Chapter 4: I Never Thought I'd See The Day

Next Saturday

HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD!

The next weekend, Arnold woke up knowing it was Helga's second day to spend modeling for Pre-Teen Miss. After getting up to get dressed, he went downstairs to get breakfast, wondering if she'd be enjoying herself anymore today than she did last weekend.

As he walked into the kitchen, he saw his grandpa eating a stack of pancakes, while his grandma was fixing a plate for him.

"Morning Tex!" Pookey exclaimed, seeing her grandson taking a seat at the table.

"Hey grandma, hey grandpa."

"Mornin' shortman! Whatcha got planned for today?"

"I might call Gerald and see what he's up to. Helga's going to be at the magazine studio all day." he sighed, wishing Rhonda would have just taken the opening.

"Oohhh yeah! Isn't she in Mad Magazine now?" Phil asked, knowing how cranky his grandson's girlfriend could be.

"No grandpa. Pre-Teen Miss came to our school to pick a model for the cover of their fashion magazine." he sighed, folding his arms on the table.

"So she's cranky because she DID apply for something she knew she wouldn't be good at? Gotcha!" Phil winked, while Arnold began to rub his eyes in frustration.

"No. Rhonda played a trick on her." Arnold reminded him.

"What kinda trick?"

"After Helga ruined her sweater and her chances of looking good for the magazine, Rhonda decided to get even by fixing it to where Helga was the one they picked for the magazine."

"Sounds like she ruined things more for yourself if you ask me. Then again, I don't know how bad her sweater looked." Phil replied while Arnold got up from the table.

"I think I'll walk over to Gerald's. See if he wants to do something."

"See ya shortman!"

Helga's House

"Oh baby sister! I'm just so excited for you! Tell me all the wonderful things you've done so far at the studio!" Olga asked, while sitting at the dining room table with her family.

Helga rolled her eyes at the annoying question. Ready to have the day over and done with, she smirked "Well, I had some waterproof mascara put on; something you've probably never heard of. Then I had my hair made to look as wavy as it does when I wake up in the morning if I don't keep it in my pigtails. Finally, I had to dress up to look like a morosed version of you."

"Well good. We need need someone who can put the new appliance store on the cover of a magazine. Now that you're involved with that kind of thing, you can get our merchandise on the cover." Bob smirked.

"Actually daddy, Helga's not in a business magazine. It's a fun fashion magazine I told you I was invited to be in after the people there looked at all my college extra curricular activities." Olga explained, while Helga sat there irritated. The thought of heading over to the studio didn't seem like such a bad idea.

The Arcade

"Baby Carriage!" Arnold pointed out to his best friend, who still hadn't grown tired of the game Runaway Bus Driver.

"I see it."

Although Gerald's eyes were glued to the game, he heard a deep sigh release from his best friend. "So now neither of you likes the idea of her doing this?"

As Arnold looked down at the floor full of shame, he replied "I thought it would be good for her. I hate seeing her feel so left out. Then I realized encouraging her to do something that would make her just as miserable wouldn't be any better."

"Especially not if it'll turn her into the next Rhonda." Gerald pointed out.

"I just wish people would stop judging her for being different. She didn't seem to care that the magazine was coming until Rhonda started making fun of her for not being good enough for it."

"Or you." Gerald added as Arnold's eyes widened when the game ended.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked anxiously, seeing Gerald turn to face him.

"Look man, I know you want your girl to be happy. That's great and all, but the truth is, Rhonda never spoke a word about it to Pataki until you tried encouraging her to do it. Even on the bus that morning, you said she may enjoy something like that." Gerald reminded him, as he stood from his seat.

"Gerald! I was just trying to help her have fun!

Raising his hands in defense, he replied "That's cool and all, but it's just not her thing. That's why she has you.

The Walk

"How are things proceeding with your new activity Helga?" Phoebe requested to know, walking with her best friend to the studio.

"Okay I guess. Football head seems to be happy I'm not head over heels about wearing these heels. We were both just trying to make the other happy when Princess guilted me into doing this." she explained.

Phoebe watched her best friend stare sadly at the ground as if she were searching for a rock or can to kick. Not that it would be easy for her to do in the new heels the studio had given her to wear.

