A/N: Hey everyone. This chapter starts with a flashback of what is the pivotal moment of my own version of "The Jungle movie." After that we get some fun with Helga and Phoebe. Thank you for taking the time to read, and review.
Some years earlier...
In a camp just outside of a lush scenic jungle in San Larenzo, two 10 yr olds sat alone together, overlooking a beautiful vista on the edge of a cliff. Below them, the jungle continued to sprawl, with a river winding it's way through the tree's. Behind them several yards away, past brush and fauna, their classmates and family members celebrated around a bonfire.
It had been quite the adventure for the 4th grade class of P.S. 118, involving Pirates, a secret tribe, ancient artifacts, and prophecies fulfilled. In the end, a people were saved, an evil man was defeated, and a football headed boy was reunited with his mother and father after far too long.
That football headed boy now sat here on the edge of the cliff, next to the person who had made it all possible. He was gripping with the confusion in his head over everything that happened. Elated beyond belief to be reunited with his parents, he was desperately trying to figure out why the girl next to him had risked her life again and again, just to make him happy.
It had been Helga who had figured out where the artifact needed to be placed. It had been Helga who forced him to press on, and not give up on finding his parents when he was ready to throw in the towel. It had been Helga, who had pushed him out of the way, before being ran through by La Sombra.
The blond haired, green eyed boy looked over toward the girl sitting next to him as if seeing her with true eyes for the first time.
Helga was sitting down, looking over the vista as well. It was the only thing she could do to stop herself from hyper ventilating and fainting. Arnold had sent her a note, asking her to meet him here, away from everyone else. Her heart was beating a million miles a minute, she had no idea what he wanted, or why he had asked her here. Now she was here, alone with the boy who had won her heart so many years ago. The secret desire she had always wished and wanted for, and now, she was so scared she was afraid she'd pass out at any moment.
He was looking at her, and she knew it. "Don't look back at him, don't look back into those beautiful green eyes, oh criminey, why is he looking at me like that? Why? What does he want? I've never seen him look at me like this before, I must have done something wrong, Jimminy Crickets, where's Phoebe at? Where's tall hair boy at? Someone has to come along and save me!" she thought to herself, her hands in her lap, thumbs twiddling faster and faster.
Arnold continued to look at Helga. He noticed she was nervous, though for what reasons he couldn't be entirely sure. She was always so strong, almost fearless really. He only knew a handful of times Helga had been truly scared in all of the time he knew her. She seemed more afraid now, then at almost any other time in their lives. It shocked him when he realized just sitting here, alone with him, she was more terrified then when they were facing off against the sword wielding pirate La Sombra.
That was Helga. He had always known this, even if he didn't think about it, even if he put it back in his mind most of the time. He knew Helga was far more complex then most people gave her credit for. That was Arnold's gift though, the ability to see the good in all people, and he knew, Helga had more Good inside of her, then the majority of people he had come to know in his life. She put on this tough, rough around the edges exterior, like a shield against the world, yet the more he thought about it, the more he looked at her, the more he knew she was sweet, and kind, beautiful on the inside.. and slowly he was beginning to realize as the sun was going down, turning the sky orange, she was beautiful on the outside too.
The Silence was becoming to much for Helga, the waiting was to much and the way Arnold was looking at her was to much. She had to say something, anything to cut the tension, to calm the beating of her heart. "Geez Football head, what did you call me out here for? You trying to throw me over the cliff face here?" She spoke sarcastically, her defenses going up, trying to cover and conceal what she was feeling at the time.
Arnold saw right past it. It was as if he had finally unlocked the puzzle that was Helga. For the first time, he could see right through her bluster, and into her soul. His voice was soft, kind, when he spoke to her. "Helga... do you remember Christmas?"
The Question caught her off guard. Christmas? What did that have to do with anything? Christmas, well that had been when she traded in her Nancy Spumoni snow boots, all to make sure Arnold could track down Mr. Hyunh's daughter Mai. She responded, unable to control the quaver in her voice. "S-s-sure I remember it Arnoldo, what's your point?"
