The two were heading downstairs, and Arnold just couldn't stop trying to hold her. She loved his affectionate gestures, but they did have to keep cool, not to mention while walking down a flight of stairs.
"So what do you want to do today Helga?"
"Mm, good question, Football Head. If we gotta entertain Arnie again, maybe we can all just go to the Cheese Festival, since they're holding it today and tomorrow instead of when they usually do."
"Oh yeah that sounds like a great idea."
"Hold it you two"
Both couples turn to see Phil holding out two bags "I need you both to collect the rent money then here is a list" giving it to Helga. "Make sure you get everything on the list and" giving them the money then giving them both ten dollars each "This is for you guys, go nuts. Arnie's going to help your mom this morning so after breakfast you can start your chores."
Well, at least it gives us time to do something together WITHOUT cousin lame-o. Helga thought. "Consider it done, Phil." She smirked.
XXX
They Arrived at the table both eating their breakfast when Helga heard her father's voice on the radio.
"So tell us Mr. Pataki, is it true that your youngest daughter Helga is now engaged to be married?"
"Haha, you bet your noggin! I'm gonna give a party and announce the news, that she's gonna be marrying when she's sixteen."
"That's just wonderful sir, I'm sure you and your wife are thrilled."
"Eh, it's good I guess, we're just glad to get things going. Not since Olga pretty much disappointed us."
"Mr. Pataki, will you tell us who you have selected to marry your daughter?"
"Can't tell ya yet, jokey. You'll have to find out at the party, it'll be in a few weeks before the girl is off to her new school at P.S. 118."
"Isn't that a...how would you say? A public school for the lower class of society?"
"Yeah, but it least it costs me less than the Hillwood City Academy for Girls. That girl's costin' me a fortune sometimes."
"Hey! I barely even ask for much!" Helga yelled at the radio, shaking her fist. "Shows what you think, BOB!"
"Helga, relax, honey." Stella said turning the radio off. "Your father's just being...well...your father, I bet deep down he really does care about you but isn't sure how to show it."
"Please. The only reason he comes close to caring is because I'm his freaking flesh and blood." Helga muttered crossly. "He doesn't care about me."
"Don't let him get to you, kiddo." Miles soothed. "That blowhard doesn't know what he's thinking. We're here for you, and we care about you."
"Mom and Dad are right, Helga." Arnold said in agreement. "Don't worry."
The young girl gave a small, rueful smile. "...Yeah, I know."
"Atta girl, now let's eat, shall we?"
XXX
"I'll go collect money from Ernie and you collect money from Oskar." walking off to collect the money.
"As Pheebs would say, collecting. ...Or whatever."
He gave her a wink and walked away.
Blushing a bit, Helga went to work and went over to the Kokoshka's door, knocking on it.
A loud snort was heard from behind her.
"Hey Helga, want to see my lint collection?"
"I'm kind of busy right now, I have to help Arnold collect the rent from the rest of the boarders, and then we have some shopping to do."
"Okay. I'll come along."
"No no no, you have other things to do, we'll handle the chores."
Snort.
"Hey Helga"
"What?"
"You look beautiful today."
"...Okay, Arnie, just what are you trying to pull?" Helga turned around, scowling at him. "Why are you dousing such sweet talk on me, huh? It's not funny!"
"But I'm not trying to be funny, I'm just being honest. Sorry." he said turning around to walk away.
Sighing heavily, she went after him and grabbed his arm. She didn't know why she was so short with him, but she guessed it was likely because of her beloved's dream.
"Okay, Arnie, just stop. I know you're trying to be friendly and all, but you gotta do it right. For one thing, I'm not even pretty, I'm just dressed in the same way I always am and my hair's in pigtails. Second, either you have a crush or you don't know how to talk to girls."
"Or both." he said turning yet again and walking away to leave Helga in her thoughts.
The heck is he talking about? Does he... Oh... Darn, he has a crush on me, doesn't he? ...What am I going to do now? If Arnold finds out, he's going to think his nightmare is coming true! No, no, I won't let it happen, I'm not in love with Arnie, I love Arnold, I meant what I said earlier. I'm going to have to-
A hand touched her touched her shoulder from behind, making her jump and let out a loud yelp of surprise.
"Helga? Why are you standing by our door?"
Both women heard someone yell from inside of the room. "Hey Suzie make me a sandwich!" Oskar whined.
"Make your own stupid sandwich!" Suzie shouted back before handing Helga an envelope. "Here's the rent, tell Phil I'm sorry it was a little overdue."
"No sweat Suze, I'll let him know." Helga let out a breath of relief and winked at the older woman before she walked off.
