Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.
No longer dense
Chapter 7: The Celebration
Later that evening, all of the Green Eyes have gathered to watch the girl chief gladly return her crown to her parents, the true rulers of the Green Eye people, who liked the rest of the adults was finally cured of that terrible sleeping sickness. It was a grand feast and everyone was happy.
"ARNOLD! ARNOLD!...'Every person in the city chanted as they honored the boy who had saved them
Arnold stood next to his parents and Gerald, unable to believe this.
"We actually did it...'Arnold thought, feeling amazing.
He had not only saved his parents but an entire ancient civilization as well... He turned to his mother and father, who were now fully awake and healthy, and most of all, smiling at him with pride.
"Looks like you finished the work we started, Arnold..."His mother Stella said to him in a voice filled with happiness.
"I'm so proud of you, son...'His father Miles said in the same kind of way.
Arnold smiled widely at that and tried not to cry in order to not ruin the mood. He finally had his parents back and he felt the hole in his heart was finally filled...
" Mm-mm-mm... Now I've seen everything!...'Gerald said in his usual way, making everyone laugh at what he said.
'Good one, Gerald...'Arnold said.
He looked around at all the splendor, at his mother, his father, Eduardo, his best friend and-
'Wait...where is she?...'Arnold thought as he realized that Helga is no longer up here with them. He quickly looked around to see where she has went.
"Helga?...'Arnold said as he finally saw her walking towards the stone wheel and the football headed boy wanted to see what was up.
He sent a glance to his parents and then to Helga who was still sneaking back, like she was hoping no one is looking.
"Will you excuse me for a moment, mom...dad..." Arnold requested and his parents nodded.
He saved his parents and everyone was happy but Arnold knew that he had one last loose end to take care of...
The football headed boy walked down the steps,and soon found himself to where Helga is. He saw her using a spear and tried to get her locket out of the machine that was used to save his parent's and everyone lives. Arnold couldn't help but smile at that...but he needed to talk to her.
So while Helga was busy trying to dig her locket out of the contraption, Arnold approached her.
"Hey Helga...'Arnold greeted, surprising the blonde girl in the process.
"AH!...um...Hey...Arnold...'The girl said, trying to sound cool but he could tell she's nervous.
Helga looked nervous as she tried to act like he didn't see what she was obviously trying get her locket back. However, the spear she used had fallen out. They both looked down and then to each other and Helga "discreetly" kicked it away and tried to pretend that she wasn't doing anything.
Arnold sighed as he knew this had to be done...there is no going around this...he needed to talk to her now.
"I have to do this...Ok, Arnold...you can do this..." Arnold thought as he took a breath and now looked at Helga, who still looked like she was trying to hide from him.
"Helga, I've known you my whole life, practically, and you've always been angry and... and kinda... you know...mean..."Arnold started and instantly regretted the way that sounded, especially with Helga now glaring at him now.
"Yeah! ...So?...'She said in a defensive and maybe a little hurt kind of way.
He didn't mean to hurt or insult her...He's just not as good as expressing himself in this kind of way...With how she confessed her feelings to him, while extreme, she made it look easy. But he had to tell her what he is feeling about her, now that he is no longer dense, in denial or distracted by the dangers of their adventures.. He had to tell her the truth, just as she had tried to do to him.
This needed to be done...
"Just...just be honest with her Arnold...tell her the truth..."He thought to himself as he once again regained the courage to carry out his objective.
"I've also seen you be really loyal and super brave..."He said as he watched her angry expression soften to a curious one.
Arnold began to feel his heart pumping and his palms begin to sweat a bit, but he had to keep going on or he might lose his nerve all together.
"So... I always wondered if maybe you were mean to me because... well, you loved me..."He said, looking seriously into her eyes.
He did it..he finally said the "L" word that had been so taboo to him in relation to her but now...it isn't.
Helga looked absolutely stunned by what he said, her eyes widened, her face was blushing and her lips were nearly trembling that he could almost feel the emotion radiating off her.
"Love?...'She whispered out in a soft, disbelieving voice.
Before Arnold could say anything, he saw her snap out of it, and become defensive and maybe scared and she tried to go back to acting like she couldn't stand him, scoffing at what he said and telling him that it wasn't true. She was probably scared that he was going to take this back and run away and was shielding herself from any possible pain.
