Forgive any confusion I may have caused with this chapter if you've already read it. I removed the Dance Studio paragraph it began with, since it obviously didn't fit the rest of the story.

For those of you I confused with the previous chapter when Olga stripped, I just meant she removed her top. She wasn't in a swimsuit. The only ones intrigued by it were Ernie and Mr. Hyunh.

Arnold had already seen Summer fully UN-clothed, so I don't know what made Summer think that would bother him (it's weird saying that when I'M the one who wrote it lol).

That's probably how all writers feel. They know what their watcher's will be thinking during certain parts of the show, but something has to happen lol?

Chapter 10: It's Your Turn Now

Arnold's Side

Arnold woke up the next morning, feeling a bit lonely. It would have been nice if Helga had stayed, but he understood why she felt the need to leave. He still hadn't said he loved her yet. Taking it as far as sleeping in the same room together at the age they were may have been a bit inappropriate.

At least they had another day to spend together. That is, as long as no one got in the way of it. The boy went downstairs to see Mr. Pataki sitting at the breakfast table with his family. Apparently, he hadn't awoken from his position on the couch, and being the distant family that the were, none of his members cared to wake him when they left.

"Good morning sweetie!" Stella said, when she watched her son take a hesitant seat by Bob, who was scarfing down his ready made meal.

"Uhh morning."

While Arnold couldn't take his eyes off Bob, he couldn't help but think to himself…

Now I know where Helga gets her appetite from

"Wish Miriam knew how to cook like this!" Bob said, holding the bacon in his hand.

Arnold's expression turned to a disappointed one. While Bob worked hard to support the family, he could at least make Miriam feel as though she was appreciated.

"I'm actually not feeling that hungry mom. I think I'll go see what Helga's up to." Arnold said.

The Shore

Summer was walking along the bench with Eric when she snapped "I can't believe my plan backfired?"

Eric gave her a perplexed look, still trying to understand it all. "Why do you want to be with him anyway? He's not even your age."

Summer then stopped to face her new acquaintance and snapped "I don't want to BE with Arnold. I just want to make him and that selfish brat pay for what they did to me. I would think anyone at Arnold's age would be turned on, seeing a girl my age without clothes on."

Eric stared at what he wasn't sure was turning into his friend and replied "Well, maybe he really does love Helga? She was the one who warned him about the plan you had to use him."

Summer stomped off, no longer feeling as though there was a point in trying to break up Arnold and Helga. It's wasn't like she could follow them back home to make sure her plan stayed to way she intended it to anyhow.

Helga's Side

After hearing a knock on the door, Miriam opened it to see Susie ready and waiting to open up the studio.

Miriam was no more excited than she was awake, but she made a promise. Besides, as used as she felt, it did get her out of the house. Whether or not their business plans worked the way they wanted them to, Susie was becoming a close friend; something Miriam hadn't had in years.

After seeing her mom leave, Helga poured herself some cereal. The vacation wasn't feeling any different from a regular morning until she herself heard a knock at the door.

Oh brother. I bet Miriam forgot the keys to the studio.

Once Helga opened the door, she saw Arnold standing there with a smile on his face. Helga's eyes widened, feeling as though she was a mess, still wearing the same clothes she decided to sleep in.

"Hey Helga! Ready for another fun day?"

"Uhhh sure. Just give me a sec." Helga said, as she raced upstairs to change clothes. While doing so, she thought to herself…

Criminy! What have I become, Rhonda?

Seeing herself care about such a thing just didn't feel right. Although it seemed like the right thing to do for Arnold, she had finally gotten him to appreciate her for herself. If she had to put on a show (as she did when pretending to be Lila), they weren't meant for each other.

Arnold waited patiently outside until he saw Helga looking as she did yesterday; same white tank top and pink shorts.

"Sorry. I was on the toilet." Helga replied, hoping he would by it.

Arnold took her hand and said "That's okay, what do you want to do first? Take a stroll around town, sit by the ocean, build sand castles…"

Helga couldn't but interrupt him as she replied "Sheesh football head, were you up all night planning this? I don't need another Phoebe on my hands."

The boy began to blush as he rubbed the back of his neck and replied "Sorry. I just hate the way we were interrupted yesterday."

"Pttss...yeah, well hopefully us leaving early will send that Autumn freak the message that whatever non-televised scheme she has planned this time, is not going to work."

Dance Studio

Just as Miriam and Susie were preparing to unlock the doors, they heard someone from behind…

"Hello two beautiful ladies!"

Both looking stunned, Susie said "Carlos, you're back early!"

"Ahh yes. My dancing expertise are no longer needed. How were things here while I was gone?"

"Oh you know, same as always." Susie replied, while looking over t her friend for support.

"Yep. Just great." Miriam said in a monotone voice.

The girls began to walk off when they heard "Not so fast ladies!"

Susie and Miriam turned to see their dance instructor grininly widely, as he replied "I need a new photograph for my billboard. Would you lovely ladies do me the honor of being in it with me?"

The group grinned widely, as a picture for the billboard was taken of them with Carlos.

Finally, something to brighten Miriam's day, Her family may not appreciate her, but she was up their making a difference,

The Shore

Arnold was walking hand in hand with Helga when they heard someone approaching them. "Hey Arnold!"

The two turned around to see Eric following them. Helga cocked her brow, not sure of what was about to happen. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"Uhhh hey?" Arnold said hesitantly.

With Summer nowhere in sight, Eric asked "Could I talk to you for a second?"

Arnold looked over at Helga, wondering how she would feel about that. The girl simply shrugged her shoulders, not knowing what it could lead to.

Arnold then followed Eric a few feet away from Helga; just far enough to know she couldn't hear their discussion.

"I just wanted to apologize for last night. I don't know Summer (or you for that matter) that well, so I'm not completely sure what happened between you guys. All I can say is, I think she's over-reacting, taking her anger out on a couple of pre-teens."

Arnold didn't appreciate the way he worded it. Although they were pre-teens, that didn't mean they weren't still mature. An apology was an apology though. "It's okay. I was more worried about Helga anyway."

The two boys turned to look at her staring at the ocean, waiting for her beloved to return.

"From what I've seen from her, she can take care of herself." Eric laughed, before walking away.

Arnold stood there staring at her, thinking about everything he had done with Helga. As he had said in San Lorenzo, one of the things that attracted him to her was how brave she is. As great a job as she did of hiding her feelings in front of everybody, she was still the one to confront him about them.

Now it was his turn...