Fourth CHAPTER! This is the big one. The Kahuna. The Bahama Mama. The Hawaiian Punch. LOL I'm just kidding. This will probably be the LONGEST chapter, so enjoy and you will NOT be disappointed, that I guarantee.
As always, thank you to all of you who have read, commented, and reviewed my story. Without y'all, I would not feel so popular. Kinda.
Special shout out to Polkahotness, a fellow FF writer who helped me with this chapter. She is my favorite author and writes great stuff. Check out her page. Thank you Polka!
I do not own Hey Arnold, though I wish I did. If I did, I would've already made the final movie, TJM. (The Jungle Movie, for those of you who don't know.)
Chapter 4: Arnold
Arnold watched her turn the corner, glad that she was coming. Now he had to get ready. Turning around, he ran back home to get ready for the meeting. Opening the door and letting the dogs, cats, and Abner come out, he began to run up the stairs when he was stopped by his grandfather.
"Hey there Shortman. What's the big rush?" questioned his grandfather as he watched Arnold practically trembling with excitement.
"Oh. Um…" started Arnold while starting to edge toward the stairs. "I'm meeting someone tonight, Grandpa."
"Ohhh, you got yourself a date, huh Arnold?" winked his grandfather.
Arnold blushed and nodded his head, continuing toward the stairs.
"Well Arnold?" asked his grandpa. Arnold stopped and stared at Phil.
"Well what Grandpa?"
"Who is she? When and where are you meeting her? Do you want help getting ready? That's what I mean. Holy patooti, do I have to spell it out for you?" exclaimed Phil
Arnold blushed deeper and averted his eyes as he answered, "Well… I'm meeting Helga…"
"What, your little friend with the one eyebrow and pink dress? I thought you hated her." interrupted Grandpa.
"I thought so too, but I guess I actually…" started Arnold, but he couldn't finish the sentence.
Grandpa Phil caught on. "Ohhh, well, if you need help Arnold, just ask okay? Go get ready, tiger."
"TIGER?" screamed Grandma. She was wearing her safari hat, stalking up the hallway toward Phil. "Where is the tiger?"
"Not a real tiger, Pookie! It was an expression. Arnold has a…" explained Phil
"There is no expression. Now, excuse me, Kimba. I need to find the tiger." said Grandma as she pulled out her fly-swatter. Arnold went upstairs, still hearing his grandfather's protests to his wife about there not being a tiger. Arnold went into his room and wondered what to do. How should he look? What should he wear? He noticed that he was sweaty, and decided to wear some fresh clothes after he took a shower. Arnold grinned. He couldn't wait to see Helga tonight. She was in for a real surprise.
Helga was getting the riot act, not really listening to whatever Bob was ranting on about. She had come home in a good mood, her thoughts on how Arnold had asked her out on, dare she think it, a DATE! She mentally swooned at the thought that she would be meeting her love on top of his roof at sunset. "So romantic. As soon as Bob's done yelling at me, I can go upstairs to get ready. What should I wear? What should I say? Does he want to talk about…"
Bob broke through her thoughts, "That's IT! Go to your room, girl! Don't come down until you apologize to Olga for skipping out on her meals." Helga looked up, noticing the red in Bob's face as he pointed upstairs. She could have hugged him, he was almost handing her an excuse to get ready for her date on a silver platter. However, she tromped upstairs, a scowl etched into her face as she closed her door. She quickly removed the doll, put it back into her bed under the covers. Then she proceeded to the closet.
Opening the door, she pulled down the secret attic door and entered into The Shrine Room. There was her shrine to her beloved, just as she had left it. She bowed before the statue of Arnold, made out of a football, some gum, feathers, and buttons. She stayed there for a moment, then got up and spoke, "Ohh Arnold. How I wait patiently to meet you, to finally be with you in your arms as you play with my hair, your scent filling my nose, your gentle touch as you hold me and help me escape this horrible excuse we call life. Please allow me to, once and for all, banish any and all excuses, insults, and damage I have done to your gentle soul. Tonight, I will get rid of these walls that surround my heart and let you finally see the true me. The real Helga Pataki, the one that loves and wants to be loved, the one that wants to spend all of eternity with you. Please allow me that chance, and I will not fail you." She descended the staircase and began to get ready. She combed her hair and put it back into the pigtails, then put on fresh clothes. She sprayed the perfume that she kept for such occasions on, the same one she had worn on their date when she was Cecile.
