Sorry for the hold up on this chapter. I actually had the rough draft of chapter 8 done before this one. I knew what needed to happen, but I just couldn't get it out of my head and onto paper. Chapter 8 will be up soon, I promise. I just need to edit it to make sure it flows with this chapter.


Arnold was frustrated. Lila was waiting for his answer. Or rather, Lila was waiting for him to confirm that he was going with her to her family's farm. But Arnold wasn't sure he wanted to go to her farm with her. It was a big step in their relationship, him spending an extended amount of time with her family.

Unfortunately, he didn't think Lila would accept that answer. He knew she was jealous, extremely so if the hints Nadine was passing him had any merit. But there really wasn't anything to be jealous of. Perhaps Helga liked him, and perhaps she'd gotten extremely hot over the past few years, but Helga wasn't his girlfriend. Lila was. Why couldn't that be good enough for her?

Arnold trudged through the school, clearly not as happy as everyone else was about the final bell ringing. Lila was meeting him at Frosty's. She'd been exempt from her last final and didn't want to sit around the school for two hours. Since they let out at noon, she thought it would be nice to meet there for lunch. Arnold had never looked forward to Frosty's less.

Gerald sidled up next to him, moral support for the agonizing short walk.

"Hey man, have you decided what your answer's gonna be?" Arnold glared at his best friend. "I'll take that as no. Well man, it's a hard decision for anyone. I mean, Lila is perfect girlfriend material. She's sweet, polite, even tempered, and cute. But Helga-"

"What do you mean 'but Helga'? Helga's got nothing to do with this decision. I don't know if you're aware of this, but I have to let Lila know if I want to spend two weeks on her family's farm or not." Gerald gave him a look.

"Dude, Helga's got everything to do with this. Have you noticed all of the crazy rumors flying around the school these past couple of weeks? The barely school appropriate pranks played on the cheerleaders? The dirty looks? The tension? I know you can be dense, but seriously."

"Thanks Gerald, way to make me feel better with insults." Gerald glared at his friend.

"Hold on, before you say anything else, I want to make something clear to you. This decision, whether you go with Lila or stay in Hillwood, is actually a choice between Lila and Helga. All the craziness that's been going on is really just those two in a mad dash to the finish line. If you go with Lila, she wins. If you don't, it says to the entire school that Helga has more sway over you."

"Gerald, that's ridiculous. Just because I want to stay here and work over the summer doesn't mean that I'm dumping Lila." Gerald stopped, giving his friend a long look. Finally, he shrugged and started walking again.

"Whatever you say man, whatever you say."

"Right, whatever I say, and I say that–" Arnold was cut off by Lila, who was standing outside of Frosty's waiting for him.

"And just what do you say, Arnold? I really wish you would let me know sooner, after all, my aunt does have preparations to make." Lila wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. "Lucky for you that I went ahead and told her to get the guest room ready."

"Lila, I told you I wasn't sure I could get those weeks off. I've had a job lined up for months."

"Well you are coming with me, aren't you?"

"No Lila, I wasn't planning on it." A dark look washed across Lila's face. "Look, Lila, I know you're unhappy, but I really need the money for college. My grandparents can't pay for it and I can make a lot in those two weeks. Plus, there's been some tension around the boarding house and grandpa's health hasn't been the greatest. I just don't feel like it's appropriate to fling all that to the side so I can waste time hanging out on a farm."

"Waste time? What do you mean waste time?" Lila's voice was cool and low. "We barely see each other because of all the activities you participate in and when I ask you to come spend time with me you call it wasted? How dare you. Does our relationship mean nothing to you?"

Arnold was exasperated. Why couldn't she see the bigger picture here? He was needed at home. End of story.

"Lila, of course our relationship is important, but I just can't go anywhere right now. Perhaps if you had asked me sooner, I could have figured out a way, but you only gave me a couple weeks notice."

The two were glaring at each other. Neither had noticed that a small crowd had formed around them, a crowd that included many of their friends.

"Well forgive me for trying to save our relationship. I can see that you aren't interested in that at all." Lila, in a huff, turned to leave.

"Lila, what do you want me to do?" Lila slowly turned back around.

"I want you to come with me." Arnold gave his girlfriend an exasperated look.

"I can't do that." Lila crossed her arms.

"If you want this relationship, you will come with me." The crowd of people leaned closer. This would be juicy gossip to tell their more unfortunate friends about. Arnold narrowed his eyes.

"Is that how it's going to be?" Arnold watched as Lila tilted her nose up. "Fine, we're through." Arnold turned and stalked away. He could hear the murmurs running through the crowd he had just registered as being there. Darn, if he'd have been paying more attention to them, he would have taken Lila somewhere more private for that last part of the conversation.

Arnold finally realized what he had done. He had broken up with the girl he'd liked since grade school. He thought about turning back, apologizing, begging her forgiveness. But then he would have to go with her. It was always her way or the highway. He couldn't take it anymore. No matter how much it hurt, it was better that it had been sudden. It was like ripping a band-aid off. If he dwelled on the situation, or even tried to get back together with her, it would hurt more in the long run. Better he take the next two weeks to compose himself, that way when he saw her again, he wouldn't make a fool out of himself begging her to take him back.

As Arnold rounded the corner, he slammed into someone else.

"Oh! Watch where you're going, jerk!" Arnold picked himself up to see none other than Helga, sitting on the ground, picking up sheets of paper. Her hair was in her face, so when she finally brushed it aside and looked up, her face had a very startled expression.

"Arnold! I mean, pay attention–"

"I broke up with Lila." Helga stopped short of whatever it was that she was going to say. She looked like she didn't know quite what to do. "She gave me an ultimatum. Go with her or end it. I ended it."

"I'm sorry Arnold; I know you've liked her since forever almost." Arnold shrugged. He didn't know quite what to do either.

"You know, you'd think I would be more upset about losing her, but I guess this is just a testament to the state of our relationship. I'm upset, but I'm more annoyed that she gave me that ultimatum. I feel bad about dumping her, but I think I feel worse for how I did it than actually doing it."

"I'd say I understood, but I really don't and I hate when people try to act like they do." Arnold looked at the girl who'd made his life miserable throughout his childhood. The girl he never quite understood. The girl who could be kind and sensitive and caring when she thought no one was looking. The girl who'd changed so much in the past couple of months. The girl who'd all but declared she wanted him for herself in front of the entire school.

"I don't even understand. I should be more upset about this. I just dumped the girl I've been chasing since 4th grade, and I'm only upset because I'm not upset. How unfeeling is that?"

"Maybe the two of you were growing apart. It happens, you know? Perhaps, deep down, you knew that you weren't going anywhere, that you didn't want to be with her any more. And I know that rumors aren't necessarily the truth, but over the past couple of months, there have been quite a few about the two of you and the state of your relationship."

"I think I know you're right, Helga, but this is still really stressing me out. Thanks for your help, though." Helga smiled. "You've been really nice about this, nice like I always knew you could be."

The girl grimaced. "Don't spread that around. I've been trying some new things lately. It's about time to grow up, mature. I can't act like a ten year old forever."

"I'll keep quiet, but you know if you're nice to people, they will notice."

"Don't remind me. It's hard enough changing; it's not like I need everyone commenting on it." Arnold grinned. He was glad that Helga was trying to be the person he always knew she could be. This was the change he'd always supported her for. Maybe soon everyone could see that her inside matched her outside.

"Well, see you Arnold; I have to get over to Phoebe's house." Helga turned to leave.

"Helga, wait! Would you like me to walk with you?"