~* This is the sad part. But we all know Helga, she'll be up on her feet a kickin' butt in no time. Read and enjoy. -Risma *~

The Pink Ribbon Returns

~*Part Four: It's just Something in My Eye*~

She half sat, half fell to the grass and Gerald followed suit.

Phoebe: Helga has been feeling upset today and I know why. I want to help her but she just doesn't like to hear what I have to say. And then when you said that about her…I …just …couldn't handle it any longer. I'm sorry for yelling at you before, Gerald: I know you and Helga don't get along.

Gerald stood up and put out his hand. She grabbed it and he pulled her up.

Gerald: Cheer up. Helga can have bad days once in a while. Maybe today was it. She'll be back to her usual self tomorrow. C'mon I'll walk you home.

They walked out of the park, holding hands but they didn't see Helga behind the shrubs. She pulled out her locket.

Helga: Look at them. How come the rest of the world has a partner but me? Was there a reason for this? Why can't I have Arnold? Are we not destined to be together? I love him! And all I ask is that he wakes up and sees that!!

Brainy: *Wheeze.* *Wheeze.* *Wheeze.* THUD!

She picked herself up, put the locket back in her dress and walked home.

That night at Sunset's Arms –

Arnold was lying on his back in his room. He didn't notice the comfortable bed he was on, as he gazed into the dark night. He recalled what Helga said on Valentine's night.

Arnold: ("Wow! Look at that! Isn't it beautiful.") She right it is beautiful. Poor Helga. She just can't deal with her emotions that well. She sure was acting calmer than usual today. If Helga is Helen, then she knows what I said about Lila. She always does seem to get touchy when I talk about Lila. Perhaps she's jealous? Wait! Helga Pataki jealous? No way! Plus she told Rhonda she hates me.

He yawned and rolled over to sleep.

Arnold: She sure is difficult.

Tuesday morning –

All was quiet at the Pataki household until…

Miriam: HELGA. SWEETY COME DOWN FOR BREAKFAST.

Helga woke from a restless night. She dragged herself to her closet to pull on her clothes, when she saw the shrine.

Helga: Well my love, I hope today turns out better for you than it will for me.

She shut the closet door and walked downstairs. Big Bob was already at the table impatiently waiting to start breakfast.

Helga: (I really don't feel like sitting here with him.) I'm off to the park.

Big Bob: You do that Olga. More food for me.

He started shovelling the food into his mouth. She whipped around and glared at the sound of her sister's name.

Helga: For about the millionth time. My name is HELGA!!

Her dad looked up from his meal with his mouth full.

Big Bob: Did you say something Olga?

Now she was furious.

Helga: It's HELGA. H-E-L…. Oh forget it. (He'll never get it right anyway.)

She slowly walked out of the kitchen and headed out the door.

At Sunset Arms -

Arnold got up later than usual, because today there was going to be a teachers strike. He went to his bathroom and had a quick shower. When he was changed, he ran down the stairs from his room, past Mr Hynn and Ernie who were waiting in the hall for a shower.

Ernie: How long does it take the old geezer to use the bathroom? HURRY UP WILL YA!

Arnold didn't pay much attention to their squabbling. His mind was fixed on Lila and the fact that he had the whole day to spend with her. He met his Grandma in the kitchen.

Grandma: Morning Kimba. You'd better eat fast if we're to catch the "man-eater" today.

Arnold: Yeah Grandma.

He quickly ate the pancakes on his plate and put his dishes in the sink. He opened his front door, moved out of the way for Abner and the cats. He was to meet Lila in the park, but he turned the corner too fast. WHAM!

Arnold: (Oh no! Not today. Why run into her on such a perfect day? She's going to yell at me. I just know she's going to yell at me.)

He looked up, expecting Helga's usual angry face. Instead she just looked dazed at him and picked herself up.

Helga: Sorry.

She walked past him. He turned around quickly, knowing she'd do something behind his back, but she didn't.

Arnold: (What's with her? She apologised to me. She's obviously sick.)

He got up and walked slower to the park thinking of Helga's mysterious behaviour.

In the park –

Helga was sitting behind a tree scribing Arnold's portrait into the bark with her army knife. She stopped and whipped out her locket.

Helga: Oh Arnold my love. How I've worshipped you from afar and yet I must worship you farther now. Now that Rhondaloid is suspicious. But I'll never stop loving you. Never my love.

Brainy: *Wheeze.* *Wheeze.* *Wheeze.* THUD!

She left Brainy there unconscious and walked to the bridge over the pond. She could see Nadine down in the water, probably looking for new species of bugs. Helga looked down at her sad reflection in the rippling water. Then she heard a familiar voice and giggling.

Voice: Oh that was ever so funny.

Helga: (Criminy! Just go away will ya! And take your annoying giggling with you!)

She turned her head and saw Arnold and Lila walking towards her. Lila stopped giggling when she saw Helga's look of gloom.

Lila: (Oh no.)

Helga's attention though, was drawn to the clasped hands between the two. Arnold followed her gaze and dropped Lila's hand. He stepped closer to Helga.

Arnold: Helga…

She came back to reality.

Helga: I…uh..gotta get home.

She took off, leaving Arnold confused and Lila feeling really guilty.

Later that afternoon –

Arnold was walking home slowly thinking hard about Helga's unusual behaviour today. He walked down Vine St to Sunset's Arms when he heard mumbling. He stopped at the entrance of an alley. The mumbling stopped and then he heard heart felt sobbing.

Arnold: Hello! Who's there?

The sobbing stopped.

Voice: Ar…Arnold? Go away. Just…leave me alone.

Arnold: Um… whoever you are…I can maybe….. help?

Voice: You! You're so innocent. You wouldn't understand.

Arnold moved further down the alley to see who was there.

Voice: STOP! Don't come any closer. Please.

Arnold: Uh… alright.

He sat down and leant against a wall.

Arnold: Maybe…if you explained it to me…. I could understand.

Voice: Alright. *sniff* You see I'm in love with this guy and I have been for so many years. But I just can't show it. Every time I gain enough courage to tell him, my pride gets in the way. *sniff* Now he's got a girl who's perfect for him and he's happy. Happier than he'll ever be with me. *sniff*

Arnold: Oh…that's so sad. I…I'm so sorry.

Voice: Why Arnold? *sniff*

Arnold: Well…I guess I'm the kind of person who hates to see people upset. Even if I can't see you… I'd like to see you happy. Maybe that's my flaw.

Voice: Oh Arnold, don't say that. Just speaking to you has made me happier. You're a nice, kind and sweet guy. I wish I could act like you.

Arnold recalled that those were the words he and his friends used to describe Lila, against…Helga. Finally it dawned on him.

Arnold: Helga? Is that you?

~*End of Part Four*~