Chapter 4: Let's Get This Over With
Arnold was approaching his front stoop with Helga, having held her hand all the way home from school. As usual, Arnold insisted she step back to avoid being hit by the zoo of pets living in the boarding house.
"Pttss...I think I'm actually looking forward to seeing that flock of animals spew out of your front door, knowing your lame-o cousin is in there." Helga smirked.
"He won't be here for another thirty minutes. That'll give us time to look up the movie times before he gets here." Arnold explained, while opening the door.
Helga stood behind him, watching the animals pour out. "Crimity! How much money do you people spend on pet food?"
"Uhh don't ask." Arnold sighed, rubbing his neck.
Phil heard the two preteens as they were walking past the kitchen. "That you shortman?"
"Hey grandpa. Helga and I are going to look up the times for the movie tonight." Arnold replied.
"Okay. Just make sure that weirdo relative of yours goes with you." Phil warned him.
"Pttss...yeah. Wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun." Helga scoffed while following Arnold upstairs to his room.
After making it up the stairs and into his bedroom, Arnold took a seat at his computer to look up the movie times.
Helga went to sit on the bed with her backpack, wondering how unbearable the night would turn out. She had been looking forward to spending time with Arnold all week, only to find out his annoying cousin maybe joining them along with their annoying classmate.
"If Arnie arrives on time, we could catch the five o'clock movie." Arnold informed Helga.
"Does the dweeb have money for a ticket to whatever money HE intends on seeing, because I'm not paying for it." Helga warned him.
"Uhh I guess I can go ask grandpa for some." Arnold replied, rushing down the stairs.
As Arnold made his way downstairs, he heard a knock on the door. KNOCK KNOCK
Arnold opened it to see his unwanted city folk cousin, Arnie. "Oh, hey Arnie."
"Snort. Hey." Arnie replied unenthusiastically.
"How was your ride here?"
"Snort. I counted the seats on the bus."
After rolling his eyes, Arnold replied "That sounds uhhh interesting. You can put your things in my room. I'll be there in a minute."
"Snort. Okay."
While Arnie headed upstairs, Arnold raced to the kitchen to ask Phil for some money.
"Hey grandpa."
"Hey shortman! What's the problem?"
"Can I have some money for Arnie to go out tonight?"
"Heck! Take my wallet! Just keep that creep away from me!"
"Uhh thanks grandpa."
While Arnold was grabbing the money, Arnie was entering the bedroom to see Helga waiting for Arnold to return.
"Snort. Hey Helga."
Helga slapped her face at the sight of him. "Oh brother!"
"Snort. I missed you."
Helga clenched her fists while seeing him come closer towards her. She did her best to remain calm and control her aggressive behavior. It wasn't easy with his annoying antics however.
"Snort. Do you want me to take my lint collection out of my suitcase?" Arnie asked, while taking a seat beside her.
Arnold then walked in with the money to see Arnie beside Helga and the irritated look on her face.
"Snort. Do you want to share my gum with me?"
As Arnold saw Helga standing up to march out of the room, he said "Hey Arnie, Lila wants to go out with you tonight!"
Arnie turned his head towards his cousin while seeing Helga stand beside him.
"Snort. But I want to spend time with Helga."
Smacking her face once again, Helga scowled "In your dreams helicopter head!"
Arnold could see how easily irritated Helga was becoming. "Helga, why don't you wait downstairs. I'll talk to Arnie."
"Fine!" she scowled, marching out the door with her fists clenched.
Arnold then turned to his cousin and said "Look Arnie, Lila wants to hang out with you and Helga and I have a date scheduled."
"Snort. Why can't I come?"
Arnold's eyes then widened at the sound of his cousin's bluntness. "Uhh because it's a date. Besides, Lila's really looking forward to seeing you. You don't want to hurt her feelings do you?"
"Snort. I guess not. Snort. Can we all see the same movie?"
"I guess." Arnold sighed, knowing Helga wouldn't be too thrilled.
A few minutes later, the two of them went downstairs to seen Helga sitting in the kitchen with Phil.
"So, you looking forward to your night with shortman's cousin?" Phil asked Helga, while she leaned her head in her hand against the table.
"Pttss...what do you think?" she scoffed.
"Can't say I blame you." Phil shook his head, as Arnold entered the room with Arnie.
"Ooohhh speaking of which, here comes the weirdo now." Phil exclaimed, while Arnold rolled his eyes.
"Grandpa…."
"No arguments here." Helga scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Helga, can I talk to you a moment." Arnold asked, pulling her into the next room.
Phil glared at Arnold's unorthodox cousin as he took a seat beside Phil.
While Arnold was in the next room, he said "Look Helga, the only way Arnie will go out with Lila is if she sees Evil Twin 4 with us. I called and she said she would."
Helga clenched her fists, doing all she could not to blow her temper.
"So, that means we'll be double dating I suppose?"
"I guess." Arnold replied hesitantly.
"Then let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get this over with." Helga scoffed.
Arnold stood there heartbroken a moment. He too had been looking forward to a fun night with his girlfriend. Now she was just anxious to be away from him.
As he watched Helga storm out the front door, he heard his cousin walk up from behind. "Snort. I'm ready to go."
"Oh umm okay." Arnold replied, while walking out with him.