Chapter 8: Let Me Take Care Of It
"Alright! Pitch it over here Pink boy!"
"Alright! Keep your shirt on Helga!"
While Helga waited impatiently at the catcher's plate to receive a toss from Harold, Arnold waited at shortstop, thinking about the fun time he'd had with Helga the previous night.
As Gerald stood nearby in the outfield, he couldn't help but notice the dazed look on his friend's face. It was obvious the last thing on his mind was the game.
"Hey Arnold! What's up with you man?" the curious boy asked.
"Huh? Oh sorry Gerald. I was just thinking…"
"Head's up!"
The oblong headed boy turned just in time to be smacked in the face by a fly ball.
"ARNOLD!" a worried voice shouted, that came running from across the field.
"I'm soooo sorry Arnold!" Sid's voice said shaking with fear as he watched Helga race over to see if he was alright.
Just as the concerned girl bent down to comfort him, they saw the injured boy sitting up to hold his head.
"You okay buddy?" Gerald asked.
"Yeah. I think I just need to go home and lay down for awhile." he replied, while trying to keep his eyes focused.
"Come on, I'll walk you." his best friend offered, as he helped Helga guide him along the sidewalk.
The Boarding House
Helga held Arnold up while Gerald opened the door for the stream of animals to pour out.
"Curly would be someone good to call every time you opened that thing." Helga pointed out.
"No kidding man." Gerald replied.
His two friends took him inside to make sure he was able to make it upstairs alright by himself. Once they made it to his bedroom, Helga and Gerald helped the injured boy onto his bed.
"I guess I'll get back to practice." Gerald sighed, not feeling there was much more he could do.
Helga sat beside her friend, who was still holding his head at that point. She began running her fingers through his soft, sweet scented hair and asked "Are you going to be okay?"
Arnold took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together and said "I think so. I'm just a little dizzy. I don't know if I'll be able to ask anyone about the store today though." he said regrettably
Now was a chance to show Arnold how grateful she had been for the help he had given her; to prove she didn't expect him to do everything for her, whether she wanted him to or not.
"Don't worry football head, I got this."
Arnold's Kitchen
"
Helga walked downstairs, ready to tell Arnold's parents about their son's mishappening. She made it into the room to see Bob making arrangements with Johnny Stitches.
Helga cocked her brow with her hands on her waists and asked "What's going on?"
Bob turned to look at his daughter and said in a monotone voice "Oh hey Olga."
"It's Helga dad."
"Olga? Who the devil is that?"
"Really? He hasn't mentioned The Golden Child to you yet?" Helga said in a surprised yet sarcastic tone.
"Hey! You watch your mouth little missy!" Bob warned her, not appreciating the witty remark she had made about her sister.
"Whatever. I'm going out."
Helga walked outside the boarding house just in time to see Olga walking towards her with a set of shopping bags.
"Hello baby sister! Would you like to help me make lunch for everyone?"
"Gee sounds great but I've got somewhere to be" the younger girl said in a witty tone. Before walking away, she added "Arnold's upstairs though, do you think you could check on him every few hours?"
Arnold's Room
Although Arnold's head was still hurting, he was becoming bored just laying there alone. If he had to be upstairs doing nothing, he felt he could find some way to entertain himself. Not sitting far from him was Helga's poetry book. It would have been nice to continue the game with his friends, but for several days his mind had been expanding over the possibilities of how close he had felt to Helga before either of them mentioning their feelings to the other.
The sore boy grabbed the book to pick up where he had left off with the passionate words his friend had written day by day about him.
Phoebe's House
Helga stood outside her best friend's house after having seen none of the class was still practicing at Gerald field. No longer having all the positions filled made it seem a bit pointless.
"Good afternoon Helga."
"Hey Pheebs. Football head's not going to be able to do any phone searching today. Wanna come with?"
"Coming!"
The girls began walking down the sidewalk, deciding what their first location to check would be. While Helga thought about the places she and Arnold had yet to check, Phoebe had to ask "How are things proceeding with your family?"
"Eh, no worse than usual. Bob seems to have an agreement going with Johnny to improve his image. We'll see how well that works."
"Johnny Stitches?"
"Yeah. Poor sap can't seem to compete with the idea of someone wearing a hat. Oh brother." Helga scorned.
