Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story.
They all belong to their rightful owner: Craig Bartlett.
Title: "Strangers like me"
In the last chapter: During Arnold and Helga's movie marathon, Arnold finally got the chance to choose a movie himself. To both blondes' surprise though, it started out with a heavily sexual scene and Helga left the room in embarrassment. Refusing to go on without knowing what the big deal was, Arnold watched the rest of the scene and Helga agreed to teach him a little bit about what it is couples do behind closed doors.
Author's 1st note: This took me a bit longer to write than I would have preferred, but hey! I'm writing at least xD I think after this chapter, there's also only about… two-three chapters left… Criminy :O
[Please notify me if you notice any grammar mistakes. This isn't my first language, so there's bound to be mistakes.]
Chapter 12: "Why can't I get both?"
"What are your parents like anyway?" Helga asked, her eyes glued to their joined hands.
Arnold hesitated in answering, not because he didn't want to, but because he was so focused on this new little game Helga had taught him. "They're really good people. Everyone in the village loves them."
"Like they love you?" Helga asked before the thumb caught Arnold's. "Got ya'!"
Arnold groaned before they started again. "It's not quite the same… The Green eyes love my parents because they have saved their lives over and over again… With me, it's more like… they fear me a little bit because of this idea that I'm divine somehow."
"You think they're worried about you? The Green Eyes, I mean. Of course your parents are."
"Probably not worried… More like, fearful that I'm not there to protect them."
"With your divinity?" Helga joked. "Maybe they'll realize you're not a demigod now?"
"Maybe…"
Helga cooed. "Disappointed you might not be worshipped anymore?"
"No! I'd prefer it if they'd stop it. It's a lot more fun here where people aren't afraid to touch me."
Helga stopped moving her finger and looked at Arnold for a moment before leaning forward and putting her other hand on his cheek. "Is that what you'll miss the most? Being touched?" she asked in a low voice.
Arnold gulped. "It's… definitely high on the list." He admitted breathlessly.
Helga smiled as she leaned back again. "Don't you have any other family member by the way?" she asked and captured his thumb again.
Arnold growled in annoyance and committed to keeping his eyes on their hands. "Yes, my dad's parent. I've never met them, but I've seen a picture my dad has of them and I think dad sent them one of me at some point."
"That's it?"
"Well, I also write letters to them and them to me."
"What?!" Helga exclaimed and Arnold almost got her thumb, but she avoided it. "Why the hell haven't you mentioned that before?! That's kinda important info, bucko!"
"Because I don't know where they live. I only write the letter and give it to my dad."
"And what does he do with it?"
"Uh… I don't know."
"You never once wondered how those letters got from San Lorenzo to your grandparents?!" Helga asked and Arnold looked at her in embarrassment. She sighed in annoyance. "Criminy… but still, this might help. You know their names?"
"Phil and Gertrude."
Helga froze. No way.
"Yes!" Arnold exclaimed happily when he finally caught Helga's thumb. "I won!"
"Idiot!" Helga yelled. "Focus! What's their last name?!"
"Same as mine."
"Which is?" the impatient girl asked.
Arnold scratched his head thoughtfully. He didn't think about his last name too often because it was useless in the jungle. "Short… something, uh…" he mumbled.
"Shortman?"
"Yes!"—Arnold snapped before his head got smacked—"Ow! What was that for?!"
'I know your grandparents!"
The hand, Arnold had been using to rub the sore spot on his head, froze mid-stroke. "What…?" he drawled. "How can you know them?"
"How many couples in their 80's are called Phil and Gertie Shortman?"
"How do you know her nickname is Gertie?"
"Because I know them, I just told you! There isn't a single person in Hillwood who doesn't know them. They're the oldest people here, but they act like they're 20!"
Arnold couldn't believe it. It did indeed sound like his grandparents, but it just seemed too crazy and convenient to be true. How could his grandparents have lived this close to him all this time? His thought were interrupted by Helga when she got up from the couch.
"Well, come on!"
"Where are we going?"
"To see your grandparents, of course!"
