Hi everyone. This a two-shot I'm writting. I hope you like it! I really want to improve my stories. I came up with this idea a few months ago, and got re-inspired by the Jungle movie trailers. Finally, right?
This story is not related to the JM but, you get the point.
Enjoy! and please review!

I don't own Hey Arnold!
_

It was on a regular Thursday that a blonde teenager with an odd shaped head came out to the High School yard looking for his jacket. He saw it lying on the stairs that led to the cafeteria. He just had to take it quickly and then go home.

Once he grabbed it, Arnold heard a yell "She asked him out?" was that Helga Pataki's voice? It seemed it came from behind the dumpster. "Shh. Not so loud" said a girl with her fingers on her nose. "Phoebe! How did you not tell me about this before? I can't believe Jessica is being so bold! Who does she think she is, anyway?"

Jessica… oh no. That was Arnold's Friday date. "I'm sorry Helga, but I told as soon as I found out. I thought it was better you knew about Arnold's date from me than hearing it on the hallways" Arnold felt it was rude to overhear a conversation, but it was his ex-girlfriend who was talking about his date. Knowing what Helga was capable of when making schemes… what if she ruined his date, or harmed Jessica, or himself?

"Ok Phoebe, I need you to tell me the details of this 'date'. And I will need you to get me some stuff… If she thinks she can steal my man, she'll have to face Betsy!"
Suddenly the final bell rang. "Damn it! If she finds out I was listening…" The sixteen-year-old boy ran to the exit when he heard them walking.

"… And then I'm going to crush her neck…" Helga took a deep breath. "I can't do this, Phoebe…" The Asian-american girl's eyes went wide, and looked at her friend "What do you mean, Helga?" Both of them were arriving at the bus stop. Helga hung up her head and sighed. "This schemes Phoebe… all end in a bad way. Do you remember those two cheese festivals fiascos? Besides, I was the one who broke up with him, and I doubt he will be willing to get back with me".

The blond in the ponytail felt sad. Why did she break up with him in the first place? Because of stupid fights and because she went all defensive every time he tried to help her. Helga's home life had got very problematic. Olga came back home after she finished college, because Miriam had run away who-knows-where? She was stucked with Ms. Perfect and Bob. That was very smart Helga, you discarded the only person you have ever loved. They dated for a few months before she did something so stupid. Arnold tried to talk with her about their relationship, but she was too proud to admit how much she was sorry.

Phoebe did not know what to answer… she thought it could be so simple for them to just talk about it. She suspected Arnold missed Helga too, even if he was going to a date with another girl. Both of them were in denial.

When the bus arrived, they got inside and went to Phoebe's place to begin their literature project.

On the other hand, when Arnold arrived to Sunset Arms, he ran to the phone and called Jessica.

"Hello?" a soft voice was heard. "Hi Jessica… how are you?" Arnold talked with eager in his voice. "Fine, I'm actually…" the boy with the green eyes cut her sentence "yeah, me too. So listen, about tomorrow's date. I know we agreed to go to the movies, but I was thinking I could surprise you. What do you think?
Jessica spoke cautiously, for she noticed anxiety in his voice. "Is this because you suddenly decided you don't like horror movies?"

It's because I'm afraid what Helga could do! "

No, I just thought it could be nice to take you to dinner on this fancy restaurant I've been to… but it's a surprise" Arnold was pulling at his green t-shirt collar. Jessica accepted the offer and insisted on meeting Arnold on the boarding house, so she could meet his grandparents, and check out… his… room. Whatever that meant…

They continued talking for ten minutes before she had to go. With a relieved sigh Arnold hang up the phone and went to his room. If she doesn't know where we're going, she can't harm Jessica. He lied on his bed and turned on his stereo to listen some jazz. He started to remember how Helga had pretended to be Cecile, how she messed his date with Lila back in fourth grade, and his date with Summer… ok maybe that time wasn't too bad, he didn't like being attacked by seagulls but Helga sort of made him a favor.
Most importantly he remembered the whole FTi "deep voice" performance. He felt a little smile forming on his face. He wasn't angry of any of those things. Once he learnt she loved him, and he loved her back, it just made sense.

Shaking his head, he tried to stop thinking about her. He shouldn't, even if he missed her so… He tried over and over to talk with her, and she just avoided him. But he caught some glances from her every now and then during class, at lunch, at the bus… Why are you so confusing? He asked in his thoughts.

Gerald was right, he had to meet new people. Jessica was nice, so why not accept her invitation. He sighed and continued watching through his skylight.

The next day, Arnold was sitting next to Gerald in the cafeteria, eating some kind of… meat. "Man, is something bothering you?" Asked the dark-skinned boy. "What do you mean?" the green-eyed teenager looked at him, a little nervous. "You look like you are nervous… is it because of your date? Relax, my friend… it's going to be ok" Arnold sighed playing with his food "Yeah… I'm kinda worried…"

Arnold hadn't told Gerald about what he heard the day before, but he was more worried because he hadn't seen Helga all day. Could she be planning something already? Something so elaborated that she had to skip class?

"Hey Arnold" said a soft voice. It was Jessica with his brown hair swinging as she walked towards them. "May I sit down with you?" she said as she grabbed a chair. "Wait!" he put his hands on the seat to check if the chair was not going to collapse. What if Helga damaged it? "Ok, you can sit down now" he said with a smile.
As she joined them she tried to comprehend why he had done that.

Arnold spent the rest of the classes unable to concentrate and take notes. When the final bell rang, he exit the classroom towards his locker, where Jessica was waiting for him.

