CHAPTER#12: ... IT HAPPENS -

HELGA REACHES THE HOSPITAL BUT FINDS ARNOLD'S ROOM EMPTY. SHE GOES TO THE RECEPTION DESK TO ASK ABOUT HIM

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THE DOORBELL RINGS.

ERNIE:I'll get it Granpa. (OPENS THE DOOR)Yeah?.

HELGA:They told me Arnold was here.

ERNIE:Yeah he got discharged from the hospital this morning.

GRANPA:(FROM THE KITCHEN)Who is it Ernie?.

ERNIE:It's the kid's girl.

GRANPA:Aha ... (LAUGHS)

HELGA IGNORES THEM AND HEADS TO ARNOLD'S ROOM, SHE ALREADY KNOWS THE WAY.

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SOMEONE KNOCKS ON HIS DOOR.

ARNOLD:Come in.

HELGA:Hey Arnold.

ARNOLD:H-hey!.

HELGA:Sorry I came on a short notice, they told me you were here.

ARNOLD:Yeah I got out this morning.(TRIES TO GET UP)

HELGA:Lemme help you (SHE HELPS HIM SIT UP)

ARNOLD(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY):Thanks. Ok so ... this is my room ... nothing's changed much since I was seven.

HELGA:(UNDER HER BREATH)I know.

ARNOLD:What?.

HE'S NEVER SHOWED HER HIS ROOM EVEN WHILE THEY DATED, SEEING HOW ANNOYING GRANPA AND THE GUYS GOT EVERYTIME THEY SAW THEM TOGETHER.

HELGA:What?. (SHE STARTS FEELING A LITTLE AWKWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS AND REMEMBERS THE CARD AND CHOCOLATES SHE'S GOT HIM) Oh! I got these for you.

ARNOLD:Thanks. (READS THE WORDS PRINTED ON THE CARD DESIGN) 'Get well soon ... ALREADY!' (HE STARTS LAUGHING).

HELGA:Yeah well I found this one and I really liked it.

ARNOLD:It looks like they custom made it especially for you.

HELGA:(LIGHTLY PUNCHES HIS ARM) What's that supposed to mean?.

ARNOLD:Ow!.

HELGA:Omigosh! sorry! are you ok?.

ARNOLD:(GIVES HER A WINK) I was just pulling your leg.

HELGA:Ok then, so my next punch won't hurt you either.(PREPARES TO PUNCH HIM)

ARNOLD: No no no! It did hurt a bit when you first punched, honest!.

HELGA PUTS DOWN HER ARM, BOTH OF THEM LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND START LAUGHING.

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MEANWHILE. ERNIE, MR. HYUNH AND OSKAR WERE STANDING INFRONT OF ARNOLD'S DOOR AND EAVESDROPPING.
GRANPA WAS DOWNSTAIRS AS HE COULDN'T CLIMB UP THE STAIRS LEADING TO ARNOLD'S ROOM.

GRANPA: (WHISPERS)So? what are they doing?

ERNIE:It sounds like they're laughing.

GRANPA:Laughing? Oh my goodness! ... I can't believe this! we should stop them!.

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HELGA:I'm so sorry Arnold.

ARNOLD:What for?.

HELGA:All of this, if it wasn't for me none of this would've happened to you.

ARNOLD:Don't be silly Helga, it wasn't your fault.

HELGA:Yes it was! if I hadn't met Smitthy and if I hadn't gone out with him-

ARNOLD:Gone out with him?.

HELGA:Yeah we went to the bookfair together, anyway, none of this would've happened to you!.

THEY BOTH LOOK INTO EACH OTHER'S EYES.

ARNOLD:Like I said, its not your fault. All of this was planned for in advance.

HELGA TURNS HER FACE AWAY AND HE PUTS HIS HAND OVER HERS, SHE LOOKS AT HIM AGAIN AND THEIR FACES SLOWLY GET CLOSER.

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GRANPA:So as you can see I can't walk up to his room anymore.

SUZIE:It's ok Granpa. I'll take these up to him.

_ THEY WERE ABOUT TO KISS WHEN SUZIE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR.

SUZIE:Arnold, its me Suzie. I got you some cookies.

ARNOLD:Thanks Suzie.

SUZIE:No problem, actually granpa thought you and Helga would love to have some.

ARNOLD:(UNDER HIS BREATH) Granpa.

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WHEN SUZIE COMES OUT OF THE ROOM.

GRANPA:So?.

SUZIE:So?.

GRANPA:What were they doing?.

SUZIE:(ROLLS HER EYES)I'm sure it's not what you're thinking.

GRANPA:But they were laughing!.

SUZIE:Oh Granpa you're so paranoid.(WALKS AWAY.)

GRANPA:Suzie!.

ARNOLD AND HELGA STILL FEEL AWKWARD AFTER THEIR ALMOST-KISS WAS INTERRUPTED.
HE JUST SMILES, SHRUGS IT OFF AND GENTLY PULLS HER HEAD CLOSE TO HIS AND THEY BOTH KISS.