Arnold kept looking at her, his gaze never left her, as his questions continued to cut through her bluster, through her defenses. "I always wondered how Mai showed up that day. I had given up. Gerald and I had searched everywhere for the last pair of Nancy Spumoni snow boots, all to trade them in just to find Mr. Hyunh's daughter. Just as I was about to tell Mr. Hyunh how sorry I was for failing, Mai shows up." Helga was doing her best not to give anything away, but it wasn't working, Arnold noticed the panic growing on her face. He gently continued. "A miracle may have happened that Christmas Helga, but their was an angel behind it. An angel who showed up after Christmas break was over, without the snow boots she'd been going on and on about being positive she'd gotten."
Helga turned a deep shade of red, did Arnold just refer to her as, as an Angel? But wait! If he put two and two together, then he knew she was the one who had engineered Mr. Hyunh's daughter Mai returning! Helga was scared, nervous, Arnold was different, he was talking to her in a way he never had before. "Oh come on Football head, maybe my Mom just wasn't able to get them for me is all. They were the hottest commodity last Christmas."
Arnold's voice cut her off once again.
"Then during the end of the School year, when Fti almost destroyed the neighborhood, it was you who helped me the whole time. The neighborhood would have never been saved if it wasn't for you, feeding me information, helping me in secret once again."
His eyes continued to gaze straight into her. Helga was on the verge of panic. She didn't know what to say now. She simply looked back at him, her mouth opening slightly, trying to find the words, trying to know what to say, but again, Arnold continued. Speaking before she could get a word in edgewise.
"It was you who made sure this trip happened. When the plane flight was delayed, you called in your Dad's favors to get us all shipped down here in a plane full of Beeper exports. Then, you not only stick to me like glue the entire time we're down here, making sure nothing happens to me.. You risk your life all to make sure I'm reunited with my Parents. Every time I've been in a jam, every time I've been ready to give up through out my life, it's always you who's been there to help me."
Helga's heart had nearly leapt out of her throat, everything in the 10 yr old girl wanted to run, to flee, to avoid this situation. At the same time, she felt exhilarated, excited, she didn't know what to do. Her fight or flight reflex was so confused. She needed to say something, to stall him, to get her bearings before it was too late. "Well gee football head, don't make it out like it's some big-"
Arnold's hand had suddenly grabbed hers. His fingers felt warm against her palm, he gave a gentle squeeze as his voice came out kind, and measured. "Helga, don't lie to me. "
She didn't know how, but instantly she felt better. Her heart calmed itself, she felt wonderful, she felt relaxed, she felt happy. It was amazing, the moment he took her hand, it was if everything transformed him. She couldn't believe how right it felt, how right it made her feel with the world. She knew this was the time. No more games. It was time to lay the cards on the table. She finally spoke, soft and low, avoiding eye contact with him for the moment.
"Arnold... No matter what the situation was, if there was anyway I could help you, if there was anything possible for me to do...I wouldn't hesitate one moment to do it." She looked back at him then, finally summoning the courage within herself. Her soft blue eyes looked back into his green.
For a moment, the ten year olds were silent, gazing at one another, before Arnold responded with a simple question. "Why Helga?"
Helga held his hand tightly, she was still scared, still nervous about what would happen, but she also felt wonderful, just holding his hand like this. This moment would remain her happiest memory, for some time to come.
"Because Arnold, I..." She sighed then, closing her eyes for a moment, looking down at where their hands were intertwined. "Arnold, seeing you sad, makes me sad. Seeing you upset makes me upset. Seeing you in pain, it fills my heart with more sorrow then anything else in the world." She looked up again, into his eyes, swallowing, feeling braver. "Arnold.. what I feel for you..what I've always felt for you...what I've always been afraid to tell you.."
