Hey! Well here is the next chapter we're gonna be seeing the gang continuing their work for the party and also cause' I'm a good person I'm gonna put some arnoldxhelga in it so hope you enjoy it!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Hey Arnold! It belongs to Craig Barlett.


Chapter 4: A memory revisited.

When Arnold woke up the next morning he realized he was still in his street clothes, he remembered last night, he had been staring at the moon for hours that seemed like minutes to him thinking about all that Mariana had told him that she came to do and also the revelation that she and Eduardo had been sent by his parents to recover an artifact known as 'the crystal core' but also that they had been sent to look for him, he had went into his room after having realized he lost track of time and lied down on his bed thinking about all this and he probably had fell asleep after having get lost in his thoughts, though he got more answers than the ones he bargained for, the things Mariana had told him still formed a lot more of questions on Arnold's mind, why would his parents sent her to look for him?, what is really the crystal core?, would his parents have sent them to take him with them to San Lorenzo?, right now the only thing he could do was wait for the afternoon to go over to Bridget's headquarters and find out more about what this whole thing really was.

On another thought Arnold was still thinking about that boy that had been staring at him weirdly yesterday morning just before he got to the YMAA gym, Arnold wondered why he was gazing at him like that, he looked as if he was shocked, as if he had found someone he'd been searching for a long time and also he had been thinking about that weird sensation he felt like he knew him from somewhere, he would've asked the boy what was going on but he had been stopped at the last minute by Gerald and to his bad luck when he turned around the boy wasn't there anymore, how did he disappeared so fast? He didn't know, but what he did know was that if he saw that strange boy again he was sure gonna ask him what he wanted.

Arnold stood up from his bed and glanced at his clock, noticing that it was 6:30 a.m. he decided to go grab a nice warm shower before heading down to grab a breakfast, he took some fresh clothes with him and went straight into the bathroom…


After having showered and dressed, Arnold finished his morning ritual by seeing that his hat was adjusted right on his head, he came out of the bathroom refreshed and ready for the day but before he headed out he took one quick last trip to his room to check on his little 'jungle' notebook, during the major part of October he had been doing research about central America, like it's countries, it's most recognized cities, it's different cultures, it's secret civilizations, but what he had been researching about the most had been San Lorenzo and the Green-eyed people, right now Arnold opened the notebook and wrote down in a free page as a title 'The crystal core' which he told himself he would research about from now and on to find out more about it, he would've do it right now but he knew he didn't had that much time, he glanced at his clock it was 7:12 a.m. right now, he had to be at the gym by 8:00.

He closed his notebook and put it on the top of his book shelf, just by the side were a certain little pink book rests, Arnold smiled and chuckled when he saw the pink book, the pink book full of poems dedicated to him that belonged to none other than Helga, he already knew that the book belonged to her, Helga should've know that he'd already seen the last page, thinking back on it he remembered the exact moment he saw the last page.

When he was on his way to school he took out the book and started reading those poems, at first they seemed a bit scary to him though Arnold couldn't deny they were really passionate and profound for someone who was in elementary school, just then Arnold decided to jump to the last page and that's when he saw it… the firm of Helga's name.

To say that he had been shocked was little, at that right moment Arnold couldn't believe what he was seeing since that had been the first evidence that she liked him but instead back then Arnold wouldn't have went as far as to say that it was love, although those poems were really saying that it was indeed love he wasn't sure just yet, but now….

Arnold just decided set those thoughts aside for the moment knowing that that right now he had other things to think about… things that were much more important to him right now.

He left his room and went downstairs, and when he made it to the first floor he entered the kitchen where he was greeted by his grandparents.

-"Good morning short man" Phil said.

-"Hiya Kimba" Gertie said.

-"Good morning grandpa, good morning grandma" Arnold greeted.

Arnold sat down on the table and started eating the pancakes that his grandma gave him.

