Chapter 4: Let the Plan Begin

"What do you do now Helga?"

"Better take some action." Helga told herself with a far-away look on her eyes, not really answering Phoebe's question.

She peeped on the stage, scanning every person present in the auditorium. She saw Arnold and Lila sitting on the front row, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I wouldn't be too relaxed if I were you, sugar. I'll be certain you'll never make it to this play, never!"

Helga kept on searching until she spotted the perfect person. The one even Arnold wouldn't say no to. Phoebe watched as Helga made her way towards a huge lady with flaming red hair. Few moments later, she gave her best friend a thumbs-up.

"Hellooo…" Ms. Pebbles' unique greeting surrounded the four-walled auditorium. "I am really delighted to see you all come here to participate into this play. Before we get into the audition, I have a very important announcement to make. I am pleased to say that Arnold will be playing the lead role. Isn't that marvelous?"

"Perfect!" Helga grinned evilly.

'I wonder what Helga told Ms. Pebbles.' Phoebe thought, taking a shot of glance at her best friend.

Everyone was stunned, specially the just-mentioned football-headed kid. "But how could it be Ms. Pebbles. We're not getting started yet."

"Well Arnold, you don't need to audition for the role. I am certain you are the perfect person to play this character."

"Alright! It means we're safe!" said the other boys, beaming for the fact that none of them will be pair up with Helga.

"Congratulations Arnold." said Sid win mocking mode.

"Poor Arnold…guess you have to kiss Helga in front of bunch of people again, huh? You're dead meat Arnold!" Harold said then adds up a very hysterical laugh.

Arnold just ignores all the mocking coming from his friends. He again faced the drama teacher, still confused of what she had said. "I still don't understand Ms. Pebbles, why me?"

"Arnold, someone has informed me that you and Helga did a Shakespearean play before. Romeo and Juliet in the 4th grade, right? And I heard you did terrific job as Romeo. That was a pretty challenging role. If you can nail that, what more this one? I believe that you and Helga can make this play truly marvelous if you will work again together. Now what do you say?"

He glanced at Helga, who scowled at him, then back to Ms. Pebbles. "I don't know, Ms. Pebbles."

"Come on Arnold. We will spend a lot of time together during the practice. And don't worry about me, there's no hard feeling. I trust you and I'm ever so certain that you and Helga are destined for this play."

'Huh, as if you can get into this play.' Helga smirked as Lila speaks.

Upon hearing all these from his girlfriend and after reminiscing their Romeo and Juliet play, 'Well, she wasn't that bad. Actually, she's such a good performer', Arnold finally made his decision. "Ok, I'll do it."

'Yes!' Helga thought, almost knocking Old Betsy in the air. She went back to the backstage, withdraws her locket from her pink shirt then pours her heart out while looking at the picture of her beloved.

"At last my love,

After all the days of anxious lingering

This moment finally drove its way towards us

For you and I, share a love story meant to last…a lifetime." Helga said, savoring the final word down her breath.

Sorry for the late update.