Sorry this took a while, I couldn't think of what to write. Writer's block is over, though! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold! or any of it's characters.
I still need a story to tell her tomorrow. Or maybe I should just tell her the truth – or part of it.
"Hi, Helga. You know that show Phoebe mentioned yesterday? Yeah, that one. Uh, looks like I'm going too! Gerald's mom asked me to go with him, they have extra tickets…" Arnold tries to say out loud, checking what it sounds like. "No, that isn't right." He thinks again. "I was going to tell you about how Gerald asked me to go with him to the show, but when Phoebe told you that she already had tickets I didn't want to spoil the surprise so soon… No, that doesn't work either," Arnold says and shakes his head.
"Hey Shortman!" Arnold hears Grandpa say outside his door. "I see the lights are off, but it sure doesn't sound like you're sleeping!"
"Uh, sorry Grandpa," Arnold says hurriedly. "I'm gong going to sleep now. Goodnight!"
"Kids," Grandpa says with a small chuckle. Arnold hears his footsteps as he walks down the staircase and the soft click of the door closing. Arnold decides to sleep anyway. No use in staying up all night and thinking about it now. I'll just see how it goes tomorrow. He tries to sleep, but his mind refuses to shut off.
Lying on his bed, Arnold looks up at the starry sky and sighs. Of all nights, why does it have to be this one that I can't sleep?
Somewhere across town, Helga is thinking the same thing. Why can't I sleep? Is it because of the show? Or… is it because of Arnold? Helga thinks back to the conversation she had with him that afternoon. He did look like he really wanted to tell me something. If it was so important, why didn't he just say it? She sighs and keeps tossing and turning in her bed. Okay, Helga, think. What's happening now that he might wanna mention to you about? She wracks her brain searching for an answer, but nothing comes to mind. Man, all this thinking is draining me. Hey, at least I can get some shut eye. She closes her eyes, and the next thing she remembers is seeing Arnold's face. Ah, my love. A small smile creeps to her lips as she falls asleep.
The bell rings as Helga finishes writing her essay; the one Miss Wells ended up giving everyone anyway, despite the competition. She gathers her books and makes to leave the library. "See you tomorrow Mrs. Thatcher," she says as she passes by the counter.
"Goodbye, Helga dear. Have a safe trip home!" She says warmly and returns to reading. Man, doesn't she ever do anything else? Helga can't help but smile affectionately, thinking that she is one of the few people who sees Helga for who she really is, not just the school bully. Though I have stopped randomly insulting people lately, I wonder why. Helga ponders this as she steps onto the sidewalk, unknowingly walking straight in the direction of a boy with an oblong shaped head.
"Hi, Helga."
The familiar voice stops her in her tracks. She looks up from the pavement and sees Arnold standing in front of her, just inches away. Helga jumps back slightly, startled at his close proximity. "W-what are you doing here, Arnoldo?" she says nastily, covering her embarrassment at the light shade of pink creeping up her neck.
"I was just… walking," he says simply. Helga could see a few books stacked under his arm. He notices where she's looking and a small smile appears. "Oh, yeah, I'm going to the library to return these books, too."
"Oh, and uh… w-why were you so close to me?" Helga cringes inwardly. I don't think that came out right. Darn it.
Arnold smirks just a little at her poor choice of words. That's not like her, she's always so articulate. "Actually I just stopped you from bumping into me. If not we'd be on the ground right about now."
"Uh, excuse me? Me, bump into you? I think it's the other way around, Bucko," Helga says defensively. Though Helga is silently relieved at the fact that they didn't bump into each other. That would've been embarrassing. "Now if you don't mind, I've got better things to do right now. Step aside, please." Helga stands there, waiting for him to move but surprisingly, he doesn't. He stares at her, dumbfounded. "What?" she says, exasperated.
"You said please," he says dumbly, still staring at her.
"Well, duh. Thanks for telling me that, Captain Obvious. It's called manners, and if you had any you would stop looking at me like that." Helga folds her arms and raises one side of her unibrow.
"No, it's just that… you always just shove me to the side and walk off." He says slowly, still confused and trying to grasp the situation.
"So I'm in a good mood today, what's it to you?" Helga says, puzzled as to why he's saying this. "Would you prefer it the other way around? Fine." Helga pushes him aside and starts walking. "What a weirdo," she says, mostly to herself, but loud enough for him to hear.
Arnold watches her walk, thinking for a moment. "Helga, wait!" he says and runs to catch up with her. Since puberty has kicked in, he's grown taller than her already so he manages to keep pace with her in no time. She refuses to look at him and tries to ignore him. "I'm sorry about that," he blurted out suddenly, which stops her in her tracks.
Helga looks at him, puzzled. "Sorry about what?"
"The whole thing back there," he says, waving him free arm in the direction of which they stood just now. "I mean, I shouldn't be surprised about you acting nice—"
"That wasn't me being nice," Helga interrupted. "Like I said, it's manners. Don't get used to it," she says and starts walking again. He looks so cute when he's flustered. A small smile appears on her face and she almost giggles. Crimeny Helga, get a grip! The smile vanishes and she struggles to keep a straight face as he calls out her name again.
"Helga!" he tries again, catching up to her once more.
"I thought you said you have library books to return," she says sarcastically. "The library is in the other direction, genius."
