Disclaimer: Never claimed to own HA!
AN: As always, thanks for reading.
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Mr. Simmons's fourth grade class scattered every which way as each child walked through the multipurpose room's thick black double doors. They'd been rehearsing every day the past few months for their upcoming musical debut scheduled for that Friday, and after two grueling hours of stretching vocal chords to reach some kind of harmonious melody, the kids were ready to breathe in some fresh air. The last two children to leave P.S. 118 Elementary School were two young boys, one with a tall stack of hair that almost looked like an upside down bunch of black grapes, the other with unruly blond hair and a peculiar football shaped head. Both of them discussed the latter's anxieties toward this sing and dance show due to an oncoming ailment.
"Well, Gerald, only three more days until I make my big debut," Arnold informed his best friend as the two of them walked side by side toward Vine Street's busy sidewalks. He was slightly apprehensive since he'd landed a solo performance in one of the show's musical numbers. "I just hope this sore throat of mine clears up before I have to go out on stage."
"Don't sweat it, man," Gerald reassured the boy while grooming his towering stack of black hair. "Besides, you've got the best understudy there is. Me!"
"Thanks. It's nice to know I have reliable backup," the football headed blond replied, letting his friend know just how much he appreciated his support. "I shouldn't have walked home soaking wet from last weekend's April Fool's dance."
"You're not the only one who did."
"I'll say."
Arnold was still outraged his arch nemesis, Helga G. Pataki had fooled him into believing he'd completely blinded the girl indefinitely after he'd pulled an April Fool's Day prank on her. She'd been landing loads of laughs at his expense due to all the practical jokes she'd schemed up that day. By the time she'd forced him to sit down in a pile of chocolate pudding during lunch hour, he'd decided he'd taken enough. He called up his grandpa and asked him to bring the special gag gift the man had pulled on his best friend, Jimmy Kafka. When Arnold presented the gag to Helga as a belated birthday gift, she seemed awfully surprised until a blinding light flashed right in her eyes after she'd opened it. The boy felt horrible since he'd caused her to "go blind", so he did everything he could to make it up to her, including asking her to the April Fool's dance at the YMMA.
It was only when Arnold's best friend Gerald overheard a private conversation between Helga and her own pal, Phoebe Heyerdahl through the YMMA's ventilation system that he learned the girl had been playing him for the fool. In return he'd conjured up a scheme of his own. While dancing the tango with his so called "blind" partner, he'd arranged for Gerald to open up the gymnasium's wooden floor boards to its underground Olympic sized swimming pool. When she proceeded to tell him she wasn't blind, he'd already called her bluff, twirling her right into the pool's cold water. Helga had gotten the last laugh however, by telling him that since he'd won, the least he could do was help her out of there. Being the kind person he was, Arnold lent her his hand, only to be pulled into the water right along with her. Ever since then, the two remained leery of one another, especially when it came to school functions. In retrospect, both parties got what they deserved.
"You know, I wouldn't put it past Helga to pull another one of her doozies on ya right in the middle of your solo, Arnold," Gerald told him as he brushed a fly off his trademark number thirty three red jersey. He'd never trusted the girl ever since she'd went on an unexpected rampage during preschool.
"Why don't you at least give her the benefit of the doubt, Gerald. Deep down, she's not so bad."
"Not so bad? Come on, man! She torments you on a daily basis!"
"I know she picks on me a lot, but there are times when she can be really nice."
"I'll believe it when I see it." Unbeknownst to Gerald and the rest of his classmates, Helga had confessed her undying affection for Arnold during the trio's efforts to save their historical neighborhood.
Neither Arnold nor Helga knew how to deal with this shocking revelation so both of them pretended it happened "in the heat of the moment". At any rate, Arnold knew Helga had a heart underneath that bully facade she wore so well.
"Even if she does try something on me at the concert, I'm prepared to react," Arnold donned a wild grin. He figured should Helga cause him to draw everyone's attention, he'd pull her right into the spotlight with him. "Anyway, I don't know why Mr. Simmons put Stinky in the tenor section, and can you believe he stuck Sid in the soprano section?"
"I can," a sarcastic voice spoke out from behind the two boys, "he's a paranoid freak who screams like a girl at the slightest mention of a confrontation. While he's at it, Mr. Simmons might as well stick Harold there too so he can go calling for his mommy."
"HA! HA!" Gerald laughed in spite of himself. Though those words were harsh, Helga was simply stating the truth.
"Helga, Stinky and Sid have their faults, but that doesn't mean you should go berating them." Arnold believed that everyone should be given the chance to prove themselves.
"Figures you'd stick up for those two morons, Football Head. It's a wonder he didn't assign you to the soprano section." The girl placed her thumb and forefinger under her chin, mumbling, "Hmm...that gives me an idea."
"Hey, by any chance have you been following us the whole way home from school?" Gerald remained suspicious of the pigtailed blonde with one eyebrow at any rate.
"No," she lied skillfully, thinking up a quick alibi, "I walked Phoebe home before I caught up with you two saps. As a matter of fact, I've seen enough of you two chumps. It's time we parted ways. See ya in the funny papers, Arnoldo!"
"Whatever you say, Helga." Arnold knew he could expose he secret if he wished, but he himself had a heart. There was also the issue of his unresolved feelings for this girl after her unexpected confession.
"Man, Arnold. I don't know why you even bother talking to that girl."
"Like I said, Gerald, you haven't seen the kinder, gentler Helga."
"HA! HA! HA! That's a good one, Arnold!" Gerald bowled over with laughter.
"Just forget what I said," Arnold responded with slight agitation in his voice. "Come on, let's go upstairs into my room."
As the two boys entered the Sunset Arms boarding house where Arnold lived with his grandparents, little did they realize that same young girl they'd encountered on the sidewalk just minutes ago was watching them with a devilish grin spread across her face. Helga was just as sore as Arnold was from the recent pool incident at the April Fool's dance. Even though she'd gotten the upper hand in the end, she still vowed to plan the ultimate revenge. Why not at the Americans All musical celebration? She continued to look on as her football headed beloved with the blue sweater and oversized plaid shirt disappeared through the boarding house with his best friend.
"He might think he's prepared for anything, but I'll make sure he doesn't see this one coming," Helga rubbed her hands vigorously, "and I've got the perfect plan."
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AN: Construction is always welcome.