He wanted to let her know that she no longer had to fear or hide from him, he wasn't going to run away or take this back...not again. He knew about her feelings and accepted them, so he continued with his confession.
"Listen, I know you tried to tell me before, and I...I wasn't ready to hear it...'Arnold finally admitted with some shame in his voice.
He hadn't been ready to hear it on the crows nest or on the roof of FTI but now, he was ready to face this with her. He was finally ready to do this...
"But now, this whole thing...the trip to San Lorenzo, getting away from LaSombra, finding my parents... it's all because of you. ..." Arnold said as he looked at her in amazement, with Helga looking stunned by her words.
"Your locket..." Arnold gestured to the heart shaped piece of jewelry that was still inside the wheel...
Helga once again got into the defensive mode, and Arnold wondered why she was still acting so afraid...
"Locket? What locket?...'She said, trying to play dumb, though Arnold wondered why she was even bothering at this point.
He knew...she knew that he knew and he wanted to make sure that she knew that he's more than okay with it.
However, as if some kind of cosmic joke, the locket just fell out of the wheel in front of them. Helga was blushed while Arnold just sent a smile and picked up the precious heart of gold. The one that saved his parent's lives and showed him the true Helga...
The one that was always there, hidden by sarcastic comments and an angry facade...
Arnold looked at the locket as it is precious and then to it's owner, who is also precious to him now...
"Your locket...it woke up my parents!..."Arnold exclaimed in an outburst of happiness as he handed the precious locket back to his precious Helga.
When their finger tips brushed against each other as he handed it back, Arnold felt his heart pump even faster and felt a warm feeling in his heart he never felt before...At least not at this level. It made what he felt towards Ruth, Summer and even Lila insignificant in comparison. All he could feel is this warm, wonderful feeling in his heart...
And it's all because of her...
"You did it all, just to help me...He said as he felt his heart continue to beat and he continued to admire her more and more...
He admired her courage, her loyalty, her bravery, her strength, her devotion and fidelity to him...he was even admiring how shining her blonde hair is, he admired her blue eyes and finally noticed that they are the same shade as the summer's sky, he was even admiring the cute, confused way she is looking at him...
She is just so...so... special like this... Special, and sweet, and loving and wonderful and...and...
"And... and..." He realized that no mere words were ever going to fully express to her how he feels about how special she is to him, of the big place that she now resides in within his heart...
He wanted to let her now about the true depths of what he feels for her...And idea came to his mind, but it made him blush...but he realized he wanted to do it to. Not only would it be his way of thanking her for everything that she has done but he realized now it was the only truly perfect way of letting him now how he feels about her in a way that neither of them could take back.
Because he didn't want to take it back, he wanted to end all the games with her and just...just show her how he truly feels...of what she makes him feel now...
Besides, sometimes actions speak louder than words, don't they...
Arnold gatherer all of his courage and boldly took a step forward to Helga, took her hands in his and closed his eye, sending her a non verbal message of what he wishes to do and giving her full control to take it. He soon felt Helga's lips touch his, and Arnold felt his heart speed up even more and his insides turn into hot jelly.
He is kissing a girl...a girl is kissing him...He is kissing Helga G. Pataki...Helga G. Pataki is kissing him...They are kissing each other...and...and...
He LOVES it!
It wasn't as heated, savage or enthusiastic as their last kiss was, it was actually gentle but still warm and made Arnold feel something he never felt before. He felt as if lightning was coursing thought his small body, he felt his face heated as their lips formed perfectly around each other and he felt...he felt...he felt a feeling that he just can't describe with words...
All he knows is that he loved this feeling, he loved kissing her and...and...
"Helga...I think...I think I love you...'Arnold thought as they continued to kiss each other.
Arnold continued to kiss her, completely ignorant of the entire world around them, because right now, all that matter was him, her and the special, finally reciprocated love between them now and he knew nothing could ruin this moment for them...
Until he heard a voice that forced him out of it...
" Mm-mm-mmm!..."Gerald's voice was loud and it snapped it out of it.