"They can wait. Helga, just stop and listen for a minute," he says, almost begging. His tone stops her from walking a step further and she turns to face him. I wonder what this is about…
"Why don't we just stop all this?" he says and Helga's face is blank.
"Stop what?" she asks, head tilted to one side and arms folded again.
"You know; everything. Insulting each other, getting on each other's nerves… let's start over. As friends," he finished. He looks at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.
"Like… a truce?" she says uncertainly. A truce! That would be perfect; I can be nice to him now without anyone suspecting anything. Sooner or later he'll start to like me and then he'll begin to see his real feelings towards me—love. Oh Arnold my darling, you're a genius!
"Yeah, something like that," he says and smiles. Helga's heart skips a beat and she tries not to faint. "So what do you say?" he says and stretches an arm out.
Helga smiles and takes up the offer with a handshake. "Deal. But you have to remind me sometimes. I might forget and be mean to you again."
"Oh I don't think that'll happen," he says confidently and lets go of her hand. Helga sighs inwardly. If only he held on a bit longer…
Helga is jolted awake by the sound of her alarm clock. She yawns and rubs her sleepy eyes, trying to remember what she dreamt of the previous night. Oh, right. The day Arnold and I became friends. Just friends, though. The thought makes her chest tighten. Not to worry, in time he'll see the light, and we'll be together. I know it'll happen.
She gets up from her bed and walks over to her closet. Quietly, she closes the door and steps behind a line of clothing. Hidden from anyone not looking is a secret compartment in the wall. She opens it and takes in a breath at the sight of her lifelong work: the Arnold Shrine. I'll never grow out of this, will I? She chuckles quietly. Maybe I'll stop when the real Arnold is mine. Maybe. She takes out the heart-shaped locket containing Arnold's picture and places it right in front of the shrine.
"Oh, Arnold," she says, eyes half-lidded and head tilted sideways. "How could you keep me waiting for so long? I've been so nice to you lately and you still see me the same way. When will you realize I'm the one? When will you finally reciprocate these feelings I've been harbouring all these years?" She places her hands over her heart, feeling like it might explode. "What more can I do? How can I make you see all this without exposing myself too much? The world isn't ready to see Helga G. Pataki pour her heart out in public; they aren't ready to see me be so vulnerable and weak. Oh, Arnold—"
"Helga!" a female voice yelled her name, muffled by the soft, padded surroundings Helga is sitting in. Helga sighs and the love-sick expression turns to one of annoyance. She carefully takes the locket and closes the compartment, once again hidden from prying eyes. "Helga!" the voice calls again, getting nearer. Helga quickly steps out of her closet and closes the door.
"What?" she says as her bedroom door opens and her mother's head pops through.
"Helga, how many times do I have to call you? Hurry up and eat breakfast," Miriam says.
"Wait, you made breakfast?" Helga asks incredulously.
Miriam sighs and gives her an apprehensive look. "Well of course I did, what kind of mother do you think I am?"
I hope that's a rhetorical question.
"Now hurry up and get dressed! We have guests," she says and leaves Helga's room.
"Guests?" Helga asks, but waves it off. "Must be Bob's work people." Nonetheless, Helga's early morning Arnold session has been interrupted and she doesn't feel like going back in. She decides to get dressed anyway and grab something to eat. Come to think of it, I'm starving.
Helga is walking down the stairs when she hears her dad talking to someone in the living room.
"I gotta say Alex; it's nice to see you again. The last time I saw you, you were still using a car seat!" Bob says. Helga is surprised; the only time he sounds so glad to see someone is when he meets Olga. She steps into the living room to see a group of strangers sitting on the couch. "Ah, Helga! Come here, girl."
Helga slowly walks to her father's side, all the while giving a once over to each of the people sitting on the couch opposite her. Four people. Hmm, must be a family. That guy's the dad; she directs her thoughts to a man with slightly graying hair and spectacles. That must be the mom; she looks over to a woman in a pencil skirt and pearls, with bright red lipstick on. There's the daughter; her eyes dart to a little blonde girl with pigtails and a bow. Looks familiar, all that's missing is the pink dress and unibrow. Ah, that must be— she looks to the last person on the couch; a boy in a white t-shirt and jeans. His piercing blue eyes make her heart skip a beat. She looks away quickly. Wait, that's new. Usually only Arnold can do that to me. Helga looks at him again, carefully this time. Why is he… familiar somehow?
"Helga, these are the Robinsons." Bob says. "They're old friends of mine. That's Fred," he says, indicating the older gentleman. "Louise," he points to the woman. "Sally," he moves on to the little girl. "And Alex," he finishes, with a slight change in tone at the mention of the name.
"We've met," Alex speaks up and Helga is taken aback. We have…? Alex gives Helga a huge smile; then everything comes rushing back. Her eyes widen as she remembers who he is, how they met; everything.
"Uh, yeah, we have," she says lamely and starts moving towards the kitchen. Giving a brief smile to everyone in the room – except Alex – she excuses herself. "I think I'll help Mom in the kitchen."
Out in the hallway where they couldn't see her, Helga slinks down to the floor. Oh, man. This is really messed up.
Okay, so if you're wondering, the Robinsons are OCs that somehow just popped up. I figured this story is becoming too predictable so there you go. DON'T KILL ME FOR IT PLEASE!
I really want to know what you guys think of it, so please let me know via reviews!
Thanks also to those who have reviewed, I'm an forever grateful! :D