-"Hey short man, did you choose what you wanna go dressed as to your party?" Phil said.

-"Well now that you mention it I did some thinking last night and… I think I know what costume I'm gonna do" Arnold confirmed.

-"Really? Well I guess that means I'm gonna have to pick my costume alone huh?" Phil said chuckling.

Arnold chuckled.

-"Well so what did you decided to go as anyway short man" Phil asked.

-"Well, I wanted to keep it a secret you know, so it would be a surprise" Arnold said.

"Awww, c'mon Arnold you know you can trust your ol' gramps, I ain't telling anyone" Phil assured him.

-"Really?" Arnold said raising his eyebrows.

-"Yeah, well maybe except for your grandma" Phil said.

-"Oh well then-"

-"And maybe one or two of the boarders" Phil said teasingly.

-"Grandpa" Arnold said in an annoyed tone.

-"Jijiji, just messin' with ya short man, but seriously Arnold I'm not gonna tell anyone" Phil assured.

-"Okay then, you really want to know? Arnold asked.

-"Well of course" Phil said impatiently.

-"Well I was planning on going as-""Ring, Ring!" Arnold was interrupted by the sound of the phone in the aisle.

-"Hmm, wonder who would be calling so early" Phil said as he out his newspaper down and stood up to go and answer the phone.

As Arnold watched his grandpa leave the kitchen he turned around to minding his own business again and finish his breakfast, as he was eating Arnold raised his sight from his pancakes a little to look at a part of the table that was duct taped so it wouldn't break in half, Arnold smiled a funny smile and chuckled a little remembering the incident where his grandpa had told him it had been Helga the one who broke it, his mind drifted off to the day he lived one of the most funny of Helga's incidents with him but also one of the evidences that confirmed to him her love… Her parrot.

*FLASHBACK*

Arnold was entering his home after having a nice while with his best friend Gerald in the arcade and having taken a little walk around the neighborhood, right when he entered he went upstairs and walked down the aisle hearing the common rants form the boarders, Arnold just chuckled, even though the boarders may be weird and a little annoying at times he still loved them as if they were his own family, of course things could get a bit out of control at times but that was just what gave the fact of living in the Sunset Arms the strange sense of excitement it had in the football-headed boy's life.

As he entered his room he was about to flop down on the couch when suddenly he heard an strange voice that sounded like the one of some kind of bird and it said "Arnold, my love" repeatedly, Arnold turned around and was surprised to find that in the top of the book shelf there was a parrot saying "Arnold, my love" again and again.

He narrowed his eyes and went over to the top of the book shelf, there the parrot started talking again.

-"Why must I hold you only whilst I dream" the parrot said.

-"Huh?" Arnold said confused.

Suddenly the parrot settled on the top of Arnold's head and started reciting a poem.

-"Arnold, my love, my sultry preteen.

Why must I hug only whilst I dream" the parrot said.

-"What?!" Arnold said shocked by what the bird was saying.

-"Will I be forever enslaved by your spell?

Why must I worship you and never ever tell" The parrot continued.

-"What the" Arnold said setting the parrot on his right hand so he was looking at it to the face.

-"Arnold, you make my girlhood tremble

My senses all go wacky

Someday I'll tell the world my love

Or my name's not…"

Arnold looked at the bird in awe and a little bit anxious for the revelation the parrot was going to do.

"…Helga G. Pataki" the parrot concluded.

Arnold widened his eyes and gasped in shock, his mouth fell slightly open and his mind went blank, he should've known he had been having his suspicions about Helga for a while now but he never really thought she was that deep and passionate about her feelings, she never seemed like it but then again she was Helga and she could seem to be a lot of things in front of the people's eyes but for some reason never her real self, was it because she was afraid? Was it because she didn't like her real self? Arnold didn't really know but what he did know was that this parrot had cleared his suspicions.

Helga was in love with him.