She turned toward her mirror. She looked better, but she still looked like herself. She glanced out the window. The sun was descending the sky, slowly but surely drawing the day to a close. She cracked the door open, glanced both ways down the hall, then creeped out of her room.
The house was empty. Helga glanced into each of the rooms, all empty. Then she realized that the car was gone. "They probably went out to dinner with Olga." thought Helga. She grabbed some food out of the fridge and ate really quickly. She didn't want to bother Arnold for more food, especially not tonight. When she was done she cleaned up her mess and walked out the door and headed in the direction of the boarding house.
Arnold checked himself in the mirror. He looked and smelled better than he did earlier, but he still looked the same. He wondered if he should get into nicer clothes, but changed his mind. "Helga wants to be with me. That's how I should be." thought Arnold. He walked to his room and looked past the skylight. The sky was a beautiful collage of colors, which meant the sun was setting. He climbed the ladder to check and see if Helga was there. No one was on the roof, yet. He climbed back down and began to pace his room.
He realized that he was nervous. Really nervous. "Why am I nervous?" thought Arnold. "I know how she feels about me, now I just need to tell her about how I feel. I wonder how she will take it. Will she be shocked? Probably. Happy? I hope so." Arnold knew why he was nervous. He was afraid that she might not show up. What if she had made all of it up? If she did show up, he already knew what he was going to say. He had rehearsed his lines, anticipating what Helga might say. He knew she would probably act how she normally did to him, mean and rude, but he would bring out that side of her that he had always known was there. He would show her that he was not pulling some prank or trying to manipulate her feelings. He really loved her, he just couldn't believe it had taken him so long to figure it out.
Arnold took a deep breath and climbed the ladder again. This time, Helga was there, sitting exactly where she had been in his dream. He climbed out silently and shut the hatch. She looked beautiful. She was exactly as she had been earlier, but the wind blowed toward him and he could smell a scent of perfume. He couldn't believe she had used perfume. It was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't remember from where he had already known it. He pushed the matter out of his mind, focusing on the present.
He sat down next to her. Helga jumped and said, "Criminy Football-head! You scared the heck out of me. Don't do that!" She scowled at him, but Arnold just smiled. "What's so funny? I'll knock out your teeth unless you stop."
Arnold only smiled wider and said, "I'm glad you came, Helga."
"Yeah well, I had nothing better to do, so I figured I might as well." grumbled Helga. She crossed her arms and turned away from him, demanding, "What did you want, Arnoldo?"
Arnold turned her face towards him like he had the night before. "Helga, there is something I wanted to tell you. I've been thinking about last night and…" He blushed and averted his eyes before continuing, "I just wanted you to know that…"
"Stop Arnold." whispered Helga. Arnold looked back at her and was amazed to see her crying. "I don't want to talk about last night. I don't have anything to say to you. I get it. You don't feel the same way."
Arnold gasped. "What?"
"I know you don't. I just flipped out okay?" continued Helga, looking away from Arnold. "It was just, I was just having a bad day and I was overjoyed at the fact that you let me stay over, so I lost my head. You probably think I'm crazy…"
"Helga." said Arnold, trying to interrupt.
"and I wouldn't blame you." continued Helga, as if she hadn't heard him. "I know it was a bit much to have your bully say she loved you. I understand you might not feel the same but I just couldn't control myself."
"HELGA!" shouted Arnold. Helga stopped and looked at him. She was crying, but she narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to tell him off. He didn't let her get the chance. He pulled her in and kissed her.