"NO WAIT Little girl, I need that money for tonight when I go out with the guys"
Oskar said trying to snatch the money from Helga.
"Oskar! Don't you dare!" Suzie yelled, grabbing her husband's arm. "You will not lay a hand on that rent money! Get a job already and then you can go out with your guys all you want! I won't have you living off me a minute longer!"
Helga's eyes widened, and she hurried downstairs as the two argued, feeling kind of weirded out.
...Could that be me and Arnold one day...?
XXXXXXXXX
"Please Ernie, can I get the rent money?"
"Sorry kid, not until you move that pile of bricks over there." Arnold sighs, Ernie had collected a large sum of bricks and this 47 tall collection had to be moved.
I wish I could lie to get out of this…
XXXX
Finally, after a tough morning, the two of them managed to finally get themselves out of the house and down the store. Although poor Arnold had sore hands and a few bruises, even after some ice on them.
"Can't believe you actually had to do that, Football Head." Helga remarked. "You should've called me to help you!"
"I didn't want you to have to do that kind of work, Helga."
"Come on, marriage is about partnership and helping each other, isn't it?"
Smiling at her statement and feeling those butterflies in his stomach. "Yeah I guess your right, a marriage really is about partnership."
"See?" She brought her arm around his shoulders and lowered down to his level as they walked. "So if you're stuck, you know you can just holler and I'll be there to help, okey-day?"
"Okey-day honey." he cooed playfully.
Helga blinked at that, and snickered. "You are too much, Football Head."
"I know, so how was Oskar?"
"That jerky tried to steal the rent money from me! But Suze put an end to that! KAPOW!" Helga swung her fist in the air, and then looked uneasy, still feeling a sense of dread.
"Oh...well what's wrong Helga?" he notice her expression and felt worried. "You know you can tell me anything."
"Er...i-it's no big deal, Arnoldo...I uh...just kinda felt a little weird at something."
"Helga."
"Okay, okay! Fine. ...Arnie's got a crush on me and it's freaking me out! Sure he can't help how he feels but I swear if he makes that nightmare come true I'll KILL him!"
Not knowing how to handle this or what to say he turn around and kept walking. "Oh."
"...Oh? That's all you have to say? Well I-"
SNORT.
Both turn around seeing Arnie behind them. "Um Hey Arnie, didn't mom need you for something."
"She said it's okay I didn't need to help her." snort.
"Were you following us?" Helga demanded, looking angry.
"Yeah."
"And you didn't say or do anything why?"
"I don't know."
"I don't know? I don't KNOW? You say 'I don't know' when you don't have a clue what the answer to a math problem is! You do not say 'I don't know' when you were clearly following two people when you could have just said something! You are creeping me out with this crush thing, mister! Stalking is not going to win me over, bucko! Now offer an explanation before I pulverize you!"
"Helga, calm down!" Arnold grabbed her waist from behind, holding her back.
"I love you."
"...The heck?" Helga faltered, wide-eyed. "...Okay, fine, whatever."
"Wait…you love her?"
"Yes."
"But Arnie…Helga's my girlfriend."
'I know."
"But you don't care."
"I do care."
"Wait…let me figure this out, you love Helga as what?"
"A sister."
"The heck? A sister? You should've said THAT in the first place, you miswit!"
"I would never break up you relationship." he said giving a loud snort.
"...Well, at least you have SOME sense in that taco-shaped head of yours."
"Taco?"
Arnold gave a bit of a laugh "I guess your new name is going to be Taco head."
"Heh heh, yeah, Taco Head." Helga laughed and her love let go of her. "Well fine, you may as well come along and help us with getting everything on Phil's list." She took it out of her pocket and waved it. "So let's move, troops! On the double!"
Xxxxx
After going shopping she notice that her friendship with Arnie wasn't all so bad. The guy just wanted a friend and is basically sticking to her like a cub would to his mother. Of course he didn't act cuddly more like always wanting to be near them.
They were all walking to the boarding house when Arnold felt someone tug on his arm, beaming up at him Lila blinked her long eyelashes.
"Hello Arnold." she said softly.
"Ah..Ah...Lila?"
"How are you doing?"
"Um...Fine and h-how are you?" he said nervously.
Why is she holding my arm?
"I wanted to invite you officially to the cheese festival, there's going to be games, rides and I'm oh so certain there will be some delicious food. Would you like to go with me? You see my father promise we'd go but he'd been busy with his oh so important job and I really wanted to go. So please Arnold can you go?"
"Well Gosh Lila, I would love to go but can my cousin Arnie and Helga come too? I know my cousin has never been to one and...Helga have you been there before?"