From the corner of his eye he saw Phoebe closing her locker, not too far away. Hey Phoebe, where's Helga? Is she sick? Or maybe Hey Phoebe, how are you? Do you have plans tonight with Helga?

While Arnold tried to come with a way to ask Phoebe about Helga, that wasn't too blunt or obvios, Jessica hugged him, which made him turn her way "Shall we go, Arnold?" The teen blinked coming out of his trail of thoughts "Oh, yeah. Sure" Phoebe was gone.

Jessica and Arnold walked together towards the boarding house. She was complaining about chemistry class, or was it history? He couldn't really pay much attention. He was still thinking about Helga. Well, not Helga anyway… about what she was planning. Why would she skip classes? Luckily for him, Jessica was doing most of the talking so he didn't have to answer very often.

Once they arrived at Sunset arms, Arnold opened the door and waited for the rush of animals to come out. What he didn't expect was to see his grandmother dressed with her cat costume running with them; or his grandfather chasing after her.

"Hello Arnold, bye Arnold" said Phil while running downstairs "Pookie come back here! You have to take your pills, you crazy woman" the steps were fainting at the distance.

"So… those are my grandparents" said Arnold while entering his house, followed by Jessica. When he closed de door, he turned to Jessica. "They seem… nice. I bet your room is nice too" she said with half-lidded eyes, which made Arnold blush. "Oh yeah… uhm. We can go there… would you like some popcorn or a soda first?" he said walking to the kitchen. "A soda sounds nice. But can we take them to your room?" Wow… she is so… forward. "Alright".

The blonde boy took two yahoos from the fridge and joined her. "This way" he said with a warm smile. The boarding house was quiet. Too quiet. Where was everyone? These days there were fewer guests… Mr. Hyun and Mr. Potts had moved, but still… wasn't already about time for Oscar and Susy to start one of their fights?

"Arnold, is everything ok? You are so quiet…" asked Jessica putting a reassuring hand on his arm. He looked at her, and saw real concern on her brown eyes. "Oh, sorry. It's nothing really. I guess I'm a little worried about next week project..." he was so deep in thought that his lie was… decent. Just when they were about to climb the stairs, Arnold stopped suddenly. "Uh, Jessica, can you wait here a moment? I just wanna make sure I didn't leave a mess" he looked everywhere, anxious. The brown-haired girl thought that if he was so nervous she may as well wait a little. She nodded.

Arnold ran upstairs and entered his room. He closed the door behind him, placed the sodas on his bookshelf and looked around his room.
"Helga?" he walked to the center of the room "Helga, if you are here, please come out. I promise I won't be mad if you leave now. But if you ARE here, and keep hiding to bother Jessica, I will be. I'm serious". He checked his closet, behind the couch… it seemed she wasn't here.

"Arnold? Are you still cleaning?" asked Jessica opening slightly the door. Crap, he thought he locked it. "Uh no, I just finished. Please come in". he grabbed the sodas again and gave her one. "Well. It was worth the wait. Your room is awesome" she looked around in awe 2 You even have a skylight" His CD's caught her eye. "Do you like jazz too?" she asked as she grabbed one of them and turned it around to check the playlist. Helga doesn't like jazz he mentally snorted.

"Uhum. I do. Would you like to listen a bit?" he didn't wait for her answer. He turned on the stereo and put in the CD she had taken. She sat down on his couch and closed her eyes for a moment. The beautiful music was filling the room and she sighed and hummed. Arnold kept standing still next to the stereo, contemplating her. She really was pretty… her smile made it clear she really was enjoying herself. Helga was a bit tense every time they spent some time alone together… like if she was containing herself. Of course Helga was pretty. No, she was gorgeous… with her nostalgic smile and her thoughtful eyes she had when she was deep in thought. No, stop thinking about her He scold himself. "Uhm, would you like to sit with me?" Arnold let go off a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Yeah, sorry". He sat down next to her. "Are you still thinking about the project Arnold? It seems you're not actually here… you know? If you really are worried we could go dinner some other time, and I could help you today if you like…" she looked at him comprehensive but at the same time a little sad.

Arnold looked at her, surprised. Helga would have told me to stop worrying and just go to dinner already. "I made a space on my busy calendar, Arnoldo. We're going!". He'd agree and then she would kiss him passionately "Did that work to make you stop worrying?"

God, I have to stop thinking about her!

"I guess I am more worried than I thought. Sorry. You don't have to help me. Let's go dinner. I promise I will be here" he said as he stood up and held a hand to her. He looked at her warmly. She smiled back at him and took his hand. She locked her brown eyes on his green eyes. The jazz music sounded romantically, as she stood up in front of him. This was… awkward, this atmosphere was…

"It's ok. I want to help you. After all, you're always helping everyone. You're honest, you always look at the bright side" she was closing the space between them. "I've never met someone like you. You're so mature" she took his hands on her hands "not to mention, you really are cute" her eyes filled with admiration "I really like you a lot, Arnold"

He was blushing furiously. But he wasn't moved nor shocked by her confession. It almost felt… empty. She was being honest, he could tell. But, she was just stating a fact. She wasn't trying to explain a connection that was so complex that it poured passion and longing

"Because you liked my bow"
"Since I laid my eyes on your stupid football head"
"You know I don't hate you"
"Why do you have to be so nice to me all the time?"

Jessica took his silence to gain courage. She stood on her foot tips. Arnold registered this action but couldn't move. Should he let her kiss him? This was going so fast. "I need to lie down". Stop it!

He could feel her breath… she was pretty, he liked her. Maybe he should do it. He put his hands on her shoulders and began to close his eyes. It was time to move on.