"Eh? S-Seriously?" Arnold asked in disbelief, but followed the blonde girl anyhow. This is insane. Am I really going to meet my grandparents?
"Is this it?"
"This is it." Helga confirmed. "Sunset Arms Boardinghouse."
Arnold seized the building. Somehow, it looked like he had imagined and yet not at all. This was his dad's childhood home and he had heard so many stories about this place and its residents. He felt a little awestruck until Helga nudged at him and they walked towards the door.
"W-What do I say to them?" Arnold asked after ringing the doorbell.
"How about hello?" the blonde asked so monotonously that it could only be meant sarcastically.
"And after that?"
"Keep your mouth open, I'm sure something will come out. You know, like words." Helga answered before snorting. "You're hopeless. I'll do the talking."
"We're not buying anything!" a gruff voice said just before the door opened. An elderly man went quiet when he recognized Helga. "Well, if it isn't Helga! What are you doing here? Your old man giving you trouble again?"
"When does he not?" Helga joked. "But that's not why I'm here, Phil. I have someone I think you'd like to meet."
Phil looked towards Arnold whom Helga had just gestured to. The boy smiled meekly, but the elderly man just stared blankly at him. He then pulled a golden locket out of his t-shirt, which was probably white about ten years ago, and switched between looking at it and Arnold. Helga had to jump back when Phil made a roar akin to that of a bear and pulled Arnold into what looked like a hug that did his roar justice.
"Pookie! Come downstairs!" Phil shouted while holding onto Arnold with all his might.
Helga grabbed the locket around the old man's neck and looked at the picture inside. "That's you as a baby, Arnold!" she cooed and showed him the picture over Phil's shoulder though he could barely see it.
"Of course! Stella and Miles made sure we at least had one picture of our favorite grandson! I've had it in this locket ever since; I don't trust Pookie with it."
"Isn't he your only grandchild?" Helga asked doubtfully.
"That just proves I'm being honest!" Phil neighed.
"You won't have any grandchildren if you don't let me breathe soon!" Arnold whimpered and puffed in relief when Phil put him down.
"Whoo!" a guttural, but female voice shrieked happily before an elderly woman came sliding down the railing of the stairs.
"That woman's gonna break her neck someday." Phil said matter-of-factly.
"You called, sergeant?" Gertie asked before she noticed Arnold. She stared at him for a while before yelling and pointing at him. "The prophecy has come true!"
Arnold couldn't help but stagger back when the excited woman reached for him. She grabbed his hand and pulled him inside; he could barely keep up with her. "Where's she taking me?!" he asked before Gertie pulled him into the dining room.
"Where's she taking him?" Helga asked as Phil escorted her inside.
"Oh, probably somewhere appropriate for welcoming a battling hero home." Phil answered with a toothless grin. "Hey, speaking of that, where's Stella and Miles?"
"They're in San Lorenzo."
"Arnold came on his own? Well, I guess he's got more time on his hands than Stella and Miles do…" Phil muttered as he scratched his bald head in thought. Then he frowned. "Now, wait a second. Hold on… Miles didn't write anything about sending Arnold here and why do you know him to begin with? What's going on?"
"Took you long enough, you willy old coot." Helga teased. Phil huffed in an insulted manner, but said nothing. "It's actually kind of a crazy story."
At those words, Helga and Phil flinched from the sound of wood clattering from inside the dining room. Phil gave Helga a tired glance. "Your crazy is my normal."
"Point taken." Helga said with a smirk and took a deep breath. "Long story short; poachers attacked, Arnold got separated from his folks and got kidnapped. Some guy set him free from the ship, I found him here in Hillwood and he's been living with me ever since."
"Oh, is that all?" Phil asked, threw his hands up and wiggled from side to side. Helga rolled her eyes at the seething sarcasm the old man was portraying. "And when did he come to Hillwood?"
"Um… about a couple of months ago."
"And you bring him here now?!"
"Hey, don't blame me! Blame the airhead in there who didn't bother to tell me he even had grandparents until like a half hour ago!"