Arnold felt several emotions. Annoyance that Helga was trying again to pull back on how she felt, on how she had acted. He was tired of her hiding herself from others, especially him. Overjoyed that he was with this wonderful girl who had been with him all his life, to be with her after so much. But most of all, he was in love. He wanted to be with Helga, to spend the days just with her, to finally tell her how he felt and the fact that she wanted to be with him as well. He was going to show and tell her all of this, beginning with this kiss.
Helga was so glad that she had been wrong. He did love her. HE had kissed her now. Though he was gentle and conservative with his kiss, she was more powerful and assertive. Her arms went around his neck, driving his body closer to hers, pulling him in. His arms around her stomach, returning the favor. She committed this moment to her memory, to forever remember this evening, this hour, this moment. She felt him pull away for a second. She opened her eyes after what seemed like hours to see her love watching her, a smile glued to his face. She couldn't believe that she had once again cried. "I need to be tough. That's what your known for Helga." scolded Helga in her head. Then, he spoke.
"You talk too much Helga."
Helga couldn't help it. She giggled, so happy that he loved her just like she did him.
"Say it. Please." whispered Helga
Arnold leaned closer to her face, just mere centimeters away. "I love you Helga." whispered Arnold as he stared into her eyes, showing how sincere he was.
Helga returned the smile, blushing maroon. "I love you too Arnold." And she pulled him for round 2.
As the sun finally set, the two pulled apart and went inside, hand in hand and both blushing furiously. Helga couldn't believe her luck. She finally got her wish. She finally received her own feelings and affections from her one true love.
Neither said a word as they both got ready for bed, Arnold in his room and Helga in the bathroom. Helga danced as she got ready for bed, not feeling the least bit tired. When she was done, she walked up to Arnold's room and placed her clothes in her bag. When she turned around, she saw Arnold staring at her, a kind of weird look on his face.
He finally said, "Helga, thank you."
Helga was extremely confused. "What are you thanking me for Arnold?"
"For meeting me on the roof. For telling me that you loved me. For helping me whenever I gave up hope, for helping me save the neighborhood. Basically, for everything." completed Arnold, while naming each adventure he had taken a step closer to her. "I'm so lucky to have you. I'm so lucky to have met you in Pre-K, even though I didn't even know it." When he had finished talking, Arnold hugged Helga. Helga sniffed his hair, the scent filling her nose and causing her to swoon onto the couch. Arnold looked at her with concern. "Are you okay, Helga?"
Helga opened her eyes and found him only a few inches from her face. She whipped her head forward to plant a small kiss on his lips, then said, "I am fine Arnoldo. Now." said Helga as she pulled away, smiling.
Arnold smirked and said, "Whatever you say, Helga." He began to go back to his bed.
Helga grabbed him by the hand, causing him to stop. When he turned, she said, "Arnold."
"Yes, Helga?" asked Arnold
"Good night." whispered Helga as she returned his hug. "And you're wrong." continued Helga
"Wrong about what Helga?" questioned Arnold, a perplexed look on his face. Helga loved it when he didn't get it. He was so gullible.
"I'm the lucky one." whispered Helga into his ear. "You saved me. You made my life tolerable, my days brighter, my sky a deeper blue. You were the silver lining through my cloudy life, my only escape from my family, my sister's shadow, and my own doubts. I will never be able to repay you for that." Helga pulled away from him, her eyes threatening to tear up again.
Arnold kissed her hand in his, and said, "There is no time like the present to start. Good night Helga."
Helga leaned forward and kissed her angel once more. As Arnold turned out the lights and Helga crawled under the covers on the couch, Arnold asked her one last question.
"Helga, will you be here in the morning?"
"Yes." replied Helga, smiling in the darkness. "Who cares if they find out I stayed at Arnold's?" thought Helga to herself. She smirked a little. "I can do as I want, when I want. Nobody bosses around Helga G. Pataki. With Arnold finally by my side, I'm unstoppable." Before falling asleep, Helga thought of the day, from sneaking out of the window that morning to finally kissing Arnold good night. Her luck was finally beginning to turn.
