Author's Note: As promised the next chapter.

Disclaimer I don't own Hey Arnold.

CHAPTER 10: Ice Cream

Helga's POV

Helga came back to school by the middle of the week, not because she had to but because having to be around Olga for to long made her start to resent her.

Helga slammed the locker which caused Phoebe to jerk a little.

"You okay Helga?"

"Huh...oh sorry Pheebs. Being around Olga to long makes me cranky."

Phoebe giggled. "Oh Helga, is she still asking for your opinion for everything in the wedding?

"Ugh yes Pheebs. I do not understand why she cannot just pick something by herself. Planning a wedding can not be that hard."

"Well Helga it is only a few months away, I can imagine your sister must be stressed. The combination of planning a wedding, teaching at P.S 118 and helping her fiance run a restaurant on weekends must be getting to her."

"I understand she has a lot on her plate Pheebs, but that is why she should have gotten help. Crimmy, Miriam practically offered to plan the whole wedding for her. Especially since Bob is paying for all of it."

Phoebe looks towards the lockers across from her, where Arnold and Gerald are talking. She then turns towards Helga who was nonchalantly putting her books in her locker. "Helga you must talk to Arnold."

Helga let out a deep sigh and then softly closed her locker. She then turned to look at her friend, "I know Pheebs I just need some time."

Phoebe caught a glimpse of Arnold and Gerald walking towards the girls. "I understand Helga, but he seems worried. You should talk to him, soon."

"I will Pheebs just not yet, I will see you later."

With that the blonde girl took off. Before Arnold even had a chance to say hello.

Helga put her tray down next to Curly and sat across from him in the table.

"Are you nervous about the first rehearsal today?" Curley asked.

"Not really we have been practicing in class. just wants to see who she thinks will be the best to be the lead for the Christmas show." Helga replied.

"You don't want the spot?"

"I don't know."

"Come on Helga. Ever since Arnold came back you have not been yourself."

"What is that suppose to mean?" Helga snapped back at him.

"You do not seem as confident. If I would have asked you a few months ago if you wanted to be the lead in the Christmas recital you would have said yes. Not to mention you would be working hard to accomplish your goal. What is going on Helga?"

Helga was quite for a moment, she acknowledged that Curly was correct with his observation. "I...I do not know Curly. I want to continue to grow and not go backwards but everytime I see him my nine year old self that was so obsessed with him comes back. Working on myself was easier when he was gone."

Curley let out a deep sigh. "I understand Helga once I took your advice and let Rhonda go, she started talking to me more and wanting to be around me. She even hang out with me all summer. I think once she noticed I was my own person without having her to define me she well, wanted me back."

Helga laughed. "How is it now that the princess is chasing after you instead?"

Curley chucked. "It's actually really great. Everyone is so confused they keep asking me what happened this summer."

"Have you told anyone?" Helga asked well taking a bite out of her burger.

"No only you. I would have never know that Rhonda would become so obsessive."

"Well you did take her V-card and apparently rocked her world so much that she keeps begging for more. She has it bad." Helga snickered before slipping from her juice.

Culey smiled at the memory well putting his straw in his own juice box. "So, what are you going to do about Arnold? How are you going to balance being the old Helga and the new Helga?

Before Helga could answer Phoebe sat down next to Curly.

She said hello to Curly and quickly turned her attention towards Helga. "Helga, when are you going to speak to Arnold? He keeps asking me question and frankly I don't know if I can keep avoiding him." Phoebe said with a slight panic in her voice.

Helga's eyes widen at Phoebe's last remark. "I am sorry Pheebs I was going to talk to him today but I have rehearsals after school."

"So I take it you are not sitting with Arnold and Gerald today?" Curly asked with a smirk.

"No. I told Gerald that I needed a break from Arnolds' interrogation." Phoebe said exasperated.

Curly chuckled and tuned to look at Helga. "I think Arnold has it bad too."

Helga rolled her eyes at her friends joke. "I bet you can't wait until Rhonda's party." Helga said sarcastically.

"Rhonda's party? Are you going?" Arnold asked well putting his tray next to Helga and taking a seat. Causing the stunned blonde girl to look at him and then look back at her friends across from her.

"Sorry babe, Arnold really wanted to sit with you guys." Gerald said well giving Phoebe an apologetic look before taking the seat next to her.

Helga fidgeted in her seat before glaring at Phoebe. Phoebe only shrugged. Curly picked up on the tension and decided to be the first to speak. "So Arnold how do you like Hillwood High so far?"

Arnold looked at Curly and smiled. "It's great. I really enjoy seeing all my old classmates again." He said well turning his attention towards Helga again.

"Ya it is great to see how much everything and everyone has changed. It must be hard for you." Curly said well looking at the football headed shaped boy stare at his stunned blonde friend.