"Yeah, Pheebs and her family brought me there a couple of times. It's pretty boss, with all the rides and how awesome the cheese is. I wouldn't mind going again." Helga shrugged. "What about you, Taco Head?"
"Okay." Arnie said, and snorted.
"Oh, well that sounds just ever so great!" Lila gushed. "Oh, and you're Arnie, right? I've heard quite a bit about you! My name is Lila Sawyer, it's ever so nice to meet you!"
"Hey." Arnie listlessly shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Turning back to Arnold "It's on Saturday so I'm every so certain that you will be there...let's say 3:00pm?"
"Yeah Lila and thanks."
"You're ever so welcome" she said with a flirtatious wink and walk away.
The flirty wink did not go unnoticed to Helga, and frankly she wasn't liking it. "Hey you skirt, just who do you think you are flirtatiously winking at MY fia...boyfriend? HEY! I'm talking to you!" She yelled, shaking her fist after Lila's further off retreating form.
"Helga calm down." he said worried she might chase the girl redhead down the street. "She wasn't flirting she was just being nice."
"Nice my butt! She was all over you, just TRYING to weasel her way in. I saw the way she looked toward you...oooohhh...I oughta strangle her with her own braids! She's hiding the devil's horns under all that devilish red hair!"
"Hey guys, we're here." Arnie snorted, indicating they were now back at the boarding house.
"Come Helga, you're acting like a crazy person, she's just being nice."
"Okay, okay...you're right, maybe I need more proof than that. Come on, let's get this food inside and put it away!"
"Aunt Stella said Uncle Miles and your grandpa are grilling hamburgers for lunch." Arnie said.
"Okay so you guys want to play some video games?"
"Video games?" Arnie ask with a snort.
"Yeah, it's games we can play on the TV, come on and I'll show you."
"Heck yeah! I'm in!" Helga grinned, completely forgetting about the whole Lila thing.
They went inside to the living room, where Arnold hooked up his Super Nintendo, with some help of reaching some tough wiring spots from Helga, and showed Arnie how to play a few of the games he had.
XXXXX
Saturday had came too quickly for Helga who already felt something was wrong about the whole thing. She knew Lila wasn't to be trusted at all but also knew that she loved Arnold and he loved her. Still she wasn't use to "grown up" feelings of love and didn't know how to handle the jealous she felt every time she saw Lila smile at Arnold.
As they entered the cheese festival Lila had grab Arnold and left Helga and Arnie alone together.
Since then Helga had envision every single thing she would do to Lila once she sees her again. She was mad, really mad by now. Lila had just grabbed Arnold with no explanation and that was the end of that. Growling under her breath, she turned to Arnie.
"Well since Lila dragged MY Arnold away...may as well do something to kill time until we catch up to them." She said begrudgingly. "So, what do you want to do first?"
"I don't know Helga...there's a pile of dirt there...it's not like my lucky pile of dirt but we can still roll in it" SNORT.
"Arnie...there are RIDES HERE! Why on EARTH would we want to roll in dirt?"
"Because it's there."
"Well just because it's there doesn't mean I want to play in it, now come on!"
Meanwhile
"Lila I don't think it was a good idea to leave Helga and Arnie by themselves."
"Why ever not? If we didn't do that, I wouldn't get to spend some time with you, Arnold." Lila was hugging Arnold's arm like she owned him. "I'm ever so sure they'll be fine. Why don't we go on the bumper cars?"
"Um...I guess we can do that." Arnold was feeling a little uncomfortable by this point.
They both got on a ride Arnold relax a bit since there were people sitting next to them. "I always wanted to go on this ride"
"I'm ever so certain I did too only some rides makes me a bit sick."
"Then maybe we should get off this ride."
"As long as I'm with you, I'm ever so certain I am mange."
"...Well, okay..." Arnold shifted uncomfortably and then the ride started. He began to rev the engine, only for Lila to grab his arm to stop him.
"Arnold, what are you doing? Can't we just drive around and relax?"
"But Lila, that's not how bumper cars works. You drive around fast and try to bump the other cars."
"But isn't that just ever so mean?"
"It's not mean Lila, it's just how it all works."
"But I'm oh so sure we would be having more fun if we drove slow and just enjoy the ride"
Arnold sighs "Okay, Lila."
XXXXX
"Hey Helga want me to win you a teddy bear?"
Thinking about it and how much she really wanted Arnold to win her something, with a sigh and a small smile. "Yeah sure."
Just because she was mad didn't mean she had to be mean to the guy. Oh sure he was odd but he was a nice person who only wanted to have some fun.
