Disclaimer: Craig Bartlett owns everything. But I got dibs on the OC's.

Summary: Arnold gets Jealous.

AN: Oh, dear. First I want to apologize for my lack of updating. I appreciate the reviews you guys left me.

I also want to add that I did a little editing with this story. Don't panic, the plot is still the same old plot. The characters are still the same characters. I just went back and did some revising. It was all rushed (in my eyes) when I begun this story, so I wanted to expand on some things a bit, give readers a clearer view of where I'm going with this. If you want, you can go back and read the last three chapters. Like I said, it's still the same plot, so if you don't want to, that's fine as well. I hope you guys can forgive me, and continue on reading Ask Geraldine.

Comments:

Phantom_Amethyst- Hello thanks for the review. I'm glad you like Shade. ^ ^

Silverwolf1212- Thanks, dear. ^ ^

acosta perez jose ramiro-Thank you. ^ ^

mizgardenia21- Ha! I was rooting for Helga in that scene too. And yes, that scene was a reference to Matilda.

stagetrinity- Ha-ha, well I'm glad. Thanks for reading.

shinecsc- Thanks for reading.

MoetEtCadaver- Thanks for reading.

saNuThGu- I'm glad you like it so far.

GhibliGirl91- Wow, I'm glad Shade's getting so much positive review. Oh, and I'm glad you liked the detention scene.

trunksgirl85- Yes it's been a long while, and for that I apologize. Thanks for burying into the pages of just to read my story. I appreciate the feedback.

My sincerest apologies to anyone I might have left out. It's 2 A.M where I am right now. I'm probably dreaming this whole thing up.


Beautiful

Later that day Helga was in her room sitting at her vanity. She turned her head from side to side, her eyes studying every inch of her face. There was only a slight scratch under her eye. The most she got was a mountain sized knot growing on her scalp, but a couple of aspirins had taken care of that. She winced as she tenderly ran the tip of her finger over it.

"Helga, can I come in," said Olga from the other side of the door. Bob and Miriam had completely ignored Helga when she showed up later then usual. Olga had made a comment of the scratch, but after a vague response from Helga, went back to speaking about her great success with the kids in Alaska.

"No." Helga snapped, but of course Olga being Olga invited herself in.

"My poor baby sister," Olga said solemnly walking over to the back of Helga's chair. She leant down to stare at their reflections. Helga shrugged her off. "Not now Olga. I'm not in the mood."

"What really happened to your face?"

"Why do you care all of a sudden?"

Olga gasped, making Helga feel more terrible. "I got into a fight at detention."

Tears fell down the older woman's face, "I was afraid you'd say that."

"Oh, cut the dramatics. It's no big deal. I get into fights all the time. But that's not why I'm upset." Helga exhaled, feeling slightly emotional. To her embarrassment tears welled in her eyes, and her throat swelled up into a tight knot.

"Oh, Helga. C'mere." Olga sighed, bringing the tearful girl into her arms, letting Helga's head rest on her bosom.

"We all got along at the end. But that doesn't mean I forgot what she said to me…" Helga sighed shakily, wiping the snot from her nose.

Olga patted her back, gently rocking the girl in her arms. "What did she say?"

"Oh, just the truth... She said I was ugly, how I was some self conscious little-"

"Stop right there." Olga said, cutting her off. Helga sat up, gazing at her in confusion. She never heard Olga so indignant before.

"Helga, maybe you don't see what I see, but I think you're beautiful."

"Stop lying Olga. We all know you got the better end of the stick. I mean look at me." They both turned to the mirror.

"I am looking, and I think you are beautiful."

"My monobrow…"

"Ugh, Helga! You can't help that! Did you know I had the same problem growing up?"

"What, really?" Helga couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. Dammit, she wanted to sulk some more!

"It's the perks of being a Pataki. I use to hide it under my bangs, until my friend taught me the wonders of waxing." Olga cringed as her eyes reflected the horror of that adventure.

Helga chuckled, a few fresh tears trickling down her cheeks. Olga wiped at them with her thumb.

"You know Helga; I could wax them for you…"

-

"Hey, Helga! Wait up for a second."

Helga turned around to see who was shouting her name in the crowded hallway. Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted Arnold racing down the halls.

"Phew. I didn't realize how fast you walked until now," He breathed, with a smile on her face.

"Or maybe I'm just trying to get to my next class?"

"Right, of course," Arnold stopped, his eyebrow lifted appreciatively. Helga blushed, looking down at her converse.

"What?"

"N-nothing. Did you do something to-"

"Yeah, so? I got my eyebrows waxed. Big deal." I got my eyebrows waxed? Ugh. Kill me now.

"Um, so anyway…"

"Yeah?"

"Right."

"Arnold!"

"Okay, sorry. Lost my train of thought," he cleared his throat. "I wanted to tell you that I knew who set you up."

