Mission Impossible

Part Six

Arnold and Lila are walking on the beach the next morning hand-in-hand.

Lila smiled and felt the ocean breeze sway through her light brown hair.

"Ah. It's just as beautiful as yesterday. Don't you think Arnold?" (Smiles up at him)

Arnold looks down at her and returns a small smile. "Yeah. It is..."

He looks over across the beach to see Dorian playing volleyball with Helga and Phoebe.

Lila turns to him with an concerned look. "Is there something wrong Arnold?"

Arnold shakes his head, and turns back to her. "Nope. Not at all."

He leads Lila away from Dorian and the girls. "Come on, let's go sit in the sand."

With Helga...

Dorian looks at her while hitting the volleyball over the net. "Hey Helga?"

"What is it?"

"Can I...ask you something?"

Helga looks at Phoebe, indicating that Phoebe should go some place else.

Phoebe gasps. "Oh! Right...I'm going to go get a snack. You two want anything?"

Helga shakes her head. "Nah, we're good."

She nods and walks away from them, just leaving Helga and Dorian alone.

"So...what did you want to talk about?" Helga held the volleyball under her arm and put her other hand on her hip.

"I wanted your advice about something."

Helga grimaced. "Eh...seriously? Me. For advice? I honestly think you've got the wrong girl."

"Well...I noticed that you knew why the football headed kid was being such a jerk to us last night-"

"Okay first of all, pal, he is NOT a jerk. And he has a NAME."

"Whoa chill, don't get all defensive." He backed away from Helga a little, looking slightly terrified.

Everyone noticed a scene was starting between the two, and started to gather around them.

Lila and Arnold were making a sandcastle, when Gerald ran over to them.

"Hey guys...you might wanna check this out..."

They both looked at the crowd that appeared on the other side of the beach.

Lila looked puzzled. "Gerald, what's going on?"

Arnold stood up to see who was in the center. It was a girl with long wavy blonde hair, and was wearing a red romper.

"Uh-oh..." Arnold ran over to the crowd in a rush, to see what was happening. Gerald helped Lila up, and ran with her over to the crowd.

Arnold raised a brow. (Dorian...and...?)

Helga growls while clenching her fists.

(HELGA?)

Helga walks closer to Dorian slowly. "Yeah. I am defensive when it comes to my friends."

Dorian shrugged, backing up. "I thought you liked him though. Is that why you're being so over protective?"

"Yeah, as FRIENDS. He has a girlfriend, I already told you. Doi! He was only trying to protect me to be a good friend, and that's from guys like YOU."

"Dude..I only asked for your advice, how did things get this far?!"

"Oh wow. Um...let me recap. You called my friend a jerk!"

"Well sorry...can you blame me? He is a little bit though."

*Slaps Dorian*

Stinky grimaced. "Ouch, that's gotta hurt!"

Dorian looks at her with surprise. "And just when I was about to ask you to be my girlfriend."

Helga's blood boiled even more. "Oh yeah? And just when I was going to say NO anyway. Goodbye Dorian."

(Throws volleyball at him and runs away into the beach house.)

Dorian falls backwards into the sand. "Oof!"

Gerald directed the crowd and Lila somewhere else.

Arnold walked over to Dorian. "Not much of jerk now am I? You got what you deserved."

He runs off to search for Helga in the house.

Helga is in her room, laying on her side in her bed.

There is a knock at the door.

"I just want to be alone!"

{From behind the door} "Uh...Helga...it's me."

"Who?"

"Arnold."

She takes a minute, then gets up to open the door for him.

"What is it Arnoldo?"

"Are you...crying?"

"No...there's just something in my eye, that's all."

"Yeah, I see it too, they're called tears. May I come in?"

"What's the password?"

"Uh...pastrami on rye?"

"...Okay, come in." Helga steps aside to let Arnold in her room. He shuts the door behind him.

"Wow...nice room you have."

"Thanks, it's where I can cry myself to sleep without anyone knowing." She flops down on her bed.

Arnold sits down next to her. "I think Dorian's a jerk."

Helga smirks. "Yeah, me too- wait...did you-"

Arnold nods slightly. "Yes...I kinda saw the whole thing."

Helga groans. "I wasn't talking about you I swear!"

Arnold sighs. "I know. Dorian was. Did he say something about you liking me?"

"I only like you as a friend. He got the wrong impression that we both liked each other, based on what happened just last night by the ramp. I told him that you already have a girlfriend. And I would never try to jeopardize Lila and your relationship. That's not what a good friend does."

Arnold smiled a tiny bit. "Were you trying to return the favor again?"

"Just having one of my friend's backs. Dorian called you a jerk, and I told him to back off because he was absolutely wrong for saying that. You're nicer than he ever was. Heh..." (Blushes and looks away)

"Thanks. I remember him saying that he was going to ask you out? Before this all happened, would you have said yes?" Arnold eyed her closely.

"Actually...I don't even know myself. I'd rather fall for someone after knowing them well for a long time. Not just the day right after, committing to a relationship that I now know that I don't even want anymore."

"It sounds like you're happy about this Helga. Are you?"

"Now that you mention it, I'm not just happy. I'm relieved that this happened. You made me realize that I should be more protective over who I'll like. Wow..thanks Arnoldo. Lila's a really lucky girl to have you in her life. And I'm really lucky to have you as one of my closest friends. Besides Phoebe, you're the one I can talk to without feeling afraid."

"I'm no hero, but...of course I'm glad I could help." He smiles.

Helga grinned and gave him a gentle hug. "Thank you..."

Arnold hugged her back a little.

Well THAT sent butterflies through his stomach.

XDDDDDDD!

My longest chapter ever YAY!