Arnold's own heart was racing faster then ever, a bright flush was coming to his cheeks. Yet holding Helga G. Pataki's hand, the hand of the girl he originally thought was his primary tormentor in life, the girl who he had always known secretly in his heart, was far sweeter then she let on... It gave him a sense of peace and happiness only equaled by that of finding his parents. His eyes looked down as well, also gazing to where their fingers had interlocked without him realizing it. When he spoke, his own voice was low and soft.. "Helga..., I think I've always suspected..and the truth is.. I think.. I pretty much.. feel the way you do.." He looked up and gazed back into her eyes. A soft smile was on her face, it was a genuine smile, not one of her maliciousness or mean spirited ones.. Helga was honestly for one of the few times in her life, happy. Arnold was smiling too, and slowly as the sun was going down, and the night sky seemed to provide the perfect moment for the two of them, the two pre-adolescents slowly drew closer to one another, leaning in toward each other.
Their hearts were pounding, their faces were flushed, their breathing had slowed, their eyes began to close. Just as their lips were about to touch, a voice rang out, cutting through the new night, interrupting the scene, throwing a cold, cold bucket of water on the two of them.
"Hey Arnold! My man, where you at? Your Mom is...HOLY TOLEDO! ARNOLD, HELGA WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOIN?" Gerald Johansen's voice rang out as he stumbled across the scene, of what appeared to be Helga and Arnold, just about to lip lock.
Arnold and Helga both blinked, looked at one another, looked at Gerald, flushed horribly and looked away. "Gerald, I, well, we were, that is, I had something to discuss with Helga! That's all!" Arnold stammered out, putting on his best casual smile, and failing horribly at it.
Helga was blushing furiously as well, but years of covering up her emotions quickly kicked into gear. Her protective shell coming over her once more, removing all traces of the vulnerable sweet girl who was there only a moment ago.
Gerald just looked on suspiciously, not buying any of it. "Mmhmm, is that so? Cause it looks like to me, you two were about to try the four lip lambada."
Arnold flushed even harder, looking down, even more embarrassed. Yet part of him, felt.. happy? There was something exciting, something new, and it seemed to be happening between him and Helga, all she had to do was-
And then he was pushed aside violently as Helga spoke, the usual bluster in her voice. "Outta the way Geek bait!" Helga then turned her attention toward Gerald, tromping toward him, fist raised in the air. "Look tall hair boy, you didn't see anything. Nothing happened. I wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near that freakish little football head, and if you even THINK about saying this to anyone, I'll hit you so hard you won't wake up until Graduation ceremony in 12th grade...GOT IT BUCKO!" She snapped out, grabbing hold of Geralds collar and almost lifting him from the ground.
Gerald for once, wasn't impressed with the bluster or menace. Possibly because he too had nearly met his maker from the sword wielding treasure hunter La Sombra. He rolled his eyes as he responded. "Man, what ever you two say.."
"Good!" Helga almost spat out, before dropping him on the ground and stomping off to hide on the complete other side of camp.
Arnold could only look on, to shocked to say anything. How quickly she had returned to the mean, snarling insensitive "Hell Girl" he was more familiar with. He felt, hurt inside, a hurt that he'd never experienced before. He felt betrayed, but at the same time, he felt bad for Helga. The entire thing simply confused him. He was wrong, that must have been it. For once his insight had failed him. Helga, the very notion he was entertaining ideas like that about her... No, he had misjudged what she really wanted, he wouldn't make that mistake again. "Okay Gerald, let's go.." he rose up, crossing toward his best friend, who only looked on with skepticism and confusion of his own before sighing and nodding toward Arnold. "Alright man, as I was saying, your Mom is lookin for you."
Across Camp, hiding in the bushes and trees, away from everyone else, Helga fell to her knees and balled her hands up into fists. She grit her teeth all to stop herself from screaming. She beat her fists into the ground as her whole body shook. She was so close, everything was so close, and she had blown it all. Tears ran down her cheeks as she shook violently, holding back a sob from over taking her. It would be okay, she just couldn't handle revealing how she felt in front of everyone else. There would be plenty of time, she'd track him down later back in Hillwood and apologize to him. Beg for his forgiveness, it had to work.. It HAD to work, she reasoned. She had time, she had time, no need to panic.