Arnold's Room
While Arnold was laying there flipping through the pages, he began to think about all the times Helga had helped him without realizing it. Her harsh behavior at times made it hard for him to believe she would care to do such a thing.
Summer Love
That day felt like destiny
For you to run into me
Only to push you away
On that lovely summer day
To see you with that mean teen
Overhearing her bad scheme
Hoping to show my bad ways
Cannot match my loving daze
At last you listened to me
To look at her evil scheme
Watching your sweet face fall down
Did bring to my own a frown
Hearing your apology
Lit a fire inside me
Being on that show with you
Was just like a dream come true
Roller Rink
"If I may ask, how was your date with Arnold?"
Helga began to blush as she rubbed the back of her neck, thinking about their moment on the bus. "It was alright. He showed me where he and Geraldo snuck off to the night they ditched the play."
As they were entering the loud, crowded area, Phoebe noticed her friend holding her chest.
"What is that you're holding Helga?"
Phoebe watched her friend pull out the thoughtful gift Arnold had given Helga on their date.
"What a lovely necklace!"
"Thanks Pheebs. Arnold got it for me."
Saying this out loud really began to make Helga think about everything he had done for her without even asking her to be his girlfriend yet. They took her and her family into their home, he was trying to help her father with his business, he had always tolerated her negative attitude. The least she could do was make an effort to contribute.
Arnold's Room
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in."
"Hello Arnold. Baby sister says your not feeling well?" Olga said with a concerned look on her face.
"I'm okay. I just bumped my head." the optimistic boy said, as he sat up to face the caring girl.
"Well, I brought you a yummy sandwich and my famous herbal tea!" Olga exclaimed, while proudly setting the tray in front of Arnold.
"Uhhh thanks. Can I ask you something Olga?"
"Of course!" the excitable girl said, taking a seat on the bed.
"Did you ever like someone without realizing it?"
Olga stopped to think for a moment about the question, while Arnold waited hoping she would be able to relate to his situation.
"Well, there was the time I liked Doug."
Arnold's hopeful look turned to a doubtful one, having already met the con artist.
"We fell in love after three weeks."
"So, I guess not the…" the boy began, before being cut off.
"Then he left a heartbreaking note on the day of our wedding."
"Well that's not exactly what I…"
"Oh it was just terr-terribly!" Olga ran out of the run crying, while Arnold laid back on his bed, throwing a pillow over his face. She obviously didn't understand what he was asking.
Roller Rink
"So you guys are selling cell phones? That's so cool!"
"Technically, Mr. Pataki will be the one promoting them once his new store is in tact." the intelligent girl explained to her classmate.
"You're not giving any away now then?" Sid asked disappointedly.
"I'm afraid not. The store will be opening within the next few months however." Phoebe said, in the hopes of encouraging him.
Watching the hesitant look on his face, Helga asked "So, you interested or not?"
"I guess I could come."
"Great, see you there." the hoydenish girl said in a monotone voice.
Arnold's Room
Arnold already knew he had established feelings for Helga, he just didn't know if they were ones he had always possessed. It's hard realizing something when so many distractions are in the way. In that case, Helga's many unnecessary hostile gestures made towards him.
Arnold grabbed the book once again and flipped through the more memories that reminded him of all the helpful times Helga had shown him.
Runaway Float
To see your dreams get crushed that day
There was no way to fulfill them
I had to help you in some way
By asking someone harsh and grim
A smile then came to your face
Your warm arms wrapped around my waist
Overjoyed at your happiness
Helping with that tangible mess
Your eyes sparkling at our hard work
My shy nature that can't accept
A voice then came that did not lurk
Not wanting our float to be kept
To see my dear beloved fall
While I sat so high and mighty
Atop the float where I did call
Attention from this here city
An inconvenience did occur
My love came to my rescue then
I road screaming and praying more
He saved us all in time to win
I watched dad try to take credit
While my beloved stayed quiet
I pointed to the true winner
Yes, my float winning creator
Whether or not he noticed, Arnold had done just as much (if not more) for Helga as she had done for him over the years. Was it because he was just a decent person who always had to do the right thing, or because his feelings for her had always been stronger than he thought?
The Corner Store
"It's quite nice of you to do this for Arnold Helga." Phoebe said while standing in line at the convenience store with her friend.
