Truth or Dare: 1

A Hey Arnold fanfiction

Chapter 1: The Sleepover

Arnold's POV

"Ok Arnold, Truth or Dare?" My best friend Sid asks me. We're having our monthly sleepover, this early February, it's at the boarding house, where I live. "Um truth." I respond, I always say truth,because it's always good to go with. "Aw, come on Arnold! You always pick truth!" Says my best friend Gerald. "Yeah Arnold,that really bites." Says Stinky. "What are you scared?" Asks Harold. "Ok,ok fine! I'm not scared! I choose dare!" I say. "Ok Arnold, I dare you to," he ponders the thought "oh oh I got it! This is gonna be good." Sid says. "What is it?" I ask. "I dare you, to date Helga G Pataki, for an entire week, and the then take her to the Valentine's Day dance this Saturday!" Sid says. Everyone else laughs. I'm in total shock. Helga Pataki is a living nightmare. She calls my Football head, hair boy, and Arnold-o nearly everyday,not to mention how she pushes, shoves and spills stuff on me. "Are you guys serious?" I ask. "Yes, and you have to do it! Or we'll do it for you." Says Sid. I gulp. This is going to be a long week.

Chapter 2: Day 1

Arnold's POV

I walk into P.S 118 Monday morning, butterflies stirring in my stomach.

Helga hadn't gotten to school yet, so I had a bit of time. Sid approached me, "Remember what you have to do." He says. I sigh. Then, Helga Pataki storms through the doors of P.S 118 "Move it hair boy!" She yells as she pushes her way to class, I try to ask her about, IT, but she just shoves me away. I need a better approach. I've got it! A note! Then, I won't actually have to face her,yet.

Dear Helga,

I've been noticing a bit of change in your behavior lately. You've been nice, and I like it. I actually like it a lot. I realize that I've never given you, I mean us, a chance before.

I would like it if you would give me a chance to be your boyfriend for the week so I can can give us a chance.

Sincerely,

Arnold

P.S Meet me at table 3 at lunch with your response.

I slip that in her locker, right before she comes back. Most of that letter is a HUGE understatement but, it had to be done.

Chapter 3

Helga's POV

BRIIIIIIIIIINNGGGGGGG

That's the bell that dismisses us to lunch. I start shoving people."Move it football head!" I yell to Arnold as I cross the hall. I open my locker to put up my books and then there's a paper that falls out of my locker. I pick it up and unfold it. This can't be, that handwriting, that signature, that name, it's the one I have loved for most of my life. I read the note. My draw drops to the floor. This is the day I've been waiting on my entire life! I swear if this is some sick joke I'll pound someone. There's only one way to find out. I grab a piece of paper and write

Dear Arnold,

I very much agree with your previous note, and I'd be honored. So consider that a yes.

Love,

Helga

Being brief, that's good, he doesn't need to know anything much yet. I fold it up, grab my lunch money, and skip all the way to the cafeteria.

Chapter 4

Helgas POV

I walk into the cafeteria, and there he is! At table 3 just like he said! I grab my lunch and sit down. He looks at me, and I place the folded note on the table, and push it to him, he opens it, nods, and sticks it in his pocket. Then he hands me another note.

Dear Helga,

Great! Can you come to the boarding house after school?

Sincerely,

Arnold

I look back at him, and just nod. I'm managing a poker face on the outside, but on the inside I'm screaming of joy. He's inviting me to his house! Ahhh

He smiles, then takes his tray and leaves.

