Chapter 10
" I'll be at your house, aight…if that's okay with you?…and Gerald of course" Derek grinned.
" Sure, Derek. I'm willing to help anytime. What time will your practice end anyway?" Phoebe asked. Phoebe, Derek, and Helga were all headed for the cafeteria that lunchtime.
" I'm not sure…but I know I'll be there by 7pm. Is that okay?" Derek asked again.
" Sure, no prob." Phoebe assured.
" Alright then, I better be off, Lila's waiting for me. Bye Pheebs…bye Helga." Derek said as he gave Helga a slight pat on the back. Helga looked up and nodded glumly in recognition, as she saw Derek strode of towards his girlfriend.
" Can't we switch or something, Pheebs?! Please?!" Helga pleaded again.
" Helga, if I'm going to switch with you, you and Arnold would loose an opportunity in getting a chance to talk. Now, would I want that?" Phoebe teased.
" Because! You're my bestfriend! And you don't want me stuck with a major football headed jerk …slash loser!!!" Helga exclaimed. Both of them were waiting in line for their cafeteria food.
" Yup Helga, that's right you're going to be stuck with the football headed jerk slash loser SLASH the one you LOVE." Phoebe reminded. Helga rolled her eyes. Both of them walked towards the tables as they stood for a moment trying to find a place.
" Pheebs please! Don't say bad words! It's rude you know!" Helga grinned at her bestfriend.
" Oh look…speaking of jerk slash loser slash the one you love…there he is right now." Phoebe whispered in Helga's ears. She followed were her bestfriend was looking and saw Arnold somewhat bored as he ate his chicken fingers. He was eating his meal together with the rest of the gang, who were seated in a long table.
" Aaaaww…look Helga…he looks so sad…" Phoebe teased again.
" Ugh! Please Phoebe! I don't give a damn about it!" Helga said as she finally found a table near them.
" Nu-uh, Helga! We are both going to go straight to our gang's table. I'm sick of having to eat separate from them. And you are going to arrange a tutoring schedule with Arnold!"
" WHAT? No way! He needs me so he should come to me!"
" Come on, now." Phoebe said. Helga reluctantly followed her bestfriend.
" Hey Phoebe! And Helga!" Nadine and Rhonda excitedly greeted.
" Hi you guys!" Phoebe said as she found a seat next to Rhonda. Instead of greeting her friends, Helga, with her chin up high, an eyebrow raised, walked snottily straight towards Arnold.
" Hey football head." Helga said looking down at Arnold. Arnold slowly looked up half surprised that Helga was talking to him. Before he could say anything in return, Helga continued. " I was told that I was to tutor you until your hopeless grades improve. I was thinking …why would I do that when you weren't even a friend to me or anything…but then the principal pleaded and said…that if you're grades improve, you'd make the starting five and play in the championship thus…usher the team to winning our first championship…and I was like thinking…there are other guys in the team better than you are…so why waste my time…but I couldn't help it…the principal was pleading so badly…plus, he told me I'd get extra points for devoting my precious time to you…so I might as well do it. In conclusion, I'm doing this NOT for you…but for the principal and the school's name. THUS, since you need me so badly, you comply to my schedule. Be at my house tonight at 7pm. Don't keep me waiting football head. GET IT? GOT IT? …GOOD." Helga said, as she finished talking, all of her friend's eyes were on her. They seemed to marvel at the way Helga ordered Arnold to do as she pleases. Helga smiled satisfactorily to herself as she went to sit beside her bestfriend, far away from Arnold.
-*-
It was almost 7pm when Arnold last checked his watch. He was tired and beat up after that practice, that at that time he was thinking twice about going to Helga's house. He remembered what his coach said and his determination filled his soul again. He, indeed, wanted to win that championship. He took a deep breath as he knocked on Helga's front door. His head wandered for a while and saw the house situated across the street.
So, I guess…this is Derek's house… Arnold thought. Just then his thoughts were interrupted when the front door opened and he was met by Helga. Helga was startled to see him, almost forgetting that she was supposed to tutor Arnold that night.