"Yeah well, he'll be needing some pain killers after that bolt to the head. Olga sure as heck isn't going to make it go away." Helga leered, just picturing to herself what kind of annoying attention her older sibling may be giving to her friend.
While waiting in line, Helga listened to a voice say "Store brand pain killers? How typical of you."
The girls turned to see their superior classmate standing behind them, buying the latest edition of Pre-Teen Miss.
"Good afternoon Rhonda." Phoebe greeted her.
"What do you want Princess?" Helga asked in an annoyed tone, with a hand on her waist.
"How could I not stop by to buy the latest edition of the city's most popular magazine before it was sold out?"
"Yeah, what a nightmare that would have been." she scoffed, anxious to get through the line.
Without caring to ask Helga's opinion, Phoebe asked the cynical girl "Perhaps you would care to come see the opening of Mr. Pataki's new cell phone store in a few months?"
Although Helga kept a straight face, she didn't like passing out any opportunities to make herself look weak in front of people like Rhonda.
"Oh please. I already own a cell phone." the stuck up girl informed them.
"Perhaps you would like the chance to see Johnny Stitches? He and his models will be there helping to promote the store." Phoebe informed her with hopeful eyes.
"Why in the world would I want to do that? The arrogant man already dismissed my unique sense of style once."
"He isn't focused so much on style as he is the idea of promoting Mr. Pataki's merchandise. All he needs is someone to show them off." Phoebe explained.
"Really?"
"Yeah, but it's only if you buy something. Don't expect to show up and earn yourself a place in the spotlight." Helga warned her.
"Well, I suppose I could stop by and see what all the fuss is about."
Arnold's Room
Arnold laid on his bed rubbing his head. It had reached the point where his head was too sore to be able to enjoy the book anymore.
He was close to drifting off to sleep until he heard the door opening. When he heard someone setting a glass down beside him, Arnold assumed it was just his parents checking on him. If it was Olga, he would have already heard her say something.
HIs eyes then fluttered open as he felt a set of soft lips pressed against his. A relaxing sigh released from him after watching the sweet girl sit up to ask "How you feeling Arnoldo?"
The tired boy propped himself up on his elbows to reply "Okay. Did anyone agree to come to the opening?"
Helga began pulling out the pain killers she had gotten her friend. While opening them for him, she shrugged her shoulders and said "Sid seemed amused. Once we told Princess she may have a another shot at show business with Johnny, she said she was in."
"That's gre...OW!" the enthusiastic boy said, while grabbing his head.
"Criminy. Should I get you some chill pills too?"
Helga began caressing where Arnold's head was hurting, as she watched him lay back down on his pillow.
Arnold looked into her calm eyes in which he could see the concern she felt for him.
"I'm really enjoying your book." he whispered, while taking her other hand to rub.
Arnold watched the sensitive girl begin to blush, while noticing the movements of her hand against his head starting to slow down.
"Oh...um thanks."
"I remember every one of those days. The more I think about it, the more I can't help but feel…"
"Yeah?" Helga asked, while cocking her brow.
"When we were on Babe Watch together, were you actually trying to kiss me?"
Rather than responding, she looked away while rubbing her neck in embarrassment. The answer should have been obvious to him after everything she had come clean about.
After watching her remain silent, he sat up to place a hand on her shoulder and said "I thought so."
"Is it really that surprising?" she insisted on knowing, while finally turning to look at him.
"No. It is surprising I didn't believe you about Summer though, if it's true that I've had strong feelings for you for several years now though." he said, running his fingers through her hair.
"Well, I didn't make it easy for either of us." she said, shrugging her shoulders.
Arnold looked into her soft eyes as he pulled her close to kiss her. Just sitting there quietly running his fingers through the strands of her hair put his mind into a peaceful state.
He felt her lips beginning to quiver, as if she was letting out a swoon.
"Are you okay?" he wondered, although it was obvious that was just her way of implying everything was perfect.
"While you were playing with my hair, I caught a whiff of that shampoo of yours. Don't be surprised if the bottle's gone by the end of the week." she smiled with half lidded eyes.
Arnold looked at this expression, realizing it was the same smile he saw from her every time she swooned or thought of something pertaining to him. It was almost as if she had her own signature smile.