Arnie gave the man his tickets and grab the ball throwing it at the bottles. He didn't hit any. He threw another ball, and missed. Blinking one eye at a time, he didn't seem to care. Helga rolled her eyes and stepped in, taking the last ball and tossing it, knocking down the bottles. The proprietor of the stand gave her a teddy bear, which she gave to Arnie.
"Here. Since you kinda failed there."
"Thanks."
XXX
"I'm ever so sorry Arnold" she said wiping off her hair.
"It's okay, really, Lila." he said wiping off the puke that covered his clothes.
He wasn't mad or sick by it, he thought it was just something that happens. "Let's go to the bathroom and try to wipe more off"
They enter the restrooms wiping off the vomit, Lila had wash her mouth trying to freshen up, meanwhile Arnold was doing the same. Looks at himself sadly through the mirror. "I wonder what Helga is doing..." he asked himself. Sighing as he remembered he was spending his day with Lila.
Oh sure she's a nice girl but I really don't like her like her and I wish Helga would stop being so mad when I'm with her. She might be mad at the moment since I was dragged away from Helga and Arnie.
Blow drying his hands, he then walked out in time to see Lila waiting for him.
"Oh I'm glad you're not mad Arnold, I would feel oh so sad if you were."
"Nonsense Lila, you're my friend and I wouldn't be mad at you over this."
"That's just ever so sweet of you. Not many boys would be so understanding. I really have to give you something just as sweet." Lila gushed happily.
She stopped walking and leaned in to kiss him.
Arnold's eyes widened and he pulled away before she could succeed. "Lila! What are you doing?"
"I'm oh too certain I'm trying to kiss you." Lila said sweetly, now looking surprised at his refusal.
"But Helga's my girlfriend! I can't just kiss another girl like that!"
"What does it matter anyway? I'm oh so certain she isn't the one for you. She's not really…well…girlish isn't she?"
Arnold looked shocked at her reasoning. "Lila, how can you say that? That's hardly a reason not to like a girl. I know Helga isn't exactly like most girls, but I don't care about that. She can be very sweet and gentle, but she's strong and aggressive when she needs to be, and doesn't take lip from anyone. She also has an interesting sense of humour, and she's really smart. I love her, Lila. We're great for each other."
"Arnold you're only nine, how can you be oh too certain she's the one for you? People change."
"Lila, please. Helga is my girlfriend and I love to be with her. I'm sorry that you feel that way, but there's nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind. I'm going to go find her, it was unfair of me to leave her alone with Arnie like that."
As he was leaving, she grabbed his arm quickly and planted a surprise kiss on his lips.
XXXXX
"Okay Arnie, let's just go find Arnold and Lila..." Helga spoke her name out with venom, frowning.
"Okay." Arnie said listlessly.
"So I'm not entirely sure where they went, I guess we can try checking around the cheese vendors over by the-"
Helga stopped dead in her tracks, the contents in her hands falling to the ground. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped in shock. She had no words. Nothing. The world seemed to freeze all around her at what she saw further up ahead. Her blood boiled, her fists clenched, her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, fiery and wild with anger, like that of a jungle cat.
She was mad. No, not mad. She was raging.
Faster than you can imagine, she was running toward where Lila was now kissing HER Arnold. Arnie just simply followed after her mutely, as if he were just strolling along.
Helga angrily grabbed Lila away from Arnold, and before the redhead could say anything, her face was struck with the force of Helga's fist, knocking her back a few steps.
"YOU GET YOUR SLIMY HANDS OFF HIM YOU SKIRT!"
"H-H-Helga, please! She forced me to kiss her!"
Lila stood up feeling her face hurt from the attack. "YOU BEAST!" she yelled holding her throbbing cheek.
"You listen and listen WELL..." The blonde girl grabbed Lila's collar. "If I ever catch you kissing him like that again, I'll break more than just your nose. Arnold is mine. Got it? I don't ever want to see you near him again!"
The girl gulp and nodded feeling so scared. Helga let go and Lila run off leaving Helga to deal with Arnold.
"H-Helga I swear on everything I didn't want to kiss her."
Panting a bit, Helga looked at him, softening a bit. "...You didn't?"
"I was so mad because I didn't want to spend time with Lila like this, I just wanted to spend the day with you since you're so much fun plus...well...I love you Helga, and I wish you were here a minute ago when I told Lila that and-hey...where did Arnie go?"
They both look around to see Arnie had left.
XXXX
"Stupid girl..." she wipe her tear, never had she been punched before and it really hurt.
"Hey." said a voice behind her, turning around she saw the boy who resemble Arnold. "Oh...it's you...Ernie was it?"
