Here's the next chapter! Anyway, enjoy!
Phoebe took a deep breath as she rang the doorbell, humming as she waited. Arnold's grandfather answered the door and smiled. "Oh, hello. One of Arnold's many friends?"
"Yes. Is he home right now? I want to talk to him." Phoebe asked.
"Just a moment." Arnold's grandfather said as he turned his head and called, "Hey, Shortman! One of your friends is here!"
A slight moment of step running is heard before Arnold looked out... then looked in surprise. "Oh... hey, Phoebe. What's going on?"
"Arnold, I was wondering if I can have a quick chat with you, just for a minute." Phoebe said. "It won't be long."
Arnold blinked as he motioned Phoebe to come in. "Is it serious?"
"Nothing serious, but... I have heard a rumor about you." Phoebe said as she came in.
"Need anything to drink?" Arnold asked as he lead her to the kitchen table.
"No thank you, Arnold, I'm good." Phoebe said as she sat down, Arnold sitting across the table.
"All right, who said what about me? Sid, Curly, who?" Arnold asked.
"Well, it's not really them, per se, but I have heard that they heard it from someone else." Phoebe explained.
"Really? Who?" Arnold said.
"Rhonda." Phoebe explained. "She said that she like likes you."
Arnold shook his head in shock. "Wait... wh-"
"Look, we all know that you went to her house earlier today. And I have to say... congratulations." Phoebe smiled.
"...what?" Arnold said in the most flattest voice he could muster. "Phoebe, how is that possible? Me and Rhonda aren't going out?"
"You're not?" Phoebe said, raising an eyebrow, then groaned. "I guess she was probably shy, then."
"Phoebe, she wasn't..."
"Did she compliment you in anyway possible, as a possible hint?" Phoebe asked.
Arnold paused. "Now that you mentioned, she did say something about how my smile made her weak in the knees or something, but..."
Arnold's eyes widened. "No... way. I never would have thought..."
"Yeah, believe it or not, you can't deny it." Phoebe explained.
"But... if she did like me like me..." Arnold paused. "Why didn't she just tell me upfront?"
"Maybe she was afraid of her heart being broken?" Phoebe offered. "I mean, you did have quite a couple bad experiences with a couple girls in the past. Helga did tell me you and Ruth didn't work out... and you and Lila are being kind of a broken record!
Arnold looked surprise. "But... if that's true, then... she must have been really good at hiding her feelings for me!"
"True, you were one of the ones she was never really mean to, unless you had a fashion trend that's out..." Phoebe said.
"And let's face it, Rhonda likes my fashion statement!" Arnold said... then looked up at the ceiling. "Do you really think I have a chance with Rhonda?"
"It's all up to you. If you want to ignore the feelings, go ahead, but sooner or later, you two have to talk to each other about it." Phoebe said.
Arnold put a hand on his chin, thinking long and hard about it.
"But of course Arnold visited me, Lila. Much earlier today, in fact." Rhonda said as she and Lila were sitting down at the table, drinking tea.
"Ah. And what did you do today with him?" Lila asked, sipping her tea.
"Oh, not a whole lot. Just a school project." Rhonda explained. "Something for when Friday comes around."
"Oh... so what did he say?" Lila asked.
"I don't exactly know what he s-" Rhonda started before Lila giggled.
"It's okay, Rhonda. You don't have to keep it secret." Lila smiled.
"Keep what secret?" Rhonda asked, sipping her tea in confusion.
"I know you and Arnold like each other." Lila said.
"Well, that's just obvious. Of course I like Arnold." Rhonda started.
"I know you like Arnold, but I also know you like like Arnold. Like Arnold like likes you." Lila said.
Rhonda was in mid-sip when her eyes widened and she spat out the tea she was drinking in shock. "Wait, what? There must be some sort of misunderstanding..."
"What's there to be misunderstood? Arnold actually like likes you. It's been spread around by the others." Lila said.
"Wait... really?" Rhonda said in shock. "If that's what everybody says, then... wow. He must have kept it secret because he didn't know how I'd react... I never knew the boy liked me... let alone..."
Lila smiled. "It's just like you've told me back when we thought Arnold wrote that message about him liking me on the wall, if he says he likes you likes you, then it's a basic conclusion that he has a major crush on you."
"Wow..." Rhonda gave a smile. "You know, maybe being Arnold's girlfriend won't be so bad."
"I beg to differ." Lila muttered.
"What was that?" Rhonda asked, turning to Lila in curiosity.
"I said, I'm sure you and Arnold will find happiness with each other once you two start talking." Lila smiled.
"...I am seeing him tomorrow, so... I think that can be arranged!" Rhonda gave a smile, looking up at the ceiling.
"Ugh, finally..." Helga groaned as she was walking by herself. "I thought I never get out of my parents' grasp."
Helga took a deep breath as she was taking a walk around the neighborhood, preferably to clear her mind when she noticed that she was coming upon the street where the boarding house was. It was there that Helga noticed Arnold and Phoebe coming out and talking to each other and laughing. Helga raised an eyebrow in curiosity as Phoebe waved good-bye to Arnold as Arnold walked back inside.
Phoebe gave a nod as she went downstairs when she noticed Helga approaching. "Oh, hi, Helga."
"Hey, Pheebs." Helga said, raising an eyebrow. "I don't know if this should be my business... but why were you over at 'Ice Cream''s place?"
"Oh... I just needed some help with something. More of an... 'advice' need, if you will." Phoebe smiled nervously.
Helga gave a smile as she said, "Good on ya, Phoebe. If I'm not around, go to the guy with the advice chair. It always helps. Did you get what you needed?"
"Uh... yes..." Phoebe said circling around Helga. "And I just remembered, I have to get home to finish up my homework! See you, Helga!"
As Phoebe ran off, Helga frowned as she put a hand on her chin. "Phoebe is certainly acting strange today..."
Helga gave a scoff as she rolled her eyes. "Ah, I'm sure it's probably nothing."
With that, Helga started to pass by, continuing her walk to clear her head.
And that is the second chapter done and out! How was it? Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!