Arnold sat back on his couch and the parrot settled down beside him, he held his forehead in his hand before running it through his blonde hair with a blank look on his face still thinking about this, after some minutes of deep thinking he looked at the green furred parrot with a slight smile on his face.

-"Well buddy, seems like you lifted a little weight off my shoulders" Arnold said petting the parrot on the head.

-"Now the question is ¿what am I gonna do with you?" Arnold wondered aloud.

Then the doorbell rang and he went downstairs to answer it, he looked through the window in the door and was surprised to see Helga standing there waiting for the door to be opened.

-"She must've come for the parrot" Arnold though.

With no other choice Arnold gave a small sigh and opened the door but before he had a chance to say anything Helga was already talking.

-"Oh hi Arnoldo, don't get any ideas that I came to see you or anything" Helga said with her arms crossed "I'm just going door-to-door looking for my par-" Helga was interrupted.

-"Arnold, my love" the parrot said suddenly arriving at the scene and settling on the top of Arnold's head

Helga seemed to tense up at the sight of the parrot, she gasped a little and then laughed nervously, things that didn't go unnoticed by Arnold.

-"Not ready to accept it Helga? Arnold thought and then asked innocently "what did you wanted to ask me Helga?".

-"Um, my par- pair of roller skates, you've seen them?" Helga asked somewhat nervously.

-Arnold fought the urge to roll his eyes at her "pair of roller skates? Really?, c'mon Helga, can't you make up a better excuse? Arnold thought and gave an internal sigh "Well, here we go I guess".

*FLASHBACK END*

After having remembered this Arnold giggled and decided to go back to his breakfast but then he looked at the clock, it was 7:40, he widened his eyes and realized that time went flying by him for having been lost in his thoughts, Arnold took one last bite of his pancakes and drank some more milk and rushed out the door.


While he was walking to the YMAA gym Arnold thought again on the whole parrot incident, he couldn't know how Helga could let escape a parrot that recited a poetry that would make a normal 10-year old boy swear never to fall in love for someone, then again Arnold thought that maybe he wasn't so normal since that poem didn't seem scary to him, not in the least, in fact to him, that poem was quite… flattering actually, and yet he still wondered if he did feel something for Helga or not, looking ahead he saw the YMAA gym and just decided to leave those thoughts for another day.

He crossed the street looking to both sides before crossing and after he had made it to the sidewalk, he was about to start ascending the steps when he felt that odd sensation that he felt yesterday, the sensation that someone was watching him, Arnold then had the feeling that it was the same boy from yesterday and turned around to see, but to his surprise the person that was watching him on the other side of the street was not a boy, but a girl.

The girl looked to be the same age as Arnold and she looked to be his same height too, she had brown hair that reached to her upper back, her skin was lightly tanned and her eyes were light brown and almost golden, she was wearing a light blue dress with a pair of silver colored flat heeled shoes on her feet, it could be that he was probably going crazy but if you asked him she looked to be like some kind of a female version of the boy from yesterday, the girl too was staring at Arnold with wide eyes but her mouth closed but you could see that it was as if she was shocked to see him, Arnold then felt the same strange sensation that he felt with the boy, he felt as if he had seen her before, somehow he seemed to recognize her face but he had definitely no idea and couldn't make out who she was.

He narrowed his eyes and was about to cross the street and go to talk to her, and ask her who she was when suddenly…

-"Yo, man!" Somebody called.

-"Wha?!" Arnold said turning around.

When he turned around Arnold found his best friend Gerald poking his head out the door of the gym with a curious look on his face.

-"It's me Arnold, sorry if I scared ya'" Gerald said.

-"No, it's okay Gerald" Arnold said.

-"Well then, come on in man, everyone's already here, just you're the only one that hasn't arrived" Gerald told him.

-"Sorry, I just…" Arnold was going to say something but he suddenly remembered the girl that had been staring at him just now.

-"Is she still there?" Arnold wondered just as he was about to turn around but…

-"Something wrong man?" Gerald asked.