Phil smacked himself squarely in the face. "He's just as dense as my son!"
"Yeah, what went wrong?" Helga mused.
"I blame Pookie!" Phil said in self-defense. As if she could hear him, Gertie's hysterical laugh echoed through the hallway.
"Seems fair." Helga stated with a crooked smirk. "Maybe we should, you know, help Arnold?"
"Why? Pookie is a nutcase, but she's not dangerous." Phil said and once again, as if the woman was psychic, loud, alarming drums could be heard. Helga quirked an eyebrow in Phil's direction who chuckled awkwardly before he followed her into the dining room. "Pookie! What are you—"
"Get me down from here!" Arnold shouted fearfully as he was balancing on a chair that was placed onto another chair in the middle of the table while Gertie was dancing around him, wearing drums hanging from her neck.
"Pookie!" Phil scolded in shock, but Helga couldn't stop laughing. "Get the poor boy down from there! He's our grandson! Not a circus athlete!"
"This is why I love being here!" Helga cackled.
"Helga!"
"Alright, alright." Helga calmed the blonde boy down and jumped onto the table. "I'll catch you."
Arnold practically jumped into Helga's arms and she caught him with ease. "Thanks…" he whispered and looked towards Gertie who was complaining now that her drums had been taken away by Phil. "Is she always like that?"
Gertie looked towards Helga and perked right up. "Eleanor, dear! How is it going at the white house?" she asked while smacking her hands together.
Arnold sent Helga a curious look and she shrugged. "Pretty much." She answered indifferently.
"I suddenly understand why it was grandpa who wrote the letters…" Arnold mused, causing Helga to chuckle.
"Arnold, Helga just told me how you got here." Phil said while holding Gertie close to him so she couldn't run off. "Do your parents have no idea where you are?"
Arnold shook his head. "No, and I can't figure out how to get back home." He said with sadness etched into his voice.
"Eduardo can just take you home with his plane." Phil said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Eduardo? You've mentioned his name before." Helga said, looking at Arnold.
"He's my parents' best friend. He's the one who travels back and forth with the letters."
"Wait! Earlier you told me you had no idea how the letters—Wait again, then he can take you back to San Lorenzo, can't he? Arnold!" Helga exclaimed and punched his arm in excitement. "You're actually going home!"
Arnold rubbed his arm while wearing a broad grin on his already wide face. "I can't believe it."
"Now, now. Hold your horses." Phil interrupted. "I need to call Eduardo and ask when he's coming by again. He's a busy guy, he travels to San Lorenzo whenever he has the time. It's hard to say when he has the time to take you home so let me go and call him."
"Still,"—Helga turned to Arnold while Phil left the room—"Arnold, you're going home! It was always this easy! Man, I feel like an idiot!"
"Don't say that." Arnold said with a small, sympathetic smile.
"You're right. You're the idiot." Helga mused.
Arnold growled at her, but couldn't help but chuckle as well. It seemed so surreal; was he really going home? Just like that? The thought of seeing his parents soon filled him with joy, but it also seemed like an impossible dream. He had spent so much time in Hillwood, this odd world filled with all kinds of dangers, but also new and exciting things that he had come to love. He looked towards Helga who was grinning happily at him. He smiled back at her, but it didn't quite reach his eyes this time. There was definitely still a string in his heart that she had wrapped around her finger and he couldn't bring himself to cut it if he had the opportunity. But he belonged in San Lorenzo with his parents; he knew that. He had to go home. He'd just wish it didn't feel like if he was saying goodbye to everything he had come to know and even love while he had been gone.
"Ok, I just talked to Eduardo and he said he was planning on coming Friday evening." Phil said as he walked back into the dining room.
"Th-This Friday?" Helga stuttered.
"That's… tomorrow."—Arnold shared a look with Helga—"That's… great." He said as excitedly as he could. "That's really great."
"Yeah." Helga said with a halfhearted smile.
Phil looked between the two young blondes and quirked a gray eyebrow before cracking a smile. "Hey, why don't you two eat here tonight? I want to talk some more with my grandson." He suggested.