Helga raised an eyebrow (the right one respectively), "Someone set me up?"

"Esmeralda. She was the one that drew that picture. I heard her telling Lila. Don't worry; you don't have to serve the rest of your detention. I told her if she doesn't confess to Principle Lector, I was going to suspend her from the committee."

Helga was furious, but strangely impressed that the bitch could stoop so low. Esmeralda was pure evil. She pretended to be nice and sweet to blindside people, and then when backs were turned…wham! One time Esmeralda decided to pull one on Phoebe. She hid her clothes after volleyball practice, the same day there was a fire drill. The poor girl was ordered out of the locker room in only a towel. Phoebe hadn't shown up to school that whole week. It was also that same week Helga hunted Esmeralda down, and beat her nice and sound in the girls bathroom.

Ever since then, Esmeralda held a dark vendetta against Helga.

"Figures she'd do something like that."

"I'm really sorry Helga. It was unfair for Principle Lector to give you detention. I'll clear this whole thing up."

"Why? You didn't do it."

Arnold paused. "Well, I doubt Esmeralda will do anything about it. And well…I care."

Helga rolled her eyes, "Right. You care. Question. If you know that Esmeralda pulled a stunt like this, doesn't that make you wonder why kind of person Lila is for having a friend so devious?"

"Hey, why is this turning to Lila all of a sudden."

"I'm just saying Football head. No need to get all twitchy."

Arnold glared, "I don't know why I bother with you sometimes. It's obvious you'll never forgive me."

"Forgive you for what?" She felt like a headache was coming. Arnold could never just leave her alone. He would always be there to taunt her with what she could never have, what Lila beat her out of.

"Never mind," Arnold said solemnly.

Just when Helga was about to reply, she spotted two people coming towards them. The hallway grew quiet as the tall, dark-haired boy, accompanied by a pixie like girl with green hair parted the halls, leaving many stunned.

"Upperclassman," one girl squealed.

"Not just any upperclassman. That's Shade, and Clarissa Steele."

"Oh my gosh, he's so beautiful. Get a picture. Quick, before he leaves."

Helga felt her cheeks flame as Shade stepped in front of them. He stared pointedly at Arnold's hand, which to Helga's surprise had been resting on her arm. Arnold stared pointedly back, not moving an inch.

"That's your boyfriend?"

Helga shook her head. "No."

"How was your morning so far?"

She shrugged, 'Alright I guess."

"Are you still upset about what happened yesterday?"

"Kind of, but I'm a tough girl. I'm no virgin to catfights."

Clarissa giggled abruptly, but stopped when Shade glared down at her.

"You look hungry. Did you eat breakfast?"

Helga shrugged, "I won't die."

"Not good enough. Clarissa and I will feed you. How do you feel about Kenny's Pancake Joint?"

"I love Kenny's Pancake Joint!" Helga's stomach growled at the idea of having a real breakfast, other than a couple of breath mints.

Arnold stared at the three as if he were in some surreal dream.

"Alright then, let's go."

"Wait," Helga said, glancing quickly at Arnold. "I have class."

Clarissa and Shade stared at her as if she were an alien. "Doesn't everyone?"

"Helga, come on. You can't skip class." Arnold whispered in her ear.

"Of course she can. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Clarissa smiled and took Helga's hand leading her down the hall towards the exit.

"Don't worry. Helga's in safe company," Shade smiled a toothy grin and followed the two girls.

Arnold leaned against the locker, trying with all his might not to go running after them.

-

"What do you think," Shade draped his arm around the girl's shoulder as they walked across the parking lot. Helga's mouth gawked at the motorbike.

"This has to be the coolest thing in the world. But how are the three of us going to fit on this thing?"

"No worries, Blondie. C.J has her own bike." He got out two helmets, and handed one to Helga.

She placed it on her head, feeling funny.

"By the way, I forgot to mention it. The eyebrows…" He pointed to his eyebrows, smiling a bit.

Helga rolled her eyes, "They look bad."

"No, I wouldn't say that. Eyebrows or no eyebrows, you still look good."

Olga had put curlers in her hair that night. She had also persuaded Helga into wearing a form fitting shirt. It was a pale blue, and had a long v-neck that showed little cleavage. Helga had put a white sweater over it the second she left the house, but as the day wore on had it unbuttoned.

Helga smiled, punching him playfully in the arm, and then hesitated to see if that was allowed.

"Hop on, Blondie. I promise not to go too fast."

Helga pushed herself on the seat, and linked her arm tightly around his leather jacket.

--

Their classmates had pressed their faces up against the glass, watching in awe as Helga. G. Pataki rode off into the sunset with Shade, the most notorious upperclassman to walk the halls of Hillwood High.

Arnold, who was one of those people staring, looked down at his hands. The pen he had been holding nearly folded in half. The ink was scattered across his shirt and fingers as if a murder scene had taken place.