Almost four full years later, the Alarm went off in Helga Pataki's room.
Bleary eyed, and almost halfway off the bed, Helga slapped the annoying alarm clock violently, sending it flying onto the floor where it clattered to the off setting. She ran a hand through her tousled blond hair, sat up, stretched and yawned. Her hair ran down over part of her face obscuring an eye, and the t-shirt and pajama pants she slept in clung to her awkwardly as if she tossed and turned all night.
What a dream. Well, it wasn't really a dream, it was in fact what had taken place. Why had she dreamed it though? She had done her best to forget that memory as much as she could over the last few years. It pained her, being both a source of joy and sorrow all wrapped into one. To think, she almost had Arnold right there, but she had to go and ruin it! Of course, it was Arnold's fault she was feeling this way now. She hadn't remembered that particular bit of history in some time, but then some stupid football head had to come home from the middle of nowhere, and suddenly Helga G. Pataki was having stupid dreams, about stupid emotions and feelings she didn't want or need! Criminey!
She'd have to tell Phoebe about it on the bus today. Maybe she'd be able to decipher what it all meant, she couldn't deal with seeing Football head this early and needed some advice about..."Oh no.. The Bus.. He'll be on the Bus! I can't deal with that! I can't see him this early, especially after that dream! I, I can't go to school today! That's it, I'll just call Phoebe and let her know, I'll have to skip today, it's the only way!"
Helga was in a blind panic, she ran across her room, tripped over her discarded blanket, picked herself up off the floor, grabbed her Cell phone from it's charger, and dialed Phoebe by instinct alone. It only took a few rings before she heard the familiar upbeat tone of Phoebe Heyerdahl. "Morning Helga! Sleep well?"
"Criminey, how can she be so cheery this freaking early in the morning" Helga thought to herself and inwardly sighed before replying. "Pheebs? Yeah Listen, I'm not feelin to well today. Think I'm gonna have to take the day off. I'll need you to pick up all my homework for me. Think you can do that?"
"Well of course Helga, but before you completely commit to the idea of staying home, allow me to ask you.. Are you sure your reticence over returning to school today does not have more to do with Ice-cream, then an upset stomach?" Phoebe had of course hit the nail directly on the head with that statement, causing Helga no small amount of consternation.
"Why does she need to be so damn insightful!" Helga thought to herself, before sighing inwardly and deciding to just fess up to her best friend. "Okay Pheebs, you got me..I just.. Arnold is going to be on the bus today, and I just don't think I can deal with him so soon. Especially considering the dream I just woke up from. I don't know if I can handle that."
"Oh Helga, a dream like that is nothing to get upset over. I have intimate dreams about Gerald all the time." Phoebe responded, cheerfully again.
"Pheebs! This is nothing to do with your hangups about Sex with tall hair boy! Criminey! I didn't have that kind of dream about Arnold! At least not tonight!" Helga almost growled into the phone, slapping her palm to her face.
Phoebe's voice came out, embarrassed, laughing to try and cover it. "Oh! Of course not Helga!" She laughed nervously again. "Silly me! Just forget I brought the whole thing up.."
Helga sighed again, and realized this whole intimacy thing with Gerald was really bothering Phoebe. As self absorbed as Helga could be at times, she knew it was her duty as Phoebe's best friend to be there for her. She quickly changed the tone of her voice to one more sympathetic before speaking. "Pheebs, this whole sex thing with Geraldo, it's really eating at you isn't it?"
She heard Phoebe swallow before responding, her voice small and nervous. "Y-yes.. Helga, it is. Gerald and I.. well, we've never really.. Well, the most Gerald and I have done is.. Well he's had me with my top off.. and we've also.. hugged very tightly.. with some moving involved and it sort of felt very nice.."
"So basically, you let him get to second base and you've dry humped." Helga responded plainly.
"HELGA! It's not like that!" Phoebe squealed out in a panic.
"Well gee pheebs, what exactly is it like then? Cause to me it sounds alot like that." Helga responded.