"Sure." Arnold said, his smile turning more sincere.
"Suits me. I hate cooking." Helga said just before Gertie grabbed her hand.
"Come with me, Eleanor! You can teach me about what you highborn ladies eat at the white house!"
"Oh, come on!" Helga complained, but was pulled into the kitchen by Gertie anyhow.
Phil chuckled for a moment, but then looked seriously towards Arnold. "Something tells me you're not too happy about going home." He said as he crossed his arms suspiciously.
"W-What? No! I mean, yes! I'm happy about going home! I've wanted to go home since I got here! Hillwood is cold and the people are mean—"
"But it has Helga?" Phil interrupted.
Arnold opened his mouth to argue against him, but his argument turned into a sigh. "How did you know?"
"You're just as see-through as your old man."
"Old man?" Arnold couldn't help but repeat.
"Watch it!" Phil warned jokingly. "You and Helga clearly like each other and, frankly, it's in your genetics to fall for a girl like her."
"What do you mean?"
"The Shortman-men have always had a thing for, how do I put it"—Phil looked towards the kitchen where Gertie could be heard singing a very off-key version of I can't get no satisfaction—"women who drive us crazy in every way possible."
Arnold snickered. "You're telling me that… Grandma used to drive you crazy?"
"She still does! More now than ever and I love her just the same. Miles fell in love with Stella because she's a strong independent woman who always speaks her mind. And you—"
"I've fallen in love with Helga for the same reasons." Arnold admitted bluntly. "What am I supposed to do, Grandpa?"
Phil grinned. "Never knew how nice it'd feel to be called that."—he put his arm over Arnold's shoulder—"I can't tell you that, Arnold. There's always letters though?"
"I-I know, but… it's not the same as being around them. I mean, I only just met you and grandma, but I already miss you…"
Phil gave a warm smile. "Just as sentimental as your mother."
"Really? Mom is the sentimental one?"
"Hey, you should know this from Helga; the stronger they are, the more loving." Phil said with a wide grin. "You will figure out what you want at some point, Arnold. Right now though, you have to go home so your parents can see that you're alright. What happens after that… well, you can always stay here in Sunset Arms if you want to visit."
Arnold smiled. "Really?"
"Yes! I have a room for you and everything!"
"Really?" Arnold repeated and followed Phil as he jogged upstairs. He couldn't help but grin at the fact that he had to keep up with his 88-year-old grandpa as they ran through the hallway and up a small staircase.
"I've had this place ready for whenever you'd visit." Phil said as he opened the door, revealing a big blue room filled with empty shelves, a red couch, a computer and a bed with a sort of built-in ladder in the wall behind it. "I didn't know what you'd like to have in here so I left most of it empty."
"Whoa…" Arnold said awe-struck as he looked around with his head tilted all the way back. "This is amazing! Now I feel bad for not visiting sooner."
Phil chuckled. "So you like it?"
"I love it! What's that for?" Arnold asked, pointing at the built-in ladder.
"Climb up and find out."
Arnold instantly took his grandpa's advice and jumped onto the bed. he climbed the wall, fumbled with the clasp on the skylight for a little longer than the average city person would and stuck his head out of the window. His chin dropped at the sight of the city before him. He climbed onto the roof and jogged towards the railing, staring at the golden and crimson sky.
"Helga gotta see this!" Arnold bellowed.
Phil seemed about to say something, but then shrugged. "I'll go get her." he declared, having barely gotten his head outside before heading inside again.
Arnold marveled in the beauty of the view while he waited for Helga, thinking that now it'd be even harder to leave this place. This view reminded him of the evening sky back at home even though it didn't arrive this early. He meant it when he said he wanted to go home. He missed his parents and his tribe; he missed the warm weather and the serene feeling of the jungle. But he knew he'd miss this place as well; life all around him, new experiences at every corner and most of all, the people. The people in his class, Gerald and Phoebe, his grandparents and Helga. Especially Helga. It was hard to imagine going back to San Lorenzo and pretending these last couple of months hadn't happened. Pretending Helga hadn't happened.
