Hi! I know…this one has taken forever…Also, this one ties in characters from "Spy Candy" and "Give it the ol' College try." Which is legit, because I remember in an earlier chapter she had e-mailed a said character =D And I get a certain joy out of my stories being able to be intertwined.

Also! I was totally going to make this a longer chapter, but I felt that I wanted to end it with the last line-well, obviously. But it seemed a good place to wrap this one up until next time ;)

As always, I don't own Hey Arnold characters. I do own Donnie and Jace, though =)

"Getting into trouble a little early, aren't we Aladdin?"

"You're only in trouble if you get caught-!"

(Aladdin)

Donnie shook his head, his eyes dancing as he watched Helga. "I should have known," he responded with a dramatic sigh. "But he remember," he warned, holding up his pointer finger and holding it right in front of her eyes, just close enough to cause cross-eyed syndrome. "I do work here. They do pay me. I do like getting paid."

"And?" she commented, swatting his hand from her face, scowling.

"I want to keep getting paid. Which means this place needs to still be standing, and I don't want to be linked to you if you act too bad."

Helga scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she batted her eyelashes delicately. "Please," she commented, bringing her hand to her chest in mock astonishment. "Mwah? Do bad things?"

The boy shook his head, turning to restack the water that had fallen in his earlier moments. "I'm serious."

The girl stooped to pick her bag up off the floor, adjusting the strap as he spoke. "So am I."

"To which part?"

"Come on Donnie, really," Helga said, exasperated. "I'm not going to be a one man show with a music box and a monkey to clang a cup." She shuddered at the memory. "Arnold will be here. I want to stay in his good graces. I'll think of something."

"I'm sure you will." He smiled as he turned back around, now adjusting the counter. There were only a few people in the café at this time of day, so she knew he wasn't very busy. He had upgraded from waiter to cook now.

"By the way," she added, biting her bottom lip as she thought. She tilted her head, feeling her loose hair shift. It annoyed her. "There is a talent show coming up. I need an idea."

He raised his eyebrows, his surprise at this statement evident. "You?" he inquired. "You want to perform?"

"I used to do stand up, thank you very much," she shot back, her blue eyes narrowed. She clutched the strap of her bag with both hand, frowning.

"So what's the deal? No stand-up."

"No, not this time. I want something different. I mean, I get my bonus points either way, but Arnold's also in charge of this. I don't want to make anyone upset, and I also don't want to look like a fool."

"Think on it. I'm sure you'll think of something."

"You don't have an idea."

"Not a clue." He gave a clumsy smile.

"Fine," she said with a sigh, making her way toward the door.

"Hey, Helga!" She paused, her hand poised on the door to push it open. She could see the fresh little snow flakes falling like powder on the table she had set at those years before.

"What?"

"You look nice today."

She pushed the front door open, not even bothering to announce she was home. She knew better. Bob would be out, and so would Mariem, so to speak. She heard the T.V. in the living room, and she knew at least where to find her if she needed her. She couldn't think why she would, but it was always nice to know. She kicked her boots off at the door before making her way up the stairs. She let her school bag slide down by the door, and she let herself slide into the chair in front of her computer. She knew she had homework to do, but she was no where near motivated. In fact, she was plain exhausted from a day of surprises and anger. She took a deep breath, moaning as she stretched out in the chair. Usually, she would some idea of how to handle this situation. Usually, she had no problem being the one to carry out her plans. But she didn't see how her personally showing up and being obnoxious and rude would make Arnold happy in any shape or form, especially with it being the weekend right after they went out.

She contained her squeal, the thought even more enticing now that she was alone to relish it. They had a date. A date. A date date date date date. She couldn't stop saying it in her head, matching it with Arnold's name. All the combinations. I have a date with Arnold. Arnold has a date with me. Arnold and I have a date!

Helga shook her head, trying to control the giddy feeling she had.

"Okay," she said aloud to calm herself. She sat straight up in the chair, trying to reason with herself. "If it's after the date, he can't be that upset. But then he'd never ask me out again. He may ask me out again!" She groaned as she took covered her face with her hand. It had never been so hard to stay focused.

"I'll just do my homework," she said confidently, making her way to her bag. She opened her calculus notes and her book, staring at the numbers. She began to copy the problems to her paper. She forced herself to concentrate, trying to let the images morph into little Arnold heads on her paper.

She jolted as her computer pinged an instant message. It was one from her e-pal, so to speak, Jace. She suddenly felt guilty, remembering she hadn't responded to his earlier e-mail. She clicked it, skimming over the contents.

My goodness Helli!

"Answer your e-mails. Why? Because all that comes from these fingertips is pure gold and you better bet your fanny I expect you to read it. I hope you don't think I write these messages just so you can delete them. I waste good time typing to you!"

"Sorry Jace!" A quick send to let him know she wasn't dead, and to chill in a minute. "I'm fine, I've been busy. It's been established I do have a life away from the computer. Unlike some people."

"Aww, I missed your cynicism."

"…"

"Look, if you'd read your e-mail *ahem* I'll be down in the area soon…Apparently my dad is thinking of remarrying (I say who give a shit) and my mom, feeling in woman's rage as she should be, feels like giving him a piece of her mind. And a pen. He hasn't signed divorce papers yet. He's a sleeze. Anydoots, this will bring me within an hour of Hillwood. I know where you live. I know we've never actually met. It's been, what, two years? I promise I'm not some forty year old man. If you're up for it, I'd love an excuse to not have to hand out with my dad."

"When?"

"Please….contain that there enthusiasm… the weekend of the 28th. My mom has to ask off."

A little light bulb went off in Helga's head. This…well, this turn of events could prove too good to be true. He wasn't someone Arnold or Jeanne would know. He wouldn't be at school here. He…could be her answer.

"You have no idea how great that timing would be for me! I need a favor."

"….So that's a yes on getting together? I'll bring cookies."