Hey Arnold! Hey Arnold!
Arnold's eyes jolted awake. He quickly shut off the alarm, checking to make sure Helga was still here and still asleep. He saw her shift from the noise, but then she rolled over and remained asleep on the couch. Arnold exhaled, relieved that she was still here. He wondered what he should do. His stomach rumbled, seeming to answer him.
Man he was HUNGRY! Arnold opened the door and quietly tip-toed down the stairs. He wondered what his grandma was making for breakfast. He entered the kitchen, the smell of pancakes and maple syrup in the air. Arnold grabbed a plate, a syrup bottle, and 2 forks while going back upstairs. As he walked in, he saw Helga awake and stretching on the couch. She got up and began to lumber toward her bag when suddenly she stopped. She sniffed the air and turned towards him.
Arnold couldn't believe that Helga looked so pretty with a bed-head in her pink pajamas. Her eyebrows rose when she looked at him, and she saw the pancakes in his hand. A smile slowly etched onto her face as she said, "What? You already made me breakfast Football-Head? That was…" Helga pondered for a second and then said, "nice of you. I can handle myself though, thanks."
Arnold just stared at her. Then he sat down on his bed while saying, "Whatever you say, Helga. I guess I can just eat these pancakes myself then." He turned back toward her and took a bite. He saw Helga raise her eyebrows again, and the smile was traded for a slight smirk. "Uh huh. I guess you will." And with that, she opened the door and began to walk down the stairs. Arnold heard her walk down, silently chewing on the pancake. He drizzled some syrup on top and took a bite, just as Helga peeked in to glare him.
"Well?" she asked
"Well what?" asked Arnold, perplexed again. He tilted his head to emphasize his question.
"I thought you were going to try to stop me, Hair-Boy." scowled Helga as she entered his room again.
"Nope. Whatever you want to do, you can do it Helga." Arnold smiled as he watched her jaw drop, her eyes narrow. She looked cute when she was angry with him, the fact that half her hair was messed up only enhancing her look. "Remember? Nobody controls Helga G. Pataki. Just because we kissed doesn't mean I'm going to try to run your life."
Helga was silent a moment, then she walked over to his side and sat down. "Football-Head." mumbled Helga as she reached for the fork from his hand, her fingers lingering on his. Arnold let go after a moment, then waved the food in front of her face. He still couldn't see her face though, and he left the food next to her. There was something he wanted to ask, but he knew she would be angry. He figured he would just have to come out and say it.
"Helga, can I ask you something?" asked Arnold, placing his hand on her's, twining his fingers into hers.
After a moment, Arnold saw Helga nod her head yes, still without looking at him.
"I was wondering what you wanted to tell the gang. Are we going to tell them about us now? Do you want to… just tell a… couple… of… people?" Arnold finished weakly as Helga slowly turned her head, her expression livid. Arnold cowered away a little.
"WHAT?" yelled Helga as she jumped up and away from Arnold. Helga Pataki was still Helga Pataki. He had expected this. "Why would we tell anyone? No, no, no, no, NO! We are not telling anyone yet. My reputation is at stake Arnold." she continued as she faced Arnold again, on the end of the room now. "What would they say if you and I started dancing in the street for everyone to see? They would make fun of me. I don't want that."
"Helga," said Arnold, also getting up to try to comfort her, "nobody will make fun of you. They wouldn't do that, you know it."
"Why wouldn't they, Arnold? Huh? Why?" yelled Helga
"Because they all know of what you could do to them if they did." replied Arnold. Arnold took a step toward Helga, she in turn sitting down in his chair at his computer. Arnold grabbed her hand and continued, "And besides, I won't let them." Arnold kissed her cheek to clarify his message. Helga was still angry, looking at him as if he had slapped her. "Please Helga, just two people. You pick one person…"
"Fine." interrupted Helga. "I'll tell Phoebe."
"And I'll tell Gerald then." decided Arnold. "We can tell them later today."