"Hey, Football Head!"
Arnold jerked around in shock at the sound of his name being called so suddenly. "Helga!" he called happily, wiped a stray tear from his eye away and ran towards her.
"You do realize I've—"
"You have to see this view!" Arnold interrupted and helped her up.
"Not to burst your bubble, but—"
"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!" he said as he pulled her with him excitedly.
"Arnold!" Helga shouted and shook his hand. The boy finally stopped by the railing and looked at her. "I've been here before… Phil and Gertie always let us borrow the roof for our summer parties."
"Oh…" Arnold mumbled, chuckling and scratching his head awkwardly. "Sorry."
"Why did you get so excited about this anyway?" Helga asked curiously as she gestured to the sunset.
"I just… Never mind."
"Oh, come on"—Helga nudged her shoulder against his—"tell me."
"I guess…" Arnold whispered and looked at the sky. "I just thought this sky looks just like the one back home and I wanted to share it with you."
Helga lost her expression and stared at Arnold while he was gazing at the sky. She wasn't sure why, but her lips were itching to kiss him. Not being the kind of person to deny herself what she wanted, she stepped around him, blocking the view, and kissed him. Arnold made a small and muffled sound of surprise, but kissed her back, something he had been much more confident about lately.
Helga let go of Arnold and put her hands on his cheeks, pulling him closer to her. The blonde boy put his hands on her hips before collecting enough courage to wrap his arms around her. The winter air was cold, but Helga's presence kept him warm. He glided his hands up her back and pressed her body closer to his, doing his best to shut off his other senses off so he could feel her completely. He'd felt more and more curious about how her skin would feel against his palms, how her scent would taste on his tongue and mostly if he could make her feel what he had felt.
Helga stopped the kiss, too soon in Arnold's opinion, and smiled at him. "You've gotten much more hands-on lately." She observed breathlessly. The boy gave her a small smile before kissing her again. She made a small moan, but then pulled back and put two fingers gently on his lips. "And way too eager… Your grandparents are waiting downstairs for us."
Arnold sighed and looked at the sunset again. "Sorry…"
"You don't have to apologize." Helga said in confusion and poked at his cheek. "What's wrong? What are you thinking?"
Arnold bit on his lip for a moment. "I'm going home…"
"That's what's wrong?" Helga asked in shock.
"No! I mean, yes, but not like that!" Arnold answered in panic and sighed shamefully. He leaned over the railing, hiding his face from Helga even though he could feel her arm over his back, encouraging him to talk to her. "It's just… I really like being here. It's cold, but I like the snow. It's noisy, but I like there's so much life here… and then there's—"
"Your grandparents?"
"And you." Arnold added and looked up at her.
Helga held her breath. "Arnold, I'm… I'm really happy that… that you think that… a-and I feel the same way, but you can't throw your life away for me." she said and squeezed his shoulder.
"I'm not saying I would do that!" Arnold insisted. "I want to go home… I want to see my parents against and the green-eyed people… I want to feel the warm wind of the jungle and swim in the water waterfall and… and just be home… but—"
"But you also want to be here?" Helga finished. Arnold sighed once more and Helga couldn't help but chuckle. "Arnold, I have to ask you something… What would you do here?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… what would you do here? Hillwood is nothing like San Lorenzo and you've only been here for less than two months. Do you have any idea what you'd do if you actually moved here? I mean, I guess you'd have to start going to school, but since you haven't been here from the beginning, they'd might force you to take the classes from way back to pre-k. After that there's college and job hunting… you don't even know what kind of jobs are out there and, Arnold, in this world you need a job."
"For money, right?"
"Yep."
Arnold looked away awkwardly. "Actually… I think school is kinda fun." He admitted and Helga gave him a pointed look. "Yeah, I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I like learning! And… I don't know, being a teacher seems kind of… cool."
"A teacher?" Helga asked with a crooked grin.
Arnold nodded. "I don't know, I just think it sounds fun to teach."
