G. Pataki, his personal tormentor, now looking at him with a look on surprise as well at being caught. She wasn't the only one still reeling in shock.

"You? You're Deep Voice?..'He asked in a hesitant voice, still unable to believe it.

"Heh-heh. Looks ...like it….'She said into her voice box before putting it down, using her real voice.

Okay, this was really confusing…He honestly couldn't believe this.

"But I don't get it. How come... How come you couldn't just tell me what you knew? Why'd you have to make up all this crazy secret identity?...'He asked, wanting to know why she had done this.

'No reason…."She said nervously, obviously not wanting to talk about it.

"But Helga, you just risked everything to help me save the neighborhood…."He said in disbelief..

"So? What's your point?..."She said, no longer nervous but just annoyed.

"That's a pretty amazing thing to do for someone you claim to hate…"He pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I'm a pretty amazing person, football head….'She said with her hands on her hips.

"But, I thought you were on your dad's side. I thought you were going to get rich off the whole deal…"He said, still in astonishment.

Why on earth would she go through such lengths to help him save the neighborhood when she hated him and she would have profited so much from the whole thing?

"Money isn't everything….'She said, still scowling.

"Helga, why'd you do it?..."He asked her.

None of this made any sense, he still wondered if he was hallucinating this whole thing. He just had to know why she would give up the chance of being rich to help him when she made it clear she couldn't stand being in the same room as him.

"It's my civic duty….'She said nervously.

"Helga. …"Arnold said in annoyance. Did she honestly believe he was going to buy that?

'Cause I love a good mystery?...'She said it like a question, as if silently asking him to take the bait and leave her be.

Okay, now he was getting mad!

"Oh, come on. What's the real reason?..."He demanded.

"Oh, I don't know Arnaldo, I guess maybe I just took pity on you and your stupid friends….'She said with anger.

Arnold lost his angry expression in exchange for a confused and downright surprised one.

"Pity?...'He thought in confusion..."Well, why?...'He asked.

He knew that despite her being a bully, he knew deep down Helga was a good person. He has seen it before but never like this. Why did she go out of her way to do something like this?…and go so hard to make sure that he never knew it was her?

"Because... because I guess maybe I don't hate you as much as I thought, okay? I guess maybe I... I even kind of like you a little. Heck, I-I guess you might even kind of say I like you a lot….'She said with a nervous smile.

'Wait…What?...'He thought in surprise before speaking… "You do? You did this for me?..."He asked, still processing this.

He knew Helga had a nice side and he was kind of touched that she cared about him that much to help him-

He was brought out of his thoughts when an angry and obviously frustrated Helga turned around to address him, obviously her patience has been worn out.

"That's right, hair-boy. I mean, criminy, what else are you supposed to do when someone you love is in trouble?...'She shouted.

Time almost seem to pause for a minute as Arnold finally processed that sentence.

"Did she just say…."His mind almost seemed to pause for a minute as he processed that sentence and unintentionally said… "Love?.

Helga soon came forward at him, not in anger but in desperation…. "You heard me, pal. I love you, LOVE YOU!...'She said with such force that he literally fell down in shock. She didn't stop however, she just continued as he got up.

"Who else do you think has been stalking you night and day…'She started.

'Stalking?...'He thought in shock as he kept backing away from her.

"-Building shrines to you in a closet, filling volumes of books with poems about you? I love you Arnold! I've always loved you…'She said desperately as she kept coming forward…And he kept backing away from her.

"Shrines?...Poems?!...What is she talking about?!...'He thought, feeling overwhelmed by this information…and a little scared to say the least.

Arnold felt his back hit the railing, and he turned to her in dread as he knew he was trapped. She didn't seem to notice or care… She didn't stop...She just kept talking and talking about things he never knew of and wasn't even sure he wanted to know!

"Ever since I first laid eyes on your stupid football head! And from that moment and every moment since, I've lived and breathed for you, dreamed of the moment I could finally tell you my secret feelings and could grab you…"She literally grabbed him by the shoulders and Arnold unintentionally flinched by her touch.

"'And kiss you and—! Oh, come here, you big lug!...'She said before pulling him into a big kiss.

End of Flashback

Arnold shook his head, out of that memory and tried to fight down a blush before Gerald noticed and questioned about it. That night on the FTI roof was undoubtedly the most bizarre and intense one of his entire short life. Not just because he had to save the neighborhood from Sheck but because of what Helga had told him…and done to him.

Even though they both had agreed that it was in the heat of the moment, Arnold had a sinking suspicion that it wasn't. What Helga did was obviously planned out carefully and he knew that a person didn't put their own life and welfare on the line for someone unless they really loved them.

That was the part that really made him nervous.

After that, he tried to go back to their normal routine of bully and bullied. But he couldn't help but notice some things about Helga now that he actually took the time to notice them. He sometimes caught her sending him glances during class or on the playground. Ones that looked just like the look she had given him when she took him in her arms and said "Wonderful, I'll go with you" when he said he had to lie down.

He still didn't understand what that meant…that he would lie down on the ground and she would-….He probably shouldn't think about it…He didn't understand and he was certain that he didn't want to. Anyway, he noticed some more things about Helga and April fool's day was another example of her strange behavior when they did that tango.

He made her nervous…he had a guilty pleasure in that knowledge.

However, most of the time, she just kept acting like she hated him and he tolerated because...he just did.

"If she does lo-…likes me, then she's really good at hiding it…"He thought with an eye roll as he and Gerald kept walking.

He knew that Helga, at least to some extent, had feelings for him…but it was obvious she didn't want him or anyone else to know about it….and he wasn't going to push her into telling him. Mostly because he respected her privacy but another part…was out of nervousness himself.

He wasn't really sure what he felt about the possibility of Helga lo-…like-liking him. He still had trouble processing the big "L" word, even in his own mind.

He wasn't sure about what he felt about her liking him, and that was what confused him, given the situation and who he was referring to. Helga was his bully, she tortured and berated him at any given chance, he was always annoyed but her but he could never bring himself to hate her.

Why? Even he wasn't completely sure. Maybe because he knew deep down that she was lying, that she actually was a good person underneath the scowling, fights and sarcastic comment.

He also knew that he was right…what surprised him was how much-

"HEY ARNOLD…'Gerald shouted.

"Huh? What?...'He asked in surprise, earning a puzzled look from his best friend.

"I said, let's go…I wanna play some basketball before it gets dark…"Gerald reminded him.

"Oh, sure…"He said quickly as he walked away with his friend.

He would worry about Helga later. Right now he wanted to relax and play with his best friend to unwind. He would distract himself by enjoying his Friday afternoon like a kid should. Girl's confused him, that was something he couldn't deny. And trying to figure out a girl like Helga was even more confusing.

Unknown to the football-headed do-gooder, he would only get more confused and very soon.

-To be continued-

Next time on Married II

The identity of Gertie

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of my new story which I made in honor of the upcoming Hey Arnold jungle movie which we have all been waiting forever for.

Long live Hey Arnold!

:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)