-"Huh, oh, no, I'm fine, really" Arnold said putting up a reassuring smile.

-"Are you sure?, you look a little gone man" Gerald said coming out the door of the gym and remaining on top of the stairs "c'mon Arnold, you know you can tell your best bud' right here anything".

-"Uh… well.. I…" Arnold said before finally looking over his shoulder to see if the strange girl was still there but, much to his dismay she was nowhere in sight.

-Arnold narrowed his green eyes and let out a frustrated sigh"Not again" he thought feeling a little annoyed that the same thing happened again.

Arnold had been staring at the spot where the girl was with so much attention that he didn't noticed Gerald walking down the steps of the gym and going to his side.

-"You okay man?" Gerald said putting his right hand on his friend's shoulder and feeling a little concerned now.

-Despite hearing Gerald's question Arnold just continued staring at the spot across the street with narrowed eyes until he said "I…" he shook his head and sighed "I'm okay Gerald, really, I guess I'm just still a little tired, that's all" Arnold assured.

-"You sure, Arnold? You look out of yourself a little today" Gerald said.

-"Really, Gerald! I'm fine, no big deal" Arnold confirmed.

-"Alright, if you say so man" Gerald said raising his hands a little but not at all convinced.

-"Okay, now let's go in, we've got work to do" Arnold said walking straight to the gym.

-Gerald sighed "Whatever you say Arnold" he said as he alongside Arnold made their way up the stairs of the gym.

And with that the two best friends proceeded to enter the gym determined to finish their job but what they were unaware of was about the pair of light brown eyes watching them from behind the shadows of a building still in a shocked but also unreadable expression.


A while has passed and the decorations are almost done, the team of Arnold, Gerald, Harold, Sid and Stinky were already done with the scenario, the sound system was up and running, the spotlights were good and stable (although the same couldn't be said about the three poor kids who almost got their arms stretched to the end of their energy for all the struggle they had done against the spotlights) while Eugene and Sheena were just moping around the dance floor, Lorenzo, Park and Iggy were setting up a disco ball, Rhonda and Nadine "supervising" the process (more like just walking around giving orders) Curly and Lila setting up a few fake bats on the walls as well as some fake tombstones on the corners and Helga and Phoebe posting cardboards around the gym with designs of monsters, pumpkins, candies, candy bags or bats on them.

Having just finished their job Arnold and Gerald were just sitting on one of the chairs that were around the gym, just relaxing and chatting about the party on Friday night when Mr. Simmons came over to them…

-"Arnold, Gerald?" Mr. Simmons said interrupting their conversation.

-"Yes Mr. Simmons?" Arnold said.

-"Now boys I know that you're already done with your work and what you probably want right now is just to rest but I have a favor to ask of you" Mr. Simmons told them.

-"And what's that Mr. Simmons?" Arnold asked.

-"Well it seems Helga and Phoebe are a little bit of trouble pasting the posters on the walls and I was wondering if maybe you two could lend them a hand" Mr. Simmons said

-"Aw, man just as I was starting to feel good again" Gerald said.

-Arnold chuckled "It's okay Mr, Simmons we'll help" He said.

-"Um, well don't you think I can stay here just a little while longer Arnold?" Gerald said with a pleading smile.

-"Gerald…" Arnold said with a weary half-lidded look.

-"Okay, okay man I'm with you" Gerald said rising from his seat "at least I tried" he thought wearily.

-"Alright then we're ready Mr. Simmons" Arnold said.

-"Oh, thank you so much you two, I knew I could count on you special heroes" Mr. Simmons said rather gleefully.

After saying this Arnold just chuckled while Gerald just smiled proudly.

-"Hey Mr. Simmons you know that the '2 special heroes' are always here and ready for action" Gerald said jokingly and feigning a salute.

-"Alright then now go on and help your two classmates" Mr. Simmons said leaving but just as he left Gerald's expression changed from one of pride to one of disbelief.