Chapter 4

Arnold's POV

School went by too fast. Now I have to go home, and spend the rest of the day with Helga. We walk to the boarding house together. I notice that she hasn't said a word since before lunch. "Are you ok Helga? You've been... Well quite." I say breaking the awkward silence. "Um, yes Arnold, I'm fine." She says. I open the door for her when we arrive and I show her to my room. We sit on my floor. "If you didn't have anything else planned Arnold, I thought we could start on our homework assignments." Helga says. I'm shocked to hear her speak about school work. "Um, sure Helga, that's a good idea." I say. We start on our math. Helga reads the first question, " Bob had 18 apples. If he divided them among 9 friends, how many apples would each friend get?" We sit and ponder it a minute, since we just started learning about division. "What do you think Helga?" I ask. "I think that this is Bobs problem and he should learn how to divide himself, if he plans to do that." I start laughing. That's one of the funniest things I'd ever heard. "I'm just kidding," She says "The answer is 2." I nod. She's right. I scribble that down on my paper. We spend the rest of the evening, laughing, chatting, and doing our homework. Once we finished, Helga starts to gather her things and leave, but I stop her at the door. "Hey Helga, would you like me to walk you home?" I ask her. She smiles. "Sure, thanks Arnold." She responds. Arnold. She called me Arnold. Not football head, not hair boy, not even Arnold-o, but Arnold.

I walk her home and stop her before she goes inside. I invite her to do the same thing tomorrow. She nods and says that she'll wait for me on the bus. I tell her goodbye and leave her house. Maybe she wouldn't make me miserable this week after all, that's high hopes, but I guess after today, it could be possible.

Chapter 5

Helga's POV

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

I actually didn't screw up alone time with Arnold! I didn't call him a name, I wasn't mean, and he invited me back! Haaaaaa. Now I have to keep up the good work for the rest and of the week and prove to Arnold that I'm not the mean girl that I was!

Chapter 6

Arnold's POV

Day 2

I walk into school the next day, not dreading it as much. During class Helga raises her hand. "Mr. Simmons, I can't see the board very well from here, do you think I could sit up front?" She asks. "Um sure Helga, I mean I guess you could sit next to Arnold and swap seats with Eugene if that's ok." He says."That'll be just fine Mr. Simmons." She says as she grabs her stuff and sits next to me. She winks at me and looks back up to the board. I think she did that on purpose. At lunch I ask her if she wants to sit with me. She nods yes. We sit and chat. She's actually really fun to talk to. She's actually a pretty cool person. And when her eyes sparkle, they make her entire face glow and she looks so beautif- WAIT WHAT!!!! no no no, this must just be getting to me since she's actually started being nice and all. Ha yeah, that's gotta be it. After school. I meet Helga on the bus. We get to the boarding house and have an exact repeat of yesterday, except that Helga looked a bit more attractive than usua- WHAT am I saying??? This is crazy talk ha, just crazy talk.

Chapter 7

Arnold's POV

Day 3

Somehow, Helga manages to get better everyday. From, lunch conversations, to homework at the Boarding house. I'm ready to meet her at the bus, except I find her waiting at the steps of the school. "I just wanted to meet here today, is that okay?" She asks "Yeah that's fine." I say. What I don't catch however, Is the fact that as I'm saying that, my hand lowers and grabs hers. She blushes and tugs mine back and we hold hands on and off of the bus.

Chapter 8

Arnold's POV

Day 4

We hold hands at school. We get stares from all over, but I don't mind. She doesn't seem to either. I find myself staring at her during class and LONGING for the alone time we will spend together. Then it hits me. I think I like her like her.

Chapter 9

Day 5

Arnold's POV

"How's it going, lover boy?" Gerald asks me. "Fine, this is really easy, I don't feel anything." I say "Are you sure? I saw the way you looked at her when you were holding hands." Sid says. I can't tell them because they'll make fun of me. "Positive, it's all acting." I say and walk away. "Well Arnold it's been a great week." Helga says. "Oh yes." I say dying on the inside to tell her how I really feel. "Well I guess I'll be going." She says but I stop her. "Helga wait!" I say. "Yes, Arnold?" She asks. "I know we don't have homework but, would you like to come to the boarding house anyways?" I ask. "Um, sure Arnold, I'd love too." She says. I grab her hand and we walk to the boarding house. "What would you like to do?" I ask her. " Oh Arnold, I really don't care, whatever you would like to do." She says. "Um okay, how about TV?" I ask. "Sure." She says. "What about Babewatch?" I ask. "Sure." She says again. I turn it on. It's a rerun.

