Chapter 11

Awkward.

As she walked down the hallway to lunch, she repeated the word it her head. It seemed surreal.

Awkward.

The word sounded awkward. She silently mouthed it to herself to make sure it was a real word.

Awkward.

Awkward Turtle.

Awkwo Taco.

Awkward.

She felt very very very awkward. Words could not describe how awkward she felt.

The day had started off ok, and then as soon as she saw Arnold, it all went downhill.

First, he saw Helga and Wolfgang making out and tripped.

Then she got stuck in the same room as him ALONE for a good twenty minutes (which honestly she didn't mind, but now it was making the situation more awkward)

And now, Wolfgang tried to kiss her in front of Arnold, but he ran in between them, making everything even more awkward!

"I've just gotta go vomit." Arnold's words rang in her head, humiliating her each time she repeated them in her mind.

What's worse is that Helga doesn't know what to do about Wolfgang anymore. She can't take it any longer. All of his "romantic attempts" just end up in a make out session. It's not like it was a real relationship. Just kissing.

Helga shivered. Why was she doing this?

Oh yeah…she remembered…

This is all Curly's fault. All Curly's fault.

He. Is. A. Twisted. Little. Freak.

Who ruins the lives of others!

Why did Helga even listen to him in the first place?

"Maybe perhaps...a little Shortman will disappear...?" Curly's threat made her heart shiver.

If she saw Arnold and Wolfgang in the same room one more time today, she was going to die of awkwardness.

Suddenly Helga's thoughts were interrupted when she heard Rhonda Wellington Lloyd say her name. "Helga G. Pataki. I am so sick of her." Rhonda spat. "She's such a skank, you know? She thinks she can walk around slobbering all over Wolfgang. Please. I guess she really gets around."

Helga looked over at Rhonda, who was being accompainied not by Nadine (like normal) but by Curly.

Helga clamped her jaw in rage.

Curly Gammelthorpe. That little shit was tailing Rhonda, listening to her vent about her (Helga). He was still shorter than Rhonda, so he had to look up at her, and his smile was ear to ear.

Helga scowled. Little Creep.

Before she could stop herself, she yelled across the hall, "CURLY."

Rhonda and Curly both stopped and turned around. Helga crossed her arms once they made eye contact. "I need to talk to you. NOW."

"I'll sit with you at lunch Rhonda." He said (in Helga's eyes) creepily. Once Rhonda left, Curly frowned. "What is it?" he snapped.

"Oh, I'll tell you what it is…" she grabbed his shirt and pulled him into an empty classroom. "Are you happy now?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you happy now Curly? I embarrassed myself in front of the whole school this morning because of you."

"Embarssed yourself because of me?" he asked innocently, "I don't recall doing anything of the sort."

"Oh really? Does the name Wolfgang ring a bell?" she asked sarcastically, "Or maybe this might sound familiar, 'Go out with Wolfgang! It'll be a great idea! You'll make Arnold jealous, and half of the school calling you a slut!'"

"Half of the school isn't calling you a slut, they are just saying you're a skank. At least that's what Rhonda said…"

"Whatever, same thing." She let go of Curly's shirt. "And now that you've got 'Ms. Rhonda Lloyd' talking to you, I guess I can get rid of this Wolfgang thing."

"Whoa, whoa whoa, I never said you could break up with Wolfgang. You can't break up with him until I say so, or if he breaks up with you instead."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, remember? If you don't listen to me Helga, your friend Arnold might go missing in action." He laughed and Helga crossed her arms. "How is Arnold doing by the way?"

"Perfect." she grumbled.

"Wonderful! I better get going now, don't want to be late for lunch!" He smiled strangely and then walked out.


"You okay?" Gerald woke him up from his wandering mind at the lunch table.

"What?" Arnold asked.

"It's just that…you've been acting a little weird," Gerald pulled his chair out, "And as your best friend, I know when something's up." He sat down and began to scorf down the food his plate. "Besides it's been a freaky day. You know with all the fire alarms and blackouts and stuff. I surprised they still kept us in school after that. But back to the point, Arnold, what's up?" Gerald asked with half a mouthful.

"Nothing's 'up' Gerald."

"Whatever you say."

"Anyway, where's Phoebe?" Arnold started drinking his water.

"I don't know. She said she had to talk to Helga or somethin'."

Arnold choked on his water, and got it all over his face. He started coughing.

"Arnold! Are you okay?!" Gerald asked, and started slapping his back.

"I'm fine, just….wrong pipe I guess… now will you stop hitting me?" Arnold swatted his hand away.

"Sorry Arnold." He said, "But how on earth does someone choke on water?"


Lila looked up and down the hallway. Where was Helga? She needed to talk to her.

"Hi there Lila." Said a small quiet voice.

"Hey there Phoebe." Lila smiled. Phoebe's oversized sweater always stuck with her, and now she wore it with leggings rather than pantless. A little more appropriate. "How's it going?"

"Okay I guess. I needed to talk to Helga about something actually." Phoebe looked a bit worried.

"Yeah, I needed to talk to her about something too." Lila said. "She's been acting a little strange…just ever so strange." She leaned on the lockers.

"Are you talking about what I think you're talking about?" Phoebe perked up.

"I'm not certain, what ever am I talking about?"