"No, Arnie."
"Oh I'm sorry, well what brings you to me, Arnie?"
"I wanted to see if you were okay."
What? I'm ever so certain he must have some kind of angle...doesn't he? See if I'm...okay? that's...ever so sweet, just ever so sweet.
"I'm ever so sure I don't understand Arnie...Why? After that I just did to your cousin."
"It wasn't the best idea." Arnie said listlessly. "But Helga hit you. That was extreme. ...They're kind of engaged, by the way. I heard about it from Uncle Miles and Aunt Stella."
"WHAT? ENGAGED? But-but-but THEY'RE ONLY NINE!"
"It's some kind of arranged marriage thing. I guess they fell in love."
"Oh...then I'm certain I just made a fool of myself for trying" the girl said sadly.
"Sorry Lila. ...Want to come see my lint ball collection? I brought some with me. It might cheer you up. I also found a pile of dirt. I have one back home, my lucky pile of dirt. Its name is...Lucky Pile of Dirt."
She blinked unsure about his odd method of cheering her up but...
He is oh so sweet, I guess I could hang with him, it might be that oh so special someone I've always wanted.
XXX
"You know, um...sorry for hitting Lila like that ya know." Was all Helga could say in terms of what had happened. It was so strange, she felt so jealous, so blood thirsty, upon such a sight of seeing her beloved being swept off by another girl. She'd never felt that way before, let alone so in love with someone. Love really did inflict jealousy, didn't it?
"I don't know if I should tell you that the right thing is to say sorry to her or not. To be honest I'm not sure what IS the right thing at the moment. Helga...are you mad at me?"
Helga sighed, looking straight ahead as they walked around, biting her lip. "...No, I'm not." She didn't feel mad at him, she figured it wasn't his fault, but there was a nagging force at the back of her mind, wondering if maybe he'd been kissing Lila behind her back and then covered it up to make himself look innocent and-no. Helga knew him better than that, he wouldn't cheat and lie behind her back like that. He was telling the truth when he said Lila forced him. "But it still hurts, I guess."
Walking behind her and hugging her from behind, his head on her shoulder. "If it makes you feel better...Lila puked when she rode the roller coaster."
Helga froze, and let out a soft sigh at his embrace, finding herself smiling as her jealousy and anger melting away. "Really, huh? Heh heh...nice."
"Sadly she threw up on the both of us and we had to clean up."
Helga rolled her eyes. "I bet that was fun."
"We have three hours before closing and Arnie is gone...I wonder where he is." Arnold had a feeling his cousin went to go see Lila, he didn't want to say anything but he had notice his cousin's eyes would always swift to her whenever she came by. "Come on Helga, I wanted to spend time with you and now this is our chance. Would you like me to win you a soft animal?"
Helga beamed, feeling better about all this and glad he wanted to spend time with her. She certainly did too. "Well, sure, Arnold. Whatever floats your boat."
XXXX
After spending a few of his tickets Arnold was proud of this moment as he walked to one of the rides with his girlfriend who had been carrying two teddy bears, one stuffed husky, a pair of sun glasses and one pink cap which she wore on her head.
"You know, thanks, Arnold." She leaned down to his level and kissed him on the cheek. "It was pretty cool how you effortlessly won all this stuff like you did. ...Even if you missed the first two shots that one time!"
"I blame you, if you hadn't tickle me I would have won more stuff for you."
"Not my fault you're so darn ticklish, hair boy."
He felt a bit sour "I could have gotten you more stuff you know, it's what the boyfriend is suppose to do right? I failed."
"Oh please, we had fun and you did get a FEW things, so hey, don't be such a sour puss sweetheart. You did just fine."
Feeling his stomach fill with butterflies from the endearment, he looked at her. "What did you...call me?" A blush appeared on his cheeks.
"You mean sour puss?"
"No, after that."
"...Oh, yeah, sweetheart...yeah uh...kinda slipped out! Heh heh...Sorry, didn't mean to get all corny."
"I really like it, it's…cute." turning away so she wouldn't see his blush.
"Well okay then, sweetheart." Helga playfully rolled her eyes and chuckled.
As they reached their chosen ride, the Tilt-A-Whirl, Helga gave a little smirk and placed his winnings in her bag to get them out of the way before bringing him closer and kissing him. Gently, but with passion. She pulled away and smiled at his blush.
"What was that for?"
"Just because." She rubbed her nose against his before letting go, picking up her bag and running off to get in line. "C'mon, Arnold!"
Smiling and touching his lips for a moment, Arnold happily ran after her.
