Once Helga was dressed, she came back down the stairs and found Arnold in the kitchen helping his grandmother make lunch. When Arnold heard her come in, he led her to a seat at the kitchen table and pulled a chair out for her. "Milady," he said.
Helga smiled as she took a seat. Arnold took a plate from the counter and set it in front of her. "That right there is a meal fit for a queen," Gertie said. Although it was a simple sandwich, it was complete with lots of meat and all the fixings Helga liked. After a day like today it really did look like a meal fit for a queen. "Eat up, Eleanor. You need all the energy you can get for the big party later. Kimba, go get the crown!"
"Yes, Grandma," Arnold said. He picked up a plastic golden crown decorated with fake jewels and placed it on Helga's head. "It suits you."
"You better know it, bucko!" She started to eat and everything was perfectly delicious.
The oven dinged and Gertie took the cake out of the oven. "I hope you like chocolate, your majesty," she said to Helga. "Kimba suggested it."
"I love chocolate," Helga said honored that Arnold remembered. Arnold joined her at the table and started to eat his own sandwich.
"As soon as you two finish your lunch, I want Kimba to give you the royal treatment, Eleanor. The queen deserves only the best!"
"I'm loving your grandma more and more, Football Head," Helga said to Arnold.
"Well it's your day so you deserve all good things," Arnold replied. "I thought we could hang out in my room for a while and do whatever you wanted since it's supposed to rain off and on for the rest of the day."
I know what I wanna do Helga thought dreamily. "So does that mean you're my personal slave, Arnoldo?"
"If that's what you want, but I'll have to leave in a little while to help set up for your party."
Helga finished the last bite of her sandwich. "It's a deal." She waited for Arnold to finish his sandwich and then followed him upstairs to his room where Arnold left the door open. "So what were you up to today before I interrupted?" Helga asked.
"You didn't interrupt anything, Helga," Arnold replied as he picked up a remote and pushed a big red button. The wall beside the door opened to reveal a big red couch. "I covered Harold's shift at Mr. Green's butcher shop this morning since he's still sick. I didn't really have much else planned besides hanging out with my family since the other boarders are away so I thought I'd enjoy the sunshine at the park for a bit while my parents were out running errands. But then it started raining and I saw you sitting by yourself so I went to check on you."
"Must be nice," Helga muttered as she went to sit on the couch. She was genuinely ecstatic that Arnold was finally reunited with his parents five years ago after being found by a search and rescue team, but sometimes it still hurt to hear how other people had such great relationships with their families while she was virtually ignored. "My family didn't even care to be here for my birthday."
"I know your family needs some guidance in the parenting department, but somewhere deep down I'm sure they love you very much, Helga."
Helga scoffed. "What kind of parents leave a note on the kitchen table without even telling their own daughter goodbye... on her birthday?" She mentally cringed as she remembered the note she found this morning. Dear Olga, your father and I are out of town on business today. We'll be back sometime tomorrow. She rolled her eyes. "Besides, you're only saying that to be nice just because it's my birthday and you feel like you have to treat me differently."
"I'd say the exact same thing even if it wasn't your birthday. If your family keeps missing out on how wonderful you are then it's their loss."
"Yeah…" Helga was melting on the inside but she didn't dare let it show. She looked around his room. "So can we watch a movie or something, Football Head?"
"Sure," Arnold said as he headed towards his bookcase. "What kind of movie would you like to watch?"
"Anything as long as it's not sappy or stupid." Helga waited as Arnold picked a movie. When he had picked a movie, he pushed another button and a projection screen appeared from behind the wall across from the couch. He put the movie in and set it up for them to watch.
"Would you like anything to snack on or anything to drink for the movie?"
"Hmm, some Yahoo soda would be nice."
"Ok, I'll be right back." Arnold ran out of his room leaving Helga to herself.
As soon as the footsteps were quieter, Helga took out her small locket with Arnold's current school picture in it. "Oh my beloved," she started dramatically. "I'm in utter disbelief that fate has allowed me to be ushered into your glorious residence as the guest of honor on the wretched day of my birth. Even more, your beautiful, kind, and compassionate soul still sees what is good in me despite my foolish ways after all these years. You're truly an angel and someday you will know how much I truly adore you." She kissed his picture and quickly put the locket away when she heard footsteps coming. Arnold returned and handed her a bottle of Yahoo soda. "What? You're not gonna pour it in a glass for me, bucko?"
"Sorry, Helga," he said apologetically. He was about to go back downstairs until Helga started laughing. He looked at her confusedly.
"Relax, Football Head, I was just kidding." She patted the seat next to her. "Come watch the movie with me." She saw a flash of emotions cross Arnold's face before he turned away to start the movie. She wasn't sure what that meant or really how Arnold felt about her at this point and part of her still wondered if he was being nice just because he felt sorry for her. Arnold took a seat beside her and pushed a button on his remote to dim the lights. How romantic Helga thought to herself dreamily as she watched Arnold. Whatever the case, she was going to make the most out of spending time with Arnold while she could and nothing else mattered at the moment. She quickly diverted her eyes to the television when Arnold looked at her and focused on trying to figure out what movie they were watching. It looked like some sci-fi movie involving plants and zombies.
"Is this ok?" Arnold asked her.
"Yeah, I don't think I've seen this one. What's up with the plants and zombies?"
"They're mutated experiments gone wrong and they're at war with each other, hence the title Plants vs. Zombies."
"Cool," she said before taking a sip of her soda.
Arnold smiled at her. "It's pretty cool that you're into stuff like this. I wanted to take Lila to see this when it first came out, but she thought it was too weird."
And there it is Helga thought sadly. Ever since Lila Sawyer moved to Hillwood back in the 4th grade it seemed as though Arnold had been cast under a lovesick spell doing everything he could to win her heart. She clearly said she wasn't interested, but he never seemed to give it up. Helga always saw the two of them together and it just made her sick. "So are you and Miss Goody Two Shoes still a thing?" she asked spitefully.
"We were never officially a thing. We tried dating again in 7th grade, but quickly realized it wasn't ever gonna work out so we decided to remain good friends."
"Oh," Helga said in surprise. "Well are you even dating anyone right now?" She had to know.
Arnold shrugged. "I haven't found the right girl yet." He smiled at her. "At least I get the honor of hanging out with the queen today."
"Well it's not every day that you get to hang out with cool royalty like me, Football Head. You better memorialize this day for the rest of your life." Arnold just laughed at her and turned his attention back to the movie. He has such a cute laugh. Helga decided to pay attention to the movie to see whether the plants or zombies would win.
