Chapter 2: Ready When You Are

Arnold was making his way into the boarding house. There he walked in to see Phil eating a roast beef sandwich.

"Hey shortman! How goes it?"

"Pretty good. I'm taking Helga to the dance tonight." Arnold smiled, while seeing Phil set his sandwich aside.

"You mean your cranky friend with the pink bow and the one eyebrow?"

"Uhh right." Arnold sighed, rubbing his neck.

"I told ya she liked you shortman." Phil winked.

"Well, I guess I should go get ready." Arnold said, racing up the stairs. As he was setting his bag down beside the couch, the phone rang.

Ring...Ring...Ring…

"Hello?"

"Hey Arnold!"

"Hey Gerald."

"What's up? You get that decorating done?"

"Uhh yeah."

"So, what time you want to head to the dance?"

"Actually Gerald, I kind of told someone I'd pick them up."

"Pataki...I'm assuming she's the reason you ditched me after school."

"Gerald, I did not ditch you. It's just hard getting her to spend time with me."

"You've been together for three years. Hasn't she gotten used to the idea of being seen together yet?"

"Apparently not. I have a feeling it will all change soon though."

"Whatever you say Arnold."

"I gotta go. Bye Gerald."

"Later man."

While Arnold was picking out a suit to wear for the dance, Helga was busy picking out her outfit. She didn't want to look too formal, but she knew she couldn't walk in wearing her normal pink jumper. Especially not if she was going to be walking in with Arnold.

After picking out her outfit, Helga entered the hallway to see Olga standing there. It was as if she had been waiting for her to come out. "Baby sister! You look so pretty! Let me do your hair and makeup!"

"Crimity! Fine! Just don't touch me! Sheesh!" Helga exclaimed, not wanting to be wrapped up in another one of her sister's suffocating hugs.

Once Olga had dragged her to the bedroom, Helga sat there wondering if she was going to end up looking like she had the night she took advice from the Preteen Miss magazine she had bought for Rhonda's party.

Despite excitement being the last thing she felt while this was going on, she knew Olga knew more about this type of thing than she did. Arnold had asked Helga to be her date. It was only fair she look her best for him.

Back at the boarding house, Arnold was fixing his jacket and taking one last look at himself in the mirror. Phil walked in saying to him, "Lookin' sharp there shortman."

"Thanks grandpa. I think I'm ready to go now." Arnold said, heading out the door.

"Alright then. 'Guess I'll save ya some supper." Phil replied.

After leaving the boarding house, Arnold headed down the street towards the home of what he could only hope to be his well treated date that night.

"Hey Arnold! Where in the heck ya goin? The school's that way?" Arnold heard a voice call out.

Looking across the street, he saw Sid, Stinky and Harold waving towards him. As he walked over to their side, he replied "Hey guys, I'm just going to pick somebody up."

"If you mean Gerald, he's on his way." Sid replied, not knowing who else Arnold could be talking about.

"Actually, that's not who I'm talking about." Arnold said, while beginning to rub his arm.

"Well, who is it then? Come on I'm hungry! Let's go already!" Harold screamed, stomping his feet on the ground.

Maybe Helga was right about our friends Arnold thought to himself. "You guys go on without me. I'll meet you there."

The group of guys watched Arnold race in the opposite direction, shrugging their shoulders. "Suit yourself." Sid replied.

Not long after that, Arnold made it to his date's front stoop. After racing there, he realized it maybe a good idea to straighten his suit and hair again. Once he felt everything was right, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Arnold stood there to see Bob with his eyebrow cocked, asking "Who are you?"

"Hi Mr. Pataki. I'm Helga's date, Arnold." he replied, while standing there nervously.

"Oh right, right...Helga! You're friend Alfred is here!" Bob exclaimed.

Rather than inviting Arnold in, Bob stood beside the door, as both he and Arnold listened to Helga scream at Olga.

"Enough with the mascara! Crimity! My eyelashes were black to begin with! Sheesh!" she scowled, marching down the stairs.

Once Bob saw Helga approaching the door, he headed for the living room to let her speak to Arnold.

Arnold stood there gazing at his date who was wearing a hot pink knee length skirt with a carnation pink tank top. Along with her display, she stood in red high heels, in which she did not have the easiest time making it down the stairs in.

"Well, ready to go bucko?" Helga asked, while Arnold looked up at her face.

Olga had done a lovely job with her makeup. She wore peach colored blush to match her snow white skin, along with light pink eyeshadow and rose colored lipstick to compliment her outfit. To top it off, her hair had been crimpt to flow gracefully down her shoulders. Arnold stood there wondering why she didn't wear it like that more often.

"Earth to Arnold? Say something!" she scowled.

Snapping out of his daze, Arnold replied "Huh? Oh, sorry Helga. I was just thinking…" he began before being interrupted.

"Thinking about how to sleep standing up?" she scoffed.

Rubbing his neck, he said softly "No, about how pretty you look."

Helga began to blush at this remark. It was amazing knowing Arnold now had feelings for her. The kisses they had shared together were unbelievable. Having him give her flattering compliments on top of it all was making her wonder how well she would be able to handle this in public.

"Oh umm well thanks. You ready to go?" she asked, nervously.

Arnold held out his hand for hers, hoping she'd follow through on agreeing to be his date.

Shaking with anticipation, Helga gripped his hand while the two headed out the door.

Back at the school, the kids were listening to the DJ play and discussing what high school would be like.

"What do you wreckin HS 118 will be like fellas?" Stinking asked.

"I hear they've got three lunch periods! I better get to go to all three!" Harold exclaimed, while seeing Rhonda roll her eyes.

"Harold, that is ridiculous. Besides, everyone knows the most popular part of high school is the cheerleading squad. I am so going to have a discussion with the school board about their uniforms!" Rhonda exclaimed.

"Where do you think Arnold is? I mean, he said he was just picking somebody up?" Sid pointed out.

"Yeah, I wreckin' the only two people missin' are him and Helga." Stinky said, scratching his head.

Meanwhile Arnold and Helga were approaching the school. He couldn't help but notice Helga wasn't saying anything. Arnold didn't know if he should feel guilty or not. He wanted more than anything for her to feel comfortable around him, but didn't want to force her.

"So, this should be fun?" he said, hoping to take her mind off what their classmates would do when they saw them.

"Uh yeah. Guess so." Helga said. As she was staring at the ground, rubbing her neck, she looked over to see Arnold rubbing her hand with his thumb. She looked up at him with a dazed smile on her face. Her heart began to flutter, thinking things might not be so bad.

The two then made their way up to the front doors of PS 118. Gripping her hand tightly, Arnold asked "Ready?"

Nodding her head gently, she replied "If you are."