-Gerald sighed "Well man seems we're gonna have a hard time for a while, huh?" he said rather wearily

-"Oh c'mon Gerald it's not gonna be that bad" Arnold reasoned.

-"Not that bad? Arnold we're gonna be working with Helga G. Pataki, the class bully, you remember?" Gerald told him.

-"Just try to look on the bright side Gerald, it's not gonna be a long while just a few minutes cause I think Helga and Phoebe are almost finished… and…" Arnold said before pausing.

-"And?" Gerald said raising an eyebrow.

-Arnold grinned "do I have to remind you that we're not gonna be helping only Helga?" He said still grinning knowingly and raising his eyebrows.

-Gerald realized what he meant and blushed a little bit "oh… yeah, I forgot Phoebe was there too" he said rubbing the back of his neck.

-Arnold chuckled "c'mon Gerald let's go help them" he said gesturing to both the girls and starting to walk over to them.

Gerald noticing that Arnold was already walking ahead quickly rose up from his seat and catched up to Arnold, and so the two boys made their way over to the girls who were leaned against a wall chatting about Helga's morning and seemingly waiting for them, when they saw them approaching they stopped their conversation and got right back to work.

-"Well about time you two clowns showed up" Helga said.

-"Well, sorry Helga" Arnold said somewhat sarcastically. "we we're just-"

-"Yeah, yeah anyway we still have some work to do so get you're both slow butts up and start pasting" Helga told them pointing to the glue and the posters.

-"Nice to see you too Pataki" Gerald grumbled and rolled his eyes and then looked at Phoebe "hey Phoebe" he said smiling a little shyly but managing to keep his cool on.

-"H-hi Gerald" Phoebe said with both her hands clasped behind her back and looking aside shyly.

-Arnold seeing the interaction between Gerald and Phoebe smiled at them but decided to cut it short since they had to go to work (not to mention Arnold's plans that afternoon which he promised himself he wouldn't be a minute late) "uh… well guys I think we should really be getting started with this" he said.

-"Uh, yeah, right um… so" Gerald said taking his gaze away from Phoebe.

-"Alright here's what we're gonna do" Helga said getting in front of all of them "Me and Phoebs are gonna be pasting the posters here on this wall while you two take paste these ones on the other side of the gym" Helga said giving Arnold and Gerald the posters and glue (more like shoving it to them) and signaling them to the other side of the gym

Gerald opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Helga.

-"Any objection I hear from you two is gonna be answered by old betsy, got it?!" Helga said showing them her fist for emphasis. "And this specifically goes to you Football Head, now move it". Helga said poking Arnold's chest.

Arnold and Gerald just looked at each other wearily, grabbed their stuff and walked to the other side of the gym, as they were walking away Helga changed her scowling expression to one of sadness and started looking around until her eyes fell upon a dark corner behind a sound system in the scenario.

-"Um, Pheebs could you excuse for a minute?" Helga said.

-"Uh, sure Helga but I could really use-" Phoebe didn't even finish as Helga just thanked her and ran away.

When Helga got behind the sound system she got out of her dress a familiar golden locket with the picture of a certain football-headed boy in it and squeezed it tightly and lovingly as if she was actually squeezing the person of the picture that was in it.

-"Oh, Arnold, my love, my flaxen-haired angel" Helga cooed in a lovingly tone "How cruel I am everytime I see you, How savage I treat you whenever you are close to me, why must I be forever hidden in this shadow of misery, why must I force myself to wear this mask that does nothing more than to harm my feelings, oh, my beloved, how I hope that you one day would accept my heart and also that one day you shall give me yours, ohhh" Just as Helga finished she heard the familiar sound of wheezing behind her, she cracked her knuckles and the first thing she did was throw a punch right behind her which hit her stalker, Brainy, right in the face and yet another pair of glasses was broken.