Making it to the entrance, Helga listened to her best friend say "Well, good luck Helga. Perhaps we could go to Slausens for a milkshake this evening?"

"Sounds good Pheebs." she said, smiling weekly at her.

Rhonda's House

"I cannot believe she ruined this! I've tried everything to remove this stain!"

"Why not just get a new sweater? It's not like you need that one anyway. You've got a whole closet of them." Nadine pointed out, while watching her friend sulk over her tapioca stained sweater.

"Nadine! I got this sweater for my trip to Aspen. By the time the month is over, Helga's going to be so sorry she even thought about touching my things." Rhonda sneered, placing her hands on her waist, while Nadine rolled her eyes.

"Was getting your revenge on her really worth giving up your chance to be in the magazine? It's not like anything the other girls were wearing was incredibly unique." Nadine pointed out, while Rhonda turned away, crossing her arms.

Pre-Teen Miss Studio

"Helga! You look amazing!" Bruce said excitedly, while she entered the room with her hands on her hips, thinking to herself Is this guy unaware I'm wearing the exact same outfit I left the studio in last week?

"Thanks." she smirked, trying not to roll her eyes.

"Let's get you a new outfit! While we pick one out for you, you can go get your makeup done."

"Gee, sounds great." she sighed, slowly dragging her feet over to the makeup artist.

Helga took a seat at the booth, as the artist began pulling out some yellow eye shadow and rose colored lipstick.

As she watched the artist get everything ready, she sat there relieved to know Arnold was as anxious for the month to be over and done with as she was.

"Yellow is definitely a good color for you! It matches your blonde hair and brings out your eyes." the stylist said excitedly, while Helga did her best not to blush at the compliment.

After having her makeup finished. She moved to the hair stylist who decided to put her hair up that day. It was placed in a high pony tail in the center of her head that flowed down the sides of her face.

Viewing it in the mirror, she thought to herself They must be trying to make me look sophisticated. Pttss...oh brother!

Arnold's room

"So what do you think your lady will look like when you pick her up tonight?" Gerald asked, watching his best friend sitting on the couch.

"I don't know. She was wearing a blue skirt and heels last weekend. I had all kind of mixed feelings when I saw her." Arnold began scratching his head.

"Mixed feelings? Like what?"

"I loved how beautiful she looked, but it broke my heart because I know she hates looking that way. Like I said, I want her doing things, but I want them to be things that will make her happy. That clearly isn't something that will."

"Well, she's only got two more weeks of this. Then you can start plotting your revenge against Rhonda. Like telling her the magazine's going out of business!" Gerald suggested while seeing Arnold roll his eyes.

"I think I'm going to head out. It's almost time for Helga to get off."

"Later man."

Pre-Teen Miss Studio

"Okay, change positions! We need a few of you from another angle." Bruce said, while Helga hid the fact that she had been gritting her teeth since the photos had started.

She was wearing green capris with a yellow sweater and gold flats. As she stood there giving what she found to be pointless facial expressions and positions they insisted on her showing for the pictures, she thought to herself…

Criminy! Why is all of this necessary when half of my body won't even be showing on the cover? Also, I'm pretty sure these losers will be using the title to block out my 'oh so impressive' hair style. Sheesh!

"Okay, I think we've got all the photos we need for this week. Thanks for coming Helga!" Bruce said, while Helga happily marched past him. "Pttss...no problem."

Outside

Arnold stood waiting outside the door of the studio when he turned to see a beautiful girl exiting the building.

"Helga! How'd it go?" he asked anxiously.

"Pttss...no worse than last week I guess." she scoffed.

Taking her hand in his, he began to rub it back and forth as he said "Good. Would you like to come back to my place?"

"Actually, I told Pheebs I'd get some ice cream with her. If you and Geraldo want to come, you're welcome to." she said, while he immediately pulled out his phone to text Gerald.

After receiving a response from him, the two began walking towards Slausens hand in hand. "So, do you like this outfit more than last week's?" he couldn't help but ask, knowing how dumb a question she would think it was.

"I get to wear pants and easy to walk in shoes, so I guess I shouldn't be complaining too much." she smirked.

"Your hair reminds me of our night at Chez Paris. It was so sophisticated." he winked, watching her roll her eyes at his remark.

"Oh don't flatter yourself!"

"I really did enjoy that night with you."

