"Hi Harold." Patty said, she sat up dusting herself off.
"Wh-what are you doing here?"
"Walking home."
"I thought you moved."
"No you just stop talking to me." Harold stood up and helped Patty to her feet,
"Oh yeah sorry about that, so uh, how you been?"
"I've been alright, how about you? Where's your girlfriend?" Harold put his head down.
"I uh I found out that she was cheating on me."
"You didn't know that? I mean sorry man."
"Yeah, so uh, you still arm wrestle?"
"Harold!" Rhonda came running up behind them, "Harold wait!"
"What do you want Rhonda?! We're over, you can't hurt me anymore!"
"Harold I'm sorry!" Rhonda said, trying to catch her breath, "Big Patty? Is that you?"
"Hi Rhonda." Patty said, Harold glared at Rhonda.
"Her name is Patty, Rhonda!"
"Right, But Harold I didn't mean to it just happened. He came on to me! I swear."
"You didn't stop him Rhonda. We're over."
"But Harold."
"Now leave me alone!" Harold watched Rhonda run off in tears, it hurt his heart to hurt her.
"Harold? Are you okay?" Patty carefully placed her hand on Harold. Harold turned and looked at her. She had pale blue eyes to match the skirt she was wearing.
"Thanks Patty but I think I'm just gonna' go home. It was sure nice seeing you again." Harold said, sticking his hands in his jacket pocket and walking away. Patty sighed and journyed the other way.
*Helga's Home*
"Oh boys! Didn't see you there! There's some Kraft Dinner on the counter." Miriam said, stumbling out of the kitchen. Arnold and Sid help sit Helga at the table and started to dish her some food.
"I forgot to ask, why does she have hives?" Arnold whispered to Sid,
"She went to the oak trees, she didn't tell you she was going?"
"No, I had no idea, so what happened?"
"I dunno something to do with Harold and Rhonda."
"I knew it. And uh Sid, is she going to be okay without that music box? I had no idea that it meant that much to her." Sid shrugged,
"I dunno, maybe. There is a lot of attachment to it. But I think a majority of it is the song." Sid explained. Helga turned her head slightly to listen to their conversation. Arnold looked over at Helga.
"I can hear what you guys are saying." Helga said, Arnold placed the bowl of Kraft dinner infront of her.
"Sorry Helga." Arnold said, taking a seat next to her, Sid gave Helga a spoon and turned to dish himself some food. Helga leaned forward and took a few bites of her food. "Should I get you some medicine for your hives?"
"I'll take some after." she said, Sid sat down across from Arnold, taking a bit into his meal and suddenly dropping his spoon.
"Boy howdy this is terrible!" Sid shouted, leaning back in his chair. Helga laughed.
"Well yeah it was made by Miriam. She doesn't know how to make ice! Come on let's grab a bite to eat." Helga said standing up. "Atleast she's trying."
"Helga don't forget your medicine." Arnold reminded her. She rolled her eyes and headed towads the medicine cabinet. "So Sid what are you doing here? I thought you would've been staying in the police station or with child services for the next few weeks."
"Oh uh no, Helga worked some of her persuasive magic and they let me stay with her."
"Oh that is Helga haha, so where you sleeping? The couch? Or Olga's room?" "Or hmm"
"I'm staying in her room."
"Oh, so she's staying in Olga's room."
"Um Olga's room has been locked since she told the family that she was gonna run away to Germany with some struggling actor. It was quite the scene haha."
"You were there?"
"Yeah ha, Helga was helping me with homework."
"I thought Olga was still in Alaska?"
"Yeah she came back, after the guy's acting finally fell through. Still hasn't come to unlock her door."
"Oh. So is Helga sleeping on the sofa then?"
"No. We're gonna sleep in the same bed like we always do. If that's okay with you Arnold. I wasn't really sure, I mean I was asking her and everything, I was telling her I didn't want to do anything to come between you two." Arnold could hear the nevous in Sid's voice as it quickened.
"Um it's alright Sid, I had no idea you two were so close."
"Haha yeah Rhonda use to tease us about how inseparable we are haha."
"Yeah ha," Arnold scratched his head awkwardly.
"What's wrong man?"
"What?! Nothing, nothing." Arnold smiled, reassuring Sid.
"Oh okay. Good." Sid smiled.
"Okay let's go guys." Helga walked in, grabbing her bag from a kitchen chair. Her hives looking slightly better. The guys both stood up, and headed towards the door.
"Litle missy where do you think you're going?!" Big Bob shouted from the living room,
"Out, I'll be back later!" Helga shouted back.
"Alright Olga don't stay out to late." Helga stopped. She rolled her eyes and walked into the living room. She stood in front of the tv. "Hey hey hey! What do ya think you're doing! I'm trying to wattch the game!"
"Look Bob, my name is Helga."
"That's what I said Olga."
"Helga dad. And you're suppose to set a curfew like a real dad!" Helga whined.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Helga sighed, walking out of the room.
"Okay guys let's go." She said walking out the door and slaming it
"Where are we going Helga?" Arnold asked.