" What are you….oh right, come in." Helga said as she made way for Arnold to pass. Arnold stood blankly at the beautiful blond girl in front of him. Helga's long blond hair was tied up in a classic ponytail, that emphasized her slender shoulders, as she wore a cream-colored halter top, and denim Capri's.
" Am I supposed to watch you freeze out there? Get in Arnold! I don't have all night!" Helga said. She had to force herself to be a little bit nasty. Looking at Arnold, it was very hard to be one. Arnold looked so tired and weary, and his eyes showed the very emotion of it. His GQ hairstyle flowed beautifully down to his eyes, and his strong muscular arms carried the weight of his sports bag.
After awhile, they got themselves set-up in Helga's room, with books on one side and notes on the other side. Arnold noticed the unfinished dinner that was partly hidden underneath Helga's bed. Arnold wondered for a second what it might be but shrugged it of when Helga shot him a question.
" What did the coach say I should teach you?" Helga asked, as she busied herself gathering writing materials.
" I guess…I need help in Literature and Math…" Arnold said, as he watched Helga look for something. Helga sat beside him.
" Let's get this straight ok, Arnold? I'm helping you because of…"
" Because it's a favor for the principal, the school's name, and he will give you extra credit for it. You've made it clear awhile ago, Helga." Arnold said.
" Good. I just don't want you, thinking about some crazy stuff. I know what can go in a guy's head you know. "
Arnold nodded in reply.
" I talk you listen. I don't want any smart-aleck stuff. For once Arnold, let's be civil."
" You're telling me." Arnold snorted.
" What the…?….okay, alright, we can be friends…for the MEANTIME." Helga asked.
" Fine with me, Helga. Let's get down to business. " Arnold said.
" One more thing…" Helga paused for awhile and looked sternly into Arnold's eyes. " This should remain plain business. I don't fall in love with you…and you don't fall in love with me. Got that?" Helga said.
It got Arnold thinking for a moment, wondering what the point was but in the end he nodded in reply.
" I'll be at your house, aight…if that's okay with you?…and Gerald of course" Derek grinned.
" Sure, Derek. I'm willing to help anytime. What time will your practice end anyway?" Phoebe asked. Phoebe, Derek, and Helga were all headed for the cafeteria that lunchtime.
" I'm not sure…but I know I'll be there by 7pm. Is that okay?" Derek asked again.
" Sure, no prob." Phoebe assured.
" Alright then, I better be off, Lila's waiting for me. Bye Pheebs…bye Helga." Derek said as he gave Helga a slight pat on the back. Helga looked up and nodded glumly in recognition, as she saw Derek strode of towards his girlfriend.
" Can't we switch or something, Pheebs?! Please?!" Helga pleaded again.
" Helga, if I'm going to switch with you, you and Arnold would loose an opportunity in getting a chance to talk. Now, would I want that?" Phoebe teased.
" Because! You're my bestfriend! And you don't want me stuck with a major football headed jerk …slash loser!!!" Helga exclaimed. Both of them were waiting in line for their cafeteria food.
" Yup Helga, that's right you're going to be stuck with the football headed jerk slash loser SLASH the one you LOVE." Phoebe reminded. Helga rolled her eyes. Both of them walked towards the tables as they stood for a moment trying to find a place.
" Pheebs please! Don't say bad words! It's rude you know!" Helga grinned at her bestfriend.
" Oh look…speaking of jerk slash loser slash the one you love…there he is right now." Phoebe whispered in Helga's ears. She followed were her bestfriend was looking and saw Arnold somewhat bored as he ate his chicken fingers. He was eating his meal together with the rest of the gang, who were seated in a long table.
" Aaaaww…look Helga…he looks so sad…" Phoebe teased again.
" Ugh! Please Phoebe! I don't give a damn about it!" Helga said as she finally found a table near them.
" Nu-uh, Helga! We are both going to go straight to our gang's table. I'm sick of having to eat separate from them. And you are going to arrange a tutoring schedule with Arnold!"
