REQUESTED BY SMOOTH PANCAKES
Chapter 1: Is Something Wrong?
It was the beginning of fifth grade. Arnold and Helga had agreed her confession on FTi was no more than the heat of the moment. That didn't stop Arnold from reliving the memory over and over in his mind, wondering if that was actually true.
There was so many unanswered questions. If it really was the heat of the moment, why did she bother to help save the neighborhood?
If he annoyed her that much, why was she always hanging out with him? Did she actually have feelings for him, or was she just that lonely?
P.S.118
Arnold and Gerald were walking down the hall towards class. While the blonde boy was staring at the floor, his head was in the clouds. Should he confront Helga about what had happened, or just pretend nothing ever did?
While these thoughts were going through his mind, he failed to realize his friend was trying to get his attention.
"Arnold? Arnold? Hey Arnold?!"
"Huh? Oh sorry Gerald."
"Man did you not sleep last night, because you've been paying the floor more attention than anything else?" Gerald pointed out.
Arnold began to blush, not wanting to reveal what was on his mind. The embarrassed boy looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, as he started to reply "Well I…"
"One side moron, I'm walking here!"
Arnold was shoved aside into a locker, after his classmate insisted he was taking up too much space in the hallway.
Gerald helped his friend to his feet. While Arnold dusted himself off, Gerald placed his hands on his hips and shook his hand, watching Helga finish her walk to class. "Mm, mm, mmm. That girl helps save the neighborhood, only to put you in danger."
Shrugging his shoulders at the comment, Arnolded replied "It's just her way."
Gerald lifted an eyebrow at his friend's assumption and said "Uh huh? And continuing to put up with it is your way."
Classroom
Most of the kids had already entered the room, as well as Mr. Simmons. Phoebe was sitting in her desk, smiling as she watched her best friend approach hers. "Good morning Helga. How are you this morning?"
After pulling her notebook out of her bag, the frustrated girl placed her head in her hand to lean on the desk and sighed "Just peachy."
Although she was more than relieved Arnold had given her the opportunity he had to take back her confession, it was the moment she had always dreamed of. When would another opportunity like that arise?
On the other hand, what choice did she have? While she was on the verge of denying it herself, he didn't bring himself to say he felt the same way about her. If she wanted to avoid total humiliation, she had to take advantage of the opportunity she was being given.
Moments later, the tardy bell rang, and the final missing students made it to their seats.
Mr. Simmons stood from his desk, anxious to make an announcement to the class. "Hello everyone! It's another special day, and I have exciting news for you all!"
"We get the day off from school!" Harold shouted, raising his hands in excitement.
Mr. Simmons scratched his head, sorry he had to let his student down. "Well no, not exactly Harold."
Before the teacher could continue, Helga leaned back in her seat with her arms crossed and scowled "Criminy. We just had a three month break. What the heck makes you think we're about to get the day off from school?"
After the class had gotten it's laughs out, Mr. Simmons continued with his news. "Anyway class, your performance on Romeo and Juliet brought everyone to tears last year."
Being reminded of the play and her first kiss with Arnold, Helga looked ahead at her beloved. She leaned forward in her desk with a dazed look on her face, remembering the kiss like it was yesterday.
Phoebe couldn't help but turn to notice her friend after hearing a swoon release from her. It hurt her as well to know Arnold still hadn't returned Helga's feelings. Of course, Helga hadn't spoken of the FTi incident to anyone (not even Phoebe). Therefore, while it was sad to see, it was understandable why he didn't care to spend time with her.
The intelligent girl then turned to face the front of the class as she listened to her teacher continue with his news.
"Therefore, I've chosen another play for us to perform."
The class moaned at the news. While some of them enjoy their roles last year, it wasn't what everyone expected it to be.
"Is there sword fighting in this one?" Stinky wondered, while waving his arms in excitement.
"Yes Stinky. I've chosen everyone's parts this time however, and will grade you all on your performance." the perky teacher said, not wanting to have to worry about anyone backing out on him.
"Aww gee." the country boy sighed, as he dropped his arms and leaned back in his desk in disappointment.
"Which play will be be performing Mr. Simmons?" Phoebe raised her hand and asked.
"Excellent question Phoebe. I was told of your field trip to see the lovely and exciting performance of Carmen last year. I would love to see you all act it out." Mr. Simmons smiled with anticipation.