"Pttss...why? Because we got to spend it doing the dishes like some kind of old married couple?"

"Or just a couple that one day could get married." he smiled, hearing her swoon. Knowing not only how much he cared for her happiness, but the fact that he was okay with it, made it easier and easier for her to open up to him.

Slausens

"Mm, mm, mmm! Pataki, I never thought I'd see the day." Gerald shook his head while getting a good look at his best friend's girlfriend.

"Yea well, I'd tell you to take a picture, but I think I've had enough of those for one day. Sheesh!" Helga scoffed, taking a sip of her shake.

"Are you aware of the type of outfit you'll be wearing next week?" Phoebe asked.

"Beats me. I'm more concerned about all this makeup they've got me wearing. I mean criminy, it takes longer to get off my face than it does to put it on!"

"As ready as I am to have things back to the way they were, you do look beautiful with it." Arnold admitted, while Helga quickly turned to see him smiling at her.

Gerald lifted an eyebrow at the two lovebirds, knowing what they were anxious to do.

"Hey Arnold, your ice cream's melting man!" Gerald pointed out, hoping to bring them back to reality.

"Huh? Oh sorry, Gerald."

"Has the photographer informed you of when your issue of the magazine will be available for the public to view, Helga?" Phoebe asked, noticing her friend was no longer interested in her ice cream. As least, not Slausens' ice cream.

Turning to face her friend, she replied "They said it would be a few weeks. I don't know why they would be so anxious to stay on top of shooting people if it takes that long to release one. Sheesh!"

"I believe the purpose is to be sure they're prepared to have new data ready to hand out to their customers once their previous item has reached its endpoint." Phoebe explained, while the group was finishing up their ice cream.

"Well, it's getting late. You guys ready to go?" Arnold asked, watching everyone rise from their seats.

"Yea, later man." Gerald gave his friend their secret handshake, while Arnold began walking his girlfriend home.

Helga's House

Making it to Helga's house, the two decided to sit on her porch for a while and look at the stars that were easier to see in the darker sky.

"There are more stars out than usual. Too bad you don't have your telescope thingy with you." she said, feeling him wrap his arm around her.

"Yea, or some cereal to enjoy them with."

"Criminy. I told you just to dump that stuff in the garbage! Not gain fifty pounds trying to win the stupid thing. Sheesh!" Helga scoffed, rolling her eyes at the memory of her boyfriend winning the telescope to view Sally's Comet with.

"Yea, you're probably right." he smiled, while she turned to see him smiling at her. Feeling him rub her shoulder back and forth, she looked into his half-lidded emerald eyes that hadn't left her.

Gazing at his beautiful girlfriend, he watched her sapphire eyes grow wider as he placed his hands behind her head. He pulled her close, gently moving his lips against hers, feeling her wrap her arms around his shoulders. Normally Helga's kisses were aggressive and passionate. Ever since her modeling job however, it was as if the life had been taken out of them.

As he held her in his arms, still resting his lips against hers, he thought back to what the guys had said on the field the previous week…

The magazine's not just about looking nice. It's about knowing WHY you SHOULD look nice

Pulling away from her, he listened to her ask "Everything alright football head?"

"I was actually going to ask you the same thing." he said nervously, watching her cock her brow.

"What do you mean?"

"I know you're not enjoying this, but even if it doesn't last forever, I don't want you to allow it to change the type of person you are."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she wondered, taking her arms back.

"I just don't want you to allow it to change your opinion of yourself. I don't just mean your looks.." he began, seeing her cock her brow again.

"I also mean your attitude."

"You think just because I dress nice for a few weeks, I'm going to turn into a snob like Princess?" Helga smirked.

"I just don't want you to feel like you have to. Even your family is trying to encourage you to use this as an opportunity to change things about yourself."

"Umm Arnold. When have they ever NOT tried finding a way to use good things in my life to benefit themselves?"

Letting out a deep sigh as he rubbed his neck, staring at the ground, he said "You're right. I just feel like this is all my fault. Gerald made me realize you wouldn't have agreed to do this if it hadn't have been for me."

Rolling her eyes at his guilt, she smirked "Yeah well, now we can let everyone know social advice is the one type of advice they should never go to you for."

Taking her hand in his, he said "Thanks for the advice."