" WHAT? No way! He needs me so he should come to me!"
" Come on, now." Phoebe said. Helga reluctantly followed her bestfriend.
" Hey Phoebe! And Helga!" Nadine and Rhonda excitedly greeted.
" Hi you guys!" Phoebe said as she found a seat next to Rhonda. Instead of greeting her friends, Helga, with her chin up high, an eyebrow raised, walked snottily straight towards Arnold.
" Hey football head." Helga said looking down at Arnold. Arnold slowly looked up half surprised that Helga was talking to him. Before he could say anything in return, Helga continued. " I was told that I was to tutor you until your hopeless grades improve. I was thinking …why would I do that when you weren't even a friend to me or anything…but then the principal pleaded and said…that if you're grades improve, you'd make the starting five and play in the championship thus…usher the team to winning our first championship…and I was like thinking…there are other guys in the team better than you are…so why waste my time…but I couldn't help it…the principal was pleading so badly…plus, he told me I'd get extra points for devoting my precious time to you…so I might as well do it. In conclusion, I'm doing this NOT for you…but for the principal and the school's name. THUS, since you need me so badly, you comply to my schedule. Be at my house tonight at 7pm. Don't keep me waiting football head. GET IT? GOT IT? …GOOD." Helga said, as she finished talking, all of her friend's eyes were on her. They seemed to marvel at the way Helga ordered Arnold to do as she pleases. Helga smiled satisfactorily to herself as she went to sit beside her bestfriend, far away from Arnold.
-*-
It was almost 7pm when Arnold last checked his watch. He was tired and beat up after that practice, that at that time he was thinking twice about going to Helga's house. He remembered what his coach said and his determination filled his soul again. He, indeed, wanted to win that championship. He took a deep breath as he knocked on Helga's front door. His head wandered for a while and saw the house situated across the street.
So, I guess…this is Derek's house… Arnold thought. Just then his thoughts were interrupted when the front door opened and he was met by Helga. Helga was startled to see him, almost forgetting that she was supposed to tutor Arnold that night.
" What are you….oh right, come in." Helga said as she made way for Arnold to pass. Arnold stood blankly at the beautiful blond girl in front of him. Helga's long blond hair was tied up in a classic ponytail, that emphasized her slender shoulders, as she wore a cream-colored halter top, and denim Capri's.
" Am I supposed to watch you freeze out there? Get in Arnold! I don't have all night!" Helga said. She had to force herself to be a little bit nasty. Looking at Arnold, it was very hard to be one. Arnold looked so tired and weary, and his eyes showed the very emotion of it. His GQ hairstyle flowed beautifully down to his eyes, and his strong muscular arms carried the weight of his sports bag.
After awhile, they got themselves set-up in Helga's room, with books on one side and notes on the other side. Arnold noticed the unfinished dinner that was partly hidden underneath Helga's bed. Arnold wondered for a second what it might be but shrugged it of when Helga shot him a question.
" What did the coach say I should teach you?" Helga asked, as she busied herself gathering writing materials.
" I guess…I need help in Literature and Math…" Arnold said, as he watched Helga look for something. Helga sat beside him.
" Let's get this straight ok, Arnold? I'm helping you because of…"
" Because it's a favor for the principal, the school's name, and he will give you extra credit for it. You've made it clear awhile ago, Helga." Arnold said.
" Good. I just don't want you, thinking about some crazy stuff. I know what can go in a guy's head you know. "
Arnold nodded in reply.
" I talk you listen. I don't want any smart-aleck stuff. For once Arnold, let's be civil."
" You're telling me." Arnold snorted.
" What the…?….okay, alright, we can be friends…for the MEANTIME." Helga asked.
" Fine with me, Helga. Let's get down to business. " Arnold said.
" One more thing…" Helga paused for awhile and looked sternly into Arnold's eyes. " This should remain plain business. I don't fall in love with you…and you don't fall in love with me. Got that?" Helga said.
It got Arnold thinking for a moment, wondering what the point was but in the end he nodded in reply.