Well folks, were reaching the end! The story itself is actually finished, its just a matter of typing everything up. But school and work has interfered as usual lol that's why its been hard to update so often. But after this chapter there's at least 7 more to go and its over. I'm sad already *cries hysterically*
Disclaimer: Arnold is strict property of Mr. Craig Bartlett….and Helga ;)
Chapter 13: He Said, She Said
It wasn't until Thursday rolled around before things slowly went back to normal. Students were preparing for finals for Monday and Tuesday. Teachers were getting ready to celebrate another three months without any rotten and obnoxious children running and screeching through the halls, like packs of wild animals. That is, the teachers who didn't have to teach summer school. But best of all, Arnold was back, and that was all that Helga Pataki cared about.
Now I have a reason for Chemistry class, she thought dreamily. Helga was too dazed in her thoughts of her beloved to pay attention to the body she crashed into, walking down the hallway.
"Watch where you're goin', geez!" Helga spat not offering to help the other student up.
"Oh, my, gosh! Helga, how could you!" Came the shrill and obnoxious voice of rich snob Rhonda Lloyd.
"I just bought this satin blue blouse yesterday. And now, it's wrinkled. Do you know what wrinkles can do to your clothes?" Rhonda shrieked at Helga, causing some passing students to stop and stare.
"Do you know what wrinkles can do to your face?" Helga picked up her fist at Rhonda, who in turn flinched. Rhonda had always held the reputation for being the snobby rich girl. But the older she had gotten, the snobbier she seemed to become. Even her financial equals like Peapod Kid stopped hanging around Rhonda due to her overwhelming snooty attitude. The only person Rhonda had left by her sides these days was her wild haired friend, Nadine.
"Oh please. Isn't it like you to be such a…Neanderthal. That's why you'll never have a guy like you." She crossed her arms over her chest. Helga rolled her eyes at the wealthy girls pathetic statement.
"Oh please," the blonde girl mimicked Rhonda's voice.
"The only reason people in general like you is because you're rich. Or should I say, mommy and daddy are rich. You're just a trophy daughter."
"OOOH…"went the developing crowd around the two girls.
Rhonda was lost for words. Her bottom lip slightly quivered at Helga's words. She looked like she could have broke down at any moment. Helga loved to make other people squirm. Especially when she was right.
"Well, uh…that's not true. Is it? Harold?" she turned to find her boyfriend of four years not only lacking her attention in this wretched grudge match, but was now chatting away with Nadine about who knew what.
"Harold!" the raven haired woman squealed in impatience.
"Whaaaat?" Harold whined.
"I-I mean, yes, Rhonda dear?" he quickly adjusted his attitude, remembering who he was speaking to.
"Will you please tell Helga here, you love me for me, and not my money?" she sneered at Helga who could care less.
"Hey, Helllgaa, you beat up anyone lately? How bout I pound you for being mean to my girlfriend!" he said punching his right fist into his left hand.
"How bout I use Ol' Betsey to send you crying home to your mommy, pinkboy!" Helga sneered. Harold's eyes quivered at the sight of Helga's sudden fist in his face. He knew Helga could still do some damage if she really wanted to. Even after all this time, Helga could still make him beg for mercy.
"Uh, c'mon Rhonda, let's go. We don't want Helga to boss us around, we got better things to do." The once round boy stuttered to his rich girlfriend as he took by the hand and walk (or what to Helga looked like quickly drag) her down the hallway.
"Madame Fortress Mommy…" he mumbled as he stormed off with Rhonda in tow.
"Harold!" Rhonda wailed in not only question but embarrassment. Once again she lost another battle to Helga.
"Let me go!" Cried Rhonda down the rest of the hallway as she disappeared around the corner.
"Goodbye, princess." Helga chuckled in delight as she walked to her Math class. On her way, a curious eighth grader poked his head over his locker door. Helga snarled at the student as she stomped by him with confidence.
