Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters. Hey Arnold is the property of Nickelodeon and Craig Bartlett.

Hypno-Love

Chapter 10: It's NOT a Date!

Arnold and Helga soon made it to the boardwalk and just as predicted, there were lots of restaurants, games, souvenir stands and even some rides here and there, along with lots of people already there, enjoying it all.

It looks so fun.

"So Arnold, what do you want to do first?...'Helga asked him and Arnold blinked.

"Huh?...'Arnold asked, a little confused.

He then remembered that she is under hypnotism and is not conscience about what she says or does but still, Helga flat out asked him what he wants to do, acting like she actually cares about his opinion.

She really must be under hypnosis...

"Well...I'm not really sure..." Arnold said, still feeling weird about this entire "arrangement".

On the one hand, Helga is hypnotized right now and likely won't remember any of this, but she is still one of his friends...sort of and it's not like he can lock her in her cabin for the entire trip. So, he is trying to at least keep things calm between them since she at least promised to calm down and so far, she hasn't pushed him against the wall and started kissing him like a madwoman...

Again...

They soon passed by some of the booths, one of them is a ring toss game and Helga looked excited for some reason.

"Let's do this one Arnold...it looks like fun..."Helga said.

Arnold shrugged and was about to pay for a turn, only for Helga to already pull out a few dollars from her pocket and pay the guy.

"Helga, you didn't have to...I was going to pay for it...'Arnold said and Helga giggled.

'Always the gentleman Arnold...but I don't mind this, really...'Helga said and Arnold blinked.

The Helga he knows isn't the type to call him a "gentleman" or offer to pay first...before he could think any more, she and him started playing the ring toss game, with Helga being first and then him. Helga suggested doing a little game to see who could get the most and Arnold figured that he could humor her.

It actually ended in a draw between them, and the guy in charge both handed them prizes. A blue and pink teddy bear respectively and Helga is smiling again.

"Awesome, let's go find something else...'Helga said as she grabbed his hand and Arnold found himself being pulled by her.

Once they were gone, the guy at the ring toss game just chuckled, having seen the entire thing.

"Aw, young love...'He said, before he went to deal with another customer.

Later

Helga and Arnold did a few more games and now were carrying some prizes they won, all the while Helga is still smiling like she is actually really happy and Arnold is still wondering if he is not having a really weird dream or something.

"That was fun, so what else do you want to do on our date, Arnold?...'Helga asked and Arnold actually stopped walking in place when he heard that.

"Arnold?...'Helga asked in genuine confusion when she noticed his abrupt halt.

Arnold's eyes were wide, a light blush came on his cheeks before he shook his head and sent her a most serious look on his wide face.

"This is not a date, Helga...we are just hanging out...It's not a date...'Arnold said to the blonde girl, who is still with that weird, smiling look on her face.

"You didn't answer me, what do you want to do now?...'Helga asked.

"I don't know...but you did hear me...this is not a date...'Arnold said insistingly to the blonde girl.

They are not on a date, she is under hypnosis for crying out loud and he is just trying to keep an eye on her as they are out here until the hypnotist comes back and nothing else!

It's NOT a date!

Helga didn't seem to be listening, her attention was turned to another direction and Arnold saw what she is looking at. It's a small sea cafe and Helga's stomach started rumbling.

"I'm getting kind of hungry...let's get some lunch..."Helga said and Arnold raised a brow, before his own tummy growled out of hunger.

He reluctantly nodded and the two soon went to get a bite, though Arnold felt the need to remind her yet again that this is not a date.

Lunch Time

Arnold and Helga were seated together, since they didn't have that much money on them, they ended up splitting a plate of fish sticks between them and Helga seemed to be rather pleased with this for some reason.

The blonde girl used a fork, picked up a fish stick and Arnold though she was going to eat it, only for her to offer it to him.

"Open wide, Arnold~..." Helga said in a teasing voice and Arnold flinched in confusion.

"She doesn't actually want to feed me, does she?...'Arnold thought.

"No thank you Helga, I can feed myself...'Arnold said as he grabbed a fork and got his own fish stick, while Helga pouted.

"Please..."Helga said and Arnold remained firm.

"No Helga, I can feed myself, thank you...'Arnold said, while the blonde girl still pouted.

However, she started smiling again as she placed her right hand on Arnold's, which was on the table and Arnold flinched and pulled away.

"Helga, you promised that you would behave in public...'Arnold chided.

To his surprise, Helga almost looked disappointed right now

"I...I just wanted to hold your hand is all, Arnold...'Helga said, looking down.

Arnold actually felt a little guilty right now, for how she looked and just sighed.

He didn't want to hurt her feelings but he doesn't want to risk her going back to that love frenzy state she was in, especially in public. The two finished lunch together and grabbed their belongings and Arnold still saw her mood and sighed, and then noticed her prizes in her hand and did this.

"Here, let me carry that for you..."Arnold said as he grabbed her items and Helga almost instantly went from gloomy to happy in a middle second.

"Oh Arnold, my dashing, debonair gentleman~...'Helga sighed and giggled happily.

Arnold was surprised, he didn't actually think him offering to carry her belonging would have that much of an effect on her. Before he could say anything, Helga spoke again.

"Oh, I think I left my watch on the table...I'll be back in a second...'Helga said as she rushed back inside to the restaurant and Arnold stood there confused, still carrying the stuff.

"Having a fun time together, child?...'A new voice said and Arnold flinched as he turned around and saw Ilsa, the jewelry stand lady from yesterday. He didn't realize that her stand was next to this restaurant.

"Oh, hi Miss Ilsa...'Arnold said upon seeing her.

"Please, just Ilsa...I don't like formalities...'The gypsy woman said, before sending an interested look.

"So, I see that you and your girlfriend are enjoying Lake Hillwood..."Ilsa said and Arnold looked perturbed at what she just said.

Did she really just call Helga his girlfriend?!

He has to correct this and now!

"W-What? No, you have the wrong idea...Helga is not my girlfriend, she and I are just friends...'Arnold said while Ilsa didn't look convinced.

"Really? Are you sure?...'Ilsa asked in an almost teasing voice and Arnold started getting annoyed.

"Yes I am...We are not a couple...we are just friends hanging out...'Arnold said, making his expression on his face very clear.

"If you say so, child..."Ilsa said with a shrug, but Arnold wondered if she was actually convinced or not.

Soon Helga came back and the two left to go do something else, all the while, Ilsa had an interested look on her face.

"Hmm...to be young and naive of the heart..."Isla said before she went back to her stand, still having a feeling that there is more than just friendship between the two young preteens.

-To be continued-

Next time on Hypno-Love

It's NOT A Date Part 2

REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:

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