Arnold and Helga pulled away from each other, as they realized that he had seen them kissing. Arnold felt his face become a new shade of red he never felt before and he realized he was still holding Helga's hands. Helga seemed to be just as embarrassed as he is at being caught like this, so they pulled away from each other and tried to act like they have NOT just been kissing each other, with Helga even doing an innocent whistle.
Gerald clearly didn't buy it as he sent an amused look that made Arnold want to crawl under his bed or something.
"That did not just happen...that did not just happen...' The flustered and embarrassed Arnold tried to convince himself this, but it wasn't working.
However, it got worse when Gerald turned and Arnold finally noticed HIS PARENT'S were there too and they clearly watched them kiss too...
"Okay, now I've seen everything!...'Gerald said in amusement while Arnold's parents looked at them as if they were adorable.
It made Arnold wish that the ground would just suck him up or something as he kept repeating in his mind "This is not happening..".
He didn't even bother to look at Helga, though he could imagine she was probably just as, if not even more embarrassed than he is right now, if that's even possible. Especially when his parents gave each other a strange look before they approached them with wide, silly grins on their faces...Helga however, seemed to recover first as she was the first one to find her voice.
"Um...Arnold's parent's...um..." Helga stuttered as they kept smiling at her in that weird way.
"Call us Miles and Stella, dear...You know, we haven't properly been introduced yet..." Stella said as she kept smiling widely.
"So what's your name?...'Mile asked with a smile that was a lot like Arnold's.
'H-Helga...Helga G. Pataki...'She squeaked out.
Arnold, who was half friend from the embarrassment at being caught, was surprised to see just how shy and nervous Helga is now, and he wondered if she was going to be alright...
"That's a pretty name...'Stella said to Helga who was looking down sheepishly.
"Nice choice son, your girlfriend is cute...'Miles said as he ruffled his embarrassed son's head.
"D-Dad...'Arnold said with his face burning even redder if it was even possible.
His dad is calling Helga his GIRLFRIEND?! Sure, he accepted that he liked her a lot now, maybe even loved her but this is the first time he willingly kissed her on his own and...and...and...
He honestly didn't know how he was going to...to...to do something about this...However, Gerald apperntly decided to take pity on them and came to the rescue.
"Now guys, we can get all mushy and gross later, I just remembered that we still got our whole class still being held captive...'Gerald reminded them.
Arnold finally lost the red in his face as he realized that he is right, he had been so busy enjoying having his parent's back that he actually forgot about that.
"We got to go get them out...LaSombra might be gone but we still need to help my friends...'Arnold said to his parents who sent him a smile.
"Why didn't you say so, come on...I'm sure the Green Eyes will help out...'Miles said as they group left to talk to the chief and get help, wit his mother and even Gerald following them, but not before he sent them another look and said this.
"It's about time you two...'He said as he walked away.
Arnold blinked in surprise and confusion when he said that. What did Gerald mean? Was he implying that he somehow knew about what was going on between him and Helga, even though he never told him?
Before he could contemplate it any longer, Helga got his attention, she still looked flustered but not as badly as earlier.
"Um...football head..." Helga started with a shy voice.
"Yes Helga..."Arnold questioned.
Helga suddenly looked to make sure the coast was clear and before he could say anything, she kissed him again...It was a short, quick, gentle kiss that somehow left Arnold just as captivated as the last one.
"Helga...' Arnold thought before he melted into the kiss.
Once she pulled away, she sent him the same look she sent him after her first confession when they saved the neighborhood.
It was a look of pure, unconditional love, and it was all for him...It made Arnold start smiling too, with a similar look on his face though it wasn't at her level...
Yet anyway...
They said nothing as they didn't need to. They didn't need any words now to know that he was no longer dense and she no longer had to hide her love from him, because he accepted and returned it now.
The two smitten pre-teens soon decided to rejoin his parents, Gerald and the Green eyes as they went to go back to the prison camp to help his friends, and where, unknown to them at the moment, his grandparents were waiting and would have the surprise of their life upon finding Miles and Stella alive and well.
Overall, it is a happy ending to an amazing tale, but Arnold had a small feeling that it was not over yet...
To be continued-
Next time on No longer dense
The Happy Ending
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:
Invader Johnny: You said it...
:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review :)