"What are you lookin' at, bucko?" she snapped at him, knocking him over as she shoved his shoulder to lose his balance. This subsequently caused the boy to fall over Eugene who was behind him as well, who in turn, fell down himself. Eugene's locker wasn't too far down from Rhonda's. But as usual, the poor unlucky redhead was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Papers were scattered, books were bent, and Eugene was sprawled out on tile floor in his usual position. Despite how older he got. The bad luck just seemed to follow.
"I'm okay…" he murmured from he title underneath him.
"Hey Pheebs," Helga joined Phoebe at the lunch table.
"Greetings, Helga. How are things progressing?" she asked as if she were taking tallies on her breakdowns.
"Uh, good I guess." She rolled her eyes at her best friend.
"What are you doin' after class? I need you to help me write my essay for graduation." Helga asked casually munching on Phoebe's French fries. Helga didn't usually eat her lunch. But she was feeling mostly malnourished since she hadn't eaten much in the last couple of days. It was much too depressing for her.
"You still haven't completed that yet? Helga, what are you waiting for?" Phoebe asked looking over at a less concerned Helga.
"Sorry mom, I'll do it tonight. Jeez Louise. Get off my back, lady."
"So I see you haven't told… 'ice cream' how you feel about him." Phoebe placed Helga's touchy attitude towards her obvious lack of sharing her secret.
"Uh, no. Although I did speak to him the other day. He seemed kinda determined…like he was trying to figure me out or something…" After Helga lost interest in Phoebe's fries, she pulled out a piece of paper, and her pink pen. She tried another attempt at her speech.
"Helga, may I strongly suggest, sooner rather than later? You don't want to put that off much longer." Phoebe sternly reminded her, cleaning up the leftovers of her tuna fish sandwich.
"Relax, I'm working on my speech now."
"No, I mean…ice cream…" Phoebe whispered.
"Oh." Helga said simply.
"Well…maybe its better kept a secret."
"But what if he—."
"He doesn't. Ok?" She looked up from her paper.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to snap Pheebs." She apologized.
"It's ok. I understand how you feel." Phoebe sad sadly.
"No you don't. Gerald liked you back. But as far as…ice cream…I highly doubt it…how am I gonna end this thing?" Helga wondered out loud about her paper, changing the subject.
"I don't know, Helga. Why don't you do what you do best? Just imagine it's another poem." Phoebe added trying to be helpful.
"Yea, thanks Pheebs, but I think not. I'll just finish it at home."
Helga walked into Chemistry class with her heart pounding. She couldn't wait to see her beloved football head. Sure it had only been two days. But for Helga it seemed like a week. She took her normal seat in the third row, fourth chair to the back. Arnold sat in front of her. She had always made sure of it.
The blonde girl's eyes fluttered with joy as her true love wondered into the classroom. She immediately snapped out of her trance the second he sat down.
"Hey." He said in a simple monotone to her.
Something is wrong with this picture…No 'Hey Helga'? No 'How's it goin' Helga'?
Arnold kept his back to her.
"What's wrong football head, cat got your tongue?" she sneered in his direction hoping for a response. Except…
"Helga, please. I'd rather not do this with you anymore. Let's just get through one day without bickering. I'll leave you alone, you leave me alone, ok? Please." His face was sincere and full of frustration when he turned to look her in the eyes.
"Arnold, what's your problem?" she asked quietly…and hurt. Arnold had never been this forward with her before.
"I understand why you're so mean. It's because like Gerald said. You're a bully. And you'll never change! I was stupid to think you…never mind." Arnold shook his head in lost hope, turning to face the front once more.
"What's hair boy have to do with this?" she asked confused. Terrified of her answer, she closed her eyes.
Don't say it. Please, don't say it!
"Oh he told me what happened the other day. And he told me what you really think. And if that's true, then…I guess we're really not friends. And this is where we'll stand. Always." Arnold didn't turn around again after that. Helga fought back the tears that began to swell in her eyes.
Always?
A/N: What's gonna happen next? Tune in next time and Review! :)
By the way, in case you guys are wondering, there's only about 6 more chapters or so left before were done with this story. At this time, I dont have any plans for a sequel...but never say never i suppose lol we'll see where this goes. But I need reviews to convince me! ;)