April 10-

"Good morning." Her hair sways in the breeze, she leans in to kiss me-

*Hey Arnold* *Hey Arnold* *Hey Arnold*

"Ungh. A new Helga dream." I roll out of bed and throw on my basketball clothes, "Why can't I dream of being naked in school or something? At least then I would be happy that I woke up."

[Hey G- just got up meet in 15]

[CU there]

I may have quit the basketball team, but I still meet up with Gerald most weekends for a game of Horse, or sometimes, the gang meets up for a game. I grab an apple and throw a string cheese in my pocket. I eat the apple bottom to top, I saw a guy do it online once, so I have only the top stem to drop on the ground. I finish the string cheese by the time I get to the courts and toss the wrapper as I pass the trash. It's the perfectly timed pre-game breakfast if I do say so.

We start with our stretches, followed by five laps around the court. It is a meditative process, and done in silence today just as we always do. The second the ball hits the court is a different matter though.

"Alright man, tell me about it." Gerald always likes to get straight to the point.

"About what?" I wonder what he actually wants to know about, but I can guess. He starts with the same shot he always does- his 'patented name brand' shot- a half spin fake pass, spin back with a single hand toss from the side over the head. It is a great shot, and always messes up the other team. But I have been playing with him basically our whole lives, and I easily make the shot.

"About Friday night. C'mon man, you know I was with Phoebe, and you know I know something happened Friday night. My man Fuzzy Slippers told me something happened. Don't act like it didn't, and just tell me." It is my turn to mess him up, I make a shot I know he hates- a quick run from the free-throw line to the corner, a quick turn, and shoot, making sure to get the ball over the backboard. He hits the side like he usually does. "H" He retrieves the ball, and stares at me for a few seconds, "And speaking of H, tell me about Friday night."

"What makes you think anything happened Friday?"

"I was with Phoebe, and she was going to leave our date to be with Helga. Now I know she just broke up with her boyfriend, because of that spy work you did, and-"

"I was not spying, I was already there and they showed up."

"Whatever you say man, your evidence caused Helga to break up with her boyfriend. And I know you have a thing for her. I don't exactly get why, but her and Phoebe are best friends, and you know I think Phoebe is a golden girl, so I must just not be able to see it. But as we were about to leave, Phoebe gets a text from Helga saying she wants Phoebe to cover for her and she will be there early in the morning."

"That must be why she left so quickly." Damn.

"Exactly. Phoebe didn't say where Helga was, but I had a feeling you two had crossed paths. And knowing you, you tried to make things 'better'." I really hate when he uses air quotes like that.

"Fine. I came home from the docks, and I could tell there was someone on my roof. I went out and there was Helga, she was so sad and-"

"She was just on your roof?"

"Yeah. I guess her bow had come undone and blew around the neighborhood and got caught on my fire escape so she just went up onto the roof for a bit since she was there."

"Still weird, man."

"Anyway, she was just so sad, so I told her to wait a minute and I grabbed some blankets and pillows and a few Yahoos, and made a thick stack of blankets and we just sat and talked. I mostly just let her talk some things out, but we sat and ate some Easter candy and finished the Yahoos and I held her while she cried and-"

"I would not want to be near a crying Helga G. Pataki, that sounds like a death sentence."

"I think she just needed someone to talk to."

"By which you mean you."

"Ideally, I mean… I really like her, Gerald. I mean, I like really, really like her."

"I know man. Let's not forget the Mighty Pete incident."

"I know." I don't even know if I want to tell him the rest. "I had a chance to kiss her, but I didn't."

"What? Why not?"

"I didn't want to be 'that guy' that kisses crying girls, the guy that uses them, or the guy that is the rebound guy."

"That makes sense."

"So we eventually went to sleep, right on the roof and-"

"You're a bold kid, Arnold."

"Nothing like that. I put a pillow between us. She left a little after sunrise, but she kissed me on the cheek before she left."

"See? Fuzzy Slippers tells no lies." He really doesn't.

We finish our game, but Gerald easily beats me, as I am no longer focused on the ball, just Helga.