Pataki better not wake up in my lap again. Gerald thought to himself.
"I have right here the sheet showing who everyone is, along with a brief synopsis of your part. We'll begin rehearsal tomorrow, where I'll pass out actual copies of the script." Mr. Simmons explained, as he began passing the papers around the room.
"Yes! I'm a bullfighter! Ole!" Curly exclaimed, standing on top of his desk.
Mr. Simmons turned to see him waving a sheet of paper he was attempting to use as a cape. "Curly, settle down please."
Helga took her sheet with her head still propped in her hand, not expecting a good part. The only reason she participated in Romeo and Juliet last year was to be near Arnold.
Dulling reaching out for the paper, Helga sighed as she read the sheet. Her bored eyes then widened as she saw not only was she the star of the show, but Arnold would be playing her lover. It was like Romeo and Juliet all over again, without her having to do any evil plotting or scheming.
Arnold was at last handed his paper, and saw the role he'd be performing. Yet, it didn't upset him. Perhaps doing it once with Helga made it seem to be not such a big deal. Or perhaps he really was curious to know how true their feelings for each other were. That is, if any existed.
Cafeteria
Moving through the lunchline, Arnold was about to grab the last of the tapioca. Gerald looked at his friend, who still seemed a bit distracted. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you knew about the play and the parts assigned for it before Simmons announced it."
Arnold looked up at his suspicious friend who was glaring at him and asked "Why do you think that?"
Before Gerald could reply, the boys were being shoved over in the line.
"Hey! What gives?" Gerald asked.
"Move it geek bait! I've got my eye on that last tapioca pudding." Helga scowled.
After watching her grab it, Gerald placed his hands on his hips and said "Well for one thing, Pataki's playing your lover in it."
Table
Helga approached her table with the pudding, seeing her best friend reviewing the list of parts that had been assigned.
"I'm looking quite forward to the play. Unlike Romeo and Juliet, Carmen is a musical, which I'm sure we'll all do an impressive job of performing."
As Helga was digging into her dessert, she looked over to see one of her classmates already practicing for the play.
"This is going to be so great you guys!" Eugene said, before slipping on a candy bar wrapper his classmates had placed on the floor.
"Ow! I'm Okay!"
Harold, Sid and Stinky all laughed as the watched Curly wave his jacket in front of the falling student, acting as though he was a bull.
"Ole!"
After watching the sad performance, Helga sighed and said "Yeah Pheebs. Should be a blast."
Classroom
The students all made it back to class to see Mr. Simmons waiting to start their English class. "Okay class. I'm sure you're all excited about getting to work on the play…"
Leaning back in her seat with her arms crossed, Rhonda stuck her nose up and said "I highly disagree. While that character list may have suited a few people in here, I feel some of us were deprived the chance of playing a role they were worthy of."
Scratching his head at the comment, Mr. Simmons frowned and said "Umm yes well, as I was saying, I would like the topic for your first English assignment to be something exciting that happened to you this summer."
Helga slid down in her desk as she stared forward at her beloved, hoping he wouldn't be tempted to write about their exciting moment. Even if he decided to give her an out, that didn't mean he couldn't still take advantage of the situation to get a good grade.
While the petrified girl was imagining the worst that may happen, Arnold's eyes widened in amazement. It was as if Mr. Simmons knew what had happened between him and Helga, and what his mind had been on since then.
The teacher's eyes were then directed towards a raised hand in the back of the classroom. "Yes Sid?"
"Do we get extra credit if it was dangerous?" the anxious boy asked hopefully.
"Or for being on TV?!" Harold waved his hand in excitement.
After listening to the pointless requests, Helga sat up in her seat and scoffed "You mean like we should for having to put up with you morons everyday?"
"Alright that's enough. No, you won't get extra credit, but I am very excited to read about everything you all have to say." Mr. Simmons assured them.
Two Hours Later
The bell to dismiss class rang, and Helga anxiously walked past Arnold, hoping to avoid eye contact with him. Phoebe watched her friend eagerly leave the room, and felt the need to follow after her.
While Arnold was taking his time grabbing his things, Gerald noticed his friend's mind was still elsewhere.
"Want to go play some catch buddy?"