Arnold turned his attention back to Curly and the said, "It's hard I feel like I missed so much. But, I am here now and I am not going anywhere." Under the table he placed his hand on Helga's knee. Which caused the already shocked girl to widen her eyes even more.

Thankfully, for Helga the rest of lunch was not as awkward. The five of them seemed to engage in meaningless small talk and Arnold would just gracefully touch her underneath the table. By the time the bell rang to announce that lunch was over. Helga was so grateful that Curly said that they had plans to walk to class together. This left Arnold with a very disappoint expression on his face as the two exited the cafeteria.

"So you were going to talk to him?" Curly said sarcastically well lifting up one eyebrow.

"I did not lie to Phoebe, I...I was going to talk to him but…?

"But?" Curly questioned.

"I just can't everything feels different now."

Curly hugged his friend and said "Remember you need to find the balance between the old Helga and the new Helga."

She smiled at her friend before he took of to his class.

The rest of the day went well for Helga. She avoid Arnold like the plague and dashed pass him in their last period. All she wanted was to get to rehearsal there she would be far away from Arnold.

When it was her turn to dance, Helga was completely captivated in the music. She was precise yet elegant. She was vigorous yet she danced she showed another side to her that she never showed the world. When she danced she was free. Once the song came to an end and she bowed Ms. Archibald started clapping and said, "Excellent job Helga, then she turn to the rest of the dancers I expected all of you to dance with the same passion." As Helga was turning away from her teacher she saw red hair poking out of the seats in the back of the auditorium. Oh ya Lila said she will come by and watch my rehearsal she thought to herself as she smiled and waved to her friend. However, her smile slowly disappeared when she saw Lila was not alone. That football shape head was distinctive and could only belong to one person. "Arnold!"

The rest of the class including turned in her direction. "Helga is everything okay?" asked.

Helga turned to face her teacher, "Yes everything is fine." Then motioned to her to fall in line with the other girls to rehearsal the group scene.

As Helga stood with the other girls her mind could not help but race. Was Arnold here this whole time? Did he see her dance? Why did Lila bring him? Needless to say Helga was a bit distracted.

"Helga... Helga."

"Huh?" Helga said well coming out of her gazed state.

"Helga I asked if you were okay you missed your turn." gave a displeased look on her face.

"Oh sorry, I got it, let's go again."

Helga continued to dance and tried to stay focus even when her mind wandered ro thoughts of Arnold. Once said that practice was over she felt so relieved. She quickly went to the girls locker room to change. She wanted to ask Lila why she brought Arnold to her rehearsal.

"Helga?" Lila said well looking at the blonde girl with a puzzled expression.

"Lila?" Helga said well looking around the redhead girl.

"He is not with me." Lila said.

"Why did you bring him?"

"I am ever so sorry Helga. He begged me and I did not think you would notice you are always so concentrated when you dance."

Helga let out a scuff. Then looked at Lila. "He distracted me."

"He noticed that is why he left. I am sorry Helga if I knew he would have that effect on you I would have told him not to come." Lila said well giving her an apologetic expression.

"It's okay Lila, I have to start getting use to it. He might come to the Christmas performance and I cannot have him distract me there." Helga said matter-of-factly.

"Do you still want to go to Slausen's?" she said will giving her friend a small smile.

"Ya let's go! I can always go for some ice cream." Helga said well putting her arm on Lila's shoulder the two walked out the school giggling.

Stinky, Phoebe and Gerald were all in a booth in Slausen's waiting for their friends. As Lila sat down next to Stinky. Helga sat next to Phoebe.

"Hey Pheebs" Hega said well smiling at her fiend.

"Hey Helga." Phoebe said with a smile.

The five of them continued to chat and until Gerald noticed Arnold at the counter ordering something.

"Looks like Arnold is here." Gerald said well looking at Phoebe and then Helga.

"I am just going to say hi."

Phoebe gave her boyfriend a look. He put his hand on her should her said "don't worry I am not going to invite him to eat with us. I am just going to say hi." Clearly, Arnold contant interrogation was starting to get to Phoebe. Gerald stood up and was going to walk towards Arnold when Helga stopped him.

"Gerald, wait!"

"I promise Helga I am just going to say hi." Gerald said with a huff.

"No, you can invite him to sit with us."

"What? But you have been avoiding him." he said will looking over at Phoebe whom had the same confused look on her face.

"It's fine Geraldo, he can sit with us."

Gerald looked at Helga then at Phoebe who just shrugged. "Okay, I will invite him then." With that Gerald was off to talk to Arnold.

"Helga what is going on? I thought you did not want to speak to him, don't you need time?" Phoebe said.

"I do not think I am ready Phoebe but I can not keep avoiding him. Plus lately have been in the mood for some ice cream." She said with a gleeful smile.

Author's Notes: Please review!