[A.N. I guess I really don't have much of an excuse this time other than writer's block and lack of time. I'm sorry for making everyone wait so long. Good news: I have seen The Godfather. I recommend it to everyone. :) And now I shall insert modified quotes for fun. And plot. See if you can spot them all from here to the end! :P (There's one in this chapter)

Disclaimer: It's a disclaimer, disclaimer; I don't own stuff and you all know it! ]

Chapter 10 – The Assignment

The next day, full from a breakfast of ham and cheese omelets, Arnold walked to the bus stop, whistling quietly along the way. He felt grateful that things in this world were going much more smoothly than he ever imagined. Even Helga was being nice to him. But something kept nagging at him. He had a small feeling that he had forgotten something.

He shook it off and stood at the stop, rocking from the balls to the soles of his feet. This wasn't the first time he had been confused or had funny feelings pertaining to the differences in the worlds.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the zebra-striped eraser that Helga had given him as a token of membership of her group. "Congratulations. You are now officially one of us," she had said. He smiled and dropped it back into his pocket.

The bus screeched to a halt, and Arnold climbed on board, taking the steps two at a time.

Helga was sitting a few seats back, and Arnold walked over to join her.

"Good morning, Helga." He said politely and cheerily, standing next to her, and waited for her to reply before he would sit down.

The initial response he got was not from Helga, but from the rest of the bus. The whole bus seemed to have heard Arnold's greeting and was silent. Then, after a few seconds, a loud "ooooooooooh!" was mockingly yelled, and then the rest of the kids started to laugh.

"What do you think you're doing?" Helga had stood up, pink-faced, glaring at all of the laughing kids. Arnold realized how much taller than him she was. "I barely know you, you little shrimp! We may be partners for a science project, but that doesn't mean you can get all chummy with me! Now, scram before I change my mind about pounding you!" Her face was now much redder, and her fists were clenched tight.

"O…okay," Arnold said, backing up slowly. Helga made the "I'm-watching-you" gesture and stared him down until he was sitting next to Gerald in the back row. The laughter had died down after Helga's outburst, and now there were only a few quiet scattered giggles.

"Do I even want to ask what you were doing?" Gerald asked, and Harold, Stinky, and Lila leaned in to listen.

"What do you mean?" Arnold asked, puzzled, "I was just saying hi to her. Is there something wrong with that?"

"Arnold, Arnold, Arnold. How many times to I have to tell you?" Gerald explained, almost mockingly, "Helga has one of the biggest reputations at P.S. 118. She's seen as the toughest kid there. Do you think it helps her status to be greeted in such a way, especially by a boy?"

Arnold sighed. "No…I guess not," he sighed again and leaned back into the seat. "Does everyone lead a double life around here?"

Harold eyed him suspiciously. "Why, is there something you want to tell us, Arnold?" he asked, leaning towards him and Gerald.

"No, no," Arnold said quickly in a panic. "I just…I just meant that…that…well, you guys. You're seen as these ruthless, not-to-be-messed-with people like Big Gino but really, you're just trying to help people out." He hoped to steer the direction away from people who weren't what they said they were.

Lila laughed. But this time, it sounded much more relaxed and kind. "Oh, Arnold, you have ever so much to learn, don't you?" She gave him a playful smile before turning back to Stinky to continue chatting quietly with him.

"We just keep up appearances when we know people are watching. But nobody in Big Gino's group rides this bus route, so we can relax once in awhile." Gerald pulled out a pack of gum and started chewing a piece. He offered a stick to Arnold, who politely declined it.

"And just because you're so concerned, Arnold," Gerald continued, "Helga's no different than any other powerful kid. Any kid who's responsible for other kids." He paused. "She does what's best for all of us and for the people we help. Okay?"

Arnold nodded.

"Have any more questions?" Gerald asked, laying his head against the seat and closing his eyes for a few minutes of relaxation before the bus arrived at the school.

"No," Arnold muttered. He had no more questions. At least, he had no more that he could ask this world's Gerald.

-o-o-

The morning's classes came and went without excitement. Helga didn't talk to him and barely looked his way all morning, but at least she wasn't yelling at him. When he did catch her glancing at him, she would quickly look away and suddenly become very interested in her work.