Phoebe checked to make sure no one was in ear shot. Then she motioned Lila to come close to whisper to her, "I'm talking about Arnold."

"Yes! Arnold!" Lila said aloud.

"SHHH!" She covered Lila's mouth with two of her tiny fingers. "Ice Cream. The name is ice cream." Phoebe looked around again. "We need to talk somewhere else... where there aren't any witnesses. Here, let's go to the computer lab."


From what they saw from the door, the computer lab was empty. They opened the door and entered the empty room. The computers were humming quietly and the room was dark except for the light coming from the power buttons on the computers.

"Are you sure someone isn't going to come in here?" Lila asked.

"No. No one ever comes here."

"How do you know?" Lila persisted.

"Helga and I always used to come here when we needed to talk about something."

"Well that's nice. Do you guys do that a lot?"

"Well, yeah! Actually, we haven't come here and talked for a while now. As a matter of fact, I don't think Helga and I have talked to each other for a long time." Phoebe said as she tried to recall the last time they spoke.

"Why not?" The words slipped out of her mouth before Lila could catch them. She didn't mean to intrude.

Phoebe slowly said. "I guess I've just been busy lately." It was dark, but Lila felt her look away. "I probably should be there for her more." There was an awkward silence, but Phoebe finally broke it. "Anyway, about Arnold, or Ice Cream. We call him Ice Cream. It's been like a code since we were little."

"Phoebe, that's ever so cute!"

"Well I guess you come up with things like that when you're in the fourth grade."

"So you think that Helga's acting ever so strange too because of Ar… er uh…sorry. Because of Ice Cream?"

"Precisely. Based on the events of today, yesterday, and even the days leading up to Ice Cream's arrival, she's been acting different."

"What were the events of today?"

"This morning? Helga was…well…um…sharing DNA particles with Wolfgang."

"What?"

"They were kissing, Lila. Well, like kissing for a long time…like making out…like PDA in front of the whole school."

"Oh. OH!" She grabbed Phoebe's hand in the dark, "Oh my! Do you think she's doing this to make Arnold, perhaps…envious?"

"Indeed. In psychological terms, she is directly manipulating to get the love or attention she wants. When faced with the desire to get a mate's attention, jealousy induction might be quite effective, but it is risky. It can hurt the one you love, and even cause the end of the relationship. The main issue is that when faced with a mate who is trying to manipulate us ,or when we realize we're trying to manipulate someone we love, really these actions reflect the need for love and attention. It's a signal to a mate that we're not getting something that we may need. The key then, is to acknowledge that we are in a position where we might end up hurting the very person we love. Which is why I'm worried about Helga and her mate."

"Why do you keep saying 'mate'?"

"That's not the point! Besides, what else do you want me to say? It's the term. I could use boyfriend, but Arnold and Helga aren't dating." Phoebe awnsered, "Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Helga has been acting strange because Arnold is back, and now she's kissing Wolfgang! And he's a douche!"

"Phoebe!" Lila scolded her, "Don't talk like that! It's not lady like!"

"I don't care! This is making me irritated! Wolfgang doesn't deserve Helga! At all!" Her little voice squeaked. It was almost funny to see Phoebe, the intelligent and sweet little girl get angry about something. "I mean, it's one thing to make someone jealous, but another thing to make them jealous with Wolfgang!"

"Phoebe, I know, but you need to talk with Helga about this. Otherwise, nothing's going to be able to get done." Lila put her arm around Phoebe in the low lighting, calming her down.

"You're right." She sighed. "But I don't think she'll want to hear this from me."

"Why not? You're her best friend." Lila reassured her.

"I know, but honestly, I've kind of been…well…selfish with my time lately, and we haven't talked in a while. I don't think she would want to listen to me." Phoebe admitted.

"Phoebe, can I tell you something? You two are best friends. And even if best friends don't talk for a while, that doesn't change anything. You still know each other like a farmer knows his tractor." Lila paused for a while to let Phoebe take this in, and said, "All relationships go through rough patches. Like how Helga is going through a rough patch with Arnold. But the only way you'll be able to get out of them unless you try to do something about it."

"What's that supposed to mean Lila?" Phoebe asked sadly.

"It means, that you're going to have to take the first step to mend a relationship. Well, two relationships as a matter of fact. But you have to start with the simple things first."

All of a sudden, the door creaked open, letting in light from the hall, and the silhouette of Brainy stood in the doorway as he came into the computer lab. He turned on the lights, and was about to walk to the projectors in the back of the room, when he saw Lila and Phoebe standing there.

"Uh…hi…" he looked confused.

"Hey ho Brainy." Phoebe to sound energetic.

"Hi Brian." Lila said.

"Um…I try not to be rude but…uh…what uh…. Exactly are you…uh…doing in here? It's lunch." Brainy exhaled.

"We were just leaving Brainy, I forgot my calculator in the lab. Anyways, we'll see you later!" Phoebe exclaimed.

Phoebe began to leave, but Lila stayed behind and smiled sweetly at Brainy, "Would you rather me call you Brainy or Brain?"

"Well, everyone…uh…calls me Brainy…but uh… you can call me Brain." He turned a little red.

"Okay then. We'll see you later, Brian." Lila waved and Phoebe and her left for the lunch room.