"You're a rarity, Arnold." Helga said and leaned over the railing. "Mr. Shortman, eh? Gotta admit, it has a nice ring to it… What would you teach?"
"Geography, maybe?"
Helga chortled loudly. "Sorry, it's just ironic…"
"Or maybe biology." Arnold corrected. "Yeah, biology seems more right."
"Suits you more at least." Helga said and tilted her head to the side. "You'd be a great teacher."
"You think?" Arnold asked happily and Helga nodded. "Thanks… I guess it's just not gonna happen."
Helga frowned. "You know… Arnold, your parents sound like great people… and being the son of Phil and Gertie, I'm sure that Miles at least is great… and they'd love you, no matter what you do. I'm not saying you should move here to Hillwood and definitely not for my sake… but if you go back and you realize the idea of teaching is pulling you more than the idea of doing what your parents are doing, they'd accept it, I'm sure."
Arnold took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, I… I think they would too… It just sounds so crazy. I never once considered doing anything else besides staying in San Lorenzo for the rest of my life, but now… now I don't know what I want to do."
"Welcome to the life of the average teen." Helga joked and threw her arms out dramatically.
"This life sucks." Arnold joked back and chuckled with Helga. "It was so much easier when I didn't have a choice… That sounds so sad."
"Naw, it's understandable. Too many choices and opportunities puts a lot of stress in you, but it's a luxury problem." Helga said thoughtfully, but then her expression saddened.
"What's that face?" Arnold asked worriedly.
"What face?"
"That face." Arnold specified as he pointed at her.
"What do you mean? It's my face." Helga said defensively, but she sighed at the view of Arnold's pointed look. "I just… I mean… as long as we're being all gooey and honest… I'm a little… jealous of you, Arnold."
Green eyes widened. "Jealous…? Of me? W-Why?"
"It's just… your parents sound great, your grandparents are unbelievably awesome and… I don't know, I guess part of me wishes that… I could say the same about my family." Helga admitted and looked away. "I mean, I've never doubted that I'd be just fine without my family and I don't really need them… but… it would be nice not to have to spend Christmas alone."
"Helga…"
"No pity talk, Arnold."
"No, no… I just… You know, I was really angry at your dad Christmas eve, but… I honestly think he wants you in his life, and Miriam and Olga too."
"You gotta be kidding me."
"No! I mean… I know you've said that some people just don't change and I definitely think he has a lot to make up for… but I really think he was trying. He's got a temper, but… Helga, so do you. People love you anyway. Doesn't Bob have any good sides to him?"
Helga thought about it for a moment. "Well… he did try to apologize to me once when I was a child by buying me tickets for a show he thought I wanted to see."
"See?"
"Too bad he bought tickets for Rats and not Slam Jam V." Helga added crudely.
"But he thought he was doing a good thing, right?"
"Yeah… and we did laugh our asses off at how bad it was… Oh, and Miriam and I actually had a lot of fun when she started working in Bob's place."
"So you've had good times with her as well."
"Until she became even more of a workaholic than my dad." Helga corrected. "Then again… she did give up on the job, even though she loved it, to be my mom instead…"
"And Olga?"
"She's…"—Helga frowned—"Well, she's always annoyed the fuck outta me, but I did get jealous when she and Lila started bonding."
"Why would they—"
"Long story, bucko." Helga interrupted. "Point is… if I have to dig down then yes, I do care about my family, but it's never going to be good between us. We'll always drive each other crazy and hurt each other so it's easier to just, you know… give up."
"That's so sad…"
"Welcome to the big city." Helga said as she threw out her arms and jutted out her hip. After a chuckle, she grabbed his hand. "Now, come on. Dinner was already on the way to the table when I went up here so I'm guessing they're just waiting for us downstairs. You also need to meet all the other boarders."
"Right!" Arnold said excitedly, but he kept hearing that nagging voice in the back of his head. It was telling him he couldn't leave like this; he needed to do one last thing for Helga. He had no idea how to go about it, but he had to try.
"You seem a little… overwhelmed." Helga said with her face cracking up at the sight of Arnold with his eyes widened and an empty expression.