"Why Gerald?" asked Helga
"Why Phoebe?" returned Arnold
"Touché Football-Head. Fine, we tell one person, ONE, each." Helga rose, still holding his hand, noticed Arnold. Arnold smiled and kissed her cheek again. This time, Helga smiled.
"I hate that. I can never stay mad at you, no matter what." said Helga as she began to blush. Arnold kissed her hand in his, never taking his eyes off her face as he too began to blush. He loved her. He hoped against hope that Gerald would understand. He probably will flip out on them, but he would calm down eventually. Hopefully.
Arnold and Helga finished their breakfast, laughing about how their friends might react to the news. Helga bet Gerald's hair would fall out while Arnold thought he would just stammer on after. Arnold thought Phoebe might squeal really loudly while Helga thought she would just take it pretty smoothly.
"Phoebe has been my confident, so she already knows. She'll probably just be happy for us." explained Helga to Arnold. Arnold was amazed that Helga had devoted something so secretive to Phoebe and that Helga must place a lot of trust into her to tell her that. Helga then asked, "I saw you and Tall-Hair Boy yesterday morning. Have you already…"
"No." said Arnold. "I was going to, but I thought he would freak out, and I also didn't want to divulge that night to anyone without talking to you first." Arnold saw Helga's eyes widen, then she did something that surprised and kind of scared him. She reached into her shirt, but kept her hand there, seeming to have a conflict with herself. Arnold closed his eyes, not sure where this was going. Suddenly, Helga pulled his hand and placed something into it. Arnold keeps his eyes closed, not sure what she had given him, but it had curves, was made of some kind of metal and it seemed warm to him. Helga said, "Open your eyes Arnold."
Arnold did as she said to find a heart in his hand. Not just a heart though, it was a heart with a picture of him on the front. He was smiling. Arnold remembered the same heart that he and his grandfather had found. They were going to open it to find out what was in it, but it had disappeared. Arnold looked up and saw Helga judging him. "Is this your heart, Helga?" asked Arnold. He was amazed that SHE had been the owner of it.
Helga nodded her head and said, "I've had it for so long. It was my one memento, my one item of you I always carried with me wherever I went. Since you know I love you now, I don't really need it anymore." Arnold looked down at the heart again, not fully understanding how much Helga had loved him before until now. This time though, he noticed the crack in it. He handed it back to Helga and asked, "Can you open it?" Helga took the heart back and opened it effortlessly. Arnold took it back and looked again to read the message.
"Arnold my soul, you are always in my heart. Love Helga G. Pataki" As he had read it, Helga had said it word for word. He looked up to see Helga looking down, tears leaking down her eyes. She wiped them away saying, "Don't worry Football-Head, I just have something in my eyes." Arnold smiled, closed the locket with a small CLICK, and scooted closer to Helga. She didn't look at him. Arnold lifted her face so her eyes met his, her beautiful blue eyes now filled with tears. Arnold didn't say anything, though nothing was needed to be said. He moved his hand to the side of her face to catch a tear she had missed. She reached up and laid her hand on his, both smiling, neither speaking. Then Arnold leaned in and kissed the girl he loved.
Helga seemed almost to lose track of time with this last kiss. She had given Arnold her heart, literally and figuratively, and he accepted it. She could never have wanted anything more in her whole life, and now she had him forever. That locket had been her last test to Arnold's love for her and he had passed with flying colors.
Helga pulled away and said, "Well Arnold? We better go tell Geraldo and Phoebe." Helga bounded up and grabbed some clothes, leaving Arnold on his bed, still smiling. She rushed downstairs to change in the bathroom. She brushed her hair and teeth, got dressed, and put up her hair into her signature pig-tails, humming to herself. She couldn't help but smile at the thought of telling Phoebe about her success. Helga hoped Phoebe had come back from her reunion so she could tell her. She would just have to find out later.
She walked back upstairs to find Arnold already changed and ready to leave. He seemed to be sitting in his computer chair, facing away from her and staring off into space. Helga placed her pajamas in her bag and walked to see what he was doing. When she approached, he seemed to snap out of it. Helga always wondered what he always had his head in the clouds for, something she had always loved about him.