Actually a rerun of the one we were in. Helga starts madly blushing. We're at the part where I'm drowning, and the lifeguard brings me out, then Helga pushes her out of the way and she's the one who kisses me and brings me back to life. I try to remember what that felt like. Probably amazing and I never even realized it. I turn off the TV and invite Helga to eat dinner with us. She agrees. It's steak. I can't help but laugh as she gorfs it down. Once dinner is over, I walk her home and then nervously ask her to the dance tomorrow night. She happily agrees. I smile and KISS HER CHEEK!, as she leaves. Where did that come from? What I never realized was that the most beautiful gifts, come in the plainest boxes.

Chapter 10

The final day

Helgas POV

Oh. My. Arnolds. I seriously can't believe this. I'm Arnold's Valentine. And he kissed my freaking cheek. Haaaaa. I'm going to the dance with him. Finally, I'm with the love of my life. What am I going to wear? What am I going to say? I don't really know, all I know is that I'm the happiest girl alive.

Chapter 11

Arnold's POV

The final day

I'm dressed in my best tux. I've got flowers, chocolate and a corsage, for Helga. I go to pick her up. She opens the door. My jaw literally drops on the pavement. "You look, amazing." I say. "Thanks." She says blushing. "These are for you." I say handing her the chocolate and flowers. "Happy Valentine's Day Helga." "Oh Arnold these are so beautiful, and Happy Valentines Day to you too." She says. I take her hand, and kiss it, then I grab it and start walking towards the dance. We danced the entire night. The last song they played is the tango. I smile at her. I grab her arm and we take off. I take her in all directions, then when the songs about over, I'm about to reel it in and kiss her lips. Then the clock strikes midnight. "Well Arnold, the Dare is over, you did it." Sid says approaching me. "Dare? What's he talking about Arnold?" Helga asks. "Um..." I say then before I can explain Stinky butts in, "On the account of that we were playing truth or dare and we dared Arnold here to date you for a week and then take you to this here dance." He says. "Stinky shut up!" I tell him, but it's to late Helga is already crying and running off. "Helga wait!" But, she's gone. I rush off to find her. Then i find her against the lockers, crying. "Helga." I say. She stands up and starts walking slowly down the hall. "I have other names you know, some you may recognize like Lila, Juliet, and deep voice, and some you don't like the anonymous author of all those poems and the little pink book, and Cecile." She says and sits down at the end of the hallway, her back facing me. "You were Cecile! But why?" I ask. She pulls something out of her dress, and slides it across the floor. It's a locket, with my picture in it! What's going on? "Do you even remember? The first day of preschool? Neither of my parents even cared enough to bring me, so I had to walk. A dog had taken my lunch on the way, and it had started raining. I was about to get soaked, but then you came, and shared your umbrella, I instantly liked you, then Harold ate my crackers and you gave me yours. It was like for once in my life, someone actually cared about me. The entire class caught my loving stare, and I got scared, so I decided to be mean. Then no one would make fun of me. But, every so often, I would find away to express my love for you in secret. I made shrines of you out of your used gum in my closet, I bribed everyone out of the part of Juliet, and then rewrote Cecile's letter." I can't even believe this. Why didn't I think of this before? "I feel so...stupid." I say. "Well don't." She says. "I was only ever mean to you, because if anyone ever found out, they'd make fun of me and you would have found out, and gotten weirded out, then there would have been no one who cared about me." She said with tears streaming down her face. "But I guess that this week was just some stupid dare and that once it's over, everything will go back to normal." She says. "That's where you're wrong." I say. She looks back up at me. "Yes, it was on a dare, but only at first! Then I really got to know you and I um," I can feel myself blushing everywhere. "I really like you Helga, and I think it's stupid that it took me a stupid game of truth or dare to realize it." I say. She smiles, "Really?" She asks. "Yes really." I say as I help her up, pull the corsage box out of my pocket and put it on her wrist, and kiss her. We walk back in the gym. All the boys look at us still holding hands. "Oooohhhhhh" they chant. I pull her in and kiss her again, right in front of them, they'll see. "Come on Helga, let's get out of here." I say. She nods and we walk out of the school, together, with love.

END OF FANFICTION 1