Later on, Arnold, Helga, Gerald and Phoebe had just finished their jobs and were just sitting on some chairs trying to cool off a little and just relaxing, the decorations were almost done and all of the gym was looking really well for the party on Friday night, Arnold right now was talking with Gerald about what costumed they were going to wear for the party.

-"Well I'm gonna come as a disk jockey man, Jamie-O has an outfit of those and he's gonna borrow it to me" Gerald said

-"Wow, really? Well that's new, I thought you said Jamie-O doesn't borrow anything to you" Arnold said.

-"Yeah but I had to make a deal with him" Gerald said.

-"What deal?" Arnold asked.

-"He told me that in exchange for the costume I…" Gerald said.

-"You…" Arnold asked.

-"I have to babysit Timberly tomorrow night" Gerald answered.

-Arnold was surprised by this "You what?" he said snickering a little.

-"You heard me man, me Gerald Johansen is gonna be a babysitter tomorrow night" Gerald said with a little regret.

-"But I thought you said you hated babysitting Timberly" Arnold said.

-"I know man! But I had no other option I mean I'm totally out of ideas" Gerald said. "But by the way man, you haven't told me what you're gonna wear".

-"Well… I'd like to tell you Gerald but it's just that I want it to be a surprise you know" Arnold said.

-"Awww, c'mon Arnold tell me! You know I'm not gonna blab about this to anyone, please?" Gerald pleaded.

-"I know you wouldn't tell anyone Gerald It's just that I want to surprise you too okay?" Arnold said.

-"C'mon man! I mean what difference does it make? I'm still gonna be surprised If you tell now, please man" Gerald said.

-Arnold sighed "Gerald…"

-"Pretty please, c'mon Arnold" Gerald pleaded.

-"Okay, fine" Arnold said. "You really want to know?" Arnold said looking at him.

-"Yes!" Gerald exclaimed.

-Arnold sighed "Okay then, I guess it wouldn't to tell one person anyway" he said. "Well I think I'm gonna come as a-"

Arnold was interrupted by Mr. Simmons who went on the scenario and started talking on the microphone.

-"Alright everyone, I know you've all been having a fun time here and that you probably want to stay a little longer and continue working and acting as a tribe, right" Mr. Simmons said enthusiastically while everyone just went silent and stared at him with half-lidded eyes.

-Mr. Simmons cleared his throat "But unfortunately it's already 4:30 p.m. which means that you're all free to go now".

And with this all of 5th graders inside the gym cheered and ran out of it, when Arnold reached the sidewalk he remembered that he had to be on his way to Bridget's headquarters right now to meet Eduardo and Mariana, still he couldn't figure out how Bridget fitted into all of this but he was sure gonna figure out once he got there, so with that Arnold was about to make his way there when suddenly…

-"Hey Arnold!" Sid called him.

-"Yeah guys?" Arnold said turning around.

-"We're gonna go to Gerald field and practice a little, you wanna come man?" Gerald offered.

-"Um, sorry guys but I can't" Arnold said.

-Gerald blinked surprised "What? But you're always in the mood for some baseball man" he said.

-"I know guys it is just that I have other… plans for today" Arnold said.

-"Well okay if you say so man" Gerald said and twiddled thumbs with Arnold, normally he would've asked where he was going but with everyone else already waiting for him he had no time for a little conversation right now

-"See ya tomorrow guys" Arnold said waving at them and walking on the other direction.

With this done, Arnold hailed a cab and told him to start making his way over to his next appointment, his destination: the city's docks.


Author notes: Hey guys! Been a little while since I've updated huh? Oh well I'm sorry for those of you who were expecting to see Arnold talking to Eduardo in this chapter but I'm still thinking on the talk session with him but I can tell you that he's gonna be on the next chapter and also I may add a little plot twist to it so stay tunned and see ya!

Also if you're wondering about the name of this chapter, it's because of Arnold remembering the day Helga's parrot appeared.