After grabbing his things, the blonde boy stood from his seat and said "Actually, I should get home. If we're going to be doing another play, I'd like to get this paper out of the way."
"Whatever you say Arnold."
Walk
"I can't help but feel there's something you're hiding Helga?" Phoebe suspected, as she walked down the street with her quiet friend.
Helga anxiously turned her head at the accusation and snapped "Hiding? Me? Don't me ridiculous! I'm not hiding anything!"
"Well okay Helga. You just seem a bit perturbed." the concerned girl felt the need to point out.
"Ptts...please. What would I be hiding...THUMP!"
Helga fell to the ground after rounding the corner of a building. She shook her head viciously, then opened her eyes to see the cause of her interference. "Arnold!"
The blonde boy stood, then held out a hand to help his classmate to her feet. "Sorry Helga."
Helga sat on the ground wide eyed, hesitantly reaching for his hand. Before accepting it, her eyes whipped back and forth between their friends. What were the chances Arnold had spilled the beans to Gerald? He was just as close with Gerald as she was with Phoebe.
After making up her mind, the nervous girl smacked her beloved's hand and scowled "Ha! Why don't you watch where you're going football head?! If you can't remember how to walk, good luck memorizing those play lines. Sheesh! Come on Pheebs."
"Coming!" the small girl chirped, following her flustered friend across the street.
Gerald stood glaring at the blonde girl's unnecessary aggression with his hands on his hips and said "Mm, mm, mmm."
Arnold stood continuing to stare at his classmate walking away, wondering what she was thinking as she hesitated to take his hand. Did she actually want to?
Moments later, he heard "Hey Arnold! Let's go man!"
"Huh? Oh sorry Gerald."
Shaking his head at his friend, the placid boy waited for Arnold to catch up to him.
Phoebe's House
Laying on her friend's bed reading a comic book, Helga listened to Phoebe ask "Have you chosen a topic for your paper?"
The blonde girl's eyes widened as she anxiously tossed aside the comic and said "Uhhh paper? Pttss… I mean well yeah, all I have to do is write about Bob's plan to improve his business, minus the failing details of it. Doi!"
Phoebe gave her friend a questioning look, finding it strange Helga would choose to use her family as an example of anything exciting.
The Boarding House
"See ya later Gerald." Arnold said after giving his friend their secret handshake.
Gerald began heading towards his own place, hoping his friend would have his head on straight the next day.
After opening the door to let the pets pour out, Arnold entered the boarding house to find his grandparents.
The mentally overwhelmed boy entered the kitchen to find his grandfather reading the paper.
"Hey grandpa." Arnold sighed, as he set his bag down to take a seat at the table.
"Hey shortman. How'd school go?"
Resting his head in his hand, Arnold replied "It was okay I guess. We're about to have to perform another play."
Phil quickly butted in and said "Don't tell any of those crazy boarders. The last thing we need is a rehearsal of...what's your teacher got you doing this time?"
"It's called Carmen. I'm playing Don Jose." Arnold said, thinking back to his field trip.
Phil smiled excitedly and said "Ooohhh that's a good one! You get to see your dad's ghost through the whole thing hehe."
"I think you're thinking of Hamlet, grandpa."
"In that case I have no idea how good it is, or what you'll be doing during it." Phil said bluntly.
"Right, well I'm going to get started on my homework." Arnold sighed, as he stood from the table to head for his room.
Phoebe's House
"I'm thinking of mentioning Mayor Dixie's appearance at Block-A-Palooza." Phoebe informed her friend.
Helga was laying on the bed with her notebook, holding her pencil to her lip. She could write about saving the neighborhood with Arnold (leaving out their romantic moment), but how would she explain where the information came from? Was she willing to say she was stalking him the entire time?
"Sounds great Pheebs." the discouraged girl sighed.
Seeing her friend still wasn't willing to vent her thoughts, Phoebe said "Rest assured Helga, if something's on your mind, I'm here to listen."
The blonde girl laid there wondering what would come of that. Phoebe had always been her well trusted friend. If she told her about the kiss, would she just try to encourage her to take another shot with Arnold? To approach him again herself?
Helga considered herself lucky to have been given the out, no matter how badly she wanted things to work out between her and Arnold. If they did end up together, she was praying it was by his doing.