"I don't know. I'm craving mexican, what about you Shrimpo?" Helga nudged Sid.
"I was just thinking the same haha." Sid said cheerfully, Arnold looked over at the two, were giggling with eachother
"So Helga, I want you to do something tomorrow."
"What."
"Enough with the longsleve shirts, you're wasting away in the heat. I want you to wear a t-shirt or maybe a tank top." Arnold smiled.
"No way Football Head. Nooo Way."
"Why not?"
"I'll give you one reason and one reason only. Scars."
"So what? You're still beautiful Helga."
"My scars aren't bucko."
"What happened to the Helga I knew?"
"What are you talking about Hairboy?"
"The Helga I know wouldn't care what people thought." Arnold folded his arms and lifted his head challengingly. Helga fell silent.
"Fine." She mumbled. "But this won't end well."
The gang reached the an old mexican stand by the pier.
"What are you guys getting?" Helga asked. Sid's eyes scanded the menu.
"I'm fine thanks." Arnold said.
"Hi can I get the uh, veggie burrito and a large coke." Helga asked the cashier. "Sid what are you getting?"
"Just a second I'm looking, I'm looking!"
"We don't have all day Shrimpo!"
"Okay! Fine can I get an everything but the kitchen sink taco? And uh medium coke."
"Coming right up!" The cashier said.
"Great I panicked."
"What are you talking about Bucko you order that everytime we come here!"
"I know but I got lucky this time." Helga turned to notice Arnold was sitting at the edge of the dock.
"Uh Sid can you-"
"I got it."
"Thanks." Helga walked over to Arnold and sat down beside him. "What's eatin' ya' Football Head?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me Arnold. What's wrong?"
"No I feel stupid."
"Arnold, you're one of the brightest kids I know. Nothing you say can make you sound stupid."
"You and Sid are pretty close."
"Really?" Helga asked. Arnold blushed. "You're worried about me and Sid?"
"I know he won't do anything, and I trust you, but I'm just..."
"Just what?"
"Jealous?"
"You're jealous?"
"Yes, I'm jealous! okay?!"
"Of what?"
"You two have such a great friendship. It's incredible."
"We might have a great friendship Arnold, but he'll never have a great relationship like we've got now." Helga leaned over and gave Arnold a kiss on the check. "Us against the world, right?"
"Right." Arnold smiled. "Thanks Helga. Oh and one more thing, about the uh beds."
"What about them? If it really bugs you, I'll find an old air mattress. Okay?"
"Thank you." Arnold stood up and helped Helga to her feet.
"Guys the food is done!" Sid shouted, Arnold and Helga began to walk back up the pier.
"It's getting late Helga, Grandpa is going to start to worry. Later Sid. Bye Helga." Arnold leaned over and gave Helga a kiss. Arnold began to make his way home as the streetlights flickered on.
"What was his deal?"
"Oh he was worried about the beds thing." Helga said with a mothful of burrito.
"I knew it! He was acting funny."
"Don't worry about it Bucko come on we have an air mattress to blow up."
The two made their way home and ran up the stairs, and began to search for the mattress. The two searched for an hour. Helga and Sid finally got fed up and gave up the search.
"I didn't even know you had an air mattress."
"I don't even know if I got one Shrimpo."
"Oh, oh I got an idea, let's take every cushion in the house and make a bed. Deal?"
"Alright. Deal. I got cushions, you got the pillows" Helga spit on her hand and held it out towards Sid. Sid spit on his and they shook on it.
"Why do I gotta' get the pillows?"
"Because I said so! Now go! Meet you at 23 hours got it?"
"23 hours?"
"11 O'clock Sid." Helga rolled her eyes. The two split up grabbing every comfy item in the house, along with the blankets. It didn't take long before the two had wiped the house clean of everything they were collecting, they both met up with time to spare. "Looks good kiddo, you can take the bed."
"What if I don't want the bed?"
"I don't want the bed either!"
"I'm the guest!"
"So!? I live here!"
"I'll play ya' for it."
"Rock, Paper, Scissors?"
"It's on!"
"Rock, Paper, Scissors!" The two shouted
"Rock!"Helga shouted.
"Rock!" Sid shouted.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors!" Helga and Sid shouted again.
"Rock!"Helga shouted, slaming her fist into her hand.
"Rock!" Sid shouted again.
"Damnit Sid this isn't gonna' work if you keep picking rock!"
"Fine!"
The two kept playing until Helga finally won with Rock. Sid rolled onto Helga's bed with a sigh, as Helga flopped down onto her home-made bed.
"Sid?"
"What?" He grunted.
"Something bad is gonna happen tomorrow, I can feel it."
"Are you worried about your scars?"
"Yeah, a little bit."
"Helga don't worry about it. Forget what they think."
"I guess you're right bucko. Night man, and thanks."
Sid rolled over and passed out within seconds, Helga lay awake, deep in thought. "Sleep Helga old girl, just go to sleep. Just go to sleep it's not that hard, just close your eyes and sleep. Ugh Why can't I do this? This is pathetic!" Helga eventually passed out from all of the troubling thoughts of tomorrow.