Her actions did a complete 180 once they were in the Janitor's closet (a.k.a. the headquarters). Before Helga stood in front of the group to tell them about Big Gino's latest plot, she pulled Arnold aside and then pinned him against the wall with one hand.

"Listen, Arnold," she began, and then realized that she was gripping his shirt collar. She released him, and he slid a few inches down the wall. "You can't be acting all friendly and stuff around me, okay? If word gets around to Big Gino what we all are really like, we'll be in deep trouble. We'll become his victims. And we can't exactly help ourselves. Understand?"

Arnold opened his mouth, and then shut it because he couldn't think of anything to say.

"Just…just don't act like that around me…at all, okay? It's weird." She looked away from him, pink-faced. "I mean, people might start to get…ideas."

Arnold smiled and put a hand on Helga's shoulder. "No problem, Helga," he said, then shook his head as if doing so would change his demeanor. "I mean, good talking to you." He shook his head again. "Glad we had this chat." Shake. "Okay, boss-"

"Good enough," Helga grinned, and turned to walk through the curtain to the main room. Arnold followed behind after making sure his face wasn't pink from blushing.

-o-o-

When Arnold returned to his desk after lunch period, he found a note taped to the inside.

Arnold,

I have some good news to share with you: You will prove useful to me, and will even benefit yourself in the process. Meet me at my office, same time, and make sure no one follows you. We don't want people to get suspicious. Your working for me still has to remain a secret.

Big Gino

Arnold read the note quickly, then folded it up and shoved it in his pocket. So Big Gino had found a way for Arnold to help him? Perhaps the good news was he was going to drop the blackmail!

Arnold couldn't concentrate all through the geography lesson; he was too full of anticipation for what "good news" Big Gino had to share with him. He didn't even flinch when Helga shot a spitball at him. He didn't roll his eyes when Rhonda made a comment about how his long plaid shirt beneath his sweater looked like a skirt. The only thing he was concentrating on was listening for the bell. Do the clocks need to be repaired? He thought, for they moved so slowly that if he stared at them long enough, the second hand seemed to stop altogether.

After what seemed like an eternity, the bell finally rang and Arnold nearly ran out of the classroom. He got down the front steps in three jumps and fast-walked towards Big Gino's "office."

Arnold knocked on the door and was nearly bouncing outside before a soft voice called, "come in."

He opened the door, and quickly shut it behind him. Big Gino was sitting at his desk, facing the wall, but knew it was Arnold. "Come over here, Arnold," he said without moving, "and have a seat."

As Arnold reached Big Gino's desk, the chair swiveled around to reveal the kid sitting in it. He gave Arnold a sly smile and folded his hands upon the desk, staring him down as Arnold sat in the chair facing the desk.

"So, Arnold, you seem to have worked things out all by yourself. I like it. Ambition is a good thing, my friend. I couldn't have done it better myself."

"Done…what?" Arnold asked before he could stop himself. He had a funny feeling that his and Big Gino's ideas of "good news" contrasted horribly.

"Why, made quick friends with Helga, of course." His smile grew. "She must really like you, trust you, be willing to tell you anything."

"Well, I don't know about that," Arnold muttered, remembering that Helga seemed to quickly change the subject when talking to him, especially when talk was of themselves. He suddenly realized how hot it seemed in the room. Did Big Gino have a heater on somewhere in this shed?

"You're too modest, my dear friend," Big Gino slid off of his chair and walked over to Arnold, who stood up automatically.

"So here's the deal," Big Gino began, "you get me some…eh…interesting information on Helga. Something that'll make the other kids fear her not nearly as much as they do now. They'll see that even the great Helga Pataki has feelings and fears, know what I'm saying? We both win. You'll get to be with Helga without worrying about her pounding you, and I'll get her meddling out of the way once and for all-"

"Oh, no, Big Gino. You've got it all wrong. I…I don't want to be with Helga. I…I just want to be friends, that's all." Why did he have to blush now?

Big Gino just shook his head slowly, and then put a hand on Arnold's shoulder. "Arnold, Arnold. You'll soon see that this is the best solution for our situation we have here. Remember, I have the upper hand. One wrong move and you'll see the permanent record of the real transfer student photocopied and pasted to every surface of P.S. 118. Capiche?"

He walked back around to his chair, sat, and busied himself with some papers on the desk.

"You can go, Arnold. And remember, I want that dirt soon."