Phoebe paused for a moment, breathing deeply on her end of the phone, Helga simply waited patiently until finally Phoebe replied almost whispering. "Okay, well yes.. maybe it is like that.."
"So what's the problem Pheebs? Sounds to me like everything is going fine. He's not trying to pressure you into going further is he? Cause if he is, I'll set him straight, REAL fast." Helga said.
"No, no, that's not the issue Helga. Gerald is nothing but a gentleman, we've only ever done things we both felt comfortable with. It's just, well we've been in a relationship for some significant amount of time now. Longer then most marriages in fact." Phoebe said.
"Well, Doi, you two are crackers for one another. You'd give syrup diabetes. So what's the big deal?" Helga asked.
Another sigh, another pause before Phoebe responded. "It's just that.. some of the other girls, they're asking me.. what.. "its" like.. you know?"
Helga rolled her eyes. Phoebe was not often the victim of peer pressure, but it occasionally happened with her. Helga replied. "Phoebe, seriously, do you want to go all the way with Gerald?"
Yet another pause, before Phoebe responded with just the barest squeak. "Y-yes...some day.."
Helga wasted no time. "Yes, some day. Just not today. You know why Phoebe? Because you're smart. You're one of the smartest girls in School, and you're not gonna let some gossip crowd of losers pressure you into one of the biggest decisions you have to make in your life. Cause you don't want to end up as one of those day time talk show Baby's momma teens, and because you want it to be the right time for both you and Gerald."
Phoebe responded, seeming more confident with the tone of her voice. "You're, You're right Helga! Absolutely right! This is something for me and Gerald to decide, not for the court of public opinion too!"
"Course I'm right Phoebe. Now, this still doesn't solve my own problem." Helga fired back.
"Thanks Helga, you're a true friend." Phoebe said, Helga felt herself blush slightly at the compliment. She was happy she could be there for the girl who did so much for her. Phoebe continued. "Helga, you can't skip school just because you don't want to talk with Arnold on the bus. I think we have a way around it, though you might not like what you have to do."
"Tell me Pheebs, anything is preferable then being in a situation where I might have to talk to Arnold so soon." Helga begged, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.
"Ask Olga for a ride to school." Phoebe said.
There was a pause, Phoebe noted, and the sound of Helga's head smacking into the wall before Helga finally replied. "Pheebs? Really? That's the best you can come up with! I'm thinking skipping might be the better option here."
"Helga, Olga lives with you, doesn't have a job, and is always looking for excuses to spend time with you. Besides, I'll walk over to your place and we can ride together." Phoebe countered.
Helga sighed yet again, as she ran a hand through her hair. Olga, her Big Sis. Olga, little miss perfect who's star had not gone as far as the family hoped. Olga had moved back in after graduating with her education degree. It seemed she had changed her mind at the last moment of what to do with her life. Olga wanted to be an actress more then anything now, and this meant constantly trying out for auditions and needing her families support. Big Bob had of course disapproved, and in away it had made Helga happy. Bob and her had grown closer as Father and Daughter as it became more and more apparent just how much Helga took after him. Olga occasionally would substitute teach to get some money in, but when she wasn't auditioning, she was dedicating her time to some humanitarian cause which payed no money.
"Okay, okay Pheebs. I'll ask Olga." Helga grumbled out.
"Very good Helga, though there is something I feel you should be made aware of." Phoebe responded.
"Yeah, and what's that Phoebe?" Helga asked.
"Even if you skip riding the bus with him today. You WILL see him in school, and probably in at least one of your classes all the same." Phoebe said.
Helga swallowed, turning red, feeling nervous as she realized there really was no escaping the inevitable. "I know Pheebs. I know. I'll just cross that bridge when I come to it." And hopefully not burn it to the ground this time.
Phoebe's voice, ever cheerful concluded their conversation. "Okay Helga! I'll be over in about 20 minutes! Talk to you then!"
Helga hung up the phone and placed it back on her charger, surveying herself and her room. She needed to get ready for class, she needed to deal with Olga, but most importantly, she needed to be ready for the re-union she was dreading more then anything.