Arnold looked at her and asked, "Ready?"
"Yep. Let's go." confirmed Helga, holding her hand out for him. Arnold took it in his, and together they walked downstairs to the kitchen. Arnold's grandparents were in there.
"So, this is Arnold's little friend huh?" questioned Phil as he stood up to meet Helga. She looked up at him without blinking. "How old is he? He must be ancient." thought Helga, but she knew it would be rude to say that. Instead, she nodded her head. "I'm Phil, but you can call me Grandpa. It's nice to meet you…" continued Phil as he held out his hand to her.
"Helga." she said as she shook his hand. Arnold's grandma turned around and looked at Helga, then broke out into a smile. "Hello Eleanor! So nice to see you again." Helga blushed and tried to look away. Arnold walked up and said, "Grandpa, we're going to go out okay?"
Phil nodded his head, "Okay, but be back for lunch, okay Shortman? Nice to meet you Helga." Helga nodded back and with Arnold, they left the boarding house. When Arnold closed the door, Helga grabbed his hand again and they strolled to Gerald's house. On the way, they discussed what they would do.
"I'll tell Gerald to meet me at Geraldfield at 11:30 for something important, then you tell Phoebe to meet her there at the same time. That way, they don't suspect anything before we tell them." said Arnold. Helga was okay with it, though she could begin to feel butterflies about telling someone besides Arnold and Phoebe about her love. She understood that Arnold and Gerald were close, closer than she sometimes felt with Phoebe even, but it didn't help the nerves. Arnold squeezed her hand as they came closer to Gerald's house, then he let go. Helga went into an alleyway and waited patiently. She reached into her shirt for her locket, but then remembered that she had given it to Arnold. "Old habits die hard." thought Helga with a smile. She instead reflected on last night, remembering her holding his hand, her kissing him when he had told her he loved her too, her kissing him goodnight.
Swooning, she said, "How glad I am to finally have you, Arnold. How lucky I am to know someone as wonderful as you. I would go to the ends of the Earth for you, and I know now that I don't have to dream anymore. I don't have to wish for your love anymore. I can forever be yours and you mine." Then she heard breathing. Turning, she found Brainy standing there, listening to her again. Then, he did something unusual, for Brainy at least. He gave her a thumbs-up. Helga smiled and said, "Thanks Brainy. I won't sock you today, but please don't listen on me again, okay?" Brainy kept smiling and breathing, then he walked away. Helga got up, turned around and walked out of the alleyway to see Arnold coming back to her.
Arnold said, "Okay, Gerald will be there. He tried to pry me for details, but I just told him to meet me there for something important." Helga held out her hand and went with Arnold to Phoebe's house. Helga stopped in front of the house and said, "Now you wait. I'll be right back." Arnold walked away to hide while Helga walked up Phoebe's stoop. She rang the doorbell and waited. After a moment, she rang the doorbell again.
The door opened and Helga saw Phoebe. "Helga! How good to see you." said Phoebe as she hugged her best friend.
"Nice to see you too. Hey, Phoebe? Can I ask you something?" Helga asked when she hugged Phoebe back. "Can you meet me at Geraldfield at 11:30?"
"Why Helga?" asked Phoebe. Then her eyes went wide and she whispered, "Is it about 'Ice Cream'?"
Helga replied in a whisper, "It has EVERYTHING to do with 'Ice Cream'. Please Phoebs?"
Phoebe's eyes went wider, then she pushed her glasses up and said, "Absolutely Helga. I'll be there."
Helga hugged Phoebe. "Thank you Phoebs. I'll see you there." Phoebe closed the door and Helga walked back down the stoop. Helga found Arnold and together, they went back to the boarding house for lunch.
What do you think Gerald and Phoebe will say? How will they react? Wait until the next chapter to find out. Things get… interesting in the next chapter, so look forward to it. As always, please review and let me know what you think.