"They're… energetic." Arnold said as he waved one last time at the boarders walking up the stairs.
The blonde girl snorted. "Sure, let's call it that. You have a big, eccentric boarding house family. This is what you'd have to live with if you stayed here."
"It wouldn't be that bad." He said with a crooked grin before going back into the living room, leaving Helga alone in the hallway.
The blonde shook her head and put on her shoes. I guess this is it… she thought as she stood up and grabbed her coat. Well, I guess I'll at least get to say goodbye to him before Eduardo takes him back home.
"Goodnight, grandpa and grandma! I will see you soon!" Arnold yelled as he came back in the hallway. Helga stared at him as he sat down and started putting on his shoes. Her hands, which had been in the middle of zipping up her coat, were frozen in place. Arnold stood up and grabbed his own jacket before noticing Helga's eyes on him. "What?"
"Aren't you… going to stay here?"
Arnold blinked. "Why are you asking that?" he asked before zipping her coat up for her.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you finally meet your grandparents for the first time in your life, they have a room ready for you and everything and you've only got like tonight and tomorrow to get to know them."
"That's why I'm coming back tomorrow."
"Sure, but—"
"Do you… want me to stay here?" Arnold asked and the feeling of hurt was apparent in his voice.
"No! I mean, yes! I mean…" Helga said awkwardly and then shook her head. She took a deep, but quick breath to collect her thoughts. "I just assumed you'd rather stay here… with your family."
"Sure, I'd like to stay here, but… I also want to go back home with you."
Home, Helga thought and felt her face flush.
"But if you want me to stay—"
"No." the girl interrupted, waving her hands around before scratching her head awkwardly. "It's not that I don't want you to come back with me… I do, I just… feel bad for your grandparents. I feel like you're choosing me over them and… they've wanted to meet you ever since you were born."
Arnold got a guilty look on his face. Truth be told, he had considered staying. He wanted to stay, but it had just felt so natural to follow Helga. She had a point though; he had spent so much time with her already, but only just met his grandparents. He felt incredibly selfish for not staying. Now, he didn't know what to do.
"If I may interrupt,"—Gertie appeared in the doorway, wearing a wide grin—"Eleanor, if the white house is inefficient, you are always welcome to stay here."
Arnold's eyes widened with hope and he looked back at Helga. "She's right; you could stay here with me."
"I-I don't know—"
"Pish posh!" Gertie said, waving her hand. "It wouldn't be right to separate Romeo from his Juliet."
"What?!" Helga practically screamed, her face going tomato-red.
"Even though I do wonder what the first man would have to say to that!" Gertie snorted and laughed manically while she disappeared, her laughter fading with her.
"Th-That woman will be the death of me…" Helga mumbled shyly.
"Who's Romeo and Juliet?"
"No one!" Helga bellowed before throwing her coat off, kicking off her shoes and walking up the stairs.
"No fair!" Arnold yelled after her, copied her actions – albeit more gracefully – and followed her. "Why did grandma just call us Romeo and Juliet? What does the mean? Why are you so embarrassed?"
Helga stopped at one of the steps and turned around, holding onto the railing like a lifeline. "Want me to stay here or answer that?" she asked while her face stayed pinkish.
"S-Stay here."
"Good." Helga said and turned back around.
"B-But why can't I get both?" Arnold asked just before Helga turned around yet again and kissed him. He gasped in surprise, but did of course nothing to stop it. She then pulled away slowly and waited for him to open his eyes.
"You can't always get both." She said with a smirk on her face, took his hand and led him up the stairs.
Don't I know it… Arnold thought as he followed Helga into his bedroom.
Author's 2nd note: Yes, I had Phil have a golden locket with a picture of Arnold in it because I thought it'd make sense to give a reference to the episode "Helga's locket" with the circumstances in this story. Also, Arnold wouldn't have been there to tell him no like in the episode xD
I always think it's super hard to write Phil and Gertie… they have such unique personalities and I always wonder if I'm not capturing them properly – am I making them too crazy or not crazy enough? xD
